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Choosing Ways, Destruction And Salvation, Slavery in Islam

Issue 236 » August 22, 2003 - Jumada-al-Thani 24, 1424

General

Living the Quran

Al-Tawbah (Repentance)
Chapter 9: Verse 115

Choosing Ways
It is not Allah's way to cause people to stray in error after He has guided them and until He has made clear to them what they should guard against. Surely Allah knows everything.

In dealing with men, God first explains to them the doctrines and practices which they should shun. However, if they persist in their wrong ways, God withholds Himself from guiding them and lets them follow the wrong ways they choose to follow.

This verse embodies a basic principle which can help one understand all those Quranic verses in which both guiding people to the right way and causing people to go astray are mentioned as God's own acts. To provide guidance on God's part consists of enunciating the Right Way through His Prophets and Scriptures, and then enabling those who are willing to follow that way to do so. Likewise, God's act of causing people to go astray means that God does not compel those who insist on not following the Right Way after it has been made plain to them, and enables them to proceed in the direction they have decided to proceed in.

Source:
“Towards Understanding the Quran - Vol 3” – Syed Abul Ala Maududi, pp. 263-264
Understanding the Prophet's Life

Destruction And Salvation

On the Authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, said:

"There are three things which cause destruction and three things which lead to salvation.

The three things which cause destruction are:
1. miserliness which is obeyed,
2. passion which is followed, and
3. self-conceit.

The three things which lead to salvation are:
1. fear of Allah in secret and in the open,
2. moderation when rich or when poor, and
3. justice when angry or pleased."

[Related in Al Bazaar and Al Bayhaqi - Authentic, Hasan]

Destruction and salvation are not really based on material success or political favour. Establishing balance in all circumstances and being aware of the power of emotions and desires can give a person clear vision and a powerful insight into the trials of this life. Putting Almighty Allah in front of all decisions and actions, whether in secret or in the open develops a new approach to life.

The resulting consciousness can lead to the pleasure of Allah, Most High. This is the supreme achievement and the essence of success in this world and the hereafter.

Source:
"The Forty Ahaadeeth on Islamic Revival" - Abdullah Hakim Quick, pp. 15-16
Cool Concepts!

The Position of Slavery in Islam

Islam tried to solve the problem of the slaves that were already in Arabia by encouraging people to set them free. Muslims were told that freeing slaves would mean the expiation of some of their sins. Freeing a slave of one's own free will was declared to be an act of such great merit that the limbs of the man who manumitted a slave would be protected from hell-fire-one for each limb of the slave freed.

The result of this policy was that, by the time the period of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs was reached, all the old slaves of Arabia had been liberated. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) alone liberated as many as 63 slaves. The number of slaves freed by Aishah was 67; Abbas liberated 70; Abd Allah ibn Umar liberated 1000; and Abdur Rahman purchased 30 000 and set them free. Other Companions of the Prophet liberated a large number of slaves, the details of which are given in the Traditions and books of history of that period.

The problem of slavery in Arabia was thus solved in under 40 years....

Source:
"Human Rights in Islam" - Abul Ala Mawdudi, p. 20