Allah Almighty Says what means: "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient." [Quran 3:110]
Islam is the best tool for relieving humankind of its ills. When we look at one another as individual beings with our diverse capacities and ideas we should be able to see the beauty of Allah's handiwork. But too often we fall into the trap laid by Iblees (Satan) when Allah created Aadam. Iblees (Satan) became haughty and arrogant and felt that he was the best of creation. Allah Almighty Says what means: {And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Aadam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.} [Quran 2: 34] Here Allah Almighty mentions that rejection of faith lies in refusal to obey Allah's command through haughtiness. Many of us are haughty due to having pride in our accomplishments, our acquisitions and our positions in comparison to our fellow human beings. But is this what Allah placed us on earth to do?
He, Almighty, tells us in Quran (what means): {…Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.} [Quran 5:48] Obviously, His plan was to make us different types of people so that we could realize our diversity and put forth every effort to lead one another to the Almighty. Being different only obliged us to work as one people to promote the good and forbid the wrong.
To work as one people striving to Allah we must overcome our desire to use our ethnicity or race as a means to divide us. Every race struggles to hold on to, their inherited identity but in so doing, in the long run, we may encounter the risk of eliminating an aspect of our lives that will make us better people.
Poverty syndrome
Poverty separates people. At times we look to display our accomplishments in ways that glamorize and tickle the fancy of others. Everything looks well put together and organized, but when we take an in-depth look behind the scene, we may have overlooked some critical factors. Why aren't there more people of color present at the event? Were they included in the planning stages? Was every effort made to get their input? As an observer of this phenomenon, all too often, I notice that more times than necessary, poverty is a factor. The fees to attend many programs are out off the scale for poor Muslims. Also, location plays a pivotal role in attendance. Every Muslim does not have a car and many rely on public transportation to get around. And, in a predominant white America, how does this apply to Muslims? The reality is that many Muslims of fair complexion are more comfortable being recognized as Caucasian rather than people of color.
Consciously, our brethren don't use this as a factor but subconsciously it is used in the workplace, in the public sphere and in the most sacred place for the Muslim, the Mosque. If one grew up in America during the 50s, 60s and 70s, it was emphasized that the one with the lighter skin complexion would have a better chance of being mainstreamed in with their Caucasian counterpart and therefore apportioned some of the fruits of that community. The stigma that was placed on the darkness of ones' skin became synonymous with failure. This was also taught to people of other countries before they came to America. The mantra was "stay away from the black Americans”.
Unfortunately, people of color tend to be among the poorest around the world. Their struggle has been documented throughout history. But, the one theme among this impoverished group has been to strive in the fact of adversity.
If you can read you can learn and if you can learn you can succeed. Yet the opportunities for success do not always be within the reach of all.
A community that is largely Caucasian has a greater chance of opening the door to advancement for its residents than a community wherein the population is primarily African-American. But, it doesn't have to be that way. If the prosperous community took their ideas into a seemingly hopeless community as a means to inform them of the potential for success rather than deride them for their lack of motivation, working with them and pushing them to see that they too can thrive, a step toward equality can begin.
Now, let us substitute Muslim for prosperous and look at ourselves to see how some of us have neglected the less-fortunate in our midst and we will see where the genuine work of a believer belongs.
Knowledge
"What you don't know can kill you" is a saying attributed to ignorance. Allah, the Almighty, tells us in the Quran (what means): {And [mention O Mohammad] when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." And He taught Aadam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."} [Quran 2:30-32]
Clearly, without a true understanding of why we do something we will continue to have impoverished souls. The example of Aadam before the angels can be compared to the truly intelligent and the analytical among us. A scholar made the point that the intelligent one is aware of Allah's mercy to His creation, submits to it and obeys wherein the analytical one has not yet grasped the glory of Allah and still questions His Omnipotence seemingly looking for a way out. Knowledge enlightens the soul and nurtures humility. Taking the position of slave/servant to Allah broadens our perspective and invokes in us the will to submit willingly to His commands. Acknowledging our similarities and differences as assets rather than losses will bring us closer to Allah and closer to one another.
In order to remove subtle racism there has to be an admission that it exists. Then steps must be made to heal and rekindle a relationship that predates modern man. Our community can regain its place as leaders of the world, but only if we accept our destiny as a unit of one Ummah in a race towards the everlasting bounties of Allah.
Allah Almighty reminds His slaves of the heat of Hell by making them experience very high temperatures during the summer.
The Prophet informed us that Hell has two breaths: it inhales during our winter and exhales during our summer; he also stated that the extreme heat people experience during the summer is due to this exhalation. This information from the Prophet is a reminder to us of the Hellfire.
The narration of the Prophet regarding this is not a figurative one; rather, it is unambiguous and very real. The Prophet said: “When the heat reaches an excessive level then (delay the) prayer until it cools, as extreme heat comes from the vehement raging of Hell.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This was said because if people were to pray during such a very hot time, then they would be distracted from their prayers and lose their submissiveness and humility in it.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said:“The (Hell) Fire complained to its Lord saying: 'O my Lord! My different parts consume each other, so allow me to breathe.' Therefore He (i.e., Allah) allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in summer, and this is the reason for the severe heat and the bitter cold you find (in weather).” [Al-Bukhari]
As believers we are commanded to believe in this as it is from the unseen, even though we may not perceive it or understand exactly how it could occur. We fully believe in it regardless, because it was narrated to us via the truthful, trustworthy Prophet of Allah . It is therefore the duty of the believer to protect himself from the punishment of Hell.
The punishment of Hell in the grave
The punishment of Hell is not limited to the Hereafter; rather, part of it touches the person who deserves it in his grave, just as parts of it touch all people in this worldly life in the form of extreme heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter.
Al-Baraa’ bin ‘Aazib, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet was once at the funeral of one of the Ansaar, may Allah be pleased with him, when he began informing some of his companions who were present of the situations of the believer, the disbeliever and the sinner upon their burial in their graves. After mentioning the situation of the believer, he addressed that of the sinner and the disbeliever, saying: “…And two angels come to him and ask him to sit; they say: ‘Who is your Lord?’ He answers: ‘Haah, Haah, I do not know.’ They ask: ‘What is your religion?’ He answers: ‘Haah, Haah, I do not know.’ Then, a voice says from Heaven that My slave is not telling the truth, so make his clothing and furnishing that of fire, and open a gate of fire towards him so as to make him smell (its terrible stench) and suffer its scorching wind. His grave is then made so tight that his bones intertwine. A voice then says: `Spread his grave with the fire (of Hell) and dress him with the fire (of Hell) and open a gate towards him from Hell, so that he may feel its heat.' Then a blind and mute creature will appear with an iron rod in his hand, and if a mountain were to be struck with this rod it would turn into dust; (the creature) would strike him with this rod and cause him to make such a piercing scream that it could be heard in the farthest parts (of the earth), east and west, and everything will hear his cry except Jinn and mankind. Then a man of evil complexion and horrid smell visits him. The buried slave man asks him: ‘Who are you?’ and adds: ‘You have a threatening and wretched face.’ The man answers: ‘I am your evil deeds coming to you with the bad news'….” [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]This is how he would admonish and remind his companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
Allah Says (what means): {Not equal are the blind and the seeing. Nor are the darknesses and the light. Nor are the shade and the heat.} [Quran 35: 19-21] Here Allah highlights that opposites are not necessarily equal: faith is not equal to disbelief; those who follow the Sunnah are not equal to those who innovate in the religion; and, the religious person is not equal to the dissolute; Allah Says (what means): {The example of the two parties is like the blind and the deaf, and the seeing and hearing. Are they equal in comparison?...} [Quran 11: 24]
Paradise has shade that never decreases or disappears, unlike that of this worldly life which is dependant on the movement of the sun. But how is the shade in Hell? It is a 'shade' of hot black smoke that neither shades nor protects from any heat; rather, it only adds to it. Also, the drink of the people of hell is water that is so hot that it slashes the intestines and does not quench thirst in the least.
Ways to protect oneself against the heat of the Hellfire
Allah gives us reminders so that we may take heed and consider. The following are some means to protect oneself against the Hellfire:
Seeking refuge in Allah from its heat: The Prophet directed us to seek refuge in Allah as a means of protecting ourselves from the Hellfire. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “When any one of you has completed his Tashahhud during prayer, he should seek refuge in Allah from four things, saying: "Allahumma inni a`oothu bika min `athaabi jahannam, wa min `athaabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamaat, wa min sharri fitnatil-maseehid-dajjaal (i.e., 'O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the mischief of Al-Maseeh Ad-Dajjaal (i.e., the Antichrist)'.” [Muslim]
Fasting
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet said: “He who observes fasting for a day in the Cause of Allah, Allah will distance his face from the Hellfire for a distance equivalent to seventy years of travel, as a reward for fasting that day.” [An-Nasaa’i] Due to this narration, Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, would select the hottest and longest days for fasting in.
Jihaad (i.e. fighting, struggle) for the sake of Allah
This is one of the greatest means with which one can protect himself from the heat of Hellfire, even if it entails fighting on the hottest of summer days. The summer heat is what made the hypocrites refrain from Jihaad, as Allah Says (what means): {…And they [i.e., the hypocrites] said: 'Do not go forth in the heat [i.e. for Jihaad].'…} [Quran 9: 81] Allah responded to this at the end of the very same verse, Saying (what means): {Say: 'The fire of Hell is more intense in heat.'…} [Quran 9: 81] Jihaad is the act of worship that enables the slave to attain the highest rewards; it is thus a protection from Hellfire and its heat.
Spending in charity
Charity is another means by which the slave can protect himself from the heat of the Hellfire. `Adiyy bin Haatim, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “I heard the Prophet saying: “Protect yourself from the (Hell) Fire, even (if) by giving half a date (in charity).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] We ask Allah to protect us all from the Hellfire.
Fever is a reminder of the Hellfire
One of the things that remind a person of the heat of Hellfire is being struck by fever. The Prophet informed us that its heat is from the vehemence of the Hellfire. `Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet said: “Fever comes from the vehement raging of Hellfire, so cool it with water.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This is proof that there is a real connection between fever and the Hellfire, and that fever is not merely caused by other physical factors as some people believe, based on their limited view in how to judge matters.
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “I entered into the presence of the Prophet while he was sick and placed my hand upon him and could feel the heat of his body from above the blanket. I said: `O Prophet of Allah! You are afflicted with a very difficult fever.` He responded: “This is how the case is with us Prophets; we get multiples of the hardship and thus receive multiples of reward.” I asked: `O Prophet of Allah! Who are the one's facing the toughest hardships and trials?` He responded: “Those who face the toughest trials and hardships are the Prophets.”I asked: `Then who?' He replied:“Then those who are the most pious (after them). One of them would be afflicted with poverty to the point that he can find only a single garment with which to cover himself. Such a person would rejoice upon receiving a hardship just like one of you rejoices at being eased of one.”" [An-Nasaa’i]
Imaam Al-Bayhaqi reported the following story about fever: “Once Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, had a very bad fever and `Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, conveyed the news to the Prophet who said: “O Allah! Make Madeenah as beloved to us as Makkah and even more so. Make its climate clear and bless our Saa’ and Modd (i.e. measures of weight for food), and move its fever to the area of Juhfah” Allah responded to the supplication of the Prophet and fever, which was one of the famous diseases of Madeenah, shifted to the area of Juhfah.”
One should not curse fever, as it is man’s share of Hell and is a means by which Allah expiates sins. The Prophet forbade cursing it, saying: “Do not curse it, as it expiates sins.”
Incidentally, Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that fever is to be treated by means of cold water for three consecutive days just before dawn, and this is also a well known method of treatment in modern medicine.
Being wary of our odour during hot seasons
A Muslim must be heedful of his fellow Muslims and ensure that he does not get a bad odour as a result of the summer heat. During the summer it is likelier for a person to sweat and thus develop a very bad smell if he fails to wash himself and change his clothes regularly.‘Ikrimah narrated: “A group of people from Iraq came to Madeenah and questioned Ibn ‘Abbaas, saying: `O Ibn ‘Abbaas! Do you rule the Ghusl (i.e. ritual bath) on the day of Friday (before the sermon) as mandatory?` He, may Allah be pleased with him, responded: `No, but it is purity and is (therefore) better for the one who performs it. I will tell you how the legislation of Ghusl came about: The poor inhabitants of Madeenah would wear woollen clothes and toil very hard. The mosque was very small with a low ceiling made of tree branches. One hot day, the Prophet came out while these people were sweating profusely due to the type of clothes they were wearing and a very bad smell emanated from them, to the extent that it offended others. When the Prophet smelt this, he said: “O people! On this day (i.e. Friday) you need to perform Ghusl and each of you should use the best perfume he has.”`"
Based on the above narration, some of the scholars ruled that performing a Ghusl on the day of Friday (i.e. before the sermon) is mandatory upon those who have a bad smell emanating from them, otherwise they will be sinning. Others hold the opinion that it is mandatory upon everybody who will attend the Friday prayer and sermon.
