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madeenahsh
09-19-2006, 01:31 PM
Bismillaahir- Rahmaanir- Raheem



And the Reminder Benefits the Believer

By Zakariya Aboo Uthmaan

24th Sha’baan 1427 A.H

(Corresponding to Sunday 17th September 2006 C.E)


InnAl-Hamdu lillaahi Rabbil-'Aalameen as-Salaatu was-Sallam ar-Rasoulullah ar-kareem.



Death, a subject that the majority of us turn away from, neglect, try to forget and turn a deaf ear to. However, death is a reality that each and every one of us will face, it is a guest that does not knock at the door and wait to enter, and it does not wait for an invitation before it decides to visit us, it can come at any time, unannounced and without warning. The majority of us try to enjoy our lives away from the subject and thought of death; we try to get on with our lives by enjoying the life of this world and by indulging in its vanities, such people have not been granted success in this life or in the Hereafter. This is because the intelligent one is not he whose heart has been imprisoned by the life of this world; rather, the intelligent one is as Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said (which means): “Those who remember death the most and those who are best prepared for what comes after it. These are the intelligent ones.” (Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah of al-Albaanee, Hasan)



So just what have we prepared for that which comes after death? Have we worked deeds of righteousness in this life or have we worked deeds of sin and transgression? Do we look at our smallest of sins and feel it is as if a mountain is about to fall on us or do we look at our major sins and treat them like a fly at the end of our nose and merely wave them away with our hands? We have been deceived by the life of the world and all of its vanities and attractions and we have forgotten about what comes after it. The life of this world is to us one big attraction, maybe this is why Imaam al-Hasan al-Basree said: “So beware of this land (the life of this world) that is falling down and is misleading and deceiving, being decorated by its deceit and having eluded (others) by its delusion, and having killed its people with its hopes. It looks forward with anticipation towards the one who proposes to it for marriage. Hence it becomes like the unveiled bride - all the eyes are looking towards it, and the souls are in love with it, and the hearts are captivated by it.” (Related by Abu Nu’aym in Al Hilyah, 2/135-136)



The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has told us to think about death often and to prepare for that which comes after it, he also called death the destroyer of desires. Imaam al-Qurtubi said commenting on this admonition from the Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “Our scholars, may Allaah have mercy upon them, said that this statement from the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is short but inclusive of a great reminder, because remembering death and mentioning it frequently is likely to destroy and pleasure one might feel and prevent him from wishing for any other enjoyment in the future, making him indifferent to pleasures which he previously craved. But since people’s hearts have become heedless, we now require longer admonitions with more decorated words; otherwise the words of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) (which means): ‘Profusely mention the destroyer of pleasures (i.e. death)’, and the saying of Allaah (which means): ‘Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise , he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).’ (Aal-‘Imraan 3:185) is enough for those who listen and reflect.”



It seems as though we have forgotten our purpose here in this world and the reason why Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) created us, He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



And I (Allaah) created not the jinn’s and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” (Adh-Dhariyaat 51:56)

But what is worship?



Shaykh-ul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) said: “Worship is obedience to Allaah by following that which He ordered upon the tongues of His Messengers.” And: “Worship is a comprehensive term covering everything that Allaah loves and is pleased with - whether sayings, or actions, outward and inward.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa, 10/149)

Imaam ibn Kathir (d.774H) said: “And worship is obedience to Allaah by acting upon what He commands, and abandoning what He forbids; and this is the reality and essence of Islam And the meaning of Islam is: istislaam (submission and surrender) to Allaah - the Most High - along with the utmost compliance, humility, and submissiveness to Him.” (Tafsir-ul-Qur’aanil-‘Adtheem, 7/402)



Shaykh ‘Adnan ‘Abdul-Qaadir said: “Is the meaning of worship to establish the prayer only or to give Zakaah or to make Hajj to the house of Allaah or to make wudoo’ or to fast? Are these things only worship? Or are these things mere signs of worship?



The truth is that worship, as it was explained by Shaykh-ul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah, is an _expression of love for Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and it also expresses complete humility to Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). For worship does not mean prayer only, prayer is merely a sign of worship but worship is indeed love for Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala).



Many people claim that they love Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and they say: ‘I prayed and I fasted and I made the Hajj and I gave Zakaah. After all of this, what does Allaah want from me because I have done all these forms of worship? I have worshipped Allaah.’



Has this person really worshipped Allaah? Does Allaah need our prayer, our fast, our Zakaah and our Hajj? Allaah is High above all these things!



Can anyone take away from the Majesty of Allaah? No one can decrease from the Majesty of Allaah. He is Great and Supreme. Allaah does not need our worship, He does not need our love, He does not need our Salaah, He does not need our fast. Allaah is the Owner of all majesty and supremacy and He is independent and above all needs.



He does not need our worship. We NEED the worship of Allaah. We need Salaah. We need Zakaah. And we need to fast. We need to perform good deeds to the creation (i.e. be good to others). We are poor and Allaah is rich. We are weak and Allaah is strong. We are the degraded, the low and Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) is the High. So we NEED the love of Allaah.” (Taken from a taped lecture entitled: The Love of Allaah)



So worship is love for Allaah, and performing all the outward actions are but mere signs of worship.



Shaykh ‘Adnan ‘Abdul-Qaadir continued by saying: “How many of us recite Al-Faatihah, the opening prayer of the Qur'aan, in the right manner? How many of us, when we prostrate to Allaah, feel in our hearts, humility? We enter Salaah, when the Imaam says: ‘Allaahu Akbar’, God is the Greatest and we remember, at that moment, all the affairs of the world. We remember, at this moment, all the affairs of the world. We remember, we remember, only at this moment, the affairs of the world and we forget Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). We remember our food when we go to prayer and we remember our friends when we go to Salaah and we remember our needs when we go to prayer and we don't know what the Imaam is saying, what he is reading and we don't feel anything from the prayer except for when the Imaam says: ‘Salaamu ‘alaikum, salaamu ‘alaikum’. Are we really loving Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala)?



When we are reading Al-Faatihah, do we really understand the meaning or what we say or are we merely repeating words that we have memorised? We will never be pleased if people relate to us in this way, so how can we be happy if we

relate to Allaah in this manner? Our hearts have become hard and they have

become like stones! Even harder than stones!” (Taken from a taped lecture entitled: The Love of Allaah)



We have forgot about Allaah and we have proven treacherous to our covenant of “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah.” At this point it is important to mention the fact that one may say that he loves Allaah, yet we do not find in this person anything except empty words and claims, for if such a person was true in their claim and they truly loved Allaah then would take heed of the ayah in which Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islaamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’.” (Aal-‘Imraan 3:31)

So love for Allaah demands that we follow the Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), that is to accept Tawheed and to follow the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. If we are not doing so then how can we claim love for Allaah? Allaah has told us what true love for Him necessitates, but instead of submitting to Allaah, following His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), we have instead taken our desires and the material life of this world as our “gods” and we have submitted to them instead of Allaah. He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



Have you seen him who has taken as his illah (god) his own desire?” (Al-Furqaan 25:43)


Whatever a person admires and sees as good in his own desires becomes his religion and his way even if that which he sees as good is in reality bad and in contradiction to the Sharee’ah of Islam. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



Is he, then, to whom the evil of his deeds made fair* seeming, so that he considers it as good (equal to one who is rightly guided)?.” (Faatir 35:8)


‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (radee Allaahu ‘anhum) said: “During the Jahiliyyah (Days of Ignorance), a man would worship a white rock for a while, then if he saw another that looked better, he would worship that and leave the first.”



Today, worship of that white rock has been replaced with worship of the material world and its vanities, such that people (as Allaah says): “Desire nothing except the life of this world.” (An-Najm 53:29) They prefer this life and strive hard in it making it their aim and goal. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has described such people, those who take their desires as their “god” and follow not that which Allaah has sent down as being worse than animals. He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path. (i.e. even worse than cattle).” (Al-Furqaan 35:44)

We were created by Allaah to worship Him and obedience to Allaah and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is worship of Him, yet how many of us obey Allaah and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)? It is sad to see that as a Muslim Ummah we are quick to disobey Allaah, we race one another in disobedience to Him. However, if our boss at work wants us to complete a task for him within a certain timeframe we would work hard on it until we had completed it, we would not think to disobey him.



Has anyone of us ever been too busy with work that we could not attend the call of nature? I can safely assume that the answer is a categorical NO! Then how is it that days and days pass by in which we are unable to offer the Salaah within its stated fixed time, moreover, days and days pass by in which we do not offer the Salaah at all? Were we not created to worship Allaah? Did Allaah not enjoin upon us five compulsory prayers every day? Is the performance of the Salaah not worship? Is performing what Allaah has command us with not obedience to Him? The prayer is the greatest pillar in the religion after the Shahaadah and it is the greatest act of worship by which we can gain nearness to Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala).



Shaykh Abu Haatim Usaamah al-Qoosee said: “So it (the prayer) is the core and the foundation of the religion; and it is one of the attributes of the believers. And it is a great branch from the branches of Eemaan (faith / belief). The abandonment of prayer is Kufr (disbelief). Rather it is from the greatest branches of disbelief. Abandoning the prayer is one of the attributes of the disbelievers, as the Lord of the worlds says in His Mighty Book (the Qur’aan) (which means):



“(The people of Paradise will ask the people of Hell): ‘What caused you to enter the Hellfire?’ They will say: ‘We were not among those who used to pray. Nor would we feed the needy person. And we would engage in vain speech with the gossipers. And we would deny the Day of Judgement - until the certainty (i.e. death) came to us.’ So the intercession of the intercessors will be of no use to them. So what is wrong with them that they turn away from the Reminder (this Qur'aan)? As if they were frightened wild donkeys - that flee from predators. Rather, every person amongst them (disbelievers) wishes to be given pages spread out (with revelation from Allaah confirming the truth). Nay, but they do not fear the Hereafter.” (Al-Mudaththir 74:42-53)



So He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) mentioned the people who will be in the Hellfire. The first thing that they stated as a reason for their entering the Hellfire - may Allaah protect us from its heat and its boiling water - was that they did not used to pray. They said: “We were not among those who used to pray.” So not praying is one of the attributes of the disbelievers and a big branch from the branches of disbelief.” (Taken from a taped lecture entitled: Neglecting the Prayer)



Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



So woe unto those performers of Salaat (prayers) (hypocrites) , who delay their Salaat (prayer) from their stated fixed times.” (Al-Maa’oon 107:4-5)

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (radee Allaahu ‘anhum) said that these ayat mean the hypocrites, those who pray in public when others are watching but do not pray in private when they are alone. It also means those who do pray yet are mindless of it, either by not concentrating in it and fulfilling its conditions and requirements such as humility or by not praying it in its stated fixed time.



There is much that can be said about the prayer, but now is not the time or place for that; rather, I just wanted to give an example of how we constantly disobey Allaah in that which He has obligated upon us and to highlight the severity of disobedience to Him. So this is just one example of disobedience to Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), but we disobey Allaah and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) every single day in many different ways, be it by not performing what He and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) have commanded us with or be it by not abandoning what He and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) have prohibited us from. We use the senses that Allaah has blessed us with in disobedience to Him, whether that is with our eyes by looking at the haraam, our ears by listening to the haraam or our mouth by speaking the haraam. We take Allaah’s religion as a joke and even mock Allaah, His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or aspects of the religion of Islam. Allaah made us Muslims, but where is our gratitude and thankfulness to Him? Where is our Tawheed? Where is our Salaah? Where were we for Salaatul Jumu’ah? Where is our outwardly Muslim appearance?



Shaykh Abu Haatim Usaamah al-Qoosee said in a lecture he gave for our sisters specifically and our brothers generally: “If we turn our attention to ‘Allaah said and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said’ we find that many Muslim women (and Muslims in general) are not always convinced, but when a disbelieving doctor says such and such we see the Muslim convinced. So when the disbelieving doctor says that breast feeding is better for a child because it helps to protect them from diseases and it strengthens their immune system then the Muslim accepts it, but when Allaah says so in the Qur'aan we find many Muslims not really believing it.” (Taken from a taped lecture entitled: The Obligations of the Muslim Woman in the West)



What the Shaykh said is all too true and it does not just apply to the issue of breast feeding; rather, it is with great regret to see that this principle is extended by many Muslims to every part of Islam. They do not want to believe that what Allaah has enjoined upon us and has prohibited us from is what is best for us, and when they hear “Allaah said and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said” they, instead of submitting to it start to question it, have they not heard the saying of Allaah (which means):



The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say: ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’, and they say: ‘We hear, and we obey’ (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).” (Al-Baqarah 2:285)

So the believers are those who believe in Allaah and the other articles of Eemaan and who “Hear and Obey.” In the Tafsir of Imaam ibn Kathir he states that: “We hear and obey…” means: “We heard Your statement, O our Lord, comprehended and implemented it, and adhered to its implications.” Let us not be like the Jews who when they heard they said: “We hear your word and disobey.” (An-Nisa 4:46)



Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allaah’s reminder (this Qur’aan)...” (Al-Hadeed 57:16)


My beloved brothers and sisters, has the time not come for us to be affected by Allaah’s reminder and to feel humility in our hearts by remembering Allaah much and abiding by His commands! Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



But whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’aan nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Taa Haa 20:124)

Whoever turns away from the reminder by opposing Allaah’s commands and that which He has revealed to His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) by not acting on them has neglected it (the reminder) and has chosen to take guidance from other than it, such people will be raised up blind on the Day of Resurrection and they will say (which means):



“O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before).” (Taa Haa 20:125) Meaning, they had sight in the life before, the worldly life.



Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) will say to them (which means):



Like this, Our ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allaah's Mercy).” (Taa Haa 20:126)

This life will be a life of hardship for the one who turns away from Allaah’s reminder by not acting on it and implementing it. Even if such a person outwardly appears to be in comfort, wears what he wants, eats what he wants and lives where he wants he will not be happy and he will have no tranquillity, his heart will not have certainty and guidance and he will be in a state of confusion and doubt. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



Therefore remind (men) in case the reminder profits (them). The reminder will be received by him who fears (Allaah), But it will be avoided by the wretched, Who will enter the great Fire and made to taste its burning, Wherein he will neither die (to be in rest) nor live (a good living). Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islaamic Monotheism) shall achieve success, And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord (worships none but Allaah), and prays (five compulsory prayers and Nawaafil additional prayers). Nay, you prefer the life of this world; Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (Al-‘Alaa 87:9-17)


The reminder will only profit those or be of benefit to the one whose heart fears Allaah and knows that he is going to meet Him (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), only such people will receive an admonition from what is conveyed. And whosoever purifies himself from ugly characteristics and follows that which Allaah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), establishes the prayer (in its appointed fixed time) and obeys Allaah in that which He has commanded by implementing that which He has enjoined upon us will attain success in the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise).



However, if we are of those who prefer this worldly life and give it precedence over the Hereafter by not obeying Allaah and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), implementing their commands or refraining from their prohibitions and prefer it (this world) because of what it contains of benefit, income and profitable gain we will be amongst the losers in the Hereafter. This life is but a blinking of an eye, whereas the Hereafter is eternal, so how can an intelligent man trade this life for the Hereafter.



The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said (which means):



“Whoever loves his worldly life, will suffer in his Hereafter, and whoever loves his worldly life, will suffer in his Hereafter, and whoever loves his Hereafter, will suffer in his worldly life.” He (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said: “Therefore, chose that which is everlasting over that which is temporal.” (Ahmad) Meaning, choose the Hereafter over the life of this world!



Dear brothers and sisters, Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says (which means):



“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise , he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” (Aal-‘Imraan, 3:185)


Abu Saifillah ‘Abdul-Qaadir said: “After this day (i.e. death), my brothers and sisters, our deeds will come to an end - we can only then look forward to our reckoning. So the question we must ask ourselves before it is too late is:



‘What have we prepared for our Hour?’



Is it Eemaan, a good deed, or disbelief and corruption we have sent forth?



The beauties of this life that we have attained - may it be a large house, the latest cars, a high position in our careers or wealth - we find that we give too much of our precious time, effort and thought to attaining these worldly goals.



These worldly endeavours which end at the grave, we strive so hard for with the abilities that Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has blessed us with. We use these blessings from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) for doing other than what we were created for and to disobey him. We strive for the dunya and we do not put as much effort into doing righteous deeds for our next life, which will be our only “currency” with our Lord. It is as if we have forgotten the report by our mother, ‘Aa’ishah (radee Allaahu ‘anhaa) that Allaah’s Messenger (sall-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:



‘The two rak’ah at dawn are better than this world and what it contains.’ (Saheeh Muslim)



How much of our time and effort do we give to doing what Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) loves and is pleased with and not doing what He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) hates or is displeased with? How much time do we spend reading the Qur’aan and ahaadeeth?” (Taken from an article entitled: One Last Hour)



And know, ‘O’ Muslims, Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says:



“…the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are al-Muttaqoon (the pious). Will you not then understand?” (6:32)

My dear brothers and sisters, I love you all for the sake of Allaah, and I close with an advice to myself and to you all and it is the saying of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), He says:



O you who believe! Fear Allaah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Al-Hashr 59:18)


My dear brothers and sisters



“Will you not then understand?”



Wallaahu ta'aala 'aalam!

Subahanaka Allaahuma wa bihamdika ashadu a laa illa illah anta astagfirouka wa at-tabu ilaik.



Bibliography:



Death & the Journey after it by Mu’tasim al-Hameedee

Death is Enough as an Admonition by The Educational Department of Daar al-Watan

Tafsir ibn Kathir

The Love of Allaah by Shaykh ‘Adnan ‘Abdul-Qaadir

Neglecting the Prayer by Shaykh Abu Haatim Usaamah al-Qoosee

The Obligations of the Muslim Woman in the West by Shaykh Abu Haatim Usaamah al-Qoosee

One Last Hour by Abu Saifillah ‘Abdul-Qaadir
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