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Chapter 12: Islamic faith:
Some details
Most of the following is obtained
from the book "The Muslim's Belief" by Shaik Muhammad ibn
Saleh Al-'Uthaimin as translated by Maneh Hammad Al-Johani.
Some modifications have been made. It contains some of the
details of the Muslim's belief. As seen in the previous
chapter, this is the second level of Islamic belief. It
builds upon the basic foundation of "Islam" and is directly
below the final level of "Ihsan" (excellence). It is of
course by no means comprehensive:
1) Our Creed:
Our creed is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books,
His Messengers, the Day of Judgment, and Fate whether good
or bad.
Belief in Allah's Lordship, Oneness, and Attributes
- We believe in Allah's Divinity, that is He is the
Lord, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Manager of all
affairs.
- We believe in Allah's Godship; that is, He is the
True God and every other deity is false.
- We believe in His Names and Attributes, that is He
has the most magnificent Names and the sublime perfect
Attributes.
- We believe in His Oneness in all this, that is, He
has no associate in His Divinity, His Godship, His Names,
or His Attributes. Allah says in the Qur'an:
"He is the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth
and all that is in between them, so worship Him and be
patient in His worship, do you know any equal to Him"
(19:65)
- We believe that "Allah there is no God but He, the
Living the Everlasting. Slumber does not seize Him,
neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the Heavens
and the Earth. Who is there that shall intercede with Him
except by His permission? He knows what is before them
and what is behind them, and they do not encompass
anything of His knowledge except what He wills. His
Throne extends over the Heavens and the Earth; the
preservation of them does not burden Him; He is the High,
the Great." (2:255)
- We believe that "He is Allah, there is no god but
He--the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, He is the
Most Gracious, Most Merciful. He is Allah, there is no
God but He, the King, the Holy One, the Source of Peace,
the Keeper of Faith, the Guardian, the Almighty, the
Subduer, the Sublime. Glory be to Allah above what they
associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker,
the Shaper, His are the most beautiful Names. All that is
in the Heavens and the Earth glorifies Him. He is the
Almighty, the Wise".(59:22-4)
- We believe that to Him belongs the kingdom of the
Heavens and the Earth: "He creates what He pleases. He
gives, to whom He wills, females, and He gives, to whom
He wills, males, or He couples them, males and females;
and He makes whom He wills barren. Surely, He is the
Knowing, the Powerful." (42:49-50).
- We believe that "There is nothing whatever like
unto Him, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. To Him
belongs the keys of the Heavens and the Earth. He
enlarges and restricts provisions to whom He wills.
Surely He has knowledge of everything."
(42:11-12).
- We believe that "There is no creature that moves
in the Earth but its provision depends on Allah. He knows
its dwelling and its resting place. All is recorded in a
clear Book." (11:6)
- We believe that "With Him are the keys of the
Unseen; none knows them but He. He knows what is in land
and sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. Not a grain
in the deep darkness of the Earth, not a thing green or
dry but it is in a clear Book." (6:59).
- We believe that "Allah alone has the knowledge of
the Hour, sends down rain, and knows what is in the
wombs. No soul knows what it shall earn tomorrow, and no
soul knows in what land it shall die. Surely, Allah is
All-knowing, All-aware." (31:34)
- We believe that Allah speaks whatever He pleases
whenever He pleases "And Allah spoke to Moses
directly." (4:164) "And when Moses came at Our
appointed place, and his Lord spoke to him." (7:143)
"We called to him from the right side of the Mount
(Sinai), and We brought him near in communion."
(19-52)
- We believe that "If the ocean became ink for the
words of my Lord, the ocean would be finished before the
words of my Lord came to an end." (18:109) "And if
all the trees that are in the earth were pens, and the
ocean (were ink), with seven oceans swelling it
therefore, the words of Allah would not be exhausted.
Surely, Allah is Mighty, Wise." (31:27).
- We believe that Allah's words are the most truthful
in conveying information, the most just in ruling, and
the fairest in conversation. He said, "The word of
your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice."
(6:115) "And who is more truthful in his word than
Allah?" (4:74).
- We believe that the Qur'an is Allah's words. He
literally spoke it to Gabriel who conveyed it to the
Prophet, peace be upon him: "Say (O Muhammad) the Holy
Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth."
(16:102) "Truly it is the revelation of the Lord of
the worlds brought down upon your heart by the Faithful
Spirit so that you may be one of the warners, in a clear
Arabic tongue."(26: 192-5)
- We believe that Allah is well above his creatures in
His person and His Attributes, because He says, "He is
the High, the Great." (2:255) "He is Supreme over His
servants, and He is the Wise, the All-aware."
(6:18).
- We believe that He "created the Heavens and the
Earth in six days, then He settled Himself on the Throne;
He manages everything." (10:3) His "settling on
the Throne" means that He is sitting in person on His
Throne in a way that is becoming to His Majesty and
greatness. Nobody except He knows exactly how He is
sitting.
- We believe that He is with His creatures while He is
still on His Throne. He knows their conditions, hears
their sayings, sees their deeds and manages their
affairs. He provides for the poor and the broken. He
gives sovereignty to whom He pleases and takes away
sovereignty from whom He pleases; He exalts whom He wills
and He abases whom He wills. In His hand is all good and
He is powerful over everything. Whoever possesses these
qualities is literally with His creatures even if He is
literally above them on His Throne. "There is nothing
whatsoever like unto Him; He is the All-hearing, the
All-seeing." (42:11)
- We do not say as the Incarnationists among the
Jahomites and others say, that is, Allah is living with
His creatures on Earth. We consider whoever says this a
non-believer or straying away because he attributed to
Allah that which does not become Him (of defects).
- We believe in what His Messenger told us that He
descends to the near sky before the last third of every
night and says: "Who shall pray to Me and I will
answer his prayers? Who shall ask Me and I will give him?
Who shall ask my forgiveness and I will forgive him?"
(Bukhari & Muslim).
- We believe that He will come at the Day of Judgment
to judge among His people because He said, "No indeed!
when the Earth is crushed to powder, and your Lord comes
down with the angels in rows after rows, and Hell is
brought out that day. On that day man will remember, but
what will remembrance avail him?" (89:21-23) We
believe that He is the Doer of what He wills.
Allah's Will: Universal and Legal:
We believe that His will is of two kinds:
- Universal will: through which His
intention is carried out. It is not necessary that what
is carried out is liked by Him. This type of will means
"permission", as Allah said, "Had Allah willed, they
would not have fought one against the other, but Allah
does whatever He desires," (2:253) and "If Allah
desires to lead you astray, He is your Lord."
(11:34).
- Legal will: which does not necessarily
entail that the execution of His desire. The will, in
this case, cannot be but what He likes, as He said,
"Allah wants to forgive you." (4:27)
The example of these two wills is a man who has a son.
This man tells his son "do not play with electricity, it
will hurt you." This man does not then tie his son to the
bed-post in order to prevent him from electrocuting himself.
If the son then disregards his father's warning then that is
his choice. It can not then be said that the son only
electrocuted himself because the father "wished" that he do
so and had the father "wished" to prevent him from doing
this then he could have tied him to the bed post his whole
life.
From the above example, we see that it is possible for
God to "will" that we do good but to not force us to do so
even though that is within His power. Whatever we then
choose to do, either good or evil, is then also only
accomplished through God's "will" since He "allowed" us to
do so and did not force us to do that which He commanded us
to. In all cases, all things happen through the will of God,
however, not all things that He wills are pleasing to
Him.
- We believe that His universal and legal wills are
part of His wisdom. Every thing He performs in the
universe or requires legally from His creatures is for a
good reason and according to His wisdom, whether we grasp
it or it escapes our reasons: "Is not Allah the best
of Judges?" (95-9), "And who is better than Allah
in judgment for a people who have firm faith."
(5:50)
- We believe that Allah loves His select servants and
they love Him: "Say if you love Allah, follow me and
Allah will love you," (3:31) "Allah will bring a
people whom He will love and who will love Him,"
(5:45) "Allah loves the steadfast," (3:146)
"And act justly, surely, Allah loves the just,"
(49:9) and "Do good; Allah loves those who do
good." (5:93)
- We believe that Allah likes what He prescribed of
good deeds and sayings and He dislikes what He prohibited
of bad deeds and sayings: "If you disbelieve, surely
Allah does not need you, yet He does not like disbelief
for His servants; if you are thankful, this pleases
Him,"(39:7), "But Allah disliked their marching
forth. So He kept them back, and it was said to them:
'Stay with the weaklings'." (9:46).
- We believe that Allah is pleased with those who
believe in Him and do good deeds: "Allah is well
pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him.
That is for him who fears his Lord." (98:8)
- We believe that Allah is angry with those who deserve
His anger among the non-believers and others: "And
those who think evil thoughts of Allah, against them
shall be the evil turn of fortune. Allah is angry with
them." (48:6) "But whoever opens his heart to
disbelief, on them is Allah's wrath and they shall have a
severe punishment ." (16: 106) .
More of Allah's Attributes:
We, as Muslims believe that God Almighty possesses
attributes. These attributes are the epitome and ultimate in
all that is good and desirous. Although we may use earthly
terms to describe some of these attributes, still, a Muslim
does not in any way compare any of these attributes to those
of His creation. Some of these are:
- We believe that Allah has a glorious and dignified
face: "There will remain the face of your Lord,
majestic and splendid." (55:27)
- We believe that Allah has two generous hands: "No,
both His hands are wide open; He spends how He
pleases," (5:64) "They did not esteem Allah with
the esteem that is due to Him. The whole Earth will be
His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the Heavens
will be rolled up in His right. Glory be to Him! and
exalted is He above that which they associate with
Him!" (39-67)
- We believe that Allah possesses real eyes, because He
said, "And build the ark under Our eyes as We
reveal." (11:37) The Prophet, peace be upon him,
said, "His veil is light. Had He removed it, the
sublimity of His countenance would have burnt all that
His sight reached." (Muslim & Ibn Majah)
- We believe that "Eyes cannot perceive Him, but He
perceives the eyes, He is the Incomprehensible, the
All-aware." (6:103)
- We believe that the believers will see their Lord on
the Day of Resurrection: "Upon that day some faces
shall be radiant, gazing upon their Lord."
(75:22)
- We believe that Allah has no equal because His
Attributes are perfect: "There is nothing whatsoever
like unto Him. He is the All-Hearing, the
All-Seeing." (42:11)
- We believe that "No slumber or sleep seizes
Him," (2:255) because His life is perfect and
eternal.
- We believe that He does not do injustice to anybody
because His fairness is perfect.
- We believe that He is not unaware of His servants'
deeds because of His perfect supervision and
comprehensive knowledge.
- We believe that He is capable of doing anything in
the Heavens or in the Earth because of His perfect
knowledge and power: "Indeed His command, when He
desires a thing, is only to say to it 'Be' and it
is." (36:82)
- We believe that He is free from weariness and
weakness because of His infinite-power: "Surely, We
created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between
them in six days, and no weariness touched Us."
(50:38).
Describing Allah by His Revelation:
We believe in all that He assigned to Himself or what His
Messenger described Him with, of names and attributes; but
we reject two concepts:
- To say or believe that Allah's Attributes are similar
to those of His creatures; (like saying His hand is like
a human hand)
- To say or believe that Allah's Attributes are like
such and such. (like saying His will is like human
will)
- We negate all that He negated about Himself or what
His Messenger negated about Him. We believe that negation
implies the affirmation of a perfect opposite. We do not
discuss what He or His Messenger did not mention about
Him.
- We believe that following this approach is a must
because what Allah affirmed or negated concerning Himself
is a statement He made about Himself. He knows Himself
best, His words are most just and trustful and people
cannot know everything about Him. What Allah's Messenger
affirmed or negated about Him is a statement he made
about Allah. Besides knowing Allah better than anyone, he
is the most truthful, sincere and eloquent among people.
Thus, in what Allah said and what His prophet said
concerning His Names and Attributes is truth, knowledge,
and clarification. Therefore, we have no excuse to reject
or even hesitate in accepting it.
2) The Qur'an and Sunnah: Sources of His
Attributes:
All that we mentioned about Allah's Attributes whether
briefly or in detail, affirmatively or negatively, is based
on the Book of our Lord and the traditions of our Prophet.
It also agrees with the practice of the previous generations
of Muslims and the rightly guided scholars who came after
them.
- We believe it is obligatory to take the texts of the
Qur'an and the Prophetic traditions concerning Allah's
Attributes at their face value and interpret them in a
way that is suitable to Almighty Allah. We reject the
practice of those who twisted the meanings of these texts
and understood them in a way that was not intended by
Allah and His messenger.
- We also reject the practice of those who made them
devoid of their meanings as conveyed by Allah and His
Messenger. We finally reject the approach of the
exaggerationists who gave them a physical interpretation
that makes Allah similar to some of His creatures.
- We know for sure that what is revealed in Allah's
Book and in the traditions of His Messenger is the truth.
It does not contain any contradiction: "Do they not
ponder over the Qur'an? If it had been from other than
Allah, surely they would have found in it much
discrepancy." (4:82)
3) Belief in Angels:
- We believe in the existence of the angels of Allah
and that they are "honored servants. They do not speak
before He does, and they do as they are commanded."
(21:26) Allah created them and they worship and obey Him.
"Those who are at His presence do not disdain to
worship Him, nor do they weary." (21:19)
- Angels are concealed from us, we cannot see them.
Allah may show them to some of His servants. The Prophet
Muhammad saw Gabriel in his real shape with six hundred
wings that covered the horizons (Bukhari & Muslim).
Gabriel also took the form of a handsome human being when
he met Mary and exchanged conversation with her. He came
to the Prophet while he was among his companions in the
appearance of an unknown man who did not show any trace
of long travel, with very white clothes and very black
hair. He sat facing the Prophet: his knees to the
Prophet's knees, peace be upon him, and his palms on the
Prophet's thighs and talked with the Prophet. The Prophet
later told his companions that the man they saw was
Gabriel (Bukhari & Muslim).
Angel's Functions:
- We believe that the angels are assigned certain
functions. Among the angels is Gabriel who is entrusted
with revelation. He brings it down from Allah to whomever
Allah wishes among His Prophets and Messengers. Among
them is Michael who is in charge of rain and plantation.
Among them also is Israfil who shall be in charge of
blowing the Horn at the time of the final Thunderbolting
and Resurrection. Among them is the Angel of death, who
takes away people's souls at the time of death. Among the
angels is the one who is in charge of mountains; and
Malik, the keeper of Hell.
- Some angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, others
are responsible for protecting the human beings and other
angels are busy in recording men's deeds: two angels for
every person, "when the two angels receive (his
deeds), one sitting on the right and one on the left, not
a word he utters but by him is an observer ready."
(50: 18) Some other angels are in charge of questioning
the dead after he is put in his last abode. Two angels
come to him and ask him about his Lord, his Religion, and
his Prophet. There "Allah confirms those who believe
with steadfast speech, in the present life and the
Hereafter" (14:27)
- Some of the angels are in charge of the dwellers of
Paradise: "The angels enter to them from every gate,
saying 'peace be upon you for that you were patient. How
excellent is your final home." (13:24)
- The Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that
"seventy thousand angels enter or pray in the
'Populous House' in Heaven every day. They never come
back to it as long as they live." (because their turn
will never come again) (Bukhari & Muslim).
4) Belief in Allah's Books:
- We believe that Allah revealed Books to His
Messengers as proof against mankind and a guidance for
the workers of righteousness. They purified and taught
them wisdom by these Books.
- We believe that Allah sent down a Book with every
Messenger because He says "Indeed We sent down our
Messengers with the clear signs, and We sent down with
them the Book and the Balance so that people may uphold
justice." (57:25)
Known Books of Allah:
Among these Books we know the following:
- The Torah which was revealed to Moses, peace be upon
him. It is the greatest among the Israelites' books.
"Surely, We sent down the Torah, wherein is guidance
and light; by its laws the Jews have been judged by the
Prophets who surrendered themselves to Allah, the rabbis
and the doctors of law because they were entrusted the
protection of Allah's book and were witnesses
thereto." (5:44).
- The Gospel which Allah revealed to Jesus, peace be
upon him. It is a confirmation of the Torah and a
complement to it. "And we gave him the Gospel, wherein
is guidance and light and confirming the Torah before it,
as a guidance and an admonition to the
God-fearing."(5:46) "And to make lawful to you
certain things that, before, were forbidden to you."
(3:50)
- The Psalms which Allah gave to David, peace be upon
him.
- Tablets of Abraham and Moses, peace be upon
them.
- The Glorious Qur'an which was revealed to His Prophet
Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets. It is "a guidance
to the people, and clear signs of guidance and criterion
between right and wrong." (2:185)
The Qur'an is Protected from Change:
The Qur'an is "confirming the scripture that was
before it and stands as a guardian over it (rectifying
mankind's tampering)." Thus, by the Qur'an Allah
abrogated all the previous books. Allah has also guaranteed
its protection from any play or mischievous distortion.
"Indeed, We (God) sent down the 'Reminder' (one of the
names of the Qur'an) and it is We who will guard it."
(15:9). That is because the Qur'an is a proof against
mankind till the Day of Judgment.
Previous Scriptures Changed:
The previous scriptures were meant for a limited period
(and a specific people) that ended with the revelation of
what abrogated them and exposed what had taken place in them
of distortion and change. That is why they were not
protected from corruption. They underwent distortion,
addition and omission "Some of the Jews pervert words
from their meanings." (4:46) "So woe to those who
write the Book with their hands, and then say, 'This is from
Allah,' that they may purchase by it a trivial price. So woe
to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them
for their earnings." (2:79) "Say, who sent down the
Book that Moses brought as a light and a guidance to people?
You make it into sheets of paper showing some of them and
concealing much." (6:91) "And there is a group among
them who twist their tongues with the Book, that you may
think it is a part of the Book, but it is not part of the
Book. And they say 'It is from Allah,' yet it is not from
Allah, and they tell a lie against Allah and they know
it." (3:78-70) "O People of the Book! Our Messenger
has come to you, making clear to you many things you had
been concealing of the Book and forgiving much.
[Indeed!] A light has come to you from Allah and a
glorious Book, with which He will guide whoever follows His
pleasure in the way of peace, and brings them forth from
darkness into the light by His will." (5:15-16).
5) Belief in Messengers;
We believe that Allah has sent to His people messengers
who were "bringing glad tidings and warning, so that
mankind might have no excuse against Allah after the
messengers. And Allah is Almighty, All-wise."
(4:165)
The First and Last Messengers:
We believe that the first among the Messengers is Noah
and the last is Muhammad, peace be upon them all. "We
revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets
after him." (4:163) "Muhammad is not the father of
any of your men, but the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of
the Prophets." (33:40)
The Best Messengers:
- We believe that the best among the messengers are
Muhammad, Abraham, Moses, Noah and Jesus son of Mary. It
is they who are meant by the following Qur'anic verse:
"And when We took a pact from the Prophets, and from
you, and from Noah, and Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of
Mary. We took from them a solemn pact." (33:7)
- We believe that Muhammad's message, peace be upon
him. includes all the merits of the messages of those
dignified messengers because Allah says, "He ordained
for you that He enjoined on Noah and what He revealed to
you and what He enjoined on Abraham Moses and Jesus,
[namely,] established this faith and be united in
it." (42:13)
Messengers Are Human Beings:
- We believe that all messengers are created human
beings who have none of the divine qualities of Allah.
Prophet Noah, the first among them, is quoted in the
Qur'an as saying to his people: "neither do I say to
you, 'I possess the treasures of Allah, ' nor do I know
the unseen, and I do not say: 'I am an angel'."
(11:31) Allah then directed Muhammad who is the last
among them to say the same words to his own people:
"Say (O Muhammad): I do not say to you I possess the
treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, and I do
not say to you 'I am an angel." (6:50) And to say:
"I have no power to bring benefit nor harm for myself,
but only as Allah wills ." (7: 188) And also to say
"Say (O Muhammad): I have no power to harm nor benefit
you. Say (O Muhammad): none can protect me from Allah,
nor can I find any refuge besides Him."
(72:21-22)
- We believe that the messengers are among Allah's
servants. He blessed them with the message and described
them as servants, in the context of praising and honoring
them. So, He says about Noah, the first among them:
"You are the descendants of those whom We carried with
Noah, he was a truly thankful servant." (17:3). Allah
said about the last among them, Muhammad, peace be upon
him: "Blessed be He who sent down the Qur'an to His
servant, that he may warn mankind." (25: 1) He said
about some other messengers: "And mention our servants
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob men of might and vision."
(38:45) "And remember our servants David who was a
mighty and penitent man." (38:17) "And to David,
we gave Solomon. How excellent a servant [was
he]! [Indeed] he was penitent." (38:30).
Allah said about Jesus, son of Mary: "He is only a
servant whom We blessed and We made him an example to the
children of Israel." (63:59) We believe that Allah
concluded all messages with the message of Muhammad,
peace be upon him, to all people because Allah said:
"Say, 'O mankind, I am Allah's messenger to you all.
To Him belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth;
There is no god but He. He ordains life and death. So
believe in Allah and His messenger, the unlettered
Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him
so that you may be rightly guided." (7: 158)
Islam: The Universal and Final Message:
- We believe that the Shari'ah (law) of the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the religion of Islam
which Allah has chosen for His servants. After the coming
of Muhammad (pbuh), He does not accept from anyone any
other religion, because Allah, the Exalted, said,
"Surely, the true religion in Allah's sight is
Islam," (3:19) and He also said, "Today I have
perfected your religion for you and I have completed my
favor upon you, and I have chosen Islam to be your
religion." (5:3) And "whoever desires a religion
other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and
in the Hereafter he will be among the losers."
(3:85)
- It is also our belief that whoever rejects the
universal message of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is
rejecting the message of all messengers, even if he
claims that he believes and follows his messenger. Allah
the Exalted, said: "Noah's people rejected the
messengers." (26:105) Thus, Allah considered them
rejecting all the messengers despite the fact that there
was no messenger before Noah. This is also clear from the
following verses: "Those who disbelieve in Allah and
His messengers, and wish to make division between Allah
and His messengers, and say: 'We believe in some and
disbelieve in others,' wishing to take a midway course.
Those indeed are the disbelievers. And We have prepared
for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment."
(4:150-1)
- We believe that there is no prophet after Muhammad,
Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him. Whoever claims
prophethood after him, or believes in anyone claiming it,
is a disbeliever because he is rejecting Allah, His
messenger, and the Muslims' consensus.
The Prophet's Companions:
- We believe that the best among the Muslim Ummah
(community) are the Prophet's Companions, then their
followers, and those who followed them .
- We also believe that a group of this Ummah will
always remain victorious on the right path, unharmed by
those who let them down or those who oppose them, until
the Day of Judgment.
6) Belief In The Day Of Judgment:
We believe in the Final Day, which is the Day of
Judgment, when people will be resurrected alive to remain in
the abode of eternal enjoyment or in the abode of eternal
severe punishment.
Belief In Resurrection (for judgment):
We believe in Resurrection which is Allah's bringing to
life all the dead when the angel Israfil blows the Horn for
the second time, "And the Trumpet shall be blown and all
who are in the Heavens and who are in the Earth shall be
thunder-stuck except those that Allah shall spare. Then, it
shall be blown again and they shall rise gazing around
them." (39:68) People will stand up from their graves,
answering the call of the Lord of the Universe. They are
going to be bare-footed, and naked, "As We started the
first creation, so We shall bring it back again. This is a
promise from Us, We shall assuredly fulfill it."
(21:104)
Belief in the Records & Scales:
We believe in the records of deeds that will be given to
people in their right hands, or behind their backs in the
left hands: "As for him who is given his book in his
right hand, he shall surely receive an easy reckoning and he
will return to his family rejoicing. But as for him who is
given his book behind his back, he shall beg for destruction
upon himself and will burn in a Blazing Fire." (84:7-12)
"Every man's work We have fastened on his own neck, and
on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a book
which he will see spread open, saying, 'Read your own book!
Your own soul suffices this day as a witness against
you.'" (17:13-14)
We believe that scales of deeds will be set up on the Day
of Judgment and no soul shall be wronged. "Whoever has
done an atom's weight of good shall see it." (99:708)
"Those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful;
but those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have
lost their souls in Hell dwelling forever. The Fire will
burn their faces, and their countenances are despondent
therein." (23:102-4) "He that does a good deed shall
be rewarded ten times the like of it, and he that does evil
shall only be rewarded the like of it, and they shall not be
wronged." (6:160)
The Prophet's Intercession:
- We believe in the special great Intercession of the
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. He will plead with
Allah, after His permission and on behalf of mankind, to
judge among His servants when they suffer from worries
and troubles which they cannot bear. They will first go
to Adam, then Noah, then Abraham, then to Moses, then to
Jesus in search of intercession, but all of them will
refuse to provide this intercession due to the tremendous
horror of that day. Finally, they will go to Muhammad,
peace be upon him, and they will find intercession with
him.
- We believe in the intercession which concerns some
believers who were to be taken out from the Fire. This
mediation is granted to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be
upon him, and to others among the Prophets, the
believers, and the angels.
- We believe also that Allah will save from Hell some
people among the believers without the intercession of
any one, but by His grace and mercy.
The Prophet's Pool:
We believe in the Pool of the Prophet, peace be upon him,
the water of which is whiter than milk and sweeter than
honey and better in fragrance than musk. Each of its length
and width is the distance of a months travel. Its cups are
as stars in beauty and number. The believers among the
Prophet's followers come to take from this great cistern a
drink after which they will never again be thirsty for all
of eternity.
The Straight Path:
- We believe in the Straight Path
(Sirat) set up over Hell. People pass over it according
to their deeds: the first of them as fast as lighting,
then as fast as wind, then as fast as birds, and then as
running men. The Prophet will be standing on the Path,
saying, "My Lord, Save! Save!" Some people's deeds will
fall short. Some of them will come crawling. At both
sides of the Path there are hooks that are designed to
take whom Allah wills: some are saved but bruised; others
are thrown into Hell. (Bukhari & Muslim). We believe
in all that is mentioned in the Qur'an or the Prophetic
sayings concerning that day and its horrors, may Allah
save us all from them.
- We believe in the intercession (shafa'ah) of Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, for the people of Paradise
to enter therein. This intercession is exclusively
limited to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Belief in Paradise & Hell:
- We believe in Paradise and Hell. Paradise is the
abode of enjoyment which Allah, the Exalted, prepared for
the righteous. The blessing they enjoy there, no eye has
ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and no human being
has ever imagined: "No soul knows what comfort is kept
hidden for them, as a reward for that which they used to
do." (32:17) Hell is the abode of punishment which
Allah has prepared for the unbelievers and the evildoers.
The torture and horror in it cannot be imagined.
"Surely, We have prepared for the unjust a fire, whose
pavilion encompasses them. If they call for help, they
will be helped with water like molten copper which will
scald their faces. How dreadful a drink and how evil a
resting-place!" (18:29)
- Both Paradise and Hell are existing now and they will
never perish. "Whoever believes in Allah and does
righteousness, He will admit him to Gardens beneath which
rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. Allah had indeed
made for him an excellent provision." (65:11)
"Certainly, Allah has cursed the unbelievers and
prepared for them a blazing Fire to dwell therein
forever, they shall find neither protector nor helper. On
the day when their faces are rotated in the Fire, they
shall say "Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the
Messenger!" (33:64-6)
- We confirm Paradise to whom it is confirmed in the
Qur'an or the Prophetic traditions either by name or
description. Among those who are granted Paradise and
mentioned by names are Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali and
others who were specified by the Prophet, peace be upon
him (Bukhari and Muslim).
- We likewise confirm Hell to whom it is confirmed in
the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet, whether in
name or description. Among those who are mentioned by
names to be in Hell are Abu Lahab, 'Amr Ibn Luhai
Al-Khuza'i and others (Bukhari & Muslim).
Confirmation of Hell which is based on description
includes every unbeliever, polytheist or hypocrite.
Belief in What Happens in the Grave
- We believe in the trial of the grave, which is the
questioning of the dead person in his grave about his
Lord, his religion and his Prophet. There "Allah
strengthens those who believe with firm speech, in the
present life and the Hereafter." (14:27) The believer
will say: "Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and
Muhammad is my Prophet." The unbeliever or the hypocrite
will say, "I don't know, I heard the people saying
something and I said it."
- We believe in the comfort of the grave for the
believers. "Those whose lives the angels take in state
of purity, saying 'peace be on you; enter Paradise for
what you used to do." (16:32)
- We believe in the punishment of the grave for the
transgressing unbelievers: "If you could only see when
the evildoers are in the agonies of death and the angels
are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Give up your
souls! Today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of
humiliation for what you used to say untruly about Allah,
and for scornfully rejecting His signs." (6:93) The
sayings of the Prophet are numerous and well-known in
this area. A Muslim must believe in all that is reported
in the Qur'an and Prophetic traditions concerning the
unseen matters. He should not contradict it by his
worldly experience because the affairs of the Hereafter
cannot be measured by the affairs of this life. The
difference between them is very great. Allah is the
source of help.
7) Belief in Fate and Divine Decree:
We believe in Fate, whether good or bad, which Allah has
measured and ordained for all creatures according to His
previous knowledge and as deemed suitable by His wisdom.
Levels Of Belief In Fate:
Belief in Fate has four levels:
- The first level is knowledge: We believe that Allah,
may He be exalted, knows everything. He knew what had
happened and what will happen and how it will happen. His
knowledge is eternal. He does not acquire new knowledge
nor does he forget what He Knows .
- The second level is Recording: We believe that Allah
has recorded in the "Secured Tablet" (al-Lawh al-Mahfudh)
whatever is going to happen until the Day of Judgment.
"Did you not know that Allah knows all that is in
Heaven and Earth? Surely that is in a Book. Surely that
for Allah is an trivial matter."(22:70)
- The third level is Will: We believe that Allah has
willed everything in the Heaven and Earth. Nothing
happens except by His will; whatever He wills will take
place; and whatever He does not wish will not take
place.
- The fourth level is Creation: We believe that
"Allah is the Creator of all things; He is the
Guardian over all things, and to Him belong the keys of
the Heavens and the Earth." (39:62-3)
The fourth level include whatever Allah Himself does and
whatever His creatures do. So, all that people perform of
sayings, deeds, or omissions are known to Allah and He has
recorded them, willed them and created them, "For those
among you who wish to be upright. But you shall not will
except as Allah wills, the Lord of the Worlds."
(81:28-29) "And had Allah willed they would not have
fought one against the other; but Allah does whatever He
desires." (2:253) "Had Allah willed, they would not
have done so, but leave them alone and their false
inventions." (6:137) "And Allah created you and what
you do." (37:96)
Men's Freewill:
We believe, however, that Allah has granted humanity the
power and freewill by which he performs his action. That
man's deeds are by his power and freewill can be proven by
the following points:
- Firstly, Allah's saying, "Had they desired to go
forth, they would have made some preparation for it."
(9:46) In this verse Allah affirmed for mankind "a going
forth" by his will and "a preparation" by his
desire.
- Secondly, directing man to do or not to do. If man
has no freewill and power, these directions mean that
Allah is asking man to do that which he cannot. This
proposition is rejected by Allah's wisdom, His mercy and
His truthful statement in the verse "Allah does not
charge a soul beyond its capacity." (2:286)
- Thirdly, Praising the virtuous for his deeds and
blaming the evildoer for his actions and rewarding each
of them with what he deserves. If the action is not done
by the individual's freewill, then praising the virtuous
is a joke and punishing the evildoer is an injustice, and
Allah is, of course, free from joking and being
unjust.
- Fourthly, Allah has sent messengers who are
"bearing good tidings, and warning, so that mankind
might have no excuse against Allah after the
messengers." (40:165) If the individual's action is
not performed by his freewill, his argument is not
invalidated by the sending of messengers.
- Fifthly, every doer of actions feels that he does or
does not do a thing without any coercion. He stands up
and sits; comes in and goes out; travels and stays by his
own freewill without feeling anybody forcing him to do
any of these actions. In fact, he clearly distinguishes
between doing something of his own freewill and someone
else forcing him to do that action. The Islamic law also
wisely distinguishes between these states of affairs. It
does not punish a wrong-doer for an action done under
compulsion.
No Excuse in Fate for Sinners:
We believe that the sinner has no excuse in Allah's
Divine Decree because he commits his sin by his freewill,
without knowing that Allah has decreed it on him. That is,
because no one knows Allah's decree before it takes place:
"No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow." (31: 34)
How can it be possible, then, to present an excuse that is
not known to the person who is advancing it when he commits
his offense? Allah invalidated this type of argument in His
saying: "The idolaters will say 'Had Allah willed, we
would not have been idolaters, neither our fathers, nor
would we have forbidden anything.' So did the people before
them disbelieve until they tasted our might. Say: 'Have you
any [true] knowledge that you can produce for Us?
You follow nothing but assumption, and you are but
lying." (6:148) We say to the sinner who is using Divine
Decree as an excuse: 'Why did not you perform deeds of
obedience assuming that Allah has decreed them upon you
since there is no difference between them and sins in being
unknown before they happened from you? That is why when
Prophet Muhammad told his companions that everyone's
position in Paradise or Hell has been assigned, they said:
"Should not we rely on this and stop working?" He said:
"No, work and every one will be directed to what he is
created for." (Bukhari & Muslim)
We may say to the sinner who is trying to find excuse in
Divine Decree: "Suppose, you want to travel to Makkah. There
are two roads that may take you there. You are told by a
truthful person that one of these roads is dangerous and
difficult, the other is easy and safe. You will take the
second one. You will not take the first road and say it is
decreed upon me. If you did, people would consider you
crazy.
We may also say to him: "If you are offered two jobs, one
of them is higher in salary. You will certainly take the one
with the higher salary. Why then do you choose what is lower
in the Hereafter and use Divine Decree as an excuse?"
We may further say to him: "We see you when you are
inflicted with a disease, you knock every physician's door
looking for treatment and bearing whatever pain that may
result from surgical operations and the bitterness of
medicine. Why do you not do the same when your heart is
spiritually sick with sins?"
8) Fruits of Faith
This sublime belief which includes those great principles
bears numerous and useful types of fruits for whoever
believes in it.
Virtues of Belief in Allah:
Belief in Allah, His Names and His Attributes instills in
the individual Allah's love and His glorification that
result in performing Allah's instructions and avoiding His
prohibition which are the means of achieving ultimate
happiness in this life and the Hereafter for the individual
as well as the society. "Whoever, male or female, does
righteous deed, while believing, We shall assuredly grant
him a goodly life, and We shall reward them according to the
best of their deeds." (16:97)
Virtues of Belief in the Angels:
- Firstly, appreciating the Dignity of Allah, His might
and His sovereignty.
- Secondly, gratitude toward Allah because He puts some
of the angels in charge of His servants, recording their
deeds and other things that benefit them.
- Thirdly, love and admiration for the angels because
of what they are doing, namely, worshipping Allah in the
best possible manner and praying for the believers.
Virtues of Belief in the Books:
- Firstly, appreciating Allah's mercy and care for His
people in that He sent down a Book to every nation for
their guidance.
- Secondly, appreciating Allah's Wisdom because He
revealed in these Books to every nation what suit them.
The glorious Qur'an is the final among these Books and it
is suitable to all people at all times until the Day of
Judgment.
- Thirdly, showing gratitude for Allah's mercy in
revealing these Books.
Virtues of Belief in Messengers:
- Firstly, appreciating Allah's mercy and care for His
people for sending them those great messengers to guide
them to the straight Path.
- Secondly, thanking Allah for this great favor.
- Thirdly, loving and respecting the Prophets and
praising them in what they deserve because they are
Allah's messengers and His choice among His people. They
worshipped Allah according to the best of their ability,
conveyed His message to mankind, gave sincere advise to
them and bore patiently whatever hurt they received.
Virtues of Belief in the Day of Judgment:
- Firstly, endeavoring to obey Allah to get the reward
of that day and to avoid His disobedience for fear of His
punishment.
- Secondly, a consolation for the believer for whatever
he misses of worldly enjoyment by what he hopes to gain
of blessings and reward of the Hereafter.
Virtues of Belief in Fate and Divine Decree:
- Firstly, dependence on Allah when doing any action
because both the cause and effect are the result of
Allah's decree.
- Secondly, ease of mind and comfort because when the
individual knows that everything is by Allah's decree and
that mishaps are going to take place anyway, his soul
will be at ease and his heart will be satisfied with
Allah's decree. No one has more comfortable life,
worry-free soul, and stronger confidence than a believer
in Fate.
- Thirdly, freedom from arrogance when a goal is
achieved because this is a blessing from Allah through
what He decreed of the causes of good and success. The
individual should thank Allah for that and free himself
from arrogance.
- Fourthly, freedom from worry and boredom in case of
failure or mishap because that is by Allah's decree who
possesses the Heavens and the Earth. Since that is going
to happen anyway, the individual should be patient and
hope for the reward from Allah.
Allah points to the last two virtues by the following
verse: "No misfortune can happen on earth or in
yourselves but is recorded in a decree before We bring it
into existence, that is trivial for Allah; that you may not
grieve for what escapes you, nor rejoice
[excessively] in what has come to you. Allah does
not love any vainglorious boaster." (57:22-3)
We pray to Allah, the Exalted, to reward us for this
belief, to realize for us its fruits, to increase our
blessings, to keep us on the Right Path to which He has
guided us, and to bestow on us a blessing from Him, He is
indeed the Giver. Praise and gratitude be to Allah, the Lord
of the Worlds and peace and blessings be on the Prophet
Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who rightly
follow them.
To learn more about the teachings of Islam, please
read
- "Towards Understanding Islam," by Abul A'la
Mawdudi
- "Concept of Islam," by Mahmoud Abu-Saud
- "Islam In Focus," by Hammudah Abdalati
- "The Key ot Ultimate Prosperity," by Muhammad Ameen
C. Cave
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