http://www.wefound.org/
Your website to success through authentic knowledge of Islâm and Da'wah
according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah.
The
Author is
a Master of
Arts (in Islamic Studies) degree holder. She
is originally from Pakistan and presently residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a
dependent of her husband. The enlightening article is one of the
requirements that she submitted as a participant to the World
Islamic Service for Developing Outstanding Muslims (WISDOM) International
Islamic (Distance) Learning Program.
We, the organizers of the Wisdom Enrichment Foundation (WEFOUND), pray to Allah
the Almighty to accept her effort as a good deed, worthy of His Rewards
especially in the life Hereafter. May Allah accept this also as a service
from us and bless it as a source of enlightenment to Muslims and non-Muslims
alike. Ameen.
Islam
is the only perfect way of life. It
enjoins the maintenance of a refined standard of character.
It can solve all human problems. It
is the only hope for overcoming the present and future challenges of life.
The future of Islam is the future of humanity.
Islam commands righteousness and forbids wrong doings and evil deeds. In
other words, it commands all noble morals and forbids all ill and despicable
manners. It is the complete
guidance towards righteousness, and hence, success.
What we need only is to practice it.
The most valued virtues of a Muslim include truthfulness, and justice;
helping the poor and the needy; respecting parents, scholars, teachers and
elders; love and kindness for children, the widows and the poor.
Likewise, it prohibits blasphemy, murders, terrorism, oppression,
injustice, enmity, misery, adultery, drug addiction, suicide, graft and
corruption, interest, slander, backbiting, lying, ridicule, use of offensive
names suspicion, arrogance, and all evil deeds.
Islam
had come to illuminate the lives of the people with the light of virtues and
good manners to create righteous, God-loving and God-fearing people.
It develops its believers, the Muslims, with the best of
characters and fills their hearts with much devotion to the One True God,
Allah. It inspires the Believers
with Allah’s guidance and rewards to those who do righteous deeds and show
devotion to Him. Muslims who know
Islam believe in what Allah the Exalted says in the Qur’an on the virtues and
rewards of righteousness:
“As
for those who strive hard in Us (our
Cause), We will surely, guide them to
Our paths (i.e., Allah’s
religion-Islamic Monotheism).
And verily, Allah
is with
the Muhsinun
(good doers) .” (Qur’an 29: 69)
“And
the Garden
will be
brought nigh to the
Righteous, ¾
no more
a thing
distant. (A voice will say:) `This
is what was promised for you for every penitent heedful one, who feared the Most
Gracious unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him): Enter you
therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!’
There will be for them therein all that they wish
and there is more with Us.’” (Qur’an
50:31-35)
They
further believe that Islam is
the Right
Religion from
Allah. They know that it is
the Straight
way that
guides us
to be
righteous and
attain success,
especially supreme
success in
the eternal
life Hereafter.
In one
succinct and very enlightening verse
Allah explains
the full
meaning of
righteousness as follows:
“It
is not
righteousness that
you turn
your faces
(in prayer)
towards East
or West;
but it
is righteousness
to believe
in God,
and the Last
Day, and
the Angels
and the
Book, and
the Messengers;
to spend
of your
wealth-- in spite of
your love
for your
kin, for
orphans, for
the needy,
for the
way farer,
for those
who ask
and the
ransom of
slaves; to
be steadfast
in prayer
and practice
regular charity;
to fulfill
the contracts
which you
have made;
and to
be firm
and patient,
in all
pain and
adversity, and
through out
all periods
of panic. Such are the
people of truth, the God-minded.’’ (Qur’an
2: 177)
Allah
the Almighty guides the whole mankind to be righteous through His Book, the
Qur’an and His Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam, meaning: peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him).
In His Book, Allah emphasizes the need for righteousness and the rewards
that He promises to those who do righteous deeds.
Those among mankind who believe in Allah and do righteous deeds reap
Allah’s Mercy as they shall have
a great reward. Allah the Most
Gracious and Most Merciful says:
“Verily
this Qur’an
guides to
that which
is most
just and
right and
gives glad
tidings to
the believers
who works
deeds of
righteousness, that
they shall
have a
great reward.”
(Qur’an 17 : 9)
“We
indeed created
man in the best of
moulds, then do we
abase him (to be) the
lowest of
the low,
except such
as those who believe and
do righteous
deeds, for they shall have a reward unfailing.”
(Qur’an 95: 4-6)
Islam
penetrates into
all walks
of life
to conduct
all human
activities in
a sound
and wholesome
manner, acceptable
to God
and beneficial to
man. The
manifestation of
power and
splendor, which
are considered
so important
for the
people in
this world,
will be
of no
value to
Allah. In
the Hereafter,
Allah will
judge a
person by
his faith,
devotion and
piety. It
is, therefore,
essential that
we should
concentrate on
the reformation
of our
own hearts,
minds and souls by sincerely turning to Allah for His Mercy through firm
belief and obedience as these are parts of righteousness. Let us take guidance
from the following authentic Ahâdîth:
Abdullah
ibn Amr ibn al-'As Abdullah heard Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) as saying: “Verily,
the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the
fingers of the Compassionate Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) as one heart. He
turns that to any (direction) He likes.” Then Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“O Allah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience.”
(Muslim 6418)
Abu
Dharr narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “He has been successful whose heart Allah has made sincere
towards faith, whose heart He has made free from unbelief, his tongue truthful,
his soul calm, his nature straight, whose ear He has made attentive and his eye
observant. The ear is a funnel and the eye is a repository for what the heart
learns. He is successful whose heart is made retentive.” (Tirmidhi 5200, Ahmad
and Bayhaqi)
Islam
commands all of us to
observe righteous deeds and forbids
all ill
and despicable
manners. It also
commands us to enjoin righteousness
and forbids
wrong. Allah
the Exalted says:
“Help
you one
another in
Al - Birr and
Al - Taqwa (virtue,
righteousness and piety).” (Qur’an 5: 2)
“Verily
Allah enjoins
Al –Adl and
Al -Ihsaan, (justice and kindness) and
giving helps
to kits
and kin
and forbids
Al -Fahshaa, Al – Munkar
and Al – Baghy (lewdness,
abomination and wickedness) in order that you may take heed.”
(Qur’an 16:
90)
Allah,
the Most Just, honors men and women according to righteousness and piety.
He does not see our wealth, our races and other distinctions.
Allah recognizes the distinction of
piety, righteousness and spiritual
excellence. In
the Qur’an
our Only God
says:
“O
mankind, verily
We have
created you
from a
single a
(pair) of a
male and
a female,
and have
made you
into nations
and tribes,
that you
may know each
other. Verily
the most
honored of
you in
the sight
of God
is the
most righteous.”
(Qur’an 49 : 13)
In
Islam, piety, righteousness,
and true
Faith are
interrelated. Moreover, its
teachings cover all
aspects of
this life
and the
life after
death. It
is the
only way
to salvation.
Unfortunately, many
Muslims who are ignorant of Islam according to the Qur’an and the
Sunnah have such
a poor
Islamic identity
and perspective
that they
cannot bear to
fulfill their
Islamic obligation
under the
critical eye
of the
hostile world.
Instead of
clarifying the
misconceptions that
non-Muslims have
on Islam
and the
Muslims, they
themselves supported
the distorted
views by
not practicing
Islam faithfully.
One misconception
pertains to
the concept
of family life in Islam.
Islam
considers family as the basic
unit of the society. The
quality of social life that a community has depends on the kind of families that
constitute the society. If the
members of the families are righteous, we expect the society to be righteous.
Actually, everyone is born in a state of purity or Islam (the nature to
worship Allah as the Only God). However,
it is the (non-Muslim or secular Muslim) parents who turn their children into
the wrong paths. This process of
socialization is referred
to by
the Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) in
the following authentic hadîth:
Abu
Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said,
“No child is born except on Al-Fitra (Islam) and then his parents make him
Jewish, Christian or Magian, as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do
you see any part of its body amputated?” Then he recited: ‘The religion of
pure Islamic Faith (Hanifa), (i.e. to worship none but Allah), The pure
Allah’s Islamic nature with which He (Allah) has created mankind. Let There be
no change in Allah’s religion (i.e. to join none in Allah’s worship). That
is the straight religion; but most of men know not...’
(30:30).” (Bukhari 6/ 298,
2 /467 and Muslim)
Islamic
family appears
better designed
to stand
up to
contemporary and western pressures and influences.
It is
based on
a detailed
and rigid
set of
rules about interpersonal
relationship. The
Islamic family is
a well-ordained institution.
It was
not evolved
through human
experimentation, which involves
a process
of trial
and error
that spreads over
time. It
is an
institution that
came into
existence with
the creation
of man.
The human
race is
a product
of this
institution and
not the
other way
round.
The
creation of
man and
woman and
the marriage
relationship permeated
with tranquility,
love and
mercy have
been described
as “signs
of God.” The
institution of
marriage and
the family
have been
commended as
the Sunnah or way
of the
Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam). Prophet
Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) said
in the following Ahadîth:
“Marriage
is a
part of
my Sunnah.
Whoever runs
away from
my path
is not
from amongst
us.” (Ibn Majah)
Anas
ibn Malik Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said,
“When a man marries he has fulfilled half of the religion; so let him fear
Allah regarding the remaining half.” (Tirmidhi, 3096 and Bayhaqi)
In
Islam, men and women are encouraged to enter into
marriage in order to build a righteous family.
The Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) emphasizes
the need to choose a righteous or religious partner in life in entering into
a family or marriage life. We
read the following Ahadîth:
Abu
Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family
status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman
(otherwise) you will be a loser.” (Bukhari
7/27)
Abu
Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said,
“When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your
daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be
temptation on Earth and extensive corruption.”
(Tirmidhi 3090, Nasa'i and
Ibn Majah)
With
righteous husband and wife, children in
the family learn
the values
of love and
compassion, of sacrifice
for others,
of tolerance, mercy
and kindness, and other
virtuous or righteous deeds. It
is the
family that
provides the
most congenial
and fulfillment
of the development of human personality
based on love and mercy:
“And
among His Signs is this, that He created for
your mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them,
and He has put love and mercy between your (hearths).
Verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.” (Qur’an 30:21)
In
line with the virtue of fostering love
and mercy in the family, the couples and their children are expected to be
responsible and accountable members of the family and the society as a whole.
The Muslim parents play an important role in developing their children to
be righteous. It is their duty to teach their children or the members of their
family the religion (Islam):
Abdullah
ibn Umar reported that he heard the
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
saying: “Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in
his custody. The ruler is a
guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian
of his
family and
is responsible for it; a
lady is a guardian of her husband’s house and is responsible for it, and a
servant is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it.
A man is a guardian of his father’s property and is responsible for it
so all of you are guardians and responsible
for your
wards and
things under your care.” (Bukhari 2/592, 3/73, and 7/128)
Malik
bin Huwairth narrated:
“I came to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam)
with some men from my tribe and stayed with him for twenty nights. He was
kind and merciful to us. When he realized our longing for our families, he said
to us: “Go back and stay with
your families and teach them the religion.
And offer the prayer and one of you should pronounce the Adhan for the
prayer when its time is due. And the oldest one amongst you should lead the
prayer.” (Bukhâri
1/601)
In
Islam the parents are expected to be responsible for their children in molding
their character and personality to be righteous, God-loving and God-fearing.
Islam is the only religion that clearly encourages parents to take good care of
their children, especially their daughters until they grew up as practicing
Muslims. We read the following Ahâdîth
how Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) enjoined
parents to take good care of female children:
Malik
reported Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam)
as
saying: “He who brought up two girls properly till they grew up, he and I
would come (together very closely)
on the Day of Resurrection.” And he interlaced his fingers (for explaining the
point of nearness between him and that person.
(Muslim 4/6364)
`Aisha,
the wife of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam)
said: “A woman came to me along with her two daughters.
She asked me for (charity) but she found nothing with me except one date,
so I gave her that. She accepted it
and then divided it between her two daughters and herself ate nothing out of
that. She then got up and went out,
and so did her two daughters. Allah’s
Messenger visited me and I narrated to him her story.
There upon Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“He who is involved bringing up daughters, and he accords benevolent treatment
towards them, there would be protection for him against Hell-Fire.’” (Muslim
4/6362)
Abu
Sa’id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam)
said: “If anyone cares for three daughters, disciplines them, have them
married, and does good to them, he will go to Paradise.” (Abu Dawud
5128)
In
Islam seeking knowledge is a duty that is being enjoined to all Muslims, men and
women. As such, it enjoins parents
to give their children good education:
Anas
Bin Malik (Radhiallahu anhu: meaning: May Allah be pleased with him) reported
that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “Seeking of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim...” (Ibn Majah
1/224 and Tirmidhi 218)
Amr
ibn Sa’id or Sa’id ibn Al-‘As narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, “A
father gives his child nothing better than a good education.”
(Tirmidhi 4977 and Baihaqi)
It
must be noted that in Islam, good education means the formation of the
learners’ total personality where they learn both the material and spiritual
aspects of development. Emphasis is
given to knowledge of Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah and the
right prescriptions of these two revealed knowledge.
This is based on the following authentic Ahadith:
Abdullah
ibn Amir ibn Al As narrated that Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “Knowledge consists of three things: the decisive verses (Qur’an),
authentic Hadith and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two.
What is beside them is superfluous (extra).” (Ibn Majah 1/54 and Abu
Dawud 2879)
Jabir
Bin Abdullah reported that...
Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “...The best of affairs is the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and
the best of guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad...”
(Muslim 1885 and Ibn Majah 1/45)
With
the ample knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Muslim parents can expect
their children to be righteous who in return will be assets to the society where
they belong. In this world, they
will be happy to see their righteous children who contribute in promoting
righteousness in the society; and hence a righteous society.
Above all, they will expect eternal supreme rewards for raising righteous
children. Their righteous children can pray for them and help them attain
success in the Life Hereafter. The Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said
in the following authentic Ahadîth:
“A
man will be raised some degrees in Paradise and he will say, ‘For what reason
I am receiving this?’ He will be told, ‘Because of your son (child) asking
forgiveness for you.’” (Bukhâri
1613)
Abu
Hurairah narrated that Allah’
Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
said, “When a man dies, accrual of merit in his favor from good deeds
ceases except from three actions: 1. A charity which continues after his death;
2. Knowledge left behind from which men continue to benefit, and 3. Righteous
offspring who pray for him.” (Muslim
4005)
Muslim parents must take guidance from the above very inspiring teachings from the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). They need to learn Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah; to practice it; and strive to give Islamic education to their children. Likewise, it is the responsibility of all Muslim societies and communities to provide proper education to all Muslim children in order that they will learn to be righteous through knowledge of Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is unfortunate that today we seldom see or hear of schools and institutions that offer ample knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah from the formative stage (nursery) to the time that learners are ready to serve the society according to what is expected of them as Muslims of high morality and excellent characters. What happens, we see graduates who are devoid of righteousness and good morals. They become materialistic that they adopt western values totally alien to Islam. Instead of building the image of Islam as the best religion in promoting righteousness, they destroy the truth about the divine and right religion from Allah. The well-balanced and integrated Islamic personality that are supposed to develop in the society through the family fails to emerge. The family becomes negligent in providing good education (knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah) to children. Many Muslim families do not care to influence or enjoin the society where they belong to have good educational system where their children learn both the well-balanced knowledge of this world and in the life Hereafter. With the loss of this function of the family the world becomes a poor place to live in.
The
family is
a part
of the
Islamic social
order. The society
that Islam
wants to
establish is
not a
sensate, sex – ridden
society. Islam
establishes an
ideological society,
with a
high moral
awareness, strong
commitment to
the ideal
of Khilafah (Caliphate),
and
purposive orientation
of all
human believers.
In this
society a
high degree
of social
responsibility prevails.
The entire
system operates
in a
way that
strengthens and
fortifies the well-being of every member of the family and society. Allah
says:
“O
you who
believe! Ward
off yourselves
and your
families against
a Fire
(hell) whose fuel
is men
and stones,
over which
are (appointed) angels
stern (and) severe, who
disobey not, (from
executing) the Commands
they receive
from Allah, but
do that
which they
are commanded.” (Qur’an
66:6)
In
the absence of Islamic schools and institutions that can teach our children
knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, it is a must that we Muslims strive
hard to raise
our children in
the Islamic way. We need to
instill Islamic
virtues in
their souls
from their
early childhood by knowing
and practicing Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. For
verily, the
child grows
up upon
whatever his
parents accustomed
him to.
Therefore, what remains
of our
days must be filled
with the
sincere and complete submission to Allah. Let us beware
of feeding
our children
from forbidden
wealth. The Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Everybody
that grows
from illegal
earnings, then the
Hell – fire has
more right
to it.”
(Ahmad)
If
small children
grow up
upon righteousness
and obedience,
it will be
a stored
treasures for
us after our
death. Therefore, let us
strive for
this with
good rearing
and choosing
the best
companionship for
our children.
Let us keep them
away from
evil friends.
And let us keep wickedness
and evil
away from
our house.
In
Islam the family
is protected
by prohibiting
sex outside
marriage. Zina (fornication)
has been
forbidden and
made a
punishable offence.
All roads
that lead
to this
evil are
blocked and
whatever paves
the way
towards it
is checked
and eliminated. The Islamic
system of
Hijaab is a
wide – ranging system
which protects
the family
aid closes
those avenues
that lead
towards illicit
sex or
even discriminate
contact between
the senses
in society. It
prescribes essential
rules and
regulations about
dress, mode of
behavior, rules of
contact between
the senses
and a
number of
other questions
that are
central or
ancillary to
it.
The
consequences of
committing acts, which
are forbidden
in Islam, are
not confined
only to
those persons
who commit
them, but
the whole
society has
to suffer
them. It is, therefore,
essential that
the people
who are
in the
habit of
committing sins
and violate
Divine injunctions
should be
checked to
save the whole
society from
destruction. If this
is not
done, the entire
society will
have to
face the
Divine punishment.
In
clothing and
adornment Islam
takes into
serious consideration
the principles
of decency, modesty,
chastity and
manliness. Anything
in clothing
or adornment
incompatible with
the attainment, maintenance
and development
of these
qualities is
inhibited in
Islam. Islam does
not let
woman go
loose or
wander unrestricted. It
allows her
the things, which suit her
nature, and, at the
same time, cautions
her against
anything that
might abuse
or upset
that nature. Islam
has served
advised to
both men
and woman
to help
women in
particular to
retain and
develop their
dignity and
chastity, safe from being the subject
of idle
gossip or
vicious, rumors, suspicious thoughts.
The advice
is imparted
in these
Qur’anic verses:
“Say
to the
believing men
that they
should lower
their gaze
and guard
their; that
will make
for greater
purity for
them. And Allah
is well – acquainted
with all
that they
do …” (Qur’an 24: 30
– 31)
Muslims
(who do not adhere to the Qur’an and the Sunnah) have
subjected themselves
to various
temptations from
Satan and
his followers
by imitating
the non–Muslims
in many
ways. Instead of
learning the
Qur’an and
Sunnah they
waste their
time watching
unworthy television programs,
dieting schedules, chatting on the
phone and on the Internet, visiting fashion
web sites, reading fashion
magazines, etc. The younger
generation especially
young girls take
that path
from the
Western society.
The
dangers
of misuse of
freedom continue
to confront
man throughout
his life
on the
earth. The
challenge from
Satan is
unceasing. To safeguard
man against
this, Islamic guidance is
provided. The
trail of
Adam and
eve reveals, on
the one
hand, the essential
goodness of
their nature
and the
other, their susceptibility
to error.
This is the nature of man and woman as Allah has given us freedom of
choice – whether to choose the good or the bad;
righteousness or evil; or to prepare ourselves to be denizens of the
Paradise or the Hell-Fire. If we
choose goodness, righteousness and Paradise, then we need to work for it by
fulfilling the very reason why Allah has created us. We
know that
Allah did
not create
us without
a purpose. He
created us
to worship
Him alone, for
whom there
is no
partner. Allah the Exalted says
in the Holy Qur’an:
“I have created not the jinn and men except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, Most Strong.” (Qur'an 51:56-58)
We
know that worship in Islam does not only mean the five pillars of Islam but it
is a comprehensive term to mean submission to Allah and obedience to Him in all
what He and His Messenger (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) have
enjoined upon us and refraining from what is forbidden from the Qur’an and the
Sunnah. What is
afflicting the
Muslims and
their rulers
today of
division, misunderstanding, weakness, being
overpowered and
ruled by
enemies is
all because
of their
distancing themselves
from and
their heedlessness
of the
Book of
Allah and
the Sunnah
of Allah’s
Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam). Islam according
to the Qur’an and
Sunnah is
the only
path of
rescue, success and
happiness in
the two
worlds:
“And
verily this
is My
straight path, so follow
not other
paths, for they
will separate
you away
from His
path.” (Qur’an 6: 153)
“Whatsoever
the Messenger
gives you, take
it, and Whatsoever
the forbids
you, abstain from
it.” (Qur’an 59: 17)
“I
left among
you two
things that
if you
hold firmly
to them, you
will never
be misguided
the Book
of Allah
and the
Sunnah of
His Prophet.”
(Al-Hakim)
If
we are among those Muslims who are ignorant of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, if
we have not been giving ample Islamic knowledge to our children, if we spend
more of our lives imitating the non-Muslims, time has come
for us to seek for repentance, doing
good deeds
and fleeing
from what
is forbidden. Let us
repent to
Allah before
the fate
of death
comes. We never know that
our life is only
few days,
a few
hours or
a few
minutes away
before us
to travel
to the
Hereafter. We shall
be left
in the
grave – pit alone. Our
family, spouse, children and wealth
will not
accompany us. If
our deeds are
righteous then
we shall
have felicity, delight
and bliss. If
they are
evil, then for
us will
be punishment, gloom
and grief:
“And
whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the Right Path has been
shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way. We
shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil
destination.” (Qur’an 4:115)
“Allah
is the
protector of
those who
believe. He brings
them out
from darkness
into light. But
as for
those who
disbelieve, their supporters
are false
deities, they
bring them
out from
light into
darkness…” (Qur’an 2: 257)
Righteousness,
in addition to correct belief, is
the way
to come
closer to
Allah. We need
to strive
hard to
attain righteousness
as Allah
gives tremendous
rewards to
the righteous
believers. Let us help ourselves and our respective families to attain
righteousness by knowing and practicing Islam according to the Qur’an and the
Sunnah. Let us obey Allah’s
command:
“…Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.” (Qur’ân 5: 2)
We
need to learn
ample knowledge of Islam so that
we can
implement the
right path
in our
lives and
also teach
and share to
others what we
learn. We must teach or convey Islam to others, especially to our
own children because we are accountable to them.
Let us obey the Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) by
conveying Islam to others:
“Convey
(my teachings) to the people even if it were a single Âyah (verse)...”
(Bukhari 4/667)
“May
Allah brightens
the face
of the
persons who
hears what
I say
and retains
it, then conveys
it to
others; for
sometimes one
who hears
from another
remembers it
better than
the original
hearer himself.” (Ahmed
and Tirmithi)
In
addition to seeking authentic knowledge of Islam, it is part of righteousness
that we choose our companions who are knowledgeable and practicing Muslims.
It is
for our
benefit that
we should
choose companions who are
righteous as the Prophet (sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) taught
us in the following hâdîth:
Abu
Musa narrated
that the
Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
said: “The example
of a
good pious companions
and an
evil one
is that
of a
person carrying
musk and
other blowing
a pair
of bellows. The
one carrying
musk will
either give
you some
perfume as
a present,
or you
will buy
some from
him, or you
will get
a good
smell from
him, but the
one is
blowing a
pair of
bellows will
either burn
your clothes
or you
will get
a bad
smell from
him.” (Sahih Al –
Bukhari 7/ 442)
In a world full of opportunities to benefit from the wisdo