To All My Family Members And All Who Will Take Direction From This, Young And Old

وَتَمَّتۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدۡقً۬ا وَعَدۡلاً۬‌ۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

The Word of your Rabb (Lord) does find its fulfilment in truth and in justice: none can change His Words: for He is the one who hears and knows all. (6:115)

In Part Two of “The Wasiyyat” what I am writing in the following pages is straight from my heart and in fulfillment of the fundamental requirement in Islam (in the Qur’an, in the life of Rasul- Allah (S) and lives of all Imams) to speak up because the consequences of not speaking are dire from the teachings in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (S)

As a matter of fact, it is a direct injunction from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and for that Allah calls us the Khayr al-Ummatin (The Best of the creation of mankind). What a beautiful Badge! But this Badge is worth only if we fulfill the reason for this great Honor of the “Best Creation” Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala honors us with. It is for those who instruct to do good and prevent from doing evil. Look what Allah reveals:

كُنتُمۡ خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۗ

You are the best of people, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah…”(3:110).

And even now, the slogan “if you see something, say something” makes it incumbent upon us to speak.

I am writing this not only specifically for all my family members, or my community, but also for all who will take direction from this.

I hope you will not only read it knowing it comes from your own brother and your own family member, or a brother-in-faith, but you will make a serious commitment to ponder over it. And please feel free to ask. There is nothing that will make me happier than knowing that you read this and pondered about it and want to have more explanation on any issue mentioned in this small booklet.

*************

One particular Aayat in the Qur’an is referred to as Aayat al-Birr (The Verse that reveals complete Righteousness). I am starting the Part Two of my al-Wasiyyat with this Aayat. I will show this again at the end of this book with more explanation and you will understand the importance of this.

لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَالْمَلآئِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُواْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاء والضَّرَّاء وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

“(True) Righteousness is not that you (just) turn your faces towards the East and the West, but the righteous is he who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the Messengers, and for the love of Him gives (of) his wealth, (although he likes it), to the kindred, the orphans, the needy, the travelers, beggars and for the (emancipation of) slaves, and keeps up the prayer, and pays the poor-rates (zakat); and those who fulfill their promise whenever they make a promise, and are patient in distress, adversity, and in the time of war, these are they who are the truthful (in Faith verbally and actually) and these are the pious ones.” (2:177)

Many of the things I will show in this part of the book and also the Commandments from the Qur’an (I will quote from Surah Bani Israel) at the end of this booklet will InshaAllah make it very clear the true purpose of earthly life to attain Success in the Hereafter.

I am therefore asking you never to neglect the Qur’an. Make a habit to read at least some verses with the help of translations and you will see InshaAllah great understanding you will develop. I am asking you to use this book as a part of valuable guidance in conjunction with your focusing and pondering over the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (S) as correctly taught to us by the Ma’sumin A’immah (as), and all other sources that have always been available to you. I ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for His Forgiveness any unknown error. It is written with utmost sincerity as a Wasiyyat. The uniqueness of this book is that the first part proves without any doubt the Authenticity of the Qur’an. This is a Resource Paper I wrote to facilitate implementation of a course in Qur’anic Studies. It was accepted, verified by other scholars and published by the Islamic Education Board (IEB) of NASIMCO.

The Part Two is the Wasiyyat (admonition) from me not only to my family, but also to my community members, friends and all who will take direction from this. I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to accept this from me and give all of us the continuous Tawfiq to always remain on the Straight Path. We ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for this every day in our Salaat when we recite Surah al-Fatiha,

Let me repeat what I have stated in the last paragraph of the previous page as follows:

“I hope you will not only read it knowing it comes from your own brother and your own family member, or a brother-in-faith, but you will also make a commitment to seriously ponder over it. And please feel free to ask. There is nothing that will make me happier than knowing that you read this and pondered about it and want to have more explanation on any issue mentioned in this small booklet”.

Let us therefore begin with the Niyyat to learn and to understand everything what I have stated in this book.

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The first thing to understand is that our life on this earth is not without any purpose. In order to fulfill the purpose, we have been endowed with not only just the Five sensual perceptions, but also rational perceptions. The sensual perceptions we are endowed with are:

1. Eyes to see;

2. Ears to hear;

3. Nose to smell;

4. Hands to touch and feel the object; and

5. Tongue to taste;

But human beings are the only creatures who have also been endowed with much more. They have also been gifted with rational perceptions. These are the ‘Aql (Brain), a mind of their own to reason over everything they experience with their sensual perceptions. Also endowed with freewill to chart the path of their life themselves.

And even more important of all, it is unique that mankind carries very special qualities and has reflections of Godly characteristics Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala Himself bestowed. Look what the Qur’an reveals:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقُۢ بَشَرً۬ا مِّن صَلۡصَـٰلٍ۬ مِّنۡ حَمَإٍ۬ مَّسۡنُونٍ۬ فَإِذَا سَوَّيۡتُهُ وَنَفَخۡتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُواْ لَهُ سَـٰجِدِين

Behold! Thy Lord said to the angels: “I am about to create man, from sounding clay from mud molded into shape; when I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him.” (15:28, 15: 29)

These endowments are given so that human beings can become truly successful in their earthly lives and leave their footprints so that others who are lost in the wilderness and confusion in life should find guidance through those footprints of success. These endowments (the sensual and rational perceptions and the Spirit) are given only to human beings and it is these that make a human being the best of the creation. Mankind is the only creature who is the true vicegerent of Allah on the earth. Allah has created everything else, in the heavens and the earth subservient to human beings. Let us think about this together for a minute.

Think about all the progress mankind has made using the sensual and rational perceptions human beings are endowed with. It is the human beings who have charted the paths of progress on the earth by exploiting the natural resources placed for them on the earth to exploit them and to progress. It is the mankind who charted the paths in the space so that planes and rockets can fly. Mankind has reached and stepped on the moon and studied the space and has exploited the treasures hidden in the earth and in the space.

Qur’an reveals the Honor and Favors Allah has bestowed upon human beings. Ponder on the following Verse.

وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَـٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ ڪَثِيرٍ۬ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيلاً۬

We have honored the sons of Adam (human beings); provided them with transport on land and sea; and given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of Our Creation. (17:70)

Yet come to think about it, in many senses, human beings are inferior to other creatures. For example, human beings do not have the strength of an elephant, or the speed of a tiger, or capacity to fly like birds, yet human beings are the only specie that can tame the wildest animal. Human beings are the only specie that shape the landscape and use raw materials on the earth and deep into the earth, in the ocean and in the space to exploit in order to build magnificent infrastructure and means of all kinds of transportation and lifestyle.

I have already quoted several verses from the Qur’an. But how do I know that the Qur’an is truly the Word of Allah and that it contains nothing but the whole Truth and contains no theories. Theories can change, Truth does not. Truth is eternal. It is for this reason, I have included for you in the beginning of this book in Part One, my article, Qur’an: The Authentic Book of Allah. It has already been authenticated and approved.

I would urge you to read in this article the findings of non-Muslim scholars who took up the challenge in order to prove that the Qur’an was wrong in its claim.

They were so surprised at the authenticity of the Qur’an and found purpose of their life and converted to Islam. Almost all of them then wrote their experiences about the Qur’an that led them to answer questions they had about their earthly life. From among the several names are: Dr. Jafferey Lang, Dr. Gary Miller, Dr. Maurice Bucaille and many others1.

What do I mean when I say in the above paragraphs the underlined words “earthly lives”? I simply mean that our life on this earth is never permanent. We were born to live only for a temporary period. We grow and pass through different phases only to end our earthly lives.

It is Interesting when you think about the fact that all I have mentioned about our earthly life above is through none of our choice. We had no choice of our birth; we have no choice that we will grow old and we have absolutely no choice about our death. It must come and it will come. Can this ever be debated? Is this fact debatable? The answer is of course “NO” because it is an undeniable fact.

At this point here now, I want you to really (I mean really) think the following and answer the following simple but challenging questions with “Yes’ or “No’. The challenge is that none of your replies will provide “yes” as your answer.

Think: Did you come into this world, - whether you are male or female-, of your own choice?

Write your answer here: ______________________

If we had no choice, and have no choice in our birth, no choice in our getting old and going through all the phases of life and we have no choice but to eventually die, then our rational reasoning should tell us that there has to be some Great Power who created us and has a total Control over us. The Freewill that He has granted us, is very small. Therefore, I want you to think.

Think: Can you choose for your life not to grow old? Can you create such a choice for you or for anyone who you love?

Write your answer here____________________

Think: Is there not then the Most Intelligent, the Supreme Power who will bring about our death one day. Do we have any choice in this?

Write your answer here________________________

Think: Can you or I create anything out of nothing. That is to say can you create anything exnihilo (without anything, without any other product. For example, you need wood to create a table)

Write your answer here answer here____________________

Now, let us ponder a little more about this the Most Intelligent, the Supreme Power. He is known by several names in all traditions. The vast majority in this world know Him simply as Allah. He is also known in the Hebrew Bible as Ilah, Elohim etc., He is also known as Allah, Khuda, Ilahi, Mwenyezi Mungu, and has several Attributes.2

Allah is our Creator and He is fully Praiseworthy. We praise Him with Glorification words we call Tasbih of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. For example, what do we say in our third and the fourth Raka’a in our Salaat?

What Is Tasbih Of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’la?

Let us consider briefly here what we say in our Tasbih3. But first, see also my previous footnote below: We say:

SubhanaAllah 33 times = Allah is Absolutely Perfect, has no defect at all and has created everything in the heavens and earth perfect and has no fault of any kind. There is nothing negative in Allah or any of His creation.

Think about the planets and galaxies, the change of day and night and the signs around us and in us. Think how Allah created us, all His Blessings upon us, gave us parents who looked after us. Your conscious will force you to praise Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.

Alhamdulillah 33 times = Alhamdulillah negates any fault in Allah and we Praise Him for all the Good. All the good He has is not acquired after any training or any academic work learned in any university or college or anywhere else. All the good is just inherent in Him.

Allahu Akbar 34 times = Allah is the Greatest. All Glory and all Praise belong only to Him. This Praise we do in Tasbih (Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar) or the Tasbihat al-Arba’ we recite in our salaat (Subhanallahi wa al- Hamdulillahi wa laailaaha illaAllah wallahu Akbar) totally belongs only to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and no one else.

It is important to realize also that “Authority corrupts, and absolute authority corrupts absolutely”. Interestingly there is a saying that “Authority corrupts, and absolute authority corrupts absolutely” But not for Allah. He is the Highest Authority, but He is not corrupt. He is Absolutely and totally Merciful. He is al-’Azizu, (The Mighty), yes but He is also al-Hakimu (The Wise). Allah is He who created us and it is He who put Mercy and Compassion in the hearts of parents for their children and yet it is He who loves us more than a mother loves her child.

If we want to recognize for ourselves the Truth of everything I have said above, look and ponder over the following Verse from the Qur’an.

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيد

Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord doth witness all things? (41:53)

What Are The Successful Footprints We Can Leave Behind?

First, we must understand that each of us should have an Ideology to successfully attain our goals in life.

There are only two main ideologies in our world majority of people follow: – The Linear ideology and The Circular ideology.

The Linear ideology is simply that our life on this earth is only once. We have earthly life only once. It is Linear.

The Circular ideology is that life is circular. At death, one is incarnated and returns to go through life again. The form of the future life may change depending on the Karma (deeds) in the previous life. This is the Circular ideology.

There is also a third ideology; but it is nonsensical. It says that we are all the product of evolution as a result of an accident in history; or that we are the product of our environment and already programmed and chained and so nothing we can do about it.

It is funny when you argue with them about this. It becomes a comedy show. Ask them which came first, the chicken or the egg? The eventual answer I heard was “it was an accident in history”. Well okay, “who created that accident?” It is laughable but the answer you will perhaps hear is “the accident”

The true successful ideology that I want to explain is the result of all my life’s pursuit and I am speaking to you because you are my own family, my community members and my friends. So, I urge you to read and understand that there is a guaranteed success in what is stated here, not as a theory, but a fact fully supported by evidences that you will find in the following summary.

I say it is a summary because I want to make it very short and very simple; at the same time leave for you material in my footnotes or endnotes for further reading and pondering.

The challenge of Islam is that in the matter of faith, you should NOT accept your faith blindly. You should be totally convinced yourself that everything stated is the Truth and nothing but the Truth. I have therefore included for you my complete Resource Paper titled Qur’an: The Authentic Book of Allah. Needless to say, it is important to read it and study it and I am confident that you will InshaAllah find it very useful in your daily lives.

The pondering of the above and with the Blessings of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala will InshaAllah convince you that the True Ideology is the Linear ideology. The True Ideology is the ideology of true Monotheism that is seen in Islam. It is a Linear ideology.

It is unique (very unique indeed!) that Islam has a complete manual in writing and practical living models who followed the manual to the letter and showed guaranteed success. These models have left clear and practical examples to achieve the life of success. They have left clear footprints and clear guidance how to follow those footprints for a guaranteed success.

The reason for me to ask you to read and study the Resource Paper at the beginning (Part One) of this booklet is simply because I do not want to you to accept anything blindly

You will find in Part One through the Authenticity of the Qur’an explained; and also everything stated here in the Part Two of this booklet is the whole Truth to chart a successful life.

Monotheism is the only True ideology, the only True Path. Let me repeat the Verse I have quoted above, Verse 53 in Surah 41 of the Qur’an, Surah Fussilat.

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ

Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord doth witness all things? (41:53)

This ideology requires for us to understand that we have a Supreme Creator who has created us. We certainly did not have any choice on the matter.

Similarly, this Creator has created all other creatures and everything else in the heavens and the earth. We, as human beings, are the highly endowed of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. All other of His creation, in the heavens and on the earth is subservient to us, the human beings.

Now, ask yourself this question:

Should I (I mean me, you and all of us) not give Thanks to the Creator who created me (and you) and endowed in me (and you) all the faculties described above?

If someone did good to you, would you not be obliged to give Thanks? Surely, your answer is emphatic “Yes”. The more empathy you have, the more you will feel to return the favor. But supposing someone who is devoid of this feeling and does not even care to return “Thanks” either by gestures or words, surely you would not feel good about such a person, would you?

This feeling to return favor with at least a gesture of “Thanks” is found even in animals. For example, feed a cat and you will see her giving you gestures of Thanks by rubbing herself with your feet, you will see gesture of Thanks from her eyes when she looks up from the feeding dish. Similar gestures are seen even in the wildest animals in a zoo when they are fed by the zookeeper.

Similar gestures are seen even in birds, big and small. I know a family member who looked after a budgie in her home and regularly fed her. The small bird would sit on the shoulder of this family member and touch her beak as a gesture of “Thanks” on the cheeks of this family member. I have witnessed this myself.

And so, when you think of all the favors that Allah has bestowed upon you, and has endowed you with all the faculties I have described above, would you not want to give Thanks to Him? Can any one count His Favors? What does the Qur’an say to this question?

قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ مِدَادً۬ا لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ قَبۡلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوۡ جِئۡنَا بِمِثۡلِهِۦ مَدَدً۬ا

Say: “If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid.” (18:109)

In his very first Khutba in Nahj al-Balagha, Imam ‘Ali (as) is recorded to have said this:

الحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذَي لاَ يَبْلُغُ مِدْحَتَهُ القَائِلُونَ، وَلاِ يُحْصِي نَعْمَاءَهُ العَادُّونَ، ولاَ يُؤَدِّي حَقَّهُ الُمجْتَهِدُونَ، الَّذِي لاَ يُدْركُهُ بُعْدُ الهِمَمِ، وَلاَ يَنَالُهُ غَوْصُ الفِطَنِ، الَّذِي لَيْسَ لِصِفَتِهِ حَدٌّ مَحْدُودٌ، وَلاَ نَعْتٌ مَوْجُودٌ، وَلا وَقْتٌ مَعْدُودٌ، وَلا أَجَلٌ مَمْدُودٌ. فَطَرَ الخَلائِقَ بِقُدْرَتِهَ، وَنَشَرَ الرِّيَاحَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ، وَوَتَّدَ بِالصُّخُورِ مَيَدَانَ أَرْضِهِ.

“Praise is due to Allah whose worth cannot be described by speakers, whose bounties cannot be counted by calculators and whose claim (to obedience) cannot be satisfied by those who attempt to do so, whom the height of intellectual courage cannot appreciate, and the diving of understanding cannot reach; He for whose description no limit has been laid down, no eulogy exists, no time is ordained and no duration is fixed. He brought forth creation through His Omnipotence, dispersed winds through His Compassion, and made firm the shaking earth with rocks”.4

Surely, then we need to give Thanks to Him. But how? The fundamental way to give Thanks to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is through the Salaat (five daily prayers). This is complete Thanksgiving to Allah. It not only relieves us from prostrating to thousand other objects, but you will feel satisfied that you have Thanked The Sustainer of the Universe (The Lord) who has been so compassionate in every single way that we can think about!

Imagine if not Him then how many other things you would have to give thanks to! The rain? The Sunshine? The food that we eat?

We have a superior example in the Qur’an when Nabi Ibrahim (as) guided his people who were worshipping the celestial bodies, the stars and the moon and the sun. The Qur’an reveals in Surah al-An’am:

فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ

When the night covered him over, he saw a star: he said: "This is my Lord." But when it set, he said: "I love not those that set." (6:76)

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ

When he saw the moon rising in splendor, He said: "This is my Lord." but when the moon set he said: "Unless my Lord guide me I shall surely be among those who go astray." (6:77)

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

When he saw the sun rising in (splendor) he said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set he said: "O my people! I am free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah. (6:78)

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

"For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah." (6:79)

The successful therefore are those who keep away from anything that would lead them to the unforgivable sin of shirk and bow down in Salat worshipping only Him.

In another place in the Qur’an in Surah ar-Rum Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala reveals:

مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah…(30:31).

Read what Muhammad Iqbal, the great recognized thinker of the Twentieth century, recognized in the West as well as the East, has said in the following two lines in Urdu and then translated in English and Gujarati below:

یہ ایک سجدہ جسے تو گراں سمجهتا

ہے ہزار سجدے سے دیتا ہے آدمی کو نجات

Ye Aik Sajda Jise Tu Garan Samajhta Hai

Hazar Sajde Se Deta Hai Admi Ko Nijat!

અલ્લાહ માટે આ એક સજુદુ તમને મુશ્કેલ લાગે છે પરંતુ તે તમને હજાર

સજુદાથી મુક્ત કરે છે

This one prostration to Allah that you think is so difficult to do, provides a release for you from otherwise thousand prostrations you would do to other objects you will begin to adore of or fear of and will worship.

This does not mean of course that we do not or should not thank others who do or have done favor to us. Of course, we must. But the realization should always be that the channel was created by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala in the first place. He is the First Cause. It is He who caused us to be born to our parents and the first Thank Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala tells us to Thank are our parents and then others.

We must always, always say Thank you to all but this is with the understanding that the favors we have received would never have been possible had it not been for the Favors of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala in the first place. We must Thank Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for all these favors.

The other major advantage the Salaat gives us is that it protects us from falling into major errors and sinning against Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala but also against our own selves. Think about this! For how we can sin when we are aware that within only a few hours it will be time for another Salaat and we will have to stand in front of Allah. This protection from errors in our lives is the shield and is guaranteed. Think of it as the guaranteed “Firewall” or “anti-virus” We read in the Qur’an:

ٱتۡلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيۡكَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنكَرِ‌ۗ وَلَذِكۡرُ ٱللَّهِ أَڪۡبَرُ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تَصۡنَعُونَ

Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to you, and establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do. (29:45)

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, as we have seen, loves us and wants us to be successful not only in our earthly life but most importantly in the life Hereafter.

The Success in the Hereafter is the real success. It is everlasting and guarantees Total Happiness where Allah Himself will Greet and Welcome with Words of Peace. Read what Surah Yasin says:

فَالْيَوْمَ لَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَلَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Then, on that Day, not a soul will be wronged in the least, and ye shall but be repaid the meeds of your past Deeds. (36:54)

إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ الْيَوْمَ فِي شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ

Verily the Companions of the Garden shall that Day have joy in all that they do; (36:55)

هُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُمْ فِي ظِلَالٍ عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ مُتَّكِئُونَ

They and their associates will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones (of dignity); (36:56)

لَهُمْ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَلَهُمْ مَا يَدَّعُونَ

(Every) fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for; (36:57)

سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِنْ رَبٍّ رَحِيمٍ

“Salaam! (Peace!) ― a Word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful! (36:58)

This then is the Total Success where Allah Himself welcomes with the Salutation of Peace. There is no success greater than this!

To attain this Success, the Path is charted for us. This is our Usul al-Din (The Roots of Faith). It is more or less the elaborated explanation of The Five Pillars the majority of Muslims follow, this is expanded for us in the Usul al-Din in the Five fundamental beliefs as follows.

1. Tawhid, Belief In The Oneness Of Allah

There is no Allah except Allah. This is not something that can be taught. We have seen in the previous paragraphs that the Signs of Allah is within us and in the horizon. Remember the Verse already mentioned in previous pages: it will help you to memorize the following verse I have already quoted this Verse in above paragraphs. Here it is again:

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ

Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord doth witness all things? (41:53)

The uniqueness of Islam is also that it rejects following blindly. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala shows disapproval for blind following. We are required to find out for ourselves using the faculty of sensual and rational perceptions to arrive at the Truth ourselves. As Muslims, we cannot follow anyone blindly. The Qur’an tells us:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُواْ بَلۡ نَتَّبِعُ مَآ أَلۡفَيۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ‌ۗ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ

When it is said to them: “Follow what Allah has revealed” they say: “Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers.” What! even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance? (2:170)

What we learn therefore is that in Islam following any ideology blindly is totally discouraged. The miracle of Islam is the utterly total confidence it displays. It asks the believers to ponder for themselves to arrive to the Truth.

Islam shows that the Truth is found within our own selves and the Signs are everywhere outside our own selves. The Signs are in everything that surrounds us in the nature and in the horizons, in the heavens and the earth, and that each and everything has surrendered itself to the will of Allah. How foolish therefore to think that we too have not surrendered to the Will of Allah. We do not have control over our getting old, we have no control that we will not feel hungry, we have no control over our sleep.

The only Free will we have is very limited. When I am hungry, I have a Freewill to choose what I will eat, but do I or you have a Freewill to say that I do not want to be hungry? Do I have a Freewill to control my getting old? Do I have a Freewill to control the time of my death?

Who controls all this?

With just a little pondering we come to the understanding about Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. He created everything ex- nihilo (from nothing). Can anyone create anything from nothing? Allah is the Creator of this wonder world, the heavens and the earth.

The other way to understand is that every effect must have a cause. Everything that we see in the heavens and the earth is an effect. Since every effect must have a cause, the cause of the creation of the heavens and earth is Allah. He caused it to come into existence, ex-nihilo. Ask yourself this question again: Can anyone create anything ex-nihilo?

The Qur’an also rejects to follow our own conjectures and whims: Allah dislikes this. Following our own conjectures can lead us astray as we have already seen in previous paragraphs. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala considers conjectures and unfounded opinions and unproven ideas that are based only on conjectures is nothing but a lie. Conjectures are dangerous because they totally mislead.

Qur’an tells us

وَإِن تُطِعۡ أَڪۡثَرَ مَن فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَخۡرُصُونَ

Were you to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead you away from the Way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do nothing but lie. (2:116)

2. Adalat, Justice

Allah Subhanhu wa Ta’ala as we have already discussed is Totally Merciful. He is the Just Allah and will administer fullest Justice to all. This is a Great Gift from Allah.

3. Nubuwwat

Allah Sunhanahu wa Ta’ala has never forsaken mankind. Allah continuously sent prophets and messengers to guide us and put us on the path of the fullest success both in this world and in the Hereafter. The wrongdoers who create mischief on the earth and spread injustice will not be left with their ill-deeds. There will be the fullest accounting. The right path is not just in theory. Allah gave rise to Prophets and Messengers as practical models and asks believers to follow them. The last of all the Messengers is Muhammad (S). Through him then Allah has left complete model for all to follow.

4. Imamat

While there will be no more prophets, we are not forsaken. The guidance of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (S) will continue through the Ma’sumin Imams from the Ahl-al-Bayt (as) as ordained. The guidance will continue until the advent of the living Imam who will return with Nabi Isa ibn Maryam (as) to finally produce the Kingdom of Allah on the earth and fullest social justice. The advent of Imam Mahdi through the progeny of Rasul Allah (S), specifically in the line of Imam ‘Ali (as) and Bibi Fatimah az-Zahra (sa) is a universal Sunni-Shia belief. (you may want to watch my Ted Talk on “Messianism” in which I am showing the universal belief in the advent of a Messiah5.)

Nabi ‘Isa ibn Maryam (as) will return and together with Imam Mahdi (as) will bring about the Kingdom of Allah on this earth. Qur’an confirms the return of Nabi ‘Isa ibn Maryam (as). There is a reference of this in the Qur’an. See following Aayat:

وَإِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ لِلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَاتَّبِعُونِ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ

And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore, have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way. (43:61)

وَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ

Let not the Evil One hinder you: for he is to you an enemy avowed. (43:62)

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ عِيسَىٰ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالَ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَلِأُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي تَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: “Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me. (43:63)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ

For Allah; He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way. (43:64)

5. Qiyamat, The Eternal And Everlasting Life Of The Hereafter.

This must come. It will come. It is ordained and no one can change it just as we cannot change our birth and our death. All these three, birth, death and the Day of Judgment are the greatest Signs of Allah for us. Believing in these and spending our life according to the Qur’anic Verse I have quoted on page 1 is an assured success, guaranteed because it is the Promise of Allah.

Finally, let us understand that in creating us female or male, there is a great Wisdom and Mercy of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. Allah demands from us to follow His instructions and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (S) and the guidance from the Imams, the progeny of Rasul Allah (S) who taught us the

exact teachings in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (S). Following them is the sure success for us because Qur’an and the correct Sunnah is the only right path to success.

One of the fundamental teachings in Islam is that Allah demands modesty from both male and female. For females, the greatest blessing upon them is the Modesty. In a recently researched report, the amazing conclusion derived was that the greatest defense for a woman is her modesty. When she loses her modesty, she can become crueler than men. When she is modest, no outsider can molest her. Qur’an reveals:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزۡوَٲجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يُدۡنِينَ عَلَيۡہِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يُعۡرَفۡنَ فَلَا يُؤۡذَيۡنَۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا

O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (33:59)

This then becomes incumbent as Mufassirin and commentators tell us that this applies to all women, not only of the Prophet’s household but as the Verse clearly states:

“…and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons…”(33:59)

Qur’an has absolutely clear instructions in other verses asking for modesty for both men and women. In 24:30 Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala reveals clear injunction for men.

قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ

Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. (24:30)

And also in 24:31:

وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا‌ۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِہِنَّ‌ۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٲتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٲتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ‌ۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ‌ۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess or order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss. (24:31)

The two verses shown above are very clear and very important to follow; especially when we are still young and have not reached an elderly age and also when there is no more desire for many physical needs. Qur’an has revelation about this as well. Check your Fiqh for complete detail on the above important verses. Allah is All Compassionate, Merciful. It is therefore incumbent upon us to guard our chastity and show modesty in our clothing and in our behavior.

There should be clear understanding that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala in His Wisdom has assigned special roles and duties for both and women. Both are not the same in their physical strictures, in their endowments, in their emotional behavior, in their voices and in their responsibilities.

The surest equality between men and women is in the rewards each will have. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala shows equality in rewards for male and female. The following Verse in the Qur’an is quite interesting for me when I teach in the university “The status of women in Islam’. It is in the Qur’an, 33:35:

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ وَٱلۡمُسۡلِمَـٰتِ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرَٲتِ وَٱلۡخَـٰشِعِينَ وَٱلۡخَـٰشِعَـٰتِ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰٓٮِٕمِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰٓٮِٕمَـٰتِ وَٱلۡحَـٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمۡ وَٱلۡحَـٰفِظَـٰتِ وَٱلذَّٲڪِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا وَٱلذَّٲڪِرَٲتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةً۬ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا

For Muslim men and women― for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves) for men and women who guard their chastity and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise― for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward. (33:35)

So, does all the above mean that Islam wants us to shun this world, to withdraw from it and lead a life in seclusion? The emphatic answer is “No, not at all”. There is no monasticism in Islam. We are required to engage ourselves in this world and in our life. We are required to exploit and make use of everything that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has created for us because everything (both in the heavens and the earth, what is between them and in them) is subservient to us. This is fundamental understanding to our success. Read the following beautiful and most meaningful saying from Imam ‘Ali (as) and Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (as):

“Accordingly, that which is mentioned in the Qur’an and tradition regarding the disapproval of ‘the world’ does not actually apply to the world itself but is meant to refer to absorption in it and love and attachment for it. This shows that man has two ‘worlds’ one of them is condemned, while the other is extolled and praised”.

The world which is approved is that which one acquires in this earthly abode, this school, and this marketplace, where higher stations and lasting spiritual merits are exchanged for transitory goods and where arrangements are made for the abiding abode. These cannot be possibly acquired without entering this world, as has been stated by the Mawla of the Muwahhidun, Amir al-Mu’minin Imam ‘Ali (as), in one of his sermons delivered when he heard a person abusing the Dunya.

“Indeed this world is the abode of truth for him who appreciates its truthfulness, a place of safety for him who understands it, a mine of treasures for him who collects provisions from it [for the next world], and a house of instructions for him who draws Lessons from it. It is the shrine of worship for those who love Allah, the house of prayer for His angels, the place where the revelations of Allah descend, and the marketplace for those devoted to Him. Herein they earn His mercy and herein they acquire the Jannat by way of profit”.

Allah Almighty’s words, (What a good abode is the house of the pious) relate to the world, according to the interpretation of al-’Imam al-Baqir (as) reported in a tradition by al-Ayyashi.

Therefore, this world, being as it is the manifestation of and witness to His Beauty and Majesty, is not at all condemnable in this sense. That which is condemnable is the world of man himself in the sense of his absorption in the world of carnal nature and his attachment and love for it. That world is the source of all vices and all inward and outward sins, as reported in al-Kafi from al-Imam al-Sadiq (as):

Al-Imam al Sadiq (as) said: “The love of the world is the source of all transgressions. “

“The harm done by two ferocious wolves, one attacking from the front and the other from the rear, to a herd without a shepherd, is less rapid than the one done by the love of the world to the faith of the faithful.”

We thank Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for making us Muslims and ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to give us the understanding of the Blessings upon us and upon the mankind for the Qur’an and for making us from the Ummat of Muhammad (S) and the follower of the correct Sunnah through his Ahl al-Bayt (as).

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala’s clear Favor upon us is found in the following Ayat from the Qur’an.

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا

You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah. (33:21)

May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala accept this from us and give us the Tawfiq to acquire the ‘ilm (Knowledge) that could be pleasing to Him and the Tawfiq to propagate it with required compassion and love towards all.

May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala shower His Maghferat upon both our parents and other family members who are no longer with us.

May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala give us the Tawfiq to be among those who I am showing in the two assignments at the end of this book. My hope that you will study them with your immediate family, your relatives, your friends and community members. My hope is that you will InshaAllah propagate them.

And finally, let us send Salawaat (Salutations) to Rasul-Allah (S) and his Progeny, the Ahl al-Bayt (as) in the following words:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحمّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَما صَلَّيتَ عَلَى اِبْراهِيمَ و آلِ اِبْراهِيمَ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

• 1. These are just the handful of names I have shown in this small Booklet,
• 2. See my book The Attributes of God in the Monotheistic Faiths of Judeo-Christian and Islamic Traditions. (Available also in Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc.).
• 3. The Tasbih we do after each salaat is commonly referred to as the Tasbih of Bibi Fatimah Zahra (sa) but it is still the Tasbih praising Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. In this Tasbih the words are reversed. First is Allahu Akbar, then Alhamdulillah and then Subhanallah. This method after the Salaat was instructed by the A’immah(as).
• 4. Imam Ali (as), Khutba n. 1 of Nahj al-Balagha, online at: https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-1-praise-d...
• 5. The Ted Talk can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DclujwPqMLw