Friday Talks
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Friday Talks |
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Type of People after Ramadan
Written by Sk. Omar Kadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
08 Shawal 1431 h
17 September 2010 ac
Dear faithful, dear brothers and sisters,
Ramadan has gone, just as many other Ramadans before it have gone. So are Allah’s laws in His creations. And Allah’s laws can not be replaced or changed. Each and every living creature shall parish, whether it is a human, or an animal or a plant or other maters. Each creature has a life cycle which ends in demise. The creator says about man kind: {Allah who created you from weakness, then he makes strength after this weakness, then he makes weakness and greyness after strength. He creates what He wants, He is the most knowledgeable, the most capable} 30:54.
I wonder what does man kind expect after reaching old age? It is death which will end his life cycle. One generation after next; go through this until they last day. Also animals, no matter how long they live, they shall die, and similarly plants. The entire world will come to an end. Yes, dear brothers (and sisters) Ramadan has gone and left people in either of three different types:
Type 1: those who have been blessed by Allah. They did fast the days of Ramadan, and prayed, and remembered Allah and made duaa during its nights. They controlled their tongs off bad and useless talk. They recited Quran, they were truthful, thankful, they encouraged and advised towards good and deterred against evil. They purified their hearts off despises, hate, envy, revenge, harshness and cruelty, cockiness. Instead they filled their hearts with love, and kindness, and peace and forgiveness and humbleness, and goodness. They ceased to hurt others, and stopped committing wrong against others and stopped aggression. In other words they gave fasting all its deserving requirements in a God fearing manner and with shyness from God. In the hope that God might accept their fasting and their worship, and rewards all that with covering their faults and mistakes, and rewards then with satisfaction, and rewards them by including them amongst the accepted ones, and those who are promised with paradise. This type will be covered with Allah’s mercy because they were perfectionists in their deeds. Allah says: {Allah’s mercy is close to the perfectionists and the kind} 7:56.
Type 2: are those who openly disobeyed Allah, those who did not fast Ramadan or some of Ramadan; without an acceptable reason. They let loose their senses and organs, they wronged, they transgressed, they committed forbidden acts, they had no respect for Allah, and they committed evil in earth and destroyed it. They were the people of Satan, and the people of Satan are the losers. Angel Gabriel said to the messenger ppbu: “this that witnesses Ramadan and does not get his/her sins forgiven, is destined away by Allah, say: Amen”. The messenger ppbu said: “Amen”.
Type 3: are the people who fast Ramadan, but did not act and live by some of Ramadan’s disciplines and features and requirements. They may have committed some mistakes and small sins. May Allah accepts repentance from them and forgives them and pardons them, and accepts their fasting. This type of people will receive Allah’s forgiveness: Allah says: {if you avoid the greater sins which you are warned against, then we shall forgive your sins and make you enter a generous entrance} 4:31. The messenger ppbu said: {the five prayers from one to the next, and the Friday to the following Friday, and one Ramadan to the following Ramadan, they all clear away the sins happening between them as long as the major sins are not committed}.
Slaves of Allah, the month of Holy Ramadan has departed and is carrying with it the records of our deeds. We hope that it was filled with acts of obedience and good deeds. We hope that our creator is satisfied with our deeds. Now that Ramadan has gone, we should not go back to disobedience and sinful deeds. We should not stop offering our prayers and other worships. The Lord of Ramadan is still the same Lord of other months. We are His slaves at all times. Allah deserves to be shown fidelity and loyalty at all times and not be disobeyed. He ought to be remembered and not forgotten. He ought to be thanked and not to deny His mercies. Allah enacted the rules of Ramadan to fill our hearts with Godliness so we make our selves better, and improve our morals, and better our behaviour and to keep up obedience to Allah. All this is in order so we will be happy in this life and the next. Allah says: {Those who say our God Allah, then they remain on the straight, Angels descend upon them saying: Have no fears, and do not be saddened, and take the good news of Paradise which you were promised * We are your sponsors in the first life and in the next, and there will be in it for you all your souls will desire for and all you will want to claim * a place to dwell in from the most Forgiving the most Merciful} 41:29.
Keep on being obedient, and keep up the morals of Ramadan even After Ramadan. Make a proper repentance which would cause sins to be forgiven and which would lead you to paradise. Allah says: {and worship your God until the certain (death) comes to you} 15:99. Allah also says: {You who have faith fear Allah His deserved fear, and do not die except as Muslims} 3:202. The messenger ppbu said: {When son of Adam dies, all his/her deeds stops except of three types of deeds: a useful knowledge left behind, or an on going charity, or a son who would make duaa for}. The point is that death is so very close.
One of the signs of acceptance of our fasting and prayers and reciting, and all the good deeds during Ramadan is the continuation of doing the good deeds. A good deed leads to another good deed. One of the disobediences is to be relaxed about the Friday prayer, and to put away the Koran, also to cut down on the voluntary worships.
Allah has offered voluntary fasting and prayers and charities and other deeds of goodness for the Muslim to fill his or her time with; and maintain a connection with Allah. The messenger ppbu said: {the most loved of deeds to Allah are those which have continuity even if they were small}. Some Muslims thinks that worship is only required during the month of Ramadan, and others think prayers are only required on Fridays. That is absolutely wrong. This who stops the obedient deeds after Ramadan then his or her deeds during Ramadan will be refused.
Slaves of Allah, He has provided us with voluntary acts of worship after Ramadan. One of them is fasting six days of this month of Shawal. The messenger ppbu said: {whoever fasts the month of Ramadan then follows it with fasting six days in the month of Shawal, then he or she would be as if they fasted eternity}. And the messenger ppbu said about fasting one day (the 9th day of the month of Thel-Hejja) known as “Arafa day”, he said: {will clear all sins for a year before it and a year after it}. The messenger also said: {the best fasting after the month of Ramadan is during the month of Al-Muharram, and the best prayers after the compulsory prayers is the night prayer}.
Allah says: {those who spend their money in charity by night and by day, in private and in public, then they will have their reward with their God, and they have nothing to fear and nothing to be saddened about} 2:174.
One never knows when one will be surprised by death. It comes suddenly. Do not be fooled by the long life you have. Be prepared.
Oh Allah, accept our fasting, our prayers, our charity and our deeds of obedience.
Oh Allah, make Ramadan an argument for us, and a good reference for us when we stand before you.
Oh Allah make Ramadan for us to be a mercy, forgiveness, and pardoning from hell fire.
Oh Allah, make us witness next Ramadan while we are in a state of obedience and thankfulness to you.
All thanks be to Allah, and prayers be upon our prophet Muhammad and his followers.
Notes:
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.
Aya (or Ayah):
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.
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.
