Bedtime Ethics in Islam

Qur'an on Night Prayer

 

 

‘Remember the name of your Lord at dawn and in the evening; bow down before Him, and glorify Him at length by night’. (76: 26-27)

‘Proclaim His praise in the night’ (50:41)

 

‘Glorify Him at night and at the fading of the stars.’ (52: 50) 

 

‘Keep up the prayer at both ends of the day, and during parts of the night, for good things drive bad away– this is a reminder for those who are aware.’ (11: 115)

 

‘Celebrate the praise of your Lord, before the rising and setting of the sun, celebrate His praise during the night, and at the beginning and end of the day, so that you may find contentment.’ (20:131)

 

‘Night prayer makes a deeper impression and sharpens words–– you are kept busy for long periods of the day–– so celebrate the name of your Lord and devote yourself wholeheartedly to Him.’ (73:7-9)

 

‘And during the night wake up and pray, as an extra offering of your own, so that your Lord may raise you to a [highly] praised status.’ (17:80)

‘You Are Not A Muslim’

  

Sufyan Bin Abdullah related, “I said to the Messenger of Allah, ‘Tell me a statement on Islam such that I need ask no one else but you about it’. He told me, ‘Say, ‘I believe in God,’ and be upright.’ ”  

‘One who observes the same prayer as we do, faces the same direction in prayer as we do, and partakes from the animal slaughtered by us, then such a one is a Muslim concerning whom there is a Covenant of Allah and His Messenger: so you must not seek to hoodwink Allah in the matter of this Covenant.’  

'A believer is still within the scope of his religion as long as he does not shed forbidden blood....If anyone curses a believer, that is like murdering him; and if anyone accuses a believer of disbelief, that is like murdering him...A slanderer will not enter the Garden of Paradise’. 

 

‘People, We created you all from male and female, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another [like relatives from the same origin]. In God’s eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware’. (Holy Qur'an, 49: 14)

Lessons from Hazrat Ibrahim (as)

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah [Praise be to Allah, Praise be to Allah again], I continue on the subject of my Friday sermon from past weeks on the Messengers of Allah. Today, I come on the life story of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) – Abraham.

 

After Hazrat Nuh (as), there were several prophets who came in the footsteps of Hazrat Nuh (as), who consolidated and fulfilled the Book of Law that he received. Then, after a lapse of time when those teachings were falsified and lost, Allah raised Hazrat Ibrahim (as) as a prophet and messenger. Allah blessed him with His revelations and sent down His commandments upon him. And Allah mentions this in the Holy Quran where He says: “Indeed, this is found in the former scriptures, the scriptures of Abraham and Moses.” (Al-A’la 87:19-20)

Adam's Sons: Habil and Qabil

 

God's messengers and Man's free-will

 
'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue my sermon on the Messengers of Allah and the struggle between good and evil.

 

From the Islamic perspective, all prophets and messengers of Allah deserve the respect and love of believers. When Allah established Adam (as) on earth, He granted him a wife from his own being, of his own quality and essence, to bring forth a new generation of humans. These humans have free will, with the choice to choose their path: either they choose the right path and gain divine love, or they become companions of the Satan and burn with him in Hell.

Prophets and Divine Love

 

The Messengers of Allah 

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I resume my sermon on the subject I discussed last week regarding the creation of Adam (as).

 

So, we see that just as the angels submitted to the will of Allah when He created Adam (as), and accepted His will as His law without finding within themselves the idea to revolt against Allah’s will, and where they [i.e. not just the messengers but the angels as well] said: ‘We have heard and obey,’ similarly, all souls, even before the creation of Adam (as), whom Allah had decreed to send to earth, all of them – including us – submitted to Allah’s will when Allah decreed our coming into this world, and where He placed us among the descendants of our ancestor Adam (as) who contained within him the divine essence. Therefore, the human race also bore witness that we would be obedient to Allah and submit to His will. We must be very aware that all prophets and messengers are also included, because we too (the Messengers) must believe in the Messengers who came before us. We have the duty to confirm the coming of the prophets and messengers before us, and we also announce the coming of the prophets after us, until the final limit of the end of the world where it is in Allah’s decision to destroy the earth and create other creations, because nothing is impossible in His power.

God's Prophets

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.” (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah has done a great favour to mankind, and in the past to every nation of the world, whereby sometimes He sends one, two or sometimes even four prophets at the same time with the same message, i.e., to preach: “Laa Ilaaha Illallah” (There is no one to worship but Allah).

 

Even today, Allah continues to pour down His favours and has chosen you, in this century to witness the advent of one of His Elects and Messengers, this humble servant to show and guide you to Allah, and to manifest such positives changes in you to enable you to see the divine light.

Qur’an and Spiritual Life

  

‘Indeed the Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.’  [17:9]

‘We send the Qur’an as healing and mercy for those who believe’ (17:82)

‘One who recites the Qur’an is like a citron, whose flavour is good and whose scent is good. One who does not recite the Qur’an is like a date, whose flavour is good but which has no scent. An immoral person who recites the Qur’an is like basil, whose scent is good but whose taste is bitter. And an immoral person who does not recite the Qur’an is like the colocynth, whose taste is bitter and which has no scent.’ 

                                - Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)

 

 

On Monday 12 August 2024, in a special ‘Question and Answer’ session with Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba), a bunch of Muslim students from the University of Mauritius had the chance of a lifetime to seek spiritual guidance from the Shiekh-ul-Islam of this era, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

 

Reproduced below is a summary of the responses given by Hazrat Saheb (aba) to the questions that were raised on the occasion:

On Touching Hearts

 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 24

            Make Duah

 

Even if it is a whisper, Allah hears it:

 

‘Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it. And He knows that which is in the heavens and that which is on the earth.’ (3:30)

*******************

Wisdom of the Holy Prophet (sa):

 

 

"God the Most High said: 'O Son of Adam, as long as you call on Me and place your hope in Me, I forgive you what you have done, no matter how much. Son of Adam, even of your sins pile up to the clouds in the sky, if you then call on Me for forgiveness I will forgive you. Son of Adam, if you come to Me with an earth full of sins, yet you meet Me without associating anything with Me,  I will come to you with that much forgiveness'. " 

****************** 

 

A man came to the Holy Prophet (sa) and said, 

'O Messenger of Allah, indicate to me an action whereby 

when I do so Allah loves me and people like me'  

The Holy Prophet (sa) said: 

'Be disinterested in the world, and Allah will love you. 

Be disinterested in what people have, and people will like you'   

 

******************* 

Lessons from Nuh (as)

The Messengers of Allah

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.' (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

All the prophets who preceded Muhammad (pbuh) were sent with a message of warning and guidance to a particular people. None of their messages was intended to be universal, including that of Jesus [Isa (as)], who was commissioned by Allah specifically as a prophet to the Children of Israel, Israel being another name given to Jacob [Yaqub (as)], until there came the last law-bearing prophet and messenger, i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) who was entrusted with the final and complete set of Allah’s laws as guidance for the whole of humanity for all times to come. So, who were some of those prophets of Allah?

‘Trust Allah in Trials of Life’

 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 23

 

‘The testing of a believer, male or female,

In respect to one’s person, children, and property

Will not cease until one meets Allah the Exalted

 Unburdened by any sin’ 

*****

 

‘When Allah wants good for a mortal

Allah hastens affliction in this world;

And when Allah wants ill for a mortal,

Allah leaves him be with his sin

Until his soul is taken

on the Day of Resurrection’

 

*****

 

‘Be mindful of Allah,

And you will find Allah in front of you.

Acknowledge Allah in ease,

And Allah will acknowledge you in distress.

And know that what misleads you 

will never enable you to do right,

And what enables you do right 

will never mislead you.

And know that help comes with patience,

And that relief comes with distress;

And that with difficulty comes ease.’

 

*********

‘Being Fair in Family Relations’

  

‘Truly many intimate partners/close associates transgress against one another, save those who believe and perform righteous deeds. And yet, how few are they!’ (Holy Qur’an, 38:25)

'The just will be on platforms of light in the presence of God; those who are just in their decisions, with their families, and with what they are in charge of.' --Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). 

 

The structure of a Muslim family, in general, at the minimum, involves the husband and wife, their children and their parents. Within this basic social unit, the dynamics of family/household relations can test the best of men and women, especially when mother-in law and the daughter-in law in the family do not get along well. With different temperaments and inclinations, preferences and prejudices; conditions and circumstances emerge on aspects of everyday life whereby differences of opinion lead to conflictual positions.  If not handled with care with wisdom respecting the emotions of all involved in a fair way in quick time [before the hardening of feelings among the persons concerned]; inexorably and inevitably, the issues can lead to simmering tensions, even domestic abuse and violence. And when the discord becomes irreconcilable, the very breaking up of family relations ensue- as it happens these days with so many families in our societies.

An anecdote from early Muslim history suggests that during the time of the second caliph Hazrat Umar (ra), he apparently wrote to his governors saying: ‘Tell relatives to visit one another, and not to live next to one another.’ Commenting on Hazrat ‘Umar’s words, Imam Al-Ghazzali said:  ‘He said that because living next to one another may lead to conflicts and may lead to alienation and severing of ties.’ [Ihya’ ‘Uloom al-Deen (2/216)]. According to another saintly figure in Islam, ‘If you live further away from one another you will have greater love for one another.’ 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 22

                         

       Every morning

Allah says:

One more time,

Live life, be kind;

Make a difference;

Touch one heart,

Encourage one mind,

Inspire one soul,

And bless everyone.

**************

 

Always Choose

To heal, not to hurt;

To forgive, not to despise;

To persevere, not to quit;

To smile, not to frown;

And to love, not to hate.

*************

Signs of True Muslims

 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 21

Islamic teachings empower individuals in their everyday lives. Divine commands in the Holy Qur’an guide our souls and minds to distinguish between what is right and wrong so as to truly prosper through a God-centric life of pure devotion, clean habits, justice-orientation, and spirit of kinship and service to all humanity. If we hold true Faith and sincere allegiance to the Way of Life practiced by the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), it will enable us to form personal habits and preferences that will reflect the true wisdom of the same values he preached. When we embrace Islam in our inner temperament and behaviour, we will be intuitively guided to good deeds and productive habits; we will also move away from frivolity and wastage and bad habits, and truly prioritize that which will benefit the individual person, her family and friends and the society at large, both in this world and in the world to come, Insha Allah.

*****************

 

‘The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace’; those who spend the night bowed down or standing, worshipping their Lord, who plead, ‘Our Lord, turn away from us the suffering of Hell, for it is a dreadful torment to suffer! It is an evil home, a foul resting place!’

 

They are those who are neither wasteful nor niggardly when they spend, but keep to a just balance; those who never invoke any other deity beside God, nor take a life, which God has made sacred, except in the pursuit of justice, nor commit adultery.

'Khilafat' After A Prophet

 

Khilafat is a Sunnat Allah. According to Islamic teachings, and historic evidences of enduring Divine practice ['Sunnat Allah'], a Prophet of God is usually succeeded by a system of 'Khilafat' among the believers who followed in the footsteps of that elect of God. Since the traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa) also acknowledges prophets of the past without any large body of disciples and followers in their times, how the mission of God as represented by the Messenger is continued in a new era after the Prophet's times is indeed a matter of Divine Plan and related decisions. In the aftermath of a question received by a member of our Jamaat on prophethood and Khilafat, Hazrat Imam Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius has advised his disciples to bear in mind that Allah’s works and plans are always perfect. People may not understand a matter but that Allah has the perfect reply for it.

 

Reproduced below is the Question raised to, and the Response offered by Hazrat Saheb (aba): 

The Question is as thus: Huzur, there is a Hadith which states that: 'There had not been any prophethood which was not succeeded by Khilafat' (Kanz al-Ummal, Hadith 32246)

 

But in another long Hadith it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said: 'Nations were displayed before me, one or two prophets would pass by along with a few followers. A prophet would pass by accompanied by nobody…' (Bukhari)

 

The question here is that if a prophet had no follower, how could he be succeeded by Khilafat?

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 20

 

 

Nothing lasts forever,

So be patient.

Darkness is only temporary,

and you will find the light again.

**************

 

‘Heart is not a basket

for keeping tension and sadness.

It is a golden box

for keeping roses of happiness

and sweet memories.’

*********

 

Life is too short for constant stress.

The only person you can control is you.

So, count your blessings,

value the people who love you,

make the most of each day,

and let go of the stress.

************