Muslims Going To Church? - TubeIslam - ShareIslam Video Site

Muslims Going To Church? - TubeIslam - ShareIslam Video Site

Uwais al-Qarani

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem

by Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i

from his book, The Children Around the Table of Allah

In a Hadith Qudsi recorded by the Companion Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet Muhammad (s) said speaking from his Lord:

"Allah, Exalted and Mighty is He, loves of His creation the God-fearing, the pure in the heart, those who are hidden, and those who are innocent, whose face is dusty, whose hair is unkempt, whose stomach is empty, and who, if he asks permission to enter to the rulers, is not granted it, and if he were to ask for a gentle lady in marriage, he would be refused, and when he leaves the world it does not miss him, and if he goes out, his going out is not noticed, and if he falls sick, he is not attended to, and if he dies, he is not accompanied to his grave."

They asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, how can we find someone like that?" He, (s), said, "Uwais al-Qarani is such a one." They asked him, "and who is Uwais al-Qarani?" He, (s), answered, "He is dark skinned, wide shoulder, and of average height. His complexion is close to the color of earth. His beard touches his chest. His eyes are always looking downwards to the place of prostration, and his right hand is on his left hand. He weeps about himself with such a flow of tears that his lips are swollen. He wears a woolen garment and is know to the people of the heavens. If he makes a promise in the Name of Allah, he keeps it. Under his left shoulder there is a white spot. When the Day of Resurrection comes and it is announced to the slaves, "Enter the Garden," it will be said to Uwais, 'Stop and intercede.' Allah, Mighty and Exalted is He, will then forgive them to the same number as are the people of Rabi'a and Mudhar. (These are the two tribes that Uwais, (RA), belonged to). So, O Umar and O Ali, if you can find him, ask him to intercede for you. Then Allah will forgive you."

Ten years passed by which they inquired about him, but without being able to find him. In the year 21H./644CE, the same year that Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the Second Righteous Caliph after the Prophet's death, (s), Umar (RA) went to the Mountains of Abu Qubays (mountain overlooking Makka) and called in his loudest voice, "O people of the Yemen, is there anyone up there called Uwais?"

An old shaykh with a long beard stood up and replied, "We do not know who this Uwais is about whom you ask, but my brother's son is called Uwais. But he is too unimportant to be asked about, and too poor and submissive that he should be raised up to your level. He is our camel-herder, and he has no standing amongst our people." But Umar again asked him if he knew Uwais.

The man answered, "Why do you ask about him, O Commander of the Faithful, for by Allah there is not one of us who is more foolish and more needy than he."

Umar, (RA), then wept and said to him, "You are so, but not he. For I heard the Messenger of Allah. (s), say, "Those who enter the Garden through Uwais, asking for forgiveness for them, are the people of the tribe of Rabi'a and Mudhar." Umar, (RA), asked him where he could find him, and was told, "On the Mount of 'Arafat."

Umar and Ali, (RAA), then went quickly to Arafat where they found Uwais praying under a tree with camels grazing around him. They approached him and greeted him, saying, "As-salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmut Allahi wa Barakatuh." Uwais cut his prayer short, and when he had finished it, returned their greeting. They asked him, "Who are you?" He replied, "A herdsman of camels and a hired workman for a tribe." They said, "we do not ask you about your tending of animals, nor about your being a hired worker, but what is your name?" He answered, "Abdullah." They said, "All the people of the heavens and the earth are the slaves of Allah, but what is the name in which your mother named you?" He said, "O you two, what do you want from me?" They said, "The Messenger of Allah (s) once spoke to us about Uwais al-Qarani. He gave us a description of the bluish-black color of his eyes, and he told us that he has a white mark under his left shoulder. So please show us if you have this mark, for then it is you for whom we are searching."

Uwais then bared his left shoulder, and they saw a white mark. They then embraced him and kissed him and said, "We declare that you are Uwais al-Qarani, so ask for forgiveness for us and May Allah forgive you."

He answered, "I cannot even forgive myself, nor one of Adam's children. But there are on land and in the seas believing men and women, Muslim men and women, whose invocations to Allah are answered." They replied, "Surely this is so." Then he said, "O you two, you know about me and I know about my state, but who are you?"

Ali, (RA), answered, "This is the Commander of the Faithful (al-amir al-muminin), Umar ibn al-Khattab, and I am Ali ibn Abu Talib."

Uwais stood up straight and said, "As-salaamu alaikum ya 'amir al-mumminin. And you, O Ali, may Allah repay you with goodness for this Community (Ummah)." They said, "May Allah repay you for yourself and your goodness."

Then Umar, (RA), said to Uwais, "Your place is here until I return to Madinah, and may Allah have mercy upon you. Then I will bring you help from my provision and some of my clothes. This has been the meeting place between you and me."

But Uwais, (RA), answered him, "O Commander of the Faithful, there will be no other meeting place, in the knowledge of Allah, between you and me, but this one. So tell me, what should I do with your provision, and what should I do with your clothes? Do you not see that I am wearing a woolen gown and a woolen wrapper, so when do you see me tearing them? Or do you see that my sandals are worn out and torn? When do you see me out wearing them? Between your hand and mine there is a higher barrier which cannot be crossed by a weighty person, So leave these things, and Allah will have mercy upon you."

When Umar, (RA) heard these words, he struck the ground with his stick and shouted out at the top of his voice, "O would that Umar had not been born by his mother, and that she had been sterile!"

Then Umar (RA), returned to Al-Madinah, and Uwais (RA), herded his camels back to his tribe.

Not long after this, Uwais left his work as a herdsman and went to Kufah where he continued in his bondsmandship until Allah, Glory be to Him took him back to Himself.

When Umar ibn al-Khattab, (RA), heard that Uwais wanted to go back to Kufah, he said tho him, "Where do you want to go to?" Uwais said, "to Kufah." Umar, (RA), then said, "Shall I write a letter for you to its Governor?" Uwais replied, "I would rather be with the people who are near to my heart."

In a sahih hadith of Muslim, it is recorded that Umar (RA) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, (s), say, "Uwais ibn 'Amir will come with a number of the people of the tribe of Mudar from the region of Qarn as if he had a sickness on his skin. He had a mother to whom he was most perfectly devoted, and if he asked anything of Allah it would be granted to him. If you meet him, ask him to ask forgiveness for you."

It was said of the Companion 'Alqama ibn Marthid, (RA), that he said, "Asceticism is specially associated with eight people, one of whom is Uwais al-Qarani. His family thought that he was mad, and they built him a room near the door of their house. Days would pass by when they would not see him, and his food was what he took from plants and herbs of the earth which he would sell to buy food for himself.

Also the Companion 'Amar ibn Saif, (RA) said, "When a man once asked Uwais al-Qarani, "How did you begin the morning and how did you finish the evening?" He (RA) answered, 'I began in the morning by loving Allah, and I finished the evening in praising Him. Do not ask about the state of a man who, when he wakes up in the morning thinks that he will not see the evening, or when he is alive in the evening thinks that he will not wake up in the morning. Death and its mentioning and remembering does not leave the believer any space for happiness." For, as he then said, "In Allah's Eyes, Exalted is He, what a Muslim possesses does not gather any silver or gold, for one should only be doing what is permitted and avoiding what is forbidden, and whatever does not have leave a believer with a single friend. When we ask them to do what is permitted they insult us, and in that they are helped by the unbelievers and sinful people. By Allah they have thrown terrible things at me, but O Allah I will not leave them until I show them the right way."

One of them said, "A number of people had spoken to me about Uwais al-Qarani, so hearing that he was then living in Kufah, I went there to find him, for I had no other desire except to see him. I found him sitting by the shore of the Tigris, and I recognized him by the description that I had been given of him. A thin man looked at me, and I stretched out my hand to greet him, but he did not return my greeting. I felt discouraged but I asked him, "Are you Uwais:"

His clothes were poor, and he seemed to be in a state of unwrapped isolation, for it was this state of his which led the ignorant people to say about him that he was mad and deranged. But I knew that his ascetic and surrendered state was that of the true faqir, who does not listen to those who say that such a state is contrary to the Sunnah. Such people are ignorant of the true Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, (s), which is to leave the material world and the business of creation, and to draw near to one's Lord; to leave all bonds which are other than to Allah, Exalted and Mighty is He."

Haram ibn Hayyan continued his account of this meeting by saying, "Then I addressed him saying, 'May Allah have mercy upon you, O Uwais, and forgive you, How are you?' "Then my voice halted. For I could not speak my heart which was moved with deep gentleness towards him when I saw his state and that he had started weeping. I found myself also weeping. "Then Uwais said to me, 'May Allah greet you. How are you my brother, ibn Hayyan, and who showed you the way to me?" "I answered him, 'It was Allah." "He said, 'There is no God but Allah, praise be to our Lord. If it is the Wish of Allah, a thing is done. So this is Allah's Wish." I said, 'How did you know my name, andmy father's named? For my name was Haram ibn Hayyan.' Uwais said, 'The Knower told me, for my soul knows your soul when my self talks to your self.' For the believers know each other in their love for Allah, even if they never met; and when they come to our resting place, they know each other even if they come from somewhere far distant. "I said, 'Tell me about the Messenger of Allah, (s).' "Uwais said, 'I have never seen the Messenger of Allah face to face and I have never been in his presence, but I would give my life for him. But I do not like to talk about that.' "I said to Uwais, 'Recite me some verses of the Book of Allah, so that I may hear it from you and so that I may learn them by heart from you. For know that I love you in Allah.' "Uwais took my hand, and said, 'I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed shaytan.' Then he recited, 'We created not the heavens and the earth and what is between them for mere play.' (44:38) . Then he sighed a deep sigh, and I looked at him with they eye of the Love, for he had become absent.

"A little while later he said to me, 'O son of Hayyan, your father has died and soon you will die, going either to the Garden or the Fire. My brother and friend Umar ibn al-Khattab has died.' I said to him, 'May Allah forgive you, but Umar has not died." "Uwais said, 'Yes, and the people have announced his death, and so has Allah, Mighty and Exalted is He, and He has announced my own death. For you and I are both of the dead." "Then he prayed upon the Prophet, (s), and murmured some short invocations. "Then he said, 'This is what I leave you, the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet, (s), and you should always remember death, and this should never ever leave your heart for a moment. And warn your people when you go back to them, and say to the whole Community, 'Do not forsake the people, for if you do, you will forsake your religion without being aware of it, and you will enter the Fire. So pray for me and yourself.'

Then Uwais, (RA), said to me, 'O Lord this is a claim, for he loves me in You, and he has visited me because of You, and permit me to see his face in the Garden, and make him enter the Home of Peace, and protect him in this world, as long as he is alive. Keep him from the material world (dunya) through the walking on the Path, and make him to be thankful for the blessings YOU give him, and give him goodness from me.'

Then he, (RA) said, 'As-salaamu alaikum wa Rahmutullahi wa Barakatuh, for I will not see you after this day. May Allah have mercy upon you, but I do not like to be known, and I love to be solitary, for I am in deep anxiety when I am with people. So do not ask about me, and do not call upon me, but know that you are in my heart even if I do not see you nor you see me. Mention me and pray for me, for I will mention you and pray for you, if Allah, Exalted is He, so wishes. So go away from here.'"

Haram ibn Hayyan said, " I deeply wanted to walk with him for an hour, but after that he did not allow me anymore, so I left him and I started to weep, and he also wept.

I kept watching him until he went into a road...After that I asked about him, and I called to him, but no one could tell me anything about him. But then, after a week or so had passed by, I saw him once or twice in my sleep. Uwais said, 'The Messenger of Allah died,' but he did not say, 'The Messenger of Allah, sall-Allahu `Alayhi wa sallam,' although he said it about the Prophets before him. By this he meant that the grace of the Messenger of Allah is well known, and he is known for the perfection of his honor, and he does not need to be praised by people."

Some said that when night came, Uwais, (RA) would say, "This night is for prostrating." Then he would prostrate until morning. And also when night came he would distribute the food in his house to the poor, and he would say, "O Lord, if someone dies this night out of hunger, excuse me, and if someone dies naked, excuse me."

Abdullah ibn Salma, the Companion, (RA) said, "We went to Azerbaijan in the company of our Mater Umar ibn al-Khattab, (RA), and Uwais was with us. On our way back he became ill and we carried him, but he did not last long and he died. We went to bury him and found a grave that was already dug. Water was available and everything was ready to receive a dead body. We washed him, put him in a shroud, prayed over him, and then we left. Some of us said that we should go back and mark the grave so that we would be able to find it later. So we returned to the place, but there was no trace of the grave to be found."

May Allah be pleased with him, and for he himself alone was equal to an entire Ummah (Community).

ORANG TABLIGH

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem

ORANG TABLIGH

Orang Tabligh,
Ntah sape la yg bagi nama,
Sedangkan kita sumer kan sama,
Umat Nabi SAW semuanye,
Kerja dakwah kan tanggungjawab bersama,
Nabi dah xde,
kalau kita tak buat, sape pula?,
x kan la keje ustaz dan ulama saja,
Yg kita nih, xkan nak goyang kaki saje2?

Orang Tabligh,
Lari!!Larii!Orang Tabligh dtg,
Yg tadi ramai,sekelip mata je dah ilang,
Yg td segar bugar dah tido terlentang,
Yg sakit kaki pun bleh terjun tingkap lari lintang pukang,
Heh..betul la kata orang,
Nak ajak manusia pada Allah bukannya keje senang.

Orang Tabligh,
Ajak keluar khuruj,
bukannya nanti x pulang,
Yg baru dapat gaji pun kata xde duit, nak bayar hutang,
Yg tadi sihat pun tiba2 migrain plak datang,
Yg menganggur pun buat2 sibuk bukan kepalang,
Heh, dakwah ni takat cakap je mmg la senang,
Cuba buat, mmg nak kena sabar,nak kena tenang,
Lain la kalau ajak pada dunia,
bondong2 org dtg.

Orang Tabligh,
Lorong ke lorong, hati ke hati, pintu ke pintu,
Jumpe sumer orang tak pilih bulu,
Dari ustaz sampai le kutu,
Sume nak ditemu,Nak diajak pd Allah yg satu.

Orang Tabligh,
Jalan bawak periuk belanga,
Dipandang org takat sebelah mata,
Dituduh jahil,tinggal dunia perkara biasa,
Walaupun kekadang pedih gak telinga,
Nabi dulu2 pun kan selalu kena,
Dituduh dusta, dipanggil gila,
Itu Nabi, apatah lagi kita,
Yg banyak salah,yg banyak dosa,
Takpe2, Allah kan ada,Yg Maha Mengetahui,yg mana intan, yg mana kaca.

Orang Tabligh,
Kekadang buat silap…adat la manusia,
Mmg tgh nak belajar2 tiru sahabat(r. anhum) yg dah terbukti berjaya,
Terpancung, terlaser..sori,bukannya sengaja,
Nak dapat hikmah dlm berdakwah mmg amik masa,
Kena keluar lagi dan lagi la nampaknya.

Orang Tabligh,
Ada kat mana2,Kat US, Afrika, kat Israel pun ada,
Dari petani, engineer, sampai la Raja,
Pelbagai adat, perangai beza2,
Tapi bleh makan dlm dulang yg sama,
Bila keluar jemaah sumer dilayan serupa,
Bila nak berpisah..isk2..kluar plak air mata.

Orang Tabligh,
Nak hidupkan sunnah Nabi,
Janggut, jubah,seluar atas buku lali,
Kalau nak diikutkan, mmg ader byk lagi,
Kekadang tu kena gak perli,
“Kita skang kan di zaman IT”
“Tak main la sunnah2 nih!”
Jgn la mcm tu bang, kita kan nanti mati,
Kang menyesal esok, sapa yg rugi?Kan diri sendiri..

Orang Tabligh,
Manusia biasa, ada hati,
Sedih bila diperli,
sakit bila dimaki,
Bila tinggalkan rumah, rindukan famili,
Kalau nak ikutkan hati, mmg nak dok rumah,
bergurau dgn bini,Or ajak anak main lari2,
Or layan PS2 sampai pagi,
Tapi untuk mengejar kebahagiaan abadi,
Kena korban lagi dan lagi,Yela..hidup ni kan cuma sekali,
Kalau sekang tak buat jyunbi(persiapan),
bila lagi?

Orang Tabligh,
Malam2 doa hidayat,
Fikir risau,camne nak selamatkan umat,
Supaya di akhirat suk semua selamat,
Orang skang ingat hidayat bleh senang2 dapat,
Tak perlu susah2,tak perlu keringat,
N tak mau plak jumpe masyarakat,
Just bz buat ibadat,
Kalau camtu xde la kita ni “The Best Ummat”.

Orang Tabligh,
“Apsal la ulama India yg jadik ikutan??”
Mmmm…kan Nabi dulu dah pesan,
Sape saja yg bawak kebenaran,
Tak kisah la orang Arab ke bukan,
Sume kena bagi sokongan,
Yg Allah pandang bukan luaran tapi kan Iman,
Bab mazhab jgn bimbang still sendiri punye pegangan,
So x jadik masalah la kan?

Orang Tabligh,
Ajak keluar 3 hari,
“I can’t go..sorry!”
Yg dah kawin tak nak berenggang dgn isteri,
Yg si isteri mati2 tak nak suami dia pergi,
Berderai2 air mata keluar mcm air pili,
“Kalau abg nak gi jugak, antar saya blik kampung esok pagi!!”

Heh, org laki mmg lemah bab air mata nih,
Si suami pun letak balik beg,tak jadik pergi,
Yg td josh(bersemangat) tak ingat pon,
jadik lemah seluruh sendi,Kes2 camni mmg byk terjadi,
Bleh tgk dgn mata kepala sendiri,

Tp kalau bab dunia(cth:kursus naik pangkat),”
“no prob.,anytime kamiready!
“Si isteri lambai pemergian suami dgn wajah berseri2,
Hey, of course la, nanti husband I dpt naik gaji,
Wife mana la yg tak happy,
Heh..ni la realiti, Bab dunia, tak yah diajak pun semua pakat2 reti,
Bab akhirat, masing2 buat x kesah,x amik peduli….

Ya Allah selamatkan lah kami!

Bringing Yourself to Account Before you are taken to Account; Weigh your deeds before your deeds are weighed

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallaahu ‘anhu) said:

Hasibu anfusakum Qabla antuhasabu “Bring yourself to account before you are taken to account.” And ‘Umar added: Wazinu anfusakum Qabla antuzanu “Weigh your deeds before your deeds are weighed.”

This issue of questioning oneself and taking oneself to account was practiced by the Salaf of this Ummah. Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullaah) said, “You will never meet a believer except that he brings himself to account.” 

The evil, wicked, wretched individual will never bring himself to account, will never question himself. Allaah (subhanahu wa taa’ala) said about this kind of individual (words that mean): “And his affair has been lost.” (Al-Kahf, ayah 28)

Hasan al-Basri said, “The slave will never cease to be in a state of good as long as he admonishes himself.”

Ibnul Qayyim said taking account of oneself is one of the ways of treating the sick heart.

Ibnul Qayyim said taking account of oneself is of two types:

1- taking yourself to account before an action
2- taking yourself to account after executing an action

So how does one take himself to account before an action?

Firstly, you should pause at the first thought and intention – stop, take a step back, think and ponder, and do not rush to perform that deed – and do not proceed until it becomes clear that it is more beneficial to do the action than to abstain.

Hasan al-Basree said, “May Allaah have mercy upon the slave who pauses at the thought of doing an action and, if the action was for the sake of Allaah, he proceeds; and if it was for other than the sake of Allaah, he abstains.”

So here is Ibnul Qayyim’s four-step plan.

Step One: If the nafs (oneself) moves and wants to do an action, the slave steps back, pauses, looks and ponders. Then he asks: Is this something that is feasible or possible that can be accomplished, or is it not possible? If it’s not possible, then he stops and does not proceed, because he recognizes he cannot do it.

Step Two: If it is possible, then he pauses again and asks: Is performing this action better than leaving it? If it’s better to abstain, then he doesn’t proceed.

Step Three: If it’s better to do it, then he pauses for a third time, and looks and asks: Is the reason and intent behind this action that he is seeking the Face of Allaah and His reward, or does he want some position or wealth or praise from the creation? And if your reason is purely seeking the Face of Allaah, wa lillaah il Hamd (to Allaah belongs all praise). But if you realize that the intention is to seek a position or praise or wealth from the creation, then you stop and do not proceed. And why do you stop? Why do you hold back? Ibnul Qayyim says so that your nafs does not get accustomed to ash-Shirk, and so it doesn’t become simple to perform an action for other than Allaah. And making it easy to do an action for other than Allaah will make it difficult to perform an action purely for Allaah.

Step Four: And if he finds that the action is for the sake of Allaah, he pauses again (the fourth time). The ‘abd (slave) pauses, looks and investigates, checking himself, bringing himself to account before even doing the action and asks: Will he be aided in doing this action? Does he have supporters if the action is in need of that? If he needs supporters, and he doesn’t have any, then he stays back from it; he refrains. Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said, “The slave refrains like the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) refrained from Jihaad while in Makkah.”

Brothers, this is fiqh (correct understanding); this is one of the doctors of the heart. Don’t listen to the Soofiyah, who try to treat the matters of the heart with bid’ah. This will only harden the heart. This is the doctor of the heart, meaning one who treats the sick hearts with the Book of Allaah (‘azza wa jall) and the Sunnah of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) upon the understanding of the Salaf of this Ummah.

So if he finds support, then he proceeds, and surely he will be from the victorious. No one is ever deprived of success except the one who lacks one of these [four] qualities.

Success will never be missed if all these qualities and points are joined!

These are four stages one needs to go through and satisfy before performing any action. These steps should be memorized and implemented.

AFTER THE ACTION

Now, the second type of taking oneself to account: taking yourself to account after executing an action. This is broken into three categories.

First Post-Stage: The first of them is checking the nafs (oneself) about a matter of obedience due to falling short with the right of Allaah, The Most High. This is since he did not carry out the action in the way it was befitting.

Ibnul Qayyim said:  And the rights of Allaah that have to be carried out by the slave during an act of worship are six matters:

1- al-Ikhlaas in this action
2- That you have a nasihah to Allaah in this action
3- You follow the Messenger’s Sunnah in this action
4- Having al-Ihsan in performing this action
5- Recognize the favor of Allaah upon you
6- Recognize the deficiency in falling short in this action, after all of the above

Did the slave fulfill all six of these rights of Allaah?

Second Post-Stage: Is that you monitor your nafs after every action, and ask yourself: What is better to abstain from it?

Third Post-Stage: then the slave brings his nafs to account again, and asks: Why did he do this action? Did he seek the pleasure of Allaah and the hereafter, or did he seek the wordly life and that which exists now? If he did seek pleasure of Allaah and the hereafter, he will be successful. If he sought the wordly life and that which exists now, then he will be in a state of loss and will lose that bliss.

So this is the sharh (explanation) of the statement of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallaahu ‘anhu): Bring yourself to account before you are taken to account; Weigh your deeds before your deeds are weighed.

So, after all this, someone may ask what are the consequences if me – ‘Abdullaah or Khadijah – was to leave taking myself to account? What is wrong with this?

Ibnul Qayyim explains the evil consequences of not checking your nafs, or monitoring your nafs, taking account of your nafs.

The most dangerous thing for a person is to be negligent of taking himself to account. It is the most dangerous thing that he is relaxed, paying no mind to checking the nafs. This will surely lead to a person’s destruction. This is the state of the people who are deluded and deceived, and fooled by shaytan because they are heedless, negligent; they don’t bring themselves to account. 

They shut their eyes at the end result, meaning they don’t look at the reality of the situation. Then it becomes comfortable for him to sin. They don’t consider that this action carries such a reward, or “if I commit this sin, I may be punished.” They rely solely upon being forgiven. They are deluded, because they don’t check their nafs. If a person doesn’t check himself – take himself to account – then it becomes easy for that person to sin, and it is comfortable for him to sin.

Imagine the [success of a] man who brings himself to account for every deed!

The person who doesn’t bring himself to account will have a difficult time leaving sins, like someone having to wean himself from a habitual act, or like weaning a baby from his mother. And if he only came to his senses, then he would understand that protection is easier than weaning. Why not protect yourself? Don’t fall into it [at all]. Protecting yourself from it is easier, because it is difficult to stay away from that which you are used to, and that which is habitual.

Bring yourself to account firstly regarding the obligatory acts.

[These are notes taken from a khutbah given by Abu 'Abdillaah Hassan as-Somali (hafidhahullaah), who was reading from the book Igathat al-lahfan by Imam Ibnul Qayyim Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah)]

Post Courtesy:  Maher ibn Ahmad Attiyeh al-Maqdisi via SalafisOfFlorida mailinglist 

GELARAN HAJI

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem

Di Malaysia kita sering jumpa para haji....

.....Haji YB Datuk Seri Janji bin Manis, Calon DUN Pinang Sebatang
.....Haji Sampul bin Duit, Pendakwah terkenal dan mahal
.....Tuan Haji Putar bin Belit, peguam terkenal

Dari medan politik, kamar kehakiman, ekonomi sehingga dunia hiburan

Hah, yang jadi persolannya adalah...bukankah Rasulullah S.A.W. tak pernah menggunakan gelaran haji? 

Abu Bakar...Umar Al Khattab...Uthman bin Affan...Ali bin Abi Thalib...serta para sahabat yang lain...

Mereka menerima cercaan, hinaan dan siksaan sehingga mengorbankan nyawa ketika berjuang menegak Islam bersama Rasulullah S.A.W. Tidak ada seorang pun yang menggunakan gelaran haji.

Haji merupakan salah satu dari rukun Islam. Rukun Islam terdiri daripada: Syahadah, Solat, Puasa, Zakat dan yang terakhirnya...Haji.

Tidak pernah kita jumpa gelaran syahadah - "Kenalkan saya Syahadah Ramli bin Rosli"

Atau gelaran solat - "Saya Solat Nur Anis"

Tidak ada gelaran puasa - "Puasa Johan bin Ramadan"

Serta gelaran zakat - "Zakat Herman SE, MM"

Tapi yang mempopularkan diri sebagai Haji amat ramai..."Haji Zamrud Broker Tanah, Haji Zulkifli Pelabur dan Pemberi Pinjaman"

"Elehhhhh, kata je lah dengki..."

"Tulah pasal, tak mampu pergi haji nak salahkan gelaran haji pulak"

"Okeylah, anggaplah saya dengki. Tapi bukankah haji itu bukan sekadar kata-kata yang dengan mudah dinilai manusia? Setahu saya...hanya Allah yang boleh menentukan kedudukan ibadah haji seseorang..."

Mendapat haji mabrur tidak hanya mengabdi gambar di depan kamera, menyebarkan melalui laman media sosial...atau digantung di ruang tamu.

"Saya bimbang tergelincir menjadi riak. Terjerumus dalam jurang yang dipenuhi senda gurau yang disesatkan oleh syaitan-syaitan"

"Jangan berprasangka buruk dahulu. Munkin ia bertujuan untuk syiar agama."

"Ye lah tu. Syiarlah sangat. 'Shi Ar' dari Hong Kong"

"Kita bersangka baik je, doakan semuga niat mereka memang ikhlas"

"OK la...amin"

"Ustaz kan pernah pergi haji, nape tak guna gelaran haji juga???"

"Saya malu dengan Rasulullah SAW. Baginda yang banyak berkorban demi umat pun tak pernah guna gelaran haji. Inikan lagi saya yang tiada apa-apa sangat nie, tak kan saya nak melebihi Rasulullah SAW..."

Petikan  dari Komik "ISLAM SEHARI-HARI - Panduan Akhlak Islam Seharian" karya vbi_djenggotten - www.haltebikumiku,com

http://www.zaharuddin.net/senarai-lengkap-artikel/3/891-gelaran-buruk-a-gelaran-haji-dan-hajjah.html

ANJING-ANJING NERAKA

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W kepada Mu'adz, "Wahai Mu'adz, apabila di dalam amal perbuatanmu itu ada kekurangan :

· Jagalah lisanmu supaya tidak terjatuh di dalam ghibah terhadap saudaramu/muslimin. 
· Bacalah Al-Qur'an 
· tanggunglah dosamu sendiri untukmu dan jangan engkau tanggungkan dosamu kepada orang lain. 
· Jangan engkau mensucikan dirimu dengan mencela orang lain. 
· Jangan engkau tinggikan dirimu sendiri di atas mereka. 
· Jangan engkau masukkan amal perbuatan dunia ke dalam amal perbuatan akhirat. 
· Jangan engkau menyombongkan diri pada kedudukanmu supaya orang takut kepada perangaimu yang tidak baik. 

· Jangan engkau membisikkan sesuatu sedang dekatmu ada orang lain. 
· Jangan engkau merasa tinggi dan mulia daripada orang lain. 
· Jangan engkau sakitkan hati orang dengan ucapan-ucapanmu. 

Nescaya di akhirat nanti, kamu akan dirobek-robek oleh anjing neraka. Firman Allah S.W.T. yang bermaksud, "Demi (bintang-bintang) yang berpindah dari satu buruj kepada buruj yang lain."

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W., "Dia adalah anjing-anjing di dalam neraka yang akan merobek-robek daging orang (menyakiti hati) dengan lisannya, dan anjing itupun merobek serta menggigit tulangnya."

Kata Mu'adz, " Ya Rasulullah, siapakah yang dapat bertahan terhadap keadaan seperti itu, dan siapa yang dapat terselamat daripadanya?"

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W., "Sesungguhnya hal itu mudah lagi ringan bagi orang yang telah dimudahkan serta diringankan oleh Allah S.W.T."

5 Perkara Hindar Perkara Buruk

Pada bulan Ramadan, umat Islam sangat digalakkan memperbanyakkan menyebut mengenai 5 perkara seperti yang disarankan oleh Nabi Muhammad sallallahualaihiwassalam.

Insyaallah dengan selalu menyebutnya dan mengingatinya dapat memberi kesedaran kepada kita sepanjang bulan Ramadan Al Mubarak.

Rasulullah mengingatkan kita mengenai lima perkara iaitu:

• Perbanyakkan menyebut Allah dari menyebut makhluk

• Perbanyakkan menyebut akhirat dari menyebut urusan dunia

• Perbanyakkan menyebut dan mengingat hal kematian  dari hal kehidupan

• Jangan menyebut-nyebut kebaikan diri dan keluarga

• Jangan sebut dan menampak-nampakkan keaiban atau keburukan diri orang lain 

Semuga lima perkara yang disebut di atas dapat kita hayati dan diterapkan dalam kehidupan bukan saja di bulan Ramadan tetapi di bulan-bulan yang lain, inshaallah.

The Ideal Muslim Worker

All praises are due to Allah, The Creator and Lord of all that exists. He created us and taught us what we knew not.

Verily, Allah has blessed us with numerous favours which cannot be counted by us. One of such favours is giving us the talents, knowledge and strength to seek His Bounties through working, trading, farming, etc.

The primary objective of this study is to help in checking and possibly eradicate some common misconceptions and/or mistakes in our work places (especially with regards the Government/ office work) in light of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah [Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)]. It is also meant to encourage the Muslim workers to be good ambassadors of Islam by showing examples of the perfect gentlemen Islam teaches us to be. 

Allah says: “And if anyone of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Qur’an), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not.” Ch9 V6

A worker is truly blessed to have a means of living, if we look closely especially in the developing countries, we see millions of people battling with unemployment and poverty but then man can be very ungrateful to His Creator. While trying to earn a living which can serve as a means of earning Allah’s Mercy, some make it otherwise. There are some common mistakes in our work places nowadays which are either as a result of ignorance in the teachings of Islam or as a result of following our heart’s desires. Our Governments or employers try to bring laws to check some of these mistakes, but we fail to realize Islam has already dealt with such issues a long time ago. If we abide by the teachings of our religion, we will save our employers a great deal of trouble. Why don’t we strive to find out the Laws ordained by our Creator?

People always yearn for change but we forget that change begins with the individuals. If we change ourselves at our individual levels Allah has promised us change:

“….Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah).” Ch13 V11

It is unfortunate how some people capitalize on the behaviour of some workers and condemn the job itself. This is as a result of the behaviour of some bad eggs in the work places. These critics fail to note that the actions of these workers are not only unislamic but also defy the constitution of the Country and the ethics of the professions. Some of these behaviours are known to be wrong by almost all workers while some are not very clear hence some workers indulge in such acts out of ignorance. Examples of these behaviours/ acts are bribery and corruption, injustice, etc. 

Today, we live in a society with so many problems and hardships and our actions are the cause of most of our problems. Allah says:

“Evil (sins and disobedience to Allah) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds) that He (Allah) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His pardon).” Ch30 V41

I therefore pray to Allah (S.W.T) to forgive our shortcomings, increase our knowledge and make our efforts fruitful.

Amin

Obey Allah

“In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Alif Lam Mim.
Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “we believe,” and will not be tested?
And we indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).
Or think those who do evil deeds that they can outstrip us (i.e. escape Our punishment)? Evil is that which they judge!
Whoever hopes for the Meeting with Allah, then Allah’s term is surely coming and He is the All-Hearer, the All–Knower.
And whosoever strives, he strives only for himself. Verily, Allah stands not in need for any of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
Those who believe [in the oneness of Allah (monotheism) and in Messenger Muhammad (S.A.W), and do not give up their faith because of the harm they receive from the polytheists], and do righteous good deeds, surely, We shall expiate from them their evil deeds and shall reward them according to the best of that which they use to do.” Ch29 V1-7

Verily, the above verses remind us that Allah wishes to test us in various ways hence we should strive to pass these test by obeying His commands. In Suratul Ta-Ha, Allah warns us and tells us the faith of those who reject His Guidance:

“Then if there comes to you Guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance he shall neither go astray, nor shall be distressed.
But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its teachings.) verily for him is a life of hardship, and We shall rise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.
He will say: “O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)”
(Allah) will say: ‘Like this: Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came to you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allah’s Mercy).’ ” Ch20 V123-126

However, Allah has made a promise to the believers in Suratul Nur:
“Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me. But whoever disbelieves after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)”. Ch24 V55

This promise is only part of the consolation prize, the final shall be the dwelling in Paradise.
Verily, Allah has said the truth! May He make us amongst His righteous and rightly guided servants.

Amin.

Riba (Usury/ Interest)

Riba (الربا) is commonly practiced nowadays. Collecting loans with interests have become the order of the day. There are various schemes in the name of helping workers. Most of such schemes have been designed to deviate us from the teachings of Islam. If for instance, our employers are willing to help us acquire houses, cars, e.t.c, why can’t they give us interest free loans? This way we will know they are truly helping us. But collecting loans with interest is definitely going against Allah’s command, Allah says:

“O you who believe! Eat not Riba (usury) doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful.” Ch3 V130

In Suratul Baqarah, Allah says: “Those who eat Riba (usury) will not stand (on the day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by shaitan (Satan) leading him to insanity. That is because they say; “Trading is like Riba” where as Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba. So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Riba (usury)], such are the dwellers of the fire -they will abide there in forever.

And Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, e.t.c). And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners.” Ch2 V275-276

In another verse, Allah cautions us against Riba yet again;

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (from now onward). If you are really believers. 

And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger (S.A.W) but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums).” Ch2 V278–279

From the above verses, we realize that Riba is indeed a grave sin. As aforementioned, any employer that wishes to give out loans to his employees should give out interest free loans. This way, we will know that our employers respect our faith and beliefs. If however, there are no interest free loans we should try as much as possible to desist from collecting loans. We can save up our money ourselves or with the help of other God–fearing brothers/sisters. Allah is the one who enriches His servants through various means whether known to us or otherwise. We hope our brother s and sisters will have faith in Allah as says:

“Allah increases the provision for whom He wills, and straitens (it for whom he wills), and they rejoice in the life of this world, whereas the life of this world as compared with the hereafter is but a brief passing enjoyment.” Ch13 V26