The sweet taste of faith or belief (Iman)
Written by: SK.
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
dd mmm yyyy h
dd mmm yyyy ac
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.
Those who analyse the
subject of life and the living they will find a class of people living in
(ill-being,) weariness and fatigue. Suffering from boredom and constantly
complaining without peace or tranquility, only discontentment and lack of
happiness. Such souls are deeply engulfed into misery, hate and selfishness.
The analyst on the other
hand will observe another group of people enjoying a peaceful living full of
goodness, generous to themselves and others, with good heart. What is the
difference between the two groups? And what has made the huge difference
between the two? It is the belief or faith and the sweetness of faith.
The messenger (PPBU)
said: {The taste of faith will be experienced by this that is contented and
happy with Allah as his/her God and with Islam as his/her religion and with
Mohammad as his/her Messenger.}
He Also said: {Three
features whoever possessed them will find the taste of belief: (1st) That
Allah and his messenger are more loved to him/her than anybody or anything
else, (2nd) and to love someone for no reason other than for Allah’s sake.
(3rd) and would hate to go back into to being an un-believer after being saved
by Allah as he/she would hate to be thrown into a fire.}
Belief or faith has a
better taste than anything else, and has the best ecstasy. The sweet taste of
belief or faith is an internal feeling of satisfaction, contentment and peace
flowing through the entire body. No lack of sleep at night, no worrying and no
despair but mercy from Allah, happiness and contentment. Allah said: {That is
grace from Allah, HE brings it to whoever HE wishes, Allah has great grace}
Belief or faith is peace
to soul, guidance to the heart, light for travelers, hope for desperation,
safety for those who are afraid, support for strugglers, good news for those
who fear Allah, Faith is a gift for the destitute, faith is bigger than hope
and courage, self confidence and the spirit of the nation.
In order to achieve and
experience this level of sweetness of faith; there are three routs:
1) The first rout is to
be happy and contented with Allah (may HE be Exulted), as being in charge of
each and every soul, and what it may earn, the merciful of this life and the
life after. The care taker of all the heavens and the earths, the creator of
death, life and the universe. The giver of all the mercies, the one who
answers the prayers of the needy, who can take away troubles. The creator of
man kind, HE blew life into him, HE fed him and dressed him, gave him peace,
guided him and taught him.
Belief and faith with
total submission to Allah, Continuously trying to satisfy Him.
2) The second rout to
achieve the sweet taste of belief is the acceptance of Islam as the religion
that was sent by Allah (may he be exalted) down to his messenger (PPBU), and
not to accept any other religion beside it.
3) The third route is
the acceptance of Mohammad (PPBU) as a messenger and as a prophet, taking him
as guidance, and someone to follow his teachings and his life style and
interactions (that is his Sunnah).
Dear Muslims when belief
or faith takes routs in the heart it affects all aspects of the believer’s
life. Allah says: {If I loved him I become the hearing with which he hears,
and the sight with which he sees, and the hand with which he fights, and his
foot with which he walks. If he asks me I would definitely give, and if he
asks for my help I would definitely help}
A believer is contented
with what life brings, does not give up on what has passed, believes in
depending on Allah in all what he/she does, takes lessons from the past and
practice carefulness regarding the future. A believer does not get against
Allah’s fate. A believer pursues his work actively, certain that “what
happened to him/her couldn’t have not happened, and what did not happen to
him/her couldn’t have happened.” A believer does not fall into regret, nor
give in to disappointment, but only increases his/her patience. The messenger
(PPBU) said: {Astonishing that all events to the believer are good for him. If
something good happens to him/her, and he/she thanked Allah, there is good for
them in doing so. And if something bad happens to him/her, and remained
patient, then there is good for them in doing so. And that is only given to a
believer.}
Belief or faith does
reduce the effect of this materialistic world we live in, puts a limit to
greediness. Belief implants the seeds of goodness, mercy and peace.
Allah says: {It is for
those; prayers comes upon them from their God and mercy. They are the guided
ones.} Baqara.
He also says: {Those HE
wrote faith into their hearts, and supported them with a spirit from him}
Mujadela 22
He says: {This who
follows my guidance will not be misguided nor suffer hardship} Taha 123
On the other hand for
those with weak belief Allah says:
{Warning with sever
punishment to those whose heart hardened against remembering Allah}
Those without the taste
of belief act and talk with no bound or limit. They go through life selfish
and greedy. Without belief or faith people go back to being savage animals,
severing their ties with Allah, with other people and follow stains.
Brothers and sisters,
fear Allah, may HE bless you, believe in your Lord, obey your messenger, and
hold on tight to your religion. (we are contented and happy with Allah as god,
and with Islam as a religion, and with Mohammad as a messenger and a prophet).
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.
