Blessed Posted August 27, 2008 References: The Noble Qur'aan, Tafseer Ibn Katheer, the book, 'al-Khushoo' and informative Answers by Shaikh S. al-Munajjad, Lying or Envying by Abdul Malik al-Qasim, and others "Successful indeed are the believers. Those who with their Salaat (prayers) are Khashi'oon. And those who turn away from al-Lagw. And those who pay the Zakaat. And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives or (captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for then, they are free from blame; but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors; those who are faithfully true to their Amanah and to their covenants; and those who strictly guard their Salaat. These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus, they shall dwell therein forever." [soorah al-Muminun (23): 1-11] Allah mentions the qualities of the believers who are blessed and have attained victory. The first quality is, "Those who with their Salaat (prayers) are Khashi'oon (those who possess Khushoo)" "Al-Khushoo means calmness, serenity, tranquility, dignity, and humility." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Dar al-Sha'ab Edition, (6/ 414)] Ibn Abbas t explained Khashi'oon to mean, with fear and tranquility. [At-Tabaree (19: 9)] Al-Khushoo is a necessary component of Salaat. Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said concerning the verse, "Seek help in patience and Salaat and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for the Khashi'oon (those who possess al-Khushoo)." [soorah al-Baqarah (2): 45] "This (verse) implies condemnation of those who are not Khashi'oon... Condemnation only applies when something obligatory is not done, or when something forbidden is done. If those who do not have Khushoo are to be condemned, this indicates that Khushoo is obligatory." [Majmoo al-Fatawa (22/553-558)] Khushoo is very easily lost and Allah's Messenger r said: "The first thing to be lifted up (taken away) from this Ummah will be Khushoo; until you will see no one who has Khushoo." [(Saheeh) - Saheeh at-Targheeb no: 543] The site of Khushoo is in the heart and heart is the king of the limbs, so if one intends to pray wholeheartedly the limbs will follow the heart as Allah says: "And seek help in patience and Salaat and truly it is extremely heavy and hard, except for Khashi'oon." [soorah al-Baqarah (2): 45] The meaning is that the burden of prayer is heavy indeed; except for those who have Khushoo. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/125)] To attain Khushoo one must forget everything about the world and concentrate in the prayer acts, reciting the Qur'aan and thinking of the verses one reads and bearing death, grave and the torment in mind so that he never looses concentration. Imam Ibn Katheer writes, 'Khushoo is gained by the fear of Allah and the sense that He is always watching.' [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Dar al-Sha'ab Edition, (6/ 414)] "And those who turn away from al-Lagw" refers to falsehood, which includes Shirk and any words or deeds that are of no benefit. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "Out of a person being good Muslim is his leaving alone, what does not benefit him." [at-Tirmidhee] and: "Let he who truly believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good or be silent." [saheeh al-Bukharee] Imam Ahmed (rahimahullah) reported in his Musnad, "The faith of a man cannot be straight unless his heart is straight, and his heart cannot be straight, unless his tongue becomes straight." [Musnad Ahmed] It was from the manners of the Sahabah to speak very little. Abdullah Ibn Mas'oud (radiyallahu anhu) said: "By the One other than whom there is no God on this earth there is no one more deserving of long imprisonment that the tongue." [at-Tabaranee] and Abu Tharr (radiyallahu anhu) said: "Adopt silence, this is the way of causing Shaytan to run away; it is a supporter to you in the matter of your religion." [Musnad Ahmed]"And those who pay the Zakaat" Imam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullah) writes in his Tafseer, "Most commentators say that the meaning here is the Zakaat that is paid on wealth, even though the verse was revealed in Makkah, and Zakaat was ordained in al-Medina in the year 2.H. The apparent meaning is that the Zakaat that was instituted in al-Medina is the one based upon the Nisaab (the minimum level of wealth which dictates a person's obligation of Zakaat). And the specific amount, apart from which it seems that the basic principle of Zakaat was enjoined in Makkah. As Allah says in Soorah al-An'aam, which was also revealed in Makkah: "but pay the due thereof on the day of their harvest." [soorah al-An'aam (6): 141] It could be that what is meant here by Zakaat is purification of the soul from Shirk and filth, as in the verse: "Indeed he succeeds who purifies himself (Zakkaha). And indeed he fails who corrupts himself." [soorah (91): 9-10] It could be that both meanings are intended, purification of the soul and one's wealth, because that is part of the purification of the soul, and the true believer is one who pays attention to both matters. And Allah knows best.""And those who guard their chastity. Except from their wives or that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors" means those who protect their private parts from unlawful actions; fornication and homosexuality, and do not approach anyone except the wives whom Allah has made permissible for them or their right hand possession from the female slaves. Allah says "they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors." Zina (fornication/adultery) is one of the major sins, concerning which Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) have issued stern warnings. "…come not near to Zina. Verily, it is Fahishah (immoral sin) and an evil way." [soorah al-Isra (17): 32] Similarly, Allah has also made homosexuality Haraam (prohibited) and it is against the natural inclination (fitrah) which Allah has placed in man, whereby the male is inclined towards female and vice versa. Going against the fitrah has caused man diseases like AIDS, which attack the immune system in human and cause death. Moreover, it has also caused breakups in families. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "There is nothing I fear for my Ummah more than the deed of the people of Loot." [At-Tirmidhee (1457) Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh al-Jamee (1552)] "And (remember) Loot when he said to his people, 'Do you commit al-Fahishah (evil, great sin, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy) while you see (one another doing evil without any screen) Do you practice your lusts on men instead of women? Nay, but you are a people who behave senselessly.' There was no other answer given by his people except that they said: 'Drive out the family of Loot from your city. Verily, these are men who want to be clean and pure!' So We saved him and his family, except his wife. We destined her to be of those who remained behind. And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). So evil was the rain of those who were warned." [soorah al-Naml (27): 54-58] These verses refer to the punishment that befell the people of Loot. He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "Whoever of you finds (someone) doing the deed of the people of Loot, kill the one who does it and the one to whom it is done." [At-Tirmidhee (1456) Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh al-Jamee (6589)] Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said: "Both of them - fornication and homosexuality - involve immorality that goes against the wisdom of Allah's creation and commandment. For homosexuality involves innumerable evil and harms, and the one to whom it is done would be better off being killed than having this done to him, because after that he will become so evil and so corrupt that there can be no hope of his being reformed, and all good is lost for him, and he will no longer feel any shame before Allah or before His creation…The scholars differed as to whether the one to whom it is done will ever enter Paradise. There are two opinions which I heard Shaikh al-Islam (rahimahullah) narrate." [al-Jawaab al-Kafi, p.115]"Those who are faithfully true to their Amanah and to their covenants" Meaning, when they are entrusted with something, they do not betray that trust, but they fulfill it, and when they make a promise or make a pledge, they are true to their word. This is not like the hypocrites about whom the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies; when he makes a promise he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust." [Fath al-Baree (10: 522)] Allah says in Soorah an-Nisa, "Verily, Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due…" [soorah an-Nisa (4): 58] Those who do not return the trust in this life, it will be taken from them on the Day of Resurrection, when there will be no Dirham nor Deenar but only good and bad deeds to give back the rights!! Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "The rights will be rendered back to those to whom they are due, and even the sheep that does not have horns will take revenge from the horned sheep." [saheeh Muslim (4): 1097] Other scholars have explained the Amanah in this verse to mean, all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts, etc. based on the Hadeeth of Hudhaifah (radhiyallahu anhu) who narrated: Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said to us: "Certainly, al-Amanah (the trust or moral responsibilities, etc. and all the duties which Allah has ordained) descended from the Heaven and settled in the roots of the hearts of men (faithful believers), and then the Qur'aan was revealed and the people read the Qur'aan (and learnt al-Amanah from it) and also learnt it from the Sunnah. [both the Qur'aan and As-Sunnah strengthen their (the faithful believer's) Amanah.]" [saheeh al-Bukharee (vol. 9, no. 381)] "and those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salaat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours)" Allah, the Exalted, again mentions preserving of Salaat as one of the characteristics of the successful believer which shows the importance and virtue of Salaat. Ibn Mas'oud (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated, 'I asked Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam): 'O Messenger of Allah, which deed is most beloved to Allah?' He said: 'Prayer at the appointed time.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'Kindness to parents.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'Jihad in the way of Allah.' [saheeh Muslim (vol.1, no.89)] Allah's forgiveness and pleasure is closely related to the prayers. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said, "Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows, prostrations and Khushoo has a promise from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or punish him." [Musnad Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others. Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh al-Jamee, vol.1, p.616] and: "The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [at-Tabaranee. Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh al-Jamee vol.1, p.503] He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) compared the five daily prayer by five daily baths, which leave no filth on the body. Similarly, one who prays five times a day will become free of the filth of sins. "If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The people said, "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." The Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) then said, "That is like the five daily prayers. Allah wipes away the sins by them." [saheeh al-Bukharee] "Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds." [soorah al-Ankaboot (29): 45] "Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain devoted in their prayers…" [soorah al-Maarij (70): 21-23] "These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus, they shall dwell therein forever" After mentioning the characteristics of the successful believer, Allah gives them the good news of Firdaus. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "If you ask Allah for Paradise, then ask him for Firdaus, for it is the highest part of Paradise, in the middle of Paradise, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise, and above it is the (Mighty) Throne of the Most Merciful." [Fath al-Baree (13: 415)] Abu Hurayrah (radhiyallahu anhu) said: "The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "There is not one among you who does not have two homes; a home in Paradise and a home in Hell. If he dies and enters Hell, the people of Paradise will inherit his home, and this is what Allah said: 'These are indeed the heirs.'" [ibn Majah (2): 1453] http://www.islamhouse.com/p/52928 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muslim01 Posted August 28, 2008 Barakallahu feek dear sis. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nur Posted August 29, 2008 Great topic Sis My thouhts on this great surah. This Surah is the key of attaining absolute success in this life and next. It begins with the attention getter, " Qad Aflaxa" , Success is the " Baadi", as we say in Somali that we are all after. We seek success in school, success at work, success with our extended family and success in our marriage relationships, success with freinds, success in this life and success in the next. As we all see, this great Surah lays down the foundations with the right success toward the right direction. It begins with the first key of success of our relationships, the success in our prayers, which Allah emphasizes that we need to perform it with (Khushuuc), meaning standing in front of Allah's Majesty with awe in a state of being subdued with humility. As the verses begin the description of the quality of the successful prayers, it also ends with description of another quality of the successful prayers, (DAA'IMOON) meaning constant practice and timeliness, never skipping a prayer nor delaying it to watch the Olympics. Allah tells us that success in this lifetime begins with success in our prayers, and it also ends with success in our prayers. Come to think of it, why Allah places so much emphasis on prayers? The answer to this question is embedded in the secrets of prayers. Of all the secrets, the most important is the secret of being grateful to Allah. The form of this ritual is known as XAMD ( Praising Allah). The Creation of the heavens and the earth began with (XAMD), the end of the creation is also with Xamd, lets see. In Surah Al Ancaam Allah SWT says: " All praises and thanks be to Allah, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth, and originated the darkness and the light, yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord." In Surah Zumar Allah Says: "And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein." 74 And they will say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers!" 75 And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne (of Allah) from all round, glorifying the praises of their Lord (Allah). And they (all the creatures) will be judged with truth, and it will be said. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)." The importance of prayers is also evident in Surah Al Macaarij, which begins to describe the quality of successful prayers where the Surah Muminoon left which was DAAIMOON, until it comes to the Quality of YUXAAFIDOON which means carefulness and diligence in its fulfillment. The Moral of envoloping all of our good deeds with prayers is that performance of the right quality prayers is conditional to all of other deliverables to Allah, if our Prayers are bad, the envelope of good deeds is not opened, thats why in the day of judgement, the first deed to be audited after Shahaadateyn is our Prayers. Nur Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blessed Posted August 29, 2008 ^As-salaah, As-salaah, indeed! Jiaak Allah for the reminder. Wa iyaakum @ Musliom 01. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
