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Friday Talks |
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56 |
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Friday Talks |
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56 |
Good living
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.
This Friday talk is about the good living. The talk is summarized in four axis, they are:
First: Good living is sought after by all people.
Second: Peoples’ concept and view to good living differ greatly.
Third: The truthful meaning of the good living.
Fourth: How the companions understood living.
Good living is a good aim and a demand by people. They all seek it, and for it they spend and give sacrifices. Every human strives to obtain and fulfill a good life. For that all people seem to agree. But, they disagree on the meaning of good life, the type of this good living and consequently, they differ in the routes and means which leads them to this living. If they ever get their.
They differ either as nations, countries or societies, even at the level of the single family. What a good living means to the father in a family may differ to the son’s understanding of good living. Two brothers may have completely different views of good living. Husbands’ and wives may differ too, and may argue a lot because of that.
Some people interpret good living as having a lot of money. Thinking money brings good living. Indeed for some money becomes their goal and the goal verifies the means. For example one does not care if he/she deals in (Reba) or in interest even when reminded with what the messenger (PPUH) said: {Allah curses this who takes interest (Reba), who gives it, who writes it and who witnesses it.}. Some would seek money even if it was taken as a bribe. The messenger PPBU said: {Allah curses the one who gives a bribe, who takes it, who is given it and the go between in a bribe.}. Some collect money even if it is unlawfully taken from the money of an infant. Some take money from people wrongly, or through cheating, or falsely testifying, or forbidden tricks. Eventually he may become like those that Allah and his messenger PPBU warned us against when said: {Don’t be impressed by their wealth and off springs. For Allah wants to punish them with, in this worldly life. And their soul exterminate when they are being unbelievers.} Aya 55-Toba.
Few people are those who make money in Halal, and they are very careful to spend it in Halal, and make it assist him in obeying his God, so He would not test them in their belief.
The majority care too much about money to the point that they may get very sick if shares in the money market go up of down. They car more about taking more of other peoples money than they fear Allah.
Another class of people view the good living is in status and higher positions in the job.
They become so attached to those higher positions such that they love who encourages them and dislike who gives them the sincere advice. For such goals they don’t mind disobeying the creator in order to obey some human.
Another type of people see that good living is in satisfying their urges in any way possible, even if it was through the disobeying of Allah (may he be exulted). Just like animals seeking their pleasures. They travel from one country to another in pursuit of their satanic urges.
They get taken away by the health and physical well being, with the security and safety of their country, and the wealth in their living. But instead of being thankful to their Lord, that becomes unbelief, though they see other nations round them suffering from sickness, wars, natural disasters, dying in starvation and yet that does not become a lesson to them. Allah said: {They are like animals, in fact they are lost even more. They are the unaware}
Another class of people views good living in disobeying Allah. They are proud of that and practice it openly, and they make fun of others. They disobey Allah, they are unbelievers, they see their life as the good life, and think they are free. They are people of big sins. They go from one sin to the next.
Listen to Allah describing the good living: {Any one man or woman who does good while they believe, we shall give him/her a good life, and who is more truthful than Allah} aya 97-Na7l.
This good life is based on two great maters which are easy to those for whom they are made easy:
The first is believing in Allah may he be honored and exulted.
The second: is doing good deeds according to Allah’s guidance and his messenger.
The first to be happy with this life and the first to know its essence are the prophets and messenger of Allah led by the last of them, Muhammad (PPBU). Next come the other messengers, then the messenger’s companions and their companions. The first of them are Abu-Baker, then Omar, then Othman and all those who followed them with good deeds until the last day.
Ali ben Aby Talib used to say in his late night prayers holding his beard talking to this worldly life: {you tried to allure me and seduce me. But never ever, go and lure someone else. I have you disconnected in three, for your taste is awful, your company is dangerous and your danger is so eary. Go and allure someone else, Never ever. What a petty the supplies are limited, the distance to travel is far, and road is in the wilderness}.
Dear brothers, this is the real meaning of life, look after it, get ready for it. And don’t be fooled by the large number of losers and those who are not aware of the situation. Fear Allah and remember that it is the way which will lead you to Allah’s satisfaction with you.
Notes:
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.
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
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.
is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God. Aya (or Ayah):
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. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
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.
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
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.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email
address is : faheemfb@gmail.com
