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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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64 |
Islam, Faith and Perfection
Written by Sk. Younis Salih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
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All thanks be to Allah. We thank Him, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We repent to Him, and we ask Him to protect us from the evil within ourselves, and the evil of our acts. Those who are guided by Allah, nothing shall misguide them, and those who are misguided by Allah; nothing shall guide them. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, the one; the only with no associates. And I bare witness that Mohammad is His slave and His messenger. Allah (may He be exulted) sent him with the guidance and the true religion. He delivered the message, and fulfilled what he was entrusted with. He counseled the nation, and strived in the way of Allah true striving. May Allah peace and prayers be upon him, upon his people, companions and all who follow them with perfection to the day of resurrection.
Dear brothers and sisters, we shall talk about a method adopted to know Allah’s religion through a story reported by Omar Ebn-al-Khattab. He said: One day while we were sitting with the messenger (PPBU); a man suddenly appeared before us, wearing a very white dress and having very black hair without any signs of journey upon him, yet none of us knew him. He approached until he sat before the Prophet (PPBU) with his knees touching the Prophet's knees and he placed his hands on his thighs and said: O' Muhammad inform me about Islam. The messenger of Allah (PPBU) said: {Islam is to bear witness that there is no God except Allah, and that Mohammad is His messenger. Do the prayers, give the charity, fast Ramadan, and make pilgrimage to the Mosque if you are able to do so}. The man said: “You spoke the truth”. We were astonished at his asking and confirming. Then he said: Tell me be about belief. The messenger (PPBU) said: {is to believe in Allah, and His angels, and His books, and His messengers, and day after and to believe in fate good and bad}. The man said: “You spoke the truth”. Then he said: Tell me be about Perfection. The messenger (PPBU) said: {is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you}. He said: Tell me about the hour. The messenger (PPBU) said: {The one who is being asked knows no more about it than the one who is asking}. He said: Tell me about it signs. The messenger (PPBU) said: {is when a slave girl will give birth to her mistress, and when you see the barefooted, naked, impoverished sheepherders competing with each other in tall buildings}. Then the stranger left. The prophet (PPBU) remained seated for quite a while; then he asked me: {Omar, do you know who the questioner was?} I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best". He said: {that was Gabriel [revelation Angel], he came to teach you your religion}.
This report abut the messenger contained the three facts of religion: Islam, belief (or faith) and perfection. These are three great layers because Allah (May He be exulted) makes happiness or misery in this life and the next depend upon them. And those three layers are strongly related. For the circle of Islam has the wider scope. This is followed by the circle of belief and finally the circle of perfection. Consequently, each perfectionist is a believer; and each believer is a Muslim. This explains the secret in God’s argument with those groups of bedouind who claimed to be believers. Allah says: {The bedouins said: "We have become believers." Say: "You believe not but you only say, 'We have surrendered (or we have become Muslims),' for Faith has not yet entered your hearts"} 49-14. This shows that belief or faith is a more specific or a narrower circle than Islam.
If we wanted to delve deeper in understanding the above three mentioned levels then we find that Islam: is worshiping Allah as per his rules and laws, and submitting to him with obedience to Him in public and in privacy. And that is the religion that Allah has favored his messenger (PPBU) with; and bestowed upon him and upon his nation. And He made it the religion for the entire man kind until the day of resurrection; and no other religion shall be accepted from anyone. Islam has six main conditions as mentioned in the hadeeth above; the first of which is bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Mohammad is His messenger. And both become common in a gentle reference that worship is not complete except when two conditions are fulfilled: the sincerity to Allah (May He be Exulted), and following the example of the messenger (PPBU).
It is worth noticing that the above hadeeth explained Islam from by the public acts. That is because when Islam and belief are used together then Islam is explained as the public acts and belief (or faith) is explained by the private acts and convictions, and acts of the heart.
Belief or faith consists of three matters: admission within the heart, expressing or declaring that verbally by the tongue, and physically doing acts with the organs and within the rules. Admission within the heart means believing within the heart all the wise laws that came from Allah and His messenger (PPBU). Submitting and accepting them. Allah praises the believers when He says: {The believers are those who believed in Allah and His messenger then never had doubts} 41-15. Contrasting that comes hypocrisy. For hypocrites are those who appear to be Muslims on the exterior in public; doing all the religious rituals with the Muslims. But, they internally and privately they do not believe and they even hate the religion.
Expressing or declaring belief verbally by the tongue is to declare the two testimonies. It is not enough just to believe that there is a God and to admit that Muhammad (PPBU) is being a prophet without actually verbally declaring those two testimonies. The disbelievers at the time of the messenger (PPBU) admitted that Allah is the creator. But they refused to say and admit the word of singularity.
Allah says: {Say: who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who organises the affairs?" They will say: Allah} 10-31
Allah also says: {When it was said to them: There is no other God but Allah; they puffed themselves up with pride) 37-35.
In fact the messenger’s own uncle Abu-Talib used to admit that his nephew is a prophet, depended and supported him. But that was of no value to him and did not enough to save him from Hell fire; because he did not accept to say the declaration of faith and the key to paradise. The scholars agree that this who does not verbally make the declaration of faith (if able) then he or she can not be considered to have entered into Islam.
Acting according to this belief or faith is one of the great issues that many people have failed to comprehend. Faith can only be realised by physical acts. Islamic law is full of undeniable references and statements about the absolute importance and requirements of acts to take place as a condition in order for faith to be right. Giving up living by the religion of Allah is one of the greater ways of draw back from obedience to Allah and His messenger (PPBU).
This shows just how misguided are those who move away from the light of Allah and stop acting by His laws. When one of them is given an advice to do a prayer or give charity; then they use the excuse that faith is within the heart.
They forget that actions are needed to verify that or deny it. The scholar Hasan Al-Basri said: if his faith is true, then it would inherit acts, and acts would be fruitful.
Faith can increase or decrease. Admission within the heart differs from one person to another; and from one situation to another. No doubt that the certainty of the companions into their God is much greater than that of others. One may experience moments of strong faith to the point that one could almost see paradise and Hell. And occasionally one can experience moments of weakening or coolness in faith. Handal (ÍäÙáÉ) one of the companions said that when we sit with the messenger (PPBU) and he reminds us of Hell and paradise we could almost see it with our own eyes. And when we leave him and get involved with our wives and children and homes we forget a lot. Therefore, the heart conviction varies; and similarly, verbal and physical acts. This who thinks and remembers Allah a lot is not like other, and this who actively worship and continually expresses obedience is not like one who over indulges into sin and disobedience.
Factors that would increase the level of faith are numerous. Some of those are: knowing Allah’s names and attributes. When one knows that Allah can always see him, then one tends not to do an act of disobedience; and because of the sense of constantly being watched by Allah. Allah says: {and say: God, the owner of all possessions, you give possession or ownership to whom you please, and extract possession from whom you please, and you glorify or honor whom you please and humiliate or disgrace whom you please, it is within your hand all goodness. You are capable to doing anything}. When one reads that his/her heart rests and relaxes and one accepts Allah’s decisions and Allah’s destiny or fate. Frequently remembering Allah refreshes the heart and like nutrition to the soul.
Other factors that increase faith is looking and studying Allah’s creations, miracles and sings in the universe. Actively doing acts of worship, and seeking acts of good deeds.
The hadeeth we are looking at today also talked about the level of perfection. It is one of the highest and most honored levels. Allah has guaranteed those who belong to this level with victory. Allah say: {Allah is with those who fear Him and the perfectionists}16-128. Perfection here was explained by the messenger (PPBU) as: {to worship Allah as you see Him. And if you do not see Him, He sees you}. This level indicates that person’s sincerity; and continuous watching out for Allah (May He be praised).
Gabriel (PBU) then asked about the day of resurrection and its signs. The messenger showed that its knowledge is kept exclusively for Allah. But, he outlined some of its signs. He said (a slave girl will give birth to her mistress); meaning the daughter of a slave becomes a lady who herself owns other slaves. This is an indication of slavery becoming common towards the end of life. This has happened not in the so distance past. The second sign {seeing the barefooted, naked, impoverished sheepherders competing with each other in tall buildings}. It indicates that real poor impoverished people that normally had no pride in the past and do not deserve riches and pride. Allah gives them riches so they start competing in building extravagant homes and palaces.
We ask Allah to give us knowledge which will be of benefit, and a good accepted deed. And all thanks be to Allah.
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
