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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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81 |
After Ramadan – Factors of faith
Written by: Sk.
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
04th Shawal 1429H
3rd October 2008AD
Dear brothers in faith, only yesterday Ramadan was with us. Today it is just a memory after it had been a reality. This of you, who worships Ramadan, let them know that Ramadan has gone to pass. And this of you who worship Allah, let them know that Allah is alive who never dies. The month of fasting, the month of night praying, the month of goodness, generosity, and kindness has gone. The winners have won, and losers have lost. People come out of Ramadan in either of two groups, either the group of the deprived and denied; and to them our commiserations. And the other group who had hope in Allah, and gave what Allah rightfully demanded of them. They fasted the month in faith, and prayed the nights in expectations. Both groups need to question themselves and bring themselves to an account. The desperate group should be sorry, feel remorse, repent and ask forgiveness and return to Allah. They may live their days in obedience waiting on the new year and the next Ramadan. While the obedient group should pay attention for its deeds to be accepted. Allah in His Koran described them as: {Those who do the good deeds and their hearts is anxious about the acceptance, they are returning to their Lord.} Mouminoon-60.
Ebn Obeid said: “if I knew that Allah has accepted a grain of mustard is better to me than this entire life”. Allah says: {Allah only accepts from the fearing ones} Maeedah-27. Malik ebn Dinar said: “the worry that the deed may not be accepted is tougher than the doing the deed itself. ”
Some of the early Muslims used to show sadness on Eid day worrying whether their work was accepted or not.
What is surprising is that as soon as Ramdan is over we seem to be certain of the acceptance of our deeds. Non of us seems to think of their deed, or have a look at it, or analyse its sincerity. Even that duaa we used to say every night during Ramadan: “God accept our deeds, you hear and you know all. And God, forgive us you are the most forgiving, and the most merciful.”. Our early ancestors used to make duaa for six months after Ramadan so Allah may accept their deeds on Ramadan.
Wohaib ebn El-Ward () saw a crowd on an Eid day laughing their head off possibly in joy. He said: “if their fasting was accepted, then that is no way those who are thankful should show their gratitude. And if their fasting was not accepted, then that is no way those who are in fear show their fear”. This is by no means a call to hopelessness and despair. This is a call to bring your self to an account. Because it is the character of those who fear Allah is to question their deeds, and worry whether it will be accepted.
Even though only Allah knows whether the deeds have been accepted or not.; but there are sings which indicate the acceptance of deeds. One of the sings that deeds have been accepted is the continuation of doing the good deeds. Early Muslims used to say: “the reward of a good deed is another good deed which follows it”. The messenger said: {the most loved of the deeds to Allah is the persistent or continuous deed, even if it was little}. Some asked the wife of the messenger (PPBU): “if he gave more attention to some days over others?” she answered: “No, his deeds were on continuous basis. Who of you people can tolerate what the messenger (PPBU) used to tolerate.”
A-esha used to do the Dhuha prayer of eight rakaas. She used to say: “I would not give it up even if my dead parents came to life”.
Dear Muslims, it is shameful for a Muslim to build a tower of faith and decorate it during the month of Ramadan, and then once Ramadan is over, he goes demolishing what he had built. Allah says: {and do not be like this lady who undoes her knitted yarn, from firmness to looseness}. Unfortunately, that is the state of most of us this year. The Muslim ought to continue the way he used to be during Ramadan. Ought to continue the acts of obedience, and refrain from the sinful acts. What a shame to go back to offences of bad sins after being cleared from it. And how shameful for those who repented to go back to wicked deeds. Faith has a number of permanent factors which a faithful person can not do with out up until the time of death. For example, the five prayers. Is there a true believer who could do without the prayers? Look at the mosques during Ramadan, and look at the same mosques after Ramadan. Prayers are the second pillar of Islam. Do not loose your prayers, for it is your contact with Allah. It helps you be cleansed from sins and bad deeds. The messenger said: {whoever goes to the mosque and returns from it, Allah prepares a guest house for him/her every time he goes or comes}.
The messenger (PPBU) said: {Deeds which Allah uses to wipe off sins and elevate the grades are refreshing the Wado despite difficulties, and large number of steps walking to mosques, and staying after a payer in a waiting state for the next prayer. That’s the bond, that’s the bond that is the bond.}
The messenger (PPBU) said: {the first thing deed the slave is judged for on the day of judgement is his prayers. If it comes out good, then he/she is successful, and if it fails, then he is a looser and a failure.}
Dear Muslims, another factor of faith is the Koran. Koran is the life of hearts and souls. A believer can do with out the Koran. Koran guides to the straight path. One end of the Koran is in the hand of Allah, and the other end is in your hands. If you hold tight to this solid link you shall not go astray. And you shall not be destroyed. This who wants to talk to Allah, start a prayer. And this who wants Allah to talk to him, then let them read the Koran. During Ramadan you recited much of the Koran on daily basis, why have you stopped reading it after Ramadan. Why have you put it back in storage as if you no longer needed up until next Ramadan.
Dear brother and sister; read the Koran and live by it. The Koran shall come on the day of resurrection speaking on your behalf. The messenger (PPBU) said: {No jealousy or envy is permitted except in two situations. One, is to a man Allah bestowed him with the Koran, so he recites it during the night and during the day. And the other is a man Allah gave him much money, he spends it during the night and during the day}.
Another factor of the factors of faith is Remembering Allah the most merciful and uttering his name.
Dear brother and good sisters, if you kept up uttering the name of Allah, glorifying Allah, and praising Allah, and giving thanks to Allah, and asking for Allah’s forgiveness during Ramadan. Could you do without this sustenance for the rest of the year? Keep your tong always freshened and dampened in speaking of the most gracious. Calling of Allah gives you health from many sicknesses, and it brings you the satisfaction of Allah, and it expels and repels Satan.
The messenger (PPBU) said that remembering and praising and glorifying Allah is a the best and purest of deeds which you can do, and has the highest honour, and is better that you donating gold and silver, and better than fighting the enemy and killing them or getting killed.
Another factor of faith is kindness to people. Many people are generous and giving during Ramadan. And as soon as Ramadan is over, all you can see is frowning into the face of the poor and needy. They go stingy and tight. The messenger (PPBU) said: {Allah shall talk to each and every one of you, when no interpreter will be needed. And he shall look to his right and to his left and shall see only the deed he did, and shall look in front of him and see fire opposite his face. Do protect yourselves from the fire, even by a piece of a date}.
More factors of faith are the night prayers.
During Ramadan you did Taraweeh prayers and the Quiam prayers. Why not continue this deed? The messenger (PPBU) said: {keep up the night prayers, it is the practice of the righteous men before you, and it is closeness to Allah, and deterrence from sin and a cleanser of misdeeds.}. Be with those considered to pray at night even with one rak3a.
One other factor of faith is Repentance.
We all did repent to Allah. Does that mean that time of repentance is over? Does it mean we no longer need to repent? Many Muslims go back to doing wrong and go after their evil desires. As if they were released from detention; where they were held from committing wrong during Ramadan. A true believer spends all his life in worship of his Lord; the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Going from one act of worship to another; and from one act of obedience to another. Always be in some act of worship until you meet your creator. The messenger (PPBU) said: {People, repent to Allah, and ask His forgiveness. I do repent to Him and ask His forgiveness a hundred times a day}. If that is the case of the best of all creation, the messenger (PPBU), then what should we need to do? No believer can do without repentance after Ramadan.
These were some of factors of faith which I wished to remind my self and all my brothers and sister. For Ramadan was like a school to us. Ramadan taught us that we can cry in fear of Allah, and taught us that we can do prayers at night, and fast the day, and regularly recite the Koran. Ramadan also taught us that we can spend more time at the Mosque. Ramadan also taught us that we can ignore our desires and lusts.
Dear brothers and sisters, time passes quickly. It feels like only yesterday we were expecting the start of Ramadan, and today we are saying our goodbyes to Ramadan. Between this and that days went by fast. Soon death will approach each of us. And we shall leave this life, carrying with us only the deeds we did. And no clothes to wear except the cloth of God fearing. Which of us has prepared for that day.
Dear Muslims, let me remind you to fast six days of this month of Shawal. The messenger (PPBU) said: {whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six of Shawal, then that is like fasting eternity}.
O Allah, let us witness many more months of Ramadan.
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
