Friday, February 29, 2008
'THIS religion is nasihah," said the Prophet of Allah Muhammad, may peace and blessing be upon him. In Malay, the term nasihat means advice, but the following hadith refers to a much wider meaning.
On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari that the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessing be upon, said: "Religion is nasihah." We said: "To whom?" The Prophet said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk." (narrated Muslim)
The word "nasihah" cannot be accurately translated to English because it is a broad concept which cannot be traced in the English language.
Some use the term "sincerity" but this is only part of the concept — to negate deception/cheating.
According to Imam Ibnu al-Salah, nasihah is "truly seeking the best, in terms of intention and action, for the one whom he is making nasihah to".
This hadith is a profound statement as Sheikh Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo says that in this one brief statement the Prophet described the essence of Islam.
Nasihah hence forms the bulk and the most important pillar of Islam since it encompasses Islam, Iman and Ihsan.
Nasihah to Allah
The nasihah should be to Allah first. This includes the fulfilment of the obligations in the best way possible (Ihsan).This should be the goal for every Muslim.
This also includes striving to get as close to Allah as possible by doing not only the obligations but also the preferable good deeds, by forbidding the forbidden and avoiding the disliked acts. Nasihah to Allah also involves: believing in Allah and denying any partners with Him.
Believing in His attributes. Obeying Him. Fulfilling His commands and abstaining from what He has forbidden. Doing what is best to remember Him, under all circumstances. Loving whatever He loves and hating whatever He hates, be it objects, persons, actions, sayings, etc.
Recognising the blessings He has bestowed upon us and properly thanking Him for these blessings.
To do nasihah to Allah one should have the correct intention in one's heart to fulfil the rights of Allah, even when one is excused and it is beyond one's ability to perform these obligations.
Honesty is also another aspect of this great concept. In whatever we do we should always be honest with Allah, similarly with ikhlas (sincerity). In fact ikhlas should be the first thing that a Muslim should attain when we talk about nasihah to Allah.
Nasihah to His Book
This includes: Believing that the Quran is from Allah, that it is the Word of Allah and that it is not like the word of man.
According to one's ability, to read and recite the Quran and to practice it.
To study it's admonitions, lessons and parables.
Calling others to believe in the Quran.
To defend and protect it from any kind of distortion or misinterpretation.
Defending the Quran against false claims made against it.
Having proper respect and treating the Quran in a proper manner — eg to be careful not to throw away a piece of paper which has an ayat printed on it (magazine article, etc.) as it may be stepped on — we should also be aware if we see such a piece of paper on the ground to pick it up and keep it away safely or destroy it by burning it so that it is not subject to disrespect.
Nasihah to His Messenger
This includes: Believing the Prophet's message. Believing in all that he brought as being divinely inspired.
Loving him more than we love ourselves and our families — it is the second level of love after the love of Allah.
Our love for him should lead to other obligations like obeying him. Helping him and defending him (for those who were alive during his time) — defending his honour and respecting his status.
For the people who came after the Prophet's life, we should respect and love his Sunnah which is an implication of loving him.
To say "sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam (may peace and blessing be upon him)" whenever his name is mentioned.
To accept his Sunnah (life tradition) as a scale by which we judge actions and sayings.
To accept him as the true leader and only human's final word with respect to the religion — he is the only true human authority and everyone else's statements/opinions come after his. To love those who love him and hate those who hate him. Reviving his Sunnah by learning, understanding, teaching and spreading it. Arba'in An-Nawawiyah
On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari that the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessing be upon, said: "Religion is nasihah." We said: "To whom?" The Prophet said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk." (narrated Muslim)
The word "nasihah" cannot be accurately translated to English because it is a broad concept which cannot be traced in the English language.
Some use the term "sincerity" but this is only part of the concept — to negate deception/cheating.
According to Imam Ibnu al-Salah, nasihah is "truly seeking the best, in terms of intention and action, for the one whom he is making nasihah to".
This hadith is a profound statement as Sheikh Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo says that in this one brief statement the Prophet described the essence of Islam.
Nasihah hence forms the bulk and the most important pillar of Islam since it encompasses Islam, Iman and Ihsan.
Nasihah to Allah
The nasihah should be to Allah first. This includes the fulfilment of the obligations in the best way possible (Ihsan).This should be the goal for every Muslim.
This also includes striving to get as close to Allah as possible by doing not only the obligations but also the preferable good deeds, by forbidding the forbidden and avoiding the disliked acts. Nasihah to Allah also involves: believing in Allah and denying any partners with Him.
Believing in His attributes. Obeying Him. Fulfilling His commands and abstaining from what He has forbidden. Doing what is best to remember Him, under all circumstances. Loving whatever He loves and hating whatever He hates, be it objects, persons, actions, sayings, etc.
Recognising the blessings He has bestowed upon us and properly thanking Him for these blessings.
To do nasihah to Allah one should have the correct intention in one's heart to fulfil the rights of Allah, even when one is excused and it is beyond one's ability to perform these obligations.
Honesty is also another aspect of this great concept. In whatever we do we should always be honest with Allah, similarly with ikhlas (sincerity). In fact ikhlas should be the first thing that a Muslim should attain when we talk about nasihah to Allah.
Nasihah to His Book
This includes: Believing that the Quran is from Allah, that it is the Word of Allah and that it is not like the word of man.
According to one's ability, to read and recite the Quran and to practice it.
To study it's admonitions, lessons and parables.
Calling others to believe in the Quran.
To defend and protect it from any kind of distortion or misinterpretation.
Defending the Quran against false claims made against it.
Having proper respect and treating the Quran in a proper manner — eg to be careful not to throw away a piece of paper which has an ayat printed on it (magazine article, etc.) as it may be stepped on — we should also be aware if we see such a piece of paper on the ground to pick it up and keep it away safely or destroy it by burning it so that it is not subject to disrespect.
Nasihah to His Messenger
This includes: Believing the Prophet's message. Believing in all that he brought as being divinely inspired.
Loving him more than we love ourselves and our families — it is the second level of love after the love of Allah.
Our love for him should lead to other obligations like obeying him. Helping him and defending him (for those who were alive during his time) — defending his honour and respecting his status.
For the people who came after the Prophet's life, we should respect and love his Sunnah which is an implication of loving him.
To say "sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam (may peace and blessing be upon him)" whenever his name is mentioned.
To accept his Sunnah (life tradition) as a scale by which we judge actions and sayings.
To accept him as the true leader and only human's final word with respect to the religion — he is the only true human authority and everyone else's statements/opinions come after his. To love those who love him and hate those who hate him. Reviving his Sunnah by learning, understanding, teaching and spreading it. Arba'in An-Nawawiyah