The world is full of codes; letters, figures, signals, symbols and laws. There are telephone codes, computer program codes, military codes, the human genome code - DNA. All in all, every operational system, whether it is mechanic, institutional or biological is composed of a code that regulates it's organizational structure and work.
The Muslim Code is a system of beliefs and ethics that govern (or should govern) our lives. This code was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) by Allah in Paradise, near the Sidrat al Muntaha - the Lote tree. I am lost for words when it comes to describing Jannah. As brother Ammar al Shukry said, (and I am paraphrasing here), imagine... perched on a throne near a stream, seeing exquisite scenes you have never seen... gardens underneath which rivers flow. No pain, fear, grief or tears. No idle speech no lies, just peace and praise all the time. Imagine... fun and frolic, every wish at your finger tips. All the magnificent bounties, grace, smells and tastes. Imagine... seeing Allah's face... According to ahadith in Ibn Katheer, Sidrat al muntaha has leaves like the ears of elephants and its fruits are like jugs and it is veiled with colours. It's beauty and grandeur is incomprehensible. You just have to see it to fully appreciate it.
The Muslim code is of such paramount value and chief importance that Allah ascended the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) to Jannah, brought him close and communicated this code to him personally. Just think of when your your parents call you in their bedroom, close the door and seat you in front of them. It makes you wonder doesn't? Wassup? Why couldn't they just tell me at the dinner table in front of everyone? What is the big surprise anyway? So the more intimate and private a conversation between two individuals, the more crucial and noteworthy it is. The direct and up close exchange of "the Muslim code" between Allah and Muhammad (s.a.w) in Paradise is a compelling and profound. So don't take this as something small. This is the code that can inshaAllah get us to Jannah.
The code is as follows...
The code is to believe in the absolute divinity of the Qur'an as revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). To some Muslims, reading and memorizing the Qur'an may seem like a huge task but the non-Muslims who have spent years studying and translating the Qur'an, say that "Whenever I hear the Qur'an chanted, it is as though I am listening to an incessant flowing melody. It is like the beating of my heart" [A.J Arberr] and "A [Qur'an] is a poem, a code of laws, a book of common prayer all in one and I revere it as a miracle or purity of style, of wisdom and of truth" [Rev. R Bosworth Smith].
When I first read the Qur'an, I didn't know I would fall in love with it. The Qur'an rebuilds a person, anew. It breaks bad attitudes and habits that plague and weigh down upon our existence and fills our entire being with Allah's admonition, healing, guidance and mercy. The Qur'an expunges from its students, fear and grief and replaces it with happiness and contentment. I remember when I was taking the Taleem al Qur'an course, our lecture hall was always blooming with smiling faces. Sure every one had their share of problems at home, at work or with their health but because of Qur'an, we felt so much of Allah's help and love that all struggles of life became sweet, and every obstacle turned into a blessing. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "When a people gather in any of the Houses of Allah [Masajid] and recite the Qur'an and learn and teach it to each other, Allah sends and covers them in His serenity and mercy, angels surround them and Allah remembers them with the angels near Him" [Muslim]. Don't we all need a little composure, peace and repose in our lives? The only means to this bliss is the Qur'an.
Amr ibn Al'Aas (r.a) said, "Every Ayah of the Qur'an is a rank you are raised in paradise, every ayah a lantern of light in your homes." Imagine your house and your family radiant with wisdom, everyone living a goodly life and getting along with each other...this is also only possible with Qur'an. Bishr bin as-Sirri said, "Verily, each verse is like a date: the more you chew it, the more of its sweetness is released." Just think what will be the affect on our character and personality if we read the sweet Qur'an daily. We will become mellow and honeyed. And pleasant it would be to live in a world where everyone was like this. Uthman (r.a) said, "If our hearts were truly pure, we would never get enough of the Words of our Lord, and I hate that one day passes with me not looking in the Mushaf." So any person who has missed out on reading the Qur'an has lost a great treasure. Muslims believe in the Qur'an, we are suppose to live by it, it is part of code so it is binding upon us to learn Qur'an with it's meaning. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "The Best amongst you are those who study the Qur'an and teach it." We compete to be #1 in everything, why not in learning and promoting the Qur'an? What is your life worth if you did everything and traveled everywhere but ignored and left the Qur'an?
It is also the Muslim code to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books and Messengers. Allah is the Originator, Sustainer, Owner and Administrator of the universes. He is the Eternal, Absolute and Supreme, the One and Only Source of guidance, the True God worthy of worship. Belief in Allah gives us an all-inclusive understanding of the reality of life and our purpose in life. It inspires us to live responsibly because everything we owe is Allah's blessing and we are answerable to Him on the Day of Judgment.
Allah created the angels from light; He gave them wings and abilities to execute His commands. They do not have a gender or free will. They are created to worship Allah and they do not tire from fulfilling His will. By the permission of Allah, angels blow the winds, drive the clouds and cause rain. Also by the permission of Allah, they germinate plants from seeds, fashion the baby in the womb, bring Allah's mercy and record our deeds, take away the soul and question the diseased in their graves. All in all, there is nothing in the universe except that an angel is performing it by the leave of Allah. Belief in the angels give us a glimpse of Allah's Greatness, everything operates by His authority, He has power over all. Moreover, humans are never alone, angels are always around us and with us, so we should be patient, feel protected and confident. Allah has made the angels subservient for our service. The angels perform tasks which benefit humanity. The angels also make duaa for the righteous, especially when we go the Masjid, offer salah in congregation and say aameen behind the Imaam, when we attend a gathering of knowledge or pray for another Muslim in his angels. The are our friends and helpers on condition that we do good deeds which please Allah. The angel are will also be our hosts and entertainers in Jannah.
Allah revealed Divine Book to guide humankind to His worship. These Books include the Torah, Zabur, Injeel and the Qur'an. Portions of the first three scriptures are effaced and interpolated and so the Qur'an exists as Allah's final, complete, perfected and preserved testament. Read: The Torah, Gospels and Qur'an for more discussion on this code.
Allah sent Prophets to explain His Divine Books, to teach people to worship Him and to set the highest standard of piety and good behaviour for people to emulate. All Prophets were paragons of honesty and sagacity and Muslims respect and accept all of them without bias or prejudice. So Muslims believe in Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all), without exception. These Prophets (a.s) commanded us to be just and invited us to repent; they prayed to Allah and gave charity to the poor. They were brothers in faith, and they confirmed each others' Prophethood and message. So it is not befitting for their followers to split up into different religious factions and call themselves Jews or Christians. We should all be Muslims because Muslim means "one who submits" to the commands of Allah and conforms to the example of the Prophets. Read more about the Prophets here.
Then there is the Muslim code of obedience. It is not just obedience but سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا hearing and obeying. Which means two things: (1) the hearing alludes to gaining knowledge and (2) obedience is to implement the knowledge one has acquired.
(1) Islam is a religion based upon knowledge. The text of the Qur'an is replete with verses inviting men and women to use their intellect, to observe, think, contemplate and reason. The first verse of the Qur’an beings with the word, Iqra or Read. Hence, Islam promotes education and not blind faith. The hadith of Prophet (s.a.w) are loaded with the importance of education. He (s.a.w) said, "acquiring knowledge is a duty of every Muslim man and woman" [Muslim] and “If anyone proceeds on his way in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the way to Paradise” [Muslim]. So in fact we cannot be Muslim and we cannot enter Paradise unless we have knowledge.
And you know what else is amazing? Allah says, "Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise." [Qur'an, 3:18] So to believe in Allah is a sign of intellectual proficiency and expertness. Atheites and agnostics do not believe in or are not sure about the existence of One God because they are ignorant and dumb. Similarly, from the people who call themselves Muslims but do not practice Islam thinking that they are too advanced and modern, in reality they are foolish and uneducated about Islam. If they knew any better, they would take the religion seriously, but they lack sense. Allah says, "It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah.” [Qur'an, 35:28] Even the Muslims who are devout worshipers and they are content with their 5 daily prayers and 30 fasts of Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "The superiority of a scholar over a devout worshiper is that of a full moon over a star" [Tirmidhi] and in another hadith, he (s.a.w) said, "The superiority of a scholar over a devout worshiper is like my superiority over the layman amongst you." All in all, knowledge is held in great esteem in Islam. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was taught by Allah to supplicate, "O Allah, increase me in knowledge" [Qur'an, 20:114]. So more than material things, a Muslim yearns and strives to attain knowledge.
I know I might have offended some readers by making such claims, I am sorry. It just frightens me to know that the people who will enter Hellfire are those who did not listen nor reason the message of Islam. Allah says, "When they are thrown into it [Hell fire], they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, Did there not come to you a warner? They will say, Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error. And they will say, If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze. And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze" [Qur'an, 67:7-11]. Do you see what is happening here? Hell is a monster, its a fire breathing, fume sucking beast and it is alive! It is lying in wait as a killer waiting for its prey. The inhabitants of Hell fire are going to be educated folks. They would know all about Allah and the Books Allah sent down for guidance but they would have ignored it. They refuse to listen, which really is the easiest thing to do - you don't have to go anywhere or even lift a finger, just pay attention but they were too arrogant to do even that. So hellfire is the consequence of their indifference and carelessness. Islam can be rationalize, it does not ask it's followers to accept anything unscientific or unreasoned. Islam coincides with human nature and it calls for a pure realization of all human needs and passions. So it is really in our favour that we become Muslim.
Allah says, "Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?" [Qur'an, 67:22] Say, you see two people crossing the street, one is walking with his head up and looking straight across the intersection whilst the other is walking with his head bent down, his eyes on his shoes. What is your opinion of the two? Who will survive and make it across the street? The difference between people who know Islam versus those who do not is the same. One understand and grasps the truth and wisdom and lives to his optimum potential while the other is lost, into wrongdoing, and will indefinitely get hurt or worse killed. There is no harm in learning about Islam, it is a 100% guaranteed profit. Think of Islam as life insurance, those who have it are better off than those who don't. If you do not have Islam then I am afraid you don't have any security or coverage against life's problems and Hellfire.
(2) Not that Islam is great in theory, congratulations... live Islam too. Islam is not to "think" you are Muslim or "feel inside your heart" that you are a Muslim, or to have a Muslim name or be born in a Muslim country but to actually live, look, talk, walk, pray and play like a Muslim. In the pre-Islamic era, Muslim was that camel which was submissive and self-relinquishing, it followed it's master wherever he drove it. If the master commanded the camel to sit, the camel with halt and perch. If the master command the camel to run, it would comply. So Muslim as a person is such a sincere and steadfast slave of Allah who obeys all of His commands without dispute or delay. The ingredient of obedience to Allah is crucial for the perfection of one's faith.
Think of a big cooperation or an enterprise. An an employee, every person is required to follow the required protocols and regulations. Anyone found in the slightest defiance of the company's policies is fined with either reduction in salary or outright fired. The employees must arrive on time for work, perform only their designed jobs in the manner prescribed to them, wear the company uniform and break only when it is time. Seems fair doesn't it? If you are going to be paid with benefits, then for sure you will make a point to compliant and pleasant. Because you want to keep your job, don't you? Would any employee say that I "feel like a" Microsoft employee "at heart" or "I was raised at" Ford Motors or Hertz. Your boss won't care how you think or what you feel and where you are from. If you do not work, you don't get any pay. So when this is the case at almost every big or small business then why is Islam taken for granted? Why do people think that they can be Muslim all they want without having to believe or to obey?
Allah says, "O you who have believed, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? [It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers." [Qur'an, 61:10-13]. Therefore the difference is strikingly clear: those who obey Allah will get Allah's forgiveness, Paradise and success in this life. Those who do not obey Allah are the recipient of Allah's anger and punishment, Hell fire and loss in this life.
Think of an national security issue, it is an absolute emergency - what happens? One person assumes total power of the enter state to lead his people. This world is a test, it is a matter of not temporal but eternal danger and damnation. In face of such a severe calamity, what would you do? Trust Allah because He has power over everything, He is the Creator, the Owner, the Planner and Sustainer. So if we'd turn to Allah in bad times, why not be obedient to Allah in good times? He alone can help, guide and console. He is the Source of all Blessings and the Owner of Peace.
The Muslim Code is a system of beliefs and ethics that govern (or should govern) our lives. This code was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) by Allah in Paradise, near the Sidrat al Muntaha - the Lote tree. I am lost for words when it comes to describing Jannah. As brother Ammar al Shukry said, (and I am paraphrasing here), imagine... perched on a throne near a stream, seeing exquisite scenes you have never seen... gardens underneath which rivers flow. No pain, fear, grief or tears. No idle speech no lies, just peace and praise all the time. Imagine... fun and frolic, every wish at your finger tips. All the magnificent bounties, grace, smells and tastes. Imagine... seeing Allah's face... According to ahadith in Ibn Katheer, Sidrat al muntaha has leaves like the ears of elephants and its fruits are like jugs and it is veiled with colours. It's beauty and grandeur is incomprehensible. You just have to see it to fully appreciate it.
The Muslim code is of such paramount value and chief importance that Allah ascended the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) to Jannah, brought him close and communicated this code to him personally. Just think of when your your parents call you in their bedroom, close the door and seat you in front of them. It makes you wonder doesn't? Wassup? Why couldn't they just tell me at the dinner table in front of everyone? What is the big surprise anyway? So the more intimate and private a conversation between two individuals, the more crucial and noteworthy it is. The direct and up close exchange of "the Muslim code" between Allah and Muhammad (s.a.w) in Paradise is a compelling and profound. So don't take this as something small. This is the code that can inshaAllah get us to Jannah.
The code is as follows...
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allāh and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." [Qur'an, 2:285]
The code is to believe in the absolute divinity of the Qur'an as revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). To some Muslims, reading and memorizing the Qur'an may seem like a huge task but the non-Muslims who have spent years studying and translating the Qur'an, say that "Whenever I hear the Qur'an chanted, it is as though I am listening to an incessant flowing melody. It is like the beating of my heart" [A.J Arberr] and "A [Qur'an] is a poem, a code of laws, a book of common prayer all in one and I revere it as a miracle or purity of style, of wisdom and of truth" [Rev. R Bosworth Smith].
When I first read the Qur'an, I didn't know I would fall in love with it. The Qur'an rebuilds a person, anew. It breaks bad attitudes and habits that plague and weigh down upon our existence and fills our entire being with Allah's admonition, healing, guidance and mercy. The Qur'an expunges from its students, fear and grief and replaces it with happiness and contentment. I remember when I was taking the Taleem al Qur'an course, our lecture hall was always blooming with smiling faces. Sure every one had their share of problems at home, at work or with their health but because of Qur'an, we felt so much of Allah's help and love that all struggles of life became sweet, and every obstacle turned into a blessing. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "When a people gather in any of the Houses of Allah [Masajid] and recite the Qur'an and learn and teach it to each other, Allah sends and covers them in His serenity and mercy, angels surround them and Allah remembers them with the angels near Him" [Muslim]. Don't we all need a little composure, peace and repose in our lives? The only means to this bliss is the Qur'an.
Amr ibn Al'Aas (r.a) said, "Every Ayah of the Qur'an is a rank you are raised in paradise, every ayah a lantern of light in your homes." Imagine your house and your family radiant with wisdom, everyone living a goodly life and getting along with each other...this is also only possible with Qur'an. Bishr bin as-Sirri said, "Verily, each verse is like a date: the more you chew it, the more of its sweetness is released." Just think what will be the affect on our character and personality if we read the sweet Qur'an daily. We will become mellow and honeyed. And pleasant it would be to live in a world where everyone was like this. Uthman (r.a) said, "If our hearts were truly pure, we would never get enough of the Words of our Lord, and I hate that one day passes with me not looking in the Mushaf." So any person who has missed out on reading the Qur'an has lost a great treasure. Muslims believe in the Qur'an, we are suppose to live by it, it is part of code so it is binding upon us to learn Qur'an with it's meaning. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "The Best amongst you are those who study the Qur'an and teach it." We compete to be #1 in everything, why not in learning and promoting the Qur'an? What is your life worth if you did everything and traveled everywhere but ignored and left the Qur'an?
It is also the Muslim code to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books and Messengers. Allah is the Originator, Sustainer, Owner and Administrator of the universes. He is the Eternal, Absolute and Supreme, the One and Only Source of guidance, the True God worthy of worship. Belief in Allah gives us an all-inclusive understanding of the reality of life and our purpose in life. It inspires us to live responsibly because everything we owe is Allah's blessing and we are answerable to Him on the Day of Judgment.
Allah created the angels from light; He gave them wings and abilities to execute His commands. They do not have a gender or free will. They are created to worship Allah and they do not tire from fulfilling His will. By the permission of Allah, angels blow the winds, drive the clouds and cause rain. Also by the permission of Allah, they germinate plants from seeds, fashion the baby in the womb, bring Allah's mercy and record our deeds, take away the soul and question the diseased in their graves. All in all, there is nothing in the universe except that an angel is performing it by the leave of Allah. Belief in the angels give us a glimpse of Allah's Greatness, everything operates by His authority, He has power over all. Moreover, humans are never alone, angels are always around us and with us, so we should be patient, feel protected and confident. Allah has made the angels subservient for our service. The angels perform tasks which benefit humanity. The angels also make duaa for the righteous, especially when we go the Masjid, offer salah in congregation and say aameen behind the Imaam, when we attend a gathering of knowledge or pray for another Muslim in his angels. The are our friends and helpers on condition that we do good deeds which please Allah. The angel are will also be our hosts and entertainers in Jannah.
Allah revealed Divine Book to guide humankind to His worship. These Books include the Torah, Zabur, Injeel and the Qur'an. Portions of the first three scriptures are effaced and interpolated and so the Qur'an exists as Allah's final, complete, perfected and preserved testament. Read: The Torah, Gospels and Qur'an for more discussion on this code.
Allah sent Prophets to explain His Divine Books, to teach people to worship Him and to set the highest standard of piety and good behaviour for people to emulate. All Prophets were paragons of honesty and sagacity and Muslims respect and accept all of them without bias or prejudice. So Muslims believe in Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all), without exception. These Prophets (a.s) commanded us to be just and invited us to repent; they prayed to Allah and gave charity to the poor. They were brothers in faith, and they confirmed each others' Prophethood and message. So it is not befitting for their followers to split up into different religious factions and call themselves Jews or Christians. We should all be Muslims because Muslim means "one who submits" to the commands of Allah and conforms to the example of the Prophets. Read more about the Prophets here.
Then there is the Muslim code of obedience. It is not just obedience but سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا hearing and obeying. Which means two things: (1) the hearing alludes to gaining knowledge and (2) obedience is to implement the knowledge one has acquired.
(1) Islam is a religion based upon knowledge. The text of the Qur'an is replete with verses inviting men and women to use their intellect, to observe, think, contemplate and reason. The first verse of the Qur’an beings with the word, Iqra or Read. Hence, Islam promotes education and not blind faith. The hadith of Prophet (s.a.w) are loaded with the importance of education. He (s.a.w) said, "acquiring knowledge is a duty of every Muslim man and woman" [Muslim] and “If anyone proceeds on his way in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him the way to Paradise” [Muslim]. So in fact we cannot be Muslim and we cannot enter Paradise unless we have knowledge.
And you know what else is amazing? Allah says, "Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise." [Qur'an, 3:18] So to believe in Allah is a sign of intellectual proficiency and expertness. Atheites and agnostics do not believe in or are not sure about the existence of One God because they are ignorant and dumb. Similarly, from the people who call themselves Muslims but do not practice Islam thinking that they are too advanced and modern, in reality they are foolish and uneducated about Islam. If they knew any better, they would take the religion seriously, but they lack sense. Allah says, "It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah.” [Qur'an, 35:28] Even the Muslims who are devout worshipers and they are content with their 5 daily prayers and 30 fasts of Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "The superiority of a scholar over a devout worshiper is that of a full moon over a star" [Tirmidhi] and in another hadith, he (s.a.w) said, "The superiority of a scholar over a devout worshiper is like my superiority over the layman amongst you." All in all, knowledge is held in great esteem in Islam. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was taught by Allah to supplicate, "O Allah, increase me in knowledge" [Qur'an, 20:114]. So more than material things, a Muslim yearns and strives to attain knowledge.
I know I might have offended some readers by making such claims, I am sorry. It just frightens me to know that the people who will enter Hellfire are those who did not listen nor reason the message of Islam. Allah says, "When they are thrown into it [Hell fire], they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, Did there not come to you a warner? They will say, Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error. And they will say, If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze. And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze" [Qur'an, 67:7-11]. Do you see what is happening here? Hell is a monster, its a fire breathing, fume sucking beast and it is alive! It is lying in wait as a killer waiting for its prey. The inhabitants of Hell fire are going to be educated folks. They would know all about Allah and the Books Allah sent down for guidance but they would have ignored it. They refuse to listen, which really is the easiest thing to do - you don't have to go anywhere or even lift a finger, just pay attention but they were too arrogant to do even that. So hellfire is the consequence of their indifference and carelessness. Islam can be rationalize, it does not ask it's followers to accept anything unscientific or unreasoned. Islam coincides with human nature and it calls for a pure realization of all human needs and passions. So it is really in our favour that we become Muslim.
Allah says, "Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?" [Qur'an, 67:22] Say, you see two people crossing the street, one is walking with his head up and looking straight across the intersection whilst the other is walking with his head bent down, his eyes on his shoes. What is your opinion of the two? Who will survive and make it across the street? The difference between people who know Islam versus those who do not is the same. One understand and grasps the truth and wisdom and lives to his optimum potential while the other is lost, into wrongdoing, and will indefinitely get hurt or worse killed. There is no harm in learning about Islam, it is a 100% guaranteed profit. Think of Islam as life insurance, those who have it are better off than those who don't. If you do not have Islam then I am afraid you don't have any security or coverage against life's problems and Hellfire.
(2) Not that Islam is great in theory, congratulations... live Islam too. Islam is not to "think" you are Muslim or "feel inside your heart" that you are a Muslim, or to have a Muslim name or be born in a Muslim country but to actually live, look, talk, walk, pray and play like a Muslim. In the pre-Islamic era, Muslim was that camel which was submissive and self-relinquishing, it followed it's master wherever he drove it. If the master commanded the camel to sit, the camel with halt and perch. If the master command the camel to run, it would comply. So Muslim as a person is such a sincere and steadfast slave of Allah who obeys all of His commands without dispute or delay. The ingredient of obedience to Allah is crucial for the perfection of one's faith.
Think of a big cooperation or an enterprise. An an employee, every person is required to follow the required protocols and regulations. Anyone found in the slightest defiance of the company's policies is fined with either reduction in salary or outright fired. The employees must arrive on time for work, perform only their designed jobs in the manner prescribed to them, wear the company uniform and break only when it is time. Seems fair doesn't it? If you are going to be paid with benefits, then for sure you will make a point to compliant and pleasant. Because you want to keep your job, don't you? Would any employee say that I "feel like a" Microsoft employee "at heart" or "I was raised at" Ford Motors or Hertz. Your boss won't care how you think or what you feel and where you are from. If you do not work, you don't get any pay. So when this is the case at almost every big or small business then why is Islam taken for granted? Why do people think that they can be Muslim all they want without having to believe or to obey?
Allah says, "O you who have believed, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? [It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers." [Qur'an, 61:10-13]. Therefore the difference is strikingly clear: those who obey Allah will get Allah's forgiveness, Paradise and success in this life. Those who do not obey Allah are the recipient of Allah's anger and punishment, Hell fire and loss in this life.
Think of an national security issue, it is an absolute emergency - what happens? One person assumes total power of the enter state to lead his people. This world is a test, it is a matter of not temporal but eternal danger and damnation. In face of such a severe calamity, what would you do? Trust Allah because He has power over everything, He is the Creator, the Owner, the Planner and Sustainer. So if we'd turn to Allah in bad times, why not be obedient to Allah in good times? He alone can help, guide and console. He is the Source of all Blessings and the Owner of Peace.
Finally, the Muslim code is to ask Allah's forgiveness and prepare for our return to Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said that (and I am paraphrasing here) that "No one shall enter Paradise save Allah's mercy. The Companions (r.a) asked him, "not eve you O Prophet of Allah?" The Prophet (s.a.w) said, "Not even I." So entrance into Jannah is by Allah's mercy an forgiveness alone so we say غُفْرَانَكَ Your forgiveness O Allah, we implore and beseech You for Your kindness. Please forgive us, we are desperate for Your mercy. Can you count all of Allah's favours upon you. This laptop on which I am type, the fingers which press every key, the eyes that see, the air I breathe, the clothes I wear, the room in which I exist, the carpeted floor, the lock on my door, the food in the fridge, the air conditioning which works without a glitch. My parents, brothers and books. My transit card, keys, football and shoes. Everything I have is His, how can I ever thank Him? The truth is, I cannot worship Allah to His true appraisal. I need Allah's mercy.
Our final destination is to Allah. Every human that is traversing through life is bond to return to Allah, to Him is our ultimate end. Again Surah Mulk is fantastic in explaining this subject. Allah says, "It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection." [Qur'an, 67:15] Allah made all the wonders and treasures on this planet for our use. So go ahead and travel, picnic, eat and enjoy but don't forget that you have to go back to Allah. Yes, life is great there is so much to see, so much to savour but the purpose of life is not to live in this world, it is to use this life to earn the Hereafter. So aim for winning Allah's pleasure in everything that you do, make your work and recreation an act of worship, a means of drawing close to Allah.
In the same way, Allah says, Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful." Say, " It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered." [Qur'an, 67:22-23] Look at all these blessings of Allah, you can see, talk and listen. You have grandparents and inshaAllah one day you will have children. Our parents were immigrants in North America and today we are free to go anywhere we want. All these things, we take for granted but they are huge advantages from Allah. In the midst of safaris, Niagara Falls, Wonderland and Marine land, graduating, getting married, cooking and having children, let's not forget that we are answerable to Allah. Let us be thankful to His blessings and use them in the way it pleases Him the most. What should we with our ears, eyes and heart that would make Allah happy? What is the right way to behave with our family? What is the right of our community and the communities around the world? First of all, let us devout our faculties to learning and living Qur'an. Throw all the garbage out of your life which goes against Qur'an and make yourself like the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) whose total character mirrored the teachings of the Qur'an. Then teach the Qur'an to our family. Now this can be hard if you get into arguments with them all the time so you have to watch yourself that with your family, you are only as the Qur'an wants you to be. Make a list of how you are with all the family members in your family and then make a list of how you can change your manners with them in the light of Qur'an. Lastly, wherever we go, let us be the torch bearers of Qur'an inshaAllah. Like to the mall, hospital, park, bank - you name it. Ask yourself, if the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was here, how would he conduct himself? Would he dress immodestly? When walking, would he lower his gaze? Would he push and cut in line? Stomp his feet arrogantly and laugh out loud? Would he buy and sell candidly? What he give or take interest? Would eat haram? Of course the answer to all this is a resounding NO! Then we shouldn't either inshaAllah. Let's make it our target in life that on the Day of Judgment we want to be raised amongst the People of Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and his companions and entered into Paradise with Allah's mercy, with them - Allahumma Aamen.
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