By Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Summary, Conclusions And Recommendations
Allâh I wants us to acquire knowledge and wisdom so we may know Him as the Only God, Who Alone We worship and Who deserves all Praise. He Alone commands mankind to know that there is no god but He. Allâh I our Creator makes it very clear in the Qur’ân that the very purpose why He has created us is to worship Him throughout our lives. It is for our ultimate success that we must worship Him alone. The performance of prayers is the concrete proof of our submission to Allâh the Almighty. It fulfills our very purpose of creation and enables us to be successful and be among the dwellers of Paradise forever. It is for the guidance of the non-Muslims that they should believe in the absolute Oneness of Allâh I. Otherwise, Allâh I will never guide them to the Right Path, which is Islâm that will lead to eternal happiness in Paradise. All their good deeds will be in vain if they continue associating partners with Allâh I and join others in worship with Him.
Aside from firm belief in the absolute oneness of Allâh, Islâm guides us to attain ultimate success by sincerely seeking Allâh’s Pleasure. Everything we say and do must be for the pleasure of our Creator. This means to develop Ikhlâs (sincerity) to Allâh I by doing good deeds purely for His pleasure and not out of riya’ (self-conceit) to seek appreciation or praise from people.
It is our responsibility to acquire Islâmic knowledge in order to learn and understand that the Qur’ân and the Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah both serve as Allâh’s mercy to us. If we want to succeed in life both in this world and in the Hereafter, we must obey Allâh I and His Messengerr. Both the Qur’ân and the Sunnah constitute the best guidance for the whole mankind. True knowledge of Islâm is based on the Qur’ân and the authentic Sunnah or Ahâdîth. It is a must to know Islâm so that we know at least the basic tenets/concepts of Islâm. Examples are the five pillars of Islâm, the six articles of iman (belief) and ihsan (perfection of faith). Correct knowledge and sincere adherence to the basic concepts of Islâm are essential for our ultimate success. The Prophet r tells us that they are enough for our entrance to Paradise.
Islâm stands as the most rational and precise religion that Allâh I has given to the whole mankind. It gives importance to the acquisition of knowledge. In fact, the first revelation that Allâh I has revealed to His Messenger r for the guidance of mankind pertains to reading. Prophet Muhammad r also enjoins us to acquire knowledge. He r even stresses that it is our obligation to search for knowledge. He also inspires us to do our best to seek knowledge as it is the way to paradise. We should, therefore, spend time, efforts, money and other resources to seek knowledge of Islâm. Islâm as a complete religion, does not limit the acquisition of knowledge into the field of religion. It also encourages us to seek other knowledge, which are beneficial to us. However, it stresses that knowledge of the Qur’ân and authentic Ahâdîth and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two constitute the essential knowledge.
Moreover, it is for our benefit that we learn Islâm as it is the knowledge that leads us to Truth against ignorance. It teaches us to learn wisdom. Islâm guides mankind not only to the importance of time but also how to value it. It clearly tells us the value of time, why we must not waste it and how we can make use of our time wisely for our eternal success. We have to make use of our time wisely by knowing more of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. Both the Qur’ân and the Sunnah enjoin Muslims to be conscious of time. We are reminded that life in this world is nothing but temporary. We never know when death has been appointed for us. We must have correct knowledge of what Allâh I and His Messenger r have commanded us to do and at the same time to refrain from what they have forbidden us. Knowing the importance of Islâmic knowledge, it is imperative that we must spend time acquiring it. We must remember that one of the characteristics of a believer is love for the search of knowledge. When we study Islâm or at least read the Qur’ân and the authentic Ahâdîth we learn that Islâm is easy, complete and the perfect religion as well as way of life for the whole mankind. Mankind must know Islâm as it is the right religion, the Way to Allâh leading straight. Allâh I stresses that the religion before Him is Islâm. It is the Religion of Truth. Mankind must therefore know Islâm in its purest form. As indeed, it is the right religion.
Islâm as the perfect and true religion is not only complete, but applies to all generations, at all times, under any circumstance. This is one of the important concepts that we must know and at the same time convey to all. We do not, therefore, need to make any bid’ah (innovation or fabrication) in our religion. As much as possible, we must refrain from committing Bid'ah. Innovation in religion in any form must be avoided. The Prophet r stresses the importance of knowing and holding on to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah and at the same time warns us to avoid bid’ah. He r makes it very clear that Allâh I rejects any religious deed, which is not in accordance with the Qur’ân and the Sunnah.
Verily is Islâm is the Right Religion but most among mankind do not know it. Unfortunately, those who understand Islâm as the Right Religion are not united. Not all of them adhere to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. They are divided into different sects in the same way as the non-Muslims are divided. Mankind must have ample and correct knowledge of Islâm based on the Qur’ân and the authentic Sunnah in order to be with the rightly guided Ummah (Muslim nation or the true followers) of the Prophet r who will be saved from the Hell-Fire.
Islâm is the only Religion and the only Way of Life that teaches us the true meaning of righteousness based on divine injunctions. Allâh the Almighty makes it clear that only those who believe and work righteousness will enter Paradise. For our complete guidance, Allâh I commands us to enter into Islâm wholeheartedly and die not except in a state of Islâm. It is a must that we accept and follow all the teachings of Islâm. Allâh I warns us of the grievous punishment in the Hereafter if we reject the rest of His Revelation.
We must understand that Allâh’s guidance is the True guidance. It is for our benefit to turn to Allâh I for His guidance. It is Allâh I Alone Who guides people to the Truth and the Right Way. In order to avoid evil deeds, Allâh the Most High commands us to show enmity to Satan, the accursed. Allâh I directs us away from evil thoughts and deeds. He reminds us not to let Satan seduce us to follow his way for he is an avowed enemy to us.
Islâm, as the rational religion and the complete way of life for the whole humanity, offers a well-balanced way of life. It guides us to strive hard to enjoy the material comfort and success in this world and at the same time to develop our spiritual aspects of life in order to have peace, happiness and attain ultimate success in the next world. Given the choice, however, between the life in this world and the life in the Hereafter, Islâm teaches us to choose the eternal life in the Hereafter. Islâm inspires the righteous believers with ultimate success in paradise and gives clear admonitions to the unbelievers of their severe and eternal punishments in the hell-fire. It guides mankind to know and understand that life in this world is nothing compared to the life in the Hereafter.
It is imperative that we must know and believe in Islâm. One of the basic truth and realities of life is that all of us will taste death. When we die, we will be questioned about our Faith. Those who are ignorant of Islâm will surely taste the torments of the grave and the grievous punishments that await them for their ignorance and disbelief. It is for our own salvation, therefore, that we must have an ample knowledge of Islâm to be able to save ourselves from the torments of the grave and the grievous punishments in the Hell-Fire. We must know how to strengthen our Faith and to be Righteous by doing good deeds based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah for the sole pleasure of Allâh the Almighty.
Islâm teaches us to ask Allâh’s forgiveness for our sins. It enlightens us to know that Allâh I is the Only One Who can forgive our sins and therefore save us from any sort of punishment in the life Hereafter. It guides us to know Him and seek for His forgiveness.
Islâm is the only religion that clearly raises the status of the parents to a high degree and honor. In fact, Allâh I in many Âyât of the Qur’ân has commanded us to respect our parents after pleasing Him. After our firm belief in Him, our Creator has enjoined us to treat our parents with kindness and respect. It is for our success that we must obey Allâh I by showing our utmost kindness and respect to our parents. We must also obey them for as long as they do not command us something that disobeys Allâh I. We have to remember that if we respect them, we please Allâh I. This means, that through our parents we can attain Allâh’s rewards in the eternal world.
It is for our success that we seek Islâmic knowledge so that we can share it to others especially to our children. The best thing that we can give to our children is knowledge of Islâm. It is a must that we should educate our children with it since as parents we are accountable to their success and failure. The Prophet r makes it very clear that we are accountable to our respective families/children and hence, it is our duty to teach them Islâm. Allâh tells us that our children, just like our wealth and possessions, are but a trial from Him and that the highest reward is with Him. It is then our responsibility to guide our children to Islâm. It is only through Islâm that they can become righteous and be of service to Allâh I. We pass Allâh’s trial once our children worship and please our Creator. The best thing that we can give to our children is knowledge of Islâm. It is the best education and the best means to fight ignorance and drive away evil.
Islâm encourages us not only to learn Islâm but also to teach it to others. We should be inspired to teach what we know of Islâm. We must further know that Islâm warns the learned among us from concealing our knowledge. For our benefit, we must acquire knowledge of Islâm and teach it to others. We have to try teaching Islâm to the best of our capacity. When we guide others to Islâm, we expect rewards from Allâh the Almighty.
One of the most important duties that we must know in Islâm is the obligation to do Da’wah (inviting/calling people to Islâm) for the pleasure of Allâh. Da’wah is the very Sunnah and the very essence of the Prophet’s mission, which we must also follow as Muslims. If we do Da’wah for the pleasure of Allâh, Allâh I will reward us prosperous lives. Allâh the Exalted not only commends those who call people to Islâm (41:33; 103:1-3) but subsequently promises unlimited rewards to them (39:33-35). To be successful Du’at (those who invite people to Islâm), it is a must for us to have correct knowledge of Islâm. It is a divine injunction, which Allâh the Almighty has enjoined to His Messengerr and the Believers. In conveying the Message of Islâm, Allâh’s Messenger r never resorted to any other book or source of knowledge and guidance but the Qur’ân and the Sunnah (both divine scriptures and guidance from Allâh I). In fact, he rebuked one of his closest companions by trying to refer to the Torah. An authentic Hâdîth shows how the Prophet r abhorred the use of other sources (of religious knowledge) other than what he has left us and that is the Qur'an, which includes his Sunnah. As reported in other hâdîth, the Prophet r stressed that we should always stick to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah and the Sunnah of the four righteously guided Caliphs. To be effective, Allâh the Exalted commands us to do Da’wah with wisdom and beautiful preaching. When we convey Islâm to others, we improve our character and personality as we are expected to practice what we teach.
Mankind must seek knowledge of Islâm because Allâh the Almighty has obliged us to obey His Messenger r. The Prophet r inspires those who acquire knowledge of Islâm and those who are knowledgeable. Above all, Allâh I not only commands the whole mankind to seek knowledge but also commends those who are knowledgeable. He encourages the learned by promising them great rewards. The Almighty has honored and extolled the people who possess knowledge of Islâm. He I has raised their status high by including them among with those who bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh.
Knowing the importance of acquiring Islâmic knowledge, it becomes imperative, therefore, for mankind to seek knowledge of Islâm. We must think of our everlasting life by knowing the Truth and adhering to it for our guidance and supreme success. We must sincerely pray to Allâh to bestow us knowledge of Islâm. We should bear in mind that Allâh, the All-Knowing, All-Wise (4:26), the exalted in power, full of Wisdom (31:27), is the One Who grants wisdom to whom He pleases. We must pray to Allâh the All Knowing, All Wise to bestow upon us knowledge of Islâm. Both the Qur’ân and the Sunnah guide us to seek Allâh’s guidance through prayers or supplication. We must pray to Allâh for knowledge of Islâm and other knowledge that would benefit us not only in this temporary world, but most important is in the eternal world to come. When we pray to Allâh for other knowledge outside of Islâm, we should pray that such knowledge is beneficial for us. The knowledge that we seek outside Islâmic knowledge must strengthen our understanding and application of Islâm. It should make us better Muslims and not to be out of the fold of Islâm.
If possible, we must strive hard to seek knowledge of Islâm. We must also encourage others, especially our children to seek authentic knowledge of Islâm. It is a blessing from Allâh the Almighty that He has opened for us various means of seeking knowledge. We can seek knowledge of Islâm through any of the following ways: 1) attendance to formal institutions of learning that offer Islâmic Studies (based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Arabic and Qur’ânic Studies; 2) joining distance learning schools and programs; 3) organizing and participating week-ends Islâmic classes for children and adults; 4) forming study group among your family members, relatives, neighbors and/or friends; 5) attendance to Islâmic lectures, forums and seminars; 6) reading books and other reading materials on Islâm; 7) listening to radio and television programs on Islâm; 8) buying books, booklets, magazines and other reading materials on Islâm; 9) purchasing other learning media (e.g., CDs, electronic books, videos and cassette tapes) on Islâm; and/or 10) having access to the Islâmic reading materials available in the Internet (i.e., Islâmic websites based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah). All these various opportunities to acquiring knowledge of Islâm are blessing from Allâh, Who bestows knowledge to whom He guides to Islâm.
Allâh is Most Gracious, Most Merciful, He has opened for us various ways and means to learn Islâm. It is for us Muslims to learn authentic knowledge of Islâm so that we please Allâh the Almighty. It is only by knowing Islâm based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah that we know our Creator ¾ how we can worship Him to the best we can and therefore attain His rewards and be successful in the eternal world to come. Indeed, authentic knowledge of Islâm is the key to ultimate success.
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