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Maft Bukhsh Barkhurdaria Trust

P.O. Box : 5882 Karachi,

Fax : (92-21) 7512774

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

ISLAM KIYA HAI?

Translated by
MOHAMMAD ASIF KIDWAI

Written by
Maulana Mohammad Manzoor Nomani

(Rehinatullah Alaih)

Allah Bukhsh Barkhurdaria Trust

P.O. Box No : 5882 Karachi, Pakistan.

Fax: (92-21) 7512774

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Cil^xJ 1

WHAT IS ISIAM?

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. The Holy Kalimah , 1 1

2. Salaah ...17

% Zakaah 31

f r *-? ((Vljll i« •iiiiiiiiniiiiiiiaiiiii*iii»EiiiEitiiH4l»tri^tM^ l MHTrii^rirrfi*iiaiii*iiiiJ /

.40

d. Piety (Taqwaa) 43

7 \ Honesty in Dealings .. .i*;i**,+.> ,..„ 49

K. Social Conduct and Mutual Relations 57

% Good Manners and Noble Qualities + , ,...., ,68

( 10. Love of Allah, die Prophet and the Faith ..^82

0) II. Preaching and Propagation , 85

12. Constancy . ...... .♦,„„..->..„ . ..., 91

13. Jihad 95

14. Martyrdom 98

1 5. Life After Death 101

16. Heaven and Hell

17. Zikr

109
116

18. Du'aa 126

19. Durood Shareef 130

20. Tauhah .....134

21. Epilogue..... ...142

22. Appendix 144

I Forty Prayers from the Holy Quraan and the
Traditions.

II Prayers for particular occasions.

§ www.e-iqra.com

^i-.

-uaJi

WHA T IS JSJL4M?

Preface

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST

BENEVOLENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL

Should it be possible for the Holy Prophet (SaUallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) to he sent down into the world once again by AHah
{Nuhhaanahu Wataaalaa) what would his reaction be on seeing the
conduct and behaviour and the general design of life of the community
thai exists today by the name of Muslim? And what advice and

command would he give to such of his followers who still possess in

Iheir hearts some solicitude for the faith and whose souls have not yet

O fro/,en to and get completely bereft of devotion and allegiance to
H Islam?

Without the least hesitation, 1 can say that he will feel extreme pain
T al Ihe spectacle of utter moral and spiritual degeneration in the bulk of
^ Muslims present these days, as much as he was by the brutal treatment
mclcd out to him by the people of Taif or by the savage assaults made
by I lie callous Poly the ists at Uliad. And his message to earnest concern
lor faith will be to dedicate themselves whole-heartedly to the task of
improving and reforming the lamentable religious state of his Urnmah
.iikI of breathing into it again the spirit of Faith and Islamic way of life.

So, if you find yourself in agreement with me and your heart
timeurs with what I have said above, you must resolve, here and now,
ittiri in all sincerity, to make this endeavour a part of your life. For my
pari, I am absolutely confident that it is the choicest way to earn the
pleasure of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the blessings of the
huphel (SaUallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and to make his soul happy.

Ily the grace of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) efforts of the
moral and religious revival of Muslims are being made on a fairly large
'a'ale in India and Pakistan and in several other countries, also in the

WHA T IS ISLAM?

form of a movement called Tabligh. Wherever you may be living you
can take pari in these efforts, according lo your means and
circum stances, alongwith odier earnest sons of Islam of your place and
also do what you can individually in this respect.

This small book which is now in your hands is a part of this
rmlr;iv<mi Is has been written specially to meet the needs of Muslim
UIV1I lllitt wumrn who do tu>t know much about Islam or who cannot
•I v HI I llimiiHrlvrN «i| mmv advanced bonks on it. They can read it
IhiMHNtrivM in Mil vi 1 H ivml mil in the in by t if hero and also communicate
iiii i iinlrniN in llltlll hiclliirii by ivmliiif, lilt* bunk publicly in mosques
Unci lit oibi'i Muslim runpj'cp.aiions, sine) flitis, do (heir bit towards their
own leli^iuns cunecliuu and reform as well as that of others,

[hough the book consists only of about two hundred pages,
(urdu version) the sum and substance of the Faith has been covered fully
in it. Within its twenty lessons all those teachings of the Holy Quraan
and the Traditions have been compressed by knowing which and by
acting on which a common man can not only become a good Muslim but
J. a perfect man of faith and a "friend" of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

also. Besides, it can be freely presented to those non-Muslims who may
be interested in knowing about Islam and its precepts.

The humble author could only produce the book which he has
done. Now, to make it serve the purpose, in a worth while manner, for
which it has been written depends solely on your choice and
cooperation. Had his financial resources perm i ted, the author would
have got it printed in millions and sent a copy of it, free of cost, lo
every educated Muslim in India, The conditions now prevailing in
India, particularly, cry out for it. But, from the beginning, it has been
ihc Will of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) thai those who cherish such
aspirations seldom have the means lo realise them and, without a doubt,
iIh'm- lies great wisdom of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) in it also.

IW il us may, it is beyond the power of the writer of this book to
hiii desire. Bui, if Muslims in whose hands the book may reach

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

decide, in their eagerness to propitiate Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
and give happiness to the soul of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallani) and to earn for themselves a bountiful reward in the
Hereafter, to make it available, or its contents, to as many of their
brethren as possible, the real aim of its writing and publication would
be fulfilled to a good extent.

As it has been indicated already, in the new context of things in
India the rcligous future of Muslims rests apparently on the sole
condition that every follower of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) here who is aware of the importance of the Faith and knows
what it means should make it a personal duty to strive for the Islamic
regeneration of the general body of Muslims and a missions of his life
lo carry the message of Faith and the teachings of Islam to each and
every member of his community.

Mohammad Manzoor Norn an i ■

(Rehmatullah Alaih)

1 ,ucknow.

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WHAT IS ISIJlM?

Introduction

llroihns! v I n i all will, perhaps, be aware that Islam is not the name
til iiiMi 1 tit i i iniiiiiitiil y so fhsit anyone who is born in it automatically
h<M iMnrtt a Mirilim wiilicml having U) do anything on his own part
nl font H, jiiNi us a I'hilil hot n in a Sheikh or a Syed family becomes a
Nhi-tMi 01 ji Sveil, m a mailer ol course, and I here is nothing it can do in
I his levari

Islam, on the other hand, is the name of that faith and that way of
life which was brought into the world from Allah (Subhaaftahu
Wata'aalaa) by His true and devoted Apostle, Prophet Mohammad
(SallaHahu Alaihc Wasallam), and is preserved to this day in its pristine
purity in the Holy Quraan and the Traditions. Thus, he alone can be
called a Muslim who accepts that faith and practices that way of life.

Those who arc ignorant of the teachings of Islam, or do not act upon
them are not genuine Muslims by any means. Wc, therefore, conclude,
that two things are necessary for anyone to be a true Muslim:

Firstly, to acquire a proper knowledge of the teachings of Islam,
or, at least, nf its basic and fundamental doctrines.

And, secondly, to believe in these teachings as true and to resolve
sincerely to live according to them.

This, in sum, is what Islam is. To acquire a knowledge of the
tenets of Islam, i.e., of its essential teachings is the first requisite of
being a Muslim. A Tradition of the Prophet (SallaHahu Alaihe
Wasallam) reads:

To acquire knowledge of the faith is the duty of all Muslims.**

It is necessary to bear permanently in the mind that to carry out

WHAT IS ISLAM?

what is described in religion as a duty is an act of worship in Tsiam. To

exert oneself for the sake of obtaining an adequate knowledge of the
faith, hence, is also an act of worship in which there is a bountiful
reward from Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). The Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) has proclaimed great merit in it, Take
these Traditions, for instance:

'*He who goes forth in search of religious knowledge engages
himself in the cause of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) until he

returns."

-Far him who goes out in search of religious knowledge Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) shall make easy the way to Heaven.

"Thirst for religious knowledge and the pursuit of it atones for
q one's previous sins."

cri

. -

Tn short, the cultivation of religious knowledge, i.e^, the
knowledge of the essential teachings of Islam is binding on all
Q) Muslims, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, male and female,

old and young. From the Traditions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) quoted above, we also learn that rich reward awaits us in the
Hereafter for the time spent and the pains taken for the sake of it Let
us all, now, make up our minds that we will strive earnestly to equip
ourselves with adequate knowledge of the faith and a proper
understanding of the basic doctrines of Islam.

For Muslims who, on account of their age or preoccupation,
cannot join a Muslim theological institution and take a regular course
of Islamic religious instruction, the best thing will be that, if they are
educated, they should develop the habit of reading reliable books on
Islam regularly, and, if they are not or only nominally literate, they
should have such books read out to them by others who can read and

understand. If the custom of reading religious books, individually or in
groups, can become common in Muslim homes, mosques and at their
other gatherings, the spread of religious knowledge to all classes and

WHAT IS ISLAM?

sections of the community will be greatly facilitated indeed

Hi is small book has been written solely to fulfil this purpose. All
I he necessary information regarding Islam and the teachings of the
sat red Prophet (Sallallahu Ataihe Wasallam) which a Muslim ought to
piis&r&G has been furnished in it in a simple language. Let us all learn

tlliW (iiiihs and precepts personally and impart them to others as well
mimI itmkr (I a mission <>l uur lives lo popularise them throughout the
world, A TlUililUHl ul the I'mphcl (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) says:

"If II pi'lNnn i^iipg^N himself ui Hit* pursuit of Islamic religious
klluwhnlne Willi Ihe nhjeet ill irviviiij," Ihc i'ailli through il (i.e., by
ihMiiiirhiijf, il Id Others mid bringing lliein round to acL on it) and he dies
in I he piniess, his place will he so very close to the Prophets in the
Ilerealier dial there will be only a difference of one degree between
£~ thcni and him, 1 *

■

May Allah (Subhaatiahu Wata'aalaa) grant us the great good

fortune of learning the precepts of Islam and teaching them to others,

As and of acting on them and endeavouring sincerely to persuade others to

do the same,

Lesson 1

ju-jJiij^

WHA T IS ISLAM?

The Holy Kalimah

THERE IS NO GOD (NO ONE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP AND

OBEDIENCE) BUT ALLAH (SUBHAANAHU WATA'AALAA)

AND MUHAMMAD (SALULLAHU A LAI HE WASALLAM)

IS HIS APOSTLE.

Brothers! This confession is the gateway to Islam, the arch-stone
of the faith. By affirming it and reciting it with sincerity and
conviction even a life- long heathen or a polytheist can become a
q Muslim, a man of faith, and earn his title to salvation. The condition,

Q however, is that he should have accepted conscientiously and with full

ft understanding of I he declaration of the Oneness of Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa) and the Apostleship of Prophet Mohammad (Sallallahu
Alaihc Wasallam) contained in it. Thus, any one who repeats the

(1) confession mechanically, without understanding it and without

knowing what the concepts of Divine Unity and Aposdeship and
Prophethood means, will not gain recognition in the sight of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) as a Muslim. It is therefore, necessary, to
study its meaning and implications carefully.

■

The First Part

^ ^ 4

The confession consists of two parts, The first part ^UiV§^\^
contains the affirmation of the Oneness of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa). It means that no one except Allah Almighty is worthy of
worship and obedience. Worship and obedience should be offered to
Him alone because He and no one else is our Lord and Creator,
Nourisher and Sustainer and the Dispenser of Life and Death. Sickness
and health, poverty and riches, in short, all manner of good and evil,
gain or loss, lies solely in His control. Apart from Him. whatever living
things exist on the earth, or in the heavens, be they men or angels, are
all His creatures and slaves. He is partnered by no one, no one has a

WHAT IS ISLAM?

share in His Divinity nor can any one amend or alter His Will, or
interfere with His affairs. Hence, He and He alone is worthy of
devotion and worship. He alone is the Supreme Being, the
Almighty, to whom all our prayers and supplications should be
addressed. He alone is the real Owner of the heavens and the earth,
the Monarch of al! monarchs, the Lord Sovereign. Ii is, therefore,
necessary that all His commands and injunctions are strictly obeyed
and faithfully carried out. As against His commands the commands
of no one should be heeded to no matter whether they are of our
parents or rulers or of the head of the community or a dear friend, or
the biddings of our own heart. In a nutshell, when once wc have
realized and confessed the truth that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
alone, and no one besides Him, is worthy of worship and obedience
our conduct* shouIcUiIso be in conformity with it, so much so that
q any one who sees us should know by our behaviour that we are the

O devoted servants of the Lord who carry out His commands dutifully

■

fl3 and live and die for His sake alone.

, Hmtlicis! This dSttjjj^'dil^ ' s l ' lc keystone of Islam and the

G) t list ami foremost item in the teachings of all the Prophets. Il occupies
the highcsl and lln* most important place in the religious scheme of
teachings. A famous Tradition of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) reads:

'There arc more than seventy departments' of the faith and among
them the most superior and exalted is belief in the Kalimah of £y|jK^

For this reason, among the Zikr* (specific phrase for
Remembrance of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) also il is the best.
Slates the Prophet:

"Of all the Zikr, the best and most excellent is that of J(U^ irfS
In another Tradition, it is related that once Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa) gave this reply to a question put to Him by Prophet

I. The word Zikr which occurs in (he original literan *neans a special phrase mcani for
recitations by the devoid for the remembrance of Allah - Translator.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Moses (Alaihis Salaam) ;

*'0 Moses! If the seven heavens and the seven earths and all
that is contained in them, are placed on one side of the balance
and rtlSjft^ on the other, the side on which ^§|3JlS is

!•-■ i*

placed, will turn out to be heavier.

Brothers! This unique virtue and excellence is due solely to the

fact that it contains the solemn affirmation of Divine Unity, the
assertion, the pledge and the declaration that we shall worship Him
alone and offer our homage and obeisance to no one apart from Him,
and shall make Him the sole pivot of our existence. It, indeed, is the
life-breath of Islam.

£} That is why, the Holy Prophet {Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallarn) has

O advised Muslims to refresh and to reinvigorate their faith by repeating

■

Cd the Kalimah frequently*

It is narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallarn) once
said, "O men! Keep on refreshing your faith". Upon this the
Companion enquired, "O Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallarn) of
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! How are we to do so?" The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallarn) replied, "By reciting the Kalimah
frequently."

The Kalimah of 4M)i30W holds the power to restore and

B *• &

revitalise the faith for the simple reason that it embodies the affirmation
of Divine Unity and the covenant to worship Him alone, to do
allegiance to none beside Him and to hold Him dearer $nd nearer to the

heart than anything or anybody else in the world. As we have satd
earlier, it is the essence, the sustaining principle of Islam. So, the more
we will utter it attentively, concentrating duly on what it stands for, the
more will our faith gain in vitality and our covenant in strength, and
our whole life will, InshaaAUah, get cast in the mould of JujisHaIO

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Th e Second Part

" "^ ™~ — ~ ~~ — — — ' ,1 . j, - J

The Second pari of the KaliiTiah consists of Mjj* JyJjSjf « In i i
the affirmation is made of the Divine Apostlcship of Prophet
Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam). Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is the Apostle of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wala'aalaa) means that he was raised up by the Almighty for the
guidance of the world and whatever he taught, preached or revealed
like the Divinity of the origin of the Holy Quraan, the existence of the
angels, the certainly of the Last Day, the Resurrection, the Judgement,
the award of hea%'en and hell according to one's deeds on the earth was
hundred per cent true and authentic. Indeed, the Apostieship of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) denotes nothing more and
nothing less than this that all the things he taught to the world, all the
truths he revealed to mankind, wcfc based on Divine inspiration, that
they were based on special and authoritative knowledge vouchsafe to
q him by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), and so they were absolutely
qj correct and beyond doubt. There is not the least excuse or the slightest
reason, for doubting or questioning his word. The guidance he gave to
( men* the laws he laid down, were Divine guidance and Divinee laws
Q) which had been inspired to him by the Almighty. You would have
realised that the acceptance of any one as a Divine Apostle
automatically implies that each and every precept and command of him
should be whole-heartedly believed in and obeyed, for Allah
(Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) raised up His Apostles in the world solely to
convey through them to mankind the commands and precepts He wants
to be followed. Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) says in the Holy Quraan.

-. ^^i *i <ixrte

We sent not an Apostle, but to be obeyed in accordance with the
Will of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata f aataa) (!V;G-64)

To believe in anyone as an Apostle and to accept him as such,
thus, means simply to hold every word of his as true, to regard his

teachings and guidance to be the teachings and guidance of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa), and to decide once for all, to lead one's life

Q±)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

according to the precepts he taught. So, if a person recites the Kali in ah
hut docs not, as a logical consequence of it, resolve firmly to hold all
the teachings of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) to be wholly
true and all that may run counter to them to be wholly false, and to
abide by his Shariah (holy law) and his commands Faithfully, he, of
course is not a man of faith and a Muslim. He, probably, has not even
understood what it means to be a Muslim.

It is obvious that once we have recited the Kalimah and accepted
the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallani) as the true Apostle of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). it becomes obligatory for us to believe in his
guidance, to adhere to his commands and to observe faithfully the
Shariah he brought.

A Covenant

(j From the meaning and interpretation of the Holy Kalimah given

fP? above, you will have realised that it is a covenant. It embodies the

pledge and the vow thai we believe in Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa)
as the One and Only Lord, Sovereign, Master and Creator, and regard
Q) everything that exists in this world and the Hereafter to be exclusively

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in His control, and that, since wc do so T we will worship Him alone and
carry out His commands the way a servant and a slave carries out the
commands of his master, and love Him and adore Him above all else,
and further, that we accept Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) ax the true Apostle of Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'nalaa), and
will abide by his guidance as a loyal follower, and fashion our lives
according to the holy law laid down by him. In fact, faith denotes
nothing except this pkl«e and covenant and this is precisely what the
affirmation of Divine Unity and Aposlleship means.

A Muslim should, therefore, hold himself bound by this covenant
and try his level best to shape his conduct in its light so that he may
cjirn recognition in the eyes of Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) as a
genuine man of faith and attain his salvation and place in the paradise.

Those who are blessed enough to bear faith honestly in both the

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

parti; of the holy Kalimah and to give proof of it by word as well as by

deed are the recipients of countless glad tidings like the one reproduced
below:

It is related by Hadhrat Anas that the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) once said to Hadhrat Mo'aaz, "Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) has declared as forbidden the fire of

the hell for him who affirms the Kalimah of ^^^'jj&V^vS
with a true heart"

Brothers! Affirm ^\l^^^^^0 with a true heart and with
a tull knowledge and awareness of its implications and importance and
resolve now and forever to lead your lives according to it in order that
your attestation may not turn out to be false. On this very attestation
depends your faith and your salvation.

■ ■

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fjisson 2

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Salaah

The first and mosi important duly in Islam after one has brought
faith in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and in Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and borne witness to Divine Oneness and
the Apostles hip of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is
Salaah (Prayers). It is a most special act of Divine worship which a
Muslim is called upon to perform five times a day. There are numerous
verses of the Holy Quraan and the Tradition of the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) enjoining the Salaah on us. It has been described as
the pillar and the foundation of the Islam.

Salaah, if it is offered with a sincere heart and proper devotion and
mental concentration, is particularly vested with the property of
cleansing the heart and reforming one's life and ridding it of sins and
A\ impurities. U generates love for piety and truth and promotes fear of

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) in man. Thus it is that Islam hag laid
greater emphasis on it than on all other religious obligations. When
anyone came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) to emhrace
Islam, the first promise the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe

Wasallam) took from him, after instructing him in Divine Oneness, was
that he will offer the Salaah regularly. In fine, after the Kalimah, Salaah
is the bedrock of Islam.

Traditions

We know from the Traditions that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) used to equate neglect of the Salaah with infidelity.
He denounced it as the way of the nonbelicvers. He would say that
those who did not offer the Salaah had no share in the faith.

A Tradition of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) reads,

WHATISISIAM?

What separates a believer from infidelity is simply the Salaah.

This Tradition clearly warns that if a Muslim will give up the
Salaah, he will gel associated with infidelity; his conduct will become
ihe conduct of an infidel. In another Tradion the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihc Wasallain) has said, "He has no share in Islam who docs not
offer the Salaah."

And here is another Tradition from which we can imagine what
a great act of virtue and felicity is it to offer the Salaah regularly
and how utterly fatal and ruinous is it to neglect it. Once while
urging upon the Muslims to be most particular about the Salaah, the
sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallain) h reported to have
observed:

^ "Whoever will offer the Salaah properly

anil regularly, it will be for him on the Last Day a
( source of light, a proof of his faith and a means Jo

CD salvation. (On the other hand) whoever will not

■

offer it carefully and regularly, it will be for him
neither a source of light, nor a proof of faith, nor a
means to salvation, and the end of such a person
will be with Qaaroon K, Fir aun 2 > Haamaan 3 and
Ubai-bin-KhalfV'

Brothers! Lei us now imagine what our end is going to be if we
failed to cultivate the habit of offering the Salaah correctly and
regularly.

I Koran, Translator

2. Pharaoh, Translator

3. Name or Pharaoh's Minister Translator

4. One of the bittern enemies of the holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) in
Makkah -Translator

afe^tM^teflUfc

WHAT IS ISLAM?

The Ignominy and Disgrace of the
Defaulters on the Last Day

. ■ ■ m n h— r ■ i ■ >m—* ■ ■ 1 1 ■ F ■ ' ' 1 ■ ■ n i l -^^ -m

The ignominy and disgrace the defaulters of Salaah will have to
suffer at the very outset on the Day of Judgement has been spoken of in
these words in the Holy Quraan:-

The day that the shin shall he laid hare, and they shall he
summoned to how in adoration, hut they shall not he able, their eyes

will be cast down, ignominy will cover them, seeing that they had been
summoned aforetime to bow in adoration while they were whole (and
O kid refused). XI : 42

(^ The verse tells that on the Last Day when the hour of judgement

will arrive (when all mystery will vanish and reality will be fully
manifested) and every man and woman born into the world from the

^ first day to the last will be raised up again and gathered together, Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will reveal Himself Lo them in full glory and
splendour. Everyone will then be called upon lo bow in adoration
before Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). The fortunate and the faithful
among them who had been regular in their Salaah in the world and
were, thus, accustomed to kneeling down before Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) will, at once, bow down in adoration, but those who in
spile of being healthy and strong had not observed the Salaah in their
lifetime will find that their backs had suddenly grown stiff like a board
and they will remain standing with the infidels, unable to bend down
and carry out the prostration. They will be covered with ignominy, their
eyes will be downcast, they will not be able even to look up. Before the
chastisement of hell, they will have to bear this chastisement of
humiliation and disgrace. May Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), by His

Grace, save us all from it!

In truth, a habitual defaulter of the Salaah is a sort of a rebel

WHA T IS ISLAM

against Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and deserves all the humiliation
and punishment that may be meted out to him. According to some
Jurisprudents of Islam, a Muslim who rejects the Salaah is liable to be
punished with death like an apostate.

Brothers! We must consider it thoroughly and well that without
the Salaah the claim to Islam is altogether meaningless. Salaah alone is
i he Islamic act that joins us with Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and

makes us deserving of His grace.

Blessings of Salaah

When a person stands before the Almighty with his arms folded,
five times a day, and celebrates His praises and kneels down before
Him and touches the ground with his forehead and makes earnest
^ supplications to Him, he becomes worthy of His love and beneficence,
Q his sins arc forgiven wiih every Salaah he offers, his heart attains
fK enlightenment and his life becomes pure. The Prophet (Sallallahu

Alaihe Wasallam) once gave an excellent example to illustrate this
truth. He asked his Companions, " Tell me, if a stream flows at the
Q) door of anyone of you and he takes a dip in it Five times a day. Will

■

there be left any grime on his body?" The Companions replied, u No,
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), No grime will be left on his
body 11 , The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) said, ,l It is exactly
the same with the five daily prayers. Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

removes all impurities and sins because of their auspiciousness."

Superiority of Cong re gation

II appears from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallamys Traditions
that Salaah should be offered in congregation if one wants to derive full
benefit from it. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) was so very
particular about it that once while condemning the conduct of those
who avoided coming to the mosque lo offer their prayers in
congregation due to laziness or indifference, he observed with anger
that he fell like burning down their homes.

This one Tradition is enough to show how repugnant it is to Allah

WHAT IS ISLAM?

(Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc
WasaHam) if anyone does not offer his prayers in congregation.
Another Tradition says r*

*The reward on offering the Salaah in congregation is twenty
seven times as much as on offering it alone. 1 '

Apart from ihe reward in the Hereafter, there are many other
advantages in offering up the Salaah in congregation. For instance,
one acquires the habit of punctuality by attending the mosque
regularly to offer his prayers in congregation 1 . It enables Muslim
brethren of the locality to assemble at one place five times every day
and ihis can be turned to great benefit. The practice of offering the
Salaah regularly in the mosque congregationally makes a man

O thoroughly regular in his prayers for it has been seen that those who

offer their prayers individually at home are often inclined to be

u_ neglectful Yet another notable advantage in offering the prayers in

congregation is that the Salaah of each participant becomes a part of

Q) the Salaah of the whole congregation in which, along with others,

there are also generally present some venerable and virtuous servants
of Allah {Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) whose Salaah are of a very high
order. Their Salaah finds acceptance with Allah (Subhaanahu
Wala'aalaa) and the expectation from His Benevolent Grace is that
when He will grant acceptance to the prayers of some members of
the congregation. He will, along with them, accept the prayers of the
rest of the congregation* too.

Now, imagine what rich rewards and blessing do we deprive
ourselves of when do not go to the mosque to offer our prayers irt
congregation without a valid excuse.

I It should he noted that the superiority of offering up the Salaah in congregation is
only for men, The Traditions say clearly that women earn greater reward on saying their
prayers a( home than in the mosque*

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Meekness and Humility

The offering up of the Salaah with meekness and humility means
thai, believing Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) lo be Omnipresent and
All-Seeing, ihe Salaah should be offered in such a way thai the heart is
filled with His love and stricken with awe by the thought of His
Greatness and Magnificence as if a criminal was standing in front of a
great judge or a mighty ruler. As a devotee stands up for Salaah, he
should visualise that he is standing in the presence oflhe Almighty that
he is standing out of reverence to Him. When he bows his head in
Ruku' ' or kneels down to perform the-* Sajdah 2 he should imagine thai
it was all being carried out in front of Allah (Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and
in expression of his own utter worthiessness and humility. Better still,
whatever is recited during Salaah, whether while standing or in Ruku' or
Sajdah, should be done with a proper understanding of its meaning. The
real joy and beauty of Salaah is experienced only when it is offered with
^ an intelligent appreciation of its contents. It is not, at all, difficult lo learn

(J the meaning of the Surahs 1 thai are generally recited in Salaah,

■

J^ The devotion of the heart and the sentiments of awe and humility,

indeed, are the very soul of the Salaah. The ultimate success and

J* deliverance of believers who offer up such a kind of Salaah is assured,

Declares the Holy Quraan >

(w*M0 °^U£$W^#2^v^ tat

The believers must (eventually) succeed, those who humble
themselves in their prayers. (XXIII- 1 1 )

Says the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe WasaHam), "Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) has made the five daily prayers obligatory. Whoever did
the Wudhu 4 properly and offered them up at the right time and carried
out the Ruku' and Sajdah as they ought to be, humbly and reverentially,

for him the promise of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is that he will be
pardoned; and whoever did not do so (i.e., did not offer his prayers in

1 . Bowing tow. - Translator

2. Prostration. - Translator

3. Chapters of ihe Holy Quraan.- Translator

4. Ablution performed before offering prayers -Translator

WHAT IS ISJAMT

ihis manner), for him there is no such promise. Allah (Subhaanahu
Wala'aalaa) will pardon or punish him as He will please,"

Method

When il is the time lor prayer, we should perform the Wudhu
thoroughly, believing that this washing and cleansing was necessary
before we presented ourselves before the Lord and worshipped Him.
The Almighty, in His benevolence, has invested the Wudhu with great
auspjcicRisness. The sins and transgressions of the parts of the body that
arc washed during it, arc forgiven because of il. The unholy effects of
sins are, so to speak, washed away by the water used in the Wudhu.
After the Wudhu, as we stand up for the Salaah, the predominant
thought in our minds should be that we, the sinning and defaulting
slaves, were going to stand before a Lord and Master from whom
nothing was concealed, who knew all about us, the hidden as well as
O Ihe manifest, and before whom we would have to appear on the Day of
*"? Judgement. We should then formulate precisely the intention to offer
fO the particular prayer and raising the hands upto our ears pronounce nol

only with the tongue but with our hearts, too, the following words.

TRANSCRimON: ,* * \

Allah-o-Akbar J^£>\a$i\

A llah is Great
After it, with anus folded across the middle of the abdoman just
beneath the umbilicus Nove and with a full awareness of die fact of our
presence before the Almighty we should recite :

Thanaa

Transcription:

Sub Haana Kal-laauvmma wa <\av\ i^^iiu-w
ttuiAMBikA Wa Tab a ah a Kasmuka Wa ^\$$Q$£Q\£jA*SiA
Ta'aalaa Jadduka Wa LaaIlaaua Ghairvk qQ^S.

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa)! With Thy glorification and Thy
praise; blessed is Thy name, great is Thy glory, and there is no God
except Thee.

•

ta ' a w wuz & ta smi ya h
Transcription:

A '0Q7JJ RlUAAH-hMENASH-SHAi-TAANfR RaJEEM

B ism il La At! i r Rahmaa Nir Raheem

WHA T IS ISLAM?

I seek refuge in Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) from the wicked
devil. I begin with the name of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the
Most Benevolent, the All-Merciful.

O
O

Transcription;

ALHAMDU . UL-LAAHt RABBIL

'Aaiameen, ar Rahmaa nir Raheem,

MAAUKt YAUMID BEEN, 1YYAAKA NA'BUDU
WA lYYA'AKA NAS-TA'EEN, fHDINAS S1R-
AATAl. MUSTAQEEM, SI R A ATA L f.AZ-
EENA AN'AMTA AtMtilM* GIIAIRIL MAGIh
MlOOht 'AlAiltlM. WA LADI1 DHAAL LEEN\

»<i *-**

uryaux?i

Aameen. (AL t>AA TU1 A tt)

(A^U>C

Praise be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aaIaa) T Lord of the worlds,
the Compassionate, the All-Merciful Owner of the Day of Judgement
Thee alone do we worship and to Thee alone do we beg for help. Guide
us to the straight path; the path of those whom Thou hast favoured; not
(the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
Aamecn!

Then some other Surah of the Holy Quraan, or a part thereof,
should be recited. Here wc give four brief Surahs along with their
translations.

Transcription:

Wal 'ash, in-nal ins a an a la fee
khusr f il-lal lazeena aamanu wa

'AMILUS SAALhHAATI WA T AW A ASA U Bit
HAQQt WA TAWAASAU BIS SABR.

(AL- 'ASR)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

"By the Time ! Lo, man is an a state of loss, except those who
belivc and do good deeds, and exhort one another to truth, and exhort

one another to patient prcscrvance.

Transcription : k * ^ rf ,

QUL HUWAl LAAHU A MAD, AL- *\^\ uti • Jo»\ Att)ynO±

LAAHUS-SAMAD, LAM VALID, WA LAM ^^^^J^^J^J}

YOOLAD. WA I AM YAKUL (AH DO KUFU WAN " ~ ft£+fl-

"Say: He is Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the One, Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the eternally be sought of all I He begclteth
not, nor was begotten* And there is none comparable unto Him !"

* «*•*

_ Transcription t f w * j - >

7\ QUL A'OOZU BE RABBI L FALAQ, MIN ^ * *^ ' V-^w**! J*

•-< 7

^ SHARRE MA KHALAQ, WA MIN SHARRE tf-U^O-*/ to^Li^

^- GHAAS1QIN IZAA WAQAB. WA MIN SHARRIN * * ' * ~ **

v ; *

NAFFAATHAAT-i-FIL QQAD, WA MIN SHARRE '* *> ' ' ^ J

CD HAASlDIN IZAA HASAD. (AL FALAQ) \$m*&\ Sl^U^jU/, j£)i

"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn from the mischief of
created things; from the mischief of darkness as it over-spreads; from
the mischief of those who practise secret arts; and from (he mischief of
the envious one as he practises envy."

QUL A'OOZU BE RABIN NAAS. ^^©Uft.^

MALIKIN NAAS, ILAAHINNAS, MIN SHARRIL •* .<- ** &g

WAS WAASIL KHANNAAS, AL LA7.EE YO WAS ^ # ^ -

WISO FI SUDOORIN NAAS t MINAL JINNAT-h ^b^^bili^^^^

WAN NAAS. (AN NAAS) (>^y*i^^\>;£3l

"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord and Chcrisher of mankind, the
King (or Ruler) of mankind, the God of mankind, from the mischief of

.■

WHAT fS ISLAM?

the sneaking whisperer, who withdraws (after his whisper), (the same)
who whispers into the hearts of mankind, among jinns and among

men."

Anyhow, after the Surah al-Faatihah some other Surah or the Holy
Quraan, or a part of it, is to be recited. This much of the Holy Quraan
must be recited during each rak'at of the Salaah. When the recitation
has been completed, with the thought of the Majesty and Glory of
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) embedded in our hearts, we should say
Allah-o-Akbar and perform the Ruku' by gripping our knees with our
hands and without bending the hands and the legs and pronounce 3, 5
or 7 times the phrase:

Transcription :

SlIBHAANA RARBIYAL 'A7EEM. k£fc^(55£>V^

O Glory be Id my Lord, ihc most Elevated

Cti

^j. While retiiing the above phrase in (he Ruku" we should also

— nuMliiak- on Ms inclining i.e. on the Glory and Magnificence of the

G) I .oid. Then ihc head be raised, from the Ruku" , saying ;

Transcript/on .-

SAMI *AL LAANU UMAN HAMIDAH, &£t^V* \f^

Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) has heard the servant who has
praised Him,

Transcription :

Rab banaa lakal Hamd

Our Lord ! Praise be to Thee

Then, again, we should say AHah-o-Akbar from the depth of our
hearts and prostrate ourselves before the Lord and perform two Sajdahs
simultaneously. There should be a little pa'ise while sitting between

WHAT IS ISLAM?

both the Sajdahs. The sitting position in Salaah is bonding the legs
behind. The right foot standing and left is flat, over which one sits.
Both the palms and finger are placed just above the knee cup. During
the Sajdah the under-mentioned phrase should be repeated 3, 5 or 7
times imagining inwardly that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is
present right there, seeing and hearing everything, and we were
addressing the words directly to him.

Transcription :

SUBHAANA RAB-BIYAL A f LAA cHbjcJ^

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

While reciting these words in the Sajdah, also, we should try
_ sincerely to call forth within ourselves the realisation of our abject
(j helplessness and humility and the Supreme Mighi and Magnificence of the
O* Lord. The deeper and stronger the realisation, the better and truer will be

the Salaah, for this sentiment constitutes the very life and soul of worship.

A\ This completes one rak'aL All the remaining rak'aats are to be

offered similarly except thai (Thanaa & Ta'awwuz) is recited only in
the first rak'at

When we sit during Salaah, or at the end or it t we recite Tushah-
hud.

Tra nscripton :

AlTAH/YAATU UlAAHl WAS SAtA WAATU t^Ji^\T<Wi^\^t

WAT TAYYEBAATU, AS SALAAM U 'ALAfKA tS^^Si^ * VA\\'

AYYUHAN NABEYYV WA RAHMATUL LAAHI **--* ->»
WA BARAKAATUHU. AS SALAAMU 'ALAfNAA

WA'ALAA 'iBAADILAAHIS SAAUHEEN, ASH*

HADU AL-LAA ILAAHA, IL-tAL-LAAHV WA C ^^^'^|^Li* , '>

ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU **n*^y^^&\x)fJi

WA RASOOLUH.

•'<iM£itefgtg\

WHAT IS ISLAM?

"The most blessed greetings, the purest and most sincere
inclinations unto Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). Peace be with thee,
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), as well as the mercy of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and His blessings. Peace be on us also, and
the pious servants of the Lord. I bear witness that there is no God but
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and I attest that Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) is His servant and Apostle."

If a Salaah consists of three or four rak'aats, when we sit after the
second rak'at only the above invocation is recited and at the end of the
last rak'at, the Durood Shareef and a prayer are also added to it. The
Durood Shareef is as fotlows:

Transcription :
Durood Shareef

O Al.LAAHUMMA SAL-Ll 'ALAA S^J j&Z 1^ T^Slt

*-* MUIIAMMAniN WA *ALAA-AAL~hMUHAMMADIN

■

CC KAMAA SAL- 1 Ar/'A 'AtAA

UiRAA-UEHMA WA, *AIAA AAL-S-IRRAA-HEEMA
T" tNNAKA HAMEED-DUM MAJEED

"O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Bless Muhammed (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) and his posterity as Thou hast blessed Abraham and
his posterity (or followers); Verily, Thou art the Praiseworthy, the
Majestic/ 1

Tra nscripton : &*< ^

ALAAHUMMA BAARIK 'ALAA
MOHAMMADfN KAMAA 8AARAK-TA f ALAA

I&RAAHEEMA WA f ALAA AAL-l-iBRAA-HEEMA

e#j£££^$to

1N-NAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED.

"O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Magnify Muhammaa
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and his posterity (or followers) as Thou
hast magnified Abraham and his posterity (or followers); Verily, Thou

art the Praiseworthy, the Majestic."

WHA T IS ISLA M?

Thrnugfi the Durood Shareef we invoke the favours and blessings
of the Lord on ihc Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and his family
and all those who bear a special association wilh him. It is, after all,
through the Prophei (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) that Lhc Divine boon
of Islam and Sataah has reached us, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
has, therefore, charged us with the duty of praying for him, his family
and his descendants at the end of each Salaah as an expression of our
gratitude to him. After the Durood Shareef, it is required of us to recite
the under-mentrond prayer for ourselves.

Transcription :
Du'aa

Al-laahumma in-nee /alamtu naf- L2£j£ &^<LJ&&p!$&

SEE ZULMAN kATHEERAN WA LAA YAGU- l ^i^t\*i^4jE?l£\*?i

FIRUZ ZUNOOBA tL-LAA ANTA t FAGHFlR
LEE MAGHFIRATAM MIN 'tNDlKA WARHAM-

rA NEE IN-MKA ANTAL GMFQORUR RAlfEEM. ~~ ' 1 ^'"//!

, "O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! I have done my soul a great

Q) harm and no one can forgive sins if not Thee so grant me

forgiveness wilh Thy pleasure and have pity on me. Thou arl Most
Forgiving, Most Merciful.**

With it the Salaah is brought to an end by turning the head, first to
the right and then to the left, and wishing everyone peace and blessings
of the Lord.

By means or this prayer we make an open confession of our sins
and misdeeds and beseech Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) for His
Mercy and Forgiveness, It is best for us always to consider ourselves
defaulters and transgressors and make an open-hearted admission of
our faults and lapses even after performing an act of worship of the
class of Salaah and to repose all our hopes in Divine Compassion and
Mercy. We must not allow pride or vanity to come near us because of
our devoulness or worshipfullness, for whatever we may do, we can
never hope to acquit ourselves fully of the duty of worshipping Allah

Wfl A T IS ISLAM?

(Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) and adoring Him and of rendring to Him
what is His due.

All that is necessary to know about Salaah has been described in
this lesson. Once again, we assert that Salaah is that elixir among the
various modes of worship which can transform a man into an angel in

the sphere of his deeds and morals, provided that it is offered wilh due
concentration and the feelings of reverence and humility. Brother!* We
just eanot afford to take lightly the significance, worth and value of
ihc Salaah.

So overpowering was the Porphet's anxiety for his followers 10

remain steadfast in the mailer of Salaah and offer it regularly and

unfailingly thai he took pains to exhort them about it even during the

last moments of his life when it had become extremely difficult for

O him to speak.
O

q$ Muslims who neglect the Salaah, and do nothing to establish it and

to keep it alive in their midst should imagine, for Ihc sake of Allah
t (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), how are they going to face the Prophet

Q) (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) on the Day of Reckoning; how are Ihey

going to look towards him, after disregarding so shemelessly his last
will and testament during their lives.

Let us all pray now in the words of Prophet Ibrahim (Alaihe
Salaam)

Transcription :

M^Tll^*- <^**l

RAH bi/aenee muqeem as-salaaat- AJ*^ £^<5**H C^>

i-WA M/N ZURRIYYATEE RAB-BANAA WA ^

TAQABBAL DU'AAE, RABBANAGHFIRLEE WA ^y5fe*V^**£"

■

LE WAAUDAYYA WA UL MOMINEENA YAUMA
YAQOOMUL HlSAAB*

Oh my Lord ! make me one who establishes regular prayer, and
also (raise such) among my offsprings; Oh my Lord! And accept Thou
my prayer. Oh our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and all Believers
on the Day that Reckoning will be established (XIV : 40-41)

WHAT IS ISIAM?

Lesson 3

Zakaah

Among the fundamental tenets of Islam, Zakaah occupies a place

m m

next in importance only lo belief and Salaah. As one would say, it is
the third pillar of Islam.

Zakaah means that a Muslim who is in possession of a certain
amount of wealth, or more, is required by his religion to spend one-
fortieth of it at the end of every twelve months on the poor, the needy
and the wayfarer, and on such other items of charily and other heads of
expenses as are prescribed 1 for it by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
£j and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam).

■

2 IMPORTANCE

At several places in the Holy Quraan, Zakaah has been enjoined
Q) on Muslims side by side wilh Salaah. While reading the Holy Quraan

you would have come across a number of times the command: "Be
steadfast in prayer: practise regular Zakaah." On several occasions it
has been spoken of by the Holy Quraan as a characteristic feature of

Muslims that, 'They establish prayer and give regular Zakaah." These

two verses go to show emphatically that those who do not offer Salaah
and fail lo pay the Zakaah are, in fact, not Muslims, for the two basic
attributes and distinguishing features of a genuine Muslim are not
present in them.

■

Anyway, habitual neglect of Salaah and failure to pay the Zakaah
are, according to the Holy Quraan , not the qualities of a Muslim but of
an atheist or a polylheist. About the Salaah we have a verse in Sura-h-
Room of the Holy Quraan which reads: -

I- Rules governing Zakaah can be round in books on Islamic Jurispnriienee or tun be
Learni directly from ihe Ulama.

WHAT IS ISIAAt?

Establish regular Salaah and *

be not ye among polytheists those who join \pj^yjS]\^y£fc)

gods with Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) (tftteCPV*

(XXX:3J)

And about the evasion of Zakaah being the attribute of polytheists
and infidels we have it in Sura-h-Fu&silat:

. .

And woe to polytheists those who join ^^O^IV*
god with Allah those who prac~
the not regular Zakaah, and
who even deny the Hereafter: {Vt$&*\Z&fo5^

(X LI .76-77)

O DREADFUL CHASTISEMENT

Cd The fate that awaits those who do not pay the ZakaaJi and the

punishment thai is going to he handed out to them in the Hereafter is so
dreadful that the mere thought of it is enough to make one's hairs stand
on end. For instance it is stated in Sura-h-Tauba:

And there are those who

bury gold and silver and spend &%*j& #£&**>'» 3i

it not m the way of Allah; *--—*« w «^_ ^ jf

announce unto them a most L^H**>f^>J> <-**?»>

grievous penalty-On the Day when ^^Jxi^M^^^^^

heat will be produced out

of that (wealth) in the Fire of Hell

and with it will be branded the ire

foreheads, their flanks and their

hacks. "This is the (treasure)

which ye buried for yourselves, (bt^&ipi&jj.

Taste ye the (treasures) ye
buried. "

(IX; 34-35)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

In one of his Traditions, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wasallam)
has explained in a little more detail the purport of this Surah. The
Tradition when translated into English reads:

"He who possesses gold or silver (i.c*. wealth) but does not
fulfill the obligations that are attached to the possessions of
wealth (i.e., dues not paid, e.g., Zakaah etc.) plates of fire will
be prepared for him on the Day of Judgement. These plates
will be heated further in the fire of hell and then his forehead
and sides and back will be branded with them. The plates will
be heated up again and again to brand him and this will
continue throughout the Day of Judgement which will be
equal to fifty thousand years in this world,"

Beside this, other horrible kinds of punishment are also mentioned
O in the Traditions. May Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) save us all from

■ them 1

UNJUST AND UNGRATEFUL

As People who have been blessed by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

with wealth and prosperity arc, indeed, a most unjust and ungrateful lot
if they do not pay the Zakaah and shirk from spending their riches in
His way as desired by Him. They richly deserve the punishment that is
going to be meted out to them on the Day of Recompense,

Again, what is generally not realised is that it is our own poor and
indigent brothers we serve when we pay the Zakaah or spend our
money on others acts of charity. By evading the Zakaah we- as such, do
a great wrong to our needy and helpless brethren and play foul with

their rights.

To think over it from another angle, whatever we have by way of

property or wealth has, after all, been granted to us by Allah and we are
His creatures and slaves. He commands full control and authority over
our lives. Were He to demand from us every bit of our property or our

■

life it self, our duly, even then, would lie in placing everything before
Him quietly and without demur. It is merely His Kindness and

WflA T IS ISLAM?

Benevolence thai He has called on us lo give away in Zakaah only one-
fortieth of the weakh He has bestowed on us.

Reward

Another extra-ordinary favour of the Lord is that He has placed an
enormous reward on Zakaah and oiher deeds of charity though
whatever we give away is only out ol" the possessions and the wealth
He has been pleased lo bestow on us. It would have been perfectly
reasonable and justified if there had been no promise of a reward from
Him on these things. If He is pleased with out conduct when we spend,
from the resources He has favoured us with, in Zakaah and in other
charitable activities, as ordained by Him, and has given the assurance
of a rich premium on such deeds of ours, il is solely due to His Infinite
Kindness #nd Mercy. Slates l he Holy Quraan.

O The parable of those who

~ spend (heir substance in the way &X^O*^3*^^

Cd of Allah is that of a grain of

corn; if groweth seven ears and
T each ear haih a hundred grains. - % . *

. A Skill gfveih manifold increase AU i>»4^^\*3U-i--»

to whom He pleaseth: for Allah &\jiu\j$^<l£JLj^
careth far all and lie knoweth

all things. Those who spend their ^^ A lT ^*-

suhstance in the cause of Allah S - ^ * *^EyQ

and follow not up their Rifts with j^l^iJIfoii!£^>A-%

reminders of their generosity or ^^ *5 ™J$& i**j&

with injury-their reward is with ^S^p^-u^^ 3c £4*3

their Lord; on them shall be no * ^7 -**%*<*£* -l*i'+

feci r n o r shall th ey g rt e ve. ^ Y- '

(U -26 1 -262)

In the above verse, three promises have been made on behalf of
Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) lo those who practise Zakaah and
spend their money in His way through other means:

WHAT1SISIAM?

One, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will repay them

iundred~fold in this world for what they spend;

Two, ihcy will be rewarded bounteously in the Hereafter;

Three, there will be for them neither fear nor grief on Ihc Day
of Judgement.

The holy Companions had the fullest faith in these promises.
When verses extolling the spiritual merit of expending in the path of

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and denoting what stupendous Divine
reward was on it were revealed to Ihc Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) and the Companions came to know of them from him they
were so deeply stirred that such of them as were poor and did not have
the means to give away somethings in charity left their homes and went
(j out rn search of work and carried heavy loads on their backs so that
^ they could earn some money to spend for the sake of Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).

i
Q) Wc will reproduce here just one Tradition of the Holy Prophet

(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) revealing the significance and the

outstanding worth and merit of Zakaah,

Stales the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam). "There are three
things whoever acquires them acq ires the real joy of faith; Firstly, to
worship Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and no one besides Him;
secondly, to believe sincerely in and, lastly, to pay the Zakaah
cheerfully on one's possessions every year/*

Worldly Advantatges :

Apart from the reward and recompense in the Hereafter, numerous
wordly advantages also accrue from practising the Zakaah regularly
and spending in other Divinely prescribed branches of charity, For
example, a Muslim who discharges these obligations properly
experiences a rare feeling of satisfaction and tranquillity in his heart*
the poor do not feel jealous of his wealth. On the other hand, they wish

WHAT /S ISLAM?

him well, pray for his welfare and look towards him with love and
admiration. The world holds him in high esteem everyone likes him
and feels drawn towards him sympathetically, and , Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) bestows prosperity on him and multiplies his wealth.

A Tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) reads:

"The mandate or Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is: "O
Son of Adam! Go on spending the wealth I have given thee
(on the poor, the needy and the destitute); I shall give thee

more.

And, another :

q "I can swear no one will become poor because of

^ expending in ihe way of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa}/ 1

—

May Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) endow us all with stanehest
Q) faith in the sayings of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and
grant us the great good fortune to act on them!

WHAT IS ISLAM?

f^esson 4

Saum

After Belief, Salaah and Zakaah, the most important duly in Islam

is Saum (fasting). The Holy Quraan says :

Oh Ye who believe! fasting is t f'£ \&j^i)X($ft

prescribed to you as it wax pre- ^K^^tV'-^k^'

scribed to those before you that it'*"' ^A'C^

ye may (learn) self-restraint. ■ ..^JS^j^dtk

(11:183) f*tt&f*

^ Fasting is obligatory for Muslims in the month of Ramadhaan.

Cti Failure to observe the fast on any day, without a valid reason, during

this month is a great sin. We have it on the authority of the Prophet
~ (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) that, "Anyone who does not, without

_■ illness or any other valid excuse keep fast on a single day during

Ramadhaan will not succeed in making amends Tor it even if he were to
keep fast daily throughout his life in atonement."

Recompense

During the fast, a Muslim abstains from eating and drinking and
denies himself the pleasures of legitimate carnal satisfaction solely as a
measure of worship, and sacrifices his legitimate biological needs and
urges exclusively for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), too, therefore, has placed a most
unique reward on it. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is

reported to have said :

"There is a fixed principle for rewarding all the good deeds of
men, and every good deed will be rewarded in accordance with it. But
the fast is an exception to this general principle. The standing will and

WHAT 1$ ISfAM?

pleasure of Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) is that since a man forgoes
food and drink and crushes down his passions utterly Tor His sake, He
will recompense him directly for it."

"All the previous sins of a person are forgiven who undertakes the
fasts of the month of Ramadhaan. with full faith and with the object of
propitiating Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and earning His reward/*

"There are two moments of special joy for a person who fasts: one
is when he breaks the fast and this he experiences here in his earthly
existence, the other will come in the Hereafter when he will be
presented before the Lord/ 1

"Saum is a shield against the fire of hell and a strung fortress

O (which will protect the heliever from infernal chastisement) "

^ *The fast itself will plead with Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) for

him who does fasting that he had gone without the day's meals and

(\s shunned the cravings of the flesh for its sake (so he may be forgiven

and rewarded to die full). Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) will accept

the intercession.

odour emanating from die mouth of a person who is fasting
(which is sometimes produced because of the empty stomach) is more
pleasant in the judgement of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) than* the
sweet smell of musk/*

Another outstanding feature of Saum, beside those given in the
Traditions quoted above, is that it lifts man above the level of beasts.
To eat and to drink at will and to copulate whenever the urge comes,
this is the way of the animals. On the other extreme, to be immuned
from hunger and thirst and the impulsions of sex, lo slay away
permanently from food and drink and cohabitation is the quality of
angles. When a person fasts he rises above the animal existence and
forges an affinity with angels.

WHA T IS ISLAM?

Special Benefit

Moreover. Saum, promotes picLy and righteousness in man. It
produces in him the ability lo control his physical desires, II leaches
him how lo subordinate his carnal appetites and longings of the heart lo
the will of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa}. It is, thus, most effective in
I he discipline and evolution of the soul.

But these benefits can be derived only when a person
conscientiously strives for them and pays due respect, while he is
fasting, to the instructions laid down by the Prophet (Sallallnhu Alaihc
Wasalfam) in this connection. It is most necessary to leave strictly
alone not only food and drink but also all the major and minor sins. He
must neither quarrel nor utter a lie nor engage himself in slander and

■

backbiting. In brief, he should scrupulously avoid all sinful deeds,
Q apparent as well as hidden, as is demanded of him in the Traditions.

O Some of the relevant Traditions are :

"When any o( you keeps a fast he should not speak an indecent or

filthy word or engage in a noisy scene, and were anyone to quarrel with
Q) him and call him names he should simple say, "I am keeping fast

(therefore, I can not pay you back in the same com)/ 1

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) has no need for him to go without
food and drink who cannot shun evil and falsehood even during a fast/*

. L

Many are there among you who fast and yet gain nothing from it

. L I ,t,* *>

cxcepL hunger and thirst

In sum, fasts can lead to the promotion of the virtues of piety and
righteousness and impart the moral strength needed to control and
discipline the sensual appetites when, together with abstention from
food and drink, all the major and minor transgressions of the law of
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) are also zealously avoided while
fasting, more specially the use of foul and filthy language, falsehood,

slander and backbiting. If lasts are observed in the right spirit and with
proper care and solicitude, the benefits indicated above can
undoubtedly, be obtained from them.

Lesson 5

Hajj

WHAT IS Kt AM?

The last of the fundamental duties in Islam is the Hajj. Laying it
down as an essential religious obligation of Muslims, the Holy Quraan
says :

Pilgrimage thereto is a duty. %Z ^T \ftl>L&"

men owe to Allah, on those who can ^-" ^ c ^^ / r ^

afford the journey, but if any one *>i^^)£*k^?

denies faith, Allah stands not in c^^^^J^cK 1

need of any of Nis creatures. * \+ t«i>*J

(111:97) ^ *

O
. In this verse while the Hajj has been declared obligatory it has

£u been made clear that it is applicable only la those who possess the

means and material resources to undertake it. But care has been taken,

in the last part of it, to warn that if Muslims whom Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa) has blessed with the necessary material means to perform

the pilgrimage still fail to carry out the duty through sheer ingratitude

(as is common among the wealthy classes these days) then Allah

■

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) does not stand in need of their pilgrimage.
The Almighty, definitely, is not going to lose anything by their not
performing Ihe Hajj, the loss will entirely to them. They will forfeit His
good graces, they will deprive themselves of His benevolence, and
Allah- forbid, a most lamentable fate will be waiting for them in the
Hereafter. The Prophet (Sailallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is reported to
have gone as far as to say :

"A person whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) has given
enough to perform the Hajj, if he still fails to do so then it does not
matter at all whether he dies as a Jew or a Christian/*

Brothers! If there is any regard in our hearts for Islam, if we can
hoasl of the least attachment to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the

WHA T IS ISLAM?

Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) none of us who can afford to
make the journey should remain without performing the Hajj after we
have known this Tradition.

Spiritual Merit

The importance of the Hajj and the spiritual meritoriousness of
those who perform it have been emphasised in a number of Traditions,
Wc will reproduce a few of them hero.

"Those who make the pilgrimage for the Hajj or the 'Umrah they
are the guests of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa): their petitions, if ihcy
make any to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), will be granted, and if
Ihcy seek deliverance from sins, their sins will be forgiven."

O "He who performs the Hajj and commits no wicked or sinful deed

H during it and does not disobey Allah {Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), he will

£0 return from it as pure and guiltless as he was at the lime of his birth."

'The reward .for a pure and untainted Hajj is paradise itself and
nothing short of it/'

Immediate Gains

The remission of sins and the enjoyment of the supreme
blissfulncss of paradise as a result of the spiritual auspieiousness of the
Hajj will, Inshaa Allah, surely be granted to the faithful in full measure
in life to come, but the exquisite thrill and the sublime joy one
experiences, the soul-strirring sensation of delight and wonderment one
feels, on seeing that choicest seat of Divine splendour - the House of
Ka'bah and on visiting those special places in Makkah where the

"— mm.

memories of Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) are still alive, are
also things of the celestial world on the earth. Then the pilgrimage to
the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) mausoleum at Madinah, the
offering up of Salaah in his own mosque, the addressing of the
salutation and the benedication lo him directly, ihe aimless wanderings
in ihe streets and the wilderness of the blessed city, ihe breathing in of
its air and the fragrance which always seems to be filling its

1 IS ISLAM?

atmosphere, the ethereal joy of his remembrance bursting upon one
sometimes in laughter and sometimes in tears; - all these things -
provided, of coruse, that one is blessed enough Lo feel then - arc the
immediate rewards a pilgrim gets when he betakes himself to the holy
cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Five Pillars of Islam

The live fundamental teachings of Islam we have discussed so far,
the Kalimah, Salaah, Zakaah, Saum and Hajj. are known as die 'Five
Pillars o( Islam 1 .

A well-known Tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe

Wasallam) tells us that. The foundation of Islam rests on ihcse five
things; (i) the affirmation of fi\b*y*ffii^\ft& (ii) the establishment
of Salaah (iii) the payment of Zakaah (iv) the observance of Saum in

O the month of Ramadhaan and (v) the performance of Hajj by those who

Cd can afford to make the pilgrim age."

When these five items arc spoken of as the Pillars of Islam, it
™ means thai these are the fundamental duties of the faith. If carried out

properly these duties are capable of producing in us the ability to fulfil
our other religious obligations as well, Here we have dwelt only on
their importance and the intrinsic spiritual virtue that underlies them,
Detailed rules and principles governing them can be learnt from
reliable hooks on Islamic Jurisprudence or directly from a Muslim
theologian.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

l^esson 6

Taqwaa

••

Taqwaa (piely) forms part of the basic essentials of Islam. It
means to observe the Divine commandments conscientiously and
scrupulously and to avoid all forbidden, wicked and shameful things,
helieving wholly and firmly in the Great Requital of the Last Day and
fearing Allah (Subhaanahu Wata r aa1aa) and His wrath and punishment.
In other words, it demands of us, on the ovar- hand, to carry out,
thoroughly and well, the duties prescribed by the Almighty and to fulfil
zealously the rights of men who have a claim on us according to the
Divine law, and, on the other, to refrain strictly from doing anything

O that has been prohibited by Him + It calls on us to make the fear of Allah

- (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) our constant companion. Both in the Holy

£~ Quraan and the Traditions a very great emphasis has been laid on

Taqwaa and righteousness and it has been urged on us most forcefully

J. and persistently to cultivate it in ourselves. Some of the relevant verses

or ihc Holy Quraan are:

O ye who believe! fear Allah a&H&SjM

as He should he feared and die ^^sPjp^Sf^^

not except in a state of Islam. ^t^^$J>&£&0i

(III- 102)

So fear Allah as much as you ^Kj^iiU^l^a

an: listen and obey.

(LXIV.16)

O ye who believe t fear Allah
and lei every soul look to what
{provisions) he has sent forth for
the morrow. And fear Allah; for

Allah is well-acquainted with /r&^li»o.P*^Y£}

( all) that ye do.

(UK: 1 8)

m^m^m

* X

WHAT IS ISLAM?

The Quraanic verses, further, reveal that there is a great favour of
the Lord even in this world on those who fear Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and practise Taqwaa and righteousness. Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) shows special munificence to them and makes His help
available to them in thousand ways:

\ <£

And for those who fear Allah ^ ^ . «^

He (ever) prepares a way out £*** 4m^4&*%

and He provides for him from mm ~* --*■- ^

(sources) he never could imagine, Q^ J'

(XLV:2-3)

The Holy Quraan also tells that those who lead a life of Taqwaa

and righteousness become the Friends of Allah (Subhaanahu

O Wata'aalaa), and, then, for them there is neither fear nor shall they ever

$J&\$M$\

grieve.

cri

Behold! verity on the CNaftf ^

i Friends of Allah there is no fear ^^ ***>, ^ ^

nor shall they grieve, those who • ^p ^^l^^^fT^

believe and (constantly) guard •^^'£^U^>ii£i)l

against evil; for them are Clad ^^3^^<iMii

Tidings in the life of the world fcM$>J^W&?

and the Hereafter,

(X-62-64)

Some of the wonderful boons and blessings thai await the pious
and the righteous in the Hereafter have been revealed briefly in the
following verses:

Say: shall / give you glad tid-
ings of things far better than ^><lS^f^lfe^
those? for the righteous are £&£fci?*cr«ta'^£i<''{*\t
Gardens in nearness to their
Lord, with rivers flowing
beneath; therein is their eternal

WHAT tS ISLAM?

home with Companions (pure >->v. /. ^ ^

««*/ ftalyj flwrf r/?<? #£>0^ pleasure 6>^3i?V^tbJbMf|

*/ a//<ia. F*r in a/am «*«* .j{M5waijftlfi5

arc (a//) His se wants* ^'C y 7^\

f///:/5) sJtu^My

And verity, for the Righteous
is a beautiful place of (Final}
Return. Gardens of Eternity *£5fa^oi3*

whose doors will ever he opened /^^ -"*<■«/? \*><W

to them; therein will they recline ^i^^j^K^r^^^ 3

(at ease); therein can they call .,_ ^ w #

fa/ pleasure) for fruit in ahun- oiuV^lllAPjI

dance and (delecious) drink; ,X>^« "'^K^

artrf fr£Sf£/i? titan wj7/ ft* cAfli7e i^Xt-JiUli*

q women restraining their glances uLat-A*

^J (companions) of equal age*

Such is the promise made

for the Day of Account!
Q) Truly, such will be Our Bounty

(to you) It will never fail.

(XXXVlll.49-54)

In ihe Holy Quraan* again men of Taqwaa are given the very
special tidings of place of exceptional nearness to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) in the Hereafter ;

As to the Righteous they will
c in the midst of Gardens and
Rivers in an Assembly fa Truth
in the presence of a Sovereign
Omnipotent.

(LIV: 54-55)

The sole criterion of honour and superiority with Allah
(Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa) ss Taqwaa.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

o
c6

Verily the most honoured of
you in the sight of Allah is (he
who is) the most righteous of
you.

(XUX ; 13)

Similarly, it has been declared by the Holy Prophet {Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) in one of his Traditions that :

"Nearest and dearest to mc are ihose who possesses the. virtue or
Taqwaa (no matter what race or nationality they belong to or which
country they live in)/'

Taqwaa (i.e. fear of Allah Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa and a over-
powering anxiety for the Hereafter) is the root of all virtue. It is the
measure of all goodness. We will be as good and noble and as free
from what is bane and corrupt as there is Taqwaa in us.

Some other Traditions oF Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)

arc :

"A holy Companion once said to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallnm). O Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)! I have heard so
many of your valuable sayings that I fear I may not be able lo
remember them all. So I request you for a comprehensive advice which
may suffice forme always. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)
replied, **Fear Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) in proportion to your
knowledge and make that fear and Taqwaa the guiding principles of
your life."

"He who has fear will set out early and he who will set out early
will reach the destination in time,"

fortunate and the successful, indeed, are those who fear
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and prepare for the life to come."

WHATISISIAM?

O
O

"Even a single tear shed out of fear of Allah (Suhhaanahu
Waia'aalaa) and of His anger and punishmenrcarries a great value in
eyes."

■ 'There are two drops, " says the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam)* "and two marks than which nothing is more precious to

Allah (Suhhaanahu Waia'aalaa). Of ihe two drops so exceedingly dear
lo Him, one is the lear thai may have fallen from the eyes of anyone out
of His fear, and the other is the drop of blood thai is shed in His path.
Similarly, of the two marks one is ihe mark sustained in the path of
Allah (Suhhaanahu Waia'aalaa) (i.e. the sear left behind by a wound
sustained in Jihad), and the other is the mark which may have
developed as a result of the carrying out of a religious obligation (as for
example, the marks one often sees on the forehead and kness of those
who offer the Salaah regularly)."

We will lake up one more Tradition of the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam). It says ;

qj "Never can he go to hell who weeps in the fear of Allah

(Suhhaanahu Waia'aalaa)/ ■

The sum and ful substance of Ihe entire discussion is that it is
great, indeed, to he blessed with true fear of Allah (Suhhaanahu
Waia'aalaa) and a genuine solicitude for the Hereafter. It can literally
revolutionise one's whole existence-

Brothers! Know it thoroughly and well that one who is Allah -
fearing in this transitory world will have absolutely nothing lo worry in
the Hereafter. He will have neither fear nor anxiety. He will dwell m
eternal peace, comfort and happiness by the Grace of Allah
(Suhhaanahu Waia'aalaa). On the contrary, he who is not Allah -
fearing and shows no concern for After-life and refuses to look beyond
the pleasures of material existence for him, There will be terrible
anguish and distress in the life to come. For thousands of years he will
be shedding tears of blood.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

o
c6

The surest way to develop Taqwaa, i.e. Allah - fearingness and
solicitude for the Hereafter is to avail oneself of the company of the
devout servants of the Lord who fear Him and obey His commands
honestly. Then there are good and reliable religious books which

should be read regularly, and, if a person is illiterate, he should have

them read out to him by others. Lastly, it is advisable lo meditate in

solitude on death and on the rewards one is going to get from Allah

(Subhaanahu Wala'aalan) for one's good and virtuous deeds and the

punishment that is going to be awarded by Him for one's sins and

transgressions against the Divine Law. One should dwel mentally on

one's state and visualise what is going to happen in the grave. What

will one's condition be when men will be raised up again on the Last

v
Day and produced before Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)? What will

one do when the balance-sheet of one's conduct on the earth will be

unrolled? Where will one, then hide one's face?

WHA T IS IS1AM?

Lesson 7

Fairness and Honesty

in Dealings

Uprightness and honesty in dealings with people forms a vital part
of the fundamental teachings of Islam.

■

The Holy Quraan as well as the Traditions of the Prophet
(Sallallahii Alaihe Wasallam) arc emphatic that a true Muslim is he

~ who is honest and upright in his business and other formal dealings and

affairs, keeps his word and fulfils his promises, shuns fraud and avoids
deceit and perfidy, encroaches not upon the rights of others nor takes
pari in wrongful litigation, does not give false evidence, and abstains

As from making dishonest money as from usury and graft. Whoever is not

free from these vices is, according to the Holy Quraan and the
Traditions, not a true helievcr but a renegade and a worthless

ssor.

Wc now proceed to examine some of the relevant Quraan ic verses
and Traditions. A short verse of the Holy ^nraan says ,

O ye who believe I Eat not up

each other's property by unfair \\a+\\ ffSgaaKSri

and dishonest means, *" ' " ""

(IV: 29}

[to t&^)

The verse forbids Muslims against all unclean and corrupt means
of making money, such as, dishonest trading, embezzlement, gambling,
speculation and bribery. Then there are verses in which these hateful

ces are dealt with one by one. For instance, a severe warning is

WHAT IS ISLAM?

given in the following verse to traders who cheat in wejghmcni ;

Woe to those that deal in
fraud, those who, when they
have to receive by measure from
men, (take) exact full measure, hut
when they have to give by mea-
sure or weight to men, give less
than due. Do they not think that
(hey will he called to account on
a Mighty Day when (all)
mankind will stand before the
Lord of the Worlds.

9*\

3&^ai^#&i

^£jj'S\&M\%

J M**L

f\ tv$t>u) fei_5Jj\

(LXXXIH: 1-6)

In the same way, the under-mentioned verse exhorts Muslims to be

_; very particular about their trusts and about other people's rights.

Allah doth command you to
render back your trusts to those

to whom they are due.

(IV : 58)

At two places in the Holy Quraan a cheif distinguishing feature of
Muslims is said to be that they are :

Those who faithfully observe
their trusts and their covenants

(XXIII : 8)

tf£0\j

Qfc !**&».;

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) used often to say in his
sermons :

"Remember, there is no faith in him who is not trustworthy, there
is no place for him in religion who cares not for his pledged word or
promise. 1 '

WUA T IS ISLAM?

o
c6

Another Tradition says : "The signs of a hypocrite are three: when
he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he fails; and when he is trusted,
he plays fa

Condemning those who cheat in business the sacred Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) has said, "He who cheats is not of us.
Deceitful ness and fraud are things that lead one to Hell."

The Prophet (Sa)tallahu Alaihe Wasallam) of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) once came upon a heap of corn in the market of Madinah
and thrust his hand into it. His lingers felt damp. On being asked, the
trader replied that rain had fallen upon it. The Prophet (Sallallahu

Alaihe Wasallam) observed, "Why did you not then keep (the wet
portion of) it above the dry corn, so that men may see it? He, who
deceives, is not one of us."

Thus, traders who deceive by showing to customers a false sample
or by concealing from them the defects of the article they offer for sale
arc not true Muslims in the judgement of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
^ Alaihe Wasallam) and, Allah - forbid, they are going to end up in Hell.

Another Tradition says :

"The seller must explain to the buyer the defects, if any, in the
quality of the article offered for sale. Should this not be done, the seller
will permanently be caught in the wrath of Allah fSubhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) according to another narrator the exact words are, "he will
always be cursed by the angels."

In short, all manner of deceit and dishonesty in business is

prohibited in Islam. It has been proclaimed to be an act worthy of

unqualified condemnation. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe

Wasallam) has expressed his strong dislike for those who do so. He

has said that he will have nothing to do with them; they do not belong
to him.

Likewise, bribery and usury, although they might be practised by

Wm T IS ISLAM?

mutual consent and agreement, are totally disallowed to Muslims and

those who are guilty of them have been condemned squarely in the
Traditions. A well-known Tradition on usury reads :

"The curse of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) rests on him who
offers loan on usurious terms, and on him who receives, and on those
who are witnesses to the transaction, and on the writer who writes the
deed thereof."

As for bribery, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallani) has said,
in a Tradition, ''condemned alike the giver of bribes and the taker of
bribes in deciding cases."

A Tradition goes even to the extent of saying that, "IF a person
O made a recommendation for anyone in a just matter and the gratified

O party gave him something as a gift (in return for it) and he accepted it
Cd then he committed a grave error (meaning thai it, too, is a form of

^ —

brihery),"

~ m Worse still is the usurpation of another's properly by force or fraud

or dishonest litigation. We have it on the authority of the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) thai :

"Whoever occupies land belonging to another unjustly, will be
sunk into the ground along with that plot of land on the Doomsday till
he reaches the lowest layer of ihe earth."*

"He who acquires the property of a Muslim unjustly by taking a false
oath (before an officer)* is debarred by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
from entering paradise and the Fire of Hell is made inevitable for him".
On hearing it a Companion is reported to have asked, "Even if it be a

minor lliing?" The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is said to have
repIiecl/'Yes, even if ii be a twig of pile*' (a plant which grows wild. Its
twigs are used for cleaning the lecth Le, miswaak).

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), again, is reported to

WHAT IS ISIjIM?

have warned a person who was very fond of entering into litigation
with others in these strong words, "Remember, he who will obtain the
property of another by swearing a false oath will appear as a leper
before Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) (on the Day of Judgement)."

In another tradition, Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) said,

"Whoever laid his claim on a thing that was not his, is not of us
He should reserve a place for himself in the Hell.' 1

It is narrated thai one day, after the morning prayers the Holy
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) stood up and said thrice with
great feeling that, "Perjury has been made the equivalent of
polytheism "

§ IU-Gotten wealth

^ Money or property which is acquired through unfair means, as we

have just indicated, is obviously unclean and unlawful and anyone who

makes use of it and spend it on his needs does himself a great harm. As
i

Q) the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) has warned, his

prayers will not find acceptance by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), his

supplications will not be answered, his petitions will not be granted,
and in case he does good deeds they will avail him nothing. In the
Hereafter, there will be no share for him in the special favours and
good graces of the Lord.

A Tradition says: " If a person earns or acquires anything through
dishonest means and then gives away a part of it in charity, his act of
charity will not be accpeted, and if he will spend from it on his needs
there will be no auspicious ness or real prosperity in it, and should he
leave it behind to his descendants on his death it will serve for him as
hell's provision. Believe it, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) does not

erase evil with evil (i.e., charity and almsgiving from ill-goten gains

can never lead to salvation). One impurity cannot remove another, it
cannot make it pure".

■

WHAT IS ISLAM?

And another Traditions is ;

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is pure HirnseJf and He accepts
only those offerings that are pure."

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasatlam), at the end of the
Tradition also narrated the story of a man " Who undertakes a long and
tedious journey (to supplicate to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) at a

sacred place) and arrives (at his destination) in such a state that his hair
is dishevelled and his body is covered from head to foot with dust. He
throws up his hands towards the heavens and cries out* u O Lord ! O my
preserver ! but his sustenance is of the impure and he has been brought
up on what is polluted; how can his prayer be granted when such is the

O ■ The above amply demonstrates lhat when a person draws his

CC livelihood from impure means his prayers no longer remain worthy of

being answered. Yet another Tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu

Alaihe Wasallam) reads:

"If a person buys a cloth for ten Dirhams (a currency of olden
times) and one of them is tainted (i.e., it has been earned dishonestly),
none of his Salaah will be accepted by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
as long as he wears it."

And, here is one more:

The flesh gathered on one's body by means of unclean earning

deserves to be thrown into the Fire."

Brothers! If we have the tiniest spark of faith left in our hearts we
must make up our minds, once for all, after hearing these Traditions,
that whatever proverty and hardship we may have to endure in the
world we will never try to make a single penny from unclean and
dishonest sources and will always content ourselves with what we earn
through honest lawful means.

o
c6

WHAT1SISIAM?

Clean Earning and Honest Trade

Jusl as Islam has condemned all unclean and unlawful means of
making money as wicked and sinful, and denounced all profits derived
from them as filthy and devilish, in the same way ii has proclaimed
great virtue in seeking one's livelihood honestly and in engaging
oneself cleanly in trade or profession. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc
Wasallam) has said:

*To seek a clean earning is also a duty next only to the prescribed
duties of the faith."

"The cleanest food is that which has been earned by the labour of
his hand. Indeed, Prophet David (Alaihis Salaam) used to work with his
own hands for the food he ate."

"The trader who plies his trade cleanly and honestly will rise in the
Hereafter in the company of prophets, saints and martyrs."

<L? KIN DNESS AND COMPASSION IN DEALINGS

Islam has laid great stress on honesty and truthfulness in trade and
other monetary dealings and described profound virtue and excellency
in it It has declared it to be a means of gaining nearness unto Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa). Islam, likewise, enjoins on us to be kind and
avoid harshness and severity in transaction and other dealings, too. It
has promised great spiritual advantage in it also, wc will reproduce two
Traditions of the the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam).

"Blessings of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) be on him who is
mild and gentle in his transactions and in the realisation of his dues*"

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) will protect him from ihc agonies
of the DJiy of judgement who allows respite to a poor and indigent

■

servant of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) in the payment of his debt or
writes off the debt (altogether or a part of it)."

WHAT IS ISLAM?

In another Tradition si is said "Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will

provide him with the shade of his blessing on the Day of judgement.

•>■*

These Traditions are meant for merchants and other wealthy men
whom people borrow money on the hour of their need. As for the
borrowers, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) used to urge them
to do their best to pay back their debts quickly lest they die in a state of
indebtedness, with the claim of anyone lying unsettled on their heads.
How strict the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) was in this regard
can be imagined from the following Traditions :

"If a person is killed in the path of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
then all his sins will be forgiven (by virtue of his martyrdom). But if
he owes anyone anything even martyrdom will not secure his release
from it."

CC "By the Lord in whose power lies the life of Muhammad

(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), if a person falls a martyr in the path of
"j" Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and returns to life and is killed again in
& the path of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and returns to life only to be
killed once more in the cause of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and
there is still a debt outstanding against him, even then he will not be
able to enter Paradise (if the matter of debt is not resolved)."

These two Traditions are quite sufficient to show what great
importance Islam attaches to monetary affairs and the rights of fellow
human beings. May Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) grant us the
wisdom to understand their delicacy and significance and to make it
our constant endeavour to assure that the claims of no one are left
unsatisfied by us !

■

WHA T f$ ISLAM?

lesson 8 r it ti m "

teui

Social Conduct And
Mutual Rights

Social conduct, good manners and respect for the rights of each
other, again, form an important part of Islamic teachings. One can
become a good and true Muslim only when one also observes faithfully
the social code of Islam by which we mean the rules and regulations
governing the modes and manner of behaviour between man and man
and between man and society as laid down by it. For instance, what

^ should the attitude of parents be towards their children and of children
: towards their parents ? What son of conduct should prevail between
brothers and between brothers and sisters ? How should husband and
wife live together ? How to treat those who are oider than ourselves

Q) and those who are younger ? What are the rights of our neighbuors on

■

us ? How should the rich behave towards the poor and the poor towards
the rich ? What mode of relationship should be maintained between
master and servant ? And, so forth. Islam has provided us with a most
comprehensive and complete guidance of law to fulfil our social
responsibilities and act in our dealings and relationships with all those
individuals and groups with whom we come into contact, one way or
the other, in different walks of our daily life, and this is what we are
going to discuss in this chapter.

Rights of Parents:

The most primary

Islam

Allah

uraan

WHA T IS ISLAM?

o
c6

The Lord has ordained that
ye worship none but Him; and

to show kindness to your par-
ents whether one or both of

them attain to old age with thee;
and say not to them "Fie !" nei-
ther reproach them; hut speak to
them both with respectful
speech; and defer humbly to
them out of tenderness; and say,
"Lord / have compassion on
them both, as they reared
me when I was little. "

ISfcSSteJ.

\ <

(XVII: 23-24)

Another verse of the Holy Book goes on to tell that should the
parents of a person be polytheists and want him also to follow their
faith, he ought to decline to obey them, but even then he should
continue to treat them well and to behave towards them with respect
The exact words of the verse arc:

>*t »

"But if they strive to niuke thee join in worship with

Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them

not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and

conside ration).

(XXXI: 15)

Beside the Holy Quraan, in the Traditions also, great stress has
been laid on rendering full devotion and obedience to one's parents. To
disobey one's parents, to ignore their feelings, or to disregard their
comfort or happiness in any other way has been characterised by the
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasaltam) as a grievous sin. Take these
Traditions, for example;

" In the pleasure of parents lies the pleasure of Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa), and in their displeasure,

■

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)."

the displeasure of Allah

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Once a person enquired from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallaai), "What are the rights of parents?" The Prophel (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) replied, "Parent are the heaven and hell of their
children (meaning that salvation and paradise could be gained by
serving one's parents well while disobedience to and ill-treatnicnt of
l hem could lead one to hell),"

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) once observed, "Every
time a dutiful son or daughter looks with affection and respect towards
his or her father or mother Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) writes
against his or her name the reward of an accepted Hajj. 1 * Upon this,
some of the Companions enquired, "Our Master ! Suppose a person
does so a hundred times each day; will he, even then* be given the
reward of an accepted Hajj for every glance he casts?'* lt Yes'\ the
q Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) replied, "Allah (Subhaanahu

-J Wata'aalaa) is the Most Great, the Most Holy (meaning that the bounty

of the Lord is boundless),"

i
d) In one Tradition, it is told, "Heaven lies under the feet of the

parents/'

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) once said to the
Companions that the most mortal sins in the world were three:

"To associate anyone with Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), to

disobey parents, and to give false evidence

Again, "There are three types of men towards whom Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will not look with mercy on the Day of
Judgement, and one of Lhem fire those who disobey their parents.' 4

Rights of Children

Islam has laid an equal stress on the rights of children on parents
also. We will leave out here the responsibility of parents to feed and
clothe their children since an instinctive awareness of these are found

in them and they carry it out normally and in the natural way.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

The rights of our children about which we are generally careless
and neglectful, are those concerning their moral and religious training
and up-bringing. Islam has made it binding on us, as a matter of duty

we brought up our wards and children in such a way that they did
not have to make their way to hell after death. We are required to be
extremely careful in this respect. Says the Holy Quraan:

O ye who believe ! save your-
selves and your families from the ,
Fire of Hell. Pp&J^"

(LXVt; 6) v £-£^l)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasailam) has, in a Tradition,
stressed the need of giving proper training to children in these words:

O "No hctter gift can there be from a father to his children then that

*-J he brought diem up properly. 1 *

Some parents are more fond of their sons than daughters- They
take a great interest in the upbringing of their male issues while the
welfare and training of the female ones are generally neglected by
them. Daughters arc, sometimes, considered to be a burden. For this
reason, Islam has devoted particular attention to the proper upbringing
of girls and extolled it as an act of great virtue. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasailam) has said:

"Anyone who has a daughter or a sister and he treats her well and
looks after her welfare and training carefully and marries her at the right
place, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will reward him with paradise."

Mutual Rights between Husband and Wife:

Conjugal relationship occupies a place of outstanding importance
in the economy of human affairs. It is most strong and intimate tie that
binds husband and wife into a lifelong partnership. Islam, therefore,
has furnished a complete guindance in respect of it as well. In nutshell,
Islam demands from wives to be scrupulously faithful to their husbands
and to remain their best friends and true well-wishers and never to

WHAT IS ISLAM?

betray their trusts. The Holy Quraan declares:

Therefore, the righteous $h-% £ m lSlJi&

women are obedient \ and guard
(in the husband's) absence.

(IV: 34)

And from husbands it requires thai they should give their love
ungrudgingly to their wives, maintain them as best as they can within
their means and leave nothing to be desired by way of their emotional
contentment. Says, again, the Holy Quraan:

Live with your wives on a ^*>^il2$&\^&3 * ~ V£ "

footing of kindness and equity.

O (IV:J9)

■

2 In keeping with these teachings of the Holy Quraan, the Prophet

{Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) used tu attach profound importance to the
harmony of married life among Muslims. He used to urge upon
Muslim husbands and wives to keep each other happy and to attend to
each other's needs and interests with loving care. Some of his
Traditions in this connection read:

"Jf a man calls his wife to him and the wife refuses and he stays
annoyed with her during the night, the angels will not cease to curse
her name till day -break."

'The woman who dies in such a stale that her husband is pleased
with her shall so to Heaven,**

"By the Lord in whose power lies the life of Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), no woman can fulfil the rights of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) who does not fulfil the rights of her husband/ 1 '

"Charge you to be kind to vour wives. Remember this advice of
mine. See, I hey are subordinate to you and in your power/'

WHAT IS ISLAM?

"Good among you are those who are good to their wives/*

"He is the most perfect believer (in the sight of Allah Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) who is perfect in his manners and most affectionate
towards his wife and children."

Rights of Relatives:

Besides our parents and children and husbands or wives there also
exists a special tie of kinship between us and our other relatives. Islam
has paid due attention to this aspect of our social existence, too, and
evolved certain rights and duties in respect of it. Thus, in the Holy
Quraan wc are told to be kind to our kinsmen and one who disregards
and pays no heed to the bonds of kinship has been condemned as a
transgressor and a sinner of the worst order.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) once said, "He who
violates the righLs of kinsmen and shows no respect for the bonds of
kinship in his conduct shall not go to heaven."

In this connection a special advice of the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) is that if a relative violates the ties of relationship
with regard to us even then we should continue to fulfil, on our part,
the obligations we have towards him. The words of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) are, "If a near relative treats you
indifferently and ignores the bond of relationship, do not turn your
back on him but keep on discharging, on your part, the obligations of
relationship towards him."

Rights of the Old on the Young and of
the Young on the Old:

It is a general principle of Islamic social behaviour that everyone
should repect his ciders and carry himself with due deference in their
presence. In the same way, those who are older are required to treat
those who are younger to them with kindness and affection, even if
there be no relationship between them.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Said the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) : "He is not of us
who is not affectionate to those who are younger than himself and
respectful to those who are older."

"For the young man who will honour an old man hecause of his
years, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will appoint men who will

honour him in his old age/*

Ri ghts of Neighbours:

Apart from relatives, there obtains a permanent association also
between a man and his neighbours. In Islam full attention has
accordingly, been paid to it and definite instructions have been
provided for our guidance in this behalf as well The Holy Quraan calls
upon us to be good and courteous in our behaviour towards our
q neighbors in the same way as it has commanded us to maintain the best
O of conduct towards our parents, brothers and sisters and towards our

■

CC other near relatives:

■

Q-) And then Neighbours who are near, and the neighbours who are

strangers and the companions by your side.

(IV: 36)

Three categories of neighbours have been spoken of in this verse
and it is expected of us to maintain cordial relations with all of them.

The phrase 'neighbours who are near* denotes neighbours who may
also happen to be our relatives; 'neighbours who are strangers' denotes
those with whom we have no family ties, and non-muslim neighbours
are included in this category. Whereas 'companions by your side,
means persons with whom we come into contact temporarily in the
course of our daily activities, like a casual acquaintance, a fellow-
traveller, a classmate and a colleague -whatever their religious
denomination is t Islam reminds us thai we have an obligation to be
friendly and sympathetic towards all the three categories of neighbours.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Says the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) :

"He who believes in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Day

of Recompense should never harm his neighbour

"He is not a Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbour go

hungry

It is narrated that the Apostle of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

once emphatically exclaimed, "He is not a believer in Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)," The question was asked, u O Apostle of

Allah {Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) ! Who is not a believer in Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)? 1 The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)

O observed, "Whose neighbour does not feel secure on his account,"

■

r^ Yet another Tradition reads;

qj "He shall not go to Heaven from whose mischief his neighbours

do not feel secure,"

It is reported that once a Companion said to the Prophet

(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), "O Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) there is a woman about whom it is said that she offers a geat
deal of prayers, observes a great deal of fasts and does a great deal of
charily, but she also causes a great deal of trouble to her neighbours
owing to the sharpness of her tongue." The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) observed, "She will go to Hell." The Companion
then said, "O Apostle of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) ! There is
another woman about whom it is said that she engages herself little in
prayers, fasting and charity (that is, she observes the prayers, fasts and
charity less than the first woman) but never offends her neighbours by
her tongue. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) observed,
"She will be in Heaven."

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Brothers! Such are the rights of neighbours in Islam. Alas, how
heedless have wc now grown lo them!

Rights of the Weak and the Poor:

So far we have dealt with the rights of men with whom we have an
intimate personal connection of some kind, whether of family or

neighbuorhood or business or friendship. In addition to these, Islam has
conferred certain special rights on the weaker and the poorer sections
of the society and on every kind of a needy person. It has been made
the duty of all well-to-do people to look after their well-being and to
serve them in whatever way they can. The more prosperous among
Muslim, should realise that their less fortunate brethren, too, have a
share in their wealth and other capacities. The Holy Quraan has
enjoined at a number of places that the needs of the orphans, the weak
q and the indigent and other needy and destitute persons should be taken

O care of, the hungry should he fed and the ill-clad should be clothed,

05 and, so on.

"j" It is narrated that once the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)

Q^ joined two of his fingers and showing diem to the Companions said,

"He who supports an orphan shall be as close to me in Heaven as are

these fingers lo each other.

He is also reported to have observed:

"He who endeavours to relieve the widow, the depressed and the
needy is as one who strives in the service of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wala'aalaa), and , in Divine reward, he is as one who permanently fasts
during the days and spends nights in prayers, 7 *

"Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the eaplives.*'

"Help the distressed and be a guide to those who have lost their

way,**

WHAT IS ISLAM?

No distinction has been drawn in the above Traditions of ihe
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) between a Muslim and a non-
Muslim. All poor and needy persons have a claim on us no matter to
what religion they belong. We cannot withhold our helping hand from
anyone on the ground that he is not a co-religionist. In some Traditions,
the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) has exhorted us to show
kindness also lo animals and promised great reward to those who take
pity on these dumb creatures of the Lord.

Islam, truly , is a blessing to the entire universe and the whole of
creation, and our guide and master, Prophet Muhamad (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) "a mercy to the worlds." The pity is that we

ourselves have wandered away from his teachings. Would to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) that we, too become a mercy to the whole
-^ world by becoming true Muslims,

^ Rights of Muslims on Each Other:

Further, there is a special claim of Muslims on each other which
flows out of the common bond of Islam.

Said the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) ;

"Every Muslim is a Muslim's brother. He should neither harm him
himself nor leave him alone (when someone else does so, he tries his
best to help him and to protect him). Whoever among you will fulfil the
need of his brother Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will take it upon
Himself to fulfil his needs, and a Muslim who will remove the distress
of a Muslim brother will, in return, find a distress of his removed by
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) on the Day of Requital, and anyone
who will hide the shame of a Muslim, his sins will be hidden by Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) on the Last Day."

"Do not bear a grudge or enmity against each other, do not be

jealous of each other, and do not indulge in backbiting

Live like brothers and the servants of One Allah (Subhaanahu

[66)

WHATISISIAM?

Wata'aalaa). It is not allowed to a Muslim to cease to be on talking
terms with a Mulsim for more than three days."

"The life, honour and property of a Muslim are sacred for
another."

Wc will now close the disussion on social relations and mutual
rights and duties with the following Tradition which alone is enough to
(ill our hearts with fear.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is reported one day to
have put the question to the Companions, "Who is a pauper ?" The
companions replied, "Our master ! A pauper is a person who is without
a peny of his own." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) said,

O*" "No. A pauper among us is a man who will appear on the Day of
O Recompense with a large stock of prayers, fasting and almsgiving but
q$ in the world he would have abused someone, slandered someone,
beaten someone and cheated and transgressed against someone. When
we will be made to stand at the place of Reckoning, those against
Q) whom he would have been guilty of these transgressions will come
forward and they will be given from his good deeds what will be due to
them till all the fund of his good deeds will be exhausted and, then the
sins of the aggrieved parlies will be forced down upon him and he will,
ultimately, be thrown into Hell."

Brothers ! Ponder over this Tradition and think how utterly
ruinous and disastrous it is for us to encroach upon the right of others
and to indulge in backbiting, slander or abuse. If you have transgressed
against anyone or usurped his rights, make amends for it in your
lifetime, pay back to him what may be his due or seek his forgiveness,
and resolve sincerely to be careful in future otherwise it is going to cost
you very dear in the life to come-

i) I ,33\^ J mlA T IS ISLAM ?

Lesson 9

Good Manners And
Noble Qualities

Good manners and noble quilitics of mind and character enjoy a
place of crucial importance in the structure of Islamic teaching. Moral

• — -

evolution and uplift was one of the main objects for which the sacred
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasaliam) was raised up. The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasaliam) himself has said:

q "I have been sent down by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) to

O teach moral virtues and to evolve them to highest perfection/*

Importance

T An idea of the supreme importance Islam attaches to the

0^ cultivation of good manners and noble moral qualities can be obtained

from the under-mentioned Traditions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe

Wasaliam) ;

"The best of you are those who posses the best of manners/ 1

On the Day of Recompense nearest to me will be one who

display in one's daily life the best of manners."

"On Ihe day of Reckoning the most weighty item in the Balance of
Deeds, will be good manners,"

Once a Companion asked the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasaliam), "What is there that takes a Muslim to paradise?" The
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasaliam) replied, "Fear of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and good manners."

WHAT IS ISLAM f

The Prpphct (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam), again, is reported to
have said, "A Muslim with good manners and good moral disposition
KeLs the same reward as he who fasts (permanently) during the days
and spends his nights in prayers."

The last Tradition tells that a believer who possesses good

manners and carries out scrupulously the moral duties imposed on him
by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) but does not engage himself much

in fasts and prayers attains the degree of excellecne of the man who
slands up in prayer all night and fasts all day long.

The Curse of Bad Manners

. -t»- I mim ■ — ;^^^^»^^^^^^^»

We have been warned by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
O Wasallam) in an equally forceful manner against the curse of bad
- manners. He has said:

cti

"A man with bad manners and a bad moral conduct shall not enter

Paradise,"

"No sin is more detestable to Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) than

had manners."

Some More Important Virtues

Though in the Holy Quraan and the Traditions we are taught to
cultivate all good and noble moral and social qualities and to avoid
nvcrything that is mean or wicked, here we will take up only such
virtues that are more important and without which no one can hope to
he n good Muslim and a true believer.

Truthfulness:

Truthfulness is a matter of such supreme consequence in Islam that
in iuldilion to speaking the truth always a Muslim is exhorted also to
keep company only with those who are truthful The Holy Quraan states:

[Ml

WHAT fS ISfAM?

"O ye who believe fear \ J *\\S '^\"i\i"\\

Allah and be only with those J^rS^OT^

who are true (in word and •*5%U»C^SsS'i5i\

deed).

Q&t2&\)

(IX: 1 1 9)

Says the Prophet (Sal lallahu Alaihe Wasallam);

"He who wishes to love Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and His
Apostle, or wishes Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and His apostle to
love him. must take care to speak nothing but the truth whenever he

speaks.' 1

"Speak the truth even if you see your ruin or death in it, for,
q surely, salvation and life lit alone in truth, and avoid falsehood even if

q$ it may hold out to you the promise of success and salvation, tor, the

end of falsehood is nothing but failure and frustration.

GJ Once the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) was asked. "What

is the hallmark of the dwellers of Paradise?" The Prophet (Sallallahu

Alaihe Wasallam) replied, "Truthfulness."

Conversely, another Tradition reads:

•■-

To be a liar is one of the special signs of a hypocrite."

■
■

It was asked of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) whether
a believer could be a coward, He said, "It is possible." It was asked
whether a believer could be a miser. He said. "It is possible." Again, it
was asked of him whether a believer could be a liar. He said, "No".
(The idea was that a believer in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) could
not develop the filthy habit of lying. Faith could never acomodate
falsehood; they could not go together).

WHATISISIJLM?

Fulfilling Promises

It is also a part of truthfulness that when a promise is made it
should be fulfilled- The Holy Quraan and Traditions are very clear on
the point. Our faith demands of us never to go back on our pledged
word. States the Holy Quraan:

And fulfil (every) engage- Xj^^Ii^Ud'K

ment, for (every) enggement "^J ^ '^ST, > ,

mil be enquired into (on the f tOsV-V^S^T^

Day of Reckoning).

(XVI 1 : 34)

To fulfil the contracts which . \t\&*tt*rw*$i*

ye have made. .#* ■"" -

■

Cti And the Traditions say:

He who does not fulfil promises made by him has no share in the

faith;*

"Not to fulfil one's promises is a special sign of a hypocrite

1 V o st worthiness

Closely allied to truthfulness is the quality of trustworthiness. It is
an important branch of truthfulness. Islam has laid a special emphasis
on it also. Here is what the Holy Qurran says :

Allah doth command you to \J^^ti^S^i^i\^\

MflStoy

*ms$\*M\

render hack your Trusts to those *v^%*f<l

to whom they are due.

(IV : 58)

On two occassions in Holy Quraan, it has been mentioned in the
qualities of true believers; and the people who safegaurd the trusts and
their promisses (i.e. pay back the trusts and fulfil the promises)

(Surah Moominun & Surah Ma'aarij)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

o
c6

It is reported that Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) often used
to say in his Sermons;

"O People ! In whom there is no trustworthiness, in him there is,
so to speak, no faith."

In one Tradition Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) says :

"Look not alone at anyone's prayers and fasts to decide about his
spiritual excellence (i.e. do not be impressed by anyone's spirituality
simply because you find him devout in his prayers and fasts,) You
should also see that he is truthful when he speaks, restores honestly
what he has received in trust to whom it is due, and remains righteous
in times of adversity and suffering."

My dear Muslims! If we want to be a true believer in the sight of
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), too, and want to be claimant of His
blessings, it is necessary to adopt trustworthiness and honesty in every
■ case and to make the fulfilment of promises the principle of life.

Reincmcbr, one amongst us, who does not have these qualities he
is not a true believer and complete Muslim in front of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and His Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam).

Justice

Islamic

all spheres of life. The Holy Quraan states :

Allah commands justice and ^ 9 ■> > _» ^.

doing of good, jJ^t^V&ulijj

In Islam we are commanded to be just and fair not only towards
our own people or co-religionists but also towards others even if they
be the enemies of our life, -property or faith. It is candidly stated in the
Holy Quraan that :

o
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WHAT IS ISLAM?

And let not the hatred of oth-
ers to you make you swervG to

wrong and depart from justice.

He just that is next to Taqwaa (piety). tt> ffi rtUjurffll & \}jtti

(V:8)

The above verse enjoins justice to those also, individuals as weil
as communities, who may be harbouring ill-will against us. Otherwise,
we are sure to incur the displeasure of Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa)
and become grievous sinners and criminals in His sight.

To refer now to some of the Trditions :

'The most beloved of men in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wala'aalaa) on the Day of Resurrection, and the nearest to Him, shall
be the just ruler, and the most hateful of men in the sight of Allah
(Suhhaanahu Wala'aalaa) on the Day of Resurrection, and die farthest
removed from Him, shall be the tyrannical ruler."

Q^ The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasailam) is reported to have

enquired one day from the Companions. "Do you know who will be the
first to come under the shadow of Divine Mercy on the Dav of
Requital?* 1 The Companions replied, " Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
and His Apostle know best/*

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasailam) then said, "They will be
Ihose who accept their rights when offered to them and give willingly
the rights of other when they demand for their rights, and who judge in
respect of others exactly as they would in respect of themselves."

The Pity is that we ourselves have forgotten the glorious teachings
of Islam. If we can produce these qualities in us today and become
truthful in word and deed, and honest in the matter of our trusts and
promises, and just and fair in our dealings with others, the success of
i he world is bound to kiss our feet and we will attain a high place in the
paradise, loo.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Compassion and Forgiveness

To feel pity on a fellow human being in distress, lo be
compassionately drawn towards him, to bring him succour, to pardon
the guilty and the fault are virtues which are valued very highly in
Islam. Take these Traditions, for instance :

"Show kindness, and kindness will be shown to you; forgive, and

you will be forgiven,

They will not obtain the mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

in whose hearts there is no feeling of kindliness for others

"His sins will not be forgiven by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
who does not forgive the fault of others."

O "Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will have mercy upon them that

q$ are merciful. Treat kindly the dwellers of the earth, He who dwells in

the heavens will treat you kindly."

i
Q) It is apparent from the last Tradition that our kindliness and

gentleness are not to be confined to our own people alone. We ought to

be kind and compassionate towards friend and foe alike and to all the

creatures that exist on the earth.

It is reported from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) that

once a person who was travelling by road saw a dog licking wet
in the agony of its thirst. The traveller was moved by the spectacle and
gave water to the dog to drink. This simple service of the man to the
thirsting dog pleased Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) so much that He
blessed him with salvation.

Tenderness

Tenderness in transactions, and in all other fields of one's activity,
and the readiness to oblige and to put others at case are all virtues of
the highest order in the Islamic pattern of morality. We will reproduce
two Traditions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) in

WHAT IS ISLAM?

support of our contention, Said he :

"Hell's fire is forbidden for those that are mild and gentle and
make it easy for others to deal with them. ,T

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is compassionate and likes
compassion in His creatures. He grants more to the kind and the tender-
hearted than to those who are harsh and severe."

Self-Restraint

Tolerance, affability, self-restraint, and the ability to control one's
temper and to overlook what is unpleasant and disagreeable are
qualities that Islam wants everyone to cultivate. Believers who possess
these fine moral attributes hold a very high place in the sight of Allah
** (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).

■

In the Holy Quraan where the blessed ones are mentioned for
whom the paradise has been laid out such people are specifically
Q) referred to :

Who restrain anger and par- 3^$&\(£Jl&V

(ill : 134) v «~^v/ s ^r

Said the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasaliam) :

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will hold back His punishment

from him who will hold back his anger."

Blessed indeed, are men who remember these verses and
Traditions during moments of provocatian and exercise restraint, and ,
in return, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) holds His chastisement away
from them !

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Gentleness of Speech

Gentleness of speech is a religious virtue in Islam and rudeness a
sin. The Holy Quraan declares :

And speak fair to the People. £* t * ;£ ?)^^

(11:83)

We have it from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) that ;

'To speak politely is Taqwaa and kind of charity,

'To indulge in intemperate language and in harsh behaviour is to

perpetrate an injustice and the home of injustice is HelL"
W "Rudeness in speech is hypocrisy (i.e., the quality of a hypocrite)."

■

i— Humility

Humility is a virtue Islam wants its followers to practise as a
Q) distinguishing feature of their moral and spiritual behaviour. It does not
become a Muslim to be haughtly or vainglorious.

Greatness with Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) is not for those
who look down upon others. Instead, it belongs to those who desist
from thinking too highly of themselves and practise meekness and
humility. In the words of the Holy Quraan.

And the servants of the Most ^^^^^j^J^^
Gracious (Allah Subhaanahu " " > ■* **

r ~ ^ s?,

Waia'aalaa) are those who walk on the /^ tisjftj wj— *""oS3^^

earth in humility. (XXV : 63)

That Home of the Hereafter Cj»^S*5^VS&

We shall giv£ t& those who

0$$%0&$

intend not highhandedness or

misfhief on earth. Hu*** 1 > % W£^$Ji$0 1

(XXVIII ; 83)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

rhe Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) has said :

"He who observes humility Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) will
make him so exalted that, ultimately, he will attain the highest grade in
Paradise.'*

On the other hand, pride is so greatly repugnant to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) that the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) has warned us, again and again, aginsl it in such strong
words ;

"Whoever has pride in his heart even of the weight of an atom
shall be cast head-long into the Hell by Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa).

O "Whoever has pride in his heart even of the weigh of the weight of

- a mustard seed \ shall not be enterd into paradise."

"Beware of pride! Pride was the sin which first of all ruined the
Devil."

May Almighty Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) save us all from the
Satanic evil of pride, and endow our hearts and minds with meekness
and humility which He admires so much and which is the symbol of
His slaves.

It needs, however, to be remembered that it is demanded of us to
practise meekness and humility in our personal matters and not in
matters where truth or faith is involved. When it comes to faith or truth
we must be bold and outsopoken and give the fullest proof of courage
and firmness, for this is the Will of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) for
such occasions.

The way of a Muslim, in sum, is thai while he is meek and humble

I. The word occuring in the original is Raa-Ee* (sinapis ramosa) which is a kind of
mustard seed with very small grains-Translator

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

in his own individual sphere of existence, he is firm tike a rock and
allows neither fear nor weakness lo come near him where faith or truth
or justice is at stake.

Courage and Fortitude

There occur periods of hardship and adversity in the lives of men.
Sometimes there is need, sometimes there is disease, sometimes our
enemies harass us. And, so forth. For such situations the teaching of
Islam is that we should bear them with courage and fortitude, remain
firm and stout of heart and do not waver from our principles inspite of
a thousand trials and calamities that may assail us. For such men there
is the assurance of the Holy Quraan that they arc the Beloved of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

For Allah (Subhaanahu ht^iAi/

Wata'aalaa) loves those who •^^^' l ^, a ^l>

are patient and persevering. i^K^/O}

(111:146)
J

i
Q) Allah surely* is with thost

■

who patiently persevere.

(11:153)

And to he firm and patient
in pain (or suffering) and adver-

sity and through all periods of L^V^\c^^4pJ'

panic. Such are the people of fcAS^pJ&l

truth, and the people who are ■ s *'*\\fj <&A'

Allah-fearing. ,„ T^V^tf^b

(11:177) *&»>

And the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) says:

"No boon conferred on man more precious than that of patience

Patience is one-half of faith."

WHAT IS ISLAM?

\~oniramy, impatience, cnicKen-neartedncss and cowardice are the
most lamentable of evils against which the Prophet (Sallallahu Ataihe

Wasallam) used to beg Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) for refuge in his
prayers.

Sincerity

Sincerity is the life and soul of the entire moral edifice of Islam,
nay, of Islam itself. By sincerity we mean that all our deeds and actions
Should solely be for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) and
prompted by no other urge than to earn His approbation. Apart from it,
there must be no other desire, motive or intention behind whatever we do.

Monotheism which is the arch-stone of Islam attains fulfilment
through sincerity. Faith in Divine Unity remains imperfect unless all
our acts are performed wholly for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), and we have no other objective before us while carrying
them out except winning of Divine pleasure and reward. Stales the
2 Prophet (Sallallahu Ataihe Wasallam):

i i'

^ "He who loves or hates, offers favours or withholds them, and

whatever he docs, does so for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa) he perfects his faith.

It shows that a perfect Muslim in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) is only he who succeeds in subordinating his entire
conduct, his social relations and all his other affairs to the Will of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and is not influenced in them by his personal
desire or likes or dislikes or by any other urges or impulsions.

Another Tradition reads:

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is not regardful of your fine
visages or your wealth. He is regardful only of your hearts and
intentions."

•

The idea of the above Tradition is that Allah (Subhaanahu

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Wata'aalaa) will judge and requit on the basis of our motives and

intentions.

■

Now, here is a Tradition with which we propose to round off the

present discussion. About this Tradition it is reported that Hadhrat Abu
Hurairah often used to faint while he related it. It says:

"The first of those who shall be called to account, on the Day of
Resurrection, shall be one who had learned the whole of the Holy
Quraan by heart, and he who had been killed in the way of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), and he who had an abundance of wealth.
Then shall Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) say to him who had got the
whole of the Holy Quraan by heart, M Did I not teach thee what
revealed to my Prophet (Saltallahu Alaihe Wasallam) ?" He will say*

"Yes , my Lord !" Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will ask, "And what

/j hast thou done with regard to what thou didst learn therein?" He will

^.J say, "I was constantly at it in the hours of night and in the hours of day.

I learn it myself and taught it to others, and I did it all for Thy s

alone". Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will say, "Thou art a liar; thou
Q) didst only desire that men should say that such a one was a recieter of

the Holy Quraan and that has been said already".

"And the master of wealth shall be brought before Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), and He shall say, "Did I not give thee an
abundance of wealth, so that thou wast not in want of anything ?** He
will say, "Yes, my Lord ! Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will say,
"And what hast thou done with what I gave thee? "He will answer, "I
regarded the rights of kinship and gave alms and I did so for Thy sake/ 1
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will say, "Thou art a liar; thou didst
desire that men should say that such a one was a generous man, and
that has been said already."

"Then shall he who had been killed in the way of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) be brought before Him, and Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will say to him, "What was it that thou wast
killed for?" He will reply, "Thou didst bid us to do Jihad in Thy way

o
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WHAT IS ISLAM?

and I fought and was killed" Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aataa) will say,
'Thou art a liar; thou didst desire that men should say that such a one
was a valiant man, and that has been said already."

'These are the three men who, of all creatures shall be first sent
into Fire/ 1

Brothers ! Now, let us examine our thuoghts and deeds in the light
of the above Tradition and see where do we stand in the sight of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) !

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Endue our hearts with sincerity
and set right our motives and i mentions and make us Thy devoted and
dedicated slaves.

Lesson 10 J" t

vl, WHAT IS ISLAM?

Love Of Allah, (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)

and The Faith

■

Islam requires of us to believe in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
and His Apostle and to observe Salaah, Saum, Zakaah and Hajj, and to
lead a life of piety, honesty, goodness, gentleness, moral and social
q rectitude and self-discipline. In the same way, it is also one of its
^ fundamental teachings that wc should hold Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith

dearer to our hearts than everything else, may it be our parents,
UJ children, life, honour or property. In simple words what it means is that
should a lime come when it may involve the risk of life, honour or
properly or of any other worldly thing or interest to abide by the faith
of Islam and to remain loyal to the injunctions of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) then we
must not break away from Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith irrespective of

what the consequences may be.

It has been stressed repeatedly in the Holy Quraan and the
Traditions that those who may claim lo be Muslims but do not possess
as strong a devotion for Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith as these are in fact, arc not
true Muslims. What is more, they are deserving of Divine chastisement.

HP ^br 1

Reads surah Taubah:

WHATISIStAM?

o
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Say:

If it he that your

fathers, your sons, your brothers,
your mates, or your kindred: the
wealth that ye have gained; the
commerce in which ye fear a
decline; or the dwellings in
which ye delight, are dearer to
you than Allah, and His Apostle,
or the striving in His cause; then
wait until Allah brings about
His decision; and Allah guides

not the rebellious."

(IX; 24)

sMx&&&\s

Those who love their parents or children or life or honour or
property more than they love Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and care
more for ihcir protection or well-being than for His pleasure and the
defence and progress of His faith are unquestionably disloyal to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and worthy of His punishment. A Tradition say:

11 He alone will taste the swcelnecs of the faith who possesses these
three qualities: the love of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) come to him before everything
else; he loves whom he loves for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa); the idea of going back to apostasy after he has embraced
Islam is as repugnant to him as being thrown into the fire,"

In the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) a true and genuine Muslim is a person
whose devotion to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and His Apostle
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Faith is stronger than to
anyolhcr person or thing in the world so much so that when he loves
another human being he loves him for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), and who is so sincerely and powerfully attached to the
Islamic faith that the very thought of leaving it and reverting back to
apostasy may be as painful to him as being east into the fire.

WHA T IS ISLAM?

Says the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasailam): " None or you
can be an honest Muslim and a true believer unless his love for mc
exceeds the love he lias Tor his parents, children or any other human
being in the world."

Brothers! Islam, really is nothing besides surrender and
submission to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) with all one's hear! and soul and the
readiness to sacrifice every attachment, belonging or interest for the
sake of the Faith as the holy Companions had done and as the state is
of the true and devoted servants of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
even today, however small may their number be. May we also be one
of them !

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Lesson 11

y&&

Preaching And
Propagation

Essential as it is for us to affirm faith in Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallain) and Id
follow with righteousness and sincerity the straight path of Islam, it is
also important that we strove earnestly to guide the others, loo, to the
path of the faith who are ignorant of it or who may be unwilling to
adopt it on account of prejudice or spiritual malaise. As Allah
O (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) has placed on us the duty of being His pious,
^ devout and faithful servants so also has He made it obligatory for us lo
CO work among His other creatures as well towards the same end, that is,

towards making them also His pious, devout and faithful servants. That
■ is what is meant by the service of faith and its preaching and

This work is so great in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) that for it He sent down thousands of Prophets into the
world. The Prophets bore tremenduos hardships and went through the
severest of trials and privations to carry out their mission. They worked
for the moral and spiritual reform and uplift of mankind. May the
eternal blessings of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) be on them and on
their companions and supporters.

The glorious chain of Prophecy and Apnstleship ended with the
last of the prophets, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam).
Through him also Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) proclaimed to the
world that no more prophets would now be raised up for the guidance
of humanity. The celestial mission shall now be carried on by those
who had accepted his guidance and the religion he had brought with

WHAT IS ISL4M?

him into the world.

In sum, after the termination or the luminous line of Apostles the
responsibility for preaching and propagation of faith and religious
instruction and reform of mankind has fallen wholly upon the shoulders
of the followers of the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam).
This honour, indeed, k unique. In the Holy Quraan, the very object of
the raising up of Muslim has been defined as nothing but this:

You are the best of Peoples, O^^^Sfc^^

ved for mankind, enjoining «.t!^ ^ - rJ* \*<l t

evolved for mankind, enjoining
what is right, forbidding what is
wrong and believing in Allah ^X^^^^tzH^ilS

(111:110) qx^

m The Muslims were, thus, superior to all other peoples and

£u communities for the simple reason that they, in addition to adopting for

themselves the path of faith and righteousness, were charged with the
■ special duty of striving to bring others also to practise what was right

v. I J

and to avoid what was wrong. It was because of this that they were
given the distinction of being the "Best of Peoples'*. It is also evident
from the above verse that should the Muslim fail Lo discharge the
function they would not only forfeit the claim to the distinction but
would also render themselves liable to be punished by Allah
(Suhhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) for neglecting the duty. He had assigned to

them. Let us take an illustration: suppose a company of sentries is
posted in a town by the Government lo check the immoral activities of
its citizens and the sentries not only fail to perform their duly but, what
is more, they themselves begin to indulge in the transgressions they
were required lo suppress. Now, will they be retained in service and
rewarded by the Government or taken severely to task by it for their
negligence and misconduct ? Ii will, certainly, not be improper or
unjust if they were punished more severely than the other offenders.

The conditions prevailing in the entire Muslim world today are so
extcrniclv deplorable that what to speak of the preaching of the faith

WHAT IS IMJSM?

and the correction and reform of others, not more than five or ten per
cent pf Muslims themselves arc true to Islam and do good deed and
abstain from what is evil and prohibited. In these circumstances* it
becomes our primary duty to carry out the mission of moral and
spirlual reform and guidance among our own people, among such

sections of them as have drifted mournfully away from the path of faith
and moral uprightness.

One of the reasons for it is that those who call themselves, or are
known as Muslims, whatever be the practical stale, have, after all, forged
a link between themeselves and Allah (Subhaamihu Wata'aulaa) and His
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) and the Faith, and become
members of the Muslim brotherhood or Umniah, through the acceptance
of Islam. Solicitude Tor Uicir moral and spiritual well-being is our first
q responsibly in any case in the same way as the responsibility of looking

O after the welfare of his own children and near relations is greater on a

Cg man than that of looking after the welfare of others.

, And, secondly, before everything else, it is the actual condition of

d) Muslims from which the world will generally judge about Islam, and

the spectacle of degeneration that Muslims, on the whole, present these
days is such that it cannot be expected to make a very favourable
impression on anyone in respect of their faith. The non-Muslim world
is not likely to think very highly of the excellent teachings of Islam as
long as Muslims remain what they arc today. On the other hand, it is a
feeling of revulsion and dislike which non-Muslims usually get about
Islam when they look at the lower degree of moral and spiritual level
into which the Muslims have sunk. It has always been like this* People
have always formed their opinion, good or bad or indifferent, about a
religion from the actual moral and social state of its followers.

In Ihe past when Muslims used to be true Muslims, observing
strictly the postulates of their faith, people were attracted towards Islam
simply by seeing them. Whole nations and communities were
converted to Islam in this way, But since the Muslims arc only in
name; their conduct and morals grew un-lslamic and their hearts got

WHAT IS ISLAM?

bereft of faith and righteousness ihe world has developed a prejudice
against Islam itself

in fine, we should realise the truth of it clearly that the daily life of
Muslims, their social, moral and spiritual conduct and behaviour, is the
biggest testimony and the chief measuring rod with regard to Islam. If
the practical life of Muslims is good, the world will form a good
opinion about Islam, and if it is bad, the opinion the world will acquire
aboul Islam will also be bad. In later case, the preaching of Islam
among non-Muslims is destined to be fruitless. Hence, the .success of
all the efforts aimed at the propagation of Islam among non-Muslims as
well is dependent on the condition that Islamic life, i.e., the life of faith
and righteous action became the chief attribute or the entire Muslim
community. From this point of view also it is necessary to strive first
O for the guidance and reformation of Muslims and lo launch the struggle
O with all our might for popularising the values of Islamic life among
Cd lliem before we turned our attention lo others.

1 Islam has given the task of religious preaching, reform and

^ guidance the name of Jihad-i-Akbar. the great Jihad '. If it is

undertaken in the right spirit, wiih sincerity and selflessness and solely
for the sake of winning Divine approbation, this work, definitely, is a
great Jihad in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa).

Many people suppose that that Jihad means only a war which is
waged in the path of Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) and according to
the rules and instructions laid down for it in the Shariah. But this is not
correct. The truth is that whatever endeavour that can be made at a
particular time for the preachig and propagation of Islam and the moral
and spiritual correction and guidance of mankind is the Jihad of the
age.

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) remained in
Makkah for about twelve years after the mantle of Apostleship had

J. The ccmuiicntators of the Holy Quraan arc generally agreed thai the verse ("Strive
against them with the utmost strenousness (with the Holy Quraan)') of Surah Furqaan
means the preaching and propagatin of Islam.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

fallen upon him. During this period ihe Jihad of Lhc Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) and his Companions consisted altogether in adhering
steadfastly to the faith inspite of the terribel persecution unleashed on
them by the enemies of Islam and in doing all that lay in their power,
openly as well as secretly, to .spread the Divine message of Islam and to
reform morally and spinually those who lived around them.

To devote oneself to the noble task of guiding the ignorant, the
way ward and the thoughtless to the straight path of Islam and of
bringing them nearer to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), to spend one's
time and money on it* and to sacrifice one's comfort, all this, in any
ease, is Jihad in Divine estimation. In fact, it is the Jihad of the present
age.

O The rich reward that awaits those in the Hereafter who engage

O themselves in this lofty endeavour as well as the dreadful punishment
Ctf that is going 10 fall to the lot of those who neglect it and do not

participate in it can well be imagined from the Traditions we give

below :

"A person who guides another to a deed of virtue shall receive the
same recompense for it as the doer of the deed and there will be no
reduction in the reward of the doer himself because of it"

What the Tradition means is that suppose ten persons, or even five,
were reformed through our effort and they came to believe in Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) and to observe the Divine commandments - they began to
offer the Salaah and to carry out other religious duties and avoided
what was wrong and forbidden then ihe reward they will earn on it
jointly will be granted to us alone also. A little thought will show that
there is simply no other way in which a person can win so much
reward - the reward of the prayers and other pious and virtuous deeds
of hundreds of men.

Another Tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe

WHA T IS ISLAM?

Wasallam) says :

"By the Almighty in whose power lies my life, do not neglect the
duty of "enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.

Remember if you neglected your duty it is quite possible that Allah
might send down His punishment on you and then all your prayers and
supplications will avail you nothing."

Brothers! Some of the most enlightened and spiritually evolved

divines of our day are of the view that the disasters and humiliations

that Muslim have been facing for a long time, and the troubles and

difficulties they are caught in universally these days and which do not

seem to abate or relent a bit inspite of all their pathetic petitions to

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and prayers etc., are due mainly to the

O very reason that they have ceased to discharge the function they were

raised up for and for which they were made wholly responsible after
Cd the termination of Prophecy and Apostleship. Evidently, when a

watchman fails to perform his duty he is dismissed from service and

i castigated sternly for his negligence. Let us resolve solemnly that we

shall be found wanting no more in the discharge of our duty. Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaaVs help will be with us. He has promised :

A I lath certainly, will aid I hose who aid His Cause.

(XXII : 40)

WHA T IS ISLA M?

lesson 12

li^Ml^oVi^'

Constancy

o
c6

One of the .special responsibililites a man owes to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) once he has accepted (he faith or Islam is that he remains firm
and steadfast in his faith at all times and in all circumstances. He is
expected to uphold the faith with all his courage and strength, however,
adverse the conditions may be. He must not prove disloyal to Islam in any
event. He must not give it up. This is what is meant by 'constancy of
faith*. Such men have been spoken of very highly in the Holy Quraan and
a bountiful reward has been promised to them in the Hereafter . It says :

In the case of Those who
say\ "Our Lord is Allah, and, fur*
theft stand straight and stead-
fast, the angels descend on them
(from time to time): "Fear ye
not" (they suggest), "Nor grieve!
But receive the tidings of the
Garden (of Bliss) which ye were
promised i We are your prote-
ctors in this life and in the
Hereafter ! Therein shall ye have
all that your souls will desire!
Therein shall ye have all that ye
ask for I A hospitable gift from
One, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful

(XU : 30-31)

What wonderful tiding does the above verse contain for those who
are constant in faith and who patiently preserve and remain steadfast in
limes of misfortune and peril. If one could attain this position even at
(he cost of one's life, property and everything it would not be a bad

WHAT IS ISLAM?

bargain indeed.

It is related that once a Companion asked the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) to Lll him something that could suffice for him
always and after which he would not have the need to turn for advice to
anyone. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) said, "Say, Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalua) (alone) is my Lord", and slick to it (i.e.,
conduct your life in accordance with it unswervingly),"

For our benefit and guidance a number of extermely inspiring
parables have been narrated in the Holy Quraan of devout and faithful
servants ol Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) who remained true to faith
in circumstances* of utmost distress and suffering. Neither fear nor
greed could make them deviate from the path they had chosen. One
q such parable is of the Magicians of Egypt who were summoned to
q2 challenge Prophet Moses (Alaihis Salaam) and great rewards and

honours had been promised to them. Yet after the truth of Divine

inspiration and the Apostolic message of Moses (Alaihis Salaam) had
Q) dawned upon them, they cared neither for (he riches and honours the

Pharaoh had promised nor for the savage punishemnt they were sure to
receive at his hands for disobeying his commands. Rising above the
considerations of gain or loss, they boldly declared before the vast
assembly of men, il Wc believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." Later,
when they were threatened by that enemy of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), the Pharaoh, that he would have their arms and legs
severed and then they wouid be hanged on the gallows they replied
daunllessly, displaying magnificent courage of conviction that;

So decree whatever thou

oo aecree wnaiever tnou .t ti#*vfr^ ■••

desiresi to decree : for thou canst, ^^U^w^»v\jgJ*\*

decree (touching) only the life of
this world. For us we have
believed in our Lord: may He for-

gives us our sifts. f rtifi)

f XX : 72-73)

WHAT IS ISlJiM?

Still more inspiring is the story of Pharaoh's wife. You know that
Pharaoh was the all-powerful monarch of Egypt whose wife was the
sole mistress of his heart. From this you can imagine how enviable
would have been her iot. All the world's glories and luxuries were at
her feet. Yet when the innermost depths of her soul were stirred by the
Divine call of Moses (Alaihis Salaam), she did not give a thought to
what her husband would do to her or how her life of cloudless bliss
would change into one of colossal distress and misery. Regardless of
the consequences she proclaimed her faith and once she had done so

she flinched not from the path of duty towards Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa) and religion although the torture she was subjected to was
truly barbarous, the very idea of which is enough to make our flesh
creep even today. In return for it, such a unique honour was conferred

on her by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) that her name has been

mentiond reverentially in the Holy Quraan and the patient perseverance

tt displayed by her and her sacrifice have been held forth as an example

■ to all Muslims*
CD

And Allah sets forth, as an

Q) example to those who believe, -w$&fc'**'ntf&\\^$

< the wife of Pharaoh: behold, she ^Si\^Jb^^\}s^

said !*' Build for me in nearness \Z±*&

C*—y

to Thee, a mansion in the

Garden, and save me from &[\*^i^*iZ&^jA*sL

Pharaoh and his doings, and *^ £ *"" ** 9 * * v

save me from those that do wrong. {XtLzi^ J *(,^-AkJJ

(LXVf : II)

Glory be ! What rare honour, what matchless distinction, really,
that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) has chosen for the constancy of
faith of that blessed lady to serve as an example to the entire Ummah,
from Hadhrat Abu Bakr down to the last generation of Muslims before
the Last Day.

It is related that when the atrocities perpetrated by the Polytheists
of Makkah on Muslims exceeded all limits and the Companions

MVHA T IS ISLAM?

approached the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) to pray to
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) for mercy and protection, the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) remarked, "You have hecomc
disheartened so soon ! Men of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) before
you were subjected to such brutal torture that combs of red hot iron
were driven into their heads and the skulls of some of them were
sawed off into two and yet they remained steadfast and did not
abandon their faith."

O
(6

l94\

WHAT IS ISLAM?

lesson 13

Jihad

The believers are required emphatically to do whatever they can
towards popularising, defending and keeping alive and nourishing, as
the best and the truest way of life, the way of Islam and servility to
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) they have chosen for themselves This,
in Islam, is called Jihad. It can take many forms depending on the
circumstances varying from time to time and place to place.

Suppose there arises a situation in which it becomes difficult or
q even dangerous for a person or his family or community to profess
O Islam and to remain true to it. To be a Muslim may become the hardest

■

C^ thing to do in the world. In thai case. Jihad will lie in doing ones best

for oneself, one's family or community to stay firmly devoted Ot Islam.

"J" li would, certainly, be a most splendid Jihad in those circumstances.

0^ Similarly, should Muslims, through their own folly or negligence, start

drifting away from the faith, then, at such a time, to devote one's time
and energy to their religious revival and reform, too, would constitute a
kind of Jihad.

To carry the Divine guidance to those who are ignorant of it and to

_ __ _1-M _1

mak

accept it is yet another form of Jihad.

sympathet

Should believers in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasaliam) be in power somewhere and the
conditions demand that collective force be used for the defence and
assistance of the faith, then, in that case, the use of force for the
defence and assistance of faith according to the rules laid down for it,
will constitute Jihad, Two conditions, however, are essential for it.
Firstly, such a step must not be motivated by any personal or national

WHAT IS ISLAM?

self-interest, greed or enmity. It should be taken solely to carry out the
command of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and to serve the cause of
His faith. And, secondly, that the rules prescribed for it are
scrupulously observed. If force is used without the fulfilment of these
conditions, it will not be Jihad according to Islam but wanton
wickedness and mischief.

To speak a just word before a tyrannical ruler (be he a Muslim or a
non-Muslim) is, again, a form of Jihad, In the Traditions it has been
spoken as "the best of Jihad/*

All these forms of religious struggle and endeavour, at their proper
lime and place, are among the obligatory duties of Islam, and. as we
have seen the term Jihad is applied to them in various degrees.

O We now proceed to examine some .of the verses of the Holy

^ Quraan and Traditions of the Prophet (Sailallahu Alaihe

Cd Wasallam) enjoining on Muslims the duty of Jihad and revealing

to them what unique glory and spiritual merit lies in it. It is said in

T a Quraanic verse:

And strive in His cause as ye ^ .

ought to strive (with sincerity ^k^^^*^^^^^

and under discipline). He has
chosen you.

(XXII : 78)

tVfctV)

Another Quraanic verse is translated as :

O ye who believe ! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you
from a grievous penalty? That ye believe in Allah (Subhaanahu
Waia'aalaa) and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the
cause of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), with your property and your
persons; that will be best for ye if ye but knew ! He will forgive ye your
sins and admit ye to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to
beautiful mansions in Garden of Eternity: that is, indeed, the Supreme
Achievement. ■ (LXI : 10-12)

o
c6

WHA T IS ISLAM?

After these, the Traditions

'To believe truthfully in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and to
strive in the cause of Faith is the best of all deeds."

It shall not be thai a person whose feet are covered with dust in

the path of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) went to Hell

"For anyone of you to rise in the way of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) (i.e., in the defence of Islam and to take some part in the
struggle for its progress and glory) is bctlcr than seventy years of
worship in the corner of his house.

May it be allotted to us also by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) to
earn the Divine reward that is for those who make earnest exertions in
the path of His faith!

Lesson 14

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Mar

In the special language of Islam a person who meets his death in
the path of faith either as a result of obeying its injunctions and
carrying out its commands as a staunch and devoted follower or in the
course of struggle for its defence is called a martyr. It is said in the
Holy Quraan that Martyrs should not be thought of as dead: they are
alive, a very special existence is conferred on them and they are the
recipients of boundless favours and blessings from their Lord.

q Think not of those who are

cri

i
Q) Lord.

slain in Allah's way as dead.

Nay, they live, finding their sus- O^^i^ltfc^tl

tenance in the Presence of their ****&-*'■»*•* C

(III : 169, WW

'*&&

How marvellous is the fate of these true and noble sons of Islam,
how mightily beloved of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) they are and
what glorious rewards arc showered upon them by Him can be

visualised from the Tradition we arc going now to reproduce. The Holy
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is reported to have said:

•

"No one among the dwellers of the Paradise will ever want to be
sent back to the world, although all the worldly joys and riches may be
his if he is sent back, except one who had been killed in the way of
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa); such a man will want to be returned to
the earth and killed in the cause of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) ten
times over because of the high honour and splendid ceremony with
which he will be received in the Heaven on account of dying a martyr's
death.

WHAT IS iSLAM?

The sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) himself was so
enthusiastic about attaining martyrdom that he used often to say:

"By the Holy Being in whose power lies my life, I wish I was
killed in Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa)'s way and brought back to life
and killed once more and brought back to life and that this happened to
me over and over again/* Another of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam)'s Traditions read :

"Six rewards are conferred on a martyr by Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) ; one, he is forgiven immediately and his abode in the
Paradise is shown to him; two, he is spared the punishment of the
grave; third, he is granted freedom from the acute fear and anxiety of
the Day of Requital that will grip the heart of every one ("except of
q those on whom there will be the favour of the Lord); four, a crown of

O honour will be placed on his head, a single ruby of which will be more

■

(^ valuahlc than the whole world; five, seventy- two celestial brides will

be given to him in marriage; and> six, his intercession will be accepted
on behalf of seventy kinsmen."

Furthermore ;

To fall a martyr in the cause of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
atones for everything except a debt."

And, it should be remembered that the Divine reward and other
wonderful Favours promised on martyrdom are not dependent only on
death oceuring in the way of Allah {Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). It is not
thai when a person is killed in the cause of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) only then docs he become entitled to them. Every loss or
injury suffered, every pain and suffering undergone, in the service of
the faith carries a bounteous reward. Any believer who may be
persecuted, punished, beaten, insulted or tortured for the sake of Islam
will be rewarded most lavishly in the Hereafter. Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) will raise him so high in honour that the most exalted of
saints and divines will envy his fate. Just as soldiers, in this world, who

WHAT IS W AM?

serve their motherland gallantly and care nothing for their own safety
when the call of duty comes, are honoured with awards and decorations
hy their governments in the same way the servants of Allah

■

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) who suffer loss or humiliation for the sake of
faith occupy a special place of glory in the celestial scheme of things.
On the Day of Recompense when these blessed children of Islam will

receive their awards and decorations and Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa), the Almighty will honour them with His exquisite favours
and bounties, all the rest of men will regretfully wish that they, too, had
undergone a similar experience in the world, that they, too, had been
punished, tortured and humiliated for the sake of faith so that they
would also get those magnificent favours and rewards on the Day,

Should a trial of this kind be destined for us as well, O Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), at that fateful hour, keep us brave and
Q steadfast and withhold not from us Thy grace !

cti

■

Lesson 75

v^^.<i

WHA T IS ISIJlM?

Life After Death

This much is known to everyone that whoever is born into the
world has got to die one day or the other. But nobody knows on his
own what happens or will happen after death. This is known only to
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
vouchsafe the knowledge of it to His Prophet (Sallallahu Aiaihe
Wasaliam) and through the Prophet (Sallallahu Aiaihe Wasaliam) men
like you and me also come to know about it. Every prophet of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), in his time, had revealed clearly to his

O people through what stages they would have to pass after death and

how at each stage they would be recompensed for their deeds - good as

£2; well as bad - during their earthly sojourn. Since Prophet Muhammad

(Sallallahu Aiaihe Wasaliam) is the last of the Divine Apostles and

J. Messengers and no prophet is going to be raised up after him, the

different stages through which a man has to pass after death have been
explained by htm in greatest detail and with utmost clarity; If all that
the Prophet (Sallallahu Aiaihe Wasaliam) has revealed in this conection
is brought together it would make a volume by itself. We will,
therefore, give a very brief summary of it over here.

There are to follow three stages after death. The first stage runs
from death to Resurrection. It is called BanakhK Whether a person is
buried when he dies or he is cremated or cast into the river, his soul
does not perish with him. It is immortal; it lives. It only migrates from
this material world of ours lo anuthers world. In this other world the
angels question him about his spiritual state. If he is a true believer, he
gives the correct answers: whereupon the angels impart to him the glad
tidings that be is going to live in peace and happiness tiff the Last Day.
And if it is otherwise, that is, he is an unbeliever, an infrdel or a sham
or hypocritical Muslim, he is, at once, placed under dreadful

I The interval fcerween death and rcsurraction-Tr&ftsLator

lop

WHA T IS ISLAM?

punishment which is not to cease before the Day of Reckoning

The next stage comprised of the Last Day and the

Resurrection, The Last Day means that there will come a time when the
entire material world will be destroyed by the command of Allah
(Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa), anihilaiion will descend suddenly on
everything that exists around us. The whole world will be thrown
topsyturvy. Then, after a long lime, when Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) will wish, all men will be raised up again. Every person
born into the world will be re-created and called upon to render a full
account of his doings on the earth. In the Great Reckoning, those who
will be found worthy of deliverance will be awarded a place in the
Paradise and those who will turn out to be guilty and undeserving of
Divine chastisement will be consigned to Hell.

After this, there will commence the last stage. The dwellers of the
2 Paradise will live in a state irf eternal bliss, supremely immune from

every kind of pain, anxiety or suffering and exulting in the bounties of
J. their Lord the like of which they would not have dreamt of in the

world, while those that will be condemned to Hell will have to live
permanently in a condition of unmitigated misery and distress. There
will be for them nothing but horrible agony and casligation. This will
be the ultimate stage after death.

The above was the sum and substance of what the prophets,
specialy the last of them, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam), have taught mankind about the Hereafter and what is
indicated about it in the Holy Quraan and the Traditions* We will now
examine some of the relevant verses of the Holy Quraan;

Every soul shall have a taste ^ m _^ - m

of death : in the end to Us shall ye ^v£*K)^Ut J ^-A* < J>

be brought bacL (^^&&1^£S\

(XXIX: 57) • ■**

fl02l

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Every soul shall have a Taste
of death: and only on I he Day
of judgement shall you he paid

* s $it®SjS&

Jcrf

tM^mmm

your full recompense. (WtrtP/Jfa '&£\

(III: 185) V ' "" -*"

The Last Day will be a frightful, horrible day

O mankind ! fear your Lord, <:{$

for the convulsion of the Hour ^ -- - "-

(of judgement) will he a thing

terrible ! the Day ye shall see it ;

every mother giving suck shall o^lJF^^jvLX^^^

forget her sucklinghahe t and ^6\ u^t^l^t)^

O every pregnant female shall drop ^>, y i. *>

O her load unformed ! thou shall ^%M^m&3&

CD see mankind as in a drunken ri-

ot, ye i not drunk ! but dreadful

i .shall be the wrath of Allah

^ (XXII: 1-2)

(n&Jf&igyi&L

z&mig&

One day the earth and the
mountains will be in violent r ^

commotion and the mountains uW^t^^uvii

will be as a heap of sand poured ( \r- &*&*& *€(&

out and flowing down.

(LXXIIl: 14)

A day that will make chil-
dren hoary - headed.

(LXX11I: 1 7)

At length, when there comes
the deafening noise f that Day

shall a men flee form his own Q^f * *J&S<*

brother, and from his mother

WHAT IS ISLAM?

LXXX ; 33:41)
On the Day of Recompense :

(LXIX : IS)

and kit father, and from his wife isZ^Stdiyxfe

and children. Each one of them, \l*~r "f

that Day, will have enough con- ^^$^Zp*£$&

cern (of his own) to make him t^to^ofe \£*<

indifferent to others. Some faces ^^/^^ s** *

that Day will be beaming, laugh- ^^^f'C^^'SL

ing, rejoicing. And oilier faces $&%&'£&&£&
that Day wilt be dust-stained,
blackness will cover them.

i t&yg

2 Z-Vi. S^Q *£ K S„Cs

Thai Day shall ye be brought
to Judgement ! not an act of '^^S^J^i^^j^

>i£<\**LAx*y>

yours that ye hide will be hid- (\t3\J\) Af

den. V ' ■ / oN

*y '

One day We shall remove the
mountains, and thou will see the
earth as a level stretch* and We
shall gather them, altogether, nor
shall leave out any of them, And
they will be marshalled before

the Lord in ranks, with the ^iS'S&SSX^''"'*-

announcement, "Now have ye ^^^\\ J ^'^i c iX J -'<' > ^

come to Us (bare) as We created '-^^c^lf^d?

ye first t Aye, ye thought We shall S*>^et>Jol

not fulfil the appointment made '& +&%< * gft '<&

to you to meet Us?" And the ^2^7^"^ ****

Book (of Deeds) will be placed *^K&3$
before yon; and thou will see the

sinful in great terror because of ^i^ t£ * y

what Is recorded therein; thev ^l^SSjj fa: ^

WHAT IS ISLAM?

will say "Ah ! Woe to us ! What a
Book is this ! It leaves nothing
small or great, but takes account

\&\

»-f S x

thereof!" They will find all that 0±%jtf^JX£

they did placed before them: and , r ^ Y\ y *i J Z&

no one will thy Lord treat with injustice. ^«?9 ^^ * ->

(X VI 11 ; 47-49)

A man's own limbs will depose against him before Allah
(Sunhaanahu Wata'aalaa) on the Day of Reckoning.

That day shall be set a seal

on their mouths. But their hands V-flf> t ' ^ Jf

^_ will speak to Us. and their feet "M#&^\u£|5

O witl bear witness to all that they ^ffi^^ffiy^Vvfijj

U . did (XXXV1;65)

cti

The Holy Quraan, in fine, has portrayed most graphically and
vividly the happenings of the Last Day: the terrific explosions and the
dreadful tremors, the total annihilation of the world even the mountains
will be wiped out of existence, the rising again of men, the gathering
together of them for the Judgement, the presentation of the Book of
Deeds, the deposing of one's own Umhs against oneself, the Judgement,
and finally, the execution of lite Divine Verdict and the allotment of
Heaven and Hell. All these events have been described so candidly in
some of the chapters of the Holy Quraan that one can obtain a full
picture of the happenings of the Usl Day by reading them. The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam). thus, is reported to have observed,
"Anyone who wishes to know about ihe Last Day as if the scene of it
was drawn before his eyes should read these chapters of the Holy
Quraan : Takveer, Infitaar and Inshiqaaq.

We will now see a few Traditions of the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) appertaining to Barzakh and the Last Day. Says he:

"When aayone of you dies the place that is going to be tes abode

WHAT IS ISLAM?

in the Heaven or in the Hell (on the basis of his conduct in the world) is

t before his eyes every morning and evening and it is said lo
him, "Behold, this is your destination, and, surely* you will reach it'."

"When the Trumpet will first be sounded on the Last Day by
the command of Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) everyone will faint
and drop dead on the ground. When it will be sounded next all men
will rise again."

They wilt then be commanded to proceed to make their presence
before the Lord. The angels, thereafter, will be told to collect them together
and here the investigation into their conduct on the earth will begin.**

It is related that a Companion once enquired from the Prophet
(Sallaliahu Alaihe Wasallam), "O Messenger of Allah (Subhaanahu

Wata'aalaa), how will Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) raise up his
O

cri

creatures from the dead? Is there anything like it here in this world
which may be cited as example?" The Prophet (Sallaliahu Alaihe
Wasallam) replied, "Has it never occured to you that you may have
passed by a stretch of land in your country and found it dry and bereft
of all vegetation, and, then, on coming upon it again, after sometime,

discovered that it was covered lavishly with fresh, green grass?' 1 The

panion replied, "Yes, my master. It has." The Prophet (Sallaliahu

Alaihe Wasallam) remarked, "This typifies resurrection, Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will raise from the dead in the same manner/ 1

The Prophet (Sallaliahu Alaihe Wasallam) is reported to have asked,
after reciting the Quraanic verse, On the Day (the earth) will declare her
tidings'* "Do you know what it means?" The Companions arc said to
have replied, "Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) and His Apostle
(Sallaliahu Alaihe Wasallam) know best" The Prophet (Sallaliahu
Alaihe Wasallam), the Tradition goes on to tell, then said, "On the Day
of Judgement the earth will bear witness to all the deeds performed by
men on it (i.e*, at the bidding of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) the earth
will tell that such and such a person had done such and such a thing on it
on such and such a day.)

I . The Holy Qurain. XCIX : 4

WHAT IS ISI^M?

Speaking of the Day of Recompense the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam), further, is reported to have said, M On that Day
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will call upon everyone to come
forward and be his own witness. He will say to him, 'Today you arc
your own witness: our recording angels are present; this much of
evidence is enough," Then by the command of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) the lips of the person will be sealed and he will not be
able to utter a word. His limbs (arms, legs, etc) will then be
commanded to speak and they will relate the whole story of his
doings in the world."

It is reported that once a person went to the Prophet (Sallallahu

O Alaihe Wasallam) and said, **0 Messenger of Allah (Subhaanahu

- Wata'aalaa)! I have some slaves who sometimes disobey me, or

they steal or tell me a lie. I sometimes scold them and, sometimes, I

also punish them. How is it going to turn out for me on the Day of

CD Requital?" The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) observed,

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will dispense justice correctly on
the Day of Judgement. If the punishment you meted out to them is
proportionate to their faults you will neither get nor have to give
anything; you will be quit If the punishment turns out to be of a
lesser degree than what they merited, you will be recompensed for
it. If the punishment proves to be excessive you will have to
recompense the slaves." On hearing the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam)'s reply the enquirer began to cry. He said, "Then, O
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa)! the best thing for me is to send them away, I declare
before you that I have set them free." The Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) is also reported to have recited the following
verse of the Holy Quraan to him :

WHAT IS ISLAM?

S»*~a

Mte .vAa// set up scales of justice for the Day of Judgement, so thai
not a soul will he dealt with unjustly in the least, And if there he (no
more than) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account)
and enough are We to take account.

(XXI : 47)

O
O

Lesson 16

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Heaven And Hell

•

In the Preceding chapter it has been said thai the last Day will be
the Day of Judgement. On that Day the believers who will also have
done good deeds in the world and on whom there will be no
punishment will rejoice. During the entire proceedings of the Day they
will rest secure under the shadow of Divine benevolence and gain
immediate admission into the Paradise. Such of them as well be
adjudged worthy of deliverance but only after they have undergone a
spell of punishment will be forgiven and admitted into the Paradise

rr after they have suffered some of the agonies of the Day of Reckoning,
: or, at the utmost, after they have spent some time in Hell. In any case,
those possessing the least amount of faith will, sooner or later, find

their place in Heaven. Only men who will have departed from the
qj world in a state of infidelity or polytheism will be doomed to live
permanently in Hell. In sum, Heaven is the reward for faith, fidelity
and good -doing and Hell for infidelity, polytheism and revolt against
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and transgression against His will

The superlative, incomparable blissfulness of Heaven and the
fearful, loathsome punishment and torture of Hell have been described
in proper detail in the Holy Quraan;

'Jmo^zk

For righteous are Gardens in
nearness to their Lord, with rivers
flowing beneath; therein is their
eternal home; with Companions
pure (and holy); and the good plea-
sine of Allah. For in Allah's sight

are (all) His servants. \^$^ti^^S^

(III: 1 5) {Kt$$&)

HI 1 *

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Verily the Companions of
Garden shall that Day have joy in
all that they do; they and their asso-
ciates wilt be in grove of (cool)
shade; reclining on Thrones (of

WS&&\<&\Q

, pmm&

dignity); every fruit (enjoyment) \^ fill Zj^KQ 1^

will be there for them; they shall &fy£$$&*^ '***

have whatever they call for: ^

"Peace!" — a word (of salutation)
from a Lord Most Merciful.

(XXXVI : 55-58)

in*, °r*

There will he their all the souls
could desire, all that the eyes could
delight in; and ye shall abide there-
in forever.

(XUH:7I)

(Here is) a Parable of
the Garden which the righteous
are promised; in it are rivers
of water incorruptible; rivers of
milk of which the taste never
changes, rivers of wine of joy to
those who drink; and rivers of
honey (pure and clear). In if
there are for them all kinds of
fruits; and Grace from their
Lord (XLVII: 15)

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btjin

No sense of fatigue shall

touch them.

(XV : 48)

{xtji^)

WHA T IS IS! AM?

In short, Heaven is the abode of supreme and eternal blissfulness,
felicity and happiness. There will noi be the faintest trace of pain,
sorrow or distress in it Lei us now see how will life in Hell be like:

But those whose balance is
tight wilt be those who have lost
their souls; in Hell they will
abide. The fire will burn their
faces and they will therein grin
with their lips displaced.

(XX 11 1: 103-104)

ottJsv t*~ > * &£&

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For the

-doers Wc

Fire

wrong
have prepared a

whose (smoke and flames), like
the walls and roof of a tent will
hem them in: if they implore
relief they will be granted water
like melted brass, that will scald
their faces*

(XVIII i 29)

Zta/ those who deny (their

Lord), for them will he cut out a
garment of Fire; over their heads
will be poured out boiling water.
With it will be scalded what is
within their bodies, as well as
(their skins). In addition, there
will he maces of iron (to punish)
them. Every time they wish to get
away therefore from anguish,
they will be forced back therein,
and (it will be said), "Taste ye
the Penalty of Burning!"

(XX It ■ 19-22)

vtli*->

*>■,••

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Verily the tree of Zaqqum
will he the food of the sinful, like
molten brass; it will boil in their
insides, like the boiling of scald-
ing water. (A voice will cry :)
"Seize ye him and drug him into
the midst of the Blazing Fire!
Then pour over his head the
Penalty of Boiling Water. "

(XUV : 43-48)

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l^fewvi^JSHS^

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And he is given for drink ;
boiling fetid water. In gulps will
he sip it t but never will be near
swallowing it down his throat:
death will come to him from
every quarter, yet will he not die;
and in front of him will be a
c h as tise in e n t un relenting.

(XIV: 16-17)

Those who reject Our Signs
We shall soon cast into the Fire:
as often as their skins are roast-
ed through, We shall change
them for fresh skins that they
may taste the Penalty.

(IV : 56)

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But enough. There are hundreds fo verses in the Holy Quraan that
tell the same story. To take now some of the Traditions of the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) :

"Says AH ah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), 'For My faithful servants 1
have got ready (in Heaven) things no eye has seen* nor ear heard of,
nor the thought of which has ever crossed a human heart 1 ,"

WHAT IS ISLAM?

The delicious foods, the luscious fruit, the delightful drinks, the
}'Mi|»euus clothes, ihc magnificent palaces, the splendid gardens, Ihc
ili'lccutble lakes, the wonderful hoors (celestial brides) and other
innumerable things of divine beauty and joy that will be available in
Heaven are, to be sure, known only to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).
We. on our part, believe in Ihem implicitly and hold [hem to be
absolutely true.

Says another Tradition: "As the dwellers will enter Heaven a
heavenly herald will proclaim, 'Stay healthy; disease in not going to
touch you here. Live forever; death does exist for you no more. Remain
young; you shall not grow old in Heaven Be happy always: for you,
now, there is neither pain nor soi tow,"

But the greatest boon that will be conferred on the faithful, who
O also practise righteousness, after they have entered their celestial

abode, is thai they will sec Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) in alt His
2 Divine Splendour. In the words of the Holy Prophet (Sallaltahu Alaihe

Wasallam) ii will be like this:

"When the dwellers of Paradise have entered the home of celestial
bliss Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will enquire from them thus; l Do
you wanl that 1 may heslow a favour upon you over and above the
blessings you enjoy T The people of the Heaven will answer: 4 Our
Lord ! thou hast illumined our faces, saved us from Hell and granted us
the Paradise, (what more can we want 7) 1 The veil will then be lifted
and l hey shall see their Lord unhindered. All the endless joys and
blessings of ihc Paradise will fade away before the glorious spectacle
m| die Almighty/*

hi another Tradition it is related that once the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) while describing the marvellous pleasures of the
Paiadise and the extreme agony of the Hell observed:

"On the Day of judgement a person will be brought who will have

WHATlSJSIAMt

ived in greatest pomp and luxury in the world bui will be condemned
in Hell because of his evil deeds. He will be djped once into the fire of
Hell and Ihen taken out of it immediately and asked, "Have you ever

known comfort ? The man will reply. No, our Lord. I swear by Thy
name, I have never known what comfort is. Afterwards, another person
will be brought who will have led a life of rank misery and misfortune
on the earth bul will be found worthy of Paradise owin** lo his

faithfulness to Allah (Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and piety. He will be
taken lo Heaven and then led out of il immediately and asked, 'Have
you ever known pain or misery ? k No, our Lord! 1 he will reply, s l swear
by Thy name, I have never known what pain or misery is!"

In truth, Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) has provided such
wonderful joys and comforts in the paradise that a man who has passed
q his days in the world in utmost distress will forget all about il as soon
O as he has had a taste of them. Likewise, Ihc Hell is such an infernal

■

CC place thai a person who have lived all one's life in the world in rare
luxury and happiness will at once fell, on stepping into it, that he had
never known what was lo be happy or comfortable.

The severity and dreadful ness of the chastisement of the Hell
be imagined from this one Tradition of the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasal lain): *

■

"The mildest punishment thai will he inflicted on a person in the
Hell is that he will be made to wear a pair of sandals made of tire
which will be so hot as to set his brain boiling as if something was

cooking in a pot on a stove.

The fare that will be served there has been indicated in the verses
of the Holy Quraan we have quoted already. Here, also, are iwo
Traditions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasal lam):

'The slinking pus people will be made to drink in Hell is such that
if a bucket of it was thrown into the world, the whole world would be
with its infernal stench."

WHAT IS ISLAM?
ts If a drop o\ Zaqqtun were to fall on the earth il would be enough

to pollute all the articles of food and drink thai arc found here/*

Brohlcrs! AH these events the Holy Quraan and the sacred Prophet
{Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallain) have told about lo come after death— the
Barzakh, the Resurrection, the Judgement and Heaven and Hell — . and
we have discussed in this lesson and the preceding one, are literally

correct and true. There can be no doubt inJhcm at all. By the
Almighty, they will come to pass exactly as the Holy Quraan and the
Holy Prophet (SaMallahu Alaihe Wasallam) have taught. We will see
them ourselves, with our own eyes, after da

The Last Day and Heaven and Hell have been dwelt upon in the
Holy Quraan and the Traditions with such emphasis and thoroughness
O and referred to again and again a thousand limes for no olher reason
O except to arouse in us a living, genuine anxiety lo do all thai lies in our
Cd power lo save ourselves from the fearful penally of Hell and attain the

cherished, supremely delightful goal of Paradise.

*~ Brothers! Life is transitory. One day we must die. Death is certain,

and so is the Last Day. We will, surely, have to stand before Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'iiaiau) after death and answer Tor our deeds on the
earth. What, then, is our eternal home going to be- Heaven or Hell?

There is lime still for us lo mend our ways, to offer honest
repentance for our misdeeds of the past and make a real, sincere effort
(or the attainment of Paradise.

■

Should, Allah- forbid, the rest of our days in the world be also
spent in neglect and folly, then, be sure, there is nothing m store for us
in the Hereafter save regret and the punishment of HclL

L The infernal tree, mentioned in the Holy Quraan, the fruit nf which those doomed lo
ilie eternal punislimcni nf Hell shall em. -Translator

H HA T IS IS

Lesson 17

Zikr

Islam stands for self-surrender and submission to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). It calls on men lo fashion their lives
according to Ihc Divine Will. It wants ihcm to be loyal to Him in all
circumstances and in every sphere of Ihcir conduct, personal as well as
social. This can be possible only when our mind's eye is fixed
permanently on the Almighty, and Ihe consciousness of His love and
Glory overshadows all our thoughts and actions.

It is, as such, one of the special teaching of Islam that we
q remember Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) much and often and keep
^ our tongues fresh with the recital of His names, praises and attributes.

It is an excellent and well-tried method for producing in our hearts His
ove and the consciousness of His Greatness. It is natural for a man's
Q) heart to be filled with the love of anyone on whose splendour and

excellence his mind dwells all the time.

•

In any way, it is a fact that frequent remembrance kindles the
flame or love and lends strength to it and so also that the life of
complete loyally and submission to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
which is the essence of Islam can be possible only through Divine love.
It is love alone lhat makes one the willing bondsman of anoihers. As a

;rsian verse says;-
WhaL is Love?
Say : "To be Lhe beloved's bondsman."

Consequently, great stress has been laid in the Holy Quraan and by
the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) on Zikr (Remembrance of
Allah Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).
The Holy Quraan reads :

o
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WHA I IS IMAM?

O ye who believe / celebrate. . . . f . _

the Praise x of Allah, and do this WQ8KWr<*®$

often; and glorify Him morning
ami evening,

(XXX I II : 41-42)

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And celebrate the Praises of
Allah much and often : that ye - ~.w r t

may prosper ; tf £„ >l > • U * ~

(IXH : 10)

There arc l wo things which lead one lo (urge! Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) when one gels absorbed in I hem. These are weallh and
family* So ihe Holy Quraan names them specifically and warns
Muslims against becoming n prisoner (o ihem.

O ye who believe ! let no!
your riches or vour children

your tiiftes or your cnaarcn * ^ V> C - i'fif -*■*£* l /Vi

divert vou from the remembrance <^^wjijLa>*-->*}

i
Q) of Allah. Those who act upon

fhis. Those are the people in loss. A s , i^fi t^JJl^J

(uciu-9) **iur ^

The five daily prayers (Salaah) are obligatory for Muslims. These
prayers, certainly, are a means of remembering Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and a very good one loo. Bui it would not be proper for a
Muslim to stop at them considering thai if he had offered the Safaah he
had done all that was required of him by way of remembrance of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and there was no need to do anything
further*. It is a clear commandment of Islam that, in addition to Salaah,
one should also not negieel Zjkr in whatever state one may be. Ii is said
in Surah Nisaa.

—

I ii does not mean that just as it is compulsory far u nuislmi to offer Salaah five times a
day in the same way it is ulsti esscnii;il lor him u> keep him self engaged always in the
remembrance of Allah (Subhaanahu Wuia'aalaxi). What is required is that that a Muslim
should ttoi he nejrkclful of Ihe duly of remembering Allah (Suhhaunuhu Wata'aalaa).

WHAi IS ISIAM?

When ve

liana I)

pass (congraga-

( elehraie

prayers,

Allah '$ Praises. standing, pitting
or lying tlmm.

(IV : 102

tJL

Thus, even those engaged in Jihad arc enjoined to carry oul the

Zikr of Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'auluu) keenly and enthusiastically.
Says Surah An ilia L

O ve who he live ! when ye
meet a force, he. firm and call
Allah in rememehrance much

(and often); thai ye may prosper,

( VI 11:45)

This verse, ah (he verse quoted earlier, 'And celebrate the Praise*
nf Allah (Suhhaminhu Wjilnaalaa) much and often: that ye may
prosper"* show thai YAkt. by no means, constitutes an important factor
in the success and felicity Of (he believers- As against it, the verse wc
mentioned a Tew lines ago candidly declares that those who nc&lecl the
Zikr do a very worng thing They are ai a great loss. In Surah Ra'ttch
further* it is stated as a characteristic of Zikr that it imparls peace and
tranquility to the mind and the soul.

For without a doubt, in the
re me mh ranee of Allah do hearts
find satisfaction.

(XI LL : 2H)

v
-P

#V^J\p^S&\

It is related that once the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)
was asked who would be the most exalted among the servants of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) on the Last Day. The Prophet (Sallallahn
Alaihe Wasallam) replied, "Those who do the Zikr of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) be they men or women/*

WHAT 1$ ISLAM?

Hadhrat Abu Mo as a relates from ihc Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) that "Those who remember Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
and those who do not are like those who arc alive and those who are
dead (i.e. those who remember Allah Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa and
celebrate His praises are alive while those who don't, are dead)."

Relates Hadhrat Abdullah bin Omar that the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) once said, 'There is a polish for everything; for the
hearts it is the Zikr of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). Nothing is more
effective then Zikr for deliverance from Divine chastisement."

It should be understood clearly that the real meaning of Zikr is that a
man should never be without the thought of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa). In whatever circumstances he may be placed, with whatever

Ihing he may be occupied, he must not allow himself to become
O unmindful of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), His laws and ordinances.

Though for this it is not necessary thai the tongue should also always be
2 repeating His names, attributes etc., such a state of permanent and all-

■

pervading Allah - consciousness is commonly found only in devout
■ servants of the Lord who succeed in producing within themselves an

everlasting awareness of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and a feeling
of infinite devotion to Him through frequent Zikr. There is developing
a tendency among some of the modern educated people to hold the Zikr
as futile. This is a grave folly. Zikr is a most valueahle instrument for
forging a living and all-embracing link with Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) was very clear
about its worth and importance.

[( is related by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Busr that once a man
mssenled himself before the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and
said, "O Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa)! There are numerous teachings of Islam. Please tell me
something which I may hold fast forever". The Prophet (Sallnyahu
Alaihe Wasallam) replied, "Keep your tongue wet always with the Zikr
irf Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).' 1

Ijjd

WHAT IS! SLAM?

Another Tradition related by Hadhrat Abu Hurairah reads; "Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) says, 'When anyone remembers Me and bis
lips move in My Zikr, I am by his side'/*

Some Zikr of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam)

The value and importance of Zikr would have become apparent
from l he Quraanic verses and Traditions we have just quoted. We have
seen how Zikr of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) promotes and
strengthens Divine love in our hearts Below we give some of Ihe
favourite Zikr of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam)-

Foremost

Relates Hadhrat Jabir from the Prophet (Sallallahu Afaihc
Wasa(Iam) thai ;

"The best of all ZikfiS is the Zikr of jfepj|S5

■ Narrates Hadhrat Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc

Wasallam) once remarked: "When anyone recites 4&\^a5f$ from
Ihe depth of his heart the gates of the heavens open for the Kaltmah till
Qj it reaches the seventh heaven provided, of course, that the devotee

abstains from the major sins/*

According to anoteher Tradition the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) is reported to have said, "Once Moses (Alaihis Salaam)
begged the Lord to tell him something through which he could do His
Zikr. The Lord told him to do so through the Kaiinmh of ' ft?}

upon which Moses (Alaihis Salaam) said. "This is what every one does.
1 want something special." Came the reply, "If the seven heavens and
all the heavenly creatures and the seven climes on the earth and all thai
is contained in Ihcm arc placed on one side of the balance and the

Kaltmah of ^Y^2Q\5 on lhe ol her t the later shall turn out to be
heavier."

, indeed, is the splendour of jwiyidlH? . People,

unfortunately, take it to be a mere phrase- The writer of these lines,
himself has heard it from an inspired devotee of the Lord in a moment
of rare spiritual feeling that, "If someone with the entire wealth of ihe

WHATiSISIAM?

work! at his command were to icll mc to give him one Kalimah of

<xb\y\1i}\*$ recited by me in return for his treasures, this humble
sell shall refuse to do kg."

The Third Kalimah

Related Hadhrat Samurah bin Jundub thai the Prophet (Sallallahu
A la i he Wasallam) once said that of all the spoken words and the
Kalimah the most excellent were these four:

Narrates Hadhral Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc

Wasallam) said, "The Kalimah ^iJ^mm^Sm^^U^^^
is dearer Lo me than ihc entire world on which the sun shines."

q This Kalimah is most complete and comprehensive and all the

O aspects of Divine praise are covered by it. In some Tradition the phrase

CC aljbiJJS^^/cJ^iJ is also included it. It occurs after jSSiJuilA revered

spiritul mentor used to explain the importance of the Kalimah to the

writer of these lines in following manner:

«uAc>\2" Glory be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aataa), free
from all faults and blemishes and other things that arc not worthy of
His Glory. JJsS^M ■ Praise be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), He
is the embodiment of perfection and the centre of every kind of virtue,
(therefore) all praise is for Him, and when such is His Glory that He is
absolutely blemishless and all the wonderful virtues are assembled in

Him. He alone is our Lord and the sole object of our heart's desire.
cuj\ : $l'fLJ\y - 'There is no God save Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa),
We arc His own helpless slaves and of no one else. ^JS* J^jjI Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is Great, He is Most powerful, Almighty. We
can never acquit ourselves of our duties to Him as His slaves nor can
we ever gain nearness unto Him except that He Himself blesses us with
His Grace. Au§ff&$$$f§

There is no power or virtue but in Allah/*

WHA T IS ISLAM?

Tasbeehaat-i-Fatimah

A well-known Tradition of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) has it that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe WasallamJ's beloved
daughter (and Hadhrat Ali's wife), Hadhrat Fatimah, used to perform all
the domestic duties with her own hands. She had even to draw water
from the well and to carry it home and to grind the corn in the millstone.
One day she begged the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) to
provide her with a domestic servant upon which the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) observed, "I will tell you of something that will serve
you better than a domestic servant. Recite ^\&\£& 33 times, ^judl 33
times and ^A^12&*j 34 times after each Salaah and on retiring to bed.

This will be of greater value to you than a servant."

Another Tradition says, "whoever will, recite after each
Salaah J$$£ 33 times, 4ii^t] 33 times and ^rtlliT 34 times

** **

O and, al the end of it, the Kalimah, all his sins will be forgiven even if

f^ they be as profuse as the foam of the sea."

d) (There is no god but Allah Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa. He is alone. No

partner hath He. Unto Him belongs sovereignty and unto Him belongs
Praise and He is all -Powerful).

SubhaanAUah wa Behamdehi

It is related hy Hadhrat Abu Hurairah. that the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) said, "He who will recite a hundred limes »*l*o>i&&£Z
in morning and evening regularly no one shall take with him a greater
provision of virtue to the Hereafter than him save the person who
recited it even more."

Another Tradition related again by Hadhrat Abu Hurairah says;
"Two phrases are very light on the tongue but are very heavy in the
Balance of Deeds and Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) loves them very
much. These arc ^^j^o^and £&3U&6^

There arc many other phrases of Zikr commended by the Prophet

WHAT [$ ISLAM?

(Sallullahu Alaihe Wasallam). But the lew we have given here, are
quite sufficient for anyone to adopt For regular recitation.

As regards the rewards and recompense in the Hereafter promised
in the Traditions, it needs to be noted that there is no fixed measure or a
standard yard-slick Tor it. Whoever will recite a Kal'unah of Zikr
sincerely and with no other objective then the propitiation of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will, Inshaa Allah, merit the full reward no
matter how many times and at what hour he does so. But when a

guide prescribes a Zikr for anyone for a particular purpose
like the kindling of Divine love or awakening of the heart and the
creation of a permanent consciousness of At : ah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) or for the eradication of a moral or .spiritual ailment, it is
necessary to follow the routine he lays down and to do the Zikr as
q many limes as he tells. Without this the desired results can't he

(J obtained by the devotee. For example if a person recites the Surah

q3 Faatjhah or any other Surah of the Holy Quraan as an act of religious

merit there is no harm if he does so once in the morning, once at noun,
v once in the afternoon, once in the evening and a couples of limes in the

0) night, but if he wants to learn the Surah by heart, also, he will have to

recite it scores of times during one silting. Otherwise he will not be
able to memorise it. This is exactly the difference between an ordinary
Zikr which spiritual-mentors prescribe to disciples for the cure of a
spiritual morbidity or as a means for the attainment of any other
objective of a similar category.

Many people gel caught in confusion because of not knowing this
difference. This is why these few lines have been added above.

The reading of the Holy Quraan

The reading of the Holy Quraan is also a very good Zikr. A
Tradition says.

I . Some people these clays believe thai merely reading of the Holy Quraan. without

following its meaning, is useless. They, perhaps, imagine the Holy Quraan to he like any
oflicr hook and just as it is useless to read a book unless one also understands what it says,

continue next page

WHA T IS ISLAM?

Ctf

"The superiority of Ihc word of Holy Quraan over any other word
is the same as the superiority of Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) over

any of His creature/'

Haclhral Abdullah bin Mas'ood relates from ihc Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihc Wasallam) thai: '"He who reads one letter of ihc Holy Quraan
for him ihcrc is one virtue and the reward on this virtue is equal to thai

on ten other virtues. When I say _^J) I do not mean that Alif, Laam,

Mccm is one letter, but Alif (t»l) is one letter Laarn (#J / is

another letter, and Meern (y* ) ihe third

Yet another Tradition as related by Hadhrat Abu Umaamah, reads:

*'0 people, read the Holy Quraan. On the Day of judgement the
(j Holy Quraan will inicrcccd for those who will have been reading it (in

I heir lives),"

Some suggestions

■ * mil. ii -■» " ^ **^^^™ .1

Q) L There is no need for those in whose hearts Zikr of Allah

(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) has come to dwell permanently as a result of

in the same way they feel thai the reading of ihc Holy Quraan also without following its
translation is meaningless. Bui the (ruth is thai rhc Holy Quraan is just not like any other
book. ][ is the book of Allah (Subhaanahu Wutn*aalau) and nothing besides ii. The mere
reading of it. with due reverence and humility, is not without its significance. It indicates
devotion to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), and, thus* it becomes an act of worship. Had
the purpose of reading (he Holy Quraan been only to realise its import and to appreciate
intelligently whai if seeks to convey, it would not have been ncs.se ssnry to recite the surah
Faatihah as many as four limes is in the course of a single Salasth. Only once would have
been enough for knowing its meaning. Such a misunderstanding arises, generally, among
those who imagine Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) to be something of a worldly
sovereign. They have no idea of His supreme Belovcdncss and His Worshipfuine&s* They
have known Him and accepted Him only with their minds. Their hearts do not fully
participate in it. Together with this, it should also be remembered that the real purpose of
the Holy CJmaan i.e. guidance and instruction CM be realised $nly when u is properly
understood, when it is read carefully and ihe meaning of its verses arc studied diligently.
This is the best way of reading it and a source of greater augustrcess. At ihe same lime, the
mere reading of the Holy Quraan also, is not futile. The correct and balanced view in this
matter is what we have stated hem.

WHA T IS ISLAM?

constant endeavour and become a pari of Ihcir existence to follow a SCI
routine or lo make a special effort in this respect. Bui if common
people like us want to strengthen their bond with Adah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and to partake of its suspiciousness and blessedness they
must practise the Zikr at a fixed lime and in a fixed number according
lo their individual circumstances. Better still, they should seek the
advice of a spiritual guide while choosing a Zikr phrase for themselves.
Or they can select a Kalimah from the Kalimahs we have given above
which may be most suited to their temperament. "Time should also he
set aside daily for the reading of the Holy Quraan.

2, As far as possible the meaning of the Kalimnh used for Zikr
should be kept in mind during the recitation. The Zikr should he done
with an active awareness of Divine Glory and Magnificence and wilh
the feeling and the belicT that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is near,
O right here, listening to every word thai is being recited.

■

2 3. Wudhu (ablution) is nol necessary for Zikr, It can be done

freely without the Wudhu, The reward will not suffer because of it But

■ the spiritual effectiveness of the Zikr is very much enhanced when it is

done with Wudhu,

4. It has been seen earlier lhal the third Kalimah

\>^M^^

is the most comprehensive one among all the Kalimahs. If it is adopted
for recitation, il can fulfil all the needs. This writer has seen that

spiritual mentors generally prescribe il lo their disciples with Duraod

i
Shareefand fstighfaar *

I. Dealt wilh separately in lessims ]9aiid 20

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Lesson IS i *

Du'aa

When it is definite and beyond dispute thai whatever happens in
the world happens by the Will of Allah (Subhaanahu Wataaalaa) and
thai every thing I hat exists lies absolutely in His power and conrol, it is

manifestly natural for us to supplicate to Him in our needs, big as wc
as small. Followers of all religions beseech their god and address their
petitions to Him. But in Islam it is a matter or paramount importance.

Slates the Holy Quraan:

O And your Lord says; "Call

^ on Me: I will answer (your

Cti Prayer), "

(XL: 60)

(to the rejectors): my
Lard ix not uneasy because of

you if yot4 cull not on Him. ^ KMi

(XXV :77) l '*•; }

feS^asai

Together with calling on us lo supplicate to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) in our needs the Holy Quraan also goes on to assure that
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is very close to His servants. He hears
their petitions and grants them.

S^s$*$M%

When my servants ask thee

concerning Me, I am indeed , ^

close to them. I listen to the LYs3\\^4^ i * , <*J

prayer of every supplicant when \Ss\'\

he call e J It on Me

(ft: 186)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Ahrihe Wasallam) also assures thai
to beg to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) for our needs, to turn lo Him

- .. * ~

and to make our peiitons to Him is (he very essence and marrow of
worship. Says he:

"Du'aa (making of earnest entreaties to Allah Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa is worship/ 1 (According to another version, the Tradition
reads: "Du'a is the essence and marrow of worship)"

"Nothing enjoys a loftier place in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) than du'aa."

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is displeased with those who do
not beg for their needs to Him, The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc

O Wasallam) is reported to have said, "Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is

O displeased with His servant who docs not supplicate for his needs to

Cfl Him."

Glory be lo Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! If a person
CD approaches a close friend or a near relative with his needs every now

and then they get sick of him, but Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is so
marvelously gracious and benevolent to His servants that He gets angry
if they do not turn to Him in their needs. A Tradition says:

"For whom the doors of Du'aa have opened, for him the doors of
mercy have opened/'

Anyway, to pray to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) for one's needs
for the realisafun of one's ambitions is not only a means to their
fulfilment but also a superb act of worship and Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) is very happy with him who does so, He opens the gates of
His mercy for him. This is true of all supplications whether they be of

religious or spiritual nature or a worldly need. The only condition is
that the object or need should be of a lawful and legitimate kind. To
pray for an improper or sinful thing is also improper and sinful.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

The greater ihe depth or feeling, the stronger the realisation of
one's own helplessness and the firmer the conviction of Divine
Omnipotence and Benevolence with which a prayer is made, Ihe
greater the chances arc of its acceptance. A prayer wich docs not spring
from the heart but is uttered on Jy by the mouth as a formality is not
prayer. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallain) says:

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) does not grant a prayer that is
made with a sleeping heart. 11

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) listens to prayers at all hours but

we learn from Traditions that there are certain occasions on which if a
prayer is made it stands greater chances of acceptance. As for instance,
after a Fardh (obligatory) Salaah, during the later part of the night, at
the time of breaking a fast or at any other moment of a similar nature
O when a good act is performed, and during the course of a journey
O particularly when it is undertaken for a religious purpose and for the
Cti sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).

It is not necessary for a man to be a saint, or innocent of sin, for
CD his prayers to be granted. It is true that the prayers of noble and
virtuous persons are granted more than those of others bufcit does not

mean thai the prayers of ordinary men and sinners are not heard at all.
One, therefore, must not give up making supplications to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) thinking what would the supplications of a
sinner do. Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the Beneficicnt, the
Merciful listens to the prayers of His sinning servants, loo, just as He
feeds them and clothes them inspile of their misdeeds. Everyone
should, therefore, pray. We have seen how Du'aa is regular worship.
Divine recompense will in any case be his who will engage himself in it.

It will be foolish to loose heart and cease praying if the object for
which an earnest prayer is made to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) is
not realised. Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), in any event, is not bound
by our desires. Sometimes in His judgement, it is in our own interest
that our prayers should not be granted at once- Sometimes delay is
found by Him to be better for us. But, we, in our ignorance, gel

WHAT IS ISLAM?

disheartened. We are inclined to be hasty and when our prayers are not
answered we give up praying as futile. As a Tradition of the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallnm) assures us:

"Du'aa is never wasted. But the forms of its acceptance vary.
Sometimes a person gets whaL he begs for. Sometimes Allah
{Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) does not think it best for him thai the thing he
prays for should be granted. So He does not give it to him but, in its

place, a greater favour is bestowed on him or an impending calamity is

averted or the prayer is made an atonement for his sins. (Since the

supplicanl docs not know it he imagines thai his entreaties and

supplications have come to nothing). Sometimes the prayer is turned

into the harvest of the Hereafter The object for which a person prays is

not granted to him in his life but greater rewards is reserved for him in

Lhe life lo come as a compensation thereof;' 1
O
^ And here is another Tradition.

■

"Some people, many of whose prayers had not been granted in this

world, when they will sec in the Hereafter the glorious rewards and

Q) blessings that had been set aside for them as a recompense for their

unfulfilled prayers, will exclaim mournfully how great would it have
been, had none of their prayers been granted in lhe world so thai l hey
could get the compensation tor them all in the Hereafter."

In fine* everyone who believes in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
should make it a habit to call on Htm for his needs with all his heart
and with and unshakeable faith in the Omnipotence and the
Benevolence of the Almighty and believing positively that the prayer
will be granted. He must be sure in his heart thai his prayer shall never,
never go waste.

The endeavour should be to pray in words richly expressive of
Divine Might and Magnificence and of one's own total helplessness.
Many prayers are contained in the Holy Quraan and hundreds of them
in the Traditions, These prayers, the prayers of the Holy Quraan and
lhe Tradition, are by far the best. A selection of forty of these prayers is
given at the end of the book.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

UmUU1 tA^SM

Durood Shareef

Durood Shareef is an invocation we make to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) to bestow His choicest favours and blessings

on the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasatlam). It is a kind of prayer. The
truth is that, after Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the greatest
obligation on us is that of the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam). He underwent tremendous hardship and endured the
bitterest of persecutions in order to convey the divine guidance to us.
q Had he not borne these trials and sufferings the light of faith would
(J never have reached us. We would be dwelling in the gloom of apostasy
CC and making our home in Hell after death.

I Since faith is the greatest blessing on the earth and we have

attained it solely through the merciful agency of the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam), our greatest benefactor, next to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), is Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam).
There is nothing we can do to pay back the enormous debt of gratitude
we owe to him, We can only pray for him to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) as a token of our loyalty and gratefulness.

But what prayer can we make that may be worthy of the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)? Naturally, none besides that Allah
(Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) may magnify him and bless him with His
choicest favours. This is just what Durood Shareef is.

The Holy Quraan clearly enjoins on us to offer the Durood, and in
what a wonderful manner does it do so:

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Allah and His Angels send
blessings on the Prophet: O Ye

that believe ! send ye blessings ^tSj^^^jjS^

on him and salute him with all
respect.

(XXXI It: 56)

In this verse we are first told that Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa)
Himself honours the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc Wasallam) and holds
him in strongest affection and that His Angels also do the same. They
pay reverence to him and beseech Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) lo
bless him with His most marvellous favours. The verse then goes on to
command us also, i.e., the believers to send blessings on him and salute
him with all respect. Thus* before Ihc command is given care is taken
to explain to us that the thing we arc being required lo do is

H something which is particularly pleasing to Allah (Subhaanahu
: Wala'aalaa) and which the angels also fondly do. After knowing it,

u- what Muslim is there worth his name who will not make it a religious

duty lo offer the Durood'i

)

Below we give a few Traditions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihc
Wasallam) extolling the virtue and merit of Durood Shareef.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is reported to have said:

"He who will send blessings on me once Allah (Subhaanahu
Wala'aalaa) will confer ten favours on him/' (In another Tradition it
has also been said lhaL "Allah Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa will forgive his
ten sins and raise him higher in rank by ten degrees)."

'There are many angels of Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa) whose
special duty is thai they keep on moving in the world and whichever

follower of mine sends blessings on me they carry it to me at once."

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) says :

WHAT IS ISLAM?

"Closest lo me on the Day or Requital will be he who sends
blessings on me oftener."

"That man is a big miser in whose presence my name is taken and
he does not offer the Durood."

■

"May he be disgraced in whose presence my name is taken and he
fails to offer the Durood".

In sum, to send blessings on the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) is a foremost duty we owe to him as well as it is a source of
stupendous virtue and blessedness and the founlainhead of prodigious
isings in this world and the next.

Words of Durood

(j Once the Companions asked the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe

^J Wasallam), "How are we lo offer Durood and salutation?"

The Prophet {Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) advised them about
Q) Durood-i-Ibrahimi which is recited in the Salaah. We have already

written it in Lesson 2.

Very much similar to Durood-i-Ibrahimi, but a little shorter, is
another Durood which was also taught by the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam). It reads :

O Allah! magnify Prophet
Muhammad (SallaUaho A laihe

Wasallam), the Unlettered, Mi il^^^KS&tSl

wives, the mothers of the faithful, i*^^u^J?j#

his posterity (followers), and \v?*^ <s^

his family as Thou hast magni- ^> <^^J^SWc£i

fied the family of Ibrahim. ^f- 3 ^
Verily, Thou are the Praiseworthy,
the Majestic.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Whenever wc say or call Ihc name of the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) or talk about him or hear about him from anyone, we
should at once send blessings on him. On such occasions ii is enough to
-say only fe0S$$£ or ^§0$& „

Daily Routine

Some determined persons with a natural Hair and fondness for
Durood-i-Shareef make it a regular habit to recite it thousands of times
daily. But if weak-willed men like ourselves can manage to recite it a
hundred times in morning and evening with proper devotion and

reverence they will profit so much by it and ihcrc will he such exquisite
favours of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) on him that it is
no! possible even to imagine them In this world.

O The following Durood Sharecf is suggested to those who may be

. wanting lo know a brief one

O Allah (Subhaanahu Waia r aalaa)! Magnify Mohammed
{Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) the Unlettered Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) and his family.

H3j

WHATISISIAM?

o
cd

L esson 20

^-v>=J»

Taubah

Allah (Subhaanahu Wniaaalaa) sent clown His Apostles into the
world and revealed His Books through them so thai men may learn to
distinguish good from evil, virtue from vice, and earn Tor themselves

Divine approbation and deliverance in the lite to come by abstaining
from the wicked and the unlawful and adopting what was good and
virtuous. Thus those who reject the faith and refuse to believe in the
Prophets (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Divine guidencc with
which they had been raised up their whole existence. So lo speak, is
one of defiance and and transgresion. They arc totally indifferent to the

message sent down by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). They will have
nothing to do with it. Unless they believe in the Messengers and
As Apostles raised up by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and in the Holy

Scriptures revealed by Him* and particularly in the Last of the prophets.
Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) and the Divine

Book he brought, Lc, the Holy Quraan and accept his guidance they
can never hope to attain the good pleasure of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) and success and salvation in the Hereafter The denial of
Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aalaa), His Apostles and His Books is not
pardonable. It cannot be condoned. This fact has been made abundantly

clear by every prophet of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) during his
lime. In any case it is essential for the salvation of the Apostates and
Polythcists that they first of all renounce Apostasy and Polytheism and
take to the path of Faith and Monotheism, Without it salvation is not
possible.

Those who believe in the prophets and affiffti their intention to live
according to their teachings also sometimes Tall into error. They are
misled by the Devil or by their own baser instincts and impulses into
committing a sin. For such defaulters Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)

WHAT tS ISIAAf?

has kepi the door of Tuubah (Repentance) open,

Taubah means lhal if a person slips into folly and be guilly of a sin
or an act of transgression against the law of Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aaiaa) lie should feel genuinely sorry and ashamed over it, and
resolve sincerely not to do so again, and seek the forgiveness of Allah
{Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) with all his heart. It is slated in the Holy
Quraan and the Traditions that by doing only this much a man's sin is
forgiven and he succeeds in winning the pleasure of the Almighty.

It is essential to know that Taubah is not vocal penitence. It is

not at all a matter of uttering so many words of repentance.

sorrow must be sincere, the shame must be fell in the heart and the

resolution not to repeal the folly and be guilly of the sin again must

be totally genuine.
O

^ It is like this, suppose in a fit of temper or in a moment of acute

depression a person swallows poison with the intention of killing

himself Bui when the poison begins to work and a thousand knives

Q) begin to tear his intestines into pieces and he knows that death is near,

he repents his folly and cries out in desperation for medical relief.

Now, at that time, his first thought will be that if he survived he would

never touch the poison again or think of committing suicide. This

exactly should be the state of the man who repents alter sin. His heart

should be seized by the fear of Divine Chastisement, the resolution not

to repeat the act again should be an honest resoultion and so also his

entreaties to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) for forgiveness.

If such a slate of feelings is realised by a person in any degree he
should be sure that the stain of sin has been washed way and the gates
of mercy have opend for him. After such a Taubah the sinner is
completely absolved of his sin, he is thoroughly sanctified and becomes
even dearer in the sight of Allah {Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) than he was
before, so much so that sometimes a person succeeds in attaining,
through Taubah, a place which would be hard to reach even after a

hundred years of prayer and fasting.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

All this that we have said on the subject of Taubah was derived
entirely from the twin sources or the Holy Quraan and the Traditions. We
are going now to consider some of the relevant verses of the Holy Quraan:

O ye who believe ! Turn to
Allah with sincere repentance: in
the hope that your Lard will
remove from you your ills and
admit you to Gardens beneath
which rivets flow.

(LXVI : 8)

#^1 ^_ Tl

; turn they not to Allah

and seek His forgiveness
Allah

? F

is Oft- Forgiving, Most

Merciful.

(V:74)

When those come to thee
who believe in Our Signs, say:
"Peace he on you! your Lord
hath inscribed for Himself (the
rule of) Mercy: Verily, if any of
you did evil in ignorance, and
thereafter repented, and amended
(his conduct). Lo, He is Oft- Forgiving,
Most Merciful."

(VI : 54)

£** -- *^i\.<i ^ jj^Sf

sn^u&^a

W» <5

**ai

(jtffc%%\

j^VLgW

- &t&*<r$?§X

Also, look at the following Traditions :

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) says, '0 My Creatures ! you
commit follies day and night and I can forgive them all. So, seek My
forgivencess. I will forgive."

WHAT IS ISLAM?

"Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) extends the arms of Mercy and
Forgiveness every night so that the sinners of the day may repent and
seek His pardon and every day so that the sinners of the night may repent
and seek His pardon and il shall be like this with Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa) till the sun rises from ihe West near the Doomsday "

"A man committed a sin and then he prayed to Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), O Lord! 1 have sinned. Forgive me/ Upon this, the Lord
observed, 'My servant knows thai there is a Lord, Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa), who can punish him Tor his sin as well as forgive. I have
forgiven the sin erf My servant/ The person abstained from sin as long
as the Lord wished after which he again went astray and fell into
transgression. He ocne again prayed to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa),
4 Lord! I have sinned. Forgive me.' The Lord observed, 'My sinning
servant knows that there is a Lord, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa),

O who can chastise him for sinning as well as forgive, I have forgiven the
- sin of My servant*. He remained free from sin as long as the Lord

sj: wished and then was again guilty of it. Once again he prayed to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), 4 Lord! I have sinned. Forgive me'. The

Lord observed, 'My servant knows for certain that there is £ Lord,
Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), who can punish as well as forgive him
for his sin. I have forgiven the sin of My servant'."

"One who seeks Divine forgiveness after sin, becomes like one
who has never been puiitv of a sin."

These Traditions show how Merciful and Oft-Forgiving is the
Lord. To get emboldened by them and to start indulging freely in sinful
activities on the strength of Taubah is not worthy of a Muslim. Such
verses and Traditions should, on the contrary, lend greater strength to
the love of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa). They should make one
feel that it really was the height of meanness to act against the wishes
of such a Compassionate and Benevolent Lord. If a master be of a
most kind and affectionate nature, would it become his servants to pay
back his kindness and effection by violating his wishes and disobeying
his commands?

WHAT IS iSLAM?

What these verses and Traditions seek to convey is that should a
person succumb to the temptations of the Devil or to his own ignoble
desires and inclinations and commit a sin he must not despair of the
mercy of the Lord and lose all hope of salvation. He should, on the
other hand, turn his back immediately on the lapse and try earnestly to
remove its stain through Taubah, by begging Allah (Subhaanahu

'aalaa), in all sincerity, His forgiveness. The Almighty, in His
Infinite Mercy, will forgive and instead of being angry with him, He
will become even more pleased for regretting sincerly what he had
done and turning to Him hopefully for remission. A Tradition states :

"When a man turns to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) after sin and
repents sincerely for his fcilly it makes Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa)
even happier than a rider whose mount may have thrown him down in a
_ vast desert and fled away with all the journey's provisions laden on its

q back, and, when the rider may have resigned himself lo his fate and sat

^ down under a tree to wait for his death, the animal may return, all of a

sudden, with the provisions intact and the rider may catch hold of it and
f blurt out (stupidly) in sheer joy, ( Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa),

Q) Thou, indeed, art my slave and me thy Master*." The Prophet Prophet

■

(Sallallahu Alalhe Wasallam) says, "The pleasure, this person feels
after getting his mount back, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aaiaa) Almighty

is pleased more than that if his sinner servant repents.

5 J

If, after knowing these verses and Traditions, someone still fails to
seek Divine forgiveness and approbation by offering repentance for his
sins through Taubah and resolving not to fall into error again he,
emphatically, is most unfortunate.

Many people arc inclined to take a most complacent attitude
towards Taubah. They say, "We are healthy and strong, so what's the

hurry? We will do Taubah before dying." Brothers! This is an
extremely dangerous deception which the Devil practises on us.
Deprived as he has himself of Divine Mercy and Beneficence and
earned a permanent abode in the Hell, he wants us also to go his way.
No one knows when death may strike. Thus, we should consider every

T38

WHAT IS ISLAM/

day to be the last day of our lives and lose no time in begging the
forgiveness of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) if and when we have
been guilty of an evil. This, alone, is (he path of wisdom. It is slated
candidly in the Holy Quraan thai:

Allah accepts the repentance
of those who do evil in igno-
ranee, and repent soon after-
wards; to them will Allah turn in
mercy, for Allah is fall of know I-
edge and wisdom. Of no effect is
the repentance of those who con-
tinue to do evil, until death faces

M^5Saa#£pj

p&&\g§i4&.

«:v

one of them, and he says, "Now $5^^336^

have I repealed indeed!" Nor of
those who die rejecting faith; for
them have We prepared a pun-
ishment most grievous.

(V: 17-18}

K ~* <

We should catch time by the forelock and realise the value of life
that is left to us. We should not put off Taubah by a moment; we must
not procrastinate. We ought to set about, at once, reforming our ways.
Allah (Subhaanahu Waia'aalaa) alone knows when death is going to
make its call on us, and then, it may be too lale. Who can tell whether,
at that time, we will get the opportunity to offer Taubah or not?

Brothers! We all have seen people dying. The general experience
is that a person dies in the same state in which he has led his life. It
does not happen that a person may have spent all his days in folly and
negligence and, then, suddenly repented and turned into a saint a day or
two before his death. Hence, a man who wants to die in a state of
Taqwaa, Tor him it is necessary to become pious in his lifetime. Then
alone can he hope to die as a good Muslim, by the grace of Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), and to be raised up with the faithful and the
righteous in the Hereafter.

WHA T IS ISLAM/

If after offering repentance for a sin a person may be guilty of the
same sin again there is no need for him to feel so frustrated over it as to
lose faith in Divine Mercifulness. He should offer Taubah quickly
again, and if again he may break ii, he should not hesitate in offering it
once more even if it be a thousand times. Whenever he will repent with
a sincere heart it is the promise of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) that
He will accept his repentance and forgive him. The benevolence of the
Lord, and His Paradise* is infinite.

Words of Tauba

From the foregoing it would have been clear that in words or
language a person may offer Taubah Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)
will listen and accept his penitence. But (he Holy Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) has laid down certain specific phrases or prayers in
O this regard which he used to recite himself. These prayers, surely, are
most auspicious, most worthy of His acceptance and most pleasing to
Him. We are reproducing some of these here for you to learn by heart
and recite for seeking divine forgiveness-

&&5Sj3^VjlS£!

I beg the forgiveness of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) save
Whom there is no God, the living, the Eternal. Unto Him do I turn
penitent.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Afaihc Wasallam) has said, "Whoever will
offer penitence to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and implore His
forgiveness through this Kalimah, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will
forgive him even if he has fled of Jihad which is a most mortal sin in
the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)."

And again: "Whoever will recite this Kalimah thrice before going
to sleep Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) will forgive his sins even
though they may be as profuse as the foam of the sea."

Sometimes the sacred Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) used

o
c6

WHAT IS ISIAM?

to recite only *uj^ii£4 (J implore Ihc forgiveness of the Lord), It is a-.

very brief phrase and we should try to cultivate the habit of repeating it
every now and then.

Savvid-U4stighfaar

II is related that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)
once remarked that the following prayer was Sayytd-r'Mstighfaar (the
leader of all the prayer of Islighfaar).

^u^s^^^^mms^SM

*L>*

O Allah ! Thou art my Lord. There is no God save thee. Thou art
my Creator and I am Thy slave, f abide by Thy covenant and promise
as best as I can. I seek refuge in Thee from the mischief of what I have
wrought, t acknowledge unto Thee Thy favour which Thou hast
bestowed upon me, I also confess my sins; so forgive me. for none
forgiveth sins save Thee.

Says the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam):

"He who will offer repentance and beg the forgiveness of Allah
(Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa) reciting this prayer with faith and sincerity
during day-time then if he died on that day before nightfall, he shall go
to Heaven, and he who will recite it at night, with faith and sincerity,
and then if he died on that night, before day-break, he shall go to
Heaven."

The three Kalimahs of Taubah wc have mentioned above are quite
easy to remember.

As a Tradition reads

"Blessed, indeed, is the man in whose record die prolusion of
Taubah is written/*

■

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Epilogue

What has been stated in the twenty lessons of this small volume
will, InshaaAIlah, suffice for anyone for the attainment of Divine
pleasure and paradise. It seems appropriate here to give a brief
resume of the whole discussion before bringing the book to a close.

The first principle of Islam and the most essential prerequisite of
deliverance and the attainments of paradise is thai a man affirms his

faith in the Kalimah of ^\$^3$&^^\&$ Aftcr thal ' hc
O should try to acquire knowledge of the tenets of Islam at least as far as
O it is necessary lo know them in order to be a good Muslim. His constant
Ctf endeavour should be lo observe the Islamic teachings faithfully and to

carry out sincerely the Divine commandments regarding the Rights of
, Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) as well as the Rights of man and good

Q) social and moral behaviour. When there may occur a lapse on his part

in respect of these matters hc should feci genuinely sorry over it and
repent to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and seek His forgiveness, Hc
should resolve honestly not to be guilty or the transgression again. If he
has transgressed against a fellow being by violating his rights or doing
him any other harm hc should seek his pardon and make amends for his
fault or misconduct or pay suitable compensation as the case my be.

In the same way, the effort of a Muslim should always be that the
love of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and of His Apostle (Sallallahu
Alaihe Wasallam) and his Faith should be stronger in his heart than that
of anyone or anything else in the world. He should remain steadfast in
faith and waver not in the least form the path of duty to Allah
(Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe
Wasallam) whatever the circumstances are. He should also, as a matter
of duty, take some part or another in the preaching and propagation or
Islam. It is an act of outstanding virtue and merit and a most special
legacy of the Prophets. In the present age, particularly, its value is

WHAT IS ISLAM?

much greater than thai of all oilier forms of prayers and worships (other
than obligatory) and when a person devotes himself lo it, his devotion
to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa), the Prophet (Sallallajiu Alaihe
Wasallam) and the Faith also develops and becomes stronger.

Among the other prayers, if possible, one should develop the hubii
of Tahajjud, lis au&piciousncss is of the very highest.

One must always be on one's guard against sin, specially against
the major sins, like adultery, stealing, falsehood, drink and dishonest in
monetary affairs.

Il is advisable to do some Zikr every day, In ease il may not be
possible to spare more lime for it, one should recite ai least Kalimah-i-
Tamjid.

^ Or only ^JU^C^^D^ and Istighfaar l and Durood Sharecf *. a

hundred times each, morning and evening.

Q) Time should also be set aside for the daily reading of the Holy

Quraan, It should be done with due religious respect and reverence.
After every obligatory Saiaah and al bedtime the Tasbcehaal-i-Falimah '
may also be recited.

For those who aspire for more, the advice is to seek guidance from
a spiritual mentor who may be worthy of it. The last thing lo be said in
this connection is that the company of true, pious and exalted devotees
of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) and attachment and devotion to
them is the very elixir of religious and spiritual existence. If this can
fall to the lot of anyone all the rest will follow automatically.

1 ^\^S^t^SSi0^$s^^

only

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2 DuroiKl-i-lbnihami or a brief one like 4j

X £*&£ 33 times AjjJ^\ 33 limes ^Uif 34 times.

f *

WHAT IS ISLAM?

APPENDIX

(i)

Forty Prayers from the Holy Quraan

and the Traditions

Below we give a selection of forty prayers from the Holy Quraan
and the Traditions.

«j <»

Praise he to Allah (Suhhaanuhu Wata'aalaa), Lord of the World,
the Compassionate, the Merciful, Owner of the Day of Judgement Thee
alone do we worship, and to Thee alone do we beg for help. Show us
the straight path; the path of those whom Thou hast favoured; not the
path (of those) who earn Thine anger, nor of (hose who go astray.
Aameen !

■■

(2)

(rat**;) *£&Z^^

Our Lord ! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter,
and save us from the torment of the Fire.

(3)

WHA T IS ISt AM?

Our Lord ! We have, indeed, believed; forgive us, then, our
sins, and .save us from the agony of the Fire.

(41

O Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have done that
transgressed mitt duty: establish our feet firmly, and help us against the
people that resisteth faith.

(5)

pi^l^

CO Our Lord ! We have heard the call of one calling us to Faith,

"Believe ye in the Lord", and we have believed. Our Lord! forgive us
our sins. Mot out from us our inequities, and take to Thyself our souls
hi the company of the righteous. Our Lord! grant us what Thou didst
promise unto us through Thine Apostle, and save us from shame on the
Day of Judgement; for Thau never breaktst promise.

9^**

^&k&

Our Lord / We have wronged our souls; if Thou forgive us not and

bestow not on us Thy mercy we shall certainty be at loss.

Our Lord I Make us not a trial for those who practise oppression
and deliver us by Thy mercy from those who reject Thee.

WHAT IS IStAM?

Creator of the heavens and the earth ! Thou art my Protector in
this world and the Hereafter. Take Thou my soul at death as one
submitting to Thy Will (as a Muslim) and unite us with the righteous.

^i^^^^^J^\2jC^5i^ajLlJV^^^o5

(nt^-uy &\^fMm®=rgP&

O my Lord ! Make me one who establishes regular prayer, and

also raise among my off-spring, our Lord, and accept Thou my

O prayer : O our Lord ! Cover us with thy forgiveness, me, my parents

and all Believers, on the Day that the fiockoning will be established.

(10)

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■

My Lord ! Bestow on my parents Thy mercy as they cherished me
in m\ childhood.

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my Lord ! Advance me in my knowledge.

02)

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I ...

my Lord ! Grant Thou forgiveness and mercy, far Thou art the
Best of those who show, mercy !

WHATISiSLAM?

(IS)

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O my Lord ! Grant me that I may he grateful for Thy favour
which Thou hast bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and I
may do righteous work such as Thou moyst approve; and he gracious
to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do / how to
Thee in Islam.

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(14)

Our Lord ! Forgive us. and our brethren who came before its into
the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, 1 rancour (or sense of injury)
against those who have believed. Our Lord ! Thou art, indeed, full of
kindness, Most Merciful

(15)

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Our Lord ! Perfect our Light for us and grant us forgiveness: for

Thou hast power over all things.

a 6)

•

^l&^ta&La.

O Thou Living, Eternal One ! Unto Thy Mercy do 1 appeal.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

(17)

'^I^^^^ir^ii^JrjJl^^C^I^I

O Allah (Subhaanahit Wafa'aalaa)! Set aright my faith which is
the safeguard of all my affairs; set aright my world wherein is my
living, set aright my Hereafter where to f have to return. Let life be
unto me a source of advance in every kind of righteousness, and let
death he to me a release from every kind of evil.

OH)

A *

CD -' ^

O Allah (Suhhaanahu Wafa'aalaa)! I beg of Thee forgiveness and
peace in this world and the next.

09)

5 <Ml^^X^Jx/i4

Allah (Suhhaanahu Wafa'aalaa)! I beg of Thee guidance and
modesty and righteousness and freedom from want.

(20)

O Allah (Suhhaanahu Wataaalau)! t beg of Thee sustenance that
is clean, knowledge tltat is useful, and conduct that is acceptable to
Thee.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

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(21)

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Open the doors of Mercy for
us and make easy for us the doors of sustenance.

(22)

O Allah {Subhaanahtt Wata'aalaa)! Let Thy lawful sustenance
suffice for me against unlawful sustenance, and let me be, by Thy
Grace, dependent on no besides Thee.

(23)

?m Ic?j^d

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Let it be my good fortune to
do things that are pleasing to Thee and make the Hereafter better for
me than this world.

(24)

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Guide me to the right path, to
the path of truth and piety, and save me from the mischief of my own
self.

(25)

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Help me in Thy rememherance
and in being thankful to Thee and in good worship.

Il49l

WIIA T IS ISLAM?

(26)

w*jw&m

O Thou who controlled the hearts I Keep my heart steadfast i

thy faith.

(27)

^Ck^^^iljti

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Grant me that I may live as a
Muslim and die as a Muslim.

O
(6

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a^ai^i^fifiii

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O A llah (Subhaanahu Wata 'aalaa)! I beg of Thee Thy love ami the
love of him who toveth Thee and the conduct that will enable me to
attain Thy love. O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).' Let Thv love be
dearer to me than myself, my wealth, mine household and water that is
cold.

(29)

Zt--S*> :-*iX.V«i

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Cover me with thy Mercy and
save me from Thy Punishment.

(30)

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i * *-*_— ^

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Keep me steadfast when fee
begin to waver.

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

O Allah (Subhaanahtt Wata'aalaa)! lodge me leniently on the Day

of Judgement.

(32)

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O Allah (Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Forgive me my sins on Day of

Requital.

raw

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O Allah (Sul)haanahu Wata'aalaa)! Save me from
Chastisement on the Day thou wilt raise up Thy slaves.

Thy

(34)

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Thy forgiveness is wider than
mine inequities and I have better hope in Thy Mercy than in my
conduct.

(35)

&tf^S^Ma\M

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! I beg of Thee Thy good
pleasure and the Garden (i.e., paradise). I also hex of Thee to spare me
out of Thy Mercy the Punishment of trie.

<>-*>

^%^^^ts^^mt^\3m^i

WHA T IS ISLAM?

O Allah (Subhaanaku Wata'aalaa)! I seek refuge in Thy good
pleasure from Thy displeasure, and Thy forgiveness from Thy
retribution; and 1 seek refuge in Thee from Thee, Unable am I to

reckon Thy Praise which is Thine. Thou art, indeed, as Thou hast
described Thyself.

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O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Forgive me; be kind to me,
have mercy on me. Verily Thou art Most Kind, Most Merciful.

(38)

-p O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Thou art my Lord. There is no

Q) nod save Thee. Thou hast created me and I am Thy slave. And I abide

by Thy Covenant and Promise as best as 1 can. I seek refuge in Thee
from the mischief of what / have wrought. I acknowledge unto Thee Thy
favour which Thou hast bestowed upon me. I Confess also my inequity:
so, forgive me, for none forgiveth sins save Thee.

(39)

^3$^<k&$0 M&i^tk&fiHi

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)/ I seek refuge in Thee from the
mischief of my mrs, ami from the mischief of my eyes f ami from the
mischief of my tongue, and from the mischief of my heart., and from the
mischief of my carnal desires, and / seek refuge in Thee from the

WHAT tS ISiAM?

punishment of Hell, and from the punishment of the grave, and from the
calamity of Dajjaal, and I seek refuge in Thee from the trials and
temptations of life and death,

(40)

/4//a/( (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! I beg oj Thee all the good
things that (Prophet) Mohammad (SallaUahn A lathe Wasallam) had
begged of Thee, and I seek Thy refuge from all the evils from which
(Prophet) Mohammad (SallaUahn Alaihe Wasatiam) had sought refuge
in Thee. *

(41)

\^t^M3?£ZW

Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Magnify Mohammad
(Saltallahu Alaihe Wasatiam) and his posterity and followers as Than
hast magnified Abraham and his posterity and followers; verily, Thou
art the Praiseworthy t the Majestic, O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)!
Bless Mohammad (SallaUahn Alaihe Wasatiam) and his posterity and

owers as Thou hast blest Abraham and his posterity and followers;
verily, Thou art the Praiseworthy, the Majestic. O Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa)! Send him down on the Day of Judgement into the place of
special nearness unto Thee and elevate him to places of honour and
intercession and grant him that place of choicest favour and worthiness
which Thou hast promised for him and bless us with his intercession on
the Day of Recompense: for Thou never breakest Thy promise.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

APPENDIX

(ID

Prayers for particular occasions

Many prayers for specific occasions have also been taught to us by

the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam). We are reproducing
some of them here that arc easy to learn and can be made use ol by us

O in our daily life. They should be learnt by heart and recited habitually

^ at moments for which they are indicated.

cti

L At day-break

O Allah (Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! With Thy help do we enter
upon the morning and with Thy help do we enter upon the evening:
with Thy help do we live and with thy help do we die; and unto Thee
shall he the Resurrection.

2. When evenign sets in

1 ■ m-*-*^mi-^M^—^—m—m—^—mmm^

\m^^^^^w^^\$^m

O Allah (Suhhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! With Thy help do we enter
upon the evening and with Thy help do we enter upon the morning:
with Thy help do we live and with Thy help do we die: and unto Thee
shall he the Resurrection

WHAT IS ISLAM?

3. On retiring to bed

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! In Thv name do we die and we
become alive.

4. On rising up in the morning

Praise be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) who restored m unto
life, having caused to die. and Him shall be the Resurrection.

O 5. Before entering the lavatory

O Allah (Subhaanaliu Wata'aalaa)! I seek refuge in Thee from the
wicked devils (both) male and fen,

6. On coming out of the lavatory

Praise be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa) who relieved me of
faeces and gave health.

7. While performing the Wudhu

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! forgive me my sins and expand
for me my household and grant auspiciousness and prosperity to m\
sustenance.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

8. When the Wudhu is finished

i i^x )0§^M%0^£]®M &91

1 bear witness thai there is no god except Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa). He is alone: He hath no partner. And I bear witness that
Mohammad (Sallallahu Ataihe Wasallam) is His slave and His
Messenger, O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Make me among those
who repent and among those who remain clean.

9. On entering the mosque

g ^s<>m&8a*-\±s

O Lord ! forgive me my sins and open unto me the doors of Thy
Bounty.

d) 10. On coming out of the mosque

O Lord I forgive me my sins and open unto me the gates of Thy
Mercy.

1 1 - Before commencing to eat

In the name of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)/ and upon the
of the Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa).

WHA T IS ISLAM?

12. At the end of a meal

Praise be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wala'aakta)! who fed us and gave
us drink and raised us up as Muslims. *

13. When dining at someone's place

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! feed him who fed me and give
him drink who gave me to drink.

r$ 14. When riding or boarding on a vehicle

Ghty be to Him who hath subjugated it to us though we were

unable to subdue it. Behold, we are assuredly to return unto the Lord.

15. When setting forth on a journey

i -

* ±$s M& MdtJzh

** s»

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Make this journey of ours easy
for us and roll up for us the distance thereof: O Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa)! Thou art our companion in the journey and the Caretaker
of our households when we are away. O Allah (Subhaanahu
Wata'aalaa)! I seek refuge in Thee from the tail of the journey and from
beholding a sad sight and a bad reverse in my fortunes and on my

return.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

1 6. On returning home from a journey

We return unto Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aataa), penitents,
adorers and worshippers of the Lord.

17. When bidding farewell to anyone

I place thee in the hands' of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aataa}* and
thy things that need protection and the end of thy deeds.

O 18. On seeing anyone in distress

Q) Praise he to Lord who saved me from that with which He hath

afflicted thee, and made me better than many of His creatures (purely
out of His Mercy. I claim no credit for it).

19. On entering a town

O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Bless us in this town (and
make it for us auspicious.)

20. When rising from a company

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O Allah (Subhaanahu Wata'aalaa)! Gloty be to Thee, I celebrate
Thy praises; There is no Lord save Thee r I beg Thy forgiveness ami I
repent,

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