Islamic Articles ( Before the Boat Drowns)

Article written by Muhammad Alshareef.

Ashaab As-Sabt - the people of Saturday. They were a townsfolk from Bani Israa’eel who were tested with the Sabbath, the day when they were to leave their worldly affairs and devout to Allah. All week long they would go fishing, with scant return. But on Saturdays, when they were required to put aside their activities, the fish would come in abundance. A test from Allah!

"And ask them (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) about the town that was by the sea; when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on the Sabbath day, and did not come to them on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial of them for they used to rebel against Allah`s Command (disobey Allah)" [ Surah An-Nisa 4/154]

A group of the townsfolk transgressed, not satisfied with Allah’s commandments devising a scheme to by-pass the commandment. They would put out their fishing nets on Friday, and then on Sunday they would come and pick the nets up. Now all the Saturday fish would be caught.

The townsfolk divided into 2 groups when they saw the grave evil and sin that was befalling. One of them tried to advise the transgressors and warn them of the horrific consequences of their action - commanding the good and forbidding the evil.

Thinking they had no responsibility for what was taking place, the other group just went about minding their own business, holding that Allah would eventually destroy the sinners.

[And when a community among them said: "Why do you preach to a people whom Allâh is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?"]

Listen carefully to the reply of those callers to the obedience of Allah.
[(The preachers) said: "In order to be free from guilt before your Lord (Allâh), and perhaps they may fear Allâh."] 4/155

For 2 reasons: One - that we would be pardoned before Allah because we tried to hold back their hands. And two - that perhaps they may hear the reminder and turn back to Allah. It was only this group that survived.

[So when they forgot the reminders that had been given to them, We rescued those who forbade evil, but We seized those who did wrong with a severe torment because they used to rebel against Allah`s Command (disobey Allâh). So when they exceeded the limits of what they were prohibited, We said to them: "Be you monkeys, despised and rejected."] 4/156-157

In one sweeping night, the punishment rained down and they were transfigured into pigs and monkeys.

Dear brothers and sisters, it is the nature of a human being to feel the need to do good or feel the drive to indulge in evil. Even if he or she were to be alone, deserted and secluded, they would still feel a drive to do good or indulge in evil.

From here, it is a characteristic of this Ummah to not only do good ourselves, but we MUST encourage others to do good, we must be the driving force. And we not only distance ourselves from vice, but we MUST forbid others from doing it also, we must be the obstacle.

That shall be our discussion for today: Al amr bil Ma’roof wan Nahi ‘an al Munkar.

Dear brothers and sisters,
If we all had Muslim identification badges, there would have to be a description of the owner. If it is a valid card, under the description it should read: This man/women commands the good and forbids evil; for this is how Allah described us.

[You (true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Sunnah) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma`rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh.] Surah Al-e-Imran 3/104

Good and Bad. When it comes to encouraging one or the other, there are two groups of people. The first are those that encourage others to do good and advise them to stop the evil they may be committing. These are the Mu’minoon and Mu’minaat, the believing men and women, the ones that shall be favored by Allah’s Mercy:

[The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ` (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma`rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.] Surah At-Tawbah 9/71

The second camp of people are those that encourage others towards evil and stop them whenever they see them doing acts of virtue. These are the Munaafiqoon and Munaafiqaat, those that Allah shall shun.

[The hypocrites, men and women, are from one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief and polytheism of all kinds and all that Islâm has forbidden), and forbid (people) from Al-Ma`rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and they close their hands (from giving (spending in Allâh`s Cause) alms.). They have forgotten Allâh, so He has forgotten them. Verily, the hypocrites are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).] Surah At-Tawbah 9/76

The Qur’an tells us that the winners, those that attain success, are those Muslim men and women that command the good and forbid the evil:

And Allah teaches us that He cursed nations before us because they lost this characteristic of encouraging good and forbidding evil:

[Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dâwûd (David) and `Isâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allâh and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bound.
They used not to forbid one another from Al-Munkar (wrong, evil-doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do.] Surah Maa’idah 5/78 -79

When a nation fails in their duty to command the good and forbid the evil, their invocations will cease to be accepted.

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Read Islamic Articles( The Road to Victory)

In the name of Allah we begin, in His book we seek guidance, and on the footsteps of His Prophet we follow.

The nation of Islam is the best Ummah evolved for mankind because of what Allah had favored it with:

“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.” (3:110)

All of us might wonder, how can this nation be resurrected, what is the way to do it, and where does the road to victory begin?

Well, the answer is very clear and expected.

The Prophet peace be upon him said in his hadith that this Ummah will be separated into 73 groups; all of them will be in the hellfire, except for one. This one is “the group” (al Jamaah) who follow his example and his companions’.

My beloved in Allah, this nation is going to be resurrected by following the same principles upon which it was first created and established.

Let’s display the factors that lead to the victory of those of the older times because they, with Allah’s help and guidance, will be the same factors that will lead to victory of those of the later times.

I have put together these elements from the good book “The Sealed Nectar” by Saffie Alrahman Almubarakpuri and added some conditions that would suit our present times. So Allah help me.

1. The first element: Having faith in Allah (Iman billah)

Our faith has to be only in Allah. We should know Him truly, worship nothing and nobody but Him. Allah is the creator; the Provider, and the Judge for everything. There is no creator but Him, no provider but Him. No decision can be made in the matters of the living except through His judgment.

Allah made us and He is the one who knows what is best for our sustenance and protection. Unfortunately, some seek protection and sustenance from others than Allah. Others make themselves equal to Him, trying to set up rules for people to follow, according to their likings and not according to His guidance. Our faith is not complete until we abandon worshipping, following, or seeking protection from anybody but Him alone, the most Exalted.

The faith of the companions was pure and clean from any filth of paganism. With this deeply rooted faith they stood, heads high, and raised themselves above the lies, annoyance, hardship, and stupidity of vanity. Nations can live and rule only by the truth and upon the principles of justice. No socialism, Buddhism, Christianity, Jewish Zionism, Imperialism or anything else can be more truthful or more just than Allah’s religion and His guidance.

Take the example of the very well known Bilal, the Prophet’s mu’azzen (the person who calls for the prayer). Bilal had been tortured by burdening his chest with the heaviest rocks while lying on the burning sands of Mecca, because the pagans of Quraish wanted him to revert to their idolatrous worship. With all the power in his soul he endured the torture and kept saying Ahadun Ahad (the One, the One). His body became so cheap because he knew the fact that the reward comes from the same substance of the deed.

“And those who strive in Our cause, We will certainly guide them to our Path.” (29:69)

That’s how Bilal, the slave from Habasha (Ethiopia) became the infamous Bilal known to all Muslims all over the world.

Another example is Yasser and his pure wife Sumaya, the mother of Ammar who endured the torture of the pagans and were killed only because they believed in one thing, that Allah is the only God worthy to be worshiped.

The hearts of the companions were full of faith and their religion ran in their veins like blood. When the beauty of faith mixes in the hearts, it outweighs the mountains.

This kind of a believer will be able to face any test, however huge or hard. He will see it very small next to his faith. Hardships will become nothing to him, because the sweetness of faith is all that he can taste. Hardships and torture would be like some floating froth above the huge flood of faith coming to break the high dams of ignorance and paganism.

“For the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth.” (13:17)

So, worshipping Allah alone and following His guidance is the first step to make all the factors to achieve victory will arise from within.

2. The second element: The beloved leadership of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him).

The Messenger peace be upon him is the commander in chief for the Islamic Ummah and for all humanity. Humanity will never be happy until this divine leadership takes over and rule again. It is true that the Prophet peace be upon him had left this world, but his legacy and example will live forever. The Prophet peace be upon him had pointed out that the heirs of the Islamic leadership are those who have the knowledge of Islam. In Sahih Ibn Majah, the Prophet peace be upon him said, “The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. The Prophet`s don`t leave money, but rather they leave knowledge. Whoever takes it after them such then take as much as they can."

Islamic scholars of high knowledge should represent the Prophet in their people, they say what the Prophet had said and do as he did. That is why there is no refuge for the Ummah in times of hardship except with those who Allah had appointed to hold the flag of the Prophet peace be upon him.

The Prophet peace be upon him had all the noble characteristics that would attract the hearts to him. He portrayed the highest degrees of honor, goodness, kindness and bounty. He was the honesty and truthfulness in every way that even his enemies never doubted him, although they did not believe in his message. We bring some examples for this:

- Abu Jahl, the Prophet’s uncle used to say, “Muhammad, we don’t say that you are a liar but we do not believe in what you brought to us”. In that Allah sent down “It is not you who they reject: it is the signs of Allah, which the wicked contemn” (6:33)

- Three from the tribe of Quraish (the Prophet’s tribe) gathered after listening to the Quran separately. Abu Jahl, who was one of them, was asked about his opinion in what he heard from Muhammad. He said, “It does not matter what he says, we are continuously competing with Banu Abd Manaf (the Prophet’s clan) for honor; they feed the poor, we feed the poor, they give charity, we give charity. Now that we’re almost equal like two horses in a race, they say they have a Prophet sent by God. How can we compete with that, by God we will never believe in what he brought”.

- A bunch of the disbelievers were winking and making fun of the Prophet peace be upon him. Finally he said, “People of Quraish, I brought slaughter to you”. The whole group was taken back and scared by these words. Afterwards the Prophet’s worst enemies became softer on him.

- The disbelievers poured down blood and intestine of a dead camel on the Prophet peace be upon him while he was in sujud. When he supplicated against them they all stopped laughing, and became full of concern and worries because they knew they were ruined.

- Once the Prophet supplicated against Utbah bin Abu Lahab after being excessively harassed by him. The Prophet peace be upon him asked Allah to send one of his dogs to kill Utbah. When a lion in the middle of the desert killed Utbah, he knew for sure that that was the Prophet’s supplication coming true. His final words were “Muhammad killed me while in Mecca”.

- Ubay bin Khalaf always threatened to kill the Prophet, so one day the Prophet told him “I will kill you insha’Allah”. Ubay was lightly scratched in the neck at the battle of Uhud and while dying he said Muhammad could have killed me by just spitting on me.

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Islamic Articles (Youth of the Muslim Omma)

“Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From 13: 11

About Iraq:

Baghdad - this beautiful city on Tigris River - where today troops of the aggressive forces are trying to surround it and defeat it. A capital for the Islamic State and for the world, where Muslims ruled the world for hundreds of years. Baghdad, the center of culture and sciences, where Christians and Jews lived safe and sound with the freedom to practice their religion for hundreds of years. Baghdad, the Arab Muslim city standing its grounds, in the old days surrounded by the Mongol Tatar who violated its pure sacred land, slaughtering its women and children, is being surrounded by the Tatars of today. Who claim they come to rescue people from a 10-year old sanctions. Well, they were the ones who imposed the sanctions in the first place and now that this is not enough, now they claim to free those people by killing, destroying houses, killing men, women and children, Those who say “Lord! Raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!"

Do you know Muslim Youth that the sanctity and prohibition of the Muslim blood is more than the sanctity of the Kaaba. And we should be afraid for Allah’s judgment more of that on our sins and mistakes. “And you thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah”

Do you know that we will be held accountable before Allah on what did we do to our Islam and to our Omma,
But before we decide what to do to our brothers and sisters in Iraq, you have to know that what we are suffering from today is not just the crisis in Iraq but also it is the crisis of the past 100 years, the Omma is suffering from many diseases,
mainly:

1. Being away from Allah and abandoning the heaven laws.
2. Scientific and technologic retardation
3. Morals and behavioral collapse
4. Following bad examples without having the vision of what to follow and what not.
5. Division and looking for personal interests more than the interest of the state and the Omma
6. Wrong interpretation of Islam

As a result, our Omma lost its consciousness, lost its awareness of its goals, interests, and identity. This of course encourage its enemies to think low of us and try to convince us that their vanity is truth and that their greed is fair. Muslims are suffering from disappointment, despair in addition to confusion and impotence.
So symptoms of the disease appeared in the body of the Omma as the disease affects a sick body. May be this social disease is more dangerous than the physical illness because it affects the minds and stop the brains and causes dullness of the emotions. That’s why the honest people of this Omma are screaming and asking how to get out, is there light in the end of the tunnel, is there guidance after being lost. Is this reality going to change? We want to change this spiteful reality.

But no change will happen to the Omma reality except by following the divine social rule: This law is “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From 13: 11.
This law is not an empty logo, but it is the only way to get out of the hardships we are suffering.
But no change will happen in our lives except if we start by changing ourselves. The injustice that is being inflicted on Muslims will not be removed except if we change ourselves “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From 13: 11. Now we may ask what is the needed change in our souls: Ten things should happen:

1. We should repent to Allah instead of disobeying Him.
2. Obedience of the Quraan and Sunna should replace the dullness
3. Seriousness, manly behaviors, and high spirits should replace laxness, laziness, and dullness.
4. Giving superior attention to scientific superiority and creativity should replace thinking dullness.
5. Positivism should replace negativity.
6. Feeling to belong to the Omma should replace western following.
7. Fruitful and important work should replace emptiness and wasting the time in trivial things.
8. Comprehensive understanding of Islam should replace the misunderstanding or the incomplete understanding.
9. Prioritization of the society and Omma on individualism and selfishness.
10. Hope should replace despair.

These are not just nice words to move the emotions but they are the fundamentals of the law of change “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From 13: 11
Everyday you might ask, what to do, this is the answer, change those 10 things and wait for Allah’s victory. Allah will then change the history. Islam has started with youth in your age. I feel that these 10 things are important and they are the most important work for the youth of the Omma. You are the most people in the society capable of change. You have the enthusiasm, power, and high spirits. With high sprits nations survive. If you change these 10 things inside yourselves and they became dominant between the people, know for sure that the reality will change because then you will have owned the law of change “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From 13: 11

Verily Allah’s victory is near:

Allah says:
- Allah has promised," to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power)",24:55

- Allah has decreed: "It is I and My apostles who must prevail….” 58:21
- Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it) 612: 8

- We will, without doubt, help our apostles and those who believe, (both) in this world`s life and on the Day when the Witnesses will stand forth, - 40: 51.
Allah`s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The Last Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until the Jews will hide themselves behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say: Muslim, the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him. And also the prophet said, “Allah showed me the size of my Omma and it will encompass the east and west of the earth.

Do you see all these Divine promises and prophetic prophecies? Doesn’t the land belong to Allah and He gives it as inheritance to whomever He wants. Didn’t Allah give victory to Muslims when they were true believers? Allah’s promise never changes, for Allah never fails His promise.
Your first battle is against yourselves, if you win this battle, Allah will provide victory for your Omma by your hands. And never get frustrated or feel hopeless that it is so difficult or impossible to get victory. “ And they ask you when is it? Say hopefully it is near.” And always remember that our Omma’s biggest case is Palestine until we liberate it in Shaa Allah.

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Read Islamic Articles (Is a Message for Humankind)

[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.] [Al-An`am 6:1].
Transliteration: Al-Hamdu Lillahi Al-Ladhi Khalaqa As-Samawati Wa Al-`Arda Wa Ja`ala Až-Žulumati Wa An-Nura Thumma Al-Ladhina Kafaru Birabbihim Ya`diluna

And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, Who puts the clouds to their course, Who revealed The Book (the Qur`an), and Who Alone defeated the Confederates (Al-Ahzab). All peace and blessings be upon Muhammad — the leader of the mujahideen and the master of the first and last generations — and those persevering people who follow him to the Day of Judgment.

Concerning the issue at hand, I call on the human conscience to make a unified stand against this Zionist tyranny against the men, women, and children in the Gaza Strip and I call for the following:
1. Continuous peaceful demonstrations and a one-day strike by every person who feels solicitude for Jerusalem, Palestine, and the martyrs and casualties of Gaza. This is to declare an overwhelming fury that calls the attention of the world and passes the point that we will not silently accept these injustices. And let these demonstrations and strikes escalate until governments reconsider their shameful stances of submissiveness to the oppressors and failing the victimized, and let them think of these words of a poet:
The blazing of fire in the midst of dust provokes the furor of the Volcano
The small water drops precede the flood and the hurricane
It surges, uproots the tyrants with a roar beyond the tyranny of their cane

2. Communication with human relief agencies in each country — or establishing them where none exist — is a must, to provide all medical and food requirements for our fellow Gazans. This is a religious obligation for every Muslim who owns more than his or her basic needs.

This is a religious obligation for every Muslim who owns more than his or her basic needs.

3. I hope that mosque imams and orators will take on their responsibilities before Allah of uniting Muslims at mosques and stating clearly the duty of fighting against Zionist assailants; giving our complete support for our brothers and sisters in Palestine; making Qunoot (Arabic for: supplication before or after bowing in prayer) against the Zionist oppressors in every prayer, those who support them, and those who turn a blind eye to them; encouraging Muslims to fast and do late-night prayers collectively; and reminding them of what Allah says in these verses of the Qur`an:
Transliteration: La Yasta`dhinuka Al-Ladhina Yu`uminuna Billahi Wa Al-Yawmi Al-`Akhiri `An Yujahidu Bi`amwalihim Wa `Anfusihim Wa Allahu `Alimun Bil-Muttaqina, `Innama Yasta`dhinuka Al-Ladhina La Yu`uminuna Billahi Wa Al-Yawmi Al-`Akhiri Wa Artabat Qulubuhum Fahum Fi Raybihim Yataraddaduna
[Translation: Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask your leave to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives; and Allah is All-Knowing of the pious. It is only those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts are in doubt that ask your leave (to be exempted from Jihad), so in their doubts they waver.] [At-Tawbah 9:44-45].

4. I believe that it is a firm obligation on the elites of every village, city, town, and governorate to send delegations that represent all public levels to impel officials to take on their historical, religious, and human responsibility toward Palestine generally and our sons and daughters in Gaza particularly and form peaceful pressure groups to compel these regimes to retreat from this terrible ignominy.

5. I call on visual, audio, and printed media outlets to act on their responsibility of media jihad, unveiling the crimes of the Zionist enemy and highlighting the tragic situation in Gaza. I also call on all actors, actresses, and singers to stop acting and singing except in one direction: support for Gazans — who have been wronged and whose close ones have been killed — and furor at those Zionist assailants.

6. I call on our youth in sports clubs to whom the hearts of young fans are tied to act like this professional, unique, Muslim football player Abu Treka and get to double Allah`s love and support for them and with this the love of Muslims all over the Arab and Muslim Worlds.

I hope that mosque imams and orators will take on their responsibilities before Allah of encouraging Muslims to fast and do late-night prayers collectively.

7. I call on all Muslim traders, businessmen, and consumers to boycott all Israeli products or those produced by companies that donate to the Zionist entities.

8. I call on imams, speakers, journalists, poets, writers, and literary authors to enrich the religious, cultural, and media pulpits with resistance literature and to send out a message of hope that the more ferocious events get, the more hope we lay on Allah who promised to exterminate the tyrants and grant victory to the believers and Who made it a duty on Him in His grandeur saying in the Qur`an:
Transliteration: Wa Kana Haqqaan `Alayna Nasru Al-Mu`uminina
[and it was due (to them) upon Us to help the believers.] [Ar-Rum 30:47].

Let them act as Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) when the confederating tribes gathered to exterminate the people of Madinah and the Muslims started digging the trench around Madinah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would then tell them these cheering words to spread hope and eliminate any seeds of despair: "Allah is the Greatest, Khaybar is conquered; Allah is the Greatest, Persia is conquered; Allah is the Greatest, the Romans are conquered". Then Allah`s victory was granted to the Muslims, the disbelievers were turned down with no gains, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, "Now we conquer them and they do not conquer us."
Transliteration: Wa Allahu Ghalibun `Alá `Amrihi Wa Lakinna `Akthara An-Nasi La Ya`lamuna
[And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most people know not.] [Yusuf 12:21].
Transliteration: Sayaj`alu Allahu Ba`da `Usrin Yusraan
And [Allah will grant after hardship, ease.] [At-Talaq 65:7].

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