BaKhabar, April 2013, Page-3

ASH-SHAHEED - The Witness

Say: “Allah is a sufficient witness between me and you. He is certainly aware of and sees His servants.” ( Surat al-Isra', 17:96)

Allah has no beginning and no end, is the sole absolute Being, and is not bound by such human concepts as time or space. Therefore, everything that ever happens, regardless of whether it happened in the past, the present, or the future, are the same in—and are fully known to—His Sight.

He knows everything, whether it is done in secret or in public, in darkness or in light, while alone or while in a crowd. Being ignorant, people assume that what they do at night might conceal their sins and hide them as well. But such hopes are futile, for the Qur'an states:

Do you not see that Allah knows what is in the heavens and on Earth? Three men cannot confer together secretly without Him being the fourth, or five without Him being the sixth, or fewer than that or more without Him being with them wherever they are. Then He will inform them on the Day of Rising of what they did. Allah has knowledge of all things. ( Surat al-Mujadala, 58:7)

Allah is fully knowledgeable of everyone's intentions, thoughts, and deeds at every one moment. Each of us will be called to account for all of these on the Day of Judgment. People who deny these truths will understand their mistake on the Day of Judgment. As “On the Day Allah raises up all of them together, He will inform them of what they did. Allah has recorded it while they have forgotten it. Allah is a Witness of all things” ( Surat al-Mujadala, 58:6) maintains, in the Hereafter we will be repaid for each one of our deeds:

You do not engage in any matter, recite any of the Qur'an, or do any action without Our witnessing you while you are occupied with it. Not even the smallest speck eludes your Lord, either on Earth or in heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not in a Clear Book. (Surah Yunus, 10:61)

But Allah bears witness to what He has sent down to you. He has sent it down with His knowledge. The angels bear witness as well. And Allah suffices as a Witness. ( Surat an-Nisa', 4:166)

Whether We show you something of what We have promised them or take you back to Us, they will still return to Us. Then Allah will be witness against what they are doing. (Surah Yunus, 10:46)

We will show them Our Signs on the horizon and within themselves until it is clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for your Lord that He is a witness of everything? (Surah Fussilat, 41:53).

Wa Ma Tawfeeqee il-laah bil-laah!

.... By Muqeet

Dear brothers/sisters, Assalamu Alaikum.

In today’s society, success seems to have many “fathers”. Failure is an orphan. Nobody wants to own it!
You might have heard people bragging: ‘Your success is because of me!’ ‘You got promoted because of my recommendation!’ ‘Without me, you’ll be nowhere!’ ‘Your accomplishment is due to my favour!’ ‘No, it’s not because of him, its only because of me, you achieved success!’!!
A true Muslim understands the hollowness of such a bragging!
“Wa Ma Tawfeeqee il-laah bil-laah” is a powerfully loaded statement. It facilitates a Muslim in burying arrogance and autocracy.
Saying “Wa Ma Tawfeeqee il-laah bil-laah” is awe inspiring. Emaan boasting. Heart solacing!
“Wa Ma Tawfeeqee il-laah bil-laah” is one statement that highlights the reality of all realities: Success, prosperity, strength, guidance, accomplishment, consistence, compatibility, good fortune, happy outcome - all come from Allah alone. He is the Giver of Success and Succour.
Saying “Wa Ma Tawfeeqee il-laah bil-laah” not only brings solace to one’s heart, it makes a Muslim emotionally and psychologically stronger. Those who listen to this statement also are blessed in that it makes them think and therefore provide an opportunity to save themselves from falling into the pitfalls created by Shaytaan.
Uttered by Prophet Shu’ayb, alaihis-salam, while addressing his nation, this statement is one of the oft-repeated Islamic declarations especially by those dedicated in the field of da’wah, teaching-learning-propagating.
Wa Ma Taufiqee Illa Billah

“He (Prophet Shu’ayb) said, “O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Him…? And I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return”. (Surah Huud 11: 88)
The word Tawfeeq comes from the Arabic root ‘waaw-fa-qaaf’ (wafaqa) which means ‘to match, to agree with, to occur at a time of something, to succeed, to be right, proper, suitable, fit, appropriate, to be well-guarded, to adapt, to have success, be successful, to inspire’.
The Arabic word “Tawfeeq” is so rich that it carries myriad of meanings:
“conformation, adaptation, accommodation, balancing, adjustment, settlement, reconciliation, mediation, peace making, success, succeeding, successfulness, happy outcome, good fortune, prosperity”.
Owing to the richness of the Arabic word “Tawfeeq”, I feel these translators have found difficulty while translating into English, and this is evident in the following different translations:
“And my success is not but through Allah” (Sahih International)
“And my guidance cannot come except from Allah” (Muhsin Khan and Hilali)
“My welfare is only in Allah” (Pickthall)
“and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah” (Yusuf Ali)
“My succour is only with Allah” (Zafar Ishaq Ansari, for Maududi)
“And accomplishment of my wish can come only from Allah” (Basheer Ahmed Mohyideen)
“And whatever (good) I do is due to the help of Allah” (Imtiaz Ahmed)
“Nor is my success in the hands of other than God”. (Ahmad Zaki Hammad)
“My success depends on Allah alone”(Aadil Salahi, for Sayyid Qutb)
“and no success (in bringing about the reform) can I attain except by Allah’s will” (Dr. Mohar Ali)
Since ‘to inspire’ is also one meaning of Tawfeeq, we can translate Wa Ma Tawfeeqee il-laah bil-laah as:
‘And my inspiration can come only from Allah”.
To sum up:

We all need to believe and accept, understand and have firm conviction in declaring:
“My success, my inspiration, my guidance, my succour, my accomplishment, my reconciliation in my reform work, my welfare, my adjustment, my adaptation, my prosperity can come only and only through Allah, and none else”!
Attributing success to Allah must be the way of a true Muslim.
إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا الْإِصْلَاحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ - I only intend to reform to be best of my ability and my success in my work can come only from Allah.
May Allah give us the much-needed Tawfeeq and Hidayah to live by His Guidance. Aameen.
Jazakallahu Khayra for reading this post of mine.

Vassalam.
MuQeet
https://yassarnalquran.wordpress.com/