Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Affluence
Saba (Sheba) - Chapter 34: Verses 34 - 35

"Whenever We sent a warner, the affluent in the community would say, 'We refuse to believe in what is sent with you; we have greater wealth and more offspring, and we shall not be punished.'"

Affluence has been a cause for social strife, decline, and disintegration in contemporary as well as past human generations. Those who are well-off tend to indulge in their wealth and exploit the poor and the weak. This has given rise to social theories and ideologies aimed at the eradication of the right of ownership which, in turn, has led to war and conflict among various social groups and classes. A closer examination of social conflicts reveals that what lies behind it is greed for worldly gain. Religion is being gradually eroded and the life hereafter is fading into insignificance, giving way instead to ideologies and political and economic systems that worship materialism and material aggrandizement. Nevertheless, religion remains the only way out of this malaise.

Compiled From:
"A Thematic Commentary on the Quran" - Muhammad Al-Ghazali, p. 467

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Talbiyah

Jabir reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whosoever makes intention to perform Hajj and pronounces talbiyah all day until sunset, Allah the Almighty will forgive his sins, and he will be free of sin as he was the day his mother gave birth to him." (Ibn Majah)

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who declares, 'There is no God but Allah' will get the good news of reward (for him), and he who magnifies Allah (or, says Allahu Akbar - Allah is the greatest) will receive the good news of reward (for him)." They asked: "O Prophet of Allah, is it the (good news of) Paradise?" He replied, "Yes." (Narrated by At-Tabarani and Said bin Mansur)

Sahl ibn Saad reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When any Muslim utters talbiyah, everything - every stone or every tree or every pebble - on his right side and on his left side responds with a (similar) talbiyah, until the whole earth resounds with it." (Reported by Ibn Majah, Al-Baihaqi, Tirmizhi, Al-Hakim, who considers it a sound hadith)

Malik reported from Nafi that Ibn Umar said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) made his talbiyah in these words: 'Lab-baika Allahumma Lab-baik. Lab-baika la-Sharika laka lab-baik. In-nal Hamda wan-ni mata laka wal mulk. La Sharika lak (Here I am at Your service, O Allah! You have no partner, Here I am at Your service, O Allah. Verily, all the praise, the grace belong to You, and the kingdom. You have no partner)'"

Compiled From:
"Fiqh-us-Sunnah" - As-Sayyid Sabiq

Blindspot!

Inner Participation

You should understand the dynamic of inner participation well. For how is your heart seized by Truth?

• First, you come to know the truth.
• Second, you recognize and accept it as the truth and as relevant to your life.
• Third, you remember the truth, as much and as often as you can.
• Fourth, you absorb it until it soaks into the deepest recesses of your inner self.

The truth thus becomes an ever-alive state of consciousness, an enduring posture of the heart. Once a truth so permeates your inner world, it must pour out in the world of words and deeds.

It is also important to remember here that what you do outwardly, by your tongue and limbs, interacts with what you are inwardly. It is possible that words and deeds may be false witnesses to the state of inner self. But an inner state, like faith, must necessarily find expression in words and deeds, which, in turn, must help in engraving your knowledge in your consciousness and turn it into an abiding condition.

Compiled From:
"Way to the Quran" - Khurram Murad