بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
22-1-1438H
It is very important to purify our intentions, especially before attending an assembly of acquiring knowledge. One of the most beloved deeds to Allah, after the obligatory acts of worship, is seeking knowledge.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"من سلك طريقًا يلتمس فيه علما سهل الله له به طريقًا إلى الجنة"
"Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge." [Muslim]
If everyone understood the meaning of Al-Fatihah, which Allah opened the Qur'an - His Speech - with, and which He commanded us to recite in our obligatory prayers, they would know the importance of acquiring knowledge.
Verse 1:
"All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)."
ال in الحمد indicates that all types of praise belongs to Allah and no one else.
Verse 2:
"The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful."
الرحمن = ذوا رحمة الواسعة
Allah is the Merciful whose mercy encompasses everything
الرحيم = ذوا رحمة الواصلة
The One with specific mercy.
Verse 3:
"The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)"
The above are all types of praise of Allah. In these 3 verses, you are praising Allah.
A person will not be truthful in his praise of Allah, nor his belief that Allah is الرحمن الرحيم, nor the meeting of Allah on the Day of Judgement, unless he has certain knowledge about who Allah is. If we say words without understanding its meaning, we are not truthful in what we are saying.
"الحمد لله"
What is the meaning of الحمد لله? All Praise be to Allah
Why does all praise belong to Allah? بكمال صفاته و جميل إنعامه - Because of His Perfect Attributes and the beautiful blessings He bestows upon us. This is why we praise Allah.
How then can we truly say الحمد لله if we are not aware of His Perfect Attributes? Our الحمد لله will not be a truthful الحمد لله unless we know Allah by His Perfect Attributes. Although everyone says الحمد لله, people vary with regards to their truthfulness when they say it. And this variation is in accordance to their knowledge about Allahs Perfect Attributes.
E.g. The one who knows Allah says: "الحمد لله, I have a Lord who is الحكيم (All-Wise) - All His Actions are out of wisdom, all His decrees are for a wisdom, all His laws are full of wisdom..."
Take every Name of Allah. Allah is العليم and perfect in His Knowledge. He is القدير and perfect in His Ability. Then will you say الحمد لله truthfully from your heart.
Knowledge about Allah is أشرف العلوم - The Most Noble Knowledge - because it is about Allah.
"الرحمن الرحيم"
The one who knows the meaning of الرحمن الرحيم sees the Mercy of Allah in everything. He sees the mercy of Allah in His Laws, Decrees, Actions.
He sees Allahs Mercy in that whenever He commanded us to do anything, He granted us the ability to perform it. When He commanded us to pray, He gave us joints, and softened our joints so that we are able to bow and prostrate.
We need to strengthen our belief in Allahs Names and Attributes, so that we say الحمد لله for everything we go through. So that we live الحمد لله in our lives; instead of contradicting ourselves - by saying الحمد لله while our hearts are full of discontent and displeasure with the Qadar of Allah.
We need to know that Allah is القابض الباسط - He is the One who Expands and Constricts. He Gives and Prevents. He gives good health, and makes others sick. When He closes any gate of a رزق (provision) upon a believer, the one who knows Allah knows that Allah did not close that gate except for a reason, wisdom, and that there is good in it for him. So he does not grumble, nor murmur, nor complain, nor have displeasure in his heart. He is pleased with all of Allahs Actions. He knows that whenever he is prevented from anything, it is not people who are preventing him, but that Allah is testing and nurturing him; and the nurturing of Allah is based on mercy. So he says الحمد لله على كل حال.
At times of constriction you find people saying الحمد لله while their hearts are not pleased with the decree of Allah. But the believer, who knows Allah by His Names and Attributes, says it while he is thinking good of Allah and is pleased with Him. He does not say "I am unlucky, I am unfortunate, I'm always suffering" - he sees good in every constriction, affliction, and calamity. Because he knows the Hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا ابْتَلاَهُم"
"...When Allah loves a people He tests them...." [Ibn Majah]
Therefore, he says الحمد لله - especially at times of distress, constriction, and calamity. He increases in his praise of Allah.
Surah Al-Fatihah teaches us that we should know Allah - otherwise we will be contradicting ourselves when we say الحمد لله.
People utter الحمد لله profusely, but do they really know the meaning of it, and who Allah is? Or are they just saying the word because they are used to saying it? There are people who say الحمد لله, but who look at the religion of Allah and the laws as a burden.
"مالك يوم الدين"
Who is Allah المالك، الملك? He is the King and the Owner of everything all the time.
But why is "يوم الدين" (The Day of Judgement) specifically mentioned? Because on the Day of Judgement, kingship will be removed from everyone, and will be returned back to the real King and Owner. On that day, people will realize who the true King and Owner is.
We need to know who Allah المالك، الملك is, and we need to know about the Day of Judgement.
On the Day of Judgement we will be accounted for everything we did in this world - for what our hearts, tongues, and limbs committed. Do we really fear and prepare for that day? Do we really hope for the reward of our actions on the Day of Judgement? The person who does not give regard to that day will not work for it. He will focus on this Dunya - to work, have a family, a good life, etc.
If we have detailed knowledge of the Day of Judgement, our lives would be reformed. We would focus on the Hereafter, not the Dunya. We would not care about fighting people for provision, or accusing people for what is happening to us. You will leave everything to Allah, because you know that He will give you your rights in full on the Day of Judgement.
People vary in feelings regarding the Day of Judgement. There are people who are afraid of it and prepare for it, while there are others who give no regard to it at all. You find people oppressing others, devouring other peoples money, because they have no feelings towards the Day of Judgement. And this is dependent on their knowledge regarding that Day.
If you do not know رب العالمين، الرحمن الرحيم، مالك يوم الدين, then your الحمد لله will not be a truthful, correct الحمد لله.
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