Enter perfectly into Islam – surah Al Baqarah 2:208

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

INTRODUCTION

All of us must surely be honoured that Allah has Chosen us to be Muslims, as Allah has Informed us:

اليَومَ أَكمَلتُ لَكُم دينَكُم وَأَتمَمتُ عَلَيكُم نِعمَتي وَرَضيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسلامَ دينًا

“…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” 5: 3

When these verses were revealed, even the Jews informed prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) that if this verse were to revealed up us, we will take this as a day of celebration, because Islam was completed for us. 

In fact, Allah Elevated us as “the best nations” when He Informed us:

كُنتُم خَيرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخرِجَت لِلنّاسِ تَأمُرونَ بِالمَعروفِ وَتَنهَونَ عَنِ المُنكَرِ وَتُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ

“You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah…”  3: 110

Therefore, as a Muslim, surely we must try and understand what Islam means – complete submission to Allah – and you will then achieve peace. 

We cannot choose what we wish to obey on Allah’s Commands and what we choose to ignore. Hence Allah warned the children of Israel in the Qur’an surah al Baqarah (2) verse 85:

أَفَتُؤمِنونَ بِبَعضِ الكِتابِ وَتَكفُرونَ بِبَعضٍ ۚ فَما جَزاءُ مَن يَفعَلُ ذٰلِكَ مِنكُم إِلّا خِزيٌ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَيَومَ القِيامَةِ يُرَدّونَ إِلىٰ أَشَدِّ العَذابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغافِلٍ عَمّا تَعمَلونَ

“…Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”

On many occasions, the things that we thought are good for us will have a bad consequences in the Hereafter, whereas the things that it is difficult for us to do or obey in relation to Allah’s Commands will bring us closer to Allah, as Allah Reminded us in the Qur’an surah al Baqarah (2) verse 216:

وَعَسىٰ أَن تَكرَهوا شَيئًا وَهُوَ خَيرٌ لَكُم ۖ وَعَسىٰ أَن تُحِبّوا شَيئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُم ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعلَمُ وَأَنتُم لا تَعلَمونَ

“…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.”

ANALYSING THE VERSE 208 IN SURAH AL BAQARAH:

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا ادخُلوا فِي السِّلمِ كافَّةً وَلا تَتَّبِعوا خُطُواتِ الشَّيطانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُم عَدُوٌّ مُبينٌ

“O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.”

Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reminded us to pay attention when we recite verses of Quran that begins with “O, you who truly believe”, because what comes after this will be an important command or prohibition from Allah.

Taken from Tafsir Ibn Kathir:

Allah commands His servants who believe in Him and have faith in His Messenger to implement all of Islam’s legislation and law, to adhere to all of its commandments, as much as they can, and to refrain from all of its prohibitions. `Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said, and also Mujahid, Tawus, Ad-Dahhak, `Ikrimah, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said that Allah’s statement:

﴿ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِى ٱلسِّلۡمِ ﴾

(Enter Silm) means Islam. Allah’s statement:

﴿ كَآفَّةً۬ ﴾

(…perfectly) means, in its entirety. This is the Tafsir of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Abu Al-`Aliyah, `Ikrimah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, As-Suddi, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak. Mujahid said that the Ayah means, `Perform all the good works and the various pious deeds, this is especially addressed to those from among the People of the Scripture who embraced the faith.’

Ibn Abu Hatim reported that Ibn `Abbas said that:

﴿ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِى ٱلسِّلۡمِ ڪَآفَّةً۬ ﴾

(O you who believe! Enter Silm perfectly) refers to the believers among the People of the Scripture. This is because they believed in Allah, some of them still followed some parts of the Tawrah and the previous revelations. So Allah said:

﴿ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِى ٱلسِّلۡمِ ڪَآفَّةً۬ ﴾

(Enter Islam perfectly.) Allah thus commanded them to embrace the legislation of the religion of Muhammad in its entirety and to avoid abandoning any part of it. They should no longer adhere to the Tawrah.

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So for example we are now in December – it is the period where many people in the UK will be celebrating Christmas. Christmas is NOT our celebration and we must never imitate the disbelievers. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Warned us against imitating the disbelievers:

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you hand span by hand span, cubit by cubit, to the extent that if they entered the hole of a lizard, you will enter it too.” We said: “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?” He said: “Who else?” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1397; Muslim, 4822. 

Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4031

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

The things in which the kuffaar are imitated include acts of worship, such as imitating them in matters of shirk, such as building (structures) over graves, building shrines and exaggerating about them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “May the curse of Allaah be upon the Jews and the Christians, for they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.” Al-Bukhaari, 425; Muslim, 531. And he told us that when a righteous man among them died, they would build a place of worship over his grave, and install images therein, and that they were the most evil of mankind. Al-Bukhaari, 417; Muslim, 528. Nowadays there are instances of major shirk because of exaggeration concerning graves, as is well known to scholars and ordinary folk alike. The cause of that is imitation of the Jews and Christians. 

وَأَنَّ هٰذا صِراطي مُستَقيمًا فَاتَّبِعوهُ ۖ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُم عَن سَبيلِهِ ۚ ذٰلِكُم وَصّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُم تَتَّقونَ

““And verily, this (i.e. Allah’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)” 6: 153

Taking part in Christmas celebration and greeting is something we should avoid. Our belief of Eesa a.s is very different to the beliefs of the Christians. Allah discusses Eesa a.s. in the first 90 verses in Surah Al-Imran and other parts of the Quran. We should study these verses to understand our belief about Prophet Eesa a.s.

Allamah Ibn Taymiyyah r.a wrote a book called ‘Iqtidaus Siraatil Mustaqim li Mukhalfatil Ahlil Jaheem’. A large section of the book contains content regarding how we should not take part in celebrations of the non-Muslims. This matter is not light.

Islam encourages kindness towards the non-Muslims. We should respect them, visit them when sick, give them food and help them. This is termed as mudarat. This does not mean we should be sacrificing our deen in order to make them happy by following or taking part in their religious activities. This is termed as Mudahanat which is prohibited. We have a beautiful religion, why would a person want to do that which displeases the Almighty. So, people, follow the way of success. That is the seeratul mustaqeem (straight path).

Remember how Allah warned us in Qur’an surah al maidah (5) verse 2:

وَتَعاوَنوا عَلَى البِرِّ وَالتَّقوىٰ ۖ وَلا تَعاوَنوا عَلَى الإِثمِ وَالعُدوانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَديدُ العِقابِ

“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.”

Our religion is one and straight, it has taught us everything. Being indulged in the celebration of the non-Muslims can influence our iman. So, stay away and stick to the roots of success; Quran & Sunnah. Allah has given us a beautiful path, why then would we follow another path.

Al-‘Irbad ibn Sariyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed with us one day. Then, he faced us and delivered an eloquent sermon that brought tears to our eyes and by it shook our hearts. It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this is a farewell address. What do you instruct for us?” The Prophet said, “I advise you to fear Allah, listen, and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave is put in charge of you. Whoever lives after me will see many conflicts. You must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the righteous, guided successors. Hold firmly to it as if biting with your molar teeth. Beware of newly invented matters, for every new matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4607

BE VERY AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING

1. Shaytan as our enemy

“O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.” 2: 208

2. Death may be imminent

كُلُّ نَفسٍ ذائِقَةُ المَوتِ ۗ وَإِنَّما تُوَفَّونَ أُجورَكُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحزِحَ عَنِ النّارِ وَأُدخِلَ الجَنَّةَ فَقَد فازَ ۗ وَمَا الحَياةُ الدُّنيا إِلّا مَتاعُ الغُرورِ

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” 3: 185

“Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things).” 31: 35

3. The attractions of the dunya

زُيِّنَ لِلنّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَواتِ مِنَ النِّساءِ وَالبَنينَ وَالقَناطيرِ المُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالفِضَّةِ وَالخَيلِ المُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنعامِ وَالحَرثِ ۗ ذٰلِكَ مَتاعُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسنُ المَآبِ

“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him.” 3: 14

“…Say: “Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better for him who fears Allah, and you shall not be dealt with unjustly even equal to the Fatila (a scalish thread in the long slit of a date-stone).” 4: 77

4. The companions we choose

الأَخِلّاءُ يَومَئِذٍ بَعضُهُم لِبَعضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا المُتَّقينَ

“Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al-Muttaqun.” 43: 67

“Verily, your Wali (Protector or Helper) is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, – those who perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, and they bow down (submit themselves with obedience to Allah in prayer).” 5: 55

5. Culture and family do not compromise Islam

Marriages in Islam can be very expensive and wasteful. This is against Allah’s Command:

“…But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift . Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayatin (devils), and the Shaitan (Devil – Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord. 17: 26-27

CONCLUSION

Whether is a decision we have to take or the path that we choose, or something happens in our life, everything must be acted in accordance with the hope that Allah will be Pleased with it. All the ground rules have been laid out clearly in the Qur’an and authentic hadeeths. We have to make du’a to Allah to Guide us continuously so that we are able to lead a life which is pleasing to Allah.

« اللَّهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا، وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا، وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتنِاَبَهُ، وَلَا تَجْعَلْهُ مُلْتَبِسًا عَلَيْنَا فَنَضِلَّ، وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا »

O Allah! Show us the truth as truth, and bestow adherence to it on us. Show us the evil as evil, and make us stay away from it, and do not confuse us regarding the reality of evil so that we will not be led astray by it, and make us leaders for the believers.

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Baqarah, Ayah: 213)

And we must NEVER forget – that our purpose in this life – is to worship Allah:

وَما خَلَقتُ الجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلّا لِيَعبُدونِ

“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” 51: 56

May Allah continue to Guide us all in the straight path, Forgive us for our shortcomings and Grant us all Jannatul Firdaus.