Traits of the Salves of The Rahman: 05 Moderation and
balance
Written by: SK.
Omar Ali
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
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Thanks be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the most honorable of all
messengers Mohammad; and all his folks, companions, and followers to the day
they are all summoned together.
The slaves of the Rahman
as described in the Koran, those who are contented with Allah and Allah is
contented with them. They are described in what they are like within
themselves, what they are like in dealing with others, and what they are like
when dealing with Allah. Then they are described in scope of their treasures
and money. Allah says: {and those if they spend they do not squander; nor they
are tight fisted; but they do it right in between.}. The slaves of the Rahman
are not meant to be penniless. Being poor is not a characteristic of such
group of people, indeed they can be very rich.
Allah described those
who frequent mosques. Those houses of Allah that He permitted to be erected
and in which his name be called out. He says: {In such places He is praised
early mornings and late evenings. Men, that do not get distracted by business
nor selling from calling Allah}. In this day of age they would be called
business men with marketing and a lot of business dealings, but that does not
stop them nor distract them in doing their obligations towards their God.
Allah addresses the
believers when he says {ye who believe; do not let your money and your
children distract you from calling and thinking Allah}. This means that this
group of people does have money and children. That means they are neither
sailboats nor mindless, but they are commanded that money and children are not
to become a source or distraction to them in remembering Allah. That is
remembering him in the heart, remembering him with the tong. The slaves or the
Rahman can have money. Money in the point of view of Islam is a mercy to be
thankful for. And in the point of view of Islam, money is a something
entrusted to individuals and it must be looked after. In the point of view of
Islam, money is one of the five necessities that must be safeguarded.
A Muslim is entrusted
with his money, which in fact is Allah’s money; the Muslim is to take care of
it. Allah say: {and spend of what we made you in charge with . . .}. And if
money belongs to Allah, and a human being is entrusted with it; just like a
secretary of trust, then he must consider the instructions of the owner of the
trust and his directions. What does the owner wants him to do? What pleases
Him? And what annoys Him? What are his orders? And what does He prohibit?
Allah has instructions
with regard to money. Instructions concerning how to earn it. That is to earn
it lawfully (or from Halal). Instructions concerning investing it and
increasing it. Instructions concerning how to spend it and how to utilize it,
and how to distribute it. This Ayah we are looking at is more concerned with
how to spend money.
For one might earn and
collect money lawfully, but subsequently, may be mean in spending it in its
rightful outlet. Or be very tight in spending it where Allah would love and
approves of. Indeed, he may waist it in useless forms.
The Islamic nation may
be hit hard in its rich people in two ways:
1) The
nation can be struck by real stingy rich person who knows not the right of
Allah into his money. And knows not the rights of people into his money. Real
tight handed in his obligations.
2) The
nation can be struck by an over spending waster of a rich person; who does not
care where or how money is spent. Does not know a limit.
Money should be spent in
its rightful outlets with neither squandering nor with tightness; that is the
Islamic recommendation. Moderation and the balance. In another location in the
Koran recommends the following: {and bring to the kin his right, and the poor,
and the deprived, and passer by (or traveler), and do not squander. For
squanderers were brothers to Satans}. Allah described wasters or over spenders
as Satans in badness, disobeying of Allah and denying of his mercies. The
verses go on to say: {And do not hold back your hand tight in spending nor
fully relax it to the point that you may by blamed and run-down}. Moderation
and balance or middle way, is the Islamic constitution. The messenger used to
ask Allah: [My Lord, I ask that you grant me fearing you in absence and in
testimony. I ask you to for the word of fidelity or faith in anger as well as
in satisfaction. I ask you moderation in riches and in poor]. The slaves of
the Rahman are moderates not squanderers in their spending. They do not go
overboard but they are never tight fisted with their folks. They are just and
good. And the best of all matters is its midway.
The scholar Hasan
Bassary said "there is no such thing as squandering when spending in the line
of Allah". Other scholars said that squandering in only when spending in a way
of sin. Islam requires the Muslim to spend. Those who fear Allah have the
trait of spending money. But, Allah described them in his book as : "And they
spend out of what we provided to them", meaning spend some of what we gave
them and not All what we gave them.
It is to this meaning
that the messenger PPBU said: [No charity except when supported by richness].
Islam never asked us to spend from what we actually need. If one does that by
choice, then it is a good virtue rather than having to. Like those
complemented by Allah in his book when he says: {and they favor (give
preference to) others over themselves even when they are in need. And those
that are guarded against their own stinginess are the successful ones}. And as
the devoted and faithful are described by Allah: {and they give the food
despite their need for it to the needy and orphan and a captured prisoner} {We
merely feed you for the sake of Allah. From you; we neither want rewards nor
thanks}.
This is the state of the
slaves of the Rahman; spending but not squandering and not being tight fisted.
Remember and be certain that any Euro or cent in your hand is not really
yours; it is for the entire nation. If you waste it wrongfully, then you have
wasted for yourself and for the Islamic nation. For example this that wasted
his money in smoking cigarettes is wasting money for him and for the nation.
He causes himself harm by his own money. He purchases his self harm with his
money. On top of giving the money to those international cigarettes companies.
Money dear brothers is a mercy which must be looked after.
In the west mostly
Muslims suffer from being side-lined, suffer from loss of identity and suffer
from being absorbed and disappear into the western society and way of life.
Yet when some sincere individuals in the Muslim community attempt to create
some education project they do no find who would finance such projects. We
have been trying to start up an Islamic school but we can not find who would
finance it. We are trying to buy this mosque and we need the money for that;
but there is no support. And many more examples.
Why? One asks, is it
because of the lack of money with the Muslims? No, there is plenty of money,
but unfortunately, money is not put in its rightful outlet. Many people spend
thousands, and tens of thousands in what does not make Allah happy. And if
they are asked something for Allah, their hands go tight and their souls
become stingy. Allah describes a creed of people when He says: {Allah does not
love this who is vain and over-proud, Those who are stingy and command people
to be stingy. And they hide the surplice of what Allah brought them with his
grace. And we have prepared for them a humiliating torment. And those who
spend their money for to impress people and for their flattery, and they do
not believe in Allah nor in the day after. And this who has Satan as his
fellow friend; what a miserable fellow friend}4-36/37.
The slaves of the Rahman
spend when they spend do not squander and do not under spend. Banalanced in
everything, and balance is a trait of the Muslim. The messenger passed once by
Saad when he was doing Wado (abolition) and said to him [do not squander
water], and Saad asked "Is there such thing as squandering in water?" the
messenger PPBU said: [Yes; even if you were using water on the side of flowing
river]. Meaning even if the river had large quantities of water to such an
extent that it makes no difference to the river whether some water is taken
from it or added to it; But, let that be your style and norm, a trait of your
personality.
We ask Allah to make us
amongst the slaves of the Rahman. He listens and He is close.
Notes:
-
Adhan
- The call to prayer.
-
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the
messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of
Islam.
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
