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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Gaza 2 - Return to Allah's Religion

Written by: Sk.

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.

dd mmmm yyyy h

dd mmmm yyyy ac



Brothers in faith,

The messenger (ppbu) said: {Time shall come when the nations come to you just as those who are approaching to dine. They said: and is it because we shall be a few? He said: On the contrary, you will indeed be many, but just like the froth of a flood. Allah will take away from the hearts of your enemies the fear of you. And Allah shall put languish into your hearts. They said: what is languish Messenger of Allah? He said: Love for this life and hate of death}.

If one looks at the state of the nation today will clearly see realization of the prophecy of the messenger (ppbu). Indeed, only a few days ago the nation has been through some desperate and painful days. In Gaza hundreds of innocent children, women and people of old age were slaughtered. The international society is in a deep silent and static sleep. In fact, the Gaza massacre was not the only massacre in the life of the Muslim nation. In fact, almost each and every massacre, every group who were made homeless and became refugees, and every famine and each poverty, Muslims will almost certainly have the bigger share of it.

We have strong faith which indicates that all events occur with Allah’s destiny and under his watchful eye. Allah says: {And any calamity strikes on earth or upon you, is in a book before we clear it}. But we need to ask our selves, and question and bring our selves to an account after every major event. Allah has clearly told us to take the lessons from events that take place.

Dear brothers and sisters, the problem is within us. We are refraining from taking the medicine which changed our ancestors from shepherds to masters who spelled out to humanity the most wonderful lessons in justice. We turn away from the medicine that our nation has tried in the past, the medicine that turned our nation from a nation that is constantly targeted by others to a nation who has become a guide and a witness to others. We are keeping away from Allah’s book and keeping away from the religion of Allah which did change this nation from weakness and poverty to a strong nation to be reckoned with. When I say the religion of Allah I do not mean just faith in words uttered. And when I say Allah’s book I do not mean just reciting and learning it by heart but understanding it and making it our way of life.

This book changed Abdullah Ebn-Rawaha from a poet living off his poetry into a human being who taught humanity true justice. The messenger (ppbu) sent him to the Jews to collect the tax from them. They tried to bribe him. He said to them: “You people of Judaism, I swear to God that you to me are the most hated of Allah’s creations. But this would not be a reason for me to transgress against you, or to take away what is rightfully yours. But, that bribe which you offered me, it is forbidden and we do not eat it. The Jews said: It is with likes of that, that the heavens and earth were created”.

This religion changed Omar Ebn-Al-Khattab from a man who built statues from dates to worship then when got hungry he ate them. The religion changed him into a man who gave the highest value in the freedom of man kind when he said: “How do you enslave people when they are born free”.

The difference between us and our ancestors is that they understood this religion perfectly. And they applied it within them selves, and hence they became strong and consolidated. When Allah says in His book: {Not through your wishes, nor through the wishes of the people of the book. It is whoever does anything shall be equally rewarded}. They knew that Allah has rules and laws in this universe which will not favour anyone, and will not give preference to one over another. They obeyed those laws and built their nation based on them. And when Allah says: {For Allah commands justice, kindness, donating to the next of kin, and commands against crimes and the wrong, and injustice and tyranny} they knew they had to enforce justice amongst them. They enforced retribution for the weak from the powerful and for the poor from the rich.

And when Allah says: {The most honored of you is the one who fears Allah most}, they knew that people are equally the same. There is no difference between an Arab and a Persian, or non-Arab, and no difference between a white and a black. They are all slaves of Allah equal in this life.

By simply examining those principles in our affairs, and in our countries we shall find that we have strayed away from them, and that our countries are not established based on those principles. Consequently, oppression and corruption became common. And we have become a burden upon other nations, and we have become froth like the froth of a flood, and Allah removed from the hearts of our enemies the fearing of us. And the day we return to those principles, and establish our countries upon them, is the day that we shall with the help of Allah, be a strong nation once again.

We must understand this faith the true understanding, and we must implement it’s commandments and seek out its goals. We must not limit or confine the religion into a few rituals, or some prohibitions. Our religion is much bigger than that, it is a complete way of life. It establishes justice and equality. It respects human freedom and turns man into a perfect human. It turns a human being into a slave to Allah rather than a slave to desires. This is the key to change in our countries, and the tried medicine which was tried by our ancestors. That is how they became the best nation brought to man kind. The king of China was describing our ancestors to the Roman king by saying: “if they wanted to remove mountains they could”.

We ask Allah to give us knowledge which will be of benefit, and a good accepted deed. And all 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