In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Allah Almighty says in the last Ayah of Surah Al-Kahf (meaning):
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (110) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:110]
The Battle of Tabuk which took place in the month of Rajab (A.H. 9) was the best occasion on which the self-sacrificing persons and the pretenders and hypocrites could be recognized, because general mobilization was ordered when the weather was very hot and the business community of Madinah was ready to harvest the palm-dates.
People in Madinah were generally devoted to agriculture. Their farms were close to being harvested. On this depended their economy, rather the sustenance of the whole year. Like people in vocations who have empty pockets by the end of the month, people who depend on agricultural produce are empty-handed close to the harvesting time.
On the one hand, they have poverty while on the other, they have hopes of income in the near future. Then, there was this scorching heat of the summer for a people who had their first breather after eight years of incessant wars. No doubt, this was an exacting trial. But, equally crucial was the time. This Jihad was different. It was not like the wars they had fought before. At that time, they were fighting common people like them. Here, they were to confront the trained armed forces of Hiraql, the ruler of Byzantine. Therefore, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered all Muslims of Madinah to come out for this Jihad. He also invited some other tribes living around Madinah to join in.
This general call was a tough test for those who were willing to make sacrifices for Islam as well as a challenge to the hypocrites who would have to prove their claim to be Muslims by joining the Jihad or be exposed as false pretenders.
The Qur'an enumerated them as separate groups of people and has pointed out to their condition as well.
The first group included those who were strong and perfect in their faith. They were ready for Jihad without any hesitation.
The second group was composed of those who hesitated at the initial stage but, later on, joined up with those ready for Jihad.
The third group was of those who were unable to join this Jihad on the basis of some genuine excuse.
The fourth group were people who, despite that they had no excuse to offer, simply did not participate in the Jihad out of sheer laziness. This group consisted of persons like Ka'b, Hilal and Mararah who had full faith in Islam and were also desirous of participating in jihad, but as they had not yet collected their produce they decided that after collecting the produce they would join the warriors of Islam.
The fifth group was that of the hypocrites, the munafiqun. Their hypocrisy was deep seated and saying yes to Jihad was hard. Finally, they failed to cover it up and stayed away from Jihad. Hypocrites have been mentioned in the verses of the Qur'an on many places.
The sixth group included munifiqun who had joined up with Muslims with the objective of spying and mischief making.
Allah called out to those who did not take part in the Battle of Tabuk because of their inertia and without any valid excuse,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ﴿٣٨﴾[Qur'an, At-Tawbah 9:38]
O you who have believed, what is wrong with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little. (38)
In the beginning of the verse, they were admonished for their lethargy, [what is wrong with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth?] then, they were told why they behaved the way they did [Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter?] and, finally, they were told how to correct themselves [But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.].
When Allah calls out "O you who have believed", it includes the hypocrites, because they are hidden. Reading about the hypocrite in the Qur'an should be an eye opener for us. If we don't feel that we have this problem that is the ultimate side of the problem.
Check yourself:
The Prophet (upon whom be Allah’s peace) has explained that a person’s being characterized by this quality is a sign that he is not a believer but a hypocrite. According to a Hadith he said;
"The hypocrite has three signs even if he offered the Prayer and observed the Fast, and professed to be a Muslim: That then he spoke he lied; when he made a promise, he broke it; and when he was entrusted with something, he proved dishonest. " (Bukhari, Muslim) .
In another Hadith he said:
"Four characteristics are such that the one who has all the four, is a hypocrite through and through, and the one who has one of these, has one characteristic of hypocrisy in him until he gives it up: that when he is entrusted with something, he proves dishonest; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he quarrels he crosses all limits of morality and decency." (Bukhari, Muslim).
If you have any of these signs, get rid of them.
Our major concern in life should be that of the eternal life in Akhirah (Hereafter). It is this concern for the Akhirah that offers the only and the most perfect treatment of all diseases. Incidentally, this also happens to be the master prescription for eradication of crimes that bother human societies all over the world.
The 'Aqa'id of Islam (articles of Faith) are based on three principles:
(1)Tauhid (Oneness of Allah);
(2)Risalah (the true mission of the Messenger and Prophet sent by Allah) and
(3) Akhirah (Hereafter).
Out of these three, the belief in Akhirah is, in all reality, the moving spirit for correction of deeds and serves as an iron wall before crimes and sins. A little thought would make it amply clear that there can be no peace in the world without subscribing to this belief.
The world as we see it today has reached its zenith in terms of its material progress. Then there is no dearth of functional solutions and plans designed to eradicate crimes. Laws proliferate. So does the administrative machinery to interpret and implement the objective. No doubt, there is progress in those terms. But, along with it, everyone is witnessing crimes increasing day by day, everywhere, in all societies. The reason is no other but that the disease has not been properly diagnosed and the line of treatment is not sound.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: The love for Dunya [material life of the present world] is at the top of every error and sin).
The root of the disease is materialism, excessive indulgence in the temporal and negligence or avoidance of the thought of any life to come. The only way this frame of mind can be corrected is to remember Allah and think about the Akhirah, the life to come. Whenever and wherever in this world this master prescription was used, whole nations and their societies became models of humanity at its best earning the admiration of angels. That this happened during the blessed period of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and during the age of his noble Companions, is sufficient as its proof.
Allah’s Cause is not just fighting in battles. It is striving to continue the mission of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassalaam) in any way that we can with pure intent, with ikhlas (sincerity). This may be picking up our pens and writing, or lifting our voice to be heard. But we are not supposed to be inactive, and be of those who lag behind. To remain inactive is cowardly. It is hypocritical for the one who believes.
In the Qur'an, Allah Almighty states that prophets are obliged to deliver His messages and describes prophets as an "instructor and trainer:
لَقَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١٦٤[Qur'an, AleImran 3:164]
Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error. (164)
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى بَعَثَ فِى ٱلْأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٢[Qur'an, Al-Jumu'ah 62:2]
It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error - (2)
These verses tell us that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was a teacher assigned the duty of delivering the message of Allah.
Indeed, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) himself emphasized that his primary duty as a Prophet was to teach by saying, "I have been sent only as a teacher to you." To explain his duty he also said, "I have been sent only to complete moral virtues."
In this sense, the duty of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was to reach and communicate with people and carry out educational activities.
Certainly the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was not alone in carrying out the educational activities which would encompass all humanity alone. Just as it was not possible for him to reach everyone and everywhere, it was not possible for him to reach everyone in exactly the same way. Therefore, he worked on educating people with his Companions. Every Muslim was responsible for learning the religion and teaching what he learned to others. So every Muslim was a student and a teacher at the same time within the limit of his opportunities and capability.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) also had to work, had family to care for, had to fight in battles, but somehow they managed to be learn the Deen and passed on this great legacy. They were avid learners of this Deen. The only way we can pass on the legacy is by learning this Deen, practice what we know and impart and impart what we know to others.
Religion, particularly Islam, is only preserved through knowledge. History tells us that there were many parts of the world where Islam once predominated but had died out. Why? Because Islamic knowledge was not taught and if it was taught, it was not taught properly.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46]
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)
May Allah grant us success. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam
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