Certain in Our Iman?

[maruf]

IMAN

The second step of the progression is Iman. Iman means faith and religious beliefs. In the hadith we learn, "It is to believe in Allah (swt), His angels, His books, His messengers, and the last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both good and the evil thereof."
From this we can summarize that to gain Iman we must believe in those things Allah (swt) has taught us to accept. Iman is a mental state of trust and certainty of the Glory of Allah (swt). This belief is manifested in sincere conviction without any presence of doubt.
It is important to note that Iman can only be applied when there is strong belief proven by good actions. Belief encompasses both the physical being and soul. It can not be realized without solid action. For an example, if one truly believes that walking is good for them but does not walk, their body will not benefit from the thought alone. At the same time, one may wonder what benefit good action is without total belief. Why does Islam need to come before Iman. To use the same analogy, if one is not totally convinced that walking is good for them, they may still perform the act. After consistently walking, they will gain from and see the benefits then become a believer.

When we have progressed to the stage of Iman, we are Mu'min. A Mu'min is one who has faith in Allah (swt). A Mu'min has trust and total belief in Allah (swt) and His teachings.

With the knowledge that we cannot have faith without submission, we can conclude that Mu'min must first be a Muslim. And we can further conclude that not all Muslims are Mu'min.

The above was taken from a website:


Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem


Upon contemplation of the da’wah work of the carrier of the Islaamic message, one begins to ponder the ending of this life, or the suffering of the many afflictions such as (imprisonment, torture, slander, abuse). Post 911, no shabab or sincere Muslim who wants to hold on to his Deen and make it superior over all other Deens as Allah says, cannot help but ponder the sacrifices along the way in carrying the Islaam message. When we look at ourselves and consider that the next moment we might be faced with many hardships, this shakes and awakens us to the seriousness of our Iman in Allah and his message in traveling down the road following Islaam and carrying its message.


We consider our most horrible fears (never seeing our mothers, sons, daughters, wives again, never having the chance to say goodbye or sorry to our love ones we may have offended or cause hurt, the pain of seeing our love ones hurt or killed by the enemies of the da’wah to hurt us, being put in solitary imprisonment for life feed rats or ****roaches for meals never seeing the sunlight again, being beaten, tortured, burned, cut up, etc.) in this life that we seek refuge from, Oh Allah give us good in this life as well as the next life! As I pondered this last night, then spoke to a brother at work to convey my point, there is no way one could face the many hardships or afflictions without a serious belief in ("It is to believe in Allah (swt), His angels, His books, His messengers, and the last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both good and the evil thereof."). As I pondered this it became clear that this is more than a mere lip recitation and that any Muslim instinctively would say. Every Muslim including myself says “I believe in the Akhirah and the meeting of Allah on yawma kiyamah.” In fact one cannot be a Muslim unless he professes this belief. However, what dawned on me was that the belief must be Certain, Sure, No Room whatsoever for Doubt, This is an individual checking of one’s self that each Muslim must do for himself, and especially those who carry the Da’wah and sense its seriousness and consequences. We all have had that dream where we are about to face danger or Death, and we say Laa ilaha illa Allah wa Muhammad rasuluulah, “Is this it, is this how I leave this life, Yaa Allah?” Our last thoughts are please forgive me give me Jennah; we usually wake up around this time, more aware of the road we hare moving towards, death.

[maruf]

continued


Allah says fil Qur’an Al karim:

2:112 Nay,-whoever submits His whole self to Allah and is a doer of good,- He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Believers:on them is no fear nor shall they grieve] [Face of God] [Fear ( none for the Righteous ):or those who submit to Allah] [Islam]
Èóáóì ãóäú ÃóÓúáóãó æóÌúåóåõ áöáøåö æóåõæó ãõÍúÓöäñ Ýóáóåõ ÃóÌúÑõåõ ÚöäÏó ÑóÈøöåö æóáÇó ÎóæúÝñ Úóáóíúåöãú æóáÇó åõãú íóÍúÒóäõæäó

Now as I thought about our or more specifically my Iman, I concluded that it must be Certain or Yaqeen. I must be certain of the meeting with Allah, certain of Jennah and Nar. It cannot be something that is academic or theory. I have to really believe as if nothing else that after this life ends, I will be either rewarded or punished by Allah for my deeds. If this is certain we understand why Allah says, “Nor shall they grieve”<br>
2:262 Those who spend their substance in the cause of Allah, and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,-for them their reward is with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

ÇáøóÐöíäó íõäÝöÞõæäó ÃóãúæóÇáóåõãú Ýöí ÓóÈöíáö Çááøåö Ëõãøó áÇó íõÊúÈöÚõæäó ãóÇ ÃóäÝóÞõæÇõ ãóäøðÇ æóáÇó ÃóÐðì áøóåõãú ÃóÌúÑõåõãú ÚöäÏó ÑóÈøöåöãú æóáÇó ÎóæúÝñ Úóáóíúåöãú æóáÇó åõãú íóÍúÒóäõæäó

If this Iman is more than just something I say in the climate of easy times or no trails, perhaps one can insha Allah face the hardships as they may come more readily. I truly do not fear what others may do to me especially if I am following Islaam, of Allah is waiting on me. This is my big moment, which I am certain of. This concept is what makes our ‘aqeedah strong, this is one reason why the Muslims could never be defeated on the battle field. For many of us (especially in the West) it is something we have read about in the lives of the sahabah or even with Da’wah carriers of today (especially in the Muslim lands), but have never experienced it ourselves. So why would a Muslim or how could a Muslim continue on these examples if he/she were not absolutely certain that this life was not the end, he has nothing to fear but the meeting with his Lord. This is not a romantic view, do I have it, no Do I really believe it, and am I more certain of it than anything in this life? For things in this life can happened in any order or may not happen, but Death is Certain, no gray area here.

This certainty in the Akhirah, the sincere Hope and Certainty of the Jennah with beautiful maidens, the severe agony and Certainty of the Nar, not only allows one to potentially carry the Da’wah under harsh conditions, but pushes one to avoid the Haraam, and seek the Halaal, for one is more aware of the finality of this life. Is it worth it, is my lusts really worth loosing in the next life. How can I erase my sins? By doing the Good Deeds Allah has ordered.

While thinking of the worst thing that I could imagine, the only thing that comforted me was the Kalimah and Ayat min Qur’an. It is the only thing, my connection to Allah, for He is all we have as a refuge in such trying situations. I encouraged the brother as I encouraged myself to really hold tight to this belief, to seek this belief to appreciate that this was the answer to our Fear! When pondering the seriousness of this Iman, it pushes one to seek the mandub actions to try to get stronger closer to Allah to Certainty, be more aware that at any time I might face what only I have read of or thought in my most worst of fears or nightmares. Will my Car explode? Will I make it home tomorrow? How can I get myself through the afflictions if they come sooner than later. The tests of Allah, but there is a reward which I must be Certain of as carrier of a message that is no mere message, but a revolutionary thought that is a danger to existing tyrants in the world today, as it was during its first call to Humanity.

2:214 Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah." Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!

Ãóãú ÍóÓöÈúÊõãú Ãóä ÊóÏúÎõáõæÇú ÇáúÌóäøóÉó æóáóãøóÇ íóÃúÊößõã ãøóËóáõ ÇáøóÐöíäó ÎóáóæúÇú ãöä ÞóÈúáößõã ãøóÓøóÊúåõãõ ÇáúÈóÃúÓóÇÁ æóÇáÖøóÑøóÇÁ æóÒõáúÒöáõæÇú ÍóÊøóì íóÞõæáó ÇáÑøóÓõæáõ æóÇáøóÐöíäó ÂãóäõæÇú ãóÚóåõ ãóÊóì äóÕúÑõ Çááøåö ÃóáÇ Åöäøó äóÕúÑó Çááøåö ÞóÑöíÈñ




16:110 But verily thy Lord,- to those who leave their homes after trials and persecutions,- and who thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently persevere,- Thy Lord, after all this is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.


Ëõãøó Åöäøó ÑóÈøóßó áöáøóÐöíäó åóÇÌóÑõæÇú ãöä ÈóÚúÏö ãóÇ ÝõÊöäõæÇú Ëõãøó ÌóÇåóÏõæÇú æóÕóÈóÑõæÇú Åöäøó ÑóÈøóßó ãöä ÈóÚúÏöåóÇ áóÛóÝõæÑñ ÑøóÍöíãñ<br>

For those who have understood the call and have understood the potential consequences and have still chosen to continue in the method of our beloved Rasuluullah (ra), without a doubt we must understand that there is no in between, there is either Jennah or the Nar, we will all die as Allah says, and there is no maybe about this. When? How? Are we ready? Are we convinced that we should not be sadden about seeing love ones again, even afraid for our physical or mental well being, for we are certain that eventually after the hardship or this life has ended we will without a Doubt meet Allah, and if he has mercy on us we will get what no eyes have seen forever and forever.



May Allah forgive me, May Allah help us towards Yaqeen (Certainty) so that we will not grieve or be frighten against whatever Allah wills for us to face, for this is what he wants and demands from us as Muslims who say we believe , there is no gray area. May Allah keep us straight on the Da’wah, May Allah open the gates o Jennah for us; Allow us to seek his Face only! May Allah ease our Hears help us to see that this is only the Dunya and that the Akhirah is Certain! Forgive any mistakes I have made or typing errors in advance.

Was-salaam

Your Dear Brother Ma’ruf

[maruf]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem


Let us look at a difficult time in the life of the Sahabah (ra)


This is taken from AR-RaheeQ Al-Makhtum:


The Companions’ concern over the Prophet’s Death:
The great (loss) news was soon known by everybody in Madinah. Dark grief spread on all areas and horizons of Madinah. Anas said:

"I have never witnessed a day better or brighter than that day on which the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] came to us; and I have never witnessed a more awful or darker day than that one on which the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] died on."[]


When he died, Fatimah said: "O Father, whom his Lord responded to his supplication! O Father, whose abode is Paradise. O Father, whom I announce his death to Gabriel."[]


‘Umar’s Attitude:
‘Umar, who was so stunned that he almost lost consciousness and stood before people addressing them: "Some of the hypocrites claim that the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] died. The Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] did not die, but went to his Lord in the same way as Moses bin ‘Imran did. He stayed away for forty nights, but finally came back though they said he had been dead. By Allâh, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] will come back and he will cut off the hands and legs of those who claim his death."[]


Abu Bakr’s Attitude:

Abu Bakr left his house at As-Sunh and came forth to the Mosque on a mare-back. At the Mosque, he dismounted and entered. He talked to nobody but went on till he entered ‘Aishah’s abode, and went directly to where the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] was. The Prophet [pbuh] was covered with a Yemeni mantle. He uncovered his face and tended down, kissed him and cried. Then he said: "I sacrifice my father and mother for your sake. Allâh, verily, will not cause you to die twice. You have just experienced the death that Allâh had ordained."

Then he went out and found ‘Umar talking to people. He said: "‘Umar, be seated." ‘Umar refused to do so. People parted ‘Umar and came towards Abu Bakr, who started a speech saying:

"And now, he who worships Muhammad [pbuh]. Muhammad is dead now. But he who worships Allâh, He is Ever Living and He never dies. Allâh says:


æóãóÇ ãõÍóãøóÏñ ÅöáÇøó ÑóÓõæáñ ÞóÏú ÎóáóÊú ãöä ÞóÈúáöåö ÇáÑøõÓõáõ ÃóÝóÅöä ãøóÇÊó Ãóæú ÞõÊöáó ÇäÞóáóÈúÊõãú Úóáóì ÃóÚúÞóÇÈößõãú æóãóä íóäÞóáöÈú Úóáóìó ÚóÞöÈóíúåö Ýóáóä íóÖõÑøó Çááøåó ÔóíúÆðÇ æóÓóíóÌúÒöí Çááøåõ ÇáÔøóÇßöÑöíäó

‘Muhammad ([pbuh])is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh, and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful.’" [3:144]


Ibn ‘Abbas said: "By Allâh, it sounded as if people had never heard such a Qur’ânic verse till Abu Bakr recited it as a reminder. So people started reciting it till there was no man who did not recite it."
Ibn Al-Musaiyab said that ‘Umar had said: "By Allâh, as soon as I heard Abu Bakr say it, I fell down to the ground. I felt as if my legs had been unable to carry me so I collapsed when I heard him say it. Only then did I realize that Muhammad [pbuh] had really died."[]


My comments:


This was one of the toughest periods, of course, in Islaam. We can perhaps readily perceive the loss of a love one, a former Husband or Wife (a’udhubillah). A good friend who we no longer live around from college, or even someone we knew of only through email or the internet that we no longer have contact with, wonder how they are. However, the death of a love one is on another level of loss, it is extremely difficult and a trying point in one’s life. A trying point of one’s Iman in Allah. What really do you believe when the eyes have closed for the last time in this life, no coming back No more smiles, no dinners together, that’s it.


The Muslims were sorely hurt with the passing of this life by our beloved Rasuluullah (sallalahu ‘alahi was-salaam) who gave them the Deen, Made the Sahabah (ra) who they were, and who we are today. What kind of a message can we get from the Sahabah (ra) in carrying the Da’wah? What greater trial could any Muslim go through? The message clearly indicated in the Qur’an by Allah is that those Muslims who are still living must continue in the struggle to carry the Da’wah as best they can, they must not turn back on their Deen, even in a trying point in our lives. We Must hold, be convinced of our ‘Aqeedah.


We see that Abu Bakr (ra) was especially strong in this period refusing to allow the rebellious Tribes not pay to pay the Zakat or to stop the spreading of the Islaamic Message through Jihad. He said that he would have sacrificed his mother and father for Rasuluullah. These were not mere words with the Sahaba (ra) who phycially took pain, cuts, torture for Islaam, Allah and his messenger. This is a serious Belief, not light at all. What could allow them to do this, if their Iman was not certain as it could be. Our Iman tells us that the Believers will be in Jennah, that those who were Shaheed are still living an eternal life in Jennah:

æóáÇó ÊóÞõæáõæÇú áöãóäú íõÞúÊóáõ Ýöí ÓóÈíáö Çááøåö ÃóãúæóÇÊñ Èóáú ÃóÍúíóÇÁ æóáóßöä áÇøó ÊóÔúÚõÑõæäó

2:154 And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah. "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not.

When we recall this event, it makes us feel the pain of the sahabah (ra), the tears. Of course it is nothing compared to how they felt. Nonetheless, the Sahabah carried on and this is why we are Muslims today, Al Hamdulillah. And so like them we must, and Insha Allah will continue on despite what losses in life that may occur. With out a doubt this is easy to write or say, and who can prepare themselves for such a reality? Our only refuge is in our Iman in the foundations of Islaam. We are encouraged to do Tilawa or (reciting of the Qur’an) to remember Allah, remember our end. May Tawbah, make good deeds while we can.





æóÅöÐóÇ ÓóÃóáóßó ÚöÈóÇÏöí Úóäøöí ÝóÅöäøöí ÞóÑöíÈñ ÃõÌöíÈõ ÏóÚúæóÉó ÇáÏøóÇÚö ÅöÐóÇ ÏóÚóÇäö ÝóáúíóÓúÊóÌöíÈõæÇú áöí æóáúíõÄúãöäõæÇú Èöí áóÚóáøóåõãú íóÑúÔõÏõæäó

2:186 When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.



Insha Allah if the early Muslims carried on after the passing of the greatest human being ever, we can look at this as an example and perhaps dig deep, Insha Allah and continue to carry the Da’wah through our mistakes, problems, errors, sadness, or even death of our love ones. I often would think that if sincere Da’wah carriers would pass to the next life, that Muslims would not make their efforts for nothing, that Insha Allah Muslims would get more motivated and free brothers who have been imprisoned or tortured. Who will come to their Aid? But of course any sacrifice is for Allah and him alone




æóáóæú ÃóäøóÇ ßóÊóÈúäóÇ Úóáóíúåöãú Ãóäö ÇÞúÊõáõæÇú ÃóäÝõÓóßõãú Ãóæö ÇÎúÑõÌõæÇú ãöä ÏöíóÇÑößõã ãøóÇ ÝóÚóáõæåõ ÅöáÇøó Þóáöíáñ ãøöäúåõãú æóáóæú Ãóäøóåõãú ÝóÚóáõæÇú ãóÇ
íõæÚóÙõæäó Èöåö áóßóÇäó ÎóíúÑðÇ áøóåõãú æóÃóÔóÏøó ÊóËúÈöíÊð


4:66 If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it: But if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (faith);.



We must continue to remind ourselves of the Ayah in Qur’an, our Iman in them for what else can get us through difficult days that may be ahead as Muslims. What is this all about? Why do we stand openly and call for the Islaamic way of life realizing that especially in these times that tyrants will try that much harder to punish and deter from the Haqq.





ÑøóÈøóäóÇ ÅöäøóäóÇ ÓóãöÚúäóÇ ãõäóÇÏöíðÇ íõäóÇÏöí áöáÅöíãóÇäö Ãóäú ÂãöäõæÇú ÈöÑóÈøößõãú ÝóÂãóäøóÇ ÑóÈøóäóÇ ÝóÇÛúÝöÑú
áóäóÇ ÐõäõæÈóäóÇ æóßóÝøöÑú ÚóäøóÇ ÓóíøöÆóÇÊöäóÇ æóÊóæóÝøóäóÇ ãóÚó ÇáÃÈúÑóÇÑö<br>
3:193 "Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith, 'Believe ye in the Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.




Yaa Allah forgive us, have mercy on us, make us strong, give us your light, protect us, make us die as Muslims striving in ways that bring us closer to you!

Was-salaam

Ma’ruf