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Friday Talks |
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217 |
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Expiation and Levels
Written by:
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
01 Thul-Hejjah 1440
02 August 2019
Dearly beloved in Allah,
The prophet ppbu was reported saying on behalf of his God Allah; that Allah said: {O Muhammad, what do the higher assembly discuss or argue about? I said: acts of expiation (or atonements or cleansing) (kaffara) and levels. He said: what are the acts of expiation or atonements? I said: Walking to join Friday prayers, in another narration: walking to join congregation prayers. And, sitting in mosques after prayers are finished, and refreshing of ablution (Wadoo) in spite of difficulties. Whosoever does that then he/she will live well, dies well; and will have as much sin as they had the day they were born. He said: and what are the levels? I said: giving food, and lenient speech (In another narration: exchanging greetings of peace); and doing prayers at night while people are asleep. He said: Muhammad, Ask me anything. I said: O Allah I ask You to help me do good deeds, and stay away from evil ones, and to grant me love of the poor and needy, and to forgive me and have mercy on me. And if You were to put people through sedition or temptation or trial of faith; then make me die before that, without being put to that trial or temptation. I also ask You to grant me Your love, the love of those who love You, and grant me to love deeds that bring me closer to Your love}. The messenger ppbu then said: This is true; so study them and then learn them}.
This is a fantastic hadeeth, which contains much knowledge, and extracted rulings and intentionally mentioned acts of expiation (Kaffarah), levels and duaa (prayers). Three acts of expiation are refreshing of Wadoo in spite of difficulties, foot walking towards Friday and congregation prayers, and sitting inside mosques after prayer ends. Those characteristics or acts are known as expiation (or atonements or kaffaras); because they clear away sins and wrong doings. It is for that reason the messenger ppbu said after them: {and whosoever does that will live well, and dies well, and will have as much sin as they had the day they were born}. Those three characteristics are mostly considered as acts of expiation of sin. But they also achieve elevation of levels or status. The messenger ppbu said: {Will I guide you to what would makes Allah wipe off your sins and elevates your levels? They said: Yes messenger of Allah. He said: Refreshing your ablution despite difficulties, and plenty of steps walking to mosques, and waiting for a prayer when a prayer has ended. That is the Rebat (vigilance: or ever ready, alert, on watch or on guard), That is Rebat}.
The three levels are: Feeding the hungry, leniency in speech and offering prayers at night while people are asleep. And because of the importance of those three deeds; which are over looked and forgotten by a lot of people; those three were mentioned together many times by the messenger. The messenger ppbu once said: {There are rooms in paradise where their exterior can be seen from within; or from the inside of them, and their interior can be seen from outside. They asked: O messenger of Allah, who do they belong to? He said: They are for those who give food, and talks softly to others and those who perform prayers at night while people are asleep}. The messenger ppby when he came to Madina he said: {O people, Exchange greetings of peace between you, and offer food for the hungry, and link up with your blood relatives, and offer prayers at night while people are asleep, then you shall enter paradise in peace}.
This great first hadeeth mentioned when the messenger ppbu was asked by his God, it contains the most complete and inclusive duaas or prayers. That is why the messenger ppbu commanded it to be studied and learnt. This duaa or prayer is summarised as the messenger ppbu said: {I ask You to help me do good deeds, and stay away from evil ones}. It includes requesting all that is good, and abstaining from all evil. Whoever achieves this then they would gain the best in this life and next. Slaves of Allah, do what you can in obtaining the good in order that you will be successful. That is especially true in those blessed days. They first ten days of Thul-Hejja. During those ten days do as many prayers as you can, and as much fasting and donate and recite quran as much as you can; and other good deeds. Remember that with regard to those days; our messenger ppbu said: {No other deed more loved to Allah than good deeds done during those days (referring to first ten days of Thul Hejjah). They asked: O’Messenger of Allah, even better than Jihad in the line of Allah? He said: even better that jihad, except in the case when a man puts his life and money on line and loses both}.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).
Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.
- 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.
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.
