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156

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Staying away from suspect deeds

Written by: Sk Omar Ali

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

09 Safar 1432.

14 January 2011.

Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, the messenger of Allah ppbu said: {the Halal or what is allowed in Islam is clear, and the Haram or what’s forbidden in Islam is clear. This who avoids and protects himself from suspect deeds then he has cleared him/her self and his faith, and his/her honor; and he/she that falls into the suspicious areas then he/she has fallen into the forbidden. That is just like a shepherd who brings his heard round a protected area who is about to fall into it. And remember there is a small part of the body which if it goes good then the whole body becomes good and if it goes bad then the whole body goes bad. That is the heart}.

This one of the hadeeths or messages by the messenger ppbu round which Islam orbits. It contains within it some great prophetical guidance for the faithful to stop at and reflect upon. Allah and His messenger have clearly defined every single allowable deed (halal) and every forbidden deed (haram). The messenger ppbu said: {I left you on to the clear white road; its night is just as clear as its day. Only those who are demised will go astray from it}. This is kindness and gentleness from Allah to us Muslims that He made quite clear for us what is allowed and what is forbidden. And from this there is awkwardness with doing the clear allowable acts, and there is license to do the clearly forbidden acts. But there is a area of deeds between the allowable and the forbidden areas known as the area of suspect acts. It is the area in which things become unclear for many people of whither the deeds are allowable or forbidden. Islam made it better out of piety for a Muslim to avoid those suspicious deeds so one would not be drawn into falling in the forbidden. This who stays away from this area has kept his faith and his honor in the safe and clear zone. Or has called or claimed innocence for his faith and his honor. This is evidence that one who commits acts in the suspicious zone then he has made himself exposed to challenges and slanders. The ancestors say: this that exposes himself to accusations has only himself to blame for the bad suspicions into him.

The messenger ppbu was an example in piety and righteousness and staying away from areas of suspicion. The messenger ppbu said: {I would go home and find a date fruit had fallen. I would pick it up to eat it and then I would fear that it may belonged to the donations fund (sadaqa) then I would drop it}. The messenger ppbu one night couldn’t go to sleep. And his wife noticed and asked him why was he not able to sleep at night. He said: {I found a date fruit and I ate it, and we had dates given to us for donation. I was worried the date I ate was from the donated dates}. O’ Allah, look at this type of humans. It must be the true prophet hood. Allah says about him: {indeed, you are on a great morals standard} 68:4. A date fruit falls upon the bed of the messenger ppbu and cannot eat it, a date fruit would keep him awake, a sleepless night in fear that it might belong to a donated bunch of dates. Compare that with those who eat away the riches of entire countries, and make allowable everything with the people while they care less about morals or fear. The messenger ppbu goes out of his way to warn his nation from coming close to the forbidden or falling into the suspicious zone. The messenger ppbu said: {a salve would not reach piety until he leave off what is harmless in order to be cautious of what is harmful}.

Abo Ad-Dardaa (أبو الدرداء) says : “the ultimate God fearing is that the slave would fear Allah for a grain. To the point that he would leave something that he sees to be allowed (halal) in fear of thinking that it may be forbidden. And that becomes a barrier between him and the forbidden”. Alhasan Al-Basri said: “God fearing is still at those who fear God to the point that they gave up what is allowed in fear of what is forbidden”. Ebn Omar said: “I love leaving between me and the forbidden a cover of (permissible) halal which I would never penetrate”.

Ibrahim Ebn Al-Adham one of the early Muslims was told: Would you not drink out of Zumzam water? He said: if I had a pail or a bucket then I would drink. This shows the piety in its greatest level. Because there was a bucket which belonged to the Sultan, but using the Sultan’s bucket was a suspicious act to him. Abu Bakr Siddique after eating food and finding out that the source of the food was suspicious; he put his finger in his throat to bring out the food out of his stomach. A worker working for AbuBakr gave him some food to eat. He told him that a man gave it to me for a prediction I made for him during the pre Islam time. AbuBaker thought that was suspicious enough to take out of his stomach. This was due to his fear of the day of resurrection.

Slaves of Allah, this talk by the messenger ppbu in which he stated that the allowable and the forbidden are clear.. to the end of the talk; is used to block and argue against excuses and means leading the forbidden. When Islam prohibits something it also prohibits everything which will lead to it and blocks connections which may lead to it. When Allah prohibits adultery for example, He does not say do not commit adultery, instead He says: {and do not come near unto adultery. It is an abomination and an evil way} 17:32. Do not come near meaning to forbid all that lead to it such as exaggerated beautification, and unacceptable mixing, and touching and offensive and unrated pictures and the forbidden looks. Allah says: {tell the faithful men to curtail and curb their looks or gaze and to protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Allah is so expert with what they do. And tell the faithful women to curtail their looks or gaze and to protect their private parts …} 24:30. The messenger ppbu said: {the two eyes commit adultery. And their adultery is gazing}.

In the case usury (dealing in interest) too all what leads to it is prohibited. The writer of the usury contract is cursed, and so is the witness to it and the one who represent someone dealing in usury. And as Islam forbade what leads to a forbidden act, it similarly forbids playing satanic tricks to get round the forbidden rule. The messenger ppbu said: {do not commit what the Jews committed and make legal for you what Allah made forbidden using tricks..}. If people come up with other forms in different names called bank interests and bank services and other similar names. And with the flesh showing outfits, and dancing and suggestive singing they call art. And they drink alcohol and call it spiritual drink. The sin remains in all of them. The messenger ppbu said: {a group of my nation will make permissible drinking alcohol and call it with a different name}. As if he paints an image of our present time. Some in this time of ours make usury permissible and call it buying and selling. Allah says: {that is because they say: Trade is just like usury; whereas Allah permitted trading and forbade usury…} 2:275.

Slaves of Allah, a true faithful is that who watches Allah in all his deeds and his words. Let us fear Allah in all we do. Let piety be or fence. That is not so difficult for us or far for us to achieve. The messenger ppbu said to one of his companions: {Fear the forbidden, and you shall be the worshipping of all people}.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): 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.

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.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): 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.

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.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

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