Traits of the Salves of The Rahman: 06 Believing in one God
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. Allah describes them in surat Al-Forkan
when He says: {And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are:
Those who
walk on the earth in humility, and;
when the
ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" and;
Those who
spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrate and stand;
Those who
say, "Our Lord! avert from us the Wrath of Hell, for its Wrath is indeed an
affliction grievous, "Evil indeed it is; as an abode and as a place to rest
in" and;
Those
who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not stingy, but are moderate
and in balance between extremes; }
That is
their positive characteristics. But, a religion is commandments to do things
and commandments to refrain from other things. So, if that was how they deal
and handle what Allah's commands to them do, then how do they deal with
Allah's commandments to refrain from doing things. And the next Aya deals
with that when Allah says: {Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god,
nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for a just cause, nor
commit adultery; and any that does this meets punishment.} Looking at the
first part of this Aya Allah differentiates between His slaves and those who
associate partners with Allah. Those who associate partners with Allah they
would not think much in blood shedding, and in indulging into their sexual
desires and instincts.
The first
part of the verse (aya) describes the slaves of the Rahman that they do not
seek nor address any one other than Allah with supplication (Duaa) and
requests. For supplication is considered to be the fundamental part of
worship, indeed it is worship.
The
messenger of Allah said: {Duaa or supplication is worship}. Allah says: {And
your Lord said call me (with supplication) and I shall answer you. Those who
are proud beyond worshipping me shall enter Hell with shame}. In this Aya
Allah replaced the word worship with the word supplication.
For those
who do not call others in association with Allah, they worship only Allah,
and consider Holiness is to Allah alone. And make no requests or
supplication to anyone but Allah. They kneel down to no one but Allah, Their
Lord is Allah alone. Prophet Loqman advising his son in the Koran in Surat
Luqman 13-31 says: {And as Loqman said preaching to his son: "My son, make
no associates with Allah. For Associating with Allah is the highest
wrong-doing or a great oppression"}. And in another location in the Koran
Allah says: {For Allah does not forgive to make an association with him, and
shall forgive any less than that to whoever He wishes}
The
Messenger of Allah (PPBU) was asked: "Which sin is the biggest of all", He
said: "To associate a rival with Allah who created you" He was asked "Then
what is next?" He said: "To kill your child fearing that they would take
share in food or otherwise." He was asked "Then what is next?" and he said:
"to commit adultery with your neighbours wife". This supports the aya in the
Koran that says: {Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor
murder such life as Allah has made sacred except for a just cause, nor
commit adultery; and whoever does this meets punishment.}
The
slaves of the Rahman single out Allah for worship, and for asking for help.
They understood the meaning in Al-Fatiha chapter of the verses that state: {
إيّاك نعبد ، وإيّاك نستعين - Thee (it is you) do we worship, and Thine
(your) aid we seek.} The prophet of Allah Hood in the Koran says: {. . . and
my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. In Him I trust, and unto
Him I look.} 11-88. to worship Allah alone, be remorseful to Allah, seeking
help only from Allah, This is the truth of monotheism.
Monotheism is of two types:
1) The
first is oneness of God. That is; believing that there is no other god but
Allah. No creator, no sustainer except Allah. He created the heaves and
earth and He owns them. This type of monotheism was accepted by the people
of Quraish and other Arabs who they accepted that Allah is the lord of the
heavens and earth. Yet despite this belief; they still associated other gods
with Allah. They worshipped statues, idols, the sun, the moon etc.
2) The
second type of Monotheism is worshipping no other god but Allah. Not to
pray, not to seek help, and not to have hope or fear except from Allah
alone. This is the monotheism for which Allah sent his messengers. What
misguided humanity; is not disbelieving in god altogether; but making with
Allah other partners and idols .
All
messages of all messengers had this call: {. . . people, worship Allah; you
do not have another god besides Him}. Also Allah says: {and We sent amongst
every people a messenger in order to worship Allah and to abstain from evil}
The
messenger used to finish all his letters sent to other kings and rulers and
heads of the Christian belief; with this phrase of the Koran: {Say: "O
People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we
worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we
erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If
then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims
(bowing to Allah’s Will).}
The
Nimrood is an example when he said "I can give life and give death" and
issued his orders to kill two men. Then he had one man executed, and gave a
decree to the other man and let him go.
And Ferro
who claimed to be God, when he said to his people: {I am your elevated Lord}
and he also said: {and I know not of another god for you other than I}
There are
many others who claim to be gods without saying it in words, but in actions.
They want to humiliate people and want people to worship them. They order
people and want them to obey. They point at them and they pay attention. And
they lay down laws and rules for people and they follow. They legalise the
Haram for them, and they forbid the Halal. The people never say "No" or
"why?"
3uday ebn
Hatem (عدي إبن حاتم) was a Christian, came to the messenger PPBU and read
this verse from the Koran: {They took their rabbis and priests and the
Messiah the son of Mariam; as gods apart from Allah. Yet they were commanded
only to worship one god, No other god but Him; praise him above their claims
of partnership}. Hatem said "They do not worship them". The messenger PPBU
said: "Yes, they do, they forbade them what was allowed to them, and they
made allowed what was forbidden to them, and they followed them. That is
worshipping them". This is a type of worship; accepting some people to put
what they wish as law for you. Allowing or forbidding what they wish. That
is taking the role of Allah. That is why accepting no partners with Allah,
or monotheism is a true liberator for humans.
The
slaves of the Rahman are: {Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god},
this is Islam.
The
messenger warned against all types of believing in any form of partnership.
There is a major and a minor forms of partnership. The major one is being
the clearly seen or evident of taking other gods as partners with Allah. The
minor form or the hidden form is like asking the help of the dead; or using
trees, or stones or other items as good omens. It is believing that they can
help or bring good luck. The minor type also includes the taking of an oath
with anybody other than Allah. It is like taking an oath with the Prophet,
or the Ka3ba, or by the Shakh (or Molana) such and such. The messenger PPBU
said: {Whoever makes an oath with anything other than Allah; then he has
become an unbeliever (Kufr) or he has committed an act of taking a partner
with Allah (or Shirk)}.
Other
forms of the minor type of taking partners also manifest in saying for
example: (If not for such person, then such things could have happened). The
Muslim should be careful with what he/she may say. In this example he should
say: "if not of Allah and such a person, then such and such could've
happened".
A man
said once to the Messenger PPBU: "if Allah is welling and if you are
welling" and the messenger PPBU said: "Have you made me a foe or rival to
Allah? Just say if Allah alone is welling". The messenger wanted to liberate
the individual Muslim; so he/she seeks Allah and take refuge to Allah alone.
The messenger even recommended that he is not to be over evaluated. He said:
{do not glorify or boast me as the Christians glorified the son of Meriam, I
am but a slave. Just say: the slave of Allah and his messenger}. And that's
what we say in every prayer when we set down for "Tashahud". Many times in
the Koran, the messenger was called "the slave"; and this is what the
messenger boasts about, being the slave of Allah.
Some
people came to the messenger and said: "Messenger of Allah, you are the best
of us, and the son of the best in us, you are our master the son of our
master", he said: "people, you keep saying this and Satan will lead you on.
I am Mohammad the slave of Allah and his messenger. I would not like you to
glorify me above my status that Allah has bestowed upon me."
The minor
form of Shirk can also involve making a vow to other than Allah, and
sacrificing an animal to other than Allah, charms and spells. Islam
liberates humanity from all forms dependency and slavery to other than
Allah.
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.
