Islaam Explained
Reading time: 56 - 93 minutes
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
The following contents have been compiled from various works of eminent scholars of Islaam. All of the contents are posted ‘word for word’ and are from www.islamqa.com. Care has been taken to not portray the only religion accepted by the Creator, with fallacies that may confuse a person about Islaam. Islaam is the truth and there is no room for appologetics to sugar-coat it to suit the whims of others.
We encourage the Muslims to learn Islaam at the hands of reliable scholars and teachers of Islaam who adhere to the methodology of Ahlus Sunnaah wal-Jamaa’ah, to get a better understanding and so that you may practice Islaam fully as Allaah commanded.
We encourage the Kuffaar (non-Muslims) to read the following contents disregarding any bias and to realise that true monotheism lies only with Islaam and that Islaam is the only path to ’salvation’. May Allaah guide you to the Truth - al-Islaam.
Choose whatever topic interests you. We strongly recommend reading all of it in order. As of now it is a random collection, all of it will be arranged properly after all information is collected if Allaah wills.
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Islaam – Meaning
(In Arabic) Islaam means surrender (or submit). It has been taken to describe the status of the one who embraces Allaah’s Religion for he surrenders his will to Allaah and abide by the rules set by Him and conveyed via His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
“And who turns away from the religion of Ibraahim (Abraham) (i.e. Islaamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, “Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!” He said, “I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists).”
[Al Qur’aan – Surah al-Baqarah (002:130-131)]
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion.”
[Al Qur’aan – Surah al-Maa’idah (005:003)]
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.”
[Al Qur’aan – Surah al-‘Imraan (003:085)]
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Islaam – Beginning of the Religion
Islaam began with the beginning of the Prophet’s (saw) mission when Jibraa’eel (the Archangel Gabriel) brought down the Revelation from Allaah in Makkah in the Arabian Peninsula. This occurred on a Monday in the month of Ramadaan, in the fortieth year of the Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) life, thirteen years before his Hijrah (migration) to Madeenah (which marks the beginning of the Islaamic/Hijri calender). According to the Gregorian calendar, the beginning of the Prophetic mission happened around 608/609 CE.
Salmaan al-Farsi (ra), one of the companions of the Prophet (saw), reported that between Muhammad (saw) and ‘Eesaa (Jesus) (as) there were six hundred years.
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Muslim
The person who enters this religion (Islaam) is called a Muslim (one who submits), because he has submitted (aslama) to all the rulings that have come from Allaah and from the Messenger of Allaah (saw). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allaah (i.e. follows Allaah’s Religion of Islaamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin (good-doer i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allaah’s sake only without any show off or to gain praise or fame, etc., and in accordance with the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad (saw)) then his reward is with his Lord (Allaah), on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
[Al Qur’aan – Surah al-Baqarah (002:112)]
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Islaam - The Five Pillars
On the authority of Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar bin al-Khattab, (ra), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say:
“Islaam has been built upon five things - on testifying that there is no god save Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; on performing salah; on giving the zakah; on Hajj to the House; and on fasting during Ramadhan.”
[Bukhari & Muslim]
The pillars of Islaam are:
1) The belief (Imaan) that there is no God to be worshipped except Allaah (the one God) and that Muhammad (saw) is His messenger.
2) Performing the prescribed prayers (Salaat ), five times a day.
3) Fasting (Siyaam) once a year, from sunrise to sunset throughout the entire month of Ramadaan.
4) Charity (Zakaat) which is paid to the poor and needy once every year.
5) Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if one is physically able and can afford it financially.
Pillars are part of a building. The building in this case is the perfect human being who cares and protects the rights of all creations and fellow humans, thus establishing a society in which truth and justice and peace is supreme.
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Muhammad
In brief, Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) was born in a noble tribe of Mecca in Arabia in the year 570 CE (Christian Era). His ancestry goes back to Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon him), son of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was six years old. He did not attend any formal school. He was raised first by a nursemaid in the desert, as it was the customary in those days, then by his grandfather and then by his uncle. As a young man, he was known as a righteous person who used to meditate in a cave. At age 40, he was bestowed with prophet-hood by God through an angel, Gabriel, who appeared to Him in the cave of Hiraa’, in Mecca. Subsequently, revelations were received by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) for a period of 23 years. This book of revelations is called the Qur’aan.
Muslims do not worship Muhammad (peace be upon him), or any other prophet. Muslims believe in all prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them all. Muslims believe that Muhammad peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the last of the Prophets. They believe that only God is to be worshipped, not human beings nor anything else.
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The Ultimate End of Those Who Disbelieved
As for the time before the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), everyone who believed in the previous Messengers, is one of the people of Paradise. Whoever believed in Moosa, ‘Eesa, Hood, Saalih, (Moses, Jesus, Hud, Salih) in all the Messengers - peace be upon them all - , was one of the people of Paradise if he died believing in that.
But after the mission of Muhammad (saw), no one is among the people of Paradise except those who followed Muhammad (saw). All of the people of Earth after the sending of Muhammad (saw) have no way of salvation except by following Muhammad (saw).
The Prophet (saw) said: “All of my ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” It was said: O Messenger of Allaah, who refuses? He said: “Those who obey me will enter Paradise, and those who disobey me have refused.” So the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) are those who will enter Paradise, to the exclusion of others.
And the Prophet (saw) said: “By the one in whose hand is my soul, no one of this nation hears of me, Jew or Christian, then dies without believing in that with which I have been sent, but he will be one of the people of the Fire.”
So after the sending of Muhammad (saw), no one can be one of the people of Paradise except those who follow him. As for those who hear about him and disbelieve in him, and do not believe in him, they are people of the Fire.
[Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 28/44]
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What About the One Who Did Not Hear About Islaam At All?
As for those who do not hear about the Prophet (saw) or the Messenger or of the Qur’aan, they come under the same ruling as those who lived in the intervals between Prophets. Their case will be up to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection; Allaah will test them and those who pass the test will enter Paradise, and those who do not pass the test will enter Hell – we ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
‘… And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)’
[Al Qur’aan – Soorah al-Israa’ (017:015)]
[Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 28/44]
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The Greatest Achievement of Islaam
The greatest achievement of Islaam is that it has freed man from the worship of other beings and delivered him to the worship of the Creator of all beings. As a religious text, the Qur’aan is not a record of inventions or discoveries in this life, but rather a revealed book that helps in the replenishment, enlightenment and solace of humanity. Through it, man can help in the development and civilization of this earth, and through it man can ponder the signs of Allaah’s creation.
Accordingly, Muslims have concentrated on the study of this universe and made great strides in the fields of medicine, astronomy, mathematics, physics, etc. However, the specifics of these contributions are not the area of concentration for Muslim scholars; one can always refer to books written by fair-minded non-Muslims about the achievements of al-Khawarizmi in mathematics, Ibn Haytham in physics, al-Idrisi in geography,and Ibn Nafees in the circulatory system.etc.
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The Testimony of Faith
(Interpretation of the meaning)
“There is no god except Allaah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allaah.”
What it means to bear witness that “there is no god except Allaah” is to deny that anyone other than Allaah has the right to be worshipped, and to affirm that this is the right of Allaah alone, with no partner or associate. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“That is because Allâh He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Bâtil (falsehood) And verily, Allâh He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
[Al Qur'aan - Surah al-Hajj (022:062)]
So the words laa ilaaha (there is no god) deny all things that are worshipped instead of Allaah, and the words illa Allaah (except Allaah) affirm that all kinds of worship are for Allaah alone. So what they mean is that there is none that is rightfully worshipped except Allaah.
Just as Allaah has no partner in His dominion, so too He has no partner in His worship.
What it means to bear witness that “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah” is to believe firmly, from the depths of one’s heart, and express it on one’s lips, that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger to all of creation, mankind and the jinn alike. That means believing what he has told us about events in the past, what he has told us about things that are yet to come, what he has permitted of halaal things, what he has forbidden of haraam things; and it means obeying and following what he has commanded, and giving up and avoiding what he has forbidden, following his laws, adhering to his Sunnah in secret and in the open, accepting and submitting to his judgements, and knowing that obedience to him is obedience to Allaah, and disobedience to him is disobedience to Allaah, because he is the one who conveyed the Message from Allaah, and Allaah did not cause him to die until He had perfected the religion, and he conveyed it clearly. May Allaah reward him on behalf of us with the best reward that was ever given to any Prophet on behalf of his people and any Messenger on behalf of his nation.
A person can only enter Islaam by uttering this twin testimony of faith; its two parts are intertwined and cannot be separated. For the conditions of testifying that there is no god but Allaah are the same as the conditions of testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.
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The Muslim Mother
Islaam honours women greatly. It honours women as mothers who must be respected, obeyed and treated with kindness. Pleasing one’s mother is regarded as part of pleasing Allaah. Islam tells us that Paradise lies at the mother’s feet, i.e. that the best way to reach Paradise is through one’s mother. And Islaam forbids disobeying one’s mother or making her angry, even by saying a mild word of disrespect. The mother’s rights are greater than those of the father, and the duty to take care of her grows greater as the mother grows older and weaker. All of that is mentioned in many texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnaah.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents.”
[Al Qur'aan - Surah al-Ahqaaf (046:015)]
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.
And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young’”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Isra’ (017:023-024)]
Mu’aawiyah ibn Jaahimiah al-Sulami (ra) said: I came to the Messenger of Allaah (saw) and said: O Messenger of Allaah, I want to go for jihaad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allaah and the Hereafter. He said, “Woe to you! Is your mother still alive?” I said, Yes. He said, “Go back and honour her.” Then I approached him from the other side and said: O Messenger of Allaah, I want to go for jihaad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allaah and the Hereafter. He said, “Woe to you! Is your mother still alive?” I said, Yes. He said, “Go back and honour her.” Then I approached him from in front and said, O Messenger of Allaah, I want to go for jihaad with you, seeking thereby the Face of Allaah and the Hereafter. He said, “Woe to you! Is your mother still alive?” I said, Yes. He said, “Go back and honour her (lit. stay by her feet), for there is Paradise.”
[Ibn Maajah]
It was also narrated by [an-Nasaa’i] with the words: “Stay with her for Paradise is beneath her feet.”
Abu Hurayrah (ra) said: A man came to the Messenger of Allaah (saw) and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, who is most deserving of my good company?” He said: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who?” He said: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who?” He said: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who?” He said: “Then your father.”
[Bukhari & Muslim]
And there are other texts which we do not have room to mention here.
One of the rights which Islaam gives to the mother is that her son should spend on her if she needs that support, so long as he is able and can afford it. Hence for many centuries it was unheard of among the people of Islaam for a mother to be left in an old-people’s home or for a son to kick her out of the house, or for her sons to refuse to spend on her, or for her to need to work in order to eat and drink if her sons were present.
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The Muslim Wife
Islaam also honours women as wives. Islaam urges the husband to treat his wife in a good and kind manner, and says that the wife has rights over the husband like his rights over her, except that he has a degree over her, because of his responsibility of spending and taking care of the family’s affairs. Islaam states that the best of the Muslim men is the one who treats his wife in the best manner, and the man is forbidden to take his wife’s money without her consent. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and live with them honourably…”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah an-Nisaa’ (004:019)]
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:228)]
And the Prophet (saw) said: “I urge you to treat women well.”
[Bukhaari & Muslim]
And the Prophet (saw) said: “The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.”
[at-Tirmidhi & Ibn Maajah]
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The Muslim Daughter
And Islaam honours women as daughters, and encourages us to raise them well and educate them. Islaam states that raising daughters will bring a great reward. For example:
The Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood, he and I will come like this on the Day of Resurrection,” and he held his fingers together.
[Muslim]
‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (ra) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say: “Whoever has three daughters and is patient towards them, and feeds them, gives them to drink and clothes them from his riches, they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Ibn Maajah]
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The Muslim Sister And Aunt
Islaam honours woman as sisters and as aunts. Islaam enjoins upholding the ties of kinship and forbids severing those ties in many texts.
The Prophet (saw) said: “O people! Spread (the greeting of) salaam, offer food (to the needy), uphold the ties of kinship, and pray at night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise in peace.”
[Ibn Maajah]
The Prophet (saw) said: “Allaah, may He be exalted, said to the ties of kinship: ‘Whoever upholds you, I will support him, and whoever breaks you, I will cut him off.’”
All of these qualities may co-exist in a single woman: she may be a wife, a daughter, a mother, a sister, an aunt, so she may be honoured in all these ways.
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Islaam And Women’s Status
To conclude: Islaam raised the status of women, and made them equal with men in most rulings. So women, like men, are commanded to believe in Allaah and to worship Him. And women are made equal to men in terms of reward in the Hereafter. Women have the right to express themselves, to give sincere advice, to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and to call people to Allaah. Women have the right to own property, to buy and sell, to inherit, to give charity and to give gifts. It is not permissible for anyone to take a woman’s wealth without her consent. Women have the right to a decent life, without facing aggression or being wronged. Women have the right to be educated; in fact it is obligatory to teach them what they need to know about their religion.
Anyone who compares the rights of women in Islaam with their situation during the Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islaamic era of ignorance) or in other civilizations will understand that what we are saying is true. In fact we are certain that women are given the greatest honour in Islaam.
There is no need for us to mention the situation of women in Greek, Persian or Jewish society, but even Christian societies had a bad attitude towards women. The theologians even gathered at the Council of Macon to discuss whether woman was merely a body or a body with a soul. They thought it most likely that women did not have a soul that could be saved, and they made an exception only in the case of Mary (Maryam – peace be upon her).
The French held a conference in 586 CE to discuss whether women had souls or not, and if they had souls, were these souls animal or human? In the end, they decided that they were human! But they were created to serve men only.
During the time of Henry VIII, the English Parliament issued a decree forbidding women to read the New Testament because they were regarded as impure.
Until 1805, English law allowed a man to sell his wife, and set a wife’s price at six pennies.
In the modern age, women were kicked out of the house at the age of eighteen so that they could start working to earn a bite to eat. If a woman wanted to stay in the house, she had to pay her parents rent for her room and pay for her food and laundry.
How can this compare to Islaam which enjoins honouring and kind treatment of women, and spending on them?
With regard to the changes in these rights throughout the ages, the basic principles have not changed, but with regard to the application of these principles, there can be no doubt that during the golden age of Islam, the Muslims applied the sharee’ah of their Lord more, and the rulings of this sharee’ah include honouring one’s mother and treating one’s wife, daughter, sister and women in general in a kind manner. The weaker religious commitment grew, the more these rights were neglected, but until the Day of Resurrection there will continue to be a group who adheres to their religion and applies the sharee’ah of their Lord. These are the people who honour women the most and grant them their rights.
Despite the weakness of religious commitment among many Muslims nowadays, women still enjoy a high status, whether as daughters, wives or sisters, whilst we acknowledge that there are shortcomings, wrongdoing and neglect of women’s rights among some people, but each one will be answerable for himself.
All praise be to Allaah.
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The Qur’aan
The Qur’aan is the Arabic Kalaam (Speech) of Allaah, which He revealed to Muhammad (saw) in wording and meaning, and which has been preserved in the mus-hafs (written copies of Qur’aan), and has reached us by mutawattir transmissions (reported by a large number of people, such that they cannot be mistaken or intentionally forge a lie), and is a challenge to mankind to produce something similar to it.
[az-Zaraqaanee]
The Qur’aan has been preserved, unchanged, in its original form and language, and confirms the truth in the Torah, the psalms and the Gospel, prior to their corruption as in their present forms today. The Qur’aan is the only scripture in existence today in its original text. All the earlier divine scriptures were entrusted by Allaah to His messengers to guard them, and after the physical death of the Messengers, their followers were entrusted to guard them. However, the followers failed in their duties; therefore each subsequent divine scripture corrected the previous one. Allaah has confirmed in the Holy Qur’aan that not only is it His last and final revelation to mankind, and but also that He Himself will guard and preserve it until the Day of Judgment.
Allaah supported the prophet (saw) with miracles and evidence for people of reason and understanding, the greatest of which was the Qur’aan. This was the greatest sign, which contains in its pages miracles of both style and content, which all of mankind cannot match or imitate, even if they gather together for that purpose. This is clear from the statements of the most eloquent of the Arabs, who were completely unable to match it. The Qur’aan was – and centuries later still is, praise be to Allaah – an eternal miracle as is evident in its brilliant style, its information about the Unseen, its fulfilment of the promises of Allaah, the superiority of its laws, and the fact that its rulings are appropriate for every time and place – in addition to the fact that it has such a moving impact on people’s hearts.
The Qur’aan refers to the signs and proofs surrounding the person of the Prophet (saw), which testify to his truthfulness.
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Eemaan (Faith)
Faith in the sense of belief is based on six principles, which are mentioned in the hadeeth of Jibreel (Gabriel)(as), when he questioned the Prophet (saw), who said: “Faith means to believe in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and the Divine Decree, both good and bad.”
[Bukhari & Muslim]
Faith which includes good deeds of various kinds is that which has seventy-odd branches. Hence Allaah called prayer eemaan in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“And Allaah would never make your faith [eemaan] (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, Allaah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:143)]
The mufassireen said: “your faith (eemaan)” means your prayers towards Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), because the Sahaabah (companions) used to pray towards al-Masjid al-Aqsaa before they were commanded to face the Ka’bah in their prayers.
[Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Fadeelat al-Shaykh ibn al-‘Uthaymeen]
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The “Wahhaabi” Conspiracy
“Wahhaabism is a name given by the opponents of Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab (r) to his call (which is) to cleanse Tawheed off all elements of shirk and to abolish all ways except the way of (the Prophet) Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (saw). What they intend thereby is to put people off his call and block them from what he promoted. But it was not harmed by that, rather it caused it to spread even further and caused more people to come to it whom Allaah guided to look into what the da’wah was all about and what evidence it had from the Qur’aan and Sunnah. So they adhered to it, clung firmly to it and started calling other people to it, praise be to Allaah.”
[Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (2/255)]
Sheikh Salih al-Fawzaan (h) stated in al-Bayaan li Akhta’ Ba’d al-Kuttaab:
This label (wahhaabi) is wrong with regard to wording, and with regard to the meaning.
With regard to wording, that is because the da’wah is not being attributed to the one who started it, namely Shaykh Muhammad, rather it is being attributed to ‘Abd al-Wahhaab (Admin: Shaykh Muhammad’s father), who had nothing to do with it. The proper name for it would be al-Da’wah al-Muhammadiyyah (“the Muhammadan call”).
But these opponents realized that this would be a good name that would not put anyone off, so they changed it to this distorted name. (Admin: Even then Allaah is al-Wahhaab. All praise is for Allaah).
With regard to the meaning, that is because this da’wah did not drift away from the way of the righteous salaf, namely the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and their followers. So it should rightly be called the Salafi da’wah, because the one who founded it did not introduce any innovation in that which was named after him, as the promoters of misguided sects such as the Ismailis and Qarmatiyyah introduced innovations. If those misguided sects had called themselves salafis, the people and the historical record would have rejected this name, because they are outside the path of the salaf and were introduced by their founders.
The correct name, both in wording and meaning, for the call of Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab is the Muhammadan da’wah or the Salafi da’wah.
But because this name annoys the enemies, they used an incorrect name. Therefore the word Wahhaabi was not known among the followers of the Shaykh, and it is their opponents who gave them this offensive nickname. Indeed, they gave this name to everyone who follows the way of the salaf, even in India, Egypt, Africa and elsewhere. By giving it this label, its opponents wanted to isolate the da’wah from the right path. So they excluded it from the four madh-habs and counted it as a fifth madh-hab, “out of envy from their ownselves, even after the truth has become manifest unto them” [al-Baqarah 2:109].
End quote.
The call of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab in the twelfth century AH was a continuation of the call of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah which appeared in the seventh and eighth centuries AH.
The Imaam was influenced by it because it was in agreement with the basic principles of Islaam with regard to beliefs and rulings. These principles included the following:
- Relying on the Holy Qur’aan and the saheeh (authetic) Sunnah as the primary sources of legislation
- Keenness to adhere to the way of the righteous salaf, namely the Sahaabah (companions of the Prophet (saw)), Taabi’een (the generation after the Sahaabah), the four imams and those who followed them.
- Calling people to Tawheed and rejection of shirk.
- Affirming that which Allaah has affirmed for Himself and denying that which He has denied for Himself with regard to the divine names and attributes.
- Rejection of fanaticism in following imams and calling for adherence to the truth based on evidence.
- Promotion of the Sunnah and fighting innovation.
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said:
The Muslim is obliged to accept the teachings of Islaam, and act upon them. When he hears of some word or deed which is based on evidence (daleel) from the Qur’aan or Sunnah, then he has to accept it and give it priority over anything else. He should check what people say against the evidence of sharee’ah, and only accept those views which are in accordance with that evidence.
It is known that Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Al-Wahhaab (r) called people to Tawheed and he wrote his famous book on that topic which is called Kitaab al-Tawheed. In this book he limited himself to quoting only the clear evidence from the verses of the Qur’aan and the saheeh ahaadeeth of the Prophet (saw). Commentaries on this book were written by his grandson ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Hasan and other scholars. Hence none of his opponents can refute this book or claim that his evidence is false. They fabricated lies and believed them, so they believed that he was misguided. They gave the same label to the scholars of the Muslims such as Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Shaykh al-Albaani (r). It is known that the shaykhs whom we have mentioned did not deviate from the correct view with regard to beliefs and actions; they followed the same path as the Sahaabah and Taabi’een, the four imaams, the authors of the Six Books and others. Those who do not acknowledge them do that either out of ignorance, blind imitation of others, jealousy, stubbornness or following their own whims and desires, or adherence to traditions, bid’ah (innovation) and evil actions that go against the evidence (of sharee’ah). Earlier and later scholars have proven such people to be wrong. So we must follow the evidence and give it priority over the views of all people.
End quote.
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Extremism In Islaam
Narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (ra): The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “Those who go to extremes are doomed.” He said it three times.
[Muslim]
The scholars have many explanations for what is meant by extremism and those who go to extremes, all of which are in harmony with one another and do not contradict one another. All of them may be summed up as meaning one thing; it boils down to “overburdening oneself and being too strict in matters where strictness is inappropriate”.
These meanings include the following:
1) Going to extremes in worship which leads to excessive hardship. Islaam does not enjoin anything but that in which there is ease and tolerance. It forbids excessive strictness in religion. The forms of extremism that people have invented in religion and were listed by the scholars as being examples of extremism are virtually innumerable.
2) Introducing innovations into religion, by forbidding that which Allaah did not forbid, and introducing forms of worship and commitments that did not exist at the time of the Prophet (saw).
Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah (r) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (10/620):
Monasticism and innovated forms of worship which were not prescribed by Allaah and His Messenger are akin to the cases where the mushrikeen (i.e. polytheists and disbelievers) and others forbade good things that Allaah has permitted, and examples of the extremism that the Prophet (saw) criticized when he said: “Those who go to extremes are doomed” and “If the month were made longer for me, I would have continued to fast without a break so that those who delve too deep would give up their attitude”, such as extreme hunger and thirst which harm the mind and body, and prevent one from doing obligatory or mustahabb actions that are better than that. The same applies to walking barefoot and naked, which harms a person and brings no benefit, as in the hadeeth about Abu Israa’eel who vowed to fast, and to stand always and never sit, and never seek shade, or speak.
The Prophet (saw) said: “Tell him to sit down, and seek shade, and speak, but let him complete his fast.”
[Bukhaari]
This matter is broad in scope.
End quote.
3) Exaggerated and affected speech, by trying to select words which attract people’s attention, with no meaning or benefit.
Ibn Abi’l-Dunya narrated this hadeeth in his essay al-Gheebah wa’l-Nameemah (Backbiting and malicious gossip), in a chapter entitled Ma jaa’ fi Dhamm al-Taqa’’ur fi’l-Kalaam (p. 15), in which he narrated from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “That which I fear the most for my ummah is every well spoken hypocrite.”
4) Indulging in that which does not concern one, asking about that which is inappropriate, and delving too deeply into that which is of no benefit.
Ibn Rajab said in Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hukam (p. 285):
The one who goes to extremes is the one who delves too deeply and looks into that which does not concern him. Examining and asking too much about the ruling on something that is not mentioned among obligatory duties or haraam things may lead to thinking that it is haraam or it is obligatory, because of its similarity to some duties or prohibitions. Accepting pardon for it or refraining from asking too much about it is better.
End quote.
With regard to adhering to outward signs of religious commitment and observing the sacred limits of Allaah, and obeying His commands, these are obligations of Islaam, and the way to enter the Paradise of the Lord of the Worlds, and no one regards them as going to extremes except one who wants to free himself from the rules of sharee’ah and attack the established rulings. The blameworthy kind of going to extremes is that which goes beyond the laws and etiquette of sharee’ah. How can adhering to it and following it and clinging tightly to it be going to extremes??
The decisive factor with regard to that is the evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah. That for which there is saheeh (authentic) evidence which clearly shows that something is obligatory – such as covering the face and letting the beard grow – or that something is forbidden – such as the prohibition on musical instruments and mixing with women and so on – it is not permissible to describe it as going to extremes or harshness, because that implies accusing the Prophet (saw) – who enjoined us to do it – of going to extremes. God forbid that he (saw) should be like that.
As for that concerning which there is no text, and is one of the four aspects of extremism mentioned above, then this is what should be criticized and avoided, and should not be confused with the proven, clear rulings of Islaam.
-
Do Muslims Worship the Ka’bah?
With regard to our facing the Ka’bah, one should note that in this universe there is none other than Creator and created, worshippers and the One Who is worshipped. The Creator and the One Who is rightfully worshipped is Allaah alone; everything other than Him is created and worships Him either willingly and by choice – which is the case with the believers – or by force, which is the case of the kaafirs (i.e. disbelievers) and sinners, whose submission to Allaah consists of their being subjugated to His control, for they do not have the power to either benefit or harm themselves. Allaah is the One Who has given them life, and when He wills He will cause them to die. If Allaah wills, He can make them sick, and if He wills He can heal them. He can make them rich whenever He wants and make them poor whenever He wants. Glory and praise be to Him, there is no Lord besides Him and none worthy of worship except Him.
With regard to his believing slaves, they are tried and tested in this brief, transient world. If they succeed in remaining steadfast in worshipping their Lord and attaining the highest degree of submission to Him, He will compensate them for that, by His kindness and grace, with Paradise in which there is that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and it has not entered the heart of man.
Among these tests is the fact that Allaah commands them to do some things for which their minds cannot comprehend the wisdom behind them, they can only submit and obey. This is in order to distinguish those who are sincere in their claims to be believers from those who are insincere. For Allaah is the Creator of reason, and He is the One Who issues the command, so whoever responds and submits, and says, “I hear and obey, even though I do not understand the reason, because I admit my mortality, my weakness and my submission to Allaah, for Allaah cannot be questioned as to what He does” – such a one is a believer who, it is hoped, will prosper and succeed in this world and in the Hereafter.
This is how the Companions of the Prophet (saw) were, as al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated in their Saheehs (two authentic books of hadeeth) that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) said of the Black Stone (on the Ka’bah) when he kissed it: “By Allaah, I know that you are only a stone and you can neither bring benefit nor cause harm. Were it not that I had seen the Messenger of Allaah kissing you I would not have kissed you.” So when we Muslims pray facing the direction of the Ka’bah, we do so because Allaah has commanded us to do that. If he had commanded us to pray facing in any other direction, we would have had to do that. The same applies to many other acts of worship, We pray (the daily prayers) Zuhr with four rak’ahs (units) and Maghrib with three and Fajr with two, because Allaah has commanded us to do so. We perform Tawaaf (circumbulation) seven times around the Ka’bah, and we stone the Jamaraat seven times, and we do not do more than that under any circumstances. All of that is because that is what Allaah has commanded us to do.
So whoever bears this thought in mind whilst doing these acts of worship will undoubtedly increase in submission to Allaah; this will increase his faith and bring him closer to his Lord. Thus he will find great joy and immense happiness and deep contentment in his heart, which will make him long for worship and love it, because when he does acts of worship he will feel that he is doing them for Allaah, and were it not for Allaah, he would not do them. So every act of worship brings him closer to Allaah and increases him in faith until he meets Allaah and Allaah will honour him as He honours His righteous slaves.
But for the one who is stubborn and arrogant, and says, “I will not do it until I understand”, this is like Iblees (i.e. satan) who rebelled against Allaah and said (about Adam (as)), as Allaah tells us in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):
“Shall I prostrate myself to one whom You created from clay?”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Israa’ (017:061)]
This is sufficient to demonstrate the seriousness of arguing against the sharee’ah on the basis of reason. Rather Allaah has described one of the most unique characteristics of the pious believers as being ‘belief in the Unseen’. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“This is the Book (the Qur’aan), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqoon [the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism who fear Allaah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allaah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].
Who believe in the Ghayb (the unseen) and perform As-Salaah (i.e. daily prayers), and spend out of what we have provided for them”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:002-003)]
So the first characteristic by which the believers are distinguished from others is the fact that they believe in the unseen or that which they cannot grasp, whether that is in a literal, physical sense or in a metaphorical, intellectual sense.
What we should point out here is that our prayer facing the direction of the Ka’bah has nothing to do with the structure of the Ka’bah, rather it has to do with its location. If it were to be destroyed, we would still pray in that direction, not to that structure.
Hence we find that nowadays Muslims pray on the second storey and on the roof of the Grand Mosque in the Sanctuary of Makkah, facing the direction of the Ka’bah even though it is not directly in front of them. This is what millions of Muslims do throughout the world, praying in the direction of the Ka’bah even though they cannot see it. This demonstrates the great difference between the laws of Islaam and the actions of the mushrikeen (polytheists) whose worship of their idols, stones and trees ceases when these objects cease to exist. Therefore if the mushrik cannot see his object of worship or idol, he does not face the direction of that thing.
-
Brief History of The Sacred Mosque
Al-Masjid al-Haraam (the Sacred Mosque) is situated in Makkah, a city in the Arabian Peninsula 330 meters above sea-level. The history of the mosque goes back to its founding at the time of Ibraaheem (Abraham) and his son Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), peace be upon them both. Makkah is the place where the Prophet of Islaam, Muhammad (saw) was born and where the Revelation began, and from which the light of Islaam spread. Al-Masjid al-Haraam is located here. This is the first mosque that was built for people on earth, as Allaah says in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for al-‘aalameen (mankind and jinns).”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-'Imraan (003:096)]
Abu Dharr (ra) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allaah (saw) about the first mosque to be built for people on earth. He said, ‘Al-Masjid al-Haraam.’ I asked, ‘Then which?’ He said, ‘Al-Masjid al-Aqsaa [The Furthest Mosque, in Jerusalem].’ I asked, ‘How long between them?’ He said, ‘Forty years.’”
[Muslim]
The Ka’bah – which is the direction of prayer for all Muslims throughout the world – is situated roughly in the middle of al-Masjid al-Haraam. It is a 15-meter high stone structure more or less in the shape of a cube. It was built by Ibraaheem (as) on the command of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when We showed Ibraaheem the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) (saying): ‘Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who bow and make prostration.”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Hajj (022:026)]
The word “bawwa’naa” [translated here as “We showed”] means “He guided him and gave him permission to build it.”
[Tafsir ibn Katheer]
Allaah also says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when Ibraaheem and (his son) Ismaa’eel were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah)…”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:127)]
Before Islaam (in the year in which the Prophet (saw) was born), the Ka’bah was subjected to an attack by the Ethiopian Abrahah, who had built al-Qulays, a church to which he wanted the Arabs to make their pilgrimage. He set out with his army, with whom was the elephant, and when they reached Makkah, Allaah sent flocks of birds against them; each bird was carrying three stones like chickpeas or lentils, one in its beak and two in its claws. Every man who was struck by a stone was killed, so the army was destroyed, by the command of Allaah.
-
Brief History of The Pilgrimage
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj)”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Hajj (022:027)]
This means: Proclaim (O Abraham) the Hajj to the people, calling them to come on pilgrimage to this House which We have commanded you to build. It was mentioned that he said, “O Lord, how can I proclaim it to the people when my voice does not reach them?” He said, “Call and We will convey it.” So he stood in his maqaam (station) – or it was said, on the rock, or on al-Safa, or on Abu Qubays (a mountain) – and said: “O people, your Lord has taken a House, so come to it on pilgrimage.” And it was said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice could reach all parts of the earth and those who were still in the wombs or in men’s loins also heard, and everything that heard him, cities, nomad encampments and trees, and everyone whom Allaah has decreed should perform Hajj until the Day of Resurrection responded, (saying) Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am). This is the summary of what was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas, Mujaahid, ‘Ikrimah, Sa’eed ibn Jubayr and others among the salaf. And Allaah knows best.
[Tafsir ibn Katheer]
This has to do with the history of the enjoining of Hajj before the sending of the Prophet (saw).
Tawaaf (cirumbulation) around the House
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We commanded Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Ismaa’eel (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I‘tikâf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer)”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:125)]
This verse indicates that tawaaf around the Ka’bah was known at the time of Ibraaheem (Abraham) (as).
The water of Zamzam and saa’i between al-Safa and al-Marwah.
Ibn ‘Abbaas (ra) said: Ibraaheem brought Haajar (Hagar) and her son Ismaa’eel (Ishmael) when she was still breastfeeding him, to a place near the Ka’bah under a tree on the spot of Zamzam, at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Makkah, nor was there any water. So he left them there and left with them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward. Ismaa’eel’s mother followed him saying, “O Ibraaheem! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?” She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look at her. Then she asked him, “Has Allaah commanded you to do this?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then He will not forsake us,” and went back while Abraham proceeded onwards. When he reached al-Thaniyah where they could not see him, he turned to face the Ka’bah, and raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the following prayer:
“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah). So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allaah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.”
[Al Qur'aan - Soorah Ibraaheem (014:037)]
Ismaa’eel’s mother went on breastfeeding Ismaa’eel and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at him (i.e. Ismaa’eel) tossing in agony. She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of al-Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from al-Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached al-Marwa where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between al-Safa and al-Marwa) seven times.
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Prophet (saw) said, “This is the (origin of) the people’s saa’i (walking) between them between them (i.e. al-Safa and al-Marwa) (as a part of pilgrimage).” When she reached al-Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she said to herself “Shh!” and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said, “O, (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?” Then she saw an angel at the place of Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), until water appeared. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water-skin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it.
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Prophet (saw) said, “May Allah have mercy on the mother of Ismaa’eel! Had she let Zamzam (flow without trying to control it) (or had she not scooped from that water) (to fill her water-skin), Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth.” And he said: “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allaah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allaah never neglects His people’…”
[Bukhari]
“This hadeeth explains the reason why it is called Zamzam, because when the water flowed, Haajar tried to control it (zammat-ha). The linguist Ibn Faaris said: Zamzam comes from the words zamamtu al-naaqah (I reined in the camel).
[Ibn al-Jawzi - Mutheer al-‘Azm al-Saakin]
Who Do Muslims Worship?
Allaah [the Arabic name for the One True God – Translator] says in the Qur’aan [the Holy Book of Islaam] (interpretation of the meaning):
“This is the Guidance of Allaah with which He guides whomsoever He will of His slaves…”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-An’aam (006:088)]
“And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islaam…”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-An’aam (006:125)]
With regard to this important question – who do the Muslims worship? – the answer is to be found in the Holy Qur’aan, which is the Scripture of Islaam, and in the words of the Prophet of Islaam, Muhammad (saaws) who received Revelation from his Lord.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“In the name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praises and thanks be to Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists), the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful, the Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e., the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help (for each and every thing).”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Faatihah (001:001-005)]
“O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allaah), Who has created you and those before you so that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:021)]
“Such is Allaah, your Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Creator of all things. So worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakeel (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian) over all things.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-An'aam (006:102)]
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Israa' (017:023)]
Muslim worship Allaah [the One True God] whom all the Prophets worshipped. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya’qoob [Jacob]? When he said unto his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said, ‘We shall worship your God, the God of your fathers, Ibraaheem [Abraham], Ismaa’eel [Ishmael] and Is-haaq [Isaac], One God, and to Him we submit (in Islaam).”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Baqarah (002:133)]
The Muslims worship Allaah and call others who follow different religions to worship Allaah Alone, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘O People of the Scripture [Jews and Christians]: come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allaah, and we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allaah.’ Then, if they turn away, say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah aal-'Imraan(003:064)]
It is Allaah Alone Whom Nooh [Noah] (as) called his people to worship, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Indeed, We sent Nooh [Noah] to his people and he said: ‘O my people! Worship Allaah! You have no other god but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!.’”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-A'raaf (007:059)]
It is Allaah Alone whom the Messiah [Jesus] (as) called people to worship, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Surely they have disbelieved who say: ‘Allaah is the Messiah [Jesus] son of Maryam [Mary].’ But the Messiah said: ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Maa'idah (005:073)]
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O ‘Eesa [Jesus], son of Maryam [Mary]! Did you say unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allaah?’ He will say: ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours. You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen.
Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allaah) did command me to say: “Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.” And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things.’”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Maa'idah (005:116-117)]
When Allaah spoke to His Prophet Moosa [Moses] (as), He said (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, I am Allaah! None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me, and perform al-Salaah [prayer] for My Remembrance.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah Ta Ha (020:014)]
Allaah commanded His Prophet Muhammad (saaws) as follows (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘O mankind! If you are in doubt as to my religion (Islaam), then (know that) I will never worship those whom you worship, besides Allaah. But I worship Allaah Who causes you to die, I am commanded to be one of the believers.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah Yoonus (010:104)]
It is Him Alone, with no partner or associate, Whom the angels worship and do not worship anyone or anything besides Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him (i.e., the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship).”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Anbiya' (021:019)]
Everything that is worshipped instead of Allaah can neither bring benefit nor cause harm, it can neither create nor provide. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad, to mankind); ‘How do you worship besides Allaah something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you? But it is Allaah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.’”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Maa'idah (005:076)]
“You worship besides Allaah only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allaah have no power to give you provision, so seek your provision from Allaah (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-'Ankaboot (029:017)]
Having explained this, we must complete the topic by asking: why should we worship Allaah Alone with no partner or associate? The answer is as follows:
Firstly: because there is nothing and nobody else in the universe that deserves to be worshipped, for Allaah is the Creator and Sustainer, Who has created the universe out of nothing and has bestowed so many blessings upon us. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So glorify Allaah, when you come up to the evening [i.e., offer the Maghrib (sunset) and ‘Isha’ (night) prayers], and when you enter the morning [I.e., offer the Fajr (morning) prayers].
And His is all the praise and thanks in the heavens and the earth, and (glorify Him) in the afternoon [i.e., offer ‘Asr (mid-afternoon) prayer] and when you come up to the time when the day begins to decline [i.e., offer the Zuhr (mid-day) prayer].
He brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living. And He revives the earth after its death, and thus shall you be brought out (resurrected).
And among His Signs is this, that He created you (Adam) from dust, and then [Hawwa (Eve) from Adam’s rib, then his offspring from the semen, and], - behold you are human beings scattered!
And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.
And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.
And among His Signs is the sleep that you take by night and by day, and your seeking of His Bounty. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who listen.
And among His Signs is that He shows you the lightning, by way of fear and hope, and He sends down water (rain) from the sky, and therewith revives the earth after its death. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who understand.
And among His Signs is that the heaven and the earth stand by His Command, then afterwards when He will call you by single call, behold, you will come out from the earth (ie.e, from your graves, for reckoning and recompense).
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are obedient to Him.
And He it is Who originates the creation, then will repeat it (after it has perished), and this is easier for Him. His is the highest description (i.e., none has the right to be worshipped but He, and there is nothing comparable unto Him) in the heavens and in the earth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah ar-Room (030:017-027)]
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Is there any god with Allaah? Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to Him)!
Is not he (better than you gods) Who has made the earth as a fixed abode, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has placed firm mountains therein, and has set a barrier between the two seas (of salt and sweet water). Is there any god with Allaah? Nay, but most of them know not.
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when He calls Him, and Who removes the evil, generations after generations. Is there any god with Allaah? Little is it that you remember!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy (rain)? Is there any god with Allaah? High Exalted be Allaah above all that they associate as partners (to Him)!
Is not He (better than your so-called gods) Who originates creation, and shall thereafter repeat it, and Who provides for you from heaven and earth? Is there any god with Allaah? Say: ‘bring forth your proofs, if you are truthful’
Say: ‘None on the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allaah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.’”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Naml (027:060-065)]
So is there anyone or anything besides Allaah that deserves to be worshipped?
Secondly: Allaah did not create us except to worship Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat (051:056)]
Thirdly: No one will be saved on the Day of Resurrection except those who used to worship Allaah truly and sincerely. After death Allaah will resurrect His slaves and call them to account, rewarding or punishing them according to their deeds. No one will be saved on that day except for those who used to worship Allaah Alone. The rest will be gathered into a Hell, a terrible fate!
The Prophet of Islaam, Muhammad (saaws), was asked by his Companions: “Will we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” He told them: “Do you doubt that you can see the sun and the moon when the sky is clear?” We [his Companions] said, “No.” He said, “Then you should not doubt that you will see your Lord on that Day, you will see Him as you see them (the sun and moon).” Then he said, “A caller will call out, ‘Let every people go to that which they used to worship.’ So the worshippers of the cross will go with their cross, the worshippers of idols will go with their idols and the worshippers of every god will go with their gods, until there will be left those who used to worship Allaah, whether they were righteous or otherwise, and a few of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians]. Then Hell will be brought and shown to them as if it is a mirage. It will be said to the Jews, ‘What did you used to worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship ‘Uzayr, the son of God.’ It will be said, ‘You have lied. Allaah does not have a wife or son. What do you want?’ They will say, ‘We want something to drink.’ It will be said to them, ‘Drink!’ and they will fall into Hell. Then it will be said to the Christians, ‘What did you used to worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship the Messiah, the son of God.’ It will be said, ‘You have lied. Allaah does not have a wife or son. What do you want?’ They will say, ‘We want something to drink.’ It will be said to them, ‘Drink!’ and they will fall into Hell. Then there will be left those who used to worship Allaah, whether they were righteous or otherwise. It will be said to them, ‘What are you waiting for? All the people have gone.’ They will say, ‘We have separated from them and we need Him more today. We heard a caller saying that every people should follow that which they used to worship, so we are waiting for our Lord.’ He will say, ‘Al-Jabbaar [the Compeller, i.e., Allaah] will come…’ And He will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘You are our Lord,’ but none will speak to Him except the Prophets… then every believer will prostrate to Him.”
[Bukhaari]
These believers are the people of Paradise on whom shall be no fear neither shall they grieve, and they will dwell therein for ever.
We hope that this matter has now become clear. In conclusion we can say nothing except that which Allaah has said (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes stray, then he goes astray to his own loss…”
[Al-Qur'aan - Soorah al-Israa' (017:015)]
Peace be upon him who follows the guidance.
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