Al-Haqq is strengthened by challenges:
Dear noble brothers, here is a wise and profound quote attributed to Imam Ash-Shafi'i, "When the Ummah is facing adversities, such as occupation, humiliation, and oppression, and scholars busy themselves with issues of Fiqh like the rulings of wudu, menstruation, or postnatal bleeding, then they have betrayed Allah and His Messenger."
Indeed, it is a frightening and deeply thought-provoking quote. Allah Almighty is The Necessary Being (Wajib al-Wujud), while everything else is merely possible in existence (Mumkin al-Wujud).
The meaning of "Necessary Being" is that His Existence is Non-Finite and Inevitable. As for everything else, it is only "possible in existence"; it may exist or it may not. If it does exist, it could be the way it is, or it could have been different from how it is.
Is it not possible that disbelievers live on another planet? This possibility is a relief to the believers, for there would be no fighting, Jihad, occupation, or oppression. Is it not possible that disbelievers live on another continent, in a different era, or even in the eighteenth century? It is possible.
Once again, Allah Almighty is the Necessary Being (Wajib al-Wujud), while everything else is merely possible in existence (Mumkin al-Wujud). However, due to Divine Wisdom, Allah has decreed that we live together on the same land and same era, and that we face the same conditions, because Al-Haqq (the truth) draws its strength from being challenged. Moreover, the people of Al-Haqq cannot deserve Jannah without making sacrifices and putting forth sincere effort.
One cannot apply to a university to obtain a doctorate degree without attending classes, studying, or being examined, lest studying at the faculties would be absurd. Much in the same line, do you seek victory without paying a price, showing discipline, or complying with Allah's Rulings? Do you seek victory while earning unlawful money; money that may be doubtful or corrupt? Do you seek victory while households waste time on distractions and indecent practices?
In fact, it is foolish to expect positive results while starting with a negative approach. It is like someone applying to a prestigious university, such as the Sorbonne, and writing in his application, "I am seeking a doctorate degree without attending classes, studying, or being examined." Such person belongs to a mental institute.
Heroism lies in being a soldier of Allah:
Allah says:
﴾ Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world's life ﴿
The vanishing of the universe is much easier for Allah than breaking His Promises to the believers.
What is the difference between saying "We" and saying "I"?
"We" is used to manifest Allah's Majesty. Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, with His Divine Exalted Character, Beautiful Names, Perfect Attributes, Omnipotence, Power, and Might, will never forsake the believers.
﴾ Verily, We will indeed make victorious ﴿
"Will indeed" is used to express confirmation.
﴾ Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection), ﴿
This Ayah says it all. There are other five Ayaat:
﴾ And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. ﴿
As long as your soldiery is for Allah, you will definitely be granted victory.
﴾ And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. ﴿
Heroism lies in dedicating your soldiery to Allah; the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One in Whose Hand is everything, and the One Who makes things happen by saying "Be," and it is; or "Perish," and it ceases to be.
Let me give you this example: Imagine a place where there are hungry predators whose leashes are in the hands of a wise, fair, merciful, and omnipotent party. In this case, would you deal with the predators or with the one who controls them? The answer is obvious. Allah says:
﴾ So plot against me, all of you. ﴿
It is a challenge.
﴾ …and give me no respite. ﴿
Do not hesitate to take the right decision.
﴾ "I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth). ﴿
Only the fool believes he has control over everything:
If the oppressors, the powerful, the haughty and the arrogant believe that they can control matters, they are in great delusion.
We will all return to Allah.
﴾ …and to Him return all affairs (for decision). ﴿
The word here is definite with 'Al' (the) to indicate the fact that every person on Earth, anywhere, anytime, in any era, on any continent and from the time of Adam until the Day of Resurrection, will return to Allah.
﴾ …and to Him return all affairs (for decision) ﴿
This Ayah confirming such a fact.
﴾ So worship Him (O Muhammad PBUH) ﴿
When does Allah ask you to worship Him? Allah commands worship only after giving man assurance.
﴾ So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite* "I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth). ﴿
This is the second Ayah.
﴾ And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. ﴿
Heroism lies in being a soldier for Allah, only then does true victory become inevitable.
﴾ And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. ﴿
This is the fourth Ayah.
﴾ …and (as for) the believers it was incumbent upon Us to help (them). ﴿
The fifth Ayah is the following:
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you ﴿
In Arabic language, this is a conditional sentence consisting of a conditional clause and a consequence clause, and each clause contains a verb: the first verb expresses the cause, and the second expresses the consequence. For example, if you study, you will succeed. This is a typical conditional sentence. In the Quran, conditional sentences are among the most powerful linguistic structures.
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm. ﴿
Accordingly, do not worry about religion, for Allah is the One Who protects it. Rather, worry about whether Allah allows you to be one of His soldiers or not.
﴾ And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. ﴿
Allah will place the enemy at the disposal of the one whom He supports:
Some stories from Islamic history may seem unbelievable. Al-Hasan al-Basri is regarded as the master of the Tabi'een (devoted generation that came after the Companions of the Prophet PBUH). This respectful companion faced a situation similar to the deal of the century (the Trump Administration's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, which aimed to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
Al-Hasan expressed in front of the public his opinion about what had been right and what had been wrong that had to be done by the government. Overhearing what Al-Hasan said, Al-Hajjaj said to his companions, "Damn you all, for one of Basra slaves stands up and says whatever he wants to say, and finds no one to stop him or show disapproval. By Allah, I will make you drink his blood, you cowards!" Then he ordered for the sword to be fetched and a piece of cloth to be put on the rugs so that they would not get ruined by Al-Basri's blood, and he called for the swordsman, and ordered his soldiers to fetch Al-Hasan Al-Basri, telling them they were to bring him there, cut his head off and get that over with.
After a while Al-Hasan showed up and all eyes looked at him and all hearts feared for his safety. When he saw the sword, the cloth and the swordsman, his lips started to move and he approached Hajjaj with the loftiness of a believer, the dignity of a Muslim, and the reverence of the one who calls to the truth, and when Al-Hajjaj saw all that, he was awe-struck, and said to him, "Come and sit right here, Abu Said," and he kept clearing the way for him to sit, repeating, "Come over here."
People could not believe their eyes as he was supposedly brought to be killed, the cloth was ready, the swordsman was waiting and everything was set up for his head to be cut off. What happened then? How could have Al-Hajjaj welcomed him, inviting him to sit down, and calling him Abu Said? Eventually, he got seated on his couch, with Hajjaj next to him, inquiring about various aspects of religion, and Al-Hassan answering fearlessly and concisely.
Al-Hajjaj finally said to him, "You are the master of all scholars, O Abu Said." Then he ordered for one of the most expensive perfumes to be fetched and he scented Hasan's beard and showed him to the door.
When Al-Basri stepped out, he was followed by the chief officer, who said to him, "O Abu Said, he called for you intending something else. He called for you to have you killed, but instead he seated and honored you, and I saw your lips moving when you saw the sword and the cloth. What did you say?" Al-Hasan responded, "I said, 'O my Benefactor! My Refuge in anguish and Company in loneliness! Cool his rage and save my soul as you made fire cool and safe for Ibrahim'."
Well, when Allah is with you, who can be against you? Who dare in this case to hurt you? When Allah is with you, He will subdue your enemy for you. However, when Allah is against you, even the closest relatives will assault you. O Allah, what has he lost who found You, what has he gained who missed You? When Allah is with you, who can be against you? When Allah is against you, who can be with you?
Be with Allah, and you find Him by your side,
Leave all people and watch out for your greediness
If he bestowed you who can prevent it?
If He withholds blessing who else can give you?
***
If your eyes saw the beauty of Ours they have seen,
you would never turn your back on Us for other's sake
If your ears heard Our nice speech,
you would throw away the arrogance garb and come to Us
If you taste an atom like of love,
you would excuse him who loved Us to death.
If you felt the breeze of Our closeness to you,
you would die in excitement and eagerness for Us.
If you saw any of our illuminations,
you would leave all creations for Our sake
Our love is not easy,
and to anyone who claims it is,
We say: You have misunderstood us.
The easiest thing love does to a passionate heart is killing it,
and harder than being killed is being abandoned
***
I repeat the Ayah:
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm. ﴿
This is a conditional sentence, and so it has two parts; the conditional clause and the consequence clause. This sentence structure seems to be a rule; a scientific rule which first describes an inevitable connection between two variables, second corresponds to reality, and third is supported by evidence.
Regarding Allah's Divine Way (rule), pay attention to the following Ayah, please:
﴾ That was the Way of Allah in the case of those who passed away of old, and you will not find any change in the Way of Allah. ﴿
Allah's Way (or rule) also has certain characteristics. First: the clarifying guidance. Let me elaborate, seeking Islamic knowledge, attending the Friday Khutbah, or reading the interpretation of the Quran, is the highest and most exalted form of guidance. In this kind of guidance, you are in a state of comfort, since you are free from troubles, enjoying good health, and living peacefully at home with your children, sons-in-law, daughters, and daughters-in-law.
This is the clarifying guidance, and what you are supposed to do is to fully act upon it. Allah says:
﴾ O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life ﴿
How do you act upon it? You do so, when you obey whatever Divine Command, and you refrain from whatever Divine Prohibition you hear in any Ayah. In fact, the highest form of your relationship with Allah is to follow His Guidance with maturity, responsibility, and wisdom, because these are not ordinary words; they are the Words of Allah, the Words of the Quran and the Words of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Allah says:
﴾ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) ﴿
This is a Divine Order.
Quran should be recited in correct Arabic:
Allah says:
﴾ …recite it (i.e. obey its orders and follow its teachings) as it should be recited (i.e. followed) ﴿
[ Al-Baqarah, 121
]
What does it mean to recite the Quran as it should be recited? It means to read each Ayah in proper Arabic, by following the rules of the Arabic language. It was reported that Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "Learning the Arabic language is a part of religion."
Pay attention to the following Ayah, and notice how its interpretation changes if it is not correctly during Salah or on any occasion:
﴾ It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah ﴿
Changing the diacritical mark of the object to that of a subject can completely alter the meaning, and in the context of Salah, it may even invalidate the prayer.
﴾ It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah ﴿
In Arabic there is an inversion in the Ayah; the object comes before the subject So, "Learning the Arabic language is a part of religion."
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, ﴿
"If you help (in the cause of) Allah" is the conditional clause, and "He will help you" is the consequence clause.
"If" is the conditional article:
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, ﴿
When we say, "If you study, you will succeed", the first part of the sentence is the conditional clause, while the second one is the consequence clause.
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, ﴿
Now the question is: How do I help in the Cause of Allah? You do so by applying Islamic rulings to your home, such as setting rules against watching inappropriate programs on TV, preventing free mixing between the genders, and ensuring that your income is earned lawfully and it is spent lawfully too.
Whoever sides with Allah will be granted victory:
Dear noble brothers, pay attention to what I am saying: Allah's Way covers all aspects of life, starting with the most private matters of a person and ending with the international affairs. You should apply this Divine Way to your income, spending, leisure, gatherings, banquets, travels, outings, and all your activities.
As I have just said, this Way covers everything including your most private matters and the international affairs. Thus, you should act upon it when you earn money and spend it, when you choose your wife, when you raise your children, and when you establish relationships with others, whether they are powerful or weak.
A Prophetic Hadith, that promises Allah's Support to those who side with Him, deeply inspires me:
(( Abud-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Seek among your weak ones, for you are given provision and help only because of the weak amongst you." ))
[ Abu Dawood, At-Tirmizi and An-Nasa'i by the authority of Abud-Darda' ]
Have you ever fed the weak person when he was hungry? Have you ever clothed him when he was in rags? Have you ever sheltered him when he was homeless? Have you ever treated his illness when he was sick? Have you ever supported him when he was oppressed? Have you ever taught him, helped him, or enlightened him?
Bear in mind that when you do such deeds, Allah will reward you with a reward of the same nature of the deed you offered. So, when you support the weak person for example, Allah will grant you victory over those who are stronger than you.
Do not be discouraged by your weakness or limited resources compared to the other party who may possess everything, even atomic bombs. You do not confront them with weapons; but rather, you raise your children according to Islamic teachings, let them know about Allah, and nurture them to become steadfast. Allah says:
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, ﴿
When you support others in the Cause of Allah by your profession, within your household, and by your career choices, Allah will grant you His Victory.
Dear brothers, two critical choices will shape your life: your profession and your wife. Whatever you have, like your house or your car, is replaceable, but your family is not, that is why true success lies in choosing the right career and the right wife.
Dear noble brothers, Allah Almighty says:
﴾ …and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? ﴿
It is reported that Salah Ad-Ddeen Al-Ayyubi defeated 26 Western armies. His brother Shirkuh said to him, "You should stand out as a Kurdish man", to which Salah Ad-Deen replied, "If you were not my brother, I would kill you. I am a Muslim, and I will add nothing more to that."
﴾ If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, ﴿
Western women used to scare their children when they cry with the name of Salah Ad-Deen, but nowadays, a single statement from a powerful country keeps us awake at night.
Keep on mind, as long as you act upon Allah's Divine Way, Allah will be with you.
Allah's Support is of two kinds: individual and collective:
What is the meaning of the following Ayah:
﴾ And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be ﴿
"…He is with you" means He is aware of everything you do, whether you are a disbeliever or a believer. So, "with you" in this context does not mean Allah supports you, but it means that Allah is watchful of everything about man's plan, scheme, plot, intend, or secret. To Allah, you are an open book; this is what is meant by He is with all people in the general sense. This Presence is for every human being, including disbelievers, as Allah knows everything people do. However, the case is different when Allah says the following:
﴾ …and verily, Allah is with the believers. ﴿
Allah is with the believers in the sense that He supports them, grants them victory, guides them, inspires them and so on. This is the special kind of having Allah with you; it is the presence of support.
﴾ …and verily, Allah is with the believers. ﴿
With His Support, Allah inspires you to do what is right, makes your home like a Garden of Jannah's, makes your children dutiful, your daughters modest, your wife righteous, your income lawful, your rank exalted, and grants you happiness, optimism, and freedom from worries.
By the way, Dale Carnegie's book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" has sold 50 million copies, reflecting how much people are haunted by worries.
The difference between safety and security:
What is the difference between safety and security? Safety is when an entire year passes without any hardship or adversity, while security is characterized by the confidence that no hardship is anticipated. Bear in mind that fearing poverty makes you feel that you are actually poor, worrying about getting sick, makes you sick indeed, and fearing oppression, makes you feel oppressed by such fear. Hence, it is rightly said, "Expecting a disaster is worse than the disaster itself."
Islam's duties are performed individually and collectively:
Dear brothers, Islam is practiced individually and collectively:
﴾ Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing. ﴿
It is impossible not to be the happiest person on earth as long as you follow Allah's Path, obey His Commands, perform acts of worship, and do good deeds. You should say, "There is no one on earth happier than I am, except the one whose piety surpasses mine."
Whose side are you on? You chose the side of Allah, the Creator, the Lord, the Disposer of affairs, the Most Merciful and the All-Powerful.
﴾ So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite* "I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth). ﴿
The different types of Jihad (Striving in Allah's Cause):
Dear noble brothers, Allah permits striving in His Cause:
(( Mu'az bin Jabal narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer and its peak is Jihad." ))
[ At-Tirmithi, on the authority of Mu'az bin Jabal
]
Jihad An-Nafs and Al-Hawa means striving against one's own self and desires, and this is the most important type of Jihad. After that comes Al-Jihad Al-Bina'i (the constructive Jihad), Al-Jihad Ad-Da'awi (striving to call people to worship Allah and act upon His Order (the proselytizing Jihad), and finally, Al-Jihad Al-Qitali (the fighting Jihad in defending Islam). If we excel in striving against our ownselves and desires (Jihad An-Nafs), in Al-Jihad Al-Bina'i and in Al-Jihad Ad-Da'awi, we will most likely excel in Al-Jihad Al-Qitali.
I would like to comment on the following Ayah by giving you an example from our daily life. If you are handed the exam paper with all the answers and given a perfect score without effort, will your success in school hold any real value? No, it will be valueless in the eyes of others, your family, your school, and even yourself.
﴾ …had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind? ﴿
The Ayah refers to the forced guidance, but keep in mind that Allah Almighty has granted you the freedom of choice.
﴾ Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. ﴿
Next lecture insha' Allah, we will discuss the types of Jihad which is a very powerful word. However, I would like to mention them one more time briefly.
There are three types of Jihad that must be undertaken by you alone, such as Jihad An-Nafs and Al-Hawa which is performed by lowering your gaze, controlling what you watch on TV, guarding your tongue, and ensuring that the money you earn and spend is lawful. You should also be mindful of the celebrations you organize, ensuring that there is no free mixing between the genders and that decency in clothing is maintained.
It is surprising that some people begin their wedding invitations with "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful," while the event itself involves free mixing and inappropriate dresses which expose women's physical beauty. How can such actions align with the reverence shown in the invitation?
Discussing this issue takes time, but let me tell you that you should know that we have been forsaken by Allah, and thus the west has the upper hand on us and the control over us.
Consider the "Deal of the Century", someone (Trump) who is so distant is planning our future, isn't that right? We have nothing in our hands to do while this person holds meetings without the attendance of any Muslim or Arab representatives!
Unless you plan for yourself, others will plan for you, and unless you are a difficult obstacle in your enemy's plans, you will be insignificant. The ball is in Muslims' court, because if Allah is with you, who can be against you? If Allah is against you, who can be with you? Who dares to hurt you? O Allah, what has he lost who found You? What has he gained who missed You?
Last but not least: A war between two truthful parties is impossible, because Al-Haqq is one. The war between Al-Haqq and Al-Batil (falsehood) does not last long, but the war between two parties who defend Al-Batil never ends.
If you choose the side of Al-Haqq, remain hopeful, for no power on earth can overcome you. It is our duty to side with Al-Haqq.
