Discover Islam, - *Goals of Islam

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A - Worshipping Allaah Alone:
This is the reason behind Allaah's creating all that exists: Angels, Jinn, mankind, heavens, earth and animals etc. Allaah created everything only to worship Him alone. He Said, )what means(:"See you not that to Allaah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and many of mankind? But there are many )men( on whom the punishment is justified. And whomsoever Allaah disgrace, none can honor him. Verily! Allaah does what He will."]Quran 22:18[
He also said about the Angels, )what means(:"Surely, those who are with your Lord )angels( are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him, but they glorify His praise and prostrate before Him." ]Quran 7:206[. And )what means(: "There is not a thing but glorifies His praise. But you understand not their glorification."]Quran17:44[
There are many other verses with this meaning.
Allaah sent the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and sent down revelations to them for the above reasons. He said, )what means(:"And verily, We have sent among every nation a Messenger )proclaiming(: "Worship Allaah )Alone(, and avoid Taghoot )all false deities(."]Quran 16:36[
Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(, was the last Messenger sent by Allaah to all nations, with the goal of worshipping Allaah Alone. He commanded people to worship Allaah Alone, taking no partners with Him in worship.
B - Establishing Allaah's Proof:
Allaah's Sunnah )way( with regard to His creation is that not all humans, rather, only a few of them are rightly guided. The most important role for the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is to warn the disbelievers and rebellious Muslims. Allaah Says, )what means(:"Verily, We have inspired you )O Muhammad( as We inspired Noah and the Prophets after him; We )also( inspired Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, And al-Asbat )the twelve sons of Jacob(, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers We have not mentioned to you, and to Moses Allaah spoke directly. Messengers are bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allaah after the Messengers. And Allaah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise."]Quran 4:163-165[
What Allaah meant by )what means(:"In order that mankind should have no plea against Allaah after the Messengers"]Quran 4: 163-165[ is that, on the Day of Judgment, they will not be able to use the excuse of not having a warner from Allaah during their lifetimes. This excuse will not justify their continuing disbelief. The fact that Allaah has sent the Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, will invalidate all excuses that the disbelievers may use on the Day of Resurrection.
Allaah says to His Messenger, may Allaah exalt his mention, )what means(:"Your duty is to convey )the Message(."]Quran 42:48[. And )what means(: "The Messenger's duty is but to convey the Message."]Quran 5:99[ This applies to the Message of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to the disbelievers. He only had to deliver the Message that Allaah sent him with, explain to them their obligations to Allaah and warn them of eternal torment if they insisted on rebellion and disbelief.
Allaah says, )what means(:"Say: Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him )to convey the 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."]Quran 24:54[
This Ayah )verse( explains the goals of the Message, the essence of what it contains and the role of the Messenger, sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam, and the community he was sent to. The role of the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was to deliver the Message, and the role of those receiving the Message was to hurry to the obedience of Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; if they refused then Allaah's punishment will be justly theirs.
Allaah Says, )what means(:"Say )O, Muhammad to the disbelievers(: My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to Him. But now you have indeed denied )Him(. So the torment will be yours forever."]Quran 25:77[ This means that the punishment of Allaah will certainly be felt by those who reject the Message of the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, after being aware of them.
C - Establishing a Muslim Nation:
Allaah Says, )what means(:"He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger )Muhammad( from among themselves, purifying them, and teaching them the Book )this Quran(, and Al-Hikmah )the Sunnah(. And verily, they had been before in manifest error."]Quran 62:2[
The Message of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was a fulfillment of the prayers of Ibraaheem )Abraham( and Ismaa'eel )may Allaah exalt their mention. They said, while raising the building of the Kaa'bah in Makkah )what means(:"Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them Your verses and instruct them in the Book )the Quran( and Al-Hikmah, and sanctify them. Verily! You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."]Quran 2:129[
Allaah accepted their prayer and sent this honorable Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and established for him the best nation ever, as Allaah Himself proclaimed )what means(:"You )true believers in Islam( are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind, you enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe in Allaah."]Quran 3:110[
Allaah praised the Prophet's companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, in many verses in the Quran, )which mean( :"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate )in prayer(, seeking Bounty from Allaah and )His( Good Pleasure. The mark of them is on their faces )foreheads( from the traces of )their( prostration )during prayers(. This is their description in the Torah. But their description in the Gospel is like a )sown( seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers - that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allaah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward."]Quran 48:29[
D - Making Islam )The Message Of Allaah( Dominant:
The fourth reason for sending Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is to establish Islam as the dominant religion above all, till the Day of Judgment. Allaah Says, )what means(:"He it is Who has sent His Messenger )Muhammad( with Guidance and the Religion of Truth )Islam(, that He may establish )make( it )Islam( superior over all religions. And All-Sufficient is Allaah as a Witness."]Quran 48:28[
And also )what means(:"It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth to establish )make( it superior over all religions even though the Polytheists hate )it(."]Quran 9:33[
To establish it means to make its domination clear above all religions. Allaah made this promise a reality whenever the Muslims sought victory, equipped with the right belief. A look at the past will show that Muslims conquered all the powers and religions of the world by using their reasoning first, and then using the sword.

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Hajj & Umrah, - *The Many Virtues of Hajj –II

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… Continued
·After the pilgrim starts saying, “Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk)Here I am at your service, O Allaah, here I am(” at theMeeqaat)station from where one enters into the state ofIhraam(, he must not continue sinning further, having responded to his Lord’s call. When he says it he should think of it as,“I am responding to Your prohibition of it )committing sins( and this is the time I am giving it up.”
·When he enters the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty, which He has made a sanctuary for humankind, he remembers the sanctuary of the Day of Resurrection, which no one can reach without first striving hard in this world.Tawheed)belief in the Oneness of Allaah The Almighty( and shunningShirk)association of others with Allaah The Almighty( provides the greatest sanctuary on that Day. Allaah The Almighty Says which means:}They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice – those will have security, and they are )rightly( guided.{]Quran, 6: 82[
·Kissing the Black Stone, which is amongst the first rituals to be carried out, teaches the pilgrim tohonortheSunnah)Prophetic tradition( and not oppose the laws of Allaah The Almighty with his feeble reasoning. He realises that there is wisdom behind the laws and rites which Allaah The Almighty has prescribed for humankind, and trains himself to submit to his Lord wholly. ‘Umarsaid after he kissed the Black Stone,“I know that you are only a stone and that you can neither benefit nor harm. If I had not seen the Prophetkiss you, I would not have kissed you.”]Al-Bukhaari, Muslim[
·When the pilgrim doesTawaaf, he is reminded of his father Ibraaheem,who built the House so it could be a place of refuge for humankind and a safe haven, and that he called them to perform pilgrimage to this House. The Prophet,, also called humanity to perform pilgrimage to this House, and Moosa, Yoonus and ‘Eesa, may Allaah exalt their mention, also came for the same purpose. This House was venerated by all these Prophets.
·When drinkingZamzam, the pilgrim is reminded of the blessedness of this holy water, from which millions of people have drunk throughout history, yet it has never dried up. He is encouraged to make Du’aa)supplications( when he drinks it, according to the Hadeethin which the Prophet,, is reported to have said:“The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.”]Ibn Maajah, Ahmad[
·When he does theSa’y, he is reminded of the despair of Haajar, the mother of Ismaa’eelwho ran back and forth between Safa and Marwah searching for water so she could give her little son water to drink. When a man remembers the struggle and patience of this great woman, it makes it easier for him to bear his problems; a woman will also relate to Haajar’s suffering and find it easier to cope with the tribulations of life.
·Standing on the day of‘Arafahreminds the pilgrim of the throngs of people on the Day of Gathering. If the pilgrim is tired due to being in a crowd of thousands, how will it feel to stand amongst the hordes of barefoot, naked,uncircumcisedpeople, for fifty thousand years?
·When throwing the pebbles at theJamaraat)the three small stone-built pillars inMina(, the Muslim trains himself to obey Allaah The Almighty without arguing and questioning His commands, even if he does not understand the reason and wisdom behind this act, and cannot make the connection between rulings and their purpose. This is the manifestation of complete submission to Allaah The Almighty.
·When he slaughters his sacrificial animal, he is reminded of the great incident when Ibraaheemsubmitted to the command of Allaah The Almighty to sacrifice his only son Ismaa’eelafter he had grown up and become a helping hand for him; there is no room for emotions which go against the commands of Allaah The Almighty. This teaches him to respond to what Allaah The Almighty orders, as He tells us that Ismaa’eel said:}…‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allaah wills, of the steadfast.’{]Quran, 37: 102[

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Hajj & Umrah, - *The Greatest Objective of Hajj - I

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Worshipping Allaah The Almighty alone, making one’s heart Allaah-conscious, having tongues oft-remembering of Allaah, having the body's organs preoccupied with fulfilling the rituals ofHajjand spending effort and wealth in every aspect drawing the person nearer to Allaah are the greatest goals behind the greatHajj.
This is a novel arrangement of worship that affects the individual’s heart, soul, mind, words and deeds as well as affecting the entireUmmah)Muslim nation( during the process of performing these rituals and glorifying these holy sites. This is an immense matter that is deserving of our attention because it is connected to annulling the foul practices of the pre-Islamic era, refuting its falsities, and putting an end to its discrimination and racism.
It is an amazing scene that deserves reflection and contemplation. It is the very process of remolding the Muslim duringHajj- remolding him within the Islamic Sharee‘ah and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad.
Tawheed)monotheism( dates back to the start of creation on the day whenAadam)Adam(obeyed his Lord whereas Satan refused to obey Allaah The Almighty. Hence, the believing person was distinguished by his worshipping Allaah alone and avoiding the way of Satan in terms of ungratefulness, arrogance and haughtiness, and then in avoiding Satan’s whispers and seductions.
When we look into our deep-rootedness in history that dates back to the father of the Prophets,Ibraaheem)Abraham(we will find the first mark and sign of Tawheed. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
*.}And ]mention, O Muhammad[, when We designated for Ibraaheem the site of the House, ]saying[, "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf ]circumambulation[ and those who stand ]in prayer[ and those who bow and prostrate.{]Quran 22:26[ This is so that it would be the foremost landmark ofTawheedsince the establishment of the House of Allaah. Also:
*.}And We charged Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel )Ishmael(, ]saying[, "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf and those who are staying ]there[ for worship and those who bow and prostrate ]in prayer[.{]Quran 2:125[ Such purification is meant to eradicate any violation or infringement of Tawheed or of attachment to anything other than Allaah The Almighty.
In light of thisTawheed, we reflect uponHajjand the guidance of the Prophetwhen he came toMakkahfor‘Umrat Al-Qadhaa’)the compensatory lesser-Hajj( following theAl-Hudaybiyahtreaty. He headed for the House of Allaah, glorifying it and without paying any attention to the idols and false gods erected around theKa‘bahthat contradicted monotheism and worshipping Allaah alone. However, when he enteredMakkahas a conqueror, he struck the three-hundred and sixty idols around the Ka‘bah with his crook and stick, bringing them down to the ground by the hand ofTawheedwhile reciting the verse )which means(:}And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, ]by nature[, ever bound to depart."{]Quran 17:81[ The Prophetdismounted from his riding animal and refused to enter the House.Ibn ‘Abbaasand his father, narrated,“When the Prophetentered Makkah, he refused to enter the House with the idols therein. He ordered them to be taken out. There was an image depicting Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel, may Allaah exalt their mention, holding divining arrows in their hands like the polytheists. The Prophetsaid:‘May Allaah kill them )the polytheists(! They know that they )Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel( never used divining arrows.’Then, he entered the House declaring Takbeer )Allaah is the greatest( in its corners and went out without praying.”]Al-Bukhaari[
The next year, when the Prophetwas in total control ofMakkah, he did not leave forHajjand sentAbu Bakrleading a small group of the Companions.Abu Hurayrahsaid,“Abu Bakr sent me - in the ninth year when he led people in Hajj - along with other announcers on the day of sacrifice to announce publicly that, 'No polytheist is allowed to perform Hajj after this year and no naked person is allowed to perform the Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah...'”]Al-Bukhaari[ This abolished all the signs and foul customs of Shirk )polytheism(. Polytheists claimed that they made Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah naked in order not to wear the clothes that they had committed sins and transgressed in. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved.{]Quran 8:35[ The Prophetwanted to nullify all these practices. The Hadeeth ofAbu Hurayrahcontinues,“…Then he )the Messenger of Allaah( sent ‘Ali to read out Surat Baraa’ah )Chapter At-Tawbah( before people on the day of the greater Hajj.”]Al-Bukhaari[ This announced that Allaah The Almighty and His Messengerare disassociated from the polytheists. It was a declaration of Tawheed indicating disassociation from everything that contradicts it and annulling the practices of Jaahiliyyah )pre-Islamic ignorance(. All of this was confirmed in every move made during the Hajj ofAbu Bakrand the Prophet.

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Hajj & Umrah, - *The Many Virtues of Hajj -I

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There are numerousHadeeths)narrations( that talk about the virtues ofHajjand its great reward. Some of these are:
·Abu Hurayrahreported that the Prophet,, said:“From one ‘Umrah to another is an expiation for the sins committed between them, and the accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
·‘Aa’ishah, the Mother of the Believersasked the Prophet,,“O Messenger of Allaah, can we not go out on campaigns and fight in Jihaad with you?”He said:“But the best and most beautiful of Jihaad is an accepted Hajj.”‘Aa’ishahsaid,“I never stopped going for Hajj after I heard that from the Messenger of Allaah.”]Al-Bukhaari[
·‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aasreported that the Messenger of Allaah,, said:“Hajj wipes out whatever )sins( came before it.”]Muslim[
·‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oodnarrated that the Messenger of Allaah,, said:“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron, gold and silver.”]At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i[
·Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet,, said:“The one who fights for the sake of Allaah and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or ‘Umrah are all guests of Allaah. He called them and they responded; they ask of Him and He will give them.”]Ibn Maajah[
Allaah The Almighty Himself Says which means:}That they may witness )i.e., attend( benefits for themselves…{]Quran, 22: 28[ The benefits ofHajjare both worldly and religious )spiritual(. As for the latter, the one who goes forHajjearns the pleasure of his Lord and comes back with all his sins forgiven. He also earns immense reward, which he cannot earn in any other place. For instance, one prayer inAl-Masjid al-Haraam)i.e., the Sacred Mosque inMakkah(, is equal to a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere, andTawaaf)circumambulation of theKa’bah( andSa’y)pacing betweenSafaandMarwah( cannot be done anywhere else. Other benefits include meeting other Muslims and discussing their circumstances, encountering scholars and learning from them and asking them about one’s problems. Worldly benefits include trade and business, as well as other kinds of earnings related toHajj.
Some examples of the wisdom behind some of the rituals ofHajjare:
·When the pilgrim travels forHajj, he leaves his near and dear ones behind as well as his homeland, which reminds him of his final journey to Allaah The Almighty and the Hereafter.
·Whoever equips themselves with provisions sufficient to help them reach the sacred land should remind themselves that they also need enough provisions to help them reach their final destination. Allaah The Almighty Says which means:}…And take provision, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allaah…{]Quran, 2: 197[
·Travelingis tiring, and this is also true of the journey to the Hereafter – only on a much greater scale. Man goes through various stages of existence: there is the stage of his passing away, the grave, the gathering, the accounting, the scales and As-Siraat)a bridge that will be laid across Hellfire, for people to pass over on the Day of Judgment(, followed by either Paradise or Hell. The only ones who truly blessed are those whom Allaah The Almighty saves.
·When the pilgrim puts on the two garments of hisIhraam)the state of a pilgrim in which he performsHajjand‘Umrah, and during which he is prohibited from certain acts that are lawful otherwise(, he is reminded of the shroud in which he will be wrapped after he dies. This prompts him to give up disobedience and misdeeds. Just as he gives up his regular clothing )forHajj(, likewise he should give up sins. Just as he has put on two clean, white garments, he has to cleanse his heart and make it clean and pure, and guard his senses so they remain uncorrupted, uncontaminated and unsullied by sins and disobedience.
)To be continued(

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