INTRODUCTION and FOREWORD:
Effort from us and success from Allah, I expect your prayers.
Please contact Abdullah Durmuş BAYSAL directly, Payas, Hatay/Turkey,
16/06/2019.
e- mail:abdullahdurmusbaysal@gmail.com
e- mail:abdullahdurmusbaysal@gmail.com
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 1)
40 Days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is Islam; who is called a Muslim; what it means to believe; what is
the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah; can you give brief information about the
Holy Qur’an and Revelation?
Answer:
Islam: “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is
Islam.” (Surah Ali Imran, Verse 19).
Muslim: A Muslim is a person who accepts Islam and
surrenders to Allah.
In order to become a Muslim, one must say “Ash-hadu anna la ilaha illa Allah
wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu”, that is “I testify
that there is no God but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and
Messenger”.
Faith: Accepting that what the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
brought from Allah Almighty is true, embracing them with peace of mind and
believing sincerely and heartily.
La ilaha illa Allah: “Word of Tawhid” is the
statement to unite Allah with its lexical meaning that “There is no God but
Allah.”
The Holy Qur’an: This is the holy book of
Islam that Allah has sent down to people. It is 6236 verses which are Arabic
and gathered in 114 Surahs (chapters).
Revelation: The way that Allah Almighty tells what He
wishes to His prophets in a way that is not entirely known to us.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 2)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the pillars of Islam and faith?
Answer:
Pillars of Islam:
1- Saying the Word of Shahada
“Ash-hadu anna la ilaha illa Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa
rasuluhu” meaning that “I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify
that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger”.
2- Praying
Praying 5 times a day is obligatory for every Muslim who has reached the
age of puberty. The five times are morning, noon, late afternoon, evening and
night.
3- Fasting
Once a year during the month of Ramadan.
4- Giving zakat
Free, intelligent and major Muslims who are considered rich in terms of
religion should give fortieth of their wealth as zakat after a year has passed
over the amount of quorum. Zakat is not given only from gold, silver and money.
At the same time, land crops, sheep and goats, mines and treasures are also
subject to a certain amount of zakat.
5- Pilgrimage to Mecca (Haj)
The Muslims who meet the conditions must do it once in a lifetime. The
requirements of the pilgrimage are two: Standing and praying on Mount Arafat
and circumambulating the Kaaba.
Pillars of Faith:
1- Belief in the existence and oneness of Allah
2- Belief in Angels
Luminous beings created by Allah are called angels. Angels are elegant
beings and can enter any shape. Angels do not eat, drink, marry, and give birth
or are not born like men. They have no masculinity and femininity. There are
four great angels named Jibrail, Azrail, Mikail, Israphil, and besides these
angels, there are many other angels whose number we do not know. For example:
Kiraman Katibin, the angel who is on the left and right of the man who writes
the good and the evil. Munkar-Nakir, the angel who will ask questions in the
grave after death. Ridwan, the guardian of heaven and the leader of the angels
in heaven. Malik, the guardian of hell and the leader of the angels in hell.
3- Belief in the Books of Allah
It means believing that some prophets have been revealed by Allah, and that
the “original content that was first revealed in is completely true and right.
In time, some of the contents of these books have been changed by people, and
the only book that has survived to the present day in its original form is the
“Holy Qur’an”.
4- Belief in the Prophets
“The messenger whom Allah has chosen among His servants and honored with
the revelation and appointed to deliver the commandments and prohibitions to
the people is called the Prophet. Believing in the prophets means believing
that Allah sent His chosen servants to show people the right path, and that all
the revelation that these chosen servants bring from Allah is true and right”.
5- Belief in the Hereafter
It means believing in the judgment in the Day of Judgment after death that
the good will go to Heaven according to the life in this world, and the bad go
to Hell).
6- Belief in Pre-ordainment (Fate)
That is to believe that good and evil are from Allah. Allah creates good
and evil, but He never wills His servants to commit evil.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 3)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the 32 obligations (fards)?
Answer:
The pillars of faith are 6.
1- Belief in the unity of Allah.
2- Belief in Angels.
3- Belief in the books of Allah.
4- Belief in the Prophets.
5- Belief in the Hereafter.
6- Belief that fate, good, and evil come from Allah.
There are 5 Pillars of Islam:
1- Saying the Word of Shahada (Declaration of faith).
2- Praying.
3- Fasting.
4- Giving zakat.
5- Pilgrimage to Mecca (Haj).
The obligations outside the prayer are six:
1- Purification from incidents (Wudu)
In other words, it means having ablution or ghusul when unclean or ritually
impure (junub).
2- Cleanliness from impurities
It means cleaning of the mess if there is a substance in the body or dress
of the person who will perform prayer or if there is a substance in the place
where he/she will pray.
3- Covering of body (awrah)
It means how Muslim men and women in different environments and among
different people should cover their bodies. In prayer, places that should be
closed for men are from the belly to the kneecap. As for women, it is necessary
for the them to close all their bodies other than their faces and hands.
4- Facing Qibla
It means performing the prayer by facing the Kaaba in Mecca. This direction
is called Qibla. The Kaaba is a luminous (nuranic) column and pole extending from
the top to the Arsh (Throne) and from the bottom to the Earth.
5- Timing
The prayer that is performed before the time has entered must be returned.
After the time is out, the prayer should be performed as qada (performing a
missed/omitted prayer is called qada). Leaving the prayer unperformed without
excuses causes a great responsibility in the presence of Allah Almighty. There
will be no qada for the missed Friday and Eid prayers. If the Friday prayer is
missed, then the noon prayer is performed.
6- Intention (Niyyah)
The provision of intention in prayer is obligatory. Prayer starts with
intention, which is done as follows: “I intend for the sake of Allah to perform
(the name of the prayer is said”).
Obligations inside the prayer are six:
1- Starting (Iftitah) Takbir
Starting takbir is the takbir taken at the beginning of the prayer; i.e.
saying “Allahuakbar” which means “Allah is the greatest”.
2- Standing (Qiyam)
3- Recitation (Qiraat)
It means reciting the Holy Qur’an in accordance with the rules and
techniques of tajweed.
According to the preferred view in Hanafis, this amount should be at least
three short verses or a period of this amount. In particular, it is obligatory
(wajib) to recite surah Al-Fatiha. Therefore, by reciting the surah Al-Fatiha
in prayer, both obligatory Qur’an recitation and wajib are fulfilled. However,
it is wajib to recite three short verses or a surah of this length after Al-Fatiha.
For this reason, in the first two rakats of the obligatory prayers and in all
rakats of the Sunnah prayers, the person who did not recite a surah or a few
verses after Al-Fatiha would have left this obligation. Abandonment requires a
forgetfulness prostration (sajdah sahw). In case of deliberate abandonment, the
performing the prayer again is obligatory.
According to Shafiis, surah Al-Fatiha must be recited as a minimum in order
for the obligation of recitation to be fulfilled. In addition, it is Sunnah to
recite a surah or a few more verses. (Source: https://kurul.diyanet.gov.tr).
4- Bowing down (Ruku)
Bowing down is obligatory in prayer. After qiyam and recitation, bowing is
reached by saying “Allahu Akbar” and in this position, “Subhana rabbiyal-azim”
is said three times.
5- Prostration (Sajdah)
After getting up from the ruku, prostration is made by saying “Allahu
Akbar”. When coming down to prostrate, first the knees, then the hands, then
the forehead and nose are put on the ground. The head of the prostration is
located between and at the level of the two hands. Feet are not raised while
prostrating. The sides of the nose are looked at in prostration and in this
position; “Subhana rabbiyal-ala” is said three times.
6- Last Sitting (Qa'da al-Akhira)
Qa'da al-Akhira means sitting for the period of “tashahhud”. The period of
tashahhud is a period long enough to recite the prayer of “Tahiyyat". In
Shafiis and Hanbalis, the obligatory sitting time is the amount of tashahhud
plus the time to recite Salavat (i.e. saying “Allahumma Salli Ala Muhammad”)
for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Obligations for the ablution are four:
1- Washing the face.
2- Washing the hands and the arms including the elbows.
3- Wiping one-fourth of the head.
4- Washing the feet including the heels.
Obligations for the Ghusul are three:
1- Washing the mouth.
2- Washing the nose.
3- Washing the whole body.
Note: Intention and reciting Basmala are Sunnah but
not the obligations of the Ghusul.
Obligations for the dry ablution (tayammum) are two:
1- İntention.
2- Applying both hands to clean soil and wiping the whole face. Again, hitting
the hands in clean ground and first wiping the right and then the left arms.
IN TOTAL 32 OBLIGATIONS (FARDS).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 4)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you explain what are the religious evidences (adilla-i shar’iyya), that
is, the “basic elements of religion”?
Answer:
The religious evidences consist of four
elements.
The Book: The Holy Qur’an.
Tradition (Sunnah): Prophet Muhammad's words and
behaviors.
Consensus (Ijma): It is the agreement or
consensus of the Muslim scholars (i.e. mujtahid imams) on a religious issue.
Deductive analogy (qiyas): This is the process
of making analogy to what is known for issues that do not have any provision in
the Qur’an, Sunnah or ijma.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 5)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the acts
of accountable persons?
Answer:
These are the
deeds of those who are accountable, which are eight:
1- Obligation (Fard):
a) Fard Ayn: It is the Fard that is a
compulsory duty on every single accountable Muslim. Performance of this fard by
some Muslims does not eliminate the responsibility of other Muslims. Among this
kind of fards are: ablution (wudu); five daily prayers; fasting in the month of
Ramadan; performing Haj (the pilgrimage to Mecca) and zakat for the accountable
Muslims; going out in jihad when Islamic lands are attacked, etc.
b) Fard Kifayah: It is the Fard the Muslims
who are accountable are not individually but collectively obliged to perform.
When some Muslims do so, the obligation falls from the rest. Among this kind of
fards are: jihad; listening to the Qur’an; memorizing the Qur’an; returning the
greeting of salam from a Muslim; performing funeral prayers, etc.
2- Wajib:
It is the
commandments between the Fard and the Sunnah that are accepted as obligatory in
terms of deeds. Those who commit them must be rewarded, and those who leave
without an excuse must be punished. From the point of view of belief, it is not
like the Fard. In other words, a Muslim who denies a wajib does not come out of
the religion. Leaving one of the wajibs of worship on purpose is makruh tahrimi
(near forbidden) or disliked.
3- Sunnah (Tradition of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh))
These are the
words, actions and acknowledgements of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). For example,
using miswak and praying in congregation. Sunnah acts are divided into two
parts as Sunnah Muakkadah and Sunnah Ghayr-Muakkadah.
a) Sunnah
Muakkadah: These are
the deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that were constantly performed and rarely
abandoned by Him and that are not Fard or Wajib. In abandonment, there is
“itab” i.e. “condemnation”. Sunnah in the morning, noon and evening prayers,
and the circumcision of children are the examples of this kind of Sunnah.
b) Sunnah
Ghayr-Muakkadah: This is
the Sunnah that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did many times and left rarely. The
long recitation in prayer and the first Sunnah of the afternoon and night
prayers are the examples of this kind of Sunnah. This Sunnah is also called
“mustahab” and “mandub”.
4- Mustahab (recommended):
This is also
called mandub. These are the actions that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sometimes did
and sometimes left, like some Sunnah prayers and fasting outside the month of
Ramadan. There is reward for performing mustahab acts, but no condemnation in
the abandonment. Mustahab is generally synonymous with Sunnah Ghayr-Muakkadah.
5- Mubah (permitted):
Mubah is the work
where the obliged person is allowed to do or not to do. There is no reward or
condemnation in its performance or abandonment.
Sometimes, when
circumstances change, so do the provisions. For example, it is obligatory to
eat and drink as much as necessary from things that are forbidden in order not
to die. If the goods that are eaten belong to someone else, the eater shall
compensate. The eater shall get even a reward from eating like this and saving
himself from death.
6- Haram (forbidden):
These are the acts
that Allah Almighty does not want to be done in a definite and binding manner.
Its prohibition is based on a conclusive evidence.
The provision of
haram is that it requires a reward for its abandonment and a punishment for its
performance, and that those who consider it “lawful” and “permitted” (like
“drinking alcohol” and “gambling”) are considered to renounce the religion.
7- Makruh (disliked):
In Islam, what is
asked not to be done “without certainty and binding”, is called makruh, which
is not tolerated or disliked.
Makruh is divided
into two:
1- Makruh tahrim: This makruh is close to
haram (forbidden). Those who deliberately commits them becomes a sinner.
2- Makruh tanzih: This makruh is close to
mubah or halal (lawful), better than not to be done.
If the makruh is used alone,
it is understood to mean the makruh tahrim.
The provision of makruh is
like the provision of the haram in terms of deeds. There is reward for the
abandonment and fear of punishment for the performance.
Nobody who believes that makruh
is halal does not come out of religion.
Eating mussels, lobsters and
other non-fish species, shopping on Friday, wasting water in ablutions and ghusul.
The judgment of makruh is like
the judgment of Haram in terms of Deeds. There is fear of reward for
abandonment, punishment for committing.
One who believes that makruh
is lawful does not renounce the religion.
Eating mussels, oysters,
lobsters and other non-fish seafood; shopping at the time of Friday prayer, and
wasting water in ablution or ghusul.
8- Mufsid:
It is something that breaks
and invalidates worshipping that has started. The provision of the mufsid, that
is, the person who breaks worshipping that has been started, is that if he has
done it deliberately without apology, the punishment is necessary, and if he
has done it unintentionally, the punishment is not necessary. It's like
breaking a fast or breaking a prayer.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 6)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is faith?
What are faith sects?
Answer:
In lexical
meaning, it is to be tied to something like a knot; to believe wholeheartedly
and to accept something in a way that is not possible to the contrary.
In practice, it is
to affirm the truths that Allah has commanded and that our Prophet (pbuh) has
commanded by his Sunnah.
People who deny the Qur'an,
underestimate and mock religion, interpret religion according to their own
desires and beliefs that are contrary to the Qur'an and the Sunnah come out of
religion.
“There is only one sect in
faith in Islam. This sect is Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah, i.e. adherents to the
Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) and Islam commands all people only one faith and
belief.”
The people of Ahlus Sunnah wal
Jamaah are those who follow the line on which our Prophet and his companions
are.
Our Prophet (pbuh) said in a hadith that “My
Ummah (Islamic nation) will be divided into seventy-three factions. Seventy-two
of them are in the fire, and only one is in the Paradise.” This faction is
“Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah”.
In terms of faith principles, the two great
imams of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah are Abu Mansur Maturidi and Abulhasan Ash’ari.
In terms of faith, it is essential to be follow
one of these two imams, i.e. Imam Maturidi and Imam Ash'ari. These two scholars
have reported the belief of Ahlus Sunnah. Those who do not follow them will be
the people of bid'ah or innovation (in religious matters) and are considered to
be separated from the right path.
In a hadith, our Prophet (pbuh) states that the
People of the Book will be divided into seventy-two and the Muslims will be
divided into seventy-three factions, which was later realized and the Muslims
were divided into many factions after the death of the Messenger of Allah
(pbuh).
But since then,
the lives of Muslims have been dominated by the “Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah”
perspective. For example, the Umayyads (with the exception of those who support
Mu’tazila), the Abbasids, Seljuks, Karahanids and Harzemshahs by majority
preferred the “Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah” perspective. Although there were
different communities and nations in the Ottoman Empire, the dominant element
was “Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah”.
As for the
question “How should the owner of a perfect faith be?”, it is an excellent
belief to believe in the matters that are necessary to be believed, as stated
above, in a way that is not possible to the contrary. The criterion in this matter
is what our Prophet (pbuh) stated when describing the right path: “It is the
path that I and my companions are on.” Yes, the right way is the path that the
messenger of Allah (pbuh), Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Othman and
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all) walk.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 7)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is blasphemy and idolatry (shirk)? What is
the secret idolatry? Who is a hypocrite?
Answer:
Blasphemy and idolatry (shirk) are words or
behaviors that are the manifestation of a belief that destroys faith and deeds.
For example, reincarnationists, those who
believe that the souls of those who have died will cross into other bodies and
come back into the world over and over again, are heretics (this belief is also
the faith of the Rafizis). Evidence from the Qur'an that there is no
reincarnation:
“They will not taste death therein except the
first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire”
(Surah Ad-Dukhan, Verse 56).
On the other hand, as a result of a moment of
carelessness, the car rolls into the stockade, thus a Muslim should pay
attention to what he is talking about and should not say the words that make
him come out of religion.
For example, to give an example of the
blasphemous lyrics in songs:
1- “Cruel fate”.
2- “I prostrated myself as I worship”.
3- “I worshipped you and God only”.
4- “Why did you create me if you were going to
forget?”
5- “I became a slave to Your slave and adored
fondly.
6- “I'm used to the cruelty of fate”.
7- “Oh Lord! Is this justice?”
Idolatry means ascribing partners to
Allah. Idolatry, which is the greatest cruelty, makes the servant enter Hell
forever. The servant cannot harm his Lord or the people of monotheism in any
way by associating or denying or hypocrisy. But he has wronged himself in the
most severe way, for he has earned himself eternal punishment.
It is commanded in
Surah Luqman (Verse 13) that “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah.
Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice.”
On the other hand,
seeking other goals in worship and good deeds other than the pleasure of Allah,
and fleeing to false pretense which destroys the sincerity in worship, is to
fall into secret (hidden) idolatry. To seek the interests of mortals or self in
the deeds that have been done, causes them to go to waste.
"Be careful!
May I tell you what I fear more about you than the Antichrist (Dejjal)?” He
asked me. Companions (Sahabis):
“O Messenger of
Allah! Please do so.” they said. Upon this, Prophet (pbuh) said:
“This thing I fear
is a secret (hidden) idolatry. Consider, for example, someone who stands up for
prayer. This is because one realizes that he is being watched by someone else.”
(Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 21).
That is to say,
Almighty Allah does not want mortal partners to worship. A worship aimed at
someone else other than Allah is no longer a worship, but rather a crime.
Therefore,
idolatry is of two kinds:
1 - Open idolatry.
2 - Secret
idolatry.
Open idolatry is
to ascribe partners directly to Allah and to worship other than Allah, even
though he recognizes Allah. For example, worshipping the sun, the moon, and
idols is an open idolatry.
When it comes to
secret idolatry, it is mainly divided into two. One is to forget the pleasure
of Allah, and to show off to the people. The other is to give more importance
to creatures, who actually acts as a reason for the creation of other things,
and to assume that they have power of influence.
Hypocrite: He/she who does not believe in
the true sense of the inside and who appears to be a Muslim on the outside.
The insides and
the outsides of the hypocrites are not alike. Their word doesn't reflect the
truth. It is stated in the Qur’an that hypocrites are actually disbelievers:
“And of the people
are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not
believers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 8).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 8)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the
divine attributes of Allah?
Answer:
The divine
attributes of the being of Allah are six:
1- Al-Wujud (The Being):
Allah is the
Existing One and His existence is eternal.
2- Al-Qidam (The
Pre-Eternal One):
There is no
beginning of the existence of Allah.
3- Al-Baqah (The Everlasting One):
The existence of
Allah has no end. His nonexistence is impossible. Just as it is impossible to
ascribing partners to Him, the absence of His being and attribute is
impossible.
4- Al-Wahdaniyyah (The Unique One):
Allah has no
partner in terms of His being, His attributes and His deeds.
5- Al-Mukhalafatun lil Khawadith (He is Unlike the Created):
Allah does not
resemble the being or attributes of any of His creation.
6- Al-Qiyam
bi’nafsihi (The Self-Existing One):
Allah exists with
His being. He doesn't need space. He was present when matter and space were
absent. He does not need anything. As he was before he brought this universe
from absence to existence, he always is, eternally.
The immutable
attributes of Allah are eight:
1- Al-Hayat (The
Living and Resurrecting One)
Allah is alive.
His life is not like the life of creatures, which is unique and eternal.
2- Al-ilm (The
All-knowing One)
Allah knows
everything. His knowledge is not like that of a creature. In the dark night, he
sees and knows the ant walking on the black stone. He knows the thoughts and
intentions that go through people's hearts. There's no change in His knowing,
which is timeless and eternal.
3- Al-Sami’ (The
All-Hearing One)
Allah hears
without means. His hearing is not like the hearing of His servants. This
attitude, like all others, is eternal.
4- Al-Baseer (The
All-Seeing One)
Allah sees. He
sees without means and without conditions. His vision is not with the eye.
5- Al-Iradhah
(Absolute Will)
Allah has His
wish. He creates what He wills and everything exists by His will. There is no
force to hinder His will.
6- Al-Qudrah (The
Almighty One)
Allah has power
over all things. Nothing is difficult for Him.
7- Al-Kalam (His
Manner of Speech is Unique to Him)
Allah’s manner of speech
is unique. It is not with tools, letters, sounds and languages.
8- Al-Taqwin (He
is the Creator from nothing of all things and beings)
Allah is the
creator. There is no creator but Him. He creates everything. No one but Allah
should be called creator.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 9)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the
attributes of prophets?
Answer:
The Prophet is the
messenger of Allah, who shows the right way and informs of the commands of
Allah, who is appointed as a messenger between Allah and people. Prophets were
sent to guide people.
Prophets are
exemplary people with all kinds of moral virtues. Some features that should be
found in Prophets are:
1- Faithfulness
It means truth.
Prophets are extremely truthful people. They never lie. What they say happened
has happened, and what they say will happen will happen when the time comes.
2- Trustfulness
It means being
trusted. The prophets are trustworthy in all matters and never betray the
trust.
3- Intelligence
It means being
smart and vigilant. Prophets are smart, vigilant and highly intelligent.
4- Immunity from
sin
It means not to
sin. Prophets do not sin secretly or openly.
5- Conveying
It means notifying.
The prophets revealed to the people the religious provisions they received from
Allah without any change.
6- Justice
The prophets do no
wrong. They don't leave justice for anyone's sake.
Basic Religious
Knowledge (Lesson 10)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are sects and
what are sects divided into?
Answer:
Sect means the way
to go, the method and opinion to be adopted. In the religious sense, sect is
called religious schools formed by people who adopt the ideas and opinions of a
Mujtahid scholar.
Sect means the way
of the Qur'an and Sunnah. He who obeys a sect Imam means he believes that he
obeys the Qur'an and the Messenger of Allah.
There is
essentially no separation between sects. The separation is in details and in
the personal affairs that do not touch the essence of religion.
What are the sects
divided into?
Sects are first
divided into two:
1- Religious sects
and
2- Sects of Islamic
jurisprudence.
It is imperative
to follow one of Imam Maturidi or Imam Ash'ari. These two scholars reported the
faith of the Ahlus Sunnah.
The sects of Islamic
jurisprudence are divided into four:
1- Hanafi sect,
2- Maliki sect,
3- Shafii sect,
4- Hanbali sect.
Of these four
sects, all are right and true.
There have been
other sects in these qualities throughout our history.
The current ones are
the most widely known among Muslims as they are the living sects.
True Muslims, on
the other hand, imitate one of the four sects, namely the way of truth, and
become Ahlus Sunnah. The faith principles of the four sects are the same.
Although there are minor differences in their worship, these differences are
the mercy of Allah.
Everyone from
these four sects may choose what is easy for them.
Basic Religious
Knowledge (Lesson 11)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the
questions and answers to be asked in the tomb (grave)?
Answer:
Who is your Lord? “Allah”.
What is your
religion? “Islam”.
Who's your
prophet? “Prophet Muhammad” (pbuh).
What is the book? “The
Holy Qur’an”.
Where is your
Qibla? “The Kaaba”.
These questions
and answers are declared in various Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Basic Religious
Knowledge (Lesson 12)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you briefly
explain what fate, qada, ultimate will and particular will mean?
Answer:
Fate means that
Allah Almighty knows everything that has happened and will happen in the
universe, in all its qualities, in all its forms, and before He created it, and
He wrote everything on the tablet called “Well-preserved Tablet” (Lawh Mahfuz).
Qada is Allah's
creation of this eternal writing and His decree when the time and conditions
come.
The ultimate will
is the Divine will, which can wish for everlasting works together.
The particular
will is the will given to man by Allah, the ability to act as he wishes and the
freedom to choose.
The ultimate will
of Allah means that Allah can do whatever He wants and nothing can come before
His command.
The ultimate will of
man means the abilities given to him.
When man turns to
a job with one of those talents, the “ultimate will” becomes particular. The
expression “particular” here does not mean “smallness” but rather means
“specificity”. So what we can do is we can choose one thing at a time out of
hundreds of alternatives.
There are said to
be as many as a hundred trillion cells in the human body. Each cell has a lot
of functions. How can a man explain these countless activities in his body when
he can't will two things at once? So he does not own himself. He is a servant.
His body is arranged and administered with an Ultimate Will.
Allah Almighty
does not compel anyone to do good or evil.
Everyone makes
their choices of their own free will and has to bear the consequences of their
choices.
Good and evil are
from Allah.
The fact that
Allah knows the things that He will create in the past does not destroy His
attitude of will, nor does He know the things that His servants will do in the
past prevent them from having the will.
Allah does not try
to prevent evil deeds, because He has put people to a trial. There will be
losers as well as winners in this trial.
Winning and losing
occur through the processing of good and evil.
If Allah prevents
all evil deeds, then there will be no trial.
Basic Religious
Knowledge (Lesson 13)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is morality
and Sufism? What is the meaning of self-decency (purification)?
Answer:
Morality is known
as character.
Islamic morality
is based on the Qur'an.
Our Prophet (pbuh)
said “I was sent only to complete good moral values.”
Abu Hurairah said:
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was asked what is the most thing that will lead
people to paradise? The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Respect for Allah (taqwa)
and good moral values.” When He was asked what's the most thing that can get
people to hell? He said “it is the mouth and the genitals.” (Tirmidhi, Birr).
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said “On the day of resurrection, there is nothing in the trial of
the believer that outweighs the good moral values. Allah defies those who speak
unflattering words (and conduct).” (Tirmidhi, Birr).
Sufism:
Sufism is the
discipline of morality, of self-decency, of knowing Allah correctly (which is
called the knowledge of Allah), and of serving Him for His sake. Therefore, it
is the most honorable of the disciplines and the essence of Islam. For this
reason, it has been loved, respected, spread and reached the present day.
The origin of Sufism
is attributed to the Qur'an and to the tradition of the Messenger of Allah
(pbuh).
Sufism is the
essence and true meaning of our religion and is the way and method of being
perfect human being, which is the main goal.
Sufism means
making the heart pure, purging it from bad habits and filling it with good habits,
abandoning sensual desires and innovation (bid’ah).
Sufism teaches the things that
must be done and avoided with the heart and the ways of cleansing the heart and
the soul. This is also called discipline of morality.
Sufism is all about decency.
Sufism is not
selfishness, it is altruism, mercy and love. It is service, sincerity and
wisdom. It is the cleansing of the heart, the glory of wisdom and doing
righteous deeds. It is not empty words; it is a beautiful state; it is the rose
against stone; it is the antidote against poison; and it is light on eyes and
hearts.
To live with the
taste of faith without Sufism; to comprehend the essence, inner structure,
soul, nature, subtleties and mystery of Islam is very difficult for people of
today and perhaps of every age.
Self-decency:
The self (nafs) is
all bad wishes within us and the tendency towards weak desires. All the evil
feelings that drive man away from Allah are originated from nafs. Without nafs,
we would be angels, not human beings. However, the rank and value of a perfect
human being is superior to that of Angels.
Nafs is “man’s
own, material self and ego”. There is no word in Turkish that can be the exact
equivalent of this. We can only describe it. Allah Almighty has appointed a
director of administration within us; has placed a spiritual authority acting
in order to protect our body, our material existence, our interests necessary
for life; that is the nafs! Its presence is necessary and its wishes are
natural, but it must be followed and controlled, trained and cleared of bad
tendencies!
“If we want to
live in a freer world, the only way to do that is to free ourselves first. It
is the freeing of man himself and the abandoning of deifying the desires his
nafs. Our nafs, which commands the evil within us, rules us for a lifetime and
makes us slaves if we do not realize it. However, it is possible to make
meaningful the life we live in such a way as to win the pleasure of our
Creator.
We perceive the
life of this world as permanent and eternal life as if it does not exist.
Endless desires of career, office, position, house, car etc. come to the end of
the road we thought would never come, and we go to the grave empty-handed. This
is the endless cycle of humanity for thousands of years.” https://servergenclik.global/
The levels of the
nafs are eight, of which the first four are:
1. The Inciting Nafs (Nafs
Ammarah): It is the
nafs that does not obey the commandments and prohibitions of Allah without hesitation,
and that is subject to own desires.
2. The Self-Accusing Nafs (Nafs
Luwwamah): It is the
nafs that sometimes obeys the commandments of Allah and sometimes does not obey
and that grieves for the sins it has committed and rejoices in the good deeds.
3. The Inspired Nafs (Nafs
Mulhamah): It is the
nafs that follows the commandments and prohibitions of Allah as far as
possible.
4. The Nafs at Peace (Nafs
Mutmainnah): It is the
nafs that believes in the principles of faith, follows the commandments and
prohibitions of Allah, has no doubts about these matters, and has finally
established a spiritual connection with Allah and has reached the taste of it.
Allah Almighty said
in the Holy Qur’an:
“[To the righteous
it will be said], O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and
pleasing [to Him], and enter among My [righteous] servants and enter My
Paradise.” (Surah Al-Fajr, Verses 27 to 30).
Basic Religious Knowledge
(Lesson 14)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
As a Muslim, what
are the reference works that are recommended to gain wider knowledge of
religious issues?
Answer:
1- Qur’an
Translation. Prof. Dr.
Hasan Tahsin Feyizli. www.feyzulfurkan.com
2-The Meadows of
the Righteous, an Hadith Book. Riyad-us-Saliheen
3- Life and
Invitation of the Messenger of Allah. Fıkhus Sîre. Münir Muhammed Gadbân.
4- Great Islamic Catechism. Ömer Nasuhi BİLMEN, Former Head of Religious Affairs.
5- Faith of Ahlus Sunnah. Mehmed Zahit Kotku.
6- Masnavi. Mevlânâ
Celâleddîn-i Rûmî.
You can complete all of them in 2 or 3 years by
reading 1 page from the above references every day.
Basic Religious
Knowledge (Lesson 15)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What does being a
conscious Muslim mean?
Answer:
Consciousness is
the state of being aware of something.
Consciousness is
the beginning of comprehension; it is the essence, the touchstone and the first
spark of internal consciousness and understanding.
“A conscious
Muslim is a man of Duty. His greatest duty is to serve Allah. That is because
servitude is the greatest responsibility that Allah, The Lord of the Worlds,
has imposed on man. Without this task, all other tasks will be meaningless.
Islam is the order of life, deals with every event of life and continues in
every phase; it is not exclusive to a certain time and certain types of
movements and worship. It is wrong to act with the mindset that “I pray in the
mosque and then violate the commandments of Islam”; “I go to the Haj and Umrah
and forget the religious duties after I return home” or “Let me enjoy my youth
now, let me live with my pleasure and when old age comes, I will repent and
turn to worship anyway.” This is the act of the ignorant people who do not know
Islam and do not understand it correctly.”
The more appropriate
our behaviors, preferences, rejections and acceptances that we put forward in
all aspects of life to the book of Allah and His Messenger (pbuh), the more
conscious we are.
Here is the
important subtlety that some Muslims do not understand well. They are trying to
reach their conclusion and goal by considering only some part of the system or
by working for a short time. That is the source of troubles and failures.
A companion asked
the Prophet (pbuh) “O Messenger of Allah! Who are the friends of Allah?” The
Prophet answered: “They remind man of Allah when they are seen.” (by Haythami).
To remind Allah is
to set a great example by putting forth behaviors in accordance with the commandments
and prohibitions of Allah at every stage of life, from the public sphere to the
political and economic sphere.
If the work is
done for Allah, whatever the outcome is, it is not important. Because the real
success and victory is to do for Allah what he has done.
In this end times,
when knowledge is increasing but consciousness is decreasing, Islamic
consciousness means starting again from our homes, our relatives and our
environment to be the best Nation (Ummah) mentioned in the Verse “You are the
best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and
forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” (Surah Ali Imran, Verse 110).
Islamic
consciousness means a spiritual mobilization project that every conscious
Muslim will do according to his power in order not to be touched by the
troubles that will come to our family, our country and our Ummah in accordance
with the warning of our Prophet (pbuh) “I swear to Allah, either you enjoin what
is right and forbid what is wrong, or otherwise, it will not be long before a
scourge will come upon you, and you will pray to Allah, but your prayers will
not be answered” (by Tirmidhi).
In any place and
meeting we are in, do not hold back for a moment from explaining your own
Islamic view, showing the aggressors the way of knowledge, logic and faith, for
the sake of Allah.
Source: Prof. Dr.
M. Es'ad Çoşan / Abdulaziz Kıranşal.
Basic Religious
Knowledge (Lesson 16)
40 days 41 Times
Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Islam consists of
three things, please explain? What is lore (irfan)?
Answer:
These three things
are:
“Knowledge,
deeds and sincerity".
(Imam Rabbani / Maktubat)
Sufism, on the
other hand, is one of the methods of achieving “sincerity”.
Lore:
It is a concept
about knowing, assimilating knowledge, gaining ingenuity and being wise in a
matter.
It is a powerful insight
that leads to the truth.
It is knowledge
obtained by spiritual intuition and ingenuity.
A man of lore and
knowledge is a man who is not content with what he is taught.
Lore/ingenuity is
knowledge of work and experience. It is abstract knowledge that is not based on
work, and worship is not called wisdom.
The starting point
of lore is deeds, obedience, worship, morality, decency, asceticism and
striving.
The Muslims of
today are mostly unaware of this fact: Either they believe but do not practice,
do not worship; either they are devoted to one aspect of Islam and neglect the
other; or they say they are Muslims but they like the perverse or infidel
philosophies of Europe, Russia, America; or they dive into and deviate from
deep issues and matters they do not know, without considering their knowledge
of religion; they either rely on the mercy of Allah, or they neglect the
punishment of Allah; they either aim at the formal aspect of religion, or do
not sense its essence, or embellish their exterior, neglect their hearts. In
short, they leave a side missing.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 17)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What are the
importance and wisdoms of prayer?
Answer:
Abdullah b.
Mas'ud, one of famous companions of our Prophet (pbuh) says:
One day, I asked
the Prophet (pbuh):
“What act is most
beloved and lovable in the sight of Allah Almighty?” He said:
“The prayer
performed in time is the most pleasant.”
“What act comes
next?” I asked Him.
“To treat parents
with respect and kindness.” He replied.
“What's after
that?” I said.
“To fight in the
way of Allah.” He replied.
This means that
prayer is the most important worship in terms of our religion and is a very
valuable and great act. All of our religious books specifically state this
superiority and priority. Indeed, the other worships of zakat and haj are only
obligatory for wealthy Muslims. When it comes to obligatory (fard) fasting, it
is only for one month a year. Prayer is frequent and permanent. In addition,
prayer is not simple, it is a complete and complex worship. Because there are
many acts and elements that can be considered as worship in itself, such as
cleansing, veiling, turning to Kaaba, saying the word of shahada
(testimony)", reciting the Qur'an, remembering Allah (dhikr), reciting
salavat and supplication.
That is why all
Muslims –without exception– have been obliged to pray. A Muslim, even if he is
sick, cannot leave the prayer. If he cannot stand, he should pray by sitting
down, and if he cannot sit down, he should perform his prayer while lying down.
If he cannot find water, he will perform dry ablution (tayammum). Other
conveniences have been introduced in this regard and excuses have been
accepted. But there are no excuses for not praying. Our beloved Prophet (pbuh),
even during the war with the enemy, did not give up the prayer. While some
warriors eye the enemy, He prayed with others in congregation.
Why is prayer so
important in our religion?
Because the
religion of Islam aims to establish a seamless and unbroken connection between
the servant and his Creator, Allah who tries to save His servants from
forgetfulness and heedlessness, and to keep him in constant consciousness and
vigilance. Because only when it is like this can the servant listen to himself,
control his soul, prevent it from evil, and lead it to good and virtues. Prayer
is a process that establishes this desired connection and refreshes it at least
five times a day. The love, devotion, knowledge and wisdom of the person who
continues to pray for this purpose becomes firm day by day. Their spiritual
power develops, their ideals are glorified and their maturity increases. When
this happens, five daily prayers should not be seen much, and even some
prayers, whose value is stated in the hadiths, should be added to them from
time to time. For example, such Sunnah prayers as ishraq, duha, awwabin and
tahajjud prayers should try to be performed.
Our beloved
Prophet praises the importance of prayer in a hadith as follows:
“The prayer gives
the satisfaction of the Lord to His servant and the love of the angels. It is
the tradition of the friends of Allah, the light of lore, the foundation and
root of faith. It provides the acceptance of the wishes and good deeds made; it
provides the sustenance of the person and it relieves the body. It is the
weapon against the world as well as grief and distress for the devil. It will
intercede for those who perform it in the presence of the angel of death. It is
light and a mattress in the grave. It keeps her company until the day of
resurrection. On the day of judgment there will be a shadow over his head, a
veil and a dress over his body. It is a light that leads in front of the
servant, which illuminates his path. It creates a curtain between its owner and
the fire of hell. It is a sign of good service before the Lord. While weighing
the deeds of the servant, it presses heavily on his scales, eases the passage
through the sirat bridge and becomes the key to the gate of heaven.”
In another hadith,
the Islamic religion was likened to the tent and the prayer to the pillar of
this tent and it was said:
“Prayer is the pillar
of religion. Whoever keeps up his prayer has kept up his religion, and whoever
abandons it and neglects it has destroyed his religion.”
“On the day of
resurrection, the servant will be questioned from prayer above all else. Those
who fail in this will not survive.”
In another hadith,
our Prophet (pbuh) expressed his love for this unique worship by saying “Prayer,
the light of my eye!”
There are certain
conditions for prayer. Cleaning comes first. This condition is broad, which
extends from hand, face and foot cleaning to mouth and tooth cleaning, clothes
cleaning and to cleaning of the environment where prayer is performed. Thus,
Muslims are directed to ensure the cleanliness and beauty of the interior and
exterior at all hours of the day. Indeed, even in ancient times, when
civilization was not so developed, our ancestors were known for their
traditions and customs of cleanliness, health and beauty, as well as for their
facilities and arrangements such as fountains and baths. This is witnessed by
the memories of the envoys and travelers living in those times.
Another important
requirement of prayer is that it is performed with consciousness, respect and
tranquility. As a matter of fact, our Prophet (pbuh) said “the benefit that a
person will receive from his prayer is in the proportion of his understanding
and consciousness.” For this reason, while the mind is dealing with other
issues, a prayer that is performed haphazardly can be made up of empty
exhaustion. It does not bring the servant closer to the Supreme Creator, but
rather, it lowers him away from the grace and mercy of Allah due to his
disrespect.
Our elders used to
perform the prayer with great care and solemnity. For example, when the time of
prayer came, Hazrat Ali, caliph of the Messenger of Allah, would tremble and be
white with excitement. To those who ask why he'd say:
“The time has come
to fulfill the duty of servitude which the mountains, the heavens and the earth
are afraid to accept.”
Prayer means a
rapprochement and a secret conversation between the servant and the Creator.
The five daily prayers prescribed to our Prophet (pbuh) on the night of Miraj
is, in a way, the Miraj of the believer.
Blessed are those
who are aware of and can perform this blessed Miraj with pleasure.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 18)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What about death?
Answer:
Some people don't
even want to hear the word “death”, and they say “Let the cold words, we are
blackened, our joy is running away.” This is heedlessness. The death which they
used to turn away from will overtake them all of a sudden and in a very wrong
state. The wise act is to not forget death at all, to see the world's mortality
and life passing quickly and to do as much good deeds as possible, and to
prepare for the hereafter and the great day of reckoning by turning away from
everything that Allah Almighty does not like.
It is an
undeniable fact that death is a bitter juice for everyone to taste, and the
grave is a fearful gate for every mortal to pass through. Why are we looking
for other counselors? Is not the death that turns around us every moment and
everywhere enough as a counselor and warning?
The great
religious scholars who wanted to nurture and mature their souls have therefore
made remembering death an important requirement of the Sufi way in order to
reach the Almighty Allah as a good servant. “Rabita al-mawt (rabita of death)”
that is, the process of visualizing situations and scenes related to one's own
death, is an effective and useful process. This is the most effective medicine
against various diseases of the soul. The best antidote to the world's mortal
delights of delusion, long-lasting desires and ambitions, arrogance and so on
is to remember death.
It is well
observed that the basis of the individual or social evils we observe in our
environment today lies with the nafs (self) and its incurable diseases.
Then let's not
underestimate the remembrance of death. Maturity and true piety derive their
power largely from this source.
There is no doubt
we should leave such crippling philosophies that “these are old and empty
things”, “man comes to this world once; so eat, drink, have fun, think about
yourself; live and enjoy your life”. If we thought more deeply about the
beginning, and meaning of life as our ancestors did, we would be better off as
individuals and nation than we are now, and we would make our homeland and
nation much better.
Do we want to be
good and mature people who are financially and spiritually beneficial? Then
let's not forget death.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 19)
40 gün 41 Kere Maşaallah Dersleri
Question:
What is patience
in Islam?
Answer:
Patience is the
name given to our spiritual resistance and resilience in the face of many
issues and events that we have endured during our lives.
Patience has a
great place and importance in the religion of Islam. In order to achieve true
piety, it is essential to have the “skill of patience”. About the importance of
patience our beloved Prophet (pbuh) says:
“One half of faith
is gratitude; the other half is patience.”
“The more
important the place of the head in the body, the more important the place of
patience in faith.”
“The highest part
of faith is patience and tolerance.”
“When a trouble
comes upon you, it is a valuable worship to be patient until it is over.”
Patience is the
command of the Qur'an. Allah reveals to us in the Qur'an that He loves those
who are patient. This is a very important point.
Another important
point is that Allah states that He is with those who are patient. What an honor
and glory to be with Him!
Patience can be on
a variety of issues. In a hadith narrated by Hazrat Ali, it is stated that
patience is of three kinds:
1- Patience for
troubles,
2- Patience for
prayers,
3- Patience for
sins.
In a hadith narrated
by Hazrat Anas, it is stated that:
"Allah says:
if I cause trouble to a servant of mine, in his body or in his family or in his
property, and he is patient, I will be ashamed on the day of resurrection to
weigh his deeds and to open his book and to calculate his sins and rewards (I
find it fitting for the glory of my divinity to afflict him by reckoning, and I
give him his reward countlessly).”
One type of
patience is persistence and resistance in wars. Victory is only promised to the
patient. Indeed, it is stated in the Qur’an:
“O you who have
believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may
be successful.” (Surah Ali Imran, Verse 200).
“And obey Allah
and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your
strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
(Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 46).
So let us be
careful with the patience so that Allah will be with us and love us, and let us
try to learn patience. If we are patient, we will overcome all difficulties,
win over the enemies, we will attain honor in this world and the hereafter, and
we will become the beloved servants of Allah.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 20)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Is Islam more
protecting women's rights or the West?
Is modern
civilization protecting the women or Islam?
Answer:
Islam does not
kill women in war. But what have Westerners done in wars throughout history?
None of them have to look up and say "What have the Westerners done?” They
have no answers to this question.
They came to these
towns from the West; they came from France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands,
Spain, Italy, England with Crusader armies by killing Jews in the Hungarian
Plains. They came to Byzantium, the land of their religion, but they robbed it.
They robbed the treasure of Hagia Sophia. They took away its treasures, gold
candlesticks and statues of the Virgin Mary. When they came to Antioch, they
killed and massacred all Muslim people including women, babies, old people and
children. They ate human flesh. When they came to Jerusalem, they killed
everyone with a monstrosity and brutality that was unprecedented in history.
But Muslims have
never done so in history when they have conquered any place. They have not
tortured and massacred the people. We have dominated the Balkans, the Caucasus
and these lands for seven centuries, but we have not done anything to the
people. Christian minorities remained the same. We saved the Jews from
slaughter in Andalusia. This is the command of Allah. We have been kind and
merciful. They killed without considering if they are woman, children, elderly
and innocent. They still kill in the twentieth century. All are guilty, in the
face of history and in the court of Allah. None of them have the right to teach
us human rights, democracy, to open their mouth.
Even they tortured
their own nations because of the difference of sect and church.
The Prophet's
advice to the mujahedeen (warriors) who went to war was as follows: “You will
not kill the elderly; you will not kill the child or the baby! You will not
kill the woman!”
Islam says
"You will not kill a woman in war!", but they killed.
Islam gives
property to women, and they did not give women the right to own property.
Islam considers
women to be special and honorable beings. But they have vilified women all
because they believed women were the tools of Devil.
They didn't give
women the right to inherit. Until recently, women in the west had no right to
inherit. When the man would die, the goods would be left to the boys and the
woman would get nothing. The right to elect and be elected in the West has been
granted very recently. In the West, women were oppressed, but in Islam, women
have been protected. Women do not fight and are not killed in war. This is
because they are women, they are honorable and they raise children.
Our religion
commands to show mercy to women and to protect them. Our Prophet (pbuh) said on
his farewell pilgrimage: “I advise you the good treatment of women. I entrust
the women to you."
Europeans did not
respect women's rights in history, but are they now? No, because it is wrong to
let the woman go free and let her turn to prostitution. Islam does not make her
do that. In Islam, you cannot do evil as you wish. There is no freedom to do
evil in Islam.
Islam, which gives
women the most noble duties in accordance with their creation; protects them in
the most beautiful manner from all kinds of wrongdoing and danger; takes hard
work from them; gives all exterior services to men; brings women to true peace
and happiness, and elevates them to the sultanate of their home. What a
beautiful order!
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 21)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is piety
(taqwa)?
Answer:
Taqwa is to
protect the heart from masiva (i.e. from all that distorts it from Allah).
Taqwa is the
protection of a believer by seeking refuge in Allah from that which will harm
him in the hereafter, and to do righteous deeds, and to avoid sins.
The first degree
of taqwa means running away from blasphemy and idolatry as if falling into the
fire. The manifestation of this is to fulfill the obligations and avoid all
sins.
The middle degree
of taqwa –which is often understood when saying taqwa– is that a believer is
cautious of things that will bring punishment to him in the hereafter, and
keeps his heart and his intentions honest and pure.
Regarding the peak
degree of taqwa, our Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Wherever you may
be, obey Allah and do good after evil, so that it may destroy it. And treat
people with good morals!” (Tirmidhi, Birr, 55/1987).
And Allah Almighty
says in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, the most
noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah
is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 13).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 22)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is wisdom (hikmah)?
Answer:
It is used to mean
“knowledge of Divine secrets and truths, understanding the purpose of existence
of beings, discovering the role of Divine will in the relations between causes
and their consequences."
It has also meanings
like moral, counseling, short and instructive moral expression.
It has also been
described as “the heart having knowledge of Divine secrets,” and “saying what
is right."
Wisdom is to be
able to comprehend the truth and mystery of things.
Wisdom is to
comprehend that the mind is incapable of understanding the truth. Many secrets
that cannot be understood are solved only by wisdom. Divine manifestations in
the universe can also be read through the eyes of wisdom.
Wisdom is to do
everything as it should be.
Hazrat Luqman, known
for his wise admonitions, is the father of physicians (doctors).
Hazrat Luqman is “the
man of wisdom” as stated in the surah mentioned in his name in the Qur’an:
“And We had
certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful to Allah. And whoever is
grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His
favor] - then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.” (Surah Lukman,
Verse 12).
Allah Almighty
says in the Qur’an:
“He gives wisdom
to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given
much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.” (Surah
Al-Baqarah, Verse 269).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 23)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What does insight
(basira) and discernment (firasa) mean?
Answer:
Insight (basira): Vision
with heart, correct vision, alertness, intuition, eyesight.
The word insight,
which means “seeing, understanding, knowing the inner face of something,
intuition”, has been used in the Qur'an in general to mean “seeing” as well as
“the ability to discover the truth, to know the right way, to separate the
truth from the wrong" and has been shown as the opposite of spiritual
blindness or misguidance in this respect.
Discernment
(firasa): understanding, quick intuition.
Mind alertness.
The ability to understand something quickly. Understanding because of a
person's spiritual, mental state and abilities, posture, attitude, etc.
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) narrates from the ten Scrolls (Suhuf) revealed to Hazrat Ibrahim
(a.s.):
“The wise man must
have certain hours:
- A portion of his
time for praying to his Lord,
- A portion for
contemplating the art and might of Allah Almighty,
- A portion for
accounting for some of what he has done in the past and for planning what he
will do in the future,
- A portion for
earning his living in the halal way” (Abu Nuaym, Hilye, I, 167; İbn-i Esîr,
el-Kâmil, I, 124).
Discernment means
seeing like a horse. Because the horse can see around it 360 degrees. That's
why it does not run its owner over.
To have
discernment, it is necessary for us to:
1- read between
the lines,
2- read the
sentence backwards,
3- have lore.
Our Prophet (pbuh)
said:
"Beware of
the discernment of the believer. He looks with the light of Allah” (Tirmidhi,
Tafsir, 15/3127).
If we read the
sentence straight, there's praise here.
When we read the
sentence backwards, in fact, our Prophet (pbuh) places a very heavy
responsibility on us. So we are commanded to be like this.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 24)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What does
sincerity (ikhlas) mean? What is the importance of supplication?
Answer:
The lexical
meaning of sincerity is to do something pure and clean.
The meaning of the
concept is, in short, that the servant does what he does for the sake of Allah.
Sincerity: Seeking
the pleasure of Allah in your state and actions.
True, sincere,
heart and unrequited love and sincere devotion.
Sincere worship,
not mixed with hypocrisy.
It's kind of an
infinity seal.
Sincerity is that
whether people know what you do makes no difference at you.
The spirit of
deeds is sincerity, and if an intention other than the fact that the work is
for Allah, it becomes corrupted, and there is no reward or benefit. He thinks he's
worshipping, but in the end, he gets nothing. Then sincerity has to do with
intent. Intent is the inner impulse that leads one to do something. The answer
to the questions “why do you do it?” or “why do you do it instead of that?”
determines both intention and sincerity.
One of the
concepts that sincerity is very closely related with is loyalty. Loyalty means
honesty. If a servant is faithful and honest in his claim that he is doing
something just for Allah, then he is sincere. The work done with sincerity is
pure and clean.
Now let us come to
the magnificent interpretation of İsmail Hakkı Bursevi of Verse 66 of Surah
An-Nahl:
“Feces and blood
are two filthy substances. The milk first floats through the ground mixture (or
feces) in the animal's stomach and passes into the blood. It comes out of the
blood again as pure milk and becomes a pleasant drink and a high-value food.
This is explained in the verse by the word pure (khalis), which is the original
of the word sincerity (ikhlas).”
İsmail Hakkı
Bursevi says “it is as if Allah wants to say how we give you milk from between
two filthy substances, and you accept it only when you present your deeds to
Us, and you will draw it out of your souls and your devils, and you will not
make any doubt about your deeds, so that we may accept your deeds.” That's what
sincerity is.
The importance of
supplication: Supplication
has been reduced by squeezing only five times at the end of five daily prayers
or a certain part of the prayer. However, in a hadith it is said “prayer is the
essence of worship" (Tirmidhi).
Supplication is
the submission of material and spiritual desires to Allah by turning to Him
with his whole self.
However, in order
for our supplication to be accepted, as prescribed in a hadith it is essential
that our earnings be lawful (halal).
“When you are in
great difficulty, continue with the chant of “Hasbunallah wani’mal wakeel” (Allah
is sufficient for us, and He is the best guardian).” (Abu Dawud, Vitr, 25;
Tirmidhi, Qiyama). Allah loves those who insist on supplication too much.
“Even if he is an
unbeliever or liar, the supplication of the oppressed is acceptable. His evil
and sins are against himself.” (Ibn Hanbel, II, 367)
Hazrat Ali narrates
that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "Prayer is the weapon of the
believer, the pillar of religion and the light of the heavens and the
earth" (Al-Jaami As-Saghir - 4258).
Allah Almighty
says in the Qur’an:
“Say, what would
my Lord care for you if not for your supplication?” (Surah Al-Furqan, Verse
77).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 25)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What is sustenance
(rizq)?
Answer:
In the dictionary,
sustenance (provision) is defined as “everything that Almighty Allah has given
to living beings to eat and drink and to take advantage of.”
Allah is the one
who provides the sustenance of all living things as stated in the Qur’an that
“And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision” (Surah
Hud, Verse 6). It is also stated in the Qur’an that “He extends provision for
whom He wills and restricts [it].” (Surah Ash-Shuraa, Verse 12).
It is Allah who
creates and gives sustenance.
It is the duty of
the servant to attempt to gain sustenance, and of Allah to create sustenance.
Allah is the creator of the sustenance of the person before he is born.
Everyone eats his
own sustenance. No one can eat another's sustenance.
And our beloved
Prophet said, “No soul shall have more than its share of sustenance. And he
will not die until he receives his sustenance and eats it. He shall be provided
with his sustenance, though he will not.” [Hakim].
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 26)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What does
"Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy an al Munkar" mean? What does jihad mean?
Please explain?
Answer:
Amr bil Ma'ruf wa
Nahy an al Munkar:
To recommend the
good and to forbid the wrong is one of the most important duties of the
believers. To remain callous and unfaithful to the sins and immoralities in the
society is a cause of moral destruction as well.
Ma’ruf is what our
religion orders.
Munkar, on the
other hand, is the things that our religion prohibits, that is, Allah is not
pleased with.
It is stated in
the Qur’an:
“And let there be
[arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is
right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.” (Surah
Ali Imran, Verse 104).
In a hadith of the
Prophet (pbuh) it was stated that “I swear by Allah, in whose hand is my soul,
that either you enjoin good and prevent evil, or Allah will soon cause a public
calamity. Then you pray, but your prayer is not answered."(Tirmidhi,
Fiten, 9).
Jihad:
It is a concept
which refers to all kinds of activities and actions in the way of Allah. It is
to strive to make the right superior and dominant. In other words, jihad is the
action aspect of Islam and its power of action.
Jihad is the
struggle with life and property in the way of Allah.
The word “jihad” is
does not mean war. Fighting in the way of Allah is a kind of jihad, but the
word jihad involves all kinds of activities and actions to bring the religion
of Allah to every place.
A companion of the
Prophet (pbuh) came before Him and asked “What do you say about a man who
fights for both reward and fame? What does a man like that gain?” The messenger
of Allah answered “He gains nothing”.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 27)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you give
examples of Islam being a religion of peace and love?
Answer:
The word Islam has
the same meaning as the word “peace” in Arabic.
Islam is a
religion that has been revealed to offer people a life of peace and tranquility
manifested by the infinite mercy and compassion of Allah on Earth.
“O you who have
believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the
footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse
208).
Allah has cursed
corruption. Islam advocates freedom of thought.
“There shall be no
compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 256).
Allah commands the
believers to be compassionate, merciful and forgiving.
“Take what is
given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.” (Surah
Al-A'raf, Verse 199).
Allah has
forbidden the killing of innocent people.
“…Whoever kills a
soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he
had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved
mankind entirely.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 32).
The essence of
Islam is the love of Allah, which leads to the love of the Messenger of Allah,
to the love of the Qur'an, to the love of faith, to the love of worship, to the
love of charity and goodness, to the love of Muslims, to the love of
brotherhood, to the love of human beings, to the love of art, to forgiveness,
to mercy, to patience, gratitude and effort.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 28)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What's the key to
getting into heaven?
Answer:
Entering heaven is
only through the grace and mercy of Allah.
No one should
think that he deserves heaven by relying on his own faith and worship.
The keys to heaven
are many. The first key is faith and prayer.
“Prayer is the key
to mercy; ablution is the key to prayer, and prayer is the key to heaven.” [Daylami].
“La ilaha illa
Allah” is the key to heaven”. [i. Ahmad].
The messenger of
Allah (pbuh) was asked:
- What's the most
thing that can get people to heaven?
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said:
- “Respecting
Allah (taqwa) and good morals.”
When He was asked:
“What's the most thing that can get people to hell? He said:
- “Mouth and
genitalia” (Tirmidhi, Birr 62. See also Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 29).
The key to heaven
is to come to true Islam.
True Islam is the
Islam of the Qur'an and Hadith.
True Islam is
Islam of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah.
True Islam is not
the Islam of today, but “the Islam of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh)”: True Islam is the Islam of Asr'us-Saadah (the Age of Bliss).
True Islam is the
way of taqwa and sincerity, wisdom and lore.
True Islam is the
way of true scholars (ulama), who work with their knowledge, and of areefs (the
enlightened).
Good morals: Hazrat Hasan Basri described
good morals as “doing a lot of good, avoiding evil and being friendly.”
“A believer, by
virtue of his good moral values, reaches the degree of those who fast during
the day and pray at night.” (Abu Dawud, Adab 7; Tirmidhi, Birr 62).
But good morality
is not to interfere with anyone's work, power and flesh, and to get along well
with all kinds of people. Islam has main principles such as “al-hubbu fillah
and bughdu fillah (loving who Allah loves and disliking who Allah dislikes)”,
“amr bil ma'ruf wa nahy an al munkar” (enjoining what is right and forbidding
what is wrong)” and “helping the oppressed and fighting the oppressor”.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 29)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you explain
the concept of trust in and submission to Allah?
Answer:
Trust in and
submission to Allah is a great comfort that believers experience throughout
their lives.
The peak of the
feeling of trust in Allah is “tawakkul”, reliance on Allah.
The believer knows
that nothing happens except the control of Allah.
Therefore, he does
not feel distress or sadness in the face of any event.
Every event that
he will encounter throughout his life is his destiny and his destiny is
determined by Almighty Allah.
Therefore, it can
never be a "bad" event or destiny for the believer.
While some things
may seem bad, in reality they will have beneficial consequences for the
believer.
It is said in the
Qur’an: “And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him.” (Surah
At-Talaq, Verse 3).
Islam means
surrendering and the Muslim will surrender to Allah. The believer should think
this way: “I have surrendered myself to the command of Allah; I will do what He
says, whether I like it or not, whether I am comfortable or not, and whether I
am satisfied or not”
“When there are
things to like, I'm in, but when there are things not to like, I'm out.” There
is no such Islam. That's no surrendering.
Bernard Shaw, the
famous Western scholar, says: “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a person with virtues
that will make a person dizzy in various aspects. This secret is impossible to
understand. In particular, He has an incomprehensible superiority, which is His
trust in and submission to Allah.”
The Prophet (pbuh)
also advises Muslims to put their trust in Allah: “If you put your trust in
Allah, He will provide you as He has provided the bird.” (Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 14).
A man came to our
Prophet (pbuh) and said “Shall I put my trust by leaving my camel or by binding
it?” Our Prophet (pbuh) said “Tie the camel then put your trust” (Tirmidhi,
Qiyamah, 60), thus revealing the measure of trust in the best way.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 30)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you explain,
“the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement?”
Answer:
“And indeed, a day
with your Lord is like a thousand years of those which you count.” (Surah
Al-Haj, Verse 47).
Then it will
ascend to Him in a day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which
you count.” (Surah As-Sajdah, Verse 5).
This life of this
world is the example of a man who is shaded under a tree, that is, it is 1 or 2
hours as compared to the life of the hereafter. It's like a lifetime in a
3-5-second dream. Our lives in this world are like the “zipped” version of the
hereafter with a technological description, so to speak, the compressed file
opened in this world.
“And this worldly
life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter
- that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.” (Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 64).
“Know that the
life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to
one another and competition in increase of wealth and children.” (Surah
Al-Hadid, Verse 20).
“And the worldly
life is not but amusement and diversion?” (Surah Al-An’am, Verse 32).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 31)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Why is it
important to perform morning and isha (night) prayers in congregation?
Answer:
Hadith Sharif:
“The prayer performed in congregation is twenty-seven degrees higher than the
prayer performed alone.” (Bukhari, Azan 30; Muslim, Masajid 249).
Hadith Sharif:
“Whoever performs the night prayer in congregation is as if he had prayed until
midnight. Whoever performs the morning prayer in congregation is as if he had
prayed all night.” (Muslim, Masajid 260).
Hadith Sharif:
“The omen that separates us and the hypocrites is to perform the morning prayer
with the congregation. Hypocrites cannot continue the night and morning
prayers. There is no prayer heavier than the morning and night prayers. Had
they known the reward of these two prayers, they would have come to perform
them, even though they were crawling.” (Bukhari).
Note: There is no command to treat
those who cannot perform night and morning prayers in congregation as
hypocrites. This is a warning.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 32)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you explain
the issue of “say good or remain silent”?
Answer:
It is advised in a
hadith: “Whoever believes in Allah and the last day, either say good or remain
silent.” (Bukhari, Kitab Al-Adab, 10/373).
Be careful not to
say anything but good! And it is forbidden for you to listen to anything that
is not lawful to say.
And do not enter
into matters that do not concern you, nor swear in the name of Allah much. If
you swear in the name of Allah, swear only by telling the truth and if it is
needed. Avoid all kinds of lies because falsehood is the opposite of faith.
Avoid gossip,
taking words, making too many jokes, and of other ugly words. Abandon the ugly
words as you forsake the bad words. Think before you say a word; if it's good,
say it, if it's not, remain silent!
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh):
“All the words of
the son of Adam, except the remembrance of Allah and the commandment of the
good and the avoidance of the wrong, are not in favor, but against.”
Avoid laughing
with laughter because laughing with laughter kills the heart. If you can turn a
laugh into a smile, then do so.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 33)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Why is it
important to help a person's guidance?
Answer:
Guidance means
showing the right path and being on the path that Allah has pleased with. It
also means that Allah takes out every hardship from the human heart and gives
them comfort and breadth as well as complete ease in obeying His own commands and
prohibitions, and makes the consent of the servant subject to his own fulfilling
and fate.
It is not up to
anyone, including the Prophets, to guide a person.
It is only Allah
who guides. People are only a guide.
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said: “It is better for you that Allah gives guidance to a person
through you than anything upon which the sun rises and sets.” [Tabarani].
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said: “I swear by Allah that guidance of a single person by Allah
through you is better than to possess red camels and the most precious property
of the world.” [Bukhari, Muslim].
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 34)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you explain
the importance of being a relative and a neighbor?
Answer:
It is commanded in
the Qur’an that “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents
do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor
farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your
right hands possess.” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 36).
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said: “He who desires ample provisions and his life be prolonged,
should maintain good ties with his blood relations.” (Bukhari, Adab, 12).
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said: “Jibrail kept advising me to be good to neighbors until I
thought he would make them my heirs.” (Bukhari, Adab, 28; Muslim, Birr
140-141).
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 35)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Can you give an
example of good habits?
Can you give an
example of sins (what is forbidden in Islam)?
Answer:
Examples of good
habits:
Giving thanks to
Allah, being nice to your parents, protecting the rights of relatives and neighbors,
compassion and kindness, honesty, loyalty, generosity, patience, keeping
secrets, realizing that you are poor and weak, humility, sincerity (ikhlas),
faithfulness, caring, diligence, saying good, contemplation, love, respect,
piety (taqwa), sacrifice, etc.
Examples of harams
(sins):
Killing people,
illegitimate relation between man and woman, charging interest, lying,
hypocritical acts, injustice, oppressing, seizing the property of others,
extortion, stealing, gossiping and slandering, bad suspicion, going behind
things you don't know, investigating people's shame and defects, trying to
embarrass people, being engraved, being heartbreaking, envy, arrogance, hubris,
hypocrisy, cursing, teasing, anger, feeling grudge, stinginess, calling with
bad nicknames, deliberately not discharging debt, kicking goodness, laziness,
begging, wasting, etc.
Avoid all kinds of
sins and stay away them carefully!
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 36)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
What Is Islam's
Economic Model?
Answer:
Human being is a
worker in this factory of the universe, whose owner is Allah, and whose laws
and rules and all kinds of regulations have been laid down by Allah.
Since the Islamic
economic system has a content indexed to the hereafter, it has imposed
religious responsibility on the person and neither accepts cruel capitalism nor
imaginative socialism.
Of course, every
superstitious system can also have its true aspects. Islam does not reject the
right aspects of the systems it does not accept.
The negative
elements such as interest exploitation and deception which produce unfair
profit have clearly been eliminated in the Islamic economic system.
“Allah has
permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 275).
“O you who have
believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful]
business by mutual consent.” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 29).
Islam respects in
principle the right to private property and individual freedoms.
Allah Almighty
says in the Qur’an:
“And that there is
not for man except that [good] for which he strives.” (Surah An-Najm, Verse
39). For this reason, everyone will own what he produces and sell the goods he
owns at the market price, without engrossing.
Islam tries to
keep people away from wastefulness and miserly by putting them among immoral
acts and vilifying them.
One of the things
that is forbidden in the Islamic economy is to inflame customers.
In the Islamic
economy, the reason for tax is production, and the tax is taken from
production.
If economic life
does not adapt to the commands and obligations of religion, such economy will
not be healthy according to Islam. For example, in the Islamic economy, liquor
cannot be produced by Muslims because people find jobs, buy and sell, and earn.
There is no
contradiction between the principles of production, consumption, exchange,
circulation and tax in the Islamic economy, nor is there a mismatch between
this economy and religion, morality and law.
The subject is
very detailed and is too large to fit in these columns. For more detailed
information, it is useful to refer to the reference works written on this
subject.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 37)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Question:
Is Islam a
democracy?
What is the relationship
between Muslims and politics?
Answer:
Islam is a
superior and better form of government than democracy.
In a democracy,
everything that Allah has forbidden can be done because the majority wants it.
But Islam does not allow things that are openly unlawful (haram), such as
drinking alcohol, committing adultery, and charging interest.
According to
Islam, if a man is a liar, dishonest, and flawed, the judge in court will not
even accept him as a witness. However, this is not an obstacle to witness in a
democracy.
Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.)
was on the right path. Because he was with the right. The others worshipped
idols. If there were democracy in Islam, because of the numerical superiority
of so many people, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) had to be subordinated to them.
Let us not forget
that all wrong and perverse ways have a logic, reasoning style and philosophy;
they think themselves on the right path and find themselves justified. No one
admits his fault and misdemeanor.
It is Allah who
shows the truth to man and guides him to the right path.
That is to say,
all believers should seek the right and the truth, love and respect it, and pay
great attention to the fact that their every deed and word are true.
Muslims and
politics: Islam has,
without a doubt, various provisions, recommendations, orders and prohibitions
about politics, state, government, governing principles and administrators. As
it is the most common and the most complete religion, it does not neglect any
field and it is firm and perfect.
Is a Muslim
interested in politics? Of course, and absolutely, must be interested in
politics. Because Islam is the religion of society, it is dedicated to the
order, happiness, protection, benefit, development, progress and salvation of
individuals and the society they constitute. Where did that “not interested in
politics” nonsense come from? This mentality is evading the task, and the most
interesting part of the job is that it does not save the person from sin,
interrogation and responsibility in the sight of Allah. Especially if the bad
guys are chosen, then they will probably suffer a great deal of remorse.
The imperialists
either directly invade and exploit countries whose social structure is weak,
whose peoples are ignorant and unconscious, and who are lagging in science and
technology, or lead by using them to bring their supporters and agents to
power. if the patriotic sons of that nation acquire power, they immediately try
to eliminate them by coups, internal and external forces.
Surely you must
choose people who are honest, competent, idealistic, just, resourceful,
committed to the love of serving the people and the consciousness of servitude
to the right. If you choose people who are corrupt, profiteer, gangster,
organizer, cruel and ignorant, and heedless, then you will be complicit in all
the unjust and evil deeds they have done during their period of rule. And your
life and your hereafter will perish, and you will cause the perishing of your
country.
But if you choose
those who are good, then all that they have earned will come to you.
The Muslim will
not be separated from justice and righteousness in politics.
What is in Islam?
In Islam, there is
an order not to leave justice, even if it is against your parents and relatives.
Then those who
support the wrong are guilty!
“Sir, he's my
friend.”
You will tell the
truth though even if he is your friend or your enemy. You will say that this is
wrong when your friend makes a mistake, and you will say that this is right
when the enemy does it right.
This is how Islam
is. But the people of this era are not like that.
You will be right;
you will support the right.
It is not right to
support someone who has done the wrong job. It's not right to call the
oppressor “Sir.” It's not right to applaud the oppressor. It is a good deed to
say to the oppressor, “you are the oppressor.”
“The greatest part
of jihad is to speak the truth in the presence of a tyrant.”
If Muslims had the
moral values of Islam, the whole world would love Islam and become Muslims, and
there would be no such disgrace in Islamic countries.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 38)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
The importance of
“Consultation (Shura) and Congregation (Jamaah)” in Islam
Shura means
counseling or consultation and getting insight, that is to receive mutual
opinion.
It is the command
of the Qur'an to consult, and thus it is a worship.
Our Prophet (pbuh)
followed these orders and kept consultation on all matters.
Abu Hurairah
describes this aspect of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as follows: “I have
never seen anyone consulting with friends more than the Messenger of Allah
(pbuh).”
The Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) consulted his companions, took their ideas and acted accordingly before
the Battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq (Trench).
Groups that do not
understand coordination, cooperation, joint work, have not learned, have
entered into competition and conflict with each other cannot achieve success,
and they have no chance of success!
For this reason,
we will ensure coordination between Muslim groups, and we will have plans and programs.
If someone else is doing the good we want to do, we will prioritize his doing
so that we can engage in other businesses.
Establish “consultation
circles” everywhere, determine what and how to do with “consultation”, which is
the safest and most beautiful way!
Congregation does
not mean “crowd”, “but to get together for the right.”
When you're with
the right, even if there's one person, you're with the right, you're a
congregation. A hundred thousand people who are not with the right are in discord.
All over the
world, Muslims are suffering, oppressed and trampled.
The Islamic world suffered
great blows in the last few centuries. Muslims faltered under material,
spiritual and cultural oppression and atrocities, and had great sufferings.
Why is this so?
Even though their
ideals are so high, their ideologies are so vivid, robust and dynamic... Their
population is hundreds of millions, even a billion; their labor force, their knowledge
and technology; they have universities, factories, armies...
Even though they
live in the most beautiful climes of the world, in precious lands with virgin
riches and geopolitical value...
Even though they
have the lifeblood of technology, oil which is the blood of civilization, the
money power needed for financing, the agricultural facilities needed for
nutrition, and other enviable assets...
How is it that
Muslims are so aggrieved, so miserable, so poor, so defeated? It's incredible!
How difficult it is to reason, my Lord!
All these troubles
have one and only solution: The Alliance; i.e. getting together.
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 39)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
The Importance of
Veiling (Hijab) In Islam
In Islam, hijab is
not just a cover-up, it comprises all the situations and acts of men and women
in life.
The woman, with
her veil, gives the other person a sense of elegance and kindness.
As of creation,
there is a difference between the souls of men and women.
For this reason, the
shape of the hijab is differentiated between woman and man, for woman is attractive
from creation according to man.
There is an
invariant allegiance between men and women to each other for the continuation
of the generation.
Allah says in the
Qur’an:
“Tell the
believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts.
That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.” (Surah
An-Nur, Verse 30).
“And tell the
believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts
and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof
and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests.” (Surah An-Nur,
Verse 31).
In Verse 26 of
Surah Al-A'raf, the clothing of righteousness (taqwa) is mentioned and the real
meaning of veiling is given.
Taqwa means to
live by avoiding sin with the consciousness of responsibility towards Allah. As
it is clear from here, veiling is one of the tools for life with taqwa.
The kind, clean, and
decent servants who hold the order of the hijab of Allah and who do not show
even one strand of their hair to the unrelated!
I can't imagine
why and how an honest woman, a serious housewife, and a good family girl can be
spread out!
Allah forbid! They
offer all kinds of their intimate beauty to the evil gaze and scrutiny of
strangers! They do so and plunge themselves and those who look at them into the
bottomless abyss of sin.
Muslims think
about all their affairs in accordance with their religion and belief, do not
get stuck in imperfect and wrong habits and customs and always act with the
principle “İlahi anta maqsudi wa ridhaka matlubi (O Allah, You are my
destination and Your Pleasure is what I seek).” And we should seek His Pleasure
in clothing and dressing as well!
Basic Religious Knowledge (Lesson 40)
40 days 41 Times Mashaallah Lessons
Our aim:
Alhamdulillah we
are Muslims; the source of our aim is our faith. We know that this world is not
our home, but a place of trial. As we see that our lives pass by as fast as the
wind, we feel more strongly that we need to commit pure and intense righteous
deeds for our hereafter. We must do useful work for humanity without running
out of opportunity; we must serve our religion and our brothers in Islam by
using all our means.
It is the duty of
every Muslim to serve Islam, not just the teachers, the muftis, the preachers
and hafidhs (protector) of the Qur’an. Every believer should try to do as much
good work for Islam and Muslims as he can, in his own profession and at his own
level of education, knowledge, opportunities and acquis, and take some of this
heavy burden on him so that Islam may everlast, develop, spread and strengthen.
Therefore, every
believer should work for the word of Allah; spread, preach, and defend
religious truths; make Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy an al Munkar (enjoining what is
right and forbidding what is wrong); strive hard against enemies of Islam;
spend his wealth in the way of Allah; help Muslims from all sides, be troubled
by their troubles, and suffer from their griefs.
In our age, the
world is in rapid change and progress. As Muslims, we have to follow them and
keep up with the new developments by taking the necessary measures. It is
essential to live with honor. However, many people are not at this level. Our
people, even those who have to educate and guide them, are in need of help and
support in this respect.
The time has come,
and we have been on guard. We now have the duty to serve the religion of Allah
best on our shoulders. Time is the time of jihad in every way with wealth, life
and power. Thousands of Muslims in the world suffer great harm from the
heedlessness of the Ummah.
There is a great
interest in Islam all over the world and especially in the West. In this case,
as Muslims, we have a duty to represent Islam well, to recognize it, to promote
it, to spread it and to communicate it. Our duty is to help all humanity find
the truth and see the truth.
We, unfortunately,
do not have the organization and effort to promote and spread Islam around the
world, but others spend a lot of money and work hard to spread their
superstitious and perverse beliefs. Allah will ask us to account for this and
punish the neglectful. Everyone has to think about what to do about it and put
out the best he can.
You have always
worked for this world; now come and work for the hereafter, prepare for it, and
strive to win paradise, to attain the pleasure of Allah, and to see His glory!
It is against
humanity and Islam to lie side by side in the face of so many vital events and
to delve into the pleasures of the soul and the evil.
If we work, we can
save our century of depression, our soulless civilization, our crazy humanity
that is stunned. The prescription is in our hands.
Before it is too
late, devote all your acquis, wealth, knowledge and energy to Islam, and turn
to the help of this oppressed and victimized humanity!
Then you should
not forget your primary religious duty because of the agitation of livelihood,
future worries and worldly pastimes.
The first duty of
all of us as Muslims is to serve the religion of Islam with heart and soul.
Our national and
religious, spiritual and physical, material, individual and social, worldly and
otherworldly salvation and ascension are in Islam.
Sharpen your
resolve to serve Islam, increase your motivation and effort, renew your
strength and concentrate again! Imagine, you could die suddenly one day! Know
the value of a second of your beloved life and make good use of it, do not
waste it!
Our main goal in
this world life is to gain the pleasure of Allah Almighty.
References:
“Büyük İslam İlmihali (Great Islamic Catechism)”, Ömer Nasuhi Bilmen, Former
Head of Religious Affairs.
“Feyzü’l Furkan - Tefsirli Kur'an-ı Kerim Meali (Qur’an Translation with
Exegesis)”, Prof. Dr. Hasan Tahsin Feyizli.
Basic Religious Knowledge (End)
Question:
Can you give
examples from the verses of the Qur'an that we must keep in mind in order to
better understand the meaning of life?
Answer:
“And I did not
create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 56).
“[He] who created
death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the
Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.” (Surah Al-Mulk, Verse 2).
“Know that the
life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to
one another and competition in increase of wealth and children.” (Surah Al-Hadid, Verse 20).
“And whoever
desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and
he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Surah Ali-Imran, Verse 85).
“And never will
the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 120).
“Indeed, Allah
does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that
for whom He wills.” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 48).
“This is the Book
about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 2).
“Who believe in
the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 3).
“And seek help
through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly
submissive [to Allah].” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 45).
“O you who have
believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the
patient.” (Surah
Al-Baqarah, Verse 153).
“And do not say
about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead."
Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 154).
“O you who have
believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 12).
“O you who have
believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of
Allah that you say what you do not do.” (Surah As-Saf, Verses 2-3).
“Indeed, Allah
orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality
and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be
reminded.” (Surah An-Nahl,
Verse 90).
“And your Lord has
decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment.
Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so
much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” (Surah Al-Isra, Verse 23).
“And give full
measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is the best
[way] and best in result.” (Surah Al-Isra, Verse 35).
“Those who consume
interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is
being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is
[just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden
interest.” (Surah Al-Baqarah,
Verse 275).
“Satan only wants
to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and
to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not
desist?” (Surah Al-Ma’idah,
Verse 91).
“And that there is
not for man except that [good] for which he strives.” (Surah An-Najm, Verse 39).
“But those who believe
and do righteous deeds We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow,
wherein they abide forever.” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 57).
“So when you have
finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].” (Surah Al-Inshirah, Verse 7).
“And hold firmly
to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” (Surah Ali Imran, Verse 103).
“The believers are
only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when
His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord
they rely.” (Surah Al-Anfal,
Verse 2).
“And if whatever
trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by
seven [more] seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted.” (Surah Luqman, Verse 27).
“Every soul will
taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.” (Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 57).
“Or do you think
that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came
to those who passed on before you?” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 214).
“And indeed, you
are of a great moral character.” (Surah Al-Qalam, Verse 4).
“O you who have
believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 41).
“But no, by your
Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge
concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within
themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full,
willing] submission.” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 65).
“O mankind, indeed
We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that
you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah
is the most righteous of you.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 13).
“O you who have
believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people
and stones.” (Surah
At-Tahrim, Verse 6).
“Whoever does
righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer, We will surely
cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in
the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” (Surah An-Nahl, Verse 97).
“And whoever does
a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah
Forgiving and Merciful.” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 110).
“So I swear by the
Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able to replace them with
better than them; and We are not to be outdone. So leave them to converse
vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised” (Surah Al-Ma’arij, Verses 40
to 42).
“And let there be
[arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is
right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.” (Surah Ali Imran, Verse 104).
“And whoever
relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him.” (Surah At-Talaq, Verse 3).
“Unquestionably,
by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Surah Ar-R’ad, Verse 28).
Why they chose Islam?
Why they chose Islam?
1- Roger Garaudy, French Thinker, Secretary General of the
French Communist Party.
2- Yusuf Islam, Famous British Pop Singer Cat Stevens
3- Arnoud van Doorn, Anti-Islamic film-maker
4- Atheist Australian Ruben
5- British Catholic Priest
6- Anthony became Abdurraheem Green, Growing in the
Monastery.
7- Muhammad Ali, World Boxing Champion, Previous Name: Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
8- Omar Sharif, American famous actor.
9- Mike Tyson, youngest heavyweight boxing champion of the World.
10- Malcolm X
11- Camilla Leyland. Yoga Instructor, Peace Activist and Journalist
12- Nicolas Anelka
France's Star Footballer
13- Kareem Abduljabbar
An American retired professional basketball player who
played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA)
14- And many more. You can search it from the search engines.
Yorumlar
Yorum Gönder