بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We named things that have value to us. We don't name particle of dust or insects. Things are elevated through their names and if something is given many names, it shows that this matter is extremely exalted and also it gives you different angles to look and understand this named being.
For example, the Qur'an has many names--Al-Qur'an, Al-Kitab, Al-Tanzil, Al-Furqan, Al-Dhikr. Something that is magnified and extremely elevated might have multiple names. This shows the multiple points of perfection within which you view the named.
Allah has many Names through which we know Him. He is not showing all His Names to everyone. Some He shows to a particular person. Some He keeps to Himself. This is not unique in the Shari'ah that Allah hides something of virtue so we might exhaust effort in finding it. For example, Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power in Ramadhan) is hidden from us so we might exhaust ourselves of finding it. The blessed hour on Friday when du'as are answered are hidden so we might exhaust ourselves in finding it. All of the Names of Allah are not all listed so people might read, contemplate, know these Names and search for them. The hadith in the Tirmidhi version listed 99 Names of Allah. This is the common list of 99 Names of Allah that commentators comment on. But the hadith does not mean Allah has only 99 Names. But they are beautiful windows to know Allah in general.
The knowledge of Allah is why we are here. It is why Allah breathed the soul of life into each and everyone of us. Allah sent an angel to the wombs of our mothers when we were four months into our conception and it breathed into it a spirit of life. The spirit that was breathed into us is a secret of Allah.
"And they ask you concerning the Ruh (the Spirit); Say: "The Ruh (the Spirit): is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little." Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:85
The soul, which is a tremendous mystery of the mysteries of the universe, the soul which can be elevated to the ranks to be truly dear to Allah, this soul was only created to worship Allah.
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated: "Worshiping Allah means knowing Allah."
So the only spirit within our bodies, it is only here so that we might know Allah and we know Him through Allah's Names. Those who don't know Him and those who don't remember Him, have only miseries because they have turned away from that very reason they are walking on this earth.
Allah's beautiful Names are limitless perfection. If you learn something is perfect would you just be satisfied with knowing it? Allah is beyond our imaginations but Allah has described Himself with words which, in our limited way, we are able to emulate. In emulating the meanings we are drawing ourselves close to Allah.
Allah expects us to strive towards perfection and beauty and there is no perfection or beauty except in His Names. So our perfection and our beauty is to strive to emulate His Names, not merely just knowing the names and their meanings and that Allah has them because what this means your ears work and you know some Arabic. It is not simply a case of memorizing the Names either. Where is the rank? Children can do that. But we should really be deeply certain that Allah is characterized by these Names. We should look for deep veneration and feel in awe of these Names--how great is the Al-Ghafur, Al-Wahhab, Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim, Al-Wadud, and so on. This awe necessarily drives you to be like them and venerate them.
Anything opposite from Allah's Names is not perfection. Beauty is in these Names and anything opposite of these Names is not beauty. Excellence is in these Names and anything opposite of these Names is not excellence. Someone who knows this, how could he not want to have a share in this real perfection, excellence and beauty. Someone who doesn't want this is because he is ignorant or because his heart is filled with something else and this knowledge has not settled in him.
"The one looking at the Attributes of Allah must have a heart devoid of wanting other than Allah, for knowledge is the seed of longing." (Ghazali)
Knowledge is the seed of longing. When we learn about Allah's Names, this is the seed through which will grow the tree for longing of Allah and this longing will bring about action but if we plant this seed and there is no soil in the heart, the seed will get blown away and nothing will happen. So it is a very important that we look for deep certitude and veneration, followed by striving to acquire what is acquirable of Allah's Attributes.
"Verily Allah has ninety nine Names, one hundered except one; whoever encompasses them enters Paradise." (Bukhari)
"Verily, Allah Most High, has 99 Names; whoever encompasses them enters Paradise. He is Allah, the One who there is no god but He, Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim, Al-Malik, AlQuddus, Al-Salam, Al-Mu'min Al-Muhaymin, Al-'Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir, Al-Khaliq, Al-Bari', Al-Musawwir, Al-Ghaffar, Al-Qahhar, Al-Wahhab, Al-Razzaq, Al-Fattah, Al-'Alim, Al-Qabid, Al-Basit, Al-Khafid, Al-Rafi', Al-Mu'izz, Al-Mudhill, As-Sami', Al-Basir, Al-Hakam, Al-'Adl, Al-Latif, Al-Khabir, Al-Halim, Al-'Azim, Al-Ghafur, Ash-Shakur, Al-'Ali, Al-Kabir, Al-Hafiz, Al-Muqit, Al-Hasib, Al-Jalil, Al-Karim, Al-Raqib, Al-Mujib, Al-Wasi', Al-Hakim, Al-Wadud, Al-Majíd, Al-Ba'ith, Ash-Shahid, Al-Haqq, Al-Wakil, Al-Qawiyy, Al-Matin, Al-Wáli, Al-Hamid, Al-Muhsi, Al-Mubdi, Al-Mu'id, Al-Muhyi, Al-Mumit, Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum, Al-Wajid, Al-Májid, Al-Wahid, Al-Ahad, As-Samad, Al-Qadir, Al-Muqtadir, Al-Muqaddim, Al-Mu'akhkhir, Al-Awwal, Al-Akhir, Al-Zahir, Al-Batin, Al-Walí, Al-Muta'ali, Al-Barr, At-Tawwib, Al-Muntaqim, Al-Afu, Al-Ra'uf, Malik al-Mulk, Dhul-Jalali Wal-Ikram, Al-Muqsit, Al-Jami, Al-Ghani, Al-Mughni, Al-Mani', Ad-Darr, An-Nafi', An-Nur, Al-Hadi, Al-Badi, Al-Baqi, Al-Warith, Al-Rashid, As-Sabur" (Tirmidhi)
May Allah teach us the knowledge of Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Worship Allah As If You See Him
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends,
I pray that you are well.
This world is about Allah's handiwork. The universe is Allah's mirror through which the Beauty and Perfection of Allah is reflected. So whoever wants to look to Allah, then look at the mirror through which Allah's Attributes are reflected.
People of Allah see Allah in the universe. When they look at the rain, they don't merely see water falling from the sky, they see Al-Razzaq who has determined the provisions for His creation. When they see the clouds being gently pushed along the sky to the destined place, they see Al-Latif, the Subtle, the Gentle, the Kind. They see that no one can stop these clouds. They see Al-Qawiyy who is unstoppable. They see the clouds going to where they are needed and giving what it is needed to bring forth life after the earth was dead and they see Al-Khabir, Al-Alim, Al-Hakim. So they see all these beautiful traits.
For these people, it is not hard for them to reach a station where they worship Allah as if they see Him, which the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned is excellence in religion--to worship Allah as if you see Him.
These are the people who sees Allah in everything. His Names and Attributes are the keys to it. Someone like that, it is hard to imagine getting depressed and getting stressed. Someone like that they take whatever life gives them and look to Allah in everything.
Iman Ahmad said, "My happiest day is the day when I wake up and there is absolutely nothing. Why? Because these were the days that I completely rely on Allah." There is a sweetness in relying on Allah completely which nothing else can match. Many of the scholars had statement like that. These are truly the scholars.
May Allah guide us to excellence in worship and bring us closer to Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends,
I pray that you are well.
This world is about Allah's handiwork. The universe is Allah's mirror through which the Beauty and Perfection of Allah is reflected. So whoever wants to look to Allah, then look at the mirror through which Allah's Attributes are reflected.
People of Allah see Allah in the universe. When they look at the rain, they don't merely see water falling from the sky, they see Al-Razzaq who has determined the provisions for His creation. When they see the clouds being gently pushed along the sky to the destined place, they see Al-Latif, the Subtle, the Gentle, the Kind. They see that no one can stop these clouds. They see Al-Qawiyy who is unstoppable. They see the clouds going to where they are needed and giving what it is needed to bring forth life after the earth was dead and they see Al-Khabir, Al-Alim, Al-Hakim. So they see all these beautiful traits.
For these people, it is not hard for them to reach a station where they worship Allah as if they see Him, which the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned is excellence in religion--to worship Allah as if you see Him.
These are the people who sees Allah in everything. His Names and Attributes are the keys to it. Someone like that, it is hard to imagine getting depressed and getting stressed. Someone like that they take whatever life gives them and look to Allah in everything.
Iman Ahmad said, "My happiest day is the day when I wake up and there is absolutely nothing. Why? Because these were the days that I completely rely on Allah." There is a sweetness in relying on Allah completely which nothing else can match. Many of the scholars had statement like that. These are truly the scholars.
May Allah guide us to excellence in worship and bring us closer to Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
It Is Not Your Money
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends,
I pray that you are well.
Our relationship with food is something we can't live without. But once we take in the food, it produces waste within our body. If we don't release it, we get weak or we get sick and it can become poison in our body and we can die from it. So the food is a wonderful thing as long as we take the benefit of it and release the waste of it. Otherwise, we are harmed by not having it or by keeping all of it.
Money is like food. Without money, we basically can't live. We can't shop for anything. But at the same time if we hoard money, a meaning of filth spreads to that money. If we were to keep all that money, that meaning of filth will spread throughout the money and poison it. This poisoning is the lack of blessing inside this money. So someone might spend but no blessing in what he is spending. He might have a lot of money but the money will vanish one day. He buys food but the food doesn't nourish the way it is meant to nourish. Everything is poisoned by the money that bought it--food, clothes, cars, house, and so on.
How do you purify all of these? It is by releasing the waste from your money. This is the meaning of zakat. Money need to be purified by taking an amount out and giving it away and the rest of money is purified. By spending in zakat, it physically decreases the money you have, but in reality it hugely increases your money. Because now the rest of the money has worth and has purity. So everything that you bought with that money will have blessing. There is blessing in the food you eat, in the clothes you wear, in the house you live in, in the car you drive, and your du'as are answered.
The giving in charity and zakat, in particular, shows that you are honest in the claim to faith to Islam and in the claim that you believe in the Unseen.
ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَۛ فِيهِۛ هُدً۬ى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٢) ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ (٣)
"This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God, who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:2-3
The fact that you spend of your money in charity and zakat, it is a proof that you are true when you say La illaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.) It is a proof that you are a believer. It is a sign of your honesty and genuineness in your claim of Faith.
Islam views poverty as a problem and it has to be solved. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Poverty is almost akin to disbelief." Why?
Because when a person experiences extreme poverty it can drive him to criminal act. We can see in any country where the economics aren't working, there are many crimes--murder, theft, mugging and insecurity. When people have insecurity, character might collapse in that society and it also can sometimes lead to people to utter words of disbelief. Poverty takes a person out of his shell that we put over ourselves--educated, intelligent, cultured and civilized. Poverty will strip us off the shell quicker than we might expect.
This is a du'a of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, which conjoins poverty and disbelief.
اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكُـفر ، وَالفَـقْر ، وَأَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ
"O Allah , I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave. There is none worthy of worship but You."
In the earlier days of Islam, the early Qur'anic revelation didn't deal with detail rulings. They dealt in belief, character, morals and next life. They weren't heavy in legal rulings. The rulings came later in the Madinan phase of the Prophet's mission, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Yet in the earlier days of Islam, this is a religion that does not tolerate the neglect of the poor.
In Surah Muddaththir (Scholars said this was the second revelation to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace), we were being told that not feeding the indigent is a reason to go to Hell.
فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ (٤٠) عَنِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ (٤١) مَا سَلَڪَكُمۡ فِى سَقَرَ (٤٢) قَالُواْ لَمۡ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ (٤٣) وَلَمۡ نَكُ نُطۡعِمُ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ (٤٤)
'(They will be) in Gardens (of Delight): and will ask, Of the Sinners: "What led you into Hell-Fire?" They will say: "We were not of those who prayed;" "Nor were we of those who fed the indigent;"...' Qur'an 74:40-44
It is a serious crime for those who would not urging the feeding of the poor.
خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ (٣٠) ثُمَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ (٣١) ثُمَّ فِى سِلۡسِلَةٍ۬ ذَرۡعُهَا سَبۡعُونَ ذِرَاعً۬ا فَٱسۡلُكُوهُ (٣٢) إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ (٣٣) وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ
'(The stern command will say): "Seize him and fetter him; Then throw him in the blazing Fire. "Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits! "Verily, He used not to believe in Allah, the Most Great,And urged not on the feeding of the poor' Qur'an Haaqqa 69:30-34
In this early Makkan surah, even without any fix commandment to pay zakat, it was known that any righteous person would always has a share of his wealth for the poor.
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِہِمۡ دَآٮِٕمُونَ (٢٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ حَقٌّ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ (٢٤) لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ (٢٥)
"Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); And those in whose wealth there is a recognized right, For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened);" Qur'an Al-Maarij 70:23-25
When the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, moved to Madina and the commandments of Islam were organized into this very heavily legislative period of the Madinan phase of the Prophet's mission, the zakat was legislated. In the beginning Makkan phase, there was a general injunction to taking care of the poor and then, in the Madinan phase, there was an obligatory structured payment of zakat that was made a pillar of this entire religion.
Ibn Mas'ud, Allah be pleased with him, said, "We were told to pray and give zakat, he who does not give zakat has no prayer"
If we do a quick survey of where zakat is mentioned in the Qur'an, we get a feeling that those who don't pay zakat, he is not differentiated from the trait of an idolator.
قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمۡ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَٲحِدٌ۬ فَٱسۡتَقِيمُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُۗ وَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (٦) ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ هُمۡ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٧)
"Say (O Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace): 'I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me that your God is One God. So stand true to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness.' And woe to those who join gods with God--Those who don't give zakat, and who even deny the Hereafter" Qur'an Fussilat 41:6-7
If he doesn't pay zakat happily, then he is no different than the hypocrite.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمۡ أَن تُقۡبَلَ مِنۡہُمۡ نَفَقَـٰتُهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمۡ ڪَفَرُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأۡتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمۡ ڪُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمۡ كَـٰرِهُونَ
"And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace); and that they came not to As-Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly." Qur'an At-Tawba 9:54
How do we deserve the Mercy of Allah if we don't give charity and zakat?
وَٱڪۡتُبۡ لَنَا فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً۬ وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنۡ أَشَآءُۖ وَرَحۡمَتِى وَسِعَتۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ۚ فَسَأَكۡتُبُہَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ
"And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee." He said: "With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extend to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and give zakat, and those who believe in Our signs;" Qur'an Al-Araf 7:156
How do we get victory on the earth if we don't give zakat and establish zakat? The traits of those who Allah will give real physical supremacy, these are the people who give zakat and establish zakat if given the power.
ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بِغَيۡرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَہُم بِبَعۡضٍ۬ لَّهُدِّمَتۡ صَوَٲمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ۬ وَصَلَوَٲتٌ۬ وَمَسَـٰجِدُ يُذۡڪَرُ فِيہَا ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ ڪَثِيرً۬اۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥۤۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ (٤٠) ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُواْ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَنَهَوۡاْ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ (٤١)
"...God will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily God is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will). (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give zakat, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with God rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs." Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:40-41
Zakat and charity are means for a person to rise above materialism. It is a spending when you do it regularly, you help yourself get away from this idea that I have to have everything in my pocket. Zakat is a cure for greed and a means to prosperity.
وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَـٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِى صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةً۬ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِہِمۡ
"But those who before them, had homes (in Madīna) and had adopted the Faith,- show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity." Qur'an Al-Hashr 59:9
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Watch out for greed. The people before you were only destroyed by greed. It commanded them to be stingy so they were stingy. It commanded them to cut relations so they cut them. It commanded them to wickedness so they were wicked." (Ahmad)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Destructive traits are three: greed that is obeyed, passions that are followed, and the pride of a man with himself." (Ahmad)
So zakat is a purification of these destructive traits that Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, have warned us of.
خُذۡ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ صَدَقَةً۬ تُطَهِّرُهُمۡ وَتُزَكِّيہِم بِہَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ۬ لَّهُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
"Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." Qur'an At-Tawba 9:103
"All the good deeds are contained in 2 categories: venerating the command of Allah and showing compassion to the slaves of Allah." Imam Razi
All injunctions of Islam will return back to this meaning. Zakat has both: we exalt the command of Allah by following His rulings carefully and diligently; we show compassion to the people because the whole worship in total is taking care of the slaves of Allah who are in need.
We, as a community of Muslims, are obliged to alleviate the suffering of those who are in need. You might say, "How can I be obliged to take care of the hunger, this is my money?" No, it is not your money, it is Allah's money. You are merely an agent. So listen to what He says when He tells you what to do with His money.
لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِىُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ
"To Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Verily, Allah, He is Al-Ghanî (Rich, Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise" Qur'an Luqman 31:26.
Note: Haram wealth is not purified by zakat and must be gotten rid of. This is wealth from, for example, money from interest payment, money received in court judgments for which you lied, money taken from people that are not yours, unlawful gains, money from violating contract with people, wages from cheating on your time sheet, and so on. This money is intrinsically filthy and the paying of zakat will not purify the filth and the poison in this money. The poison is intrinsic and will remain poison in one's life, food, clothes, etc.
May Allah provide us lawful income and save us from poverty and disbelief. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends,
I pray that you are well.
Our relationship with food is something we can't live without. But once we take in the food, it produces waste within our body. If we don't release it, we get weak or we get sick and it can become poison in our body and we can die from it. So the food is a wonderful thing as long as we take the benefit of it and release the waste of it. Otherwise, we are harmed by not having it or by keeping all of it.
Money is like food. Without money, we basically can't live. We can't shop for anything. But at the same time if we hoard money, a meaning of filth spreads to that money. If we were to keep all that money, that meaning of filth will spread throughout the money and poison it. This poisoning is the lack of blessing inside this money. So someone might spend but no blessing in what he is spending. He might have a lot of money but the money will vanish one day. He buys food but the food doesn't nourish the way it is meant to nourish. Everything is poisoned by the money that bought it--food, clothes, cars, house, and so on.
How do you purify all of these? It is by releasing the waste from your money. This is the meaning of zakat. Money need to be purified by taking an amount out and giving it away and the rest of money is purified. By spending in zakat, it physically decreases the money you have, but in reality it hugely increases your money. Because now the rest of the money has worth and has purity. So everything that you bought with that money will have blessing. There is blessing in the food you eat, in the clothes you wear, in the house you live in, in the car you drive, and your du'as are answered.
The giving in charity and zakat, in particular, shows that you are honest in the claim to faith to Islam and in the claim that you believe in the Unseen.
ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَۛ فِيهِۛ هُدً۬ى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٢) ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ (٣)
"This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God, who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:2-3
The fact that you spend of your money in charity and zakat, it is a proof that you are true when you say La illaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.) It is a proof that you are a believer. It is a sign of your honesty and genuineness in your claim of Faith.
Islam views poverty as a problem and it has to be solved. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Poverty is almost akin to disbelief." Why?
Because when a person experiences extreme poverty it can drive him to criminal act. We can see in any country where the economics aren't working, there are many crimes--murder, theft, mugging and insecurity. When people have insecurity, character might collapse in that society and it also can sometimes lead to people to utter words of disbelief. Poverty takes a person out of his shell that we put over ourselves--educated, intelligent, cultured and civilized. Poverty will strip us off the shell quicker than we might expect.
This is a du'a of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, which conjoins poverty and disbelief.
اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكُـفر ، وَالفَـقْر ، وَأَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ
"O Allah , I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave. There is none worthy of worship but You."
In the earlier days of Islam, the early Qur'anic revelation didn't deal with detail rulings. They dealt in belief, character, morals and next life. They weren't heavy in legal rulings. The rulings came later in the Madinan phase of the Prophet's mission, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Yet in the earlier days of Islam, this is a religion that does not tolerate the neglect of the poor.
In Surah Muddaththir (Scholars said this was the second revelation to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace), we were being told that not feeding the indigent is a reason to go to Hell.
فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ (٤٠) عَنِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ (٤١) مَا سَلَڪَكُمۡ فِى سَقَرَ (٤٢) قَالُواْ لَمۡ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ (٤٣) وَلَمۡ نَكُ نُطۡعِمُ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ (٤٤)
'(They will be) in Gardens (of Delight): and will ask, Of the Sinners: "What led you into Hell-Fire?" They will say: "We were not of those who prayed;" "Nor were we of those who fed the indigent;"...' Qur'an 74:40-44
It is a serious crime for those who would not urging the feeding of the poor.
خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ (٣٠) ثُمَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ (٣١) ثُمَّ فِى سِلۡسِلَةٍ۬ ذَرۡعُهَا سَبۡعُونَ ذِرَاعً۬ا فَٱسۡلُكُوهُ (٣٢) إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ (٣٣) وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ
'(The stern command will say): "Seize him and fetter him; Then throw him in the blazing Fire. "Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits! "Verily, He used not to believe in Allah, the Most Great,And urged not on the feeding of the poor' Qur'an Haaqqa 69:30-34
In this early Makkan surah, even without any fix commandment to pay zakat, it was known that any righteous person would always has a share of his wealth for the poor.
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِہِمۡ دَآٮِٕمُونَ (٢٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ حَقٌّ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ (٢٤) لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ (٢٥)
"Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); And those in whose wealth there is a recognized right, For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened);" Qur'an Al-Maarij 70:23-25
When the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, moved to Madina and the commandments of Islam were organized into this very heavily legislative period of the Madinan phase of the Prophet's mission, the zakat was legislated. In the beginning Makkan phase, there was a general injunction to taking care of the poor and then, in the Madinan phase, there was an obligatory structured payment of zakat that was made a pillar of this entire religion.
Ibn Mas'ud, Allah be pleased with him, said, "We were told to pray and give zakat, he who does not give zakat has no prayer"
If we do a quick survey of where zakat is mentioned in the Qur'an, we get a feeling that those who don't pay zakat, he is not differentiated from the trait of an idolator.
قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمۡ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَٲحِدٌ۬ فَٱسۡتَقِيمُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُۗ وَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (٦) ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ هُمۡ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٧)
"Say (O Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace): 'I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me that your God is One God. So stand true to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness.' And woe to those who join gods with God--Those who don't give zakat, and who even deny the Hereafter" Qur'an Fussilat 41:6-7
If he doesn't pay zakat happily, then he is no different than the hypocrite.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمۡ أَن تُقۡبَلَ مِنۡہُمۡ نَفَقَـٰتُهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمۡ ڪَفَرُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأۡتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمۡ ڪُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمۡ كَـٰرِهُونَ
"And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace); and that they came not to As-Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly." Qur'an At-Tawba 9:54
How do we deserve the Mercy of Allah if we don't give charity and zakat?
وَٱڪۡتُبۡ لَنَا فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً۬ وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنۡ أَشَآءُۖ وَرَحۡمَتِى وَسِعَتۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ۚ فَسَأَكۡتُبُہَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ
"And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee." He said: "With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extend to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and give zakat, and those who believe in Our signs;" Qur'an Al-Araf 7:156
How do we get victory on the earth if we don't give zakat and establish zakat? The traits of those who Allah will give real physical supremacy, these are the people who give zakat and establish zakat if given the power.
ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بِغَيۡرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَہُم بِبَعۡضٍ۬ لَّهُدِّمَتۡ صَوَٲمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ۬ وَصَلَوَٲتٌ۬ وَمَسَـٰجِدُ يُذۡڪَرُ فِيہَا ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ ڪَثِيرً۬اۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥۤۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ (٤٠) ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُواْ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَنَهَوۡاْ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ (٤١)
"...God will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily God is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will). (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give zakat, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with God rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs." Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:40-41
Zakat and charity are means for a person to rise above materialism. It is a spending when you do it regularly, you help yourself get away from this idea that I have to have everything in my pocket. Zakat is a cure for greed and a means to prosperity.
وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَـٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِى صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةً۬ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِہِمۡ
"But those who before them, had homes (in Madīna) and had adopted the Faith,- show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity." Qur'an Al-Hashr 59:9
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Watch out for greed. The people before you were only destroyed by greed. It commanded them to be stingy so they were stingy. It commanded them to cut relations so they cut them. It commanded them to wickedness so they were wicked." (Ahmad)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Destructive traits are three: greed that is obeyed, passions that are followed, and the pride of a man with himself." (Ahmad)
So zakat is a purification of these destructive traits that Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, have warned us of.
خُذۡ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ صَدَقَةً۬ تُطَهِّرُهُمۡ وَتُزَكِّيہِم بِہَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ۬ لَّهُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
"Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." Qur'an At-Tawba 9:103
"All the good deeds are contained in 2 categories: venerating the command of Allah and showing compassion to the slaves of Allah." Imam Razi
All injunctions of Islam will return back to this meaning. Zakat has both: we exalt the command of Allah by following His rulings carefully and diligently; we show compassion to the people because the whole worship in total is taking care of the slaves of Allah who are in need.
We, as a community of Muslims, are obliged to alleviate the suffering of those who are in need. You might say, "How can I be obliged to take care of the hunger, this is my money?" No, it is not your money, it is Allah's money. You are merely an agent. So listen to what He says when He tells you what to do with His money.
لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِىُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ
"To Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Verily, Allah, He is Al-Ghanî (Rich, Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise" Qur'an Luqman 31:26.
Note: Haram wealth is not purified by zakat and must be gotten rid of. This is wealth from, for example, money from interest payment, money received in court judgments for which you lied, money taken from people that are not yours, unlawful gains, money from violating contract with people, wages from cheating on your time sheet, and so on. This money is intrinsically filthy and the paying of zakat will not purify the filth and the poison in this money. The poison is intrinsic and will remain poison in one's life, food, clothes, etc.
May Allah provide us lawful income and save us from poverty and disbelief. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, March 28, 2011
Fasting is for Me
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Fasting in Ramadhan is one of the pillars of Islam. Pillars are supports and is no slight matter. Imagine someone who neither fasts, nor prays, nor pay zakat, nor perform hajj (while able), he is living in a house without pillars. In other words, he is being suspended in mid air and the gravity will send him crashing down. At this point he can only hope for the Mercy of Allah.
"O you who believe; fasting has prescribed on you as it was prescribed on those before you - haply you will be Godfearing." Qur'an 2:183
Fasting is so important that it is as if it is a part of belief itself. Fasting is not new to Islam. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, told us that the best fasting is the fasting of his brother, Prophet Dawood, Allah grant him peace, who fasted on every alternate day.
Allah gives us a reason for fasting, "haply you will be Godfearing." Fasting is an act of self control/restraint from which a person is meant to acquire a state which is of the most and emphasized of human state--a state of being conscious of your Lord and wary of disobeying Him in one's action. So Allah says, hopefully you will acquire this act.
All the acts of worship have an outer reality which test our slavehood to Allah. The outer reality always feeds and gives the fruits which is the inner reality.
The person who is fasting should avoid all kinds of unlawful actions, such as gossiping, backbiting, tale-bearing, slandering, lying, cheating, duping, hating, nursing grudge, keeping malice, hurting people, obscenity, etc, otherwise his reward may all be lost.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“It may be that a fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger.” (Ibn Majah)
“When any of you is fasting, let him not commit sin…”
"He who does not leave lying and ignorance and acting by it then Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink." Ibn Majah
"How many a faster has no share of his fasting save hunger and how many a person who stands the night in prayer has no share of his prayer except sleeplessness." Al-Nasa'i
"Fasting is for Me. And it is I who shall reward it." (Bukhari) When the Generous One says this, it is a tremendous reward, something you cannot imagine. Only Allah knows the extent of his reward and how much his good deeds will be multiplied.
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold. Allah said: ‘Except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it’”
This is like the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.”
(Qur'an Al-Zumar 39:10)
The words “Fasting is for Me” are sufficient to indicate the superiority of fasting over all other acts of worship. (Al-Nasaa’i)
So, while every Muslim adult must observe fasting in Ramadhan, we are losing out on this tremendous reward if we only fast in Ramadhan and neglect to do some sunnah fasting, such as on Mondays, Thursdays, the white days (13th, 14th, 15th of Hijri months), the days in the months of Sha'ban and Zulhijjah, and many more days which are spread out throughout the year.
One should try to pick up a few days a month to begin with and as one progresses one may increase the number of days of sunnah fasting. Fasting is a tremendous act of worship and one should aspire to do more of it. InshaAllah, there will be a time in your life that you will be able to reach the fasting of Prophet Dawood, Allah grant him peace. Make that intention and ask Allah to help you and give you tawfiq. And Allah alone gives success.
May Allah give you tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Fasting in Ramadhan is one of the pillars of Islam. Pillars are supports and is no slight matter. Imagine someone who neither fasts, nor prays, nor pay zakat, nor perform hajj (while able), he is living in a house without pillars. In other words, he is being suspended in mid air and the gravity will send him crashing down. At this point he can only hope for the Mercy of Allah.
"O you who believe; fasting has prescribed on you as it was prescribed on those before you - haply you will be Godfearing." Qur'an 2:183
Fasting is so important that it is as if it is a part of belief itself. Fasting is not new to Islam. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, told us that the best fasting is the fasting of his brother, Prophet Dawood, Allah grant him peace, who fasted on every alternate day.
Allah gives us a reason for fasting, "haply you will be Godfearing." Fasting is an act of self control/restraint from which a person is meant to acquire a state which is of the most and emphasized of human state--a state of being conscious of your Lord and wary of disobeying Him in one's action. So Allah says, hopefully you will acquire this act.
All the acts of worship have an outer reality which test our slavehood to Allah. The outer reality always feeds and gives the fruits which is the inner reality.
The person who is fasting should avoid all kinds of unlawful actions, such as gossiping, backbiting, tale-bearing, slandering, lying, cheating, duping, hating, nursing grudge, keeping malice, hurting people, obscenity, etc, otherwise his reward may all be lost.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“It may be that a fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger.” (Ibn Majah)
“When any of you is fasting, let him not commit sin…”
"He who does not leave lying and ignorance and acting by it then Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink." Ibn Majah
"How many a faster has no share of his fasting save hunger and how many a person who stands the night in prayer has no share of his prayer except sleeplessness." Al-Nasa'i
"Fasting is for Me. And it is I who shall reward it." (Bukhari) When the Generous One says this, it is a tremendous reward, something you cannot imagine. Only Allah knows the extent of his reward and how much his good deeds will be multiplied.
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold. Allah said: ‘Except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it’”
This is like the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.”
(Qur'an Al-Zumar 39:10)
The words “Fasting is for Me” are sufficient to indicate the superiority of fasting over all other acts of worship. (Al-Nasaa’i)
So, while every Muslim adult must observe fasting in Ramadhan, we are losing out on this tremendous reward if we only fast in Ramadhan and neglect to do some sunnah fasting, such as on Mondays, Thursdays, the white days (13th, 14th, 15th of Hijri months), the days in the months of Sha'ban and Zulhijjah, and many more days which are spread out throughout the year.
One should try to pick up a few days a month to begin with and as one progresses one may increase the number of days of sunnah fasting. Fasting is a tremendous act of worship and one should aspire to do more of it. InshaAllah, there will be a time in your life that you will be able to reach the fasting of Prophet Dawood, Allah grant him peace. Make that intention and ask Allah to help you and give you tawfiq. And Allah alone gives success.
May Allah give you tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Prayer, Our Haven
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Prayer (Salaat) is of the greatest obligation in Islam.
إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبً۬ا مَّوۡقُوتً۬ا
"...Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at appointed time." Qur'an An-Nisa 4:103
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Islam is built on five." [(1)Testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the Messenger of Allah, 2)Perform prayers, 3)Give zakaah, 4)Fast in Ramadhan, and 5)Perform hajj to the House if you are able to do so]
These five acts are the foundations of the building of Islam. If these five acts are flimsy then we can't hope much for the survival and the strength of the building which we are building upon these foundations. The greatest of these foundations is the prayer.
Everyone knows Muslims pray five times a day. This is the basic thing people know about Islam.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, "What is the best of works?" He replied, "Prayer at its times." (Bukhari)
"The five prayers and Friday to Friday are expiation of whatever happens between them, as long as one avoids the major sins." (Muslim)
Of the major sins a person can commit in his life is neglecting the prayer and neglecting the times of the prayer.
The prayer itself is the most powerful of the act of worship in Islam. Suffice us to know that Allah commands us to pray five times a day. It is the most central act of worship to us. We do hajj once in a lifetime to purify ourselves; we fast Ramadhan once a year to purify ourselves but with the prayer, we can't go a day without doing it at least five times. This is to help keep us going and to keep us going towards our Lord. This tells us that we need the prayer. Allah does not need our prayers. Allah ordains upon us to make sure that we keep praying at times which are spread out throughout the day so we keep afloat, keep connected, keep aware of our Lord. Without the prayers we become distant; we become cut off; we become lost.
We are in need and we are poor. Prayer is what Allah bless us with to enrich us. As for Allah, He is free of need of everything which He ever created.
Of the great wonders of prayer is that Allah didn't obliged it upon us on earth. Allah obliged it upon us when the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in heaven on the night of the Isra' (the ascension). It is an act whoever stays with it, it becomes his haven which he retreats to throughout his day. It becomes his support and his comfort.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "O Bilal! Comfort us with it (call to prayer)." So we can go back to our haven.
Prayer is of the most powerful of spiritual works for he who maintains it throughout his life, whether healthy or sick; traveling or staying at home; studying or having exams; watching kids or entertaining guests; shopping or working; or in cold temperature or hot weather; it will leave its mark on the person.
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٲعُونَ (٨) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٲتِہِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ (٩) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثُونَ (١٠) ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (١١)
"...And those who strictly guard their prayers, these are indeed the inheritors, who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever." Qur'an A-Mu'minun 23:9-11
May Allah make us steadfast with our prayers. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Prayer (Salaat) is of the greatest obligation in Islam.
إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبً۬ا مَّوۡقُوتً۬ا
"...Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at appointed time." Qur'an An-Nisa 4:103
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Islam is built on five." [(1)Testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the Messenger of Allah, 2)Perform prayers, 3)Give zakaah, 4)Fast in Ramadhan, and 5)Perform hajj to the House if you are able to do so]
These five acts are the foundations of the building of Islam. If these five acts are flimsy then we can't hope much for the survival and the strength of the building which we are building upon these foundations. The greatest of these foundations is the prayer.
Everyone knows Muslims pray five times a day. This is the basic thing people know about Islam.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, "What is the best of works?" He replied, "Prayer at its times." (Bukhari)
"The five prayers and Friday to Friday are expiation of whatever happens between them, as long as one avoids the major sins." (Muslim)
Of the major sins a person can commit in his life is neglecting the prayer and neglecting the times of the prayer.
The prayer itself is the most powerful of the act of worship in Islam. Suffice us to know that Allah commands us to pray five times a day. It is the most central act of worship to us. We do hajj once in a lifetime to purify ourselves; we fast Ramadhan once a year to purify ourselves but with the prayer, we can't go a day without doing it at least five times. This is to help keep us going and to keep us going towards our Lord. This tells us that we need the prayer. Allah does not need our prayers. Allah ordains upon us to make sure that we keep praying at times which are spread out throughout the day so we keep afloat, keep connected, keep aware of our Lord. Without the prayers we become distant; we become cut off; we become lost.
We are in need and we are poor. Prayer is what Allah bless us with to enrich us. As for Allah, He is free of need of everything which He ever created.
Of the great wonders of prayer is that Allah didn't obliged it upon us on earth. Allah obliged it upon us when the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in heaven on the night of the Isra' (the ascension). It is an act whoever stays with it, it becomes his haven which he retreats to throughout his day. It becomes his support and his comfort.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "O Bilal! Comfort us with it (call to prayer)." So we can go back to our haven.
Prayer is of the most powerful of spiritual works for he who maintains it throughout his life, whether healthy or sick; traveling or staying at home; studying or having exams; watching kids or entertaining guests; shopping or working; or in cold temperature or hot weather; it will leave its mark on the person.
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٲعُونَ (٨) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٲتِہِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ (٩) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثُونَ (١٠) ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (١١)
"...And those who strictly guard their prayers, these are indeed the inheritors, who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever." Qur'an A-Mu'minun 23:9-11
May Allah make us steadfast with our prayers. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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