1. An Important Question

1.
Entering the eastern gate of Cordova the young and beautiful Isabella
took to the road which led straightto the Qasrul Shuhada (Palace of
Martyrs). The Muslim government of the day had lavishly beautified the
whole of Spain. The roads of Cordova were wide and well planned
andbeautiful lamps at short distances lighted them and, as Dr Draper
says, one could walk twenty miles intheir light. Isabella walked
slowly and gracefully on the wide and bright road of the Palace of
Martyrs towards her home and her pace today was thoughtful and
dignified. After her evening stroll she used to call on her friends on
the way while returning, but today she was heading straight to her
home and seemed to be absorbed in some thought. In half an hour she
reached her palatial house, where her maidservant was waiting for her
at the door and greeted her. Giving some off-hand answer to the maid's
question as to her delayed return; she entered her room and, sitting
in an easy chair, began to read a book. In the meantime the
maidservant laid the dinner table and called her.But she was so
absorbed inthe book that she did not respond and continued in her
study. The book she was reading was the Holy Bible and she was
particularly studying Saint Paul's Epistles with great care in which
the religious law was denounced as a curse. She read the letters again
and again but could not find a solution to her doubt, which became
moreand more firm as she went on reading. When her mindwas tired she
put away theBible and resolved to ask her father who, she thought,
could explain it.
She did not think that the problem was insoluble. If she could not
find the solution, her father would easily find it as there was no man
in Spain so learnedas her father. So eased in her mind she took her
dinner and began to read the Bible again. Sometime after she went to
her bed.
Next morning rising early she went to the church, it being a Sunday.
On her return her father called herand asked her what chapter of the
Bible she had read last night as she was engaged in comprehending the
inner meanings of metaphysics. If she had any difficulty in solving
any problem she might ask him.
Isabella (kissing his hand): Father, I have read today 1 John, Chapter
3, and if you permit me I may ask a question as I have not yet been
able to solve the problem.
Priest: Surely, surely, my child. Do ask it and I will resolve your difficulty.
Isabella: Our Lord has given us Twelve Commandments in the Old
Testament through Prophet Moses. Are they not about religious law?
Priest: Yes, they all relate to religious law.
Isabella: The next thing is that Saint Paul has said in one of his
letters that religious law is a curse.
Priest: Yes, religious law is a curse and it was to relieve us from
this curse that Jesus Christ came to the world and was crucified.
Isabella: It is clear that religious law is a curse and so grave a
curse that Jesus Christ came to the world toremove it and was
crucified. It, therefore, means that to follow religious law is also a
curse.
Priest: Surely it is a curse and now Christians, insteadof following
the religious law, should have faith in Jesus Christ, as religious law
was effective until our lord was not crucified.
Isabella: Now, is stealing permissible for us?
Priest: What has this got todo with the religious law? My child, you
should think carefully before asking a question as anyone else who
bears this question will take you to be quite foolish.
Isabella: Forgive me. Probably I could not make myself clear. What I
mean is that among the Commandments, which you have just said are part
of religious law, one command is that you should not steal and another
that you should not oppress your neighbour and the third that you
should not disobey your parents. Now,these commandments are still
parts of the religious law which, according to Saint Paul, is a curse.
So to obey the Commandments of Old Testament (that is not to steal,
not to fornicate) is abomination and not to steal and not to molest
your parents are a curse.
Priest: My child, you have not yet understood the position of the
religious law. But, first tell me who put this foolish question in
your mind and what devil put this doubt in you?
On this Isabella reported allthe talk between Umar Lahmi and Muaz
which she had heard in the garden.
Priest: My child, you know it well that these accursed Muslims are
"unbelievers" and have always been inimical to our sacred religion.
Criticism of our holy books is the result of satanic thinking. :->

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'Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim'?

Question:
Is the Tasmiyyah (mentioning the Name ofAllaah) upon the food that a
person says: 'Bismillaah' or that he says: 'Bismillaah ar-Rahmaan
ar-Raheem'?
Answer:
Allaah's Aid is sought! If you said 'Bismillaah' it is sufficient, and
if you said 'Bismillaah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem' then that is not a
problem, because the Prophet sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "O
young boy mention the Name of Allaah"[1], and he did not say: 'do not
say ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem'. So if you said 'Bismillaah' it is
sufficient, and if you said 'Bismillaah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem' then
that is not a problem. The Sharee'ah has within it, in a lot of the
affairs scope for leeway. The people were with the Messenger of Allaah
sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam on the farewell Hajj, some of them were
pronouncing the Talbiyyah and some of them were pronouncing the
Takbeer, and he did not say to the one making Takbeer 'do not make
Takbeer', or to the one making the Talbiyyah 'do not make the
Talbiyyah'. And this affair is expansive. Ibn 'Umar may Allaah be
pleased with him, was from the most ardent of people upon following
the Sunnah, and (even) with this he expanded upon the Talbiyyah and he
said:
(Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka La Shareeka Laka Labbayk, Inna
al-Hamda wa an-Ni`mata Laka wa al-Mulk La Shareeka Lak,
Labbayka wa Sa`dayk, wa al-Khayr fi Yadayk wa ar-Raghbaa Ilayka wa al-`Amal)
And none from amongst the Companions forbade him from that, from
whatwe know. Because the affair (here) is expansive,except for the one
who supplicates with a supplication that is not pertinent, or
supplicates with something that is Haraam, so that is
refutedregardless.
________________________
[1] Reported by al-Bukhaari (nos. 5376, 5377) in the Book of Foods and
Muslim (no.2022) in the Book of Drinks.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Liqaa'at al-Baabil-Maftooh, vol.3, P.523.
Translated by Abu Maryam Taariq bin 'Ali

Imam Ibn Hazm's Golden Words on Knowledge

31. If knowledge had no other merit than to makethe ignorant fear and
respect you, and scholars love and honour you, thiswould be good
enough reason to seek after it. Let alone all its other merits in this
world and the next!
32. If ignorance had no other fault than to make the igno-rant man
jealous of knowledgeable men and jubilant at see-ing more people like
himself, this by itself would be reason enough to oblige us to flee
it. Let alone the other bad results of this evil in this world and the
next!
33. If knowledge and the action of devoting oneself to it had no
purpose except to free the man who seeks it from the exhausting
anxieties and many worries which afflict the mind, that alone would
certainly be enough to drive us to seek knowledge. But what should we
say of the other bene-fits too numerous to list, the leastof which are
the above-mentioned, and all of which accrue to the knowledgeable man.
In search of benefits as small as these the petty kings have worn
themselves out in seeking distraction from their anxieties in games of
chess, dicing, wine, song, hunting expe-ditions and other pastimes
which bring nothing but harm in this world and the next and absolutely
no benefit.

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Shahada - Confession of a Muslim

La ilaha il Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasool-Allah
(None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah)
Shahada has three aspects: A , B , and C
To be a muslim is to pledge the above covenant with Allah, the Creator
of the heavens and earth, the Ruler of all that exists, the Lord of
Majestyand Highness, stating La ilaha il Allah, Muhammad
-ur-Rasool-Allah , but first one must understand what this means.
Believing "La ilaha il Allah" (none has the right to be worshippedbut Allah)
Point 1: Tauhid-ar-Rububiyya
*.
A confession with your heart that the Creator (of everything) is
Allah, subhana watala, it is that you have to say: " I testify that
the Creator of all the universe, including the stars, the planets, the
sun, the moon, the heavens, the earth with all its knownand unknown
forms of life, is Allah. He is the Organizer and Planner of all its
affairs. It is He Who gives life and death, and He (i.e. AllahAlone)
is the Sustainer, and the Giver of Security, etc. " And this is called
your confession for the"Oneness of the Lordship of Allah,"
Tauhid-ar-Rububiyya .
Point 2: Tauhid-al-Uluhiyya
*.
A confession with your heart that you have to say: " I testify that
none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone. " The
word"Worship" (i.e. Ibadah) carries a great number of meanings in the
Arabic language: It conveys that all kinds ofworship are meant for
Allah (and none else, whether it be an angel, Messenger, Prophet Jesus
- son of Mary, Ezra, Muhammad, saint, idol, the sun, the moon and all
other kinds of false deities). So pray tonone but Allah, invoke none
but Allah, ask for help from none (unseen) but Allah, swear by none
but Allah, offer an animal assacrifice to none but Allah, …etc. and
that means, -- all that Allah and Allah's Messenger, saaws, order you
to do (in Qur'an and in As-Sunna [legal ways ofProphet Muhammad ]) you
must do, and all that Allah, s.w.t, Allah's Messenger forbid you, you
must not do. And this is called (your confession for the)"Oneness of
the worship of Allah", Tauhid-al-Uluhiyya . And that you
(mankind)worship none but Allah,subhana watala.
*.
Those whom they invoke besides Allâh have not created anything, but
are themselves created. [The Noble Qur'an 16:20]
Point 3: Tauhid-al-Asma was-Sifat
*.
A confession with your heart that you have to say: " O Allah! I
testify that all the best of names and the most perfect qualities with
which You have named or qualified Yourself in Your Book (i.e. the
Qur'an) or as Your Prophet Muhammad (saaws) has named or qualified
You, with his statement, I confirm that all those (names and
qualifications) are for You without changing their meanings or
neglectingthem completely or giving resemblance to others. " As Allah,
swt, said:
"There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the
All-Seer." (v.42:11)
*.
This holy Ayat (verse) confirms the quality of hearing and the
qualityof sight for Allah, subhana watala without resemblance
toothers, and likewise. Allah, subhana watala, also said:
"To one whom I have created with Both My Hands," (v.38:75)
*.
and Allah also said:
"The Hand of Allah is over their hands." (v. 48:10)
*.
This confirms two Hands for Allah, swt, but there is no similarity for
them. Similarly Allah, swt, said:
"The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne." (v.20:5)
*.
So Allah rose over the Throne really in a manner that suits His
Majesty. And Allah is over Allah's Throne over the seventh heaven, as
the slave-girl pointed towards the heavens, when Allah's Messenger
(Muhammad, saaws) asked her as to where Allah is? He only comes down
over the first (nearest) heaven to us on the day of 'Arafat (Hajj,
i.e. the 9th of Dhul-Hijja), and also during the last third part of
the night as mentioned by the Prophet saaws, but Allah is with us by
His Knowledge only, not byHis Personal-Self (bi-Dhatihi). It is not
like that, as some people say that Allah is present everywhere here,
there, and even inside the breasts of men. He sees and hears all that
we do or utter, etc. And this is called (your confession for the)
"Oneness of the Names and Qualities of Allah" Tauhid-al-Asma was-Sifat
and this is theright Faith, the Faith which was followed by the
Messengers of Allah (from Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus
to Muhammad, peace be upon them all,and the companions of Prophet
Muhammad and the righteous followers [i.e.the salaf ] of these
Messengers, saaws.
Believing"Muhammad-ur-Rasool-Allah" (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)"
*.
A confession with your heart that you have to say: " O Allah! I
testify that Muhammad is YourMessenger. " That means that none has the
right to be followedafter Allah, but Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon
him, as he is the last of Allah's Messengers. As Allah said:
"Muhammad (saaws) is not the father of any man among you but heis the
Messenger of Allah and the last (end)of the Prophets and Allah is Ever
All-Aware of everything.' (v.33:40).
" And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad, saaws, gives you, take it
and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it. " (v. 59:7)
*.
And Allah said:
" Say (O Muhammad to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allah, thenfollow
me.' " (v. 3:31)
As for others than Muhammad , their statements are to be taken or
rejected as towhether these are in accordance with Allah's Book (i.e.
the Qur'an) or with the Sunna (legal ways, orders, acts of worship,
statements, etc.)of the Prophet, saaws, i.e. Sunna or not. As the
Divine Inspiration has stopped after the death of Muhammad , and it
will not resume except at the time of the Descent of Jesus, son of
Mary and he(i.e. Jesus) will rule with justice according to the
Islamic laws, during the last days of the world as it has been
mentioned in the authentic Hadith (i.e. narration) of Prophet Muhammad
in Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadith No. 425.
It is essential to utter, La ilaha ill Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allah
(none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad
s.a.a.w.s.is the Messenger of Allah, s.w.t). As it has come in the
statement of Prophet Muhammad to his uncle Abu Talib at the time of
the latter's death: "O uncle, if you utter it (La ilaha ill Allah,
Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allah), then I shall be ableto argue on your behalf
before Allah, on the Day of Resurrection." Similarly, when Abu Dhar
Al-Ghiffari embraced Islam, he went to Al-Masjid-al-Haram and he
proclaimed it loudly infront of the Quraish infidels until he was
beaten severely.
It is essential that the limbs and all other parts and organs of one's
body testify to it, and this is very important as regards its meaning
(i.e. the meaning of La ilaha ill Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allah). So
whoever has confessed this (with his or her Lord), he shall not commit
sins like robbing,killing, stealing, illegal sexual intercourse,
eating pig meat, drinking alcoholic beverages, taking undue advantage
of orphan's property, cheating in trade, bribery and earning money
through illegal means, telling lies, back-biting etc., or otherwise
the limbs, all other parts and organs ofhis body will testify against
him that he was a liar in his words which he pledged to Allah, swt. In
case he commits the above sins, he should know that it is a sin that
obliges him to repent to Allah, swt, and ask Allah's Forgiveness, as
(his) bodyparts (i.e. skin, private parts, hands, tongue, ears, etc.)
will testify to the above mentioned crimes (i.e. actions) against his
self on the Day of Resurrection.
And with the confession of this great sentence (i.e. principle) a
person enters in the fold of (i.e. embraces) the Islamic religion
accordingly. It isessential for him to believe in all the Messengers
of Allah (peace be upon them all) and not to differentiate between
them. As it is mentioned in Allah's Book (Qur'an):
" Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My slaves(i.e.
the angels; Allah's Messengers; Jesus, son of Mary, etc.) as 'Auliya
(lords gods, protectors supporters etc.) besides Me? Verily We have
prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in theOneness
of Allah - Islamic Monotheism). Say (O Muhammad ); 'Shall We tell you
the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds?' Those whose efforts
have been wasted in this life, while they thought they were acquiring
good by their deeds? "
" They are those who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the meeting with
Him (in the Hereafter). So theirworks are in vain, and on the Day of
Resurrection, We shall not give them any weight. "
" That shall be their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and
took my Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.)
and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery. "
" Verily! Those who believe (in the Onenessof Allah - Islamic
Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, they shall have the Gardens of
Al-Firdaus (Paradise) for their entertainment. "
" Wherein they shall dwell (forever). No desire will they have to be
removed therefrom. "
" Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If the sea were ink for (writing) the
Words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted, before the Words
of my Lord would be finished even if We brought (another sea) like it
forits said. "
" Say (O Muhammad ): I am only a man like you, it has been inspired to
me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God, --i.e. Allah). So whoever
hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and
associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord. " (v.
18:102-110).
What are some of the other basics of becoming a Muslim?
The acceptance of the righteous deeds (such as your
Shahada/confessionto become a muslim) is stipulated with the following
two basic conditions which must be fulfilled:
1.
The intentions while doing such deeds must be totally for Allah's sake
only without any show off or gaining praise or fame, etc.
2.
Such a deed must be performed in accordance with the As-Sunnah (legal
ways, orders, acts of worship,statements, etc.) of Allah's Messenger
Muhammad bin 'Abdullah, the last (end)of all the Prophets and the
Messengers, saaws.
You are only held accountable for that which you know. And you
are also held accountable to make the time to learn that which you
don't know, in areas you know you need to learn about.
So, if you are not a muslim, it is your responsibility to seek
the knowledge of Al-Islam, toask questions about things you do not
understand or agree with regarding the basic fundamental beliefs of
Islam (as explained above).

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