BaKhabar, April 2013, Page-9 [Paradoxes of Religion + Moderation in Islam, Part-2]

Five qualities of a true believer of Islam (a Muslim)

… From Iqrasense

In these Quran verses, Allah highlights five characteristics of true believers.

1. The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Quran) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone);
2. Who perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and spend out of that We have provided them.
3. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and Forgiveness and a generous provision (Paradise).
Quran (Surah Al-Anfal, verses 2 – 4)

It’s clear from these verses that the qualities of a true Muslim mentioned in these verses are the following:

1.    When Allah is mentioned, they feel the fear of Him in their hearts;

2.    Their faith increases every time they hear and ponder over Quran’s verses;

3.    They put their trust in Allah, i.e. have Tawakkul on Allah;

4.    They perform prayers regularly;

5.    They spend in charity in the path of Allah.

As a Muslim, one can take heed from these verses and assess the state of his heart. In his tafsir, Ibn Kathir writes that none of Allah’s remembrance enters the hearts of the hypocrites upon performing what He has ordained. They neither believe in any of Allah’s Ayat nor trust (in Allah) nor pray if they are alone nor pay the Zakah due on their wealth.

The primary point is that a true believer is one when Allah is mentioned, he feels a fear in his heart, and thus implements His orders and abstains from His prohibitions.

About such people, Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated that As-Suddi commented, “A man might be thinking of committing injustice or a sin. But he abstains when he is told, `Have Taqwa of Allah’, and his heart becomes fearful.”

Finally, for such people Allah has promised ‘grades of dignity’, i.e. special places in paradise. We know from various ahadith that paradise has many levels and the more deserving are granted better and higher grades in paradise. In a Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad and the collectors of Sunan, Abu Atiyyah said that Ibn Abu Said said that the Messenger of Allah said,

“Residents of Paradise see the residents of the highest grades just as you see the distant planet in the horizon of the sky. Verily, Abu Bakr and `Umar are among them (in the highest grades), and how excellent they are.”

Reference: Quran and Tafsir Ibn Kathir.

Source: http://www.iqrasense.com/

Grave-worship ...

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
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One of the forms of shirk which is particularly widespread in Muslim countries is: graveworship, the belief that dead awliyaa’ (“saints”) can fulfil one’s needs or help at times of distress, and calling upon them for aid. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him . . .” [al-Israa 17:23]
Similarly, they call upon dead Prophets, righteous people and others to intercede for them or to rescue them from some calamity, but Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any ilaah (god) with Allaah? . . .” [al-Naml 27:62]
Some of them have adopted the habit of mentioning the name of a shaykh or wali (“saint”) when they stand up, or sit down, or stumble, or encounter problems or distress, so they might say “O Muhammad!” or “O Ali!” or “O Husayn!” or “O Badawi!” or “O Jeelaani!” or “O Shaadhili!” or “O Rifaa’i!” - or they may call upon al-Aydaroos or Sayyidah Zaynab or Ibn Alwaan. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily those whom you call upon besides Allaah are slaves like you . . .” [al-Araf 7:194]
Some of those who worship graves walk around them as if in Tawaaf, and acknowledge their corners, or touch them, kiss them, wipe their faces with their dust, prostrate towards them when they see them, or stand before them in fear and humility, praying for whatever they need of healing from some disease, or for a child, or for help with some difficulty. Sometimes they call upon the occupant of the grave, saying “O my master, I have come to you from far away, so do not let me down.”
But Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And who is more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allaah such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them?”
[al-Ahqaaf 46:5]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies calling on someone else as a rival to Allaah, will enter Hell.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 8/176).
Some of them shave their heads at the graves, and some have books with titles like Manaasik Hajj al-Mashaahid (“The Rituals of Pilgrimage to Shrines”), mashaahid or shrines referring to graves or tombs of awliyaa’. Some of them believe that the awliyaa are running the affairs of the universe and that they have the power to benefit or harm.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if Allaah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is no one who can repel His Favour . . .”
[Yoonus 10:107]
It is also shirk to make a vow to any other than Allaah, as is done by those who vow to bring candles or lights for the occupants of the graves.
Allah Azza wa jal has prohibited the Jannah for the Mushrik! See Quran:5/72.

Email: bakhabar@biharanjuman.org 9