Showing posts with label Quran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quran. Show all posts

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Quran and Science

 

Science and Islam

 

Islam is a system of life that originated from the Allah, the Creator. Allah is the One who created man, life, and the universe and subjected man to the physical laws that He imposed on the universe. The Qur'an, as revealed to Muhammad SAW, directs man to think and study the physical world in order to understand the reality and to appreciate more the greatness of the Creator.

Many verses in the Qur'an point to the physical world and explain natural phenomena, as a confirmation for humanity that this revelation came from the Creator. Some of these explanations could not be understood at the time of the revelation because mankind did not have the tools that are taken for granted in modem times, such as the microscope, X-rays and so on.  lt is only during the last hundred years that some of these explanations became understood as a result of advances in Science.

The examples in the Qur'an are many and range from the creation of the universe down to the fertilization of the egg by the sperm. It will suffice here just to quote few of these verses.

 


"Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the rain which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive there with after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He scatters therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed proofs for people of understanding." [Translation of the meaning of the Qur'an, 2: 164]

 


And

"Verily, in cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of what is inside their bodies, coming from a conjunction between the contents of the intestines and blood, a milk pure and pleasant for those who drink it. "[Translation of the meaning of the Qur'an, 16:66]

And

"Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you what so ever is in the earth, and the ships that sail through the sea by His command? He with holds the heaven from falling on the earth except by His Leave. Verily, Allah is. for mankind. full of Kindness, Most Merciful.  [Translation of the meaning of the Qur'an, 22:65]

 

And,

"Then We placed him as (a drop) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed. Then we made the sperm into a thing which clings (to the womb), then of that thing We made a (fetus) lump, then We made out of that lump, bones and clothed the bones with flesh, then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the perfect Creator. "[Translation of the meaning of the Qur 'an, 23: 13-14]

 


Although Qur'an points to the physical world to make people think, and it encourages people to discover physical laws, the Qur'an is not a book of science. Rather, it came to organize human relationships with the self, with other humans, with the Creator, and with the surroundings. Islamic law therefore deals with the proper use of scientific facts and not with their discovery. For example, Islam does not prevent people from designing a space craft or a laser gun, but it does lay down principles for their use.

Evidence that Islam does not interfere with scientific discovery can be seen from an incident that took place during the time of the Messenger of Allah , who once suggested to farmers that it might be better if they left palm date trees without cross-pollinating them as they did every year. The following year, farmers complained that the trees did not produce normal yield, so the Messenger of Allah said, "You know the affairs Of your world better." This means that this advice was not from Islamic text; rather it was a personal opinion of the Messenger of Allah (saw) as a man. Thus, people were left to their own scientific discovery and applications.




Also, there are no records in history to show that the Islamic Government, its scholars or learned people ever gave Islamic rulings on scientific matters, unlike the Church in Europe, which interfered with scientific discovery. In fact, many of the leading scientists were also Islamic scholars, and they did not see any contradiction between science and Islam. However, few scientists went beyond their subject matters and propagated incorrect ideas about Islamic belief, for which they were rebuked and corrected but not tortured or persecuted. There is, therefore, no contradiction between Islam and science.




 

Monday, July 11, 2016

The marriage of Ali and Fatimah

After the Prophet’s marriage to A’ishah, prominent companions of messenger came forward asking for the hand of his daughter, Fatimah in marriage. They had abstained from doing so while she and her sister had had the responsibility of his household.

 Abu Bakr and then Umar successively asked for Fatimah’s hand in marriage, but the messenger of ALLAH gently and graciously asked both of them to excuse him for not being able to grant their request. Umar then suggested Ali to come forward and win the honor of being the Prophet’s son-in-law.

Ali asked him, “do you think that the messenger of ALLAH will accepts ‘Ali’s’ proposal after he had refused the proposals of his two companions, Abu Bakr and Umar?”

In reply, Umar reminded him of his early acceptance of Islam, his family relationship with ALLAH’s messenger and his position in thee Prophet’s estimation. He continued to persuade Ali until he was convinced.

 Ali went to the messenger of ALLAH and bashfully sat close to him. Unable to state the purpose of his visit, he sat there for a long time without saying a word. He was reluctant to make his request, fearing that it might b rejected.

 The messenger of ALLAH looked at him gently, with a smiling face, and then asked, “what is the matter, so of Abu TAlib?”

 Ali replied in a very ylow voice and with extreme shyness, “I am asking for the hand of Fatimah, the daughter of ALLAH’s messenger, in marriage.”
The Prophet responded with a bright face saying, “welcome!”
Ali took his leave, unable to believe his ears.

 When some of those who knew of the matter asked him what had been the outcome, he told them, “I talked to the messenger of ALLAH about the messenger of ALLAH about the matter and he said, welcome!”

The following day, Ali went to the messenger of ALLAH and repeated the same request for confirmation. The messenger of ALLAH asked him, “do you have anything (to offer as the mahr)?”

Ali answered in the negative. The messenger of ALLAH asked him, “where is your khatami armoured plate that I gave you?” he replied that he still had it.
When he bought it, the messenger of ALLAH asked him to sell it so that he could use the money for Fatimah’s trousseau. Uthman bought the armor plate from him for four hundred and seventy dirham. Ali gave the money to the messenger of ALLAH.

 The messenger of ALLAH gave part of the money to bilal to buy some perfume and gave the rest to Umm Salamah to buy things that the bride might need. He look at Anas, his servant, and told him, “go and call Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Talhah, Zubayr and a number of the Ansar.”

 He then went in to inform his daughter that Ali had come forward to ask for her hand in marriage. Fatimah shyly kept silent, and that was the sign of acceptance. The messenger of ALLAH came out and found the elder companions present.

He then addressed them, saying “all praise is due to ALLAH, who is praised for His blessings, worshipped by His might and obeyed by His authority. He is the only protector against His own punishment, and the only one whose command I implemented in the heaven and in the earth. He created his creatures with his power and gave them glory through the adherence to his religion. He honored them with his messenger Muhammad (S.A.W.).” “indeed, ALLAH has made the marriage relationship the means of maintaining human progeny. He has made it an obligation and a comprehensive blessing.

He connects, through marriage, kinship, and makes joining the ties of kinship obligatory upon people, ALLAH says: ” {and it is he who has created human beings from water, and has appointed for them kindred by blood, and kindred by marriage. And you Lord is Ever All-Powerful to do what He wills. } [QUR’AN 25: 54] “AND FOR EVERY MATTER, THERE IS A Decree. ALLAH blots out what He wills and confirms what he wills. And with Him is the Mother of the Book” “indeed, ALLAH has commanded me to give Fatimah in marriage to Ali, and I take you as witnesses that I have done so based on his bridal gift of four hundred dirham, if Ali agrees to that. This is the established sunnah and an obligation.

May ALLAH join them together in peace, and make their children gateways of mercy, treasures of wisdom and sources of security for the Ummah.” “This is what I have to say, and I beseech ALLAH to forgive me and you.” The messenger of ALLAH then ordered that a try of dates be presented to the guests, and he told them to pass it around. Ali then joined them. The messenger of ALLAH smiled and told him, “Ali, ALLAH has commanded me to give Fatimah to you in marriage; and I have done so far a bridal gift of four hundred dirham.” Ali said, “I agree, messenger of ALLAH.”

 Then Ali prostrated in gratitude to ALLAH. When he raised his head, the messenger of ALLAH addressed him saying, “may ALLAH bless you bless your efforts. May he bring from you many lovely children.” The invocation was accepted, for it was the supplication of a Prophet, an invocation of the leader of the messengers. ALLAH indeed brought from them many lovely children.

 That was the marriage of Ali and Fatimah, which was witnessed by a group of eminent companions. Ali lived happily in his marriage with the daughter of greatest creature, Muhammad (S.A.W.).

Monday, July 29, 2013

My Daughters My Shield from Fire , Fire of Hell ( Jahannam..)


When I was reading Tafsir today morning, I have gone through these Ayah many times, again and again. Only one question coming to my minds, has anything changed? 
This was situation 1400 years ago, Jahiliyah.. ignorance is still there, we still kill our daughters. Tears started flowing in my eyes.
Why do we still kill our daughters?  What will we say when Allah the most exalted will ask her on the day of Judgement? 
Why she was killed?
What was her crime?




Change is Awaited?



Quran Surah 81, Takwrr Tafsir Tafhimul Quran 
وَإِذَا الْمَوْءُودَةُ سُئِلَتْ ﴿81:8﴾ 
(81:8) and when the girl-child buried alive shall be asked:

بِأَيِّ ذَنْبٍ قُتِلَتْ ﴿81:9﴾ 
(81:9) for what offence was she killed? *9
*9 The style of this verse reflects an intensity of rage and fury inconceivable in common life. The parents who buried their daughters alive, would be so contemptible in the-sight of Allah that they would not be asked: "Why did you kill the innocent infant?" But disregarding them the innocent girl will be asked: "For what crime were you slain?" And she will tell her story how cruelly she had been treated by her barbarous parents and buried alive. Besides, two vast themes have been compressed into this brief verse, which though not expressed in words, are reflected by its style and tenor. First that in it the Arabs have been made to realize what depths of moral depravity they have touched because of their ignorance in that they buried their own children alive; yet they insist that they would persist in the same ignorance and would not accept the reform that Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace) was trying to bring about in their corrupted society. Second, that an express argument has been given in it of the necessity and inevitability of the Hereafter. The case of the infant girl who was buried alive, should be decided and settled justly at some tune, and there should necessarily be a time when the cruel people who committed this heinous crime, should be called to account for it, for there was none in the world to hear the cries of complaint raised by the poor soul. This act was looked upon with approval by the depraved society; neither the parents felt any remorse for it, nor anybody in the family censured them, nor the society took any notice of it. Then, should this monstrosity remain wholly unpunished in the Kingdom of God?


 
This barbaric custom of burying the female infants alive had become widespread in ancient Arabia for different reasons. One reason was economic hardship because of which the people wanted to have fewer dependents so that they should not have to bear the burden of bringing up many children. Male offspring were brought up in the hope that they would later help in earning a living, but the female offspring were killed for the fear that they would have to be reared till they matured and then given away in marriage. Second, the widespread chaos because of which the male children were brought up in order to have more and more helpers and supporters; but daughters were killed because in tribal wars they had to be protected instead of being useful in any way for defence. Third, another aspect of the common chaos also was that when the hostile tribes raided each other and captured girls they would either keep them as slave-girls or sell them to others. For these reasons the practice that had become common in Arabia was that at childbirth a pit was kept dug out ready for use by the woman so that if a girl was born, she was immediately cast into it and buried alive. And if sometimes the mother was not inclined to act thus, or the people of the family disapproved of it, the father would rear her for some time half-heartedly, and then finding time would take her to the desert to be buried alive. This tyranny and hard-heartedness was once described by a person before the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) himself. According to a Hadith related in the first chapter of Sunan Darimi, a man came to the Holy Prophet and related this incident of his pre-lslamic days of ignorance: "I had a daughter who was much attached to me. When I called her, she would come running to me. One day I called her and took her out with me. On the way we came across a well. Holding her by the hand I pushed her into the well. Her last words that I heard were: Oh father, oh father!!" Hearing this the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) wept and tears started falling from his eyes One of those present on the occasion said: O man, you have grieved the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet said: Do not stop him, let him question about what he feels so strongly now. Then the Holy Prophet asked him to narrate his story once again. When he narrated it again the Holy Prophet wept so bitterly that his beard became we with tears. Then he said to the man: "Allah has forgiven that you did in the days of ignorance: now turn to Him in repentance.'
It is not correct to think that the people of Arabia had no feeling of the baseness of this hideous, inhuman act. Obviously, no society, however corrupted it may be, can be utterly devoid of the feeling that such tyrannical acts are evil. That is why the Holy Qur'an has not dwelt upon the vileness of this act, but has only referred to it in awe-inspiring words to the effect: "A time will come when the girl who was buried alive, will be asked for what crime she was slain?" The history of Arabia also shows that many people in the pre-Islamic days of ignorance had a feeling that the practice was vile and wicked. According to Tabarani, Sa`sa'ah bin Najiyah al-Mujashi`i, grandfather of the poet, Farazdaq, said to the Holy Prophet: "O Messenger of Allah, during the days of ignorance I have done some good works also among which one is that I saved 360 girls from being buried alive: I gave two camels each as ransom to save their lives. Shall I get any reward for this?" The Holy Prophet replied; "Yes, there is a reward for you, and it is this that Allah has blessed you with Islam."
As a matter of fact, a great blessing of the blessings of Islam is that it not only did put an end to this inhuman practice in Arabia but even wiped out the concept that the birth of a daughter was in any way a calamity, which should be endured unwillingly. On the contrary, Islam taught that bringing up daughters, giving them good education and enabling them to become good housewives, is an act of great merit and virtue. The way the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) changed the common concept of the people in respect of girls can be judged from his many sayings which have been reported in the Hadith. As for example, we reproduce some of these below:
"The person who is put to a test because of the birth of the daughters and then he treats them generously, they will become a means of rescue for him from Hell." (Bukhari, Muslim).
"The one who brought up two girls till they attained their maturity, will appear along with me on the Resurrection Day ... Saying this the Holy Prophet jointed and raised his fingers. (Muslim).
"The one who brought up three daughters, or sisters, taught then good manners and treated them with kindness until they became self-sufficient. AIlah will make Paradise obligatory for him. A man asked: what about two, O Messenger of Allah? The Holy Prophet replied: the same for two." Ibn `Abbas, the reporter of the Hadith, says: "Had the people at that time asked in respect of one daughter, the Holy Prophet would have also given the same reply about her. " (Sharh as-Sunnh).



 
"The one who has a daughter born to him and he does not bury her alive, nor keeps her in disgrace, nor prefers his son to her, Allah will admit him to Paradise." (Abu Da'ud).
"The one who has three daughters born to him, and he is patient over them, and clothes them well according to his means, they will become a means of rescue for him from Hell. " (Bukhari, Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ibn Majah).
"The Muslim who has two daughters and he looks after them well, they will lead him to Paradise." (Bukhari: Al-Adab al-Mufrad).
The Holy Prophet said to Suraqah bin Ju'sham: "Should I tell you what is the greatest charity (or said: one of the greatest charities)? He said: Kindly do tell, O Messenger of Allah. The Holy Prophet said: Your daughter who (after being divorced or widowed) returns to you and should have no other bread-winner." (Ibn Majah, Bukhari Al-Adab al-Mufrad).
This is the teaching which completely changed the viewpoint of the people about girls not only in Arabia but among all the nations of the world, which later become blessed with Islam.




Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Ask Forgiveness to Allah for Your Every Need


Ask for Forgiveness

If you want child ask forgiveness from Allah, Wealth ask Forgiveness and Rain and All  Material Gain just ask Forgiveness and Allah will bestow you everything. 

Three men came to Husain bin 'Ali RadiAllah Unho. The first complained about a paucity of rain, and Husain answered, "Increase in seeking forgiveness from Allah." The second complained of being barren and not having children. Husain said, "Increase in seeking forgiveness from Allah." The third man complained about arid conditions and a lack of fertile soil, and Husain RadiAllah Unhosaid, "Increase in seeking forgiveness from Allah." Those seated with him said, "0 son of the Messenger of Allah (i.e., grandson): each one of these three had a different complaint, yet you gave them the same answer." He asked him whether he had not read the saying of Allah the  Exalted):

Dua for Forgiveness


Dua for Forgiveness


Dua for Forgiveness

Ask forgiveness from your Lord; verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance; and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers." (Qur'dn 71:10-12)

فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا ﴿71:10﴾
(71:10) I said to them: “Ask forgiveness from your Lord; surely He is Most Forgiving.

يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا ﴿71:11﴾
(71:11) He will shower upon you torrents from heaven,

وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا ﴿71:12﴾
(71:12) and will provide you with wealth and children, and will bestow upon you gardens and rivers.

This theme has been expressed at several places in the Qur'an that the rebellious attitude against God causes man to lead a wretched life not only in the Hereafter but also in this world, Contrary to this, if a nation adopts the way of faith and piety and obedience to Divine Commands, instead of disobedience, it benefits it not only in the Hereafter but also in the world; it is favored with every kind of blessing. In Surah Ta Ha it has been said: "And whoever turns away from My Admonition, will have a wretched life in the world, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection." (v. 124). In Surah AI-Ma'idah it has been said: "Had the people of the Book observed the Torah and the Gospel and the other Books which had been sent down by their Lord, abundance of provisions would have been given to them from above and from beneath." (v. 66). In Al-A`raf: "Had the people of the settlements believed and adopted the way of piety, We would have opened on them doors of blessings from the heavens and the earth." (v. 96). In Surah Hud, the Prophet Hud addressed his people, saying: "And O my people, beg forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him in penitence, and He will open the gates of heavens for you and add more strength to your present strength." (v. 52). Through the Holy Prophet himself in this very Surah Hud, the people of Makkah have been admonished to the effect: "And you should beg forgiveness of your Lord, then return to Him, and He will provide you with good provisions of life till an appointed term." (v. 3).



Acting on this same instruction from the Qur'an, once during a famine Hadrat `Umar came out to invoke Allah for the rain and begged only forgiveness of Him. The people said: "O Commander of the Faithful, you have not prayed for the rain." He replied: "I have knocked at the doors of heaven wherefrom the rain is sent down", and then he recited these verses of Surah Nuh to them. (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir).

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Muslims Contribution to Mathamatics


Mathematics –
·         Number Zero
·         Arabic Numbers
·         Algorithms
·         Al Khawarizmi’s Work on Algebra
·         Determining roots of Quadratic Equations
·         Sine and Cosine Tables
·         Cubic Equations
·         Work of Banu Musa on Geometry
The symbols used today for numbers in the West are derived from the Arabic symbols. Algebra was made exact science by Muslims. Al Khwarizmi named his book dealing with this subject al Al Kitab al Mukhtsur fi Hisab al-Jabr wa al Muqabala ( The Book of Rstitution and Comparison) Algorithm was derived from his work. He wrote an encyclopedic work dealing with arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.
Abu Said al- Darir al Jurajani ( d 845) who was Muslim Astronomer and Mathematician , wrote on geometrical problem.
Umar ibn Ibrahim Al Khayyam was one of greatest Muslim Mathematicians and astronomer of Middle Ages. He discussed cubic equations. Another mathematician and geographer was Al Hassan ibn Ali al Murrakushi, who flourished until 1262 CE. He wrote various works on astronomy, which was put to practical use in astronomical instruments and methods. Also, Abu al Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Uthman al Azadi , a very popular Muslim writer authored 74 works that dealt with mathematics and  astronomy. 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Patience in Islamic Perspective


Patience in Islamic Perspective
This is how I understood Patience ( Sabr) in Islamic Perspective. The five stages of Journey to Akhirah called Patience ( Sabr)
1.      Iman – The Faith and Belief
2.      Entering complete into Islam, in all spheres of life, the only color the color of Allah.
3.      You will be tested like Prophet Ayub Peace upon Him, like Prophet Yusuf Peace Be Upon Him.
4.      Sabr – when you remain steadfast in these test you will rewarded with Jannah.
5.      This is Complete meaning of Patience in Islam, Patience will take you to Jannah.
When I started looking at this subject of patience in Arabic Sabr, I got many references from Book of Allah Quran and when go through it, it has explained and defined very well. Patience in Islamic perspective is steadfastness as defined in Surah Al Asr Quran 104, a short but very concise in meaning and depth. But there are many more references specially two stories of Prophet Ayub Peace be Upon Him and Prophet Yusuf Peace be upon Him, whom Allah The Exalted praised in His Book for their Patience , determination, steadfastness on path of Allah. This is patience, the steadfastness and determination to stand tall against all aggression and temptations of evil that can come in different form to different people to weaken their determination, to weaken their faith. These are testing times when Iman, faith is tested.  It will be tested when you enter into Islam fully,
In Quran Allah very ordered to the believers, to become complete believers, don’t follow the temptations of Shaitan, follow the color of Allah, the only color acceptable on the Day of Judgment.  Islam is full and complete way of life, when you follow this in day in night, in customs and tradition and every aspect of your life. Then and Then only your Iman ( Faith ) is complete and acceptable on the Day of Judgment.
Narated By 'Abdullah bin Hisham : We were with the Prophet and he was holding the hand of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab. 'Umar said to Him, "O Allah's Apostle! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self." The Prophet said, "No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self." Then 'Umar said to him, "However, now, by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self." The Prophet said, "Now, O 'Umar, (now you are a believer)."
 Reference
Bukhari Volume 008, Book 078, Hadith Number 628
 
Quran (2:208) Believers! Enter wholly into Islam and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan for he is your open enemy.
God demands that man should submit, without reservation, the whole of his being to His will. Man's outlook, intellectual pursuits, behaviour, interaction with other people and modes of endeavour should all be completely subordinate to Islam. God does not accept the splitting up of human life into separate compartments, some governed by the teachings of Islam and others exempt.
O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
Quran (2:138) Say: “Take on Allah’s colour.” And whose colour is better than Allah’s? It is Him that we serve.
This verse can be translated in two ways. One of these is: 'We have taken on Allah's colour.' The other is: 'Take on Allah's colour.' On the eve of the advent of Christianity the Jews followed the practice of bathing everyone who embraced their religion. This ritual bath signified that all his previous sins had been washed away and that he had adopted a different colour for his life. This practice was subsequently taken over by the Christians and is termed 'baptism'. Not only converts but even new-born babies were baptized. The Qur'anic remarks here refer to this institution. The Qur'an says in effect: 'Of what use is this formal baptism? What really is worth doing is to adopt the colour of God, and it is not water that gives one this colour but actual service and devotion to God.'
When become true believer, and follows path of Allah in all spheres of life then come the difficulties, when Shaitan ( Evil) in different form come close to you and try to deviate you from the path of Allah by saying, this is small thing , that is no problem. Some time your family, sometime society , customs and traditions which make you weak every day. These are all temptations of Shaitan ( Evil), don’t follow his path, Shaitan( Evil) will destroy your Hereafter.
When you started following the path of Iman you will be tested. Faith (Iman) is tested in many way,
Allah (swt) says in the Quran that which means:
  “Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).” [Quran, Al-Ankaboot (The Spider) 29:2-3]
 “Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.)?”  [Quran, Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:142]
 ·Allah (swt) also told  us that  we will be tested with good and evil, fear, hunger, lost of lives…ect
 “You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to Allah, but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious ) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters.” [Quran, Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:186]
 “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) ……”[Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:155]
This is what Allah SWT says in Quran, these tests comes from every direction, these are the temptations of life for human being when he loves something more than Allah and His Prophet in his daily life, those who remain steadfast ( patience) and never deviate from the path of Allah, Allah has promised them the Jannah, where they will live forever, what a good destination that was.
Sura # 104 - The Declining Day -al 'Asr
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful!
I swear by the declining day, that man is a certain loser, save those who have faith and do righteous deeds and counsel one another to follow   the truth and counsel one another to be steadfast.
In this Surah an oath has been sworn by the Time to impress the point that man is in sheer loss and only those people are an exception from the loss who are characterized by four qualities:
(1) Faith.
(2) Righteous deeds.
(3) Exhorting one another to truth.
(4) Exhorting one another to patience.
Let us consider each of these parts separately in order to fully understand the meanings.
This short surah of three verses outlines a complete system for human life based on the Islamic viewpoint. It defines, in the clearest and most   concise form, the basic concept of faith in the context of its comprehensive reality. In a few words the whole Islamic constitution is   covered and in fact, the nation of Islam is described in its essential qualities and its message in one verse only: the third. This is the   eloquence of which Allah alone is capable.
Faith is the great root of life from which goodness springs in its various   forms and to which all its fruits are bound. What does not spring from   faith is a branch cut from a tree: it is bound to fade and perish; it is   indeed a devilish production, limited and impermanent! Faith is the axis   to which all the fine fabric of life's network is connected. Without it   life is a loose event, wasted through the pursuit of yearnings and fantasies. It is the ideology which collects diversified deeds under a consonant system, following the same route and geared to the same mechanism, possessing a definite motive and a predetermined goal.
Counseling one another to follow the truth and to steadfastness reveals a picture of Islamic society which has its own very special entity, a   unique inter-relationship between its individual members and a single   destination and which fully understands its entity as well as its duties.   It realizes the essence of its faith and what it has to do of good deeds   which include, among other tasks, the leadership of humanity along its own path. To execute this tremendous duty, counseling and exhortation becomes a necessity.
Counsel and exhortation to be steadfast are also a necessity because the   sustenance of faith and good deeds and catering for right and equity are   the hardest tasks ever to carry out. This makes endurance utterly   indispensable. Endurance is also necessary when adapting oneself to the   Islamic way of life, when confronting others, when afflicted with maltreatment and hardship. Steadfastness is necessary when evil and   falsehood triumph. It is necessary for traversing the length of the   route, putting up with the slowness of the process of reform, the   obscurity of road-posts and the lengthy road leading to the destination.
Imam Razi has cited a scholar as saying: I understood the meaning of Surah Al- Asr from an ice-seller, who was calling aloud for the attention of the people repeatedly in the bazar: Have mercy on the one whose wealth is melting away! Hearing what he was crying I said to myself: this then is the meaning of Walasri innal-insana lafi khusrin. The age-limit that man has been allotted is passing quickly like the melting away of ice. If it is wasted, or spent in wrong pursuits, it will be sheer loss to man. Thus, swearing an oath by the Time what has been said in this Surah, means that the fast passing Time is witness that devoid of these four qualities in whatever occupation and work man is spending his limited span of life, he is engaged in bad bargains. Only such people are engaged in good bargains, who work in the world, characterized by the four qualities.
Now, let us consider the four qualities on the existence of which depends man’s being secure from loss and failure.
Of these the first quality is Iman (Faith). Although this word at some places in the Quran has been used in the meaning of only verbal affirmation of Faith
In fact, true believers are those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, then entertained no doubt. (Surah Al- Hujurat, Ayat 15).
Those who said: Allah is our Lord, and then stood steadfast by it. (Surah HaMim As-Sajdah, Ayat 30).
True believers are those whose hearts tremble with awe, whenever Allah is mentioned to them. (Surah Al-Anfaal, Ayat 2).
Nay, (O Prophet), by your Lord, they can never become believers until they accept you as judge for the decision of the disputes between them, and then surrender to your decision with entire submission without the least resentment in their hearts. (Surah An-Nisa, Ayat 65).
Besides exhorting to the truth, the other thing which has been declared as a necessary condition for keeping the believers and their society secure from loss is that the members of the society should enjoin patience upon one another. That is, they should enjoin upon one another to bear with fortitude and steadfastness the difficulties, hardships, trials, losses and deprivations which befall the one who adheres to the truth and supports it. Each one of them should encourage the other to bear up against adversity steadfastly.
This is story of Prophet Ayub Peace Be Upon Him, when he tested with loss of wealth, children and health, he lost everything still praised Allah in Allah conditions.
Iblis reminded wife of Ayub Alaihisallam  her of the days when Ayub had good health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of yeas of hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Ayub:
"How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon Allah to remove this suffering?"
Ayub sighed, and in a soft voice replied:
"Iblis must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long did I enjoy good health and riches?"
She replied, "For eighty years"
Then Ayub asked, "How long am I suffering like this?"
She said, "for seven years"
Prophet Ayoub Peace Be Upon Him Prayed to Allah;
"Verily, dsitress has seized me, and You and the Most Merciful of all those who show Mercy. So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them - as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who whorship Us" Quran 21:83-84               
"Truly! We found him patient. How excellent (a) slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in repentance (to us)." [Quran:38:4]. , 
During these times we must remember Allah more, pray harder, and be more thankful instead of being dissatisfied with our condition. We should praise and thank Allah for every condition that he tests us with. As we know these are the times when Satan tries to work on us the most by playing with our minds, emotions, and weaknesses. Allah would never forget to reward a servant for such a great task.

May Allah give us the faith and the patience when we are tested. Ameen.
This is story of Prophet Yusuf Peace Be Upon Him, how he remain steadfast, patient when Shaitan tempted him with evil act.
" And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him (to do an evil act), she closed the doors and said: "Come on, O you." He said: "I seek refuge in Allâh (or Allâh forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! (So I will never betray him). Verily, the Zâlimûn (wrong and evil-doers) will never be successful."
And in the next ayah 12:24 ;
" And indeed she did desire him and he would have inclined to her desire, had he not seen the evidence of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our chosen, guided slaves. "
Prophet Yusuf was certainly possess the righteous conduct by Allah S.W.T's will, thereby, he remain innocence. He had been able to defeat his nafs (sexual desire) just because of the fear of Allah S.W.T. Today in this modern era, Muslim youth are exposed with evil culture, particularly the western secularism culture which apparently could challenge our nafs.  Muslim Youth in this material world are in the critical stage where they are easily influenced by vices that propagated by the west. Can we steadfastly be able to adhere our Islamic Value by enjoining good and forbiding evil ?  Allah says in Al-Quran that we (Muslims) are the best Ummah (Khairul Ummah) and the purpose is to invite toward good and forbid evil as in surah Ali Imran : 104 ;
" Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain
felicity."
The story of Prophet Yusuf is the best example for us to follow, on how the fear of Allah S.W.T has able to overcome carnal desire and destroyed evil. For those who strive for the path of Allah s.w.t, definitely He will shows the right ways, as in Surah Ankabut : 69 , Allah s.w.t says ;
"And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily God is with those who do right."
Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward.
This is story of Sad bin Abi Waqas , 'Umar Farooq  was very impressed by the strength of his faith and the firm and truthfulness. He could never forget that incident which depicted the degree of his devotion to Islam. He had accepted Islam as a young boy; this disturbed and saddened his mother very deeply because he had given up the faith of his fathers and forefathers. She tried in many ways to bring h m back into the fold of Kuffir. When nothing worked she used the last resort of mothers to emotionally blackmail her obedient and loving son. This is something, which makes their determination falter and their resolutions fail. She went on a hunger strike and declared she would not eat until her son came back to the religion of his forefathers. She vowed that rather die than see her son become a Muslim.
Sa'd bin Abi Waqas was unnerved when he saw her stubbornness, but pure faith had taken strong roots in h s heart, so his strong feet, firmly planted in Islam, did not totter. His mother was close to death by starvation and thirst. Displaying strong determination and courage he said to her:
"Dear mother if you had a hundred lives within your body, and each one of those hundred lives were to leave your body in front of my eyes, even then I would not recant and give up my faith, in Islam. It is your wish whether you want to eat or not; as for myself, I will not leave my Prophet g." Seeing that it was of no use and her son was stubborn as a rock, she finished her hunger strike. This resolution and determination of Sa'd bin Abi Waqgs  RadiAllah unho has been made immortal:
Yusuf Ali
"But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to me (in love): in the end the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did." (31:15)
From the Seerah of the Prophet (s):
‘Ata ibn Rabah related that he heard Ibn ‘Abbas say: “Shall I show you a woman of Paradise?”I said: “Yes, indeed.” He said: “A black woman came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said: ‘I suffer from epileptic fits, and because of these, (at times) my body becomes uncovered. Would you invoke Allah, the Exalted One, to cure me of this disease? ‘ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘If you wish, you can be patient and you will attain Paradise (for this suffering). But if you prefer, I will pray to Allah, the Exalted, to cure you of it?’ The woman said: ‘I will be patient,’ then added: ‘I become uncovered (when I have fits), so invoke Allah for me that I do not become uncovered. ‘ So the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed for her.” [Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1a]
Story of  ‘Urwah Ibn Al Zubair
‘Urwah Ibn Al Zubair had an operation, and the doctor amputated his leg.  One friend came to visit him. ‘Urwah thought that the fried came to pacify him for the loss of his leg. So ‘Urwah told the visitor: If you came to give me condolence for the loss of my leg, I already submitted to Allah with patience to reward me for its loss.  The guest told him, I came to inform you that your son fell down in a stable, and the animals stepped over him, and he died one hour ago. ‘Urwah said: O Allah! You took one child, and left me many…You took one organ from my body, and left me many organs…O Allah! You tested me with my body, and you were kind to leave me with good health.  You tested me with the loss of my son, but you were kind in leaving me the rest of my children.

During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Qur'an. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with "patient perseverance and prayer." Indeed, Allah reminds us that many people before us have suffered and had their faith tested; so too will we be tried and tested in this life.
"Seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble." (2:45)
"And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish." (11:115)
They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.” Surah Barkrah
This is how I understood Patience ( Sabr) in Islamic Perspective.
        I.            Iman – The Faith and Belief
      II.            Entering complete into Islam, in all spheres of life, the only color the color of Allah.
    III.            You will be tested like Prophet Ayub Peace upon Him, like Prophet Yusuf Peace Be Upon Him.
    IV.            Sabr – when you remain steadfast in these test you will rewarded with Jannah.
      V.            This is Complete meaning of Patience in Islam, Patience will take you to Jannah.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Jerusalem was Liberated - Waiting for Salahuddin

The Great Warrior and Ruler - Sultan Salahuddin Ayoubi 



History tells us that when Sultan Salahuddin recaptured Jerusalem from the invading and ruthless Crusaders. Who had ninety years earlier massacred and savagely treated its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, he met a group of Latin Christian women who addressed him, "0 Sultan! You see that we are leaving. Among us are mothers, wives, daughters or sisters to the soldiers in captivity with you. These men are our support in life; and if we lose them we will lose everything. But if you leave them for our sake, you will be giving us back our lives." At this Salahuddin smiled and gave orders that the sons and husbands of those women be set free. He went even further and gave money to the women whose supporters were killed in the battle. An irate French girl came up to the Sultan and said, "You murderer, you have killed my father and captured both of my brothers. So there remains no one to support me!" Salahuddin calmly ordered that her brothers be set free, and then addressed her: "your father was killed in a war which he started himself, and in which many innocent people were killed." The French girl looked down, full of shame and regret for her insolence with such an honorable man and, with tears in her eyes, she said, "Forgive me, Sir! It was the bitterness of grief and the descriptions and bad impressions given to us about your people and their cruelty in our country (that caused my insolence). But now I see the reality: that you are honorable and I have not despaired of your forgiveness. May God curse the liars in our homelands who deceived us and depicted you as savage assassins who had desecrated our holy places? They exploited our emotions (and sent us here). But when we came to know you well we could not see the truth in any of their claims."
Salahuddin used to say, "It is better for one to err in forgiveness than to be right in punishment." However, we should not forget that this was only one of many special qualities that adorned his character.
Salahuddin was born of Kurdish parents in Takreet (in Iraq) in 1137 G., came at a time when the Islamic world was at its worst state, politically and even morally. In the Fertile Crescent (Today’s Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Iraq) the ruler of almost every small town had an independent state of his own and tried to expand his authority through fighting with the other neighboring city states. Besides, almost all the major coastal towns on the East Mediterranean were captured and ruled by the Crusader invaders. Jerusalem (the claimed target of the Crusaders) was, of course, already under ruthless foreign domination. In brief, the picture was very bleak indeed.
Salahuddin was a man of unflinching faith. He knew that through the application of Islamic teachings and its principles, miracles could be made. Had not the early Muslims gone out of the desert and defeated the two greatest Empires on earth of their time? What were the arms with which they faced fighters who were much superior in number, training and equipment? It was certainly their firm faith in Allah, devotion to justice and unity. These three things were then the goals which Salahuddin tried to achieve in order to liberate Muslim lands from the Crusaders.
To Salahuddin Jihad started from inside. He had to watch himself and his aids and soldiers to make sure that they behaved in compliance with Divine commandments in all spheres of life, spiritual, moral and material. It is reported that prayers and devotion to Allah were the constant companions of Salahuddin. Once an adviser of his suggested, "Why do you not save the money you give in charity to the poor and religious teachers, and spend it in your war efforts?" He answered that he could not do that, because the prayers of poor men were a sure source of his strength in his wars.
Ibn Shaddad (an intimate companion of Salahuddin) reports, "In faith and practice the Sultan was a devout Muslim, ever conforming to the tenets at Islam. He was regular in the performance of religious observances, assiduous in offering the ritual prayers, founded on the practice of the Prophet; he also performed the voluntary prayers during the night." Salahuddin’s attitude to material luxury and gains is revealed in the fact that when he died he left nothing except one dinar and 47 dirhams. Nothing else did he leave by way of houses, goods, gardens or any other type of property. He did not leave even as much as that could suffice to defray his burial expenses. As for the acute sense of justice of Salahuddin, it is enough to mention that he did not object to go with one of his subjects to the Qadi (the judge). When he won the case he forgave the man and even gave him what he had claimed.
"0 believers! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and Let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice, Be just: that is nearer to piety and fear of Allah. Verily, Allah is well acquainted with what you do," (Al-Our'an: 5:8)
His greatness was due to two main qualities namely,
(1) His inborn leadership qualities, and
(2) Meticulous application of the Islamic teachings in all aspects of his life: spiritual and material, individual and social, at war and in peace.
The liberation of Jerusalem from the hands of the ruthless Crusaders was only one of the great achievements of Salahuddin.  At the age of seven, Salahuddin moved with his father Najmuddin to Damascus, where he closely witnessed the heroic deeds of his relative Nouruddin, the ruler of Damascus and some other parts of Syria, who was at constant war with the invading Crusaders. So, besides the civil education Salahuddin received (especially in religious learning), he had the opportunity of training in the arts of war and military maneuvers as well.
Later, when Salahuddin Uncle Asaduddin Shirkoh was sent to Egypt,  Salahuddin was ordered to accompany him, which he did. However, this trip proved to be the most critical in Salahuddin’ s life, For not only did he learn so much from his second teacher , his great uncle Asaduddin in the tactics of war, but he also succeeded him later to the position of minister to the Fatimide Caliph in 564 A.H. (1169 C.E).
At the age of 32 he was given the title "The Supporting King". This appointment seemed to have changed Salahuddin’ s temperament and attitude to life in a manner reminiscent of another earner hero of Islam, 'Urnar ibn 'Abdul-Aziz. For to both, authority was a responsibility rather than an honor, and they felt that they had to shun the life of ease and comfort in order to carry out the responsibility placed upon their shoulders. Salahuddin started by rectifying the corrupt conditions in Egypt. His first target was to clean the government from corrupt elements and the heads of treachery, some of whom he caught red-handed. The second major step was to abolish the whole ailing Fatimide Dynasty, sending parts of the unjustly earned and heaped property of the Dynasty to the Abbaside caliph in Baghdad and to his commanders-in-chief in Damascus to be used in his war efforts. The rest of the properties of the Dynasty Salahuddin sold, and he deposited the money in the public treasury.
As an honest and sincere leader, Salahuddin stayed in his old residence and refused to move to the luxurious palaces of the Caliphate, until he built the castle at AI-Mugattam mount in Cairo. Then he launched a long campaign in an attempt to unify the Muslim world; thus, bringing into the fold a great part of North Africa {Libya and Tunis}, the West of Arabia (where the Sacred Cities of Makkah and Madinah are situated}, down to Yemen. Upon the death of Nouruddin , Salahuddin became the undisputable master and Sultan of Egypt, Yemen and the Syrian region, which were subjugated by Salahuddin after some battles in which some rulers of the area allied themselves with the invading forces. Despite the fact that Salahuddin had by then a very strong army, we believe that he had something far greater on his side in those battles; that is, his charitable nature, for that won him the hearts of the residents of the fortified towns even before he entered them. We find an illustration of this charitable and chivalrous nature of Salahuddin in the following incident. While Salahuddin was besieging Haab {Aleppo} and attacking it, the young daughter of his former leader Nooruddin Mahmood came out of the city to meet him. He gave her a very warm welcome. Then he asked her about her request. She told him that the people wanted 'l'zaz' (honourable departure). He complied with her request and even accompanied her and her soldiers to the gates of the city. Then he set free all the soldiers captured in that battle, soldiers whose hearts Salahuddin had already won, due to his kindness and charitable nature. As pointed out earlier, Salahuddin was in his kindness and charity only applying the teachings of Islam, which instructs its followers to demonstrate justice even with the most detested enemies.
Salahuddin returned to Egypt after unifying the newly founded state under his command. He sent his soldiers to their families and directed his attention to civil projects, such as building hospitals, schools, bridges and public parks. He also ordered the fortification of Cairo.
All these and similar incidents increased Salahuddin's conviction of the necessity of a major offensive. The battlefield was Hitteen at which Salahuddln met with a huge army of the Crusaders for which the conflicting Crusader rulers came into form with each other. The battle was very fierce but Salahuddin finally won the day, and the invaders were beaten. Thus, the way to Jerusalem was half paved for Salahuddin who captured (or rather liberated) it after ninety years of occupation. This was in Rajab 583 A.H. (July 1187); thus, opening the doors of the Masjid AI-Aqsa the most sacred mosque in Jerusalam, or (Bait-ul-Maqdis which is regarded as the third Sacred Mosque in Islam) again for the pious followers of Islam.