Religion & Belief (Alor Pothay) > Ramadan and Fasting

A few Verses each day

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ymislam:
Sura Baquarah contd - (Day 5)

Today, the cross-referenced study of the Qur’an continues with Verses 2.6 and 2.7 that define the second category of people who are essentially declared disbelievers.

2.6 “As to those who reject Faith it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.”
In another place in the Qur’an, Allah gives an example of the characteristics of those who clearly disbelieve:
“The life of this world is alluring{1} to those who reject faith and they scoff{2} at those who believe. But the righteous{3} will be above them on the Day of Resurrection; for Allah bestows His abundance without measure on whom He will.” [2.212]

Wealth, power, children, qualities, abilities, achievements, successes, status in society not only give a false sense of security and a false sense of pride but at the same time provide things that can be ‘worshipped’ besides or in preference to the Creator.  Such are things granted by the Creator only as a test to see who is grateful (for whatever the Creator has given) as opposed to the one who becomes proud preferring the glitter of this life. Allah has given all these things as conveniences of this life; He explains however that:
“And on that Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire (it will be said to them): "You received your good things in the life of the world and you took your pleasure{4} out of them: but today shall ye be recompensed with a Penalty of humiliation: for that you were arrogant{5} on earth without just cause and that you (ever) transgressed{6}."”[46.20]

A person who becomes proud and arrogant has not understood who has originated what. Being humble and grateful is proof of belief. As the purpose of our temporary stay on earth is to separate the ungrateful from the grateful, it is not Allah’s Will [2.256] to force anyone to believe:
“If it had been the Lord's Will they would all have believed all who are on earth! Will thou then compel mankind against their will to believe?” [10.99]

Allah does not need our worship, our gratitude or our praise.
“And He gives you of all that you ask for. But if you count the favors of Allah never will you be able to number them: verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.” [14.34]

“To Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth. Verily We have directed the people of the Book{7} before you and you (O Muslims) to fear Allah. But if you deny Him lo! Unto Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth and Allah is free of all wants worthy of all praise.” [4.131]

“Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth for (instructing) mankind. He then that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul.” [39.41]

By worshipping Allah we are not doing Him a favour! He does not need our worship! By worshipping Him exclusively we are simply acknowledging the truth that He is the Giver and we are the beneficiaries; by being grateful for all that He has given us – the favour is on us! By acknowledging the truth we demonstrate our understanding of who originated what and thereby fulfill the purpose of our creation!

After ample opportunities and warnings, Allah completes the test and then as punishment He removes further opportunities to believe:

2.7 “Allah sets a seal on their hearts and on their hearing and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).”
After repeated opportunities and tests to acknowledge and be grateful to Him, Allah removes the opportunity for a change of heart:
“Then after him We sent (many) apostles to their Peoples: they brought them Clear Signs but they would not believe what they had already rejected beforehand. Thus do We (then) seal the hearts of the transgressors.”[10.74]

So that we realize that we have a fixed limited amount of time on earth and realize that opportunities are slipping by:
“It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a reflecting{8} light and measured out stages for her: that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but (to help establish) truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain his Signs in detail for those who (wish to) understand.” [10.5]

“But to no soul will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come: and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that you do.” [63.11]

From the preceding, it is evident that Allah has not only left many ‘signs’ of His handiwork, but has also sent mankind Revelation through prophets to inform us of the purpose of creation and given us time to correct our mistakes. If, after this, we still reject His sole Authority, He ‘locks’ up our understanding as punishment. However, He allows us continue to enjoy [15.3] our arrogant ways as this is what we have preferred. After the seal is set, the individual would no longer be able to recognize Allah’s handiwork – the examination/answer scripts are taken back after the time allowed by the Examiner.

As an example, the words of Sura Fatiha are ‘delivered’ to us a minimum of 17 times each day as are the Verses that we recite in tandem – these are all Signs from Allah. Yet, if we ignore these Signs (the Words of the Qur’an) by not giving due weight to the meaning of what we are saying, the following Verse delivers a serious warning.
   â€œVerily We have propounded{9} for men in this Qur'an every kind of Parable: but if thou bring to them any Sign the unbelievers are sure to say{10} "You do nothing but talk vanities{11}." Thus does Allah seal up the hearts of those who (wish to) understand not.” [30.58 – 30.59]

When we ignore people who explain the Qur’an or avoid reading the meaning of the Qur’an we effectively demonstrate our disbelief. When we recite the ‘Kalimah’ we testify our belief, and then if we ignore Allah’s Signs given in the Qur’an, what are we doing?
“That is because they believed then they rejected Faith: so a seal was set on their hearts: therefore they understand not.” [63.3]
         
-------------------------------------
{Notes}:
{1} Alluring: extremely attractive, tempting and able to arouse a strong desire (Encarta Dictionary)
{2} Scoff: ridicule or make fun of (Encarta Dictionary)
{3} Righteous: those who support the truth and justice of the Creator.
{4} Pleasure: deriving pleasure without acknowledging the truth by being grateful to the One who gave you everything.
{5} Arrogant: The synonyms of arrogance are given as pride, haughtiness, egotism, conceit, etc. The antonym is given as humility (Encarta Dictionary).
{6} Transgress: to overstep the limits of proper and just behavior (Encarta Dictionary).
{7} People of the Book: people who were given previous Revelations from the Book [85.22] with Allah.
{8} Reflecting: The researcher has added the word ‘reflecting’, to point out that the moon reflects the ‘shining glory’ of the sun and helps us keep track of time. During the day, man has also used sun dials to keep track of time.
{9} Propound: put forward by way of explanation for mankind to consider
{10} Say: or equally think as Allah is thoroughly acquainted with our inner thoughts.
{11} Vanities: self-made extrapolations or concoctions in th

shibli:
"Everyone is a house with four rooms: PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL and SPIRITUAL. Unless we go into everyroom every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person."--Rumer Godden.

No doubt, Allah has bestowed upon you a tremendous ability, that is your writing skill. May Allah give you the ability to write to remove the misconceptions of Islam that nonmuslims as well as muslims have, ameen.

ymislam:
Shibli,

Jazak Allah! Allah has given you good writing abilities as well!

We need to look at three concepts.
1. What does belief mean? Is belief like trust? Can we say to someone, I trust you 50% or even 99%? Similarly can we say to Allah, I believe in you 50% or even 99%? Allah either exists or He doesn't, i.e 1 or 0. It cannot be 1 when we are in trouble and 0 when we are happy with things around us. It cannot be 1 before exams and 0 after we get a good grade. It cannot be 1 when we are in trouble and 0 when He has got us out of trouble. If He does exist, what does it mean in our day-to-day lives?

2. Allah has given us abilities and opportunities to lead fulfilled lives. When we achieve something should we become arrogant or should we thank Allah? When we become arrogant, whom are we thanking for the success? What moral does the story of Iblis carry? What moral does the story of Phiraon carry? Does thanking Allah demonstrate belief that He has provided all?

3. What should we be doing with the opportunities provided to us? With the potential abilities what should we be doing? Should we be good to those with less?

Which of the above would we be asked about on the Day of Judgment?

Your thoughts?

-Yousuf

ymislam:
Sura Baquarah contd: (Day 6)

Of 19 Verses at the beginning of Sura Baquara that classify three types of people to whom the Qur’an is addressed, 13 Verses are devoted to those who give ‘lip service’ to the Creator, i.e. their mouths say that they believe in Allah, yet their actions or thoughts do not support the attitude of a believer. Allah declares these people as disbelievers and thereby hypocrites.

2.8 “Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" but they do not believe.”
What is Allah talking about? People who claim that they believe, but do not believe?? How many people are there around us who say, “I believe in Allah”? As believers are defined by Verses 2.2 to 2.5, comparing the day-to-day attitudes of such people with these Verses what would we find? Just like actual believers these people say they ‘believe’ but…
•   do not seek guidance from the Qur’an, i.e. do not bother to understand what the Creator has said in His Manual for mankind [2.2]
•   do not ‘fear’ the Creator, e.g. do not care to be grateful to Him or to acknowledge His exclusive contribution to their lives [2.2]
•   do not appreciate that the Creator is beyond what can be physically observed around them [2.3]
•   are not steadfast and sincere in prayer, i.e. not persistent, committed and dedicated to prayer as an expression of gratefulness and humility [2.3]
•   do not spend out of the resources provided by the Creator to combat evil and do good [2.3]
•   do not follow the Qur’an as something revealed by the Creator to be adhered to [2.4]
•   do not believe that Revelations (in their original form) through the ages are from the same one and only Creator [2.4]
•   do not firmly believe that the hereafter is for those who prove their belief in the Creator and that each would have to stand trial for denying the truth on the Day of Judgment [2.4]

Verse 2.5 confirms that Verses 2.2 – 2.4 are the qualities of believers – those who do not do these things are not believers, even if they ‘claim’ to believe. Such people are not ‘true’ to what they themselves say, hence are ‘false’ to their own proclaimed words.

An incident from the time of previous Revelation illustrates how the Creator demonstrated that many people who claimed belief did not really believe.
“Moses said: "O my People! If you do (really) believe in Allah then in Him put your trust if you submit{1} (to Him)."”[10.84]

“They said: "In Allah do we put our trust…” [10.85]

“But none believed in (what) Moses (said) except some children of his People because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs lest they should persecute them;…” [10.83]

Allah demonstrated and proved to those who really trusted and feared Him exclusively:
“We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length then We overwhelmed them with the flood…”[10.90]

Allah thereby clearly showed how these people were wrong to fear Pharaoh more than the Creator:
“And Allah by His Words does prove and establish His truth however much the sinners may hate it!” [10.82]

Whom did we actually fear more – Allah or other things like poverty, loss of face amongst peers or bosses? Allah tests each individual, i.e. checks the importance and the priority we give Him given the situations in our day-to-day lives. For example, if we plan to go on Hajj when we have nothing else left to do in our life what does it imply? In our list of priorities where have we placed Allah, our Creator, Provider and Sustainer – and the things He has asked us to do?
“Do the Unbelievers think that they can take my servants (other creation{2}) as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their) entertainment.” [18.102]

Elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah gives another example of those who really do not believe.
“When trouble touches a man he cries unto Us{3} (in all postures) lying down on his side, sitting or standing. But when We have solved his trouble he passes{4} on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors{5} seem fair in their eyes!” [10.12]

The trouble that Allah gives each individual person is only a test to examine whether the person who calls on the Creator to remove or alleviate his/her problems, actually believes that it is exclusively Allah that has removed the trouble. Do we thank Allah when we have successfully passed our exams? Do we remember to thank Allah when we are cured of an illness or are we full of praises for the doctors?
“Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere” [2.155]

There are people who find it difficult (or demeaning) to approach the Creator directly as this requires being humble; some such seek intercessors to apparently ‘mediate’ between them and the Creator. Has Allah appointed any of these mediators? What honorarium would these get for mediating? Allah aptly dubs these mediators ‘partners’.
“They serve{6} besides Allah things that hurt them not nor profit them and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say: "Do ye indeed inform Allah of something He knows not in the heavens or on earth? Glory to Him! And far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!"” [10.8]

Is it the thought of appearing small that makes some children approach parents through their brothers and sisters when they need something?

To help these people further understand, Allah asks in Verse 2.13, “Do they believe that humble and grateful ‘believers’ are fools?” If hypocrites happily believe that they alone are on the ‘right path’ – they deceive none but themselves! Who else, other than the Creator [3.60], can define the truth? The Creator or Manufacturer of human beings has given ‘books’ through the ages, to different peoples, just as a car manufacturer would give maintenance manuals. What value does the purchaser of a car place upon the manufacturer’s manual? Also, what would you say to the car owner who often recites the manual like a parrot without understanding a word?
            
-------------------------------------------------
{Notes}:
{1} Submit: give in to someone’s authority, demands or control. (Encarta Dictionary)
{2} Other creation: other human beings and rest of creation that is subservient to Allah [16.48]; the rest of creation does exactly as Allah has commanded.
{3} Us: the Arabic language has an additional royal first person that has been translated as “Us” or “We” by the translator Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Note that the person initially prays to the Creator, fully realizing that it is only the Creator that can get him/her out of trouble.
{4} Passes: forgets or intentionally overlooks thanking the Creator for getting him/her out of trouble. He/she may feel pleased that the trouble has gone away or he/she may credit himself/herself for coming out of trouble.
{5} Transgress: overstep limits of just and proper conduct.
{6} Serve: many of us serve/worship religious recluses [9.31] commonly known as ‘pirs’ and make excuses of the need for intercession.

shibli:
To me, true faith is based on knowledge that came from Allah. Yes i do agree that we claim we believe, but many of us actually don't believe. Does faith fluctuate? or is it because of our ignorance? Are we hypocrites knowingly? Why what we do or say often leads to SHIRK or disbelief.....You have exquisitely clarified who can be called believers as well as what we should do to be believers.

Whom did we actually fear more – Allah or other things like poverty, loss of face amongst peers or bosses? Allah tests each individual, i.e. checks the importance and the priority we give Him given the situations in our day-to-day lives---yes you are absolutely right. But one can listen to peers or bosses or parents until and unless the commandments don't go against those of Allah and Muhammad (sm). Opinions, views n perception vary; it's better if we accept them n live in consensus without making chaos n FITNAH, which are much worse than slaughter as The Qur'an says.  

Allah has told us that He will forgive all sins for the one who repents to Him. He says (interpretation of the meaning):“Say: ‘O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful’” [al-Zumar 39:53]

This includes all sins, even shirk. Whoever repents, Allah will accept his repentance.

With regard to repentance from shirk in particular and the acceptance thereof, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.

69. The torment will be doubled to him/her on the Day of Resurrection, and s/he will abide therein in disgrace;

70. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Furqaan 25:68-70]

Allah mentions the kufr and shirk of the Christians, then calls them to repent. He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: “Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).” But there is no Ilaah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilaah (God —Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them.

74. Will they not turn with repentance to Allah and ask His forgiveness? For Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Maa'idah 5:73-74]

No matter how great the sin, the forgiveness, generosity and kindness of Allah is greater.

What we, muslims have to do is to turn to Allah, regret what we did and resolve not to do it again. Then receive the glad tidings of the bounty and mercy of Allah, for Islam wipes out whatever sins came before it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him): “O ‘Amr, do you not know that Islam wipes out whatever came before it.” Narrated by Muslim, 121; Ahmad, 17861.

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.”  Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as hasan by al-Albaani.

If a person repents to Allah, Allah accepts his/her repentance and forgives him/her. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins”[al-Shoora 42:25]

“And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him/her who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them (till his death)” [Ta-Ha 20:82]

We have to think well of our Lord and hope that He will accept our repentance, for Allah says, “I am as My slave thinks I am.” A hadeeth qudsi narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7066; Muslim, 2675. According to Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad:  â€œI am as My slave thinks I am, so let him think whatever he wants.”

With regard to strengthening our faith, this may be done in many ways, such as the following:

1  Remembering Allah a great deal, reading His Book and sending a great deal of blessings upon His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). We should read Qur’an a great deal and ponder its verses, for in that there is healing for what is in our heart, if Allah wills. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe” [al-Isra’ 17:82]

2 Regularly offering the obligatory prayers on time and offering a lot of naafil prayers, so that one may attain the love and support of Allah as it says in the hadeeth: “Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6137.

3 Keeping company with good people who will help us to worship and obey Allah and discourage us from disobeying Him.  

4 Reading biographies of righteous people among the scholars, ascetics (zaahids), devoted worshippers and those who repented. Allah narrated the biographies of the prophets in the Qur’an to make the heart of his Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the believers with him, steadfast. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad) of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this (chapter of the Qur’aan) has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers”
[Hood 11:120]

5 Keeping away from everything that reminds us of sin and calls us to it.

6. Knowing all types of Shirks including big and small that you mentioned and others and refraining from those by doing the above and seeking refuge to Allah. Thus, in general, we can increase our faith.

Finally, "Do not feel weak before your enemy, and do not let him gain any power over you. Seek the help of Allah and do not feel helpless – as Your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has enjoined you. Remember that “ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaytaan (Satan)” [al-Nisa’ 4:76].

O Allaah, make faith dear to us and make kufr (disbelief), evildoing and sin hateful to us, and make us of those who are rightly-guided.

May Allah reward you for all your efforts especially for the last posting, an excellent one, indeed.

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