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Friday Talks |
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114 |
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Friday Talks |
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114 |
God Fearing
Written by: Sk. Omar Khadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
06 Shawal 1430 h
25 September 2009 ad
Only yesterday we said good bye to a season of obedience, and a business season dealing with the next life, that was the month of Ramadan. It had transactions which can rescue us from the very painful punishment. The month of Ramadan where an extra donated good deed can earn the reward of an obligatory deed. And an obligatory deed earns the reward of seventy times its worth. And the deeds done in one night can earn the reward of deeds of one thousand months. A month when the good doers win mercy of Allah. And the sinners receive Allah's forgiveness and those who repent from major sins can be pardoned from hell fire. A month during which this who fasted its days, and prayed during its nights in faith and expectation will have all their past sins forgiven.
We lived through this month of Ramadan, through its days and its nights. Let us question our selves, what did we win during that month? And how much has it affected our behavior? And did we win or loose during Ramadan?
Our predecessors may God bless them, used to get really worried once Ramadan ends on whether their deeds were accepted or not? They used to spend six months asking Allah to accept their work during Ramadan. They are more worried that their good deeds may be refused than sinners are worried that they will be punished due to their sins. Because Allah says: {Allah only accepts from those who are God fearing}
Slaves of Allah, there are clear sings which indicate acceptance and winning and there are signs which indicates refusal of deeds and loosing. Every one can understand such signs for him or her self. The signs of acceptance are the continuity of being on the straight path, and continuity of doing good deeds, and continuity of God fearing. So, slaves of Allah be God fearing in public and in private. Allah says: {You who have faith, fear Allah His deserved fear, and only die as Muslims}. And Allah also says: {you who have faith, fear Allah and let each individual looks at what they have done for tomorrow, and fear Allah, for Allah is the most expert with what you do}59:19.
Talq ben Habeeb (طلق بن حبيب) said: "God fearing is to do deeds of obedience to Allah, in the light of Allah, expecting the reward from Allah. And to leave all deeds of disobedience of Allah, in the light of Allah, in fear of Allah's punishment" In deed, God fearing is the base for all deeds and donations. Scholars have defined God fearing as: "that Allah does not find you at what He commanded you against, and that He does not miss your presence where He commanded you".
Attention given by the companions to God fearing
The companions used to ask about God fearing, investigate, learn and pay a lot of attention towards it. Omar ben Al-Khattab asked Aby-ben-kaab (أبي بن كعب) about his definition of God fearing. He said to him: "did you ever walk through a path which is full of spikes and thorns?" He said: "yes". He said: "then what do you do walking through it?" He said: "I get ready, I take precautions and I pay attention picking my steps". He said: "That is God fearing".
Those who fear Allah take God fearing a little further. They take it up to the point where they give up a lot of what is allowable (halal) in fear that it might just bring them into the forbidden (haram). The "God fearing" term was mentioned in the Koran more than 250 times. One example is when Allah says: {The most generous or the highest status of you is the who fear God most} 49:13.
Once a rich man was passing by in a great show of status, in impressive out fit in view of the messenger (ppbu). The messenger (ppbu) said to his companions: {What do you think of this man?}. They said: "He seems like if he speaks he would be listened to, and if wanted to marry he would not be refused, and if he intermediates or puts in a good word for somebody, then it would be accepted". Then a poor man passed by, and the messenger (ppbu) said: {and what do you say about this guy?}. They said: "if he speaks he is most likely not listened to, and if he wanted to marry, no one would marry him, and if he intermediates form anyone it would not be accepted". The messenger (ppbu) said: {this (meaning the poor man) is better thanthe number of menn it would take to fill this earth of that rich man}. The human criteria to judge are different to the criteria used by the Lord of all humans. Allah's criteria are those which really matter.
Abdullah ben Massoud climbed a tree once to get a branch of Swak (teeth brushing branch) for the messenger of Allah (ppbu). Abdullah has very thin and delicate legs and thighs. The branches moved and Abdullah thighs showed or were revealed. The companions laughed in redicule and disrespect. The messenger (ppbu) asked them what they were laughing about? They said: "it is how thin and feeble his thighs are". The messenger (ppbu) said: {they on the day of resurrection are heavier than mount Ohod}.
On the day the messenger (ppbu) entered Mekka when it was taken over, he ordered Belal to climb over the Kabba and call for prayer (or make Azan). One of the non-Muslims said: could he not find someone else other than this black crow to make the call on top of Kabba? That's when Allah's verse: {the greater status of you is most God fearing}.
The messenger (ppbu) said: {a many a fat man will be brought on the day of resurrection and will be placed on the scale, and he would not weigh with Allah as much as a wing of a mosquito}. Dear Muslims, the greatest advice I give you and give my self is to be God fearing.
The messenger (ppbu) said: {People know that you have one God. And know that you have one father. And no Arab is better than a non-Arab. And no one is better than an Arab. And no red (or fair skinned) is better than a black, and no black is better than a fair skinned except by God fearing. Have I delivered the message?} They said: the messenger has delivered the message.
When ever the messenger (ppbu) put someone in charge of an army he used to advice them in particular to be God fearing, and advised those with them with goodness. The messenger (ppbu) said to Aby-Thur (أبي ذر): {fear Allah where ever you happen to be}.
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
