Thankfulness Towards Allah

"That is because Allah will never change the grace which He hath
bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls"
{Soorah al-Anfal (8):53}
This is one of the ways in which Allah deals with His servants, for He
made the condition of people directly related to their belief. If they
change their belief, Allaah will change their condition. Allah will
replace their security with fear, and their sustenance. And security
and sustenance are two Allah's greatest graces. Allah says in the
Quraan: "So let them worship Allah the Lord of this House (the Kaaba)
Who provides them with food against hunger and with security against
fear (of danger)" {Soorah Quraish (106:3-4)}
Suhaib ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet said: "How remarkable is
the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but
this is not thecase for anyone except for the believer. When the
believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allah, and gets a
reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently,
for which he is (also) rewarded." {Fiqh as-Sunnah, vol.4, p.1.}
What is Thankfulness?
In Islamic terminology, Thankfulness is the acknowledgment of the fact
that Allah is the only Grantor of graces, and full submission to Allah
in a way that assures that acknowledgment. The graces (favors) of
Allah are endless and countless. Allah says in His Book: "And if you
were to count the blessings of Allah, you will never be able to count
them." {Soorah Ibrahim (14): 34}
He, the All Mighty also says: "And whatever blessings and good you
have, it is from Allaah .." {Soorah an-Nahl, (16): 53}
How can a servant (Abd) thank Allaah? {The word 'slaves' represents
mankind, for all of mankind are expected to totally submit to the will
of Allah}The servant can thank Allaah in many ways. These include:
1. Prostrating to Allah, when theservant receives a blessing from
Allaah or when Allah saves him from a disaster. The Messenger of
Allaah (salallahu alaihi wasallam) used to prostrate to Allah whenever
he received a pleasant thing or was told good news. This prostration
is conducted for the sole purpose of giving thanks to Allaah, the
Granter of the grace and benefit that the servant received. [see Fiqh
as-Sunnah by Sayyid Sabiq (English trans.) vol.2, p.45]
Abdur-Rahman ibn 'Auf relates that the Messenger of Allah (sallaahu
alayhi wasallam) went out once and he followed him until he entered a
grove of palm trees and prostrated. His prostration was so long that
'Abdur-Rahman feared that Allah had taken his soul. 'Abdur-Rahman came
to look at him and he raised his head and said:"What is wrong,
Abdur-Rahman'?" Abdur rahman mentioned what had happened, and he
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Gibra'el came to me and said:
'Shall I not give you glad tidings'? Allah says to you, Whoever prays
upon you, I prayupon him. Whoever salutes you, I salute him.'
Therefore, I prostrated to Allah in thanks." {This is related by Ahmad
and by Al-Haakim who says: "It is sahih according to the criterion of
al-Bukhari and Muslim}
2. Thanking Allah in words: The majority of the scholars agreed that
if the servant does not thankAllaah for the grace he has, then that
grace will go away and may never come back. Allah's Messenger
(sallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: "It is a fine thingwhen a believer
praises and thanks Allah if good comes to him, and praises Allah and
shows endurance if smitten by affliction. The believer is rewarded for
everything, even for the morsel he raises to his wife's mouth."
{Bayhaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-Iman. Sunan at-Tirmidhi no.1733
See also Saheeh Muslim (7138)}
3. Talking about the benefits Allah has granted him. This is because
concealing the benefits of Allah is ungrateful. Allaah says in the
Quraan: "Do they believe in the false deities and deny the favor of
Allaah." {Soorah an-Nahl (16):72}
Ibn Katheer commented that denying the favors of Allah means hiding
his grants and/or relating them to others than Allah.
Narrated by Zaid bin Khalid Al Juhani : The Prophet led us in theFajr
prayer at Hudaibiya after a rainy night. On completion of the prayer,
he faced the people and said, "Do you know what your Lord has said
(revealed)?" The people replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better."
He said, "Allah has said, 'In this morning some of my slaves remained
as true believers and some became non-believers; whoever said that the
rain was due to the Blessings and the Mercy of Allah had belief in Me
and he disbelieves in the stars, and whoever said that it
rainedbecause of a particular star hadno belief in Me but believes in
that star." {Saheeh al-Bukhari (1:807)}

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The Wedding of Fatima (r) An Example of How Simple the Nikah

Fatimah (RA) was the youngest daughter of our beloved Prophet (SAWS).
Out of all the children, he was the most beloved to him. He said, 'The
Queen of the ladies in Jannat is Faatimah.' He also said, 'Faatimah is
part of my body. Whoever grieves her, grieves me.'
When Faatimah (RA) reached the age of fifteen, proposals for her
marriage began to come from high and responsible families. But the
Prophet (SAWS) remainedirresponsive.
Ali (RA), who was 21 at the time, says: It occurred to me that I
should go and make a formal proposal, but then I thought, 'How could
this be accomplished,for I possess nothing.' At last, encouraged by
the Prophet's kindness, I went to him and expressed my intention to
marry Faatima (Radhiyallaahu Anha). The Prophet (SAWS) was extremely
pleased and asked, 'Ali!Do you possess anything to give her in Mahr?'
I replied, 'Apart from a horse and an armour I possess nothing.'
The Prophet (SAWS) said, 'A soldier must, of course, have his horse.
Go and sell away your armour.'
So, Ali (RA) went and sold his armour to Uthmaan (RA) for 480 Dirham
and presented it to Rasulullah (SAWS). Bilaal (RA) was ordered by the
Prophet (SAWS) tobring some perfume and a few other things and Anas
(RA) was sent to call Abu Bakr, Uthmaan, Talhah, Zubayr with some
companions from the Ansaar (Radhiallaahu Anhum).
When these men arrived and hadtaken their seats, the Prophet (SAWS)
recited the Khutbah (sermon) of Nikaah and gave Faatimah (RA) in
marriage to Ali (RA). He announced, 'Bear you all witness that I have
given my daughter Faatimah in marriage to Ali for 400 Mithqaal of
silver and Ali has accepted.' He then raised his head and made Dua
saying, 'O Allah, create love and harmony between these two. Bless
them and bestow upon them good children.' after the Nikaah, dates were
distributed.
When the time came for Faatimah (RA) to go to Ali's (RA) house, she
was sent without any clamour, hue and cry accompanied Umm Ayman (RA).
After the ةesha Salaat, the Prophet (SAWS) went to their house, took
permission and entered. He asked for a basin of water, put his blessed
hands intoit and sprinkled it on both Ali (RA) and Faatimah (RA) and
madeDua for them.
The sovereign of both worlds gave his beloved daughter a silver
bracelet, two Yemeni sheets, four mattresses, one blanket, one pillow,
one cup, one hand-grinding mill, one bedstead, a small water skin and
a leather pitcher.
In this simple fashion, the wedding of the daughter of the leader of
the worlds was solemnised. In following this Sunnah method, a wedding
becomes very simple and easy to fulfill.
SOME METHODS DERIVED FROM THE ABOVEMENTIONED MARRIAGE
*. "Engagements" are contrary to the Sunnah. A verbal proposal and
answer is sufficient.
*. To unnecessarily delay Nikah ofboth the boy and the girl after
having reached the age of marriage is incorrect. (Note: But on the
other hand, some parents pray day and night endlessly for a quick
marriage to a good-looking, highly educated, well-off person who comes
from a grand family of great repute...in the case of a groom, a groom
with a high-flying job, etc. The minute we find such a groom or
bride,we jump to grab him/her. But how many of us spend sleepless
nights praying not fora speedy grand marriage but a marriage which is
filled with love, happiness, blessings and piety?)
*. There is nothing wrong in inviting one's close associates for the
occasion of Nikah. However, no special pains should be taken in
gathering the people from far off places. (Note: The money could
instead be spent in charity, to gain the blessings of the poor.)
*. It is appropriate that the bridegroom be a few years older than the
bride. (Note: TheProphet's first marriage was toKhadija, who was 15
years older than him. She was a widower and he was a virgin. They were
so happy together that he did not remarry until she passed away, even
though polygamy was widely practisedduring that time - before the
advent of Islam)
*. If the father of the girl is an Aalim or pious and capable of
performing Nikah, then he should himself solemnise the marriage.
*. It is better to give the Mahr Faatimi and one should endeavour to
do so. But if one does not have the means then there is nothing wrong
in giving less. (Note: The dowry isan obligation upon the groom's
family, not the bride's family!)
*. It is totally un-Islamic for those,who do not possess the means, to
incur debts in order to have grandiose weddings. (Note: On the
contrary, weddings are arranged on such a grand basis that often
parents cannot perform obligatory acts like Hajj for the next few
years because they lack funds, which were spent on the weddings of
their children)

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Trinity is denied in the Qur’an

People of the Book. Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing
butthe truth about Allah. The Messiah, Jesus son of Maryam, was only
the Messenger of Allah and His Word, which He cast into Maryam, and a
Spiritfrom Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. Do not
say:"Three." It is better that you stop. Allah is only One God. He is
too glorious to have a son! Everything in the heavens and in Earth
belongs to Him. Allah suffices as a Guardian. The Messiah would never
disdain to be a servant to Allah, nor would the angels near toHim. If
any disdain to worship Him and grow arrogant, He will, in any case,
gather them all to Him. (Surat an-Nisa': 171-72)
Those who say that the Messiah, son of Maryam, is Allah are
unbelievers. The Messiah said: "Tribe of Israel. Worship Allah, my
Lord and your Lord. Ifanyone associates anything with Allah, Allah has
forbidden him the Garden and his refuge will be the Fire." The
wrongdoers will have no helpers. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 72)
Those who say: "Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam," do not
believe.Say: "Who possesses anypower at all over Allah if He desires
to destroy theMessiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone else
on Earth?" The kingdom of the heavens and Earth, and everything
between them, belongs to Allah. He creates whatever He wills. Allah
has power over all things. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 17)
And when Allah asks:"Jesus son of Maryam! Did you say to people: 'Take
me and my motheras deities besides Allah?'" He will respond:"Glory be
to You! It is notfor me to say what I have no right to say! If I had
said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my self, but I
do not know what is in Your Self. You are the Knower of all
unseenthings." (Surat al-Ma'ida: 116)
He [Jesus] said: "I am theservant of Allah. He has given me the Book
and made me a Prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I am and
directed me to perform prayer and give the almsas long as I live…"
(SurahMaryam: 30-31)
It is not right for any human being that Allah should give him the
Book and Judgment and Prophethood, and then that he should say to
people: "Worship me rather than Allah." Rather, he will say: "Be
people of the Lord because of your knowledge of the Book, and because
you study." (Surah Al 'Imran: 79)
The Messiah, the son of Maryam, was only a Messenger, before whom
other Messengerscame and went. His mother was a woman of truth. Both
of them ate food. See how We make the signs clear to them! Then see
how they are perverted! (Surat al-Ma'ida, 75)
We sent no Messenger before you without revealing to him: 'There is no
god but Me, so worship Me.' They say, 'The All-Merciful has a son.'
Glory be to Him! No, they are honored servants! They do not precede
Him in speech and they act on His command. He knows what is in front
of them and what is behind them. They only intercede on behalf of
those with whom He is pleased, and even they are apprehensive out of
fear of Him. Were any of them to say, 'I am a god apart from Him,' We
would repay him with Hell. That is how We repay wrongdoers. (Surat
al-Anbiya', 25-29)

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"Should any irregularities be proven, the organisation will deal with
those involved in an appropriate manner.
"The NOCs are autonomousorganisations, but if any of the cases are
confirmed theIOC will not hesitate to impose the strongest sanctions.
"The IOC has also determined that it will takeon board any
recommendations coming out of the inquiry to improve the way that
tickets are allocated and sold internationally in the future."
London 2012 organising committee Locog said it would support the IOC
in its investigation "in any way we can".
"Rules and regulations for selling London 2012 ticketsto international
fans are clear and unambiguous," it said.
No tickets intended for the British market were involved, it added.

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