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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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Laziness and inactiveness towards worship
Written by: Sk Omar Ali
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
09 Safar 1432 h.
14 January 2011.
Today's talk is about a dangerous sickness. That is laziness and apathy towards worship or is about the cooling off and inactiveness after being energetic and active. This develops into lack of concern and a complete break away from doing the worship acts. Allah praises His angels when He says: {
Unto Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary; (19) They praise (Him) night and day; they do not laze off. (20)} 21:19-20. Today's talk is a warning call and a reminder. Allah says: {And give reminders, for reminding benefits the believers. (55)} 51:55.
Dear brothers and sisters, when I talk about such topics I do not mean or expect a Muslim to be an angel who does not make mistakes, and do not forget. I merely want the Muslim to take middle grounds and take a balance in worship. The Islamic faith is unique in that it is a practical religion which does not ignore or forgets about the human nature and it does not deny its short comings and inabilities. But it shows us rules and limits about guidance and about being on the straight path. The messenger ppbu said: {Each deed has a period of enthusiasm and eagerness, and then a period of cooling off or apathy or easy going. Whoever follows my style when they are in the relaxed state then they are guided}. AbuBakr Saddeque passed by a man who was crying and asked him why. The man said that he did an act of hypocrisy. He went on to explain: “Whenever we are with the messenger of Allah ppbu, we would be as close to paradise as those two, and then we go home and interact with our families and kids and we forget a lot”. Out of his extreme empathy or sympathy AbuBakr said to him: “I too feel the same, let us go to the messenger ppbu”. And they did and told the messenger ppbu about the situation and he said: {We the prophets, our eyes sleep but our hearts do not. But you, my brother, you get an hour of this and an hour of that. For if you stay on the state you are on when you are with me, then the angels would come down and shake your hands, and would visit you in your homes}. This shows that prophets were in continuous states of activeness and vitality and vigor. While for the rest of mankind the level of faith fluctuates or increases and decreases. It increases with deeds of obedience and decreases with deeds of disobedience. In other words mankind experiences an hour of high level and another hour of low level of faith. But be careful and be warned from the wrong interpretation and thinking that the hour of low level of faith is an open hour for doing acts of disobedience. That is unimaginable. There is an hour of strong enthusiasm and an hour of less enthusiasm. The soul comes and retreats. When it comes towards worship with enthusiasm then help yourself to reach levels of piety and encourage it to withstand that status. And if it retreats and cools off and its enthusiasm drops then force it to maintain the minimum level and that is performing the obligatory worships required from every believer. On the other hand, being on the straight path is required at all times. But the mistake in understanding that the messenger ppbu meant one to do obedience deeds for an hour and then do deeds of disobedience for another hour is the interpretation of those who are hypocrites and those with weak faith.
The messenger ppbu and companions on the continuity of deeds:
The messenger ppbu was of the type who continually did obedient deeds. A’esha said: {the most loved deed to the messenger was that which was kept done continually. And if he missed a night prayer due to pain or otherwise then he would pray 12 rakas (bowings and kneeling) during the day}. The messenger ppbu used to say to Abdullah ben Amro ben Al-a’ss (ÚÈÏÇááå Èä ÇáÚÇÕ): {Abdulla, don’t be like such and such that used to do prayers at night and he gave up doing it}.
Early Muslims of this nation kept up the faith and because of that they were the masters of this world for centuries. They only got to that level because of patience, hard work, enthusiasm and carriage. Allah says: {you who have faith endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that you may succeed} 3:200. Their conquests opened the hearts before it opened the lands. They reached high levels of cultural achievements and scientific research. The Muslim society was better and purer than other societies because of the Islamic morals and teachings and manners. They used to do the deeds with all their hearts both in deeds and in words on continuous bases. Amro ben Al-A’ss was riding a mule that didn’t seem to be too good, and he was told why you still ride this mule when you can afford to ride the best horse. He said: “I do not give up with my ride as long as it carries my belongings, and I don’t give up my wife as long as she cohabits well with me, and I don’t give up my friend as long as he keeps (or protects) my secrets”. Getting bored easily or giving up easily on things is not a good moral. A Muslim does not easily get board or give up obedient deeds under any circumstances.
Reasons for loosing interest and giving up
1) Weakening of faith
That is the reason why we need to renew our faith. In order for faith to weaken it requires reduction of good deeds. On the other hand it is impossible to give up obedient deed which is required for faith once you have tasted the sweetness of faith and once Koran has lit your heart. Allah says: {and whoever has faith in Allah then Allah will guide his heart} 64:11. And if the heart is guided all other senses straighten up or follow suit. The messenger ppbu said: {There is a small part of the body if it is good then the whole body becomes good, and if it goes bad then the whole body goes bad. And that is the heart}. You who have been inflected with the problem of giving up and cooling off, save yourself before it is too late. Watch your heart and treat your self. Your faith may need renewal and strengthening. Abdullal ben Masood said: {seek out your heart in three situations, when you hear the Quran, and at circles of remembrance (meaning learning), and at times of solitude. If you do not find your heart at those then ask Allah to give you the grace of a heart for it means you do not have a heart}.
2) Over doing religion or extremism in religion
That is by getting indulged into doing deeds of obedience without a balance or middle points. That is also preventing the body of its right of rest and the good things in life. This will lead to weakness and boredom and consequently to seizing to do deeds of obedient. This takes an individual from being extremely active to extremely inactive. Humans have a limited amount of energy which when exceeded it break up and laziness steps in. The messenger ppbu warned against doing too much or going too far. The messenger ppbu said: {do not over do things in religion. Those before you were demised because they exaggerated in their religion. Those who exaggerate in their words and their deeds will demise, will demise, will demise. Do not be strict onto yourselves, for strict requirements will be put on to you. There were those who went strict on to them selves and Allah went strict on to them}. The messenger ppbu also said: {Religion is easiness and simplicity. And if anyone tries to be strict with religion then he/she will loose to it}. One Muslim once said: I will pray all night every night. Another said: I will fast for ever. And another said: I will never get married. The messenger ppbu heard that and said: {I am more God fearing than you are, and yet I fast and I break fasting, (meaning not fast for ever), and I pray at night and sleep, and I marry women. This who does not go by my style (Sunnah) is not part of me}
3) Trivialising the little sins
Allah says: {whatever of misfortune strikes you; it is what your hands have earned. And He forgives much} 42:30. A Muslim should not trivialise or look down upon or pay no attention to small sins. Remember there is no sin too little with insistence or with resolve, and no sin is too big with asking Allah for forgiveness. Allah says: {and whoso does good an atom's weight will see it then, (7) and whoso does evil an atom's weight will see it then. (8)} 99:7-8.
Small sins are only called small because of the ease with which they can be avoided, which is through asking for forgiveness. Allah says: {those who believe and do good deeds, the Beneficent will appoint for them affection} 19:96. Meaning Allah will put love and affection for them in the hearts of His other creatures. This is an indication of the love of Allah for those who are obedient to Him placed in the hearts of His creatures.
4) Stopping to do work for the sake of Allah
That’s when you would find the individual giving a lot of time and attention to his/her personal matters and issues and to money making means and enjoying oneself, while on the other hand one does not do much for Allah. Doing work for Allah and for the religion of Allah encourages the individual towards obedience. Allah holds firm in obedience those who continually care about matters of faith. A true Muslim thinks of his religion at all times, sometimes gets frustrated at the state of Muslims, sometime he/she reminds friends or neighbours or relatives about Allah. Sometimes attends religious classes and sometimes brings happiness to the poor and impoverished. The case of religion is always on his mind and occupies his thinking and fills his/her heart. The messenger ppbu said: {Whoever wakes up in the morning and his biggest concern is the next life then Allah will make his riches within his heart, and will keep all his matters within reach of him, and this life is forced to come to him/her}.
5) Isolation from the Muslim community and opting for solitude
Indeed, the road is long and one will need nourishment and sustenance. Travel mates are needed along the way to help overcoming life’s obstacles, hurdles and difficulties. That helps the Muslim to renew his/her energy and recharge the willpower, and puts truth in his/her resolve. Staying away from mosques and not attending lectures and circles of learning and staying away from Muslim groups then all that causes one to loose that which refreshes his/her energy, and that which strengthens his/her willpower, and that which reminds him/her of Allah. The individual then would get bored and fed up, then relaxes and cools off, and discontinues the good work. Allah says: {Hold on to the robe of Allah all of you and do not scatter} 3:103. And Allah also says: {help one another unto righteousness and pious duty. And help not one another unto sin and transgression,} 5:2. The messenger ppbu said: {Stay in a group and do not split. For Satan sticks to the individual person; and he is further away with the two. This who seeks the pleasures of Paradise then let them seek out the group}. The messenger ppbu also said: {This who interacts with people and exercises patience towards the harm they cause him/her is better than this who does not mix with people and is not patient towards their harm}. Ali ben Talib said: {distress which is gained due to interacting with the group is better than tranquillity of solitude}.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
- 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.
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.
