Women site, - The Glory of Faith

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Haaroon Ar-Rasheed, may Allaah have mercy upon him, once stood looking at the sky when he saw a cloud passing by. He addressed it saying, “Rain wherever you wish, for your fruit will certainly come to me anyway.” This means that the cloud would have rained either on an Islamic land or on a non-Islamic one. In the first case, Muslims would have benefitted from this rainwater in agriculture and in drinking; in the second case, Muslims would have also benefitted from this rainwater in the form of Jizyah )a tax( that would be paid to them by non-Muslims. This example shows the state of glory, which the Muslims reached in the past when they applied their religion and worked for it. Nowadays, Muslims are certainly required to pursue the means of glory.
Glory here refers to power, victory, high standing and invincibility. It is a word which denotes that a person cannot be overcome or humiliated. Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,
Some of the scholars of Tafseer )Quranic exegesis( said, “In the Quran, glory is used in three different senses.
It is used to signify might, as in the verse )which means(:
•}“By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant.”{]Quran 26:44[
•}By Your might, I will surely mislead them all{]Quran 38:82[
It is also used to signify honor, as in the verse )which means(:}Do they seek with them honor ]through power[? But indeed, honor belongs to Allaah entirely.{]Quran 4:139[
Finally, it is used to signify dispraised pride as in the verse )which means(:
•}And when it is said to him, “Fear Allah ,” pride in the sin takes hold of him.{]Quran 2:206[
•}But those who disbelieve are in pride and dissension.{]Quran 38:2[
From the above, it is noticed that there is praised glory and dispraised glory. Praised glory is that which pertains to Allaah The Almighty, to His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and to the believers. This is real and permanent glory since it is from and with the support of Allaah The Almighty who cannot be defeated or resisted. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And to Allaah belongs ]all[ Honor and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.{]Quran 63:8[.
On the other hand, the glory of the disbelievers is, in fact, humiliation and disgrace. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And they have taken besides Allaah ]false[ deities that they would be for them ]a source of[ honor. No! Those "gods" will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents ]on the Day of Judgment[.{]Quran 19:81-82[.
Many people pursued the wrong way to glory, victory and enablement. Some of them pursued it through money and forgot that money is only a Fitnah )trial( and a loss if one does not give the right that Allaah The Almighty has to it. Moreover, this money might be a means of humiliation. Al-Hasan, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, “By Allaah, Allaah The Almighty humiliates whoever glorifies money.” Indeed, we have seen a many examples of that in life.
Other people seek glory through their positions and prestige. This may enable them to achieve temporary glory. However, if this is not established on justice and good reputation, then it certainly will not last. Indeed, many a leader and president were enjoying glory and then became captives in prisons, and their glory turned into humiliation.
What is even more dangerous is when a person seeks glory through the disbelievers, i.e. by allying himself with them, even if this is against the Muslims’ interests. This is no more than an illusion. In fact, it is an instant humiliation, and the first people to turn against such people would be his ‘allies’ from the disbelievers. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment - Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor ]through power[? But indeed, honor belongs to Allaah entirely.{]Quran 4:138-139[ Consequently, throwing one’s self in the arms of the disbelievers is the shortest way to dishonor and humiliation because these disbelievers would not accept from us anything less than disbelief. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.{]Quran 2:120[.
Other people still seek glory through their ancestors and tribes, even if they were misguided. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Rayhaanah, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“If a person attributes himself to nine of his disbelieving forefathers, seeking through them glory and pride, he will be their tenth in Hell.”
Hence, the unquestionable truth is that a person who seeks glory must demand it from Allaah The Almighty through obeying Him and avoiding disobedience. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, summarized this wonderful meaning in a few words; He said, “We were the most humiliated people, but Allaah The Almighty has honored us with Islam. If we demand honor through any means other than Islam, Allaah The Almighty will humiliate us.”
Ibraaheem ibn Shaybaan, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, “Honor lies in modesty, glory lies in piety, and freedom lies in contentment.” When a Muslim lives in obedience to Allaah The Almighty, he lives in honor and dignity. He may be afflicted, but nevertheless he has a strong sense of honor. This appeared clearly in the life of the righteous predecessors, may Allaah be pleased with them, even in the darkest moments and in the severest and hardest situations.
Situations Which Indicate the Glory of the Righteous Predecessors
When Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, was tortured in Makkah in its hot desert and a great heavy boulder was put on his chest, not to make him abandon his faith but only to stop blaspheming his peoples false gods or to keep silent, the honor of faith showed in his words when he repeated, “Allaah The One, Allaah The One.” This remained as an eternal anthem which the generations have chanted throughout history. In addition, the words of Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, poured despair into the souls of those who tortured him. So, who was honorable in this scene? Was it this weak, tortured slave or the arrogant disbelievers?
The story of ‘Abdullaah ibn Huthaafah As-Sahmi , may Allaah be pleased with him, when he was taken captive by the Romans is another example. The king of the Romans tried to entice ‘Abdullaah to abandon his religion, but he refused. The king offered him half of his money but he refused. Then, he imprisoned him, tortured him and did not give him any food or water except some pig meat and wine. After three days, they brought him out and found that he had eaten nothing of it. When he was asked why had he not eaten any of it, he replied, “By Allaah, Allaah The Exalted made it lawful for me because I was under duress, but I would never let you gloat over Islam.” Then, the king asked him to kiss his head in return for releasing him but Ibn Huthaafah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that he would only do so if all the Muslim captives were released. The king accepted and Ibn Huthaafah, may Allaah be pleased with him, kissed his head.
He then returned to the Commander of the Believers ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, with all the Muslim captives. ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, stood up and kissed the head of ‘Abdullaah ibn Huthaafah, and said, “It is a duty upon every Muslim to kiss the head of Ibn Huthaafah.”
Also, Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was prosecuted and imprisoned. When he was thrown in prison, he recited the words of Allaah The Almighty )which mean(:}And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.{]Quran 57:13[. This is the glory of faith and the pride of Islam which make a person the most honorable one through the obedience of Allaah The Almighty. Even if all people on earth stood against such a person, he would still derive his honor and glory from Allaah The Almighty who can never be defeated. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Whoever desires honor ]through power[ - then to Allaah belongs all honor.{]Quran 35:10[.
The state of humiliation which prevails in many aspects of our lives nowadays is the result of religious innovations, sins and remoteness from the Sharee'ah of Allaah The Almighty. This is supported by the Hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, where he said:“Humiliation and disgrace are the fate of whoever disobeys my order.”A major reason behind this humiliation is the state of disagreement and disunity that the Muslims experience. Our enemies take advantage of us one by one; they strike one of us today and another tomorrow while Muslims take no action, as if what happens to our brothers does not concern us. History testifies that we were never like this in the past. When a Muslim woman, who was taken as a captive by the Romans in ‘Amooriyyah, screamed for help uttering her famous scream, “Wa Islaamaah” )Oh My Islam!(, Al- Mu‘tasim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, answered her call with full concern, “Labbayki ]at your disposal[” and prepared an army which heavily defeated ‘Amooriyyah and rescued the Muslim woman from the hands of the disbelievers. We should ask ourselves here: what tie was there between Al-Mu‘tasim and that woman except the tie of faith?

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Women site, - Diligence is the Way to Success

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There are norms and laws in the universe that man is not permitted to contradict. Instead, he should abide by them so as to enjoy a good life and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. One such norm is that if one works hard, he will find results; if one exhausts oneself a little bit, he can enjoy a long rest. Indeed reaping noble benefits depends on experiencing difficulties. Pleasure and perfect qualities cannot be gained except with some difficulty. If it were not for difficulties, all people would be leaders.
A Person who Prefers Comfort has Scarce Potential for Success
Work in the worldly life relies upon diligence. Therefore, man is required to work hard and actively, leaving behind laziness. The Quran and Sunnah direct us towards this understanding. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
}And say, “Work, for Allaah will see your deeds, and ]so, will[ His Messenger and the believers.”{]Quran 9:105[
}It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.{]Quran 67:15[
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, educated the Ummah )Muslim Nation( in different ways on how to be diligent. For instance, he urged Muslims to earn a living and provide from their own work, saying:“Nobody has ever eaten a meal better than that which he has earned from working with his own hands. The prophet of Allaah, Daawood ]David[, would eat from the work of his own hands.”]Al-Bukhaari[
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also advised us to work hard without giving in to feelings of frustration, saying:“Cherish that which gives you benefit ]in the Hereafter[, seek help from Allaah and do not lose heart.”]Muslim[
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said:“If the Hour comes while one of you has a shoot that he is able to plant, he should plant it.”]Ahmad, Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad[
Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, assured people of the assistance of Allaah The Almighty, that He further increases the high motivation and ambition of people according to the sublimity of their ambition, saying:“Help from Allaah comes to the servant according to his diligence.”]Al-Bazzaar[
Of course hard work is exhausting, but it has great pleasure, especially when the diligent person reaps the outcome of his work.
Ibn Ul-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:
The sages of every nation agree that welfare cannot be obtained through welfare, that anyone who prefers comfort will miss it, and that joy and pleasure depend on the level of risks and difficulties that are experienced when getting them. There is no joy for a person who has no resolve; no pleasure for a person who lacks patience; no bliss for a person who endures no hardships; and no comfort for a person who has no hard work. If a person is exhausted for a short time, he will relax for longer. If he endures difficulties for a short while, this will lead him to eternal welfare. People who will receive eternal delight ]the people of Paradise[ earned this status due to their patience in this very short worldly life. Truly, Allaah alone gives help, and there is no power except in Him.
The loftier one's self is and the higher his aspirations are, the more a person’s body is exhausted and the less his comfort is. Yahya ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said. “Knowledge cannot be acquired when the body is in comfort.” ]Muslim[
“All those who are sensible undoubtedly believe that perfect comfort depends on the level of exhaustion, and perfect bliss relies on the level of difficulties that are endured when achieving it. Comfort, pleasure and bliss are free of exhaustion only in Paradise, not in this worldly life. ]Quoted from ‘Uluww Al-Himmah Ismaa‘eel[
A person who takes diligence to be a slogan in life does not depend on his ancestors or family background, nor does he rely on boasting of his fathers and forefathers. Instead he builds his own glory, adding it to that of his forefathers'.
Quotations from Sages and Scholars
Some sages have said, “Utilize your diligence as long as you are in good health, and take the opportunity to work while you are at leisure, for time will not be always on your side, nor will you be able to restore what you have lost.”
A scholar once said, “Work is like an armor that protects a person against afflictions, and diligence is like a sword that wards off misfortune.”
Another said, “Nothing is better than having a reason that is adorned with forbearance, a deed that is adorned with knowledge, and forbearance that is adorned with truthfulness!"
Some scholars have said, “Could it be true and logical that crops are harvested without prior sowing of seeds, fruits are reaped without the planting of trees, fire comes from two stones without striking them together, or that money yields without effort?”
It was also said, “There is a cause for every provision and whoever diligently seeks something, finds it.”
Indeed, what a great saying was that of the Commander of Believers, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, “Do not stop pursuing livelihood and supplicating, ‘O Allaah, provide for me!’ You know that the sky does not rain gold or silver. Allaah The Almighty provides for people by virtue of their interaction.”
Therefore, work hard and do not be indolent. Your Muslim nation is waiting for a push from you like that of ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, a push that illuminates the torch of enthusiasm in its heart, amidst the darkness of this gloomy state of obliviousness. It is also waiting for a cry from you like that of Salaah Ad-Deen Al-Ayyoobi )Saladin(, may Allaah have mercy upon him, a cry that plants hope in the desert of despair. Help from Allaah comes in accordance with diligence, therefore seek help from Allaah and do not lose heart!

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Dought & clear, - Ruling on working in the police

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I work as a police officer in one of the Arab countries. My question is: is it permissible to carry on with this job, knowing that the country is ruled by man-made laws, and as a police officer I am required to enforce these laws? Please note that there are many areas of work in the police. Some of us fight prostitution, some of us fight drugs, and there are many good things, but all of that is in accordance with and under man-made laws. Some of us work in the prisons, implementing rulings issued by the court in accordance with man-made laws. Is it permissible for me to carry on in my job, or do I have to do is leave it, or should I try my best to find the most appropriate work I can do in the police?
Praise be to Allah
Working in the police is like working in any other job; some of the things involved are permissible and others are haraam – that varies according to the nature of the work that is done by the person who has that job.
In many countries, unfortunately, those who work in this field are required to shave off their beards, salute the flag, and show respect to officers of higher rank by greeting them in a manner that is not Islamic, even if they are disbelievers or evildoers. We have explained why these things are haraam in the answers to questions no. 5481, 8230and 8797.
With regard to that work, it is well known that it involves some kinds of wrongdoing as well as some kinds of justice. If a person’s work involves pursuing criminals and evildoers, protecting people from their harm, returning to people what is rightfully theirs, and preventing wrongdoers from transgressing against others, then undoubtedly this work is permissible and in fact he will be rewarded if he makes his intentions sincerely for the sake of Allah, may He be exalted, by aiming to establish justice and prevent wrongdoing. But if a person’s work involves taking people’s wealth away from them and transgressing against them by beating them, impugning their honour and imprisoning them unlawfully, then undoubtedly his work – in this case – is haraam, and he is one of the bankrupt who will meet Allah, may He be exalted, in the Hereafter with people having claims against them, so Allah, may He be exalted, will give them hasanaat (good deeds) that He will take from those wrongdoers, or some sayi’aat will be taken from those who were wronged and added to the burden of (those who wronged them).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If the ruler takes from the collectors of revenue that which he and his family want to keep for themselves, it is not right to help any of them, because each of them will be a wrongdoer, like a thief who steals from a thief and like two groups who fight one another on the basis of factionalism and for positions of leadership. It is not permissible for anyone to help in wrongdoing or transgression. Helping one another is of two types:
1.Helping one another in righteousness and piety, such as jihad, carrying out hadd punishments, giving people their rights in full and giving to those who are deserving. These are things that are enjoined by Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The one who refrains from that for fear of helping in wrongdoing is neglecting a duty that is either an individual or communal obligation, thinking that he is being cautious. But how often cowardice and failure are presented caution because in each case one ends up refraining from taking action.
2.Helping one another in sin and transgression, such as helping to shed the blood of one who is protected (by sharee‘ah), or property that is protected (by sharee‘ah), or beating someone who does not deserve to be beaten, and so on. This is what is forbidden by Allah and His Messenger. End quote.
Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 28/283
See also the answer to question no. 103412
It may be said concerning such jobs that if the one who takes on such a job has done so in order to call people to what is good and to reduce evil, and to alleviate wrongdoing suffered by those who are wronged, and to benefit people as much as he can, then in that case there is nothing wrong with this job.
But if the one who takes on this job has done it in order to take advantage of his position to mistreat people, acquire money unlawfully using his post as a shield (against prosecution), accept and defend man-made laws, defend wrongdoers, and to transgress against the innocent, and other kinds of wrongdoing that may be committed by those who do this work, then undoubtedly it is haraam work, and there is the fear that the one who does that may come on the Day of Resurrection bankrupt, with no hasanaat (good deeds) to his credit, and carrying a mountain of sins.
We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound.
And Allah knows best.



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