Tawheed – Islamic Monotheism

This is the theme and essence of the entire Qur'an, the speech of Allah (SWT) was revealed from the seven heavens to come and give life to the earth to cleanse it and purify it from polytheism (shirk). In the heavens the vicegerents are ensuring that this is the status quo but where are the vicegerents who are implementing Allah’s laws on earth ridding it from the shackles of Shirk? Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said,

"The Angels are the witnesses of Allah’s Deen in the heavens and my Ummah are the witnesses of Allah’s Deen on the earth." [Sunan Nisai]

Recently the soldiers of Allah (SWT) i.e. hurricanes, rainstorms and floods have battered the coasts and shores of many countries, reminding us all of how weak man is. Here in the UK we have had a rainy Summer and many complain about the dark clouds, dull days and miserable weather. We may not see or appreciate the benefits of wet days and nights but ask the nomads in Africa or the Bedouins of the Middle East who implore Allah (SWT) to bestow His showers on them. This purification process brings about joy and happiness all because it gives vitality and sustenance to the soil, sand, plants, cattle and animals. That is why our beloved Messenger Muhammad (SAW) used an analogy of the benefits derived from water being poured over the desert akin to implementing the Shari'ah (way to the watering well) by saying Implementing one Hudood (Islamic penal code) on earth is worth more than forty decades (400 years) of rain to the people. [Abu Dawood]

Taghoot – Anything worshipped, obeyed, followed other than Allah (swt).

All the Prophets and Messengers of Allah (SWT) came to expel and eliminate the satanic systems they were under. Ibrahim (AS) confronted Nimrod, Musa (AS) challenged Pharoah and Muhammad (SAW) rose up against the parliament (Dar Al-Nadwa) of the Quraish. We need to follow these noble footsteps and brazen out these regimes and governments that carry the flags of these false deities. Let us make it very clear there is no administration on the face of this earth that fulfils the definition of being an Islamic state (Khilafah) let alone applying the Divine laws of Allah (SWT) in totality.

Umar (RA) said, "Taghoot is the Shaytan." [Fath Al-Bari]

In this majestic month the Shayateen (devils) are supposed to be chained up but these Satans carry out their tasks via the secular States and their stooges who love to promote genocide, democracy, individualism, nationalism and illegal wars. They play with the lives and emotions of the Ummah letting them vent their anger appealing to the likes of the United Nations, which in itself is prohibited. Once the anger has subsided people return to their old ways, thinking they have done a good deed by voicing their concerns to a higher authority. One manner of promoting a pacifist attitude towards these kufr regimes is the provision of tours/trips to historic and ancient sites, such as Masjid Al-Aqsa which will result in neglecting the duty of Jihad in Jerusalem. Going to Hajj on an annual basis will incline the individual towards the Saudi State, until they start praising them, and no longer will they want to stand up and speak a word of truth against the tyranny in the holy lands. Imam Ahmad (rh) gave some beautiful advice regarding prioritising your duties by saying,

"One of you says I will perform the pilgrimage. I will perform the pilgrimage. But he has already done so! Rather cement ties of kinship or give charity to someone in dire need or do some good for your neighbour." [Al-Kitab Al-Zuhud]

Such is the importance of maintaining your blood ties what about safeguarding the blood of the Ummah from being spilt? Are not Muslims in dire need? Investing your finances and energies in these charitable causes is truly more honourable and nobler. Oh youth of Islam don’t be of that ilk who have on their curriculum vitae’s 3 Hajj, 5 Umrah’s, own 2 houses, went to holiday in occupied Muslim lands, employed for 50 hours a week for the last 5 or 10 years, jetting off for business meetings from one continent to another and my hobby is going to the gym 5 times a week… the list is endless. Once Muhammad (saw) was making Tawaaf around the Ka’bah and he (SAW) looked to the Ka’bah and said,

"I know you have sanctity by the one in whose hands my soul is. By Allah, the sanctity of the believers is worth more than you (the Ka’bah) and all that surrounds it." [Mu’jamal Kabeer Tabarani]

This Ramadan a few of the Taghoot princes released some prisoners to show that they are generous and passionate about Islam and fasting.  They will give people a free copy of the Qur'an, permits to study or work in Islamic universities (which follow government curricula) and visas to go to Umrah all this is designed to fool the people into believing they are a good government but ultimately it keeps the people silent about the Munkar (evil) in those societies. Ithikaaf is one of those antidotes given to Muslims to make sure they remain pacified and occupied away from the affairs of the Muslims. We are not belittling this splendid Sunnah, but there is a time and place for all things, we need to prioritise our responsibilities what use is there in doing the recommended deeds and forgetting the obligations? Which Allah (SWT) gave us no choice over and can hold us to account for.

To give us an insight into sacrificing the recommended acts for the greater need we can refer to the narration of Ibn Abbas (RA) when he was in Ithikaaf in Masjid Al-Nabawi. One person came to him and asked him if he could assist him urgently, so Ibn Abbas (RA) broke his Ithikaaf (which is normally prohibited in Islam) to help the Muslim brother. The person reminded Ibn Abbas (ra) about what he had just done Ibn Abbas (RA) with tears filling his eyes said Muhammad (saw) taught me,

"To attend to the needs of a Muslim is better than performing Ithikaaf for ten years." [Mu’jamal Al-Awsat Tabarani]

And in another narration Muhammad (SAW) said,

"To look after the needs of your Muslim brother is better than performing Ithikaaf for two months in my mosque (the mosque of Madinah)." [Mustadrak of Imam Al-Hakim]

Does one really need to say anymore!

Tarawih – Recommended prayers in the month of Ramadan

Masajids all over the globe are overflowing with Muslims in the evenings listening to the Qur'an being recited in the Salah. Whether one should pray 8 or 20 units of prayer is the common theme of discussion especially amongst the youth. When we evaluate the authentic narrations of Muhammad (SAW) we find that Muhammad (SAW) prayed Tarawih in congregation with the companions on only three occasions and on the fourth evening he (SAW) did not join the Sahabah (RA). He (SAW) was asked of why he (saw) never attended on the fourth day and the response was that,

"I didn’t want my followers to think it was obligatory on them to perform these specific prayers."

The pertinent point here is that in a time of security, strength and solace due to the application of the Shari'ah the Apostle of Allah did not engage in the Tarawih prayers every single night. 

Today Muslim land is occupied and we are in a position of insecurity and weakness where the Shari'ah is absent from our societal lives and we solely focus on praying the Tarawih as if it is a divine pre-requisite condition for the one who fasts. Many Muslims are duped into believing that this is what Ramadan is all about i.e. abstaining from eating and drinking and prostrating at night.

The words ‘opium of the Muslims’ springs to mind, a drug induced into the Muslims to make them feel content and guilt free, energies that are channelled elsewhere at the expense of the burning and vital issues. What about enjoining the good and forbidding the evil publicly, shaking the thrones of the establishments and speaking about the oppression in Muslims lands? How about working for the establishment of the Khilafah, supporting the Jihad, liberating Muslim lands from the occupiers and invaders? What about releasing the Muslim prisoners and rejecting man-made authorities, presenting divine alternatives and solutions? We should be thinking of conquering the whole planet, not be selfishly introverted.

Muhammad (saw) said, "The (whole) earth was made for me (and my followers) as a Masjid." [Bukhari]

Tamhees – Severe testing from the enemy

"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, "We believe" and will not be tested". [EMQ 29:2]

This is the Sunnah of Allah (SWT), the Sunnah of confrontation, the clash between the Haq and the Baatil. Are we being severely tested and tried is the first point to consider? Or do we live a life of luxury and extravagance not interfering in other peoples businesses? The tree of Imaan is withstanding fierce winds and gale forces from all directions, the brown leaves fall off because they cannot take the pressure, they cave in to the demands and duties ordained by Allah (SWT) and sadly become heedless of the statement of Allah (SWT),

"Allah does not burden a soul no more than it can bare." [EMQ 2:286]

However, the green youthful leaves repel the barrage of attacks, remain strong by countering the forces attacking the Muslims, shielding the believers, defending them at all times, never compromising or mixing their priorities, never siding with the enemy, distinguishing their Naar from the polytheists.

Tasawwur - Vision

What is our agenda? When we wake up in the mornings what kind of vision do we have, when we meet and socialise with others what ideas do we exchange? In Ramadan shopping and eating are always high up on the list but do we ever stop to consider what our brothers are eating or drinking on the other side of the world? If our main thought of the day is food and Iftaar parties because it’s been a long laborious fast then contemplate the following narration, during a 3 year embargo and boycott on all the Muslims in Mecca Muhammad (saw) and Bilal (ra) lasted on the amount of food one can hold under their armpits for 30 days. [Tirmidhi]

Do we have long term goals or short term objectives? Do we live by our titles (Dr, BSc, Phd, Bed, Sheikh, Mufti) or live by our Islamic responsibilities?

Muhammad (saw) said, "If anyone’s intention is to seek the Hereafter, Allah will place his suffering in his heart and order his affairs and the world will come to him submissively; but if anyone’s intention is to seek worldly good, Allah will place poverty before him and disorder his affairs and only so much of it as has been ordained for him will come to him. [Sunan Tirmidhi]

In Makkah when the Muslims were a very small minority and were persecuted daily for their Da'wah they complained to Muhammad (SAW) who responded by saying,

"By Allah, this Deen (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveller from Sana (in Yemen) goes to Hadramaut (in Yemen) who will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty. [Bukhari]

Meaning Muslims will have the upper hand one day Inshaa 'Allah. Muslims will be in authority and power, we will be safe and secure and this prophecy was fulfilled and it will be fulfilled again Inshaa 'Allah.

Talab Al-Nussrah – Seeking the Power

"And say My Lord! Let my entry be good, and (likewise) my exit be good. And grant me from You an authority to help me (or a firm sign or a proof)." [EMQ 17:80]

When this verse was revealed in the 10th year of Prophethood Muhammad (SAW) was instructed specifically by Allah (SWT) to go and seek authority and leadership for Islam so that Islam would dominate the international arena.

The key pillar of the divine method to establish the Khilafah back on the face of this earth is to seek power from influential bodies who are going to sacrifice their lives for the Deen of Islam.

In the past this powerful department was the military personnel belonging to the tribes and clans scattered throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Muhammad (SAW) communicated with at least 70 tribes with this objective in mind and finally with the help of Allah (SWT) persuaded the tribes of Aws and Khazraj (later on became known as the Ansar (supporters)) to do the bloodless coup de tat in Madinah. So the entry in to Madinah and exit from Makkah was the birth of the Islamic State (Dar-ul-Islam). Today, the power lies in the hands of the apostate rulers and diseased armies, who are fighting and killing the Islamists.

The Islamists are the ones who are repelling these enemies of Islam either verbally, physically, or financially. It is our role and responsibility to persuade the high ranking officials (be they non diseased army personnel or the sincere Mujahideen) to handover the power to the Muslims for the dawn of a new era. 

"Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [EMQ 24:55]

Taqwa – To fear Allah (swt) exclusively

To conclude the purpose of fasting is to attain Taqwa and Imam Ali (ra) said,

"Taqwa is to implement the revelation. [Sunan Imam Darimi]

We may be fortunate enough to witness the signs of the 'Night of Power' or we may not, but the extra obligation in this month was to fast. Likewise the day and night of Islam as the global superpower may be witnessed in our lifetime or may not but the obligation is to work collectively towards this jewel and treasure i.e. the supremacy of the Shari'ah.

We finish with a couplet from one Salaf to another and a verse from the glorious Quran.

Abdullaah ibn Mubarak (RH) who was in Ribaat wrote to Fudail ibn Iyaad (RH) nicknamed the ardent worshipper of the Haramayn (because he was always in one of the two mosques Makkah or Madinah): 

"Oh the devotee of the two sacred places,

If you could see us (on duty),

You would know that you are merely playing with worship (like a child’s game)

If your cheeks are wet with tears (from worship)

We impregnate our spirit with blood (of worship)"

On reading this Fudail (rh) was in tears.

[Ibn Asakir]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Certainly, Allah has power over all things. [EMQ 2:20]

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