From: www.jannah.org
Most Frequently Found Quranic Words & their Meanings Archive
Assalaam alaikum,
Inshallah we are starting this program to learn Quranic words on the Jannah.Org message board. This is the archive of the words and references people have posted.
[assalaam alaikum wrt, since alot of people have been posting recently about trying to learn arabic, i thought it would be a good opportunity to bring up an idea i've had for a while now
i have this list of 835 words of the Quran whose frequency. in the Quran is 10 and above with meanings in English, by knowing the words one can understand 58.63 percent text of the Quran.
it's extremely hard to actually sit down with this and memorize the words. and don't ask me to photocopy this and send it to you because everyone i've given it to hasn't been able to do anything with it (believe me i've had this for the last 3 years)
so to force myself to learn these words inshallah i am going to try to learn one word a day and try to go from there. i'll post them on here to force myself and if anyone else wants to join in learning
i just wish there was a way i could somehow get the arabic on here as well...but i'll do my best to kind of phoeneticize it ]
May Allah reward those who did the research to give us some great examples of how the words are used and may Allah guide us along the path to understanding the Quran. Ameen.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please double check the verses, the reference numbers, and transliteration before using them. This list was basically meant as a personal record and has not been proof read and there may be mistakes in it.
Aabaa-ana, Aabaa-una = Our fathers
Aabaa-ukum = Your fathers
Aakhareena = Others
Aal = people, descendants, family members
'Aalaa = blessings, benefits, bounties
Aalihat = plural of Ilaah
Aamana= He adopted faith, he believed
Aamanoo = They adopted faith
Aa-taynaa = (We) gave
Aa-taynaahu = (We) gave him
Aayaat = verses, signs, sentences of the Quran
Abada(Abadan) = Forever, Never
Absaarihim = their eyes
Abwaab pl. of al-baab
Ahadan = One or Any
Ahadu = Anybody or Somebody
Ahl = People of
Ahsanu = best, better, nicer
Ahzaab = the allies, the parties, the groups
Ajala = Fixed period, yes
Ajma'een = all
Ajru, Ajran = Reward
Ajruhum = Their reward or wages
Akhadha = He caught or took
Akhadhna = We caught or took
Akheehi = His brother
Al Ardd = The Earth
Al-Aakhar = The Other
Al-Aakhir = Next, following, coming, the last
Al-Aakhirah = The here after
Al-Aakhireen = Plural of Al-aakhir
Al-amr= The Command, the affairs, the authority, the decree, the Order
Al-Awwaleen = the ancestors, the ancients, the first, the forebearers
Al-baab = the door, the entrance
Al-Baatil = the false, the futile, the baseless, the useless
Al-bahr = the ocean, the sea
Al-Balaagh = announcement, proclamation
Al-bar = the land, the mainland
Al-bayt = the house, the dwelling place
Aleem or aleemaa = painful, grievious, hurting
Al-eemaan = The faith
Al-Hamd = the Praise
Al-haqq = The truth, the true, the right, (correct)
Alharaam(i) = the respectable, the holy, the forbidden, the sacred
Al-Hikma(t) = the wisdom
Al-Hukum = Wisdom, legal decision
Al-Husnaaa = The goodness, the virtue, the best outcome fem)
Al-Ins = The human being, mankind, human race
Al-Insaan =The human being
Al-Janna(t) = The paradise, the heaven
Allaatee = those women who (pl. of Allatee)
Allah = the one and only God
Allatee = the woman who
Al-mujrimoon, al-mujrimeen = the criminals, the sinners, the guilty
Al-Tawraat = the torah revealed book to Musa
Al-thamaraat = the fruits
Al-umoor= plural of Al-amr
Amartu = I, (We) commanded, instructed, commissioned, entrusted
Ameen = trustworthy, faithful, reliable
Annaa = as per wish, where from, how, where
Awwal = first
Ayna = whither?, where?
Ayyu = which?
Ba'd = after, in addition to, beside
Ba'dd = a few, some, a part, a portion
Ba'eed = far away, distant, remote
Baghtah = all of a sudden, surprise
Balaa = yes, why not, yes indeed
Bashar(u), Basharan = man, human being, mankind
Bash-shir = give good tidings
Ba'sunaa = our distress, strength, fortitude, courage, conflict
Bayna = in between, among
Bi-idhni = Command or Permission
Bi-idhnihi=With his permission
Bi'sa = how bad, miserable to feign, distress
Bushraa = good news, glad tidings
Buyoot pl. of al-bayt
Hadeeth = talk, speech, chat
Hakeem = Wise, Ever-wise
Haleem = patient, clement, forbearing, gentle
Haqqa = Came true, verified, correct, be incumbent, deserved it
Haraj = Oppressed, straitness, straitened
Harram(a) = Prohibited
Harth = field, agricultural farm, tilth, tilling
Hasana(t) = Goodness, virtue, good deed, charity, benefaction
Hasanaa = Good, better, well, splendidly, beautifully
Hijaara(t) = the stones, the rocks
Hisaab = account, reckoning
Hudood = limits, limitations, borders, borderline
Ibtighaa = favour, desire, wish
Ilaah,Ilaahan = Object of worship, god
Israa'eel = The name of prophet Yacoub
Ithmu, Ithman = Sin
Ithnayn = Two
Ittaba'a = followed
Jaa-a = Jaa'a = Came, brought
Jaahadoo = they struggled, they strived, they strove
Ja'ala = He made, He rendered
Jahannam = Hell
Jaheem = hell, hellfire, fire
jamee'aa = All, altogether, all of them, entirely, totally
Jannaat = gardens, heavens
Jazaa' = reward, repay
Jibaal = mountains
Junaah = prohibition, accountability, sin,
Li abeehi = To his father
Majnoon = mad, lunatic
Ma'waahum = their abode, their accommodation, their lodge
Mubeen, mubeenaa = clear, plain, evident
Muhsineen = the benefactors, the virtuous, the benevolents (obj.)
Mu'minoon = adopted faith, believers
Ooloo or oolee = possessors of, owners of
Ootoo = given
Taaba = repented, turned out (in repentance)
Tahtihaa = beneath it
Ta'kuloo = Eat
Ta'toona = (You) commit, you come
Thalaatha(t) = Three
Thamanaa = price, reward
Tilka = that, these
Tu'minoo = Adopt faith
Tutlaa = are recited, are rehearsed
Umam = Plural of Ummat
Umirtu = I, (We) was commanded, instructed, commissioned, entrusted
Ummahu = His mother, his abode, his origin, his source
Ummat= People, Nation, Generation
Unthaa = Female
Yaa ayyuhaa = O you who
Yabsutt = increases, to extend, stretch
Yahlifoona = They swear, they take oath
Yahzanoon = they grieve, sadden or will grive
Yahzanoon(a) = they grieve, sadden or will grieve
Yatoob = he turns from or will turn to God's grace
Yuhib = He likes or he will like
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Memorizing the Qur'an
From Abdur-Rahman Abdul Khaaliq's "Al-Qawaaid adh-Dhahabiyyah lil-Hifdh il-Quran il-Adheem "
English Translation byAmjad ibn Muhammad RafiqUniversity of Essex Islamic Society
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
My Brother and Sister Muslim - there is no doubt that you know of excellence of memorising the Quran and the excellence of teaching it. The Messenger of Allaah said: "The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur'aan and teaches it." [Reported by Bukhaaree]
Presented to you are some rules which will assist in memorising the Qur'aan, may Allaah benefit us by them.
1- Ikhlaas - (Sincerity)
The purification of ones intention and correcting ones desire is obligatory. It is likewise for making ones concern with and memorisation of the Quran for the sake of Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted, and for gaining success with His Paradise and obtaining His pleasure.
Also for obtaining those mighty rewards which are reserved for those who recited the Quran and memorised it. Allaah the Exalted said:
So worship Allaah, making the Deen sincerely for Him. Is it not to Allaah that sincere worship is due? [Zumar 39:2-3] He also said:
Say: I have been commanded that I worship Allaah making the Deen sincerely for Him. [Zumar 39:11]
And the Messenger of Allaah said: "Allaah the Exalted said: I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus, he who does an action for someone elses sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Therefore, there is no reward for the one who recited the Quran and memorised it to show off and to be heard of. There is also no doubt that the one who recited the Quran desiring by it the world and seeking some sort of worldy reward for it is sinful.
2- Correction of ones Pronunciation and Recitation
The first step in memorising the Quran after that of Ikhlaas is the obligation of correcting the pronunciation of the Quran. This does not occur except by listening to a good reciter or a precise memoriser of the Quran. The Quran is not learned except by acquiring it (from another). Thus, the Messenger who is the most eloquent of the arabs in speech, took it from Jibreel (as) orally. The Messenger himself used to recited the Quran to Jibreel once in every year and in the year that he died he recited it to him twice. [Reported by Bukhaaree]
Likewise, the Messenger taught it to the Companions (ra) orally and those who came after them heard it from the Companions and so on for each generation after them.
Taking the Quran from a good reciter is obligatory. Likewise, correcting ones recitation firstly and not depending on oneself in its recitation even if one is knowledgeable of the Arabic language and of its principles, is also obligatory. This is because in the Quran there are many verses which occur in a way that is opposed to what is well known in the rules of the Arabic language.
3- Specifying a Daily Limit for Memorisation
It is necessary for the one desiring to memorise the Quran that he sets himself a daily limit for memorising. a number of verses for example, perhaps a page or two pages or even an eighth of a juz (one thirtieth of the Quran). So he begins, after he has corrected his recitation and set his daily limit, to learn by frequent repetition. It is also necessary that this repetition is done melodiously and this is so that a person follows the Sunnah firstly and that it the memorisation is made firm and strong secondly. Melodious recitation is pleasing to ones hearing and also assists in memorisation. Furthermore, the tongue will always return to a specific tone (of voice) and as a result of this it will become familiar with any mistake whenever the balance in ones recitation and familiar tone becomes disordered or imbalanced. The reciter will know therefore, that his tongue will not comply with him when he makes a mistake and that if the tone is wrong or out of tune, his memorisation will return to him.
All of this is because reciting the Quran and beautifying it with ones voice is a mastronger which has been commanded. It is not permissible to oppose this command due to the saying of the Messenger : "Whoever does not beautify the Quran (recite it melodiously) he is not of us." [Bukhaaree]
4- Not Surpassing One's Daily Limit until You Have Perfected its Memorisation.
It is not permissible for the memoriser to move to a new portion of the Quran until after he has perfected the memorisation of his previous limit. This is so that whatever he has memorised is firmly established in his mind. There is no doubt that amongst those things which aid the memoriser is his occupation with what he has memorised through the hours of the day and night. This occurs by reciting it in the silent prayers, and if he is the imaam then in the loud prayers. Also in the superogatory prayers (nawaafil) and in the times when one is waiting for the obligatory prayers. By this method the memorisation will become a lot easier. In this way it is possible for a person to practise it even if he is occupied with other mastrongers and this is because he does not simply sit at a specific time for memorising the Quran. Thus the night will not arrive except with those verses memorised and firmly established in the mind. And if there is something which has occuppied the memoriser during this day, he should not move onto his next portion of the Quran, rather he should continue on the second day with what he had started with the day before until the memorisation becomes perfected.
5- Memorise Using the Same Copy (Mushaf) of the Quran
Among the things which aid the memorisation is that the memoriser should keep for himself a specific mushaf (copy of the Quran) which he should never change. This is because a person memorises using the sight just as he memorises using the hearing. The script and form of the verses and their places in the mushaf leave an imprint in the mind when they are recited and looked at frequently. If the memoriser was to change his mushaf from which he memorises or if he was to memorise from a number of different copies the places of the verses would be in different places and also the script may also be different. This makes the memorisation difficult for him. Therefore it is obligatory for the one memorisng the Quran that he does so from a single script and mushaf and he should never replace it.
6- Understanding is the Way to Memorising
Among the things which greatly aid the process of memorisation is understanding the verses that one has memorised and knowing their relationship and link, one to another. This is why it is necessary for the memoriser to read the tafseer (explanation) of those verses which he desires to memorise and that he knows their connection, one with another. Also, that he brings this to mind when he is reciting. This makes it easier for him to memorise the verses. Having said this, it is also necessary that he does not depend on knowing the meaning of the verses alone in memorising them. Rather the repetition of these verses should be the foundation. This should be done until the tongue can recite the verses even if the mind is occupied with other than the meaning of these verses. This is sign that the verses are firmly established in the mind. As for the one who relies upon the meaning alone then he will forget often and his recitation will be disjointed due to his mind being scastrongered and occupied with other things. This occurs frequently, especially when the recitation is long.
7- Do not move on from a Complete Surah until you have connected the first part of it to the last
After one surah from among the surahs of the Quran has been completed it is desirable for the memoriser that he does not move onto another surah except after having perfected its memorisation and connecting its first part to its last so that his tongue can flow in reciting it, from its beginning to its end. He should be able to recite it without having to think or go through trouble in remembering the verses. Rather it is a must that the memorisation (and recitation) of these verses is like (flowing) water and that the memoriser recites these verses with out hesitation, even if his mind is occupied with more than one thing, away from the meaning of these verses. It should be as a person recites Surah Faatihah without any difficulty or having to think about it. This occurs by repeating thes e verses frequently and reciting them often. However the memorisation of every surah of the Quran will not be like that of Surah Faatihah except rarely but the intent and desire should be to try to make it as such. Therefore, it is necessary that when a surah is completed it is firmly established in the mind, with its beginning connected to its end and that the memoriser does not move onto another surah until he has memorised it with precision.
8- Reciting to Others
It is necessary for the memoriser not to depend on himself for his memorisation. Rather he should test his memorisation by reciting the verses or surah in question to somebody else, or he should recite them by following the mushaf. And how excellent this would be if a person had with him a precise memoriser (who would test his memorisation). This is so that the memoriser becomes aware of the possibility of his being forgetful or confused in his recitation (without knowing it). Many individuals amongst us who memorise a surah make mistakes and a person may not realise that until he looks into the mushaf. Furhtermore, the one who desires to memorise may not realise by himself at which place he makes an error in his recitation despite the fact that he may be reciting from a mushaf. For this reason making others listen to his recitation of what he has memorised from the Quran is a means of perceiving and knowing these errors and being constantly aware of them.
9- Constantly Returning to what one has Memorised
The Quran is different from any other material that is memorised such as poetry and prose. And this is because the Quran is quickly lost from ones mind. In fact the Messenger of Allaah said: "By Him in whose Hand is my soul, it is faster in escaping than a tied camel." Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim.
No sooner does the memoriser of the Quran leave it for a while until the Quran slips away from him and so he forgets it quickly. This is why it is necessary to constantly follow up what one has memorised and to be vigilant over it. Regarding this we have the saying of the Messenger :
"Verily, the example of the owner of the Quran is like the example of the owner of the tied camel. If he keeps it tied (commits himself to it) he will hold it back and if he lets it loose it will escape from him."And he also said:
"Commit yourselves to the Quran, for by Him in Whose Hand is my soul, it is faster in slipping away than a tied camel." [Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim]
This means that it is obligatory upon the memoriser of the Quran to continuously recite what he has memorised from the Quran. With this constant astrongention and returning to what has been memorised will the Quran remain in his mind and without it, it will escape.
10- Being Aware of the Resembling Parts of the Quran
The various parts of the Quran resemble each other with respect to the meaning, wording and (repetition of) verses. The Exalted said:
Allaah has sent down the most beautiful of speech, a Book, (parts of it) resembling (others) oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it. Then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allaah [Zumar 39:23].
The Quran has approximately six and a half-thousand verses. And there are approximately a thousand verses in which there is a resemblance of some sort. Sometimes there is agreement or difference due to a single lestronger or a word or two or more. For this reason it is necessary for the good reciter of the Quran that he has special concern for the parts of the Quran that resemble each other in terms of their wording. The excellence of ones memorisation will be according to the extent that one has concern for these resembling parts. One of the ways to aid oneself in this mastronger is to study those books which deal with this topic of resembling verses in the Quran. Among the most famous of them are:
1. Durratul-Tanzeel wa Ghurratut-Ta'weel fee Bayaan il Aayaat al-Mutashaabihaat fee Kitaab il-Laahi il-Azeez by al-Khateeb al-Iskaafee
2. Asraar ut-Tukraar fil-Quran by Mahmood bin Hamzah ibn Nasr al-Kirmaanee.
11- Taking Advantage of the Golden Years of Memorising
The succesful one, inevitably, is the one who takes advantage of the best years of memorisation and these are from the age of five to twenty-three approximately. A person's ability to memorise during these years is very good. In fact these are the golden years of memorising. Therefore, it is necessary for a person to keep himself occupied during the these years of his life, memorising the Book of Allaah as much as he can.
Commiting things to memory at this age can be done very quickly and forgestronging is not so easy. This is in opposition to what happens after this time when a person memorises with difficulty and forgets with great speed. He spoke the truth who said:
Memorising in youth is like engraving on stone And memorising when old is like engraving on water
Thus, it is necessary for all of us to take advantage of the golden years of memorising. If we cannot then we should encourage our sons and daughters to do so.
And with Allaah is success and prayers and peace be upon our Messenger Muhammad, upon his family and all his Companions.
English Translation byAmjad ibn Muhammad RafiqUniversity of Essex Islamic Society
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
My Brother and Sister Muslim - there is no doubt that you know of excellence of memorising the Quran and the excellence of teaching it. The Messenger of Allaah said: "The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur'aan and teaches it." [Reported by Bukhaaree]
Presented to you are some rules which will assist in memorising the Qur'aan, may Allaah benefit us by them.
1- Ikhlaas - (Sincerity)
The purification of ones intention and correcting ones desire is obligatory. It is likewise for making ones concern with and memorisation of the Quran for the sake of Allaah, the Sublime and Exalted, and for gaining success with His Paradise and obtaining His pleasure.
Also for obtaining those mighty rewards which are reserved for those who recited the Quran and memorised it. Allaah the Exalted said:
So worship Allaah, making the Deen sincerely for Him. Is it not to Allaah that sincere worship is due? [Zumar 39:2-3] He also said:
Say: I have been commanded that I worship Allaah making the Deen sincerely for Him. [Zumar 39:11]
And the Messenger of Allaah said: "Allaah the Exalted said: I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus, he who does an action for someone elses sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Therefore, there is no reward for the one who recited the Quran and memorised it to show off and to be heard of. There is also no doubt that the one who recited the Quran desiring by it the world and seeking some sort of worldy reward for it is sinful.
2- Correction of ones Pronunciation and Recitation
The first step in memorising the Quran after that of Ikhlaas is the obligation of correcting the pronunciation of the Quran. This does not occur except by listening to a good reciter or a precise memoriser of the Quran. The Quran is not learned except by acquiring it (from another). Thus, the Messenger who is the most eloquent of the arabs in speech, took it from Jibreel (as) orally. The Messenger himself used to recited the Quran to Jibreel once in every year and in the year that he died he recited it to him twice. [Reported by Bukhaaree]
Likewise, the Messenger taught it to the Companions (ra) orally and those who came after them heard it from the Companions and so on for each generation after them.
Taking the Quran from a good reciter is obligatory. Likewise, correcting ones recitation firstly and not depending on oneself in its recitation even if one is knowledgeable of the Arabic language and of its principles, is also obligatory. This is because in the Quran there are many verses which occur in a way that is opposed to what is well known in the rules of the Arabic language.
3- Specifying a Daily Limit for Memorisation
It is necessary for the one desiring to memorise the Quran that he sets himself a daily limit for memorising. a number of verses for example, perhaps a page or two pages or even an eighth of a juz (one thirtieth of the Quran). So he begins, after he has corrected his recitation and set his daily limit, to learn by frequent repetition. It is also necessary that this repetition is done melodiously and this is so that a person follows the Sunnah firstly and that it the memorisation is made firm and strong secondly. Melodious recitation is pleasing to ones hearing and also assists in memorisation. Furthermore, the tongue will always return to a specific tone (of voice) and as a result of this it will become familiar with any mistake whenever the balance in ones recitation and familiar tone becomes disordered or imbalanced. The reciter will know therefore, that his tongue will not comply with him when he makes a mistake and that if the tone is wrong or out of tune, his memorisation will return to him.
All of this is because reciting the Quran and beautifying it with ones voice is a mastronger which has been commanded. It is not permissible to oppose this command due to the saying of the Messenger : "Whoever does not beautify the Quran (recite it melodiously) he is not of us." [Bukhaaree]
4- Not Surpassing One's Daily Limit until You Have Perfected its Memorisation.
It is not permissible for the memoriser to move to a new portion of the Quran until after he has perfected the memorisation of his previous limit. This is so that whatever he has memorised is firmly established in his mind. There is no doubt that amongst those things which aid the memoriser is his occupation with what he has memorised through the hours of the day and night. This occurs by reciting it in the silent prayers, and if he is the imaam then in the loud prayers. Also in the superogatory prayers (nawaafil) and in the times when one is waiting for the obligatory prayers. By this method the memorisation will become a lot easier. In this way it is possible for a person to practise it even if he is occupied with other mastrongers and this is because he does not simply sit at a specific time for memorising the Quran. Thus the night will not arrive except with those verses memorised and firmly established in the mind. And if there is something which has occuppied the memoriser during this day, he should not move onto his next portion of the Quran, rather he should continue on the second day with what he had started with the day before until the memorisation becomes perfected.
5- Memorise Using the Same Copy (Mushaf) of the Quran
Among the things which aid the memorisation is that the memoriser should keep for himself a specific mushaf (copy of the Quran) which he should never change. This is because a person memorises using the sight just as he memorises using the hearing. The script and form of the verses and their places in the mushaf leave an imprint in the mind when they are recited and looked at frequently. If the memoriser was to change his mushaf from which he memorises or if he was to memorise from a number of different copies the places of the verses would be in different places and also the script may also be different. This makes the memorisation difficult for him. Therefore it is obligatory for the one memorisng the Quran that he does so from a single script and mushaf and he should never replace it.
6- Understanding is the Way to Memorising
Among the things which greatly aid the process of memorisation is understanding the verses that one has memorised and knowing their relationship and link, one to another. This is why it is necessary for the memoriser to read the tafseer (explanation) of those verses which he desires to memorise and that he knows their connection, one with another. Also, that he brings this to mind when he is reciting. This makes it easier for him to memorise the verses. Having said this, it is also necessary that he does not depend on knowing the meaning of the verses alone in memorising them. Rather the repetition of these verses should be the foundation. This should be done until the tongue can recite the verses even if the mind is occupied with other than the meaning of these verses. This is sign that the verses are firmly established in the mind. As for the one who relies upon the meaning alone then he will forget often and his recitation will be disjointed due to his mind being scastrongered and occupied with other things. This occurs frequently, especially when the recitation is long.
7- Do not move on from a Complete Surah until you have connected the first part of it to the last
After one surah from among the surahs of the Quran has been completed it is desirable for the memoriser that he does not move onto another surah except after having perfected its memorisation and connecting its first part to its last so that his tongue can flow in reciting it, from its beginning to its end. He should be able to recite it without having to think or go through trouble in remembering the verses. Rather it is a must that the memorisation (and recitation) of these verses is like (flowing) water and that the memoriser recites these verses with out hesitation, even if his mind is occupied with more than one thing, away from the meaning of these verses. It should be as a person recites Surah Faatihah without any difficulty or having to think about it. This occurs by repeating thes e verses frequently and reciting them often. However the memorisation of every surah of the Quran will not be like that of Surah Faatihah except rarely but the intent and desire should be to try to make it as such. Therefore, it is necessary that when a surah is completed it is firmly established in the mind, with its beginning connected to its end and that the memoriser does not move onto another surah until he has memorised it with precision.
8- Reciting to Others
It is necessary for the memoriser not to depend on himself for his memorisation. Rather he should test his memorisation by reciting the verses or surah in question to somebody else, or he should recite them by following the mushaf. And how excellent this would be if a person had with him a precise memoriser (who would test his memorisation). This is so that the memoriser becomes aware of the possibility of his being forgetful or confused in his recitation (without knowing it). Many individuals amongst us who memorise a surah make mistakes and a person may not realise that until he looks into the mushaf. Furhtermore, the one who desires to memorise may not realise by himself at which place he makes an error in his recitation despite the fact that he may be reciting from a mushaf. For this reason making others listen to his recitation of what he has memorised from the Quran is a means of perceiving and knowing these errors and being constantly aware of them.
9- Constantly Returning to what one has Memorised
The Quran is different from any other material that is memorised such as poetry and prose. And this is because the Quran is quickly lost from ones mind. In fact the Messenger of Allaah said: "By Him in whose Hand is my soul, it is faster in escaping than a tied camel." Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim.
No sooner does the memoriser of the Quran leave it for a while until the Quran slips away from him and so he forgets it quickly. This is why it is necessary to constantly follow up what one has memorised and to be vigilant over it. Regarding this we have the saying of the Messenger :
"Verily, the example of the owner of the Quran is like the example of the owner of the tied camel. If he keeps it tied (commits himself to it) he will hold it back and if he lets it loose it will escape from him."And he also said:
"Commit yourselves to the Quran, for by Him in Whose Hand is my soul, it is faster in slipping away than a tied camel." [Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim]
This means that it is obligatory upon the memoriser of the Quran to continuously recite what he has memorised from the Quran. With this constant astrongention and returning to what has been memorised will the Quran remain in his mind and without it, it will escape.
10- Being Aware of the Resembling Parts of the Quran
The various parts of the Quran resemble each other with respect to the meaning, wording and (repetition of) verses. The Exalted said:
Allaah has sent down the most beautiful of speech, a Book, (parts of it) resembling (others) oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it. Then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allaah [Zumar 39:23].
The Quran has approximately six and a half-thousand verses. And there are approximately a thousand verses in which there is a resemblance of some sort. Sometimes there is agreement or difference due to a single lestronger or a word or two or more. For this reason it is necessary for the good reciter of the Quran that he has special concern for the parts of the Quran that resemble each other in terms of their wording. The excellence of ones memorisation will be according to the extent that one has concern for these resembling parts. One of the ways to aid oneself in this mastronger is to study those books which deal with this topic of resembling verses in the Quran. Among the most famous of them are:
1. Durratul-Tanzeel wa Ghurratut-Ta'weel fee Bayaan il Aayaat al-Mutashaabihaat fee Kitaab il-Laahi il-Azeez by al-Khateeb al-Iskaafee
2. Asraar ut-Tukraar fil-Quran by Mahmood bin Hamzah ibn Nasr al-Kirmaanee.
11- Taking Advantage of the Golden Years of Memorising
The succesful one, inevitably, is the one who takes advantage of the best years of memorisation and these are from the age of five to twenty-three approximately. A person's ability to memorise during these years is very good. In fact these are the golden years of memorising. Therefore, it is necessary for a person to keep himself occupied during the these years of his life, memorising the Book of Allaah as much as he can.
Commiting things to memory at this age can be done very quickly and forgestronging is not so easy. This is in opposition to what happens after this time when a person memorises with difficulty and forgets with great speed. He spoke the truth who said:
Memorising in youth is like engraving on stone And memorising when old is like engraving on water
Thus, it is necessary for all of us to take advantage of the golden years of memorising. If we cannot then we should encourage our sons and daughters to do so.
And with Allaah is success and prayers and peace be upon our Messenger Muhammad, upon his family and all his Companions.
ANGELS IN THE QUR'AN
http://www.harunyahya.com/generalknowledge5.php
THE ANGEL POSSESSED OF POWER: JIBRIL (also called Gabriel / Jibreel)
Truly it is the speech of a noble Messenger, (Surat at-Takwir, 19)
He is the Raiser of ranks, the Possessor of the Throne, He sends the Spirit by His command to whichever of His servants He wills so that he may warn mankind about the Day of Meeting: (Surah Ghafir, 15)
It is nothing but Revelation revealed, taught him by one immensely strong, possessing power and splendour. He stood there stationary - (Surat an-Najm, 4-6)
And veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' She said, 'How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us." It is a matter already decreed.' (Surah Maryam, 17-21)
JIBRIL'S SPLENDID BEAUTY
It is nothing but Revelation revealed, taught him by one immensely strong, possessing power and splendour. He stood there stationary. (Surat an-Najm, 4-6)
PROPHET MUHAMMED'S (PBUH) SEEING JIBRIL
And certainly he saw him in another descent, at the farthest lote-tree; near which is the garden, the place to be resorted to. When that which covers covered the lote-tree; the eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the limit. Certainly he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord. (Surat an-Najm, 13-18)
JIBRIL'S APPEARANCE ON THE HORIZON
He saw him on the clear horizon. (Surat at-Takwir, 23)
JIBRIL'S DESCENT TO MARYAM IN THE FORM of a Handsome Man
And veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' (Surah Maryam, 17-19)
TWO OBSERVING AND RECORDING ANGELS AT EVERYBODY'S SIDE
We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left. He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand! (Surah Qaf, 16-18)
Standing over you are guardians, noble, recording, who know what you do. (Surat al-Infitar, 10-12)
Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command. Allah never changes a people's state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him. (Surat ar-Ra'd, 11)
MESSENGER AnGELS WITH WINGS - TWO, THREE AND FOUR OR MORE
Praise be to Allah, the Bringer into Being of the heavens and earth, He Who made the angels messengers, with wings - two, three or four. He adds to creation in any way He wills. Allah has power over all things. (Surah Fatir, 1)
STERN AND STRONG ANGELS OVER THE FIRE OF HELL
You who believe! Safeguard yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones. Harsh, terrible angels are in charge of it who do not disobey Allah in respect of any order He gives them and carry out what they are ordered to do. (Surat at-Tahrim, 6)
ANGELS ASCEND TO the PRESENCE OF Allah IN A DAY FIFTY THOUSAND YEARS long
The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years. (Surat al-Ma'arij, 4)
ANGELS' WITNESSING
On the Day We gather them all together and then say to the angels, 'Was it you whom these people were worshipping?' they will say, 'Glory be to You! You are our Protector, not them. No, they were worshipping the jinn. They mostly had faith in them.' (Surah Saba, 40-41)
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, 166)
Allah bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels and the people of knowledge, upholding justice. There is no god but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surah Al 'Imran, 18)
THE FAVOURED ANGELS' SERVITUDE TO Allah
The Messiah would never disdain to be a slave to Allah nor would the angels near to Him. If any do disdain to worship Him, and grow arrogant, He will in any case gather them all to Him. (Surat an-Nisa, 172)
ANGELS CIRCLING ROUND THE THRONE
You will see the angels circling round the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. It will be decided between them with truth. And it will be said: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.' (Surat az-Zumar, 75)
ANGELS DRAWN UP IN RANKS AND GLORIFYING ALLAH
There is not one of us who does not have a known station. We are those drawn up in ranks. We are those who glorify.' (Surat as-Saffat, 164-166)
The thunder glorifies His praise, as do the angels, out of fear of Him. He discharges the thunderbolts, striking with them anyone He wills. Yet still they argue about Allah when He is inexorable in His power! (Surat ar-Rad, 13)
The heavens are all but rent asunder from above when the angels glorify their Lord with praise and ask forgiveness for those who are on the earth. Allah is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful (Surat ash-Shura, 5)
ANGELS PROSTRATING themselves TO the PROPHET ADAM (as)
When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am putting an overlord on the earth,' they said, 'Why put on it one who will cause corruption on it and shed blood when we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your purity?' He said, 'I know what you do not know.' He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He arrayed them before the angels and said, 'Tell me the names of these if you are telling the truth.' They said, 'Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' He said, 'Adam, tell them their names.' When he had told them their names, He said, 'Did I not tell you that I know the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you make known and what you hide?' We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam!' and they prostrated, with the exception of Iblis. He refused and was arrogant and was one of the disbelievers. (Surat al-Baqara, 30-34)
ANGELS FEAR THEIR LORD AND DO WHAT THEY ARE ORDERED TO DO
Everything in the heavens and every creature on the earth prostrates to Allah, as do the angels. They are not puffed up with pride. They fear their Lord above them and do everything they are ordered to do. (Surat an-Nahl, 49-50)
ANGELS RANK UPON RANK
And your Lord arrives with the angels rank upon rank (Surat al-Fajr, 22)
ANGELS' PRAYER THAT BELIEVERS BE BROUGHT OUT OF DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT
You who believe! Remember Allah much, and glorify Him in the morning and the evening. It is He Who calls down blessing on you, as do His angels, to bring you out of the darkness into the light. He is Most Merciful to the believers. (Surat al-Ahzab, 41-43)
ANGELS' ASKING FOR BLESSINGS ON THE PROPHET
Allah and His angels call down blessings on the Prophet. You who believe! Call down blessings on him and ask for complete peace and safety for him. (Surat al-Ahzab, 56)
ANGELS' DESCENDING TO BELIEVERS AND GIVING THEM GLAD TIDINGS
The angels descend on those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then go straight: 'Do not fear and do not grieve but rejoice in the Garden you have been promised. We are your protectors in the life of this world and the hereafter.You will have there all that your selves could wish for. You will have there everything you demand. Hospitality from One Who is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (Surah Fussilat, 30-32)
Allah ASSISTS BELIEVERS WITH ANGELS
Remember when you called on your Lord for help and He responded to you: 'I will reinforce you with a thousand angels riding rank after rank.' Allah only did this to give you good news and that so your hearts would be at rest. Victory comes from no one but Allah. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat al-Anfal, 9-10)
Allah helped you at Badr when you were weak so have fear of Allah, so that hopefully you will be thankful. And when you said to the believers, 'Is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?' Yes indeed! But if you are steadfast and guard against evil and they come upon you suddenly, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels, clearly identified. Allah only did this for it to be good news for you and so that your hearts might be set at rest by it (help comes from no one but Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise) and so that He might cut off a group of those who are disbelievers, or overwhelm them so that they retire, frustrated. (Surah Al 'Imran, 123-127)
You who believe! Remember Allah's blessing to you when forces came against you and We sent a wind against them and other forces you could not see. Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Ahzab, 9)
ANGELS' DESCENDING TO EARTH ON THE NIGHT OF POWER BY THEIR LORD'S AUTHORITY
Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power. And what will convey to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. In it the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord's authority with every ordinance. It is Peace -until the coming of the dawn. (Surat al-Qadr, 1-5)
THEIR CURSE UPON DISBELIEVERS
But as for those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, the curse of Allah is upon them and that of the angels and all mankind. (Surat al-Baqara, 161)
ANGELS ARE HONOURED SERVANTS
They say, 'The All-Merciful has a son.' Glory be to Him! No, they are honoured servants! They do not precede Him in speech and they act on His command. He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them. They only intercede on behalf of those with whom He is pleased, and even they are apprehensive out of fear of Him. Were any of them to say, 'I am a god apart from Him,' We would repay him with Hell. That is how We repay wrongdoers. (Surat al-Anbiya, 26-29)
ANGELS THAT CAME IN TO the PROPHET Ibrahim (as)
And tell them about the guests of Ibrahim. When they came in to him, they said, 'Peace!' He said, 'Truly we are afraid of you.' They said, 'Do not be afraid. We bring you the good news of a boy of great knowledge.' He said, 'Do you bring me this good news despite the fact of old age having reached me? What kind of good news are you bringing me?' They said, 'We bring you good news of the truth, so do not be among those who despair.' He said, 'Who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for misguided people?' He added, 'What is your business, messengers?' They said, 'We have been sent to a people who are evildoers -with the exception of the family of Lut, all of whom We will save, except for his wife. We have decreed her to be one of those who stay behind.' (Surat al-Hijr, 51-60)
Our messengers brought the good news to Ibrahim. They said, 'Peace!' and he too said, 'Peace!' and brought in a roasted calf without delay. When he saw that their hands were not reaching for it, he suspected them and felt afraid of them. They said, 'Have no fear! We have been sent to the people of Lut.' His wife was standing there and she laughed out loud. So We gave her the good news of Ishaq, and beyond Ishaq, Ya'qub. She said, 'Woe is me! How can I give birth when I am an old woman and my husband here is an aged man? This is indeed an astonishing thing!' They said, 'Are you astonished at Allah's command? May Allah's mercy and His blessings be upon you, People of the House! He is Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.' (Surah Hud, 69-73)
Our messengers brought the good news to Ibrahim. They said, 'Peace!' and he too said, 'Peace!' and brought in a roasted calf without delay. When he saw that their hands were not reaching for it, he suspected them and felt afraid of them. They said, 'Have no fear! We have been sent to the people of Lut.' (Surah Hud, 69-70)
ANGELS THAT CAME TO the PROPHET LUT (as)
When the Messengers came to the family of Lut, he said, 'You are people we do not know.' They said, 'We have come to you with what they had doubts about. We have brought you the truth and we are certainly truthful men. Travel with your family in the dead of night, following behind with them in front of you. None of you must look back. Go where you are ordered to.' (Surat al-Hijr, 61-65)
When Our Messengers came to Lut, he was distressed on their account, feeling incapable of protecting them. They said, 'Do not fear and do not grieve. We are going to rescue you and your family - except for your wife; she will be one of those who stay behind. We will bring down on the inhabitants of this city a devastating punishment from heaven because of their deviance.' (Surat al-Ankabut, 33-34)
When Our messengers came to Lut, he was distressed for them, and very concerned for them, and said, 'This is a dreadful day.' (Surah Hud, 77)
ANGELS THAT CAME TO the PROPHET Zakariyya (as)
The angels called out to him while he was standing in prayer in the Upper Room: 'Allah gives you the good news of Yahya, who will come to confirm a Word from Allah, and honorable and chaste and a Prophet and one of the righteous.' He said, 'My Lord, how can I possibly have a son when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?' He said, 'It will be so. Allah does whatever He wills.' He said, 'My Lord, appoint a Sign for me.' He said, 'Your Sign is that you will not speak to people for three days, except by gesture. Remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and after dawn.' (Surah Al 'Imran, 39-41)
'Zakariyya! We give you the good news of a boy named Yahya, a name we have given to no one else before.' He said, 'My Lord! How can I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached advanced old age?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for me to do. I created you before, when you were not anything."' He said, 'My Lord, give me a Sign.' He said, 'Your Sign is not to speak to people for three nights despite the fact that you are perfectly able to.' (Surah Maryam, 7-10)
ANGELS THAT CAME TO MARYAM (as)
And when the angels said, 'Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women. Maryam, obey your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow.' This is news from the Unseen which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their reeds to see which of them would be the guardian of Maryam. You were not with them when they quarrelled. When the angels said, 'Maryam, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, 'Isa, son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near. He will speak to people in the cradle, and also when fully grown, and will be one of the righteous,' she said, 'My Lord! How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me?' He said, 'It will be so.' Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it, 'Be!' and it is. (Surah Al 'Imran, 42-47)
And veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' She said, 'How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us." It is a matter already decreed.' (Surah Maryam, 17-21)
DEATH ANGELS
Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command. Allah never changes a people's state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him. (Surat ar-Rad, 11)
How will it be when the angels take them in death, beating their faces and their backs? That is because they followed what angers Allah and hated what is pleasing to Him. So He made their actions come to nothing. (Surah Muhammad, 27-28)
The angels ask those they take while they are wronging themselves, 'What were your circumstances?' They reply, 'We were oppressed on earth.' They say, 'Was Allah's earth not wide enough for you to have migrated to elsewhere in it?' The shelter of such people will be Hell. What an evil destination! (Surat an-Nisa', 97)
Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah or denies His Signs, or who says, 'It has been revealed to me,' when nothing has been revealed to him, or someone who says, 'I will send down the same as Allah has sent down'? If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs.' (Surat al-An'am, 93)
As for those the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves, they will offer their submission: 'We did not do any evil.' Oh yes you did! Allah knows what you were doing. Enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' When those who have fear of Allah are asked, 'What has your Lord sent down?' their reply is, 'Good!' There is good in this world for those who do good, and the abode of the hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who guard against evil: Gardens of Eden which they enter, with rivers flowing under them, where they have whatever they desire. That is how Allah repays those who guard agaisnt evil: those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, 'Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.' What are they waiting for but the angels to come to them or your Lord's command to come? That is like what those before them did. Allah did not wrong them; rather they wronged themselves. (Surat an-Nahl, 28-33)
ANGELS BEARING THE THRONE
And Heaven will be split apart, for that Day it will be very frail. The angels will be gathered round its edge. On that Day, eight will bear the Throne of their Lord above their heads. (Surat al-Haqqa, 16-17)
HARUT AND MARUT
They follow what the satans recited in the reign of Sulayman. Sulayman did not become disbeliever, but the satans did, teaching people sorcery and what had been sent down to Harut and Marut, the two angels in Babylon, who taught no one without first saying to him, 'We are merely a trial and temptation, so do not become disbelievers.' People learned from them how to separate a man and his wife but they cannot harm anyone by it, except with Allah's permission. They have learned what will harm them and will not benefit them. They know that any who deal in it will have no share in the hereafter. What an evil thing they have sold themselves for if they only knew! (Surat al-Baqara, 102)
ANGELS BEARING THE ARK
Their Prophet said to them, 'Allah has appointed Talut to be your king.' They said, 'How can he have kingship over us when we have much more right to kingship than he does? He has not even got much wealth!' He said, 'Allah has chosen him over you and favoured him greatly in knowledge and physical strength. Allah gives kingship to anyone He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.' Their Prophet said to them, 'The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing serenity from your Lord and certain relics left by the families of Musa and Harun. It will be borne by angels. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.' (Surat al-Baqara, 247-248)
ANGELS ON THE DAY OF RISING
The Day when Heaven is split apart in clouds, and the angels are sent down rank upon rank. The Kingdom that Day will belong in truth to the All-Merciful. It will be a hard Day for the disbelievers. (Surat al-Furqan, 25-26)
And your Lord arrives with the angels rank upon rank and that Day Hell is produced, that Day man will remember; but how will the remembrance help him? (Surat al-Fajr, 22-23)
On that Day, the Occurrence will occur and Heaven will be split apart, for that Day it will be very frail. The angels will be gathered round its edge. On that Day, eight will bear the Throne of their Lord above their heads. (Surat al-Haqqa, 15-17)
On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks, no one will speak, except for him who is authorised by the All-Merciful and says what is right. (Surat an-Naba, 38)
ANGELS OF PARADISE
Those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, 'Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.' (Surat an-Nahl, 32)
And those who guard against evil of their Lord will be driven to the Garden in companies and when they arrive there, finding its gates open, its custodians will say to them, 'Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, for ever.' (Surat az-Zumar, 73)
Gardens of Eden which they will enter, and all of their parents, wives and children who were righteous. Angels will enter in to welcome them from every gate: 'Peace be upon you because of your steadfastness! How wonderful is the Ultimate Abode!' (Surat ar-Rad, 23-24)
ANGELS OF HELL (CUSTODIANS)
There are nineteen in charge of it. We have only appointed angels as masters of the Fire and We have only specified their number as a trial for those who disbelieve; so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in their faith, and both those who were given the Book and the believers might have no doubt; and so that those with sickness in their hearts and the disbelievers might say, 'What did Allah intend by this example?' In this way Allah misguides those He wills and guides those He wills. No one knows the legions of your Lord but Him. This is nothing but a reminder to all human beings. (Surat al-Muddaththir, 30-31)
You who believe! Safeguard yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones. Harsh, terrible angels are in charge of it who do not disobey Allah in respect of any order He gives them and carry out what they are ordered to do. (Surat at-Tahrim, 6)
It all but bursts with rage. Each time a group is flung into it its custodians will question them:'Did no warner come to you?' (Surat al-Mulk, 8)
Those who disbelieve will be driven to Hell in companies and when they arrive there and its gates are opened its custodians will say to them, 'Did Messengers from yourselves not come to you, reciting your Lord's Signs to you and warning you of the meeting on this Day of yours?' They will say, 'Indeed they did, but the decree of punishment is justly carried out against the disbelievers.' They will be told, 'Enter the gates of Hell and stay there timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' (Surat az-Zumar, 71-72)
They will call out, 'Master, let your Lord put an end to us!' He will say, 'You will stay the way you are.' We brought you the truth but most of you hated the truth. (Surat Zukhruf, 77-78)
THE ANGEL POSSESSED OF POWER: JIBRIL (also called Gabriel / Jibreel)
Truly it is the speech of a noble Messenger, (Surat at-Takwir, 19)
He is the Raiser of ranks, the Possessor of the Throne, He sends the Spirit by His command to whichever of His servants He wills so that he may warn mankind about the Day of Meeting: (Surah Ghafir, 15)
It is nothing but Revelation revealed, taught him by one immensely strong, possessing power and splendour. He stood there stationary - (Surat an-Najm, 4-6)
And veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' She said, 'How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us." It is a matter already decreed.' (Surah Maryam, 17-21)
JIBRIL'S SPLENDID BEAUTY
It is nothing but Revelation revealed, taught him by one immensely strong, possessing power and splendour. He stood there stationary. (Surat an-Najm, 4-6)
PROPHET MUHAMMED'S (PBUH) SEEING JIBRIL
And certainly he saw him in another descent, at the farthest lote-tree; near which is the garden, the place to be resorted to. When that which covers covered the lote-tree; the eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the limit. Certainly he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord. (Surat an-Najm, 13-18)
JIBRIL'S APPEARANCE ON THE HORIZON
He saw him on the clear horizon. (Surat at-Takwir, 23)
JIBRIL'S DESCENT TO MARYAM IN THE FORM of a Handsome Man
And veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' (Surah Maryam, 17-19)
TWO OBSERVING AND RECORDING ANGELS AT EVERYBODY'S SIDE
We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left. He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand! (Surah Qaf, 16-18)
Standing over you are guardians, noble, recording, who know what you do. (Surat al-Infitar, 10-12)
Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command. Allah never changes a people's state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him. (Surat ar-Ra'd, 11)
MESSENGER AnGELS WITH WINGS - TWO, THREE AND FOUR OR MORE
Praise be to Allah, the Bringer into Being of the heavens and earth, He Who made the angels messengers, with wings - two, three or four. He adds to creation in any way He wills. Allah has power over all things. (Surah Fatir, 1)
STERN AND STRONG ANGELS OVER THE FIRE OF HELL
You who believe! Safeguard yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones. Harsh, terrible angels are in charge of it who do not disobey Allah in respect of any order He gives them and carry out what they are ordered to do. (Surat at-Tahrim, 6)
ANGELS ASCEND TO the PRESENCE OF Allah IN A DAY FIFTY THOUSAND YEARS long
The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years. (Surat al-Ma'arij, 4)
ANGELS' WITNESSING
On the Day We gather them all together and then say to the angels, 'Was it you whom these people were worshipping?' they will say, 'Glory be to You! You are our Protector, not them. No, they were worshipping the jinn. They mostly had faith in them.' (Surah Saba, 40-41)
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, 166)
Allah bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels and the people of knowledge, upholding justice. There is no god but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surah Al 'Imran, 18)
THE FAVOURED ANGELS' SERVITUDE TO Allah
The Messiah would never disdain to be a slave to Allah nor would the angels near to Him. If any do disdain to worship Him, and grow arrogant, He will in any case gather them all to Him. (Surat an-Nisa, 172)
ANGELS CIRCLING ROUND THE THRONE
You will see the angels circling round the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. It will be decided between them with truth. And it will be said: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.' (Surat az-Zumar, 75)
ANGELS DRAWN UP IN RANKS AND GLORIFYING ALLAH
There is not one of us who does not have a known station. We are those drawn up in ranks. We are those who glorify.' (Surat as-Saffat, 164-166)
The thunder glorifies His praise, as do the angels, out of fear of Him. He discharges the thunderbolts, striking with them anyone He wills. Yet still they argue about Allah when He is inexorable in His power! (Surat ar-Rad, 13)
The heavens are all but rent asunder from above when the angels glorify their Lord with praise and ask forgiveness for those who are on the earth. Allah is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful (Surat ash-Shura, 5)
ANGELS PROSTRATING themselves TO the PROPHET ADAM (as)
When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am putting an overlord on the earth,' they said, 'Why put on it one who will cause corruption on it and shed blood when we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your purity?' He said, 'I know what you do not know.' He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He arrayed them before the angels and said, 'Tell me the names of these if you are telling the truth.' They said, 'Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' He said, 'Adam, tell them their names.' When he had told them their names, He said, 'Did I not tell you that I know the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you make known and what you hide?' We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam!' and they prostrated, with the exception of Iblis. He refused and was arrogant and was one of the disbelievers. (Surat al-Baqara, 30-34)
ANGELS FEAR THEIR LORD AND DO WHAT THEY ARE ORDERED TO DO
Everything in the heavens and every creature on the earth prostrates to Allah, as do the angels. They are not puffed up with pride. They fear their Lord above them and do everything they are ordered to do. (Surat an-Nahl, 49-50)
ANGELS RANK UPON RANK
And your Lord arrives with the angels rank upon rank (Surat al-Fajr, 22)
ANGELS' PRAYER THAT BELIEVERS BE BROUGHT OUT OF DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT
You who believe! Remember Allah much, and glorify Him in the morning and the evening. It is He Who calls down blessing on you, as do His angels, to bring you out of the darkness into the light. He is Most Merciful to the believers. (Surat al-Ahzab, 41-43)
ANGELS' ASKING FOR BLESSINGS ON THE PROPHET
Allah and His angels call down blessings on the Prophet. You who believe! Call down blessings on him and ask for complete peace and safety for him. (Surat al-Ahzab, 56)
ANGELS' DESCENDING TO BELIEVERS AND GIVING THEM GLAD TIDINGS
The angels descend on those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then go straight: 'Do not fear and do not grieve but rejoice in the Garden you have been promised. We are your protectors in the life of this world and the hereafter.You will have there all that your selves could wish for. You will have there everything you demand. Hospitality from One Who is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (Surah Fussilat, 30-32)
Allah ASSISTS BELIEVERS WITH ANGELS
Remember when you called on your Lord for help and He responded to you: 'I will reinforce you with a thousand angels riding rank after rank.' Allah only did this to give you good news and that so your hearts would be at rest. Victory comes from no one but Allah. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat al-Anfal, 9-10)
Allah helped you at Badr when you were weak so have fear of Allah, so that hopefully you will be thankful. And when you said to the believers, 'Is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?' Yes indeed! But if you are steadfast and guard against evil and they come upon you suddenly, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels, clearly identified. Allah only did this for it to be good news for you and so that your hearts might be set at rest by it (help comes from no one but Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise) and so that He might cut off a group of those who are disbelievers, or overwhelm them so that they retire, frustrated. (Surah Al 'Imran, 123-127)
You who believe! Remember Allah's blessing to you when forces came against you and We sent a wind against them and other forces you could not see. Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Ahzab, 9)
ANGELS' DESCENDING TO EARTH ON THE NIGHT OF POWER BY THEIR LORD'S AUTHORITY
Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power. And what will convey to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. In it the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord's authority with every ordinance. It is Peace -until the coming of the dawn. (Surat al-Qadr, 1-5)
THEIR CURSE UPON DISBELIEVERS
But as for those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, the curse of Allah is upon them and that of the angels and all mankind. (Surat al-Baqara, 161)
ANGELS ARE HONOURED SERVANTS
They say, 'The All-Merciful has a son.' Glory be to Him! No, they are honoured servants! They do not precede Him in speech and they act on His command. He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them. They only intercede on behalf of those with whom He is pleased, and even they are apprehensive out of fear of Him. Were any of them to say, 'I am a god apart from Him,' We would repay him with Hell. That is how We repay wrongdoers. (Surat al-Anbiya, 26-29)
ANGELS THAT CAME IN TO the PROPHET Ibrahim (as)
And tell them about the guests of Ibrahim. When they came in to him, they said, 'Peace!' He said, 'Truly we are afraid of you.' They said, 'Do not be afraid. We bring you the good news of a boy of great knowledge.' He said, 'Do you bring me this good news despite the fact of old age having reached me? What kind of good news are you bringing me?' They said, 'We bring you good news of the truth, so do not be among those who despair.' He said, 'Who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for misguided people?' He added, 'What is your business, messengers?' They said, 'We have been sent to a people who are evildoers -with the exception of the family of Lut, all of whom We will save, except for his wife. We have decreed her to be one of those who stay behind.' (Surat al-Hijr, 51-60)
Our messengers brought the good news to Ibrahim. They said, 'Peace!' and he too said, 'Peace!' and brought in a roasted calf without delay. When he saw that their hands were not reaching for it, he suspected them and felt afraid of them. They said, 'Have no fear! We have been sent to the people of Lut.' His wife was standing there and she laughed out loud. So We gave her the good news of Ishaq, and beyond Ishaq, Ya'qub. She said, 'Woe is me! How can I give birth when I am an old woman and my husband here is an aged man? This is indeed an astonishing thing!' They said, 'Are you astonished at Allah's command? May Allah's mercy and His blessings be upon you, People of the House! He is Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.' (Surah Hud, 69-73)
Our messengers brought the good news to Ibrahim. They said, 'Peace!' and he too said, 'Peace!' and brought in a roasted calf without delay. When he saw that their hands were not reaching for it, he suspected them and felt afraid of them. They said, 'Have no fear! We have been sent to the people of Lut.' (Surah Hud, 69-70)
ANGELS THAT CAME TO the PROPHET LUT (as)
When the Messengers came to the family of Lut, he said, 'You are people we do not know.' They said, 'We have come to you with what they had doubts about. We have brought you the truth and we are certainly truthful men. Travel with your family in the dead of night, following behind with them in front of you. None of you must look back. Go where you are ordered to.' (Surat al-Hijr, 61-65)
When Our Messengers came to Lut, he was distressed on their account, feeling incapable of protecting them. They said, 'Do not fear and do not grieve. We are going to rescue you and your family - except for your wife; she will be one of those who stay behind. We will bring down on the inhabitants of this city a devastating punishment from heaven because of their deviance.' (Surat al-Ankabut, 33-34)
When Our messengers came to Lut, he was distressed for them, and very concerned for them, and said, 'This is a dreadful day.' (Surah Hud, 77)
ANGELS THAT CAME TO the PROPHET Zakariyya (as)
The angels called out to him while he was standing in prayer in the Upper Room: 'Allah gives you the good news of Yahya, who will come to confirm a Word from Allah, and honorable and chaste and a Prophet and one of the righteous.' He said, 'My Lord, how can I possibly have a son when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?' He said, 'It will be so. Allah does whatever He wills.' He said, 'My Lord, appoint a Sign for me.' He said, 'Your Sign is that you will not speak to people for three days, except by gesture. Remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and after dawn.' (Surah Al 'Imran, 39-41)
'Zakariyya! We give you the good news of a boy named Yahya, a name we have given to no one else before.' He said, 'My Lord! How can I have a boy when my wife is barren and I have reached advanced old age?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for me to do. I created you before, when you were not anything."' He said, 'My Lord, give me a Sign.' He said, 'Your Sign is not to speak to people for three nights despite the fact that you are perfectly able to.' (Surah Maryam, 7-10)
ANGELS THAT CAME TO MARYAM (as)
And when the angels said, 'Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women. Maryam, obey your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow.' This is news from the Unseen which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their reeds to see which of them would be the guardian of Maryam. You were not with them when they quarrelled. When the angels said, 'Maryam, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, 'Isa, son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near. He will speak to people in the cradle, and also when fully grown, and will be one of the righteous,' she said, 'My Lord! How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me?' He said, 'It will be so.' Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it, 'Be!' and it is. (Surah Al 'Imran, 42-47)
And veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. She said, 'I seek refuge from you with the All-Merciful if you guard against evil.' He said, 'I am only your Lord's messenger so that He can give you a pure boy.' She said, 'How can I have a boy when no man has touched me and I am not an unchaste woman?' He said, 'It will be so! Your Lord says, "That is easy for Me. It is so that We can make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us." It is a matter already decreed.' (Surah Maryam, 17-21)
DEATH ANGELS
Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command. Allah never changes a people's state until they change what is in themselves. When Allah desires evil for a people, there is no averting it. They have no protector apart from Him. (Surat ar-Rad, 11)
How will it be when the angels take them in death, beating their faces and their backs? That is because they followed what angers Allah and hated what is pleasing to Him. So He made their actions come to nothing. (Surah Muhammad, 27-28)
The angels ask those they take while they are wronging themselves, 'What were your circumstances?' They reply, 'We were oppressed on earth.' They say, 'Was Allah's earth not wide enough for you to have migrated to elsewhere in it?' The shelter of such people will be Hell. What an evil destination! (Surat an-Nisa', 97)
Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah or denies His Signs, or who says, 'It has been revealed to me,' when nothing has been revealed to him, or someone who says, 'I will send down the same as Allah has sent down'? If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs.' (Surat al-An'am, 93)
As for those the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves, they will offer their submission: 'We did not do any evil.' Oh yes you did! Allah knows what you were doing. Enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' When those who have fear of Allah are asked, 'What has your Lord sent down?' their reply is, 'Good!' There is good in this world for those who do good, and the abode of the hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who guard against evil: Gardens of Eden which they enter, with rivers flowing under them, where they have whatever they desire. That is how Allah repays those who guard agaisnt evil: those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, 'Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.' What are they waiting for but the angels to come to them or your Lord's command to come? That is like what those before them did. Allah did not wrong them; rather they wronged themselves. (Surat an-Nahl, 28-33)
ANGELS BEARING THE THRONE
And Heaven will be split apart, for that Day it will be very frail. The angels will be gathered round its edge. On that Day, eight will bear the Throne of their Lord above their heads. (Surat al-Haqqa, 16-17)
HARUT AND MARUT
They follow what the satans recited in the reign of Sulayman. Sulayman did not become disbeliever, but the satans did, teaching people sorcery and what had been sent down to Harut and Marut, the two angels in Babylon, who taught no one without first saying to him, 'We are merely a trial and temptation, so do not become disbelievers.' People learned from them how to separate a man and his wife but they cannot harm anyone by it, except with Allah's permission. They have learned what will harm them and will not benefit them. They know that any who deal in it will have no share in the hereafter. What an evil thing they have sold themselves for if they only knew! (Surat al-Baqara, 102)
ANGELS BEARING THE ARK
Their Prophet said to them, 'Allah has appointed Talut to be your king.' They said, 'How can he have kingship over us when we have much more right to kingship than he does? He has not even got much wealth!' He said, 'Allah has chosen him over you and favoured him greatly in knowledge and physical strength. Allah gives kingship to anyone He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.' Their Prophet said to them, 'The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing serenity from your Lord and certain relics left by the families of Musa and Harun. It will be borne by angels. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.' (Surat al-Baqara, 247-248)
ANGELS ON THE DAY OF RISING
The Day when Heaven is split apart in clouds, and the angels are sent down rank upon rank. The Kingdom that Day will belong in truth to the All-Merciful. It will be a hard Day for the disbelievers. (Surat al-Furqan, 25-26)
And your Lord arrives with the angels rank upon rank and that Day Hell is produced, that Day man will remember; but how will the remembrance help him? (Surat al-Fajr, 22-23)
On that Day, the Occurrence will occur and Heaven will be split apart, for that Day it will be very frail. The angels will be gathered round its edge. On that Day, eight will bear the Throne of their Lord above their heads. (Surat al-Haqqa, 15-17)
On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks, no one will speak, except for him who is authorised by the All-Merciful and says what is right. (Surat an-Naba, 38)
ANGELS OF PARADISE
Those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, 'Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.' (Surat an-Nahl, 32)
And those who guard against evil of their Lord will be driven to the Garden in companies and when they arrive there, finding its gates open, its custodians will say to them, 'Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, for ever.' (Surat az-Zumar, 73)
Gardens of Eden which they will enter, and all of their parents, wives and children who were righteous. Angels will enter in to welcome them from every gate: 'Peace be upon you because of your steadfastness! How wonderful is the Ultimate Abode!' (Surat ar-Rad, 23-24)
ANGELS OF HELL (CUSTODIANS)
There are nineteen in charge of it. We have only appointed angels as masters of the Fire and We have only specified their number as a trial for those who disbelieve; so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in their faith, and both those who were given the Book and the believers might have no doubt; and so that those with sickness in their hearts and the disbelievers might say, 'What did Allah intend by this example?' In this way Allah misguides those He wills and guides those He wills. No one knows the legions of your Lord but Him. This is nothing but a reminder to all human beings. (Surat al-Muddaththir, 30-31)
You who believe! Safeguard yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones. Harsh, terrible angels are in charge of it who do not disobey Allah in respect of any order He gives them and carry out what they are ordered to do. (Surat at-Tahrim, 6)
It all but bursts with rage. Each time a group is flung into it its custodians will question them:'Did no warner come to you?' (Surat al-Mulk, 8)
Those who disbelieve will be driven to Hell in companies and when they arrive there and its gates are opened its custodians will say to them, 'Did Messengers from yourselves not come to you, reciting your Lord's Signs to you and warning you of the meeting on this Day of yours?' They will say, 'Indeed they did, but the decree of punishment is justly carried out against the disbelievers.' They will be told, 'Enter the gates of Hell and stay there timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' (Surat az-Zumar, 71-72)
They will call out, 'Master, let your Lord put an end to us!' He will say, 'You will stay the way you are.' We brought you the truth but most of you hated the truth. (Surat Zukhruf, 77-78)
PURPOSE OF LIFE
From: http://www.islamtomorrow.com/
Have you ever asked yourself these questions?
"What is the purpose of L I F E?""My life?""Your Life?"
People everywhere are asking the questions; "What is the purpose of life?" and "Why are we here?" You might be amazed to learn, that Islam is providing clear and concise answers for these questions.
Most of those who reflect or think about life in any detail will consider and ponder these questions. There are as many different answers to these questions as there are people asking the questions. Some would hold that the purpose of life was to acquire wealth. Yet suppose they were to acquire millions of dollars, what then would they claim is their purpose after doing so?If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose after becoming wealthy. The fact is that when people approach their purpose here in this life from the aspect of only gaining wealth, after collecting the money they have dreamed of their lives loose purpose and then they live in restless tension suffering from a feeling of worthlessness.How could wealth then be considered as the aim of life?Could the acquisition of wealth guarantee happiness? Of course not.When we hear of millionaires or members of their families committing suicide, how could we consider the purpose of life would be to gain great wealth?A child of 5 years would obviously prefer a new toy to a deposit slip for a million dollars.A teenager does not consider millions of dollars in the bank a substitute for movies, videos, pizza and hanging out with his friends. A person in their 80s or 90s would never consider holding on to their wealth in place of spending it to hold on to or regain their health.This proves that money is not the main purpose at all the stages of one's life.Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to one who is a disbeliever in Almighty God, because regardless of what he or she would gain in this life they would always live in fear of what will happen to them in the end. They would wonder what would become of them and how they would end up.Wealth and its accumulation as a purpose would be doomed to a temporary success at best and in the end it would only spell out self destruction.So, what is the use of wealth to a person without belief? He would always fear his end and would always be skeptical of everything. He may gain a great material wealth but he would only lose himself in the end.Worship of the One True Almighty God of the Universe [Allah in Arabic] as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in both this life and the Next Life.The word for total surrender, submission, obedience, purity of heart and peace in the Arabic language is "Islam". Those who try to perform these actions are called "MU-slims" [Islam-ERs]. To a Muslim the whole purpose of life is "ibadah" or worship to the One True Almighty God on Terms and under His Conditions.The term "worship" to a Muslim includes any and all acts of obedience to Almighty Allah.So his purpose of life is a standing purpose; Worshipping Allah by accepting Allah's Will over his own.This act of ibadah [worshipping, thanking and extolling the Greatness Almighty Allah on His Terms and Conditions] is for the Muslim, throughout his whole life regardless of the stage. Whether he is a child, adolescent, adult or aged person, he is seeking after the Will of the Almighty in all these stages.His life here on earth although short, is full of purpose and is totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission [Islam].Similarly, in the Next Life as well, his faith, intentions, attitudes and good deeds will all be weighed into his account as favorable putting him in high esteem with his Creator and Sustainer.Because Islam teaches that this life is only a test or trial for the individual to show him his true nature it is only natural that he would accept death as not so much an ending to everything but more as a beginning of the final and lasting life in the Hereafter.Before entering into either of the final lodging places i.e.; Heaven or Hell, there must needs be a Day of Judgment or showing of one's true self to make them aware of their own nature and thereby understand what they have sent on ahead during the life here on the earth.Every person will be rewarded [or punished] according to their attitude, appreciation and efforts during this stay on earth. None will be asked about the actions and beliefs of others, nor will anyone be asked regarding that which he was unaware of or incapable of doing.As the life here is considered as an examination for the individual, the death stage is considered as a resting period after the test. It could be easy for those who were faithful and dedicated or it could be grueling and horrible for the wicked.Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to each person and it is only Allah, alone who will be the Final Judge over us all.So in the teachings of the True Surrender, Submission, Obedience, In Sincerity and Peace to the Almighty One God [Islam], the line of life and its purpose is logical, clear and simple:The first life is a test The life in the grave is a resting or waiting place before the Day of Judgment The Day of Judgment brings about the clear understanding of what will now happen to the individual based on his own desires and actions The Permanent or Afterlife will either be spend in luxurious splendor or miserable punishment .Following this clear understanding of life, the Muslim's purpose is clear.First of all, he has no doubt in his mind that:he is only created by Allah he is going to spend a period of time in this material world [called "Ad Dunyah" in Arabic] he knows he will die he knows he will spend time in the grave, either pleasant or difficult depending on his own choice of attitude and actions he knows he will be resurrected for the Day of Judgment he knows he will be judged according to the most fair of standards by Allah the Almighty, the All Knowing he realizes his attitude and actions are going to come under very close scrutiny he knows that this short life compared to the Eternal Life was in fact, only for a testThis life is very meaningful and purposeful to the Believing Muslim, as he realizes that it will determine is outcome and permanent position in the Next Life.The Muslim's permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible everyday.This includes the orders of Allah in His Book, the Holy Quran and His final Messenger and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him as follows:Believing and declaring that "There is no god throughout all the Creation of Allah that is worthy of worship, all worship is due only to Allah, alone and He has no partners or helpers nor does He share His Lordship with any of His creations. And Muhammad, the son of Abdullah ibn Abdul Mutallib (1450 years ago) is the last and final messenger and servant of Almighty Allah, and is the culmination in a long line of prophets sent to mankind throughout man's history, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus Christ, may Almighty Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon them all." Establishing the regular five times ritualistic prayer [salat] in the stated times (in the mosques for the men when possible) Paying the charity tax [Zakat = about 2.5% of one's holdings - not his income, annually] Fasting the month of Ramadhan [lunar calendar] Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca at least once in the life of the person, provided he has the ability and the way is safeFor a disbeliever the purpose of this life is to collect and amass great wealth, money, power and position. Over indulging in eating, drinking, drugs, sex and gambling are a high priority to them. But all of this will not avail them anything good in the grave, on the Day of Judgment or in the Next Life. Eventually he will be faced with the question: Now what? What's Next? Where am I going? What will happen to me?He will come to know. For sure he will come to know. But then what will the knowledge avail him?Look how Islam solves the mystery of the puzzle of life. It provides the answers to the questions and concerns of the human beings on all levels and in every aspect. It is really quite simple. The purpose of life as understood by the Believing Muslim can be simply stated in only two (2) words:Obey God.Our only purpose and salvation lie in these two words. We must come to know our Creator, Sustainer and Ultimate Judge. We must learn to believe in Him, thank Him, praise Him, honor Him and worship Him, alone without any partners from His Creation. We must learn about His Messengers and Prophets, peace be upon them, and the message with which they were all sent. We must learn the Word of God as was directly revealed, preserved and memorized and passed down by memory throughout all the generations of Muslims to the present day.Those who are in search of truth, having open minds and hearts will recognize this as a message in truth and sincerity. Open your heart and your mind now and ask the Almighty God of the Universe [Allah] to guide you now to His True Way. And then be ready to accept your true purpose in life.
http://www.islamnewsroom.com/content/view/542/52/
Have you ever asked yourself these questions?
"What is the purpose of L I F E?""My life?""Your Life?"
People everywhere are asking the questions; "What is the purpose of life?" and "Why are we here?" You might be amazed to learn, that Islam is providing clear and concise answers for these questions.
Most of those who reflect or think about life in any detail will consider and ponder these questions. There are as many different answers to these questions as there are people asking the questions. Some would hold that the purpose of life was to acquire wealth. Yet suppose they were to acquire millions of dollars, what then would they claim is their purpose after doing so?If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose after becoming wealthy. The fact is that when people approach their purpose here in this life from the aspect of only gaining wealth, after collecting the money they have dreamed of their lives loose purpose and then they live in restless tension suffering from a feeling of worthlessness.How could wealth then be considered as the aim of life?Could the acquisition of wealth guarantee happiness? Of course not.When we hear of millionaires or members of their families committing suicide, how could we consider the purpose of life would be to gain great wealth?A child of 5 years would obviously prefer a new toy to a deposit slip for a million dollars.A teenager does not consider millions of dollars in the bank a substitute for movies, videos, pizza and hanging out with his friends. A person in their 80s or 90s would never consider holding on to their wealth in place of spending it to hold on to or regain their health.This proves that money is not the main purpose at all the stages of one's life.Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to one who is a disbeliever in Almighty God, because regardless of what he or she would gain in this life they would always live in fear of what will happen to them in the end. They would wonder what would become of them and how they would end up.Wealth and its accumulation as a purpose would be doomed to a temporary success at best and in the end it would only spell out self destruction.So, what is the use of wealth to a person without belief? He would always fear his end and would always be skeptical of everything. He may gain a great material wealth but he would only lose himself in the end.Worship of the One True Almighty God of the Universe [Allah in Arabic] as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in both this life and the Next Life.The word for total surrender, submission, obedience, purity of heart and peace in the Arabic language is "Islam". Those who try to perform these actions are called "MU-slims" [Islam-ERs]. To a Muslim the whole purpose of life is "ibadah" or worship to the One True Almighty God on Terms and under His Conditions.The term "worship" to a Muslim includes any and all acts of obedience to Almighty Allah.So his purpose of life is a standing purpose; Worshipping Allah by accepting Allah's Will over his own.This act of ibadah [worshipping, thanking and extolling the Greatness Almighty Allah on His Terms and Conditions] is for the Muslim, throughout his whole life regardless of the stage. Whether he is a child, adolescent, adult or aged person, he is seeking after the Will of the Almighty in all these stages.His life here on earth although short, is full of purpose and is totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission [Islam].Similarly, in the Next Life as well, his faith, intentions, attitudes and good deeds will all be weighed into his account as favorable putting him in high esteem with his Creator and Sustainer.Because Islam teaches that this life is only a test or trial for the individual to show him his true nature it is only natural that he would accept death as not so much an ending to everything but more as a beginning of the final and lasting life in the Hereafter.Before entering into either of the final lodging places i.e.; Heaven or Hell, there must needs be a Day of Judgment or showing of one's true self to make them aware of their own nature and thereby understand what they have sent on ahead during the life here on the earth.Every person will be rewarded [or punished] according to their attitude, appreciation and efforts during this stay on earth. None will be asked about the actions and beliefs of others, nor will anyone be asked regarding that which he was unaware of or incapable of doing.As the life here is considered as an examination for the individual, the death stage is considered as a resting period after the test. It could be easy for those who were faithful and dedicated or it could be grueling and horrible for the wicked.Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to each person and it is only Allah, alone who will be the Final Judge over us all.So in the teachings of the True Surrender, Submission, Obedience, In Sincerity and Peace to the Almighty One God [Islam], the line of life and its purpose is logical, clear and simple:The first life is a test The life in the grave is a resting or waiting place before the Day of Judgment The Day of Judgment brings about the clear understanding of what will now happen to the individual based on his own desires and actions The Permanent or Afterlife will either be spend in luxurious splendor or miserable punishment .Following this clear understanding of life, the Muslim's purpose is clear.First of all, he has no doubt in his mind that:he is only created by Allah he is going to spend a period of time in this material world [called "Ad Dunyah" in Arabic] he knows he will die he knows he will spend time in the grave, either pleasant or difficult depending on his own choice of attitude and actions he knows he will be resurrected for the Day of Judgment he knows he will be judged according to the most fair of standards by Allah the Almighty, the All Knowing he realizes his attitude and actions are going to come under very close scrutiny he knows that this short life compared to the Eternal Life was in fact, only for a testThis life is very meaningful and purposeful to the Believing Muslim, as he realizes that it will determine is outcome and permanent position in the Next Life.The Muslim's permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible everyday.This includes the orders of Allah in His Book, the Holy Quran and His final Messenger and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him as follows:Believing and declaring that "There is no god throughout all the Creation of Allah that is worthy of worship, all worship is due only to Allah, alone and He has no partners or helpers nor does He share His Lordship with any of His creations. And Muhammad, the son of Abdullah ibn Abdul Mutallib (1450 years ago) is the last and final messenger and servant of Almighty Allah, and is the culmination in a long line of prophets sent to mankind throughout man's history, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus Christ, may Almighty Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon them all." Establishing the regular five times ritualistic prayer [salat] in the stated times (in the mosques for the men when possible) Paying the charity tax [Zakat = about 2.5% of one's holdings - not his income, annually] Fasting the month of Ramadhan [lunar calendar] Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca at least once in the life of the person, provided he has the ability and the way is safeFor a disbeliever the purpose of this life is to collect and amass great wealth, money, power and position. Over indulging in eating, drinking, drugs, sex and gambling are a high priority to them. But all of this will not avail them anything good in the grave, on the Day of Judgment or in the Next Life. Eventually he will be faced with the question: Now what? What's Next? Where am I going? What will happen to me?He will come to know. For sure he will come to know. But then what will the knowledge avail him?Look how Islam solves the mystery of the puzzle of life. It provides the answers to the questions and concerns of the human beings on all levels and in every aspect. It is really quite simple. The purpose of life as understood by the Believing Muslim can be simply stated in only two (2) words:Obey God.Our only purpose and salvation lie in these two words. We must come to know our Creator, Sustainer and Ultimate Judge. We must learn to believe in Him, thank Him, praise Him, honor Him and worship Him, alone without any partners from His Creation. We must learn about His Messengers and Prophets, peace be upon them, and the message with which they were all sent. We must learn the Word of God as was directly revealed, preserved and memorized and passed down by memory throughout all the generations of Muslims to the present day.Those who are in search of truth, having open minds and hearts will recognize this as a message in truth and sincerity. Open your heart and your mind now and ask the Almighty God of the Universe [Allah] to guide you now to His True Way. And then be ready to accept your true purpose in life.
http://www.islamnewsroom.com/content/view/542/52/
The Events of The Day of Judgement (Qiyamat)
From: http://www.balagh.net/
http://www.balagh.net/english/quran/comparative/the-events-of-the-day-of-judgement.htm
Nature Changes While the Day of Judgement is Approaching
The Holy Quran has the following verses in this regard: "When the heavens cleave asunder, And when the stars disperse, And when the seas be comingled, And when the graves be overturned (to be vacated)." (Al-Infitar, 1-4)
"... When the sun is folded, And when the stars darken, And when the mountains are removed (as scattered dust)." (At-Takwir, 1-3)
In the Gospel attributed to Mark, we see the following verse in this regard : "... The sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed her light, the stars will be falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken." (Mark 13:24-27)
The Acts of the Apostles too has the following verse in the same regard:
"... The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before that great and conspicuous day of the Lord arrives." (2:20)
The Angels' Role in the Day of Judgement
The Quran includes the following verses in this regard:
"And cometh (the command of) thy Lord, with the angels in ranges arrayed." (Al-Fajr, 22)
" And thou shalt see the angels circling around the ‘Arsh (The Throne of Absolute Authority)." (Az-Zumur, 75)
The following verses from the Gospel are in the same regard: "... And then shall He send out the angels and gather His chosen from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. "(Mark 13:27)
"... When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will be seated on the throne of His glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him." (Matt. 25:31-32)
The Knowledge of the Day of Reckoning in the Monoply of Allah
The following two verses from the Holy Quran are in this ergard:"... And with Him is the knowledge of the Hour (of Reckoning, and unto Him shall ye all be returned." (Az-Zukhruf, 85)
" Ask thee the people about the Hour (of Judgment). Say thou: ‘The knowledge of it is only with God." (Al-Ahzab, 63)
And the Gospel includes the following verse in the same regard: "... But about the exact date and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard; keep wide awake and pray; for you do not know the time." (Mark 13:30-33)
The Blowing of the Trumpet
The Quranic verses in this regard are the following two verses: "The Day when the Trumpet shall be blown, and ye shall come forth in (huge) groups." (An-Naba, 18)
"... And is blown the Trumpet, when lo! from the grave unto their Lord they (all) hasten." (Yasin, 51)
The Gospel attributed to John has the following verse in this regard: "... for the time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5: 27-29)
The First Episle of Paul to the Corinthians includes a verse with the same meaning as follows:
"... in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable ... ." (15:52)
The following verse from the Second General Epistle of Peter is in this regard: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Then with a tremendous roar the heavens will pass away, the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up." (3:10-11)
Separating Good and Evil in the Day of Judgement
The sample Quranic verse in this regard is as follows:" And the day when arriveth the Hour (of Judgment), on that day shall (they) be separated from one another. And as to those who believed and did good deeds, they shall be in the garden, made happy. And as to those who disbelieved and belied Our signs and the meeting of the hereafter, these shall be brought over to the chastisement." (Ar-Room, 14-16)
The following verse from the Gospel has the same meaning: " When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will be seated on the throne of His Glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him. And He will separate them from one another as a shepherd parts the sheep from the goats." (Matt. 25:31-33)
The People of Right Hand and The People of Left Hand
The Holy Quran includes the following verse in this regard: "And the People of Right hand Oh! What (a happy state shall) the people of the Right hand (be in)! Amid thornless lote-trees, And banana-trees (with fruits) piled one above another, And shade spread out... And the People of the Left hand, Ah! What (a wretched state shall) the people of the Left hand (be in)! In scorching wind and scalding water, And in the
shadow of a black smoke." (Al-Waqiah, 27-43)
The following verses are from the Gospel in the same regard: "And He will separate them from one another as a shepherd parts the sheep from the goats; and He will place the sheep at His right and the goats at His left. ‘The king will then say to those at His right, ‘Come, My father’s blessed ones, inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world;... Then will He say to those at His left, ‘Begone
from Me, accursed ones, to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:32-41)
The Day of Judgement as the Day of Reckoning and Reward
The following two verses from the Quran are in this rehard: "Man shall e informed on that day of whatsoever he put before and whatsoever he put behind!" (Al-Qiyamat, 13)
" On that day shall come out people (from their graves) in (scattered) groups, to be shown their own deeds. Then he who hath done an atom-weight of good shall see it. And he who hath done an atom-weight of evil
shall see it." (Al-Zilzal, 6-8)
The Gospel includes a verse in this regard too, exactly with the same meaning.
The Length of the Day of Judgement
The Quran includes the following verse in this regard:" And they ask thee to hasten on the chastisement and never doth God fail His promise; And verily, there is a day with thy lord as a thousand years, of what ye reckon (them)." (Al-Hajj, 47)
The Second General Epistle of Peter has the same meaning verse as follows:
" At present, however, the heavens and the earth are by the same word stored up for burning, and reserved for the Day of Judgement and the destruction of godless people. But do not overlook this one fact, dear friends, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." (3:7-8)
http://www.balagh.net/english/quran/comparative/the-events-of-the-day-of-judgement.htm
Nature Changes While the Day of Judgement is Approaching
The Holy Quran has the following verses in this regard: "When the heavens cleave asunder, And when the stars disperse, And when the seas be comingled, And when the graves be overturned (to be vacated)." (Al-Infitar, 1-4)
"... When the sun is folded, And when the stars darken, And when the mountains are removed (as scattered dust)." (At-Takwir, 1-3)
In the Gospel attributed to Mark, we see the following verse in this regard : "... The sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed her light, the stars will be falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken." (Mark 13:24-27)
The Acts of the Apostles too has the following verse in the same regard:
"... The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before that great and conspicuous day of the Lord arrives." (2:20)
The Angels' Role in the Day of Judgement
The Quran includes the following verses in this regard:
"And cometh (the command of) thy Lord, with the angels in ranges arrayed." (Al-Fajr, 22)
" And thou shalt see the angels circling around the ‘Arsh (The Throne of Absolute Authority)." (Az-Zumur, 75)
The following verses from the Gospel are in the same regard: "... And then shall He send out the angels and gather His chosen from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. "(Mark 13:27)
"... When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will be seated on the throne of His glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him." (Matt. 25:31-32)
The Knowledge of the Day of Reckoning in the Monoply of Allah
The following two verses from the Holy Quran are in this ergard:"... And with Him is the knowledge of the Hour (of Reckoning, and unto Him shall ye all be returned." (Az-Zukhruf, 85)
" Ask thee the people about the Hour (of Judgment). Say thou: ‘The knowledge of it is only with God." (Al-Ahzab, 63)
And the Gospel includes the following verse in the same regard: "... But about the exact date and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard; keep wide awake and pray; for you do not know the time." (Mark 13:30-33)
The Blowing of the Trumpet
The Quranic verses in this regard are the following two verses: "The Day when the Trumpet shall be blown, and ye shall come forth in (huge) groups." (An-Naba, 18)
"... And is blown the Trumpet, when lo! from the grave unto their Lord they (all) hasten." (Yasin, 51)
The Gospel attributed to John has the following verse in this regard: "... for the time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5: 27-29)
The First Episle of Paul to the Corinthians includes a verse with the same meaning as follows:
"... in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable ... ." (15:52)
The following verse from the Second General Epistle of Peter is in this regard: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Then with a tremendous roar the heavens will pass away, the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up." (3:10-11)
Separating Good and Evil in the Day of Judgement
The sample Quranic verse in this regard is as follows:" And the day when arriveth the Hour (of Judgment), on that day shall (they) be separated from one another. And as to those who believed and did good deeds, they shall be in the garden, made happy. And as to those who disbelieved and belied Our signs and the meeting of the hereafter, these shall be brought over to the chastisement." (Ar-Room, 14-16)
The following verse from the Gospel has the same meaning: " When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will be seated on the throne of His Glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him. And He will separate them from one another as a shepherd parts the sheep from the goats." (Matt. 25:31-33)
The People of Right Hand and The People of Left Hand
The Holy Quran includes the following verse in this regard: "And the People of Right hand Oh! What (a happy state shall) the people of the Right hand (be in)! Amid thornless lote-trees, And banana-trees (with fruits) piled one above another, And shade spread out... And the People of the Left hand, Ah! What (a wretched state shall) the people of the Left hand (be in)! In scorching wind and scalding water, And in the
shadow of a black smoke." (Al-Waqiah, 27-43)
The following verses are from the Gospel in the same regard: "And He will separate them from one another as a shepherd parts the sheep from the goats; and He will place the sheep at His right and the goats at His left. ‘The king will then say to those at His right, ‘Come, My father’s blessed ones, inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world;... Then will He say to those at His left, ‘Begone
from Me, accursed ones, to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:32-41)
The Day of Judgement as the Day of Reckoning and Reward
The following two verses from the Quran are in this rehard: "Man shall e informed on that day of whatsoever he put before and whatsoever he put behind!" (Al-Qiyamat, 13)
" On that day shall come out people (from their graves) in (scattered) groups, to be shown their own deeds. Then he who hath done an atom-weight of good shall see it. And he who hath done an atom-weight of evil
shall see it." (Al-Zilzal, 6-8)
The Gospel includes a verse in this regard too, exactly with the same meaning.
The Length of the Day of Judgement
The Quran includes the following verse in this regard:" And they ask thee to hasten on the chastisement and never doth God fail His promise; And verily, there is a day with thy lord as a thousand years, of what ye reckon (them)." (Al-Hajj, 47)
The Second General Epistle of Peter has the same meaning verse as follows:
" At present, however, the heavens and the earth are by the same word stored up for burning, and reserved for the Day of Judgement and the destruction of godless people. But do not overlook this one fact, dear friends, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." (3:7-8)
What Does Islam Say about the day of Judgment?
From: www.islam-guide.com
Like Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. This life is a test for each individual for the life after death. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and the dead will be resurrected for judgment by God. This day will be the beginning of a life that will never end. This day is the Day of Judgment. On that day, all people will be rewarded by God according to their beliefs and deeds. Those who die while believing that “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” and are Muslim will be rewarded on that day and will be admitted to Paradise forever, as God has said:
And those who believe and do good deeds, they are dwellers of Paradise, they dwell therein forever. (Quran, 2:82)
But those who die while not believing that “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” or are not Muslim will lose Paradise forever and will be sent to Hellfire, as God has said:
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter. (Quran, 3:85)
And as He has said:
Those who have disbelieved and died in disbelief, the earth full of gold would not be accepted from any of them if it were offered as a ransom. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers. (Quran, 3:91)
One may ask, ‘I think Islam is a good religion, but if I were to convert to Islam, my family, friends, and other people would persecute me and make fun of me. So if I do not convert to Islam, will I enter Paradise and be saved from Hellfire?’
The answer is what God has said in the preceding verse, “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter.”
After having sent the Prophet Muhammad to call people to Islam, God does not accept adherence to any religion other than Islam. God is our Creator and Sustainer. He created for us whatever is in the earth. All the blessings and good things we have are from Him. So after all this, when someone rejects belief in God, His Prophet Muhammad , or His religion of Islam, it is just that he or she be punished in the Hereafter. Actually, the main purpose of our creation is to worship God alone and to obey Him, as God has said in the Holy Quran (51:56).
This life we live today is a very short life. The unbelievers on the Day of Judgment will think that the life they lived on earth was only a day or part of a day, as God has said:
He (God) will say, “How many years did you stay on the earth?” They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day....” (Quran, 23:112-113)
And He has said:
Did you then think that We had created you in jest (without any purpose), and that you would not be returned to Us (in the Hereafter)? So, God is exalted, the True King. None has the right to be worshipped but Him... (Quran, 23:115-116)
The life in the Hereafter is a very real life. It is not only spiritual, but physical as well. We will live there with our souls and bodies.
In comparing this world with the Hereafter, the Prophet Muhammad said: {The value of this world compared to that of the Hereafter is like what your finger brings from the sea when you put it in and then take it out.}1 The meaning is that, the value of this world compared to that of the Hereafter is like a few drops of water compared to the sea.
Next: How Does Someone Become a Muslim?
_____________________________
Footnotes:
(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2858, and Mosnad Ahmad, #17560.
Like Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. This life is a test for each individual for the life after death. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and the dead will be resurrected for judgment by God. This day will be the beginning of a life that will never end. This day is the Day of Judgment. On that day, all people will be rewarded by God according to their beliefs and deeds. Those who die while believing that “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” and are Muslim will be rewarded on that day and will be admitted to Paradise forever, as God has said:
And those who believe and do good deeds, they are dwellers of Paradise, they dwell therein forever. (Quran, 2:82)
But those who die while not believing that “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” or are not Muslim will lose Paradise forever and will be sent to Hellfire, as God has said:
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter. (Quran, 3:85)
And as He has said:
Those who have disbelieved and died in disbelief, the earth full of gold would not be accepted from any of them if it were offered as a ransom. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers. (Quran, 3:91)
One may ask, ‘I think Islam is a good religion, but if I were to convert to Islam, my family, friends, and other people would persecute me and make fun of me. So if I do not convert to Islam, will I enter Paradise and be saved from Hellfire?’
The answer is what God has said in the preceding verse, “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter.”
After having sent the Prophet Muhammad to call people to Islam, God does not accept adherence to any religion other than Islam. God is our Creator and Sustainer. He created for us whatever is in the earth. All the blessings and good things we have are from Him. So after all this, when someone rejects belief in God, His Prophet Muhammad , or His religion of Islam, it is just that he or she be punished in the Hereafter. Actually, the main purpose of our creation is to worship God alone and to obey Him, as God has said in the Holy Quran (51:56).
This life we live today is a very short life. The unbelievers on the Day of Judgment will think that the life they lived on earth was only a day or part of a day, as God has said:
He (God) will say, “How many years did you stay on the earth?” They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day....” (Quran, 23:112-113)
And He has said:
Did you then think that We had created you in jest (without any purpose), and that you would not be returned to Us (in the Hereafter)? So, God is exalted, the True King. None has the right to be worshipped but Him... (Quran, 23:115-116)
The life in the Hereafter is a very real life. It is not only spiritual, but physical as well. We will live there with our souls and bodies.
In comparing this world with the Hereafter, the Prophet Muhammad said: {The value of this world compared to that of the Hereafter is like what your finger brings from the sea when you put it in and then take it out.}1 The meaning is that, the value of this world compared to that of the Hereafter is like a few drops of water compared to the sea.
Next: How Does Someone Become a Muslim?
_____________________________
Footnotes:
(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2858, and Mosnad Ahmad, #17560.
THOSE WHOM ALLAH LOVES MOST
BY: AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
"The day when every soul will find what it has done of good brought forward, and what it has done of evil; it will wish there was a far space between itself and it (evil). And Allah warns you to beware of Him; and Allah is Compassionate with His servants".
Holy Qur'an (3:30)
"They ask you what they should spend. Say: Whatever of wealth you spend, is for the parents, relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveller, and whatever good you do, Allah is surely Omniscient of it".
Holy Qur'an (2:215)
A man once asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.):
"What people does Allah love most ?". He said, "They are the most useful ones to people."(1)
It is also narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) that he said:
All mankind belong to Allah, therefore the most favored by Allah is the one who is good to his or her own family"(2)
It is also narrated that the Messenger (s.a.w.) said:
"Whoever guides (others) towards good is like the one who does it."(3)
It is also narrated that:
"The doer of good is better than good itself and the evil-doer is worse than evil itself"(4)
It is also narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
"Do not do anything of good so as to be seen by people, nor give it up because of shyness"(5)
It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.) that he said:
"Speak much of good in order to be known by it and do good to be identified with its followers."(6)
Ideologies. laws. systems. ideas and theories- created by human beings in the fields of ethics, politics. sociology. economic, psychology and the arts etc... all express their author's ideological. psychological and social inclinations.
It is also obvious that the nature of human creation is defective and incomplete. People generally differ among themselves in their psychological. ideological. ethical and social background and education.
Therefore, some ideologies and theories reflect the twisted and complex ethics of their authors and originators who produced these ideals either under the influence of their environment or by inheritance and education.
Thus, we see some of these ideologies bear the spirit of spite and revenge. while others are characterized by chaos and disorder...still others reflect the greedy and selfish nature of their originators. In every aspect they mirror the nature. personality. disposition and psychological state of their authors.
Thought is essentially a self-portrait. All the tragedies, sufferings and evil borne by humanity are the result of poisoned thinking transformed into philosophies, designed either to deceive the human being or be imposed on him by force. People are victims of unbalanced personalities like Marx. Nietzsche, Freud, Sartre, Durckheim and other theorists and philosophers which urge people towards destruction and chaos.
The main difference between Islam and other ideologies is its being the Message of Allah to mankind and a call to reform humanity towards following the Divine Path.
Therefore Islam, through its laws and principles, expresses the perfectness of the Great Creator. Who is the source of good, knowledge, mercy, love. and beauty in this world. His characteristics are made clear by the call of the prophets and messengers in the spirit of goodness love and peace.
Thus among the foundations on which the moral and social system of Islam is built, is its call to do good, to make the human being a source of power. and reformation in this world. Islam frees him from the wicked tendencies which cause him to abstain from doing good to people and society.
A major social problem for the human being is created by his selfishness, desiring good only for himself and sometimes forbidding that good be rendered to others.
This wicked tendency which the Holy Qur'an collectively describes as 'shu'h' (greediness) is condemned. The Qur'an also condemns whoever is characterized by it, considering him to be among the criminals and the aggressors who stand against human principles and life itself. and promises him intense punishment in the hereafter, as it views 'shu'h' as the source of all tribulations. the root cause of poverty and aggression, hatred, spite, covetousness, deprivation and sufferings in this present life.
The Almighty Allah has said:
"Do cast into hell every ungratefull, rebellious one. Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter."
Holy Qur'an (50:24-25)
The Almighty has also said:
"..and reconciliation is better, and souls are prone to avarice. And if you do good and be God-fearing, then surely Allah is Cognizant of what you do"
Holy Qur'an (4:128)
For the same reason, Islam considers prosperity and success as a protection against such harmful moral sickness.
The Almighty Allah has said:
"...and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful."
Holy Qur'an (64:16)
When the Messenger(s.a.w.) talks about good and its doers in society. He wants to teach Muslims and Islamic society that an Islamic society is a cooperative one... The social service performed by a scientist. farmer, doctor. teacher, thinker, social reformer , and one who participates in charitable projects, or helps the poor and the needy. all these works are considered good deeds to which generous people in society contribute. Therefore, those who are doing good and are inspired in their work by knowledge of Allah and who like to do good seeking His pleasure. these are the best people because of their social usefulness.
The glorious Prophet (s.a.w.) has guided our social preferences through his example. i.e. serving the society and encouraging social advancement while seeking Allah's pleasure.
The Islamic view which sees society as one family and creation (the human being, animal, plant) as belonging to Allah and depends on Him. It aims to shape this world with all its individuals and elements into a unity and completeness, to deepen the cultured comprehension and consciousness of man and to confirm his role in serving to develop the world. Thus man is in need of mutual good advantages. to help his brother progress in humanistic ways. The animal and plant kingdoms are also in need of and prosper through this enlightened attitude.
Man is the master of this earth and it is his responsibility to improve it. Thus we see that Prophet Salih (a.s.) when addressing his people, explains to them this fact which the Holy Qur'an narrates as a profound lesson for humanity.
The Almighty Allah has said:
"And to Thamud (We sent} their brother Salih. He said: O my people! worship Allah, you have no god other than Him; He brought you forth from the earth, and settled you therein; so ask forgiveness of Him, then repent to Him; surely my Lord is Near, Responsive."
Holy Qur'an (11:61)
We also see that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) ordered people to do good and considered the one who does so as the best one among people. It should be noted that the truth of his call 'to do good' encompasses animals and plants which is clear through his speech. Once a man asked the Prophet (s.a.w.): Can we consider watering a thirsty dog as a charity? he answered:
"To water every thirsty liver, there is a reward in it."
The truth of this prophetic character is incarnated in the Messenger's behaviour and in his august biography...It happened once that a thirsty cat crossed near him, he bent down holding a plate full of water with his noble hand and allowed it to drink.
The Messenger's call to do deeds beneficial to people gives life. value and meaning through which people will feel the value of existence and the meaning of humanity.
If in the struggle for being fertile ground is not found, goodness does not prosper and the human being becomes voracious, life will be transformed into unbearable evil and greed.
According to Islamic principles. a human being is considered as a source of goodness and a continual blessing. Any good word which increases love and peace; or reduces the pains and the sufferings of souls which are burdened with afflictions; or engenders calmness and confidence in the hearts; or eliminates fear and narrowness; or reforms the wicked one from among the people; or removes enmity among people is the word which expresses the spirit of goodness of the speaker.
Any genuine smile and constant cheerfulness in the face of your Muslim brother will reduce his weariness, sufferings and problems of life, is considered a good deed whose author should be praised and is deserving of the respect of people.
Any attempt to provide the needs of the poor and to help the aggrieved one relieve his sorrow. is an act of beneficence which is loved by Allah and for which people will give thanks. Any display of sympathy, which a man shows to an oppressed human or animal, is considered an act of good loved by Allah and His Messenger and received with gratefulness by the people.
To resist by bearing the responsibility of doing good and to call others to Islam is an act of goodness which is loved by Allah, Who invites people to do so.
"And from among you there should be a party inviting to good and bidding what is right anf fibidding what is wrong and those are the successful"
Holy Qur'an (3:104)
To direct others to do good or to initiate it, whether through speech, or guiding, or b. y explaining its ways; all are acts of benevolence loved by Allah and appreciated by people.
There are different ways of doing good and its door is open for all. Every one has the capacity to do so or participate in it by directing others towards it. or by standing against his greediness and its wickedness and in this way he will protect himself from destructive ethical sickness.
It is in man's capacity to be a source of benefit through his innate power, ability and position. Let us then increase our doing of goodness and continue to do so because the charitable person is superior to the action itself A flower is said to be better than the fragnance which arises from it due to its being the origin of the sweet smell.
One Hadith proclaims:
"The doer of good is better than the deed itself."
And thus an evil-doer is described as to be worse than evil itself, resembling carrion which is considered worse than its bad smell as it is the sourse both of person and terrible odor.
It is narrated from the Messenger (s.a.w.) that:
"To smile in the face of your brother; to encourage others to do good and forbid them from doing evil; to guide a man who has gone astray; to remove a stone, a thorn or a bone from the road; to pour water from your bucket into your friend's bucket, all these acts are considered to be deeds of charity."(7)
Everyone can be among the best of people in doing good and, as a result, will be gladdened by it and respected by all people. Accordingly then, we should not let any day pass without utilizing it in doing good and not let any opportunity pass without utilizing it to benefit people.
By visiting one of your friends you can bring joy to his heart and to visit a sick person. you can reduce the suffering of illness. Reconciling differences among people can remove the source of dispute. To say a word of consolation to comfort a sad soul; to contribute what you can to supply the needs of a poor man; to think how to initiate a charitable project; or to solve the political, economic and moral problems of a society; or to defend against economic. political and social corruption; to give shelter to a stranger who is grieved by being far from his family or country; to instill pleasure and happiness in the heart of an angry man; to secure a frightened man who has lost the sweetness of security and peace; to brighten the life of an orphan with sympathy and compassion; to hide the mistakes or errors of others which may happen in front of you without letting people know... all of these are noble and charitable deeds.
Let us all then hasten to establish individual or cooperative foundations. We should form committees which collect money and alms, donate to mosques. clubs. charitable associations and villages and spend these resources in the fields allowed by Islamic law. These initiatives are considered deeds of kindness which lead to the reform of society, and the solution of its problems.
Our goal should be to establish cooperative projects which distribute financial assistance to the poor and the needy. All can participate in such undertakings whether young or old and according to their abilities. These works can include agricultural and industrial projects which will help solve the problems of poverty and unemployment. Schools, mosques, hospitals and camps for refugees and the disabled could also be built. All these initiatives are among the deeds of charity and benevolence whose doers are loved by Allah. To establish banks which lend the poor and the needy and those who work but do not have enough money to live or to help unmarried youths to get married in order to build Muslim families ...all these are measures against usury , economic injustice and will go a long way in securing the roots for a peaceful Islamic life.
So, among the charitable projects loved by the Almighty Allah are: Establishing associations, organizations, schools, libraries for the sake of spreading Islamic culture. doing good, forbidding evil"..
Included among Allah's rights over us that we donate part of our properties. abilities and experiences for benefitting people. supplying their needs. reforming society and solving its problems.
All can participate in performing such good deeds. which are considered as charity the best of which is continuous and whose benefit unstinting. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:
"If a man dies, his deeds will vanish except three: A continuous alms-giving, or a righteous son who prays for him after his death or knowledge from which people can benefit".
Therefore, among the problems of our society which prevent its progress and development are foreign dependence, neither participating in doing good-deeds, nor establishing charitable associations or bearing responsibilities.
Every one is duty-bowed to get rid of such unhealthy conditions. Let those who have abilities participate in such projects or at least call others to participate in them.
Surely Almighty Allah is the source of goodness and benevolence in this life. Try to direct yourself towards Him. Certainly doing good is the right way leading to perfection and happiness. Let the speech of our Holy Messenger be an example in your daily life and a guide in your way of living.
"Behave like Allah behaves."
Let us start doing good, and continue the endeavour in order to spread charity and do good deeds.
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Endnotes
1) Al-Hur al-Amili Wasa'il al-Shi'a, p.6 Kitab al-Amri bil-Ma'ruf 2) Ibid3) Ibid.4) Al-Harani Tuhaf al-Uqul an Aalial-Rasool p.40.5) Ibid p.41.6) Al-Tabrasi Mishkat al-Anwar, p.144, 2nd edition.7) Al-Mutaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 6/ An'wae al-Sadaqah.
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
"The day when every soul will find what it has done of good brought forward, and what it has done of evil; it will wish there was a far space between itself and it (evil). And Allah warns you to beware of Him; and Allah is Compassionate with His servants".
Holy Qur'an (3:30)
"They ask you what they should spend. Say: Whatever of wealth you spend, is for the parents, relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveller, and whatever good you do, Allah is surely Omniscient of it".
Holy Qur'an (2:215)
A man once asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.):
"What people does Allah love most ?". He said, "They are the most useful ones to people."(1)
It is also narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) that he said:
All mankind belong to Allah, therefore the most favored by Allah is the one who is good to his or her own family"(2)
It is also narrated that the Messenger (s.a.w.) said:
"Whoever guides (others) towards good is like the one who does it."(3)
It is also narrated that:
"The doer of good is better than good itself and the evil-doer is worse than evil itself"(4)
It is also narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
"Do not do anything of good so as to be seen by people, nor give it up because of shyness"(5)
It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.) that he said:
"Speak much of good in order to be known by it and do good to be identified with its followers."(6)
Ideologies. laws. systems. ideas and theories- created by human beings in the fields of ethics, politics. sociology. economic, psychology and the arts etc... all express their author's ideological. psychological and social inclinations.
It is also obvious that the nature of human creation is defective and incomplete. People generally differ among themselves in their psychological. ideological. ethical and social background and education.
Therefore, some ideologies and theories reflect the twisted and complex ethics of their authors and originators who produced these ideals either under the influence of their environment or by inheritance and education.
Thus, we see some of these ideologies bear the spirit of spite and revenge. while others are characterized by chaos and disorder...still others reflect the greedy and selfish nature of their originators. In every aspect they mirror the nature. personality. disposition and psychological state of their authors.
Thought is essentially a self-portrait. All the tragedies, sufferings and evil borne by humanity are the result of poisoned thinking transformed into philosophies, designed either to deceive the human being or be imposed on him by force. People are victims of unbalanced personalities like Marx. Nietzsche, Freud, Sartre, Durckheim and other theorists and philosophers which urge people towards destruction and chaos.
The main difference between Islam and other ideologies is its being the Message of Allah to mankind and a call to reform humanity towards following the Divine Path.
Therefore Islam, through its laws and principles, expresses the perfectness of the Great Creator. Who is the source of good, knowledge, mercy, love. and beauty in this world. His characteristics are made clear by the call of the prophets and messengers in the spirit of goodness love and peace.
Thus among the foundations on which the moral and social system of Islam is built, is its call to do good, to make the human being a source of power. and reformation in this world. Islam frees him from the wicked tendencies which cause him to abstain from doing good to people and society.
A major social problem for the human being is created by his selfishness, desiring good only for himself and sometimes forbidding that good be rendered to others.
This wicked tendency which the Holy Qur'an collectively describes as 'shu'h' (greediness) is condemned. The Qur'an also condemns whoever is characterized by it, considering him to be among the criminals and the aggressors who stand against human principles and life itself. and promises him intense punishment in the hereafter, as it views 'shu'h' as the source of all tribulations. the root cause of poverty and aggression, hatred, spite, covetousness, deprivation and sufferings in this present life.
The Almighty Allah has said:
"Do cast into hell every ungratefull, rebellious one. Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter."
Holy Qur'an (50:24-25)
The Almighty has also said:
"..and reconciliation is better, and souls are prone to avarice. And if you do good and be God-fearing, then surely Allah is Cognizant of what you do"
Holy Qur'an (4:128)
For the same reason, Islam considers prosperity and success as a protection against such harmful moral sickness.
The Almighty Allah has said:
"...and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful."
Holy Qur'an (64:16)
When the Messenger(s.a.w.) talks about good and its doers in society. He wants to teach Muslims and Islamic society that an Islamic society is a cooperative one... The social service performed by a scientist. farmer, doctor. teacher, thinker, social reformer , and one who participates in charitable projects, or helps the poor and the needy. all these works are considered good deeds to which generous people in society contribute. Therefore, those who are doing good and are inspired in their work by knowledge of Allah and who like to do good seeking His pleasure. these are the best people because of their social usefulness.
The glorious Prophet (s.a.w.) has guided our social preferences through his example. i.e. serving the society and encouraging social advancement while seeking Allah's pleasure.
The Islamic view which sees society as one family and creation (the human being, animal, plant) as belonging to Allah and depends on Him. It aims to shape this world with all its individuals and elements into a unity and completeness, to deepen the cultured comprehension and consciousness of man and to confirm his role in serving to develop the world. Thus man is in need of mutual good advantages. to help his brother progress in humanistic ways. The animal and plant kingdoms are also in need of and prosper through this enlightened attitude.
Man is the master of this earth and it is his responsibility to improve it. Thus we see that Prophet Salih (a.s.) when addressing his people, explains to them this fact which the Holy Qur'an narrates as a profound lesson for humanity.
The Almighty Allah has said:
"And to Thamud (We sent} their brother Salih. He said: O my people! worship Allah, you have no god other than Him; He brought you forth from the earth, and settled you therein; so ask forgiveness of Him, then repent to Him; surely my Lord is Near, Responsive."
Holy Qur'an (11:61)
We also see that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) ordered people to do good and considered the one who does so as the best one among people. It should be noted that the truth of his call 'to do good' encompasses animals and plants which is clear through his speech. Once a man asked the Prophet (s.a.w.): Can we consider watering a thirsty dog as a charity? he answered:
"To water every thirsty liver, there is a reward in it."
The truth of this prophetic character is incarnated in the Messenger's behaviour and in his august biography...It happened once that a thirsty cat crossed near him, he bent down holding a plate full of water with his noble hand and allowed it to drink.
The Messenger's call to do deeds beneficial to people gives life. value and meaning through which people will feel the value of existence and the meaning of humanity.
If in the struggle for being fertile ground is not found, goodness does not prosper and the human being becomes voracious, life will be transformed into unbearable evil and greed.
According to Islamic principles. a human being is considered as a source of goodness and a continual blessing. Any good word which increases love and peace; or reduces the pains and the sufferings of souls which are burdened with afflictions; or engenders calmness and confidence in the hearts; or eliminates fear and narrowness; or reforms the wicked one from among the people; or removes enmity among people is the word which expresses the spirit of goodness of the speaker.
Any genuine smile and constant cheerfulness in the face of your Muslim brother will reduce his weariness, sufferings and problems of life, is considered a good deed whose author should be praised and is deserving of the respect of people.
Any attempt to provide the needs of the poor and to help the aggrieved one relieve his sorrow. is an act of beneficence which is loved by Allah and for which people will give thanks. Any display of sympathy, which a man shows to an oppressed human or animal, is considered an act of good loved by Allah and His Messenger and received with gratefulness by the people.
To resist by bearing the responsibility of doing good and to call others to Islam is an act of goodness which is loved by Allah, Who invites people to do so.
"And from among you there should be a party inviting to good and bidding what is right anf fibidding what is wrong and those are the successful"
Holy Qur'an (3:104)
To direct others to do good or to initiate it, whether through speech, or guiding, or b. y explaining its ways; all are acts of benevolence loved by Allah and appreciated by people.
There are different ways of doing good and its door is open for all. Every one has the capacity to do so or participate in it by directing others towards it. or by standing against his greediness and its wickedness and in this way he will protect himself from destructive ethical sickness.
It is in man's capacity to be a source of benefit through his innate power, ability and position. Let us then increase our doing of goodness and continue to do so because the charitable person is superior to the action itself A flower is said to be better than the fragnance which arises from it due to its being the origin of the sweet smell.
One Hadith proclaims:
"The doer of good is better than the deed itself."
And thus an evil-doer is described as to be worse than evil itself, resembling carrion which is considered worse than its bad smell as it is the sourse both of person and terrible odor.
It is narrated from the Messenger (s.a.w.) that:
"To smile in the face of your brother; to encourage others to do good and forbid them from doing evil; to guide a man who has gone astray; to remove a stone, a thorn or a bone from the road; to pour water from your bucket into your friend's bucket, all these acts are considered to be deeds of charity."(7)
Everyone can be among the best of people in doing good and, as a result, will be gladdened by it and respected by all people. Accordingly then, we should not let any day pass without utilizing it in doing good and not let any opportunity pass without utilizing it to benefit people.
By visiting one of your friends you can bring joy to his heart and to visit a sick person. you can reduce the suffering of illness. Reconciling differences among people can remove the source of dispute. To say a word of consolation to comfort a sad soul; to contribute what you can to supply the needs of a poor man; to think how to initiate a charitable project; or to solve the political, economic and moral problems of a society; or to defend against economic. political and social corruption; to give shelter to a stranger who is grieved by being far from his family or country; to instill pleasure and happiness in the heart of an angry man; to secure a frightened man who has lost the sweetness of security and peace; to brighten the life of an orphan with sympathy and compassion; to hide the mistakes or errors of others which may happen in front of you without letting people know... all of these are noble and charitable deeds.
Let us all then hasten to establish individual or cooperative foundations. We should form committees which collect money and alms, donate to mosques. clubs. charitable associations and villages and spend these resources in the fields allowed by Islamic law. These initiatives are considered deeds of kindness which lead to the reform of society, and the solution of its problems.
Our goal should be to establish cooperative projects which distribute financial assistance to the poor and the needy. All can participate in such undertakings whether young or old and according to their abilities. These works can include agricultural and industrial projects which will help solve the problems of poverty and unemployment. Schools, mosques, hospitals and camps for refugees and the disabled could also be built. All these initiatives are among the deeds of charity and benevolence whose doers are loved by Allah. To establish banks which lend the poor and the needy and those who work but do not have enough money to live or to help unmarried youths to get married in order to build Muslim families ...all these are measures against usury , economic injustice and will go a long way in securing the roots for a peaceful Islamic life.
So, among the charitable projects loved by the Almighty Allah are: Establishing associations, organizations, schools, libraries for the sake of spreading Islamic culture. doing good, forbidding evil"..
Included among Allah's rights over us that we donate part of our properties. abilities and experiences for benefitting people. supplying their needs. reforming society and solving its problems.
All can participate in performing such good deeds. which are considered as charity the best of which is continuous and whose benefit unstinting. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:
"If a man dies, his deeds will vanish except three: A continuous alms-giving, or a righteous son who prays for him after his death or knowledge from which people can benefit".
Therefore, among the problems of our society which prevent its progress and development are foreign dependence, neither participating in doing good-deeds, nor establishing charitable associations or bearing responsibilities.
Every one is duty-bowed to get rid of such unhealthy conditions. Let those who have abilities participate in such projects or at least call others to participate in them.
Surely Almighty Allah is the source of goodness and benevolence in this life. Try to direct yourself towards Him. Certainly doing good is the right way leading to perfection and happiness. Let the speech of our Holy Messenger be an example in your daily life and a guide in your way of living.
"Behave like Allah behaves."
Let us start doing good, and continue the endeavour in order to spread charity and do good deeds.
Back To Index of Articles
Endnotes
1) Al-Hur al-Amili Wasa'il al-Shi'a, p.6 Kitab al-Amri bil-Ma'ruf 2) Ibid3) Ibid.4) Al-Harani Tuhaf al-Uqul an Aalial-Rasool p.40.5) Ibid p.41.6) Al-Tabrasi Mishkat al-Anwar, p.144, 2nd edition.7) Al-Mutaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 6/ An'wae al-Sadaqah.
Khadija bint Khuwaylid
From: http://www.islamicity.com/
By: unknown
Muslim American Society* -
Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, came from a noble family. Her father Khuwaylid had been one of the most honored leaders of their tribe until he was killed in battle. Her husband had also died, leaving her a very wealthy woman. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) was still a young man, she entrusted him with some of her wealth, asking him to trade with it in Syria on her behalf. He was already well known for his honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness. He returned from Syria after having made a large profit for Khadijah.
After hearing his account of the journey, she decided that he would make the best of husbands, even though many of the most important nobles of the Quraish had already proposed to her and had been refused, and in due course she proposed to him. After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, had given the proposed marriage his blessing, Muhammad and Khadijah were married. At the time of the marriage, the Prophet was twenty-five years old, while Khadijah was forty years old.
For the next fifteen years they lived happily together, and Khadijah bore several children. Their first child, a son whom they named Qasim, died when he was only two years old. Two more sons, called Tayyib and Tahir, were also born, but they too died in their infancy. However,
Muhammad and Khadijah also had four daughters who survived: Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum and Fatima.
No one except Allah of course, knows more about a man than his wife, both his good and his bad qualities, his strengths and his weaknesses. The more Khadijah came to know about her husband, the more she loved and respected him. Everyone in Makka called him 'al-Amin', which means 'the trustworthy one', and she, more than anyone else, knew how fitting this name was. It became Muhammad's custom each year to spend the month of Ramadan in seclusion and reflection in a cave on the mountain of Hira, which is on the outskirts of Makka. Khadijah would always make sure that he was provided with food and drink during his retreat. Towards the end of one Ramadan, when he was forty and Khadijah fifty-five, Muhammad suddenly appeared at their house in the middle of the night, trembling with fear and saying, "Cover me up, cover me up!"
Khadijah was very alarmed to see him in such a state. Quickly she wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and, when he had calmed down, she asked him to describe exactly what had happened. He told her how a being whom he had never seen before - in fact it was the angel Jibril - had suddenly appeared to him while he was asleep and had said, "Read!"
"But I cannot read," he had replied, for he was unlettered and could neither read or write. "Read!" the angel had repeated, clasping Muhammad close to his chest. "I cannot read," he had repeated. "Read!" the angel had repeated, firmly embracing him yet again. "What shall I read?" he had asked in desperation, and the angel had replied:
Read, in the Name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot, Read, and your Lord is the Most Gracious, Who taught with the pen, taught man what he did not know. (Quran 96:1-5)
Although Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not fully realize it at the time, this was the beginning of the revelation of the Qur'an; but in that first encounter with the angel Jibril "(Gabriel), Muhammad was very frightened, for he did not know who the angel Jibril was or what was happening. He woke up and ran out of the cave only to find Jibril still in front of him, and whenever he turned away from him, there Jibril was in front of him yet again, filling the horizon with his mighty yet beautiful form.
"Oh Muhammad," said Jibril eventually, "you are the Messenger of Allah and I am Jibril," and with these words he disappeared from Muhammad's sight.
After the angel had disappeared Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had clambered down the mountain as fast as he could run, not knowing if he was going mad and imagining things, or if he had been possessed by one of the jinn.
As she listened to Muhammad's words, Khadijah did not share any of these fears. She realized that something tremendous and awe-inspiring had happened to her husband, and she was certain, knowing him as she did, that he was neither mad nor possessed. "Do not worry," she said, "for by Him who has dominion over Khadijah's soul, I hope that you are the Prophet of this nation. Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress."
When Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became a little more relaxed, Khadijah took him to see her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, for he was a man of knowledge, and she was sure that he would be able to explain the meaning of what had just happened to her beloved husband. Waraqa had studied the books of both the Jews and the Christians very closely and he had learned a great deal from many of their wisest people. He knew that the coming of another Prophet had been foretold by both Moses and Jesus, peace be on them, and he knew many of the signs that would confirm the identity of this Prophet when he appeared.
After listening closely to his story, Waraqa, who was both old and blind, exclaimed, "This is the same being who brought the revelations of Allah to Moses. I wish I was young and could be alive to support you when your people will drive you out."
"Will they drive me out?" asked Muhammad.
"Yes," replied Waraqa. "No Prophet has come with what you have been given without being treated with enmity; and if I were to live until the day when you are turned out, then I would support you with all my might. Let me just feel your back." So, saying, Waraqa felt between the Prophet's shoulder-blades and found what he was feeling for: a small round, slightly raised irregularity in the skin, about the size of a pigeon's egg. This was yet another of the many signs that Waraqa already knew would indicate the identity of the next Prophet after Jesus, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
"This is the Seal of the Prophet hood!" he exclaimed. "Now I am certain that you are indeed the Prophet whose coming was foretold in the Torah that was revealed to Moses and in the Injil (Gospel) that was revealed to Jesus, (peace be upon him) You are indeed the Messenger of Allah, and the being who appeared to you on the mountain was indeed the angel Jibril!"
Khadijah as both overjoyed and awed to find that her understanding of what had happened on the mountain had been confirmed. Not long after this incident, Muhammad was commanded in a subsequent revelation from Allah, through the angel Jibril, to call people to worship Allah only, and it was at this point that Khadijah did not hesitate in expressing in public what she had now known for certain in secret for some time: " I bear witness that there is no God except Allah," she said, "and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
In the years that followed, difficult years in which the leaders of the Quraish did everything in their power to stop the Prophet spreading his message, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was a constant source of help and comfort to Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the difficulties which he had to face. All her wealth was spent in the way of Allah, helping to spread the message of her husband, helping to free slaves who had embraced Islam, and helping to feed and shelter the community of Muslims that slowly but surely began to grow in numbers and strength.
The Quraish were infuriated by the Prophet's success and did everything in their power to discourage both him and his followers, often inflicting awful tortures on them, but without success. The situation became so bad that the Prophet told some of his followers to go to Abyssinia, where their ruler, the Negus, who was a sincere Christian gave them shelter and protection. Eventually there came a time when, as Waraqa had foretold, Muhammad and his followers -along with all the members of his tribe, the Banu Hashim were driven out of the city of Mecca and forced to camp out in a small ravine in the mountains nearby. This happened long after Waraqa had died, and about seven years after that extraordinary night of power in which Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had received the first revelation of Quran through the angel Jibril. There, while their homes lay empty in Mecca, the Muslims were exposed to the bitterly cold nights of winter and the fiery hot days of summer, with very little food and shelter. No one would buy and sell with the Muslims, or allow their sons and daughters to marry any of them. Fortunately those who secretly sympathized with the Muslims would send what food they could to them whenever the chance arose, sometimes by loading provisions onto a camel or a horse and then sending it off at a gallop in the direction of the camp, hoping that the animal would not stop or get lost before it reached its intended destination.
For three years the small Muslim community lived a life of hardship and deprivation, but although they suffered from hunger and thirst, and from exposure to heat and cold, this was a time in which the hearts of the first Muslims were both purified and also filled with the light of knowledge and wisdom. The Muslims knew that they were following the truth, and so nothing else mattered. They did not care what the Quraish did to them or said about them. Allah and His Messenger were enough for them!
It was during this period that the Muslims who had sought shelter in Abyssinia returned, only to find the situation even worse than when they had left it. Not long after, many of them returned to Abyssinia, their numbers swelled by those whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had told to accompany them. Finally the boycott was lifted and the Muslims were allowed to re enter the city; but the three years of hardship had taken their toll. First of all the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, who was by then more than eighty years old, died; and then a few months later, during the month of Ramadan, Khadijah also died, at the age of sixty-five, may Allah be pleased with her. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mourned her deeply. They had shared twenty-five years of marriage together and she had given birth to five of his children. Only one of the Prophet's future wives, Maria the Copt, would give him another child, Ibrahim, and he, like Qasim, was destined to die when he was still very young, at the age of eighteen months.
Khadijah had been the first to publicly accept Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as the Messenger of Allah, and she had never stopped doing all she could to help him. Love and mercy had grown between them, increasing in quality and depth as the years passed by, and not even death could take this love away. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never stopped loving Khadijah, and although he married several more wives in later years and loved them all, it is clear that Khadijah always had a special place in his heart.
Indeed whenever 'Aisha, his third wife, heard the Prophet speak of Khadijah, or saw him sending food to Khadijah's old friends and relatives, she could not help feeling jealous of her, because of the love that the Prophet still had for her.
Once Aisha asked him if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: "She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand." It had been related by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that on one occasion, when Khadijah was still alive, Jibril came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah is just coming with a bowl of soup (or food or drink) for you. When she comes to you, give her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in the Garden, where there will be neither any noise nor any tiredness." After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, and his first wife, Khadijah, had both died in the same year, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his small community of believers endured a time of great hardship and persecution at the hands of the Quraish. Indeed the Prophet, who was now fifty years old, named this year 'the Year of Sorrow.'
In private his dearest wife was no longer present to share his life; and in public the insults that he received from the Quraish multiplied, now that he had no longer had the protection of his dead uncle. Even when he journeyed to Ta'if, a small city up in the mountains outside Mecca, to call its people to worship Allah, he was rejected and stoned by them. It has been related by Aisha that on his way back to Mecca, Jibril appeared to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "Allah, may He be exalted and glorified, has heard what the people have said to you and how they have responded to your invitation, and he has sent the angel in charge of the mountains so that you can tell him what you want him to with them." Then the angel in charge of the mountains called out to him and greeted him and said, "O Muhammad, Allah has listened to what your people have said to you. I am the angel in charge of the mountains, and your Lord has sent me so that you can order me to do whatever you want. If you wish, I can bring the mountain of the outskirts of Mecca together so that they are crushed between them." But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, "Rather I hope that Allah will make their descendants a people who will worship Allah alone, without ascribing any partners to him."
It was a while after this that the following Chapter of the Quran was revealed:
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
By the morning hours, and by the night when it is stillest, Your Lord has not forsake you nor does He hate you, And truly what comes after will be better for you than what has come before, And truly your Lord will give to you so that you will be content. Did he not find you an orphan and protect you? Did he not find you wandering and guide you? Did he not find you destitute and enrich you? So do not oppress the orphan, And do not drive the beggar away, And speak about the blessings of Your Lord. (Quran 93:1-11)
This article appeared on the Muslim American Society site called masnet.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McNOK-4Cy7o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjIsSdsT6A&feature=related
By: unknown
Muslim American Society* -
Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, came from a noble family. Her father Khuwaylid had been one of the most honored leaders of their tribe until he was killed in battle. Her husband had also died, leaving her a very wealthy woman. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) was still a young man, she entrusted him with some of her wealth, asking him to trade with it in Syria on her behalf. He was already well known for his honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness. He returned from Syria after having made a large profit for Khadijah.
After hearing his account of the journey, she decided that he would make the best of husbands, even though many of the most important nobles of the Quraish had already proposed to her and had been refused, and in due course she proposed to him. After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, had given the proposed marriage his blessing, Muhammad and Khadijah were married. At the time of the marriage, the Prophet was twenty-five years old, while Khadijah was forty years old.
For the next fifteen years they lived happily together, and Khadijah bore several children. Their first child, a son whom they named Qasim, died when he was only two years old. Two more sons, called Tayyib and Tahir, were also born, but they too died in their infancy. However,
Muhammad and Khadijah also had four daughters who survived: Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum and Fatima.
No one except Allah of course, knows more about a man than his wife, both his good and his bad qualities, his strengths and his weaknesses. The more Khadijah came to know about her husband, the more she loved and respected him. Everyone in Makka called him 'al-Amin', which means 'the trustworthy one', and she, more than anyone else, knew how fitting this name was. It became Muhammad's custom each year to spend the month of Ramadan in seclusion and reflection in a cave on the mountain of Hira, which is on the outskirts of Makka. Khadijah would always make sure that he was provided with food and drink during his retreat. Towards the end of one Ramadan, when he was forty and Khadijah fifty-five, Muhammad suddenly appeared at their house in the middle of the night, trembling with fear and saying, "Cover me up, cover me up!"
Khadijah was very alarmed to see him in such a state. Quickly she wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and, when he had calmed down, she asked him to describe exactly what had happened. He told her how a being whom he had never seen before - in fact it was the angel Jibril - had suddenly appeared to him while he was asleep and had said, "Read!"
"But I cannot read," he had replied, for he was unlettered and could neither read or write. "Read!" the angel had repeated, clasping Muhammad close to his chest. "I cannot read," he had repeated. "Read!" the angel had repeated, firmly embracing him yet again. "What shall I read?" he had asked in desperation, and the angel had replied:
Read, in the Name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot, Read, and your Lord is the Most Gracious, Who taught with the pen, taught man what he did not know. (Quran 96:1-5)
Although Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not fully realize it at the time, this was the beginning of the revelation of the Qur'an; but in that first encounter with the angel Jibril "(Gabriel), Muhammad was very frightened, for he did not know who the angel Jibril was or what was happening. He woke up and ran out of the cave only to find Jibril still in front of him, and whenever he turned away from him, there Jibril was in front of him yet again, filling the horizon with his mighty yet beautiful form.
"Oh Muhammad," said Jibril eventually, "you are the Messenger of Allah and I am Jibril," and with these words he disappeared from Muhammad's sight.
After the angel had disappeared Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had clambered down the mountain as fast as he could run, not knowing if he was going mad and imagining things, or if he had been possessed by one of the jinn.
As she listened to Muhammad's words, Khadijah did not share any of these fears. She realized that something tremendous and awe-inspiring had happened to her husband, and she was certain, knowing him as she did, that he was neither mad nor possessed. "Do not worry," she said, "for by Him who has dominion over Khadijah's soul, I hope that you are the Prophet of this nation. Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress."
When Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became a little more relaxed, Khadijah took him to see her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, for he was a man of knowledge, and she was sure that he would be able to explain the meaning of what had just happened to her beloved husband. Waraqa had studied the books of both the Jews and the Christians very closely and he had learned a great deal from many of their wisest people. He knew that the coming of another Prophet had been foretold by both Moses and Jesus, peace be on them, and he knew many of the signs that would confirm the identity of this Prophet when he appeared.
After listening closely to his story, Waraqa, who was both old and blind, exclaimed, "This is the same being who brought the revelations of Allah to Moses. I wish I was young and could be alive to support you when your people will drive you out."
"Will they drive me out?" asked Muhammad.
"Yes," replied Waraqa. "No Prophet has come with what you have been given without being treated with enmity; and if I were to live until the day when you are turned out, then I would support you with all my might. Let me just feel your back." So, saying, Waraqa felt between the Prophet's shoulder-blades and found what he was feeling for: a small round, slightly raised irregularity in the skin, about the size of a pigeon's egg. This was yet another of the many signs that Waraqa already knew would indicate the identity of the next Prophet after Jesus, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
"This is the Seal of the Prophet hood!" he exclaimed. "Now I am certain that you are indeed the Prophet whose coming was foretold in the Torah that was revealed to Moses and in the Injil (Gospel) that was revealed to Jesus, (peace be upon him) You are indeed the Messenger of Allah, and the being who appeared to you on the mountain was indeed the angel Jibril!"
Khadijah as both overjoyed and awed to find that her understanding of what had happened on the mountain had been confirmed. Not long after this incident, Muhammad was commanded in a subsequent revelation from Allah, through the angel Jibril, to call people to worship Allah only, and it was at this point that Khadijah did not hesitate in expressing in public what she had now known for certain in secret for some time: " I bear witness that there is no God except Allah," she said, "and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
In the years that followed, difficult years in which the leaders of the Quraish did everything in their power to stop the Prophet spreading his message, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was a constant source of help and comfort to Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the difficulties which he had to face. All her wealth was spent in the way of Allah, helping to spread the message of her husband, helping to free slaves who had embraced Islam, and helping to feed and shelter the community of Muslims that slowly but surely began to grow in numbers and strength.
The Quraish were infuriated by the Prophet's success and did everything in their power to discourage both him and his followers, often inflicting awful tortures on them, but without success. The situation became so bad that the Prophet told some of his followers to go to Abyssinia, where their ruler, the Negus, who was a sincere Christian gave them shelter and protection. Eventually there came a time when, as Waraqa had foretold, Muhammad and his followers -along with all the members of his tribe, the Banu Hashim were driven out of the city of Mecca and forced to camp out in a small ravine in the mountains nearby. This happened long after Waraqa had died, and about seven years after that extraordinary night of power in which Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had received the first revelation of Quran through the angel Jibril. There, while their homes lay empty in Mecca, the Muslims were exposed to the bitterly cold nights of winter and the fiery hot days of summer, with very little food and shelter. No one would buy and sell with the Muslims, or allow their sons and daughters to marry any of them. Fortunately those who secretly sympathized with the Muslims would send what food they could to them whenever the chance arose, sometimes by loading provisions onto a camel or a horse and then sending it off at a gallop in the direction of the camp, hoping that the animal would not stop or get lost before it reached its intended destination.
For three years the small Muslim community lived a life of hardship and deprivation, but although they suffered from hunger and thirst, and from exposure to heat and cold, this was a time in which the hearts of the first Muslims were both purified and also filled with the light of knowledge and wisdom. The Muslims knew that they were following the truth, and so nothing else mattered. They did not care what the Quraish did to them or said about them. Allah and His Messenger were enough for them!
It was during this period that the Muslims who had sought shelter in Abyssinia returned, only to find the situation even worse than when they had left it. Not long after, many of them returned to Abyssinia, their numbers swelled by those whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had told to accompany them. Finally the boycott was lifted and the Muslims were allowed to re enter the city; but the three years of hardship had taken their toll. First of all the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, who was by then more than eighty years old, died; and then a few months later, during the month of Ramadan, Khadijah also died, at the age of sixty-five, may Allah be pleased with her. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mourned her deeply. They had shared twenty-five years of marriage together and she had given birth to five of his children. Only one of the Prophet's future wives, Maria the Copt, would give him another child, Ibrahim, and he, like Qasim, was destined to die when he was still very young, at the age of eighteen months.
Khadijah had been the first to publicly accept Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as the Messenger of Allah, and she had never stopped doing all she could to help him. Love and mercy had grown between them, increasing in quality and depth as the years passed by, and not even death could take this love away. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never stopped loving Khadijah, and although he married several more wives in later years and loved them all, it is clear that Khadijah always had a special place in his heart.
Indeed whenever 'Aisha, his third wife, heard the Prophet speak of Khadijah, or saw him sending food to Khadijah's old friends and relatives, she could not help feeling jealous of her, because of the love that the Prophet still had for her.
Once Aisha asked him if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: "She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand." It had been related by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that on one occasion, when Khadijah was still alive, Jibril came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah is just coming with a bowl of soup (or food or drink) for you. When she comes to you, give her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in the Garden, where there will be neither any noise nor any tiredness." After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, and his first wife, Khadijah, had both died in the same year, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his small community of believers endured a time of great hardship and persecution at the hands of the Quraish. Indeed the Prophet, who was now fifty years old, named this year 'the Year of Sorrow.'
In private his dearest wife was no longer present to share his life; and in public the insults that he received from the Quraish multiplied, now that he had no longer had the protection of his dead uncle. Even when he journeyed to Ta'if, a small city up in the mountains outside Mecca, to call its people to worship Allah, he was rejected and stoned by them. It has been related by Aisha that on his way back to Mecca, Jibril appeared to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "Allah, may He be exalted and glorified, has heard what the people have said to you and how they have responded to your invitation, and he has sent the angel in charge of the mountains so that you can tell him what you want him to with them." Then the angel in charge of the mountains called out to him and greeted him and said, "O Muhammad, Allah has listened to what your people have said to you. I am the angel in charge of the mountains, and your Lord has sent me so that you can order me to do whatever you want. If you wish, I can bring the mountain of the outskirts of Mecca together so that they are crushed between them." But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, "Rather I hope that Allah will make their descendants a people who will worship Allah alone, without ascribing any partners to him."
It was a while after this that the following Chapter of the Quran was revealed:
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
By the morning hours, and by the night when it is stillest, Your Lord has not forsake you nor does He hate you, And truly what comes after will be better for you than what has come before, And truly your Lord will give to you so that you will be content. Did he not find you an orphan and protect you? Did he not find you wandering and guide you? Did he not find you destitute and enrich you? So do not oppress the orphan, And do not drive the beggar away, And speak about the blessings of Your Lord. (Quran 93:1-11)
This article appeared on the Muslim American Society site called masnet.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McNOK-4Cy7o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjIsSdsT6A&feature=related
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Blessings in The Quran.
By: Maged Taman
1- The Quran is the greatest blessing to humans:
6:155 And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy: وَهَـذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (6:155)
38:29 (Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may mediate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ (38:29)
2- Blessings to the prophets:
19:58 THESE WERE some of the prophets upon whom God bestowed His blessings - [prophets] of the seed of Adam and of those whom We caused to be borne [in the ark] with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel and [all of them were] among those whom We had guided and elected; [and] whenever the messages of the Most Gracious were conveyed unto them, they would fall down [before Him], prostrating themselves and weeping.
أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَن خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا (19:58)
1- The Quran is the greatest blessing to humans:
6:155 And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy: وَهَـذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (6:155)
38:29 (Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may mediate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ (38:29)
2- Blessings to the prophets:
19:58 THESE WERE some of the prophets upon whom God bestowed His blessings - [prophets] of the seed of Adam and of those whom We caused to be borne [in the ark] with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel and [all of them were] among those whom We had guided and elected; [and] whenever the messages of the Most Gracious were conveyed unto them, they would fall down [before Him], prostrating themselves and weeping.
أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَن خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا (19:58)
3- Blessings to the believers:
33:43 He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His angels, that He may bring you out from the depths of Darkness into Light: and He is Full of Mercy to the Believers. هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ
لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا (33:43)
4:69 For, all who pay heed unto God and the Apostle shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviated from the truth, and those who [with their lives] bore witness to the truth, and the righteous ones: and how goodly a company are these!
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا (4:69)
4- Promise of Blessings to the believers:
7:96 Yet if the people of those communities had but attained to faith and been conscious of Us, We would indeed have opened up for them blessings out of heaven and earth: but they gave the lie to the truth - and so We took them to task through what they [themselves] had been doing.
5- Blessings to the Children of Israel.
2:122 O CHILDREN of Israel ! Remember those blessings of Mine with which I graced you, and how I favoured you above all other people;
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ (2:122)
6- Blessings to the Kappa
3:96 The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (3:96)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tmuT5nM0qo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzumrWSQ60&feature=related
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