PILLAR OF ISLAM - ALLAH (S.W.T.) - PART TWO

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful. (1:1) The Beneficent God is firm in power. (20:5)

Inform My servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciful (15:49)

So Exalted be Allah, the True King. (23:116) Master of the Day of Judgement. (1:4)

Whatever is in the heavens and the earth declares the Glory of Allah, the King, the Holy. (62:1)

And the Servants of al-Rahman are the ones who walk on earth humbly, and when the ignorant ones address them, they say: Salam (25:63) …. And Allah invites to the abode of peace. (10:25)

To Allah belongs the Might, and to His Prophet, and to the believers. (63:8) O Moses! Surely, I am Allah, the Wise. (27:9)

He is Allah besides Whom there is no other God, the Sovereign, the Holy, the source of peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the preserver of safety, the One Exalted in Might, the irresistible, the Supreme, Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to (Him).  (59:23)

Thus, does Allah sets a seal over the heart of everyone who is proud, haughty. (40:35)

…. the Creator of everything, therefore, worship Him (6:102) ….is there any creator besides Allah. (35:3)

Who created me then showed me the way, and He provides me with food to eat and water to drink, and when I am sick, He restores my health to me?

He it is who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases; there is no God but He, the Mighty, the Wise. (3:6)

Surely, I am most Forgiving to whoever repents and believes and does good deeds. (20:82)

To whom does the kingdom belongs this day? To Allah, the One, the Subduer

 of all. (40:16)

Lord! Do not let our hearts deviate after having guided us, but grant us mercy from Your own Presence, for You are the Grantor of bounties without measure. (3:8)

Allah provides means of subsistence to whomsoever He pleases without a measure. (2:212)

….and trust in Allah; surely, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (8:61)

Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are granted knowledge, to high degrees. (58:11)

Judgement is only Allah’s; He relates the truth and He is the best of those who decide. (6:57)

When you judge between people, you should judge with justice; surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent; surely Allah is Seeing, Hearing. (4:58)

Vision does not comprehend Him, He comprehends all vision, and He knows the subtleties, and He is the Aware (6:103)

…certainly, Allah has pardoned them, surely Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing. (3:155)

…. surely Allah forgives the faults of all of them; surely, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. (39:53)

He is the Most High. (2:225)

We have revealed the Reminder, and We are its Guardian. (15:9)

There is none to repeal His decree, and He is swift to take account. (13:41)

…. surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one who is most careful (of his duty towards Allah). (49:13)

And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you; surely those are proud to worship Me, shall soon enter hell (40:60)

                Source: Allah by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri

GOLDEN SAYINGS OF "THE GATEWAY OF KNOWLEDGE" - IMAM ALI (A.S.)

If a believer enrages his brother, it means that he leaves him.

The worst comrade is he for whom formality must be observed.

Allah has not made it obligatory on the ignorant to learn till He has made it obligatory on the learned to teach.

The worst sin is that which the committer takes it lightly.

Contentment is a wealth that does not exhaust.

The fighter in the way of Allah who gets martyred would not get a greater reward than he who remains chaste despite means. It is possible that chaste person may become one of the angels.

There is no good in silence over matters involving wisdom just as there is no good in speaking with ignorance.

Unity means that you do not subject Him to the limitations of your imaginations and justice means that you do not lay any blame on Him.

Two types of persons will fall into ruin over me: The one who loves exaggerates and the other who lays and baseless blames.

Backbiting is the tool of the helpless.

Forbearance and endurance are twins and they are the product of high courage.

Belief means you should prefer truth when it harms you rather than falsehood when it benefits you; your words should not be more than your action and you should fear Allah when speaking about others.

Two greedy persons never get satisfied, the seeker of knowledge and the seeker of this world.

Is there no freeman who can leave this chewed morsel (of the world) to those who like it? Certainly, the price for yourself is Paradise. Therefore, do not sell yourself except for Paradise.

What has a man to do with vanity. His origin is semen and his end are a carcass while he cannot feed himself nor ward off death.

Your turning away from him who inclines towards you is a loss of your share of advantage while your inclining towards him who turns away from you is humiliation for yourself.

Whenever a man cuts a joke, he separates away a bit from his wit.

Whoever maintains his own respect in view, his desires appear light to him.

Whoever regards small distresses as big, Allah involves him in big ones.

A little that lasts is better than much that brings grief.

What a breaker is sleep for the resolutions of the day.

People are enemies of what they do not know.

Remember pleasures will pass away while the consequences will stay.

Livelihood is of two kinds: the seeker and the sought. Therefore, he who hankers after this world death traces him till it turns him out of it; but he who hankers after the next world, worldly ease itself seeks him till he receives his livelihood from it.

On the Day of Judgement, the greatest regret will be felt by man who earned wealth through sinful ways, although inherited by a person whom spends it in obeying Allah, the Glorified, and will be awarded Paradise on that account while first one will go to Fire on account of it.

                Sources: Nahjul Balaghah – Part 2 by al-Allama ash-Sharif ar-Razi

HOW TO SUSTAIN ALL THE BENEFITS OF FASTING AFTER THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

The Holy month of Ramadan brings all the spiritual benefits to the faithful. It is the Spring of the Glorious Qur’an, prayers, and supplications. Islam is not a weekly religion; it is a complete code of life to be practiced 24 hours. The Infallible Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said, “Allah likes any virtuous deed done on regular basis, even if it is little.” The Infallible Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Anyone who starts a virtuous deed, he should do it for at least one year. And he should not discontinue after some time.” Reason being that he becomes used to it forming into a second nature. To sustain the benefits of Ramadan for the entire year, efforts may be made by following the 10-point plan as under:

                FASTING: It is recommended to fast at least 3 days every month; first Thursday, last Thursday and first Wednesday after the 10th. If the individual’s health status permits, 3 more fasts may be kept on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th.

                SALAAT: It is the pillar of Islam and the Ascension (Mai’raj) of a believer. It should be established on timely and regular basis with complete attention.

                CHARITY: Giving alms for the Pleasure of Allah, on daily basis, weekly basis, or monthly basis. It purifies our hearts. Although, Zakat and Khums is given on yearly basis, but Sadaqat and Khairat should be given as frequently as possible as it is recommended by the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)

                HAJJ, UMRA AND ZIARAAT OF THE INFALLIBLES: If one can afford, perform Hajj, Umrah and Ziaraat frequently.

                RECITATION OF THE GLORIOUS QUR’AN: Retain connection with the Glorious Qur’an and comprehend and understand its contents. It should be recited as frequently as possible but at least once a day.

                AHLUL BAYT (A.S.): Relate to their values and the sermons by studying their pure lives and try to practice it.

                FAMILY LIVES: According to the Glorious Qur’an and the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), we should look after our immediate and extended families and participate in the community affairs.

                FRIDAY CONGREGATIONS: Great emphasis is placed on attending the Friday Prayers in the community and if anyone misses the Friday Prayers 3 times consecutively, without valid reason, could be considered as a hypocrite.

                MORAL VALUES OF AHLUL BAYT (A.S.): As far as possible, we should follow our “Ideal Role Models”. Control our different parts of body especially the tongue and as per Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, we commit 30 sins by our tongue.

                ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE OF ISLAM: This could be achieved by reading the Glorious Qur’an, Nahjul Balagha, Sahifa Sajjadia and biographies of our Infallible Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), the Doyenne of the World and the Pure Imams (a.s.).  Establish close relations with the religious scholars and other knowledgeable community members.

                Source: Hujjatul Islam Maulana Mukhtar Faezi’s Lecture at Baitul Ilm, Streamwood, Illinois

DUA AL-NUDBA

Nudba means calling, wailing, and mourning, because it includes calling Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) for help, lament on his occultation and wail in his absence. This Dua has been narrated by authentic sources from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.). It is recommended (Mustahab) to recite it on Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Ghadeer and every Fridays.

The supplication starts by glorifying and praising Allah (s.w.t.) and sending his peace and blessings on the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Pure Progeny (a.s.). It continues explaining the purpose of choosing prophets and saints, and then the most important part of Adam and Ulul-Azam prophets (Noah, Ibrahim, Musa, Eisa and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). It has been emphasized that Allah has appointed an executor and successor for each one of them so that Right (Haqq) stays and Wrong (Batil) cannot overcome the Right. Afterward, it proceeds with the succession of Imam Ali (a.s.) and after mentioning some of his virtues, it points out the disloyalty and wickedness of their enemies who-against the Prophet’s explicit order-martyred Imam Ali (a.s.) and his holy sons (a.s.) one after another. Then it goes on with asking for help and yearning for the re-appearance of the last remaining infallible of the Prophet’s Progeny (a.s.).

There are 222 verses of Dua al-Nudba. Selected verses are reproduced below:

The Dua continues with the blessings to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) saying, “Allah’s wish is but to keep away uncleanness far from you “O People of the House” and purify you with a through purification. You said, ‘Say (O Muhammad): I ask you no recompence, save love of (my) kinsfolk. You gave authority to his successor Ali Ibn Abi Talib(as) a guide for the people and in a public meeting overflowing with people, he said, “Of whomsoever I am the Mawlaa, Ali is his Mawlaa. O Allah! Be a friend of him who is a friend of him (Ali), be an enemy of him who is enemy of him (Ali). And said, “I and Ali are from one basic root of a tree, and the rest of mankind are like diverse plants. He said, “I am to you as Musa was to Haroon, but there is no prophet after me.” Ali’s life partner was his (Muhammad)’s daughter, the Chief of the Women of the World. Muhammad and Ali’s doors were open in the mosque, all other doors were closed. He said, “I am the city of Knowledge and Ali is its gate.” He told Ali, “You are my brother, successor and inheritor, your flesh is my flesh, your blood is my blood, your fight is my fight, your truce is my truce, you are the fulfilment of my religion, you shall execute and keep alive my “way of life”, your friends and followers shall speak with authority, command respect and hold the torch of  good manners and refinement, their faces will be all around me in Paradise. Was it not you O Ali, the faithful would not know the truth after me?” Ali had thrown the proud tribal chiefs of Arabia into a fright, destroyed their heroes, attacked, and dispersed its cavalries because of which hatred and deep grudge took roots in their hearts. Badr, Khaybar and Hunain created jealousy and envy in them. Ali destroyed the deserters who had swerved from what was right, the shameless who deviated from true religion. A malicious criminal killed him. An unparalleled approach was applied to the direction of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) concerning the Imams one after the other. The narrow minded obstinate “Ummah” did not care for and had ill-feelings towards him. Where is Hasan? Where is Husayn? Where are the children of Husayn? Where is the “Awaited Savior” and “Hope” who will put an end to the tyranny and oppression? Where is the investigator of the blood of the martyrs of Karbala? O inheritor of “Taa-Haa”, “Yaa-seen” “Toor” and “A’adiyaat”. O son of him who “drew near and came down till he was two bows’ length or nearer.” I eagerly long for you who is out of sight but has not forsaken us. O my Allah! Help us to discharge the duties made incumbent upon us by him, keep from that which is declared unlawful by him. Accept our prayers, forgive our sins, fulfill our desires, give us means of livelihood, make less our hardships.

                Sources: supplication.al-islam.org/adiya/dua-nudba, WIKISHIA.NET

PILLAR OF ISLAM - ALLAH (S.W.T.) -PART ONE

Knowledge of Allah (s.w.t.) through the Glorious Qur’an:

My Lord is the One Who brings life and Who causes Death. (2:258)

He is your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old. (26:26)

Our Lord is the One Who gave everything its creation, then He guided it (to its destination). (20:50)

The Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He; therefore, take Him for a protector. (73:9)

…. nothing at all is like Him. (42:11)

Pharaoh asked Musa, “And what is Lord of the worlds? (26:23)

Musa answered by saying that He is “Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old.” (26:26)

Say: He, Allah, is One. (112:1)

And your God is One God. (2:163)

Had there been in them any gods besides Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disaster. (21:22)

He is the Supreme (watching) over His worshipers. (6:61)

They revere their Lord High above them. (16:50)

The Beneficent God is firmly established on the throne (of authority). (20:5)

There is no God but you! Glory to You! Surely, I have become one of those who commit injustice against their own souls. (21:87)

All those in the heavens and the earth glorify Allah (s.w.t.). (57:1)

The Praised One has said, He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent, and He has the full knowledge of all things. (57:3)

Everything is to perish except the face of Allah. (28:88)

Everyone on earth will perish but will abide (forever) the Face of your Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor. (55:26-27)

Blessed is He in Whose hands is the dominion. (67:1)

Say: O Allah! Master of authority! You give authority to whomsoever You please and take it away from whomsoever You please. (3:26)

Whose will be the dominion that Day? It is Allah’s, the One, the Subduer (of all). (40:16)

(He is) the one Who knows the unseen and the seen. (6:73)

And with Him are the keys of the unseen treasures: none knows them except Him. (6:59)

Slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep. (2:255)

And your Lord is not forgetful. (19:64)

Were every tree on earth (made into) pens and the sea (to supply it with ink), with seven more seas to add thereto, the words of Allah would not have been exhausted; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise. (31:27)

Allah’s is the command before (now) and thereafter. (30:4)

The Day on which no soul shall control anything for (another) soul, and the command on that Day shall be entirely Allah’s. (82:19)  

                                Source: The Glorious Qur’an, Allah by Yasin T. al-Jibouri

BACKBITING (GHEEBAH) IS A GREATER SIN

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) has defined backbiting as, “To speak about such a quality of his brother which he would like to be discussed.”

Backbiting is discouraged in the Glorious Qur’an in many Ayahs, directly or indirectly. Some of the Ayahs are:

“O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you would like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it: but be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is oft returning (to mercy), Merciful.” (49:12)

“Do not follow (say)what you do not know; the ears, eyes and hearts will be held responsible for their deeds.” (17:36)

“When they hear impious words, they keep away from them, saying, “We shall be responsible for our deeds and you will be responsible for yours. Peace be with you. We do not want to become ignorant.” (28:55)

“Woe unto every slanderer, defamer!” (104:1)

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said to Abu Dharr Ghifari, “O Abu Dharr, a slanderer (backbiter) will not enter Paradise. He cannot be safe from the chastisement of Almighty Allah.” He (s.a.w.a.s.) also said, “Gheebah is worse than fornication because if a fornicator repents, Allah forgives him, but He does not forgive the backbiter till the person about whom he has backbites forgives.”

Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Backbiting is the best effort of a weak person.”

Reasons for backbiting are:

jealousy, annoyance, amusement, pleasure, egotism.

Later, if he realizes his disobedience to Allah, then he should repent with the intention never to repeat and seek forgiveness from Allah. If possible, he must apologize to the person he had done gheebah. If this is not possible, he must ask Allah’s forgiveness for him.

There are some exceptions to the backbiting:

                1.Gheebah of a person whose defect is not hidden.

                2. If an oppressed person complains about the oppressor and mentions his acts of injustice.

                3. Advice to those who ask for it.

                4. Gheebah is allowed with the intention of Nahy Anal Munkar.

5. Gheebah of a person is allowed if in addition to committing the sin himself, he is instrumental in instigating others to follow him.  

6. Gheebah is allowed in connection with a person who narrates false hadith or gives a false testimony.

7 It can mention the defect of a person by which he is well-known.

8. It can expose the false claims of a person’s lineage.

Listening to Gheebah is prohibited (Haraam). The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “The one who listens to Gheebah is one of those who do Gheebah. If possible, he must defend the believing brother.”

Ayatollah Shaikh Ansari writes in “Makasib”: If a person backbites about a person but heaps excessive praises on him in his presence, the sin of backbiting is double.

They say, “Give more to your ears and less to your tongue.” Hazrat Luqman told his son, “O son! If you take speech equal to the weight of silver, then observing silence is worth the weight in gold.”

                Sources: Greater Sins-volume 3 by Ayatollah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib

                                  Backbiting by Peer Mohammad Ebrahim Trust, Understand Qur’an.com

TELLING LIES IS A GREATER SIN

There are many Ayahs of the Glorious Qur’an which condemns lying e.g. “Only they forge the lie who do not believe in Allah (s.w.t.)’s communications, and these are the liars.” (16:105) “Surely, Allah (s.w.t.) does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful (39:3) “And pray for the curse of Allah (s.w.t.) on liars.” (3:61) “…the curse of Allah (s.w.t.) be on him if he is one of the liars.” (24:8) “Surely, Allah does not guide him who is extravagant, a liar.” (40:34)

The evil consequences of lying has been collected by late Haji Nuri:

1.       “…. there shall be no intercourse nor transgression (lying) nor quarreling among one another.” (2:197)

2.       “O you who believe! If an evil doer (liar Walid) comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.” (49:6)

3.       “…therefore, avoid uncleanness of idols and avoid false words (lying)” (22:30)

4.       Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said, “Falsehood is absolutely an evil and a sin. Certainly, Allah has created the lock of every evil and the keys to all these locks is drinking wine but lying is worse than drinking. Lying destroys the faith.”

5.       As per a tradition that on Day of Judgement the mouth of a liar will give an awful smell.

6.       The angels abhor the liars. The angels of the sky curse the liars.”

7.       Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Every believer is deprived the taste of faith till he gives up lying even in jest. The disease of lying is the most dreadful of the (psychological) diseases. Every Muslim is supposed to avoid friendship and brotherhood with a compulsive liar. Even if he speaks the truth, he is not trusted.”

8.       According to traditional reports, lying causes animosity and hatred between people.

9.       The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “The least forbearing is the one who is liar. Avoid speaking falsehood because it is a kind of evil and transgression. And both belong to Hell. The worst of the profit is from the trade called ‘lying’. When a believer speaks a lie, he is prone to commit every sin and becomes kafir. Falsehood is inversely proportional to belief.” The greatest of the sins is talkativeness and falsehood. According to other reports, seventy thousand Angels curse the liar. Beware of falsehood! Because false hood blackens the face. The advice of a liar has no value.

10.   According to Mustadrak ul Wasa’il, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “The three signs of hypocrite are Lying, betraying trust, and not fulfilling his promise.”

11.   Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “One of the divine punishments for too much lying is that Allah makes the liar afflicted with forgetfulness. He is deprived of reciting namaz-e-shab and sustenance is reduced.”   

12.   “And Allah does not guide the unjust people.” (62:5)

13.   Prophet Isa said, “Civility abandons the one who is a frequent liar.”

14.   Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), while describing the scenes of “Mai’raj” – Ascension, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) told her, “On the Night of Mai’raj I saw a woman whose head resembled a pig and her body was like that of a donkey. It was because she spread discord and told lies.”

Source: Greater Sins-volume 2 by Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib