Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Al-Ahzab (The Confederates)
Chapter 33: Verse 23

True Followers
"Among the believers are men who are true to their covenant with Allah. Of them some have fulfilled their obligations and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed in the least."

The above Quranic verse captures the essence of the believers' covenant with Allah. It signifies the Islamic movement, the call to truth and the believers' unwavering and single-minded commitment to Islam. Implicit in it is also the assertion that the believers are ever ready to sacrifice all that they have for this cause.

Islam is synonymous with a pledge. It is to be seen how many of us are true to this pledge, for men are liable to forget their oaths. We must remind ourselves of the glorious examples of the Prophet's Companions. After professing Islam they paid no heed to praise or criticism of fellow human beings. Their only concern was their loyalty to Islam.

Our verbal profession of Islam is meaningless. We may bear Muslim names and our way of life may contain some Islamic elements. We may occasionally visit the mosque. Our main duty as believers, nonetheless, is to be true to our pledge to Allah. In our beliefs, acts of worship, conduct, dealings, way of life, social relations, marital ties, family and neighbourhood relationships and in every human activity we must behave as Muslims. Our commitment must be to divine laws.

Among the many billions of Muslims, some are specified in the above verse as being believers with firm resolve. Praise is heaped on them for their discharging their obligations to Allah. Then mention is made of those among them who have completed their appointed term and returned to Allah. They will be lavishly rewarded. Those still alive look forward to divine rewards and are true to their covenant. They have not changed their commitment in any degree.

Compiled From:
"Guidance from the Holy Quran" - Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, pp. 61-66

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Knowledge of Religion

Study of the divine Law is a collective duty, except where it is incumbent on the individual, e.g. everyone is obliged to find out what God has ordained for him and what He has proscribed for him. This is a duty for each individual. As reported in both Sahihs (Muslim and Bukhari), the Prophet, on him be peace, said: "When God wishes a man well He instructs him in knowledge of Religion." If God wishes a man well He will inevitably instruct him in Religion, so if a man is not versed in Religion God does not wish him well. Religion is what God sent His Messenger to convey. It is that which a man is bound to believe and practise.

Everyone owes general credence to Muhammad's, on him be peace, report and general obedience to his command; then if a report from him is confirmed it must be believed in particular, and if one receives a specific order to a certain effect one must obey it in particular.

Compiled From:
"Public Duties in Islam" - Ibn Taymiya, p. 38

Blindspot!

Allah's Family

The principle to accord a humane treatment to people and avoid hurting them is not restricted to Muslims. It is only that such behaviour has been specially stressed in regards to Muslims. All of Allah's creatures are "His family", so much so that animals too are included within this fold.

To keep a camel hungry or weigh it down with unbearable load, not to give it enough rest, or to slaughter an animal within sight of another, or to us a blunt knife for slaughtering an animal or to steal a bird's young chick from its nest, or to put an anthill to fire are all forbidden acts.

When such are the guidelines for the treatment of animals, you can well imagine what are the rights of human beings, whether they be sinful Muslims or non-Muslims.

Compiled From:
"Dying and Living for Allah" - Khurram Murad, p. 47