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(And the performing of Hajj to the House is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those
who can afford the expenses; and whoever disbelieves, then Allah is free from need
of the worlds.) [3:97]
Hajj is the largest Islamic gathering, and likely the largest gathering of humanity on
earth. Muslims from all over the world come together at one place and one time; they
all call upon the same Lord, wear the same clothes, perform the same rituals, and
recite the same call:
Labayka Allahumma labayk; Labayka laa shareeka laka, labayk; in nal-hamda wanni’mata
laka wal-mulk; laa shareeka lak.
“At your service, O Allah, at your service. At your service, You have no Partners, at
your service. Indeed, all praises, bounties, and the dominion are Yours. You have no
Partners.”
No difference is made between rich and poor, noble and ignoble, white and black,
Arab and non-Arab; all are the same in front of Allah. There is no difference between
them except in piety. The Hajj is an event which emphasizes the brotherhood of all
Muslims and the unity of their hopes and feelings.
THE PILLARS OF FAITH (IMAAN)
BELIEF IN ALLAH
Faith in Allah is to believe that there is no true deity except Allah, Alone, without any
partner, rival, or companion. It is the belief that He is the Creator of this existence, and
none can do as they please with it except Him. Nothing comes into existence except
after His leave and nothing occurs except what He desires. Allah says:
(Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the
worlds.) [7:54]
He has no partner regarding His Lordship; He is the only Creator, Provider, and One
Who disposes of the affairs of this universe. Allah says:
(Say [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم]: ‘Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for
Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded,
and I am the first of the Muslims.’) [6:162-163]
He has no partner in His exclusive right that all worship should be directed towards
Him. Allah says:
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says:
(And So inquire of them, [O Muhammad], “Does your Lord have daughters while
they have sons? Or did We create the angels as females while they were witnesses?”
Unquestionably, it is out of their [invented] falsehood that they say,” Allah has
begotten,” and indeed, they are liars.) [37:149-152]
Allah has informed us of the names and tasks of some of the angels, and others He has
not informed us. We must, believe in them all.
BELIEF IN ALLAH’S BOOKS
It is to believe that Allah revealed heavenly Books to His Messengers in order for them
to convey them to mankind. These books contain nothing but the truth; they do not
contain any falsehood. All these Books call people to the Oneness of Allah, and that
He is the Creator, Proprietor and Owner, and to Him belong the beautiful Attributes
and Names. Some of those books are the following:
The Torah: The Torah is the Sacred Book which was revealed to Moses .
Allah says:
(Verily, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who
submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that
with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses
thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a
small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those
who are the disbelievers.) [5:44]
The Psalms: The Book of Psalms is the Book which was revealed to David. Allah
says:
(… and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].) [4:163]
The Gospel: The Gospel is the Sacred Book which was revealed to Jesus . Allah
says:
(And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that
which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was
guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance
and instruction for the righteous.) [5:46]
The Muslim must believe in all the Heavenly Books and he must believe that they are
from Allah. Though, it is not lawful for him to abide by its laws, since these Books were
revealed to specific nations during specific times. It is attributed to Jesus in the Bible
(And We sent not before you any messenger except that We
revealed to him that, “There is no deity except Me, so worship
Me.”) [21:25]
He has no equal in His Names and Attributes. Allah says:
(And the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by
them, and leave [the company of] those who practice deviation
concerning His names.) [7:180]
This belief means that only He has the right to be worshipped and
no one else. None should be depended upon, none should be
asked, and none should be supplicated to relieve some hardship or
fulfill some goal except Allah. He is the only One who deserves any
type of worship, without exception.
This belief also means that Allah has the most beautiful and loftiest
of Names and Attributes. We are not to delve into them by asking
‘the way’ they are, nor are we to deny them or misconstrue their
meanings. Far removed is He from every imperfection. Allah says:
(There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-
Seer.) [42:11]
BELIEF IN THE ANGELS
It is to believe that the Angels are from the creation of Allah; no-one
knows their exact number except Him. They are from the unseen
world. Allah created them to worship and obey Him. Allah says:
(Never would the Messiah disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor
would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship
and is arrogant - He will gather them to Himself all together.) [4:172]
Allah has charged the Angels with specific duties, and they do what
they are commanded. Allah says:
(… over which are [appointed] angels stern and severe, who disobey
not the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they
are commanded.) [66:6]
The angels are not partners, associates, or rivals with Allah, nor are
they His children; but one must still respect and love them. Allah
●● Belief in Allah’s
Books: is to believe
that Allah revealed
heavenly Books to His
Messengers in order
for them to convey
them to mankind.
●●Allah has informed us
about of the names
and tasks of some of
the angels, and others
He has not informed
us about. We must,
believe in them all.
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knows their exact number except Allah. Allah says:
(And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم]; of some of
them We have related to you their story, and of some We have not related to you their
story. And it was not for any messenger to bring a sign [or verse] except by permission
of Allah.) [40:78]
One must believe in all of them and that they were human; they were not supernatural
beings. Allah says:
(And We sent not before you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم] but men to whom We inspired, so
ask the people of the message if you do not know. And We did not create them with
bodies that had no need to eat food, nor were they immortal.) [21:7-8]
Allah says about Jesus in the Qur’an:
(The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on
before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how
We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.) [5:75]
One must believe in all of them. If one believes in some and disbelieves in others, he
leaves the folds of Islam. Allah says:
(Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction
between Allah and His Messengers saying, ‘We believe in some but reject others,’ and
wish to adopt a way in between.’ They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared
for the disbelievers a humiliating torment.) [4:150-151]
The first messenger was Noah , and the last was Muhammad .صلى الله عليه وسلم
BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY
It is to believe that the life of this world will come to an end. Allah says:
(Whatsoever is on the earth will perish.) [55:26]
To believe in the life of the Barzakh: This life is the time after one’s death until
the Last Day. In it, the believer will live a life of pleasure, while the disbeliever will be
punished. Allah says:
(The Fire; they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon, And the Day the Hour appears
[it will be said], “Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.”) [40:46]
To believe in the Resurrection: Allah will resurrect mankind, naked, barefooted,
and uncircumcised. Allah says:
(The disbelievers claim that they will never be resurrected. Say, “Yes, by my Lord, you
will surely be resurrected; then you will surely be informed of what you did. And that,
that he said:
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [Matthew,
15:24]
The Qur’an has explained some of what was found in the Torah and
the Gospel; such as the prophecy of Muhammad :صلى الله عليه وسلم
(… and My mercy encompasses all things.” So I will decree it
[especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those
who believe in Our verses. Those who follow the Messenger,
the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they
have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them
what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful
for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and
relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were
upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him,
supported him and followed the light which was sent down
with him - it is those who will be the successful.) [7:156-157]
The Noble Qur’an: One must believe that the Qur’an is the
Speech of Allah which the Angel Gabriel brought to Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم, and that it is the last of the Heavenly Books which abrogates all
previous Books. Mankind must believe in the Qur’an, the one upon
whom it was revealed, and the Deen which it brought.
BELIEF IN THE MESSENGERS
It is to believe that Allah chose the finest amongst mankind to be
Messengers whom He sent to His creation with specific legislations;
to worship and obey Allah, and to establish His Deen and His
Tawheed. He ordered His Messengers to convey the Message to
people, so that they would not have any proof against Allah(1) after
He sent them.
Allah also chose people amongst mankind as Prophets to affirm
the legislation and Deen of the messenger sent before them and to
call people to it. There are many prophets and messengers; no one
(1) They will not be able to say, “Had Allah sent us messengers, we would have followed
His commands and become of the believers.”
●●One must believe
that the Qur’an is the
Speech of Allah which
Jibreel brought
to Muhammad, and
that it is the last of
the Heavenly Books
which abrogateds all
previous Books.
●● The Muslim must
believe in all the
Heavenly Books and
he must believe that
they are from Allah.
HOW CAN ONE SAVE
Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Sheha
79
for Allah, is easy.”) [64:7]
To believe in the Gathering: Allah will gather all creation together and call them to
account. Allah says:
(And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth
prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.) [18:47]
To believe that people will be brought before Allah in rows: Allah says:
(And they shall be brought before your Lord, standing in rows: “You have certainly
come to Us just as We created you the first time. But you claimed that We would never
make for you an appointment.”) [18:48]
To believe that one’s limbs will bear witness. Allah says:
(Till, when they reach it, their hearing and their eyes, and their skins will testify against
them as to what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, ‘Why do you testify
against us?’ They will say: ‘Allah has caused us to speak, He causes all things to speak:
and He created you the first time, and to Him you are made to return.’ And you have
not been hiding yourselves, lest your ears, and your eyes, and your skins testify against
you; but you thought that Allah knew not much of what you were doing.) [41:20-22]
To believe in the Questioning. Allah says:
(But stop them; verily they are to be questioned. [They will be asked], “What is [wrong]
with you? Why do you not help each other?” But they, that Day, are in surrender.) [37:24-
26]
To believe in the Siraat (Bridge over the Hellfire) and that everyone must pass over
it. Allah says:
(There is not one of you but will pass over [Hell]; this is upon your Lord an inevitability
decreed.) [19:71]
To believe in the weighing of deeds. Allah will call people to account and reward
those who did well with what they deserve, due to their righteous deeds, their faith,
and adherence to their Messengers, and He will punish those who did evil. Allah says:
(And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be
treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring
it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.) [21:47]
To believe in the handing out of Scrolls and Books. Allah says:
(Then, as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, He surely will receive an
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reason for this, is that a person would realize that what he does to achieve his goal is
not in fact the true cause behind it; rather it is the Will of Allah. These ‘means’ to fulfill
our goals are also considered from the Qadar of Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked:
O Messenger of Allah, do the verses and supplications we recite and the medicine we
take to cure ourselves waive the Qadar of Allah?’ (He replied,) ‘They are themselves
from the Qadar of Allah.’ [Mustadrak al-Haakim]
Hunger, thirst, feeling cold, are from the Qadaa’ and Qadr. One seeks to satisfy hunger
through eating, thirst through drinking and coldness by keeping warm. A person
seeks to fend themselves from what was decreed for them from hunger, thirst and
coldness by what was decreed for them from eating, drinking, and seeking warmth.
They seek to prevent one Qadar with another.
One must, fulfill whatever means are possible to achieve his goal, for the means are
also a part of Qadaa’ and Qadr. One becomes pleased with the results (whatever they
may be), which in turn produces peace of heart and spiritual comfort. There is no
room for stress, worry, or sadness. It is known that stress and unrest of heart leads
to many sicknesses. Having belief in this concept prevents and cures many of these
sicknesses. Allah says:
(No evil befalls on the earth nor in your own souls, but it is in a book before We bring
it into existence; surely that is easy for Allah: So that you may not grieve for what has
escaped you, nor be exultant at what He has given you; and Allah does not love any
arrogant boaster.) [57:22-23]
It encourages knowledge and exploration of what Allah created in this universe.
Afflictions, such as disease, drive humans to seek their cure, and this is done by
searching for the sources of medicine which Allah, the Exalted, created in this universe.
It eases the effects of calamities faced by humans and eliminates the feeling of
regret about what has already passed. If someone loses money in a business, this is
considered a hardship. If this hardship was followed by the feeling of remorse and
sorrow, it would result in two hardships: the hardship of the financial loss and the
hardship of feeling remorse and sorrow. If one believes in the Divine Measure of
Qadaa’ and Qadr, he would be pleased with what has occurred, because he knows
that it was inevitable. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
Be keen to do what benefits you and seek help in Allah, and do not be neglectful in
doing so. And if any mishap befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had only done such and
easy reckoning. And he will return to his family in joy! But whosoever
is given his Record behind his back. He will cry out for destruction. And
[enter to] burn in a Blaze.) [84:7-12]
To believe that people will be rewarded with Jannah or Hellfire in an
everlasting and eternal life that will never end. Allah says:
(Verily, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and
the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein.
Those are the worst of creatures. Verily, those who believe and do
righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward with
Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers
flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them
and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord.) [98:6-8]
To believe in the Hawd(2), Intercession, and all other things which
the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم informed us.
BELIEF IN QADAA´ AND QADAR
It is to believe that Allah knew everything before it came into being,
and what will happen to it afterward. He then brought them into
existence, all in accordance to His perfect knowledge and measure.
Allah says:
(Verily, We have created all things with Qadar.) [54:49]
Everything which occurred in the past, that which is occurring in
the present and what will occur in the future is known to Allah
before it came into existence. Allah then brought it into being, all in
accordance to His Will and Measure. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“A person is not a Muslim until he believes in Qadar, its good and
its evil consequences - until he knows that whatever happened to
him would have never missed him, and what did not happen to him
would never have occurred.” [Tirmidhi]
This belief does not contradict the fact that one must strive to attain
things. To clarify this, if a person wants a child he must do certain
things to achieve this goal; such as getting married. After he does all
that is in his power, he may be granted what he wishes or not. The
(2) The pool which Allah granted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم; whoever drinks from it once, will never
feel thirsty thereafter.
●● Everything which
occurred in the past,
that which is occurring
in the present and
what will occur in the
future is known to
Allah before it came
into existence.
●● QADAR It is to believe
that Allah knew
everything before it
came into being, and
what will happen to it
afterward.
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Allah did not send him specifically to the Arabs, but rather to all mankind. Allah says:
(And We have not sent you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم] except comprehensively as a giver of
glad tidings and a Warner to all mankind.) [34:28]
Allah sent him so that the entire creation may achieve true happiness, and to show
them the path of truth, goodness and to warn them against falsehood and evil. Allah
said:
(And We have only sent you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم] as a mercy for the worlds.) [21:107]
Even before he received revelation, he was known amongst his people as ‘The
Trustworthy’, and they would entrust him with their belongings when they set off on a
journey. He was also known as ‘The Truthful’ due to the truthfulness they knew of him.
They never found him making excuses, lying, acting treacherously nor deceivingly. He
always desired good for others.
He received his first revelation at the age of forty, and he informed his wife Khadeejah
saying:
“Indeed I fear for myself.” Khadeejah replied, “No, by Allah! Allah will never humiliate
you. Indeed you maintain ties of kinship, you shoulder the problems of others, you
give wealth to those who do not have it, you honor and feed your guest, and you give
support in times of true calamity.” [Bukhari]
He remained in Mecca for thirteen years thereafter, calling people to believe in the
true Monotheism of Islam. He then migrated to the city of Madinah and called its
inhabitants to Islam, which they accepted. There, Allah revealed to him the remaining
legislations of the Deen. He returned and conquered Mecca eight years after his
migration, and he died at the age of sixty-three after Allah revealed to him the entire
Qur’an. All the legislations of the Deen were perfected and completed and the entirety
of the Arabian peninsula had accepted Islam.
He was the most perfect of mankind in respect to his creation and manners.
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT MUHAMMAD
The German poet Goethe said:
‘I looked into history for a human paradigm and found it to be in Muhammad ’.صلى الله عليه وسلم
Annie Besant in ‘The Life and Teachings of Mohammad,’ said:
‘It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of
such,’ but rather say, ‘This is the Qadar of Allah, and whatever He
Wills He does’, for indeed (the saying of) ‘if’ opens the door for the
Devil.” [Muslim]
It increases one’s dependence upon Allah and removes fear of the
creation. Ibn ‘Abbaas said
“I was behind the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم one day and he صلى الله عليه وسلم said to
me:
‘O young boy, I will teach you some words: Guard Allah’s
commandments and he will guard you. Guard Allah’s
commandments, you will find Him in front of you. And If you ask,
then ask Allah, and if you seek help, then seek help in Allah and
know that if the whole world was to gather to help you, they would
never be able to help you except with something which Allah has
already written for you. If the whole world was to gather to bring
you some harm, they would not be able to harm you except with
something which Allah has already written for you. The pens have
been lifted, and the scrolls have dried’.” [Tirmidhi]
Belief in Qadar is not, as some mistakenly think, a call to put
one’s trust in Allah without striving or fulfilling the means, for the
Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم replied to a person who asked him:
‘Should I leave my camel untied and trust in Allah (that it will be
here when I get back)?’ He said, ‘Tie it and then put your trust in
Allah.” [Ibn Hibbaan]
He also said:
“By Him in Whose Hands is my soul, that one of you goes and chops
wood, ties it, and carries it on his back is better than for him to go
and beg people, whether they give him money or not.” [Bukhari]
IWSLHAOM I?S THE MESSENGER OF
He is Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the final Messenger. Allah says:
(Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the
Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets.) [33:40]
●● Belief in Qadar is not,
as some mistakenly
think, a call to put one’s
trust in Allah without
striving or fulfilling the
means.
●● One must fulfill
whatever means are
possible to achieve his
goal, for the means
are also a part of
Qadaa’ and Qadr. One
becomes pleased with
the results (whatever
they may be), which in
turn produces peace
of heart and spiritual
comfort.
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and it guarantees happiness for all in its implementation. Allah says:
(And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance
and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.) [16:89]
The Qur’an has documented the stories of the Prophets and Messengers, and what
happened between them and their peoples, from Adam through to Muhammad .صلى الله عليه وسلم
It was revealed to mankind in order that they may live a life of peace and happiness,
and to take them out of the darkness of the various falsehoods to the one light of
Islam. Allah says:
((This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم] in order that
you might lead mankind out of darkness into light by the permission of their Lord - to
the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.) [14:1]
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE QUR’AN
Maurice Bucaille, said in his book: The Bible, the Qur’an, and Science:
‘A totally objective examination of [the Qur’an] in the light of modern knowledge, leads
us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has been already noted on repeated
occasions. It makes us deem it quite unthinkable for a man of Muhammad’s time to have
been the author of such statements, on account of the state of knowledge in his day.
Such considerations are part of what gives the Qurʹanic Revelation its unique place,
and forces the impartial scientist to admit his inability to provide and explanation which
calls solely upon materialistic reasoning.’
ISLAM AND KNOWLEDGE
The Deen of Islam encourages knowledge and its pursuit, and it rebukes ignorance
and cautions against it. Allah says:
(Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’) [39:9]
Allah says:
(Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted
knowledge...) [58:11]
It encourages that one seek increase in it. Allah said:
(And say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.’) [20:114]
Islam gives great respect to scholars and gives them their due right. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
stated their excellence when he said:
Arabia, who knew how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything
but reverence for the mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers
of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many
things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel, whenever I
reread them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for
that mighty Arabian teacher.’
WHAT IS THE QUR’AN?
It is the Words of Allah which the Angel Gabriel conveyed to
Muhammad .صلى الله عليه وسلم
The Qur’an differs from the previous Heavenly Books in the
following ways:
It is the last Heavenly Book which was revealed, and for that
reason, Allah, the Exalted, promised to protect it from any distortion
until the Last Day. One must believe that Allah has preserved the
Qur’an from all distortions, adulterations, additions, or impairments.
Allah says:
(Indeed it is We who sent down the revelation and indeed, We will
be its guardian.) [15:9]
Reciting it is an act of worship; this is one of the ways it is
preserved by Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Whoever recites one letter of the Qur’an, he will receive ten
rewards. I do not mean that ‘Alif Laam Meem’ is one letter, rather,
‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Laam’ is a letter, and ‘Meem’ is a letter.” [Tirmidhi]
Memorizing it is also an act of worship. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“One who has not memorized any of the Qur’an is like an abandoned
house.” [Tirmidhi]
Paying importance to it and teaching it is also regarded as an act of
worship. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” [Bukhari]
The Qur’an includes all the legislations which reform society
●● The Qur’an includes
all the legislations
which reform society
and it guarantees
happiness for all in its
implementation.
●● It is the last Heavenly
Book which was
revealed, and for that
reason, Allah, the
Exalted, promised to
protect it from any
distortion until the Last
Day.
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There are other rights in the wealth - other than zakah - that are obligatory and would
benefit him in this life and the Hereafter. Allah says:
(But seek, with that [wealth] which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the
Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good
as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land.) [28:77]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“How good is pure wealth when it is in the possession of a righteous person!” [Ibn
Hibbaan]
Islam has forbidden that money be wasted. Allah says:
(And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend
wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to
his Lord ungrateful.) [17:26-27]
“He is not from my nation who does not respect our elders, has
mercy on our young, and does not know the rights of our scholars
over us.” [Ahmed]
It considers the acts of seeking, learning, and teaching knowledge as
means which lead to Jannah. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the
path of Jannah easy for him. The angels lower their wings over
the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The
inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, and even the fish in the
depth of the oceans, seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the
learned person over the devout worshipper is like that of the full
moon to the rest of the stars (in brightness). The learned are the heirs
of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham(3), but only
that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an
abundant portion.” [Abu Dawood]
ISLAM AND WEALTH
In Islam, all wealth is actually the possession of Allah which humans
are entrusted with. It is a responsibility; it must be earned through
lawful means and spent in permissible ways. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“A person will not be able to take a step further on the Day of
Judgment until he is taken to account for the following things: his
time and how he spent it, his knowledge and how he used it, his
money and how he earned and spent it, and about his youth and
how he used it.” [Tirmidhi]
Islam encourages that one seek wealth in order to spend it on one’s
self and those whom he is responsible for, and that he use it to help
those in need. It is also a means of earning reward from Allah if one
spends it in beneficial ways. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings -
for Allah does not accept anything but that which is good - Allah will
take it in His right hand and tend it for the one who gave it as any
one of you tends his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.” [Muslim]
(3) Units of coinage in the early Islamic era corresponding to gold and silver coins,
respectively
●● In Islam, all wealth is
actually the possession
of Allah which humans
are entrusted with. It is
a responsibility; it must
be earned through
lawful means and
spent in permissible
ways.
●●The Deen of
Islam encourages
knowledge and its
pursuit, and it rebukes
ignorance and
cautions against it.
How Can One Save Himself
Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Sheha
89
They have been brainwashed by the haters of Islam, and these haters must be
opposed and warned against. It is also for those who do not know that true happiness
and success lies in accepting and acting upon the Deen of Islam and spreading it. I say
to the likes of these people, do not think with the minds of others, and do not allow
your fate to be decided by others. Allah says:
(And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s
Path. They follow nothing but assumptions, and they do nothing but lie.) [6:116]
Indeed, those that you follow today will be the first to disavow you on the Day of
Judgment. Allah says:
([And they should consider that] when those who have been followed disassociate
themselves from those who followed [them], and they [all] see the punishment, and
cut off from them are the ties [of relationship].) [2:166]
Try to be independent in your thinking, try to weigh things out and try to decide
between truth and falsehood by using the intellect that Allah has granted you. Do not
be biased, stringent, or blindly follow things. Allah says:
(And when it is said to them: ‘Come to what Allah has revealed and unto the
Messenger [Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم].’ They say: ‘Enough for us is that which we found our
fathers following,’ even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever and no
guidance.) [5:104]
The opportunity is there for those wish, but let it be done through proper channels
which give a true picture of Islam. Not everyone who claims to be a follower of Islam
is a Muslim, and not all books which claim to be Islamic give a true picture of Islam, so
take Islam from its proper and valid sources.
Whoever wishes to learn more about Islam can contact the Islamic Center mentioned
at the end of this book.
Allah knows best, and may He exalt the mention of our Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and
render him, his family and companions safe from every derogatory thing.
