بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
1/3/1439
Knowledge becomes beneficial knowledge when you act upon it, and is unbeneficial when you do not act upon it. The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from unbeneficial knowledge:
...اللهم إني أعوذ بك من علم لا ينفع
"O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the knowledge which is not beneficial....." [Muslim]
#3 - دوام المراقبة
Continual Watchfulness (of Allah)
Adorn yourself with the continual observance of Allah openly and in secret, journeying to your Lord between fear and hope since they are for the Muslim like the two wings of a bird.
So advance to your Lord with your whole being, and let your heart be filled with the love of Him, your tongue with His remembrance, and rejoice and be happy with His rulings and wisdoms.
What does it mean to be watchful of Allah?
Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله elaborated saying:
إن من ثمرات خشية الله دوام مراقبة الله و كمالها. و المراقبة: أن يعبد الله كأنه يراه.
Of the fruits of fear of Allah is watchfulness of Allah. To be watchful of Allah is to worship Allah as if you see Him.
يقوم للصلاة فيتوضأ امتثالا لقوله: {يأيها الذين ءامنوا إذا قمتم إلى الصلاة فاغسلوا وجوهكم...} [المائدة:٦]، يقوم يتوضأ و كأنه ينظر إلى رسول الله ﷺ و هو يتوضأ عندما قال ﷺ: "من توضأ نحو وضوئي هذا..."
For example, when a person stands up for prayer he performs Wudu' (with the intention of) carrying out the command of Allah in Surah Al-Maa'idah [5:6]: "O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces...."
He stands up to perform Wudu' and it is as if he is looking at the Prophet ﷺ whilst he is performing Wudu', because the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever performs Wudu' as I have done..." [Sunan An-Nasaa'i]
The student of knowledge should journey to Allah with fear and hope.
Is it better for ones fear and hope to be equal or should one prevail over the other?
يقول الإمام أحمد رحمه الله: "ينبغي أن يكون خوفه و رجاؤه واحدا، فأيهما غلب هلك صاحبه"
Imam Ahmed رحمه الله said, "It is imperative that ones fear and hope is the same. If one overpowers the other, the person will be destroyed."
و من العلماء من يفصل و يقول: إذا هممت بطاعة فغلب جانب الرجاء، أنك إذا فعلتها قبلها الله منك ورفعك بها درجات من أجل أن تتقوى. و إذا هممت بمعصية فغلب جانب الخوف حتى لا تقع فيها. فعلى هذا يكون التغلب في أحدهما بحسب حال الإنسان
From among the Scholars are those who went into detail and said: If the person intends to perform an act of worship, then hope should dominate; that Allah accepts it from him and elevates him in ranks by it. And if he intends to perform a sin, fear should dominate so that he does not fall into the sin. So, it is upon this that the domination of one of them should be based; in accordance to the situation of the person.
و منهم من قال: إنه بحسب الحال ، ففي حال المرض يغلب جانب الرجاء لأن النبي ﷺ قال: "لا يموتن أحدكم إلا هو يحسّن الظن بالله" لأنه إذا غلب في حال المرضى جانب الخوف فربما يدفعه ذالك إلى القنوط من رحمة الله
أما في حال الصحة فيغلب جانب الخوف لأن الصحة مدعاة للفساد.
And of them are those who said: It is in accordance to the state of the person. In the state of sickness, the wing of hope should prevail, because the Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not let any one of you die except while he is thinking good about Allah." [Muslim]. If the wing of fear prevails during sickness, it may drive a person to despair in the mercy of Allah.
As for the state of wellbeing, the wing of fear should prevail, because wellbeing calls for corruption .
When we visit a sick person we should elevate his spirits and hope in Allah.
However, one should not have false hopes. Ibn 'Othaimeen رحمه الله said:
لو كان يعصي الله دائما و أبدا و يقول رحمة الله أوسع فهذا غلط لأن إحسان الظن بالله و رجاؤه لا بد أن يكون هناك سبب ينبني على الرجاء و إحسان الظن، و إلا كان مجرد أمنية رجل مفلس.
If one disobeys Allah all the time, then says: 'Allah's mercy is vaster", this is incorrect. Thinking good of Allah and having hope should be based on a reason, otherwise it is but mere wishes of a bankrupt person.
Impacts of the Name of Allah الملك (Al-Malik)
Allah, Al-Malik, is the One disposing the affairs of His Dominion with justice, benevolence, benefit, mercy, and wisdom.
#4 - Singling Allah out with Worship
Shaikh Abdur-Razzaq Al-Badr said in his book Fiqh Al-Asmaa:
قد تكرر في القرآن الكريم بيان أن تفرد الله بالملك لا شريك له دليل ظاهر على وجوب إفراده وحده بالعبادة
قال الله تعالى: {ذالكم الله ربكم له الملك لا إله إلا هو فأنى تصرفون} سورة الزمر: ٦
و قال تعالى: {فتعالى الله الملك الحق لا إله إلا هو رب العرش الكريم} سورة المؤمنون: ١١٦
It has been repeatedly mentioned in the Qur'an that Allah being singled out with Al-Mulk whilst having no partners is a clear evidence of the obligation of singling Him out with worship.
Allah said in Surah Az-Zumar [39:6]: "...such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?"
And in Surah Al-Mu'minoon [23:116]: "...So Exalted be Allah, the True King, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!"
له الملك (His is the Kingdom) and الملك الحق (The True King) is connected to لا إله إلا هو (None has the right to be worshipped but He).
و أن عبادة من سواه ممن لا يملك لنفسه ضرا و لا نفعا و لا حياة و لا موتا و لا نشورا أضل الضلال و أبطل الباطل
Worshipping others besides Him who do not own for themselves benefit nor harm, nor life, nor death, nor resurrection, is the greatest of misguidances and falsehood.
و قد ورد في القرآن آيات عديدة تقرر هذه الحقيقة و تجلى هذا الأمر
Many verses have been mentioned in the Qur'an which establish this fact and manifest this matter.
Any Name of Allah which implies a صفة فعلية (Practical Attribute - I.e. Actions of Allah) usually leads you to Tawheed Al-Uloohiyah (to single Allah out with worship).
E.g. القيوم (Al-Qayyoom), الرزاق (Ar-Razzaq)
This tells you to not ask anyone to fulfill your needs, ask it from Allah alone. If you need children, wealth, relief of distress, a good life, peace at home, reformation of your children, a good marital life, if you want anything - you should ask Allah, Al-Malik, and no one else. He is the One who owns everything you want. Your heart should therefore be attached to Allah, not the one whom Allah gave to possess. One of the impacts of believing in Allah, Al-Malik, is thus singling Him out with worship.
If you really believe that Allah is المالك الملك; The True King who owns the entire Dominion and disposes the affairs of the Dominion, you should ask Him. In the Qur'an, "له الملك السماوات و الأرض" (To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth) is mentioned eighteen times. Allah repeats this fact in order for our hearts to be attached to Him and no one else.
Reliance and putting trust in a slave like you who does not own benefit or harm is wrong. People are just like guards over what Allah has given them. If you go to the guard to give you something from the treasure the owner appointed him over, he cannot give it to you until you bring permission from the true owner, because he is just a guard over what he has.
Therefore, if you need something, you should first show humility to Allah. Supplicate to Him and implore Him. Then, go to the guard. If the guard doesn't give you, you go back to the King, stay at His gate and supplicate. Then, go again to the guard, until Allah, Al-Malik, gives permission.
E.g. The doctor is a guard over health. Before you go the doctor, make Dua to Allah. When the doctor is guided to diagnose your sickness, this is the first gift from Allah. When he gives you the correct prescription, this is another gift from Allah, Al-Malik. This is how we should view people; that they are only guards. The doctor cannot give you good health.
And this was exactly the statement of Ibrahim عليه السلام in Surah Ash-Shu'araa [26:80]:
"And when I am ill, it is He who cures me."
This is Tawheed.
But people are tested immensely with the guards. They think the doctor possesses the healing, the rich person can give money whenever the ask, etc. But they are just guards. They cannot give you until you get permission from Allah, and if He gives permission He will put it in the heart of the person to give you. People go directly to the guards because they want a shortcut. But no one can give you anything unless Allah gives permission.
Allah created needs in us. Why? In order to ask Him to fulfill them.
Evidences from the Qur'an:
#1 - Surah Al-Furqan [25:2-3]:
الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا
"He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for Whom there is no partner in the dominion. He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements."
But instead of attaching their hearts to Allah, what do they do?
وَاتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَاةً وَلَا نُشُورًا
"Yet they have taken besides Him other aliha (gods) that created nothing but are themselves created, and possess neither hurt nor benefit for themselves, and possess no power (of causing) death, nor (of giving) life, nor of raising the dead."
How can your heart be attached to one that owns nothing? Since they do not own anything, worshipping other than Allah is considered futile.
#2 - Surah Fatir [35:13-14]:
يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
"He merges the night into the day (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the night are added to the hours of the day), and He merges the day into the night (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the day are added to the hours of the night). And He has subjected the sun and the moon, each runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the thin membrane over the datestone)."
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
"If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad) like Him Who is the AllKnower (of each and everything)."
Even if they heard your call, they would not be able to grant you your request, because they do not own anything.
"و يوم القيامة يكفرون بشرككم" - And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them
What they did is considered Shirk. Many people believe that Shirk is limited to worshipping idols. However here, Allah says that on the Day of Judgement, the dead people they invoked will deny their Shirk.
#3 - Surah Al-Maa'idah [5:76]:
قُلْ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا ۚ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "How do you worship besides Allah something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you? But it is Allah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower."
Allah hears your supplication and He responds to you. He knows what your state is, He knows what suits you and what does not suit you. He is the All-Hearer All-Knower.
If you do not see a response from Allah you should not give up supplicating. Allah loves for you to ask and have hope in Him, even if you do not see an immediate response. Your continuous supplication indicates your strong belief in Allah; The All-Hearer, the All-Seer. Allah may either postpone the response, give you something better, repel a calamity with that supplication, or save the reward for the Day of Judgement. You are never a loser when you supplicate to Allah.
#4 - Surah Al-Isra'a [17:56]:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِهِ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا
Say (O Muhammad): "Call unto those besides Him whom you pretend [to be gods like angels, Iesa (Jesus), 'Uzair (Ezra), etc.]. They do not possess the power to remove the adversity from you nor even to shift it from you to another person."
#5 - Surah Saba [34:22]:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ
"Say: (O Muhammad to those polytheists, pagans, etc.) "Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allah, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant), either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them."
In Surah Fatir, Allah said that they do not own a Qitmir (thin membrane over the date stone). Here, Allah says that they do not even own an atom. Allah informs us of this fact in order to detach our hearts from those other than Him, and attach our hearts to Him alone. Allah wants Tawheed Al-Uloohiyah from us.
Conclusion: Whoever does not possess, does not deserve to be worshipped. Thus the only one who deserves to be worshipped is Allah.
Al-Mulk is a test for those who 'own' and those who see others who 'own'.
E.g. You hear about so-and-so King. What is the first feeling that comes to your heart? We feel that because he has money, he is happy. If he wants something, he gets it. We believe that possessing is a means of happiness, and if we have like them, we will be happy like them. :
Look at Qarun. When those who had no knowledge saw him with all his treasures, they said, as mentioned in Surah Al-Qasas [28:79]:
So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: "Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune."
But when Allah made the earth swallow him, they realized that happiness was not in wealth.
This is what people think, that money brings happiness. They think all their problems will be solved if they have money, not realizing that what they own is a test for them and those who see them. Those who had knowledge said, as mentioned in [28:80]:
But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: "Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth)."
E.g. You are told that a ruler is coming tomorrow to meet the people. You think about all the requests you have to put forward to him. It is to that extent we have trust in humans, although Allah, Al-Malik, comes down every night to the nearest heaven and says:
مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ
"Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?" [Bukhari]
We are leaving the One who owns everything and going to the guards.
E.g. Some women think that their happiness is with their husbands. They think that marriage brings happiness, and not Allah.
Allah mentioned a principle in Surah Muhammad [47:2]:
"But those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad (SAW), for it is the truth from their Lord, He will expiate from them their sins, and will make good their state."
Peace of mind, heart, and tranquility is not attained through marriage, money, position - it is attained by belief and performing righteous deeds.
Allah owns the hearts of your children, friends, husbands, etc. They cannot love you unless Allah gives them permission to love you. When Allah turns the heart of the husband away from the wife, the wife thinks she has to take such and such means, without thinking of asking Allah to turn his heart towards her.
Allah may test you by turning the heart of a person away from you or causing someone to deprive you of your rights. All these matters are in Allah's Hands, so seek it from Him. Therefore, the Scholars said that it is of the weak certainty of the person to praise people for what Allah has given you, and blame people for what Allah has prevented from you. The keenness of those who are keen will not hasten your provision, nor will the hatred of the envious prevent it. Provision is in the Hand of Allah; Al-Malik. He owns everything and everyone around you.
E.g. You go to the doctor for the first time. He diagnoses your sickness correctly, gives you the right medicine, and you are cured. Your heart becomes attached to him. The next time you become sick, instead of invoking Allah, you directly go to the doctor. This indicates weak belief in Allah; Al-Malik. Therefore, the next time you go, he may fail to give you the right prescription.
E.g. Our children are our tests in life. We think that they are our means of happiness. If they are healthy we are happy, if they are sick we are worried, if they are undutiful we are sad. Our feelings are attached to people, thinking that our happiness is with them. So long as they exist, we think we will be happy. We think that if they do not exist, we will be destroyed. Ask Allah, who truly possesses them, to make them good and blessed for you.
E.g. Guests. If you know the number of guests coming to your house, you will arrange food for the same amount of people. When the same amount of guests come, you are satisfied and self sufficient, so you do not ask Allah to bless the food. However, if more guests come than you expected, you become nervous and invoke Allah to bless the food. When you think you own, you feel self sufficient and do not show humility to Allah. Your possession is a test from Allah.
Comments
Post a Comment