General Articles, - Our Prophet’s (Saas) Modernity and Cleanliness, an Example to All Muslims

Share

The life of our Prophet (saas) is the finest model for Muslims of how to live by the moral values of the Qur’an. Our Prophet (saas) advised believers to avoid all behavior that is incompatible with the moral values of the Qur’an, and advised them to be clean, in mind and body, and set an example for them on this.
What is our Prophet’s (saas) conception of cleanliness that represents a model for believers?
How did our Prophet (saas) dress and wear his hair?
What does Mr. Adnan Oktar say about our Prophet’s (saas) modernity and cleanliness, a model for all Muslims?
The grooming of the Prophet’s (saas) hair and beard
The Prophet (saas) attached the greatest importance to cleanliness, and therefore, to his hair and beard, too. It is reported in some sources that he always carried with him a comb, mirror, miswak (a small natural toothbrush), tooth-pick, scissors and a kuhl bottle. (Islam and Christianity, the Superior Morality and Habits of Hadrat Muhammad; www.hizmetbooks.org/I slam-andChristianity /10.htm)
The Prophet (saas) advised his companions to do the same, and said: "He who has hair should honor it." (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Number 4151)
The Prophet (saas) set an example for the believers with the importance he attached to his appearance and cleanliness. One account describes the Prophet’s (saas) attitude to such matters:
"The Prophet (saas) once intended to go to his companions and so he put on his turban and dressed his hair…He said: 'Yes, Allah loves the actions of His servant who refines his body in order to meet his friends and brothers'." (Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-Id-Din (The Book of Religious Learnings), Islamic Book Service, New Delhi, 2001, Volume III, p.268)
Ummu Hani (pbuh), daughter of Abu Talib, relates:
"Rasulullah honored our home when he came to Mecca. At that time his blessed head was plaited in four strands." (Et-Tirmidhi Imam Abu İ'sa Muhammed, Şemail-i Şerife, Vol. 1, Hilal Press, Ankara, 1976, p. 51)
As revealed in the verse, "… Allah loves those who turn back from wrongdoing and He loves those who purify themselves " (Surat al-Baqara, 222) cleanliness is a form of behavior much beloved of our Almighty Lord and compatible with believers’ creation. Cleanliness, a behavior regarded as most superior by Allah, also bestows very great delight and ease on believers. Sincere believers, who feel great determination and effort when it comes to implementing Allah’s commands at every moment of their lives, also display the same punctiliousness with regard to cleanliness.
The Prophet’s (saas) manner of dress
His companions handed down a great many details about the Prophet’s (saas) manner of dress. In addition to these, the Prophet’s (saas) advice to the believers about how they should dress reveals the importance he attached to this subject. One hadith reports him as saying:
The Prophet (saas) said: "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Putting on beautiful clothes does not mean putting on pride. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on other people." (Sahih Muslim Hadith)
Hazrat Hasan (pbuh), the grandson of our Prophet (saas), said this about his opinions on dress:
"Our Prophet (saas) used to instruct us to dress as well as we could and to use the most fragrant perfumes we could find." (Bukhari, et-Tarih'ul-Kebir, I, 382, no:1222)
Some of the information that was conveyed through the inner circle of the Prophet (saas) about his clothing are below:
Ibnu Abbas (pbuh) relates:
"I saw the finest possible clothing on Rasulullah (saas)." (Abu Davud., Libas 8, (4037); Kütüb-i Sitte, Translation and Commentary, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Canan, Vol. 15, Akçağ Press, Ankara, p. 69)
Umm Salama (ra) reports that:
"The Holy Prophet (saas) liked the kurta (long shirt) most." (Tirmidhi, Shamail- e-Tirmizi, Kitab Bhavan Publication, New Delhi, 1997, p.47)
Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib (ra) states:
"I have never seen someone with long hair and red clothing look more handsome than Rasullullah (saas). His hair reached his shoulders." (Shamaa-il Tirmidhi, Islamic Book Service Publications, New Delhi, 2000, p. 11)
Another report comes from Fazl ibn Abbas (ra):
"The Holy Prophet (saas) said: 'Adopt white clothes; it is the best attire.'" ( Tirmidhi, Shamail-e-Tirmizi, Kitab Bhavan Publication, New Delhi, 1997, p.55)
The Prophet’s (saas) outdoor clothes
Ubayd bin Khaalid (ra) reports that:
"I was once going to Madina. I heard a person from behind me say: 'Wear your lungi (loose dress) higher because it avoids physical and spiritual impurities.' (The lungi will remain cleaner and will not become dirty because of being dragged on the ground.) When I turned to see who was talking I saw that it was Rasulullah (saas)." (Shamaa-il Tirmidhi, Islamic Book Service Publications, New Delhi, 2000, p. 115)
The cleanliness of their bodies, clothes, homes and the food they eat is as much a distinguishing feature of Muslims as the cleanliness of their thoughts and hearts. Muslims’ hair, hands, face, in short their whole bodies, are always spotless. Their clothes are always clean, smart and well-maintained. The places they live or work in are always neat, clean, pleasant-smelling, airy and relaxing, as befits Muslims. There is no doubt that the finest example of this is our Prophet (saas), sent by our Lord as the last prophet for all mankind. Allah addresses our prophet (saas) as follows in the Qur’an:
"You who are enveloped in your cloak!
Arise and warn.
Magnify your Lord.
Purify your clothes.
Shun all filth.” (Surat Al-Muddaththir, 1-5)
The Prophet’s (saas) pleasing scent
The Prophet (saas) attached great importance to cleanliness. He always smelled very fresh, clean and pleasant, and recommended that Muslims do the same. Accounts that have reached us from his companions give further details of this aspect of the Prophet (saas):
Jaabir bin Samura (ra) states:
"Whenever the Holy Prophet (saas) tread on any path, when someone passed by later, that they could recognize that the prophet had passed by there because they could smell the fragrance of his body." (Fazlul Maulana, Al Hadis, Vol. 4, p. 340)
From Anas bin Malik (ra):
"I never felt a silk cloth, nor pure silk, nor any other thing softer than the palm of Rasulullah (saas). Nor did I smell any musk or any other fragrance, more sweet smelling than the fragrance of Rasullullah (saas)." (Shamaa-il Tirmidhi, Islamic Book Service Publications, New Delhi, 2000, p. 362)
In Qisas al-Anbiya, the Prophet (saas) was described in this way:
"His body was clean and his scent beautiful. Whether or not he had used scent, his skin always had a lovely scent to it. If someone shook hands or conversed with him, or showed his friendship or affection, he would smell that clean scent all day, and if he laid that sacred hand on a child's head, that child could be distinguished from other children by that clean scent." (Ahmed Cevdet Pasa, Qisas al-Anbiya, (Stories of the Prophets) Volume 4, Kanaat Press, Istanbul 1331, pp. 364-365)
Our Prophet’s (saas) Cleanliness Is a Model for All Muslims
Our Prophet (saas) frequently recommended cleanliness to believers. By paying great attention to cleanliness himself, he represents the finest model for believers. In one hadith the Prophet Muhammad (saas) says:
“ALLAH IS PURE AND LIKES PURITY, HE IS CLEAN AND LIKES CLEANLINESS, HE IS GENEROUS AND LIKES GENEROSITY, HE IS HOSPITABLE AND LOVES HOSPITALITY, SO CLEAN YOUR COURTYARDS” (Tirmidhi)
Our Lord, whose knowledge pervades all things, has made our Prophet (saas) a model for Muslims on the subjects of cleanliness and spiritual purity, as in all other matters. Believers who spend their whole lives in sincere devotion to Allah must turn to Allah in all things and adopt the cleanliness, modern sense of dress and grooming as models for themselves and make preparations for the hereafter in the physical as well as the spiritual sense.
Cleanliness Is a Feature of the People of Paradise
Our Prophet (saas) reveals in the hadiths that cleanliness is one feature of the people of paradise:
"Surely, Islam is pure, therefore be pure, because he can never enter Paradise who is not pure." (Ahmad Diya'al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith, vol.1, 96/2)
Almighty Allah has also revealed in the Qur’an that filth is a characteristic of polytheists (Surat at-Tawba, 28) and hypocrites (Surat at-Tawba, 95). We must not forget that in order to be able to enjoy the delight and excitement of living in paradise, a spotless place full of enchantments, the soul must be trained and earthly desires controlled in this world in such a way as to delight in cleanliness and beauty in this world.
It is revealed that by our Almighty Lord’s leave, believers will enter paradise as spotless as they are in this world:
"And those who believe in their Lord will be driven to the Garden in companies and when they arrive there, finding its gates open,its custodians will say to them, ‘Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, for ever’.” (Surat az-Zumar, 73)

- PUBLISHED by"NajimudeeN_M-INDIA"

General Articles, - Believers' hearts are with Allah at all times and in allplaces

Share

What does it mean for the heart to be with Allah at all times and in all places?
What must one do to be with Allah at all times and in all places?
Some people never consider the great blessings they enjoy throughout their lives. Yet starting the day in good health every morning, being able to breathe and see, being able to enjoy scents and food and all beautiful things and being able to appreciate love, respect and friendship are all great blessings. In addition, possessing the judgment with which to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong or beauty and ugliness is another great blessing bestowed by Allah because that judgment enables one to avoid wickedness and the evil whisperings of one’s earthly desires and to choose goodness and beauty instead. What one needs to do in return is properly appreciate our Lord, to give proper thanks to Him and for one’s heart to be full of love and fear of Him at all times.
One’s heart being with Allah at all times does not mean withdrawing from all the preoccupations of the life of this world. "The heart being with Allah at all times means";
Being aware of the greatness, might and power of our Lord at all times,
Knowing that He sees, hears and watches oneself and all the other entities one sees, and that He encompasses the entire universe,
Being aware that Allah is the sole judge and sole Lord of all things, and that He is mighty enough to do what He wants when He wants,
And knowing that everything that happens in the life of this world, whether it appears to be good or bad, is actually the functioning of the destiny ordained by Allah.
A Person Whose Heart Is Always Full of Remembrance of Allah Has a Clear Mind and Awareness
It is easy to recognize the clarity of mind of someone whose heart is always full of remembrance of Allah from his face and behavior because there is a great difference between the face of someone who believes and knows that Allah sees him at all times and someone who is heedless. No matter how attractive the face of someone who has forgotten Allah, it will never reflect any spiritual beauty or an expression full of love and meaning, humanity, humility and intelligence. In contrast, the luminosity, beauty, intelligence and nobility bestowed by faith and clarity of mind are striking in someone whose heart is with Allah. In the Qur’an, Allah notes these features of those who sincerely believe and exhibit an unsullied devotion to Him and reveals it is easy to recognize them by "...the traces of prostration" in their faces:
“ Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are fierce to the unbelievers, merciful to one another. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking Allah’s good favor and His pleasure. Their mark is on their faces, the traces of prostration. That is their likeness in the Torah. And their likeness in the Gospel is that of a seed which puts up a shoot and makes it strong so that it thickens and grows up straight upon its stalk,” (Surat al-Fath, 29)
In addition, when we look at the lives of those whose hearts are heedless of Allah, we see that it is these people who suffer the worst consequences of their heedlessness. These people, who do not believe in our Lord, Who created them from nothing and has bestowed so many blessings upon them, avoid everything that might remind them of their responsibilities to Him. They try to ignore the way that they and the universe were brought into being from nothing, they ignore the fact of death and the Day of Reckoning afterward, the countless blessings of paradise or the infinite torments of hell because they realize that only by heeding their consciences, they will have to reflect on Allah and come to faith. They know that if they think about the existence of Allah, they will remember His commandments and prohibitions and therefore be unable to follow their own earthly desires and passions.
Hearts Only Find Peace and Ease through Remembrance of Allah
True peace, joy and happiness can only come when people believe in Allah and their hearts are with Him. One can never attain true joy and happiness so long as remains heedless of Allah. Contrary to popular opinion, all pleasures flee away if one does not have faith because people cannot live by moral virtues in places where the fact that Allah is closer to one than one’s own jugular vein is ignored, and where there is no fear of His wrath. Lack of fear of Allah brings with it ignorance of all bounds and lawlessness, and thus a degenerate structure. Everyone behaves as they please. For example, taking care over one’s honor and chastity, not wasting the blessings bestowed by Allah, thinking the best of people around one (not looking for secret flaws), not showing off, not talking behind people’s backs, treating the people around one with love and respect rather than with the aim of seeing what one can get out of them, displaying the moral values of which Allah approves and being gentle, kind and polite are all important examples of moral virtues. However, someone who denies the fact that Allah enfolds and surrounds him (surely Allah is beyond that) will keep as far away from these moral virtues as possible and find himself living a degenerate life.
It is for these reasons that one of the worst mistakes people make is to imagine they can avoid their responsibilities to Allah and build tranquil lives by not thinking and by erecting walls around their consciences. But the fact is that no matter how much one may be reluctant, or outright refuse to think, the existence of Allah is still an absolute reality. Allah is there as we have fun, watch the television, read the newspapers, eat, talk, walk down the street, sleep, go to school and everywhere. He is closer to us than our own jugular vein. Wherever one looks, one encounters manifestations of Allah. He creates and maintains all events. Someone who thinks along those lines can appreciate the true nature of the life of this world and the absolute existence and might of Allah, grasp the concepts of paradise and hell and be punctilious over their religious obligations. Unlike the majority of other people, he knows he must be a servant of whom Allah approves, and therefore begins to think and live by religious moral values revealed by Allah in the Qur’an and embodied by the prophets and true believers. In consequence, he will take much more pleasure from beauties and blessings than other people do, and Allah will bestow a fine life on him in this world and the hereafter. This is revealed as follows in the Qur’an:
“ Those who believe and do right actions and establish prayer and pay alms, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow.” (Surat al-Baqara, 277)
The finest way of turning to our Lord is to begin every task by reciting Bismillah (in the name of Allah). Embarking on every task by invoking the name of Allah establishes a healthier power in terms of evoking an effect on the heart and also increases a person’s proximity to Allah, because someone who embarks on a task with the name of Allah will know that everything happens under His control and that he will be successful if Allah so chooses. There is no doubt that this leads to a very deep closeness between Allah and His servant. Such a person has comprehended his own weakness and the fact he has no power to do anything without Allah’s leave, and has thus fully submitted himself to Almighty Allah. This position of believers is described as follows in the Qur’an:
“Say: ‘Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust’.” ( Surat at-Tawba, 51)
A sincere, deep and uninterrupted bond established with Almighty Allah at every moment further increases a believer’s faith, fervor, submission to Allah and love and respect for Him. It causes a person to avoid behavior that will be displeasing to Allah, restrains the excesses of earthly desires and evils that know no bounds, and constantly encourages one to behave in a way that may be hoped to be pleasing to Allah. This closeness bestows a great spiritual delight on the believer by drawing him closer to Allah's approval, mercy and paradise. It makes the believer scrupulous when it comes to maintaining the bounds set by Allah, and bestows a great awareness and care in seeking His approval.
The Worthy Islamic Scholar Imam Al-Ghazali Expresses His Closeness to Allah:
"He [Allah] cannot be fettered by quantities; continents cannot contain Him, He is not bounded by directions and neither the earth nor sky can hold Him. He is settled on the earth in the sense commanded by Him. He neither touches the earth, nor makes His abode there, nor settles there, nor is included in it, nor proceeds towards it, He is beyond all these. The earth cannot carry Him, but He bears the earth and the angels that bear the earth with His might, and these are mastered as a manifestation of His title of the Punisher. In the same way that His being on the earth and sky does not require Him to be distant from the ground and soil, so it does not require proximity to the earth and sky. On the contrary, in the same way as He is far from under the ground, so He is far from the earth and sky. In addition, He is closer to the servant than his own jugular vein. Indeed, in the Qur’an Allah says “He is witness of everything” (Surat al-Saba’, 47) ." (IHYA-U ULUMUDDİN, Vol. 1 p. 201, Hacetü’l İslam, Imam Gazali)
What One Needs to Do to Be with Allah at Every Moment
To Take Allah, the All-Mighty, As One’s Friend and Guide
Our Lord tests His servants by creating events they perceive as difficulties, in which they face troubles, or experience joy and happiness. Devout Muslims seek help from Allah alone under such circumstances and trust in Him alone. They place no hope in natural causes, intermediaries or other people. They do not regard Allah's creation as having any power, will or effect independently of Him. Seeking shelter in Almighty Allah, Who creates one and is aware even of the secrets one conceals from others is a major consequence and sign of proximity to Allah.
To Pray
Prayer is a very important means by which someone who is utterly powerless in the face of our Almighty Lord can turn to Him, confess his sins to Him, seek help from Him alone, feel His existence and power and maintain that awareness at every moment of his daily life.
To Turn to Allah in All Tasks
One of the greatest signs of faith is to be aware that all blessings belong to Allah alone, and to express this with a pure heart and tongue. It is also one of the most sincere ways of establishing a deep bond with Allah and "serving Him alone.”
To Always Give Thanks
By examining the proofs of creation, believers reflect on how it is Almighty Allah, Who bestows such blessings as the Earth’s atmosphere which protects them against dangers from space, how the Earth’s crust protects them from the boiling magma beneath, how drinking water is created, the fruits of the earth, the creation of night and day, life, health, consciousness, the five senses, the air we breathe and countless other examples at every moment. And by giving thanks for these they once again turn to Allah alone.

- PUBLISHED by"NajimudeeN_M-INDIA"

General Articles, - Mayan people believe that the year 2012 is the beginning of a new age when some blessed people will appear

Share

Mayan people belive that the date December 21st, 2012, which is the end of the Mayan calendar system made up of periods of thousands of years, refers to the end of a long age.
According to the Mayan calendar the world enters a new age every 1 million 872 thousand days. The history of the world consists of periods of nearly 5125 years and the end of each one of these periods mark radical changes and great renovations.
According to the Mayan people, the period in which we live is the fifth and the last period and it will come to an end on the date 13.0.0.0.0. According to the Gregorian calendar, this date is 21 December 2012.
According to the Calendar of the Maya, the date of December 22nd 2012 would be represented by what are named: 13 Baktun, 0 Katun, 0 Tun, 0 Uinal, and 0 Kin. On their calendar a total of 1,872,000 days will have elapsed since the beginning of the Maya Era, and this date will mark the new beginning of the New Era.
For this reason, Mayan people think that December 21st, 2012 is not only the end of a particular period. They believe that this date is the beginning of a new period during which some wise, blessed people will appear and bring a Golden Age to the world.
The Stella (stone structure) depicting that the date December 21st, 2012 is the time when an age will end and a new one will begin.
A stella was found nearby Nohoch Mul, the second highest pyramid among the Coba Pyramids of the Ancient Mayan civilization. This stella depicts the age that starts on August 11, 3114 BC and ends in December 21st 2012.
It is estimated that this stella is at least 2000 years old, because settlements in the area where the pyramids of Coba exist have been dated somewhere between 600 and 900 CE.
Mayan glifs signifying December 21st, 2012
According to the Mayan people the end of the long Mayan Cycle will bring the end of the age of oppression and violence, and this will be the beginning of the “Golden Age”. However this beginning will not be a peaceful transformation; there will be upheavals in every corner of the world, many disasters will come upon that will wear-out the structures of the state. These will not happen in a short while; they will occur in a long period of time. Again according to the Mayan people, following all these happenings, “great blessed people”, whom they believe will be the spiritual leaders of all humanity, will come. Before their coming, there will be spiritual workers who will prepare their way. Mayan people believe that the date December 21st, 2012 signifies the time when these spiritual workers will gradually increase their influence.
Source: Entering the Chain of Union, Timothy Hogan, 2012.

- PUBLISHED by"NajimudeeN_M-INDIA"