Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 18 matter has been decided by Allah and His messenger, to have any option about their decision. If anyone disobeys Allah and His messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path.” (Holy Quran 33:36) These verses clearly show that to believe in the prophet (PBUH) is integral to believe in Allah. When we state our “Shahada” (declaration of faith), we say: “I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and Mohammad is the messenger of Allah.” It is imperative that we include the prophet also. This assertion is important for two reasons: 1- To affirm our position that we truly believe Mohammad to Allah’s last messenger. 2- To ensure that we remember that he is only the messenger of Allah. This keeps us from elevating the status of Mohammad from a messenger/prophet to that of being the deity, the Christians’ church has done with Jesus (PBUH). The first thing Allah asks us to do is to believe Him and His messenger. This belief implies obedience as well as seen in the above verses. The second thing that Allah asks us: “that ye strive (your utmost) in the cause of Allah with your wealth and persons…” Allah says: “Tujaahiduuna Fe sabillilah.” The Arabic word “Tujaahiduuna” comes from the word “Jahada” which means: he strives and endeavored, or took great pains to accomplish something. So we can say that the word “tujahiduuna” means devoting serious effort or energy to Allah’s cause “fi sabillilah”. To strive in Allah’s cause means one must endeavor to bring one’s life in concert with the teachings of the Quran and to establish Islamic life in his own personal life, in his community and the world. Allah says: “Tujaahiduuna fi sabillilah bi amwaalikum wa anfusikum,” that we must attempt to accomplish this with our wealth and persons. The Arabic word “amwal” means property, possessions, money, assets, wealth, etc. We must strive in Allah’s cause utilizing all of the halal means in our possession. Donating money, building or establishing Islamic institutions, or even by sharing Islamic knowledge can do this - because knowledge is indeed an asset. True and the proper knowledge of Quran are a wealth beyond measure. Allah says that we must also strive in his cause with our persons. He says: “wa anfusikum” strive with your soul, mind, life, etc. We are to strive with our wealth and the most priceless comes from the Arabic word “Nafusa” which means to be precious, valuable, and priceless. We are to give our lives too, and in the cause of Allah figuratively and literally also by saying that. We should strive with our persons (selves), it so implied that we must let our character our behavior, our speech, and our actions be a means of striving in the cause of Allah. We must utilize the innate talents, all skills that Allah has instilled in us, we must use any and all halal means in advancing in the cause of Allah. We must strive our utmost to the best of our abilities, powers, and resources. Allah says:” Khayrlakum in kuntom ta’alamoon.” “That would be best, (more excellence) for you if you only knew.” It is better than anything is else that if we only knew it. This is our side of the bargain; we are to believe in Allah and His messenger and strive in his cause utilizing our wealth and persons. But what of Allah’s end of the bargain? What does the Most Beneficent one offer us in return for our effort? As we already know, the first thing is safety from a grievous punishment. Allah says that He will forgive our sins. He says: “Waghfirlakum dhunuubikum”, he will forgive your sins. Allah says that he will forgive us and grant us a pardon for our sins, crimes, and misdeed. This one thing in itself is enough to constitute a bargain. For how many of us are free from sin? Allah mentions in the Quran that if he were to punish mankind for their wrong doings, He would not leave a single creature on the earth. After forgiving our sins, Allah says: “Yad khilkum janatin tajree min tahtehal anharo wa masakina tayebaten fi janaten.” DATE: STARTING TODAY AND EVERYDAY DEAR BELIEVERS, I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn’t even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don’t love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and I’m going to make your life a living hell. That way we’ll be together twice. Thanks to you. With all of the good times we’ve had....... We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, partying, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, indulging in fornication, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults and those in leadership position, NO respect for the mosque, bad attitudes: SURELY you don’t want to give all this up. Come on, Fool, let’s burn together forever. I’ve got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation fromme to you. I’d like to say “THANKS” for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you.When you are tempted to sin, yougive inHAHAHA, youmakeme sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, I need newblood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and listen toanddance to the top10 jams.Doall this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that. Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I’ll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If youwere smart, youwould run somewhere, live for Godwith what little bit of life that you have left. It’s not my nature towarn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it’s becoming a bit ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I still hate you......IT’S JUST THAT YOU’DMAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR YOURSELF. Waiting for you, Shaytan (Satan) Devil Iblis Du’a (Supplication) by the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) in Taif “Al-Lahuma Elaika Nashku Dh’afa Quwatina Wa-Qilata Hilatina Wa-Hawana A’lan-Nas, ya Arhamar-rahimeen, ya rubal-Mustad’afeen, Anta Rabuna. ila man takiluna illa Qawmin Yastad’ifunaAmillaA’dowinWakaltahuAmruna...in-lamyakun laka a’lyna Ghadabun fala nubalee. Naoothu biwajhiakal aldhi ashraqat luhudh-Dhulumat was-saluha ali-hi amrad-dunia wal-akhira ala yahal alyna ghadabuk Aou yanzil alina sakhatuk lakal-u’qba hata tarda wala hawla wala quata ala biyk.” “Oh, my Allah! To Thee I complain of the feebleness of my strength, of my lack of resources and of my being unimportant in the eyes of people. Oh, Most Merciful of all those capable of showing mercy! Thou art the Lord of the weak, and Thou art my own Lord. To whom art Thou to entrust me; to an unsympathetic folk who would sullenly frown at me, or to an alien to whom Thou hast given control over my affairs? Not in the least do I care for anything except that I may have Thy protection for myself. I seek shelter in Your light - The light that illuminates the Heavens and dispels all sorts of darkness, and which controls all affairs in this work as well as in the Hereafter. May it never be that I should incur Thy wrath, or that Thou should be displeased with me. I must remove the cause of Thy displeasure until Thou art pleased. There is no strength nor power but through Thee.” Letter From Shaytan (Devil)
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