Welcome to Islam, - The concept of worship -III

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In the second part of this topic the word Muhsin )a doer of good( was mentioned in one of the quoted verses of the Quran which is derived from Al-Ihsaan which is the performance of good; but what then is Al-Ihsaan )good deed( that attracts such a high position before Allaah and makes the slave deserving of such a great description?
The answer was provided by the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam )may Allaah exalt his mention( when he said, “Al-Ihsaan is to worship Allaah as if you see Him. And even though you do not see Him, He sees you!” )Muslim(. This narration means that man should worship Allaah, mindful of his closeness to Him and his standing before Him just as if he is seeing Him plainly. This state brings about Allaah-consciousness and love of Allaah and purifies ones acts of worship. Anas bin Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that a man said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Tell me a short word that could benefit me.” The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said:“Pray as if you are in your farewell prayer, for if you do not see Allaah, He sees you.”And the meaning of the phrase “if you do not see Him, He sees you” is that if one cannot worship Allaah as if one sees Him, he should then worship Him with the conviction that Allaah does see him and that none of his affairs is concealed from Allaah. Haarithah, may Allaah be pleased with him, related: “The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam told me:“O Haarithah! How do you find yourself this morning?”I replied: “A true believer.” then the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam told me:“Watch what you say, for every word has a reality, so what confirms what you claimed”I then said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, I keep myself away from the )leisure of this( world, spend my nights in prayer and fast during my days. I am now as if I am looking at the throne of my Lord appearing. I am also as if I am looking at the inhabitants ofParadiseas they visit one another. And it seems as if I am looking at the dwellers of hell as they howl therein!” The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam then said:“You have indeed seen )what you claimed to have seen(. Therefore continue on your state of worship, O slave whom Allaah has illuminated his heart with faith!”
Al-Ihsaan is to observe prayer in the best form, moving closer to Allaah and beseeching Him secretly during the night when people are asleep, and it is also being benevolent to people. Allaah Says )what means(:“Verily, they were before thisMuhsins - plural of Muhsin )i.e. doers of good(. They used to sleep but little by night )invoking their Lord and praying with fear and hope(. And in the hours before dawn they were )found( asking )Allaah( for forgiveness. And in their properties there was the right of the beggar )who asked( and the poor )who do not ask others(.”]Quran 51:17-19[.
Al-Ihsaan also means striving against one’s soul, struggle against Satan, hypocrites and unbelievers. Allaah Says )what means(:“And many a Prophet fought )in Allaah’s cause( and along with him )fought( large bands of religious learned men. But they never lost heart for that which did befall them in Allaah’s way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. And Allaah loves the patient ones. And they said nothing but, ‘Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions )in keeping our duties to you(. Establish our feet firmly and give us victory over the disbelieving folk! So Allaah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the hereafter. And Allaah loves theMuhsins )doers of good(.”]Quran 3: 146-148[.
It is also an aspect of Al-Ihsaan to spend in the way of Allaah whether one is rich or poor and to suppress ones anger and forgive the ignorant ones when they misbehave. Allaah Says )what means(:“Those who spend )in Allaah’s cause( in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger and who pardon men; verily, Allaah loves theMuhsins )doers of good(.”]Quran 3: 134[.
It is a part of Al-Ihsaan to surrender to the truth, to love it and to listen to the revealed Book of Allaah with sound and healthy minds and attentive ears. Allaah Says )what means(:“And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognised. They say, “Our Lord! We believe; so write us among the witnesses. And why should we not believe in Allaah and in that which has come to us of the truth )Islaamic monotheism(? And we wish that our Lord will admit us )inParadiseon the Day of Resurrection( along with the righteous people )Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and his companions(. So because of what they said, Allaah rewarded them with gardens under which rivers flow )inParadise(, they will abide therein forever. Such is the reward of theMuhsins )doers of good(.”]Quran 5: 83-85[.
Allaah has promised a great reward for the Muhsins in this world and the next. He promises them protection and good things of this life when He Says )what means(:“Truly Allaah is with those who fear Him )keep their duty unto Him(, and those who areMuhsins )doers of good(.”]Quran 16: 128[.
Among the reward of good deeds is that it makes Muhsins win Allaah’s love. Allaah Says )what means(:“Verily, Allaah loves theMuhsins )doers of good(.”]Quran 3: 134[.
Among the rewards of good deeds is that Allaah will impart knowledge into the heart of the Muhsins, which will enable him to differentiate between lawful and unlawful things, and between truth and falsehood. Allaah Says about Yoosuf )what means(:“And when he )Yoosuf( attained his full manhood, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus We reward those who areMuhsins )doers of good(.”]Quran 12: 22[.
Allaah also rewards Muhsins by praising them and making His slaves praise them as well. The Almighty Says about prophet Nouh )Noah( )what means(:“Salaam )peace( be upon Nouh )from Us( among the Alamin )mankind, jinn and all that exists(.”]Quran 37: 79[.
About the reward of the Muhsins in the hereafter, Allaah Says )what means(:“For those who have done Al-Ihsaan is the best )reward i.e.Paradise( and even more )i.e. having the honour of glancing upon the countenance of Allaah(. Neither darkness nor dust nor any humiliating disgrace shall cover their faces. They are the dwellers ofParadise, they will abide therein forever.”]Quran 10: 26[
The word “more” means having the prestige of seeing the Countenance of Allaah as it has been successively related in many narrations that the believers will see their Lord on the day of Judgement. As a matter of fact, having the privilege of seeing the Gracious Countenance of Allaah on the Last Day is a suitable reward for Al-Ihsaan, since Al-Ihsaan means to worship Allaah in this world as if one sees Him. Glancing at His Gracious Countenance plainly on the Day of Judgement then becomes the greatest reward for Muhsins. As regards the unbelievers, their eyes will be screened from seeing Allaah on that day, as their hearts were veiled from knowing Allaah and fearing Him in this world.








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Welcome to Islam, - The concept of worship -II

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Worship covers all aspects of life: Worshipping Allaah does indeed necessitate using all one’s limbs in the obedience of Allaah and carrying out His orders. One can worship Allaah by preventing his eyes from gazing at unlawful things and using them to look at what Allaah loves, like a copy of the Quran, books of knowledge etc. He can also worship Him by preventing his ears, hands and feet from all that Allaah forbids and using them in things that He enjoins and loves. Allaah says )what means(:“Say )O Mohammad(; Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen )mankind, jinns and all that exists(. He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”]Quran 6:162-163[.
As for the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, love of worship has penetrated deep into his heart and the greatest manifestation of his worship is that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, submitted his whole life to Allaah in all his conditions. Allaah says )what means(:“And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face )himself( to Allaah and he is a Muhsin )a doer of good(.”]Quran 4:125[.
The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to fear Allaah and always seek for His forgiveness.He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “By Allaah! I indeed invoke Allaah for forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.”)Al-Bukhaari( He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam used to worship Allaah in the night and would keep on standing until his legs became swollen and when he sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam was asked,“O Messenger of Allaah! You do this when your former and latter sins have been forgiven?” He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam would reply: “Should I not then be a grateful slave?”)Al-Bukhaari & Muslim(
However, the most wonderful aspect of the Prophet’s )sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam( worship is that astonishing combination of the highest level of worship and performance of his role as the head of his nation. He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:“By Allaah! I am the most fearful of Allaah among you, but I fast, and eat; I pray and I sleep and I marry women. Whoever differs from my way is not of me.”)Al-Bukhaari(
Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The heart cannot be good, prosper, have felicity and easiness, enjoy and have tranquillity except through the worship of its Lord alone. Even if it attains all pleasures of this world it will not get peace and tranquillity, for it has a natural spontaneous need to its Lord because He is its Lord…”
Nullifiers of worship, and reasons for rejecting it: Not fulfilling the two conditions of accepting a deed )namely, sincerely and coinciding with the way of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam(, are the foremost reasons one's deed may be rejected as we have mentioned before. One of the Salaf )the righteous predecessors(, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “Indeed, Allaah has bestowed His favour upon His servants and commanded them to be grateful as much as they can, for gratitude, however little it may be, is a price for the favour, however big it may be. If one is not grateful, he has exposed the favour to extinction…”
The effort exerted by the Salaf in worship: Our Salaf, may Allaah have mercy upon them … people who’s hearts were full of love for Allaah in all their conditions … they then became delighted … their souls became tranquil … peace ruled over their limbs … then, thoughts of love replaced those of disobedience … the will to move nearer to Him replaced that of displeasing Him … movements of the tongue became that of obedience or contrary to disobedience.
When Naafi’, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was asked about the activities of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, at home, he replied: “He used to perform ablution for every prayer and recite Quran in between them ]i.e. in between ablution and prayer.[” ]End of quote[.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said – while describing efforts of Salaf in worship, “I have met people and I have accompanied groups. They )i.e. the people I have met and accompanied( did not use to rejoice at whatever came their way of the beauties of this world; nor did they use to get sad over whatever departed from them of this world. Rather, the world was less significant to them than the soil over which they walked. They would act by the book of their Lord and the Sunnah of the Prophet. During the night they stood up in prayer, prostrated their faces and wept out of fear of Allaah.” ]End of quote[.
Whenever Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, missed a congregational prayer, he would atone for that by a day of fasting, a night vigil )in prayer( and manumission of a slave.
The wife of ‘Umar ibn Abdul-‘Azeez, may Allaah have mercy upon her, said: “I have never seen anyone who prayed fasted and feared Allaah more than him )meaning her husband(. He would pray ‘Ishaa’ prayer and then sit mentioning Allaah until he was overcome by slumber. He would remember some of the issues of the Last Day while he was on his bed and tremble like a sparrow and then sit down weeping. I would then cover him with a sheet.” ]End of quote[.
Wakee’, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “Al-A’mash, may Allaah have mercy upon him, never missed the opening Takbeer )in a congregational prayer( for almost seventy years and I visited him for more than six years, and I have never seen him performing a missed Raka’ah.” ]End of quote[.
Sulaymaan Ibn Hamzah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, also said: “I have never prayed an obligatory prayer alone except twice and even then I felt as if I had not prayed it at all.” ]End of quote[. It should be noted that he was almost ninety years old when he died.
Through worship, a believer’s soul becomes tranquil, that tranquillity energises it and tells it, “O soul! Be happy, for the home is near and reunion is imminent”. Therefore, do not terminate your journey and thus be denied reaching the home of the loved ones.
This is how our Salaf, may Allaah have mercy upon them, were… and this how we should be.









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Welcome to Islam, - The concept of worship - I

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A Muslim should go on in life remembering the purpose of his creation and the objective for which he exists in this life. Allaah clarifies to us this objective saying )what means(:“And I created not the jinn and humans except that they should worship Me )alone(.”]Quran 51:56[.
This verse plainly explains the purpose of our creation; that our lives should not be spent except in worshipping Allaah. Prayer, fasting, alms giving, Hajj, truthfulness, trustworthiness, being dutiful to parents, supplication, reading the Quran, hoping for Allaah’s mercy and being afraid of His punishment are all acts of worship.
The best deed to perform:The greatest type of worship is to perform that which Allaah makes obligatory on His servants and to refrain from all that He forbids. Abu Hurayrah narrated that Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam )may Allaah exalt his mention( said:“Allaah says: ‘The most beloved deeds with which my slave comes nearer to me are what I have enjoined on him.’”)Al-Bukhaari(.
Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “Since the Salaf lived their whole life in worship, it is then necessary for us to know with which type of worship they started, and which one have they given priority.” He then answered: "The best acts of worship are the most pleasing to Allaah in that particular time. The best act of worship during the presence of a guest is to take care of him and not to be distracted from that by other recommended acts of worship. This is also in performing one’s duties towards one’s wife and family. The best act of worship in the night is to be occupied with prayer, reciting the Quran, supplication and Thikr. The best thing during the time of the Athaan )i.e. the call for prayer( is to leave whatever worship one is doing and answer the Mu`aththin )i.e. the one calling the Athaan( by repeating what he says. The best thing during the time of the five obligatory prayers is to exert one's efforts in their prompt performance. The best thing when the poor is in dire need of assistance is to assist him and give that preference over supererogatory Thikr. The best thing to do when your brother is sick or dead is to visit him, attend his funeral, and give that priority over your supererogatory Thikr. And the best thing to do when you are afflicted and suffer people’s harm is to be patient and not to run away from them." ]End of quote[
The Muslim should be moving in between stations of servitude. If you see the scholars you see him with them; if you see those who are devotedly performing acts of worship, you see him with them, and if you see those giving generously in charity, you see him with them!
The conditions of accepting an act of worship:Indeed what has afflicted Muslims in the course of their long history and what is afflicting them today is a consequence of their deviation from the real concept of worship and application of the two conditions for acts of worship to be accepted, which are: sincerity and following the path of the messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. While abandoning sincerity leads to directing acts of worship that are solely Allaah’s to others besides Him; lack of following the path of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, leads to the appearance of various kinds of worship for which there is no permission from Allaah nor recommendation from His Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
However, some people restrict the concept of worship to rituals only. Whenever this set of people works, they abstain completely from worship and whenever they worship, they keep away completely from work. This is unfortunately the most common belief. It is the people who hold this concept who say, “What does religion have to do with a woman’s dressing and her work?" "What does religion have to do with our personal behaviour?" Their purpose is to remove religion from one’s life and confine it only to the mosque. That is why you see someone who prays, fasts, and reads Quran, yet he cheats, bribes, takes bribes and wrongs others. You also see a woman who prays yet she disobeys laws of Allaah by dressing immodestly and mingling with men.
Deeds which one performs habitually become acts of worship through good intentions. The farmer in his farm, the labourer, the trader, or the practitioner of any other profession is capable of turning his occupation into an act of worship, provided that he does not tarnish it with cheating, lying, tricking etc. This is the concept of worship in its wider sense. To have a full imagination of acts of obedience makes a Muslim full of good, mercy, and benefits for his fellow human beings, thereby encouraging him to do more acts of worship and assist his nation.
It is possible for you to add a viable brick into the structure of this nation and add to your scale of good deeds weighty works, which may appear insignificant to you. Listen to what the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:“Do you want me to tell you of what is better than the rank of fasting, prayer and charity?”The Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allaah.” He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said:“Conciliating between people among whom there is discord.”)Abu Daawood( He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, also said:“Whoever visits a sick person or a brother of his for Allaah’s sake, a caller will call him thus, ‘You are good and your passage is good. May you take Paradise for an abode.’ ”)At-Tirmithi(.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:“While a man was walking along the road, he saw a branch of a tree with thorns lying on the road and he removed it, so Allaah appreciated his deed )and thus rewarded him( for that and forgave his sins.”)Muslim(. It is also reported that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:“Deeds of my nation – both the good and evil – were shown to me and I found that among their good deeds is the removal of harmful things from the pathway.”)Muslim(.
Restricting righteous deeds to special acts of worship makes seekers of piety spend all their time in repetition of limited deeds as if they do not see that other ways lead to the pleasure of Allaah.









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