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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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124 |
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Being Polite with the Messenger
Written by: Sk. Dr. Younis Salih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
19 Safar 1431 h
05 February 2010 ac
All thanks be to Allah. We seek His support and His forgiveness. We fortify our selves with Allah against the bad within our selves, and against our bad deeds. This who is guided by Allah, none shall misguide him, and this who is misguided by Allah will not be guided. I testify that there is no God but Allah who has no partners, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
Allah says: {You who have faith, do fear Allah His deserving fear and do not die except as Muslims} 3:102
Allah also says: {O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single soul, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you} 4:1.
Allah says: {O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say the right thing. That He may fix up your deeds and forgive you your sins: He that obeys Allah and His Messenger, has already attained the highest achievement} 33:70-71
Today’s talk is about being polite with the beloved and the chosen one, the Messenger of Allah (ppbu). But before talking about being polite with and towards him, let me ask first: do you know the messenger of Allah? And my answer to this question comes in two parts:
1st: The glorification by Allah to the status of the prophet ppbu.
2nd: features of being polite with or towards the messenger ppbu.
1st: The glorification by Allah to the status of the prophet ppbu.
The first. The status of the messenger ppbu as far as Allah is concerned is so great. Allah created the entire creation and chosen the prophets from all humans. And from all the prophets He chose five, those with determination and resolute. And from those five He chose the two He loved most, Abraham and Muhammad. Allah chose Muhammad over His entire creation, He gave him an open heart, He elevated reputation, and glorified his status, and eased his burdens and commended him in every manner.
He commended his sound mind, his truthfulness when Allah says: {Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled}; (2) Nor does he talk of (his own) desire. (3) It is no less than an inspiration that is inspired, (4) } 53:2-4.
Allah commended his heart when He says: {and The heart in no way lied not or falsfied (in seeing) that which he saw.} 53:11
Allah commended his eye sight when He says: {his sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong.} 53:17.
Allah commended his open chest when He says: { Have We not broadened thee thy chest?-.} 94:1.
Allah commended his regard when He says: { And have we not raised high the esteem (in which) thou (art held)?-.} 94:4.
Allah commended his pureness of sins when He says: { And have we not removed from thee thy burden?-.} 94:2.
Allah commended his wisdom and insight when He says: { Now has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful.} 9:128.
Allah commended him in complete when He says: {And you (stand) on an exalted standard of character.} 68:4
The high status that the messenger is held at by Allah is clear when Allah makes an oath or a pledge with the life of the Messenger ppbu as He says in the Koran: {Verily, by thy life (O Prophet), in their wild intoxication, they wander in distraction, to and fro} 15:72.
Allah never swore to affirm the prophet hood to any other of His prophets except to prophet Muhammad when He says: {Ya Sin. By the Qur'an, that is full of Wisdom, Thou art indeed one of the apostles, On a Straight path} 36:1-4
Allah says : {By the Glorious Morning Light, And by the Night when it is still, Your Guardian-Lord has not forsaken you, nor is He displeased. And verily the Hereafter will be better for you than the present life. And soon will your Guardian-Lord give thee (that wherewith) thou shall be well-pleased. Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter (and care)? And He found you wandering, and He gave you guidance. And He found you in need, and made you independent. Therefore, treat not the orphan with harshness, Nor repulse the demanding beggar; But the bounty of the Lord - rehearse and proclaim!} 93: full.
In the Quran Allah addressed all prophets their bare names: Adam, Noah, Hud, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, David, Zachariah, Yahia, Lut. While when talking about the messenger Muhammad, Allah addressed him as: Prophet, the preacher, the witness, the one who brings glad tidings, the light glowing lamp, the messenger. The name of the messenger “Muhammed” any time was mentioned it was associated with the messenger hood. Allah says: {Muhammad is no more than a messenger: many Were the apostle that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will ye then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah. but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude } 3:144.
Allah has uniquely given messenger Muhammad ppbu the great gift of intercession or mediation on the Day of Judgment.
Allah also uniquely gave him the Wasilah which is the best and highest place or status in paradise. The messenger ppbu said: {When you hear the caller calling for the prayer, then repeat what he says, then say a prayer upon me. For this who says a prayer upon me once, Allah will say a prayer upon him or her ten times. Then ask that the Wasilah be granted to me. And it is a status in paradise only granted to a slave, and I hope to be that slave. This who asks the wasilah for me will be entitled to my intercession or mediation}
Allah also unique gave the messenger ppbu Al-Kawthar. Al-Kawthar is a basin or a river in paradise, with water which is whiter than ice, and tastier than milk and honey, its clay has the fragrance of Misk, and this who on the day of resurrection is given a drink by the hands of the chosen messenger will never feel thirsty again and that drink will do him or her until they see the face of Allah in paradise. The messenger ppbu said I will be allowing the faithful to drink off the basin. The companions asked him: and would you recognize us from all the people? He said: yes, you will have the marks on your forheads and arms due to all the wotho washing.
The messenger ppbu was shown paradise. Twice he said I saw paradise, once was during a prayer for rain, and the once during his miraculous night journey and ascending to the heavens.
Allah then took covenant on to all prophets and messengers that Allah would send Muhammad, and that they are to believe in him, and support him. Allah says: {Behold! God took the covenant of the prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an apostle, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help." God said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."} 3:81.
This is the status of the honest prophet with the Lord of the worlds. The messenger ppbu shows us in accordance with his God’s command, by telling us about his own status with God. He said: {I am the master of the son of Adam on the day of resurrection. And I am the first to for whom the grave cracks open, and I am the first mediator and to be asked for mediation}
The messenger ppbu said: {I was given six preferences or advantages over other prophets (meaning six characteristics): I was given the totality or essence of all speeches, and I was given victory by putting fear into my enemies for a distance of one month march, and the spoils or winnings of war were made legal to me, and all earth is made pure and place of prayer for me, and I was sent to all creation, and I was made the seal and final of all prophets}.
On the night of miraculous journey into the heavens, the ride (Al-Burak) which the messenger was asked to mount on for the journey, jumped and made it difficult for the messenger to mount. Gabriel said to it: “How could you do this to Muhammad? I swear by Allah, no one had ever ridden you who is more honorable in the sight of Allah than Muhammad is”.
The first of all creations for whom the gates of paradise open is for our prophet. Allah had forbade for anyone else to enter paradise before the messenger ppbu. The messenger ppbu said: {I arrive to the gate of paradise, and I ask for it to be opened, and the care taker asks: who are you? And I say: Muhammad. And he says: I was so commanded to do so for you and for no one else before you}
If we kept on talking about the graces of the messenger ppbu we would need many more talks, the talk had to be summarized in a few words.
2nd: features of being polite with or towards the messenger ppbu.
Accepting his commands and obeying him in what he warns against. And the practical implantation of his teachings and style. Omar’s wife used to attend the Fajr and Ishaa prayers in congregation at the mosque. She was told: How could you come out to the mosque when you know that Omar does hate that and he is a very jalousie man? She said: and what would stop him from preventing me to go? Omar’s son said: what stops him is what the messenger ppbu said: “Do not stop the women slaves of Allah from going to the mosques of Allah”.
Not to speak louder than he does. Allah says: {O ye who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and you perceive not} 49:02
Honoring and glorifying him in person. Examples of that amongst the companions Omr Ebn El-Aas saying: “No one was more loved or more respected to me than the messenger ppbu, yet, I never really had a good look at him out of respect, to the point that if I was asked to describe him I wouldn’t be able to”
Supporting who supports the messenger ppbu and going against who has animosity towards the messenger. The messenger ppbu said: {who ever revile or ridicule any of my companions then they are cursed by Allah, the angels and all the people}. And what is considered a bad manner towards the messenger is to say his name without any of the prophetic befitting titles. Allah says: {And do call the messenger amongst you the same as when you call each other}.
Accepting the companions and the family and house hold of the messenger ppbu, and taking them as examples. Ebn-Al-Qayiem said that loving the companions and respecting them is a follow up to loving Allah and loving the messenger.
Loving what the messenger ppbu used to love. Examples are his loving to his companions. The messenger ppbu once said: {Osama is the most love to me in the people}.
Supporting him and defending him. Allah says: {and wouldn’t you support him, for Allah has supported him}. Supporting him is by defending him and his teachings with money, soul, talk, and writing, and replying or responding the hypocrites.
8) To be guided by his guidance. The best of all routes is the route taken by the messenger ppbu in his behavior and worship. Allah says: {Ye have indeed in the messenger of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of God.} 33:21.
9) One way to show politeness towards the messenger ppbu is to protect the sanctity of his local town “Al-Madinah”. It was the destiny of his immigration, and place of residence, and the town of his supporters, and it contains his mosque, and in it he was buried and his companions. The messenger ppbu said: {Whoever commits wrong agains the people of Al-Madina, or placed fear on to them then dear God put the fear into him, and put the curse of Allah and the angels and all the people on to him, and may Allah never accept a good deed again}. It is being polite when one visits the messenger’s mosque in Al-Madinah is to perform a prayer. and never to change the name of Al-Madinah which was named by the messenger ppbu.
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
