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Parable 23: How can it be said that by simply saying a single sentence: “La Illah Ila Allah”, that a person will prosper?

Although the narration states that “Say there is no God but Allahﷻ and you will prosper”([1]), it is not that the movement of the tongue that speaks those words yields prosperity, but rather the belief in monotheism. The word “تفلحوا” (prosper) is derived from “فلاحت” (agriculture) with the meaning of growth of a seed in to a fruitful plant, and is a term coined for farmers as they provide the tools for the cultivation for seeds to grow in to fully-fledged plants. In order for the germination of the seed to occur from within the depths of earth’s soil, three stages are needed: The roots of the seed need to deepen down in to the soil. Nutrients need to be absorbed by it. The soil above it needs to be broken so as to allow its emergence. A person must […]

Parable 22: In today’s world, life without connections with others is not possible, so how can we say “Nor West, Nor East?”

The intention of the slogan Nor West Nor East([1]) is that we have chosen a path and method of governance which has no link to either the East or the West nor would we be overwhelmed by any of the so called superpowers.  Being affected by the East or the West are two diseases that will need to be eradicate and is a sign of weakness. However, in seeking knowledge, experience and skills, we must be both Eastern and Western.  In the Hadeeth, we read that the Prophet blessings be upon him and his Purified Household, stated “اطلبو العلم و لو بالصين” – Seek knowledge even if it is from China, or in other words, even if it’s from the furthest corners of the world.  Similarly, the effects of heat and ice can be cause of illnesses but their proper […]

Parable 21: What is our duty where the enjoining of good and the forbidding of wrong has no effect?

Firstly, if someone else can perform this duty better than yourself through better presentation of the issue, your duty is to let the others conduct that role.  When Allahﷻ ordered Prophet Moses peace be upon him, to go to Pharaoh to show him the right path, Prophet Moses peace be upon him, requested his brother Harun peace be upon him, who had a better ability to communicate, be sent along with him. {وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِىَ} “Moreover my brother Aaron is more eloquent than I. Send him with me as a helper”([1]). Secondly, sometimes once is not enough, but rather multiple clarifications and different methods may be required for an effect to take place.  Just like hardened wood that won’t be cut with a single strike of an axe, but rather repeated strikes are required. The […]

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Parable 20: If praying is supposed to stop people from doing shameful and unjust deeds, why is it that some people that pray are also perpetrators of offences?

Firstly, an empty seed will never sprout, and prayers without presence of heart is like an empty seed.  Prayers are the cause of people staying away from sedition only where it is with the presence of heart, otherwise the movements of your lips and body have no special virtue. If schools and universities give lessons to people which help them grow, it does not mean that every individual that goes to educational institutes will benefit and grow, but rather it means that these institutions are the grow beds for people to go and learn with the condition that they take their studies seriously and that they understand what it is they are studying. Prayers, if performed with its conditions and doctrines applied, will impede shameful and unjust deeds. {إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ} For Prayer restrains from shameful and […]

Parable 19: How involved is God in planning the bitter and pleasant events of our lives?

{مَّا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ} In the Qur’an, God states that anything that strikes you that is good is certainly from God and anything that strikes you which is evil is certainly from within your soul.([1]) Like the Earth which spins around its own axis and around the Sun, parts of the Earth are dark while others are lit up.  Any place that is bright is due to the Sun while anywhere where there is darkness is because of the Earth itself (facing away from the sun). God has created grapes, but human beings make alcoholic beverages out of it which is the cause of thousands of accidents and illnesses. God has given mankind the power, but some use this power to strike the impoverished. God has given mind to mankind, but some use […]

Parable 18: Does Islam want us to be constantly reciting supplications all the time with the all these supplications available to us?

Our books of supplications, such as Mafateeh Al Jinaan, have supplications narrated for all hours of the day and supplications for all days of the year, however, this is like the example of when you go to a bus station, an airport or train station.  You see the time table for departure times at all hours of the day, for example at 8am, 9am, 10am and so on.  It does not mean that every traveler needs to travel on every hour that a service is available, but rather it means that once you make a decision to travel during a particular period, that there are such and such services available at so and so times.  Likewise, with supplications, whenever someone wishes to recite a supplication at a particular period of time, there are specific supplications for that scenario. In addition, […]

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Parable 17: Why is it that some of our prayers/supplications are not answered?

If instead of aviation fuel you pour gasoline or water in to the tank of an airplane, the plane would never be able to take off.  The prayers and supplications of one whose prayers are answered does not have any “haram food”([1]) in their stomach. The hadith that states “من سره أن يستجاب دعوته فليطيب مكسبه” – Who ever desires to have their supplications answered should purify and make halal their income and their food. ([2]) Notwithstanding that a supplication is intended for requesting what is good, however most of our requests are not for good, but rather we imagine that what we are requesting is good. [1] This refers to anything that may be eaten, from non halal food such as alcohol, pork, and meat slaughtered in a non-Islamic manner, through to halal food that may have been purchased […]

Parable 16: Why do we fear death?

One driving along a road may be feeling (anxious or) fear due to reasons such as not having enough fuel, carrying illegal materials, or more passengers than that which is allowed, speeding, losing the way (or maybe even losing the GPS signal), or not having anything prepared at the destination, or having uncomfortable companions. If during one’s life, the necessary provisions are collected, actions opposing Divine Laws are not done, is prepared for the journey to the Hereafter and knows the directions, with the ultimate destination in mind, and with righteous companions, acting in accordance to the Divine Laws, such a person will not have any worries or concerns.

Parable 15: Are all good deeds performed rewarded tenfold?

The Qur’an states that {مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا} Whoso brings a good deed shall have ten the like of it([1]).  What’s important is the bringing of the worthy deed to the Day of Judgement, not performing the deed itself in the world. Logistically, the delivery of products to its destination has value, but if the products are damaged or destroyed in the middle of the way to its destination, it no longer has any value.  Many deeds are good at face value but are afflicted with an incident which causes it to not arrive to its final destination. Or when we start a task, we start boastfully and ostentatiously and without any spiritually divine intention, or in the middle of the task we are afflicted with jealousy, self-pride, and egotism, or after a deed we sin and wipe […]

Parable 14: Why is it that in Islam the value of our deeds is dependent on our intention that our deeds are for the nearness and sincerity (towards Allahﷻ )?

Our worldly deeds and actions are also dependent on the intention in which they are carried out.  Here is an example: A surgeon and a psycho both cut open a person’s body, but the work of the surgeon is a service while that of the psycho is a crime. The surgeon can work for both money and for the service of humanity, both of these intentions have their own value and worth with in themselves. Another example: A single glass of water is available to three people.  One does not consume it because they have no desire for it, the other does not consume it because they are feeling upset, and the third does not drink it because his thoughts are with a fourth individual that may be thirstier then him or herself, and wants to give the glass to […]

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قـرارگــاه ربّـیـون (روایتی الهی از جنگ)
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