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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. 

The best of you the most God-fearing

 

Written by:  Abdurrazzak Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.

 

04 Jumada Al-Akhira 1440

09 February 2019

Dearly beloved in Allah,

Allah says: {O people (O mankind), Indeed We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may know each another. The most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most God fearing (or God wary among you). Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-aware} 49:13. This is a global call to all humanity. “O mankind” means all of you with all differnt races, mixed colours and mixed languages. All of you of different clans, tribes and populations. You all are descendants of Adam; up until the day Allah shall inherit the earth and all that is above the earth. O all you people, you all descend from one root, you all originate from the same otigin, do not feel pride over each other, do not look down at others. Your God is one, you descended from one single root, and that is Adam may peace be upon him. Ebn al-Jawzi explained the reason for the revelation of this verse as follows: it was when the messenger ppbu on the victory day of taking over and reclaiming the city of Mekka; ordered Bilal (may God be pleased with him) to climb on the roof of Al-Qaba (the sacred mosque) and make Azan (announce a prayer call). When Belal climbed up to make the prayer call over the top of Al-Qaba, in this town from which the messenger ppbu was driven out (or was made to flee from); but it was Allah’s well that he returned to it; in order to spread the light of faith; and the idea of the One God (monotheism). As Belal climbed up on top of the roof of Qaba ready to start Azan, Al-harith ben-Hisham said: “Has Muhammed not found someone else other than this black crow to make Azan?”. This verse was then revealed with Allah’s words saying: {O mankind, Indeed We created you from a male and a female …} to the end of the verse.

This verse was revealed in order to teach and cultivate hearts, and refine and enhance manners, conscience and morality. There is no room in Islam for racial prejudice, or land bigotry, or ethnic bigotry, or nationalistic bigotry, or sex chauvinism, or colour discrimination, or language zealotry. There is no room in Islam for all those ignorant horrible prejudices and fanaticism. It is because of that; the Quran has made the foundation of the Islamic society: {The noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most God fearing}. The real and true scale, which brings up or down an individual, is the scale of “God fearing”. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah does not look at your images or your riches, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds}. This is the true measure or true scale, which elevates the status of people with their Lord. On the day when Mekka was taken back, the messenger ppbu gave a speech to the people; he said: {O all you people, Allah Has removed from you the pride of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, and its boastings in ancestors. There are only two types of men; one is a pious believer; noble with Allah, or a miserable sinner who is worth little with Allah. You are all children of Adam, and Adam came from dust.} Then the messenger ppbu recited this verse: {O mankind, Indeed We created you from a male and a female …} to the end of the verse.    

Cease to boast-about in ancestors, in status, and in position.

The messenger ppbu also said during days of Tashreeq (during Hajj): {O all you people, all you people. Your God is one, and your father is one. Consequently, no Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab has an advantage over an Arab, and no black has an advantage over a fair skin person, and no advantage of a fair skinned over a black except through God fearing (Then he recited the verse:) {Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most God fearing} 49:13}.

No comparison or preference in Islam except through God fearing. That’s the only scale used. And no allegiance or no banner to be raised in God’s religion except the banner of God fearing. {Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most God fearing} 49:13. This banner, which was raised by Muhammed ppbu, acknowledged equality between the Ethupean Bilal and Roman Suhaib, and Salman the Persian and Hamza Arab from Quraish, and Muaad from Madina. No preferences; except through God fearing. Salman the Persian boasted in pride with this allegiance when he said about it in his poem:

“My father is Islam and I have no other father but Islam

I say it if they start boasting by the tribes of BelQais or Tameem.”

The messenger ppbu said: {On the day of resurrection Allah orders a call to be made: I have made a belonging or lineage for you. I have made the most noble of you is the most God fearing, but you insisted on saying in pride: I am such and such I am son of my father and I am better than him (such and such) the son his father. Today I put down your belonging and ancestry and elevate belongings to me. Where are those who were God fearing?}.

 

In another instance, the messenger ppbu said: {whosoever is held back by his deeds; will not be compensated by his ancestry or associations}.

On the day of resurrection, all belonging or ancestry relationship break off except the God fearing relation. Allah says: {So when the Horn is blown, no relationship or ancestry or lineage will there be among them on that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally. The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have looks of despair} 23:101-104. Yes, indeed, the true scale, which will elevate a person or drops them, is the scale of God fearing.

Our Scholars said that Allah created humankind of four categories: Allah created Adam with no father and no mother,

And created Eve off a father and no mother

And created Jesus off a mother and no father

And created the rest of humankind off a mother and a father. This is a sign of the total power of Allah. He says: {O mankind, Indeed We created you from a male and a female,…}. The messenger ppbu said: {Give it up, it is horrible} meaning those non-Islamic ignorant chauvinistic prejudices. There is no banner in Islam except God fearing, and no scale, which elevates except God fearing. And the most noble of you is the most God fearing.

I would like to finish the talk with the advice that anyone who has a heart should take heed or a lesson from what the messenger ppbu said: {Whosoever resorts to pre-Islamic ignorant calls of pride and prejudices then they will become the fuel of hellfire and will approach it crawling on their knees}. A man asked: even if the person fasts and prays? The messenger ppbs answered: {even if he fasts, prays and claims to be a Muslim}.

 

 

 

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