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‘Al Iltizam’ - Practice Islam

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

‘Al Iltizam’ - Practice Islam

Allah (swt) says,

﴿ وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإنْسَ إِلا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴾

I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship Me. [Surah Ad Dhariyat 51:56]

Worship is to Obey, Follow and Submit Allah (swt) and whomsoever He permits. And Allah (swt) says,

﴿ إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الإسْلامُ ﴾

The only deen with Allah is Islam (submission to His Will) [Surah Al Imran 3:19]

The Arabic word ‘Deen’ is more comprehensive than its nearest English meaning ‘Religion’. The deen of Islam encompasses what one believes in, lives by and dies for; i.e. Tawheed, Shariah Dawah and Jihad respectively. Allah (swt) also says,

﴿ لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا ﴾

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. [Surah Al Ahzab 33:21]

Islam is to submit to Allah (swt) and to follow the example of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) in all aspects of his (saw) practice of the deen. After all Muslim is the one who submits to the will of Allah (swt) and practices.

WHY SHOULD I PRACTICE?

1.  Practice because Allah (swt) orders us to do so in obedience to Allah (swt) ∆

Allah (swt) says,

﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ ﴾

O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.

[Surah Baqarah 2:208]

And Allah (swt) says,

﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ ﴾

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. [Surah An Nisa 4:59]

It is narrated on the authority of Sufyan bin Abdullah al-Thaqafi that he said:

I asked the Messenger of Allah to tell me about Islam a thing which I do not need to ask anyone after you. He (the Prophet) remarked,

« قَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ فَاسْتَقِمْ »

‏“Say I believe in Allah and then remain steadfast to it”. [Sahih Muslim]

2.  Practice because it is the Way to Jannah (Paradise)

The price to enter Jannah is expensive and has hardship.

Anas bin Malik narrated the Messenger (saw) said,

“Paradise is surrounded by hardships and Hell-Fire is surrounded by temptations.” [Sahih Muslim]

The path to Jannah has obligations which a Muslim has to do like praying, fasting, jihad etc, also it is surrounded by prohibitions from which Muslims need to refrain such as alcohol, fornication, gambling, etc.

The Messenger (saw) said,

“All my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who reject”

The Messenger (saw) said,

Not one of you believes unless his desires are in line with what I bring. [Bukhari]

3.  Practice because it is part of your fitrah (natural disposition)

Even non-Muslims are born with belief in God.

The Messenger (saw) said,

» مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ «

“No child is born except in a state of Fitrah, and then his parents make him a Jew or a Christian or a Zoroastrian”

[Sahih Muslim]

That’s why a child will naturally cover its private parts and man by nature hates to steal or to fight or to kill.

The Messenger (saw) said Allah (swt) said,

» إِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ، فَاجْتَالَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ عَنْ دِينِهِم «

“I created my servants Hunafa (i.e., monotheists), then the Shayateen misled them from their religion.’’ [Hadith Qudsi]

Allah (swt) says,

﴿ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى شَهِدْنَا أَنْ تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَافِلِينَ ﴾

“Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: “Yea! We do testify!” (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: “Of this we were never mindful” [Surah Al A’raf 7:172]

4.  Practice not to become a ‘fasiq fajr’ (open sinner)

§ ‘Aasie’ is one who does not do obligations

§ ‘Fasiq’ one who does haram

§ ‘Fasiq fajr’ openly does haram

The Messenger (saw) drew a straight line in the sand. Then he drew some curves leading away from it. The Messenger (saw) said; “ Each one of these has a Shaytan.”

5.  Practice to have an objective in life

The disbelievers are worse than the animals, they eat, drink, sleep and co-habit with no purpose in life other than their vain desires, whilst the Muslims have the noble task of making Allah (swt) deen dominant in the world.

Allah (swt) says about the disbelievers,

﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَاب ِوَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ ﴾

Verily, those who disbelieve from among the people of the Book and the Polytheists will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures. [Surah Al Bayyinah 98:6]

And Allah (swt) says,

﴿ أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا ﴾

Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path. [Surah Al Furqan 25:44]

Allah (swt) says about the believers,

﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُوْلَئِكَهُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ ﴾

Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures. [Surah Al Bayyinah 98:7]

EXCUSES PEOPLE GIVE NOT TO PRACTICE

1.  Practice Muslim (submitter) and Traditional Muslim (sinful Muslim)

People who do not want to practice say they are traditional Muslims, rather than practicing Muslims. This is a huge error, as the faith (Iman) is what is manifested in the heart, tongue and action of a Muslim. Iman Bukhari said “iman is saying and actions” as we judge by what is apparent.

2.  ‘Wasatiya’ the middle stance

They will say it is extreme to practice too much and also not to practice at all, so they will do what they deem to be the middle stance. So they will pray some times, fast sometimes, etc. These people are again in error, as it is not up to the individual to practice how much or how little they like, rather the Messenger (saw) said;

»ما نهيتكم عنه فاجتنبوه ، وما أمرتكم به فأتوا منه ما استطعت«

“What I have forbidden to you, avoid; what I have ordered you to do, do as much as you can” [Sahih Muslim] #6259

3.  ‘Yussar’ the deen is ease

Allah (swt) says,

﴿ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ﴾

And has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, [Surah Al Hajj 22:78]

The Messenger (saw) said,

“The deen is very easy; whoever overburdens himself will not be able to continue in that way” [Hadith]

Unfortunately people abuse the deen by not even opting for the easy path, instead leaving practicing all together. So they start of by not praying on time, then saying they will make up missed salah, then only praying Jumuah, eventually leaving all duties with the hope to complete Hajj one day and atoning forgiveness for their sins.

We say to these people have a covenant with Allah (swt) that you will live to a ripe age to enable you to perform Hajj as you please. Death awaits all of us, where and when only Allah (swt) knows.

4.  Allah (swt) doesn’t ask above ones limit

Allah (swt) says,

﴿ لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْساً إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا ﴾

Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope [Surah Baqarah 2:286]

Allah (swt) created us, and He (swt) knows our limits, hence why when we requested to do obligations they are with in our limit. Take fasting for example, we fast during the day light hours only and not day and night!

﴿ لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا ﴾

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. [Surah Al Ahzab 33:21]

﴿ وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا﴾

If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge! [Surah An Nisa 4:115]

5.  One hour for your lord and one hour for you

This is an excuse from those who say they are allowed to have time away from worship. Yet Allah (swt) says,

﴿ قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴾

Say: “Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds: [Surah Al An’am 6:162]

The verse covers every aspect of ones life.

6.  ‘Taqwa’ piety in the heart

They say Allah (swt) does not look to what is one the outer i.e. your acts of worship such as salah, zakah, sawm, and hajj!

We say if that was the case that Allah (swt) does not look to a person’s outer action then why don’t you walk naked or drink alcohol or steal, etc

The Messenger (saw) said,

“Every action is based upon intention” [Sahih Bukhari]

The action is the pre-requisite for the intention i.e. we know Islamic ruling for the action before we even intend to do it

7.  ‘Hawa’ rational desires

They wish to go to the cinema, free-mix, go dancing, etc though these acts are prohibited by the shariah. Allah (swt) says,

﴿ يَا دَاوُدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الأرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ﴾

O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent on earth: so judge thou between men in truth (and justice): Nor follow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they will mislead thee from the Path of Allah: [Surah Saad 38:26]

And Allah (swt) says,

﴿ وَأَنِ احْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ﴾

And this (He commands): Judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, [Surah Al Maidah 5:49]

The criteria for all actions have to be the shariah.

8.  Corrupt friends

Friends in this world ‘dunya’ are your friends in the hereafter ‘akhira’

That’s why we say “may Allah (swt) raise you with the one you love” i.e. Michael Jackson, David Beckham, etc

9.  The Pressures of society

They say society puts pressure on them to free-mix, and to believe in equal opportunities, not to practice or cover i.e. wear khimar and jilbab

The Messenger (saw) said,

“There will be a time for my Ummah to practice will like holding onto hot coal fire” [Hadith]

10.  Bad habits

People have bad habits such as smoking, speaking to opposite gender, playing games, listening to music; delve in love stories from Bollywood and Hollywood.

We say the first principle in Islam is to give up before you take up.  So give up all the prohibitions and fulfill your obligations.

11.  People will mock

They say people will say you are old fashioned or backwards, like the people mock Nuh (as) in his time. Allah (swt) says,

﴿ فَالْيَوْمَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ ﴾

But on this Day the Believers will laugh at the Unbelievers: [Surah Al Mutaffin 83:34]

WAYS TO INCREASE ONES FAITH (IMAN)

§ Do the obligations

§ Fear Allah (swt) as He should be feared, study His names and attributes

§ Have ihsan, which is to know that Allah (swt) is watching you

§ Cry from fearing Allah (swt)

§ Read Qur’an with understanding

§ Make dua (supplication)

§ Perform Qiyamul lail, worship through the night

§ Do the Nafilah (voluntary acts)

§ Study Islam especially what is to be known by necessity

From islambase.tk