Islam means total submission to ALlah(God).
Allah is the creator of the heavens, earth and all that exists. He is ONE, Eternal, Absolute and there is none equivalent unto him. It is He who is deserving of our worship and to Him is the return of all.
NO! Jesus never mentioned Christianity. In fact, the word “Christianity” cannot be found in the Bible.
Muslims are the true followers of Jesus. Muslims, like Jesus, believe in the oneness of God as stated in Qur’an 112:1;
“Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One“.
Jesus said in Mark 12:29;
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”
He ( Jesus) called to the belief in and worship of One God. While Christians claim to be his followers, a careful study of the Bible brings us to the conclusion that Jesus never taught Christianity, never went to a church, didn’t build a church, never clapped and danced in worshipping God. Rather, he bowed down in worship like the previous messengers of God.
The basis and teachings of Islam is based on two foundations (the Qur’an and Hadith), what ever we need to observe or practice has already been stated in the Qur’an with guideline(s), and also the Hadith which is the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). And whenever an issue is raised, we either check the Qur’an, Hadith or both.
Circumcision is carried out as an Islamic rite by Muslims. Male circumcision is widespread in Islam and accepted as an established practice by all Islamic schools of jurisprudence. Although circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur’an itself but it is mentioned in the Hadith and the Sunnah. Continue reading…
As Muslims, belief in the day of judgement is an article of faith. The happenings on the Day of Judgement are part of the knowledge of the unseen. Anything from the unseen is only known from The Qur’aan, or from The Sunnah of The Prophet. The opinion of any scholar is not relied on in determining what is from the unseen. And to disbelieve in the knowledge of The Unseen is disbelief. The basis for the unseen are five, and they are mentioned in the last verse in suuratu Luqmaan, 34:
{Surely ALLAAH, the knowledge of the hour is with HIM, and HE sends down the rain and HE knows what is in the wombs; and no one knows what he shall earn on the morrow (future); and no one knows in what land he shall die; surely ALLAAH is Knowing, Aware}.
In an authentic hadeeth, The Prophet said “the keys to the unseen are five, none knows them except ALLAAH…” and HE mentioned the five above.
Resurrection
Everyone will die and be resurrected as ALLAAH has stated after mentioning the stages human went through in HIS creation of him, HE said:
{Then after that, you will all surely die. Then surely on the day of resurrection, you shall be raised}. Al-Mu’minuun, 15 & 16, and many other verses of the Qur’aan.
Every living being shall die, and the souls shall be returned on the day of judgement back to their body, not just in spirit, also in flesh.
{And the Trumpet will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and the earth shall fall dead. Then it will be blown for the second time, and at once they will be standing, looking on.}, Az-Zumar, 68.
The unbelievers in The Prophet Time and even some in this day deny resurrection and belied The Qur’aan and Sunnah. But a Muslim can not deny this. This is why it is wrong when warned about the Hereafter, that you say: who have gone there to confirm? It is from the knowledge of the unseen and believing in it is not a choice.
“Was he not a small seed in the seminal elements? Then he became a clot of blood, so HE created him then made (him)? Then HE made of him two pairs, the male and the female? Is He Who could do all that not capable of resurrecting the dead?”. Al-Qiyaamah, 37 – 40.
After the resurrection, people will be commanded to move towards, The “Mahshar”. The mahshar is where the people would gather, standing and waiting for judgement. They will stand naked, barefooted, uncircumcised. They will all sweat profusely. Some would differ in quantity of sweat. Some, their sweat will reach their ankles. Others, knees. Others, up to their neck. This sweating will be due to terror and anxiety. The standing on that day will last 50,000 years. All these are reported in authentic narrations. They will be naked and uncircumcised, not afraid or embarrassed of their nakedness.
Aa’ishah reported that The Prophet said:
“The people will be assembled barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised.” I said, “O Messenger of ALLAAH, will the men and women look at each other?” The Prophet said, “The matter will be too serious for them to notice.” (Bukhaariyy, (6075) Muslim, (5107)
Only seven categories of people will be saved from this. May we be from them. Aameen.
The Prophet said, “On the Day of Resurrection, the sun would draw so close to the people that there would be left a distance of only one mile” Muslim.
Nevertheless, on that day the believers will be shaded. ALLAAH mentions in the Qur’aan:
{{Indeed the righteous will be in shades and fountains}}. Mursalaat, 41.
As for the plane of Judgement, the people will be gathered on reddish white land like a pure loaf of bread (made from pure fine flour).” Sahl (the narrator) said, “It will have no landmarks for anyone (to make use of)” Al-Bukhaari, 6521. This means everywhere will be plane and no mountain, no tree, no hill, no even highland, nothing in that plane of judgement (al-Mahshar). You can stand in the east, and be looking at the west. ALLAAH said:
{They ask you in regards to the mountains, say: My Lord will blow them away with a blast}. Maryam, 105.
ALLAAH also said:
{On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and also will the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before ALLAAH, The One, The Irresistible. (Al-Waahidul Qahhaar). Anbiyaa, 48.
The day of judgement is a serious affair. May ALLAAH ease our affairs and make it easy on us and place us under HIS shades and fountains. Aameeen.
The Trumpet
The Suur (trumpet) will be blown and every single being created will die. ALLAAH said:
{And The Day on which the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth, will be terrified except him whom ALLAAH will (exempt). And all shall come to HIM, humbled}. An-Naml, 87.
The Messenger of ALLAAH said: “The gaze of the one who will blow the Trumpet has been fixed since he was entrusted with it, looking towards the throne, ready (to blow it), in case he will be commanded to do so before he blinks, as if his eyes are two shining stars.” As-Silsilatus-Saheehah, 1078.
So, the Angel, Israafeel is ready to blow the first owing of the Trumpet, but waiting for ALLAAH to give the instruction.
In Saheeh Muslim (2940), it is narrated that ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr said: The Messenger of ALLAAH said: “… then the Trumpet will be blown and no one will hear it but he will bend his neck to one side and raise it from the other side. The first one who will hear it will be a man who is busy in setting right the cistern meant for supplying water to the camels. He will swoon and the other people will also swoon. Then ALLAAH will send down rain which will be like dew and bodies of people will grow out of it. Then the trumpet will be blown again, and they will stand up and begin to look around”. This is the second blowing of the trumpet.
ALLAAH also described this similarly in brief in this verse, and a verse earlier mentioned:
{And the trumpet shall be blown, so all that are in the heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except such as ALLAAH please; then it shall be blown again, then lo! they shall stand up looking onward}. Az-Zumar, 68.
Hmm! This day is worth preparing for with good deeds. We can never do good deeds enough. May ALLAAH overlook our shortfalls. Aameen.
Abuu Hurayrah said:
The Messenger of ALLAAH (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Between the two blowings of the Trumpet there will be forty.” The people said, “O Abuu Hurayrah! Forty days?” He said: “I am not sure.” They said, “Forty years?” He said: “I am not sure.” They said, “Forty months?” He said: “I am not sure. Then ALLAAH will send rain down from the sky and they will grow as herbs grow. There is no part of a man which will not decay except a single bone at the base of the coccyx (tail bone), from which he will be re-created on the Day of Resurrection”
The first one to be resurrected on that Day is the Prophet, صلى الله عليه و سلم. Then other creatures will wake too, after him. All that will be by the second blowing of the trumpet. And the scales will be set up on that day.
The Scale
{{And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy – it is they who will be the successful. And as for those whose scale will be light, they are those who will lose their ownselves (by entering Hell)}, Al-A’raaf, 8-9.
The “Mawaazeen” (Scales) are established in the Qur’aan that they are real and true. The scales have two pans. The good deeds are placed in one pan, and the evil deeds are placed in the other. If the good deeds out weigh the evil, then there is success and salvation. There will be no perdition. But if his evil deeds are heavier then he may have failed and lost. ALLAAH stated:
{As for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, he will say: “Take, read my Record!} Al-Haaqqah, 19.
He will rejoice to receive his book by his right, as that signifies success. May ALLAAH count us among the successful ones.
{Take, read my Record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account}, Al-Haaqqah} 19-20.
Meaning: in the world, he was certain this was going to happen. He knew that he was going to be held accountable on Judgement Day. And when he realised this on time, he prepared for it.
May ALLAAH protect our ‘eemaan and make us from those who prepared for The Last Day. Aameen.
As for the one whose scale of good deed was outweighed by the scale of evil deeds, he shall receive his record in his left hand. ALLAAH said about such, may we not be from this category:
{But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, “Oh, I wish I had not been given my record! And had not known what is my account. I wish my death had been the Decisive} one}, Al-haaqqah, 25-27. The meaning of Decisive is that he wishes he was never resurrected after death. That is, ‘I wish I had died and that was all” but nay!
{Does man think that he is to be left to wander without an aim?!}, Al-Qiyaamah, 36.
He (who’s scale of evil was more than that of good) would further say: {My wealth has not availed me. My authority is gone away from me}, Al-haaqqah, 28-29.
Wealth, linage, degrees, honour, nobility and what have you, will be useless that day. “My wealth has not availed me”.
يوم لا ينفع مال و لا بنون!!!
And in the end, he will be cast to hellfire. ALLAAH, after giving him his account would announce to the angels, {Arrest him and chain him down. Then drive him into The Hellfire. Then thrust him into a chain, the length of it which is seventy cubits. Indeed, he did not use to believe in ALLAAH, The Great, Nor did he encourage the feeding of the poor. So there is no devoted friend for him today, nor any food except from the discharge of wounds}, Al-haaqqah, 30-36.
May ALLAAH not let us experience this and may HE save us from hellfire, whose fuel is humans and stones.
The Pond of The Prophet
The Hawd (Pond of water) of the Prophet. Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah believe in this “Pond” of water given to the Prophet by his Lord. It is not rhetorical or whatever, as claimed by some sects ascribing to Islaam. It is real and will happen. It is in the courtyard of Qiyaamah (or upon the plains of the Day of Resurrection). Its water is whiter than milk, and sweeter than honey. Its drinking vessels are more than the stars of the sky in number. And whoever drinks from it will never be thirsty again. Its length is a month journey and the width is also one month journey. The fragrance is better than that of Musk perfume. The vessels around the lake are made of gold and silver. The pipes that lead into it are from Paradise itself and those pipes are of gold and silver. The Pond is actually a branch a river in Al-Jannah, called Kawthar. That is The River in Paradise, Al-Kawthar. The Prophet’s Ummah on that Day will be taken to it and will be given to drink, yet other people will come and be prevented, and the Prophet will say,
“My Lord, these are my people.” And it will be said to him, “You do not know (Oh Muhammad) what they invented into The Religion after you”, Bukhari and Muslim.
Some people from the Muslims will be stopped from drinking from this blessed pond. Why? Because they innovated into The Religion, things The Prophet never knew. The matter is serious!
The Bridge (Siraat)
{And there is no one of you except that he shall come through it; this is an unavoidable decree of your Lord}, Maryam, 71. Some scholars, like Shaykh Fawzaan, and other than him, explained this to mean that everyone will pass the Siraat.
The صِرَاط Siraat is a bridge above the hellfire. Everyone will have to cross it. And each person will cross in speed depending on his deeds. Some will cross in the speed of light, others in the speed of camels, horses. Others will fall inside, others will craw and so on. This Bridge is thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword, hotter than hot coals. The Prophet said:
“The believers would then pass over within the twinkling of an eye, like lightning, like wind, like a bird, like the finest horses and camels. Some will escape and be safe, some will sustain serious scratches (of wounds) and then be free, and some will be pushed into the fire of Hell till the believers will find rescue from the Fire”, Bukhari and Muslim.
This Bridge also has hooks that would drag the impious people into the hell, may ALLAAH save me and you from it. The Prophet said;
“…over that bridge there will be hooks similar to the thorns of As-Sa’daan (a thorny tree). Didn’t you see the thorns of As-Sa’daan?”
The companions said, “Yes, O Prophet of ALLAAH’s”. He added,
“So the hooks over that bridge will be like the thorns of As-Sa’daan except that their greatness in size is only known to ALLAAH. These hooks will snatch the people according to their deeds”. Bukhari and Muslim.
When those who succeeded to cross finally passed over the bridge, they will be stopped to settle their disputes amongst themselves. When they are rectified and cleansed from that, they will be permitted to enter paradise.
May ALLAAH keep us guided and never make us slip after guidance. Aameen. May we be among those who will cross the Siraat in the speed of light.
Shafaa’ah (Intercession)
It means ALLAAH will permit some of HIS servants (awliyaa), those who are beloved to ALLAAH, that they may call upon ALLAAH that HE excuse someone or some people who is or are deserving the punishment of ALLAAH, and that ALLAAH pardons them and grant them Al-Jannah. This will take place on The Day of Judgement as established in the Qur’aan and Sunnah and ijmaa’ (consensus of ahlus-Sunnah).
The first who will intercede is The Prophet Muhammad. ALLAAH enables some of HIS servants to supplicate for his brother. Intercession happens due to the honour of ALLAAH on the interceding person, and HIS mercy on the one benefitting from the intercession. But this intercession has two conditions:
1 – It is sought from ALLAAH alone on that day, and ALLAAH must allow it before it can materialise. So, no one can intercede except with HIS permission. The proof of this in Aayatul-Kursiyy:
{Who is it that can intercede with HIM except by His permission?}, Al-Baqarah, 255.
2 – The one being interceded must be a believer, he may have fallen into sins, major or minor sins, committed zina or murder or any other sin, but less than shirk (disbelief). Intercession benefits not the unbelievers. ALLAAH said:
{For the wrongdoers (unbelievers), there will be no devoted friend and no intercessor (who is) obeyed}, Al-Ghaafir, 18.
ALLAAH also said,
{And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except& only after ALLAAH has permitted it to whom HE wills and approves (from the believers)}, An-Najm, 26.
Shafaa’ah (Intercession)
There are three categories of people in regards to intercession;
1- The First Extreme: They are those who deny the intercessions. Some of the Khawaarij and the Mu’tazilah. They say, “Those who deserve the fire will surely enter the fire”.
2- The Second Extreme: They are those who go to extremes affirming the intercession. They are the Sufis, Shi’ites and grave worshippers (Qubuurriyuun). They are the people of superstition that are attached to the grave and the dead. They seek intercession from the dead and sacrifice animals for them. They call upon the deceased in their graves asking them to call on ALLAAH on their behalf. This is major Shirk.
3- The middle path: They are Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah. They are balanced in this belief, making it only the way it came in Qur’aan and Sunnah, just like they are in every affair. They do not deny the intercession like the Khawaarij (who declare the believers to be Kuffaar) or affirm it (to an extreme) like the Sufis, grave worshippers. The manner of Ahlus-Sunnah is that we affirm the intercession with those who are deserving of it and that it will take place on the last Day, Yawmul Qiyaamah. The intercession is of six types and…
– The first intercession: This is the intercession The Prophet would intercede for all people after a 50 year-long standing, to be judged and relieved from standing. This intercession is The Maqaamun Mahmuud (Praiseworthy Rank/Station) which ALLAAH promised The Prophet due to his tahajjud at night, in Al-Israa, 79 (please do read that verse).
The Prophet stated:
“ALLAAH will gather the believers on the Day of Resurrection in the same way (they are gathered in this life), and they will say, ‘Let us ask someone to intercede for us with our Lord that HE may relieve us from this (standing) place of ours’. Then they will go to Aadam and say, ‘O Aadam, don’t you see the people(’s condition)? ALLAAH created you with HIS Own Hands and ordered HIS angels to prostrate before you, and taught you the names of all the things. Please intercede for us with our Lord so that HE may relieve us from this place of ours.’ Aadam will say, ‘I am not fit for this responsibility’ and mention to them the mistakes he had committed, and add, “But you’d better go to Prophet Nuuh, he was the first Apostle sent by ALLAAH to the people of the Earth’. They will go to Nuuh who will reply, ‘I am not fit for this responsibility’, and mention the mistake which he made, and add, ‘but you should go to Ibraaheem, The Khaleel (best friend) of Ar-Rahmaanʼ.
They will go to Ibraaheem who will reply, ‘I am not fit for this responsibility’, and he will remind them of the mistakes he made, and add, ‘but you’d better go to Musaa, a slave whom ALLAAH gave the Tawraat and to whom HE spoke directly’ They will go to Musa, who will reply, ‘I am not fit for this responsibility’, and mention to them the mistakes he made, and add, ‘You’d better go to Isa (Jesus), ALLAAH’s slave and HIS Apostle and His Word (Be: And it was) and a soul created by Him.’ They will go to Jesus who will say, ‘I am not fit for this responsibility, but YOU had better go to Muhammad whose sins of the past and the future had been forgiven (by ALLAAH)’. So they will come to me and I will ask the permission of my Lord, and I will be permitted (to present myself) before HIM. When I see my Lord, I will fall down (in prostration) before HIM and HE will leave me (in prostration) as long as HE wishes, and then it will be said to me, ‘O Muhammad! Raise your head and speak, for you will be listened to; and ask, for you will be granted (your request); and intercede, surely, your intercession will be accepted’. I will then raise my head and praise my Lord with certain praises which HE has taught me, and then I will intercede” Al-Bukharii (Volume 9, Book 93, Number 507).
Second Intercession
This will be intercession for the people of Jannah to enter Jannah. The gates of Jannah will be opened for them, and it is for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), also. So when he comes to Jannah, the angels will not allow anyone to enter until the Prophet appears in front of them, and they will say, “We were commanded to not open the gates except for you.” ALLAAH mentioned this in The Qur’aan
{And those who feared their Lord will be gathered to (the gates of) Paradise in groups, till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened for them}, Az-Zumar, 73.
And they will not open it for the first time except for the Messenger of ALLAAH. So for the first time, the people will be rejected until the intercession of the Prophet. As for the unbelievers, when they reach the Hellfire, its doors are open for them and they will be pushed into the hellfire.
{And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its gatekeepers will say, “Did messengers not come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?” They will say, “Yes, but the word of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.” Az-Zumar, 71.
May ALLAAH count us among those who will benefit from both intercessions of The Prophet and from that of the pious. Aameen.
In recent times, we have heard people proclaimed to their followers, statements like “once you follow me, I will admit you into Al-Jannah”, “I will carry you in my pocket inside Al-Jannah”, “Whoever loves me or sees me will be in Al-Jannah”, and many more. Statements like these can only be made by misguided individuals who thought Al-Jannah is their birthright, but they forgot it is the Property of ALLAAH. HE uses it to reward whom HE wishes from the believers.
If anyone was to be admitted into Jannah just by seeing another person or loving them, Abuu Taalib stands out from all people. The Prophet’s mother stands out. But then, ALLAAH declared “I have made Al-Jannah prohibited for the Kaafiruun (unbelievers)“, Al-Bukhariy.
Intercession is a mercy from ALLAAH to forgive those who deserve HIS punishment, HE granted it so that they are not punished. HE doesn’t grant it to people who have a faulty belief. Your belief, oh Muslim, is the most important thing about your life. Beware of people who will tell you “pay 100 thousand naira, and your mum would be admitted into Jannatul Firdaws”. Jannah is in the control of ALLAAH, not anyone. The Prophet didn’t promise people Al-Jannah indiscriminately. But ALLAAH did, and he announced it. It is a Christian thing to promise heaven to the highest bidders in offering payment.
May we never be like Christian. May we never practise Islamic Christianity. Aameen.
ALLAAH will then judge all people, for minor and major sins. Everyone will be asked questions, how they lived their lives, their response to The Prophet call, etc. The first thing that will be asked is Salaat.
It was narrated from Abdullaah Ibn Mas’uud (may ALLAAH be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of ALLAAH be upon him) said:
“The son of Aadam will not be dismissed before his Lord on the Day of Resurrection until he has been questioned about five things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned it and how he disposed of it, and how he acted upon what he acquired of knowledge”, Tirmidhiy, 2422.
Abuu Hurayrah reported, that The Prophet said: “The first thing among their deeds which the people will be made to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be Salaat (prayer). Our Lord will say to HIS Angels, although HE knows best, ‘Look at My slave’s salaat, if it is complete or lacking’. If it is complete, it will be recorded as perfect, but if it is lacking, He will say, ‘Look and see if my slave have any voluntary (Naafil) prayers’. If he had done voluntary prayers, He will say, ‘complete the obligatory prayers of My slave from his voluntary prayers.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be examined in the same manner”, Abuu Dawuud, 864.
Those who succeed (The believers with good deeds, may we be from them) will then be granted Al-Jannah (Paradise) with the mercy of ALLAAH. Those who fail (the unbelievers, the hypocrites and some major sinners among the Muslims, may ALLAAH not make us from them) will be pushed to Hell, with HIS justice and they will wail and ask for help, but they will be told: “has The Messengers from your Lord not come to you (with piety, righteousness)?”.Then, it will be to Al-Jannah forever, or Hellfire forever.
May ALLAAH admit us to the former, and save us from the latter.
Anas reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever says Laa ilaaha illa ALLAAH and has in his heart goodness the weight of a grain of barley will be brought out of Hell, then whoever says Laa ilaaha illa ALLAAH and has in his heart goodness the weight of a grain of wheat will be brought out of Hell, then whoever says Laa ilaaha illa ALLAAH and has in his heart goodness the weight of an atom (or a small ant) will be brought out of Hell”, Al-Bukhaariy, 44 and Muslim, 193.
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudriy that The Messenger of ALLAAH said: “ALLAAH will say: ‘The angels have interceded, the Prophets have interceded and there is no one left but the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.’ Then HE will take a handful from Hell, and will bring out people who never did any good and who will have turned into CHARCOAL (due to punishment in Hellfire). HE will throw them into a river, on the outskirts of Paradise that is called the River of Life, and they will emerge like seeds in the silt carried by a flood. … They will emerge like pearls with jewels around their necks, and the people of Paradise will recognize them. These are the ones ransomed by ALLAAH, whom ALLAAH admitted to Paradise with no good deed that they did or sent on ahead. Then He will say: ‘Enter Paradise, and whatever you see is yours.’ They will say: ‘Our Lord, You have given us what You have never given to anyone else in creation.’ He will say: ‘You will have something better than that with Me.’ They will say, ‘Oh Lord, what could be better than this?’ He will say, ‘My good pleasure, for I will never be angry with you again.’”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7002) and Muslim (183).
These are the last people that will leave Hellfire. May ALLAAH not make us from the people of Jahannam. Aameen.
Death Will Be Slaughtered
After all people of Jannah have entered Jannah forever, they will never leave it again. The same with the people of Hell, after The Muslims who ALLAAH may punish in Hell have all left and granted Al-Jannah, the only people left in Hell are those who did not believe there is no god except ALLAAH, and that Muhammad is HIS Last Messenger. They will dwell in Hell forever.
It was narrated that Abuu Sa’eed al-Khudriyy (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of ALLAAH (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Death will be brought forth in the form of a black and white flecked ram, and a caller will cry out, ‘Oh people of Paradise! They will crane their necks and look onward, and the caller will say, ‘Do you recognize this?’ They will say, ‘Yes, it is death,’ and all of them will see it. Then he (the caller) will cry out, ‘Oh people of Hell!’ They will crane their necks and look, and he will say, ‘Do you recognize this?’ They will say, ‘Yes, it is death,’ and all of them will see it. Then the ram will be slaughtered, and he (the caller) will say, ‘O people of Paradise, it (your stay in Al-Jannah) is eternal and there will be no death; O people of Hell, it (their stay in Hell/Jahannam) is eternal and there will be no death’”. Then he (The Prophet) recited the verse:
{And warn them (Oh Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when the case has been decided, while (now on earth) they are in a state of carelessness, and they do not believe}, Maryam, 39. Al-Bukhariy, 4453 and Muslim, 2849.
In the report of Imaam Muslim, from the hadeeth of Ibn Umar, “And the joy of the people of Paradise will be increased, and the grief of the people of Hell will be increased” Muslim, 2850.
Important Notice:
This laying of the death down and the slaughtering will be real, it is not metaphorical as some claim it. May ALLAAH save us from Hell and admit us into HIS Al-Jannah.
So, hasten to do righteous deeds now that you still live. It is only a few days you have on earth before you will move to the realm of eternity, either to Al-Jannah forever for delights, or to Hell whose torment is forever. The majority of the regret of the people of Hell is due to procrastination.
The Life Of Barzakh
The life of Al-Barzakh is the period between a person’s death and The Judgement Day. A lot will happen in this period!
– If he was a believer;
The angels take his soul in a shroud from paradise, perfumed, then say to him: Oh you pure soul, come out to the forgiveness of your Lord…”. After his death, they take the soul in the shroud to the seventh heaven, it will be called with the best of names he was ever called on earth. The angels will open all doors of the previous heavens to welcome his soul, and ALLAAH will instruct that his soul be recorded in illiyyuun (the highest station in Al-Jannah), the soul is returned to the earth, as it is {from it (earth) HE created it and back to it, it shall return}. Then the soul is restored to his body. Then two angels (Munkar and Nakeer) will then sit him up for the questions of the grave, and he will answer well. The two handsome Angels will be his comforters, they will be with him, his place in Al-Jannah will be shown to him, and he will get some fresh air from it, and he will say “oh ALLAAH, bring the hour near (so he can enter this Paradise finally)”.
– If he was an unbeliever,
The death will be terrible! The Angels would say to him “come out to the wrath of your Lord”, He will be described with the worst of names. As the angels ascend with his soul to the heavens, it will not be opened, The Prophet recited the verse:
{For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle” Al-A’raaf, 40.
ALLAAH will instruct the soul be recorded in Sijjeen (the lowest depth of Hell), then it will be thrown down. The Prophet then recited the verse in Hajj:
{… and whoever associates partners to ALLAAH, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.” Al-Hajj, 31. The soul will then be returned to his body and the questioning of the grave will start, and he will fail and say to all “I heard people saying something and I said so…”, he will be struck on the head, his place in Hell is shown to him, he gets some heat from it too. Then he will say, “oh ALLAAH do not bring the Hour ever (so that he will not have to enter this Hell finally”. And he will be in this condition till the Day of Judgement.
Summarised from the sources:
1- Musnadu Ahmad, 17803,
2- Saheehul Jaami, ‘1676,
3- Sunan Ibn Maanah, 4262.
Haanii, the freed slave of ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, may ALLAAH be pleased with them said: “When ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan stood by a grave he would weep until his beards became wet. It was said to him, “You remember Paradise and Hell and you do not weep, but you weep because of this?” He may ALLAAH be pleased with him said: “The Messenger of ALLAAH said: ‘The grave is the first of the stages of the Hereafter; whoever is saved from it, what comes afterwards will be easier for him, and whoever is not saved from it, what comes afterwards will be worse for him.’” And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I have never seen any scene but the grave is more frightening than it” Tirmidhiyy, 2308.
May ALLAAH protect us from the torment of the grave.
We have talked and tried to touch briefly, the events of the Day of Judgement, and the belief of a Muslim regarding them. We talked about Al-Jannah and Jahannam, which are already in existence now. We talked about some Muslims who may be punished in Hellfire before their admittance into Al-Jannah. And that all Muslims will enter Al-Jannah at last. But then, who would want to go to hell first? The Hellfire is not an option or something to imagine. And yet, some Muslims will have to be there. Do you wish to be one? I know you don’t. So, let us take heed.
ALLAAH stated in the first verse of Al-Anbiyaa:
{Their reckoning has drawn near to men, and in heedlessness, they are turning away (from the Reminder)}.
The pleasure in Al-Jannah is unfathomable. The punishment of Hellfire is unimaginable. Strive hard to achieve the former and work hard to avoid what may bring you the latter, then ask ALLAAH to have mercy on you. Lastly, know that
وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
{… the sustenance (given) by your Lord is better and more abiding} Taaha, 131.
وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
{And what is with ALLAAH is better and more lasting for those who believe and rely on their Lord} Shuura, 36.
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
{The hereafter is better and more lasting}
Abubakar Ozemoya Irekpita Yusuf
When the Holy Prophet made it to Madeenah on the divine order of his Lord, he met the natives therein with a plethora of festivities. Rather than join in the commemoration, he called them to the heavenly sanctioned ones – Eidul Fitr and Adha – as replacements. The Prophet was never commanded by his Rabb, neither did he discretionarily take to participation, to show solidarity or tolerance, like some self-glorified liberals or ‘moderatists’ do claim today. For the submissive mind, it would be deduced that jettisoning the former for the latter signaled that a Muslim should do no other festivity beside Allah’s.
That a Muslim does not celebrate with Christians on occasion of Christmas and/or other festivals is not in any way close to intolerance or extremity. Any Muslim who holds such a stereotype has invariably accused the Holy Prophet of unfriendliness with people. Whereas the Prophet symbiotically lived with Christians and jews in Madeenah but distanced himself from their fiestas. He entered their houses; ate their foods, drank their water; spoke with them, etc. This gesture of simplicity made many of them embrace Islam despite his apathy to their festivals.
But there was no scholarly argument – be it in the era of yore, or in the days of now – that the Prophet took either active or quasi part in the festivities of the non-muslims of Madeenah or elsewhere. Such never happened. Therefore, wining and dining with them on ordinary days was just a manifestation of what was revealed to him thus:
“…and the food of the people of the Scripture is lawful to you, and yours is lawful to them…” Q5 V5
So who says the food of a Christian friend isn’t a lawful consumable? Who says a Christian neighbour cannot be extended some gesture of fellowship by finishing up his food and even breaking the meat bones for calcium? Who says a Muslim cannot eat Emmanuel’s (or Mary’s) sumptuous, succulent food and even ask for more like Oliver Twist? Who says…? Says who? It’s just that the Christian’s delicacy ordinarily is fundamentally different from his Christmas food. The celebration is the contention, not the celebrator. The festivity is the issue, not the facilitator. The various myths surrounding the day are the cause for alarm, not the mythologists. After all, the Christians hold house warming, convocation, wedding, naming ceremonies et cetera, and we celebrate with them and enjoy their delectable eatables and sweet drinkables.
Christmas is a celebration of the birthday of the son of God – as acclaimed. It is rejoicing about the birthday of God like some other Christianity practitioners would say. This, apparently, is fundamentally contradictory to the tenets of Islam, as enshrined in copious verses of the Qur’an:
“Say: He Allah is One. Allah is the Self-sufficient Master. He begets not, nor was He begotten. There is none co-equal or comparable to Him.” Q112 V1-4
“Surely, in kufr (disbelief) are those who say Allah is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Maryam. Say: (o Muhammad), who then has the least power against Allah if He were to destroy the Messiah, son of Maryam, his mother and all those who are on earth together? And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earths…” Q5 V17.
“Surely, they have disbelieved who say: ‘Allah is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Maryam. Whereas, the Messiah said: ‘O children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord, your Lord; for whoever sets up a partner with Allah, Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Hell will be his abode…” Q5 V72
“Surely, disbelievers are those who said Allah is three-in-one (trinity). But there is no god but One God. And if they cease not from what they say, surely a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them.” Q5 V73
Why will a Muslim celebrate what is against his faith? Why should a Muslim be tagged unbearable sobriquets for upholding scriptural dictates? Isn’t it grossly lax that a Muslim takes pride in jettisoning his faith for liberality? What is wrong with you? Can’t you see that you have been largely overridden by your blurring whim?
Even Christians aren’t in unison regarding the celebration of Christmas. Some of them do not take part in it, because it has no biblical stance. They say since it is nowhere to be found in their Scripture, it is not worth their happiness. So what then is your headache, o Muslim?
Some Christians, such as Pastor Kumoluyi have never and may never celebrate the festival because, according to them, it is idolatry – that it was invented in Rome centuries back as a mere compromise to usher in fetishists into the Christendom. They say it was smuggled into their religion. Femi Aribisala, a pastor and veteran columnist did a page-consuming, episodic epistle on the topic a few years ago proving that Christmas was not worth the attention of any serious Christian. What then is the business of any serious Muslim in what does not concern him?
BY SANNI KAY. YUSUF
The Gregorian Calendar as we all know is made universal not that it is universal by nature. We Muslims have the Islamic calendar but in the presence of many religions, we have no option than to transact with them, be in school, book appointments with them etc except with the Gregorian Calendar.
However, it should be noted that we do not use the Calendar to reach a certain spiritual level, get closer to Allah or believing that by using it, we are doing good deeds. In a nutshell, we do not attach it with worship.
Studying the Gregorian Calendar and circumstances surrounding with, if we were to neglect the fact that it is associated with Janus, a two-faced pagan god, we cannot neglect the fact that it was “IMPOSED” on the world. If the banks, schools, hospitals, etc., can accept using the Islamic Calendar exclusively for Muslims, by Allah, we will not hesitate to dump the Gregorian Calendar.
The Gregorian Calendar was imposed on us and also a necessity, celebrating new year wasn’t imposed on anyone and anyone who does it lacks proper Islamic knowledge or driven by self interest. Marking January 1st is unislamic as it is associated with pagan practices.
I have also heard people say, “But our intention is to be grateful to Allah, we don’t worship Janus, we are just being thankful”
To this, I say that everyday matters and Allah is worthy of being praised daily. It is an act of ignorance setting aside a day because we feel that it is special yet on that day, the earth does not shake, the sun doesn’t move closer to the earth, water remains the same and nothing changes.
It may be that indeed one’s intention is not to celebrate it to please a certain deity but it is still tantamount to elevating pagan practices thereby giving it much strength. It is the strength it gains that makes some people believe that the celebration is too global to be a sin.
If Muslims exert the efforts they put in Unislamic practices into Islam, we will not be where we find ourselves today.
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