Monthly Archives: December 2007

Earth’s Fill in Gold

December 28, 2007 – 2:55 pm

Bismillah.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur’an:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الأرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَى بِهِ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ

Translation: Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers. [Surah Al-Imran, verse 91]

The word used for the capacity of the earth in this ayah is Mil al-Ard. “Mil” is used for the quantity that a vessel holds when it is filled; hence mil al-ard refers to the quantity/volume/mass/fill of the earth.

Those who die while they are disbelievers, Allah will accept no good deed ever from them, even if they gave the earth’s fill of gold as ransom. How much gold would that amount to? The earth’s fill.

Volume of the earth:

  • 1,083,206,246,123,080,894,852 m3
  • In words: 1 Septillion, 83 Sextillion, 206 quintillion, 246 trillion, 123 billion, 80 million, 894 thousand, 852 m3
  • Mass of the Earth: 5.98 x 1024 kg (After 98, you would add 24 more zeros)
  • Price of one Ounce of Gold: $802.70 USD

Therefore, mass of the earth in Gold is worth = $1.65 x 1029 USD (27 zeros after 65)

With this money, you could buy yourself all of:

  • 100 Ferraris ($168,000 each)
  • The most expensive house in the world ($155 million)
  • A Boeing A380 – huge double decker plane ($300 million)
  • The millennium star diamond (over a $100 million)
  • A trip to the moon ($100 million)
  • The international space station ($100 billion)

And now, you could do this for every single person of the six billion people on earth, and have spent only 0.000000366 % of your money.

You could have done all this a million times over and still have 97 % of your money left over.

It’s like winning a $200 billion lottery for every second of your life for 65 years.

We’re talking about an absolutely unfathomable amount of money. Does anyone on this planet have this much gold? Can anyone earn this much?

If a disbeliever gave the earth’s fill of gold as ransom, it will not be accepted from him.

Learn this lesson well: The weight of emaan is more than Mil al-Ard. It’s more valuable. It’s priceless.

Jazakum Allahu khayran to my teachers for researching this.

References

Al-Huda Canada, Ta’leem al-Qur’an course in English 2007.

By AmatulWadood | Posted in Arabic, Gems, Tafseer | Comments (2)

What is a Museebah?

December 21, 2007 – 7:43 am

Bismillah.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in Surah Al-Baqarah:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمْوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

Translation: And We shall surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Those who when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed to Him we will return. [Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 155-156]

These ayaat are very beautiful, and we learn from them that we will all be tested in this life, each person in their own individual way.

Let’s look specifically at the word “museebah.” The root word is from saad-waw-ba, or “saub”. The Arabs used the word “saub” to refer to when the arrow hit its target. This alludes to the fact that the act was intentional, deliberate, and not by chance. How does this connect with a disaster striking us?

SubhanAllah, a museebah reaches its target; it was meant to happen. Allah’s Decree WILL come to pass. So instead of complaining and sulking, and asking questions like “WHY ME?!”, remember this ayah the next time a test comes your way … the arrow is merely hitting its target.

Then Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says, “wa bashir as-Sabireen,” which means “and give good tidings to the patient.” The word “bashir” is from ba-sheen-raa and it literally means skin or human; from this, we derive the meaning. “Bashir” means happiness, happiness that causes a reaction on the skin, either with goosebumps or smiling, and the like.

So these patient ones (may Allah make us among them) will grin from ear to ear when they receive these glad tidings. What are the glad tidings? Al-Jannah. They get Jannah in return for their patience.

So do not despair with what afflicts and will afflict you; the arrow will hit its target, and the One who granted Umm Salamah (رضالله عنها) a blessed position after her calamity can grant you something better than what you are going through. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will definately reward you if you show patience (remember, at the first stroke of calamity).

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) pour patience on us and make us among the muttaqeen. Ameen!

Walhamdulillahi rabbil alamin.

By AmatulWadood | Posted in Arabic, Gems, Islam, Tafseer, Tazkiyyah | Comments (2)

Real Love

December 14, 2007 – 11:19 am

Bismillah

There are many words in Arabic that translate as “love” in English; two of them are hubb and wudd. What is the difference between hubb (حَبَّ) and wudd (وَدَّ)? Hubb, which is from ح ب ب ، means to love. It is a love that you have for someone or something that you keep inside of you–inner feelings of admiration and fondness. While wudd, from و د د، is a more intense form of hubb, a whole-hearted and deep love. Wudd is the purest form of love, an intimate love, and this love–affection that is more stronger than hubb–turns into actions. Wudd is to express those feelings of love in your conduct, in your actions,in your demeanor, and wudd maintains consistency and persists even if obstacles are in the way.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) describes Himself as “Al-Wadood” (الودود) and this is usually translated into English as “The Most Loving.” This Love is constant and spreads to all of Allah’s creation, but a special form of this love is for His righteous servants. He says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَانُ وُدّاً

Translation: Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds, Ar-Rahman will appoint for them affection. [Surah Maryam, verse 96]

The Name of Allah, Al-Wadood, comes twice in the Qur’an, firstly, Prophet Shuy’ab (عليه السلام) tells his people:

وَاسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ

Translation: And ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn unto Him in repentance. Verily, my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving.” [Surah Hud, verse 90]

And, in Surah Al-Burooj, ayah 14, Allah says:

وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ

Translation: And He is Al-Ghafuwr, Al-Wadood (the Affectionate). [Surah Al-Burooj, verse 14]

In Arabic grammar, “Wadood” falls under the fa’ool (فعول) pattern, which denotes Allah’s Love as constant and lasting, as well as intense. Allah is Al-Wadood, He loves the believers, and the believers love Him more than anything and anyone. His love is a love that is continual, ample, and vast, and translates into the blessings He gives us, from a simple breath we take to the greatest blessing of Islam.

So how can we live by Allah’s Name, Al-Wadood? There are three important factors we have to fulfill:

  1. To know that Allah loves you a lot.
  2. To fill your hearts with the love of Allah and make our hearts only for Him, and remove from them everything else, such as the love of the dunya.
  3. To show the love that Allah is showing you to others–to your spouse, your family, your friends, your community.
Reference

Imam Safi Khan. Lecture. Dar-us-Salaam Masjid. College Park, Maryland.

By AmatulWadood | Posted in Aqeeda, Arabic, Asmaa-was-Sifaat, Islam, Tazkiyyah | Comments (6)

Amazing Hajj Gems

December 10, 2007 – 10:05 pm

Did you know:

  1. The literal meaning of hajj is ‘desire’?
    1. Hajj is one of the main five pillars and all muslims desire to go for hajj.
    2. We should hasten to do it/plan for it as early as possible. [1]
    3. Hajj is expensive, but ALHAMDULILAH we have been given glad tidings: by the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم), who said, it eliminates poverty and sin! [2]
  2. Those not going for hajj can earn a lot of reward and forgiveness during the hajj days, as they are the best days of the year. [3] We should benefit by:
    1. Fasting these 10 days, especially on the 9th of dhullhijjah. [4]
    2. Sacrificing a lamb/sheep (distribute portion or all of it to needy, family members)
    3. Growing our nail/hair during these 10 days and cut them afterwards. (This also ‘unites’ us with what rest of the hajees are doing in mecca) [5]
    4. Saying Takbeer (”Allaahu akbar”), Tahmeed (”Al-hamdu Lillaah”), Tahleel (”La ilaha ill-Allaah”) and Tasbeeh (”Subhaan Allaah”) during these days. [6]
  3. This is the only pillar that involves, all aspects of worship: i.e. Money/charity, physical aspects of worship, spiritual aspects of worship, etc.
  4. Freakily enough, a hajjee without good intentions or the one who shows off, may have NO HAJJ.

May Allah forgive us and grant us an accepted hajj and highest level of paradise (Ameen wa ajma’een). Please keep us in dua’s … May Allah forgive us too (Ameen)! Please do read the relevant proofs for them, as referenced below.

Also, here are other amazing articles with good ayats/ahadith on hajj. Please read and benefit: [Articles]

Hadith to the above points:

[1]: Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever wants to go for Hajj, let him hasten to do it, because he may fall ill or some other problems may arise.”

[2]: Also, hajj and umrah actually increases our blessings and wealth. The Messenger of Allaah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron and gold and silver.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 810; al-Nasaa’i, 2631. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani – may Allaah have mercy on him – in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1200).

[3]: Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2/457).

[4]: “The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) used to fast on the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month.” (Reported by al-Nisaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawud; classified by al-Albaani as saheeh in Saheeh Abi Dawud, 2/462).

[5]:The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah, if any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting his hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice.”

[6]: Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)…” [al-Hajj 22:28]

By Slave of arRahman | Posted in Hajj, Ibadah, Islam, Tazkiyyah | Comments (2)