And remind..
“And remind, for reminder benefits the believers”
I read something sent to me by my dearest sister in Islaam, and it had a tear-jerking impact on me. May Allaah bless her soul, Ameen.
How many times do we take our lives, our families, work and the places we live in for granted..? When was the last time we truly paused and thanked Allaah for all His favours and blessings on us and held ourselves accountable to see where we stand..?
Who are the blessed people on the face of this earth right now..? It is them who are giving every inch of their lives in the path of Allaah, calling people to embrace Islaam as a way of their live sincerely. With true faith and passion. Islaam is not an on and off custom, it is not a part of our culture nor is it a fad. It’s a complete way of life that encompasses everything from our days to our nights, from ourselves to our families and communities.. It is a global religion.
A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. We all are brothers and sisters for the sake of Allaah, and we each have a share in each other’s happiness’ and sorrows. This bond has been put in its place by Allaah, and Wallahi it’s not something easy to achieve. Allaah told His Messenger in the Quran that
لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعاً مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ
(If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts.)
But rather
وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
(But Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.)
So how could it be among those things that we take for granted..? We should thank Allaah for all His blessings and favours on us before it’s too late for us to either thank Him or seek His forgiveness for our shortcomings and failings.
Cheaters are Oppressors
Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam said: “He who cheats does not belong to us” (Sahih Muslim)
Why does Islaam take such a strong stance against cheating? What are its consequences? Is there any benefit in it? Why do people cheat?
Simple, it usurps the rights of others! The one who uses deceptive tactics to get ahead actually harms the one who truly deserves the praise for his hard work he did, the time he put in, and the effort and dedication he showed. Cheaters may gain a short-term benefit, but in the long run, they will never be the champions, and certainly not so in the sight of Allaah, because He is All-Aware of what each and every single person among us does.
Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).
Surah Qaaf
That’s just about the utterances, so what about the despicable act of putting it down in the writing to get a better grade or when helping a friend because he/she couldn’t have done any better than to ask you for the answers to the questions they can’t figure out a solution during the exam? Both of them have partaken in this sin, and both shall carry the burden. What about the onlookers who know what’s going on? They are classified as silent oppressors and also have a share in this deceitful deed. Unless of course, someone speaks out. Don’t be a witness to oppression, if your brother commits a sin, admonish him silently, but if he persists, then take stern action against him but do NOT jeer at him or call him names; you have to uphold the standards of da’wah even at such times and deal patiently and wisely.
Since nothing is purely evil, cheating may give the people involved a better grade and a nice overall GPA, and all the splendid surprises that come along with that.. But in the sight of Allaah, and in his heart, the person knows the truth and his conscience shall never let him get away with this. If anyone earns a degree by being dishonest, whatever he earns by using that degree will be haraam! Imagine building a house on shaky grounds that is bound to collapse on it’s builder at anytime whilst he was hoping to live in it peacefully. For How Long?
Won’t there come a time when we all shall be standing in front of Allaah Subhanahu Wa ta’ala and be held accountable for our deeds, and nothing as small as a grain will escape the scale of justice.. What will we do then? Who will come to our aid and save us from the torment? Haven’t we been warned enough? What will make us take heed before it’s too late? What will deter a believer from committing this abhorrent crime? (And by the way, a believer is not a believer at the time of committing such a loathsome deed). Doesn’t he know that the Messenger of Allaah SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam out-casted such a person from being among the believers? Is your 5 or 10 marks question worth being abandoned by the Messenger of Allaah!?
It cannot be re-iterated enough that cheaters never succeed. Such an act will even cause the invocations (Dua) of the person to be rejected and lose all the barakah in this life. Is it really worth it?
A person will not move his feet from his place on the Day of Judgement till he answers what he has been held accountable for. Three people will be involved in the case of a cheater..
*His parents, the ones whose duty it was to look after their offsprings.. They will be asked whether they instilled the qualities of a righteous believer in their child, and whether or not their child was taught about the halal and haram of Islaam? These parents shall be brought into account and punished for not raising their children on the correct Islamic beliefs.
**His teachers and mentors, the ones who will be questioned about every penny they earned and whether they give education it’s due right with the right attitude. And how well they took care of the Muslim students. Scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, if they cannot take care of what they have been entrusted with, then they have cheated the waseeyah (will) of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllaahu Alaihe WaSallam.
***The students, the ones who have forgotten that Allaah is Always Aware of what they do, and cheat left and right as if their actions are not being put on record.
Imagine that a faction of cheaters enters into the field of engineering, medical, Islamic education, and other faculties. Shaytan will be their guide, cheating is his religion, and destruction is their fate.
Verily the disbelieving nations have instilled qualities of nationalism in their children, who grow up obeying the rules of their government. Isn’t the Muslim Ummah more eligible in that sense to follow the rule of Allaah that has been sent down for them?!
If you hadn’t prepared well for the exams, inform the relevant authorities about it. It wouldn’t cost you anything but courage and honesty. And it does not matter what the actual reason was behind this plight of yours. Do better next time, plan and prepare ahead of time, do whatever it takes to achieve a better result and work hard. But don’t cheat.
It’d be better to fail than get ahead unfairly because it kills the whole purpose of exams i.e. to distinguish the average student from the excellent one by putting their knowledge to test. Remember, by cheating you are in reality taking away the rights of your brother/sister in Islaam who truly deserves rewards of their hard-earned work which will make you very detestable in the sight of Allaah.
If you have cheated in exams or helped someone cheat, turn to Allaah with a sincerely remorseful heart and seek His forgiveness before the doors of Repentance are closed in your face.
It is incumbent upon every Muslim to take care of what he has been entrusted with.
Allaah loves those who are honest.
May Allaah bless this Ummah with Emaan that will never wane and protect us all from the deplorable acts of cheating, deceit and dishonesty, Ameen.
Gain Strength from Salaah
“Guard strictly your prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).”(Surah Al-Baqarah: 238)
When Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala spoke directly to Moses Alaihe Salam, He said:”And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance.” (Taha 13-14)
Also, the prayers were made obligatory upon this Ummah during the miraculous journey of Prophet Muhammad SallaAllahu Alaihe WaSallam during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, Allaah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala describes the qualities of a successful believer as follows in one of the noble chapters of Qura’an:Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salât with all solemnity and full submissiveness.( Surah Al-Mu’minoon 1-2)
And then, the first matter than a person shall be asked about on the Day of Judgement is his Salah, his prayers.
Aren’t these signs enough for you Ya Abd-Allaah!? (Slave of Allaah)
The most important aspect of a believer’s life is his relationship with his Lord. This relationship can be enhanced and strengthened by improving the conditions of our Salah. The Salah that will increase us in God-consciousness (taqwa of Allaah), sincerity (ikhlaas) is the one that will benefit us.
Salah isn’t something that came into existence with Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam; the earlier prophets prayed in some similar ways. The Muslims are the only nation who pray in accordance to the the way their Prophet taught them; Jews and Christians do not pray as their prophets used to.
Adding a gem from one of my previous blog..
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
(5. You we worship, and You we ask for help from.) The first part is a declaration of innocence from Shirk (polytheism), while the second negates having any power or strength, displaying the recognition that all affairs are controlled by Allah alone. This meaning is reiterated in various instances in the Qur’an. For instance, Allah said,
So we Muslims declare ourselves free of polytheism in every Rak’ah. Well and good. If your Salaah is set, then everything is fine, and if not, then it’s calling for trouble in this world and the next. ALSO, make sure you don’t steal from your prayers. How does that happen?
Here’s how
The Messenger of Allaah Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam said that “The worst thief among men is the one who steals from his prayer.” When his companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his prayer?”, he replied, “He does not complete its rukoo (bowing) and sujood (prostration).” (Sahih Hadith)
If you perform your Salah properly, it will have a lasting effect on you. The proof for this is mentioned in the Quran:”Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…” (al-Maarij 19-23)The more we do something, the better we get at it.. Could the same be applied to our Salah? Has your Salah today been better than say a year ago?
Everyday you have an opportunity to become better and turn to Allaah in humility and complete submission.
“And your Lord says, Call on Me and I will and I will answer your prayer..” (Surah Ghaafir:60)
Spread the authentic knowledge
The Prophet of Allaah Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam said, “Convey from me, even one it’s verse.” [al-Bukhaari]
You don’t have to attain a scholar’s degree to do that.
Did you learn something new at an Islamic halaqah today? Share it with your family and friends those who were not present with you in that class.
Did you come across something interesting in the Seerah of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam or his Companions RadhiAllahu ‘Anhum? Highlight it, put it on your gem board or blog so people can benefit from it as well.
Remember though:
“Invite to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.” [Surah an-Nahl:125]
One has to start off with patience and a good character to deliver the message. Lack of manners turns people off from the message that’s being delivered, and if you top it off with lack of knowledge then that’s the perfect recipe for the widespread corruption we are witnessing in our times.
So make sure that the knowledge you are passing on is authentic, and not a fictional super-human ideology that’d make the affairs of this Deen appear to be cumbersome on the normal individuals of this society.
And the reward for doing so?
“Whoever guides (another person) to a good deed will get a reward similar to the one who performs it.” [Saheeh Muslim]
Hence call the people to follow the teachings of Islaam and teach them what you learn from the Qura’an or the ahadeeth of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam.
“And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah and does righteous deeds, and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims.’” [ Surah Fussilat:33]
