I believe that if we begin to understand worship then we will undergo a paradigm shift which will change the face of Islam.
Worship in Islam
This is a continuation of my Khutba given last month. Just to remind you that Khutba was based on Verse 151 from Sura Anam.The subject of the Khutba today is worship and what is the meaning of worship. I believe that if we begin to understand worship then we will undergo a paradigm shift which will change the face of Islam.
Worship includes
Pre worship
Niyat
Preparation for worship
Worship
In other words worship means
Having the intention to worship
Having the right attitude
Being in a state of readiness,
Being in a state of preparedness.
Qur'an 3:191-195 Surah Ale-'Imran (The Family of 'Imran)Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth (with the thought): "Our Lord! thou hast not created (all) this for nothing!
Prayer alone is not worship but in saying our prayers we go through all the processes of worship,
The Wudhu, having clean clothes and a suitable place, is the preparation for worship.
The intention before the prayer is the Niyat
The prayer itself is bringing yourself into a state of preparedness , ridding yourself of worldliness.
When you raise your hands to Thank Allah, to seek his Forgiveness, to ask for his support and guidance that is worship.
Or is it?
If you believe in the 5 Pillars of Islam and then cheat and lie and slander, then you have been unable to build the right attitude. You have gone through the motions but have not gained any benefit from them. Observance of your duties to Allah are of no benefit to Allah. They are intended to prepare you for worship. They alone are not worship.
When you do wudhu, you are preparing for worship but by itself it is not worship combined with prayer, it takes on another meaning which is different from cleaning your hands and washing your face. Listening to a Khutba as a part of Juma Prayers takes on a different meaning then listening to a speech.
When you recite the kalimah, you are expressing belief. This belief then comes with its own obligations.
Not doing something is as much worship as doing something. Let me now remind you of Verse 151 from Sura An Aam.
6:151 Say: "Come, let me convey unto you what God has [really] forbidden to you: "Do not ascribe divinity, in any way, to aught beside Him; and [do not offend against but, rather,] do good unto your parents; [146] and do not kill your children for fear of poverty - [for] it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them; [147] and do not commit any shameful deeds, be they open or secret; and do not take any human being's life-[the life] which God has declared to be sacred -otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice: this has He enjoined upon you so that you might use your reason; [148]
The language here is one of abstinence rather than of doing something.
The purpose of life is to worship God.
Topics discussed in this Verse: [Unseen:belief in]
2. The Quran says, "This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt,"
1. for those who fear Allah.
2. Who believe in the Unseen,
3. are steadfast in prayer,
4. and spend out of what We have provided for them;
5. And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time,
6. and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.
.
Just as Wudhu prepares us for prayers, prayer and fasting bring about the right attitude and puts us in the right frame of mind. It is just like going to school. School is not life but it is preparing you for life. It is not just giving you knowledge, it is teaching you how to think.
Similarly Niyat is the essence of worship.
Worship is preceded by Belief. Belief in the oneness of God. The preamble of Worship is therefore Belief in one God.
The 5 Pillars, the 6 Aqueeda, other attributes of righteousness all become part of worship.
This is the paradigm shift that I was talking about. When the Quresh worshipped idols, they did it because their fathers and forefathers did it. They built a whole system around the worship of Idols and believed in it as their way of life. Their treatment of women, their concept of morality, their practice of trade was all built around their inheritance.
When the Prophet came and said that this was not how it was supposed to be, it was difficult for them to embrace an idea that would wreck the life that they were comfortable with, forever.
But for those who could see the wisdom of his teachings, it was a whole different way of looking at things and it created a revolution. The first converts to Islam were not the vested interests but poor people and slaves. The Islam that we see today is the Islam of vested interests.
For the Literalists it is the rituals for the Intellectuals it is the spirit. Neither of them is right about giving preference of one over the other.
The paradigm shift for Islam today, is the way we define worship. Observing the 5 Pillars, if it is preparing for worship, then it is only, a part of Islam. The question I want to leave you with is, are we practicing or focusing on practicing a part of Islam or are we ready to become full Muslims.
Khusro
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Code of conduct
Khutba Anaam sura 6 verse 82 . Also verses 151, 152 and 153.
6:82 Those who have attained to faith, and who have not obscured their faith by wrongdoing-it is they who shall be secure, since it is they who have found the right path!"
Life is not difficult . This is not an onerous responsibility. What is onerous is the handicap that we develop every time we shirk this responsibility. Every time we do a good deed the next one becomes easier. Every time we do a bad deed, the next one becomes easier. It is a self regulating mechanism where you can play the game of life as an advanced player or as a handicapped player.
It is like walking on a treadmill, each time you do something wrong, the incline becomes steeper. Each time you do something good, the incline is reduced.
When you are on life’s journey, it is not the eyes that show you the path, but the heart. If the heart is not clean, you will not know if you are going on the right path.
The code of conduct is simple. In addition to the 5 pillars of Islam there are another 8 points which are easy to follow.
1. Belief in one God
Worship none but Allah.
2. Do good to your Parents.
According to Hadith the following were always mentioned by the prophet as being amongst the most sinful things.
a. Joining others with God.
b. Disobeying parents.
c. Bearing false testimony.
3. Be not afraid of having children. Do not kill children for any reason what so ever.
It is God’s promise that He will provide for us and provide for our children.
I know of many families that have 9 children and 11 children. All of them have done well in life. *
4. Avoid shameful deeds, even in secret.
5. Do not take another Human life, other than in pursuit of justice.
6. Do not touch the property of an orphan except to fulfill your Fiduciary duties to him or her.
7. Do not cheat in the matter of giving account for measures and weights.
8. Do not demand of people more than they are able to bear.
It is God's promise I have exercised some discretion in listing it for humans. For humans it is applicable in a different way. It is almost incumbent on us to raise the capacity of others by providing them guidance and training. God will surely judge us or those of us who have been given this ability to be teachers and mentors to others specially those who are in our trust. Our children, our spouses, our grandchildren, our servants, or others who serve us. How can we ever repay them for the companionship that they provide and the meaning that they give to our lives. Money is no compensation if we have the capacity to give to them of ourselves.
9. Be just in expressing your opinion even if it goes against your next or near of kin.
10. Observe your duties to God.
Duties to God are just 10% of the code of conduct.
How many of us practice even 50% of what is required. How many of us have given in to weakness and need to clean their hearts. Test yourself against each of these points and find out.
The tests are simple. For example respecting our parents and caring for our children define a Muslim but most people respect their parents and care for their children. It is only when put to a test that we find out if this is just lip service or for real. Our parents are our link to wisdom, the wisdom of another world. Our children are our links to change and of a future world. It is not a duty that we shirk by not giving them importance, we ignore them at our own peril.
Bibliography
6:151 Say: "Come, let me convey unto you what God has [really] forbidden to you: "Do not ascribe divinity, in any way, to aught beside Him; and [do not offend against but, rather,] do good unto your parents; [146] and do not kill your children for fear of poverty - [for] it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them; [147] and do not commit any shameful deeds, be they open or secret; and do not take any human being's life-[the life] which God has declared to be sacred -otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice: this has He enjoined upon you so that you might use your reason; [148]
6:152 and do not touch the substance of an orphan - save to improve it-before he comes of age." [149] And [in all your dealings] give full measure and weight, [150] with equity: [however,] We do not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear; [151] and when you voice an opinion, be just, even though it be [against] one near of kin. [152] And [always] observe your bond with God: [153] this has He enjoined upon you, so that you might keep it in mind.
6:153 And [know] that this is the way leading straight unto Me: follow it, then, and follow not other ways, lest they cause you to deviate [154] from His way. [All] this has He enjoined upon you, so that you might remain conscious of Him.
6:82 Those who have attained to faith, and who have not obscured their faith by wrongdoing-it is they who shall be secure, since it is they who have found the right path!"
Life is not difficult . This is not an onerous responsibility. What is onerous is the handicap that we develop every time we shirk this responsibility. Every time we do a good deed the next one becomes easier. Every time we do a bad deed, the next one becomes easier. It is a self regulating mechanism where you can play the game of life as an advanced player or as a handicapped player.
It is like walking on a treadmill, each time you do something wrong, the incline becomes steeper. Each time you do something good, the incline is reduced.
When you are on life’s journey, it is not the eyes that show you the path, but the heart. If the heart is not clean, you will not know if you are going on the right path.
The code of conduct is simple. In addition to the 5 pillars of Islam there are another 8 points which are easy to follow.
1. Belief in one God
Worship none but Allah.
2. Do good to your Parents.
According to Hadith the following were always mentioned by the prophet as being amongst the most sinful things.
a. Joining others with God.
b. Disobeying parents.
c. Bearing false testimony.
3. Be not afraid of having children. Do not kill children for any reason what so ever.
It is God’s promise that He will provide for us and provide for our children.
I know of many families that have 9 children and 11 children. All of them have done well in life. *
4. Avoid shameful deeds, even in secret.
5. Do not take another Human life, other than in pursuit of justice.
6. Do not touch the property of an orphan except to fulfill your Fiduciary duties to him or her.
7. Do not cheat in the matter of giving account for measures and weights.
8. Do not demand of people more than they are able to bear.
It is God's promise I have exercised some discretion in listing it for humans. For humans it is applicable in a different way. It is almost incumbent on us to raise the capacity of others by providing them guidance and training. God will surely judge us or those of us who have been given this ability to be teachers and mentors to others specially those who are in our trust. Our children, our spouses, our grandchildren, our servants, or others who serve us. How can we ever repay them for the companionship that they provide and the meaning that they give to our lives. Money is no compensation if we have the capacity to give to them of ourselves.
9. Be just in expressing your opinion even if it goes against your next or near of kin.
10. Observe your duties to God.
Duties to God are just 10% of the code of conduct.
How many of us practice even 50% of what is required. How many of us have given in to weakness and need to clean their hearts. Test yourself against each of these points and find out.
The tests are simple. For example respecting our parents and caring for our children define a Muslim but most people respect their parents and care for their children. It is only when put to a test that we find out if this is just lip service or for real. Our parents are our link to wisdom, the wisdom of another world. Our children are our links to change and of a future world. It is not a duty that we shirk by not giving them importance, we ignore them at our own peril.
Bibliography
6:151 Say: "Come, let me convey unto you what God has [really] forbidden to you: "Do not ascribe divinity, in any way, to aught beside Him; and [do not offend against but, rather,] do good unto your parents; [146] and do not kill your children for fear of poverty - [for] it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them; [147] and do not commit any shameful deeds, be they open or secret; and do not take any human being's life-[the life] which God has declared to be sacred -otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice: this has He enjoined upon you so that you might use your reason; [148]
6:152 and do not touch the substance of an orphan - save to improve it-before he comes of age." [149] And [in all your dealings] give full measure and weight, [150] with equity: [however,] We do not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear; [151] and when you voice an opinion, be just, even though it be [against] one near of kin. [152] And [always] observe your bond with God: [153] this has He enjoined upon you, so that you might keep it in mind.
6:153 And [know] that this is the way leading straight unto Me: follow it, then, and follow not other ways, lest they cause you to deviate [154] from His way. [All] this has He enjoined upon you, so that you might remain conscious of Him.
*
"and do not kill your children for fear of poverty - [for] it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them; " 6.151
This verse was revealed to discourage the practice of killing children at birth even burying them alive, either because they were girls or because the family was too poor. In the modern context people have abortions or do family planning. In India many people have abortions when they find out that the fetus is female. I have discussed this verse in the modern context.
Without meaning to discourage family planning, I am focussing on the second part of the verse which says," it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them."
This does not mean that Allah expects people to sit around and wait for the sustenance to decend from Heaven. It does mean that if you look around for sustenance, you are guaranteed to find it. God helps those who help themselves.
Similarly poverty alone is no reason to have fewer children, if what you want is more children. In the affluent countries people have fewer children not because of poverty but because they want to maintain a certain standard of life. Absent from this thinking is that their own livelihood is ultimately provided by Allah. We tend to believe that our wealth and success results from our hard work and intelligence and take God out of the equation altogether. Submitting to God means that you cannot take him out of the equation.
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