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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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65 |
Testimony: No God but Allah
Written by Sk. Younis Salih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
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People, fear Allah his deserving fear. It is through the fear of Allah that your deeds are given recognition, and your health and money are sustained. Fearing Allah places a guard between you and Allahs torment. Fearing Allah is materialized by acting on his commands and abstaining from what He forbids.
Allah’s commands are many. Some of them are part of the root and foundations of religion; such that religion would not be right without. And some commands are part of the religion’s obligations and duties. One would be committing sins just by abandoning or not practicing them. Consequently one can become a target for menace and threat. Some of the commands are mere religion traditions, ways and complements. One would be rewarded for acting upon them; but not punished for not practicing them.
One of the greatest religion foundation and its most important function is a one statement (some times referred to as the Word). One word or statement is with which one enters the scope of Islam. One statement is after which the individual will have all the rights and all the obligations of other Muslims. One statement once vocally spoken by somebody, then his or her blood and moneys become protected or immune and untouchable. It becomes a forbidden act to confront or attack, kill or confiscate or seize their money or what they own, and all other form of harm. A word whoever says becomes happier in both lives, and becomes elevated in status in both this life and the next. A statement if it was the last spoken sentence in one’s life is enough to bring that person into paradise. It is the testimony, it is baring a witness that there is no god but Allah, alone and the only who has no partners or associates. (áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå æÍÏå áÇ ÔÑíß áå).
This statement is the foundation of all messages sent with all messengers. Each and every messenger or prophet was sent to fulfill this message. Each of them said to their people: (Worship Allah, you have no God other than Him). Allah says about all messengers: {We sent a messenger into each nation to worship Allah and to avoid the tyrant}. This great word which Allah sent all messengers to deliver; each Muslim must know its meaning, its grace and its reward, and must act according to its requirements or its obligations.
With regard to what it means; the meaning of this word is that this who deserves to be worshipped is Allah alone. No one else by right is to be worshipped. And worshiping anyone else is false and wrong. Allah says: {Such that Allah is true, and all other than He whom they call is false. And that Allah is the most elevated the biggest}. Living by its rules means to uniquely specify Allah alone with worship. Not to worship anything or anyone else besides Him. And to deny and renounce worshiping any one else except Allah; and to live and act His commands and refrain from what He prohibited.
Whoever knows the meaning of this statement, do not say it except if they will act by it. When the messenger (PPBU) said to the people of Kuraish: {No other God But Allah áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå}; they said: “What a strange matter, he is making all the gods into one”; because they understood the meaning of the word. Which is, worshiping Allah alone. Today’s polytheists do not know its meaning. In one hand they say: “No God but Allah”, and on the other hand they still go to idols, trees, shrines with prayers and requests other than to Allah.
Slaves of Allah, every act in Islam is tightly entwined with the testimony of “No other Gods but Allah”; starting with the ritual of prayers, giving charity, fasting of Ramadan and going for pilgrimage to the Mosque for those who are able. Also, each and every command Allah issued to His messenger (PPBU) and refraining from each act Allah prohibited to be done by His messenger. When some of the Arab tribes stopped paying the charity after the death of the messenger (PPBU), the companions fought them over that. They said: Charity is a right of the testimony (No God but Allah). When Wahb ebn-Minbeh (æåÈ ÅÈä ãäÈå) was told: “Isn’t the sentence [No God but Allah] the key to Paradise?” He replied: “Yes, but each key must have teeth or cogs. So, if you come up with a key that has teeth then it will be opened for you, else it will not”. The teeth here represent sincerity, loyalty, fidelity, truthfulness and certainty.
What contradicts this testimony is polytheism. That is to believe in association with Allah (May He be elevated) by directing some of the worship to other than He. Either of what is called the major or minor polytheism. Similarly committing sins that contradict the testimony reduce it and reduce the reward for it and reduce its benefit.
The grace and benefit of this word is that Allah has sent the same word with all his messengers. He has made it what differentiates between Islam and infidelity. This word is the salvation from Hell fire. The messenger (PPBU) said: {Allah has prohibited Hellfire to touch anyone who said: “No God but Allah” saying it purely seeking Allah}.
It is the word of loyalty and sincerity. Sincerity is to believe in the oneness of Allah, and to distinguish Allah alone with being a God and with deity; and denying any association or any equals to Him almighty.
It is the word of doing the best because it is the best thing a man or a woman can do to himself or herself. This is by believing in the oneness of Allah by words and believing in the paradise by deeds. Allah consequently will do for those believers good by rewarding them abundantly and recompensing them greatly. Allah says: {Isn’t perfection rewarded by nothing else but perfection?}
It is the word of justice. Allah says: {Allah commands you to do justice and perfection}. About this Ebn-Abbas said: Justice here is the No God but Allah testimony, and Perfection is being sincere with it such it contains no impurity.
It is the elevated word of Allah; meaning the word with the highest level of truth and greatness to anything else. Allah say: {And He made the word of the disbelievers be the lowest, and the word of Allah be the highest}. Allah also called it the word of the equality, justice and the perfect word. He says: {Say O people of the scriptures: come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah alone, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that non of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims”} 3:64.
About its reward, there was much evidence reported on behalf of the messenger (PPBU) referring to the benefit of this word. Some of it is that whoever says it a hundred times in one day then he/she is like that who sets ten people (from the children of Ishmael) free from slavery. And this who says it ten times in a day then he/she is like that who sets four people (from the children of Ishmael) free from slavery. And remember that setting one person free from slavery is considered to be one of the best acts in Islam.
Ebn_Abbas said if sinners knew what is in actually saying: No God but Allah, then they would say it many times over. The day and night are 24 hours. (No God but Allah, Muhammad is a messenger of Allah) in Arabic “áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå ãÍãÏÇ ÑÓæá Çááå” is actually 24 letters. Each letter is enough to wipe off or cleanses the sins of an hour.
The messenger (PPBU) used to remember Allah after every prayer, and at every morning and evening, and he said: {The best of what I and all the prophets before me have said is: No God but Allah (áÇ Åáå ÅáÇ Çááå)}
Slaves of Allah, fear Allah, and obey the commands of your Lord, and learn the teachings and rulings of your religion, and what may provide you with salvation from Allah’s anger and punishment.
We ask Allah to give us knowledge which will be of benefit, and a good accepted deed. And all thanks be to Allah.
Notes:
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.
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
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.
is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God. Aya (or Ayah):
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. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
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.
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
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
