40 Hadith: Lesson 6

Sunday 28th Oct 2018

Lesson 6: Hadith 2 (Part 6 and 7)

• We started Hadith 2 in lesson 4;
• • Also on the authority of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close by the Prophet (ﷺ) rested his knees against the knees of the Prophet (ﷺ) and placed his palms over his thighs, and said: “O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (ﷺ), that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it).” He said: “You have spoken the truth.” We were astonished at his thus questioning him (ﷺ) and then telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, “Inform me about Iman (faith).” He (the Prophet) answered, “It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” Then he (the man) said, “Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Prophet) answered, “It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.” He said, “Inform me about the Hour.” He (the Prophet) said, “About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner.” So he said, “Then, inform me about its signs.” He said, “They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings.” Thereupon the man went off. I waited a while, and then he (the Prophet) said, “O `Umar, do you know who that questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He said, “That was Jibreel. He came to teach you your religion.” [Muslim]
• Recap of lesson 5 (parts 3-5)
  • The mannerisms of Jibra’eel (may peace be upon him) in asking questions
  • Islam and Eemaan
  • The Pillars of Islam
  • The shahaadah and its pillars
  • Obeying the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and loving him more than one’s parents and all of mankind

Part 6: The statement of Jibra’eel “You have spoken the truth”

• The companions were amazed by this saying? why?

Part 7: The Pillars of Eemaan (belief)

• • Jibra’eel asked “Inform me about Iman (faith).” He (the Prophet) answered, “It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects.”
  • The first pillar of Eemaan is belief in Allah, why? Because it is the most important aspect of Eemaan and everything else branches from it
    • All the other pillars are connected to Allah, e.g. “his angels”, “his books” etc
• Belief in Allah consists of 4 matters
• • • Belief in the existence of Allah
      • This is established by the four matters
• 1. Fitrah (innate and natural human inclination).
• • • • • • This is something which every single human being will admit except for those who are arrogant. Belief in Allah is something which is the default human inclination.
          • Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that it is known by necessity that for an occurrence to occur without having existed at one point, then it is necessary that a doer must have brought it into existence, this is something known by everyone by necessity, even the young infant if he/she is harmed then his natural impulse is that this occurrence had a cause.
          • Even the most ardent of atheists cannot deny this innate sense that we have a maker when we look at the beauty and complexity of the world we live in, however their layers of arrogance conceals this.
          • The presence of the fitrah can also be seen in how we have a sense of morals
• 2. Intellect and reasoning
• • • • • • Allah says: “Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators?” [Surah At-Toor (The Mount) verse 35]
          • If we examine the two possibilities given in the verse, then we cannot accept that we just came from nothing or that the world came about from nothing. Neither can we accept that we created ourselves or that the universe created itself.
          • Therefore we are left with only one option left, that is that we have creator.
          • The perfection and complexity of Allah’s creation shows his exact measurements, care and mercy upon his creation.
          • The tools to be guided are indeed available to everyone
• 3. Perception and experience
• • • • • • We experience various things which can only be explained by the existence of Allah
          • For example, when someone makes a supplication (dua) or performs the rain prayer etc and it is answered this is no doubt a sign that Allah answered their dua and not just a random occurrence
          • How many people have been told by their doctors that a patient would not survive or improve yet they do survive and do improve beyond any expectation, when we see this in our life it is indeed a sign of Allah
• 4. The religion and what the Prophet (ﷺ) taught
• • • • • The Prophets and Messengers came to their people to confirm to them what was already in their fitrah
        • The Prophets and messengers ordered us to believe in Allah, give thanks to him and not disobey him.
        • All of these prophets and messengers never abandoned they call despite severe trials and tribulations. They never abandoned their calling to Allah when offered wealth, land or anything they wanted, instead they stayed firm upon their call despite all of the difficulties they faced.
• NOTE: Part 7 is a very detailed part which we will continue next lesson insha Allah