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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. 

The straight path and the tragedy of Muslims in Burma

 

Written by:  Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

 

17  Thel-Hejjah     1438.

08  September       2017.

Dearly beloved,

The blessed days have passed. They were days for remembering Allah and giving thanks to Allah. A Muslim should benefit from those blessed days as should benefit from other days during the year. It is for that a Muslim should make sure to be straight in his/her soul in order for his words, deeds and all his/her affairs be straight in its sincerity. Allah says to His messenger: {So tread though the straight path as you have been commanded, and those who repented with you, and do not transgress not. Lo! He sees what you do.} 11-112. Here we ask Allah to guide us to the straight path; many times during our daily prayers when we recite: {إهدنا الصراط المستقيم}. The straight path is the path of Allah, it is the religion of Allah, which our prophet ppbu one day drew it for us on the ground in the shape of a straight line, and said: {This is the path of Allah which is straight}. He drew other twisted and bent lines on both sides of the straight line; and said: {those are other paths and routes. On the top each rout there is a Satan}. And then he recited this verse from the Quran: {This is My straight path, so follow it. And do not follow other routs or ways, it will take you a part from His route. That is what He is advising you, so that you may be God fearing} 6:153.

You should know that if we implement Allah’s order in what we have power over, then He would take care on our behalf of what we have no power over. If we keep the struggle or jihad against our temptations and ourselves then we would be in a different state than our present state. You will find that news would be pleasing to you, and results would be surprising to you, and Allah will not stop supporting you.   

Slaves of Allah, another tragedies befall on to Muslims. Muslims in Burma are being exposed to horrific slaughter while the whole world can hear and see. They scream for help but no one can hear their screams and no one responds to their help. They are being slaughtered and no one comes to their support. (ولا حول ولا قوّة إلا بالله). Muslims in Burma have a long, tragic, painful history. A history of struggle, murder, displacement, war and torture. They are literally being burned alive, their mosques, schools and entire villages are demolished over their weak occupants. This Buddhist country is officially slaughtering Muslim civilians in such a heartless, cruel and barbaric manner.

This horrific tragedy happens in land where Islam reached; through Muslim and Arab traders, since the second century in the Hijri Islamic calendar. A strong and powerful state was established in that land which lasted for three and half centuries. It was ruled by forty-eight Muslim kings. It is also surprising that those Muslims who are tortured in so many ways by Buddhist are surrounded by large Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh. But there do not provide the support for their weakened fellow brothers and sisters. The entire world has blocked them. O Allah, aggression is darkness. Aggression is punishable in this life and next life. Allah supports or establishes the just country even if it was an unbelieving country. Allah would not support or establish an aggressive country even if it was a Muslim country. Each and every Muslim should do something for those mistreated and victimized. Do not underestimate any help or support you can provide. The least you can do is say a prayer to Allah for those people in the middle of the night. When you sincerely testify of confess that; there is nothing you can do or give in order to help other than this prayer.

 

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.

 

 


Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com