|
In the name of Allah, the
Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. And Peace be upon His
Prophets and Messengers.
Qur'an + Sunnah = > Success
Life as a journey
By Abdullah
Assalamu 'alalikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
In the last and the first part, we summarised this life as a journey
that everyone is heading for 'something' to 'somewhere'; and the trials
that everyone faces, regardless of his/her color, race, status etc. We
also discussed about the real thing that gives us relief, delight and
satisfaction that is Strong Faith in Allahu ta'ala (that including
patience and His remembrance).
How can one have 'Strong Faith'? How should we live our lives to get
'Success' in this life and in the hereafter? What is the
straight/correct path? This is what we are discussing in this part.
-=[ FAITH - EIMAN ]=-
A very useful saying of the Prophet (salallaho 'alaihi wassalam), as
recorded by Imam Bukhari (May Allah's Mercy be upon him) and narrated by
Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) is:
The Prophet said, "Faith (Belief) consists of more than sixty branches
(i.e. parts). And Haya (This term "Haya" covers a large number of
concepts which are to be taken together; amongst them are self respect,
modesty, bashfulness, and scruple, etc.) is a part of faith."
Therefore, strong-faith is a complete faith. We will see very few but
very important parts here, insha 'Allah.
-=[ TRUST IN ALLAH ]=-
If Muslims today start to put their TRUST in Allahu ta'ala, we will
never need to beg for help, from those who have enmity with Allah and
any of His Prophets. Allah is the one who prepared for us food (drink of
Milk in our mothers), even before we came into this world and He is
all-sufficient for His servants. Every soul/nafs will taste the death
but Allah is Al-Hayyu & Al-Qayyuum! So why should we not put our trust
in the One, who never dies and never sleeps and does not need anyone or
anything at all!
Almighty Allah says in al-Qur'an [ al-Ahzaab -- 33 : 3]:
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلاً
Put your trust in Allah: for Allah is your all-sufficient protector.
In another part, Allah says [ al-Anfal -- 8 : 64]:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
O Prophet! Allah is all-sufficient for you and for the believers who
follow you.
Almighty Allah says in [ az-Zumar -- 39 : 36]:
اليس الله بكاف عبده ويخوفونك بالذين من دونه ومن يضلل الله فماله من هاد
Is Allah not all-sufficient for His servants? Yet they try to frighten
you with others besides Him! For such whom Allah confounds, there can be
no guide.
-=[ LOVE WITH ALLAH ]=-
There are very good examples for us in the Prophets of Allah. Such as
Khalil-Allah (Friend of Allah - Abraham 'alaihi salam), Kaleem-Allah
(whom Allah spoke directly - Moses 'alaihi salam), Kalimat-Allah (Word
of Allah -- Jesus 'alaihi salam) and Habib-Allah (Beloved of Allah -
Muhammadur Rasool Allah salallaho 'alaihi wassallam) and many more like
Dawud (David 'alaihi salam), Ayyub (Job 'alaihi salam), Ismael 'alaihi
salam, Ya'qoob (Jacob 'alaihi salam), Is-haaq (Isaac 'alaihi salam) and
Noah 'alaihi salm and the list goes on and on...! They are the ones who
got the pleasure of Allah and the Prophets are very good example for the
believers.
When one claims that he/she loves Allah, then we have to show it or
prove our words by following His commands. After we have proved it and
continue with it, Allah is the Friend of Mo'mineen (Believers) and He is
the Best Friend who is always ready to help and support His servants!
See below a very lovely part of the Qur'an:
Almighty Allah declares in the Qur'an [ Yunus -- 10:62-64]:
أَلا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاء اللّهِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ
لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَى فِي الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ لاَ تَبْدِيلَ
لِكَلِمَاتِ اللّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
Be aware! The friends of Allah have nothing to fear or to regret.
Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil,
for them there is good news in this life and in the hereafter - Allah's
Words do not change - this is indeed the mighty achievement.
Ar-Raheem also says in [ Aal-e-Imran -- 3:31-33]:
قل ان كنتم تحبون الله فاتبعوني يحببكم الله ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم والله غفور
رحيم
قل اطيعوا الله والرسول فان تولوا فان الله لايحب الكافرين
ان الله اصطفى ادم ونوحا وال ابراهيم وال عمران على العالمين
Tell the people O Muhammad: "If you sincerely love Allah, then follow
me; Allah will also love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful."
Also tell them, "Obey Allah and His Messenger." Inspite of this, if they
turn back, then warn them, that Allah does not love the disbelievers.
Indeed Allah exalted Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of
Imran above all the worlds.
-=[ PATIENCE ]=-
Almighty Allah says in al-Qur'an [ al-Baqarah -- 2 : 153]:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ
إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
O' You who believe! Seek My help with patience and As-Salat (prayer):
surely, Allah is with those who are patient.
Almighty Allah says in another part of Qur'an [ al-'Ankabut -- 29 :
58-60]:
والذين امنوا وعملوا الصالحات لنبوئنهم من الجنة غرفا تجري من تحتها
الانهار خالدين فيها نعم اجر العاملين
الذين صبروا وعلى ربهم يتوكلون
وكاين من دابة لاتحمل رزقها الله يرزقها واياكم وهو السميع العليم
Those who embrace true faith and do good deeds shall be lodged in the
mansions of paradise beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever.
What an excellent reward for the doers of good deeds;
the ones who have shown patience and put their trust in their Lord .
How many creatures are there that do not carry their provisions with
them? Allah provides for them as He provides for you. It is He Who is
All-hearing, All-knowing.
And here is an example of the one who is weak in faith and reluctant to
observe patience:
Almighty Allah says in al- Qur'an [ al-Hajj -- 22 : 11]:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ
اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ
خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ
There are some people who worship Allah standing on the verge of faith
(half faith and half disbelief). When such a person is blessed with good
fortune he is content; but if he encounters a trial he turns back
headlong; thus losing both this world and the Hereafter, which is a
clear-cut loss.
-=[ SIMPLE AND EASY WAY TO SUCCESS ]=-
The following ayaat very well distinguish: Muslim, Believer and the
Faith.
Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an [ al-Hujuraat -- 49 :14-15]:
قالت الاعراب امنا قل لم تؤمنوا ولكن قولوا اسلمنا ولما يدخل الايمان في
قلوبكم وان تطيعوا الله ورسوله لايلتكم من اعمالكم شيئا ان الله غفور رحيم
انما المؤمنون الذين امنوا بالله ورسوله ثم لم يرتابوا وجاهدوا باموالهم
وانفسهم في سبيل الله اولئك هم الصادقون
The beduin Arabs say: "We have believed." Tell them: "You have not
believed; rather say 'We have become Muslims;' for faith has not yet
found its way into your hearts. If you obey Allah and His Messenger, He
will not deny you the reward of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful."
The true believers are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger ,
then never doubt; and make Jihad (struggle - exert their efforts) with
their wealth and their persons in the cause of Allah. Such are the ones
who are truthful in their claim to be the believers.
In another very beautiful ayaat,
Almighty Allah says in al-Qur'an [ al-Hujuraat -- 49 :14-15]:
ومن يطع الله والرسول فاولئك مع الذين انعم الله عليهم من النبيين
والصديقين والشهداء والصالحين وحسن اولئك رفيقا
ذلك الفضل من الله وكفى بالله عليما
Whosoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be in the company of those
whom Allah has blessed - the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and
the righteous: What excellent companions they will be!
This is the real grace from Allah and sufficient is Allah's infinite
knowledge.
Basically, a Muslim will not attain the Faith UNLTIL he/she Obeys
Allah's Commands and what Muhammad (salallaho 'alaihi wassalam) has left
(as examples). A Believer (Mo'min) is the one who has attained Faith by
'practicing Islaam'. A Muslim can be a Mo'min (True Believer) and a
Muslim can also be a Munafiq (hypocrite). But a True Believer cannot be
a Hypocrite (Munafiq). Allah knows best about what is in our hearts.
There are ranks for a Believer, such as Saalih, Muhsin, Shaheed,
Siddique -- ranks depend upon our Taqwa (long definition of Taqwa!).
Al-Qur'an and AsSunnah is the way to success,
success in this life and in the hereafter. It never happened that Allah
only revealed a Book for the people's guidance. A Messenger was sent to
guide and explain the Message of the Book and show the people some
examples. If anyone thinks that Sunnah is not important, then why did
Allah send Messengers for the mankind? He could just have sent down the
Book, like the Book we have these days!
I don't think there is any branch of science that does not have
examples. When one studies physics or mathematics, he is given both
theoretical and practional (example) knowledge. Even in history, we are
shown examples and patterns. Now we see that examples do help us
understand formulas. This is true even with Islam. Allah sent the Book
and sent human Messengers who gave the theoratical as well as practical
knowledge.
Beside all this, there was a reason behind the ayaat of the Qur'an.
Qur'an was revealed gradually, according to the situations of that time,
to teach the people 'how' to implement this Message or 'how' to live
their lives according to this Book. Muhammadur Rasool Allah (salallaho 'alaihi
wassalam) has shown the best example, of how to 'implement' shariyya in
our lives. The sunnah was then followed by his companions and they
showed the example to the following generations.
Allahu ta'ala says in al- Qur'an [ al-Ahzaab -- 33 : 21]:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ
يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً
You have indeed, in the life of Messenger-Allah, the 'Best Model' for
him whose hope is in Allah and the Day of the Hereafter, and who engages
himself much in the remembrance of Allah.
Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an [ al-Ahzaab -- 33 : 45-47]:
ياايها النبي انا ارسلناك شاهدا ومبشرا ونذيرا
وداعيا الى الله باذنه وسراجا منيرا
وبشرالمؤمنين بان لهم من الله فضلا كبيرا
O Prophet! Surely We have sent you as a witness, as a bearer of good
news and as a Warner,
and to call the people towards Allah by His leave and a lamp spreading
light (guidance).
Give good news to the believers that they shall have great blessings
from Allah.
For an example, we can take al-Qur'an as a map, leading us to our true
destination (towards Allah). The Prophet (salallaho 'alaihi wassalam)
was like a lamp showing us the way to follow the map.
The following is a part of the supplication, which Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim
'alaihi salam) and Prophet Ismael 'alaihi salam made, while raising the
foundation of the Ka'bah Shareef.
Almighty Allah says in al- Qur'an [ al-Baqarah -- 2 : 129]:
رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ
وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ
العَزِيزُ الحَكِيمُ
O Lord, appoint from among them a Messenger who shall recite to them
Your Revelations and teach them the Book and the Wisdom and sanctify
them; surely, You are the All-Mighty, the Wise.
And Ar-Rahmaan also mentions in another part that:
Al-Qur'an [ al-Baqarah -- 2 : 151-153]:
كما ارسلنا فيكم رسولا منكم يتلو عليكم اياتنا ويزكيكم ويعلمكم الكتاب
والحكمة ويعلمكم مالم تكونوا تعلمون
فاذكروني اذكركم واشكروا لي ولاتكفرون
ياايها الذين امنوا استعينوا بالصبر والصلاة ان الله مع الصابرين
just as We bestowed Our favor upon you when We sent among you a
Messenger of your own who recites to you Our revelations, sanctifies
you, teaches you the Book and wisdom , and teaches you that which you
did not know.
Therefore, remember Me, and, I will remember you, be grateful to Me and
never deny Me.
O' You who believe! Seek My help with patience and prayer: surely, Allah
is with those who are patient.
Now brothers and sisters in Islaam, those who followed Allah and His
Messenger were given success in this life and Allah has promised them
success in the hereafter too. Just as He has said:
Almighty Allah says in [ an-Nūr -- 24 : 52]:
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَخْشَ اللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ
فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears Allah, and keeps his
duty (to Him), such are the successful ones.
Allah says in the Qur'an [ an-Nūr -- 24 : 55]:
وعد الله الذين امنوا منكم وعملوا الصالحات ليستخلفنهم في الارض كما استخلف
الذين من قبلهم وليمكنن لهم دينهم الذي ارتضى لهم وليبدلنهم من بعد خوفهم
امنا يعبدونني لايشركون بي شيئا ومن كفر بعد ذلك فاولئك هم الفاسقون
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that He
will most surely make them vicegerent in the earth as He made their
ancestors before them, and that He will establish for them their
religion, the one which He has chosen for them, and that He will change
their present state of fear into peace and security. Let them worship Me
Alone and not to commit shirk with Me; and if anyone rejects faith after
this, it is they who are the transgressors.
I'm repeating once again:
Almighty Allah declares in the Qur'an [ Yunus -- 10:62-64]:
أَلا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاء اللّهِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ
لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَى فِي الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ لاَ تَبْدِيلَ
لِكَلِمَاتِ اللّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
Be aware! The friends of Allah have nothing to fear or to regret.
Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil,
for them there is good news in this life and in the hereafter - Allah's
Words do not change - this is indeed the mighty achievement.
Al-Qur'an [ Yunus -- 10 : 24-27]:
انما مثل الحياة الدنيا كماء انزلناه من السماء فاختلط به نبات الارض مما
ياكل الناس والانعام حتى اذا اخذت الارض زخرفها وازينت وظن اهلها انهم
قادرون عليها اتاها امرنا ليلا او نهارا فجعلناها حصيدا كان لم تغن بالامس
كذلك نفصل الايات لقوم يتفكرون
والله يدعو الى دار السلام ويهدي من يشاء الى صراط مستقيم
للذين احسنوا الحسنى وزيادة ولايرهق وجوههم قتر ولاذلة اولئك اصحاب الجنة
هم فيها خالدون
والذين كسبوا السيئات جزاء سيئة بمثلها وترهقهم ذلة مالهم من الله من عاصم
كانما اغشيت وجوههم قطعا من الليل مظلما اولئك اصحاب النار هم فيها خالدون
The example of this worldly life is like the water which We send down
from the sky; it mingles with the soil and produces vegetation which
becomes the food for men and animals. Then, at the very time when the
crops are ripened and the land looks attractive, the people to whom it
belongs think that they are able to cultivate it, and there comes Our
scourge upon it, by night or in broad day, and We mow it down thoroughly
as if nothing existed there yesterday! Thus do We spell out Our signs
for those who are thoughtful.
Allah invites you to the Home of Peace and guides whom He pleases to the
Right Way.
Those who do good deeds shall have a good reward and even more than they
deserve! Neither blackness nor disgrace shall cover their faces. They
will be the inhabitants of paradise; they will live therein forever.
As for those who have done evil deeds, they will be rewarded with like
evil: disgrace will cover them - they shall have none to protect them
from Allah - as if their faces have been covered with patches of the
dense darkness of night. They will become the inmates of the Fire; they
will live therein forever.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Allah has set forth a
parable of a straight path. On both sides of the path there are two
enclosures in which there are open doors, and hanging upon each door are
curtains. There is at the end of the path an admonisher saying: Adhere
to the path and don't go astray. Above that there is an announcer who
announces as often as anyone intends to open the doors: Woe be to thee!
Don't open it for if you open it you shall have to enter it. He then
explained (this parable) and said: Verily the path is al-Islam; the open
doors are the prohibitions made by Allah; the hanging curtains are the
limits set by Allah; the announcer at the end of the path is the Qur'an;
and the announcer over it is Allah's Preacher in every heart.
Transmitted by Razin and Ahmad. [Al-Tirmidhi]
الحمد لله رب العالمين
الرحمن الرحيم
مالك يوم الدين
اياك نعبد واياك نستعين
اهدنا الصراط المستقيم
صراط الذين انعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولاالضالين
All praise is for Allah, the 'Lord' of the Worlds.
The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
O'Allah! You Alone we worship and You Alone we call on for help.
O'Allah! Guide us to The Right Way.
The Way of those whom You have favored; not of those who have earned
Your wrath, or of those who have lost The Way.
Ameen, again Ameen.
Allah Knows Best
|