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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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94 |
Benefits of faith (part 2)
Written by: Sk. Dr. Younis Salih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
27 February 2009
30 Safar1430 H
All thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the most honourable of all messengers, Muhammad (ppbu).
The effects and benefits of faith are great and many. Last Friday we talked about four of those effects and benefits, and they were:
1) Total confidence into Allah.
2) The individual changes to the better
3) Avoiding sins
4) Trusting into Allah’s promises.
Today the Imam talks about the following benefits of faith:
1) Never take one’s self for granted or one’s status with Allah for granted.
2) Humbleness, transparency and sensitivity
3) Remaining firm in good and in bad
4) The good living in this worldly life
5) Not facing loss
6) Remaining firm on faith at time of death
7) Entry into Paradise on Day of Judgment.
1) Never take one’s self for granted
A Sign of having faith is that the faithful can not feel relaxed in this life despite how much good living he or she lives. The faithful always worries about himself from slipping into hypocrisy or if his word contradict his deeds. Many of the messenger’s companions were never certain that they had the same level of faith as Gabrieel and Michaeel.
2) Humbled hearts, transparency and sensitivity
It is a sign of faith to have a transparent soul and a sensitive and humbled heart which will get emotional when remembering Allah. Allah says: {those who have faith are those who when Allah is mentioned their hearts humble, and when His verses are recited on to them they become more faithful, and upon their Lord they depend and trust} 8:2. Someone with faith will share with his brothers in faith their problems and sorrows, and will give them the support generously. The messenger (ppbu) said: {He is not faithful this who shall have full stomach and his neighbour next door to him is hungry}.
3) Remaining firm in good and in bad
It is a sign of faith that the faithful shall remain firmly faithful in good times and in bad and firmly faithful in the face of all temptations. When stricken the faithful should be patient and tolerant. And when exposed to something good the faithful should give thanks to Allah. This, who worships Allah on an edge, will quickly be taken away with temptations. Allah says: {Some people worship Allah on an edge. When exposed to something good he becomes relaxed and when exposed to a temptation they turn back, and lose this worldly life and the next life. And that is the ultimate loss} 22:11. The messenger (ppbu) said: {The state of the faithful is a wonder, for there is good in every thing that happens to him/her. And that case is only for the faithful. If stricken with a good, he gave thanks and that is good for him. And when stricken with calamity he remained patient and that is good for him}.
4) The good living in this worldly life
Allah says: {Each and every male or female, whoever does a good deed while being on faith then We shall give them a good life, and We shall reward them based on the best deed they ever did} 16:97.
Allah also says: {Allah promised those of you who become faithful and do good deeds that He will make them successors on earth as He made those who are before them. And strengthen their religion which He chose for them, and will replace their fear with peace and security, as long as they worship Me and never to associate any thing with Me. And those who disbelieve afterwards; are the wrong doers} 24:55.
5) Not being amongst the losers
Allah has made an oath that this who has faith will never be a loser. Allah says: {This is an oath with Asr (æÇáÚÕÑ) is that all mankind is at loss, except those who have faith and those who do good deeds, and who preach justice and truth and who preach patience}103: 1-3.
The messenger (ppbu) said: {for every bad thing that a faithful is struck with, for every tough matter and for every difficulty, for every worry and sadness, and for every hurt and every depression, even for each prickle of a thorn that hits a faithful, Allah shall wipe off some of his or her sins}. The messenger (ppbu) also said: {Calamity still befalls a man or a woman of faith within them selves, or in their child or their money until he or she meet their Allah with all their sins gone}.
6) Remaining firm on faith at time of death
Another benefit of faith is that at the time of death angels help the faithful remain firm on their faith. Angels will give them the good news of what Allah has awaiting for them as reward. Allah says: {Those who say Allah is our Lord and then live a straight life, our angels descend upon them and say: have no fear and have no worries, and have the good tidings about Paradise which you were promised. We are your supporters in this worldly life and in the life next. And there will be in it everything your souls shall crave for, and you shall have any thing you could think of. A place of accommodation prepared for you by one who is forgiving and merciful} 41:30-32
7) Entry into Paradise on Day of Judgment.
Any faithful man or woman whose faith is pure from all associations, Allah shall give them peace and security on the day of resurrection and shall admit them into Paradise. Allah says: {those who are faithful and did not mix their faith with wrong, they shall have security and they are the guided ones} 6:82. Allah says: {Those males or females who do good deeds while on faith, shall be entered into Paradise, and they shall not be short done not by the tiniest bit} 4:124
Dear God, The most Merciful and the Lord of the worlds, please keep our faith and make us remain firm upon it. Give us strength to do good deeds, and to refrain from bad. Allah, we have no power and no strength except with you. Do not leave us to ourselves and to our weaknesses.
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
