---

Friday Talks faheemfb@gmail.com

171

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. 

God fearing 4

 

Written by:  Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

 

11 Thel-Hejjah 1436

25 September 2015.

 

 

Dearly beloved,

The title of our talk on this blessed Friday is God fearing. For indeed God fearing is Allah’s advice given to early creation and the recent ones. It is also the advice given by our messenger ppbu to his entire nation. It is also the advice our early Muslim ancestors gave each other, yet many or present day generations may not know the great value of this advice.

 

Dearly beloved, the aim of creating the creation is worship. It is for this purpose that Allah had created the heavens and the earth, and paradise and hellfire, and had sent down the scriptures or books. Allah says: {I only created Jinn and mankind so they would worship me. I do not want any provision from them, and I do not want them to feed me. Indeed, Allah is the provider the most powerful and the firm}. We all know this fact. We all know the purpose of all creation is: worship. However, do you know that the purpose of worship is: God fearing. Allah says: {O people; worship your God who created you and those before you so you may become God-fearing}.

What is God-fearing? God-fearing is for a person to make between him and what he fears some sort of a guard or a shield. God-fearing for a slave is to make between him and the anger or wrath of Allah and the punishment of Allah some sort of a shield. This shield is doing acts or deeds of obedience and avoiding acts of disobedience.

 

Our ancestors may Allah be pleased with them had different definitions for God-fearing. A man asked Abu-Hurairah what God-Fearing was. Abu-Hurairah asked the man: Did you ever walk in a place with thorns? The man said: yes. Abu- Hurairah said: what did you do? The man answered: wherever I saw thorns I avoided them and kept away. Abu-Hurairah said: that is God-fearing.

Ebn-Mutaz (إبن معتز) said: staying away from sin; big and small is God-fearing; And do as a someone who walks in a land of thorn, take precaution based on what you see. Do not under estimate small sins. Remember that big mountains are made up of small stones.

 

Tulq Ebn-Habeeb (طلق إبن حبيب) defined God-fearing by saying: God-fearing is to do the acts of obedience for Allah, under the light or guidance of Allah, in expectation of reward from Allah. And also is to refrain from deeds of disobedience for Allah, under the light or guidance of Allah, in fear of punishment from Allah.

 

Ali Ebn-Abi Talib defined God-fearing by saying: God-fearing is to act according to the Quran; and to fear the Almighty, and to be satisfied with the little, and to be getting ready for the day of departure.

 

Yes, God-fearing was Allah’s advice to early people and later people of His creation. God-fearing was the advice given by the messenger ppbu to his nation. God-fearing was the advice of the righteous people to each other up to the time when Allah shall inherit the earth and all that is above it.

 

Allah says: {I have advised those who received the scripture before you, and I advise you to be God-fearing}. Arbat Ebn Saryah (عرباط إبن سارية) said: One day; the messenger ppbu gave us an eloquent talk with much advice. It made our hearts to pump, and tears to flow. We said: this sounds like the advice of someone who is departing, give us more advice. The prophet ppbu said: {I advise you to be God-fearing}. The messenger ppbu also gave advice to his beloved Muad Ebn Jabal by saying: {Be God-fearing anywhere you happen to be, and always follow up a sin with a good deed, it will wipe it off, and interact with people with good behaviour}. The messenger ppbu once gave advice to Abu-Saeed El-khethri (أبو سعيد الخذري): {I advise you to be God-fearing, for it is the peak of all matters} and in another narration, it was reported that he said: {I advise you to be God-fearing, for it is all good things put together}.

 

Our predecessors advised each other to be God fearing. Omar Ebn-Khattab was himself advised by AbuBaker Saddique who was on his deathbed when he said to Omar: Fear-Allah Omar Fear-Allah Omar. Imagine someone on his deathbed advising Omar who is known to be as the Farooq who always identified right and wrong with no other advice except: God fearing. Omar ebn Khattab himself says to his son: I advise you to be God-fearing.

 

Did you my dear Muslim parent ever advise your son or daughter to be God-fearing? Yes it is good to advise them to do well in learning English, or French or German, I do not under estimate the value of learning other science. This nation is the nation or science and learning, we must be competitive and inventive in every field, but on the other hand, parents should advice their offspring to be God-fearing. And if your son asks you what God-fearing is, then you ought to explain to him what true God-fearing is. In addition, what fulfils being a God-fearing person, and what are the characteristics of those who are God-fearing, and what are the benefits in this life and the life after; of being a God-fearing person. We ourselves need to learn more about Allah and about the messenger of Allah ppbu.

 

Notes:

1. Adhan - The call to prayer.

2. Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

3. Allah - The Arabic word for "god."  It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.  

9. Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa) 

10. Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

11. Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.  

12. Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life. 

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

14. Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

15. Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

16. Fiqh - Religious law.

17. 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.

18. Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

19. Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar.  One of the five pillars of Islam.

20. Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

21. Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers.  Considered authoritative and perfect.

22. Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

23. 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.

24. Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

25. Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

26. 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.

27. Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.  

28. Iman: belief or faith

29. Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

30. Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

31. Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise.  The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

32. 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."

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

36. Khutbah  - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

37. Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

38. 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.)

39. 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.

40. Masjid - A center for Muslim activity.  It is referred to as a mosque.

41. Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

42. 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).

43. Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

44. 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.

45. 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

46. Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

47. Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

48. Nasara - Christians.  Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

49. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

50. 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.

51. 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.

52. Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

53. 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.

54. Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

55. Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

56. Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

57. 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.

58. 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.

59. 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.  

60. Siam  or Soam- Fasting

61. 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.

62. 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.

63. Surah - A chapter of the Koran.  

64. 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.

65. 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)

66. Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah.  A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

67. Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

68. Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

69. 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.

70. Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

71. Zaboor - The Psalms

72. Zakat - The third pillar of Islam.  Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.