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Friday Talks faheemfb@gmail.com

239

   

Earthquakes

 

Written by:  Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

  

04 Shaban 1444.

24 February   2023.

 

 

Dearly beloved in Allah,

 

Praise be to God, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of God, his family, his companions, and those who were guided by his guidance.

 

God Almighty, praise be to Him, is All-Wise and All-Knowing in what He decrees and determines, just as He is All-Wise and All-Knowing in what He has legislated and commanded. And He, Glory be to Him, creates whatever signs or miracles He wills, and decrees them in order to frighten and alarm His servants and to remind them of what is obligatory upon them of His rights, and warn them against associating partners with Him (or Sherk), or violating His commands, and committing His prohibitions.

 

Allah says: {We only send the Signs by way of frightening (and warning from evil)} 17:59

Allah also says: {Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes clear to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord does witness all things?} 41:53

Allah also says: { Say: "He has power to send calamities or disasters on you, from above you or from below your feet, or to cover you with confusion in sects or groups, giving you a taste of mutual vengeance - each from the other."} 6:65.

 

The messenger ppbu said: {When the saying of God Almighty was revealed, that part that says: {He is able to send upon you a torment from above you} that the messenger ppbu said: (I seek your face as a protection and refuge). And when he read the part of the verse: {From under your feet}, the messenger ppbu said: (I seek your face as a protection and refuge).

 

Mujahid in the interpretation of this verse said: {He is able to send upon you a torment from above you} the messenger said: (mighty blast, stones and wind). (or from under your feet) the messenger ppbu said: (tremor and sinking).

 

There is no doubt that the earthquakes that occurred in these days in many places are among the signs that God, Glory be to Him, directs fears towards His servants. And all that happens in the world of earthquakes and other disasters, which harms the people and causes them types of hurt, all of that is because of the polytheism and sins or disobediences, as God Almighty said: {whatever misfortune happens to you, is because what you have earned with your own hands, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness} 42:30. Allah also says: {Whatever good, happens to you, is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to you, is from yourself.} 4:79

 

Allah also says: {Each one of them We seized for his crime: some We sent a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by a (mighty) Blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned (in the waters): It was not Allah Who oppressed them:" They oppressed their themselves} 29:40

 

It is obligatory for all Muslims and non-Muslims to repent to God, glory be to Him, to be steadfast in His religion, and to beware of all that He has forbidden of polytheism and sins, so that they may attain wellness and deliverance in this world and the Hereafter from all evils. Also, in order that God repels them from every calamity, and grants them all good as Allah says: { If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We took them for their misdeeds.} 7:96

Allah says: { And if they had established the Torah and the Gospel and what was sent down to them from their Lord, they would have eaten from above them and from beneath their feet} 5:66

Allah says: {Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our wrath by night while they were asleep? (97). Or else did they feel secure against its coming in broad daylight while they played about (care-free)? (98) Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah?- but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, except those (doomed) to ruin! (99) } 7:97-99`

 

The scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim said: (And God Almighty may allow the earth at times to breathe, causing great earthquakes to occur in it, and from that, fear and apprehension occur to His servants, repentance, abandoning sins, supplication to God, Glory be to Him, and remorse.

 

 

Servants of God, words struggle and are unable to describe these horrific and painful scenes of earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. Hearts break when seeing what has happened. You can only wonder how distorted those who actually lived this tragedy. Difficult to imagine how bad they still feel after living the moment, and after seeing those who were killed and injured. After seeing their homes totally destroyed and everything they had was lost in few seconds. Some of their loved ones are still to this day under rescue and under rubble.

Dearly beloved in Allah, today, let Allah the Almighty see something comes out of your. Show Allah something good of your nature. Extend a helping hand with sincerity and generosity to those victims, the afflicted, the injured and the homeless

God Almighty said: {And spend in the way of God, and do not throw yourselves with your own hands into ruin, and do charitable, for God loves those who are charitable} 2:195. And God Almighty said: {Indeed, God’s mercy is close to the doers of good} 7:56. And God Almighty said: {We touch with Our mercy on whosoever We will, and We do not waste the reward of the doers of good} 12:56.

And God Almighty said: {The charitable men and charitable women, who have loaned God a loan of righteousness, it will be multiplied for them, and for them is a generous reward} 57:18

And God the Most High said: {And whatever you have spent, He replaces it, and He is the Best of Providers} 34:39. And the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: {Whoever relieves a believer from one of the distresses of this world, God will relieve him of one of the distresses of the Day of Resurrection}. You could only imagine how great this reward is.

Dearly beloved in Allah, after seeing these horrific and terrifying scenes that God Almighty sends to awaken hearts, I remind myself and all Muslims to repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord of the earth and the heavens so that we can be saved in this world and the hereafter.

I say this and I seek forgiveness from Allah for you and me, for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

 

 

Notes:

1. Adhan - The call to prayer.

2. Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

3. Allah - The Arabic word for "god."  It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

7. 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.

8. Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.  

9. Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa) 

10. Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

11. Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.  

12. Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life. 

13. Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

14. Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

15. Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

16. Fiqh - Religious law.

17. 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.

18. Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

19. Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar.  One of the five pillars of Islam.

20. Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

21. Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers.  Considered authoritative and perfect.

22. Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

23. 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.

24. Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

25. Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

26. 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.

27. Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.  

28. Iman: belief or faith

29. Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

30. Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

31. Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise.  The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

32. 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."

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

36. Khutbah  - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

37. Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

38. 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.)

39. 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.

40. Masjid - A center for Muslim activity.  It is referred to as a mosque.

41. Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

42. 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).

43. Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

44. 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.

45. 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

46. Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

47. Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

48. Nasara - Christians.  Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

49. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

50. 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.

51. 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.

52. Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

53. 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.

54. Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

55. Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

56. Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

57. 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.

58. 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.

59. 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.  

60. Siam  or Soam- Fasting

61. 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.

62. 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.

63. Surah - A chapter of the Koran.  

64. 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.

65. 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)

66. Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah.  A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

67. Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

68. Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

69. 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.

70. Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

71. Zaboor - The Psalms

72. Zakat - The third pillar of Islam.  Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.