Ilm Fruits

Do you remember?

Why are we on this earth? This time, this place. People, make the use of the situation based on a cycle. The EAT-WORK-SLEEP cycle, which I believe turns out to be boring. Monday work starts, lasts till friday. Then again the same old weekend, were some claim to enjoy.

Or lets look at life as a whole. A person is born, goes to school, goes to university/ college, gets a job. marries, buys a house and he/ she starts a new person's cycle (their kids).
The same old story again and again.
So again what are we doing here? When Allah created us he sent us down with something, can you remember?

Ibn Abbas (ضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) related that,
"When Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) created Adam (عليه سلام), He took a covenant from him in a place called Na'man on the day of Arafah. Then He extracted from him all of descendants who would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation, and spread them out in front of Him in order to take a covenant from them also. He spoke to them face to face saying: 'Am I not your Lord?' and they all replied, 'Yes, we testify to it.' Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He was their creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said, 'That was in case you (mankind) should say on the Day of Resurrection, 'Surely we were unaware of all this. We had no idea that You, Allah , were our God. No one told us that we were supposed to worship You alone." Allah went on to explain that it was also in case some people would say: 'It was our ancestors who made partners (with Allah) and we are only their descendants; will you then destroy us for what those liars did?' (Collected by Ahmed, Classified sahih, see Silsilah al-Albani's al-Ahadith as-Sahihah)

Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said this in an explanation of the verses (interpretation of the meaning): And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this." Or lest you should say: "It was only our fathers afortime who took others as partners in worship along with Allah, and we were (merely their) descendants after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Batil (i.e. polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah)?" (Tafsir At-Tabari). (Qur'an 7: 172-173)
The explanation and the ayah's are clear proof for people, that the reason we are on earth is not for any other than recognizing Allah as our Lord, and worship Him.

Now it can be seen that MUSLIMS are so much into the EAT-WORK-SLEEP cycle. And they go on and on, with the same old reasons, a good house, a good car (which are mostly mortgage based). So lets remember ( and I advive myself first) why we are here, because if we do, and abide by it, then the rewards we will receive will be infinite , unlike the perceived rewards of this world, which are limited and fragile.

Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. The Fundamentals of Tawheed. 2nd ed. Riyadh: IIPH, 2005. 61-62.

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Seeing the Prophet in a Dream

Abu Hurayrah, Abu Qatadah and Jabir Ibn Abdullah reported, Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) stated " He who saw me in a dream in fact saw me, for Satan can not assume my form." (Bukhari and Muslim)

The hadith clearly states that the Rasool of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) can be seen in a dream, as Satan (may Allah's curse be upon him) cannot take his form. However, some points which should be noted concerning its meaning are as follows:

1. The hadith confirms the fact that Satan can come in various forms and misguide people.
2. The hadith confirms that Satan cannot take the ACTUAL form of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم).
3. The hadith confirms the fact that the Prophet's form may be seen in dreams.

Nowadays we come across people who claim that they have seen Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) in a dream. They become so happy then they boast about it, or sometimes boast how religious they are (may Allah protect us from such claims). And even sometimes people claim that Rasoolullah has commanded him/her to do something new in the religion of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

The point to be noted here, is that Satan can take the form of somebody else and can come in one's dream who is unfamiliar with Rasoolullah's appearance and claim that he is Allah's messenger.

Therefore, of the people who claim to see Rasoolullah, and also claim that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) commanded him to do something new CONTRADICTS the basic principle of Islam. Because such a claim implies:

1. Either that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) did not fulfil his mission in his life time, or
2. That Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) was not aware of the future of the ummah, and thus did not prescribe the necessary injunctions during the Prophet's lifetime.

Such claims are absurd, as ISLAM is complete and perfect by the grace of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). And it also shows that the poor chap who claimed so (and so) was successfully misguided by Satan. May Allah save us form such traps of Satan, ameen.

Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. The Fundamentals of Tawheed. 2nd ed. Riyadh: IIPH, 2005. 166-168.

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Imam Abu Hanifa: A True Tradesman

Once, a women came to Abu Hanifa (رحمالله) to sell a silk garment. Abu Hanifa asked " How much is it?" She replied, "one hundred." He said, "It is worth more than a hundred. How much?"

So the woman increased the price by hundred, and again, and when it reached four hundred, Abu Hanifa said, "It should be more than that." The woman said, " you are mocking me."

So, Abu Hanifa said, "bring a man to value it." She brought a man, and he valued it at five hundred.

It shows the heedfulness of Imam Abu Hanifa in buying in trade: where one can easily deceive the selling party, he played a role to the advantage of the woman.

In another incident, a woman came to buy garment from Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمالله) and stated, "I am weak and I put myself in your hands. Sell me this garment for what it costs you."

Abu Hanifa replied, "take it for four dirhams." She retorted, "do not mock me. I am an old woman."

Then Abu Hanifa said, "I bought two garments, and sold one of them for the cost of both, less four dirhams. This garment is then worth four dirhams."

It shows another quality of Imam Abu Hanifa, he would sometimes forgo profit if the buyer was weak.

And thus it shows the quality of a TRUE tradesman, one in purchasing, the other in selling. And it also proves that scholars are the ones who TRULY fear Allah.

Abu Zahra, Muhammad. The Four Imams. Aligarh: Millat Book Centre. 135.

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The Best Days of the Year

Are you a student, or working? Are you depressed or frustrated that you could not take the advantage of the last ten nights of Ramadan? There were midterms, assignments, and projects for all the working folk, all those cliched reasons, or maybe you did take advantage. Here is another chance. Its on our doorsteps, the most beloved days to Allah, the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

It was reported by Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that the Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, 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." (al-Bukhari)

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in surah al-Fajr says (interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the ten nights" [89:1-2]. Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: "This is the correct opinion." (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413)

In the ayah Allah swears an oath by the dawn and the ten nights, and Allah swearing an oath signifies the importance of these days.

What can we do to reap the fruits of these days?

In a hadith qudsi: "Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except for fasting, which is for Me and I am the One Who will reward him for it.’" (al-Bukhari)

Fasting on the best days, means - jackpot - INSHALLAH more rewards.

And our Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) for sure used to fast on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. As Hunaydah ibn Khalid reported from his wife that some of the wives of the Prophet (رضي الله عنهنّ) said: "The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) used to fast on the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, on the day of ‘Ashoora’, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month." (al-Nisaa’i, Abu Dawud)

It is reported that our Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) commanded us to recite a lot of Tasbeeh ("Subhanallah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah") and Takbeer ("Allahu akbar") during this time. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) reported that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allah"), Takbeer and Tahmeed." (Ahmad, Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is saheeh).

There are so many other good deeds to do, so we should take advantage of these days as much as we can.

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Family Defined

After years of dawah the people of Nuh (عليه سلام), Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) revealed to Nuh (عليه سلام) (interpretation of the meaning) "None of thy people will believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds." (Surah Hud, verse 35)

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) instructed Nuh (عليه سلام) to build an ark, and that the sinners will drown in a flood. As Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) states in Qur'an (to the interpretation of the meaning): "But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and address Me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood)." Allah later stated (to the interpretation of the meaning): "At length behold! There came Our Command, and the fountains of the earth gushed forth! We said: 'Embark therein of each kind two, male and female, and your family, except those against whom the Word has already gone forth and the Believers.' But only a few believed with him." (Surah Hud, verse 37)

Allah states in Qur'an (to the interpretation of the meaning): "The waves picked up the ark. At time of departure, Nuh (عليه سلام) asked his son to join them. So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who separated himself (from the rest): 'O my son! Embark with us, and be not with the Unbelievers!' The son replied: 'I will be take myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water.' Noah said: 'This day nothing can save from the Command of Allah, any but those on whom He hath mercy!'― and the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood." (Surah Hud, verse 42-43)

Then Allah commanded the earth to swallow the water, the ark landed on Mouth Judi. Upon stopping, Nuh (عليه سلام) asked Allah (to the interpretation of the meaning) "O my Lord! Surely my son is of my family! and Thy promise is true and Thou art the Justest of Judges!". Allah's reply to Nuh was (to the interpretation of the meaning) "O Noah! He is not of thy family, for his conduct is unrighteous. So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge! I give thee counsel, lest thou become one of the ignorant!" (Surah Hud, verses 45-46)

Allah defines the meaning of family. Our family is not only our father, mother, brother, or sister. It is instead all the believers. Let he/she be brown, black, white, or of other races on this earth.

References

Anwar Al-Awlaki. The Lives of the Prophets. Al Basheer Publications and Translations, 2001.

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The Call of Jahiliyyah

Once a young man from the Muhajiruwn and a young man from the Ansaar quarreled. So the muhajirun called out for help stating: "O Muhajiruwn!" And the ansaari said: "O Ansaar!" The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) heard this and said: ''Is it with the call off jahiliyyah that you are calling out, and I am present amongst you!" (Bukhari)

Allah loves Muhajiruwn and Ansaar. Allah states (interpretation of the meaning) : "And [those Allah grants mercy on includes] the first to embrace Islam from the Muhajiruwn and the Ansaar, and those who followed them in goodness, beliefs and actions. Allaah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens of Paradise, beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever. That is the supreme achievement." [Surah at-Tawbah 9:100].

Still, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: ''Is it with the call off jahiliyyah that you are calling out, and I am present amongst you!"

Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: "Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jamaa'ah and dies, he dies a death of jahiliyyah. Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for 'asabiyyah (partisanship and party spirit), or calling to 'asabiyyah, or assisting 'asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of jahiliyyah." (Muslim)

And look at the pride (which is not even worth a peanut shell) people have, one might say "we fought you, and then we kicked you out of our land." On this point, Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, "lndeed, Allah revealed to me that you should have humility, and that no one should act proudly and oppressively over anyone else, nor should anyone boast over anyone else. " (Muslim)

And to cap our discussion, Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:"Everything which is outside the call of Islam and the Qur'an, with regards to lineage, land, nationality, schools of thought, and ways, then it is from the calls of jahiliyyah.

Shaykh Abdul'azeez Bin Baz. "The Evils of Nationalism." Islamworld. <http://www.islamworld.net/nation.html>.

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