Memory & Determination, Loving Others, Strong Pillars
Issue 324 » April 29, 2005 - Rabi-al-Awwal 20, 1426
General
| Living the Quran |
Taha
Allah had taken a promise from Adam that he would not go near the forbidden tree, but Adam forgot the promise within a few days. He became a prey to weakness and broke his promise. The above verse shows that deficiency in memory and weakness of determination are two obstructions which come in the way of performance of duty. Fulfilment of promises depends on these two factors. With these two things, fulfilling one's promise would be easy. And this is a strange thing that man, being overwhelmed by the hardships of the times, various difficulties and different pressing problems forgets the open and clear realities. To him the clear figures appear blurred, and the realities which are as striking as the light of the sun disappear from his sight. There the necessity of a reminder becomes very pressing, to overcome the negligence and forgetfulness and to keep this important thing before men's eyes. Alive and wakeful memory and remembrance is essential for fulfilling promises. A man who forgets his promises and covenants, how can he fulfil them? If a man has a strong memory in respect of fulfilling his promise, it is also necessary that he should have a determination to do so - a determination which should not have any laxity or slackness in this matter - a determination which should be able to overcome all the rebellious desires, and which should lighten the coming burden of difficulties. It should be a determination which should be able to cross all the difficult valleys and blocks and should be able to set an example of selfless sacrifice for others. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| Loving For Our Brothers What We Love For Ourselves Abu Hamzah Anas ibn Malik (RA) relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." [Bukhari and Muslim] The above hadith proves the incompleteness of the iman of one who does not love for his brother what he loves for himself. This hadith should be interpreted in terms of the universality of brotherhood even to the extent of encompassing both disbelievers and Muslims. One loves for one's disbelieving brother what one loves for oneself: his entrance into Islam, just as one loves for one's Muslim brother his continuance in Islam. For this reason it is recommended to supplicate for a disbeliever's guidance. What is meant by 'love' is 'willing good and benefit'. Moreover what is meant is love in terms of the deen and not human love, for if one acts on one's human nature, one may dislike another's attainment of good and another's being distinguished over oneself. Man must oppose his human nature and supplicate for his brother and wish for him what he wishes for himself. If a person does not love for his brother what he loves for himself, then he is envious. Envy, as al-Ghazali said, is in three divisions:
Source: |
| Teens' Deen |
Are Your Pillars Standing
Strong?
Do you have trouble understanding the pillars of Islam?
Do you sometime find it difficult to explain the concept of 'pillars
in Islam' to your friends?
Compare Islam to a building or
a house! A house provides us with a place in which
to live. There we can sleep and rest and draw strength for the
work we have to do in life. There
are many parts in a building. Buildings stand
on foundations that keep them upright and secure. They also have
roofs, doors, windows, walls and floors. Moreover, they have pillars
that support them. No building will
stand if it does not have pillars.
Islam, too, consists of many different
parts. There is the faith of Islam, upon which
the whole way of Islam is founded. There are the codes of conduct
and manners, which tell us what to do and how to act in all spheres
of our lives. These are the roof, door, windows, walls and floors
of Islam. Inside this "house of Islam", we can draw the
strength for the things we have to do in life. Islam is our shelter.
So we see Islam is very much like a house!
Islam, of course, also has its
pillars. These pillars support Islam, just as
the pillars of a building support it. There
are five pillars that support the religion of Islam. These
pillars are known as Arkan. They are:
1) Shahadah (Declaration of
Faith); 2) Salat (Prayers five times
a day); 3) Zakat (Money given
to provide for the poor); 4) Sawm (Fasting
in the month of Ramadan); 5) Hajj
(Making pilgrimage to Makkah).
They are not the whole of Islam,
but Islam could not exist without them. If one
of these pillars becomes weak, then the whole building may fall
to the ground. But if every pillar is strong and firm, then Islam
can serve as a strong influence in our lives.
Source: |
