Nahmaduhu wa nusallee ala Rasoolihil Kareem. Amma ba’d! Qalallahu Taa’la fil Qur’an
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Distinguish guests, respected teachers, and dear audience! My today’s talk is “Islam is your Birthright” may Allah enable me to speak right and true.
Dear audience!
Mankind and the universe were not created by accident or chance, but according to the plan of the Creator, who is known as Allah in Islam. The Qur'an states that it is the duty of all individuals to learn about Allah and to live according to His will. As we cannot accomplish this be ourselves, Allah has sent messengers and prophets to guide humanity All of these chosen individuals have brought the same message and have served as examples to their people of how Allah desires all human beings to live.
Through these selected people, we have been told why mankind was created, what will happen to us after death, and what Allah expects of us. But most importantly, we have been told that Allah is unique-He has no partners, no sons or daughters, and no competitors, as so many other man-made religious systems have postulated. This message always remains the same, whereas the laws laid down for a particular might show some slight differences.
Muhammad, (saw) the last of Allah's prophets, was sent to present Allah's revelation in its final form and for the last time. This was necessary because the message delivered by the previous prophets and messengers had been corrupted or distorted by their followers. They had been mixed with philosophical speculations, superstitions, myths, and neglect. Therefore, Islam is not a new religion-it is a restatement of the original religion of Allah in its purest form and is designed to provide humanity with the uncorrupted message of Allah.
Islam is an Arabic word that denotes submission and obedience to Allah. It also means "peace," for it brings peace of mind as well as peace on the individual and the social levels.
The five pillars of Islam
In Islam, the term "worship" covers any action that one does in accordance with the will of Allah. It can be mental, physical, spoken, or otherwise. All such actions will be rewarded.
There are five acts of worship that are so fundamental that the Prophet grouped them together as the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is expected to fulfill these obligations. They are:
The declaration of monotheism:
Recognizing and acknowledging the monotheistic nature of Allah stands at the core of Islam. This consists of a public affirmation that "there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger." One cannot be a Muslim until he states this fact in the presence of Muslim witnesses.
Prayers:
A Muslim must perform the five daily prayers. These must be performed at specific times, corresponding roughly with dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. The prayers can be made in any clean place, but it is preferable to pray them with others in a Masjid, for this communal undertaking act as a reminder that all Muslims are equal. When many people are praying together, it becomes clear that color, economic status, social position, and all other artificial distinctions have no importance to Allah, for all Muslims are commanded to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, and prostrate themselves before Him. There are no exceptions. Prayers also elevated the individual to a higher level of morality, purify his heart, and help him to resist his desire to engage in forbidden activities.
Fasting the month of Ramadan:
Every year during the Muslim month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. While this gives the body a much needed rest and improves ones health by getting rid of excess weight, it also increases ones commitment to Allah, develops his social conscience, and reminds him of how the less fortunate live every day In addition, it strengthens one's patience, self-restraint, will power, and sincerity.
Zakat: (Charity)
Every Muslim whose net annual savings are above (Nisab) a certain specified minimum must pay an annual
Amount of 2.5% to the poor and needy This action purifies one's accrued wealth, fosters the quality of sacrifice, and rids him of selfishness and greed. It also helps to reduce resentment and envy between a society's poor and rich classes.
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah):
Hajj is an act of worship that is to be performed at least once in a lifetime, provided that one is physically and financially able to do so. During this time, Muslims meet from all corners of the world in an international congregation for the sole purpose of responding to the call of Allah. It also reminds the participants that all Muslims are equal, irrespective of their geographical, cultural, or racial origins.
The articles of faith
All Muslims believe in:
The oneness of Allah. Allah has no partner, son, daughter, helper, or competitor. There is nothing that even remotely resembles Him, for He is unique.
All of the messengers and prophets of Allah. The Qur'an states that each people have received revelation from Allah in its own tongue so that all individuals know what is required of them. The Qur'an mentions twenty-five of them by name, among them Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, John, Jesus, and Muhammad. There are, however, many others who are not named. Muhammad, (saw) was sent with a universal message meant for all of humanity The message revealed through him is the Qur'an, which is Allah's final presentation of the original revelation received by mankind in its purest form. A Muslim must accept all of Allah's prophets and messengers as legitimate, for denial of one means denial of all. For Christian brothers who are not convinced that Muhammad is a prophet of Allah, proof of this claim can be found in the Bible (Deut. 18:15-18, 33:2-3; Isaiah 29:12; Songs of Solomon 5:16;John 14:1516, 16:12-14) as well as in the biographical accounts of Muhammad's life, which was lived in full view of his contemporaries.
The original messages revealed through Allah's various prophets and messengers. The purest of these is the Qur'an. It was recorded during the lifetime of the Prophet and under his direct supervision. And Allah has promised to protect it from corruption. As verified by the Qur’an: Ch: 43 Verse: 3-4
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
وَإِنَّهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ
We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that ye (man-kind) may see the truth. And it is truly in the mother of books (or scriptures in a mother language) with Us (preserved), most exalted and wise.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
We have sent down the Reminder (The Qur’an) and We Are Keeping it (from any corruption). (15:9)
The proof that the Qur’an is Kept as was revealed is mentioned by the Words of Allah Himself:
أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا
Do not they reflect upon the Qur’an (with care), Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein many discrepancy.( 4/82)
The revelations mentioned in the Qur'an as having been received by other prophets, such as the Suhuf of Abraham, the Torah of Moses, the Zubur (Psalms) of David, and the Injeel (Bible) of Jesus, have all been either lost or corrupted.
The existence of angels as part of the unseen world. They are spiritual beings who have no need for food, drink, or sleep.
The Day of Judgment. The Qur'an teaches that life is a test for each individual, for everyone must choose whether he will or will not follow the commands of Allah. On this day, a person will be resurrected and asked to account for what he did while he was alive. Those with good records will be rewarded and enter paradise, while those with bad records will be punished by being sent to hell. This belief develops within the individual an awareness of Allah's presence and a desire to obey His laws sincerely and voluntarily
A Muslim believes that nothing happens without the knowledge and permission of Allah. We may not understand why certain things happen. It is part of the divine plan for our lives.
Muslims: the moderate nation
Islam does not divide life into "spiritual" and "secular" realms. As all of life is thus unified and interconnected, Islam avoids the dangers of the extreme ritualism, secularism, or materialism that is found in other civilizations. Activities are not classified as belonging to the state or the individual, religion or daily life, but as belonging to Allah alone, Who has provided guidelines for individuals. These are to be followed in every aspect of their lives: individual, social, governmental, political, economical, spiritual, and otherwise Reflecting this moderation, the Qur'an has entitled the Muslims the "moderate nation.”
Sources of Islamic teachings
The Islamic way of life is based on the teachings and laws found in the Qur'an and the example (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad.
The Qur'an is the word of Allah and was revealed in potions to Muhammad, via the Angel Gabriel, over a twenty-three year period. Each portion was recorded and memorized by thousands of his followers. And later Abu Bark, the first caliph, who oversaw its collection into one volume. The third caliph, Uthman, prepared several copies and sent them to different Muslim territories. Ever since that time, the same version has been used by Muslims. The wording, order, and language have never been altered in the slightest manner. No other book claiming to be a divine revelation can make this claim, and no one has ever been able to refute the claim of the Qur'an to complete authenticity.
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ شُهَدَاءكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our slave then produce a Surah like thereunto, and call your witness and helpers besides Allah if you are true ( 2/22).
Neither saja’ (musical words) nor shi’r (poem), on the other hand, can explain the style adapted to the Qur’an. In all Surahs there is a flowing Lyrical style which is characteristically the Qur’an’s; it represents his own contribution, and enjoys the listeners what ever their nationality. The Qur’an is not only intended to the listener, which could be achieved only by means of oral recitation sanitized to the power of the rhymed word of Allah, but also for the scientists, the theologizes, the sociologists and all the specialized people who like to seek reality.
The Sunnah consists of the teachings, sayings, and actions of Prophet Muhammad. This information was meticulously reported and collected by his Companions. It is essentially an elaboration of the Qur'anic verses that shows how they are to be implemented in one's daily life.
Islam: the religion of equality
Islam recognizes no man-made artificial distinctions based on color, tribe, race, nationality, or otherwise. As all people come from the original couple-Adam and Eve-they are all one family and therefore equal before Allah. What distinguishes people from each other is their commitment to Islam:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا
وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
O mankind! We have created you from male and female, and made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed! The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the most righteous of you. Indeed! Allah is Knower, Aware. (Alhujrat.Ch.49: V.13)
Islam is your birthright
Islam states clearly that everyone is born a Muslim and is therefore monotheistic by nature. We read in the Qur'an that humanity has been created with the natural disposition towards the unity of Allah. This is to be expected, for Allah, who has breathed His spirit into each of us, is Himself the example of perfect unity. In the words of the Prophet Muhammad:
"Every person is born with the innate religious faith (to submit to Allah Almighty)."
Thus when an individual accepts Islam, he is not turning his back on any prior revelation but rather is returning to the original and true revelation of Allah and to his own nature as a creation of Allah. This being the case, Islam is your birthright-other religious or ideological systems are either corruptions our outright denials of Islam.
Islam is not a new religion founded by Muhammad, but a final restatement of the original revelation that has been conveyed to humanity by messengers and prophets sent by Allah for that very purpose:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
"This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion" (5:3).
As the Qur'an is the final revelation and Muhammad is the final prophet, humanity is obligated to accept it:
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost all spiritual good" (3:86).
May Allah guide us to the right path and give us the strength of faith to fulfill all his commandments and live a life as shown to us by His Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Ameen.
By Muhammad Asjad Qasmi trainee speaker with Markazul Ma’arif education and research center Mumbai asjad.qasmi@yahoo.com 15 August 2009 10:17:49 PM
Saturday, August 15, 2009
At-Tawakkul: Reliance on Allah
Nahmaduhu wa nusallee ala Rasoolihil Kareem. Amma ba’d! Qalallahu Taa’la fil Qur’an
وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الْبرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
Distinguish guests, respected teachers, and dear audience! My today’s talk is “At-Tawakkul: Reliance on Allah” may Allah enable me to speak right and true.
Dear audience! Allah the Most High has created us of the best stature and granted us many abilities so that we may look after our needs and those of our relatives and fellow human beings. He Almighty has invited us to explore the earth and use it for our subsistence. Allah says in the glorious Qur’an:
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
"It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection." [Qur’an 67:15]
Yet Allah Almighty has made it clear here, as well as in other verses, that had He not made this earth manageable to us, we would not be able to explore it nor benefit from it.
The Surah Al-Mulk is actually a yardstick for understanding Tawakkul. It starts and finishes with the same message: To Allah belong all that is in the universe and nothing would happen without His Mercy and His constant watchful care. Allah (swt) Says in the first verse what means:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
"Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent."
And in the last verse:
"Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?" [Qur’an 67:30]
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاء مَّعِينٍ
Yes, we can surely explore the earth, look for regions holding water and successfully discover fountain sources and streams. But without Allah’s permission and facilitation, we will not be able to reach this water. Furthermore, what would happen if - all of a sudden - Allah made the sources and springs of our water supply to disappear in the deep undergrounds of the earth. Blessed and Glorified is He! No one will bring it back but He.
There is a meaningful touch in the verse I mentioned earlier. Allah Says what means:
"…so walk among its slopes…" Then He said "...and eat of His provision." So Allah is telling us that though you are encouraged to strive and work hard, what you produce is not yours; what you earn is not yours. Rather, your production, your earnings and all your subsistence comes from Allah. He made it available to you out of His Mercy and care for you. Hence, if Allah wills, your work and efforts will be fruitful.
Similar verses where Allah ascribes subsistence solely to Him are found in many places in the Qur’an. Allah Says what means:
فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
"... So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned." [Qur’an 29:17] (Alankaboot)
Those who misunderstood the Plan of Allah and His Wisdom have felt confused by this double command of Allah - to strive and work on the one hand, and rely on Allah to make the actions possible and goals attainable, on the other. Initially, this question was presented before the Prophet (saw).
“The companions asked: Should we quit working and rely on Al-Qadar (Allah's predetermined decree)? The Prophet answered: "You should initiate and do things. Everyone shall be facilitated towards that for which he was created." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] ” Consequently, the Companions of the Prophet (saw) moved on and initiated righteous deeds while putting their trust in Allah.
The work that we are referring to is not that of the acts of worship (Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj, etc). Rather, it is the work pertaining to our subsistence. Furthermore, we do not refer to Haram (forbidden) work and Haram subsistence. It is the Halal (permissible) work and the Halal livelihood that we are concerned about, for it is more tempting to the believer. What are the guidelines and limits of the Halal work? How much dedication do we give it? Do we attribute the source of subsistence to our work or to Allah's bounties? And do we associate the loss and deprivation of wealth, health and success with our loss of job, or with Allah's universal plan?
Islam is a dynamic religion. Not only does it not condone passiveness, but also, it strongly rejects laziness and dependency on others. The Prophet said:
"Begging is forbidden except when there is great debt, suffering, injury, or abasing poverty." [Abu Dawood and Al-Bayhaqi] He also said: "It is much better for one of you to take his rope and go to chop some wood (for his livelihood) than to beg from people, whether they give him anything or deny him." [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet himself (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) worked hard for his living. He spent his boyhood as a shepherd and took to trade in manhood. He carried people's goods to Syria and other places and shared the profits with them. He used to constantly seek refuge with Allah from laziness as reported by Zayed Ibn Arqam:
"O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from laziness, from cowardice, from miserliness, from ineptitude and from the torment of the grave..." [Muslim]
However though we might strive hard to secure our livelihood, we should not attribute our achievements solely in the work we do, but to Allah. We should not put our reliance on our work, our possessions, our wealth, our position, etc. Neither should we rely on our manager, our employer, our friends, or our families. The only one on Whom we should rely is Allah. Allah (swt) says what means: ]
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا
"...And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise. And sufficient is He to be, with the sins of His servants, Acquainted." [Qur’an 25:58]
Whoever attaches his/her heart to his job, or to his/her employer or to any created beings in order for them to provide him/her with sustenance or to make him/her prosperous and successful, and so on, he/she has submitted to them. And the more one relies on the created beings, the weaker becomes one's submission to Allah.
Hence as much as Allah wants from us to initiate actions and seek and use all permissible means to secure our needs and those of our families, He also wants us not to depend on these means as the source of our sustenance. This is the genuine understanding of Tawakkul.
Deviant groups on Tawakkul:
Those who deviated from the right concept of Tawakkul have fallen into two extremes. The first groups of people are those, attracted by the temptations of this world, and have gone so far as to forget their relationship with Allah. Their heart has become so attracted to these temptations that they became subservient to their desires. Such people have become - knowingly or unknowingly - slaves of their own desires. They will ultimately claim that all their achievements are but the result of their own work and that Allah had no involvement whatsoever. They do not rely on Allah. Allah Says what means:
أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لَأُوتَيَنَّ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
أَاطَّلَعَ الْغَيْبَ أَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا
"Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, 'I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]?' Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise?" [Qur’an 19:77-78]
This type of man who rejects Allah and denies His bounties regards himself as "self-sufficient" and thus, cannot be expected to rely on Allah.
The second groups of people are those who understood the reliance on Allah as meaning to completely break away from all mundane affairs. They regarded piety and the pursuit of any material interests as contradictory. For them, reliance on Allah would mean not to take any initiatives for securing one's subsistence. Consequently, they renounce the world and retire themselves to remote areas or secluded spots and cut themselves from daily life!
Both of these two groups could not understand the right meaning of Tawakkul according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Had they attempted to understand the Book of Allah, according to the understanding and implementation of the Prophet and his honorable companions, they would have found that Tawakkul is far removed from how they conceived it. Through the instinctive behavior of some of His creatures and the sublime conduct of His Prophets may Allah exalt their mention and righteous slaves, Allah has set out in His Book the genuine Tawakkul.
Tawakkul of the birds:
Let us look at another creature of Allah: the bird. Allah Says (what means):
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَنُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ
"Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing." [Qatar 67:19]
As He did for all of His creatures, our Sustainer provided for the birds just those conditions that are best for their lives; He (swt) also inspired them to use their physical shapes and unique movements to take off, fly and land. Thus, in order to fly, birds would have to move their wings upwards and downwards, spread them and fold them.
However, the birds know that the One Who upholds them in the air, is not their upward and downward move, nor the spreading and folding of their wings, but rather Allah Almighty. They have understood that they have to exert effort and rely on Allah alone to uphold them high. As opposed to many rebellious men, birds recognize and exercise total Tawakkul on Allah without giving up the work.
In pursuing this way of life, the birds have become the example to follow for how the Tawakkul should be and how Allah would reward the one who exercises Tawakkul as the birds do.
The Prophet (saw) said:
"Were you to put your complete trust in Allah, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They issue forth hungry in the morning and return filled in the evening." [At-Trimidhi]
Did the birds remain in their nest waiting for Allah's provision? Of course not! Did they claim that since they were engaged in Tasbeeh (praising of Allah), they would not have to strive for their subsistence? Of course not! So praised is Allah Who inspired the birds to set forth to seek provisions for themselves and for their little ones. Praised is He Who taught them Tawakkul so they would not expect provision but from Him.
Tawakkul of Lady Maryam:
Let me bring you back to the world of mankind to put before you an ultimate example of Tawakkul. This is the story of an expectant mother who retired with her conceived baby to a remote area. The pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree. She was alone with no one to attend her. She was hungry, thirsty. She cried:
فَأَجَاءهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَى جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."[Qur’an 19:23]
But a voice cried to her from beneath the palm-tree: "But he called her from below her,
فَنَادَاهَا مِن تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا
"Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream." [Qur’an 19:24]
She knew now that Allah would deliver her from her hunger and thirst and release the pain of her pangs. But the Most High wanted her to initiate an action to benefit from Allah's provisions:
وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا
"And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates." [Qur’an 19:25]
Now that she fulfilled the physical part of her duties - by shaking the tree, she had to fulfill the spiritual part – relying on Allah for deliverance. Allah's help was prompt: the fresh dates were now falling upon her:
فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا
"So eat and drink and be contented..."[Qur’an 19:26]
This is the story of Maryam (Mary) whom Allah has destined to be the mother of Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus), May Allah exalt their mention. And when she conceived her baby and entered the pains of childbirth with no one to attend her; when she got hungry and thirsty with no visible help for food and drink; when she became weak and anguished; she was asked to shake a palm-tree for her provision.
A weak, tired, hungry and thirsty woman shaking a strong deeply rooted palm-tree. Could not Allah send with Jibreel (Angel Gabriel) enough food and drink for her? Could not Allah send down from the heavens a ready-to-eat plate of dates? Or could not Allah say to the dates 'fall upon Mary!', upon which they would? After all, is not Allah the only One Who, when He wills a thing, only says to it "Be" - and it is? Yes, He Almighty is! But Allah's way is that the effort has to be made, and the reliance has to be complete; the Tawakkul has to be fulfilled.
These were some examples of Allah's creatures putting their trust in Him. The wisest course for us, therefore, is to follow their example. So let us use all lawful means and exert reasonable effort to secure our needs, and let us remain faithful to Allah by putting all our affairs in His Hands and hope and expect for the best outcome. Let us say like the early believers said, as Allah informs us in the Qur’an saying (what means):
قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
"Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied…" [Qur’an 67:29] Allah also says (what means):
Let us pray; O Allah! Grant us great courage and fortitude; bless us with complete Tawakkul, unwavering trust and belief in the noble Qur'an, and the ability to obey Your commandments as they should be obeyed.
Compiled by Muhammad Asjad Qasmi trainee speaker with Markazul Ma’arif education and research center Mumbai mailto:asjadqasmi@yahoo.com 8/5/2009 4:50 PM
وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الْبرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
Distinguish guests, respected teachers, and dear audience! My today’s talk is “At-Tawakkul: Reliance on Allah” may Allah enable me to speak right and true.
Dear audience! Allah the Most High has created us of the best stature and granted us many abilities so that we may look after our needs and those of our relatives and fellow human beings. He Almighty has invited us to explore the earth and use it for our subsistence. Allah says in the glorious Qur’an:
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
"It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection." [Qur’an 67:15]
Yet Allah Almighty has made it clear here, as well as in other verses, that had He not made this earth manageable to us, we would not be able to explore it nor benefit from it.
The Surah Al-Mulk is actually a yardstick for understanding Tawakkul. It starts and finishes with the same message: To Allah belong all that is in the universe and nothing would happen without His Mercy and His constant watchful care. Allah (swt) Says in the first verse what means:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
"Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent."
And in the last verse:
"Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?" [Qur’an 67:30]
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاء مَّعِينٍ
Yes, we can surely explore the earth, look for regions holding water and successfully discover fountain sources and streams. But without Allah’s permission and facilitation, we will not be able to reach this water. Furthermore, what would happen if - all of a sudden - Allah made the sources and springs of our water supply to disappear in the deep undergrounds of the earth. Blessed and Glorified is He! No one will bring it back but He.
There is a meaningful touch in the verse I mentioned earlier. Allah Says what means:
"…so walk among its slopes…" Then He said "...and eat of His provision." So Allah is telling us that though you are encouraged to strive and work hard, what you produce is not yours; what you earn is not yours. Rather, your production, your earnings and all your subsistence comes from Allah. He made it available to you out of His Mercy and care for you. Hence, if Allah wills, your work and efforts will be fruitful.
Similar verses where Allah ascribes subsistence solely to Him are found in many places in the Qur’an. Allah Says what means:
فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
"... So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned." [Qur’an 29:17] (Alankaboot)
Those who misunderstood the Plan of Allah and His Wisdom have felt confused by this double command of Allah - to strive and work on the one hand, and rely on Allah to make the actions possible and goals attainable, on the other. Initially, this question was presented before the Prophet (saw).
“The companions asked: Should we quit working and rely on Al-Qadar (Allah's predetermined decree)? The Prophet answered: "You should initiate and do things. Everyone shall be facilitated towards that for which he was created." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] ” Consequently, the Companions of the Prophet (saw) moved on and initiated righteous deeds while putting their trust in Allah.
The work that we are referring to is not that of the acts of worship (Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj, etc). Rather, it is the work pertaining to our subsistence. Furthermore, we do not refer to Haram (forbidden) work and Haram subsistence. It is the Halal (permissible) work and the Halal livelihood that we are concerned about, for it is more tempting to the believer. What are the guidelines and limits of the Halal work? How much dedication do we give it? Do we attribute the source of subsistence to our work or to Allah's bounties? And do we associate the loss and deprivation of wealth, health and success with our loss of job, or with Allah's universal plan?
Islam is a dynamic religion. Not only does it not condone passiveness, but also, it strongly rejects laziness and dependency on others. The Prophet said:
"Begging is forbidden except when there is great debt, suffering, injury, or abasing poverty." [Abu Dawood and Al-Bayhaqi] He also said: "It is much better for one of you to take his rope and go to chop some wood (for his livelihood) than to beg from people, whether they give him anything or deny him." [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet himself (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) worked hard for his living. He spent his boyhood as a shepherd and took to trade in manhood. He carried people's goods to Syria and other places and shared the profits with them. He used to constantly seek refuge with Allah from laziness as reported by Zayed Ibn Arqam:
"O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from laziness, from cowardice, from miserliness, from ineptitude and from the torment of the grave..." [Muslim]
However though we might strive hard to secure our livelihood, we should not attribute our achievements solely in the work we do, but to Allah. We should not put our reliance on our work, our possessions, our wealth, our position, etc. Neither should we rely on our manager, our employer, our friends, or our families. The only one on Whom we should rely is Allah. Allah (swt) says what means: ]
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا
"...And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise. And sufficient is He to be, with the sins of His servants, Acquainted." [Qur’an 25:58]
Whoever attaches his/her heart to his job, or to his/her employer or to any created beings in order for them to provide him/her with sustenance or to make him/her prosperous and successful, and so on, he/she has submitted to them. And the more one relies on the created beings, the weaker becomes one's submission to Allah.
Hence as much as Allah wants from us to initiate actions and seek and use all permissible means to secure our needs and those of our families, He also wants us not to depend on these means as the source of our sustenance. This is the genuine understanding of Tawakkul.
Deviant groups on Tawakkul:
Those who deviated from the right concept of Tawakkul have fallen into two extremes. The first groups of people are those, attracted by the temptations of this world, and have gone so far as to forget their relationship with Allah. Their heart has become so attracted to these temptations that they became subservient to their desires. Such people have become - knowingly or unknowingly - slaves of their own desires. They will ultimately claim that all their achievements are but the result of their own work and that Allah had no involvement whatsoever. They do not rely on Allah. Allah Says what means:
أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لَأُوتَيَنَّ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
أَاطَّلَعَ الْغَيْبَ أَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا
"Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, 'I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]?' Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise?" [Qur’an 19:77-78]
This type of man who rejects Allah and denies His bounties regards himself as "self-sufficient" and thus, cannot be expected to rely on Allah.
The second groups of people are those who understood the reliance on Allah as meaning to completely break away from all mundane affairs. They regarded piety and the pursuit of any material interests as contradictory. For them, reliance on Allah would mean not to take any initiatives for securing one's subsistence. Consequently, they renounce the world and retire themselves to remote areas or secluded spots and cut themselves from daily life!
Both of these two groups could not understand the right meaning of Tawakkul according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Had they attempted to understand the Book of Allah, according to the understanding and implementation of the Prophet and his honorable companions, they would have found that Tawakkul is far removed from how they conceived it. Through the instinctive behavior of some of His creatures and the sublime conduct of His Prophets may Allah exalt their mention and righteous slaves, Allah has set out in His Book the genuine Tawakkul.
Tawakkul of the birds:
Let us look at another creature of Allah: the bird. Allah Says (what means):
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَنُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ
"Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing." [Qatar 67:19]
As He did for all of His creatures, our Sustainer provided for the birds just those conditions that are best for their lives; He (swt) also inspired them to use their physical shapes and unique movements to take off, fly and land. Thus, in order to fly, birds would have to move their wings upwards and downwards, spread them and fold them.
However, the birds know that the One Who upholds them in the air, is not their upward and downward move, nor the spreading and folding of their wings, but rather Allah Almighty. They have understood that they have to exert effort and rely on Allah alone to uphold them high. As opposed to many rebellious men, birds recognize and exercise total Tawakkul on Allah without giving up the work.
In pursuing this way of life, the birds have become the example to follow for how the Tawakkul should be and how Allah would reward the one who exercises Tawakkul as the birds do.
The Prophet (saw) said:
"Were you to put your complete trust in Allah, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They issue forth hungry in the morning and return filled in the evening." [At-Trimidhi]
Did the birds remain in their nest waiting for Allah's provision? Of course not! Did they claim that since they were engaged in Tasbeeh (praising of Allah), they would not have to strive for their subsistence? Of course not! So praised is Allah Who inspired the birds to set forth to seek provisions for themselves and for their little ones. Praised is He Who taught them Tawakkul so they would not expect provision but from Him.
Tawakkul of Lady Maryam:
Let me bring you back to the world of mankind to put before you an ultimate example of Tawakkul. This is the story of an expectant mother who retired with her conceived baby to a remote area. The pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree. She was alone with no one to attend her. She was hungry, thirsty. She cried:
فَأَجَاءهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَى جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."[Qur’an 19:23]
But a voice cried to her from beneath the palm-tree: "But he called her from below her,
فَنَادَاهَا مِن تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا
"Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream." [Qur’an 19:24]
She knew now that Allah would deliver her from her hunger and thirst and release the pain of her pangs. But the Most High wanted her to initiate an action to benefit from Allah's provisions:
وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا
"And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates." [Qur’an 19:25]
Now that she fulfilled the physical part of her duties - by shaking the tree, she had to fulfill the spiritual part – relying on Allah for deliverance. Allah's help was prompt: the fresh dates were now falling upon her:
فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا
"So eat and drink and be contented..."[Qur’an 19:26]
This is the story of Maryam (Mary) whom Allah has destined to be the mother of Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus), May Allah exalt their mention. And when she conceived her baby and entered the pains of childbirth with no one to attend her; when she got hungry and thirsty with no visible help for food and drink; when she became weak and anguished; she was asked to shake a palm-tree for her provision.
A weak, tired, hungry and thirsty woman shaking a strong deeply rooted palm-tree. Could not Allah send with Jibreel (Angel Gabriel) enough food and drink for her? Could not Allah send down from the heavens a ready-to-eat plate of dates? Or could not Allah say to the dates 'fall upon Mary!', upon which they would? After all, is not Allah the only One Who, when He wills a thing, only says to it "Be" - and it is? Yes, He Almighty is! But Allah's way is that the effort has to be made, and the reliance has to be complete; the Tawakkul has to be fulfilled.
These were some examples of Allah's creatures putting their trust in Him. The wisest course for us, therefore, is to follow their example. So let us use all lawful means and exert reasonable effort to secure our needs, and let us remain faithful to Allah by putting all our affairs in His Hands and hope and expect for the best outcome. Let us say like the early believers said, as Allah informs us in the Qur’an saying (what means):
قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
"Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied…" [Qur’an 67:29] Allah also says (what means):
Let us pray; O Allah! Grant us great courage and fortitude; bless us with complete Tawakkul, unwavering trust and belief in the noble Qur'an, and the ability to obey Your commandments as they should be obeyed.
Compiled by Muhammad Asjad Qasmi trainee speaker with Markazul Ma’arif education and research center Mumbai mailto:asjadqasmi@yahoo.com 8/5/2009 4:50 PM
Five Pillars of Islam
Nahmaduhu wa nusalli ala rasulihil karim amma baad!
Qalallahu taala fil qua’anil Majeed
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
Honorable president of today’s programme prominent elders and my dear brothers! It fills my heart with great pleasure to speak on the topic “Five Pillars of Islam”.
May Allah enable me to speak the truth. And to act upon that.
Dear brothers!
It is enough to say that you have reached the side of safety. When someone says that ‘I am a Muslim’ it means he or she accepted and admitted Kalimat at-Tawheed, Kalimat ash-Shahada, "ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah".
To become a Muslim means accept the Shahada, or else you are not a Muslim. By saying "I am a Muslim" you have passed the first level. Then you have to go to the second level. It means you have said, "O Allah I admit that you are the Creator and I am your slave." Slave, not servant.
A servant is different from a slave: a servant is higher. That is a level that Allah did not give to anyone other than the Prophet (s). When he said
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ
"Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts…” [17: 2] Surah alisra
He called the Prophet (s) "`Abd". He specified him with that title. To be a slave is a lower level, because our Islam is not yet perfect. We accept to say Kalimah Shahada, we accept Allah (swt) as our Lord and Prophet Muhammad (s) as our Messenger. Yet, we are not doing what is supposed to be done. To do what is supposed to be done is a very important aspect of Islam, it is the most… when you say Shahada when you declare Kalimat at Tawheed - how many times are you obliged to say it per day, week, month year, or lifetime how many times. You can say Kalimat at-Tawheed one time, it is enough not to say it all the time. You don’t need to repeat it every time, once is enough to put you into the circle of Islam. So Kalimat at-Tauheed, the first pillar of Islam, can be said only once in the whole lifetime - it is obligatory to say it once.
The second pillar of Islam is iqamu salat. We will come to it later.
Poor due - Zakat
The third pillar is ita'uz-zakat. Who can, must do it once a year. And you cannot do it if you don’t have the nisab money. If you are poor and you did not make enough profit--a certain amount of money that goes from one year to another--you are not obliged to take out your zakat. It is an obligation farz to be done once a year for those who are obliged to give because they have made on their money, money from one year. But if you did not, then you are not obliged to give it. If there is a poor person who cannot find food for one day's sustenance, you cannot expect him to have saved money on the side. This means some people will do it every year and some people will not do it. Who cannot afford to, is not obliged to do it.
Fasting - Siyam
Sawm-e-ramazan. Fasting, you are obliged to do it every year one time, for one month.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be God-fearing.[Qur'an 2:183]
May Allah (swt) give us this month to remember Him. And the Prophet (s) used to urge the Sahaba for itikaf in the last 10 days of that month. And many Muslims around the world do itikaf and they try to do their best to come closer to Allah (swt) and for Allah (swt) to be happy with us and to for us to be nearer to him in dunya and akhira.
أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
(Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; [2: 184].
In that case Allah gave you permission to fulfill them later. If someone is continuously sick then he is excused. He may do qaza of his left fast. It means you have to do it once a year, but some people if they cannot fast, they do not have to do it in the prescribed time, they may do qaza --Allah is relieving them, excusing them.
Pilgrimage – Hajj
The fifth pillar is hajj. whoever can afford to do hajj who is physically and mentally and financially able to go, must perform it at least once in a lifetime.
وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
A duty owed to God by all men is the Pilgrimage to the House, if he is able to make his way there. And as for the disbeliever, God is All-sufficient, needing nothing from all the worlds (Al-Imran 3: 97).
Prayer - Salat
So on the other hand we see that salat, the second pillar of Islam-you cannot leave it. Five times a day you are obliged to do it and you cannot leave it for any reason. No reason. No excuse. There is a very severe penalty for leaving prayer. If you are sick and you don’t fast there is no penalty. If you are poor and you have no money to give zakat there is no penalty. If you cannot afford to go to hajj there is no penalty. But for leaving salat there is a very high penalty - hellfire.
Ma bayn al-kufr wal iman tark al-salah,
“What is between belief and disbelief is leaving prayer.”
So there is no way, no excuse for any sick person, for a person with or without money, he or she has to pray. Five prayers. The sick person who cannot pray standing can sit and pray; who cannot pray sitting, prays lying down, one who can’t pray lying down may pray with his eyes. Salat has to be performed. Oh Muslims don’t avoid giving salat its importance.
Ibadat 24x7
It is so very important to Allah (swt) that He ordered and obliged 50 salat a day, not one. Allah ordered the Prophet (s) to perform fifty prayers, which means continuous worship.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship Me."[51: 56]
If it was fifty and if it was still fifty, we would have no time even to raise our heads. Fifty salat, every salat, if you performed it correctly takes fifteen minutes. Fifty salat by fifteen minutes is 750 minutes plus eating, plus wudu for fifty prayers. So what is left? That is meaning of the ayah [51: 56]
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship Me."[51: 56]
Allah said fifty prayers but what is kayfiyya al-salah- how it is done, what are arkan as-salah the procedures? We know Fajar has two Sunnah rakat; Zhuhar has eight or four; four sunnah before, `Asar has two or four sunnah, Maghrib has two; and eleven rakat for 'Isha. Then you have salat ad-zuha, salat al-Awwabin, salat al-Ishraq, salat an-Najat, Salat al-Tahajjud. Then the fifty other prayers also have their sunnah!
So all of your time 24 hours is going to be occupied.
That is the verses:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
[51: 56, 57, 58]
"I do not desire from them any sustenance and I do not desire that they should feed Me."
Allah can give you, you cannot give anything. Don’t think you are going to work for your children, bringing money. If Allah wants to close it---it is finished---nothing. Submit. Allah gives. Allah provides. So 24 hours you are going to be in continuous `ibadat through salat, prayer.
Allah (swt) gave Sayyidina Muhammad (s) fifty salat but then with His mercy reduced it to five. But in the mizan, in the balance, the five salat are considered fifty. If we do our five prayers correctly with complete submission to Allah, complete presence (khush`u) then it as if we were peforming salat 24 hours a day, it is equal to fifty prayers. Then it will be written for us, in the mizan.
Salat - Summation of Worship
Moreover, salat is very important because in it is contained the whole of `ibada. First in salat you declare the shahada the Oneness of Allah in at-Tahiyyat:
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasuluh.
To become a Muslim you say shahada only one time in your life. In your salat you are saying it every day in every two rakat. So salat includes the first pillar of Islam, kalimat at-Tauheed.
Salat as Zakat
Salah includes your zakat--not 2½ percent but 100% percent. Because when you work and make money and go from one year to another year you are only obliged to give 2 ½ percent of the profit--not the capital. You are going to give on what you have profit.
Out of your capital and it is 2½ percent. Whatever you have of jewelry and gold or any kind of savings is money on which you must give 2½ percent, from one year to another. But in salat you do not only give that. Because when you work you are spending time to go work five; six; eight hours a day making money, saving and then paying 2 ½ percent.
In salat you are giving your whole time to Allah swt. If you make ten dollars in one hour; if you spend one hour in salat, it is as if you are giving the entire ten dollars, not just 2 ½ percent. And the ten dollars might be spent and won’t last for one year and you don’t pay any zakat on it, but the salat you are giving. You are giving the entire amount so it is in a geometrical multiplication that increases from 2½ percent to 100%. That is real zakat! You are giving everything that belongs to you. And the most important thing that belongs to you is when Allah gave you the body and this spirit--you are giving to Allah (swt) you are giving to Allah’s will.
Salat as Siyam
Second in salat you are holding your tongue from eating, drinking, backbiting, and speaking. Not only your tongue, but your whole body from touching. Because in Siyam a man cannot approach his wife or vice versa, because it is not allowed. Eating is not allowed. In salat you cannot do anything like that. In siyam you can fast but you can also speak. In salat it is more you fast you cannot speak and you cannot approach your spouse. That is a higher level of fasting that is included in salat.
Visiting Ka`aba
The last pillar of Islam is hajj. In your prayer it is as if you are making pilgrimage five times a day. When you direct yourself to the qibla as soon as you say "Allahu Akbar."
Even in Makkah near the end of the renovation of al-haram ash-sharif, you could not see the Ka’bah. And from outside Makkah you cannot see the Ka’bah. Anywhere in Makkah even you cannot see the Ka’bah. From outside Makkah you can face the Ka’bah [without seeing it] and in Makkah and in the haram you might face it without seeing it.
As if you are going on a trip through your salat because hajj is to visit the Holy Ka`aba. Ziyarat al Ka’bah al-musharrafa.
The most important pillar (rukn) of hajj is to be in bayt ul haram. So the most important thing for us is when we say "Allahu Akbar", is to see it through our hearts, through our mind, through every cell of our body and with every drop of our blood. EVERYTHING is saying "Allahu Akbar" in the presence of the Ka’bah, the House of Allah (swt) on earth, which Allah wanted people to face and direct themselves toward. Allah knows what kind of secrets and tajalli are there. So in your prayer it is as if you are directing yourself by disconnecting with the dunya and facing the Ka’bah. So it as if you have gone there for hajj.
So in salat you find all the five pillars of Islam. That is why you cannot be excused from leaving one prayer; else there will be heavy punishment. If you want to save yourself, then Oh, Muslims let us keep our connection with Islam tight!
Wrapping it all up
Islam is five pillars. The Prophet (saw) wrapped all of them, shahada, salah, zakat, siyam and hajj with two cords: iman bil ghayb, belief in the Unseen, and the state of Ihsan - perfected character. These five pillars, which every Muslim performs, cannot be perfected without first tying up salat, prayer. That is because prayer includes all five pillars. One cannot perform the prayer properly when one's heart is dirty and damaged - when one's faith is damaged. It must be wrapped like a gift. When you look at a present, wrapped nicely from outside, it looks very pleasing, and when you open it, it is also very pleasing. So how are you presenting your prayers to Allah (swt) when your heart is not clean? Cleanliness of the heart by means of attaining the state of Iman and then the state of Ihsan is very essential.
May “ALLAH” enable us all to appreciate “Islam” in the best way and make us comprehend and realize the value of the gift that already lies in our hands.
I affirm that there is none worthy of worship except Allah that He is One, sharing His authority with no one; and I affirm that Muhammad is His servant and His Prophet.
Prepared by Muhammad Asjad Qasmi trainee speaker with Markazul Ma’arif education and research center Mumbai asjad.qasmi@yahoo.com Thursday, August 05, 200911:23 PM
Qalallahu taala fil qua’anil Majeed
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
Honorable president of today’s programme prominent elders and my dear brothers! It fills my heart with great pleasure to speak on the topic “Five Pillars of Islam”.
May Allah enable me to speak the truth. And to act upon that.
Dear brothers!
It is enough to say that you have reached the side of safety. When someone says that ‘I am a Muslim’ it means he or she accepted and admitted Kalimat at-Tawheed, Kalimat ash-Shahada, "ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah".
To become a Muslim means accept the Shahada, or else you are not a Muslim. By saying "I am a Muslim" you have passed the first level. Then you have to go to the second level. It means you have said, "O Allah I admit that you are the Creator and I am your slave." Slave, not servant.
A servant is different from a slave: a servant is higher. That is a level that Allah did not give to anyone other than the Prophet (s). When he said
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ
"Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts…” [17: 2] Surah alisra
He called the Prophet (s) "`Abd". He specified him with that title. To be a slave is a lower level, because our Islam is not yet perfect. We accept to say Kalimah Shahada, we accept Allah (swt) as our Lord and Prophet Muhammad (s) as our Messenger. Yet, we are not doing what is supposed to be done. To do what is supposed to be done is a very important aspect of Islam, it is the most… when you say Shahada when you declare Kalimat at Tawheed - how many times are you obliged to say it per day, week, month year, or lifetime how many times. You can say Kalimat at-Tawheed one time, it is enough not to say it all the time. You don’t need to repeat it every time, once is enough to put you into the circle of Islam. So Kalimat at-Tauheed, the first pillar of Islam, can be said only once in the whole lifetime - it is obligatory to say it once.
The second pillar of Islam is iqamu salat. We will come to it later.
Poor due - Zakat
The third pillar is ita'uz-zakat. Who can, must do it once a year. And you cannot do it if you don’t have the nisab money. If you are poor and you did not make enough profit--a certain amount of money that goes from one year to another--you are not obliged to take out your zakat. It is an obligation farz to be done once a year for those who are obliged to give because they have made on their money, money from one year. But if you did not, then you are not obliged to give it. If there is a poor person who cannot find food for one day's sustenance, you cannot expect him to have saved money on the side. This means some people will do it every year and some people will not do it. Who cannot afford to, is not obliged to do it.
Fasting - Siyam
Sawm-e-ramazan. Fasting, you are obliged to do it every year one time, for one month.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be God-fearing.[Qur'an 2:183]
May Allah (swt) give us this month to remember Him. And the Prophet (s) used to urge the Sahaba for itikaf in the last 10 days of that month. And many Muslims around the world do itikaf and they try to do their best to come closer to Allah (swt) and for Allah (swt) to be happy with us and to for us to be nearer to him in dunya and akhira.
أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
(Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; [2: 184].
In that case Allah gave you permission to fulfill them later. If someone is continuously sick then he is excused. He may do qaza of his left fast. It means you have to do it once a year, but some people if they cannot fast, they do not have to do it in the prescribed time, they may do qaza --Allah is relieving them, excusing them.
Pilgrimage – Hajj
The fifth pillar is hajj. whoever can afford to do hajj who is physically and mentally and financially able to go, must perform it at least once in a lifetime.
وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
A duty owed to God by all men is the Pilgrimage to the House, if he is able to make his way there. And as for the disbeliever, God is All-sufficient, needing nothing from all the worlds (Al-Imran 3: 97).
Prayer - Salat
So on the other hand we see that salat, the second pillar of Islam-you cannot leave it. Five times a day you are obliged to do it and you cannot leave it for any reason. No reason. No excuse. There is a very severe penalty for leaving prayer. If you are sick and you don’t fast there is no penalty. If you are poor and you have no money to give zakat there is no penalty. If you cannot afford to go to hajj there is no penalty. But for leaving salat there is a very high penalty - hellfire.
Ma bayn al-kufr wal iman tark al-salah,
“What is between belief and disbelief is leaving prayer.”
So there is no way, no excuse for any sick person, for a person with or without money, he or she has to pray. Five prayers. The sick person who cannot pray standing can sit and pray; who cannot pray sitting, prays lying down, one who can’t pray lying down may pray with his eyes. Salat has to be performed. Oh Muslims don’t avoid giving salat its importance.
Ibadat 24x7
It is so very important to Allah (swt) that He ordered and obliged 50 salat a day, not one. Allah ordered the Prophet (s) to perform fifty prayers, which means continuous worship.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship Me."[51: 56]
If it was fifty and if it was still fifty, we would have no time even to raise our heads. Fifty salat, every salat, if you performed it correctly takes fifteen minutes. Fifty salat by fifteen minutes is 750 minutes plus eating, plus wudu for fifty prayers. So what is left? That is meaning of the ayah [51: 56]
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship Me."[51: 56]
Allah said fifty prayers but what is kayfiyya al-salah- how it is done, what are arkan as-salah the procedures? We know Fajar has two Sunnah rakat; Zhuhar has eight or four; four sunnah before, `Asar has two or four sunnah, Maghrib has two; and eleven rakat for 'Isha. Then you have salat ad-zuha, salat al-Awwabin, salat al-Ishraq, salat an-Najat, Salat al-Tahajjud. Then the fifty other prayers also have their sunnah!
So all of your time 24 hours is going to be occupied.
That is the verses:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
[51: 56, 57, 58]
"I do not desire from them any sustenance and I do not desire that they should feed Me."
Allah can give you, you cannot give anything. Don’t think you are going to work for your children, bringing money. If Allah wants to close it---it is finished---nothing. Submit. Allah gives. Allah provides. So 24 hours you are going to be in continuous `ibadat through salat, prayer.
Allah (swt) gave Sayyidina Muhammad (s) fifty salat but then with His mercy reduced it to five. But in the mizan, in the balance, the five salat are considered fifty. If we do our five prayers correctly with complete submission to Allah, complete presence (khush`u) then it as if we were peforming salat 24 hours a day, it is equal to fifty prayers. Then it will be written for us, in the mizan.
Salat - Summation of Worship
Moreover, salat is very important because in it is contained the whole of `ibada. First in salat you declare the shahada the Oneness of Allah in at-Tahiyyat:
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasuluh.
To become a Muslim you say shahada only one time in your life. In your salat you are saying it every day in every two rakat. So salat includes the first pillar of Islam, kalimat at-Tauheed.
Salat as Zakat
Salah includes your zakat--not 2½ percent but 100% percent. Because when you work and make money and go from one year to another year you are only obliged to give 2 ½ percent of the profit--not the capital. You are going to give on what you have profit.
Out of your capital and it is 2½ percent. Whatever you have of jewelry and gold or any kind of savings is money on which you must give 2½ percent, from one year to another. But in salat you do not only give that. Because when you work you are spending time to go work five; six; eight hours a day making money, saving and then paying 2 ½ percent.
In salat you are giving your whole time to Allah swt. If you make ten dollars in one hour; if you spend one hour in salat, it is as if you are giving the entire ten dollars, not just 2 ½ percent. And the ten dollars might be spent and won’t last for one year and you don’t pay any zakat on it, but the salat you are giving. You are giving the entire amount so it is in a geometrical multiplication that increases from 2½ percent to 100%. That is real zakat! You are giving everything that belongs to you. And the most important thing that belongs to you is when Allah gave you the body and this spirit--you are giving to Allah (swt) you are giving to Allah’s will.
Salat as Siyam
Second in salat you are holding your tongue from eating, drinking, backbiting, and speaking. Not only your tongue, but your whole body from touching. Because in Siyam a man cannot approach his wife or vice versa, because it is not allowed. Eating is not allowed. In salat you cannot do anything like that. In siyam you can fast but you can also speak. In salat it is more you fast you cannot speak and you cannot approach your spouse. That is a higher level of fasting that is included in salat.
Visiting Ka`aba
The last pillar of Islam is hajj. In your prayer it is as if you are making pilgrimage five times a day. When you direct yourself to the qibla as soon as you say "Allahu Akbar."
Even in Makkah near the end of the renovation of al-haram ash-sharif, you could not see the Ka’bah. And from outside Makkah you cannot see the Ka’bah. Anywhere in Makkah even you cannot see the Ka’bah. From outside Makkah you can face the Ka’bah [without seeing it] and in Makkah and in the haram you might face it without seeing it.
As if you are going on a trip through your salat because hajj is to visit the Holy Ka`aba. Ziyarat al Ka’bah al-musharrafa.
The most important pillar (rukn) of hajj is to be in bayt ul haram. So the most important thing for us is when we say "Allahu Akbar", is to see it through our hearts, through our mind, through every cell of our body and with every drop of our blood. EVERYTHING is saying "Allahu Akbar" in the presence of the Ka’bah, the House of Allah (swt) on earth, which Allah wanted people to face and direct themselves toward. Allah knows what kind of secrets and tajalli are there. So in your prayer it is as if you are directing yourself by disconnecting with the dunya and facing the Ka’bah. So it as if you have gone there for hajj.
So in salat you find all the five pillars of Islam. That is why you cannot be excused from leaving one prayer; else there will be heavy punishment. If you want to save yourself, then Oh, Muslims let us keep our connection with Islam tight!
Wrapping it all up
Islam is five pillars. The Prophet (saw) wrapped all of them, shahada, salah, zakat, siyam and hajj with two cords: iman bil ghayb, belief in the Unseen, and the state of Ihsan - perfected character. These five pillars, which every Muslim performs, cannot be perfected without first tying up salat, prayer. That is because prayer includes all five pillars. One cannot perform the prayer properly when one's heart is dirty and damaged - when one's faith is damaged. It must be wrapped like a gift. When you look at a present, wrapped nicely from outside, it looks very pleasing, and when you open it, it is also very pleasing. So how are you presenting your prayers to Allah (swt) when your heart is not clean? Cleanliness of the heart by means of attaining the state of Iman and then the state of Ihsan is very essential.
May “ALLAH” enable us all to appreciate “Islam” in the best way and make us comprehend and realize the value of the gift that already lies in our hands.
I affirm that there is none worthy of worship except Allah that He is One, sharing His authority with no one; and I affirm that Muhammad is His servant and His Prophet.
Prepared by Muhammad Asjad Qasmi trainee speaker with Markazul Ma’arif education and research center Mumbai asjad.qasmi@yahoo.com Thursday, August 05, 200911:23 PM
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