- Interpretation Of Quran / The long version
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- (007) Al Araaf
Dear brothers, this is lesson number 13 of the interpretation of Surat Al-A'raf, and I will start with the Ayah number 28 where Allah the Almighty says:
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has commanded us of it." Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahisha. Do you say of Allah what you know not?﴿
"And when they commit a Fahisha…"
1- The meaning of Fahisha:
Dear brothers, what is the meaning of "Fahisha"? It indicates an evil ugly deed which brings about shame to its doer and scandalizes him. It is the deed which is degraded by man's Fitrah and soul, and it prevails among people and attracts them to gossip about it due to its strange nature.
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha﴿
In some Arabic dictionaries, "Fahisha" is defined as "The excessive ugly deed". Some scholars defined "Fahisha" as Zina (Fornication). In general, the consequences of every sin ends when the sin is over, except fornication, for they continue after it is over, like having an illegitimate child or going through abortion to a conceived fetus because keeping it, delivering it, having it without a father and smearing the social reputation of the family thereby is a problem by all levels. I incline to define Fahisha as "fornication". Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).﴿
2- Man should avoid whatever that leads to Fahisha:
The Divine instruction is very precise. Allah forbids us from coming near Zina, as Allah says in the Ayah, and this means that Zina does not happen without steps that lead to it. As if the zone of anything that leads to Zina is very grave, and whoever comes near it, will be gravitated to it until he commits Zina. It is like the high voltage power lines; their gravitating zone extends to 8 meters, and any living soul that comes near that zone shall be gravitated to the power lines and will be burnt instantly. This shows the grave nature of this sin or this crime so to speak as defined by law.
It seems that Zina has a strong gravitation power, so when someone carelessly approaches it, he will end up committing Zina, whether he likes it or not. Falling in this sin is like the falling of a rock that is steady on the peak of a mountain, but you give it a little push intending to push it for 10 meters only, while it will not stop there, but rather it will keep falling until it reaches the bottom of the valley. Thus, it is your choice to keep this rock steady at the top of the mountain or to push it, but upon pushing it, it will not stop until it reaches the bottom of the valley.
Let me tell you the following precise fact which is proved by psychological researches: 90% of those who commit fornication (Zina) never think of it, but due to approaching its zone, they commit it eventually.
(Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's Messenger (PBUH) saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things…)
Befriending bad people is an easy way to Zina, befriending debauchers leads to Zina, reading obscene novels leads to Zina, watching pornography leads to Zina, visiting pornography sites leads to Zina and checking women and gazing at them lead to Zina. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.).﴿
As if this Ayah shows us the way to protect our private parts and to lower our gaze. I assure you that Allah has never ordered us of something that is beyond our scope, and He has never forbidden us from something that is hard to avoid. Accordingly, man is able to fulfill Allah's Assignment to him by following the orders and refrain from the prohibitions. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. ﴿
Allah never punished a heart by a desire whose owner leaves it for His Sake. If a young man asks me, "What is your advice to me?" I say, "I advise you to follow the example of the Noble Prophet (Yusuf PBUH), the son of the Noble Prophet (Jacob PBUH)." Yusuf PBUH said:
﴾ "I seek refuge in Allah (or Allah forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! ﴿
He was a very good looking man, he was away from his folks, he was in the palace of a king and he was seduced by his mistress and was promised by her that she would not tell anyone if he accepted. Scholars found 10 reasons which might motivate any man in his position to commit Zina, yet he PBUH said:
﴾ "I seek refuge in Allah (or Allah forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! ﴿
When he became the Aziz (like the prime minister in our era) of Egypt, a maid saw him in his cortege so she said: Glory be to Allah who turns obedient slaves (who obey Allah) to kings, and glory be to Allah who turns disobedient kings (who commit sins) to slaves.
All scandals on earth are of two kinds: they are either sexual or financial. If you are able to protect yourself from those two grave sins, you will become chaste, and no one on earth will be able to hurt you. You will never be accused of any financial scandal because all your earnings are lawful, and you will never be accused of Zina because you never let yourself stay in privacy with a woman.
3- Beware of being with a woman (who is not one of your Maharim):
Allowing yourself to stay with a woman in privacy leads to Zina. The Prophet PBUH said very precise words in the following Hadith:
(Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "No one of you should meet a woman in privacy unless she is accompanied by a Mahram (i.e., a relative within the prohibited degrees).")
He PBUH described the one who meets a woman in privacy as Fasiq not as Kafir.
(No one of you should meet a woman in privacy)
Any man with no exception is addressed by this Hadith. Some researches on the psychology of sex assure that when man is incited by a woman while they are in privacy, his reason will have no control over him. You are all aware of the scandal of the president of the most powerful country in the world (USA); he was with a woman in privacy, and he committed fornication. This person had to weep before the priests, while he was confessing his sin, not to mention his scandal was on 3000 different sites describing the details of his backsliding.
﴾ And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).﴿
Only the fool and the despicable commit Zina. Our Master Yusuf PBUH said:
﴾ Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorant."﴿
4- Every desire but has a lawful way to fulfill it:
The important point, dear brothers, is that no desire installed in man but has a lawful way to be fulfilled, so do not worry, and glory be to Allah who does not leave anyone without his favor.
(The dearest thing to Allah is the repentant young person)
(Allah, the Exalted, takes pride in a worshipping young man before the angels and says: "Look at My servant; he gave up his lust for My Sake.)
What makes you sublime in the Sight of Allah? Lowering your gaze does, so do controlling your hearing from listening to nonsense songs, watching your tongue from saying any bad words and befriending believers.
(Abu Sa'eed narrated that the Messenger of Allah(PBUH) said: "Do not accompany except a believer, and do not serve your food except to one with Taqwa.")
Refraining from watching any obscene movies or from reading inciting novels also upraise you in the Sight of Allah. The believer is a pure-hearted person, and Allah will not deprive him of fulfilling the desires He installed in him, only they should be fulfilled in Halal.
﴾And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah?﴿
"Mafhoom Al-Mukhalafah" (an implicit meaning on which the text maybe silent but is nevertheless in harmony with its pronounced meaning) here is that the one who follows his lusts lawfully is not sinning, like one who gets married. The married man can offer night prayers submissively and weep while invoking Allah after he has an intercourse with his wife, simply because his relation with his wife is lawful. Hence, keep in mind that every desire in man but has a lawful way to fulfill it.
Marriage is dearly amazing; your wife is yours lawfully, her destiny is your destiny and both of you will have children who will full the house with joy. Then those children will grow older and will be at your disposal if they are sons, and you will rejoice the tender of your children if they are daughters. The lawful marriage has future, and it leads to happiness, tranquility, spiritual comfort and social status.
When someone sign his marriage contract, he may stay at his fiancé's house till 3 AM in the morning, and no one will say a word of criticism (because she is his wife). Then, on the wedding day, everyone will celebrate that occasion, and they will honk the car horn without any shame of the event, simply because it is a wedding, and this woman is the wife of this man.
Let me assure you again that every desire in man but has a lawful way to fulfill it. This story for the youth amongst you (males and females): An old man once visited me, and upon offering him a piece of sweet, he said a supplication that is familiar to me before he got inside his mouth. It gave me the chills when he said, "Glory be to Allah who decreed for me to eat this, and Allah never leaves anyone without His Favor." Hence, dear young brothers, if you lower your gaze, if you control your tongue, if you are keen on what you listen to, if you seek knowledge, if you attend religious sessions in the Masjid and if you master your job, Allah will never leave you without His Favors. The proof is in Al-Jame' As-Sagheer. Among the group of 20 Ahadeeth which are about the rights of the man upon his son, the right of the son upon his father, the right of the Muslim upon another Muslim and the right of the neighbor upon his neighbor, there is the following Hadith:
(Narrated Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet PBUH said: "There are three for whom it is a right upon Allah to help him: The Mujahid in the cause of Allah, the Mukatab who intends to fulfill (the Kitabah), and the one getting married who intends chastity.")
I have countless stories about young men who sought marriage and Allah helped them in their quest. One of these stories is about a man who escorted his mother to perform Hajj when he was 18 years old. Upon coming back from Hajj, he resumed his work in a very humble library that he owned. One day, a woman stood by his store and she winked to him as a gesture that she wanted him to follow her. He followed her, but on the way, he started thinking about what he was doing. He said to himself, "O Lord, I performed Hajj, so where am I heading now?" His heart was filled with fear of sinning, so he went back to his store. He swore by Allah that on the following day, a very respectful man swung by his store and said to him, "O son, are you married?" The young man said, "No sir, I am not". The man said, "I have a daughter who is suitable for you, so send your mother to our house". It crossed his mind that this young woman might have a defect in her character since her father offered him to marry her. Unfortunately, people become full of doubts in such cases (i.e. a father offers a young man to marry his daughter), while the Quran teaches us quite the opposite through this Ayah:
﴾He said: "I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you﴿
Where is the problem in offering a good young man your pious daughter if he is a true believer? That man asked him to send his mother to their house as he admired his exalted character. It is related in the relic:
(If someone made an effort for a couple to get married, she/he shall be rewarded with every single word she/he said and every taken step the reward of a whole year's worshipping including day fasting and night praying.)
No deed equals in reward the attempt of getting a man married to a woman who is easy on the eye, who protects his honor if he is away and who obeys his orders.
﴾Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women)﴿
Never say, "I have nothing to do with getting any one married to a woman", and never utter proverbs like, "Attending a funeral is better than being involved in marrying a man to a woman." These are evil words, because Allah the Most Gracious says:
﴾And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Salihun (pious, fit and capable ones)﴿
This is a Divine Order. Be the intermediary in marriage though it might be a burdensome task which might cause you a headache. Unfortunately, when someone is involved in marrying a young man to a young woman, the latter does not come and thank him for this great wife, but if they are in quarrel, he comes to him and say, "You are the one who made me marry her."
(Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet PBUH said, "The believer who mixes with people and endures their injury is better than the person who does not mix with people nor endure their injury.")
Take that burden, and it will be a good deed in your record.
Dear brothers, no deed is more exalted than marrying a man to a woman, so that both will be protected from the prevailing corruption on earth. Do you know that half of the Syrian women are single? This is a stigma in our Ummah and a serious problem as well.
"And when they commit a Fahisha":
Dear brothers, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha﴿
Al-Fahisha means fornication which is the sin that leaves devastating consequences like illegitimate children. Scholars defined Al-Fahisha as the sin which upon committing, man will be punished with the prescribed Hadd (i.e. whipping, cutting the hand and other kinds of punishment according to the major sin committed). Al-Fahisha also might indicate Al-Kaba'ir (The major sins). Moreover, Al-Fahisha might indicate the act of people before Islam when they used to circumambulate Ka'bah naked, for they believed that the cloths they used to wear when they committed sins were no more clean, so taking those cloths off would purify them from their sins. Ironically, they committed a greater sin (being naked). This is but foolishness and benightedness.
Dear brothers, the next Ayah bewilders the mind:
﴾O wives of the Prophet! Whoever of you commits an open illegal sexual intercourse, the torment for her will be doubled﴿
How come an order of refraining from Zina is addressed to a woman whose husband was the Prophet PBUH? I like this interpretation of the Ayah: If the wives of the Prophet PBUH burdened him of worldly concerns, it is considered as grave as committing Zina.
In this respect, I advise every wife, who is blessed with a pious, chaste, righteous and trustworthy husband who pursues lawful income, not to burden him beyond his scope; otherwise he might incline to Haram money.
The female companion used to say to her husband whenever he wanted to go to work, "Fear Allah in what you earn, for we are able to tolerate hunger, but we cannot tolerate (the punishment of gaining) unlawful money (Haram)". Nowadays, women put pressure on their husbands till they reach out to unlawful money.
﴾O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you (i.e. may stop you from the obedience of Allah),﴿
This enmity takes place in the Hereafter when the husband enters Hell-Fire because of his wife who put pressure on him in the worldly life till he reached out to unlawful money. The Prophet PBUH said:
(The most blessed woman is the easiest in her expenditure)
(The best of mahrs (dowry) is the simplest (or most affordable).)
Following blindly: "We found our fathers doing it"
What do they say upon committing a sin?
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it,﴿
Unfortunately, we utter the same words nowadays like saying, "This is what all people do" or like referring to the proverb, "Be a sheep when people behave like sheep." Also, some people say these words to justify their wrongdoings, " Well, there is nothing we can do about it. May Allah guide us to Him." Furthermore, they ascribe their shortcomings to prevailing evil, and they count on a repentance that they will not offer before 30 or 40 years of sinning.
By Allah, our Ummah is following the west blindly, and if they enter a hole of a mastigure (lizard) they will enter it too. When we were kids, we used to be punished by having our hair cut short, but nowadays, young men shave all their heads as a fad, just because the westerns do that.
(…If they entered a hole of a mastigure (lizard) you will enter it too.)
The youth wear jeans whose colors are faded on purpose, or they put on jeans with holes as a fad. A woman once sent me her young son for a matter, and when he stepped into my office, I noticed the holes in his jeans. This broke my heart, and I thought that he was poor, so I intended to buy him new jeans, but I found out later, that it was a new fad. Also, I was invited once to have breakfast with a brother in Australia, and he is very rich, yet his son was wearing almost a ripped jeans (full of holes) to look stylish.
(…if they entered a hole of a mastigure (lizard))
How the jeans will be in the future is an idea that scares me.
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it,﴿
People keep saying, "This is the fad nowadays", or they say, "This is the fashion this year." Unfortunately, we are followers to a fashion French Jew designer, so if he decides that this year's fad is short dresses, women put on short dresses, and if he says that the fad this year is long dresses, they all put on long dresses…etc. He controls us by all means.
An anecdote, which I do not want you to take seriously, goes as follows: A woman once asked a scholar from Al-Azhar:, "Did the Prophet PBUH described the women as people who lacks reason and religion?" The scholar desired to go along with the idea, so he said, "Well he meant to describe the female companions, but as for the women of our days, they have neither reason nor religion"
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it,﴿
"This is the fad", "This is what people do", "This is the tradition", "This is the style" or "This is how man behaves", are nonsense. Who says that your wife can serve your guests half-naked?
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha ﴿
Al-Fahishah according to Islam is the act which brings shame to its doer and which leaves bad consequences.
"And Allah has commanded us of it"
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has commanded us of it﴿
Imam Al-Ghazali, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, "Saying of Allah what people do not know is graver than committing major sins"
﴾Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahisha. Do you say of Allah what you know not?﴿
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it,﴿
First of all, blindly following others is unaccepted in Islam, unless one follows another in doing a good deed. In Aqidah, following blindly is rejected even if the Aqidah is right, otherwise those who follow deviated Aqidah will be excused. What is the definition of blind following? It is imitating those who are older in deeds and words. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ So know (O Muhammad PBUH) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)﴿
Man's Aqidah is not accepted as long as he blindly follows others even if it is right. This is true, because there is no frame reference to blind following, so it is worthless. However, imitating a righteous man in his deeds is a right thing to do, and it brings about safety in the Hereafter, so it is permitted.
Also when you see someone who is kind in his words, chaste, punctual and a promise keeper, follow his steps, because it will bring about safety since in this case you use a reference to assess his quality. It is said, "He who imitates a knowledgeable man, will guarantee his safety when he meets Allah", and this is neither an Ayah, nor a Hadith. If you meet someone who warmly welcomes his guests, who is humble and who is generous, imitate him. However, in Aqidah, imitating and blind following is not accepted. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ So know (O Muhammad PBUH) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)﴿
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has commanded us of it." Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahisha. Do you say of Allah what you know not?﴿
"Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahisha…"
Allah mentions sins in the Quran in an ascending order:
These are mere lies and saying of Allah what people do not know is graver than committing major sins. Allah mentions sins in an ascending order in the Noble Quran. First He mentions Al-Fahsha' (bad deeds) and Al-Munkar (denounced deeds), then the second in order are Al-Ithm (sins) and Al-Udwan (aggression), then the third in order is Ash-Shirk (Polytheism) and finally Al-Kufr (disbelieving).
﴾ Do you say of Allah what you know not?﴿
They are put in an ascending order. The gravest sin is to twist facts like persuading people that something is permitted while it is not. It is like when someone says to you that it is permitted to enter a house wherein there is a stranger woman alone, and he tries to back up his misconception by unauthenticated relations of Hadith. This is nothing but being in privacy with a strange woman.
﴾ Do you say of Allah what you know not?﴿
Hence,
(O Ibn 'Umar! Your din is your faith. Indeed it is but your flesh and blood (it is your life). Therefore, you should be very careful about whom you are receiving it from. Receive it from the pious and the steadfast and do not take it from those who are leaning astray.)
The religion has to do with your destiny, your Hereafter and your eternity.
The Ayah we are discussing is very precise:
﴾And when they commit a Fahisha (evil deed, going round the Ka'bah in naked state, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has commanded us of it﴿
Allah's Response is:
﴾ Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahisha. Do you say of Allah what you know not?﴿
Then, Allah the Almighty mentions the things He orders people to do:
﴾ He it is Who created for you all that is on earth. Then He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of everything. ﴿
"Say (O Muhammad PBUH): My Lord has commanded justice"
Islam is based on justice:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH) : My Lord has commanded justice﴿
Islam brings justice to mankind. The Prophet PBUH described the end of days in this Hadith:
(My brother Isa (Jesus) will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression and tyranny)
Killing people has become just like the description in this Hadith:
(By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the world would not come to an end until a day would come to the people on which murder will be like a plague that afflicts man (due the great numbers of the killed). The murderer would not know as to why he has killed and the slain would not know as to why he has been murdered.)
Nowadays, killing is random, and in a neighboring country, 59 people die every day without any guilt they do, but they die because some murderers planted a bomb in the crowd. When this random killing will be over?
(…murder will be like a plague that afflicts man (due the great numbers of the killed). The murderer would not know as to why he has killed and the slain would not know as to why he has been murdered.)
﴾ Say: "Nay, Allah never commands of Fahisha. Do you say of Allah what you know not?* Say (O Muhammad PBUH): My Lord has commanded justice ﴿
Allah has commanded justice.
(A Bedouin said to the Prophet PBUH: "Be just" so the Prophet PBUH smiled and said: "Woe be upon you, who would do justice if I do not do justice".)
Justice is the most important value. All the Names of Allah are manifested in this worldly life fully save the Name "Al-Adl" (The All-Just); it is partially manifested in worldly life, but the full Divine Justice will take place in the Hereafter, simply because the worldly life is not the abode of reckoning but rather it is the abode of trials. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell) ﴿
"Wurood" is an Arabic word which does not mean to enter somewhere but rather it means to pass over it. Accordingly, when the believers pass over Hell-Fire on the Day of Resurrection, they will not be harmed by its flames, but they will pass over it to see Allah's Justice, to see those who killed entire nations and to see those who threw an atomic bomb on Hiroshima killing 300.000 civilians in only 3 seconds. They call it nowadays "Mass murder", and they use the term "Mass grave". They sweep out people through air strikes, napalm bombs and depleted Uranium whose devastating effects last for more than 4500 years.
I am speechless. The people in the west turn into monsters. Despite their advanced technology, they are monstrous (uncivilized by all levels), whereas the people of the weak third world are civilized (due to Islam), only they are not advanced in technology.
"And (said) that you should face Him only in each and every place of worship"
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH): My Lord has commanded justice and (said) that you should face Him only (i.e. worship none but Allah and face the Qiblah, i.e. the Ka'bah at Makkah during prayers) in each and every place of worship, in prayers (and not to face other false deities and idols), ﴿
1- The meaning of face:
The face is the most honored part of man's body.
2- Hitting the face is not permitted:
There are Prophetic Ahadeeth which emphasize refraining from hitting the face because it is the part of man's body that is honored by Allah. The Prophet PBUH said:
(…avoid the face)
When punishment is a needed measure, one can hit others on the shoulder but never on the face, because it is unbearable humiliation.
As you know, nature is subjugated to plants in order to grow, plants are subjugated to animals so that they survive, animals are subjugated to man in order to live, but to Whom man is subjugated? He is subjugated to Allah.
(I have created everything in the universe for you so do not be overstrained, and I have created you for (obeying) Me, so do not play (do not be negligent). By My Right upon you, do not get yourself busy with what I guarantee for you at the expense of what I enjoin on you.)
Man is created to be submissive to Allah Alone, and whoever submits to another human being, degrades himself.
﴾ And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham) (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself? ﴿
You are for Allah Alone, so be a slave of Allah only, because the slaves of Allah are free, and never follow another human being, but rather be free, be fair and be just.
"And (said) that you should face Him only in each and every place of worship"
1- The meaning of Masjid:
The inclusive meaning of the word "Masjid" refers to any place where man can prostrate, which means everywhere. If you are a farmer, working at your farm, and you start praying when it is Zuhr time right where you are, this place is Masjid. If you are in a factory where there is no nearby Masjid, and it is the time for Asr Salah, you can offer Wudu and pray on the ground of the factory. Similarly, when you are at your office, when you are sick (given the direction of Salah for a patient is the comfortable one for him) and when you are afraid (the direction of the scared person is the one that makes him feel safe). Hence, wherever you offer Salah is considered a Masjid. The Prophet PBUH said:
(…I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning)
We were taught at the university that the sayings of the Prophet PBUH are the most eloquent ones after the Words of Allah.
(…I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning)
(I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies).)
The Prophet's reverence brought fear to his enemies' hearts. That has to do exclusively with the Prophet PBUH, but as for his Ummah nowadays, they are the ones who are feared with awe every day by westerns, because they no longer follow the Prophetic Sunnah properly. The Prophet PBUH said:
(Allah made me victorious by awe (of frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey.)
A month of travel equals 1000 kilometers in distance, and due to the reverence of the Prophet PBUH, his enemies used to shake in their boots out of fear. However, when Muslims abandoned the Prophetic Sunnah, they have become the ones who are defeated by awe from a distance of one year (not one month). We are sleepless whenever a statement is said by someone from a very distant country. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah ﴿
When man joins partners with Allah in worship, he will be filled with fear, for fearing marks the Mushrikeen (polytheists).
﴾ We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah, ﴿
(Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said: "I have been given superiority over the other Prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): spoils have been made lawful to me: the earth has been made for me clean and a place of worship…")
Actually, many westerns have embraced Islam, because they have noticed that this religion (i.e. Islam) can be practiced anywhere unlike their religion which requires going to the church. They have seen how the farmer can worship Allah in his farm, and all he has to do is just offering Wudu from the water of the brook and then perform Salah. The same goes for the worker in the factory and the clerk at his office or any person at his home, for they all can worship Allah wherever they are.
(Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said: "I have been given superiority over the other Prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): spoils have been made lawful to me: the earth has been made for me clean and a place of worship; I have been sent to all mankind and the line of Prophets is closed with me.")
﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH) : My Lord has commanded justice and (said) that you should face Him only (i.e. worship none but Allah and face the Qiblah, i.e. the Ka'bah at Makkah during prayers) in each and every place of worship, in prayers (and not to face other false deities and idols), ﴿
2- Prostration reflects full submission to Allah:
The face is honored by Allah, yet the Muslim put it on the ground in prostration as a gesture of full submission to Allah the Almighty. Allah has honored man and subjugated to him the inanimate objects, the plants, the animals, everything in the heavens and everything in the earth. Thus, man's response to all that should be putting his face on the ground (while prostrating) to show his full submission and slavery to Allah. This submission brings about the highest ranks to man, given the highest rank at all is the place the Prophet PBUH reached, and it is Sidrat Al Muntaha (A Lote tree that marks the end of the seventh heaven, the boundary where no creation can pass). Allah the Almighty says:
﴾So did (Allah) convey the Inspiration to His slave [Muhammad PBUH through Jibrael (Gabriel)]. ﴿
Being enslaved to Allah is inevitable:
Slaves of Allah are two kinds: The first group includes Abeed (the slaves of compulsion) who are all mankind without any exception, for each one of us is compelled, but how is that? It is because we are subjects of all sorts of afflictions, like a brain stroke which is as tiny as a pin tip, yet it has the potential to close an artery, and man may become paralyzed thereof. May Allah protect you all from paralysis. The clot might make man blind, or might cause amnesia to him. Therefore, man is under the Mercy of Allah, so he is a slave of compulsion. Abd (a slave) is an Arabic word, and the plural of this word is Abeed if it refers to the Abeed of compulsion. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves. ﴿
On the other hand, the man who chooses to be a slave of Allah out of full submission to Him and out of gratefulness to Him is included in the second group which is Ibad (The plural form of the word Abd which refers to the people included in this group).
﴾ And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, ﴿
There is a huge difference between Abeed of compulsion and Ibad of gratitude. Accordingly, you would rather come to Allah initiatively with full submission. In other words, get to know Allah while you are a healthy and wealthy young man, and bear in mind that whoever has a yearning (to know Allah while he is young) start will have a bright end.
3- The literal meaning of the word "Masjid":
The literal meaning of the word "Masjid" is the place that is built specially for prostration (for offering Salah). Hence, we have the wide meaning of Masjid which refers to any place on earth where man offers prostration, even if it is the church when man has no other place to offer Salah, so in this case the church is the Masjid. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And (said) that you should face Him only (i.e. worship none but Allah and face the Qiblah, i.e. the Ka'bah at Makkah during prayers) in each and every place of worship, in prayers (and not to face other false deities and idols),﴿
Upon entering one of Allah's houses (Masajid), listen what happens:
(Masajid are My houses on the earth. Those who frequent them are My visitors. Good tidings to a slave who purifies himself in his house and then visits Me in My house for it is the duty of the Host to honor His guest.)
You are now in the Masjid, are you served tea, coffee or fruit? Not at all, and there are no chairs as well, yet if Allah wills He gives you wisdom in this sacred place.
﴾ And he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding. ﴿
In Masjid, you will be given Allah's Content, and you will be pleased with Allah besides being given security.
﴾ (He) Who has fed them against hunger, and has made them safe from fear. ﴿
You will be honored by knowing Allah the Almighty. Be aware that Allah's Bestowal is substantial when you are at His house.
(Masajid are My houses on the earth. Those who frequent them are My visitors. Good tidings to a slave who purifies himself in his house and then visits Me in My house for it is the duty of the Host to honor His guest.)
Allah will honor you with the grace of security, so you should forget all your worries. Also, Allah will make you optimistic.
﴾ Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us.﴿
Allah the Almighty will give you wisdom.
﴾ And he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding. ﴿
Allah will honor you with the grace of serenity in your heart. Allah gives people different sorts of graces such as health, intelligence, wealth and beauty, but serenity is given only to the chosen ones amongst believers.
There is emptiness in the soul that can never be filled even if man owns money, beautiful wife or high position, because this emptiness is filled only by believing in Allah, knowing Him, obeying Him and drawing close to Him. Harun Ar-Rasheed said once to a passing cloud, "Rain wherever you wish, your profits will come to us". Likewise, wherever a person goes his return shall be to Allah one day, but success lies in turning to Allah at the right time when he is still young.
"And invoke Him only making your religion sincere to Him":
Sincerity is the worship of the heart, whereas the acts of worship are the worship of the body and limbs, thus worship Allah with a sincere heart.
﴾ Making your religion sincere to Him ﴿
Dear brothers, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And invoke Him only making your religion sincere ﴿
Do not resort to this or that person and then invoke Allah and say, "O Lord, help me", but rather you should seek your needs from Allah Alone and then make use of the available means. Do not put your trust in these means, but put your trust in the One Who created them, lest you are involved in hidden shirk (polytheism), and then invoking Allah will do you no good.
(I have no need to have partners)
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And invoke Him only making your religion sincere to Him by not joining in worship any partner to Him and with the intention that you are doing your deeds for Allah's sake only. As He brought you (into being) in the beginning, so shall you be brought into being (on the Day of Resurrection) [in two groups, one as a blessed one (believers), and the other as a wretched one (disbelievers)]. ﴿
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾A group He has guided, and a group deserved to be in error; (because) surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Auliya' (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah, and consider that they are guided.﴿
"A group He has guided, and a group deserved to be in error":
The different sorts of guidance:
In order to avoid having negative thoughts of Allah, given well thinking of Allah is the price for Paradise, scholars categorized guidance to four kinds: The guidance of the revelation (Quran and Sunnah), the guidance of the Divine Prosperity, the guidance of interests and the guidance of entering Paradise. I would like to talk about the guidance of prosperity (Hidayatu At-Tawfeeq). Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ They were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance. ﴿
He, who seeks faith, Allah will guide him more and more and this is the guidance of prosperity:
﴾ You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). ﴿
The guidance of revelation (Quran and Sunnah) is for the entire mankind, for the Quran, the Prophetic Sunnah and Da'wah to Allah by the Islamic missioners day and night are available to everyone. Thus, it is man's responsibility to decide whether to be guided or not. If man decides to be guided, he will deserve the third kind of guidance which is "The guidance of prosperity", in the sense that since he takes that decision, he will get help from Allah to obey Him, to offer good deeds, to earn money (in order to be able to donate to the needy) and to remember Allah.
1- The guidance which maintains man's life in general:
Let me repeat again, the first kind of guidance (the Quran and the Sunnah) is available to all mankind. As for the guidance of interests, it means that man is molded to be able to rectify what is wrong. The human body in this sense is created to have an ability to cure itself, so if he eats something spoilt, he will vomit it, or if he has a fraction in a bone it will be cured after a while. This kind of guidance is also at the disposal of all people even the disbelievers. Hence, Allah guided mankind to whatever falls within their interests.
Why rotten food is disgusted by man? Because man was created that way, and Allah made rotten food smells bad for that reason. Thus, Allah guides people towards whatever falls within their interests. Open heart surgeries is a good example of this guidance, for cardiologists are able to replace a valve in the heart after stopping it or even implant a new heart then give it an electric shock, and it will beat again. Had the heart stopped without recovering, no open heart surgery would have been operated ever again. Who associates every disease with symptoms? Allah does and had it been without these symptoms, we would not have had physicians and medicine to begin with.
The guidance of interests is a very detailed topic. Can you make a dead man stand? You cannot, because only living people stand. Though the dead man has legs, these legs are too small to balance him and make him stand, while the living man has a system that helps him stand still and remain balanced, and it is placed in the middle ear. Allah guides man to the best of his interests. This is the first guidance.
2- The guidance of the Revelation (Quran, Sunnah and Du'aat):
The second guidance is sending the Quran and Sunnah and Du'aat (Islamic missioners) to mankind.
3- The guidance of prosperity is manifested in the Divine Help to man:
The third guidance comes when man accepts the Revelation and takes the decision to be a believer and to follow Allah's Path. This third guidance is manifested in Allah's Help (to man).
﴾ But Allah has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience (to Allah and His Messenger ) hateful to you. These! They are the rightly guided ones, ﴿
This is the guidance of help. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾A group He has guided,﴿
He, who believes in Allah, will get help from Him, so Allah will guide Him to the people of the truth, and He will help him in obeying Him, in lowering his gaze, in being honest, in staying away from all obscene songs and in choosing the righteous wife who might not be beautiful, but since he has chosen her for the Sake of Allah he will get help from Him.
﴾ You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). ﴿
﴾A group He has guided,﴿
This is the guidance of prosperity. As for the one who rejects Allah's Revelation:
﴾ And a group deserved to be in error; (because) surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Auliya' (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah,﴿
"Surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Auliya' (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah":
He will befriend Shaitan who will endear sins to him, make him fear spending on the poor and sow dissension between him and his wife. Why do they deserve to be in error?
﴾ Deserved to be in error;﴿
They deserve to be in error because:
﴾(Because) surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Auliya' (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah,﴿
When man commits a sin and he knows that it is a sin, so he fears Allah the Almighty thereupon, his repentance is very easy. On the other hand, the worst sin is the one committed by the who disobeys Allah, but he believes that he is doing the right thing.
﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH) : "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds! ﴿
It is said, "One might be ignorant, but he is unaware of that, so consider this man evil and stay away from him." The utmost wrong person in life is the semi-knowledgeable one, because he is not knowledgeable, so others may benefit from his knowledge, nor is he ignorant, so that he seeks knowledge.
﴾A group He has guided, and a group deserved to be in error; (because) surely they took the Shayatin (devils) as Auliya' (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah, and consider that they are guided.﴿
