Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!bu.edu!m2c!wpi.WPI.EDU!zahle.wpi.edu!shari From: r1fns@vax1.cc.uakron.edu (Fadi N Sibai) Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam Subject: Fundamentals of the Islamic Religion Message-ID: <1991May31.133525.2229@wpi.WPI.EDU> Date: 31 May 91 13:35:25 GMT Sender: news@wpi.WPI.EDU (News) Reply-To: r1fns@vax1.cc.uakron.edu Organization: U of Akron Computer Center, Ohio Lines: 1136 Approved: shari@zahle.wpi.edu Originator: shari@zahle.wpi.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: zahle.wpi.edu [Moderator's Note: the following article was also submitted by r3so@vax1.cc.uakron.edu (Serdar Ozpolat)] In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful This a translation of the Book "Usul Ad-Din Al-Islami" (Fundamentals of the Islamic Religion). Note that the translation of the title is a literal translation for there is no such a thing as an Islamic religion by itself because Islam is a way/system of life encompassing religion and other aspects of life. Notes: -The notes of the translator are put between brackets []. -Below, "proof" can be replaced by "reference(s) in the Quran and Hadith" without any change in meaning. - i : j refers below to Surat (Chapter) i and Ayat (Verse) j of the Holy Quran. -There is no copyright on this Book. -Quranic Ayats are printed between <>. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ISLAMIC RELIGION BY SHEIKH AL-ISLAM MOHAMMAD BIN SULAIMAN AT-TAMIMI ARRANGED UNDER THE FORMAT OF QUESTION/ANSWER BY SHEIKH MOHAMMAD AT-TAYEB AL-ANSARI AL-MADANI In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious,Most Merciful, from whom we seek aid, and Peace be upon our prophet Mohammad (PBUH: Peace Be Upon Him) and all of his relatives and companions. Q: What are the four things that human beings must learn? A: 1) Knowledge, i.e. knowledge of Allah[the only Creator, God and Lord], knowledge of his prophet [Mohammad (PBUH)] , and knowledge of Islam with proofs [in arabic, plural of Daleel which can be translated into reference or proof]; 2) Applying/using this knowledge [al-amal bi haza deen]; 3) Inviting people to it [Da'wah]; and 4) Being patient at what hurts people from it. Q: What's the proof for that? A: Allah (SWT: Subhanahu Wa Taala [i.e. far away and way above is Allah from the things which he did not describe himself/or relate to himself])'s words in Surat 103 Q: What did Imam As-Shafi'i say about this Surat [Chapter of the Holy Quran]? A: Imam As-Shafi'i (Rahimahullah) said: "If Allah (SWT) only descended this Surat on mankind, this Surah would have been sufficient." [sufficient in that this Surat summarizes very concisely the essence of the message which includes the fact that success (antonym of loss) is achieved through Faith in Allah, the Creator, doing good, enjoining Truth, and acquiring/training oneself to master/gain patience] Q: What comes first: i) Speaking of [al-qawl] and working according [al-amal bi] this knowledge [al-ilm]; or ii) acquiring the knowledge before al-qawl and al-amal? A: Acquiring the knowledge comes first. The proof is Allah (SWT)'s words in 47:19 So Allah (SWT) mentioned knowledge (al-ilm) before al-qawl (speaking of it) al-amal (working with it). This is Al-Bukhari's (rahimahullah) explanation. Q: What are the three things that must be learnt and applied (al-amal biha)? A: 1) Allah (SWT) has created us and blessed us with His bounties and did not leave/neglect us, but He (SWT) sent us a prophet (PBUH) whoever obeys him will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys him will enter HellFire. Q: What's the proof for that? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 73:15-16 2) Allah (SWT) is not pleased with any of His creatures who associate other gods/partners with Him, or even associate a "close" Angel or a messenger with Him. [subanallah amma yasifoon] Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 72:18 3) It is not permissible for whoever obeys the Messenger (PBUH) and worships/believes in Allah(and only Him) to be a companion/ally [Muwalat] of whoever opposes Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH), even if the two persons are relatives [or like/love each other]. Q: What's the proof? Q: Allah (SWT)'s words in 58:22 Q: What is Al-Haneefiyah, the religion [millat] of Ibrahim (PBUH) [Abraham]? A: It is to worship Allah only with a TOTAL worship. It is like this that Allah (SWT) commanded people to worship Him, and He created them for that reason. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 51:56 Q: What does "serve Me" [or "worship Me"] mean? A: That is Jinns and Human Beings worship Allah (SWT) only without associating partners with Him, and Allah (SWT) commands them, and Allah (SWT) forbids them. Q: What is the greatest thing that Allah (SWT) has commanded? A: It is At-Tawheed [monotheism]. Q: What is At-Tawheed? A: It is to exclude but Allah from worship, and to take(and believe in) His self-made descriptions the way He described Himself, and described His messenger, and excluding Him from imperfections [naqa'es] and resemblance to His creatures. Q: What is the greatest thing that Allah (SWT) has forbidden? A: It is As-Shirk [associating partners with Him - multitheism]. Q: What does As-Shirk mean? A: It is to pray for other than Allah and to Him, and to set up a rival for Allah (SWT) even though Allah (SWT) created us [and not the rival]. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:36 and in 2:22 < ... Then set not up rivals unto Allah ... > Q: What are the three basic fundamentals that humans must know? A: The servant's knowledge of his Rab [Lord] , his religion, and his prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Q: What is your Rab ? A: My Rab [Lord] is Allah (SWT) who raised me up as He raised up every Jinn and Human Being with his bounty, and He is whom I worship, and I do not worship anyone/anything but Him. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 1:2 Q: By what do you recognize your Rab? A: I recognize Him by his Ayats and His creatures, Night, Day, the Sun,the Moon, the seven Heavens and the seven Ardoon's, and whomever is in them and in what separates them. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 41:37 and in 7:54 Q: What is the Rab ["Guardian Lord" in the above ayat] ? A: The Rab is the Master, Owner, Creator from nothing to existence, and He is worthy of worship. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:21-22 So the Creator of all those things is the One worthy of Ibadat[worship]. Q: What is Ibadat [worship]? A: Ibadat is the utmost submission and humbleness, and utmost love. In other words, it is a word which combines everything that Allah (SWT) loves and everything that pleases Him from manifested and unmanifested deeds. Q: How many types of Ibadat did Allah ordain? A: They are a lot and they include Islam [submission and peace], Iman [Faith and belief], Ihsan [defined later], Dua'a [supplication], Khawf [Fear], Raja'a [Hope or expectation to enter Paradise], Tawakkol [trust and belief in Allah's control of one's destiny], Raghbah [Desire of Paradise], Rahbah [Terror from entering HellFire], Khushu'u [humble submission to a fear-inspiring and mighty Master], Khashyat [Fear], Inabah [trust in the AlMighty to act upon], Istia'zat [supplication for help in general and for the protection from an evil in particular] , Istighasat [supplication for salvation/help], Zabh [sacrifice/ slaughter of animals or other creatures], Nazr [vow/promise to do something in the future if Allah saves the moment], and other Ibadats [forms of worship] that Allah (SWT) ordained, all being related [i.e. performed] to Allah (SWT). Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 72:18 and in 17:23 Q: What is the hikm [sentence] of whomever performs one or more of these Ibadats to someone/something else than Allah (SWT)? A: Whoever performs Ibadat to someone else than Allah (SWT) is a mushrek [associator of partners with Allah] and a kafer [non-believer] even if he/she did pray, fast, perform Haj [pilgrimage], and claim that he/she is a muslim. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 23:117 Q: What's the proof for Dua'a [supplication] is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 40:60 and the Hadith [saying of prophet Mohammad (PBUH)]: "Dua'a is the brain of Ibadat," and in another report [rewayat] "Dua'a is Ibadat." Q: What's the proof for Khawf [Fear] is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 3:175 < ... Be ye not afraid Of them, but fear Me, If ye have Faith.> Q: What's the proof for Raja'a is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 18:110 < ... whoever expects [yarjoo - this verb is derived from Raja'a] To meet his Lord, let him Work righteousness, and, In the worship of his Lord, Admit no one as partner.> Q: What's the proof for Tawakkol is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 5:23 < ... But on Allah put your trust [Tawakkol] If ye have Faith> Q: What's the proof for Raghbah, Rahbah, and Khushu'u are Ibadat's? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 21:90 < ... These Were ever quick in doing In good works: they used To call on Us in yearning [Raghaban - derived from Raghbah] and awe [Rahaban - derived from Rahbah] And humble [Khashe'in - derived from Khushu'u] themselves Before Us.> Q: What's the proof for Khashyat [Fear] is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 5:3 < ... Yet fear them not But fear Me. ... > Q: What's the proof for Inabah is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 39:54 < Turn ye [Translation of Inabah] to your Lord (In repentance) and submit To Him ... > Q: What's the proof for Istia'nat is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 1:5 and in the Hadith:"If you seek aid, seek aid of Allah." Q: What's the proof for Istia'zat is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 114:1-2 Q: What's the proof for Istigha'sat is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 8:9 Q: What's the proof for Zabh is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 6:162 and from the Sunnah, the words of the Prophet (PBUH): "Allah damns whoever performs Zabh to someone else than Him." Q: What's the proof for Nazr is a Ibadat? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 76:7 Q: What is the second [out of the three] basic fundamental ? A: Knowing the religion of Islam with proofs [i.e. being able to support your knowledge with references from the Holy Book and the Hadith]. Q: What is the religion of Islam? A: It is submission to Allah by worshipping Him alone, and showing obedience to Him, and turning away [bara'ah] from Shirk [association of partners with Allah (SWT)] and its variations. Q: How many levels [Marateb] does the religion of Islam have? A: Three levels: Islam, Iman [Faith], and Ihsan [to be defined later], and each has pillars [Arkan]. Q: What are the pillars [arkan] of Islam? A: They are five pillars: 1) Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah [la ilaha illallah] and that Mohammad (PBUH) is His messenger; 2) performing Salat [prayer] ; 3) paying Zakat [giving charity - the literal translation is purification]; 4) fasting the holy month of Ramadan; and 5)Performing Haj [pilgrimage to Makkah]. Q: What's the proof for la ilaha illallah [bearing witness that there is no god but Allah] ? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 3:18 Q: What does "la ilaha illallah" [There is no god but Allah] mean ? A: It means that no none deserves worship but Allah (SWT) alone. Q: What does "la ilaha" [There is no god - in "la ilaha illallah] mean ? A: It means the negation/exclusion of every one/thing that people did/do worship [such as stones, animals , people, planets ...] except Allah (SWT). Q: What does "illallah" mean ? A: It means the affirmation of worshipping Allah (SWT) only without associating any partners in the worship, and also the affirmation that He has no partners in His Possessions [Heavens, Humans, Earth ...] Q: What is the explanation/proof that clarifies the meaning of "illallah"? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 43:26-28 and His words in 3:64 Q: What's the proof for the bearing witness that Mohammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah (SWT)? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 9:128 and His words in 48:29 Q: What does "bearing witness that Mohammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah" mean? A: It means obeying his commands, and believing in what he told [Hadith] and avoiding what he forbade and what angered him, and worshipping Allah in the way that /was made legal/demonstrated by Allah's messenger. Q: What are the proofs for Salat [prayer] and Zakat [charity-purification] and explanation of Tawheed [monotheism]? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 98:5 Q: What's the proof for Siam [fasting]? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:183 Q: What's the proof for Haj [pilgrimage]? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 3:97 Q: What's the second level of the religion of Islam? A: It is Iman [faith]. Q: How many grades of Iman are there? A: A little more than 70 grades, the highest of which is saying "la ilaha illallah" [There is no god but Allah] and the lowest of which is putting away from the streets what hurts people [such as stones, weeds, trash ...]. Shyness/Modesty [Haya'a] is a branch of Iman. Q: How many pillars [arkan] does Iman have? A: Six pillars, and they are: to believe in 1) Allah; 2) His Angels; 3) His Books [The Quran, The Ingeel/Bible,The Torah...]; 4) His Messengers; 5) the Last Day (of Judgement); and 6) Qadar [what Allah planned/"measured" / destiny] including its good and its bad [if it is bad it is because of oneself and not because of Allah (SWT)]. Q: What' s the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:177 Q: What's the proof for Qadar? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 54:49 Q: What's the third level [of the 3 levels] of the religion of Islam? A: It is Ihsan and it has one pillar. Q: What is Ihsan? A: It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, to worship Him with the realization that He sees you. Q: What' s the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 16:128 and His words in 26:217-220 and His words in 10:61 Q: What's the reference from the Sunnah for the three levels of religion? A: The famous Hadith of Jibril [Angel Gabriel] (PBUH) from Omar Bin Al-Khattab (Radiyallahou Anhou) [May Allah Be Pleased with him] who related : One day, when we were sitting with the messenger of Allah (PBUH), then appeared before us a man with very white clothing and very black hair. No mark of travel was visible on him, and none of us recognized him. Sitting down beside the messenger (PBUH), touching his knees against his, and placing his hands on his thighs, he said: "Tell me, Mohammad (PBUH), about Islam." He replied: Islam means that you should bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Mohammad is Allah's messenger, that you should do Salat, pay the Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and perform the Haj to the House (of Allah) if you have the means to go. The man said :"You have spoken the truth." We were astonished at his questioning and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said: "Now tell me about Iman." The Messenger (PBUH) replied: It means that you should believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and that you should believe in the decreeing [Qadar] both of good and evil. The man said :"You have spoken the truth," and he said: "Tell me about Ihsan." The Messenger (PBUH) replies It means that you should worship Allah as though you see Him, for even though you do do not see Him, still, He sees you. The man said :"Now tell me about the Hour [the Day of Judgement]." And the Messenger (PBUH) replied: The one who is asked about it does not know more than the one who is asking. [That implies that only Allah (SWT) knows about when the Hour will come and no one else.] He said:"Then tell me about its signs." The Messenger (PBUH) replied: Slavegirls will give birth to their own mistresses, and you will see barefooted, naked, poor men and sheperds [cowboys?] competing in putting up high buildings [skyscrapers?] . Omar (R.A.A.) said: He then went away, and after I had waited for sometime, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to me: Do you know who the questioner was, Omar? I replied: "Allah and His Messenger know best." "He was the Angel Jibril [Gabriel]," the Messenger (PBUH) said, "who came to teach you your religion." (narrated by Muslim) Q: What's the third and last basic fundamental? A: Knowledge of our prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his [complete] name is Mohammad Bin Abdullah Bin Muttaleb Bin Hashem, and Hashem is [a family] from Quraish, and Quraish are Arabs, Arabs are descendants from Ismail Bin Ibrahim [Prophet Ishmael son of Prophet Abraham, peace be upon all of them] . Q: What was the age of the prophet (PBUH) [at the time he died]? A: He was 63 years old, including 40 years before prophecy, and 23 years as a prophet and/or messenger, he became a prophet with (68:1) and a messenger with (74:1) Q: With what [for what purpose] did Allah send him? A: Allah (SWT) sent him with [to] warning against Shirk and with [to] inviting to Tawheed. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 74:1-7 Q: What does "arise and deliver thy warning!" [Kum fa anzer] mean? A: It means warn against Shirk [associating partners with Allah (SWT)] and invite to Tawheed [one God only]. Q: What does "And thy Lord do thou magnify! and thy garment keep free from stain !" [wa rabacca fa kabber wa thiyabaka fattahher] mean? A: It means glorify your Rab [Lord] with Tawheed and purify your deeds from Shirk. Q: What does "And all abomination shun!" [war rijza fahjor] mean? A: It means shun away [leave out] all stone-idols [asnam], and shun away and do not associate yourself [bara'ah] with anything/anybody related to them. Q: How long did it take the Messenger (PBUH) to do that? A: It took him ten years, after which Allah (SWT) raised him to the heavens [Isra'a wa Mi' araj] , and five regular daily salats [prayers] were imposed [upon him and his followers], and after which he was ordained to migrate [Hijra] to Madinah. Q: What is Hijra? A: It is to relocate [intikal-travel] from the country of Shirk to the country of Islam and/or from the country of Bid'ah [innovation in religious matters which is definitely a no-no according to Hadith] to the country of Sunnah [refers to the following of the established tradition/way of life of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)]. Q: What is the Hikm [status] of Hijra? A: Its Hikm is that it is an obligation on that Ummah [people-nation] [and the ones that follow] to leave the place of Shirk/Bid'ah to the place of Islam/Sunnah, and that obligation is valid [applies] until the sun rises from the West [one of the signs of the Last Day]. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:97-99 and His words in 29:56 Q: For what cause did Allah descend those two Ayats [through Angel Jibril to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)] ? A: The cause for the descent [on the Prophet through Jibril (peace be upon both)] of the first ayats [4:97-99] is that some people from Makkah became muslims and did not migrate [Hijra] with the Prophet so they were tested [Bala'a] and witnessed with the non-believers the battle of Badr. Allah (SWT) refused to accept their excuse [for non-migrating with the Prophet(PBUH)] so He sentenced them to HellFire. The cause for the descent of the second ayat [29:56] is that some muslims stayed in Makkah and did not migrate so Allah "called them in the name of Iman" and incited them to migrate [perform Hijra]. Q: What's the proof for the validity of [the obligation of ] Hijra [on the believers] till the Day of Judgement? A: The Hadith of the Messenger (PBUH): "Hijra will not cease [to exist] until Tawbah [refers to the realization that a committed act is a sin, seeking forgiveness from Allah (SWT), and vowing not to knowingly repeat the act] ceases to exist, and Tawbah will not cease to exist until the sun rises from the West." Q: What did the Messenger (PBUH) ordain after he settled down in Madinah? A: He ordained the [enforcement and respect of the ] remaining laws of Islam including those related to Zakat, Sawm [fasting], Haj, A'zan [calling for prayer], Jihad [this is definitively not "holy war" but is defined by the Messenger (PBUH) as whatever act that makes the word/commandment of Allah dominant]. Q: How long did it take the prophet (PBUH) to do that? A: It took him 10 years and he died (PBUH) and his religion remains [is strongly-existent walhamdullillah] . He taught the Ummah about every good there is and he warned the Ummah about every evil there is. Q: What are the good and the evil that the prophet taught/warned against? A: The good that he taught the Ummah is Tawheed and everything that Allah (SWT) loves and everything that pleases Allah(SWT). The evil that he warned against is Shirk and everything that Allah (SWT) dislikes and refuses for us. Q: Did Allah (SWT) send the messenger (PBUH) to a special tribe or to mankind as a whole? A: Allah (SWT) sent him to the whole of mankind [I should say to both worlds of men and Jinns] and He ordained men and Jinns to obey Him and His messenger (PBUH). Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 7:158 and His words in 46:29 Q: Did Allah (SWT) complete the teachings [delivered by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and] which define the religion of Islam before or after the Messenger (PBUH)'s death ? A: Allah (SWT) completed the teachings before the Messenger (PBUH)'s death so that not one single new teaching would be necessary after the Messenger (PBUH)'s death. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 5:3 <... This day have I Perfected your religion For you, completed My favour upon you, And Have chosen for you Islam as your religion. ... > Q: What's the proof for the death of the Messenger (PBUH)? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 39:30-31 Q: Will Allah(SWT) bring back people to life [resurrect them] after their death? A: Yes, He (SWT) will, the proof being His words in 20:55 and His words in 71:17-18 Q: Are people accounted and rewarded/penalized for their deeds after resurrection? A: Yes, they are, the proof being Allah (SWT)'s words in 53:31 < ... so that He rewards [penalizes] those who do Evil, according to their deeds, And He rewards those who Do good, with what is best.> Q: What's the sentence of somebody who does not believe [kazzaba] in the Resurrection [Ba'ath]? A: His sentence is that he/she's a kafer, the proof being Allah(SWT)'s words in 64:7 Q: With what did Allah send His messengers? A: He (SWT) sent them [including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Yahyah [John], Zakariah, Mussa [Moses], Solomon, David, Jonah [Younos], Shuayb, Saleh, Aaron[Haroon], Luut [Lot], Issah [Jesus], and finally Mohammad, Peace Be Upon All] with/to giving good news of eternal life in Paradise to those who worship Allah (SWT) alone and with/to warning of eternal life in HellFire to those who associate partners with Allah (SWT) [commit the gravest sin of Shirk] . Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:165 Q: Who was the first messenger? A: Noah (PBUH) was [Although Adam (PBUH) was the first prophet]. Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 4:163 Q: Did it remain any Ummah [people-nation] to whom Allah (SWT) did not send a messenger who ordained them to worship Allah alone and avoid Taghoot? A: No, Allah (SWT) sent a messenger to every Ummah, the proof being Allah (SWT) 's words in 16:36 Q: What is Taghoot? A: It is with what a servant [of Allah (SWT)] exceeds the limits [violates the rights of] of the ma'abood [worshipped], the matboo'e [followed], or the mutaweh [worthy of obedience, and submission]. Q: How many Taghoot's are there? A: There are many but they belong to five main classes: 1) Iblis [Satan] may Allah (SWT) damn it; 2) whoever is worshipped and he/she feels pleased by that [Rad-i.e. tries not to stop that];3)whoever invites people to worship him/her; 4) whoever claims to have knowledge of the future or the unknown [Ilm-al-Ghayb : in specific the unknown that can never be known by humans such as the soul, and the sex/how prosperous will be/ where will die/ whether will enter Paradise or Hellfire/ of a foetus right at the instant of conception ...]; and 5) whoever judges/sentences with laws not ordained by Allah (SWT). Q: What's the proof? A: Allah (SWT)'s words in 2:256 < Let there be no compulsion In religion: Truth stands out Clear from Error: whoever Rejects Taghoot and believes In Allah hath grasped The most trustworthy Hand-hold, that never breaks, And Allah heareth And knoweth all things.> and His words in 16:36 and His words in 3:64 and this is the meaning of "la ilaha illallah"[there is no god but Allah ]; and in the Hadith:"the head of the matter is Islam and its pillar is Salat [prayer] and its highest point [zurwat sinamihi] is Jihad. THE END. Alhamdullillahi ala ni'amihi, wastaghfirullah , wa sallallahu ala khayril Anam. [I thank Allah(SWT) for His bounties, I ask forgiveness from Him, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be on The best Human that ever was.]