The virtues of Islamic Knowledge

A—h the Exhalted has said:

"And say, Oh My Lord, increase me in my knowledge."

(20:114)

"And (unto then Oh Muhammad (SAW)), 'Are those who know equal to those who don't know?"

(39:9)

"Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge to high ranks." (58:11)

"The knowledgeable among His servants fear Allah alone". (35:28)

Hadhrat Muawiyah (RA) relates that Prophet (SAW) said:

“When A—h desires good for someone, He gives Him the understanding of Deen”. (Bukhari/Muslim)

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) relates that Prophet (SAW) said:

“If a person follows a path to seek knowledge, A—h makes easy for him the path to Paradise.” (Muslim)

Hadhrat Anas (RA) narrates that Prophet (SAW) said:

"A person who goes (out of his house to seek knowledge) he is on A—h’s path and remain so until he returns”. (Tirmidhi)

These are just a few Ahadith in light of seeking Islamic knowledge as listing all of them would not be possible. So we must realise how fortunate each one of us is to be in an Islamic institution, learning about our sacred religion.

Islam teaches us to seek Islamic knowledge. The Prophet (SAW) explained that as well as it being an obligation upon every male and female Muslim, the superiority of a person who has knowledge over the one who merely worships is like the superiority of the moon over every other heavenly body. So seeking knowledge is not only our duty but is one that brings great reward.

The one who points towards something good us like the one who does it, i.e. they are both equal in reward. When the knowledgeable person passes away, their reward with A—h does not end; rather it continues to increase as long as people benefit from that knowledge.

The Prophet (SAW) said,
"When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except for three; ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous son who prays for him." (Muslim)

Ibn Al Qayyim (RH) said:

There are six stages to acquiring Islamic knowledge:
- Asking questions in a good manner
- Remaining quiet and listening well 
- Understanding well
- Memorising
- Teaching or spreading knowledge
- Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits

It is also very important that you never challenge the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) because the consequences can be very severe.

A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely his steps will be faulty and he can easily be deceived by Shaytaan. This shows that our greatest danger lays in our ignorance of Islamic teachings and our unawareness of what the Quran teaches and what guidance has been given by Prophet (SAW). But if we are blessed with the light of knowledge we will be able to plainly see the path if Islam at every step of our lives.

REMEMBER Our main purpose of acquiring Islamic knowledge is to bring us closer to A—h. It is not simply for the satisfaction of the mind.

May the Almighty give us all the ability to use what we learn to attain His Pleasure and to teach it to other people so that we can become His true servants..Ameen..

Ilm-Knowledge

“Gaining knowledge is compulsory upon every Believer”

“The Ulama (Scholars) are the inheritors of the Prophets”

We hear these Ahadith over and over again but fail to pay heed to their message. As students of Deen, it is vital that we internalise the beauty contained within. The 7/8 years we spend in Madrassah should be the turning point in our lives such that we leave a different person to the one that first entered the door. It should be a process whereby we implement the pearls of wisdom from the Quran and Hadith.

The most important thing to consider is our Niyyah (intention). Why are we here? Initially your answer may be ‘Because my parents sent me’, but as time goes on, we understand that this is not the case. A—h has through His Mercy, chosen us to be the inheritors of the Prophets (AS) and to be a role model for our society. Bear in mind that our intention should be sincere and from the heart.

What is Ilm?

Islamic knowledge is what we do to better ourselves by avoiding sin and striving to do good deeds and not merely what we memorise or the words we learn.

It could be said that Ilm is the asset which not only increases one’s knowledge but also makes his heart pure and keeps it protected from evils. It teaches the heart and soul to live according to the commands of A—h and through it we can benefit our community.

Knowledge regarding the Almighty is the best form of knowledge because through it we can understand our Creator and thus gain closeness to Him.

It has been mentioned in a Hadith:

“To seek knowledge is compulsory upon every (Male and Female) Muslim”.

Abu Zar (RA) narrates that Prophet (SAW) once told him:

“Oh Abu Zar, if you go in the morning and learn one Ayah from the Book of A—h, it will be better than offering 100 rakaats of Nafl Salaah. And if you learn one chapter of Islamic knowledge, it will be better than offering 1000 rakaats of Nafl Salaah.”

In another Hadith, it has been mentioned:

“An Aalim (scholar) enforces a much greater task upon Shaytaan than a thousand pious men”

You may ask yourselves, Why is this?

The answer is that Shaytaan will find it relatively easy to lure the pious away from Islam compared to a person who has learned and studied Islam.

Once an argument took place in Barsa about Ilm and whether or not it was better than wealth. Eventually they asked Hadhrat Ibn Abaas (RA) who agreed that Ilm is worth more. When asked why, he replied: “Knowledge us a safeguard for man whereas a man has to protect his wealth.”

A—h gives wealth to all but only knowledge to His Beloved. When a man dies, he leaves behind all his wealth and will be judged according to how he spent his wealth. Whereas with knowledge, a person’s status increases in Paradise for every Hadith he learns.

Always remember that no matter how hard life becomes and how many difficulties a man has to face in life, his Ilm will always be there for him to turn to. Whereas wealth is here today, gone tomorrow and may never return.

How should the one seeking knowledge behave?

We should always be aware of this amazing status that A—h has bestowed on us and act in accordance to it, we should try to emulate the example of the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahaaba (RA) in all our actions and be wary of the way we behave. We should also remember that if we do not appreciate through our deeds this blessing will be taken from us.

May the Almighty grant us the ability to not only learn the knowledge of Deen but also act upon it..Ameen..

The Power of Dua

The word Dua means to directly ask A—h for something. There is nothing that A—h cannot do, therefore Dua is basically the means of asking the Creator to do something. A—h is capable of doing everything imaginable and the things that are beyond human comprehension. The Prophet (SAW) used to turn to A—h for every matter, be it big or small.

In Islam, there is no requirement for a go-between person (meaning someone to communicate your Duas for you) – Although you can get someone to make Dua for you. The Prophet (SAW) made dua for everyone; Muslims, Non-Muslims, Old, Young, the living and the dead, for himself out of humility and sincerity.

Every Prophet (AS) had one guaranteed dua in their lifetime; Prophet (SAW) has reserved his for the Day of Judgement. He has used it for the Intercession of the Ummat on the Day of Judgement.

He is the One who hears and answers the weeping of the oppressed, the cry of the hurt and call of the one who is lost. He is the One who showers his Blessings and Love on His Creation, as He is the One who is more Merciful to His servant than a mother is to her child.

In the Quran, A—h says:

“And when My servant asks you (Oh Muhammad [SAW]) regarding Me, Indeed I am near, I respond to the prayer of the caller whenever he calls on Me.

So let them obey and believe in Me so that they might be led the right way.”

Surah Baqarah: 186

This encourages us to humbly repent and ask from A—h with full determination, and in the appropriate way. A—h wants his servants to ask Him for their needs so that He can help them stay on the right path.

Our Prophet (SAW) has explained that when you make dua:

-          It is either accepted

-          It is delayed until the Hereafter (so it will be seen as a mountain of reward)

-          A calamity is removed from you

NO DUA EVER GOES TO WASTE

When a person supplicates to A—h the soul feels the light of the Lord, he feels at ease and safe. He feels safe and close to A—h and knows that he is heard by the Almighty. By making dua, success and pleasure become norm. Wishes and aims are gained.

Secondly Dua is obeying A—h’s order:

“And your Lord has said: ‘Call to Me, I shall answer your prayer. Verily those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, despised and disgraced’”. Surah Gaafir: 60

So from this, we learn that Dua is a form of worship and is the most honourable and excellent forms of worship. This is why Dua is very important in every situation. Make Dua to A—h continuously for every occasion, even if it be for a shoe lace. Think of it like this, whenever anything happens in your life, whether big or small, see it as an opportunity to pray to A—h; even just saying Alhamdulillah or SubhanA—h is sufficient. If you have any needs to ask for, then pray for what you want.

Remember to include others in your Duas as well, because it has been mentioned in a Hadith, that the dua for those who are absent, is most readily accepted; this could be for your classmates, your Ustaads, those who are suffering in the world and even those who have passed away.

It has been mentioned in another Hadith that (to the nearest meaning):

“He who prays for the deceased, then A—h will send someone to make Dua for that you once you pass away”.

For the best chance of having our duas accepted, follow these etiquettes:

-          Your food is Halal and from Halal means. How can A—h accept a person’s dua when his food, drink and clothes are Haram?

-              Honour the sanctities of A—h (Follow His commands)

-          Pay full attention to A—h

-          Abstain from sinning, either openly or secretly

-          Make a habit to seek forgiveness for yourself and all the Muslims, especially for your teachers and parents

-          Do a good deed prior to making dua

-          Be in the state of whudu, if possible

-          Face the Qibla

-          Start the dua with praising A—h and end with Durood 

           Shairf

-          Do not give up if there is a delay in the acceptance of the Dua

-          Do not make dua for Haram things

-          Make dua in the Sajdah position       

 The Prophet (SAW) said:
 “The servant is nearest to his Lord when prostrating to Him, so make supplication in this state” (Muslim)

Some of the best times to make dua:

-          The time just before Fajr

-          The last third of the night

-          The last hour of Friday

-          When the rain is falling

-          Between Adhaan and Iqaamah

-          At the end of every Fardh Salaat

-          Whilst drinking Zam Zam

-          Making dua for an absent Muslim

Make it a habit to read Wazifahs daily (The 40 Rabannas, Hizb ul Azam etc). Even a wird (habit) of Zikr is greatly beneficial.

Why does it sometimes feel that our duas are not accepted?

As humans, we have a tendency to do things in a hurry. We want things to be done overnight and because of this we do things with a lack of wisdom.

We commit sins but don’t feel that this could be a reason why our duas are failing to be answered. We expect them to be answered before we have even finished them!

The Prophet Ayyub (AS)‘s dua was accepted after 70 years!! But not once did he become disheartened or hasty.

Sometimes we ask A—h for things that may not be the best for us. A—h, through His infinite wisdom, decides what is best for us. Then, when we look back, we realise that it is actually the better situation that our duas were not accepted.

A—h loves to see his servants crying and begging in front of Him, so we should see a delay in acceptance as an opportunity to cry in front of A—h even more.

We must remember the Hadith: “Dua is the weapon of a believer”

“Oh A—h when I lose hope because my plans have come to nothing, then help me to remember that Your love is always greater than my disappointments, and Your plans for my life are always better than my dreams”

Ameen.

Rights of the Creator

The most essential right that man must fulfill is the rights of his Creator; A—h who has the most important rights of all.

A—h is the only One who grants all the graces since man was a baby in his mother’s womb, where no one was capable of providing sufficient food and nourishment, except Him. And after birth, it is He who gave your mother milk with which you were nourished, and then suitable foods in accordance to your age.

Moreover, it is He who placed love, tender care, compassion and love in your parent’s hearts to employ all what they have for your comfort and well-being in the early stages of your life when you needed care and shelter.

Furthermore, He is the One who provided you with natural intelligence, energy, strength etc. To care for yourself and for others.

A—h states in the Holy Quran: http://quran.com/16/78

“And A—h has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful”.

Surah Nahl:78

Just imagine, if A—h stopped His virtuous care for a few moments or even the glimpse of an eye, then the whole world would collapse and cease to exist. It is because of the Mercy and Blessings of A—h to us that we have come into existence today.

A—h does not ask us for anything in return, His gifts and Bounties are offered generously without limitation, as He grants to all who believe in Him AND those who do not. He requires no favour from us, nor does He demand any provisions such as food or drink, as He is neither in need of nourishment, nor in need of us for any reason.

The ONLY thing A—h asks from us – which, if you think about it, is in our best interests – is to worship Him and Him ALONE.

A—h mentions in the Quran: http://quran.com/51/56-58

 “And I did not create Jinn or Mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is A—h who is the Continual Provider, the firm possessor of Strength.”

(51:56-58) 

A—h demands complete obedience and slavery for Him and man must present themselves in front of their Lord with humility and submission, without questioning anything that A—h wills for the Creation, as only A—h knows the wisdom behind such actions.

Our worship is for our benefit; they remove minor sins and increase the rewards given for other actions. The essence of this belief is love and respect. Meanwhile, the result is dedication, sincerity and full devotion to truth, justice and honest practise.

The Prophet (SAW) told a man called Imran bin Al Hussain (RA), who was ill at the time, “Offer your Fardh Salaat whilst standing, if you cannot do that then offer it sitting and if you cannot do that then lying down”. (Abu Dawood)

The natural right of A—h is to worship Him alone and wholeheartedly. Consequently all the matters related to it, in terms of full belief, Salaat, Zakaat, fasting and Hajj, must be practised, observed and maintained on a regular basis.

Remember! This is easy to fulfil and the rewards are immense, so do not be lazy!!

“Every soul shall taste death, and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So He who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained.

And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of illusion”

Surah Aal e Imran: 158

May the Almighty grant us all the ability to worship Him in the way that pleases Him, We pray that A–h removes the distractions of this temporary worldly life so that we focus on our true aim, the Hereafter..Ameen..

Human Rights in Islam

Throughout history, the purpose of human rights has been to ensure human dignity irrespective of race, religion, caste, colour and creed. Codes of conduct and charters/articles have been written and established to ensure this basic principle. However, what people fail to realise is that A—h established these very principles through the Quran over 1400 years ago.

A—h mentions in the Holy Quran: http://quran.com/16/90

“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.”

Surah Nahl (16:90)

So this ayah clearly indicates that it is a command to act justly to people and treat them equally. A—h has also forbid oppression and this is emphasised even more greatly to people who have been given a position of power.

Alongside being entitled to rights we must make it our duty to uphold the rights of others. One cannot have rights without duty or duty without right. The function of the law is to control illegal activities and safeguard the rights of others. 

Prophet (SAW) worked all day and night for the preservation of human rights. After the migration to Madinah, he (SAW) introduced a charter which guaranteed full protection to everyone regardless of religion.

The right to life is also emphasised and protected in Islam, as shown clearly in the following ayah: http://quran.com/6/151

“And do not kill the soul which A—h has made forbidden for you to kill (except by legal right)”

Surah Anfaal (6:151)

It has also been mentioned that whoever kills another then it will be as though he has killed the whole of humanity and if a person saves another then it is as though he has saved the whole of humanity. Islam gives these rights to each and every human being regardless of religion or nationality.

Bearing in mind that upholding the rights of others(Huqooq al Ibaad) is a command from A—h (Huqooq A—h) and so by acting upon this you’re actually getting reward and gaining the Almighty’s pleasure.

This is clear from a Hadith in which Prophet (SAW) mentions:

“A—h will say ‘Oh children of Adam (AS), I asked you for food but you did not feed Me’.

Man will reply ‘Oh A—h, how could I feed you when you are the sustainer of all men?’

A—h will reply ‘Such and such of my servants asked you for food but you didn’t give it to him. Do you not know that if you had given him food then you would have found food here with me?’

And again, A—h will ask, ‘Oh children of Adam (AS), I asked you for water but you did not give it to Me’.

Man will reply ‘Oh A—h how could I give you water when you are the Lord of the Worlds’.

A—h will then say ‘Such and such asked you for water but you didn’t give it to him. If you had given it to him then you would have found water here with me’

When Hadhrat Abu Bakr (RA) was made the Khalifah he said:

“The weak shall be strong in my eyes until I restore to them their rights and the strong shall be weak in my eyes until I have restored the rights of the weak from them”.

The criteria for rights should be universal and impartial with respect to colour, caste and creed. The Muslim state was run by caliphs who were not monarchs trying to only satisfy themselves. Rather, these Caliphs were just rulers and followed the Shariah strictly.

Once when Hadhrat Ali (RA) was the Caliph, he lost his amour which was later found by a Jew. The Caliph Hadhrat Ali (RA) bought his son (Hadhrat Hasan (RA)) as a witness but the judge rejected this support because he was a relative. This kind of judicial system impressed the Jew and at once he owned up and thereafter embraced Islam.

As Muslims, we are directed to act justly with everyone, Muslim, Non-Muslim, relatives, orphans and the poor.

In the Quran, A—h mentions: http://quran.com/4/36

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the neighbour farther away, the companion at your side, the traveller, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

Surah Nis’aa (4:36)

So good Aqhlaaq (manners) are for everyone to act upon and displayed to everyone. We often complain that other people don’t show us good manners but we fail to show them etiquettes in the first place. As Muslims living in the West, it is our duty to prove the media wrong and show the world that Islam teaches nothing but Khair (goodness) towards others. No other religion has ever made good manners an act of worship to the extent that we have etiquette of war; No child, woman or old person must be harmed, no trees or any type of plant should be destroyed and amongs others no body must be mutilated.

Hadhrat Umar (RA) has said that a person’s true character is displayed when you travel with them or when doing business with them. So be aware of this next time you are travelling with people and be aware of your own actions during this time!!

In another ayah, A—h says: http://quran.com/25/63

“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.”

Surah Furqaan (25:63)

The six rights of a Muslim:

1.      When you meet him, greet him with Salaam – It is Wajib to reply to a person’s Salaam.

2.      When he invites you, respond to his invitation.

3.      When he seeks advice from you, give the person correct and sound advice – Do not rebuke a person who has done wrong, they don’t need to be told that their abode is HELL!! Rather speak gently about how Merciful A— h is and that He welcomes those who return to Him with open arms.

4.      When she sneezes and praises A—h, to reply by supplication for her Mercy.

5.      If she becomes ill, to visit her.

6.      If a person passes away, to attend their funeral – Remember that by praying for a deceased person, A—h will create a person for you who will pray for you after you pass away.

May the Almighty grant us all the ability to act upon what we have learnt.

Help us to not only fulfill the Rights of our Creator but also of the Creation in a way that we get reward for doing so.

May He make our intentions pure and sincere for all our actions and grant us all the highest places in Paradise..
Ameen..

Birrul Waalidayn-Kindness towards Parents

A—h has stated in the Quran:  

“Worship A—h and do not join partners with him and be good to your parents, relatives, orphans and poor people, and neighbours and travellers and slaves”. 

(Surah Nisa’a: 36)

It has been narrated by Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Masud (RA) ‘I asked the Prophet (SAW) “What is the most beloved deed?” Prophet (SAW) replied: “The most beloved act is to pray Salah on time”.   Then I asked “What next?” He (SAW) said: “Respecting/Being good your parents”.                     

Then I asked “What next?” He (SAW) said: “Doing Jihad in the path of A—h”. (Sahih Bukhari)

From the above ayah and Hadith we can see how important it is to respect our parents; parents have been mentioned right after worshipping A—h. And the Prophet (SAW) has given preference to one’s parents over Jihad. This is why scholars have said that from all the Rights of People (Huquq al Ibad) the rights of the parents are most superior.

The rewards that A—h has kept for a person who respects and is towards their parents are beyond comprehension.  For example if someone just looks at their parents with love, A—h will give them a rewards equal to 1 Hajj and 1 Umrah.

It has been stated in a Hadith that a companion of the Prophet (SAW) came to him and he requested, ‘Oh Prophet of A—h, I wish to go in the path of A—h and do Jihad so that A—h gets happy with me and so that I can attain the reward.                                                                     

The Prophet (SAW) asked: “Are you really going for the reward?” He replied: “Yes, only for the reward”.        

The Prophet (SAW) asked him: “Are your parents alive?” He replied: “Yes, my parents are alive”.     The Prophet (SAW) said: “Go and help your parents if you want reward. Help your parents and gain the same amount of reward as the reward for Jihad”.

By the consensus of the Ulama being obedient to ones parents is Fardh; if your parents order you to do something then to obey as long as the order is not against the Shariah. Scholars have said that there are many bad effects of not obeying ones parents; one is that the person is denied the Kalimah at the time of their death.

It has also been mentioned in the Quran: http://quran.com/17/24-25                                                                                 

“Be good to your parents, whether one or both of them attain old age, do not even say ‘Oof’ to them, do not scold them or and talk to them nicely and with respect”. 

(Surah Israa: 24-25)

Kindness to parents has been outlined by the scholars as the following:                                      

- He should place the pleasure of his parents above the pleasure of anyone else, including himself and his wife and kids. They MUST come first-no matter what                                          

- He should obey then in everything they command or forbid, whether it agrees with his desires or not, as long as they do not go against the commands of A—h                                        

- He should present them with everything he feels they desire, whether they ask for it or not. He should present it with kindness, mercy and understanding.

We all want A—h to enter us into Jannat. Look down and you will find Paradise at the feet of your mother.

During the funeral of his mother, Al Haarith al Aklee (RA) wept: When asked for the reason behind his tears he said, “Why should I not cry when one of my doors to Paradise is now closed?”

This dua should be recited frequently: http://quran.com/17/24

“Rabbi Irham huma Kama Rabayaanee Sageera”                                                                                   “My Lord, Have mercy on them as they did when I was young”. Surah Isra’a: 24

May the Almighty forgive us and our parent’s and reward them by elevating their position in this world and the Hereafter. And make us amongst those who realise their true worth before they depart from this world..Ameen..