What Is Life?
Man's existence in this world and the creation of this entire universe are not mere accidents or products of a fortuitous nature. This universe, every single atom of it, manifests and leads us to the realization of a Loving, Merciful and All-powerful Creator. Without a Creator, nothing can exist. Every single human being is aware that their existence is dependent upon a Creator. Heknows for sure that he cannot create himself. Therefore, it is his duty to know his Master, the Creator.
Humankind
Man is a unique creature. Allaah, the Most Exalted, established man as His representative or deputy, to govern over all other creatures in this world. He is endowed with the faculty of reason, which sets him apart from all other animals. Together with this faculty to discriminate and discern, man has been given the freedom to choose for himself a way of life worthy of his position as Allaah's representative, or to fall lower than the lowest of all animals or creations. Almighty Allaah Says in the Noble Quran (what means):
"And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness. He has succeeded who purifies it. And he has failed who instills it [with corruption]." [Quran 91: 7-10]
Man is born pure and sinless and has been given the choice to do righteous deeds or indulge in sins. Prophet Muhammad said in an authentic Hadeeth (narration): "No babe is born but upon Fitrah (innate nature, which is Islam). It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian." [Muslim]
Divine Guidance
The Creator, out of His abundant Love and Mercy for mankind has not left us in darkness to discover the right path by trial and error alone. Coupled with our intellectual capability to reason, our Creator bestowed upon us Divine Guidance that outlines the Criterion for Truth, knowledge, as well as the reality of our existence in this world and the Hereafter.
Revelations
From the beginning of mankind, our Creator sent Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, to convey His Revelation and to invite human beings to the Path of true peace and obedience to the one true God. This is Islam. This message has been conveyed to man in successive generations through the different prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, who invited mankind to the same Path. However, all the earlier messages or revelations from Allaah Almighty were distorted by people of later generations.
As a result, the pure Revelation from our Creator was corrupted with myths, superstitions, idol worship and irrational philosophical ideologies. The religion of Allaah, the Exalted, in a sense was lost in a plethora of religions. Human history is a testament of man's drift between light and darkness, but Allaah, out of His Abundant Love for mankind, has not forsaken us.
Final Revelation
When mankind was in the depths of the Dark Ages, our Creator sent His final Messenger, Prophet Mohammed to redeem humanity with the final Revelation, which represents the ultimate and permanent source of guidance for the whole world.
Criteria for Truth
The following criteria can best serve as a gauge to find out the authenticity of the last Revelation (the Quran), the Word of Allaah:
1. Rational teachings
Since our Creator bestowed reason and intellect upon us, it is our duty to use it to distinguish the truth from falsehood. True, undistorted Revelation from Almighty Allaah must be rational and can be reasoned out by all unbiased minds.
2. Perfection
Since our Creator is All-Perfect, His Revelation must also be perfect and accurate, free from mistakes, omissions, interpolations and multiplicity of versions. It should be free from contradictions in its narration.
3. No myths or superstitions
True Revelation is free from myths or superstitions that degrade the dignity of our Creator or man himself.
4. Scientific
Since our Creator is the Creator of all knowledge, True Revelation is scientific and can withstand the challenge of Science at all times.
5. Factual prophecy
Our Creator is the Knower of the past, present and future. Thus, His prophecies in His Revelation will be fulfilled as prophesied.
6. Inimitable by man
True Revelation is infallible and cannot be imitated by man. Allaah's true Revelation is a Living Miracle, an open book challenging all mankind to see and prove for themselves its authenticity or veracity. Almighty Allaah Says in the Noble Quran (what means):
"Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from [any] other than Allaah, they would have found within it much contradiction." [Quran 4:82]
Searching for Happiness?
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Happiness is a common goal that everyone strives to attain. Philosophers, intellectuals, doctors and artists alike have all strived in search of the causes of happiness and ways to escape anxiety. The reality is, however, that the proposed solutions achieve only partial or superficial happiness. They are more or less like drugs which only provide temporary relief; when their effect wares off, anxieties return two fold. The following words invite you to ultimate happiness and will lead you to true success. But before you begin reading, I hope that you take a moment to try to open your heart and mind - as the intelligent one is he who searches for the truth no matter where it lies. An undeniable reality is that permanent happiness cannot be achieved except by believing in God - The Creator - and following His guidance. Since it is He who created mankind, He is the one who knows what pleases and benefits them, just as he knows what saddens and harms them. A number of psychologists have affirmed that only a religious person lives with true content and serenity. So if believing in God leads to ultimate happiness, then how can this be achieved? There are numerous religions and a variety of creeds. However, their critical differences in core issues make it impossible for all of them to be correct. So which is the correct religion? What is the correct creed that God requires us to believe in and in the end pleases Him? And which one of these creeds guarantees us happiness in this life and in the hereafter? Before answering these questions, a criterion must first be established to be used as a basis for correctly determining the true religion. I firmly believe that all sensible people will agree that a religion is not deemed correct simply due to the fact that one was raised in that religion, had parents that adhered to it, or lived in a society that practiced it. Rather a religion's accuracy and authenticity are based upon substantial evidence and firm intellectual proofs. Intellect, the distinguishing factor between mankind and animals, must be applied when studying the issue of religion, which is undeniably the most important and gravest of all matters. A short journey into the world of religions and sifting through various creeds could prove to be a good method in arriving at the desired conclusion. In order to save you the time and effort, I say with full conviction and confidence that no matter how much you investigate this issue, you will only arrive at one reality: that the true and correct religion is Islam and that true happiness and content lies within it. Before you hastily rebut this statement and stop reading, please realize that completing the rest would not harm you at all, and it may in fact benefit you. Also, remember that you have an intellect by which you can distinguish things and determine truth from falsehood. Why Islam? This is an important question, indicating that the questioner is mature and enlightened. In response I say: Islam is a religion that includes a number of merits and characteristics that are absent from other religions. These characteristics, alone, serve as convincing evidence that Islam is the true religion of God. You can determine the authenticity of this statement by contemplating them. Islam's many merits and characteristics make it impossible to elaborate on all of them. However, some of the most important can be summarized as follows: 1. Amongst the greatest merits of Islam is that it fulfills the spiritual aspects of the human being and enables those who embrace it to have an ongoing connection with God. This makes it possible for them to be at ease spiritually. It shields them from chaos, being lost or feeling (spiritually) empty, and protects from mental instability. 2. Another of Islam’s merits is that it coincides totally with common sense. All of the Islamic legislation and its rulings are acceptable intellectually and are never contradictory. One man who embraced Islam was asked why he did so and replied, "Islam never ordered me to do anything that I later wished wasn't obligated, and it never forbade me from anything that I later wished wasn’t forbidden." Much of what is readily accepted in other religions causes great confusion. This confusion makes it difficult to believe many of the fundamental tenets/doctrines that these religions are based upon. On the other hand, we find that Islam respects the intellect, prohibits ignorance, and condemns blind following. 3. Islam is an all-inclusive way of life attending to both spiritual and physical needs. Practicing Islam does not mean that one has to be secluded or that he is prohibited from the finer things in life. Rather, according to Islam, a person can be religious and still enjoy a normal life - attaining prestigious ranks/positions and achieving the highest academic degrees. 4. Among the merits of Islam is that it is a comprehensive religion. Every aspect of a person’s life is managed by Islam. There is not a problem except that a solution for it lies in Islam, which makes it possible to embrace and practice in every time and place. How can this not be the case in such a well organized religion that has guidelines and positive instruction for every aspect of life including: conflict resolution, buying and selling, social and marital relations, greetings, public etiquettes, and even how a person eats, sleeps and dresses. These practices have not been addressed generally, but rather in precise detail, causing the mind to wonder in amazement. Know that Islam even provides direction on how to wear and remove footwear. It encourages people to use their right hand when eating, drinking, shaking hands, and when giving and receiving items. As for disliked affairs such as using the bathroom, the left hand is to be used. Islam also has wonderful instructions regarding going to sleep and waking up. When two Muslims meet, Islam directs them on how they should greet each other; a rider should initiate greeting the pedestrian, the youth should initiate greeting the elderly, and a small group should initiate greeting a larger group. These are but a few of Islam’s many comprehensive guidelines for all aspects of life. 5. Another of Islam’s merits is that it establishes good for mankind in all its regulations and safeguards them from evil. It is man himself who benefits from these regulations. Islam's prohibition of alcohol and drugs for example is only because of the great harm they cause to a person's physical and mental health. You can witness the state of a drunken man, no longer human except in appearance. A lot of murders, disputes, traffic accidents and rapes would not have taken place were it not for consuming these mind-altering products. Islam's prohibition of premarital sex relieves societies of destructive diseases (such as AIDS and other STDs), immoral behavior, and the existence of a generation of illegitimate children. This generation is often deprived of a mother’s love and a father’s upbringing which can lead them to become burdensome on society. Islam prohibits women from displaying themselves publicly. This is because Islam considers women to be valued, preserved pearls; not some cheap merchandise to be displayed for all to see. It does so to protect them from the wolves of mankind - those who are only concerned with satisfying their lusts, even if it is at the cost of a woman’s honor, nobility, status, and purity. On the other hand, Islam permits all harmless and beneficial drinks. It also permits married couples to enjoy one another within a happy home. In summary, Islam has not eliminated freedoms and desires. Rather, it regulates them for the benefit of mankind and the society at large. 6. A radiant aspect of Islam is that it pays a great deal of attention to values, character, and praiseworthy manners, while prohibiting mankind from oppression, transgression and bad character. Islam is a religion of love, unity and mercy. It defines an individual’s relationship with his parents, relatives, neighbors, friends and all people. Islam embeds the best of manners in those who embrace it and prevents them from living selfishly. It encourages its followers to help others and take others' feelings into consideration - especially the poor, orphans, elderly and widows. They all have rights in Islam that must not be taken lightly by Muslims. Muslims shouldn’t feel like they are bestowing favors upon others when giving them their due rights, rather these rights are obligations upon Muslims. It is considered to be a great sin in Islam for one to go to sleep with a full stomach knowing that his neighbor is hungry. Islam even prohibits two people from whispering to each other in the presence of a third, taking his feelings into consideration. Islam goes even further than that, obligating kind treatment to animals and prohibiting harming them. More specifically, Islam prohibits slaughtering an animal while another watches, or sharpening a knife while it is watching, so that it is not tormented along with being slaughtered. Truthfulness, trustworthiness, bravery, generosity, humility, abiding by promises, visiting the sick, attending funerals, being dutiful to parents, visiting relatives and neighbors, and striving to help others are all etiquettes that are encouraged by Islam. On the other hand, Islam strictly prohibits oppression, lying, conceitedness, envy, and insulting or betraying others. It is impermissible in Islam to speak ill of a person in his absence, even if what is being said is true. Islam encourages people to moderate in spending, being neither excessive nor misers. During times when a lot of societies complain about cold heartedness, materialism, selfishness and so on, we find that Islam has proven remedies for all of these problems. This summarized introduction should make it clear that Islam is a logical religion that can be easily understood by all people. The doors to Islam are wide open and do not shut for anyone looking to enter. Understanding all of Islam's teachings in a short article is impossible. However, briefly discussing some of its fundamental tenets should assist in further clarifying the religion for those who are interested. All of Islam’s regulations and teachings are important, but some have precedence over others. There are six essential articles of faith that one must believe in, and five pillars that one's faith must be built upon. As for the six articles that must be believed in: 1. Believing in Allah (God) alone, associating no partners unto Him in worship. This is done by believing that Allah alone is the Creator of this universe and everything that is within it, and that it is He alone who disposes its affairs as He sees fit. Consequently, worship can only be offered to Him alone. Worship is implementing the teachings of Islam and its legislation while believing that all other religions are false. 2. Believing in the angels. Angels were created by Allah but we cannot see them. They worship Allah and never disobey Him. Allah orders them to carry out many of the universe's affairs. The angel Gabriel, for example, (peace be upon him) delivers Allah’s revelation to the messengers. Another is Mikayeel (peace be upon him), who is entrusted with the affairs of rain. Still there are other angels responsible for writing the deeds of mankind - deeds which they will be held accountable for on the Day of Resurrection. It is essential to believe that all of the angels act solely upon the order of Allah and do only what He wills. 3. Believing in the Books of Revelation. This means to believe that Allah revealed books to His servants comprising of His words. These books contain bliss for mankind by clarifying what Allah is pleased with as well as what He dislikes. The Angel charged with delivering revelation to the Prophets is Gabriel (peace be upon him) - the greatest of angels. A prophet then conveys the revelation to the rest of mankind. Allah has revealed many books, amongst them: The Torah, revealed to Moses (peace be upon him), The Psalms, revealed to David (peace be upon him), The Gospel, sent down to Jesus (peace be upon him) and the Quran, which was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him). One must believe that the Quran has abrogated all books prior to it, meaning that - after the Prophet (Muhammad) was sent - it is the only book that can be acted upon, especially since the Quran combines all the merits of past books and further supplements them. Know that the Quran is from the greatest evidences that this religion is the truth revealed by Allah (God) the Most High. The Quran was revealed over 1400 years ago. Since then till this day, no contradictions or mistakes have been found in the Quran, not even in a single word. Many of the scientific discoveries of modern times were mentioned in the Quran. Since that time until today, nothing has been added to or subtracted from the Quran, while previous revelations have been tampered with and altered. It is for this reason that you can pick up a copy of the Quran in the far East and find it to be exactly the same as one you pick up in the far West. If you were to come across a copy of the Quran that is hundreds of years old, you would also find that it is exactly the same as the one being printed currently - you wouldn’t be able to find even one letter that is different. This is because of Allah’s protection of this Book, the Book of the religion that sealed all other religions. Speaking about the Quran would take a lot of time. However, it is enough for you to know that there is nothing like it whatsoever; not by way of (literary) style, its effect on people, nor its information about the unseen. 4. Believing in the Prophets. This is done by believing that Allah has chosen the best of mankind to be recipients of His revelation and ordered them to convey His religion to the people. There are numerous Prophets, among them are: Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Lot, Joseph, Moses and others (peace be upon all of them). Also from them is Jesus. It is imperative to believe that he is among the best of Prophets and to love and respect him. Whoever despises him or denies his prophet hood is not Muslim. Likewise it is compulsory to believe that Allah created him from a mother only, with no father, just as Allah created Adam with neither a mother nor a father. Having mentioned this, we now know that Jesus is a noble messenger and not God, nor is he a son of God. He foretold the coming of a prophet to come after him; Muhammad ibn (the son of) Abdullah, the last of the prophets. Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him) was sent 1400 years ago. It is compulsory for everyone who comes after him until the Day of Judgment to believe in him and his message, and obey his orders and prohibitions. All those who studied the biography of this messenger have agreed that he is a great personality who has been bestowed with the best of manners and most noble etiquettes. He had characteristics which were not present in anyone before him and will not be present in anyone after him. Anything that you read about him, no matter how small it is, confirms what I am saying. Allah has also granted him proofs and evidences that establish the authenticity of his prophet hood, thus having doubt in this fact is intellectually impossible. Having been given such proofs and evidences of his prophet hood, whoever denies his truthfulness, would make it impossible for that individual to establish the truthfulness of any other prophet. 5. The Last Day. This is fulfilled firmly believing that after this life of ours is over, there is another more complete life. In it, there are immense rewards and magnificent luxuries, as well as punishment. Luxury is in Heaven and punishment in Hell. So whoever is righteous and believes in the religion of Islam enters Heaven, a place that contains untold pleasure and unimagined bliss. All the luxuries on earth cannot be compared to it at all. Whoever enters Heaven will continue to live in such luxuries for eternity as death does not exist therein. As for those who act upon evil and do not believe in Islam, they would end up in Hell, which contains fires and punishment that cannot be imagined, all of the fires of earth and forms of punishment cannot be compared to the punishment of the hellfire at all. The existence of punishment and reward after this life is an issue that is intellectually acknowledged, because it is impossible for this world to exist and then just diminish into nothingness. This is trifling about, and our Lord, the Creator, does not engage in such activities. 6. Believing in Divine Decree. This is to believe that everything that happens in this world is due to Allah’s knowledge and will. Nothing except what He wills takes place, and what He does not will, does not take place. Allah has written everything in a great book (The Preserved Tablet). Believing in divine decree also includes believing that Allah created everything. As for the five pillars that must be practiced: 1. Uttering a phrase that is the key to entering into Islam. It is a contract between a servant and his Lord, signifying that he is upon this religion: “Ashhadu an la ilaha ila Allah, wa ashadu ana Muhammad ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.” “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” This testimony signifies the acceptance, admission, and adherence to the fact that worship must be offered to Allah alone. It also includes the acceptance of Islam as the only correct religion, Allah as the only true deity deserving worship, and that all other deities and religions are false. The second part of the testimony entails an affirmation that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and that he is to be obeyed and believed in all that he says. 2. The Prayer. It is a combination of statements, actions and invocations carried out in a specific manner. It is performed five times daily and doesn’t take much time at all. In fact, a prayer may not take more than five minutes. Prayer is the link between a servant and his Lord. It enables a Muslim to be confident, mentally and spiritually at rest, calm and untroubled. 3. The Zakaat. A wealthy Muslim must give a small portion of his money to the poor, 2.5% of his wealth to be exact. Even though it is a small amount, it enables the Muslim community to be conciliated and merciful amongst each other. It propagates brotherhood, love and concern amongst Muslims. And again, Zakaat is only to be given out by the wealthy, not the poor. 4. Fasting. What is meant by fasting is that a person withholds from eating, drinking and sexual relations during the month of Ramadan [which is the 9th month of the lunar calendar] between dawn and sunset. The sick, travelers, and those with valid excuses are pardoned from fasting. They are permitted to eat and drink but must make up the missed days once they become able. Fasting has many health, personal, and social benefits. Amongst them are: giving the digestive system a break, allowing Muslims to grow spiritually and practice good mannerisms. It enables Muslims to be conscious of their needy brothers and sisters, those who are unable to find enough food to satisfy their needs throughout the year. Consequently, the Muslims humble themselves and strive to help them. 5. Hajj. It is a form of worship that must be performed only once in a lifetime, in Makkah. Those who are physically incapable or not financially able to perform it are pardoned from doing so. Hajj contains many magnificent benefits; the gathering of Muslims from all around the globe in one place getting to know each other and displaying love for one another, not to mention what a Muslim achieves by way of spiritual purification and character refinement due to experiencing such a spiritual environment in the shade of Hajj. Hopefully what has preceded is sufficient in clarifying - in a summarized fashion - some of the merits of Islam. I invite all who have not yet entered into the fold of Islam to listen to a sincere invitation from one who only wants good for you: save yourself before death takes you by surprise, and thus you die upon other than Islam - what a great loss that is! Do you know what dying upon other than Islam means? It means that you would enter the Hellfire, abiding therein for eternity. This is what Allah has warned all those who die without embracing Islam. So why would you take a chance with an issue as grave as this? I’m going to ask you a question that I want you to answer honestly: What would you lose if you embraced Islam? If you embrace Islam, you can continue living your normal ordinary life, but in a more spiritual, organized, and pleasant fashion…and after death, tremendous delight and eternal pleasure await you. If you have reached a level of conviction, believing that Islam is the true religion, but fear that embracing Islam would prevent you from enjoying pleasures that you cannot live without, then compare these temporary pleasures with eternal pleasure. Which of the two should be given preference? Furthermore, you can embrace Islam and then gradually try to reduce such pleasures. And if you were to honestly invoke Allah, He would surely aid you in leaving them. In any case, embracing Islam and having shortcomings is better than not embracing Islam at all. If the barrier between you and Islam is due to having a weak personality, the inability to make such a big decision, or because you fear that people may talk about you or mock you, know that these are just unrealistic thoughts. You would not be the first person to embrace Islam; a lot of others have made the decision to do so. They did not lose anything, their lives were not ruined, nor do they have any regrets. Furthermore, does it make sense that you sacrifice your own wellbeing and happiness in this life and in the hereafter just because you fear mockery or admonishment? This affair is worthy of your time. Contemplate upon it deeply. My last words: Do not lose yourself! I ask Allah to bless you with true guidance. One who wishes only the best for you, Dr. Saleh Abdul Azeez As Sindee. | |||
Good Role Models
This is really worth to be read
In the stillness of night, young Anas left his bed sneaking to his father's bed and wanting to embrace him and sleep with him, but he was astonished not to find his father in bed. Anas checked the rooms of the house looking for his father, and in the furthest room, he caught the deeply sad voice of his father which made the son unconsciously approach the room. The father was standing in prayer. The son's eyes remained pinned on this unforgettable scene – two lines of tears flowed from the father's eyes who resumed his recitation and weeping. The father did not feel his son's coming or his returning to bed. A meaning that could not be erased was carved in the heart of the son who found the sweetness of worship – the worship of performing voluntary prayers at night that he continued to perform throughout his lifetime.
What if Anas listened to a lecture given every day by his father on the virtue of performing voluntary prayers at night without seeing the father carry it out? Would it be effective in inculcating this act of worship in the son strongly and firmly like this scene did?
Dear people who are responsible for bringing up children!
Imitation is one of the main characteristics of childhood because the child acquires many attitudes, values and principles by imitating others. We do not exaggerate when we say that the child is like a sponge that absorbs everything around him and interacts with the people around him by emulating their behavior and movements. During childhood, the child mainly imitates his parents, siblings, teachers and the people around him in general. The girl copies her mother, and the son copies his father – they emulate their way of talking, walking, behavior and dealing with others. In a word, they emulate everything they see. He implements every new idea the child hears or watches. The stronger the child's relationships with people, particularly those whom he loves, the more ideas he imitates. The child's ability to emulate and imitate, beside his level of intelligence and memory, constitute a major factor in his acquisition of habits. Thus, more intelligent children in terms of responsiveness to learning and understanding generally acquire both good and bad habits faster.
A psychological need for the child:
Every child, in order to grow and learn, needs a role model that he finds in his parents or in one of them. In general, children have a psychological need to imitate and copy the characters of their loved ones. Moreover, imitation and emulation provide the child with a positive feeling about his personality because he has a strong tendency to imitate older people. This makes the child feel like an adult. Knowing that the child programs 70% of his behavior and tendencies by the time he reaches the age of seven, it shows us the extent to which he acquires the behavior of his environment and receives from habits from people who are in touch with him. Children deem their parents' sayings and deeds as always right, and thus, imitate them and follow their footsteps and qualities. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, affirmed this fact in the Hadeeth of Al-Fitrah (innate disposition), which reads: "Every baby is born with a sound innate inclination to the truth; it is his parents who make him a Jew, Christian or Magian." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] This fact was clearly seen in the early childhood of some Companions who emulated the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in his personality and imitated his behavior and worship because he just did it. Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said:
I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maymoonah, and late at night the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, got up and performed ablution from a hanging water skin, a light (perfect) ablution and stood up for the prayer. I, too, performed a similar ablution, then I went and stood on his left. He drew me to his right and performed prayers as much as Allaah Willed. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
An ounce of good deeds is worth a pound of words
The role model is always centered on the actions and behavior of the parents, and children continuously observe their fathers and mothers in a state of happiness and anger, when they dispute, and how they deal with people. Then, children imitate their parents' reactions to all of that. Dear brother, who assumes the role of upbringing, you are the most important role model, and your behavior is what the child imitates the most. In other words, the parents' behavior represents the practical aspect that the child automatically imitates. Therefore, the child, no matter how great his responsiveness to goodness is or how sound and pure his Fitrah is, does not respond to the principles of goodness unless he sees his educator at the top of morals and apex of virtues. It is useless that parents give their children dozens of instructions, advice and orders every day about what is appropriate and what is inappropriate unless their own behavior continuously translates these instructions.
Hence, a Taabi‘i took pity on some young children whose father was not performing prayer perfectly because they would inevitably grow up knowing only this type of prayer which is devoid of Khushoo‘ and imitate their father in performing it. Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, said:
When Maalik ibn Dinaar saw a man performing prayer imperfectly, he said: "How pitiful the children of this man are!" People asked him: "O Abu Yahya, the man performs his prayer imperfectly and you have pity on his children?" He replied: "This man is the leader and they learn from him."
An educator/person responsible for bringing up children should not neglect the child's observation of the former while making mistakes or behaving in an improper way, saying "he is young or does not understand". He forgets that the child's eye is like a camera which precisely records whatever he says or does moment by moment to imitate and emulate him.
How can we invest children's inclination to imitate others?
The child imitates others very often and very fast, whether the thing he is going to imitate is good or bad. As the child imitates his father when he prays, he will also imitate him when he smokes. In order to better utilize this innate characteristic of the child, we should guide him while focusing on the following aspects:
- Raising children on the fact that the first man to be followed is the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who is the role model that Allaah The Almighty Named and Assigned for Muslims and Ordered us to follow in all walks of life. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allaah often.} [Quran 33:21] A father should carry out the actions and sayings of the Sunnah to encourage his child to ask why his father does or says such-and-such. The father's reply would be because the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to do so, and he is our beloved role model. The child's attachment to the character of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, makes him an upright, righteous and religious man. When the child loves the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he will love his religion and venerate his Sunnah, and thus, this imitation will serve as an impenetrable fort against negative influences and bad role models.
- Teaching them the Seerah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the blessed battles and the stories of great people and their striving to achieve and secure success. Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said: "We used to teach our children the battles of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as we were teaching them the Surahs of the Quran." Ismaa‘eel ibn Muhammad ibn Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas said, "My father used to teach us the battles and expeditions of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and say, 'These are the achievements of your forefathers, so do no forget them.’" Teaching our children this blessed Seerah is one of the best ways to shape their personalities according to the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
- The means which help the one responsible for the upbringing process to program the imitation of his children, include providing the accessories that give them access to these role models and portray them in a more lively, attractive and appropriate manner. There is a great deal of these means available today, such as videotapes, CDs, and children's stories which are printed in eye-catching colors.
- Necessity to block the way between our children and bad role models. Parents can choose righteous friends for their children and build good relations with righteous relatives and neighbors who have children at the same age of their children, provided that they approve the good manners, sayings and actions of those relatives and neighbors. That is because the child imitates his peers who are at the same age or older. The same applies to the friends with whom the child plays because the child imitates their behavior and does not like to be lower than them. He always competes to be equal or superior to his friends.
- Finally, we should remember that the characteristic of imitation and emulation of others that Allaah The Almighty Created in the souls of children makes our responsibility greater to be a good example for our children. Once the child lacks a good role model in the person who brings him up, whether a father, a mother, an educator or a teacher, neither admonition nor punishment will be effective. Let us raise them to be guiding minarets and that people will imitate their righteousness, and they will not imitate any body except those who are righteous.
Allah will destroy Riba (usury)
In the name of Allah
Praise be to Allah who destroyed usury and its companies, banks and institutions.
Peace be upon our prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- the best of mankind, and peace be upon his family, companions and those who followed his Sunnah…
The Almighty Allah says: "Allah will destroy Riba (usury)…"[Al-Baqarah 2:276]
{يَمْحَقُ اللَّـهُ الرِّبَا}
Transliteration: Yamĥaqu Allāhu Ar-Ribā
The disaster:
O Muslims : the whole world followed up the financial crises of the United states and the huge usurious banks bankruptcy ,as the effects of this astonishing collapse in the American economy are extended to the European and Asian countries, Gulf stock markets and to all the countries that go around the American orbit or linked its currency to the Americans' (even some countries changed their rest day from Thursday to Saturday to extremely join its economy with the western economy system although the questionnaires proved that most Muslims refuse this change.....)!!!
The disaster dimension:
The disaster reached enormous limits that obliged some countries like America to pump 1000 billion $ and Britain pumped 800 billion $ and also France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Japan, Korea and other western, Asian and Arab countries to save their usurious banks, institutions and companies of bankruptcy .
Riba (usury) is the reason of disaster:
The strong economic shakes which the western countries suffering from, is an inevitable result for usurious transactions that were prohibited by Almighty Allah and His messenger -peace be upon him- .
The Almighty Allah says: "Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba (usury) "[Al-Baqara 2:275]
O Muslims : the whole world followed up the financial crises of the United states and the huge usurious banks bankruptcy ,as the effects of this astonishing collapse in the American economy are extended to the European and Asian countries, Gulf stock markets and to all the countries that go around the American orbit or linked its currency to the Americans' (even some countries changed their rest day from Thursday to Saturday to extremely join its economy with the western economy system although the questionnaires proved that most Muslims refuse this change.....)!!!
The disaster dimension:
The disaster reached enormous limits that obliged some countries like America to pump 1000 billion $ and Britain pumped 800 billion $ and also France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Japan, Korea and other western, Asian and Arab countries to save their usurious banks, institutions and companies of bankruptcy .
Riba (usury) is the reason of disaster:
The strong economic shakes which the western countries suffering from, is an inevitable result for usurious transactions that were prohibited by Almighty Allah and His messenger -peace be upon him- .
The Almighty Allah says: "Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba (usury) "[Al-Baqara 2:275]
{...وَأَحَلَّ اللَّـهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا...}
Transliteration: …Wa 'Aĥalla Allāhu Al-Baya Wa Ĥarrama Ar-Ribā …
Also He says: "Allah destroys interest" [Al-Baqara 2:276]
{يَمْحَقُ اللَّـهُ الرِّبَا}
Transliteration: Yamĥaqu Allāhu Ar-Ribā
The prophet -peace be upon him-said " Allah has cursed the accepter of the interest (of usury transaction) and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: They are all equal." [Muslim]
The prophet -peace be upon him-said " Allah has cursed the accepter of the interest (of usury transaction) and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: They are all equal." [Muslim]
« لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا، وموكله ، وكاتبه ، وشاهديه ، وقال: هم سواء»
How does usury lead to the disaster?
Usury establishes an economy which completely destroys the humanity, causes misery to groups and individuals, lowers humanity morals, makes disorder in money cycle and economic development and finally leads to, as today status, a result that concentrates the real authority and practical power in the hands of the most inferior and ignoble people (usurers) who collect- without spending any effort- the real outcome of peoples' effort and blood in a shape of usurious interest.
A fast review on the current economic status which is based on lending with usurious interest shows that most world money is going to a few numbers of usurers for the following reasons:
1-The usurer always gains benefit in every transaction whether the debtor achieved profit or loss.
2-The debtor is exposed to profit or loss as he makes business with this money which may achieve loss or profit.
So, finally the money, mathematically, should go to the one who always makes profit. Now, the world money is really owned by thousands of usurers whereas most merchants, factories owners, stock market speculators, workers, employees and others who borrow loans of banks, are nothing but wageworkers working for the benefit of the money owners and their efforts are harvested by those thousands of usurers. Whereas the usurer always gains profit in every transaction and the debtor exposed to profit and loss (as we previously mentioned), this makes shortage in liquidity in most people hands (because of their losses) which leads to reducing the request on purchase, factories stop working, the stock market collapse and the usurious banks bankrupt because of the deficit of those debtors to refund (as what is happening now).
Their useless treatment for the calamity:
The western regime is trying to save its usurious collapsed economy by pumping many billions of Dollars to its usurious banks, institutions and companies but this is useless (an example of that is the one who gives oxygen to a dead man to return him to life) for many reasons, the most important of which are the following:
1-The problem is bigger than the listed billions as it is a problem of society and system and not that of usurious companies, banks and institutions.
2-The countries can't pump billions forever as their budget is limited.
3-Instead of helping the affected poor people, the countries is helping the luxurious rich people who practice pressures for presenting these useless treatments , especially if you know that one of the rich men lost 20 billion $ in this financial disaster.
4-The reason of this calamity is Jaws as they control the international usurious economy, so they were the first of those who were aggrieved by the disaster and consequently, they are the first beneficiaries of pumping these billions especially if we knew that the American Congress firstly refused pumping these billions but after a short time they agreed upon. This indicates that there are invisible hands, of Jaws of course (the Zionist Lobby), practiced their pressure on Congressmen to pass this plan even if all the American people were affected by imposing new taxes to secure these amounts.
Why were we influenced with these disasters?
There are many reasons for that, the most important of which are the following:
Firstly: We took Dollar a cover for our currencies instead of gold and silver, consequently we should be affected by the fluctuating of Dollar exchange rate especially if we know that Dollar is not covered by gold, so its value doesn't exceed the ink and paper.
Secondly: We deposited and invested our money in their banks and corporations, as the Gulf countries deposits and investments alone in the west reached 1800 billion $, so we should be influenced by their calamities and disasters..!!!!!
Note (1):
The Islamic legislation texts stipulated that the currency should be gold and silver only so when we issue the securities, all their value should be covered by gold and silver to be exchanged upon request. Once we did that, we wouldn't affected by the monetary papers of any country in the world, but our currency will have a stable value. Now, we should buy gold and get rid of Dollar and other paper currencies.
Note (2):
The lesson which we should learn from this disaster is to withdraw our money from the American and European usurious banks, institutions and companies and transfer it inside our countries to use it in building our national different industries like petrochemicals and petroleum.......etc. Also we should reduce our production of oil and only produce our needs of it and leave the rest in the bottom of land for the next generations of Muslims.
The best solution for this disaster:
Dear brothers: The only right way to exceed this disaster is to apply the Islamic financial system which is based on Zakat (poor due ), fighting usury, Islamic speculation based on participation in both profit and loss, goodly loan, delay the insolvent or remit its debt and other pillars of Islamic financial system.
O Muslims, the main reason for the financial calamity that took place in America and other world countries, is the usurious debt which was prohibited by Almighty Allah and His messenger -peace be upon him-, so we should clarify the usurious debt dangers.
Dear brothers: Islam has put many regulations for debt to control it and make good use of it without causing any kind of damage to the individual or society; we find a lot of Islamic legislation texts warning of debt dangers which include the following:
Firstly:
One of the prophet's invocations was the following “...O Allah I seek refuge with You from the debt dominance..." [Declared Authentic by Al-Albani]
«أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كان يدعو بهؤلاء الكلمات اللهم إني أعوذ بك من غلبة الدين..»
Now, we notice how the great companies and banks were beaten by debts which obliged them to announce bankruptcy. This is considered one of the prophecy signs of our prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him-.
Secondly:
Our prophet -peace be upon him- warned against not repaying the debt and told us that it is a sin which will not be forgiven for the slave whatever righteous he was. The prophet -peace be upon him- said: "All martyr's sins were forgiven except (the sin of not repaying) debt." [Muslim]
«يغفر للشهيد كل ذنب، إلا الدين»
Thirdly:
The prophet -peace be upon him- ordered Muslim to make good intention at the time of loaning money, the prophet -peace be upon him- said "whoever takes peoples' money while he intends to repay it, Allah will support him to repay .But whoever takes peoples' money while he intends not to repay it, Allah will cause damage to him." [Al-Bukhari]
« من أخذ أموال الناس يريد أداءها أدى الله عنه ،ومن أخذ يريد إتلافها أتلفه الله»
This strong threat from the prophet -peace be upon him- to the bad intention's debtor who intends not to refund the money, aims at keeping Muslims' money and not to expose the society to strong economic shakes because of accumulated debts.
Dear beloved brothers: Islam has rightly organized the economic life system to let people enjoy a safe life in which the rich respects poor, the public interest is considered and people's rights are kept.
When countries applies the Islamic economic system, they will not need to try the aggressive communism or failing capitalism, the international markets will not be exposed to collapse, the companies will not be exposed to bankruptcy and the individuals will not be exposed to diseases and tragedies.
Finally:
After the failure of communism and the repeated failure of capitalism, the whole world now knows that the Islamic economic system is the only right solution for all world problems. Some western officials already announced that the only solution for this economic calamity is to apply the Islamic economic system. Also the French senate report demanded to incorporate the banking system, based on Islamic economic system, in the French financial system. The 60-papers report went on saying "The prosperous Islamic economic system fulfills the universe needs and serve all people."
Also the American ministry of treasury comprised an economic team headed by the deputy treasury secretary to study the Islamic economic system and make good use of it.
......Allah is the greatest.......
A chance can't be compensated in the shadow of this financial crisis:
* O Muslim brothers, this disaster is considered a good chance for the Islamic economy experts to present and explain the economic system which was legislated by Almighty Allah for those who are seeking for it.
* It is also a chance for the scholars and callers to Allah to present Islam, with its purification and comprehensiveness, as the only way to survive and achieve happiness in this life and in the Hereafter, and also explain that Islam is useful for all places and times.
* It is a great chance for usurious banks in the Islamic countries to learn the lesson and get rid of usury and apply the Islamic system to avoid the same crises.
* Finally, this disaster is considered a good chance for the world countries to disconnect their correlation with Dollar, Euro or other currencies and establish an economy based on the Islamic legislation, especially after they discovered the falseness of usurious economy and the soundness of Islamic economy...Praise be to Allah...
Let's take the lesson from this calamity:
O nation of the prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him-, what is happening now is a kind of divine war against those human beings who turned away from Allah's Sharia (divine legislation) and transacted with usury . The Almighty Allah said: " O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. (278) And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger…" [Al-Baqara 2:278-279]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٧٨﴾ فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِه...}
Transliteration: Yā ‘Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna ‘Āmanū Attaqū Allāha Wa Dharū Mā Baqiya Mina Ar-Ribā ‘In Kuntum Mu’uminīna (278) Fa'in Lam Tafalū Fa'dhanū Biĥarbin Mina Allāhi Wa Rasūlihi
This is the horrible open comprehensive war from Allah and His messenger against the hearts, nerves, blessings and prosperity of the societies which used usury as their economic and social base.
The result of this war is obvious on those who turned away from Allah's legislation, as a lot of them were rich and became poor, some speculators in the stock market died by clot, others lied in hospitals, others escaped and others died of sadness .......etc.
Today, the people who are transacting with usury stand and move in this life like the witched, worried, disturbed, confused and afraid man who lost his comfort and calmness.
Almighty Allah described those people in the following verse “Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity..." [Al-Baqara 2:275]
This is the horrible open comprehensive war from Allah and His messenger against the hearts, nerves, blessings and prosperity of the societies which used usury as their economic and social base.
The result of this war is obvious on those who turned away from Allah's legislation, as a lot of them were rich and became poor, some speculators in the stock market died by clot, others lied in hospitals, others escaped and others died of sadness .......etc.
Today, the people who are transacting with usury stand and move in this life like the witched, worried, disturbed, confused and afraid man who lost his comfort and calmness.
Almighty Allah described those people in the following verse “Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity..." [Al-Baqara 2:275]
{الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ...}
Transliteration: Al-Ladhīna Ya'kulūna Ar-Ribā Lā Yaqūmūna 'Illā Kamā Yaqūmu Al-Ladhī Yatakhabbaţuhu Ash-Shayţānu Mina Al-Massi
Because of the poverty and bankruptcy, resulted from the destructive usurious economy, many kinds of evils (like theft, bribery, killing, suicide, fraud and drugs and alcohol addiction) spread.
The prophet-peace be upon him- said "If the usury and adultery spread in a country, they would expose themselves to Allah's torture.” [Declared Hasan by Al-Albani]
Because of the poverty and bankruptcy, resulted from the destructive usurious economy, many kinds of evils (like theft, bribery, killing, suicide, fraud and drugs and alcohol addiction) spread.
The prophet-peace be upon him- said "If the usury and adultery spread in a country, they would expose themselves to Allah's torture.” [Declared Hasan by Al-Albani]
«إذا ظهرالزنا والربا في قرية؛ فقد أحلوا بأنفسهم عذاب الله»
Also they contradicted the human nature when they permits committing adultery, homosexual and legalized and protected the obscenity, so Allah afflicted them with AIDS and other diseases which were not existed in their ancestors.
Oppression is among this disaster reasons:
No doubt that, one of the reasons of this calamity that afflicted the western countries is their oppressive dominance on the poor countries and fighting hungry people by preventing the charity and charitable acts provided by Islamic countries under the protest of war against terrorism, while they are the real terrorists of the world....!!!
A scandal appeared through this calamity:
If these countries, that claim fairness, equality, defending human rights and protecting the poor and needy people in the world, spent even a little amount of these billions (that were pumped to save their usurious economy) on the poor, needy and hungry people who are eating dust and trees leaves, there would not be any man in the world suffer from poverty, hunger, illness or unemployment.
A final word about this disaster:
Usury is widely spread in our present era as it becomes the base of most transactions in most Muslim countries...!!!
In the past usury was practiced by individuals, but the great disaster in our era is that usury is turned to usurious banks which are protected and defended by constitutions and laws issued by governments in the socialist, communist, national, democratic and other countries.
All these governments claim that they, protect poor and oppressed, eradicating greed and differences between social ranks and prevailing equality and fair between people, while their protection for usury increased oppression, corruption, envy, deprivation and hatred and led to disasters and international crises.
Dear beloved brothers: This calamity is considered the strongest reply on those who claim that usurious economy is necessary for the human beings' development, but this isn't true for the following:
First: It is impossible that Allah prohibits something which people need for their progress;
Second: It is impossible that such a vicious prohibited thing (like usury) be necessary for the life development. The great evidence of this is that Islamic nation throughout the ages wasn't afflicted by any of these disasters or crises, that afflict the world today, but developed and prevailed over the world .........Allah is the Greatest...........
An advice for those who were afflicted with this calamity:
The financial crises afflicted the western countries many times along the history like the crises of 1929 AD and today crises and it will be repeated until they leave usury and apply the Islamic solution.
A glad tiding for Muslims throughout that calamity:
O nation of our beloved prophet Muhammad-peace be upon him-, the western countries are falling down one after another and the future is for Islamic nation.
Finally:
The Almighty Allah said: "This (Quran) is a message for Mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One Illah (God-Allah)- (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah )-and that men of understanding may take heed." [Ibrahim 14:52]
{هَـٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ}
Transliteration: Hādhā Balāghun Lilnnāsi Wa Liyundharū Bihi Wa Liyalamū 'Annamā Huwa 'Ilahun Wāĥidun Wa Liyadhdhakkara 'Ūlū Al-'Albābi
Compare between the two courts and give me your opinion?!
Compare between the two courts and give me your opinion?!
When people feel they are oppressed they go there, they say that's the only place where they can get their rights back, sometimes you don’t want to go but your oppressors send you many invitations cards to attend the fantastic sessions! So you have to go.
A huge building, educated people are managing it, and they give it the name of "The Court of Justice" We even call it "The Palace of Justice". Glamorous! Right? Let's just enter to have a look on what is happening in this wonderful palace.
Once you enter you will find out that you are guilty, you will be shocked to realize that you’ve been sued by your oppressors even before you thought suing them! And why are you guilty?!
In our courts you're guilty until you prove you're innocent.
In our courts if the judge is a righteous man then he is always worried of oppressing people, not sure about his judgments, and he's always finding ambiguities. If the judge is not a righteous person then get ready to be oppressed!
In our courts the witnesses are lairs.
In our courts the juries are conspirators.
In our courts the lawyers are treacherous. Expect your own lawyer to go against you.
In our courts everything is crazy! This is the court of misery.
But there is one court of justice, ONLY ONE, don't believe people who say the courts of Justice are many, with all respect I tell them, the only court of justice is only the Court Of The Hereafter.
In that court as long as you are not a sinner then you are innocent, pure, and respected.
In that court the Judge is Allah, and His judgment is always fair, so don't fear, He loves you and really cares.
In that court the Witness is Allah, so you cannot deny and at the same time you know that nothing more or less than what really happened will be said.
In that court if you are really guilty then no lawyers accepts to defend your claim, even the parts of your body will go against you. And who dares standing as a lawyer for you in front of Allah and start defending you?!
But wait! Have you repented before death?! If Yeah!
Then Alhamdulillah!
Only in tht case there is a lawyer who doesn't only accept to defend you but also likes to defend you because He just loves you. Don't fear in that court Allah has chosen to be your lawyer. He accepts your repentance and erases your sai'ats and even replaces them with Hasanats.
There in that court; your Judge is Allah, your Witness is Allah, and your Lawyer is Allah.
This is a message for the "victorious" oppressors:
O you who have done so much oppression! You think game is over?! You are mistaken! It has just begun, it's just that you are blind and you cannot see or maybe because you are plotting in the dark you're afraid of the light and your darkness prevents you from seeing! Enjoy your victory in the court of this life, and I'm giving you the glad tiding of losing everything in the Court of Justice of The Hereafter. Tell me who is going to help you on the Day of Judgment?
And this is a message for the oppressed people: say it with your heart:
O Allah, I've believed in you. O Allah you are the Judge, I've admitted my sins and my shortcomings and I've repented to you from them and you are The Best Witness. O Allah I just want to ask you: Please be my lawyer on that Day.
Lastly, I'm looking forward to meet some bad people there, just for the sake of seeing their facial expressions when Allah looks at them!!!
Many people died before taking their rights. That was the end of the play of their lives... How awful!
STOP SAYING THIS! The play hasn't finished yet! In reality the play has reached its second part, the last part that will make the rules and put everything in its right place. The play has begun and its end will be so pleasant for the good people!
I'm speaking to you from here, from this world, I haven't travelled to the next life yet but I know what will happen because it is the promise of Allah that will be fulfilled.
