IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
INTRODUCTION
What is the meaning of Deen? There are 3 aspects which must be present:
There must be obedience and submission to the One Who Controls everything in this universe. We must obey only Allah and no one and no other rulings are above the rulings of Allah. Submission must be absolute without any exceptions. Everyone must obey Allah throughout this very short life of ours.
In the very last verse of the Qur’an that was revealed by Allah:
وَاتَّقوا يَومًا تُرجَعونَ فيهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفّىٰ كُلُّ نَفسٍ ما كَسَبَت وَهُم لا يُظلَمونَ
“And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” 2: 281
In fact, all of us had made a promise to our Rabb after He Swiped the back to Adam (AS), as stated in the Qur’an Surah 7 verse 172, and all of us had assembled in fornt of Allah. Allah Asked all of us:
أَلَستُ بِرَبِّكُم
“Am I not your Rabb?”
And all of us acknowledged and made a promise to Allah that He is our Rabb:
بَلىٰ ۛ شَهِدنا
“Yes! We testify,”
أَن تَقولوا يَومَ القِيامَةِ إِنّا كُنّا عَن هٰذا غافِلينَ
lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: “Verily, we have been unaware of this.”
The above is very important evidence on our covenant with Allah.
The word “Rabb” has a very vast meaning – The One Who Provides, Maintains, Sustains, Protects, Guides, etc. So we don’t need any “taweez” around our next to protect us, not any verses of the Qur’an hanging on the wall to give barakah or protect the house or car, etc. ONLY our Rabb will do that. Don’t commit shirk!
So, Allah stressed what is our Deen in a few verses of the Qur’an
إِنَّ الدّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسلامُ
“The Deen before Allah (accepted by Allah) is Islam….” 3:19
وَمَن يَبتَغِ غَيرَ الإِسلامِ دينًا فَلَن يُقبَلَ مِنهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الخاسِرينَ
“And whoever seeks a Deen other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” 3: 85
And of course, the topic for today:
اليَومَ أَكمَلتُ لَكُم دينَكُم وَأَتمَمتُ عَلَيكُم نِعمَتي وَرَضيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسلامَ دينًا
“…This day, I have perfected your Deen for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen…”
Therefore we must understand the meaning of Islam too – complete submission to Allah. Those who choose which of Allah’s Commands to follow and which to ignore/abandon has been Warned by Allah:
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
وَما كانَ لِمُؤمِنٍ وَلا مُؤمِنَةٍ إِذا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسولُهُ أَمرًا أَن يَكونَ لَهُمُ الخِيَرَةُ مِن أَمرِهِم ۗ وَمَن يَعصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ فَقَد ضَلَّ ضَلالًا مُبينًا
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” 33: 36
In fact, when the angels questioned Allah on His rationale of creating another creation who has a freedom of choice and would therefore disobey Him, Allah’s Answer is very simple:
وَإِذ قالَ رَبُّكَ لِلمَلائِكَةِ إِنّي جاعِلٌ فِي الأَرضِ خَليفَةً ۖ قالوا أَتَجعَلُ فيها مَن يُفسِدُ فيها وَيَسفِكُ الدِّماءَ وَنَحنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قالَ إِنّي أَعلَمُ ما لا تَعلَمونَ
“And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: “Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth.” They said: “Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, – while we glorify You with praises and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.” He (Allah) said: “I know that which you do not know.” 2: 30
So when was the Deen perfected and completed?
The verse is the Qur’an surah 5 verse 3 was revealed after the last sermon of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam of the year 632 C.E., the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the lunar year, 10 AH at Arafat, the most blessed day of the year.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Harun bin `Antarah said that his father said, “When the Ayah,
﴿ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ ﴾
(This day, I have perfected your religion for you…) was revealed, during the great day of Hajj (the Day of `Arafah, the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah) `Umar cried. The Prophet said, `What makes you cry’ He said, `What made me cry is that our religion is being perfected for us. Now it is perfect, nothing is perfect, but it is bound to deteriorate.’ The Prophet said,
« صَدَقْت »
(You have said the truth.)” What supports the meaning of this Hadith is the authentic Hadith,
« إِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا، وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا، فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاء »
(Islam was strange in its beginning and will return strange once more. Therefore, Tuba for the strangers.)
Imam Ahmad recorded that Tariq bin Shihab said, “A Jewish man said to `Umar bin Al-Khattab, `O Leader of the Believers! There is a verse in your Book, which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed) as a day of celebration.’ `Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, `Which is that verse’ The Jew replied, s
﴿ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى ﴾
(This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you…) `Umar replied, `By Allah! I know when and where this verse was revealed to Allah’s Messenger . It was the evening on the Day of `Arafah on a Friday.”’ Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith through Al-Hasan bin As-Sabbah from Ja`far bin `Awn. Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i also recorded this Hadith. In the narration collected by Al-Bukhari in the book of Tafsir, through Tariq, he said, “The Jews said to `Umar, `By Allah! There is a verse that is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed) as a day of celebration.’ `Umar said, `By Allah! I know when and where this verse was revealed and where the Messenger of Allah was at that time. It was the day of `Arafah, and I was at `Arafah, by Allah.” Sufyan (one of the narrators) doubted if Friday was mentioned in this narration. Sufyan’s confusion was either because he was unsure if his teacher included this statement in the Hadith or not. Otherwise, if it was because he doubted that the particular day during the Farewell Hajj was a Friday, it would be a mistake that could not and should not have come from someone like Sufyan Ath-Thawri. The fact that it was a Friday, is agreed on by the scholars of Sirah and Fiqh. There are numerous Hadiths that support this fact that are definitely authentic and of the Mutawatir type. This Hadith was also reported from `Umar through various chains of narration.
Islam governs a Muslim’s life in all its aspects. This is the reason why it is not only a religion but also a way of life.
Islam does not recognise any kind of separation between religion and life. It openly rejects the Western saying: “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s”; for everything should be dedicated to God alone and a Muslim is required to submit himself completely to the Will of Allah in all his affairs (what means):
قُل إِنَّ صَلاتي وَنُسُكي وَمَحيايَ وَمَماتي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
لا شَريكَ لَهُ ۖ وَبِذٰلِكَ أُمِرتُ وَأَنا أَوَّلُ المُسلِمينَ
Say: ‘Truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. No partner has He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit to His Will.’” [Quran 6:162-163]
Islam does not believe in wishful thinking. It clearly states that righteous conduct must be followed by belief in Allah. The Quran says (what means):
إِنَّ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ لَهُم أَجرٌ غَيرُ مَمنونٍ
“For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never (fail).” [Quran 41:8]
الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ طوبىٰ لَهُم وَحُسنُ مَآبٍ
And (what means):”Those who believe and work righteousness, joy is for them and a blissful place of (final) return.” [Quran 13:29]
Islam, as the revealed Religion from Allah, is comprehensive and perfect. Its Divine Book, the Quran, is the most comprehensive book available to mankind for guidance & nothing has been omitted from it.
It addresses every issue that concerns man in this life and in the Hereafter, Allah says:
وَنَزَّلنا عَلَيكَ الكِتابَ تِبيانًا لِكُلِّ شَيءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحمَةً وَبُشرىٰ لِلمُسلِمينَ
(And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) as an exposition (or clarification) of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims).) (16:89)
Whatever aspect of Shari’ah that has not been clarified in the first source of Islamic Law, which is the Qur’an, has been clarified in the second source of Islamic Law, which is the Sunnah. The Sunnah includes the Prophet’s utterances, actions and approvals provided that it has been narrated to us with a sound chain of narration. Allah says:
وَأَنزَلنا إِلَيكَ الذِّكرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنّاسِ ما نُزِّلَ إِلَيهِم وَلَعَلَّهُم يَتَفَكَّرونَ
(And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the reminder and the advice (the Qur’an) that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.) (16:44)
The Prophet said: ‘I have left you on a clear path, its night is like its day, and no one would stray from it except a person who would be destroyed.’ (Hakim)
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We all know the story of Adam (AS) and his wife, Eve. They both disobeyed Allah by eating the fruit which was specifically forbidden by Allah. They were then ordered to leave paradise and were sent to the earth. However, Allah Informed them of a very important message:
قُلنَا اهبِطوا مِنها جَميعًا ۖ فَإِمّا يَأتِيَنَّكُم مِنّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدايَ فَلا خَوفٌ عَلَيهِم وَلا هُم يَحزَنونَ
38. We said: “Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.
وَالَّذينَ كَفَروا وَكَذَّبوا بِآياتِنا أُولٰئِكَ أَصحابُ النّارِ ۖ هُم فيها خالِدونَ
39. But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever.
2: 38-39
As the descendants of Adam (AS), has Allah Provided us with Guidance?
Definitely yes:
ذٰلِكَ الكِتابُ لا رَيبَ ۛ فيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِلمُتَّقينَ
“This is the Book (the Qur’an), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun” 2: 2
لَقَد كانَ لَكُم في رَسولِ اللَّهِ أُسوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَن كانَ يَرجُو اللَّهَ وَاليَومَ الآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثيرًا
Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. 33: 21
قُل إِن كُنتُم تُحِبّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعوني يُحبِبكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغفِر لَكُم ذُنوبَكُم ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ
Say (O Muhammad SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” 3: 31
Allah is so Merciful that the Qur’an is revealed in stages:
Even with the various commands, it was revealed in stages:
The Qur’an is also revealed to persuade us to read, understand and ponder over the meanings. Allah could have directly stated, for e.g. no. 1 – no shirk, no. 2 – no alcohol, no. 3 – no riba, no 4 – no illegal fornication.. However, it is meant for us, who ARE GIVEN A FREE WILL to think and ponder. On cheatings and swindling – the stories of prophet Shu’aib and the nation of Madyan were repeatedly mentioned in various surah; for continuous disobedience, we have the children of Israel and prophet Musa (AS), for LGBT, we have prophet Lut (AS).
The content of the Qur’an is divided into 3 big parts:
We have also been informed very much in the Qur’an on the purpose of life and on accountability, and that we should strive hard before we meet Allah.
فَمَن كانَ يَرجو لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ فَليَعمَل عَمَلًا صالِحًا وَلا يُشرِك بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
Whether it is on
Everything has been explained clearly in the Qur’an and sunnah.
The prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) has provided us with sufficient examples on how to deal with our daily tasks in the hadith. In fact he explained very clearly in one of the last parts of his last sermon:
“Taroktu fiikum amroini lan tadilluu maa tamassaktum bihimaa kitabillaahi wasunnatinnabiyyih” – I am leaving you with 2 things – you will never be led astray if you cling on tighyl to them – His Book and the ways of the prophet.
Hence after the conquest of Makkah, when people are embracing Islam in droves, as revealed in surah an Nasr:
1. When comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (
2. And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islam) in crowds,
3. So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and forgives.
Surah 110
The things which will affect our ability to maintain complete following of Islam through the Qur’an and hadeeth are the following:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجعَل لَكُم فُرقانًا
One the main reasons why I decided to bring up this topic for today’s talk is that – THE MUSLIM WORLD IS IN A MESS. Even though we have 1.6 billion Muslims, the Qur’an and all hadeeth sources are now available FREE online – the Muslim world is in a mess –
All the above problems have been raised by Allah in the Qur’an. History always repeats itself. So, we cannot blame America, the West, etc for the mess that we are in right now. We have to blame ourselves and start to improve ourselves first by being grateful to Allah for completing the Deen and coming back to the Deen by taking the Qur’an and authentic hadeeths as our source of knowledge and practise the Deen from the correct source – the Qur.an and the hadeeth – NOT from our ancestors that may not have sufficient knowledge on the Deen.
Allah Warned us:
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
We really need to understand the Deen and not take it as a ritual. As it stands now, from BBC and other sources or media, women in Saudi Arabia are running away seeking asylum in non-Muslim countries. Islam MUST be taught differently from the previous generations – it needs to be understood and discussed so that the youth are able to Accept it as the religion of Truth. We ourselves need to understand that Islam is a way of life – NOT just restricted to our daily 5 times a day-prayers, or in the mosque, or in Ramadan. Islam must be understood as “complete submission to Allah”, without any single compromise in any part. BUT all these cannot be achieved without:
Many, many du’a has been taught by Allah and by our beloved prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam
Also, the ayat in surah 5 verse number 3 signifies that as Allah has completed the Deen, we must not invent new things. If we do so, we are implying:
Innovations of the Deen is one of the most favourite traps of Shayan
May Allah continue to Guide us in the path which will lead all of us to Jannatul Firdaus, Forgive our sins and shortcomings, Accept our deeds and Accept the Hajj of the pilgrims who are now gathering in the field of Arafah.
Therefore, before we end, the best du’a in this day of Arafah:
The Best Du’a to make on the Day of ’Arafah is the Du’a of our beloved Prophet (saw) who said:
’The best supplication is the supplication on the Day of ’Arafah and the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is:
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku walahul-hamdu wahuwa ’ala kuli shay-in qadeer
There is absolutely no god worthy of being worshipped except Allah, Alone, without any partner. To Him belongs the Kingdom, and all praise is due to Him, and He is Powerful over everything’. (Tirmidhi)
Let us al be very grateful to Allah for completing our Deen and for giving us the opportunity to enter Jannah.
TaqabalAllahu minna wa minkum. May Allah Accept from us and from you.
