Say: "It is the grace and mercy of Allah (that He has sent this Qur'an), so let the people rejoice over it, for it is better than (the worldly riches) they are collecting." (Surah Younus, verse 58)
We might feel we are blessed by ALLAH because we have a good life, a nice home, loving family and other things of the world, but its not what is the true mercy of ALLAH. ALLAH makes it clear in his book that the grace and mercy for the whole of humanity is the Quran. If someone has the knowledge of Quran then he should rejoice over it as there is nothing better than it and ALLAH says that its better than all the riches that you strive to collect. As the Prophet S.A.W says in a hadith narrated by Hazrat Usman R.A
"The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, No. 545).
So where are our efforts aimed in life? Are we really striving for the mercy and grace of ALLAH or have we been fooled by the temporary riches and luxuries of the life of the world? ALLAH says in Surah Al-Baqara that
"It is quite possible that something which you don't like is good for you and that something which you love is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not." (Surah Al-Baqara, verse 216)
Everyone knows himself better than the people around us, so we should ask this question what we give importance to. Have we really done justice with the mercy ALLAH showed to us or have we kept it aside to be used only as a book of recitation which we read on some special occasions only.
I hope every one of us ask this question from himself after reading this.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Enter Islam fully
O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut
enemy.
If you falter after receiving the clear-cut message, then keep in mind that Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Are they waiting for Allah to come down to them in the shadow of clouds, along with the angels, and make His
decision known? Ultimately all matters will be presented to Allah for decision. (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)
The above ayah calls to people to enter Islam fully. Now one would ask the question that he has already entered Islam fully so this should not be meant for him. But just saying shahada or being born and raise in a muslim family doesn't make us a muslim. Entering Islam fully means that we have the follow the teachings of Islam without any exceptions, without any reservations or without just focusing on one part and leaving the other on ALLAH to forgive. ALLAH knows us better then we know ourselves and ALLAH knows whether its possible to follow HIS teachings or not. And as a muslim our responsibility is to try to follow the teachings of ALLAH, ALLAH never said that you have to be a 100% perfect example of it. Its not possible for us as humans are bound to make mistakes. But we just have to try our best and what is our best is already known to ALLAH even if we say something else to the world. So ALLAH will judge us based on our efforts. While in trying to follow HIS teachings, if we makes a mistake then ALLAH is certainly most merciful, most forgiving. But we should know that there is a difference between "mistake" and "intentional attempt."
Most of the times we intentionally choose not to follow certain parts of our deen because we feel that its too rigid, not possible for us to follow or just too out-dated. If things were supposed to be that way, then there was no point for ALLAH to say to us to "enter Islam fully." But as ALLAH has said that, it becomes our responsibility as a muslim to try to do that. If while doing that, we make some mistake which is not deliberate, then ALLAH will certainly forgive. If we are tempted by the wordly desires but repent as soon as we realize our mistake make repentance, then too ALLAH will certainly forgive. But whats does simple logic says for acts that are done deliberately. Does the law in our country forgives for continuous deliberate acts of breach of law? I doubt anyone would say YES or can give any such proof from human history. Then how do we develop this logic that ALLAH will also forgive deliberate disobedience of his rules. ALLAH is not just merciful and forgiving, ALLAH is also the most stern in punishment.
For those who intentionally disobeys the law of ALLAH and make different justifications of it, ALLAH says in the above third ayah that are you waiting for ALLAH to come down from the heavens to make the judgement. This will only happen at the day of judgement so ALLAH is in fact asking us if we are waiting for the day of judgement. Are we waiting for doors of repentance to close and then we are gonna realize our mistakes and our sins? Each one of us should ask this question to himself. If we are waiting for that day then we should also keep in mind that there will be no one to save us that day from the wrath of ALLAH.
Is it really a good decision to choose a temporary wordly pleasure over the period of infinity of hell?
THINK ABOUT IT
enemy.
If you falter after receiving the clear-cut message, then keep in mind that Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Are they waiting for Allah to come down to them in the shadow of clouds, along with the angels, and make His
decision known? Ultimately all matters will be presented to Allah for decision. (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)
The above ayah calls to people to enter Islam fully. Now one would ask the question that he has already entered Islam fully so this should not be meant for him. But just saying shahada or being born and raise in a muslim family doesn't make us a muslim. Entering Islam fully means that we have the follow the teachings of Islam without any exceptions, without any reservations or without just focusing on one part and leaving the other on ALLAH to forgive. ALLAH knows us better then we know ourselves and ALLAH knows whether its possible to follow HIS teachings or not. And as a muslim our responsibility is to try to follow the teachings of ALLAH, ALLAH never said that you have to be a 100% perfect example of it. Its not possible for us as humans are bound to make mistakes. But we just have to try our best and what is our best is already known to ALLAH even if we say something else to the world. So ALLAH will judge us based on our efforts. While in trying to follow HIS teachings, if we makes a mistake then ALLAH is certainly most merciful, most forgiving. But we should know that there is a difference between "mistake" and "intentional attempt."
Most of the times we intentionally choose not to follow certain parts of our deen because we feel that its too rigid, not possible for us to follow or just too out-dated. If things were supposed to be that way, then there was no point for ALLAH to say to us to "enter Islam fully." But as ALLAH has said that, it becomes our responsibility as a muslim to try to do that. If while doing that, we make some mistake which is not deliberate, then ALLAH will certainly forgive. If we are tempted by the wordly desires but repent as soon as we realize our mistake make repentance, then too ALLAH will certainly forgive. But whats does simple logic says for acts that are done deliberately. Does the law in our country forgives for continuous deliberate acts of breach of law? I doubt anyone would say YES or can give any such proof from human history. Then how do we develop this logic that ALLAH will also forgive deliberate disobedience of his rules. ALLAH is not just merciful and forgiving, ALLAH is also the most stern in punishment.
For those who intentionally disobeys the law of ALLAH and make different justifications of it, ALLAH says in the above third ayah that are you waiting for ALLAH to come down from the heavens to make the judgement. This will only happen at the day of judgement so ALLAH is in fact asking us if we are waiting for the day of judgement. Are we waiting for doors of repentance to close and then we are gonna realize our mistakes and our sins? Each one of us should ask this question to himself. If we are waiting for that day then we should also keep in mind that there will be no one to save us that day from the wrath of ALLAH.
Is it really a good decision to choose a temporary wordly pleasure over the period of infinity of hell?
THINK ABOUT IT
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Best Trade
Indeed Allah has purchased from the believers their persons and their wealth and in return has promised them paradise; they fight in the cause of Allah and slay and are slain. This is a true promise which is binding on Him mentioned in Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'an; and who is more true in fulfilling his promise than Allah? Rejoice, therefore, in the bargain which you have made, and that is a mighty achievement. (Surah At-Tauba (9), Ayah 111)
As per the verse above, its clear that ALLAH has promised paradise to those people who do that trade with ALLAH. Now if anyone in the world does something and writes something else, people will call him a liar. So even though ALLAH is most forgiving and merciful when it comes to forgiving the sins of HIS servants, but if ALLAH was to go against his own promise and grant paradise to those who don't do the trade mentioned in the verse, then either ALLAH (Naoozobillah) is lying in his book or this book Quran is false.
Now what exactly is this trade? If we have sold our persons and our wealth to ALLAH then what are we supposed to do? If in the world we sell something to someone then that item is no longer ours and as long as it is in our possession we are just safeguarding the property of other and we take utmost care not to use it any wrong way. Similarly, as our life and our wealth has been purchased by ALLAH how should we care for it?
As our life and wealth is no longer ours, we can't just spend it in whatever way we like. We have to spend the life in manner prescribed by ALLAH, in his way either with our life or with our abilities, resources, and position in the society. The best of our abilities should be for ALLAH, and it should be spent in the cause of ALLAH. Our abilities are useless if we spend it to gain worldly gains which will give us nothing in the hereafter. ALLAH is not gonna ask us what was your position in the world, how many companies you owned, what was your status in the world, etc. ALLAH is gonna ask what you did with the life that was no longer yours. Where did you spend the so many years of your life? Where were your efforts directed in life? What did you did in the world for my cause? Where did you spend the money I gave you? Did you used that money for your personal satisfaction or you used it to help the needy in the society?
Nothing in this life is our own. Everything has been given by ALLAH. If we are given a particular post in our job or in business, then we have to act according to that post. If we do things out of our power and authority, then it will be a breach of trust towards the company and we will be have to face disciplinary action against it. Similarly, if we don't fulfill our responsibilites then it will be negligence on our part and we will again face disciplinary action. In the same way we have been given a position in this world of being the best of the creation of ALLAH, a human, and then being the best of the nation among the people, a muslim. So with that we have been given some responsibilities and some realm of authority which is governed by ALLAH. But why is it so that if our company puts such restrictions on us we never protest against it as being unfair or not pratical, but if the same things are put by ALLAH then we go about saying that this is not possible and ALLAH is not so harsh. Islam is the only religion that is practical and invites the people to use their logic. But then why do we make up illogical things about which we have no knowledge and they go against the teachings of Quran as well.
If the world puts some responsibility and authority on us we don't say anything but when ALLAH puts it, then we go about neglecting it. What logic says that a person who would face disciplinary action in the world for negligence and breach of conduct will not face the same on the day of judgement for the negligence we show as a muslim and how we breach the authority given to us.
May ALLAH guide all of us and help us get on the right path. May ALLAH remove all the differences that are among muslims and help us get back together and help us live our life per HIS teachings.
AMEEN
As per the verse above, its clear that ALLAH has promised paradise to those people who do that trade with ALLAH. Now if anyone in the world does something and writes something else, people will call him a liar. So even though ALLAH is most forgiving and merciful when it comes to forgiving the sins of HIS servants, but if ALLAH was to go against his own promise and grant paradise to those who don't do the trade mentioned in the verse, then either ALLAH (Naoozobillah) is lying in his book or this book Quran is false.
Now what exactly is this trade? If we have sold our persons and our wealth to ALLAH then what are we supposed to do? If in the world we sell something to someone then that item is no longer ours and as long as it is in our possession we are just safeguarding the property of other and we take utmost care not to use it any wrong way. Similarly, as our life and our wealth has been purchased by ALLAH how should we care for it?
As our life and wealth is no longer ours, we can't just spend it in whatever way we like. We have to spend the life in manner prescribed by ALLAH, in his way either with our life or with our abilities, resources, and position in the society. The best of our abilities should be for ALLAH, and it should be spent in the cause of ALLAH. Our abilities are useless if we spend it to gain worldly gains which will give us nothing in the hereafter. ALLAH is not gonna ask us what was your position in the world, how many companies you owned, what was your status in the world, etc. ALLAH is gonna ask what you did with the life that was no longer yours. Where did you spend the so many years of your life? Where were your efforts directed in life? What did you did in the world for my cause? Where did you spend the money I gave you? Did you used that money for your personal satisfaction or you used it to help the needy in the society?
Nothing in this life is our own. Everything has been given by ALLAH. If we are given a particular post in our job or in business, then we have to act according to that post. If we do things out of our power and authority, then it will be a breach of trust towards the company and we will be have to face disciplinary action against it. Similarly, if we don't fulfill our responsibilites then it will be negligence on our part and we will again face disciplinary action. In the same way we have been given a position in this world of being the best of the creation of ALLAH, a human, and then being the best of the nation among the people, a muslim. So with that we have been given some responsibilities and some realm of authority which is governed by ALLAH. But why is it so that if our company puts such restrictions on us we never protest against it as being unfair or not pratical, but if the same things are put by ALLAH then we go about saying that this is not possible and ALLAH is not so harsh. Islam is the only religion that is practical and invites the people to use their logic. But then why do we make up illogical things about which we have no knowledge and they go against the teachings of Quran as well.
If the world puts some responsibility and authority on us we don't say anything but when ALLAH puts it, then we go about neglecting it. What logic says that a person who would face disciplinary action in the world for negligence and breach of conduct will not face the same on the day of judgement for the negligence we show as a muslim and how we breach the authority given to us.
May ALLAH guide all of us and help us get on the right path. May ALLAH remove all the differences that are among muslims and help us get back together and help us live our life per HIS teachings.
AMEEN
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Life of the world in the light of Quran
O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the way of Allah, you cling to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the life of the hereafter? If it is so, then you should know that the comforts of this life are little compared to the life of the hereafter.
(Surah Tauba (9), Ayah 38)
O mankind! Have fear of your Rabb and fear that Day when no father shall avail his son nor a son his father. Surely the promise of Allah is true. Let not the life of this world deceive you, nor let the Deceiver (Shaitan) deceive you concerning Allah.
(Surah Luqman (31), Ayah 33)
O mankind! Certainly the promise of Allah is true, therefore let not the life of this world deceive you nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.
(Surah Fatir (35), Ayah 5)
You should know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, a show and boasting among yourselves, a quest for greater riches and more children. Its similitude is that of vegetation that flourish after rain: the growth of which delights the tillers, then it withers and you see it turn yellow, soon it becomes dry and crumbles away. In the hereafter there will be either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but an illusion.
(Surah Al-Hadid (57), Ayah 20)
He that desires the reward in this world shall be given it here, and he that desires the reward in the hereafter shall be given it there. Soon We will reward the thankful.
(Surah Al-i’Imran (3), Ayah 145)
As for those who do not hope to meet Us on the Day of Judgement, being well pleased and satisfied with this worldly life and those who give no heed to Our revelations,they shall have the Fire as their abode because of what they had earned (erroneous creed and wrong conduct).
(Surah Yunus (10), Ayah 7 & 8)
Those who desire the life of this world and its splendors, they are given full reward of their deeds therein and shall not be diminished.They are the ones who will have nothing in the hereafter except Hellfire. There they shall come to know that their deeds were fruitless and their actions were worthless.
(Surah Hud (11), Ayah 15 & 16)
He that desires the transitory things of this life, We readily grant him such things as We please to whomsoever We want, then We condemn him to hell, where he will burn, disgraced and rejected.
(Surah Al-Israa (17), Ayah 18)
The life of men when they get to the age of puberty is tempted by desire for women when they get married children, when they get children the hoarding of treasures of gold and silver, splendid horses, cattle, and plantations. These are the comforts for the transitory life of this world; the everlasting best comfort, however, is with Allah.Say : "Shall I tell you of better things than these, with which the righteous will be rewarded by their Rabb? There will be gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live forever with spouses of perfect chastity and the good pleasure of Allah. Allah is watching His servants very closely."
(Surah Al-i’Imran (3), Ayah 14 & 15)
He who desires the harvest of the hereafter, shall be given a many fold increase in his harvest; and he who desires the harvest of this world, a share of it shall be given to him: but in the hereafter he shall have no share at all.
(Surah Ash-Shura (42), Ayah 20)
It is clearly evident from the above verses that ALLAH again and again tells us not to get involved too much in the life of the world. But how do we muslims do that? If we look at our lives we will come to realize that in 24 hours, we spend barely an hour or so in the worship of ALLAH. The rest of all our efforts revolve around living and making effort for the world. Whether its our job, or relationship with friends and family. Lets just see a few examples of how a muslim might prefer the worldly attractions of this world than hereafter.
(Surah Tauba (9), Ayah 38)
O mankind! Have fear of your Rabb and fear that Day when no father shall avail his son nor a son his father. Surely the promise of Allah is true. Let not the life of this world deceive you, nor let the Deceiver (Shaitan) deceive you concerning Allah.
(Surah Luqman (31), Ayah 33)
O mankind! Certainly the promise of Allah is true, therefore let not the life of this world deceive you nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.
(Surah Fatir (35), Ayah 5)
You should know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, a show and boasting among yourselves, a quest for greater riches and more children. Its similitude is that of vegetation that flourish after rain: the growth of which delights the tillers, then it withers and you see it turn yellow, soon it becomes dry and crumbles away. In the hereafter there will be either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but an illusion.
(Surah Al-Hadid (57), Ayah 20)
He that desires the reward in this world shall be given it here, and he that desires the reward in the hereafter shall be given it there. Soon We will reward the thankful.
(Surah Al-i’Imran (3), Ayah 145)
As for those who do not hope to meet Us on the Day of Judgement, being well pleased and satisfied with this worldly life and those who give no heed to Our revelations,they shall have the Fire as their abode because of what they had earned (erroneous creed and wrong conduct).
(Surah Yunus (10), Ayah 7 & 8)
Those who desire the life of this world and its splendors, they are given full reward of their deeds therein and shall not be diminished.They are the ones who will have nothing in the hereafter except Hellfire. There they shall come to know that their deeds were fruitless and their actions were worthless.
(Surah Hud (11), Ayah 15 & 16)
He that desires the transitory things of this life, We readily grant him such things as We please to whomsoever We want, then We condemn him to hell, where he will burn, disgraced and rejected.
(Surah Al-Israa (17), Ayah 18)
The life of men when they get to the age of puberty is tempted by desire for women when they get married children, when they get children the hoarding of treasures of gold and silver, splendid horses, cattle, and plantations. These are the comforts for the transitory life of this world; the everlasting best comfort, however, is with Allah.Say : "Shall I tell you of better things than these, with which the righteous will be rewarded by their Rabb? There will be gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live forever with spouses of perfect chastity and the good pleasure of Allah. Allah is watching His servants very closely."
(Surah Al-i’Imran (3), Ayah 14 & 15)
He who desires the harvest of the hereafter, shall be given a many fold increase in his harvest; and he who desires the harvest of this world, a share of it shall be given to him: but in the hereafter he shall have no share at all.
(Surah Ash-Shura (42), Ayah 20)
It is clearly evident from the above verses that ALLAH again and again tells us not to get involved too much in the life of the world. But how do we muslims do that? If we look at our lives we will come to realize that in 24 hours, we spend barely an hour or so in the worship of ALLAH. The rest of all our efforts revolve around living and making effort for the world. Whether its our job, or relationship with friends and family. Lets just see a few examples of how a muslim might prefer the worldly attractions of this world than hereafter.
- by spending the free time that he gets after his job or studies in activities that result in just a waste of his time and efforts. If the same could have been spent in following the commandments of ALLAH and working for his DEEN, then surely ALLAH would have rewarded greatly.
- by spending the resources we have in getting the pleasures of this world beyond our needs. Spending our money in lavish things, doing "israaf" in the halal things given to us by ALLAH, by spending our resources on things which neither gives us anything in this world nor will give anything in the hereafter.
- by being more concerned about the temporary relations of this life beyond the responsibilities given by Islam to us. We sometimes prefer to spend time in our friends even when we don't gain anything from it and just for having a fun time when the same could have been spent on working for the DEEN of ALLAH. Islam doesn't promote complete seclusion from world and encourages to enjoy the blessings of ALLAH given to us. However, it should be keep in mind that those blessings are also to be shared with others. If its knowledge it should be shared with others, if its wealth its to be shared with the one in need, if its time then it should be given to those who can earn something valuable from it and become a good muslim in the future.
- by avoiding the vain and idle talks that tempt us greatly in this world but will be of no use to us in the hereafter.
Each one of us should try to look into our lives and what are our priorities. Have we given priority to those things which will save us on the day of judgement or do we spend most of our time in things which are just temporary in this world even.
May ALLAH guide us with the blessing of his divine verses and show us the right path to follow and may ALLAH give us the strength to face the temptations of this wordily life and overcome it.
AMEEN
Friday, September 21, 2007
Consequnces of love of the world
Say: If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your tribe, and the wealth ye have acquired, and merchandise for which ye fear that there will be no sale, and dwellings ye desire are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah guideth not wrong doing folk. (Surah Tauba, Ayah 24)
The above verse highlights 8 different types of loves that a person deals with in life. We'll try to look into each one of them and how in daily life one can cross the limits of those love.
1. Love of parents
Everyone loves their parent and its a natural feeling. We are ordered in Quran to love our parents and to care for them. However, sometimes we can accept things just for the sake of our parents that are not what Islam teaches. Like for example, when someone who has been raised in a modern and broad minded environment and tries to follow Islam the first reaction comes from family. Parents with that type of view of life will try to make their children understand that he should be moderate and walk alongside the world as of today. They would tell their children that Islam is not such a strict religion to that makes one move away from the pleasures of life. However, as per islam there is no concept of keeping a balance between religious life and worldly life because as per Islam the life style has to be as per the way taught by Quran and Islam. Sometimes parents can even resort to emotional blackmailing in order to prevent their children from becoming religious because as per their view it is backward or too extreme. But how can following the teachings of our Quran and Prophet S.A.W be extreme? If they are extreme then does that mean those teachings need to be modified? Do we believe that there are flaws in those teachings and they are not applicable for all times?
2. Love of children
This love can make a person do things just for the sake of keeping his children happy which would be against Islam. Parents sometimes resort to taking loans on interest in order to give their children a good education, to get them married in a good way or to get them things that they like. They might also ignore the disobedience of their children just because they simply love them too much and hate to see them sad. A child might want to wear dress not approved by Islam, go to places that cause fitnah, have friendship with na-mahram which is not allowed as per Islam, try to choose a career that results in fitnah, or simply wants a life style that is luxurious and wants to show off. He/she might wanna got to concerts and clubs which are a major place of mingling of the opposite sex, might want to get things that are not necessary like an expensive car or an expensive mobile phone, etc.
3. Love for Siblings
Siblings can have much closer bonds than one can have with parents and sometimes siblings cover for each other for wrong things. They keep many secrets of each other and in doing so expect the same from others. They might cover unethical relations of each other, cover the acts which are against islamic teachings and also agaisnt teachings of their parents, and again might spend their money for each other on things which are not necessary for them and hence fall in the category of "spending excessively."
4. Love for Spouse
This is one of the most tempting love and can make a person do acts which he would not do otherwise. A husband in order to make his wife happy may accept her wrong kind of demands like that of maintaining a high standard of living, of accepting all her modern life style and way of dressing, her social gatherings which can lead to many fitnah. Similary, a wife may also accept the worng acts of her husband, might not object on his haram way of earning livelihood, might not object if he deals in interest or other things not allowed by Islam.
5. Love for Tribe / community / family / country
When a person lives in a particular tribe/community/family/country, he gets accustomed to the culture and norms of it which with the passage of time move away from the teachings of Islam. The elders of it might have wrong views and concept and just because of that they might be followed in the family, the country might be goverend by rulers who don't follow the teachings of Islam and their orders may go against the teachings, the tribe might have developed traditions for worship, social events which are against the teachings of Islam. All these lead a person to disobey the teachings of Islam.
6. Love for wealth
This might lead a person to keep on saving his money and not to help the others in needy. He would only be concerned with increasing his wealth from whichever way possible and in he is faced with the situation where he has to choose between haram and halal way, he might choose the haram way becuase it will give him more wealth while in halal way he feared the loss of wealth.
7. Love for business/profession
When a person establishes a business or has a well paid job he will divert all his attention in keeping that business or job and will forget his religious duties. He might forget offering prayers just becuase there was a meeting scheduled at that time or that performing wudu will ruin his well ironed clothes. Also, in order to survive in busienss/profession in might adopt tactics that are unethical and clearly against the teachings of Islam. He might prefer to take loan from bank rather than finding a islamic mode of financing, adopt marketing strategies that promote fitnah in order to get promotion, revert to bribes and dishonest means.
8. Property
This might lead a person from supporting such elements in the society which go against the principles of islamic society in order to save his properties. In every country there is a small minority of elite class that owns the majority of resources in the country. Their interests are directly linked with the present economica, social and political system and a change in it woud effect their properties. Hence, in order to save them they revert to means of supporting such elements.
All the above 8 type of love are to be kept within limit becuase our DEEN has given us guidance for every step of life. It teaches us to what limit to love parents and obey them, to what limits to spend from our wealth, to what limits to accept the demands of our children, siblings, spouse and family. Lets see what are the limits we need to adhered to.
The above verse highlights 8 different types of loves that a person deals with in life. We'll try to look into each one of them and how in daily life one can cross the limits of those love.
1. Love of parents
Everyone loves their parent and its a natural feeling. We are ordered in Quran to love our parents and to care for them. However, sometimes we can accept things just for the sake of our parents that are not what Islam teaches. Like for example, when someone who has been raised in a modern and broad minded environment and tries to follow Islam the first reaction comes from family. Parents with that type of view of life will try to make their children understand that he should be moderate and walk alongside the world as of today. They would tell their children that Islam is not such a strict religion to that makes one move away from the pleasures of life. However, as per islam there is no concept of keeping a balance between religious life and worldly life because as per Islam the life style has to be as per the way taught by Quran and Islam. Sometimes parents can even resort to emotional blackmailing in order to prevent their children from becoming religious because as per their view it is backward or too extreme. But how can following the teachings of our Quran and Prophet S.A.W be extreme? If they are extreme then does that mean those teachings need to be modified? Do we believe that there are flaws in those teachings and they are not applicable for all times?
2. Love of children
This love can make a person do things just for the sake of keeping his children happy which would be against Islam. Parents sometimes resort to taking loans on interest in order to give their children a good education, to get them married in a good way or to get them things that they like. They might also ignore the disobedience of their children just because they simply love them too much and hate to see them sad. A child might want to wear dress not approved by Islam, go to places that cause fitnah, have friendship with na-mahram which is not allowed as per Islam, try to choose a career that results in fitnah, or simply wants a life style that is luxurious and wants to show off. He/she might wanna got to concerts and clubs which are a major place of mingling of the opposite sex, might want to get things that are not necessary like an expensive car or an expensive mobile phone, etc.
3. Love for Siblings
Siblings can have much closer bonds than one can have with parents and sometimes siblings cover for each other for wrong things. They keep many secrets of each other and in doing so expect the same from others. They might cover unethical relations of each other, cover the acts which are against islamic teachings and also agaisnt teachings of their parents, and again might spend their money for each other on things which are not necessary for them and hence fall in the category of "spending excessively."
4. Love for Spouse
This is one of the most tempting love and can make a person do acts which he would not do otherwise. A husband in order to make his wife happy may accept her wrong kind of demands like that of maintaining a high standard of living, of accepting all her modern life style and way of dressing, her social gatherings which can lead to many fitnah. Similary, a wife may also accept the worng acts of her husband, might not object on his haram way of earning livelihood, might not object if he deals in interest or other things not allowed by Islam.
5. Love for Tribe / community / family / country
When a person lives in a particular tribe/community/family/country, he gets accustomed to the culture and norms of it which with the passage of time move away from the teachings of Islam. The elders of it might have wrong views and concept and just because of that they might be followed in the family, the country might be goverend by rulers who don't follow the teachings of Islam and their orders may go against the teachings, the tribe might have developed traditions for worship, social events which are against the teachings of Islam. All these lead a person to disobey the teachings of Islam.
6. Love for wealth
This might lead a person to keep on saving his money and not to help the others in needy. He would only be concerned with increasing his wealth from whichever way possible and in he is faced with the situation where he has to choose between haram and halal way, he might choose the haram way becuase it will give him more wealth while in halal way he feared the loss of wealth.
7. Love for business/profession
When a person establishes a business or has a well paid job he will divert all his attention in keeping that business or job and will forget his religious duties. He might forget offering prayers just becuase there was a meeting scheduled at that time or that performing wudu will ruin his well ironed clothes. Also, in order to survive in busienss/profession in might adopt tactics that are unethical and clearly against the teachings of Islam. He might prefer to take loan from bank rather than finding a islamic mode of financing, adopt marketing strategies that promote fitnah in order to get promotion, revert to bribes and dishonest means.
8. Property
This might lead a person from supporting such elements in the society which go against the principles of islamic society in order to save his properties. In every country there is a small minority of elite class that owns the majority of resources in the country. Their interests are directly linked with the present economica, social and political system and a change in it woud effect their properties. Hence, in order to save them they revert to means of supporting such elements.
All the above 8 type of love are to be kept within limit becuase our DEEN has given us guidance for every step of life. It teaches us to what limit to love parents and obey them, to what limits to spend from our wealth, to what limits to accept the demands of our children, siblings, spouse and family. Lets see what are the limits we need to adhered to.
- We should obey parents as long as their order or advice is not against Quran and Hadith, if it goes to that limit we are not required to obey them. Doing so would make us guilty of committing shirk against ALLAH as we have made obedience of parents a bigger priority than ALLAH.
- Wrong demands of family, siblings, children and spouse is not to be accepted. We should remember that it is more important to keep ALLAH happy than those relations. ALLAH has told the limits of how much they are to be loved. If there is some just demand that we have to fulfill then we are required as per Islam to do it. We have a social responsibility towards our family to provide the food, clothing and shelter. However, we should not corss the limit and do excess in that which is more than necessary for than. For example getting each one of then his own car whereby only one car is required for use in family, or buying them expensive items when a normal one was enough for their need.
- We should keep in mind that we should listen to advice of elders and obey them if they are within Islamic principles. Old traditions often belong to unislamic civilization and has got nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. Traditions of marriage, of dowry, birth, death, have to be as per the Sunnah of Prophet S.A.W.
- Our property, wealth, business is all given to us by ALLAH and ALLAH can take this away from us if we don't obey them. We cannot get anything if ALLAH does not give us. If ALLAH has decided some loss for us then no one can stop it and if ALLAH has decided some good for us then no one can prevent us from getting it. This should be the basic belief of a muslim. Good and bad is in the hands of ALLAH and sometimes we think something is good for us but infact it is bad for us though due to our limited knowledge we don't know and hence might start feeling ungrateful for what we had been given. Our wealth and property should be used in the way prescribed by ALLAH; excess wealth should be used for charity and to pay zakat, an idle property can be used to give shelter to the homeless, the busienss can be run with the aim of helping people as well as earning a living, our job should be done with honest means without looking at the temporary rewards of bribes or dishonest means.
Our DEEN Islam is a complete way of life so there is no room for any additions or deletions for the rules. As part of being a muslim we have to believe that Quran is the final book of ALLAH and Islam the final complete DEEN. Making any alterations means we don't have that faith that DEEN is complete or perfect. It would mean that we feel there are somethings that we can formulate better than what ALLAH has told or that they were applicable for particular time and needs amendment as per new time. All such things can make us a disbeliever after we accepted Islam and in the eyes of ALLAH we won't remain a muslim no matter what the world says.
For all the people crossing those limits, ALLAH says to them to wait for the judgement of ALLAH. ALLAH dislikes people who cross the limits prescribed by ALLAH and there will be no one to save them on the day of judgement. Anyone who still keeps his tyrant behaviour will not be given any guidance and will suffer the most painful punishment on the day of judgement. As this is the decision of ALLAH to punish those people, no Prophet can save those people from the wrath of ALLAH. We should keep in mind that even though ALLAH is merciful, he is ALLAH the most strict in punishment.
May ALLAH guide us to follow his commandments in its entirety and give us the courage to fight against the fitnah of this world.
AMEEN
Responsibility as a Muslim
Assalam-u-Alaikum
ALHAMDULILLAH there are approx 1.5 billion muslims in the world today and we remember ALLAH everyday in our salat, in our fast and in other forms of worship. But sadly we seem to have forgotten the real meaning of being a muslim. I'll try to just remind our muslim brother and sisters what the real meaning of muslim is as per Quran and Hadith.
First we should know the purpose of the coming of Prophet S.A.W; why did ALLAH sent him?
"It is HE who has sent his Rasool with guidance and true Deen to make it prevail over all other deens even though the mushrikin may hate it" (Surah Tauba, Ayah 33)
Now what exactly is DEEN? There is no one word in english language to describe it. Today the word "DEEN" is normally translated as "Religion", however "Religion" does not actually mean DEEN as it means in arabic language. "Religion" includes just some rituals, customs and forms of worhisp but "DEEN" is something more comprehensive. "DEEN" includes everything that governs our way of life, how we spend our life and what to do and what not to do, whether its our social events, our personal matters, the social and economic system, our relations to warfare. So everything is a part of DEEN and since ISLAM is our DEEN all those areas need to be governed as per Islam. But what the western influence has done is that we have lost the true meaning of DEEN and have started considering Islam as a religion and have restricted Islam to few rituals, few ceremonies and acts of worship. The non-muslims recognize religion as separate and their wordly affairs as a separate thing. If someone practices his religion only to a personal level but does not interfere in the society and try to implement it in the society, the world will not have a problem.
There is a common thinking mainly because of western influence "not to interfere in matters of other" and most of the muslims have started acting on it. But Islam teaches us "to enjoin good and to forbid evil", this is the quality of a muslim that ALLAH has told in Quran and as per a hadith of Prophet S.A.W, "if you see something bad stop it with your hand, if you can't do that say it with your tongue, if you can't even do that then atleast hate it in your heart and this is the least level of Imaan." Now this teaching of Quran and Hadith contradicts the common modern thinking of "not to interfere in matters of other." Most of the time we don't even think about the higher level and we just want to start with the least level but in doing that also we just remain quiet on the wrong things because of which we have slowly stopped hatting that act. This is where we have started going astray; if we hate something then we should also not support it with our actions. If we can't speak against it then we should atleast let it know with our actions that we don't approve of that thing and this is the least level of Imaan. If we can't do that, then we don't have any Imaan. If someone accepts and make compromise in his heart against a certain wrong thing, then he has accepted the act so he has lost his Imaan because as per Hadith, the lowest level of Imaan is to atleast hate that thing in our heart. So the lowest level of Imaan is to hate the wrong in our heart and atleast show it through our attitude and action. If we make the other person believe through our actions that we don't have a problem with a thing that is against Islamic teachings, we have actually accepted that and so we have fallen from the least level of Imaan, and there is nothing after the least level.
Now Prophet S.A.W was sent to establish the Deen of ALLAH over all other Deen. In his life Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum showed this by establishing an islamic state in the whole of Arab and in the last sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum said that "those who are here today should convey this message to those who are not here may be the later will understand it better".
This job of spreading the message of ALLAH has historically been the job of the messengers of but its the honour and privilage of muslims that his job has been handed over to us by Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe WasallumALLAH. However, this also gives us great responsibility. In Quran ALLAH says that i have chosen you muslims as the best among all the nations because you call people to truth, forbid and stop evil and believe in ALLAH. So the quality because of which ALLAH has raised us above other nations is because of those two things; calling to truth and forbidding evil. If we fail to do that in our life, then we have come down from that position
and we have failed to fulfill the responsibility that was handed over to us by our Prophet S.A.W. So from the time we start being a muslim and become mature enough to understand things, we have this heavy responsibility on us in exchange of this heavy responsibility ALLAH promises heaven to us but that depends if we fulfill the responsibility. As ALLAH says in Quran that
"I will raise you (O Prophet) as witness against the muslim and i will raise the muslims as witness against the rest of the mankind" (Surah Baqra, Ayah 143)
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum is gonna be witness against us and he is gonna say to ALLAH that i forwarded the message which you gave me to them so then it became our responsibility to spread that message to the rest of mankind. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum is gonna say to ALLAH on the day of judgement that i gave them whatever message you gave me and it was their responsibility then and for this in his last sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum confirmed this from the people "have i forwarded to you whatever was revealed to me by ALLAH and fulfilled my responsibility?, and everyone of the people present said "yes you have fulfilled." then Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum pointed his finger towards the sky and said thrice "O ALLAH, you also bear witness that they are accepting it." So the responsibility of spreading the word of ALLAH has been our responsibility and we have to do it whether we like it or not, we can't run away frm it and we have to be answerable for it.
ALLAH knows very well what circumstances each one of us had and what abilities HE gave to each one of us and ALLAH is gonna judge each of us accordingly. What did we do using our abilities and resources at our disposal to spread teh message of ALLAH. We human beings were appointed as a representatives of ALLAH on earth and if we think about any person representing a country or an organization, then he also has to represent its teachings and values. So we have been appointed as a representative of ALLAH on earth and its our responsibility to establish the rule of ALLAH in the earth. ALLAH says in Surah Mudassir "rise and warn and magnify your lord." The verses are initially addressed to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum but with that connection it is addressed to all of muslims. What exactly did ALLAH meant by magnifying him? ALLAH is already the greatest in the universe and the whole universe is an evidence of it, everything in the universe is acting as per the laws of ALLAH. we don't just have to make ALLAH great by saying "ALLAH o Akbar" in salat, we have to make ALLAH the greatest in our life, make it visible to the world that ALLAH is great in our life and we act as per him, and make ALLAH the greatest in the world by establish his laws that he sent down to us in Quran. By establishing the political, social and economic system as per the teachings of ALLAH starting from our ownself and then moving to our family, our relatives and our friends.
May ALLAH guide us and give us the strenght to fulfill our responsibility towards HIM and help him to face the problems that come in our path.
AMEEN
ALHAMDULILLAH there are approx 1.5 billion muslims in the world today and we remember ALLAH everyday in our salat, in our fast and in other forms of worship. But sadly we seem to have forgotten the real meaning of being a muslim. I'll try to just remind our muslim brother and sisters what the real meaning of muslim is as per Quran and Hadith.
First we should know the purpose of the coming of Prophet S.A.W; why did ALLAH sent him?
"It is HE who has sent his Rasool with guidance and true Deen to make it prevail over all other deens even though the mushrikin may hate it" (Surah Tauba, Ayah 33)
Now what exactly is DEEN? There is no one word in english language to describe it. Today the word "DEEN" is normally translated as "Religion", however "Religion" does not actually mean DEEN as it means in arabic language. "Religion" includes just some rituals, customs and forms of worhisp but "DEEN" is something more comprehensive. "DEEN" includes everything that governs our way of life, how we spend our life and what to do and what not to do, whether its our social events, our personal matters, the social and economic system, our relations to warfare. So everything is a part of DEEN and since ISLAM is our DEEN all those areas need to be governed as per Islam. But what the western influence has done is that we have lost the true meaning of DEEN and have started considering Islam as a religion and have restricted Islam to few rituals, few ceremonies and acts of worship. The non-muslims recognize religion as separate and their wordly affairs as a separate thing. If someone practices his religion only to a personal level but does not interfere in the society and try to implement it in the society, the world will not have a problem.
There is a common thinking mainly because of western influence "not to interfere in matters of other" and most of the muslims have started acting on it. But Islam teaches us "to enjoin good and to forbid evil", this is the quality of a muslim that ALLAH has told in Quran and as per a hadith of Prophet S.A.W, "if you see something bad stop it with your hand, if you can't do that say it with your tongue, if you can't even do that then atleast hate it in your heart and this is the least level of Imaan." Now this teaching of Quran and Hadith contradicts the common modern thinking of "not to interfere in matters of other." Most of the time we don't even think about the higher level and we just want to start with the least level but in doing that also we just remain quiet on the wrong things because of which we have slowly stopped hatting that act. This is where we have started going astray; if we hate something then we should also not support it with our actions. If we can't speak against it then we should atleast let it know with our actions that we don't approve of that thing and this is the least level of Imaan. If we can't do that, then we don't have any Imaan. If someone accepts and make compromise in his heart against a certain wrong thing, then he has accepted the act so he has lost his Imaan because as per Hadith, the lowest level of Imaan is to atleast hate that thing in our heart. So the lowest level of Imaan is to hate the wrong in our heart and atleast show it through our attitude and action. If we make the other person believe through our actions that we don't have a problem with a thing that is against Islamic teachings, we have actually accepted that and so we have fallen from the least level of Imaan, and there is nothing after the least level.
Now Prophet S.A.W was sent to establish the Deen of ALLAH over all other Deen. In his life Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum showed this by establishing an islamic state in the whole of Arab and in the last sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum said that "those who are here today should convey this message to those who are not here may be the later will understand it better".
This job of spreading the message of ALLAH has historically been the job of the messengers of but its the honour and privilage of muslims that his job has been handed over to us by Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe WasallumALLAH. However, this also gives us great responsibility. In Quran ALLAH says that i have chosen you muslims as the best among all the nations because you call people to truth, forbid and stop evil and believe in ALLAH. So the quality because of which ALLAH has raised us above other nations is because of those two things; calling to truth and forbidding evil. If we fail to do that in our life, then we have come down from that position
and we have failed to fulfill the responsibility that was handed over to us by our Prophet S.A.W. So from the time we start being a muslim and become mature enough to understand things, we have this heavy responsibility on us in exchange of this heavy responsibility ALLAH promises heaven to us but that depends if we fulfill the responsibility. As ALLAH says in Quran that
"I will raise you (O Prophet) as witness against the muslim and i will raise the muslims as witness against the rest of the mankind" (Surah Baqra, Ayah 143)
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum is gonna be witness against us and he is gonna say to ALLAH that i forwarded the message which you gave me to them so then it became our responsibility to spread that message to the rest of mankind. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum is gonna say to ALLAH on the day of judgement that i gave them whatever message you gave me and it was their responsibility then and for this in his last sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum confirmed this from the people "have i forwarded to you whatever was revealed to me by ALLAH and fulfilled my responsibility?, and everyone of the people present said "yes you have fulfilled." then Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum pointed his finger towards the sky and said thrice "O ALLAH, you also bear witness that they are accepting it." So the responsibility of spreading the word of ALLAH has been our responsibility and we have to do it whether we like it or not, we can't run away frm it and we have to be answerable for it.
ALLAH knows very well what circumstances each one of us had and what abilities HE gave to each one of us and ALLAH is gonna judge each of us accordingly. What did we do using our abilities and resources at our disposal to spread teh message of ALLAH. We human beings were appointed as a representatives of ALLAH on earth and if we think about any person representing a country or an organization, then he also has to represent its teachings and values. So we have been appointed as a representative of ALLAH on earth and its our responsibility to establish the rule of ALLAH in the earth. ALLAH says in Surah Mudassir "rise and warn and magnify your lord." The verses are initially addressed to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alahe Wasallum but with that connection it is addressed to all of muslims. What exactly did ALLAH meant by magnifying him? ALLAH is already the greatest in the universe and the whole universe is an evidence of it, everything in the universe is acting as per the laws of ALLAH. we don't just have to make ALLAH great by saying "ALLAH o Akbar" in salat, we have to make ALLAH the greatest in our life, make it visible to the world that ALLAH is great in our life and we act as per him, and make ALLAH the greatest in the world by establish his laws that he sent down to us in Quran. By establishing the political, social and economic system as per the teachings of ALLAH starting from our ownself and then moving to our family, our relatives and our friends.
May ALLAH guide us and give us the strenght to fulfill our responsibility towards HIM and help him to face the problems that come in our path.
AMEEN
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