Tuesday, August 28, 2012

SURA AL-HAMD


The Holy Prophet(s) told one of his companions, Jaber Ibne Abdullah Ansari, “Sura Al-Hamd is the foundation of Qur’an and it is shifaa (cure) for every disease except death.
This sura encircles the three stages of faith:
                                    Firm conviction of faith
                                    Affirmation by tongue
                                    Performance by body limbs
The summary of Qur’an is faith and deeds and both of them are in Sura al-Hamd.
In one of the tradition, the Holy Prophet(s) said that reciting of sura Al-Hamd is equivalent to the recitation of two-third of Holy Qur’an. Allah has exalted the Holy Prophet in Sura Al-Hijr verse 87 which says” (Muhammad), we have given you the seven most repeated (verses) and the Great Qur’an”. It is reported that this sura was revealed twice.
The Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) narrated from Holy Prophet(s) “Allah has shown special favor to me by giving this Sura and making it equivalent to Holy Qur’an and it is one of the noblest treasures of “Arsh”.
Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said “Shaitan had cried four times. First when he was thrown out on refusing to prostrate (respectable) to Adam, second time when he was sent down to earth, third time when the Holy Prophet(s) was assigned prophet hood and last time when Sura Al-Hamd was revealed.
Sura al-Hamd can be divided in to two parts; one part relates to the praise of Allah and the other part relates to the needs and prayers of His servants.
This Sura is also called Sura-e-Fateha. Fateha means “beginning”. This also confirms that the Holy Qur’an was already collected and put in the present form during the life time of the Holy Prophet(s). Moreover, it is otherwise confirmed by the famous tradition of “Thaaqalain” which means two heavy things i.e. the Holy Qur’an and his Pure Progeny.
Sura al-Hamd reads as follows:

                                    Bismillah hir Rahmaan nir Raheem
            AlHamdo lillahe Rabbil Aalameen. Ar-Rahmaan nir Raheem. Malike Youmeddin
            Iyyaka nabudo wa Iyyaka Nastaeen. Ehdinas Siraatal Mustaqeema, Siraatal Lazeena
            Anamta Alaihim Ghairil Maghzoobe Alaihim Walazzalleen.
            All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Universe, the Beneficent, the Merciful and
            Master of the Day of Judgment. (Lord), you alone do we worship and from You
            Alone do we seek assistance. (Lord), guide us to the right path, the path of those to
            Whom You have granted blessings, who are neither subject to (Your) anger nor
            Have gone astray.

When anyone praises any creatures of Allah, whether a living thing or non-living, every praise is directly or indirectly refers to Allah. Nothing is praise-worthy except Allah.
It is customary to start any important work with a respectable person hence it is better to start the mission with the Everlasting being which is Allah. There is a tradition that any work started without Allah’s name is doomed to be a failure. That is the reason that when the first Revelation started, Allah says in Sura al-Alaq verse 1 “(Muhammad), read in the name of your Lord who created (all things). Sura al-Hud verse 41 “(Noah) said, Embark in it. It will sail in the name of Allah, in His name it will sail and in His name it will cast anchor….” Sura al-Namal verse 30 “It reads, ‘From Soloman: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent and the Merciful”. Hence every sura of Holy Qur’an starts with Bismillah so that the Divine mission of guidance of humanity is accomplished without any loss. Only Sura al-Tauba does not start with Bismillah because it starts with a declaration of war with the criminals of Mecca hence Allah’s names of Rahmaan and Raheem is improper.
The name Allah includes his other attributes.
The attribute of al-Rahman is available to the humanity at large whether Muslim or non-Muslim but the attribute of al-Raheem is especially for pious and obedient faithful. Allah repeatedly reminds His servants that if they repent sincerely for their sins then He will forgive them as it is mentioned in Sura al-Zumr verse 53 “(Muhammad), tell my servants who have committed injustice to themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is All-forgiving and All-merciful”
Rabb means the master or owner, responsible for the sustenance of His creation. Aalameen means the universe. Hence “Rabb ul Aalameen” means the Master who manages the affairs of the universe. It includes all of His creation whether having life or otherwise.
Malik is derived from al-milk which means possession, sovereign or king. In any meaning it shows the total control of affairs. “Youmeddin” means the Day of Judgement. So Allah is the controller of the Day of Judgment. Day of Judgment is the pivoting factor for all individual and social deeds for the betterment of human society. It is said that on the Day of Judgment the servants will be questioned first about namaaz, if namaaz is accepted then other deeds will also be accepted. That is why we should pray namaaz punctually which in turn will remind us of the Day of Judgment preventing us from committing sins. The literal meaning of “Deen” is reward or compensation and the purpose of Day of Judgment is the reward for good deeds and punishment for the sins.
“Iyyaka Nabudo Wa Iyyaka Nastaeen” means we only worship You and seek assistance from You only. When we ask for help, Allah will cause to arrange for our help as He is “Musabebul Asbaab”
When we completely and thoroughly understand the foregoing verses that Allah is Beneficent and Merciful, He is the sustainer and the absolute controller of the Day of Judgment, then we become pure servant of Allah released from the clutches of wordly distractions and solicit His help and guidance.
“Ehdinas Siraatal Mustaqeem”:  We are praying Allah to guide us to the Straight Path.
Straight Path is the path of piety, justice and faith. It is recommended to pray for the continued guidance from Allah at least ten times a day. Our connection with Allah is like a light bulb which gives light as long as it is connected with the power station. The moment this connection is severed, we are in the darkness.
 Every person is at different level of faith. Even the Holy Prophet (s) used to pray “Rabbe Zidni Ilma” meaning “O Allah, increase my knowledge”. Allah says in Holy Qur’an Sura al-Mariyam verse 76 “Allah further enlightens those who seek guidance…..”. Imam Ali (a.s.) says “ O Allah, continue the favors You bestowed on us in the past by which we submitted to You so that we may continue to pray”. Put it differently, Straight Path is the path of worship of Allah and following His commandments.
Sura al-Anaam verse 161 “(Muhammad), tell them ‘My Lord has guided me to the right path, a well-established religion and the upright tradition of Abraham, who was not a pagan”. Sura al-Yaseen verse 60, 61 “Children of Adam, Did We not command you not to worship Satan? He was your sworn enemy. Did We not command you to worship Me and tell you that this is the Straight Path”. Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq said “By God, we are the Straight Path”
“Anamta Alaihim Ghairil Maghzoobe Alaihim Wallazzalleen”:
Sura al-Nisa verse 69 “ One who obeys Allah and the Messenger is a friend of the Prophets, saints, martyrs, and the righteous ones to whom Allah has granted His favors.”
Sura al-Nahal verse 106 “No one verbally denounces his faith in Allah-unless he is forced-while his heart is confident about his faith. But those whose breasts have become open to disbelief will be subject to the wrath of Allah and will suffer a great torment”
Sura al-Fath verse 6 “He will punish the hypocrites and the pagans who have evil suspicions about Allah. It is they who are surrounded by evil and have become subject to the wrath and condemnation of Allah. He has prepared for them Hell, a terrible place to live” Sura al-Aale Imran verse 112 “…..They have incurred the wrath of Allah unto themselves and have been struck with destitution for their rejection of the revelations of Allah and for unjustly murdering the prophets. It is all because of their transgressions and rebellion”. 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

ALLAMA IQBAL'S LOVE FOR IMAM ALI(A.S.) IN ASRAR-E-KHUDI


Allama Iqbal was called “The Thinker of Pakistan” as he spear-headed the Muslim Renaissance in British India which ultimately culminated in the creation of Pakistan in 1947. He obtained his Doctorate from Germany and was a Barrister, the highest law affiliation in England. He was a Sunni Muslim but had a profound love for Prophet (s)’s Progeny. In one of his Persian books, Asrar-e-Khudi, he had expressed his respectful love and admiration for Imam Ali (a). Some of its extracts are reproduced below:
                                  Muslim e awwal shahe mardan Ali
                                       Ishq ra sarmaya e iman Ali
Ali (a.s.) is the first Muslim and the king of men, In Love’s eyes, Ali (a.s.) is the    
                                         Treasure of the faith.
                                  Az wilae dood manish zinda um
                                  Dar jahan misle guhar tabinda um
Devotion to his family inspires me with life, so I am shining like a pearl.
                                  Az rukhe uo faal Paighambar grift
                                  Millat e Haq az shikohish far grift
From Ali (a.s.)’s face, the Prophet(s.a.w.s.) drew many a fair omen, by his majesty the
                                     true religion is glorified.
                                  Quwwat e deen e mubeen farmudaish
                                      Kainaat aaen pizeer az doodaish
His commandments are the strength of Islam, all things pay allegiance to his House.
                                  Mursal e Haq kard namish Bu Turab
                                  Haq “Yad Allah” khawnad dar Ummul Kitab
The Apostle(s.a.w.s.) of God gave him the name Bu Turab (Father of soil), God in the Quran called him
                                        “The Hand of Allah”
                                  Sher e Haq ien khaak ra taskheer kard
                                        Ien gile tareek ra akseer kard
Ali (a.s.), “The Lion of God” subdued the body’s clay and transmuted this dark
                                                Earth to gold.
                                  Murtaza (a.s.) kaz taigh e uo Haq raushan ast
                                      Bu Turab az fathe aqleem e tan ast
Murtaza(a), by whose sword the splendor of truth was revealed, is named
                      Bu Turab from his conquest of the empire of body (clay).
                                  Hark e dar afaaq gardad Bu Turab
                                   Baaz gardanad za maghrib aftaab
Whosoever in the world if become a Bu Turab, turns back the Sun from West.
                                  Zaire paaish ienja shikohe Khyber ast
                                  Dast e uo Unja khaseem e Kauser ast
Here the Might of Khyber is under his feet and in Hereafter his hand will distribute
                                              the water of Kauser.
                                  Az khud aagahi Yadullahi kunad
                                  Az Yadullahi shahinshahi kunad
Through self-knowledge, he acts as God’s Hand and by virtue of being God’s Hand
                                          he reigns over every thing.
                                  Zaat e uo darwaza e shahre uloom
                                  Zair e farmanish Hijaz o Cheen o Room
He is the GateWay of the City of Knowledge; Arabia, China, and Greece are under
                                              his governance.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

ALLAH DOES NOT LOVE THIS TYPE OF PERSONS


In the Sacred Qur’an, Allah has pointed out at various places as to which persons He does not love. Collected below are some of such persons:
1.      Surat al-Baqara verse No. 190:
Fight, for the cause of Allah, those who fight you, but do not transgress, for Allah does not love the transgressors.
2.      Surat al-Baqara verse No. 205:
As soon as they leave you, they quickly commit evil in the land, destroying the farms (religion) and people. Allah does not love what is evil.
3.      Surat al-Baqara verse No. 276:
Allah makes unlawful interest devoid of all blessings and causes charity to increase. Allah does not love sinful unbelievers. 
4.      Surat al- Ale Imran verse No. 32:
Tell them, “Obey Allah and the Messenger.” If they turn away (let it be known) that Allah does not love the unbelievers.
5.      Surat al-Ale Imran verse No. 57:
“However, to the righteously striving believers I shall give their reward in full measure.” Allah does not love the unjust.
6.      Surat al-Ale Imran verse No. 140:
If you get hurt, certainly others have also experienced injuries. We have made people pass through the different turns of history so that Allah would know the true believers, have some of you bear witness to the people’s deeds. Allah does not love the unjust.
7.      Surat al-Nisa’ verse No. 36:
Worship Allah and consider no one equal to Him. Be kind to your parents, relatives, orphans, the destitute, your near and distant neighbors, your companions, wayfarers, and your slaves. Allah does not love the proud and boastful ones.
8.      Surat al-Nisa’ verse No. 107:
Do not defend those who deceive themselves; Allah does not love those who are treacherous and sinful.
9.      Surat al-Maidah verse No. 64:
….. Whenever they kindle the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it. They try to spread evil in the land but Allah does not love the evil-doers.
10.  Surat al-Maidah verse No. 87:
Believers, do not make unlawful the pure things which Allah has made lawful for you. Do not transgress, Allah does not love the transgressors.
11.  Surat al-An’am verse No. 141:
….. You may eat their fruits that they produce, but pay Allah’s share on the harvest day. Do not be excessive; Allah does not love those who are excessive.
12.  Surat al-Nahal verse No. 23:
Allah certainly knows whatever you conceal or reveal. He does not love the proud ones.
13.  Surat al-Qasas verse No. 76:
…..We had given him so much treasure that the keys of the store could hardly be carried by a group of strong people. His people told him “Do not be proud of your wealth; Allah does not love those who are happy (for their wealth).
14.  Surat al-Qasas verse No. 77:
Seek the gains of the life to come through your wealth without ignoring your share of this life. Do favors to others just as Allah has done favors to you. Do not commit evil in the land, for Allah does not love the evil-doers.
15.  Surat Luqman verse No. 18:
Do not show people that you are an inferior person. Do not walk around puffed-up with pride; Allah does not love arrogant and boastful people.
16.  Surat al-Shura verse No. 40:
The recompense for evil will be equivalent to the deed. He, who pardons (the evil done to him) and reforms himself, will receive his reward from Allah. He certainly does not love the unjust.
17.  Surat al-Hadid verse No. 23:
So that you would not grieve over what you have lost nor become very happy about what Allah has granted to you. Allah does not love the arrogant boastful ones.

The English translation has been extracted from the Sacred Qur’an translated by Br. Muhammad Sarwar and published by Sajjad Foundation in Singapore.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

ALLAH LOVES WHICH TYPE OF PERSONS


In the Holy Qur’an, Allah specifies the type of persons He loves. It is normally mentioned at the end of a verse.
Collected below are the types of persons Allah loves:
1.      Surat al-Baqara verse No. 195:
Give money for the cause of Allah but do not push yourselves into perdition. Do good; Allah loves the people who do good deeds.
2.      Surat al-Baqara verse No. 222:
…….Allah loves those who repent and those who purify themselves.
3.   Surat Al-Imran verse No. 76:
      Those who keep their promise and observe piety should know that
      Allah certainly loves the pious ones.
4.      Surat Al-Imran verse No. 134:
The pious ones who spend their property for the cause of Allah in prosperity as well as in adversity, and who also harness their anger and forgive the people. Allah loves the righteous ones.
5.      Surat Al-Imran verse No. 146:
Many godly people fought to help the Prophets in the cause of Allah. They did not lose courage, show weakness, or give in when facing hardships in their fight for the cause of Allah. Allah loves those who have patience.
6.      Surat Al-Imran verse No. 148:
Allah gave them reward in this world and the best reward of the life to come. Allah loves the righteous ones.
7.      Surat Al-Imran verse No. 159:
But when you reach a decision, trust Allah. Allah loves those who trust Him.   
8.      Surat al-Ma’idah verseNo. 13:
Still you receive the news of treachery of all but a few of them. Forgive and ignore them. Allah loves the righteousness ones.
9.      Surat al–Ma’idah verse No. 93:
The righteously striving believers will not be blamed for what they have eaten, if they maintained piety, do good deeds, have faith, and be charitable. Allah loves the generous people.
10.  Surat al-Taubah verse No. 4:
This does not apply to the pagans with whom you have a valid peace treaty and who had not broken it from their side or helped others against you. You (believers) must fulfill the terms of the peace treaty with them. Allah loves the pious ones.
11.  Surat al-Taubah verse No. 7:
How can the pagans, except those with whom you have established a peace treaty in the precinct of the Sacred Mosque, have a covenant with Allah and His Messenger? If they respect the pact, you should also follow its terms. Allah loves the pious ones.
                      12.   Surat al-Taubah verse No. 108:
In this mosque, there are people who loved to be purified. Allah loves who purify themselves.
13.    Surat al-Hujarat verse No. 9:
When he does so, restore peace among them with justice and equality; Allah loves those who maintain justice.
14.  Surat al-Saff verse No. 4:
Allah loves those who fight for His cause in ranks firm as an  unbreakable wall. 

The English translation has been extracted from the Sacred Quran translation performed by Br. Muhammad Sarwar published by Sajjad Foundation in Singapore.

Monday, August 6, 2012

IMAM ALI (AS)'S SERMON ON TAUHEED IN NAHJUL BALAGHA


The Gateway of Knowledge of the City of Knowledge – The Holy Prophet (S) had delivered 241 sermons collected in Nahjul Balagha. He had referred to Allah’s attributes in the following sermons: sermon # 45, 49, 65, 85, 90, 94, 109, 133, 152, 160, 163, 179, 183, 185, 186, 191, 198, and 211. His sermon #186 on Tauheed is reproduced below:

            He, who assigns to Him different conditions, does not believe in His oneness, nor does he who likens Him grasp His reality. He who illustrates Him does not signify Him. He who points at Him and imagines Him does not mean Him. Every thing that is known through it has been created, and every thing that exists by virtue of other things is the effect of a cause. He works but not with the help of instruments. He fixes measures but not with the activity of thinking. He is rich but not by acquisition.
Time does not keep company with Him, and implements do not help Him. His being precedes time. His Existence precedes non-existence and His eternity precedes beginning. By His creating the senses it is known that He has no senses. By the contraries in various matters it is known that He has no contrary, and by the similarity between things it is known that nothing is similar to Him. He has made light the contrary of darkness, brightness that of gloom, dryness that of moisture, and heat that of cold. He produces affection among hostile things.
He fuses together diverse things, brings near remote things, and separates things which are joined together. He is not confined by limits, nor counted by numbers. Material parts can surround things of their own kind, and organs can point out things similar to themselves. The word “munzu” (since) disproves their eternity, the word “qad” (that denotes nearness of time of occarence), disproves their being from ever and the word “lawla” (if it were not) keep them remote from perfection.
Through them the Creator manifests Himself to the intelligence, and through them He is guarded from the sight of the eyes.
Stillness and motion do not occur in Him, and how can that thing occur in Him, who He has Himself made to occur, and how can a thing revert to Him whom He first created, and how can a thing appear in Him which He first brought to appearance. If it had not been so, His Self would have become subject to diversity, His Being would have become divisible (into parts), and His Reality would have been prevented from being deemed Eternal. If there was a front to Him there would have been a rear also for Him. He would need completing only if shortage befell Him. In that case signs of the created would appear in Him, and He would become a sign (leading to other objects) instead of signs leading to Him. Through the Might of His abstention (from affectedness) He is far above being affected by things which affect others.
He is that which does not change or vanish. The process of setting does not behoove Him. He has not begotten anyone lest He be regarded as having been born. He has not been begotten otherwise He would be contained within limits. He is too High to have sons. He is too purified to contact women. Imagination cannot reach Him so as to assign Him quantity. Understanding cannot think of Him so as to give Him shape. Senses do not perceive Him so as to feel Him. Hands cannot touch Him so as to rub against Him. He does not change into any condition. He does not pass from one state to another. Nights and days do not turn Him old. Light and darkness do not alter Him.
It cannot be said that He has a limit or extremity, or end or termination; nor do things control Him so as to raise Him or lower Him, nor does anything carry Him so as to bend Him or keep Him erect. He is not inside things or outside them. He conveys news but not with tongue or voice. He listens, but not with the holes of the ears or the organs of hearing. He says, but does not utter words. He remembers, but does not memorize. He determines, but not exercising His mind. He loves and approves without sentimentality (of hart). He hates and feels angry without any painstaking. When He intends to create someone, He says “Be” and there he is, but not through a voice that strikes (the ears) is that call heard. His speech is an act of His creation. His like never existed before this. If had been eternal it would have been the second god.
It cannot be said that He came into being after He had not been in existence because in that case the attributes of the created things would be assigned to Him and there would remain no difference them and Him, and He would have no distinction over them. Thus, the Creator and the created would become equal and the initiator and the initiated would be on the same level. He created (the whole of) creation without any example made by someone else, and He did not secure the assistance of any one out of His creation for creating it.
He created the earth and suspended it without being busy, retained it without support, made it stand without legs, raised it without pillars, protected it against bending and curving and defended it against crumbling and splitting  (into parts). He fixed mountains on it like stumps, solidified its rocks, caused its streams to flow and opened wide its valleys. Whatever He made did not suffer from any flow, and whatever He strengthened did not show any weakness.
He manifests Himself over the earth with His authority and greatness. He is aware of its inside through His knowledge and understanding. He has power over every thing in the earth by virtue of His Sublimity and dignity. Nothing from the earth He may ask for defies Him, nor does it oppose Him so as to overpower Him. No swift-footed creator can run away from Him so as to surpass Him. He is not needy towards any possessing person so that he should feed Him. All things bow to Him and are humble before His greatness. They cannot flee away from His authority to some one else in order to escape His benefit or His harm. There is no parallel for Him who may match Him and no one like Him so as to equal Him.
He will destroy the earth after its existence, till all that exist on it will become non-existent. But the extinction of the world after its creation is no stranger than its first formation and invention. How could it be? Even all the animals of the earth, whether birds or beasts, stabled cattle or pasturing one, of different origins and species, dull people and sagacious men—all jointly try to create (even) a mosquito they are not able to bring it to being and do not understand what is the way to its creation. Their wits are bewildered and wandering. Their powers fall short and fail, and return disappointed and tired, knowing that they are defeated and admitting their inability to produce it, also realizing they are too weak (even) to destroy it.
Surely, after the extinction of the world, Allah, the Glorified, will remain alone with nothing else beside Him. He will be, after its extinction, as He was before its production: without time or place or moment or period. At this moment period and time will not exist, and years and hours will disappear. There will be nothing except Allah, the One, and the All-Powerful. To Him is the return of all matters. Its initial creation was not in its power; and the prevention of its extinction was (also) not in its power. If it had power to prevent it, it would have existed for ever. When He made anything of the world, the making of it did not cause Him any difficulty, and the creation of any thing which He created and formed did not fatigue Him. He did not create it to heighten His authority nor for fear of loss or harm, nor to seek its help against an over whelming foe, nor to guard against any avenging opponent with its help, nor for the extension of His domain by its help, nor for boasting (over largeness of His possession) against a partner, nor because He felt lonely and desired to seek its company.
Then after its creation He will destroy it, but not because any worry has overcome Him, in its upkeep and administration, nor for any pleasure that will accrue to Him, nor for the cumbrousness of any thing over Him. The length of its life does not weary Him so as to induce Him to its quick destruction. But, Allah the Glorified has maintained it with His kindness, kept it intact with His command and perfected it with His Power. Then, after its destruction, He will resuscitate it, but not for any need of His own towards it, nor to seek assistance of any of its things against it, nor to change over the condition of loneliness to that of company, nor from the condition of ignorance and blindness, to that of knowledge and search, nor from paucity and need towards needless and plenty, nor from disgrace and lowliness towards honor and prestige.