Allah said in Surah Ta-Ha [20:2]:
"We have not sent down the Quran unto you (O Muhammad ﷺ) to cause you distress,"
Allah did not send the Quran to cause us distress. On the contrary, Allah sent down the Quran so that it will be a means of happiness in our life, so that we will find the solution to all our problems in it, to see this life through the Quran.
And Allah said in Surah Al-Is'raa [17:82]:
"And We send down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss."
The solution to any sickness, disease, or problem you have is the Quran, regardless if the sickness is a sickness of the body or heart. And as the Scholars said, sicknesses of the heart are more dangerous than the sicknesses of the body, because the worst thing sicknesses of the body can cause is death, whereas sicknesses of the heart will take a person to the Hellfire.
The Quran should be our constitution. We should understand the real meanings of words through the Quran.
E.g. What is the real meaning of losing? When can I say that I have lost? - or the opposite; When can I say I have succeeded?
الفلاح in the Quran
،فلاح، مفلحين، يفلح، أفلح are all derivation from the root فلح. It is more comprehensive than فوز (Success). The Arabic language is a very rich language; it is not only success, it is more than that.
How do I get the full picture and real meaning of a word? By studying it from the Quran and Sunnah
Step #1 - Know the linguistic meaning of the word
Step #2 - Go to the Quran Dictionary (معجم مفهرس للألفاظ القرآن) and write all the verses where this word and its derivations are mentioned.
Step #3 - Study each verse
(Step #4) - Collect the Hadiths where this word is mentioned by going to the Hadith Dictionary (معجم مفهرس للألفاظ الحديث). If you do not have it, you can go to www.sunnah.com
Write all the Hadiths mentioned regarding the word.
Assignment: The opposite of فلح is خسر. Go to the Quran and Hadith Dictionary and write all the verses and Hadiths which mention this word and it's derivations, and you will have a complete picture on who the real loser is. The definition of a real loser is what the Quran and Hadith defines it as. Teach yourself and your children the real meaning of the word.When you know the real meaning of being a loser, you will not be sad when you lose something in this life, because you know what the real meaning of losing is.
When you hear someone saying, "I won", you will remember the verse in Surah Aal-Imran [3:185]:
"Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing)."
This is the real meaning of winning.
Step #1 - The Linguistic Meaning of the Word
The Scholars said that فلاح means achieving all good in this life and the hereafter. It includes the meaning of فوز, but comprises good this world and the next.
That is why in the Athan, the Muathin says, "حي على الفلاح" (Come to فلاح) after saying "حي على الصلاة" (Come to Prayer). The prayer is a means of success and salvation in this life and in the next.
Allah made very knowledge easy for us to get, because now those who look for knowledge are so few. It just requires a strong will, intention, truthful, sincerity for Allah's sake.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]
We don't know when we are going to die. The Prophet ﷺ said,
الْجَنَّةُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ شِرَاكِ نَعْلِهِ، وَالنَّارُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ
Paradise is nearer to any of you than the Shirak (leather strap) of his shoe, and so is the (Hell) Fire. [Bukhari #6488]
It just requires a second for you to either enter Paradise or Hell, through death. And we do not know when we are going to die. So do not waste time.
We can summarize the attributes of the Mufliheen into two matters: Correct Aqeedah and good deeds.
Step #2 and #3 - The Word فلاح in the Quran
Evidence: a) Surah Al-Baqarah [2:3-5]:
Ghaib is believing in Allah, the Angels, the Last Day, etc.
Some people say Aqeedah is difficult. Aqeedah is your belief inside you heart. That's it. It is Aqeedah because you have made a عقدة (A knot) inside your heart. You made a knot so it is not so easy to take out. No one can change your mind or put you in doubt.
Hadith #6 is the same as having the correct Aqeedah:
He said"Remove it" and in another narration, "Take it out", in another narration, "Cut it off"
He is not one of the Successful because he committed Shirk, and Shirk is opposite to the correct Aqeedah. We should begin with Aqeedah, end with Aqeedah, take care of it and teach our children it. We should be aware of Shirk. We should remind ourselves of the means of Shirk,
The Prophet ﷺ was more afraid of Riyaa (which is Minor Shirk) than the Dajjal, which is the greatest Fitnah on earth.It is Shirk, even if it is minor Shirk.
We should take care of Aqeedah and study the Book of Tawheed (كتاب التوحيد) again and again. The more knowledge you have, the more fear in your heart you will have of Shirk, and the more you will seek refuge in Allah from it, saying:
اللهم أني أعوذ بك أن أشرك بك و أنا أعلم و أستغفرك لما لم أعلم
O Allah I seek refuge with you from committing Shirk with you while I know, and I seek your forgiveness for what I do not know [Adab Al-Mufrad]
b) Surah Luqman [31:3-4]:
Allah connected between believing in the unseen and the prayer in both Surahs.
How can you attain salvation in the hereafter if you do not have the correct Aqeedah? In the Hadith of the man with 99 scrolls:
"Indeed Allah will distinguish a man from my Ummah before all of creation on the Day of Judgement. Ninety-nine scrolls will be laid out for him, each scroll is as far as the eye can see, then He will say: 'Do you deny any of this? Have those who recorded this wronged you?' He will say: 'No, O Lord!' He will say: Do you have an excuse?' He will say: 'No, O Lord!' So He will say: 'Rather you have a good deed with us, so you shall not be wronged today." Then He will bring out a card (Bitaqah); on it will be: "I testify to La Ilaha Illallah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger." He will say: 'Bring your scales.' He will say: 'O Lord! What good is this card next to these scrolls?' He will say: 'You shall not be wronged.' He said: 'The scrolls will be put on a pan (of the scale), and the card on (the other) pan: the scrolls will be light, and the card will be heavy, nothing is heavier than the Name of Allah.'" [At-Tirmithi #2639]
One card came with the correct Aqeedah, and it was a cause of him attaining salvation from the Hellfire.
Aqeedah is not just a word to say. Nowadays you find Shirk wherever you go, Shirk in words, in actions, etc.
The reward of the Muwahhideen is that they will enter Paradise without reckoning. Their faces will be like the full moon. Don't you want to be one of them?
In studying all the verses talking about this subject we are following this light (The Quran)
We need to believe in him, love him, follow him, honour him, support him. Do not belittle following the Sunnah; taking a nap before Asr, using the Siwaak during every prayer, etc.
Nowadays our hearts have become like a luggage, full of evil feelings and sicknesses. We have to purify our hearts and selves.
As-Sa'di رحمه الله explained how one can purify himself in his explanation of the verse in Surah Shams:
1) طهر نفسه من الذنوب - Purify yourself from sins
Purify yourself from sins through repentance.
2) نقاها من العيوب - Purify yourself from defects/shortcomings
We have bad characteristics like miserliness, anger, etc. Allah has tested you with this characteristic. Allah to purify yourself from this sickness. Do not blame people for your shortcomings; look at yourself before you look at people.
Repent to Allah day and night. You know your sins and shortcomings.
3) رقاها بطاعة الله - Soften it with obedience to Allah
4) علّاها بالعالم النافع و العمل الصالح - Elevate yourself with beneficial knowledge and good deeds.
The Prophet ﷺ said good manners are provision from Allah. Just as you ask Allah for money and children, ask Allah for good manners.
The means of purifying your heart is knowing the remedies and seeking the cure. A person might have a disease of pride, another the disease of envy, etc. If you know the diseases you will check your heart and ask Allah to heal and cure you from the disease. You will feel at rest. Allah said the believer will have a good life in this world, and it is because his heart is at rest.
The Prophet ﷺ praised the believers for always brushing their hearts; cleaning it from diseases.
Each of your children have a sickness in their heart. Your job is to teach them what their sicknesses is, and ask Allah for the remedy.
This is your test in life. Allah created you with certain characterics. Do not say I can't change it, this is me, this is my society, etc. Successful is he who purifies himself.
What is Taqwa? To fear Allah, do good deeds, abstain from what is forbidden.
If you always think about if what you will say or do is going to please Allah or not, you are practicing Taqwa.
This is an order from Allah for the believer to have Taqwa and beware of His wrath and anger by doing good deeds and abstaining from what is forbidden. You cannot abstain from sins by yourself; you cannot have Taqwa by yourself, you have to make Istiaanah (Seek help from Allah).
One of the Duas the Prophet ﷺ is:
In Surah Al-Maa'idah [5:35]:
Strive hard as much as you can in His cause. Do good deeds until you reach the Wilayah of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said in a Hadith Qudsi, that Allah said:
'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him" [Al-Bukhari]
The first thing you do is the obligatory, then voluntary good deeds, then be continuous.
Allah says in Surah Al-Mu'minoon [23:1-9]:
"الذين هم في صلاتهم خاشعون"
They know what they are saying in their prayer and struggle against waswaas. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَنْصَرِفُ وَمَا كُتِبَ لَهُ إِلاَّ عُشْرُ صَلاَتِهِ تُسْعُهَا ثُمُنُهَا سُبُعُهَا سُدُسُهَا خُمُسُهَا رُبُعُهَا ثُلُثُهَا نِصْفُهَا
A man returns after saying his prayer while a tenth part of his prayer, or a ninth part, or an eight part, or a seventh part, or a sixth part, or a fifth part, or a third part, or half of it, is recorded for him. [Sunan Abu Dawud #796]
This is according to how present his heart was in the prayer. And it is not easy, you have to struggle against the waswaas. When it comes drive it away.
And prayer is the standard by which you measure your faith. Faith increases and decreases. How do you know when it is increased? By your Prayer. The more you have khushoo, the higher your faith
When was the last time you asked Allah to grant you Khushoo'? You cannot attain it yourself. Ask Allah during the accepted times for Dua. Allah said that those who have khushoo in their Prayer are successful.
"والذين هُم عن اللغو معرضون"
They turn away from every vain talk which does not benefit them in this life and in the hereafter. If a person does not speak vain talk, it means that he also does not speak Haraam.
Our mistake is that we sit with people who backbite and we do not say anything, and the assembly finishes, and without realizing, we get up with the sin of backbiting. Backbiting is a major sin.
They do not say Laghw nor attend places of Laghw. When the Prophet ﷺ advised Muadh رضي الله عنه, he pointed to his tongue and told him to restrain it.
"و الذين هم للزكاة فاعلون"
This has two meanings:
1) Either they pay their Zakat
2) Or purify themselves.
"والذين هم لإماناتهم و عهدهم راعون"
They are faithfully true to their Amanah (Trusts). The Amanah is divided into two parts:
1) Amanah in your religion to Allah
E.g. Ghusl after Haydh or Janabah. There are people who get lazy postpone making it. This is an Amanah with Allah and He knows about it.
2) The trusts between people.
E.g. Secrets. We should keep secrets.
"والذين هم لصلاتهم يحافظون"
Allah began with the prayer and ended with the prayer, to show us its importance. Allah praises the successful with two attributes regarding their prayer:
1) They have Khushoo in it
2) They are continuous in it and guard its conditions and timings.
Having khushoo but not guarding its conditions and timing will not benefit you. Similarly, guarding its conditions and timing but not having khushoo will not benefit you either. You should have both.
In Hadith #1:
The prayer is فلاح. That is why the Muathin says "حي على الففلاح". The mot important thing to plant in your child is the prayer. You accept anything except leaving the prayer, because what is between Kufr and faith is the prayer. If you have the intention, Allah will make everything easy. Do not play with the times of prayer. Wherever you go, whatever situation you are in, you have to pray. Even if you are on your bed and cannot move, you should pray with your heart.
If you want to be one of the Mufliheen, always remember Allah much.
What kind of remembering? Allah said in Surah Aal-Imran [3:191] regarding the Ulool Albab:
"Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire."
Ibn Taymiyah رحمه الله mentioned that the easiest way to perpetually remember Allah is to say the legislated Adhkar when you eat, sleep, leave your house, etc. Then will you be of those who remember Allah in the day and night.
In the battle, the hearts become filled with fear. Remember Allah.
Do not miss this one Dhikr, which if you say in the morning, no one on earth will be better then you, except someone who says it more:
This was said in the tongue of Hud عليه السلام to his people.
Always try to remember what Allah has given you. Allah has given us uncountable favours, in our selves, family, religion, country. If you just sit and thank Allah for these blessings one by one, you will find that you will never finish.
When you thank Allah, you are saying that He alone gave you the blessing. One kind of Shirk is شرك النعمة, where you associate others with Allah in blessings. You say so and so person gave you, when Allah gave you. Instead say, "Allah gave me such and such through this man, through these means." Do not be like Qarun who attributed what he had to his knowledge. Allah alone is the real bestower. You should be polite with Allah with your words, and teach your children when you give them something that Allah is the One who really gave it to them.
When you read the Seerah and the words of the companions, you will find that they always attributed the blessings to Allah. One would kill the disbelievers and say "Allah killed him".
If your nurture yourself on this, your heart will be full of love for Allah. And thanking Allah is tying and preserving the blessing with you. If you do not thank Allah, He will take it away.
Furqan is something Allah put in the heart of the believer where he can distinguish good from bad; Halal from Haraam. Sometimes you do not feel good when you do something. But the scale of measurement is what Allah and the Prophet ﷺ said.
Riba has so many forms. Do not think ever think you have no means except the means of Riba. It is just a test from Allah. There are two roads; Halal or Haraam. Have Taqwa and Allah will show you the road of Halal. It is so easy to fall into Riba nowadays.
If you want to be successful stay away from all what Allah has forbidden, especially what is mentioned in the verses.
Example of Gambling: You receive a text message where it says send such and such number and you will be entered into a lucky draw.
Allah tells us the reason behind them being prohibited. They are Rijz (Unclean); from the work of the Shaytan, who is your greatest enemy. You will not attain success if you do it.
Allah knows that He created us loving money. This is our nature. But we have to strive hard against ourselves not to be miserly. We should have more faith and more love to please Allah than our love of money.
You should submit to any judgement you hear from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. This is the meaning of Islam. Do not judge with your mind, or say this doesn't apply in the twenty first century, etc.
Abu Hurayrah reported: "When the ayat: (To Allāh belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and whether you disclose what is in yourselves or conceal it, Allāh will call you to account for it. Then He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allāh is able to do all things)” [Al-Baqarah, 2:284] was revealed to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, it was very hard for the Companions. Subsequently, the Companions came to the Messenger ﷺ and fell to their knees saying, `O Messenger of Allāh! We were asked to perform what we can bear of deeds: the prayer, the fast, Jihad and charity. However, this ayah was revealed to you, and we cannot bear .The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said, “Do you want to repeat what the “Ahlul Kitab” (People of the Two Scriptures) before you said, that is, “(We hear and we disobey)” Rather, say, “ (We hear and we obey, and we seek Your forgiveness, O our Lord, and the Return is to You.)” It was when the people accepted this statement and their tongues recited it, Allāh sent down afterwards: “ (The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allāh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers ـ and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).''. It was when they did that, Allāh abrogated the Ayah [Al-Baqarah 2:284] and sent down the Ayah: "(Allāh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error.'') , untill the end.' [Imām Ahmad]
Step #4 - The Word فلاح in the Sunnah
Again, we are directed to the prayer.
*The Word of Falah
If you say لا اله الا الله and act upon it, you will have success. The Prophet ﷺ used to go between the tribes during Hajj telling them: "قولوا لا اله الا الله تفلحوا" (Say لا اله الا الله, you will be successful!)
We do voluntary to make up for our shortcomings in the obligatory. If a person fulfilled the obligatory perfectly, he will be of the people of success.
Restrains his hand means not to kill anyone, because blood is so dangerous on the Day of Judgement. Even if you share in killing a man with a word, you are participating in killing that man.
And the Scholars say a man may be killed and a hundred men would be a cause of his killing. This is a Fitnah.
Do not participate in the Fitn, do not call for your rights, so long as the leader is Muslim, even if he is taking your money, do not speak. At the time of Uthman رضي الله عنه there were companions, but they did not leave their houses and fight those who surrounded the house of Uthman رضي الله عنه (intending to kill him). They knew that if they did there would be a Fitnah, so many would be killed, instead of just one man. They did not agree with the murder of 'Uthman رضي الله غنه, but they did not want to participate in the Fitnah.
The Prophet ﷺ invoked Allah to make his food enough for one day. And what about tomorrow? Allah will sustain me tomorrow.
We dearly need the third attribute: To be content with what Allah has bestowed upon us.
The Prophet ﷺ commanded us not to look at those who have more than us in the Dunya, but at those who have less. Say الحمد لله, be content, be of those whom رضي الله عنه و رضو عنه. When you are pleased with Allah, Allah will be pleased with you.
People say to look up and be ambitious. Be ambitious and look up, but in matters of your religion.
If you find someone competing you in the Dunya, take it and throw it behind your back. Do not try to beat anyone regarding the Dunya. It is one of the sicknesses of the heart - إرادة العلوا - where you want to be the best in the Dunya, no one better then you.
We need to teach this to our children when they complain. Say this is your sustenance from Allah, ask Allah to bless it for you. Barakah is more important and far better than quantity. If Allah blesses it, you will benefit from it in this life and the hereafter. Be content with everything in this life. Even feelings are a sustenance from Allah. Even knowledge is a sustenance, which is why we ask Allah for beneficial knowledge everyday after Fajr. When you read this book, listened to that lecture, its all a sustenance from Allah; He gave it to you.
At the end of the Dua Al-Istikharah you say, "ثم أرضني به" ([If it is bad drive it away from me....] and make me pleased)
This is contentment. Be pleased with everything Allah gave you and be pleased with everything He drove away from you. When you are satisfied you will be happy.
Whatever Allah gave you suits you. When you are pleased with Allah, Allah will be pleased with you.
You find people swearing by other than Allah, relying on Him, attributes the favours to other than Allah, and this is all Shirk.
Study the book of Tawheed from time to time, at least once a year. If you leave it longer, you will forget. It discusses the means that lead to shirk and the kinds of Shirk.
All good is between the Hand of Allah, and no one can bring it for you except Him alone. Ask Allah to write success for you, and for your family, and the Muslims.
Comments
Post a Comment