Author:
Laila Nasheeba, Teacher AlQuran Wa Sunnah
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 08:16:08 09/09/02 Mon
Author Host/IP: dhcp024-210-245-129.woh.rr.com/24.210.245.129
In reply to:
aishah ball
's message, "SISTER LAILA....." on 17:06:31 09/08/02 Sun
As saalamu Alaikoum,
First of all, what are you doing reading books written by Kaafir that slander or demean our Prophet (saw), Allah or Islam?? THIS IS HARAAM.
Secondly, we do not sit around debating Islam with kaafirs. The reason why these things are haraam is because it does just what it is doing to you.. it makes a person who is weak in his or her iman QUESTION the truth of islam.. and yes you are suffering from a weakness in Iman.. if you were not you would not have doubts about this religion or our prophet(saw).
I will not sit here and dispute all the lies told about our prophet(saw) for to do so would be a waste of my time, plus it would anger me, and also it will not solve your problem of faith. What you need to do is first of all, THROW AWAY ANY BOOKS YOU HAVE THAT DEMEAN ISLAM AND NEVER IN YOUR LIFE READ THEM AGAIN.
Secondly you need to work on building your faith.
Al-Haakim reported in al-Mustadrak, and al-Tabaraani reported in al-Mu’jam, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allaah to renew the faith in your hearts.” (Reported by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, 1/4; see also al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 1585. Al-Haythami said in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 1/52, “It was reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer and its isnaad is saheeh.”)
What he meant is that faith wears out in the heart just as clothes wear out and become old. The heart of the believer is sometimes overwhelmed by clouds of sin, and so it goes dark. This is the picture drawn for us by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the saheeh hadeeth: “There is no heart that is not covered by a cloud like the cloud covering the moon when it is shining, and so it suddenly goes dark, but when it (the cloud) goes away, it shines again.” (Reported by Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah, 2/196; al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 2268).
One of the most important principles which must be understood in order to treat the problem of weak faith is that faith increases and decreases, or waxes and wanes. This is one of the basic principles of the ‘aqeedah of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, who say that faith is something to be spoken in words, to be believed in in the heart, and to be put into action. Faith increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience. There is evidence for this in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, for example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): “… that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith…” [al-Fath 48:4] and “… Which of you has had his faith increased by it? …” [al-Tawbah 9:124]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it by his hand (by action), and if he cannot, then by his tongue (by speaking out), and if he cannot, then by his heart (by feeling that it is wrong), and that is the weakest of faith.” (Al-Bukhaari, Fath, 1/51).
There are a number of things we can do as Muslims to treat weakness of Faith:
Pondering the meanings of the Qur’aan, which Allaah has revealed to explain everything and as a Light by which He guides whomever He wills of His slaves. There is no doubt that it contains a powerful and effective cure. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And We send down from the Qur’aan that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe…” [al-Isra’ 17:82]. The method of treatment is to think and ponder its meanings.
Among the features of the Qur’aan which are most deserving of contemplation are the examples and parables which Allaah sets forth and urges us to ponder and think about. He tells us (interpretation of the meanings): “ … Allaah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember” [Ibraaheem 14:25] and “… Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect.” [al-Hashr 59:21].
Another way to cure a weakness of faith is to seek Islamic knowledge, which is knowledge that leads one to fear Allaah and which increases one’s faith in Him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allaah…” [Faatir 35:28].
Those who have knowledge and those who do not are not equal in faith. How can one who knows the details of sharee’ah, the meaning and implications of the Shahaadatayn, the things that will happen after death – such as the torment of the grave, the horrors of the final gathering, the stages of the Day of Resurrection, the delights of Paradise and the punishments of Hell, the wisdom of sharee’ah in prescribing halaal and haraam, the details of the Prophet’s seerah, and other kinds of knowledge… How can one who knows all this be equal in faith with one who is ignorant of the religion and its rulings and what Islam says about matters of the Unseen.
All the latter knows about his religion is mere imitation, and the little knowledge he has is of poor quality:
“…Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? …” [al-Zumar 39:9 – interpretation of the meaning].
Another way to increase ones faith is by attendance at gatherings of dhikr (remembrance of Allaah). This leads to an increase in faith for a number of reasons, such as the mentioning of Allaah, the descent of mercy and tranquillity, the angels surrounding the people present, and Allaah mentioning them to the chiefs (angels) on high, showing His pride in them to the angels and forgiving their sins. This was mentioned in saheeh ahaadeeth, for example, when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No people sit together remembering Allaah, but the angels surround them, mercy envelops them, tranquillity descends upon them, and Allaah mentions them to those who are in His presence.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 2700).
Sahl ibn al-Hanzaliyyah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘No people gather together to remember (Allaah) and then disperse, but it will be said to them: “Get up, you are forgiven.”’” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5507). Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “When he spoke of remembering Allaah (dhikr), he meant doing it regularly and persistently, by doing acts that are obligatory or encouraged, such as reciting Qur’aan, reading hadeeth, and studying with other people.” (Fath al-Baari, 11/209).
Another indication that gatherings of dhikr increase one’s faith is the report narrated by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh from Hanzalah al-Usaydi, who said: “I met Abu Bakr, and he asked me, ‘How are you, O Hanzalah?’ I said, ‘Hanzalah has become a munaafiq (hypocrite).’ He said, ‘Subhaan-Allaah! What are you saying?’ I said, ‘We sit with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and he tells us about Hell and Paradise until it is as if we can see them, then when we leave the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), we get involved with our wives and children and earning a living, and we forget a lot.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘I feel the same way.’ So Abu Bakr and I went to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and I said, ‘Hanzalah has become a hypocrite, O Messenger of Allaah.’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Why is that?’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, we sit with you and you tell us about Hell and Paradise until it is as if we can see them, then when we leave you, we get involved with our wives and children and earning a living, and we forget a lot.’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him said, ‘By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you continued to be as you are when you are with me, and to make dhikr, the angels would shake your hands in your beds and on the road. But, O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that’ – and he said this three times.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 2750).
The Sahaabah, may Allaah be pleased with them, were keen to sit toegther for the purpose of dhikr, which they used to call eemaan (faith or belief). Mu’aadh (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to a man: “Let us sit and believe for a while.” (Its isnaad is saheeh; Arba’ Masaa’il fi’l-Eemaan, revised by al-Albaani, p. 72).
Also, doing a lot of righteous deeds and filling one’s time with them will hlep to increase weak faith. Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him) set the best example of this, when the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked his Sahaabah: “Who among you got up fasting this morning?” Abu Bakr said, “I did.” He asked, “Who among you has attended a funeral today?” Abu Bakr said, “I have.” He asked, “Who among you has fed a needy person today?” Abu Bakr said, “I have.” He asked, “Who among you has visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr said, “I have.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “No man does all of that but he will enter Paradise.” (Reported by Muslim, Kitaab Fadaa’il al-Sahaabah, Baab 1, Hadeeth 12).
Doing a variety of acts of worship will also work to increase your faith. It is a part of the mercy and wisdom of Allaah that He has given us a variety of acts of worship to do, some of which are physical, such as salaah, some financial, such as zakaah, and some combine both physical and financial aspects, such as Hajj. Some of them are spoken, such as dhikr and du’aa’.
Fearing a bad end will also increase ones faith because this will motivate the Muslim to worship Allaah and will renew the faith in his heart. There are many causes of a bad end, including weakness of faith and indulging in sin. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mentioned examples of this, such as: “The one who kills himself with a piece of iron will have the piece of iron in his hand, stabbing himself with it in the fire of Hell, for ever and ever, without end. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself will be sipping it – drinking it and swallowing it slowly – in the fire of Hell, for ever and ever, without end. Whoever throws himself down from a mountain and kills himself, will be throwing himself down in the fire of Hell, for ever and ever, without end.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 109).
Finally, du’aa’, calling on Allaah, is one of the most efficient means of increasing ones faith, as the Prophet ) peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you as clothes wear out, so ask Allaah to renew the faith in your hearts.”
CONCLUSION: I suggest you do these things listed above to renew your faith in islam and stay away from reading books and listening to debates made by Kaafirs against islam. Only a weak person would allow a kaafir to make him doubt the way of islam...
AND ALLAH KNOWS BEST
Laila Nasheeba
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
Feedback: 