3.40.ABOUNDING MERCY OF GOD (to be continued)

God says

[And so it is] that God imposes suffering on the hypocrites, both men and women, as well as on men and women who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him.* [And so, too, it is] that God turns in His mercy unto the believing men and believing women: for God is indeed much-forgiving, a most gracious. -- Q.33:73
*In other words, on those who offend against what their own reason and conscience would have them do. This suffering whether in this world or in the hereafter, is but a causal consequence of man’s own moral failure and not an arbitrary act of God. (C.f., 2:7 which speaks of God “sealing” the heart of those who are bent on denying the truth.)


Q.21:107-- [O Prophet] We have sent thee as [an evidence of Our] grace towards all the worlds.
Truly a great mercy. The fact is that we knew about God through the Prophet.
He is ‘a Beacon of Light (Q.35:46)’ and ‘best model for everyone (Q.33:21).’ God says, “follow him so that you might find guidance”(7:158), and had asked him to say to mankind: “if you love God, follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins” (Q.3:31).


Prophet said

“ (God said) I am with My servant as he thinks I am. I am with him when he makes a mention of Me. If he makes a mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and when he makes a mention of Me in an assembly, I make a mention of him in an assembly better than his. And if he comes to Me a hand’s span, I go to him an arm’s length; if he draws close an arm arm’s length, I go to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I hasten to him.” -- Hadees Quidsi: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi and Ibn Majah. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.39. MAN: THE UNGRATEFUL (concluded)

God says

“[God] who makes most excellent that He creates, and He begins the creation of man out of clay; then He cause him to be begotten out of the essence of a humble fluid; and then fashion him, then breathes into him of His spirit: and (thus, O men,) He endows you with hearing, and sight and feeling as well as understanding: little thanks do you give” -- Q.32:7,8,9

“….few are truly grateful among My servants!” * -- Q.34:13
* Because “truly grateful (to God) is only he who realizes his inability to render adequate thanks to Him” (Zamakhshari).

Indeed, We have shown him the way:* (and it rests with him to prove himself) either grateful or ungrateful” -- Q.76:3
* God has not only endowed man with ‘hearing and sight’, i.e., with reason and the instinctive ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil (90:10), but He also actively guides him by means of the revelation bestowed on the prophets.


Prophet said

‘One who is not grateful to man is not grateful to God.’ -- H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.39. MAN: THE UNGRATEFUL (concluded)

God says

“[God] who makes most excellent that He creates, and He begins the creation of man out of clay; then He cause him to be begotten out of the essence of a humble fluid; and then fashion him, then breathes into him of His spirit: and (thus, O men,) He endows you with hearing, and sight and feeling as well as understanding: little thanks do you give” -- Q.32:7,8,9

“….few are truly grateful among My servants!” * -- Q.34:13
* Because “truly grateful (to God) is only he who realizes his inability to render adequate thanks to Him” (Zamakhshari).

Indeed, We have shown him the way:* (and it rests with him to prove himself) either grateful or ungrateful” -- Q.76:3
* God has not only endowed man with ‘hearing and sight’, i.e., with reason and the instinctive ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil (90:10), but He also actively guides him by means of the revelation bestowed on the prophets.


Prophet said

‘One who is not grateful to man is not grateful to God.’ -- H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.38. HAJ: THE SIGNIFICANCE

God says

This is [to be borne in mind]. And anyone who honors the symbols set up by God* [shall know that,] verily, these [symbols derive their value] from God-consciousness in the [believers’] hearts. -- Q.22: 32
*This stress on the symbolic character of all the rites connected with the pilgrimage is meant to draw the believer’s attention to the spiritual meaning of those rites, and thus to warn him against making, unthinkably, a sort of fetish of them. The term sha ‘a’ ir comprises all the rites, actions and places connected with the pilgrimage (all of which have a symbolic meaning), and cannot be restricted to any one of them.

In that [God-consciousness] you shall find benefits until a term set [by Him is fulfilled],* and [you shall know that] its goal and end is the Most Ancient House of Worship** -- Q.22:33
*i.e., “until the end of your lives”-- (Baydawi)
**… implying that the realization of God’s Oneness and uniqueness-- symbolized by the Ka’bah (the Most Ancient House of Worship,) -- is the goal and end of all true God-consciousness.


Prophet said

Abu Sayeed-al-Khodri reported: We came out with the Apostle of God for pilgrimage saying “Talbeeh” loudly * – H: Muslim.
* Talbeeh : Man and woman repeatedly saying in chorus, “Here I am O God, here I am! (I confirm that) there is no partner to Thee. Here I am! All praise and all grace belong to Thee, and all dominion is Thine. There is no partner to Thee.”

‘…an accepted pilgrimage has Paradise as reward’ -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

3.37. HAJ: PILGRIMAGE OF A LIFETIME

God says

And perform the pilgrimage [Haj] and the pious visit [Umrah to Mecca] in the Honour of God …. Q.2:196

Hence pilgrimage to the House [of worship] is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it…. Q.3:97


Prophet said

Ibn Omar reported that a man came to the Prophet and asked: What makes the pilgrimage compulsory? He replied, “means and conveyance” -- H: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah.

‘Hasten to perform pilgrimage which is obligatory, for none among you will know what will happen (tomorrow)’ -- H: Ahmed. N: Ibn Abbas.

Ibn Abbas reported that a women of Khashama (tribe) came to the Prophet and enquired whether she could do Pilgrimage on behalf of her father who was (too weak) and old to even sit on a conveyance. The Prophet replied “Yes” -- Bukhari and Muslim.

‘He who came intentionally to visit my grave will sit in my neighborhood on the day of Resurrection’ - Shu’ab Al-Iman

‘No woman shall make a journey to the destination of one day and night except with a “Mahram” (i.e., with whom marriage is prohibited in Islam)’ – H: Bukhari and Muslim

3.36. THE NIGHT OF MAJESTY

God says

It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was [first] bestowed from on high as guidance unto man a self-evident proof of guidance and as the standard by which to discern true from the false…. Q.2:185

From on high have We bestowed this (Qur’an) on the Night of Destiny*. And what would make you conceive what is the Night of Destiny? The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months: in hosts descend in it the angles, bearing divine inspiration by their Sustainer’s permission; (that night is Peace until the rise of Dawn. -- Q.97:1-5
* or: “of Almightyness” or “of Majesty”-- thus describing the night on which the Prophet received his first revelation. On the basis of several Traditions it may be assumed that it was one of last ten nights- probably the twenty seventh of the month of Ramadan.


Prophet said

Bibi Ayesha related that she asked: O Prophet of God! If I recognize the Night of Majesty, what should I do? The Prophet said, “Utter Frequently: ALLAHUMMA INNAKA ‘AFOOWUN, TUHIBBUL‘AFWA, F’AFU ANNI (O God! Thou are Oft-Forgiving, loving forgiveness, please forgive me)” - H: Ahmed, Ibn Majah, Tirmizi. (Authentic)

Please always remember to use the honorifics:
After name or title of the Prophet say: “Sal-lal- lahu ‘Alaihi wa Sal-lam”;
(peace and blessings be upon him)
After the name or the title of every prophet (nabi) and apostle (rasul) say:
“ ‘Alai hissalaam” (peace be upon him or them)
After the name of their family member, as well as a companion, say:
“Radi Allahu ‘Anhu—or ‘Anha—or ‘Anhum ”
(may God be pleased with him--or her--or them)
And for others, say: “Rahmat-Allah-e-‘Alaih”
(God’s mercy be upon him)

3.35. FASTING: SELF-DENIAL & SELF-DISCIPLINE

God says

O you who believe! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you that you might remain conscious of God: *-- Q.2:183
*As the Qur'an points out fasting has been widely practiced at all times of man’s religious history. The extreme rigor and the long duration of Islamic fast – which is incumbent on every healthy adult, man or woman -- fulfills, in addition to the general aim of spiritual purification, a threefold purpose: (1) to commemorate the beginning of the Qur’anic revelation which took place in the month of Ramazan about 13 years before Prophet migrated to Medina; (2) to provide an exacting exercise of self-discipline; and (3) to make everyone realize, through his or her own experience, how it feels to be hungry and thirsty, and thus to gain a true appreciation of the needs of the poor.


Prophet said

“Observing fast is like holding a shield. The day any of you observe fast, he should neither speak evil nor revile. If, then, anyone rebukes him or quarrels he should say: I am fasting.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

“He who does not give up telling a lie and acting according to it, God does not require him to give up his eating and drinking”-- H: Bukhari. N: Abu hurairah.

“…it is a month of endurance (i.e.,‘Sabr’) and reward of endurance is Paradise’”

“It is a month of mutual sympathy, and a month in which the livelihood of a believer is increased…”-- H: Shu’ab Al-Iman. N: Salman Al-Farisi.

“Observe fast and break (after sun-set); stand up (for prayer at night) and also sleep; because there is surely your duty towards your body, duty towards your eyes, duty towards your wife, and duty towards your neighbour.” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abdullah-b-Amr-b-Aas