Ways Allah uses to guide mankind:
Dear noble brothers, when man listens, he will respond, otherwise he is considered, by Allah, a dead person. Life in this sense means to respond to Al-Haqq (The Truth) upon listening to it. The proof is in the following Ayah in Surat Al-An'am:
﴾ It is only those who listen (to the Message of Prophet Muhammad PBUH), will respond (benefit from it), but as for the dead (disbelievers), Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned (for their recompense). ﴿
Death in this sense means: not to listen, or to listen but without responding. Thus, Istima'a (i.e. responding to the truth upon listening to it) marks being a responsive person, or else you are not listening. Hence, Allah the Almighty makes us hear and listen to Al-Haqq and this is but glad tiding to all of us:
﴾ Had Allah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen ﴿
This Ayah means that mere listening to Al-Haqq is in fact a glad tiding to all of us.
﴾ Had Allah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen ﴿
Listening entails responding. Allah the Almighty invites you first by using His words in order to respond, but if you do not respond, Allah will use other ways. The second way Allah uses is the teaching discipline, and if you do not respond as well, there is a third way which is the gradual bringing around (through abundant graces), but if you do not thank Allah for that, Allah will eventually destroy you.
Each one of us has definitely experienced one of these ways. The best way is the first one which is to respond to Allah upon listening to lectures, sermons, religious sessions, and religious CD, upon reading a book of religion, upon attending a religious meeting with someone or upon being in a religious assembly.
When Al-Haqq is conveyed to you, you should respond, otherwise you will be Divinely disciplined, and if you do not repent, you will be gradually brought around, but if you do not thank Allah, there will be destruction.
﴾ It is only those who listen (to the Message of Prophet Muhammad PBUH), will respond (benefit from it), but as for the dead (disbelievers), Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned (for their recompense). ﴿
The one who does not respond to Al-Haqq upon listening to it is considered dead in the Sight of Allah.
When Al-Quds was opened, Salah Al-Deen Al-Ayoobi attended the first sermon in Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, so what did the Khateeb said in that Khutbah? He started his sermon by the following Ayah:
﴾ So the roots of the people who did wrong were cut off. And all the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists). ﴿
We invoke Allah to grant us this victory again.
﴾It is only those who listen (to the Message of Prophet Muhammad PBUH), will respond (benefit from it), but as for the dead (disbelievers), Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned (for their recompense).﴿
The criminal uses twisted ways and gives lips services:
Allah says in a third Ayah:
﴾ And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest. ﴿
[ [Al-An'am, 55]
]
We explain the Ayaat (Islamic laws) in detail. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ That the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest. ﴿
The criminal uses twisted ways and buzzwords, and to him this is but civilization, exaltedness, knowledge and human rights. The criminal sugar coats his deviation, mundane tendencies and heinous acts by using buzzwords. However, Allah shall reveal the truth. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest. ﴿
It is out of the Divine Grace that the westerners, who pretend to be civilized, advanced, exalted and human (and animals) rights defenders, showed their ugly face to the entire world and proved how monstrous and vile their ways are.
﴾ And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest. ﴿
Why? If you do not disbelieve in disbelievers, you will never know Allah. As long as you think that disbelievers are civilized, advanced, exalted and human rights defenders, your way towards Allah is blocked.
Beware, he who loves disbelievers shall be resurrected with them and none of his deeds shall be beneficial to him. Allah's Responsibility to guard the one, who resides with polytheists, shall no longer apply. When Allah explains in detail in order to manifest the way of criminals, this means that Allah the Almighty meant to make them taste their own deed, He says:
﴾ Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea ﴿
Sins and disobedience are not created by Allah. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.), that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His Pardon). ﴿
This evil appeared due to people's own hands' earning:
﴾ That Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done ﴿
Allah also might have not made them taste (despite their deviation, corruption and sins) part of their own deeds, however, due to the Divine Wisdom He did, but why? Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ In order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His Pardon). ﴿
Allah does so out of Divine Mercy upon even disbelievers. On the other hand, when the way of criminals becomes clear, the superiority of Islam will appear to everyone. So, what exactly happens next? All man-made creeds, principles and lifestyles will fall into the mud, and only Islam will remain firm. I invoke Allah that this Islamic awakening is guided well in terms of becoming the creed to which people resort.
﴾ And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest. ﴿
You cannot build a structure over a ramshackle house. Well, you should bring the old house down and build your building from ground up. Similarly, to make Islam appear great and firm, all false and deviated traditions, customs and values should be revealed to people. Hence, due to profound wisdom, Allah explains the Ayaat in detail, so that the way of criminals may become manifest.
The very famous actor, who used to do cigarettes ads, had been afflicted with lung cancer, so while he was dying, he said, "I lied to you; cigarettes literally killed me." Allah Almighty loosens man's leash for profound wisdom, and when man thinks he is free to move as he wishes, Allah will pull the leash, and man will be in Allah's Grip. Only then the way of criminals will become manifest.
Man's position in Allah's Sight is based on the good deeds he offers:
Dear noble brothers, man's position, in a materialistic society, is evaluated due to his income and how much money he owns. In a society that cherishes science, man will be evaluated due to the scientific degree he has. However, in a valueless society, man is evaluated due to how deep in vice he is indulged.
Man also is evaluated due to his/her appearance, smartness, eloquence, the relations he/she has and the group of people he/she belongs to. In concise, this is how human beings evaluate each other, but how does Allah evaluate us? Allah says in Surat Al-An'am:
﴾ For all there will be degrees (or ranks) according to what they did. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do. ﴿
[ [Al-An'am, 132]
]
You are evaluated by Allah due to the good deeds you do. You might say, "I am weak", to which I say, "The good deed Allah has helped you do was the answer to your good intentions and sincere request. Good intentions are the reason behind the help you get from Allah to offer good deeds." When Allah helps you offer good deeds, your position in His Sight will be as exalted as your deeds are.
Bear in mind that good deeds need good intentions. Listen to the following Hadith, please:
(( It has been narrated on the authority of Umar bin al-Khattab that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: (The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated. ))
[ [Al-Bukhari, by the authority of Umar] ]
The way the deed is evaluated:
When does the value of your deed increase? Its value increases when the deed is performed for the Sake of Allah, when it accords with the Prophetic Sunnah and when you overcome all the obstacles that stand in your way to do it. Furthermore, the value of your deed will increase when you leave behind all the attractions that tempt you (like a party, a feast, a meeting, an assembly or pleasures of all kinds), and you insist on offering Salah in Masjid.
The more the temptations are, they higher the value of your deed will be. Obstacles increase the value of a good deed, sincerity increases the value of a good deed, and complying with the Prophetic Sunnah increases the value of a good deed. In fact, the ways of offering a good deed are uncountable. For example, if you guide one person to Allah it is a good deed, but if you guide two or five, it will be better, whereas guiding all human beings is only in the record of the Master of all Messengers (i.e. the Prophet PBUH).
Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said about himself, "I am only one of Abu Bakr's good deeds." The more exalted your soul becomes, the more you will love Allah. When you intend to offer a great good deed, Allah will help you do it. When a scholar authored a book, and a hundred thousand copies of that book are published and are beneficial to generations after generations, this is but a great deed and has extended effect. Indeed, the deeper the effect of a deed is, the more valuable it will be in The Sight of Allah.
There are other standards to evaluate a deed. If the good deed continues after its doer's death, then it is one of the greatest deeds. If a person establishes an institute of Shari'ah studies and he dies later on, and tens of missioners and teachers are graduated from this institute, this is considered a great deed. Also, if someone establishes an orphanage and dies, this will be a great deed. Similarly, if a person establishes a non-profit project and dies, this will be a great deed. If a person institutes a good practice and dies, this will be a great deed. The greatest deeds are those that continue after their doers' death. On the other hand, the worst deeds are the ones whose negative effects continue after their doers' death. If a man builds a night club and dies two weeks later, all the sins that are committed in this club will be in his records.
Accordingly, a deed is evaluated by its doer's intention, sincerity, compliance with Sunnah, deepness of its effect and continuity after its doer's death. The Prophet PBUH said:
(( Seek exaltedness in the Sight of Allah. ))
This exaltedness in the Sight of Allah is acquired through offering good deeds. When our Master Musa PBUH watered the flocks of the two women he said as Allah the Almighty narrates:
﴾ "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!" ﴿
[ [Al-Qasas, 24]
]
When you attain exalted faith, you will see that real poverty is lacking good deeds. When a rich man dies, he will be buried in a small grave, given he is used to live in a house that is 400 square meters and whose cost is 100 million Liras. This is a fact of life.
﴾ See how We prefer one above another (in this world) and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preference. ﴿
Seeking exaltedness in the Sight of Allah:
Ranks in the Hereafter reflect how much Allah the Almighty loves you, whereas ranks in the worldly life are evanescent. Your properties are yours as long as your heart is beating, but when it stops, you will own nothing. I repeat this point one more time; everything you own is yours as long as your heart is beating, and everything will come to an end when your heart stops. This is the meaning of the following Ayah:
﴾ For all there will be degrees (or ranks) according to what they did. ﴿
Ask yourself these questions: What deeds did I do? Did I give others for the Sake of Allah? Did I withhold for the Sake of Allah? Did I take sides for the Sake of Allah? Did I show enmity for the Sake of Allah? Did I seek knowledge? Did I prevent knowledge? Did I offer advice to Muslims? Did I perfect my job? Did I treat Allah's creatures well? Did I sponsor an orphan? Did I help a widow? Did I enjoin Ma'ruf? Did I prevent Munkar? Did I leave a trace behind? Did I establish a project? Did I establish an institute? Did I build a hospital? Did I build an orphanage? Did I author a good book? Did I publish a good book? Did I help in spreading the word of truth? Did I sponsor a knowledge seeker? Did I pay the knowledge seeker money until he became a scientist? Keep in mind that whatever you do shall be in your record:
﴾ For all there will be degrees (or ranks) according to what they did. ﴿
Seek exaltedness in Allah's Sight.
Purifying the soul and getting it to know its Lord:
There is another thing. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves, ﴿
This Ayah has many indications. "Take care of yourselves" means to purify the soul, to correct it, to get it to know Allah and to oblige it to obey Him, and in this case you will be protected from those who went astray, but if you do not do that, you might be hurt by them. This is one of its indications. There is another indication; it means that when evil prevails on earth, man should take care of his own self, his family and those around him and he should let alone others.
Dear brothers, we tackled some Ayaat from the Quran in this lecture, because the Quran is a banquet from which we may choose whatever we want. The Quran is the spring of the hearts, and it is the precious thing that if one understands properly, he will be enriched spiritually. We beseech Allah the Almighty to guide us to the Right Path.
