Alright, so you reverted to Islam, now what? It’s not like you’re going to lock yourself at home or in the masjid. It’s rather the opposite. Islam is a universal message. It’s a message for humanity. And it has been circulating [...]
The source of all evil is the deviation from the truth and its straight path. The goodness of all matters is the following of the truth. Truth is the fixed state in which Allah SWT has created His creation. No created [...]
The Prophet SAW was born of the noblest family of the noblest clan, Banu Hashim, of the noble Quraysh tribe of Mecca. There was no Quraysh clan at Mecca with whom the prophet SAW was not closely related by blood or [...]
Today’s lady is the leader of the women of Paradise. Today’s lady is the one which had the remarkable resemblance to the prophet SAW. Today’s lady was remarkably similar to the prophet SAW in his way of speaking, sitting, standing and [...]
“The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for” [...]
Today we resume our talk on the humanitarian message of Islam, with a new blessing, the prophet of mercy SAW has brought to mankind. A blessing, which even the most developed nations of today’s world, don’t completely recognize; that is equality of mankind.
Muhammed SAW presented to the world a perfect model of brotherhood among human beings. Muhammed SAW taught that no race is superior to another, for all are equal in origin and equal in their responsibilities and rights. One’s degree of faith and piety is the only criterion for preference. The companions were given equal opportunities to belong and serve Islam. Suhayb, was a Byzantine, Bilal, an Abyssinian, and Salman, a Persian, yet all worked side by side with their Arab brothers.
And because he is indeed a mercy to the worlds and the seal of the prophets, the miraculous Quran was revealed to him and to none else. And with the revelation, a verse changed the attitude of mankind towards each other forever; at least as far as Islam is concerned. It reads as follows:
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted” (49:13).
Then the Quran went on and on, challenging human beings to set any other criteria to differentiate between them except faith and piety.
“It is He who created you from clay and then decreed a term and a specified time to Him; then you are [still] in dispute” (6:2).
And the prophet of mercy SAW further confirmed it when he set clear for everyone of us in this beautiful hadith: ”O mankind, unquestionably your Lord is one and your common ancestor is one. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab or for a non-Arab over an Arab; neither is there for a white over a black nor for a black over a white, except by righteousness” [Ahmed].
And such a beautiful reminder “People are the children of Adam, and Adam was (created) from dust” [Thirmdhi].
All thanks and praises are due to Allah, Whom we thank, seek for help and invoke for forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Mohamed is His slave and Messenger.
Today we remind ourselves of life’s indisputable fact; the one which is enough of an admonition.Today we talk about death! Allah SWT said in His Holy Book “And the stupor of death will come in truth; this is what you have been avoiding” (50:19). Sooner or later, for everyone of us, death shall come, with its agonies, and the grave with its pressing, without the minute delay.
Allah SWT has set clear for all of us, when He said “When their turn comes, neither can they delay it nor can they can advance it” (7:34). And the most agonizing fact about #Death, is that it comes suddenly, without warnings. The Angel of Death doesn’t take your permission. The soul is disconnected from the body, moves from life to the Hereafter, records of deeds are closed, and repentance comes to an end.
Death is the greatest affliction, and how not when Allah SWT has said about it “And the great affliction of death befalls on you” (5:106). When the time comes, the obedient servant regrets having not done more righteous deeds, whereas the disobedient servant regrets everything.
A fisherman once threw his net, and it came back with a human skull. He looked at it, started crying and said ”If you were honorable, your honor did not delay your death. If you were wealthy, your wealth did not delay your death”.
The prophet SAW said “Profusely mention the destroyer of pleasures (i.e. death). So here we are. Yazeed ibn Al-Riqashi used to ask himself “Who will pray on your behalf after your die? Who will fast on your behalf? Who will worship?”. When death strikes, the grave becomes your abode, the earth your mattress, worms your companions, as you await the greatest horror.
He who frequently remembers death will be granted three things: a rapid repentance, a content heart and enthusiasm to worship Allah, the one who neglects remembering death will be afflicted with 3 things: delay in repentance, discontentment and laziness in worshiping.
So what should we do about it?
In the past weeks, I lost a “very” dear friend. I dedicate this article to him, praying that Allah have mercy on him and grant him Heaven.
O Allah, forgive and have mercy upon him, excuse him and pardon him, and make honorable his reception. Expand his entry, and cleanse him with water, snow, and ice, and purify him of sin as a white robe is purified of filth. Exchange his home for a better home, and his family for a better family, and his spouse for a better spouse. Admit him into the Garden, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.
All thanks and praises are due to Allah, Whom we thank, seek for help and invoke for forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Mohamed is His slave and Messenger.
One thing the devil tempts us all to forget, is the true meaning of ‘Uboodiyyah’ (worship); that is the one thing Allah has created us for. We were created to worship Allah, and that’s the easy part, because the part we seem to forget is how to. Worshiping Allah means that all our lives should be in accordance with what is pleasing to Him, Him alone, and none else. Full stop!
This translates into the fact that our days and nights, thoughts and words, actions and movements, life and death are all for Allah. So as Ibn Taymiyyah puts it “Ibadah(serving Allah) is a term that comprises everything that Allah loves and approves” apparent and hidden.
So if you wonder what happened to the Muslims nowadays, they just need to be brought to the worship of Allah alone in all their affairs and conditions. Therefore, nothing is going to change before we all owe everything of ourselves and our lives to our Lord. We have no option but to worship Him. We don’t have the choice of obeying some of Allah’s commands and ignoring others, and unfortunately, this is the case, and we all know it.
Obedience to Allah in everything, great and small, like “a man belonging wholly to one master” (39:29) is what the world needs today. People have taken other gods besides Allah while others have rejected Allah altogether and taken other gods instead, and what are we doing? WATCHING!
Now please pay attention to this next quote by Ibn Taymiyyah as it sheds light on how severe the world has become by us watching it:
“As the Heavens and the Earth would be ruined and corrupted if they had other gods besides Allah, the same thing could happen to the heart. If there is within the heart a longing for a god other than Allah, this heart will become seriously diseased and corrupted. This disease will not be cured until this `false god’ has-been removed from the heart and replaced with the true God Who is the object of the heart’s love, hope, fear, reliance, and turning to Him in repentance”.
It’s not the lack of resources, oppression, wars, or the absence of democracy. It’s rather that people refuse to become slaves of Allah.
So this was my reminder to myself first, before anyone else, that one should start with himself before judging others. May Allah guide us all to His Straight Path, help us be His slaves, and let us worship Him, and Him alone, none besides Him. Ameen!
May Allah bless you all for reading this Friday sermon, and may He forgive us all on this blessed day, Ameen. Jumaah Mubarak to all of you!
Among the ladies of Ansar, Asmaa and her sister Hawa’ were part of the first group to pledge allegiance to Allah and His messenger SAW. And when the prophet SAW got married to Aisha, it was Asmaa who prepared the bride for the wedding. So when the prophet SAW arrived to the wedding ceremony, Asmaa offered him a glass of Milk,of which he drank some and gave the rest of Aisha. Aisha felt so shy that she couldn’t take the glass of milk, so this is when the smart Asmaa told her that this is a golden opportunity. Aisha who was trembling of shyness then, felt more reassured, took the glass of milk, and drank after the prophet SAW.
One day, the prophet SAW visited Asmaa’s house when there were about 40 people. Asmaa had nothing but some bread and some soup. One day, the prophet SAW visited Asmaa’s house when there were about 40 people. Asmaa had nothing but some bread and some soup. Asmaa later swore than all 40 people had a hearty meal, and there were even left overs after they had finished. Asmaa kept the bowl in a safe place & whenever a family member fell sick, she would let him drink water from that bowl &he would be cured.
During the Battle of the Trenche, it was Asmaa who sent to the prophet SAW his favorite dish of dates and gee. Um Salamah, the mother of the believers, who was with the prophet during this battle, ate & distributed the food among all the Mujahedeen. So it was attributed to Asmaa feeding the whole army of the Battle of the Trenche.
And when Asmaa got divorced, the following verse was revealed:
“And divorced women shall wait three menstrual periods” (2:228).
Furthermore, there are 81 hadiths associated with Asmaa, one of which is “Allah forgives all the sins, and it does not bother Him”.
15.During the Battle of Uhud, Asmaa’s father, brother & uncle were all martyred. And what was her reaction? She asked about the prophet SAW! And when she could finally see him with her own eyes, she said “As long as he’s alright, all other troubles faded into insignificance”.
Asmaa also took part in the Battle of Khaiber, and the Batlle of Yarmouk where she killed nine enemy soldiers with the pole of her tent.
She died in Damascus at an old age, during the caliphate of Yazid ibn Muaweyah, and was buried near the Saghir Gate of Damascus.
May Allah be pleased with Asmaa bint Yazid ibn Al-Sakan and with all other women companions. Ameen!
Al-Arqam’s house was the greatest institution of higher learning that mankind has ever known, led by the teacher of all mankind. Upon graduation, the students of Al-Arqam’s house freed people from the servitude of humans, to the servitude of Allah. The first students of the prophet SAW brought people out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of Eman (faith).
Those first companions maintained their supply of energy, even after the prophet’s death, and spread the message of truth to all mankind. They were so great that 14 centuries down the road, no one equaled or will ever equal the likes of Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman or Ali.
As for the prophet SAW himself, he wasn’t just a great man, but rather the messenger of Allah, and a truly magnetic personality. Those first companions adored the prophet SAW not just for his amazing personality, but also because he was their link to their Lord. Mohammed SAW was at once a great man, and a great messenger, with both qualities intertwined in the same person, SAW.
Inside Al-Arqam’s house, the prophet SAW strove hard to make the Quran the primary source of knowledge for his companions. The prophet SAW was setting the principles for the individual Muslim, the Muslim family, and the Muslim society. Freshly revealed verses were continuously being poured into the companion’s hearts, penetrating the inner recesses of their souls.
Slowly but surely, each companion became so attached to the Quran that he turned into a completely new human being. In each revealed verse, the companions would search out for guidance that they could apply either inwardly or outwardly. For them, the Quran was a divine school, and they were its graduates; hence they were practical applications of the teachings of Islam.
This first generation of Muslims, is therefore unequalled in terms of achievements; both spiritual and material.
To be resumed in shaa’ Allah in Part 19…
The prophet SAW continued his noble efforts, calling select family members and friends to Islam during those early stages of da’wah. It was hard practicing Islam at those times, since no one could pray within eyeshot or recite the Quran within earshot of any disbeliever. So when they risked their lives to pray or recite the Quran, they still strove to do it. How about us who can freely do it?
The prophet SAW partnered up those early Muslims into small groups. Two poor people could be in the company of one rich man, and so on. The rich ones would share their food with the poor ones, and whoever had learned something from the Quran would teach it to the others. All the prophet SAW cared about back then was the safety and security of his followers; a deep lesson for Muslim leaders of today.
So as the number of followers grew bigger, Khadijah’s house became too small to serve as a meeting place. In addition, a fight broke up between Saad ibn Abi Wakkas and one of the disbelievers, after the latter saw them praying secretly. As a result, the prophet SAW shifted the meeting place to Al-Arqam ibn Abi Al-Arqam’s house.
Let us pause for a moment here, and try to learn more about the qualities of those great early Muslims. They’re the ones who formed the foundations of an Islamic country and the wonderful Islamic civilization. And while we learn about their qualities, please try to make the comparison between them and current Muslims. It’s well worth it.
They completely submitted to and obeyed the revelation that came down to the prophet SAW. Do we?
They had pure hearts, free from desires. They continuously trained and purified themselves to abide by every teaching. Do we?
They sincerely believed that the Quran and the prophet’s SAW teachings were to actually solve their problems. Do we?
They turned away from the world and directed their energies toward earning rewards in the Hereafter by performing good deeds. Do we?
During the day, they were brave workers and fighters; and during the nights, they worshiped more assiduously than monks. Do we?
And most important of all, they were never even close to becoming impressed by their own feats;they rather feared for themselves. Do we?
To be resumed in shaa’ Allah in Part 18…
2:45 “And seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity”.
Allah commanded His servants to use patience and prayer to acquire the good of this life and the Hereafter. Some scholars say that patience here means fasting. Al-Qurtubi commented that “This is why Ramadan is called the month of patience”. Others said that “patience” here means refraining from evil, and this is why it was mentioned along with practicing acts of worship.
Omar ibn Al-Khattab said”There are two types of patience: good patience when the disaster strikes, and a better patience while avoiding the prohibitions of Allah”.
“and truly it is hard” refers to prayer. It is possible that the pronoun might be referring to the advice of patience and prayer.
“except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity”, i.e. those who believe in what Allah has revealed.
2:46 “Who know that they have to meet their Lord, and that it is to Him they are to return”.
This verse distinguishes those who know that they will be gathered and face their Lord on the Day of Resurrection.
“and that it is to Him they are to return” meaning, their affairs are all subject to His will and He justly decides what He wills. They’re certain that the’ll be returned to Allah and be reckoned, so it’s easy for them to obey Allah & refrain from the prohibitions.
To be resumed in Part 28…
To start with, we need to understand that all societies have a system of punishment for serious criminal offences; Islam is not different. However, crimes in Islam are divided into two categories. First, those that have prescribed punishments according to Shari’ah laws. Second, those that do not have a definite punishment according to Shari’ah laws, and hence are set by the legal authority.
Furthermore, the crimes which have prescribed punishments according to Shari’ah laws are further divided into two categories. The first category refers to any crime which involves the victim’s personal rights, such as murder, manslaughter, assault and slander. The second category refers to punishments for violating the Commands of Allah and other prescribed Shariah injunctions.
Now as far as personal rights are concerned, the punishment maybe reduced if the plaintiff drops the charges, or accepts the blood money. As for crimes violating Allah’s commands and Shariah injunctions, such as drinking alcohol, fornication and theft, penalties can’t be dropped.
Now let us try to understand the spirit behind these Sharia punishments. In one word, it is to ensure “justice” in society. Islam strongly defends five essential necessities of human life as follows: religion, life, mind, honor and progeny and wealth. Almost all of us seem to memorize those punishments by heart, but unfortunately, we fail to understand their sharia applications.
Punishments are ONLY applicable upon a competent and sane adult confirmed by confession or trustworthy and competent testimony. These punishments may be dropped in case of suspicion or insufficient evidence of the crime based on the general tradition: “Stop the Hudood (punishment) when there are suspicions (about evidence and mitigating circumstances)”. The objective of executing these harsh punishments is to teach exemplary lessons to the criminal elements of the society.
For instance, let us look at robbery and theft. We all know that the penalty of such crime is the cutting of the hand, right? But how many of us know the exact conditions and circumstances needed to actually execute such punishment?
To mention a “few”:
Some scholars have put 11 conditions to actually execute the punishment for robbery and theft. Now let me ask you, if a thief intentionally breaks all those conditions without really needing to rob, what do you want to do with him? And only when you honestly answer this question, you will understand how fair and merciful Islam is in dealing with thieves. Because “many” western experts when asked this question after hearing all those conditions, had one answer to it: the death penalty.
Someone might instantly argue that Islam has a death penalty for fornication and adultery, so what’s the difference?
This one has an easy answer, and a more detailed and complicated one. As for the easy answer, you tell me, what would you do if if you get back home one day and find your spouse in bed with another person? Many kill either one or both on the sport, don’t they?
Well, guess what? Islam doesn’t subscribe to such violent act, and rather has two essential conditions before stoning to death. The guilty married party has to either confess or we should have the testimony of four eyewitnesses; otherwise, there is NO death penalty. And guess what? Even if the involved party confesses of adultery, the death sentence is not executed. How come? The confession “ONLY” becomes effective if it is repeated four times or in four different meetings or court sessions.
As for the case of the four witnesses, they must be just and fair witnesses & must be known as truthful in their statements and conduct. Furthermore, They must confirm observation of the actual intercourse directly, and without a single doubt.
Now let me ask you, what would you want to do with a married man or woman, who doesn’t have the least respect for their spouse, when they openly commit such an illegal act of indulgence, showing no respect to the laws, honor and dignity of the society? What would you want to do with someone who allows four people to openly watch him/her as they cheat on their spouse?
Adultery is an infringement on the rights of society, especially honor of the family of the woman,because there are many harmful effects. Adultery leads to the spread of venereal diseases, abortion, to children without proper care, and to the mixing of the lineage. So how do you expect the most pure religion on earth to deal with such a crime?! The death penalty for such a crime, under such strict conditions, is nothing but FAIR as far as society and parties involved are concerned. Enough to mention, that allowing such people to destroy society, could leave you one day marrying your sister due to mixed lineage.
Those were some basic answers to the question whether Islamic punishments are cruel and barbaric. By now I guess you all who should be called barbaric and cruel; definitely anyone encouraging the destruction and noble human values.
2:44 “Do you enjoin righteousness upon people while you forget (to practise it) yourselves, whereas you read the Book?Do you not have sense?”.
Allah is still speaking to the Jews, who read the Torah and know what it promises to those who do not fulfill Allah’s commandments. So Allah is questining the Jews who command people to perform righteousness, yet forget themselves and don’t heed what they call others to.
“Do you not have sense?” of what you’re doing to yourselves, so that you become aware of your slumber and restore your sight from blindness. The Jews used to command people to obey Allah, fear Him and perform righteousness. Yet, they contradicted these orders, so Allah reminded them.
The message here to all of us is that whoever commands people to do righteousness, let him be among the first of them to implement it.
“whereas you read the Book?”, i.e The Torah which speaks about Mohammed and the covenant that they have mentioned in it. The covenant they made with Allah that they will accept His Messenger. Yet they breached it, and rejected what they know is in the Torah. Therefore, Allah admonished the Jews for this behavior and alerted them to the wrongs that they were doing and to its consequences.
It should be noted here that Allah is not criticizing the Jews for enjoining righteousness; rather for not adhering to it. Allah SWT made this issue crystal clear in verse 88 of Surat Hud when He SWT said:
“I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do” (11:88), i.e. the preacher should be the first to abide by his own teachings.
And the same was reiterated in verses 2 and 3 of Surat Al-Saff. Listen carefully to this alarming call:
“O People who Believe! Why do you preach what you do not practice? * ”How despicable it is in the sight of Allah that you may preach what you do not practice” (61: 2-3).
To be resumed in shaa’ Allah in Part 27…
Maybe the best answer to the question what did Mohammed brought to humanity is that he brought a religion compatible with human nature. The religion revealed to Mohammed SAW satisfies the needs of the soul as well as those of the body. Islam is a religion which establishes a balance between worldly deeds and those done for the Hereafter. Islam is a religion which disciplines human instincts and desires rather than suppressing them completely as in other religions.
So when the world was obsessed with the idea that religious men should be deprived from some basic human rights as marriage, Islam came. And when religion contradicted human nature, and deprived people from defending themselves against aggressors, Islam was revealed. Islam was revealed at a time when societies rejected religion and became absorbed in the material world which caters only to their bodies. Islam came at a time to heal those empty souls, which were left in a miserable state. Islam was simply the answer, and the balance. Islam has been the answer back then, is still the answer today, and shall always be the answer to a world contradicting human nature.
Islam came as a balanced message guiding humans to the service of Allah and the development of the earth in beneficial ways. Being a Muslims means that you’re permited everything that has potential benefit for mankind. But being a Muslim also means that you’re prohibited everything harmful to human life regarding one’s mind, body and property.
“And He subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth,all from Him” (45:13), to subjugate, facilitate and discover.
Now kindly read this next verses, and see for yourself the perfect balance Allah SWT has set for humanity throughout their lives:
“Seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; but do not forget your share of the world” (28.77).
“Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving Zakah” (24:37). Balance!
History bears witness that the likes of these Muslim traders described in that previous verse were the cause of Islam’s spread worldwide.
The prophet became angry when he heard that some people, out of keenness to worship Allah, decided to refrain from sleep, marriage and food. At hearing this, the prophet had this to tell them, so listen carefully please, and ponder on the balanced message of Islam:
“I swear, I am the most conscious and fearing of Allah among you, but I fast and break my fast, I pray and sleep, and I marry women”.
And that’s not all. Now listen how the prophet SAW ended his speech to them to protect the balanced message of Islam:
“And whoever refuses my Sunnah (instructions and examples) is not of me (i.e. is not a Muslim)” [Bukhari and Muslim].
Let us conclude with another hadith which reiterates the same meaning, and it goes as follows:
“No one has eaten better food than that earned by the work of his own hands and Allah’s prophet David (peace be upon him) used to eat from the work of his hands” [Bukhari].
To be resumed in shaa’ Allah in Part 9…
Friday Sermon – 31 August 2012
Tafsir – AlBaqarah – Part 17
Women in Islam – Um Rooman – Part 1
May 17th, 2013 
