Doing business with Allah
Written by: SK.
Translated by Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
dd mmm yyyy h
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I advice you people
and my self to fear Allah (May He
be exulted).
Fear Him by doing what he commanded to be done, and refrain from what he
ordered to be avoided. Fear Him correctly such that you would not be missed
where He ordered you to be, and you would not be seen where he ordered you
not to be. Take your provisions from this life for the next. Take up what
will get you nearer to your creator, for He is close, and He answers when
you call. He gives when he is asked.
Imagine two who
intend to embark on a journey. The trip is far through wilderness, the
journey is hard and difficult. They took some fuel and set off towards their
destination. Along the way, one started getting distracted by what he sees.
His mind is occupied by what the trip throws his way. He is busy watching
others in their comings and goings. He did not know until his ride was out
of fuel in a place with no fuel and no supplies. He remained still expecting
to parish unless some other traveler passes by and be kind to him. Or fate
may bring some old friend to his rescue.
The other traveler
kept a watch on his fuel gauge. When ever the fuel level is a little low, he
would stop at the next general purpose station. He gets fuel, rests, get
water and other supplies. And so he continues his trip with care, and
attention to rest stations along the way. Stopping at each and getting all
the supplies until he reached the final destination.
What do you think of
the two travelers? Who is the wiser? and the one with the better logic? Most
likely your reply would be that the one who took precautions and took better
care of the situation is the wiser. The other; he himself put himself in
danger in ignoring the critical situation he was at.
Dear brothers, the
state of those two travelers, if we think for a moment, is almost the same
as your state, and mine and each and every one of us with the seasons of
goodwill, goodness and blessings which Allah (may
He be exulted)
provided for us every now and again. Those holy and spiritual resting
station from which we can refresh with the true fuel and the supplies which
are really needed for the life after. The wise ones of us have taken those
opportunities and they have been saved and they have won. Some others have
ignored those opportunities and they have lost and failed miserably.
Some of Allah’s
mercies on our blessed nation are: that He made our lives’ spans short and
our hour of death is defined. He provided us with numerous goodness and
blessed seasons. He was nice to make many of our actions deserve rewards
from Him, and rewards are counted in many folds. We can do so little and get
rewarded greatly. We spend a little and get repaid hugely. Allah says: {That
is Allah’s tiding He brings it upon who wishes. And Allah is one with the
great tidings} 57:21.
One of the great
seasons, one of the great golden opportunities is the one which we about to
embark upon in a few days, A season of blessed days and wonderful nights.
That is the holy month of Ramadan. The month which Allah has made fasting of
its days one of the pillars of Islam. And the prophet (ppbu) has made it a
Sunnah during the nights to do Tahajjud and Quiam prayers.
Allah says: {you believers, it was written that you are to fast; just as
it was written for those before you, so you may fear. A number of days, but
those of you who are sick or traveling the same number of other days, and
those who can stand it a replacement of feeding a needy, this who
voluntarily donates is better for him and if you fast it is better for you
all if you knew. The month of Ramadan is the month during which the Quran
was brought down as guidance to people and clear points of guidance and
differentiations. Those of you see or attend the start of the month do fast
while he who is sick or on travel a number of other days will do. Allah
wants easiness for you and He does not want difficulties, and complete
(fasting) to the full count of the month and say Allah is great for guiding
you that you may be thankful}
What a market for
business which is sure to profit with Allah to take supplies from, And what
a racing track where those with great ambitions can compete. How happy he
who in his business transactions with his God was truthful. How profitable
is he who was in an agreement with the guidance of his prophet. The prophet
(ppbu) said: {He who fasts Ramadan in faith and expectations, then
his/her past sins are forgiven}. And He also said: {He who does Quiam
(Night prayers) Ramadan in faith and expectations, then his past sins are
forgiven}. He also said: { He who does Quiam in the Qadr Night in
faith and expectations, then his past sins are forgiven }
The closer the month
of Ramadan becomes the more the believer’s heart become humbled and anxious.
For one does not know whether one will make it (alive) to this month or not.
If one knew that they will live till the month of Ramadan, then one can
congratulate him or her self. On the other hand if one’s soul departs (in
other words one’s life will end) before the start of Ramadan then one can
feel sorry for him or her self. Also one does not know even if he or she
will make it to and through the holy month, if a person is going to be one
of the successful ones or one of the disappointed distanced ones. Of what we
know and see is that all go and get ready when this guest month arrives. A
person with a lost soul is either going to save his soul or send it into a
worse state.
Those with life in
their hearts, and wisdom in their brains they sell them selves to God the
Rich and the Sincere. They approach the Generous, the Merciful the most
Gracious. They fast in fear and expectation. They pray at nights with
sincerity and obedience. Hope for and expect their Gods’ mercy and fear his
punishment. Their bodies unwillingly stay away from beds making
supplications with fear and hope. And they spend of what He has given them.
That’s only because they knew that just making it alive to Ramadan is a
great blessing and tiding from Allah deserving to be thankful to His
Majesty. That’s why they spend Ramadan’s day fasting and Ramadan’s night
praying. They do not argue, do not do wrong, do not shout and give out, do
not engage into awful acts nor useless conversations. They read their God’s
Book and enjoy uttering of its words, they praise His goodness and thank Him
for his mercies. They keep their minds and bodies well, and they remember
death. They have noble souls and high targets, good aims and guided heart.
Allah says: {No
soul knows what has been hidden for them with which their eyes will be
contend as a reward for what they used to do}. Those are the ones who
will benefit from Ramadan, those who will find true freedom in it. For the
likes of them, the doors of heavens will be opened and the doors of hell
will be closed. The month leaves them after their sins have been forgiven
and their wrongful acts have been cleared. With the likes of those that
societies are made better and happier and nations become alive. This nation
(ummah) needs such type of people at all times and all places.
Some people with
Ramadan they are not at an agreement, and they are disassociated. Some only
see it as a meaningless abstaining, or some old tradition. They intend not
to fast during Ramadan secretly or declaring it clearly. They are stupid,
disbelieving after believing, Stating that fasting is a limit to the so
called freedoms. Which to them means fulfilling their cravings and desire
and doing what one’s instinct requires. An instinct with no limits and no
controls. It is at such a low state as far as Allah is concerned.
Some other people are
a miserable bunch. They welcome Ramadan as a month of days of starvation and
nights of glutton devour. They sleep the days and stay up the nights till
dawn. Ramadan to them is for great feasts of food. There are those who have
jobs, they do not turn up for work, and those who abuse and badly treat and
behave with other people, unfriendly faces, bad tempered and verbally
abusive. They see in Ramadan a hunger which their stomachs can not stand and
thirst their bodies can not put up with. How weak some people can be? They
only take the crazy irresponsible side of life. They get affected and
influence no effect. They live displaced and live off others. They have no
belief to be proud of, and have no good behavior to hold on to. Nothing good
makes them happy and they are never sincere in worship.
Ramadan is the month
of repentance. So, what type of a Ramadan is yours going to be? The prophet
said: {Amen, Amen, Amen}. Some said: “Prphet of Allah, You went up
the Menber and said Amen, Amen amen!”. He said: {Gabriel
(pbu) came to me and said: “Who makes it to Ramadan and does not get
forgiveness, then may he be gone to hell fire, may Allah put him at a
distance. Say amen” So, I said amen}.
Slave of Allah, this
is the time for hard work if you are serious. This is the time for worship
if you are ready. This is the breeze of acceptance, and the flood of
goodness. Satan is dropped and the goodness door is opened to those who
want. This is the time of return to Allah, cool cleansing and drink, mercy
from the Most Gracious and the Most Generous. Hurry up and repent before the
door is closed. Take the opportunity and be warned against putting it off or
postponement. And don’t be with the ones who refused and came out of Ramadan
with no forgiveness and no reward.
Those who have so
many sins and so much wrong doings, if they do not repent during the month
of Ramadan, then when shall they repent? And if they do not return to Allah
during this month of mercy and forgiveness, then when will they ever do?
Do return to Allah,
knock his door, ask a plenty for forgiveness, and take the opportunity of
the profitable times. For the days of this season are a few. The times of
good deeds are witnessed. In Ramadan there are precious joules. Do not waist
it by messing and playing and doing what has no real value. For you do not
know when you will be returned to Allah. And you do not know if you will
make it to next Ramadan or not. The wise one is that who looks at his own
situation, thinks out of his or her short comings, correct him self before
he is surprised by the sudden death. That’s when his work is terminated and
he is transported to the life of veil then the life of judgment.
May Allah make our
fasting a true and an accepted fast. May Allah makes our fasting be in faith
and expectation, faith in what He has, and expectation of His reward. We ask
Allah to make us and you and all Muslims with those who fast the month,
receive the full reward, and win the night of Qadr. I also ask Him to
make us amongst those who will fast and do quiam night prayers in
faith and expectation. Allah, make our fasting be counted with those who
fast and our Quiam with those who do Quiam. And all thanks be to 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.
