HOW ALLAH GRANTS US DIGNITY THROUGH ISLAM
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
INTRODUCTION
As we face the 1444 AH Islamic New Year, we must remember that Allah has Given us dignity through Islam. Dignity does not come from wealth, our having a property in Chelsea, or because you have an Arab blood or that you have a noble lineage
Some people are deluded that just because they have been given wealth, plenty of children and a beautiful life in this world that Allah has Granted them dignity. Look what the hadeeth than explains clearly what Allah Thinks of this dunya:
Jabir b. Abdullah reported that Allah’s Apostle (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa salalam) happened to walk through the bazar coming from the side of ‘Aliya and the people were on both his sides. There he found a dead lamb with very short ears. He took hold of his ear and said:
Who amongst you would like to have this for a dirham? They said: We do not like to have it even for less than that as it is of no use to us. He said: Do you wish to have it (free of any cost)? They said: By Allah, even if it were alive (we would not have liked to possess that), for there is defect in it as its ear is very short; now it is dead also. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa salalam) said: By Allah, this world is more insignificant in the eye of Allah than it (this dead lamb) is in your eye.
Sahih Muslim 2957a
It has been related by Mustawrid (R.A.) that the Prophet (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa salalam) said,
“By Allah, this world (i.e., its pleasures and duration) in comparison with the Hereafter is (similar to the amount of water) one gets when he puts his finger in the sea. Let him then see what it returns with”. (Sahih Muslim: 2858)
Abu Hazim Az-Zahid was asked, “What is your wealth?” He said, “Two kinds of wealth dispel all fear of poverty trust in Allah and not being attached to what people have.” He was asked, “Don’t you fear poverty?” He said, “How can I fear poverty when my lord owns all that is in the heavens and on the earth and all that is between them and all that is beneath the ground?”
Al-Fudayl said,
“The essence of living simply is being content with Allah Mighty and Exalted is he.”
Allah Reminded us about this Dunya:
إِنّا جَعَلنا ما عَلَى الأَرضِ زينَةً لَها لِنَبلُوَهُم أَيُّهُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا
“Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds.” 18: 7
المالُ وَالبَنونَ زينَةُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَالباقِياتُ الصّالِحاتُ خَيرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ أَمَلًا
“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds (five compulsory prayers, deeds of Allah’s obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allah with glorification, praises and thanks, etc.), that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.” 18: 46
إِنَّما أَموالُكُم وَأَولادُكُم فِتنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجرٌ عَظيمٌ
“Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward (Paradise).” 64: 15
Allah Reminded us on His Favours that He had done for us:
وَاعتَصِموا بِحَبلِ اللَّهِ جَميعًا وَلا تَفَرَّقوا ۚ وَاذكُروا نِعمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيكُم إِذ كُنتُم أَعداءً فَأَلَّفَ بَينَ قُلوبِكُم فَأَصبَحتُم بِنِعمَتِهِ إِخوانًا وَكُنتُم عَلىٰ شَفا حُفرَةٍ مِنَ النّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِنها ۗ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُم آياتِهِ لَعَلَّكُم تَهتَدونَ
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’an), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.” 3: 103
HOW ALLAH HAS ELEVATED US THROUGH ISLAM
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
إِنَّ الدّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسلامُ ۗ وَمَا اختَلَفَ الَّذينَ أوتُوا الكِتابَ إِلّا مِن بَعدِ ما جاءَهُمُ العِلمُ بَغيًا بَينَهُم ۗ وَمَن يَكفُر بِآياتِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَريعُ الحِسابِ
“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, then surely, Allah is Swift in calling to account.” 3: 19
كُنتُم خَيرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخرِجَت لِلنّاسِ تَأمُرونَ بِالمَعروفِ وَتَنهَونَ عَنِ المُنكَرِ وَتُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ ۗ وَلَو آمَنَ أَهلُ الكِتابِ لَكانَ خَيرًا لَهُم ۚ مِنهُمُ المُؤمِنونَ وَأَكثَرُهُمُ الفاسِقونَ
“You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam 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. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fasiqun (disobedient to Allah – and rebellious against Allah’s Command).” 3: 110
Therefore not only Allah has Chosen us to be Guided to Islam, He also has Made us as the “best nation”, but with a condition that:
- We enjoin good
- We forbid evil
- We believe in Allah
REMEMBER HOW THOSE SAHABAH WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR ISLAM
Without their sacrifice and steadfastness of the Deen, we would not be having Islamic classes here in the mosque. Their tremendous sacrifice had elevated their status and dignity in Islam. There were among some of the poorest people.
Bilal ibn Rabah
Abu Jahl started to torture the slaves in the community. Bilal was an African slave owned by Ummayah ibn Khalaf, who was best friends with Abu Jahl. Abu Jahl asked permission to deal with Bilal and his acceptance of Islam, which was granted. Abu Jahl would whip Bilal all night until he would become exhausted. When the heat would reach its peak, he would lay Bilal down upon the scorching sand and put a rock onto of him to pin him down. Bilal would be tied to horses made to run. Bilal’s faith would not be shaken: he became known by the calls of ‘Ahad, Ahad!’- ‘One God, One God!’ Abu Bakr bought Bilal for an inflated price and set him free. Bilal was made the muezzin of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Amr bin Fuhairah
Amr bin Fuhairah was as a slave who was tortured. Abu Bakr purchased his freedom and he continued to work for him as a shepherd. Amr was skilled as a tracker.
Zunairah
This female slave belonged to the Makhzum clan. She was handed over to Abu Jahl to be tortured. Deprived of sleep, food and water, she became blind as a result of the malnourishment. Abu Jahl taunted her that that the idols Al-Lat and Al-Uzza had taken her sight away. She responded that her Lord Allah had decided this and that he could return her eyesight. Miraculously the next day, her eyesight was restored. Abu Bakr also purchased her freedom.
An-Nahdiyah
This lady and her daughter were slaves and tortured by their mistress. She brought them flour to grind and make bread. Abu Bakr secured their freedom and advised them to return the flour to their mistress. However, the mother and daughter finished the job they were given before moving on.
Khabbab ibn al-Aratt
Khabbab was kidnapped as young boy and sold into slavery. He accepted Islam in the early days. The Quraysh experimented torture upon him. He gained freedom and joined the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). He would be an inspirational figure: Umar ibn al-Khattab would sit with him and when he felt overwhelmed, Umar would ask to see Khabbab’s back and the scars of his torture. Umar said he had never seen anything like it in his life.
Ammar ibn Yasir
Ammar was the son of Yasir and Sumayyah. Ammar accepted Islam and he would sneak at night to sit and worship with the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). His parents were worried about the consequences of this, but after hearing about Islam, they both accepted. Abu Jahl found out and he inflicted torture upon the family. He tied the family up and would leave them there for days. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would walk by in tears saying, ‘Patience oh family of Yasir! Congratulations, you will be reunited in Paradise!’ Abu Bakr offered to purchase them but this was declined. Sumayyah shouted at Abu Jahl that no matter what he did, they would not renounce their Islam. Abu Jahl became infuriated and killed her with a spear in front of her husband and son. She became the first martyr in Islam. Yasir was beside himself and Abu Jahl kicked him to death.
Ammar watched both his parents being murdered. The Quraysh intensified the torture. Eventually, he conceded to their demands to say that he believed in Al-Lat and Al-Uzza and that he did not believe in Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Thus, they cut him loose and walked off. Ammar crawled to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) crying that he had agreed to say what they wanted to hear. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked what was in his heart and Ammar explained he had never believed in Allah and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) more, but he overwhelmed. Allah revealed ayat to support Ammar in his situation, reassuring that iman is not invalidated under torture, so long as it remains in your heart. Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) told the sahabah to say whatever torturers wanted to hear, so that they could escape.
The Elite
The elite were even persecuted. Uthman ibn Affan was tied up, but managed to escape. Sa’d ibn Abi-Waqqas as emotionally blackmailed by his mother. Abu Bakr was nearly beaten to death.
Mus’ab ibn Umair was a celebrity of that time: young, handsome and wealthy. After accepting Islam, his mother tied him up and tortured him. She eventually stripped him of his clothing and threw him on the street. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) came and covered him. He was one of the first ambassadors of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to Madina as a teacher. He converted half the city of Madina to Islam, as he managed give effective dawah to Sa’d ibn Muadh, who was a leader of his tribe.
WHEN THE RICH QURAYSH WERE TRYING TO PERSUADE THE PROPHET SALLALLAHU ‘ALAYHI WA SALLAM FROM HIS POOR COMPANIONS, ALLAH WARNED PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLALLAHU ‘ALAYHI WA SALLAM:
It was said that this was revealed about the nobles of Quraysh when they asked the Prophet to sit with them on his own, and not to bring his weak Companions with him, such as Bilal, `Ammar, Suhayb, Khabbab and Ibn Mas`ud. They wanted him to sit with them on his own, but Allah forbade him from doing that, and said,
وَاصبِر نَفسَكَ مَعَ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَداةِ وَالعَشِيِّ يُريدونَ وَجهَهُ ۖ وَلا تَعدُ عَيناكَ عَنهُم تُريدُ زينَةَ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَلا تُطِع مَن أَغفَلنا قَلبَهُ عَن ذِكرِنا وَاتَّبَعَ هَواهُ وَكانَ أَمرُهُ فُرُطًا
“And keep yourself (O Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) patiently with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your companions who remember their Lord with glorification, praising in prayers, etc., and other righteous deeds, etc.) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost.” 18: 28
“We were the most humiliated people on earth and God gave us honour through Islam. If we ever seek honour through anything else, God will humiliate us again.”
― Umar ibn Al-Khattab
What happened to the Muslim Ummah today? There are over 54 Muslim countries, BUT NONE has been Granted Dignity by Allah. It’s because they are lost in this dunya – emphasising on the success of this world in accordance to the Western standard
- Competing with one another on building high rise glitzy buildings
- Trying to attract western tourists by compromising Islam, such as allowing sale of alcohol, allowing nakedness in the beach, gambling, corruptions, etc.
- Forget where their wealth comes from
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُغَيِّرُ ما بِقَومٍ حَتّىٰ يُغَيِّروا ما بِأَنفُسِهِم
“…Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)…” 13: 11
Unless we change and start to practise Islam as how it was practised in the early days of Islam – the greatest generation, then we will always lose our dignity. It was Allah Who Granted dignity and honour to the early Muslims in the past and it is He Who will Restore back our dignity if we change ourselves and submit to Allah completely. Many Muslims now made a decision to submit to Allah only according what they think fits in 2022. Allah Warned us:
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.” 2: 85
STORY OF QARUN
In the Qur’an surah al Qasas (28) verses 76-82, Allah Informed us of a rich man whom Allah Had Bestowed His wealth called Qarun – so much wealth that even the keys that opened up to his treasures required several men to carry them. He thought that this wealth would earn him status and dignity. He did not thank Allah for his wealth but he said that he acquired this wealth through his own knowledge. Some people envied Qarun and said:
يا لَيتَ لَنا مِثلَ ما أوتِيَ قارونُ إِنَّهُ لَذو حَظٍّ عَظيمٍ
“….Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.” 28: 79
But those who were given knowledge by Allah warned:
وَيلَكُم ثَوابُ اللَّهِ خَيرٌ لِمَن آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحًا وَلا يُلَقّاها إِلَّا الصّابِرونَ
“….Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).” 28: 80
Did Qarun eventually achieve glory and dignity? No. The earth swallowed him and his wealth was not able to save him, let alone grant him honour and dignity.
Looking at the situation we have now especially in the Middle East – in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc – everyone is trying to earn honour and dignity by mimicking the western lifestyle, and amassing wealth. With the social media and celebrity culture, we can clearly see that many, even though knows the Arabic language well, is competing with each other for fame and glory NOT through Islam but through the dunya. Therefore we can see the humiliation now facing Muslim countries in general even though there are over 1.8 billion Muslims.
In many western countries, alhamdulillah many people are embracing Islam, clearly showing that Allah does NOT need these people who do not stand by Islam and He will replace them with those who will be strong on their belief even though they are not Arabs or born Muslims, as Allah Warned us:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا مَن يَرتَدَّ مِنكُم عَن دينِهِ فَسَوفَ يَأتِي اللَّهُ بِقَومٍ يُحِبُّهُم وَيُحِبّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى المُؤمِنينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الكافِرينَ يُجاهِدونَ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ وَلا يَخافونَ لَومَةَ لائِمٍ ۚ ذٰلِكَ فَضلُ اللَّهِ يُؤتيهِ مَن يَشاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ واسِعٌ عَليمٌ
“O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.” 5: 54
As we face this new Islamic New Year of 1444 AH, we reflect more on our shortcomings and Improve ourselves by submitting to Allah completely and by making du’a that through Islam, Allah will Elevate our dignity and honour, just like in the days of prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the companions, may Allah be Pleased with all of them. Only through this way will Allah be Pleased with us.
“رَضِيتُ باللهِ رَبَّاً، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِيناً، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَى اللهُ عَلِيهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَبِيَّاً”.
Radheetu billaahi Rabban, wa bil-‘Islaami deenan, wa bi-Muhammadin (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallama) Nabiyyan.
I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as my Prophet. (Recite three times in Arabic .)
Reference:
“Allah has promised that anyone who says this three times every morning or evening will be pleased on the Day of Resurrection.” Ahmad 4/ 337, An-Nasa’i, ‘Amalul-Yawm wal-Laylah p. 4, Ibn As-Sunni (no. 68), At-Tirmithi 5/465. Its chain of transmission is good (Hasan), Ibn Baz, p. 39.
اللهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلامَ وَالمُسْلِمِينَ، اللهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلامَ وَالمُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَذِلَّ
الشِّرْكَ وَالمُشْرِكِينَ وَدَمِّرْ أَعْدآءَ الدِّينِ وَاحْمِ حَوْزَةَ الإسْلامِ يَا رَبَّ
العَالَمِينَ.
Allahumma a’izzal-Islama wal-Muslimeen, Allahumma a’izzal-Islama wal-Muslimeen, wa adhillash-shirka wal-Mushrikeen, wa dammir a’daa’ad-deen, wahmi hawzatal-Islami ya rabbal-3alameen.
O Allah! Raise the standing of Islam and the Muslims. O Allah! Raise the standing and the Muslims, and degrade the standing of Kufr and the Kaafireen, and Shirk and the Mushrikeen. Destroy the enemies of the Deen, and protect the lands of Islam, O Lord of the Worlds.
أَنْتَ الحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ وَالجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ
وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ والسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ والنَّبِيّونَ حَقٌّ وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ.
Antal-Haqqu wa wa’dukal-haqqu wa qawlukal-haqqu wa liqa’uka haqqun, wal-jannahtu haqqun wan-naru haqqun, was-sa’atu haqqun, wan-nabiyyoona haqqun wa Muhammadun haqq.
O Allah! You are the Truth, Your Promise is True, Your Speech is True, Your Meeting is True, Paradise is True, the Hellfire is True, the Hour is True, the Prophets are True and Muhammad is True.
اللهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْنَا وَبِكَ آمَنَّا وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَبِكَ خَاصَمْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ حاَكَمْنا
فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا قَدَّمْنَا وَمَا أَخَّرْنَا وَمَا أَسْرَرْنَا وَما أَعْلَنَّا أَنْتَ المُقَدِّمُ
وَأَنْتَ المُؤَخِّرُ لا إِلهَ إِلا أَنْتَ.
Allahumma laka aslamnaa, wa bika aamannaa, wa alayka tawakkalnaa, wa bika khaasamnaa, wa ilayka haakamnaa, faghfir lanaa maa qaddamnaa wa maa akhkharnaa, wa maa asrarnaa wa maa a3lannaa, antal-muqaddimu wa antal-mu’akhkhiru laa ilaaha illaa ant.
O Allah! To You have we submitted our souls, in You have we believed, upon You have we relied, for You have we argued, to You have we taken our judgement, so forgive us all that we have done and what we have not done, what we have hidden and what we have disclosed. You are the Promoter, and You are the Delayer, there is no God but You.
اللهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آل مُحَمُّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَعَلى آل إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد، وَبَارِكْ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آل
مُحَمُّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلى آل إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد.
Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala Muhammad, kamaa sallayta ala Ibraheema wa alaa aali Ibrahim, Innaka hameedun Majeed. Wa barik ala Muhammadin wa ala aali Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa ala aali Ibrahim, Innaka hameedun majeed.
O Allah! Send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the followers Muhammad, just as you sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim. Verily, you are Praiseworthy, Glorious. And O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the followers Muhammad, just as you sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the followers of Ibrahim. Verily, you are are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
