The Purpose

We know that the One God exists and we know that we are a product of
His creation. But we often forget to remember that we were created for
a specific purpose. If ten of us try to find out what our purpose is
on our own, without considering the Revelation, we might find ten
different purposes. However, if welook at the Qur'aan, we will find
out that the purpose of our lives is clearly defined.
Allah The Most High says,"O Mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who
created you and those before you so that you bay become Al-Muttaqoon
(i.e. those who have taqwaa)." Al-Baqarah (2):21
And He said, "And I created not the Jinns andmen except that they may
worship Me (Alone)."Adh-Dhaariyaat (51):56
Allah Ta`aalaa also says inthe Qur'aan: "Blessed be He in Whose Hand
is the dominion, and He is able to do all things. Who has created
death and life, that He may test which ofyou is best in deed. And He
is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving." Al-Mulk (67):1-2
These verses where revealed to us by Allah in order to inform us of
why we are here on the Earth, what we should bedoing and where we are
heading. Not to benefit Himself, or because He needs our worship.
Rather, because we are in need of Him.
Allah Ta`aalaa says, "O mankind! It is you who stand in need (who are
poor) of Allah, but Allah isRich (Free of all needs), Worthy of all
praise." Faatir (35):15
What is meant by "to test which of you is best in deed"? Al-Fudayl Ibn
`Iyyaad said, "The best deed is that which is most devoted and most
proper." He was asked,"How should it be most devoted and most
proper?", and he responded, "For if the deed was devoted but was not
proper it would not be accepted, and if it was proper but was not
devoted it would not be accepted; the devoted is to be for Allah
alone, and the proper is to be in compliance with As-Sunnah."
We were created for this one reason: to worship Allah and to strive to
be the best in deed. It is not only a matter of how many deeds we do,
it is also a matter of quality. Should we take for granted that our
deeds are accepted or should we strive to perfect them and make them
pure for Allah's sake and in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet
(peace be upon him)?
Allah Ta`aalaa says in the Qur'aan: "Say (O Muhammad): "Shall We tell
you the greatest losers in respect of (their)deeds? Those whose
efforts have been wastedin this life while they thought that they were
acquiring good by their deeds?" al-Kahf (18):103-104
And He said, "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are
al-Muttaqoon (i.e. those who have taqwaa)." Al-Maa'idah (5):27
A scholar said, "there are those who think that this Universe has
founded itself or it came to exist by co-incidence. This necessitates
that man"has no goal to fulfill" because he came into being without a
defined goal! Consequently, a moral or a value system becomes
meaningless. Accordingly, man is just a responding "tool" for"mother
nature" which, according to Darwin himself, "acts haphazardly"! This
way of thinking is aimlessness, and it occurswhen man does not
recognize his relation with the One who had created life and death,
the Universe, and everything around man, all in due proportion."
We have to remember that Allah created death and life so that we may
worship Him (i.e. obey Allah Ta`aalaa in all which He commands through
the tongue of the Messengers, performing all that Allah loves and is
Pleased with from statements and actions - both inner and outer), and
perform that worship in the best manner. That is what our objective
should be. Instead of contradicting the purpose of man's existence and
acting for the sake of perishable worldly interests, we must fulfill
its completion. This worship includes all our acts, our sleep, our
studies, our recreation and specific forms of worship definedby the
Qur'aan and Sunnah. Our period here is short and being slave to
worldly gains results incorruption of our souls, constant difficulty,
worry and poverty.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Allah says: Son of Adam: fill
your time with My worship and I will fill your heart with richness,
and end off your poverty.But if you do not, I wouldmake your hands
fully busy (i.e. in worldly affairs) and I would not end off your
poverty." (At-Tirmidhee, hasan hadeeth)
Moreover, Allah has givenus choice and has not forced us to do our
acts. He says, "Then whosoever wills let him believe, and whosoever
wills let him disbelieve." al-Kahf (18):29
Clearly, we have been informed of our purpose and were shown the wayto
achieve it. The choice is ours.

Qadar (Divine Preordainment)

"No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves
but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees -- (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz),
before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah"
The Noble Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:22
The Noble Qur'an - At-Tauba 9:51
Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained
for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector)." And in Allah
let the believers put theirtrust.
The Noble Qur'an - At-Takwir 81:28-29
To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight,
And you will not, unless (it be) that Allâh wills, theLord of the
'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 4:621, Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, " Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses
said to Adam, 'You are Adam whose mistake expelled you from Paradise.'
Adam said to him, 'You are Moses whom Allah selected as His Messenger
and as the one to whom He spoke directly; yet you blame me for a thing
which hadalready been written in my fate before my creation?' "
Allah's Apostle said twice, " So, Adam overpowered Moses. "
Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 6:469, Narrated 'Ali
We were in the company of the Prophet in a funeral procession at Baqi
Al-Gharqad. He said, "T here is none of you but has his place written
for him in Paradise or in the Hell- Fire. " They said, "O
Allah'sApostle! Shall we depend (on this fact and give up work)?" He
said, " Carry on doing (good deeds), for everybody will find it easy
to do (what will lead him to hisdestined place). " Then herecited " As
for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah, and
believes in the Best reward from Allah (i.e. Allah will compensate him
for what he will spend in Allah's way). So, We will make smooth for
him the path of ease. But he who is a greedy miser...for him, the path
for evil. " (92.5-10)
Hadith - Bukhari, Narrated Anas bin Malik
The Prophet said, " Allah has appointed an angel in the womb, and the
angel says, 'O Lord! A drop of discharge (i.e. of semen), O Lord! a
clot, O Lord! a piece of flesh.' And then, if Allah wishes to complete
the child's creation, the angel will say. 'O Lord! A male or a female?
O Lord! wretchedor blessed (in religion)? What will his livelihood be?
What will his age be?' The angel writes all this while the child is in
the womb of its mother. "
Hadith - Tirmidhi and Ahmad, Narrated Matar ibn Ukamis
Allah's Messenger said: When Allah decrees that a person is to die in
a certain land, He creates a need for him to go there.
Hadith - Tirmidhi and Ahmad, Narrated AbudDarda'
Allah's Messenger said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has ordained
for every servant amongst His creation fivethings: his death, his
action, his abode, the places of his moving about and his means of
sustenance.
Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi#5758, Narrated AbuHurayrah
When Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) wasasked when the office of
Prophet had been established for him, he replied, "When Adam hadnot
yet had his spirit joined to his body.
[Tirmidhi transmitted it]
Hadith - Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, Narrated 'Aisha
I heard Allah's Messenger saying: He who discusses about the Divine
Decree (al-Qadr) will be answerable for it on the Day of Resurrection
and he who observes silence about it, will not be answerable for it.
The Noble Qur'an - Ya-Sin 36:67
And if it had been Our Will, We could have transformed them (into
animals or lifeless objects) in their places. Then they should have
been unable to go forward (move about) nor they could have turned
back. [As it happened with the Jews - see Verse 7:166 - The Qur'an]
Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi, Narrated Thawban [Transmitted by Ibn Majah.]
Allah's Messenger said:" Only supplication averts the decree, only
kindnessprolongs life, and a man is deprived of provision for a fault
he commits. "
Hadith - Al-Muwatta 46.4
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Ziyad ibn Sad from Amr ibn Muslim
thatTawus al-Yamani said, "I found some of the companions of the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying
'Everything is by decree.'" Tawus added, "I heard Abdullah ibn Umar
say that The Messenger of Allah said, 'Everything is by decree - even
incapacity and ability,' (or 'ability and incapacity' )."
Action Items for the uttaqun:
*. Fear Allah, azza wa-jall (may Allah be hollowed and glorified) and
know that it is Allah, subhana watala, who decides your fate. Call
upon Allah, subhana watala, for your strength, support and sustenance.
Remember... Allah, subhana watala , sees everything we do!

Bid'a (Innovation in Ibadah [worship, i.e. all acts of submission to Allah,as defined in Qur'an and Sunnah])

According to Quran and Sunnah
Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, rahimahullaah, said,
"That a servant meets Allaah with every sin except Shirk
is better than meeting Him upon any of the innovated beliefs."
Reported by al-Baihaqee in al-I'tiqaad (p.158)
The Noble Qur'an Al-Hijr 15:9
Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr(i.e. the Qur'an) and
surely, We will guard it (from corruption).
The Noble Qur'an An-Nisa'4:171
O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the
limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The
Messiah Jesus, son ofMary, was (no more than)a Messenger of Allah and
Allah's Word, ("Be!" -- and he was) which Allah bestowed on Mary and a
spirit (Ruh) created by Allah; so believe in Allah and Allah's
Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for
you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Allah (Far
Exalted is Allah) above having a son. To Allah belongs all that is in
the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient
as a Disposer of affairs.
Hadith - Muslim, NarratedJabir ibn Abdullah
When Allah's Messenger delivered the sermon, his eyes became red, his
voice rose, and his anger increased so that he was like one giving a
warning against the enemy and saying: " The enemy has made a morning
attack on you and in the evening too. " He would also say: " The last
Hour and I have beensent like these two ," and he would join his
forefinger and middle finger. He would continue: " The best speech is
that embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the
guidance given by Muhammad. The most evil affairs are their
innovations; and every innovation is an error. " He would add: " I am
dearer to a Muslim than even his self. He who has left behind
property, thatis for his family, and he who dies in debt or leaves
children (in helplessness), the responsibility (of paying his debt and
bringing up his children) lies on me. "
Hadith - Bukhari 9:391, Narrated Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, " Leave me as I leaveyou, for the people who were
before you were ruined because of their questions and their
differences over their prophets. So, if I forbid you to do something,
then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of
it as much as you can. "
Hadith - Bukhari 9:396, Narrated Anas
We were with 'Umar and he said, "We have been forbidden to undertake
adifficult task beyond our capability (i.e. to exceed the religious
limits, e.g., to clean the inside of the eyes while doing ablution)."
Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi#1306, Narrated AbuMusaal-Ash'ari , Transmitted by
Ibn Majah.
Allah's Messenger said, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious looks down on
the middle night of Sha'ban and forgives all His creation except a
polytheist or one who is mushahin (innovator in religion and out of
the main stream of the community).
Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib
The Prophet said, If anyone introduces an innovation in the religion,
he will be responsible for it. (Good or bad). If anyone introduces an
innovationor gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in
the religion) he is cursed by Allaah, by His angels and by all the
people.
Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi#5142, Narrated AbuBakras-Siddiq
You people recite this verse, "You who believe, care for yourselves;
he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly guided." I
heard Allah's Messenger SAWS say, "When people see something
objectionable and do not change it, Allah will soon include them all
in His punishment." [Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi, who declared it to be
sahih, transmitted it.]
Hadith - Bukhari and Muslim, Narrated Abu Sa'id, r.a.
The Prophet SAWS said,"Surely, you will follow the ways of those
nationswho were before you, in everything as one arrow resembles
another, (i.e. just like them), so much so that even if they entered a
hole of a sand-lizard, you would enter it."
They said, "O Allaah's Messenger! Do you mean to say that we will
follow the Jews and the Christians?"
He SAWS replied,"Whom else?" (By meaning the Jew and Christians)
Noble Qur'an - Al-Imran 3:103
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this
Qur'an) andbe not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's
Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another, but Allah joined
your hearts together, so that, by Allah's Grace, you became brethren
(in Islamic Faith) and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and
Allah saved you from it. Thus Allah makes Allah's Ayat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you,
that you may be guided.
Noble Qur'an - An-Nur 24:54
Say: "Obey Allah and obeythe Messenger, but if you turn away, he
(MessengerMuhammad ) is only responsible for the duty placed on him
(i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If
you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty
is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a
plain way)."
Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar
Mujahid reported: I was in the company of Ibn Umar. A person invited
the people for the noon or afternoon prayer (after the adhan had been
called). He said: Go out with us (from this mosque) because this is an
innovation (in religion).
Hadith - Bukhari 1:561, Narrated Muawiya
You offer a prayer which I did not see being offered by Allah's
Apostle when we were in his company and he certainly had forbidden
it(i.e. two Rakat after the Asr prayer).
The only good sunnah is a revived sunnah, not a newly invented one...
Hadith - Sahih Muslim
He who starts a good sunnah will be rewarded for it, in addition to
receiving rewards equal to the rewards of those who follow him into
it. Whereas he who starts a bad sunnah will be burdened with it, in
addition to receiving burdens equal to the burdens of those who follow
him into it.
Hadith - Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 49, Number 861. Narrated Aisha, r.a.
Allah's Apostle SAWS said, "If somebody innovates something which is
not in harmony with the principles of our religion,that thing is
rejected."
Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib
Qays ibn Abbad and Ashtar went to Ali and said to him: Did the Apostle
of Allah give you any instruction about anything for which he did not
give any instruction to the people in general? He said: No, except
what is contained in this document of mine.Musaddad said: He then took
out a document. Ahmad said: A document from the sheath of his sword.
It contained: The lives of all Muslims are equal; they are one hand
against others; the lowliest of them can guarantee their protection.
Beware, a Muslim must not be killedfor an infidel, nor must one who
has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant holds.If anyone
introduces an innovation, he will be responsible for it. If anyone
introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an
innovation(in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by
all the people. Musaddad said: Ibn AbuUrubah's version has: He took
out a document.
Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah
AbdurRahman ibn Amr as-Sulami and Hujr ibn Hujr said: We came to Irbad
ibn Sariyah who was among those about whom the following verse was
revealed: "Nor (is there blame) on those who come to thee to be
provided with mounts, and when thou saidst: "I can find no mounts for
you." We greeted him and said: We have come to see you to give healing
and obtain benefit from you. Al-Irbad said: One day theApostle of
Allah led us in prayer, then faced us andgave us a lengthy exhortation
at which the eyes shed tears and the hearts were afraid. A man said:
Apostle of Allah! It seems as if it were a farewell exhortation, so
what injunction do you give us? He then said: I enjoin you to fear
Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for
those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must
then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to
it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an
innovation, and every innovation is an error.
The Noble Qur'an: Al'Imran 3:7
It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad )the Book (this Qur'an).
In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of
the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkam (commandments etc.),
Al-Fara'id (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudud (legal laws for the
punishment of thieves, adulterers, etc.)]; and others not entirely
clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the
truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking
Al-Fitnah (polytheism andtrials etc), and seeking for its hidden
meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings save Allah. And those
who arefirmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole
ofit (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive
admonition except men of understanding. (Tafsir At-Tabari).

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
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Ruling on offering congratulations at the beginning of the Hijri year

What is the ruling on offering congratulationson the occasion of the
Hijri new year and saying "Kull 'aam wa antum bi khayr" or praying for
blessing, or sending a card with bestwishes for blessings in the new
year?
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on
him) was asked: Whatis the ruling on congratulating people on the
occasion of the Hijri new year, and how should one reply to a person
who offers congratulations?
He replied:
If someone offers you congratulations, then respond to him, but do not
initiate such greetings. This is the correct view concerning this
matter. So if a person says to you, for example, "Happy New Year",
then you can say, "May Allaah make it a good and blessed year for
you." But you should not initiate such a greeting, because I do not
know of any report that the salaf [early generations of Islam]
congratulated one another on the occasion of the new year, rather the
salaf did not regard the first of Muharram as the first day of the new
year until the caliphate of 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be
pleased with him.
Shaykh 'Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr said concerning offering
congratulations on the occasion of the hijri newyear:
Praying for another Muslim in general terms, in phrases that are not
meant as a kind of ritual on special occasions such as Eid, is
acceptable, especially if what is meant by this greeting is friendship
and to show a friendly face to one's fellow Muslim. Imaam Ahmad (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said: "I do not initiate the greeting but if
someone greets me I return the greeting, because responding to the
greeting is obligatory. But being the first to offer congratulations
is neither Sunnah nor forbidden.