Faith
Renewal
Written by: Sk. Omar Khadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
(Delivered in English by
: Omar Kirkwood)
16th
Jumada Althani 1429H
20th
June
2008AC
All thanks be to Allah. We give
gratitude to Him, we seek His help and guidance, and we ask for His
forgiveness.
Dear brothers and sisters, the real title of this talk is: "Let's have faith
for an hour". The Imam concentrated the talk on the following elements:
First: define your belief or faith.
Second: hardness or toughness of the hearts and the lack of fear from Allah.
Third: Where is it heading to?
Fourth: when shall you repent?
The first point: defining your faith:
Dear brother and sister, faith is words and deeds. Faith is the spoken words
by the tongue, and truthfully believed by the heart and acted upon by limbs
and organs.
The level of faith sometimes increases and sometimes decreases. It increases
with the deeds of obedience and it decreases with the acts of disobedience
and the slip ups.
Dear Muslims it is important to take care of the heart, and doing a faith
renewal for it and increasing its level from time to time. The companions
they used to do that. Ebn Rawaha (إبن
رواحة)
used to take Abi Dardaa's hand (أبي
الدرداء)
and says to him: Let us get faith for an hour. Hearts change and turn faster
than boiling water in a saucepan".
Renewal of faith is done by compensating the heart with the material needed
for strengthening belief in Allah. Some of the materials which does that is:
reciting of Koran, remembering Allah, the assembly or circles of learning
and remembrance, praying upon the messenger (PPBU), asking for forgiveness,
visiting graveyards, visiting the sick, the up keeping of prayers in
congregation, donating to the poor, needy and destitute, and donating in the
different paths of faith, building and maintaining of mosques, and the well
treatment of widowers, orphans and those who have not. For indeed, the heart
is the king of all organs in the body and the rest of organs are his
soldiers and subjects. The messenger (PPBU) said: {.. isn't there a small
part of the body if it becomes good the entire body becomes good, and if it
becomes corrupt the entire body goes bad. It is the heart.}
The second element is: Hardness or toughness of the hearts and the lack of
fear from Allah
Allah says:
{is
it not about time for those who have faith that their hearts to revere and
devout to remembrance of Allah and the truth brought down, and not to be
like those who were brought the book in the past, and the time lengthened on
till their heart became hard and cruel. And many of them are dissolute}
Al-Hadeed 57:16.
Dear brothers, lack of fear of Allah is a consequence of the hardening,
darkness of the heart. We amongst us are those who hear to words of Allah
and their eyes never become wet with tears, and their hearts are never
moved, and their senses never soften, and their skin never tremble or
quiver. Allah says:
{if
we bring down this Koran upon a mountain you would see it humbling and
cracking from fear of Allah. And those examples we give to people so they
may think and speculate}.
Yes, mountains and rocks crack on hearing the words of Allah. If Koran has
no affects on the hearts them that is a sign that such hearts are locked by
locks whose keys are lost, and has become hardened. The level of your
respect to Allah and your fear of Allah depend upon your love to Allah and
your knowledge of Allah, and the level of your faith in Allah, and your love
to Him. There is a simple rule which help us define the type of heart each
of us unknowingly have, a sensitive heart or a hardened heart. Allah says:
{Of
His slaves, those who fear Him are the ones with knowledge (or the
scholars.) Allah is the Almighty and all forgiving}
Fa-tir 35:28. your fear of Allah and respect to Him depends on the level of
your knowledge of Him. This who knows Allah even if he commits a major sin
in a moment of human weakness will soon repent to Allah, and breaks in shame
and regret in front of Allah; and admitting his weakness, in ability and the
need for Allah.
Third: Where is it heading to?
Where is it ending to? The question each of us needs to ask him or her self
day and night.
You who disobeyed Allah with adultery, ask yourself: where is it going to?
You who disobeyed Allah with eating usury (or interest), ask yourself: where
is it going to?
You who disobeyed Allah with eating Haram, ask yourself: where is it going
to?
You who disobeyed Allah by transgressing against people, ask yourself: where
is it going to?
What will you answer your Lord when you shall stand in front of Him. Where
is great job you had, where is the honor you had, and the authority, where
is all your money and your power? Allah says:
{This
who does a tiny small bit of good deed will see it, and who does a tiny
small bit of bad deed will see it}.
Ask your self today: are you of those who did the obedience and are awaiting
paradise? Or are you with those who wronged themselves with disobediences,
and still wish and hope for paradise. How disrespectful for those greedy
people who wish for paradise despite not doing the work needed or abiding by
Allah's rules. Dear Muslims, avoid and fear that fire, for it is mighty hot,
and it is a bottomless pit. In it food is fire, and the drink is fire, its
clothes are made of fire. Its food comes from a tree that grows at the root
of hell called Zaquoom (زقوم).
When the people of hellfire scream for help, they are helped with boiling
water that destroys their intestines. When they shout; they ask to be
destroyed to rid of the continuous torment.
Allah says: {The
people of the fire call upon the people of paradise to give them some water
or what Allah have bestowed upon them. They answer them: Allah has
prohibited that to the disbelievers who took religion fun, and play, and
that the worldly life deceived them. Today we forget them just as they
forgot today's meeting, and because of their denial to our signs}
Al-A3raf 7:55-51.
When they give up from calling everyone, they call upon Allah:
{They
say: our Lord, we were overwhelmed with our badness and misery, we took the
wrong path, Our Lord get us out of this Hellfire, and if we return then we
would be transgressors. He says: Be shamed in it, and do not call upon me.}
Al-Mo-Minoon 23:106-108.
Prophet Musa Asked God: what is the lowest status in Heaven? Allah answered
him: A man comes in after all the people of paradise have entered into
paradise. He is told to go in. He says to God: where to, when all people are
gone in and took all there is in paradise? Then he is asked would you be
satisfied to have as much as the richest king in the worldly life had? The
man says: I would be satisfied. God says: then that is yours, and as much as
that more, and as much as that more, .. and on and on. After saying five
times as much, the man says: "God I am satisfied". Allah says: then ten
times as much as all that. Plus all your soul would like, and what would
satisfy your eyes. Musa says: Lord, if this is what the lowest level person
in paradise would get, how about the highest level person in paradise? They
would get what no eye has seen, and no ear has heard of, and never occurred
to the heart of a human being.
Dear Muslims, the greatest blessing and prize in paradise is actually seeing
the face of Allah. The messenger (PPBU) said {When the all the people of
paradise are settled, Allah says: you, people of paradise, They answer: We
answer your call, provider of all happiness and goodness. He asks: Are you
satisfied? They say: you gave us what you did not give any of your
creations. Why wouldn't we be happy? He says: Shall I give you better than
that? They say: what could ever be better than all this? He says: I give you
my satisfaction, so I never will be angry or annoyed with you (and in
another narration) then the barrier or cover is removed. And they are never
given anything more loved to them than seeing and looking at Allah}. Allah
says in the Koran:
{and
for those who did perfectly; we shall give them the perfection, and more}
and more here refers to seeing the face of Allah.
The last question is: when shall you repent?
When shall we return to Allah? Is it not time for our hearts to to fear
Allah, and submit to Him. For death comes so sudden. Do not keep saying "I
will, I will repent in the future". Let us promise Allah right now to stop
at His limits, and watch Him and keep Him in mind in what we announce and we
keep to ourselves. In our public and our private maters. Let us attend
courses and circles of knowledge. And the learning and studying of the
Koran. Let us make and assign time and money for that. Knowledge renews
faith (Iman) in the hearts. It helps you from disobeying Allah. Circles of
knowledge and learning is your path to paradise, and the path that leads you
away from Hell fire.
Let us return to Allah and repent to Him now; a true and sincere repentance.
Let us promise Allah from now on to return to Him, renew our repentance, and
let us be certain that He will be happy with our repentance, yet He does not
benefit from someone who repent to Him, nor is harmed by someone who disobey
Him. But it is Him who says in His book:
{Say,
my slaves who have overwhelmed themselves with disobedience, do not give up
on the mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins. He is the most forgiving
and most merciful}.
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.
