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Friday Talks |
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106 |
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Friday Talks |
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106 |
Perfection and Perfectionists
Written by Sk. Dr. Younis Saleh
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
03 July 2009 ad
11 Rajab 1430 H
People; fear Allah the fear that befits Him. Slaves of Allah, Allah says in His holy book: {Allah commands justice and perfection} [16:90]. Allah is telling us that He is commanding us to perfection. Perfection is a good trait and a fine deed. In fact perfection has one of the highest levels in religion. Islam has three levels: Islam, faith and perfection.
Islam came to put some order to the life of the Muslim such that his life becomes a life of goodness. A life which he/she can enjoy in this life and can enjoy the day he meets his creator. Islam guides the Muslim to be a true Muslim in his faith in words in and in deeds; so he would be a member who would benefit his society, and to be happy within himself, and makes his society happier, and makes the entire creation happier.
So, what is perfection?
1) Perfection is perfecting something such as work to the most satisfying form. Allah says: {and perfect what you do, for Allah loves the perfectionists} 5:3.
2) The Koran describes in details the benefits of the perfectionists. That Allah engulfs them with His care and supports them with His victory and guides them. Koran also tells that perfection is a reason for which Allah saves the slave from destruction. Allah will make an ease and comfort from each gloom and grief. And an escape from every problem and tight hardship; and clear with health every sickness; and Allah will clear perfectionists from the conniving of their enemy. Allah will give help to the perfectionists. Allah gives them the ability to identify and differentiate between good and evil, so they never confuse what is forbidden and what is allowed to them. And they shall not confuse the path of right and the path of guidance.
Perfection is a trait which earns the perfectionist compliment and praise from Allah, followed by praise from the slaves of Allah. Allah says: {Peace upon Noah in the worlds. We do so reward the perfectionists} 37:79-80.
The truth of the complete perfection is what prophet Muhammad (ppbu) explained when angel Gabriel asked: “Muhammad, what is perfection?” the messenger (ppbu) said: {It is to worship Allah as if you see Him. And if you do not see Him, be certain that He can see you.} Worshiping Allah as if you see Him is the way how this who has absolutely certainty would worship Allah as if he can see Him.
Dear Muslim, perfection is of two parts. There is perfection between you and your Lord Allah, and between you and the people. Between you and Allah; perfection is respecting Allah’s commandments by doing what He command you to do, and keeping away from what He prohibited and away from all means which get you nearer to His prohibitions. Perfection to the slaves of Allah is achieved through treating them with good deeds and kindness and favours. Some perfection is compulsory upon the Muslim and some is complimentary and good deed which gets the slave closer to Allah.
Perfection is the opposite of harm and ill or wrong doing and the perfectionists are rewarded great rewards. Allah says: {that He may reward those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward the perfectionists with goodness}53:31. Allah also says: {Is there a reward for perfection except perfection?}55:60. Allah also says: {those who fear Allah will dwell amid gardens and water-springs (15) Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for they were perfectionists}51:15-16. Allah also says: {and we waste not the reward of whosoever perfects deeds}18:30.
Dear Muslim, the greatest of all perfections to you is your own perfection to your deeds between you and Allah. That is to be sincere to Allah in all your deeds, then to do the deed seeking only Allah and the reward in the next life, also to perfect your deed according to the regulations of Allah and His messenger. Allah does not accept any deed unless it was done for His sake alone, and was done according to His rules. Allah says: {whoever is hoping to meet His Lord, then let them do a good deed, and never to include any other partner in worshiping His God}18:30
Your perfection in believing in the oneness of Allah is by worshiping Him alone without any partners. Not having a partner nor an equal or competitor with Him. Also knowing that all types of worship is only right for our God alone. Those monotheists who are sincere to Allah in their belief of His singularity are the true perfectionists. Those who say: “No God but Allah” with their tongs, and live and do deeds with their other senses and powers according to that testimony. And those who have faith in its meaning within their hearts, and then they worship Allah alone with sincerity in the faith to Him.
Your perfection in your prayers is implementing its foundations and its requirements and complementing it with its recommendations. Perfection is also performing it on the time commanded of you to keep, and performing it at a mosque in a congregation. All this is part of perfection of worshiping Allah. Perfection your prayers is performing it in form which will satisfies Allah, then complement that perfection with the complementary prayers (Nafilas).
Perfecting your charity or Zakah is calculating it, taking it out, getting to reach those who deserve it, so you shall be amongst those mention in His book: {And those who in their monies there is a clear and known right, for this who asks and the destitute or who has not}70:24-25.
Your perfection in your fasting and your pilgrimage (or Hajj) is to perform them in full in the satisfying form according to the rules of Allah and His messenger.
Your perfection between you and people the slaves of Allah involves treatment of others. Allah has made it compulsory for you to well treat to perfection you parents. Allah also commanded kindness and well treatment and the keeping of ties and contacts of all blood relatives. Allah commanded you to perfection in treating neighbours and the poor, and the orphans, and the widows. All that is part of the favours which will gain you much reward the day you shall approach Allah. The messenger (ppbu) commanded you to well treat animals as He said: {A woman has gone to hellfire because of a cat. She neither fed the cat not let it go to feed its self off the land}. The messenger (ppbu) that there is reward in the good treatment of all animals regardless. That is feeding it or giving it drink. He told us of the story of the travelling man was very thirsty. Eventually he found a water well for which he had to climb down a good bit to get a drink of water. As he climbed up and out of the well he saw a dog that is so thirsty that it was eating the damp earth. He thought to him self that the dog is as thirsty as the man was earlier. He climbed back down the well, filled his show with water, held it with his mouth in order to climb up, and gave the water to the dog to drink. The messenger (ppbu) said: the man gave thanks to Allah, and Allah gave him paradise. The messenger (ppbu) also told of a prostituting woman from the tribes of Israel who gave water to a dog who thanked Allah for her, and for which Allah forgave her sins.
Even in killing animals the messenger (ppbu) said to do it well without pain, by sharpening the blade. Even in execution of humans care and perfection must be observed.
Dear Muslim, perfect your treatment to you parents. You must serve them, spend onto them, listen to and obey them, and talk to them softly. Do not show dissatisfaction with them and do not give out to them or talk to them in severe or strong tone of voice.
Practice perfection to the neighbour by not harming them, and by doing them favours. Do well to your blood relatives or all relatives through the parents by maintaining contacts with them. Practice perfection to the orphans and the poor and the needy. Have mercy towards their weakness and their inability, and give them their needs.
Practice perfection to your children by brining them up, guiding them and teaching them good. Encourage them to good ethics and deter them from all evil acts. Perfect your treatment to them by properly spending on their needs and by marrying them and giving them the protection they need. Perfect your treatment of your wife, interact well with her. Even if it comes to separation, you are commanded to separate in perfection and in kindness.
Practice perfection in interacting with all people. Be truthful to all people in all your interactions with them. Do no lie to them, do not cheat them, do not be deceitful to them and do not betray them. Practice perfection when talking and addressing people. Give all what is rightfully theirs. And when you employ somebody, pay them their reward. And give the workers their dues. Treat all with perfection, indeed the perfection in dealing with others is the ethic of the faithful.
In order to be among the perfectionists, practice perfection in any work you are entrusted with. Perfect it performance wise, and in time wise, and with whom you will have interaction with. Give everyone what they owe you, and interact with them with justice, kindness and perfection.
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
