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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

A year is over, A new year is starting



Written by Sk. Younis Salih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

dd mmm yyyy h

dd mmm yyyy ac

Thanks be to Allah the Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the most honourable of all messengers.

Days, months and years pass us by, and no one does any reminding, and no one takes a lesson or a warning any more. Here is another year of our lives has just gone from our ages. And another year of our ages is starting. And indeed, how fast a year will go by.

This who know Allah (praise be to Him), and who knew Allah through Allah's mercies, would say: Our state is not a state of those who are thankful for the mercies. Our state is not the state of those who if one single mercy is held back; we screamed and roared and cried. Our state is not of those who are thankful to the donor or conferrer; Allah; whose mercies cover us in our motion; and when we are still, and in our mornings and evenings, and in all our situations. Allah says: {and he has tracers following him, between his hands and behind him; protecting him; through the order of Allah.} Meaning by the command of Allah, the human being has protectors protecting him; in front of him and behind him. Blessed be God, the kind, the merciful the Almighty.

If people just knew their God through these mercies then their lives would change such a change that can easily be witnessed and sensed. If they also realize that He is so capable and powerful such that all other powers are so minor compared to Him; because He created all other powers. And if they realize that He can take revenge then they would all give up any and all that can put them as targets for His mighty revenge.
We have lessons and examples from those who lived in the past. We can see that anyone who wrongly oppressed and ruled by power and claimed greatness they did not escape the grip of Allah. Faro addressing his people said: {I know not of a God for you other than I}. and Allah says: {We took him and his soldiers and insignificantly discarded them in the sea. See what the end is like for those who transgress.} The end of this Aya is a warning to any one who may feel like transgressing. Transgression is not necessarily doing as Faro did, but it is encroaching or breaking the limits; regardless what those limits happen to be. This can be vanity, breaking all contacts with blood relatives, coming up with untrue statements and untrue claims, wrongful accusation of innocent people or women, taking money wrongfully, dealing in usury (or interest), monstrous acts and crimes which Allah forbids. All that; is transgression, violation and infringement of the limits of Allah; and forgetting Allah's power, capability and revenge.

Another example is Qaroon with the mercy of all the riches he was blessed with. But he said: {I got all this because of my knowledge that I possess}. Allah say: {We crushed and sunk him and his home into the ground. There was no group to support him other than Allah, and he was not victorious}

On the other hand, it is possible to see that the good ending is for those who respect and fear Allah, and those who do what they are commanded, and refrain from doing what they are prohibited to do. And they do acts that are recommended to be done, and not do acts that are recommended to avoid.

In His generosity; Allah says: {whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded better}. And in His justice Allah says: {and whoever comes up with a bad deed, for those who do bad deeds will be punished for what they did}

Allah also says: {Everything is bound to vanish except His face}. Indicating that all creations will die. Only Allah will remain. So, fear should only be from Him, and hope should only be in Him. Do not ask other than Allah, and do not seek help except from Allha. Do not count for dependence except upon Him, and do not seek refuge except to Him, and beg no one except to Him, do not seek protection except from Him and do not cry to be rescued except to Him.

The second thing Allah wants from you is to purely and sincerely worship Him alone. He is your creator, He owns you. You need to know that He is the generous who will accept repentance from whoever repents to Him. The kind and merciful; who created all mercies and sent down only 1% of it to this worldly life for all creatures to share. He kept 99% of the mercies He created for all the enormity and terror of the day of resurrection. If you knew how merciful He is then that makes you patient with what ever harm gets thrown at you; knowing you are heading towards a generous God who will reward you for you patience. Knowing He is capable and powerful makes you fear and horrified from Him such that it helps you with being patient, and helps you against temptations of the soul and of Satan. God want you to grant Him the oneness and singleness, warship Him, obey Him, and if you offend; then how to repent and cleans out your sin. For each type of sin has its own way of salvation.

If this is materialized, then people would head towards doing what Allah commanded them, and limit them selves with what Allah prohibited them or deterred them against. In surat Al-Hadeed, Allah makes a gentle reproach to the believers when He says: {Is it not time for those who believe that their hearts to succumb and soften to remembering Allah and the truth which was sent down. And not to be like those who were given a book before; and it was left too long, such that their hearts hardened, and many of them are immoral and wrong doers}

In order to soften the heart remember death; remember the grave, and enormity of the day of resurrection. Remember reward and punishment. Hearts harden by loving this life, and blocking all thoughts of the life after. Those known as the "Will-Repent-later" group; those who keep putting off the repentance and the return to Allah with long hope of later times.

Thanks be to Allah.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com