Man always looks for what benefits him and what protects him from harm. However, to accomplish this, man must be able to realise what is harmful. He must then know whom he should need, trust, and love so that he can attain what is beneficial as well as to feel good about his choice.
He also must know the proper and good approach that would make him achieve this goal. This latter condition requires that man:
1. Know about harm
2. What ways can be used to drive harm away?
Certainly, man can have no better guidance than that which comes from the One Who had perfected everything, and the One who Has no deficiency in Himself and in His Attributes. The One Who is Ever-Living and Who does not die. There can be no One better than the One Who Has no need for anything; the One Who is rich; the Giver; the One who, after all, controls man’s soul. Man is so poor to Him. He is Allah, the True and only God. Man can bring harm to himself if he seeks other than Allah for help. Allah is the One Who can help man drive away any harm for it cannot occur without His Will and His Power.
Allah Almighty sent down His Books and chose His Messengers to guide man to:
1. Know His Lord as He Almighty had explained about Himself, and
2. Seek Him Alone while living in accordance with His plan
Knowing Allah’s Names and Attributes liberates man from worshipping any form of creation because creation is weak and is in need of The Creator, Allah. The knowledge about Allah leads man to know that he is created to live according to Allah’s way as revealed to His Messengers may Allah exalt their mention the final of whom was Messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
This Revelation contains a complete code of life. Everything that is beneficial or harmful is established so that man can centre his life around this Revelation. If man commits wrong and knows that Allah is Oft-Forgiving he would turn to Him, and to Him alone, seeking His forgiveness; Allah Says (what means): “Know, therefore, that there is no God Who deserves to be worshipped except Allah; and ask forgiveness for your sins.” [Qur’an 47:19]
It is wrong to think or believe that Allah created other ‘gods’ besides Him so that man turns to them for help; loves them or fear them, etc. He is the same God of all nations. He does not order that people should make of stars, sun, fire, ‘Eesaa (Jesus), Moosaa (Moses), Muhammad, may Allah exalt their mention, gods besides Him. He (Most Exalted) cannot be ‘contradictory’. He has one way (religion) that calls man to surrender his will only to Him.
He warned that if man (even Muhammad) would take partners with Him, then his work will fail and will be among losers; Allah Says (what means): “And verily, it had been revealed to you (O Muhammad ) as has been revealed to those before you. If you join others in worship with Allah (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain and you will certainly be among the losers. Nay! But worship Allah and be among grateful.” [Qur’an 39:65-66]
Let us know what Muhammad the man-Prophet, who knew Allah best, used to say: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You for Your Pleasure and against Your Wrath, and in Your Forgiveness and against Your Punishment and in You from You, I cannot Praise You as You can Praise Yourself.” (Muslim, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah)
He used to say also: “I have surrendered myself to You, I have directed my face to You, I have entrusted my affairs to You, I have compelled my back to refuge in You, in want and in fright of You, there is no resort nor survival from You except (in turning) to You. I have faith in Your book (i.e. the Qur’an) which You brought down and in the Prophet (Muhammad) you have sent.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)
When we read in the Qur’an (what means): “Whatever of Mercy (i.e. of good), Allah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Qur’an 35:2]
And when we read (what means): “If Allah touches you with hurt, there is none can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His favour which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He will, and He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an 10:117]
We should be motivated to return to Him Alone at times of ease and at times of hardship. And when we read (what means): “If Allah helps you none can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there, after Him, that can help you. And in Allah (alone) let believers put their trust.” [Qur’an 3:160]
The Qur’an, therefore, leads man to a true liberation from any false attachment. It brings peace to the heart. It helps the believer against hypocrisy and all forms of dishonesty.
Imagine, for example, a believer facing a problem at work. He sees wrong and faces unlawful practices. He does not fear rejecting what is wrong. He knows that the job is only a means to gain his sustenance. While he may be unable to correct what is wrong, he knows well that Allah is the One Who provides. If he leaves his job for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him a better one. Allah Almighty Said (what means): “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him. He will make a way for him to get out (from) every (difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he could never imagine.” [Qur’an 65:2-3]
The above texts, necessitates that man must depend upon Allah Almighty asking Him Alone for assistance. It also requires that man must love Allah and worship Him Alone to gain His pleasure and His help. Is it not true that the people who consider this life as the “Final Goal” end up worshipping many things in it? You see them so careful about “having it all”. They torture themselves: pain, difficulty, constant worry, keeping their hands in the banks for loan after loan to keep up with the “demands of development”. They are under the constant threat of fore-closure. They constantly see poverty in front of their eyes.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Allah says: ‘Son of Aadam: Fill your time with My worship and I will fill your heart with richness, and end off your poverty. But if you do not, I would make your hands fully busy (i.e. in worldly affairs) and I would not end off your poverty.’” (At-Tirmithi)
Our purpose of existence on earth is more meaningful than being slaves to worldly gains. There can be no meaningful life better than that prescribed by our Creator Allah. Every act done according to Allah’s way is an act of worship. Man is the beneficiary and Allah is in no need; Allah Says (what means): “O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of All Praise.” [Qur’an 35:15]
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Reliance on Allah is a form of worship
Relying on Allah is one of the greatest forms of worship. Allah Says (what means): “…And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers.” [Qur’an 5: 23] Allah Almighty made relying upon Him a condition for faith. Allah said to His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, (what means): “…Rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].” [Qur’an 3: 159]
Allah also Says (what means): “…And whoever relies upon Allah — then He is sufficient for him.” [Qur’an 65: 3]
Furthermore, Allah has linked this reliance to worship, as occurs in His statement (which means): “…So worship Him and rely upon Him.” [Qur’an 11: 123]
The meaning of reliance on Allah
Reliance on Allah means entrusting one’s affairs to Allah and relying on Him in all matters. Entrusting one’s affairs to Allah entails not turning to something or someone else for support.
So reliance on Allah can be with regard to matters of creed, such that the servant’s heart does not turn to anyone else besides Allah. Therefore, he is always putting his reliance in Allah, entrusting all of his affairs to Him.
The pagans did not fall into polytheism and disbelief except due to the fact that they put their reliance in other than Allah, entrusted their affairs to other than Him, and believed in their hearts that someone besides Allah was able to grant their requests, alleviate their worries and repel harms from them. So they relied on statues, idols, trees, stones, graves, shrines and the deceased. They put their trust in created beings to grant them things that only Allah could do. So they began to ask them for help, offer sacrifices to them, make oaths to them, and direct various forms of worship to them.
This is since they relied on them apart from Allah, thinking that they have the power to benefit them, harm them or grant their requests. Due to this, when they put their reliance in other than Allah and directed their beliefs and worship to other than Him, they disbelieved in Him.
Relying upon Allah is from the actions of the heart – so it is an act of worship of the heart. Therefore, putting one’s trust in Allah is not to be done with one’s limbs and body parts. Rather, it is found in the heart, just like fear, awe, longing, dreading and dutifulness of Allah – all of these are acts of worship of the heart.
The position of reliance on Allah:
The position of reliance on Allah is as some of the scholars have stated: “The position of reliance upon Allah in the religion is like that of the head on a body.”
So a person who does not have reliance upon Allah does not have religion, just like a body that has no head. If the religion lacks reliance upon Allah, it lacks correctness – meaning that one will not have a correct religion.
Relying on Allah has a great standing amongst the stations of servitude to Allah. Allah distinguishes by it His believing servants from everyone else. Whoever doesn’t put his trust in Allah at all is a disbeliever. And whoever puts his trust in Allah and also on others besides Allah is a polytheist. And as for the one who puts his trust in Allah alone – he is a monotheistic believer whom Allah loves and whose actions and statements He is pleased with. This is since he has established his actions and statements upon a correct foundation.
The foundation of Shirk (polytheism) is: entrusting one’s affairs and putting one’s reliance on other than Allah. This is why Allah Says (what means): “…And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers.” [Qur’an 5: 23]
Allah has made reliance on Allah here a sign of one’s Faith in Him and proof of one’s monotheism.
As for the one who claims to be a believer and an adherent of monotheism, but yet then goes on to put his trust in other than Allah, such as stones, trees, statues, graves, the deceased, and so on, then this person’s claim is false. And he is not a believer because he has entrusted his affairs to someone besides Allah.
Relying upon Allah can be in religious matters as well as worldly matters. Thus you should rely on Allah in your creed and your monotheism as well as for fulfilling your worldly needs, such as seeking provision, clothing and accomplishing some set goals. Put your reliance and trust in Allah for all matters.
When it comes to fulfilling any goal, do not rely on anyone besides Allah. This is since all of the affairs are in the Hand of Allah. The keys of the Heavens and the Earth are in His Hand, so we must put our trust and reliance in Him.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Allah’s Knowledge is infinite
One of the Divine Attributes Allah, The Most Exalted, Has is Infinite Knowledge that encompasses everything in the heavens and earth and what is in between them; in the worldly life and the Hereafter. Therefore, among His Divine Names is the All-Knowing. He, the Almighty says (what means): “Verily, He, only He, is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [Qur’an 26: 220]
Allah Almighty has called Himself by some other Names which reflect this attribute, such as Al-Khabeer (the All-Aware), which entails that He knows what will be before it happens; Al-Hakeem (the Wise), which entails that He knows the details of things; Ash-Shaheed (the Witness), which entails that He knows what is unseen and what is seen, i.e., that nothing is unknown to Him; and Al-Muhsiy (the Reckoner), which entails that the fact that He knows so much does not distract Him from knowing the tiniest details, such as the light of the day and how strong the wind is, and when the leaves fall. He knows the numbers and the movements of each leaf.
His Knowledge encompasses generalities and minor details:
Some philosophers claim that Allah knows things in general terms, but He does not know minor details. This, no doubt, is a sheer lie.
The Knowledge of Allah, Glory is to Him, is comprehensive and all-encompassing, and nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him on earth or in the heavens. He knows every movement on land and in the depths of the sea, and there is no leaf that falls from a tree or a seed that is planted in the ground, or a small plant that cleaves the earth, or dries out or dies, but the Knowledge of Allah encompasses it. Allah Almighty says (what means): “...And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.” [Qur’an 6: 59]
Nothing of the innumerable animals, birds, insects, etc. is hidden from Allah, as stated in the verse (which means): “And no moving [living] creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit [in the uterus or grave]. All is in a Clear Book [the Preserved Tablet].” [Qur’an 11: 6]
There is nothing that goes down into the earth, or ascends from the earth to the heavens, but Allah encompasses it with His Infinite Knowledge. Allah says (what means):
“He knows that which goes into the earth and that which comes forth from it, and that which descends from the heaven and that which ascends to it. And He is the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving.” [Qur’an 34: 2]
Nothing of man is hidden from Allah, the All-Knowing, whatsoever. Allah’s Knowledge of man is comprehensive, encompassing his apparent and visible actions, but He also knows what is hidden in the depths of his soul, as stated in the verse (which means): “Say [O Muhammad]: ‘Whether you hide what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it...’” [Qur’an 3: 29]
And the verse (which means): “And He is Allah [to be worshipped Alone] in the heavens and on the earth; He Knows what you conceal and what you reveal...” [Qur’an 6: 3]
All the disasters and tribulations that happen on earth, or happen to the individual, or to his wealth or family, etc., were known to Allah before they happened, He has written them in the Preserved Tablet as He says (what means): “No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being — indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” [Qur’an 57:22]
Allah’s Knowledge encompasses all the minor details of man’s life. He, the All-Knowing says (what means): “Neither you [O Muhammad] do any deed nor recite any portion of the Qur’an, nor you [O mankind] do any deed [good or evil], but We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it...” [Qur’an 10: 61]
In the Noble Qur’an, Almighty Allah reports the invaluable advice which Luqmaan (a wise pious man) gave to his son in regards to pure faith in Allah, the Most Exalted. This is in the verse (which means):
“O my son! If it be [anything] equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle [in bringing out that grain], Well-Aware [of its place].” [Qur’an 3l: 16]
For the Knowledge of Allah, secret and open, small and great, unseen and seen, are all the same, as in the verse (which means):
“Allah knows what every female carries and what the wombs lose [prematurely] or exceed. And everything with Him is by due measure.
[He is] (He is the) Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Grand, the Exalted. It is the same [to Him] concerning you whether one conceals [his] speech or one publicises it and whether one is hidden by night or conspicuous [among others] by day.” [Qur’an 13: 8-10]
Allah, the Almighty, indeed spoke the truth when He said (what means):
“... And nothing is hidden from your Lord [so much as] the weight of an atom [or small ant] on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but is [written] in a Clear Record.” [Qur’an 10: 61]
Allah’s Knowledge: An excuse not to exert effort?
Some might raise a question like: “If Allah Knows or Decrees certain catastrophes or trials to happen, then why should I strive to avoid them?” Or, “If Allah destined that a given person will live as a disbeliever and later is to be doomed to Hell, why should He punish him?”
The answer to such a misconception is that Allah, the Most Exalted, has endowed man with ability, will and volition, and He has shown him the two ways: that of good and that of evil through His revelations to His Messengers may Allah exalt their mention. So, whoever chooses the way of good, Allah will guide him and grant him success and the opposite is true. Allah says (what means): “And (We, i.e. Allah) have shown him the two ways - of good and evil”. [Qur’an 90:10].
Allah also says (what means): “Whosoever desires (through his deeds) the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world (through his deeds), We give him thereof (what is written for him), and he has no portion in the Hereafter.” [Qur’an 42:20].
The above mentioned verses clarify that one has the volition and not obliged to do things against his will. For example, no one can deny that man has a volition concerning material affairs such as livelihood: he spares no effort to gain more and more although he knows that his livelihood is predestined.
Another example is that concerning one’s seeking each and every remedy and means of safety to avoid harm.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
The miracle of honey
More than 1,400 years ago Allah and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, told us that honey can heal a variety of medical problems.
Allah says in the Qur’an, “And the Lord inspired the bee, saying: Take your habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you).’ There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily in this is indeed a sign for people who think.” (16:68-69)
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, has also told us of the healing found within honey for a variety of medical problems, including stomach ailments. One hadith, reported by Bukhari, states that a man came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, because his brother had a stomach disorder. The Prophet said, “Let him drink honey.” The man returned a second time, saying his brother had stomach disorder, and again the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “Let him drink honey.” He returned a third time, saying again that his brother had stomach disorder. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, responded again, “Let him drink honey.” The man returned and said, “I have done that.” The Prophet then responded, “Allah has said the truth, but your brother’s stomach has told a lie. Let him drink honey.” He drank it and was cured.
Tirmithi, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi also reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Qur’an.”
Modern medicine is only just learning of this fact. Traditional uses of honey have included honey mixed with lemon for sore throats. Honey coats the throat and reduces throat irritation. Research has already shown that honey blocks the growth of oral bacteria. Honey has also been used for stomach pains and problems. Modern research shows that honey is effective when used in the treatment of gastric or peptic stomach ulcers. Research has also revealed that honey is effective in the treatment of various wounds and infections because of its anti-microbial (anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal) properties.
Researchers are not absolutely sure why honey heals but they are learning new things about honey every day. We do know that honey contains a variety of sugars and minerals. Honey is also considered an antioxidant. This means it allows the blood to circulate better and provide more oxygen to areas of the body such as the brain. Honey can also be used externally to promote healing when applied to wounds, even post-operative wounds. Honey has also been effective in its use to treat burns. It has even been shown to be low in calories and useful as a sweetener for diabetics, people with heart disease or those overweight.
