As humans, we’re bound to face troubles and trials. But what we place our focus on in these times is what really matters to Allah (SWT). In this video, Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed teaches us how to do this using the example of Prophet Musa (AS). What he did when faced with the turbulent situation of crossing the sea with the Israelites was remarkably shinning as an example. Click on this video for more insight! - aboutislam.net
Islam
Monday, 30 September 2024
Sunday, 29 September 2024
Can Imams Take Salary?
There is nothing wrong with the imam who delivers the khutbah (sermon) in a Mosque obtaining a salary from either the Mosque board or from the government.
Islamic organization should support mosque imams in order to enable them to meet their requirements as well as family responsibilities.
Thus, there is nothing wrong in obtaining a salary for teaching people matters pertaining to what is lawful and what is prohibited. Although the person who does that should preferably refrain from seeking a worldly gain.
It has become clear now that there is nothing wrong that the imam receiving a salary for leading people in Prayer and delivering khutbahs, especially if he is financially straitened and is appointed by a governmental organization in such a Mosque. This is really the case in most Arab and Muslim countries.
Some scholars draw an analogy between the point in question and obtaining money for teaching the Quran.
They argue that, if we say that the money obtained by the mosque imams and the one who teaches people the Quran is haram, then many people will stop teaching others the Quran, which is a great loss.
Allah Almighty knows best.
- aboutislam.net
Saturday, 28 September 2024
Maintain Focus: Can I Keep My Eyes Closed During Prayer?
Prayer is Our Connection to God
Islam gives much attention to a Muslim’s relation with His Creator.
For this purpose, Allah ordained five daily prayers to help Muslims remain connected with Him throughout the day.
Prayer is the real connection between us and Allah. Prayer is the main factor in forgiving our sins.
The Prophet (peace be upon him), said,
“The five prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan will be expiation for the sins committed between them as long as major sins are avoided.” (Muslim)
Prayer is a sign of one’s firm belief in Allah.
The Prophet said,
If you see a man committed to the mosque, then testify for his faith. Verily, Allah the Exalted has said: “The mosques are only maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give charity.” (At-Tawbah 9:18) (At-Tirmidhi)
Islam is not different from Christianity in giving priority to the issue of concentration while performing prayer to God.
Prayer Requires Focus
The Prophet warned us against acts that distract our attention during the prayer.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet said:
What is wrong with those people who look toward the sky during prayer? His talk grew stern while delivering this speech until he (peace be upon him) said: Either they stop (looking toward the sky during prayer) or else their sight will be taken away. (Al-Bukhari)
Close Your Eyes If It Maintains Focus
As for closing your eyes during prayer, scholars view that it is disliked to close the eyes during prayer EXCEPT if is done to maintain focus and avoid distraction.
Imam al-`Izz ibn `Abd al-Salam said that it is permissible to close the eyes when necessary, if that helps the worshipper to focus more fully on his prayer.
Ibn al-Qayyim said in his Zad al-Ma`ad (1:283) (Provisions for the Hereafter) that if a man can focus more fully on his prayer by opening his eyes, then it is better to do so.
If he can focus more fully by closing his eyes because there are things that may distract him from his prayer, such as adornments and decorations, then it is not disliked at all.
In this case, it is recommended for him to close his eyes and is closer to the aims and principles of the Shari`ah than saying that it is disliked.
Based on this, you do not have to worry about closing your eyes during the prayer. Your prayer is valid and will be accepted by Allah the Almighty, inshaAllah.
Perfecting the Prayer is Necessary
A Muslim should do his best to perfect his prayer in order not miss out on its reward.
`Ammaar ibn Yasir said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: A person may offer a prayer and nothing of it is recorded for him except one tenth of it, one ninth of it, one eighth of it, one seventh of it, one sixth of it, one fifth of it, one quarter of it, one third of it, or half of it.” (Ahmad)
A Muslim should feel the greatness of Allah during the prayer. He should remember that he is standing before Allah and that Allah turning to him.
The Prophet is reported to have said:
Allah is turning towards His slave so long as he does not look around, so when you pray, do not look around. (Ahmad)
And Allah knows best.
- aboutislam.net
Thursday, 26 September 2024
Prophet Muhammad and the Shooting Stars
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to enlighten and guide. The Quran sums up the task as bringing people out from darknesses into the light.
In other words, the Prophet came to teach people what life in its totality is and how to live it. Life is too short and too serious to be wasted or subjected to trial and error procedures.
Thus, some of the more repugnant adversaries of the Prophet were ignorance, superstition and blind following. He went to great lengths to fight them.
An example of this pattern is this.
According to a hadith (Sahih Muslim, Book 26, Hadith No. 5538), the Prophet Muhammad was sitting once at night with some of his companions when suddenly a meteor shot (shooting star) gave a dazzling light. He asked what the people used to say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot (of meteor).
The companions replied that they used to say that that very night either a great man had been born or a great man had died.
However, the Prophet said that those meteors were shot neither at the death of anyone nor on the birth of anyone.
Rather, whenever Almighty Allah decides to issue a command, His words are transmitted from one group of angels to another throughout the seven heavens.
In this process of transmission, the jinn attempt to eavesdrop on what is going on. They snatch what they manage to overhear and carry it to their friends (non-believers, sorcerers, fortune-teller and astrologers).
And when the angels see the jinn doing so, they attack them with meteors.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) concluded:
If they (the jinn) narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct, but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it.
This same process is mentioned in the Quran as well:
Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars, and as protection against every rebellious devil, (so) they may not listen to the exalted assembly (of angels) and are pelted from every side. Repelled, and for them is a constant punishment. Except one who snatches (some words) by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing (in brightness) (Al-Saffat, 6-10).
The word used for throwing meteors at the jinn is “rajm“. Generally, in Arabic rajm means “stoning” or “pelting someone or something with stones”.
For example, cases of adultery committed by a married man or married woman are punishable by rajm (stoning).
Rajm also means “missile”, “projectile” and even “meteor”.
Hence, the main attribute of Satan is al-rajim, which is normally translated as “expelled” and “accursed”. However, the root of the word is rajm (stoned).
Believers persistently seek Allah’s protection against Satan who is al-rajim (both the “accursed” and “stoned one”).
That means that Satan is stoned and kept at bay in the heavens with meteors, before being “stoned” and held back on the earth by the devout deeds of believers.
Emblematically stoning Satan as a compulsory ritual of Hajj (pilgrimage), by throwing stones at three pillars representing Satan, symbolizes this dreadful fate of his.
Indeed, there is neither peace nor asylum for Satan and his followers from the presence and constant involvement of Almighty Allah and His soldiers in the heavens and on the earth.
The Quran says:
And to Allah belong the soldiers (forces) of the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise (Al-Fath, 7).
As to those who turn (for friendship) to Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers – it is the fellowship (party) of Allah that must certainly triumph (Al-Ma’idah, 56).
These are the possible takes on the mentioned hadith.
First
The Prophet encouraged people to be curious, inquisitive and to ask. He did so in order that they could increase their knowledge and, in turn, enhance their guidance.
If there were sincere questions, there were also sincere answers in the offing. A person who thinks he knows enough will not progress. He will not conquer, but will be conquered.
So ask the people of the message if you do not know (Al-Nahl, 43).
The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life (Confucius).
Second
People should be open-minded and critical in their pursuit of knowledge. They should reject blind following.
Superstitions, myths, legends and even half-truths should not be entertained. People should be free and motivated, and should not recognize any imposed or artificial boundaries.
The only thing that should inspire and guide them is the infinite truth premised on the revelation and reason. Their only goal should be to find, embrace and serve that truth.
Third
Asking questions, investigating, (re)searching, disputing and doubting are critical concepts. They should be clearly defined and their scopes, as well as roles, clearly established against the backdrop of true knowledge and wisdom.
In no way should mere guessing, conjectures and scepticism be accommodated. They are all antitheses of knowledge – and the truth.
Agnosticism is a bane of existence and can bring about only hopelessness and depression.
Therefore, an appropriate ethics for knowledge seeking and knowledge application is paramount.
A hint at it is given in Allah’s directive to “read and proclaim”, but:
… in the name of your Lord who created” (al-‘Alaq, 1).
Read the full article here.
Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Bilal: Voice of Islam and Model of Servitude
Masjid Kristal (Crystal Mosque), Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.
You have heard the adhan – human voices calling you to the worship of Almighty Allah, in person, online, on your adhan alarm clock and on your computer’s adhan software.
You have heard the strong voice of a teenage boy, you have heard the strained voice of a gentle elderly man, and you might have yourself been inspired to give the adhan once or twice.
If you are like me, you might even have a favorite adhan, but perhaps not the one who gave it, but you remember where you were, and how you felt hearing it!
No matter where, when, or how you have heard the adhan, one thing is for sure: it is repeated five times a day times the number of mosques or prayer halls around the world.
We listen without realizing that with each adhan, we are reliving the first adhan, and reenacting the moment and the words uttered during that first adhan, by the man requested by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to make it: Bilal ibn Rabah.
Reviewing the life of this beloved and dear Companion of Prophet Muhammad we find lessons for young Muslims around the world.
From Slavery to Servitude
The most authentic accounts of the enslaved status of Bilal ibn Rabah are available because of the affinity which he and Abu Bakr As-Siddiq developed for each other based on their spiritual inclination towards monotheism. The latter was a man of noble lineage and prestige, and the former was a slave of mixed ancestry.
For Bilal accepting Islam meant defying his slave master, who was steeped in the worship of idols and ignorance, and thereby risking severe punishment and torture.
For Abu Bakr, accepting Islam meant defying his tribe, which was also steeped in the worship of idols and ignorance, and thereby risking the loss of access to power, prestige, and protection.
Perhaps the most ruthless of all slave owners in Arabia, was Umayyah bin Khalaf, who was also the owner of Bilal. Accounts of his torture of Bilal when he accepted Islam teaches us today that no matter what the circumstance or the perceived consequences of submitting to Almighty Allah, one must persevere, and with the help of Allah the Almighty only grow stronger in one’s conviction about the true message of Islam.
Bilal Is Free
Among those who witnessed the torture of Bilal, and could not tolerate the fact that a fellow believer could suffer in such a way, was Abu Bakr, and he was moved to purchase Bilal’s freedom. This is confirmed by the Qur’an and several hadiths.
According to the tafseer of Ibn Kathir of (Al-Layl 92: 5-7, 17-21), we find lessons about the unparalleled generosity of Abu Bakr, and in particular as it related to his spending of his own wealth to free slaves, such as Bilal.
Having been set free, Bilal could have easily been overly grateful and voluntarily offered himself in the servitude of Abu Bakr, but as we know from a narration by Qais, Bilal said to Abu Bakr:
“If you have bought me for yourself then keep me (for yourself), but if you have bought me for Allah’s Sake, then leave me for Allah’s Work” (Al-Bukhari, Book #57, Hadith #99).
And of course we know that Bilal was truly set free and ended up going from being the slave of a man to being the slave of Almighty Allah.
Unselfish Use of Personal Talent
As noted above, Bilal did not lose a single moment after being freed to turn his entire focus to the worship of Allah the Almighty and the Companionship of Prophet Muhammad.Indeed, even in slavery, Bilal had been known as a leader, one who was honest, trustworthy, insightful, and blessed by Almighty Allah with a most beautiful voice.
We often forget that each of us is unique, with special talents and skills as given to us by Almighty Allah, and we focus too much on our faults, on our weaknesses. With this defeated state of mind, we end up neither being of benefit to ourselves or to anyone else in society.
In the life of Bilal we have the powerful story of a man who was once owned by another man, but when set free, instead of blaming his former owner for enslaving him or punishing him, or somehow depriving him of his skills and talents, he set his sights on total commitment to a better life through complete and total submission to Almighty Allah.
By being patient, keeping himself occupied with the sincere worship and remembrance of Allah the Almighty, Bilal would not have known it then, but he was about to enter into the pages of Islamic history for his unselfish use of his talent.
The First Mu’dhin (Prayer Caller)
A critical decision for the Muslims became the medium through which they would announce the times of the five obligatory prayers. Ibn `Umar reported: “When the Muslims came to Madinah, they gathered, and sought to know the time of prayer, but no one summoned them.”
One day they discussed the matter, and some of them said to use something like the bell of the Christians, and some of them said to use a horn like that of the Jews.
`Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “May not a man be appointed who should call (people) to prayer?”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Bilal, get up and summon (the people) to prayer.” (Muslim, Book #4, Hadith #735).
Known for his beautiful voice with which he used to recite poetry and the Qur’an, Bilal would from that moment onwards be known throughout history for having been the first man in the history of Islam to call the adhan and gather the believers to prayer.
He could have declined by saying it is more worthy of someone from the Quraysh to have this honor. Instead, as a lesson to all of us, he obeyed Prophet Muhammad without question, and then made unselfish use of his talent in the service of his community.
Final Thoughts
There is so much more that could be said about Bilal, but what stands out clearly is that once the shackles of slavery had been broken, he rose to the height of being a most intimate Companion of Prophet Muhammad, and played an integral part in the development of the early Muslim community.Indeed, Jabir ibn `Abdullah narrated that `Umar ibn Al-Khattab used to say that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq is our chief, and he manumitted our chief, meaning Bilal. (Al-Bukhari, Book #57, Hadith #98).
How wonderful is the life story of Bilal, a blessed Companion indeed, and one who was fortunate enough to know that because of his devotion to Almighty Allah and His Messenger, he had secured a place in Paradise.
Abu Hurairah narrated that at the time of the Fajr prayer, Prophet Muhammad asked Bilal:
“Tell me of the best deed you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal replied, “I did not do anything worth mentioning except that whenever I perform ablution during the day or night, I pray after that ablution as much as was written for me.” (Al-Bukhari, Book #21, Hadith #250).
Reflect on your own life and strive to be in servitude to Almighty Allah, to use your personal talents unselfishly to serve your community, and most importantly, to love to stand in prayer – worshipping none but Allah alone!
This article was published in 2009.
Sources:
- Tafsir Ibn KathirSahih Bukhari
- Sahih MuslimHaykal
- M. H. (2004). The life of Muhammad. Indianapolis, IN: American Trust Publications.
- aboutislam.net
Tuesday, 24 September 2024
Can My Thoughts Heal Me?
- Our thoughts and emotions can affect our physical health.
- Chemical messengers called neuropeptides connect our systems, organs, and cells.
- Chronic stress can down-regulate our immune system’s ability to fight invaders and infections.
Mental state and thought patterns are reflected in our physical health. Our thoughts are stored somehow in all our cells. They dictate cells’ actions and reactions; they relate happiness and health or condemn misery and disease.
Dr. Candice Pert, the internationally recognized pharmacologist who discovered the Opiate Receptor in the brain, spent years researching and exploring neuropeptides. She calls them ‘molecules of emotions’.
These are chemical messengers circulating in our body, connecting our systems, organs, and cells. They have receptors on all body cells. The receptors for neuropeptides that signal brain happiness, elevated mood, or motivation, for instance, can also be found in our white blood cells, stomach, intestine lining, and gonads.
Does this mean that our immune cells, our stomach, and all our organs feel and understand our mood and emotions, as well as our brain, can perceive them? Dr. Pert surely believes so.
When you are sad, every cell in your body feels sad: your stomach is sad, your immune cells are sad, your liver is sad, your gallbladder is sad…when you are depressed, angry, frustrated, motivated, joyful, hopeful, grateful… all these emotions are converted into ‘molecules of emotions’ that deliver the message all over your body to every cell of your being.
Whenever you feel a physical symptom creeping in, look for the mental pattern that triggered it, teaches Dr. Deepack Chopra. For every illness, there is a mental pattern. Why don’t all people fall ill in epidemics, or catch cold in the flu season?
Why don’t identical twins show the same pattern of cancer, allergies, hypertension, diabetes, or heart problems if these, as we use to think, are gene-related?
The vulnerability is there in the genes and the viruses and bacteria could surely be there in the air, but they need a fertile land to grow and manifest their symptoms.
Stress: Ailment of Our Modern Society
When we are under stress or in emotional distress, when we hold anger, envy, fear or grudge, these feelings are translated in our body into chemical reactions led by a series of hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters.
Our brains don’t differentiate between real or hypothetical danger. Whether you are attacked by a tiger or by the stock market index, the same stress hormones are released in your system: A blast of adrenaline that activates a fight or flight response. It raises your blood pressure, pumps sugar into your blood, speeds up your heartbeat’s rate and slows down your digestion.
The difference here is that in case of an attacking tiger, your running, fighting or fleeing dissipate the excess sugar in your blood and use up the extra energy, and as you retreat away from the danger, your whole system can rest and restore its natural state.
On the other hand, when the attacking agent is an unfair boss, a global economic crisis, a disturbing teenager or an abusing spouse, you do not run for your life, you just sit on your sofa fretting.
The triggered fight and flight response is thus here to stay and your adrenal glands keep pumping more hormones into your system; you stay alarmed, your cortisol level rises and with it comes further an increase in blood sugar levels and reduction of the immune response.
Chronic stress down-regulates our immune system’s ability to fight invaders and infections. It suppresses immune cell proliferation, hinders antibodies production, and suppresses the function of natural killer cells, the cells responsible for attacking tumor (including cancer cells), viruses and abnormal growth.
Mind/Body Connection
Noradrenaline is a neurotransmitter that increases in our body when we are happy and fulfilled. (Image: Neurotransmitter – Chemical Synapse).
Science is increasingly proving the connection between mind and body. Reovirus, for instance, the causative agent for the common cold, is thought to use the receptor of noradrenaline to enter into the body cells.
Noradrenaline is a neurotransmitter that increases in our body when we are happy and fulfilled. When the level of this neurotransmitter is elevated, it occupies its receptors, making them unavailable for viral use. That’s why we rarely catch a cold when we are in a good mood, satisfied and cheerful.
The idea of mind/body connection is as old as the famous Pavlov dogs of the 1920s that were conditioned to salivate upon hearing the bell without even seeing the food.
Later, In the 30s Russian scientists proved that not only our digestive system but our immune system could also be voluntarily conditioned. They injected rabbits and Guinea pigs with a mild bacterial shot to boost their immune system and coupled this immune-boosting function with a physical stimulus such as trumpet blast.
By the time, experimented animals have been able to boost their immunity upon hearing the trumpet sound alone.
Researches show that a mere dummy pill (placebo) can reduce pain, adjust blood pressure, and even dissolve tumors if the patient really believes in its effect.
Scientists now know that the placebo pill actually achieves its effect through triggering the body to release its ‘endogenous pharmaceutics’.
Our body has an amazing internal pharmacy with a cure for every condition and malfunction. It secretes it in the precisely needed dose, and in the perfect time and location. It has the power to reduce hypertension, alleviate pain, prevent platelet aggregation that blocks arteries, and the list goes on.
Psychoneuroimmunology: Healing Power of Mind
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a relatively new, yet rapidly growing field of science. The name PNI was coined in 1975, by Dr. Robert Ader, the Director of the Division of Behavioral and Psychosocial Medicine at New York’s University of Rochester, to denote the relation between the psyche (our feelings, moods, and emotions), the nervous system (our thoughts and perceptions), and our physical health (immune system and hormonal production).
In the 70s, Ader studied the unconscious ability to condition our immune system. Laboratory animals were given an immune-suppressive drug in saccharin sweetened solutions. Later, when the drug wasn’t administered, it only took the sweet taste to reduce their immunity.
It wasn’t until the 90s thought that science could finally prove that we could actually control our immune functions consciously. Self-hypnosis, guided imagery, biofeedback, and visualization have been shown, without doubt, to boost immune system performance, increase white blood cell count, decrease plaque formation, and reduce hypertension.
After years of denial, our world is starting to acknowledge this amazing fact. Today, we know that tiny cancerous growths are continuously formed in our body and it is the job of a healthy immune system with its natural killer cells to surround and eliminate these tumors.
Since our emotions can be physiologically regarded as body releases of specific chemicals (molecules of emotions), thus, depression, chronic stress or suppression of emotions result in massive disturbance of these chemicals’ natural flow. And, this, in turn, affects the performance of our immune system. Could this trigger cancer formation? Many physicians and naturopaths believe so, but we are yet to prove it scientifically.
Let’s Get Practical with Our Subconscious Mind
Our analytical logical understanding is a function of our conscious mind, yet for the change to actually occur, we need to reach the unconscious mind.
All honest emotions are healthy emotions. There are no good or bad emotions. How we express them and act upon them is what matters.
The first step in dealing with stress, releasing negative emotions and/or changing a belief pattern is acknowledgment. We need to acknowledge our human needs and weaknesses; we need to acknowledge our right to feel angry, hurt, frustrated, anxious, or disappointed.
Next, we need to take control of our own actions, assume responsibility for our life, and choose the appropriate way of reaction. Learn and heed the lesson then let it go. Only then we can genuinely replace our distorted feelings with a positive image of love and care and achieve our true healing be it physical, emotional or spiritual.
You can read a book or attend a lecture about health and healing, understand and memorize every word, be totally convinced and committed, but will the required changes automatically appear in your life and become easily reflected on your state of health.
Unfortunately, the answer is No. Our analytical logical understanding is a function of our conscious mind, yet for the change to actually occur, we need to reach the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is the one that actually controls our behaviors, reflexes, and stores our beliefs. It’s the one that holds the key to actual changes and healing and it is “millions of times more powerful than the conscious mind” according to Dr. Bruce Lipton.
But, how can I reach it? You might wonder. Lipton explains that the unconscious mind is a habit mind, it understands by repetition. Sincerely repeat, repeat and repeat the same action, belief and thought pattern over and over again until it becomes a habit, only then your unconscious mind will ‘get it’ and you will start to see some changes.
Ask anyone who tried to change his eating habits, exercise pattern, or lifestyle… it is never easy. In general, it is a “6, 6, 36 rule”. We need 6 weeks to abort a bad habit, 6 weeks to adopt a new one, and 36 weeks for it to become part of our new lifestyle.
- aboutislam.net
Monday, 23 September 2024
Why Does Allah Test Those He Loves Most?
First of all, we are sorry to learn of your knee pain. May Allah cure you from this pain and make all matters easy for you. Ameen.
Praying for others is a recommended deed in Islam, and is guaranteed to be answered.
When you pray for someone else, you also get a similar benefit.
But that does not mean you should not pray for yourself, you should do both.
A Statement of Belief Must Be Tested
Understanding the issue of God’s tests takes a while to figure out, but the main rule is true.
If you read about the lives of all of God’s Prophets, you will find that they all went through very difficult hardships.
It is one of God’s consistent and universal laws that when God loves someone, He will test him/her with trials in this world. God says:
Do people think that on their mere claiming, “We have attained to faith,” they will be left to themselves, and will not be put to a test? (Quran 29:2)
A claim of belief has to be tested.
And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, and hunger, and loss of worldly goods, of lives and of labour’s fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity. (Quran 2:155)
So, if He deprives a person of this worldly life or part of it and guides him to repentance and bestows on him His mercy and Paradise instead, then this is, in fact, a great gift!
The Correct Response: Patience
Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him-PBUH) said:
The most severely tested people are the prophets, then the next best, then the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of commitment to God.
For this reason, if life is full of difficulties and challenges, one should not be surprised or ask why.
And accepting the nature of this worldly life helps the servant acquire virtue and take a very important step in his or her journey to God: Patience with tests.
Patience is a characteristic that delivers the servant into God’s presence:
God is with those who are patient in adversity (al-Baqarah 2:153)
And if we are in God’s presence, then we need not worry!
Blessings are Also a Test!
And even when the test goes away and God starts to give you what you perceive as “blessings” and “luxuries”, the test is not over!
God says:
But as for a human, whenever his Sustainer tries him by His generosity and by letting him enjoy a life of ease, he says, “My Sustainer has been generous towards me”; whereas, whenever He tries him by tightening his means of livelihood, he says, “My Sustainer has disgraced me!” But nay. (Quran 89:15-17)
“Nay” here means that this is not a correct understanding of having “a life of ease” or “tight means.”
Here God says that when He tries us by tightening our means of livelihood, this does not mean that He is disgracing us.
And when He tries us by letting us enjoy a life of ease for a while, this is not necessarily good.
When God Takes, He Gives Back
This is how we judge: If God deprives us and we lose some of our wealth, opportunity, health, or family, but at the same time, He opens the doors of understanding, then this is not deprivation.
In this case, the trial is a gift.
God might take comfort or a dear one from me, but gives me the ability to understand, a spiritual feeling, or closeness to Him.
Thus, my loss becomes, actually, a gift. Blessings don’t always come as luxury and comfort.
For example, a person might earn a large amount of money, but isn’t thankful to God.
This might continue and he might waste his money in evil ways.
Then, God may even give this person more wealth and opportunities to return to Him. God says:
Then, when they had forgotten all that they had been told to take to heart, We threw open to them the gates of all good things until even as they were rejoicing in what they had been granted. We suddenly took them to task: and lo! they were broken in spirit […] (Quran 6:44–45).
Seek Gratitude to Allah For All Your Tests
If God does not open the doors of providence for you or does not grant you a request, He is calling upon you to understand.
Reflect upon the wisdom and the good meaning behind this giving, and be cautious about the trial it might involve.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.
If we are thankful to God for the good things that happen, this is good for us.
If we are patient when bad things happen to us, this is also good for us. And God always chooses what is best for people.
Prayers may be answered immediately and may be answered later. The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said:
A servant will be rewarded on the Day of Judgment for supplications to God, even the ones that have not been answered, the reward will be great such that he wishes that his supplication was never answered. (Imam Malik)
When God does not answer your prayers immediately, be certain that God is choosing the best for you. God has always been choosing the best for you.
- aboutislam.net
Sunday, 22 September 2024
Does God Forbid Muslims To Enjoy Life?
Haram Things are Forbidden In Our Best Interests
The first fact, which I would like you to be aware of, is that, in contrast with other faiths, the general rule in Islam is: ‘Everything is halal (permissible) unless it was made haram (forbidden) by the shari`a (Islamic law).
Therefore, haram (forbidden) is the exception and halal (permissible) is the principle.
Secondly, Islamic Law was not revealed to restrain people, confiscate their freedom, or to make their life hard and miserable.
On the contrary, anything made haram (forbidden) by Islamic Law was made so for the interest of people.
According to Muslim scholars, the interests of people are: faith, life, intellect, and wealth, along with family and lineage.
If you study Islamic Law, you will discover that all its rules focus on preserving these five ultimate objectives.
So, for example, as Allah prohibited suicide to preserve one’s life, He also prohibited drinking alcohol to preserve one’s intellect.
And, as God forbade compulsion in religion to preserve one’s faith, He also prohibited adultery to preserve one’s family kinship and the clarity of one’s lineage.
Islam Forbids Universally Harmful Things
In addition, Allah (God) did not forbid anything that is completely useful.
On the contrary, the harmfulness of what Allah prohibited, to the individual and/or the society, is greater than its usefulness.
Take for example alcohol and sexual relations outside marriage – if that is what you meant by drink and love – the danger and harm they both cause to the individuals and to the society is greater than the temporal enjoyment one gets from any of them.
Furthermore, in many rulings, Islam is not different, but shares a large number of these rules with other faiths and even with some civil laws.
Thus, what Islam prohibited, especially the examples you mentioned in your question, although lawful in some societies, are forbidden in many faiths and not appreciated in all the civilized societies.
As a matter of fact, such acts are considered social illnesses; many rules and regulations are dedicated to decreasing their presence among people.
Hence, it is safe for me to say that the thesis that you began your question with is a fallacy.
The truth is that Islamic rules do not at all go against the natural urges of the human being.
As a matter of fact, the central role of the Islamic rules is to cultivate human behavior and to enable humans to master their natural urges, instead of being enslaved by them.
The above mentioned brings us to your question about the wisdom behind Allah’s creation of human instincts and then forbidding people from doing what they feel like doing.
Islam Enables Us To Rise Above Our Animal Desires
We Muslims believe that this worldly life is not the eternal life; it is only a life of deeds, in which we continuously live the struggle between good and evil, in ourselves and around us.
We Muslims also believe that Allah (God) has created us for one purpose, which is servitude. Yet, Allah did not create us to be robots.
He created us with intellect, feelings, free will, and granted us the freedom to choose and act.
Further, through prophets and messengers, as easily traced in all divine scripts, Allah clarified to humanity what is good and what is evil.
Human instincts are part of our nature. This nature, without the divine teachings and values, will lead us astray.
Thus, as it shares with other faiths, Islam’s teachings and rules are meant to elevate the human soul above the desires and inclinations to the level, in which, one becomes able to fulfill the purpose of the creation.
Without divine teachings, Man becomes easily enslaved by these instincts, and then descends to the nature of lesser creatures.
Let’s not neglect the fact that although God forbade the negative ways of fulfilling and responding to human instincts, He allowed for a positive way to do so.
For instance, Allah prohibited any extramarital sexual relationships.
Still, He made marriage permissible and put rules and teachings for it, whereby human instincts are fulfilled and at the same time human interests are preserved as well.
Real Joy
The only true and real joy of life – for a devoted Muslim – is to enjoy his/her human nature, within his/her devotion to the transcendental view, in which he/she believes.
Thus, the teachings and rules of Islam simply work as guidance for those who want to ascend. Hence, real happiness, dear Dominick, does not exist in materialistic temporal enjoyment or in how much we own of that.
True happiness is in the fact we live our lives as humans [elevated beings] and succeed in fulfilling the mission of our creation, which is servitude.
Allah knows the best.
- aboutislam.net
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