Question N Answer (Part 3)

Question 11:

What is the religion that Allah The Most High has commanded us to exclusively worship Him with?

Answer:

It is Al-Hanafeeyah1, the religion of Ibraaheem (allayhe salam). Allah, Blessed be He The Most High says:

Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm...” (Surah Aali-Imraan 3:19)

And He The Most High says:

Do they seek other than the religion of Allâh (the true Islâmic Monotheism worshipping none but Allâh Alone), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned. (Surah Aali Imran 3:83)
And He The Most High says:

And who turns away from the religion of Ibrâhim (Abraham) (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism) except him who befools himself?...” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:130)

And He The Most High says:

And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers. (Surah Aali Imran 3:85)

And He The Most High says:

Or have they partners with Allâh (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allâh has not allowed...” ( Surah Ash-Shoora 42:21)

Footnotes:
1) Al-Haneef is the Muslim. And it is said that it means one who stays away from the worship of idols and is an upright person who follows the truth. And it is said that Al-Haneef is the one who believes in all of the messengers. And it is said that he is one who turns away from all false religions and inclines towards the truth. Refer to Lisaan Al-`Arab (9/57), Mukhtaar As-Sihaah (page 159) and Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/186-187).


Question 12:

How many levels are there in Islam?

Answer:

There are 3 levels:
1. Islam
2. Eemaan
3. Ihsaan


Question 13:

What is the meaning of Islam?

Answer:

It means perfect submission to Allah with Tawheed, compliance to Him with obedience and to be completely free from shirk. Allah The Most High says:
And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allâh (i.e. follows Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism)...” (Surah An-Nisaa 4:125)

And He The Most High says:

And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allâh [i.e.(follows Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism), worships Allâh (Alone) with sincere Faith in the (1) Oneness of His Lordship,(2) Oneness of His worship, and (3) Oneness of His Names and Qualities], while he is a Muhsin (good¬doer i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allâh's sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame etc. and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allâh's Messenger Muhammad allayhee salat wassalam), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand¬hold [Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)]... (Surah Luqman 31:22)

And He The Most High says:

And your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God Allâh), so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islâm). And (O Muhammad allayhee salat wassalam) give glad tidings to the Mukhbitin1. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:34)

Footnotes:
1)The mukhbitin are those who are at ease with and pleased with His Fate and Divine Decree and perfectly submit to Him. Allah The Most High has described them in His Saying after mentioning them:
Whose hearts are filled with fear when Allâh is mentioned; who patiently bear whatever may befall them (of calamities); and who perform As¬Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and who spend (in Allâh's Cause) out of what We have provided them. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:35)


Question 14:

What is the proof that (the word) Islam encompasses the Deen (religion) in its entirety whenever it is mentioned generally?

Answer:

Allah The Most High says:

Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm...” (Surah Aali Imraan 3:19)

And the Prophet (allayhee salat wassalam) said:

“ Islam began as something strange and it will return to being something strange, just as it began.”1

The Prophet allayhee salat wassalam also said:

“The best Islam is Eemaan (faith) in Allah.”2

Footnotes:
1) Reported by Muslim from Ibn ‘umar and Abu Hurairah, (radhiAllahu `anhoom), (Kitaab-ul-Eeman 1/90)
2) Reported by Ahmed ( as part of a hadeeth) upon the authority of Amr Ibn Abasah(radhiAllahu `anhoo) who said:
“ A man asked : ‘O messenger of Allah, what is Islam?’ He (the Messenger of Allah , allayhee salat wassalam) replied: ‘ It is to submit your heart to Allah The Mighty and The Majestic, and to safeguard the Muslims from your tongue and your hand.’ (The man) said: “ Which islam is the best?’ He ( allayhee salat wassalam) said: ‘Eemaan (faith) in Allah...’” (Al-Musnad 4/114)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (allayhee salat wassalam) was asked, "Which is the best deed?" He said, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle." He was then asked, "Which is the next (in goodness)?" He said, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." He was then asked, "Which is the next?" He said, "To perform Hajj-Mabrur (successful). (Kitaab-ul-Eemaan 1/12)


Question 15:

What is the proof that the definition of (the word) Islam, when mentioned specifically, that it then refers to the five pillars of Islam?

Answer:

It is his (allayhe salat wassalam) saying in the hadeeth in which jibeeel questioned him about the religion:

“ Islam is that you testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; that you establish the prayer; that you pay the Zakaat (the obligatory charity); that you fast the month of Ramadaan and that you make the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (in Makkah) if you are able to.”1

And his (allayhe salat wassalam) saying:

“Islam is based on five (pillars)...”2

So, he (allayhe salat wassalam) mentioned these (five pillars) except that he mentioend ( in this preceding narration) the Hajj (the pilgrimage) before the fasting of Ramadaan, and both of them (the narrations) are in Bukhaari and Muslim.

Footnotes:
1) Narrated by Bukharee from Abu Hurairah (radhiAllahu ‘anhoo) (Kitaabul Eemaan 1/18) and also from Abu Hurairah by Muslim (kitaabul Eemaan 1/30-31)
2) Reported by Bukharee from Ibn Umar (radhiAllahu `anhooma) (Kitaabul Eemaan 1/8) and also from Ibn Umar by Muslim (Kitaabul Eemaan 1/34)

Question N Answer (part 2)

Question 6:

What is the sign of the slave’s love for his Lord, The Mighty, The Majestic?

Answer:

The sign that is that he loves what Allah The Most High loves and hates that which angers Him. So, he obeys His Orders and avoids His Prohibitions and allies himself with His allies and shows enmity to His enemies. Thus, the firmest of handholds of Eemaan (faith) is to love and hate for the sake of Allah. 1

Footnotes:

1) “ The firmest handholds of Eemaan (faith) are that you love and hate for the sake of Allah” (Al-Musnad 4/286)
And what has been reported by At-Tabaraanee and Al-Baghawee with the wording:
“The firmest handholds of Eemaan (faith) are allegiance for Allah and enmity for Allah and loving for Allah and hating for Allah”. (Al-Albani mentioned it in his Silsilatul-Ahadeeth-As-Saheehah vol.2, No. 998)


Question 7:

Through what do the slaves know as to what Allah loves and is pleased with?

Answer:

They know through the sending of Messengers by Allah, The Most High, and through His revelation of the Books that command that which Allah loves and is pleased with and prohibit that which He hates and rejects. And with this, was His Irrefutable Proof established against them and His Extensive Wisdom manifested. Allah The Most High says:
Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allâh after the Messengers...” (An-Nisa 4:165)

And He The Most High says:
Say (O Muhammad allayhee salat wassalam to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Aali Imran 3:31)


Question 8:

How many conditions are there for worship (to be accepted)?

Answer:

There are three conditions (for worship):

Firstly: Sidq-ul-‘Adheema (truthful determination) and it is a condition for its (worship’s) existence.

Secondly: Sincerity of intention.

Thirdly: Conformity with the Shariah, which Allah ordered that He be worshiped through none other than it.
And they (the last two) are necessary conditions for its (worship) acceptance.


Question 9:

What is Sidq-ul-‘Adheema (truthful determination)?

Answer:

It is abandoning laziness and neglectfulness and exerting one’s effort to make his word conform to his action. Allah The Most High says:
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? (As-Saff 61:2), Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do. (As-Saff 61:3)


Question 10:

What is the meaning of ‘sincerity of intention’?

Answer:

It is that the intent behind all the slave’s sayings and his actions, outward and inward, are done purely for the sake of Allah. Allah The Mighty and The Majestic says:

And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)...” (Al-Baiyinah 98:5)

And He The Most High says:
And have in his mind no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return, (Al-Lail 92:19), Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High; (Al-Lail 92:20)

And He The Most High says:
Our Lord! Verily, it is You Who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Verily, Allâh never breaks His Promise". (Aali Imran 3:9)

And He The Most High says:
Whosoever desires (with his deeds) the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world (with his deeds), We give him thereof (what is written for him), and he has no portion in the Hereafter. (Ash-Shura 42:20)

Question N Answer (part 1)

As Salamualikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.

These Question and Answer are from the book " The Signposts of the Propogated Sunnah for the Creed of the Saved and Aided Group" and are Aqeedah (creed) based. By Seikh Haafidh Al-Hakamee (d. 1377 hijrah, RahimauAllah)




Question 1:

What is the first thing that is obligatory upon the slaves?

Answer:

The first thing that is obligatory upon the slaves is the recognition of the purpose which Allah has created them, took a covenant from them 1, sent His Prophets and Messengers to them, and revealed His books to them. Because of it, the worldly life and the hereafter were created and Paradise and Hell were created. Because of it the ‘inevitable’ will come true and the ‘event’2, will come to pass. Because of it, the scales will be set up and the scrolls of deeds will be scattered about. In it (this first obligation to be known) is either sadness or happiness, and according to it the lights will be divided. ‘And whomsoever Allah does not give light to, there will be no light for him.

Footnotes:

1) The covenant is the one that Allah The Most High took from all of the progeny of Adam (allayhe salam) while they were still in the backbone of their father (i.e. while they were still yet unborn). Allah The Most High says:
“And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this." (Al-A'raf 7:172)

And ibn kathir mentioned many ahadeeth that show that the taking of this covenant (is something established. (Tafsir ibn katheer 2/261-264)

2) “The Inevitable” and “The Event” are names of the Day of Judgement as He The Most High says in the Qur’aan: “When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls. (Al-Waqi'ah 56:1). The Inevitable (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)! (Al-Haqqah 69:1), What is the Inevitable? (Al-Haqqah 69:2).


Question 2:

What is that affair for which Allah created the creation?

Answer:

Allah The Most High says:
“And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play, (Ad-Dukhan 44:38), We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones), but most of them know not. (Ad-Dukhan 44:39)

And Allah The Most High says:
“And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islâmic Monotheism) from the Fire! (Sad 38:27)

And Allah The Most High says:
“And Allâh has created the heavens and the earth with truth, in order that each person may be recompensed what he has earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Jathiyah 45:22)

And Allah The Most High says:
And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)


Question 3:

What is the meaning of the word “Abd” (slave)?

Answer:

If the intended meaning is the one who enslaved i.e. subjugated and subservient, then with this meaning it encompasses all of the created things from the upper and lower worlds, from the intelligent and non-intelligent, the animate and inanimate, the dynamic and the static, the apparent and the hidden, the believer and the disbeliever, the pious and the sinful and other than that.

Everything is the creation of Allah, The Mighty, The Majestic, subjected to Him, subservient through his subjugation and controlled through His control. Everything from them (all the above) has a designation and a limit at which it finishes, each one running (its course) for an appointed term and it does not exceed it by an atoms worth:

And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. (Ya-Sin 36:38).

and it is the Control of The Just, The Most Wise.

If the intended meaning is the humble worshipper who loves (Allah), then that is specific to the believers; those who are His honourable slaves and devout allies, they are the ones who shall not fear nor shall they grieve.1
Footnotes:

1) This is understood from the saying of Allah The Most High:
“And indeed he (Satan) did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand? (Ya-Sin 36:62), This is Hell which you were promised! (Ya-Sin 36:63)


Question 4:

What is worship?

Answer:

Worship is a comprehensive word for all that Allah loves and is pleased with from words and deeds, open and hidden. And it is being free from that which negates or contradicts this.1

Footnotes:

1) This definition of worship was defined by Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymeeyyah (rahimuallah). See Kitaab-ul-‘uboodeeyah page 4.


Question 5:

When is an action considered worship?

Answer:

When two things in it are perfected, and they are:
The perfection of love (for Allah) and the perfection of submission (to Allah).

Allah The Most High says:
“...But those who believe, love Allâh more (than anything else)...” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:165)

And He The Most High says:
Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord; (Al-Mu'minun 23:57)

And indeed, Allah The Most High brought together these two aspects in His saying:
“...Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us. (Al-Anbiya 21:90)