Attending religious lectures is necessary:
Dear believing brothers, today we will tackle Surat Ibrahim the father of all Prophets, Peace and upon them all. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad ) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism) by their Lord's Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.) ﴿
There is gravity in this Ayah, as it speaks about darkness (of disbelief) and light (the light of the truth). Allah the Almighty describes His Guidance as "the light", and He describes deviation as "darkness". The disbeliever lives in layers of darkness.
﴾ (Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursi.]) ﴿
(( (Narrated on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father): The following Ayah (Qur'anic verse) was recited before the Prophet (peace be upon him): O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth (Part No. 3; Page No. 260) Thereupon, Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, supplicate to Allah that my Du'a' will always be answered.' He (peace be upon him) said, 'O Sa'd, get your food from lawful means and your Du'a' will always be answered. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, a servant who puts an unlawful morsel in his stomach, his actions will not be accepted for forty days. Any person whose flesh develops from ill-gotten means and usury, the Fire is more fitting for him.') ))
[ [At-Tabarani in his book Al-Awsat, on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Abbas] ]
This indicates that attending religious lectures is not for entertainment, but rather it is essential in order to gain safety and happiness and to be admitted to (Jannah) paradise, so keep in mind that the heedless is never equal to the knowledgeable.
﴾ (Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah’s Signs and Verses).) ﴿
﴾ (Is then he who is a believer like him who is Fasiq (disbeliever and disobedient to Allah)? Not equal are they.) ﴿
If someone, who has no knowledge of Allah, gets married, he will most likely destroy his life with his own hands, because he is heedless and has no clue how to treat his wife. This person is swimming in darkness, and thus in a time of anger he might divorce his wife. Besides, he might go soft on daily matters, like mingling with the opposite gender, and thus exposing his wife and his own self to a chance of a change in the heart, which might result in fornication. All these dangers might happen due to heedlessness that has turned into layers of darkness. Therefore, the husband who is disconnected from Allah lives in layers of darkness. The same goes for the heedless merchant.
Prophets' mission is to bring people out of darkness towards light:
What is the mission of the Prophets? It seems that Allah defines the mission of the Prophets PBUT in the following Ayah:
﴾ (in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism)) ﴿
The deviation from the Right Path is mere darkness, whereas following the Divine Guidance is light, so is seeking knowledge. Sinning is darkness, whereas obedience is light. Disconnecting from Allah is darkness, whereas establishing a connection with Allah is light.
The mission of Prophets, the mission of Prophet Muhammad PBUH and the mission of all trustworthy proselytizers after the Prophet PBUH is mentioned in the following Ayah:
﴾ (Say (O Muhammad PBUH): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah i.e to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah; those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals or partners to Allah).") ﴿
﴾ (… in order that you might lead mankind out of) ﴿
By Allah, the Only Deity worthy of worship, there is no better comparison than comparing knowledge to light, and misguidance to darkness.
The guided believer senses the darkness, in which the heedless is indulged, for the latter is scrambling, infuriated or pleased without apparent reason, and he wrongs people due to his heedlessness. Hence, if you are guided (to the right path) then you acquired sure knowledge.
﴾ (Say (O Muhammad PBUH): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me) ﴿
The most precious thing Allah bestows upon you is to know Him:
I repeat the Ayah:
﴾ (He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding.) ﴿
The most precious thing in the worldly life for someone is to get acquainted with Allah and to be cultivated in dealing with Him and with His creations…
﴾ (It was narrated from Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah said: "If there comes to you one with whose character and religious commitment you are pleased, then marry (your daughter or female relative under your care) to him, for if you do not do that there will be Fitnah in the land and widespread corruption.'") ﴿
[ [Ghayat Al-Muram, on the authority of Abi Hurairah] ]
The believer is the most eminent character, because he knows Allah, his soul is exalted, he is open-minded, he grew awareness, he has delicate sentiments, he sees what others do not see, he hears what others do not hear and he adheres to values. These are the characteristics of the believer, whose personality is unique.
The word "believer" is a scientific title, and regarding this point, it was reported:
(Allah has never taken an ignorant Wali (close servant), had He taken one, He would have taught him.)
The word "believer" is an aesthetical title. The believer is happy with knowing Allah, he trusts His Justice, he is content with His Qada' (Will), he gives in to His Qadar (Decree), he believes His Promises and he fears His Menaces.
﴾ (Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death? Worst is the judgement that they make.) ﴿
[Al-Jathiyah, 21]
﴾ (Is he whom We have promised an excellent promise (Paradise), which he will find true, like him whom We have made to enjoy the luxuries of the life of (this) world, then on the Day of Resurrection, he will be among those brought up (to be punished in the Hell-fire)?) ﴿
Hence:
﴾ (… in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism)) ﴿
Are you enlightened (by the light of guidance)? Do you feel that you are guided (to the Right Path)? Are things clear to you? Do you reflect on the way you take your decision regarding your wife, your job, your friends, your neighbors and your health?
﴾ ((This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad PBUH) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism)) ﴿
The price for guidance is to obey Allah the Almighty:
Dear noble brothers, Quran is the Divine Banquet to which we are invited; it is between our hands. We can recite it, we can memorize it, we can listen to it and we can listen to its interpretation. Quran is Allah's book which includes Allah's Ayaat and words.
﴾ (Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise.) ﴿
﴾ ((This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad ) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism).) ﴿
Unless Allah had allowed guidance, man would have never been guided. Allah puts a Divine rule that says, "If you pay the price for something, you will get the reward." The price for guidance is obeying Allah, being pious and fighting against your own self and whims.
Strive and you will be amazed with the results. The price for guidance is available to all people, thus whoever pays the price shall get the reward. This is Allah's Favor which includes everyone.
﴾ (Neither those who disbelieve among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) nor Al-Mushrikun (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, idolaters, polytheists, pagans, etc.) like that there should be sent down unto you any good from your Lord. But Allah chooses for His Mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.) ﴿
The will here refers to man's will.
﴾ (But Allah chooses for His Mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.) ﴿
Allah the Almighty allows the honest only, but not the liar, the hypocrite, the disobedient, the corrupted, the double-faced or the criminal. Those people are not allowed by Allah to be guided even if they read all books and memorized them by heart.
Education is one thing and guidance is another. The education stays in the brain and grants its holder smartness; only this smartness does not pay off after death. Unlike it, guidance penetrates every cell in your body, as your heart is guided, your limbs are in obedience to Allah, your utmost concern is to seek Allah's Pleasure, your focus is on gaining Allah's Content and your desire is to get closer to Him.
Guidance in concise is all about happiness, vision, discipline, exaltation, morals, optimism and security.
﴾ (And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any authority. (So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know."* It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided.) ﴿ ﴿
[ [Al-An'am, 81-82] ]
The difference between safety and security is that safety means not to be afflicted with hardship, whereas security means not to expect hardship. When man fears poverty, then he is already poor, when man fears sickness, then he is already sick, and when man expects the disaster, then the disaster is within him.
﴾ ( (So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know."* It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided.) ﴿
The Quran we have in our hands is Allah's Book. It is our constitution and our way of life. It tells us the stories of ancient people, and it tells us what will happen in the future. It is Allah's Tight Rope, and it gives us the life style we should live. Moreover, it manages our relationships and it clarifies the path we should follow.
Allah is Aziz and Hamid and is praised for His Actions:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (By their Lord's Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.) ﴿
Allah has chosen the Name "Al-Aziz" among His Most Beautiful Names in this Ayah. Al-Aziz (The Almighty) means that Allah is far from being harmed, so is the one who obeys Him:
﴾ (They (hyprocrites) say: "If we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honourable ('Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, the chief of hyprocrites at Al-Madinah) will expel therefrom the meaner (i.e. Allah's Messenger PBUH)." But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.) ﴿
Al-Baihaqi added regarding this Beautiful Name:
(He whom You protect shall never be humiliated and he whom You make enemy shall never be exalted.)
If you seek eminence, you should know that eminence and might are Allah's only.
﴾ (to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.) ﴿
Allah is unconquerable, and no party in the universe has the power to reach Him or to cause harm to Him. Accordingly, if you are with Allah you will become very powerful. I mean, if you want to be the most powerful person, relay on Allah, if you want to be eminent, be with Al Aziz, and if you want to be protected by Al-Aziz, resort to Al-Aziz.
﴾ (the Owner of all Praise) ﴿
Allah is the owner of all praises despite the fact that He is Almighty, no one is able to hurt Him, no one can reach Him, no one can refute His Judgment and no one can take part in His Judgment.
﴾ (the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.) ﴿
Allah is Al-Hamid (The Ever-Praiseworthy). For people, the powerful one among them does not care about being praised or dispraised. For Allah, despite He is The Almighty, He is praised by His worshipers for His Actions and His Arrangements. It is not possible to have anything better and satisfying than what is already there.
Man's heroism lies in being content with Allah in hardship:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (Their way of request therein will be Subhanaka Allahumma (Glory to You, O Allah!) and Salam (peace, safe from each and every evil) will be their greetings therein (Paradise)! and the close of their request will be: Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin [All the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)].) ﴿
On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will reveal to man the wisdom behind everything afflicted him in the worldly life, and so he will say, "Praise be to the Lord of the Worlds." He will praise Allah for hardship, for poverty, for losing his sight, for being barren, for having only female children, for being sick or for being tortured. Allah will reveal to man that all these afflictions were meant for his own interest, and thus man will praise Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He. The words in Islam that are worthy of saying are: "Praise be to Allah", "Allah is The Greatest" and "there is no power or strength except by Allah". Well, in Salah we recite the following:
﴾ (All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). ) ﴿
Either you utter it with your tongue or you believe in it with your heart, but do you praise Allah for everything He decreed upon you? Are you pleased with Allah? Actually, being pleased with Allah in prosperity will not cost you anything, but heroism lies in being pleased with Allah in hardship, and this reflects true faith especially at the beginning of the shock.
If a hardship strikes and you say, "O Lord, all praises are to You", this will reflect true faith. The Prophet PBUH used to remain patience on hardships, and he used to show gratitude whenever he is blessed with prosperity. Such attitude is taken only by the believer.
(( (Suhaib reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, "Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his, and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer. If he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.") ))
[ [Muslim, on the authority of Suhaib] ]
The grace of guidance is the most valuable blessing man might get:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ To the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.) ﴿
If you are guided by this book (i.e. Quran), it will bring you out of darkness to the light with which you can see the path towards Allah the Almighty and the gateway to eternity.
Few days ago, I was in a special assembly wherein we discussed the value of health and how fragile it becomes when death comes. Even if man lives for 120 years without getting sick, death will put an end to this blessing. Even if man has huge wealth, and so he has never known what being in need is or what being a poor man is for about 200 years, death will put an end to this blessing.
Keep in mind that guidance is the only blessing that lasts forever. If the angel of death comes to you, and you have been among the guided people, then congratulations to you, because you will be admitted to Jannah, the everlasting bliss, and you will be in a seat of truth (i.e. Jannah) near the Omnipotent King (Allah, the All-Blessed, the Most High, the Owner of Majesty and Honor). For these reasons, the blessing of guidance is the most valuable one among all other blessings.
Everything in the heavens and earth is owned, arranged and destined By Allah:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (To the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise. Allah) ﴿
Allah is the owner of the Most Beautiful Names, and He is the Most Exalted Character:
﴾ (Allah to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth! ) ﴿
"…to Whom belongs" means that everything in the heavens and the earth is owned, arranged and destined by Allah the Almighty, so how come you worship other than Him? How come you are keen on pleasing someone other than Allah? How come you fear someone other than Allah? How come you are pleased with someone other than Allah? How come you sacrifice your precious life as a price for someone other than Allah?
Disbelievers' doom, misery and torment are inevitable:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (Allah to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth! And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment.) ﴿
"Woe" means demise. It is like when a man drives his car on a road down the hill at a high speed, given there are deep valleys on both sides and dangerous hairpin bends along the road, so this man will say, "I am doomed". "Woe" in this sense is the unavoidable destruction. This driver would say, "We are dead" though he is not dead yet, he says so, because death is unavoidable in his situation.
﴾ (And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment.) ﴿
This means that for disbelievers, death, destruction, misery and torment are unavoidable, and it is only a matter of time till their hearts stop beating, death comes, their obituary is written and their life with all its years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds is over.
It is said, "O man, you are but few days, and every day passes, it takes away part of you."
Every man, no matter how long he has been safe,
shall be carried to his grave.
So if you carry a deceased man to his tomb
know that one day you will be so carried.
Dear noble brothers, the prudent man is the one who prepares himself for the hour of death, for being buried in a grave, for the time when he will enter the Masjid in a coffin and for the hour when people will perform funeral Salah on him. Every person shall enter the Masjid at least one time in his life, and this time is when he enters it in a coffin for funeral Salah.
﴾ (And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment.) ﴿
Do you not believe Allah the Almighty? Do you not fear that day? Do you not dread that severe torment? Why do you fear the threat of a man like you but you do not fear Allah? Why do you fear the menace of a human being, but you do not fear the Menace of Allah? If you fear Allah as much as you fear a powerful man, you will be admitted to Jannah.
Whoever favors the worldly life over the Hereafter will be severely punished:
Who are those disbelievers who were promised with severe torment?
﴾ (Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter) ﴿
They are those who prefer the worldly life to the Hereafter.
Adi bin Hatim came to the Prophet PBUH who warmly welcomed him. Adi was a king in the north of the peninsula, and when the assembly broke up, the Prophet PBUH took Adi from his hand and headed towards his house. That was an honor given to Adi by the Prophet PBUH. On their way, Adi noticed when an old poor woman stopped the Prophet PBUH to ask him for her needs, he PBUH did not mind spending a considerable time listening to her. Adi realized how humble that the Prophet PBUH was, and that he was never after the gains of the worldly life.
Actually, had the worldly life been significant in the Sight of Allah, He would have given it to the Prophet PBUH. Ponder over this question: Did Allah honor the Prophet PBUH when He hindered him from owning the worldly gains? If we say that Allah dishonored him, that would be a lie, and if we say that He honored him, this would indicate that Allah is dishonoring those to whom He gives the worldly gains.
Umar had once come to the Prophet PBUH, and he saw him lying on an old mat, which left marks on his honorable cheek, so Umar wept as mentioned in the following Hadith:
(( (Ibn Abbas said, "I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was on a seat with a bad woven on it. He had a pillow under his head made of skin stuffed with fiber. There was a cloth between his skin and the seat. Umar visited him and wept. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'What made you weep, Umar?' He said, 'By Allah, Messenger of Allah, I am only weeping since I know that you are nobler with Allah than Chosroes and Caesar. They both live in what they live of this world while you, Messenger of Allah, are in the place I see.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Are you not content, Umar, that they have this world while we have the Next?' I replied, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'That is the way of it.'") ))
[ Al Bukhari, on the authority of Ibn Abbas] ]
Would it not please you to be happy in the Hereafter? Would it not please you to live eternal life in Jannah? Would it not please you to attain Allah's pleasure? Would it not please you to be in a seat of truth near the Omnipotent King? Would it not please you to be in the Shade of Allah wherein there is no shade but His? Would it not please you to rejoice looking at The Face of Allah the Almighty?
Here is another incident regarding the point we are discussing:
When the prophet PBUH distributed the spoils of war to the Quraysh and the Arab tribes without giving anything to the Ansar, the Ansar were upset. Much was said, till one person said, "The Messenger of Allah has now gone back to his people."
The leader of the Ansar, Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah went immediately to the Prophet PBUH and said, "O Messenger of Allah, this group of the Ansar are displeased with what you did with the spoils of war. You have distributed war booty among your people, and have given generous portions to the Arab tribes, but you did not give the Ansar anything."
The Prophet PBUH said, "What is your opinion about it?" Sa'd answered, "I am but one of my people." The Prophet PBUH asked him to gather the Ansar.
The Ansar were gathered, and no one else but them was allowed in the meeting. The Messenger of Allah PBUH said, "O Ansar, I heard that an incident that happened recently made you feel ill at ease… Now, did I not find you ignorant and guided you to the way of Allah? Did I not find you poor and Allah enriched you of His bounty? Did I not find you enemies and Allah joined your hearts together?" They answered, "Indeed, Allah and His Prophet are far more generous and better." The Prophet PBUH then said, "Do you not have anything to say, O Ansar?" They answered, "There is nothing to be said but that Allah and His Prophet have the grace and bounty."
The Prophet PBUH then said, "By Allah, you could have said—and if you did, you would have been truthful and acknowledged—We believed in you at a time when all called you a liar. We supported you at a time when you were frustrated. We gave you our money at a time when you were poor and we even sheltered you at a time when you were homeless. O Ansar, are you upset for a thing so trivial and worldly that I gave to some people so as to join their hearts to Islam and left you out of it, believing that your Islam sufficed you? Is it not enough for you that the rest of the people will go home with a sheep or a camel, whereas you will return with the Messenger of Allah? By Allah in Whose Hands is Muhammad’s soul, you return with a better thing than they went home with. If not for the migration, I would rather have been one of the Ansar. If the people moved in one way, and the Ansar moved the other way, I would choose the way of the Ansar. O Allah, have mercy on the Ansar, their children, and their children's children."
By the time the Prophet PBUH concluded his words, their beards were wet with tears. All of them cried out, "It is enough for us to have the Messenger of Allah as our reward!" The prophet PBUH then left and they did too.
[Al-Wadi'i]
Would it not please you to gain Allah's Pleasure? Would it not please you that your portion of gains in the worldly life is to know Allah the Almighty? Would it not please you to be righteous? If you are pleased with all that, why would you long for what is in people's hands?
﴾ And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything. ﴿
﴾ Thus have We sent you (O Muhammad PBUH) to a community before whom other communities have passed away, in order that you might recite unto them what We have inspired to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Beneficient (Allah) Say: "He is my Lord! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! In Him is my trust, and to Him will be my return with repentance." ﴿
Be pleased with what Allah decreed for you, and you will become the richest among people. Trust Allah in what He has more than you trust what you have. Focus all your concerns on the Hereafter.
(( Abdullah b. Mas'ud said: I heard your Prophet say, "If anyone makes the care of his eternal welfare the sum total of his cares, Allah will protect him from the worldly care, but if he has a variety of cares consisting of matters related to this world, Allah will not be concerned in which of its wadis he perishes." ))
[ [Ibn Majah, on the authority of Abdullah bin Mas'ud] ]
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, "Offer your deeds for the sake of One Face (i.e. Allah's Face) and Allah will suffice you being in need of other faces"
﴾ (Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter) ﴿
He longs for the worldly life, for money, for women, for vehicles, for luxury houses with central air conditioning, for exquisite furniture and for tasty food.
﴾ (Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter) ﴿
Having a house, a wife, an income and a vehicle from lawful financial resources is accepted, but having all these things from unlawful ways like lying, dissembling, feigning, cheating and deceiving Muslims is not accepted. Furthermore, having worldly gains by sinning is foolishness since the worldly life is evanescent.
Beware, life will pass by and sins remain, so obtaining the worldly life at the expense of Allah's Wrath is a foolish thing to do, because life will pass by, but Allah's Wrath on you will remain.
The characteristics of disbelievers:
Dear noble brothers, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter) ﴿
Among disbelievers' characteristics is preferring the worldly life to the Hereafter, whereas the believer uses the worldly life instead of loving it.
﴾ (And hinder (men) from the Path of Allah (i.e.Islam) ) ﴿
The one who loves the worldly life will go crazy if he sees his son praying, lowering his gaze from looking at Haram or keeping a distance from his brother's wife since Quran prevents mingling. Moreover, he hinders people from the Path of Allah. He will work on turning his business partner away from Allah's Path if he sees him avoiding ill-gotten money or refusing to sell something for two prices. His only concern is to keep people away from the Right Path, to make them hate it and to tempt them with the worldly life. Such a disbeliever is addressed by Allah the Almighty:
﴾ (Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah (i.e.Islam) and seek crookedness therein ) ﴿
He is perverse in selling, as he deceives other and lies to them. Even in his relationship with his wife or with people he is corrupted, as he follows crooked ways, he lies, he cheats, he deceives, he swindles, he brags and he gives lip services.
﴾ (And seek crookedness therein ) ﴿
Allah's Description is detailed.
﴾ (Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah (i.e.Islam) and seek crookedness therein) ﴿
They favor unlawful ways to make money over the lawful ones as the former are easier to them.
Different types of deviation:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (And seek crookedness therein. They are far astray.) ﴿
If you drive 200 kilometers in the wrong road, we say that you have strayed. You will be far astray although there is a big sign that shows the directions and roads. If you take the wrong road and direction although you read the signs, we tell you that you are in manifest error. This is the difference between being "far astray" and being in "manifest error"
Because the disbelievers love the worldly life, prefer it, and drive people away from Allah's Path, and because they are deviated in their relationships, they are far astray from the Path of the truth, from safety, from happiness and from eternity.
The lessons we learn from the Ayah: "And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people"
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people ﴿
The first meaning we deduce from this Ayah is that every Prophet speaks the language of his people; otherwise, he would have needed interpreters. Due to the Divine Mercy, Allah decreed that Prophets speak the language of their people.
The other meaning is that the language of people indicates their elements of power in their era. Namely, in the era of Jesus PBUH, medicine was very advanced, and thus Jesus' miracle was the ability to bring the dead back to life, which is impossible in medicine.
Doctors' knowledge is used in curing people
if the latter are Divinely decreed to live
But when their journey of life is about to end,
doctors will be helpless so are their remedies
It is impossible for the doctor to bring the dead back to life, however, Jesus PBUH did so by the Power of Allah's Permission in order to prove that he is a Messenger from Allah.
In Musa's era, magic was very advanced; therefore, Musa's miracle was having his stick turned into a serpent.
﴾ (And the sorcerers fell down prostrate* Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)* "The Lord of Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron)."* [Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: "You have believed in him before I give you leave. Surely, he indeed is your chief, who has taught you magic! So verily, you shall come to know. Verily, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you all.") ﴿
[ [Ash-Shu'araa, 46-49] ]
In the end of these Ayaat, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (They said: "We prefer you not over the clear signs that have come to us, and to Him (Allah) Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world* "Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] reward, and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment).") ﴿
As I have just mentioned, Jesus PBUH owned the power that prevailed in his era "The language of medicine". As for Prophet Muhammad PBUH, he was born in an era where eloquence, rhetoric and poetry prevailed. The poet came right next to the head of the tribe in importance, and this indicates the importance of poetry.
The Mu'allaqaat (It is a group of seven long Arabic poems. The name means "The Suspended Odes or The Hanging Poems", they were named so because these poems were hung in the Ka'bah in Makkah for their importance) were written in gold and were hung on Ka'bah.
A miraculous book (i.e. Quran) was revealed to the Prophet PBUH, and it was a challenge to people, for it was neither poetry nor prose; it was like magic to the people in that era.
In fact, the Noble Quran shows you its wonders according to the level of piety, righteousness and connection with Allah you have reached.
The Noble Quran is never boring upon being recited over and over again.
﴾ (And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them.) ﴿
Nowadays, proselytizer has to accommodate technology and science that define our era.
﴾ (And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty* And also in your ownselves. Will you not then see?) ﴿
[ [Adh-Dhariyat, 20-21] ]
﴾ (And he whom We grant long life, We reverse him in creation (weakness after strength). Will they not then understand?) ﴿
﴾ (Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?* And at the heaven, how it is raised?) ﴿
[ [Al-Ghashiyah, 17-18] ]
These Ayaat are related to the universe and thus they are the gate through which we know Allah the Almighty.
Man has the free will to choose whether to follow the Right Path or the deviated one:
The Almighty says:
﴾ (Then Allah misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.) ﴿
He, who longs for guidance, shall be guided by Allah the Almighty, and he, who longs for moral deviation in the sense of choosing that direction, shall become deviated, and Allah will deviate him from the Right Path upon his own request, will, desire and earning.
Actually, introductions lead to conclusions, and so the university value is not stemmed from having all its students passed the exams.
Allah is Aziz and Hakim; He makes things fall within their right place:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.) ﴿
Allah is Aziz (The Almighty) Hamid (The Ever-Praiseworthy). Because Allah is Hakim (The Ever-Wise), He is Aziz. If He were not Hakim, He would not be Aziz, because Allah puts things in their right place and nothing takes place without wisdom behind it.
Pay attention to the following Hadith, please:
(( (It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said, attributing it to the Prophet (PBUH): "The stronger believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to seek that which will benefit you and do not feel helpless. If something overwhelms you, then say: Qaddarallah, wa ma sha'a fa'al (It is the decree of Allah and what He wills He does). And beware of (saying) 'If only,' for 'If only' opens the door to Satan.") ))
[ [Muslim, on the authority of Abi Hurairah] ]
﴾ (And indeed We sent Musa (Moses) with Our Ayat (signs, proofs, and evidences) (saying): "Bring out your people from darkness into light) ﴿
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ ((This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad PBUH) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism) ) ﴿
﴾ (And indeed We sent Musa (Moses) with Our Ayat (signs, proofs, and evidences) (saying): "Bring out your people from darkness into light) ﴿
Hence, the mission of the Prophets is to bring people from darkness to light. Musa PBUH was Divinely ordered to bring people from darkness to light. In addition, the mission of all scholars after the Prophet PBUH is to bring people from darkness to light.
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ (And indeed We sent Musa (Moses) with Our Ayat (signs, proofs, and evidences) (saying): "Bring out your people from darkness into light and make them remember the annals of Allah) ﴿
The annals of Allah are the victorious days Allah has granted Musa PBUH and his people, namely, it is the day when Allah saved them from Fir'aun (Pharaoh), by turning the water of the sea into dry land.
The annals of Allah for the believer are the days when he is in stressful hardship and upon invoking Allah for a way out, his supplication is Divinely answered.
Allah's days might be Allah's answer to your supplication when your son was afflicted with an intractable disease, and by Allah's will he was cured.
Allah's days might be the days when you were short on money, and Allah provided you from (sources) you never could imagine.
You might ask Allah for guidance, and He makes you meet someone who follows Al-Haqq, and this is one of the days of Allah.
You might ask Allah for a pious wife, and He leads you to the perfect match, and this is one of the days of Allah.
You might ask Allah for a house to live in, and He answers your supplication, and this is one of the days of Allah.
You might get in trouble and you see your doom because of it, so you supplicate Allah sincerely to find you a way out from it and from any other trouble, and your supplication is answered, and this is one of the days of Allah.
The believer does not forget the annals of Allah, but rather he remembers these days, and he humbled himself before Allah upon remembering them:
("Did I not find you ignorant and guided you to the way of Allah? [The prophet PBUH addressed Al Ansar] you could have said—and if you did, you would have been truthful and acknowledged—We believed in you at a time when all called you a liar. We supported you at a time when you were frustrated. We gave you our money at a time when you were poor and we even sheltered you at a time when you were homeless. Did I not find you ignorant and guided you to the way of Allah? [this is one of Allah's days of His Divine favors] Did I not find you poor and Allah enriched you of His Bounty? Did I not find you enemies and Allah joined your hearts together?")
Remind yourself of the days of Allah. Bring a notebook and write down, for instance: On such day Allah cured me from this disease, on such day Allah got me married to this woman, on such day Allah facilitated to me owning this store, on such day Allah allowed me to buy this house or in such day Allah saved me from this big problem.
Renounce your concerns,
for all matters are destined
Be delighted at breaking news
due to which bygones will be bygones
A troublesome hardship
might bring satisfying results
You might be exceedingly straitened in this life,
and in other times you might be in prosperity
Allah does whatever He decrees,
so do not show objection to His Decree
Allah had showed you good days
Keep those days in your mind in times of hardship
Allah makes you taste His Generosity in the days of Allah. Let each one of us write down Allah's days so that he reminds himself of them. This is a Divine Order:
﴾ and make them remember the annals of Allah) ﴿
Doing so makes you love Allah, put your trust in Him and know beyond doubt that Allah, who saved you once, will save you again, so do not be worried.
﴾ (and make them remember the annals of Allah. Truly, therein are evidences, proofs and signs for every patient, thankful (person).") ﴿
It was reported that "faith is two halves: Endurance makes one half and gratitude makes the other."
In the previous Ayah, Allah the Almighty used the word "Sabbar", which indicates the best form of remaining patient on refraining from sins, on obeying Allah and on accepting Allah's Qada' and Qadar (Divine Will and Decree).
﴾
(Truly, therein are evidences, proofs and signs for every patient, thankful (person).”) ﴿
