Sijjin: Reward for Those Who Boasts

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

We had just came across the word سجين sijjin in surat al-Fiil which talks about Abrahah and Elephant armies. What is more important in the surah? Is it the history of Abrahah to be proven right or wrong or is it for fun where we could laugh to Abrahah? Is it for us to curse Abrahah after his misfortune? Or is it the moral teachings that we should absorb from what had been told?

For a believer and faithful Muslim, Quran is not a book of history! We do not treat Quran as history books, scientific books, and etc! We treat it as His Word where moral teachings and conducts being taught by the God to His servants as the sign of His Mercy and Love to the universe.

According to the Qudsi Hadith it was narrated that Muhammad s.a.w had passing the word of the God through Archangel Gabriel which says: "When a servant of the God is arrogant in claiming merits of his practices in the hereafter, the God will answer them: 'Didn't I had made wide (easy) for you, your position and rank in the ceremony of teaching lessons? Didn't I made you a leader of the world? Didn't I made easy for you, your business? Didn't you being respected in the world?!'" 

The hadith implies that a boasting person will never get any special treatment in the world nor in the hereafter. The Arabic term for this evil characteristic is رياء riyaa'. As what had been mentioned in the glorious Quran about Abrahah. Although he had build up a church which is a religious matter and a meritorious deeds but he didn't build it because of Him. He build it because he wanted to the people to acknowledge on how powerful he was in making the people turning to the church build by him. He had to bear humiliation while in the world where he died once he arrived in Sana'a. The madzmumah characteristics which is boasting had made all the meritorious deeds being wiped away.

What I would like to also emphasize in this post to missionaries no matter of Christian faith or of Islamic path and it of course include myself though I am not a missionary... When we perform the evangelical work or da'awa, had we really asked our heart? What exactly is our intention? We want for example a Muslim to be an apostate just to satisfy our heart because we could make he or she turn away from their religion solely because of the God or simply to prove and boast around that our path is true and could not be defeated? The same goes to Muslim and Jews and everyone who call themselves human with the faith toward the God...

The point is where is our sincerity because of the God when we did such an act? Many people looks like devoting themselves to the God and they look down to others as if others are ungodly but who we are to determine everyone's fate in the end? We read many stories from Bible or from Quran. But what had we learned? Is it only history part like what is shown in National Geography and some discussion by "scholars" or "historians" or "archeologists"? About radiocarbon tests? Are these things making a human behaving like a human-being? Or is it morality teaching passed by the God through His prophets and messengers by revelation?

In other hadiths, Muhammad s.a.w mentioned: "Indeed the paradise is talking. "Says paradise: "I am illegal for those who are skinny, a boast, slanderer and spite."

Scholars of Islam had divided arrogance into two which are the peculiar boasting and mixed boasting. Perhaps everyone including myself, pastors, evangelists around the world could also take this with consideration and by heart even if we consider each other as infidels : )

Peculiar Boasting 

It refers to someone who intended to get worldly benefits from his or her practices.

Mixed Boasting

Refers to a person who does everything with the intention to get benefits of world and hereafter. How many God that we want to serve and asking for benefit? LOL

Scholars also explained that there is no specific measurement for merit being decreased because of boasting. On the other hand, certain thing is that meritorious deeds could be decreased or rejected because of boasting. The reward for those who have this characteristic is being cast down into the Sijjin as what had been mentioned by a hadith which means: 

"When angels bringing the record of servants to the heavens with happiness, but the God suddenly says: 'Cast those practices into the Sijjin. The person is not performing those practices because of Me but for others.'"

In other narrations, it has been explained that during the Resurrection, there will be a calling which every creatures could listen to it... It sounds: "Hey you who worship human-being! Stand up! Take back all of the merits from what you did because of them. I refuse to accept anything associated with others (those who did that are polytheists!)."

Imam al-Ghazali said in the Ihyaa' Ulumuddin explained that a boast who will be rewarded with the consequences are those who boast in the meaning of the most evil boast. The person who boast are hypocrites showing that he or she is a faithful person and claimed that they are the believer of only the God orally or verbally, but the fact is that they actually never believe in Him nor even fear His torments. This characteristic is classified as a kind of hypocrisy. The boast of hypocrites will be rewarded the same as those who are stingy. It means that the person is stingy in the testament toward the God and His prophets and messengers.

This characteristic also contains a light polytheism in which if we keep it and exhibits it before the God, it will be worse and leading to greater polytheism, associating the God with others. Imam al-Ghazali further mentions, those who are still clinging to this characteristic will be dumped with evil consequences and will be classified as ingrates (infidels). If it still happens, a person then has no right to receive peaceful paradise or even smell the paradise. Muhammad s.a.w advised the nations of the period of the end, not to mention our own goodness or our people or our family because it could lead us to boasting and showing off. When a person boasts, it will lead to other soul diseases such as feeling surprised of ourselves or proud of our self. Then we begin to look down to others and we have 'supremacy' thoughts.

So, every believers must also realize that every good deed being performed actually comes from the God as He is the Creator Who decides the journey of servants in the life. Although we are encouraged to perform charity, we are reminded to avoid from polluting it with boasting. A person who is grateful to the God are actually a person who strive for goodness and charity while those who boast to others always think that they are better than others. 

Scholars had suggested that only sincerity could kill boasting characteristic in one self. As what had been mentioned by the God recorded in the glorious Quran: "And they are commanded to worship (serve) the God and sincere for Him in religion which is straight and to perform prayers and (serving the poor with) tithe. And that is the precious law (religion)." (Surah al-Bayyinah verse 5) 

The God further says which means: "Indeed We revealed to you the scripture (Quran) with truth, thus worship the God and purify obedience only for Him! 2 Remember that, pure (of polytheism) is the religion (and law) of the God. Whoever takes other than that and says: 'We are not worshiping them but only hoping for them to make us closer to the God.' Despite, the God will decide among them on what they had problematized. Indeed the God never guides those who are lying and not grateful 3." (Surah al-Zumar)

I wish that this is not only a good lesson for myself but for others no matter of what religion we are. Because each time we always see people who claim themselves as zealots and we could see people chopping each others head, attacking here and there not only in the real world but also in the net. So, what kind of characteristics that lead people to this? Then ask ourselves are we really monotheists who believe solely in the God? This is the core of Islamic Creed... The Creed toward the God which leads us to morality and civilized human-being. 

Our Lord please be in contact with noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had been in contact with our patriarch Abraham a.s and his family. Dear Lord, please bless noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his family as You had blessed our patriarch Abraham a.s and his family. In the universe, only You dear the God who worth the Praise and Glory. Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Performing Cleaning Before Worship I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I'm lazy to type in long winding post about this practice of sunnah. I always perform before prayer services such as before fajar, dzuhr, 'asr and maghrib prayer services. We only talk about what we are practicing. After I come back from markets, shops, shopping complexes or other impure places, I will also perform this practice because those places are impure.  

Make sure to prepare half an hour before prayer services. I was always late for congregational services in mosque at the campus because of these rituals and I have to walk to the mosque because no car nor bicycle nor motorcycle. Only bus number eleven (legs) to carry my ass. 

The hostel is outside of the campus and if someone are merciful to me like I was in the bachelor time I guess that person must be a person with compassionate heart. I still remember the Bangladeshi tutor who always helped me to reach the mosque with his car, may Allah bless him always. Sometimes some Arab brothers also helped me especially during fajar prayer services because I love ustad Zaydi voice for morning service recitation and i must catch the service : )

Some people call it as ghusl which means shower or bathing, some call it as major ablution, and some call it as ma'amad (dipping) according to whatever you are accustomed with in terminologies. 

This is also the practices of previous prophets such as prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) and Isa (Jesus), peace be upon both of them. It is also the teaching that we get from our patriarch Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him. We also learned this while in our lower secondary school.

This video is according to Syafi'ie angle of sunnah manner because these habeeb is from Syafi'ie school of jurisprudence. Malaysian compatriots don't have to worry. I understand about Malaysian unity policy in religious and ritual. I was born in a Syafi'ie family myself and familiar with it too before I changed entirely to Hanbali. It also has supplications for that. Not really different anyway to what I am practicing anyway.

Hopefully it is beneficial in reviving the sunnah among brothers and sisters in faith no matter reverts or the born-Muslim ones. This is for our practices or 'amal and very basic of rituals. It is also a tribute for beloved brothers and sisters. Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love for brothers and sisters in faith, amin!

Ma'thurat I

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

I had memorized this ma'athurat prayers after I was threatened by two thieves at my upper six class just after I came back from hajj pilgrimage. Before that I did not know anything about ma'athurat. 

Before we begin, what is ma'athurat dear brethren? It is a formula to remember Lord God, Glory and Holiness only belong to Him. They are recommended through sunnah tradition and some of them actually come from the scripture which is the Noble Quran. No need for ta'awudz (talisman), they are useless and not powerful like God who operates this Universe and Worlds. Our fate had already been pre-determined by Him in His guarded tablets.

Ma'athurat is not only about dzikr (remembrance of God and meditation) but also could be combined with supplications or du'a. All of our daily activity are actually assumed as ibaadat (act of worship) as long as it is righteous and joined with dzikrullah. 

Obligatory acts of worship is a form of dzikr. Dzikr has many benefits that includes protection from evil and munkar (vices). It is a form of rememberance that could lead us to calmness, tranquility and success. 

Dzikr could be performed in any time and condition. By heart or oral. Even when you are sitting or standing anywhere. Waiting for something or someone. Humans are enjoined to remember Allah a lot. Neglecting dzikr is severely condemened as it is a cause for reward and meritorious deed. Dzikr accompanies ibadaat (worship) and muamalah (interaction). Supplication is also a kind of dzikr.I have this advise first for myself, make this a habit. Then this advise is also intended to beloved brethren.

Ma'athurat Dzikrs...

We chant this aloud in Arabic with the meanings in our own language in heart. Chant them in morning and evening.

Al-Fatihah the mother of the Scripture

Ayatul Kursi from al-Baqarah 255

Al-Ikhlas 3 x

Al-Falaq 3 x

An-Naas 3 x

Chanting there is no gods but the God, He is alone, there is no associate to Him, and the Kingdom is only possessed by Him, and praises to Him, and everything belongs to Him 100 x

Glory be to God and with praises to Him, multiple creations created by Him, and whatever pleasing to Him, and decoration of His Throne, and His words are infinite 3 x

Glory be to God, and with praises to Him 100 x 

Prayers for the blessings on prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions and his family as God had blessed prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family 10 x

God You are my Lord, there is no other gods except You, who created me, and I am Your slave and servant, and I am with Your Convenant and Your promises, whatever that I am able to follow I would follow, I seek Your protection from the evil of my acts, that You had acknowledged to me as sins, so may God forgives me and there is no one who forgive sins except You my Lord! 

I seek forgiveness from You and I repent from my sins intentionally or unintentionally 100 x

These dzikrs stated above are chanted the same every morning and evening before or after fajr (sunrise) prayer and maghrib (sunset) prayer in our lifetime. 

There are few Ma'thurat supplications according to morning and evening time following those stated dzikrs. I hope they are beneficial for English speaking Muslims. 

You may chant them in English or any language that you speak but once you memorized the Arabic sounds you may chant them with Arabic, you may ask the ma'thurat prayers in Arabic text from the mosque management close to your neighborhood or Islamic centers. God never burden you, He only prescribes anything according to our ability, He also understands and listens what you are chanting. He creates languages and wisdoms belongs to Him indeed.  

Five Congregational Practices of Mosque

Assalaamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

This is a recapture of the essence that I have got from the three days stay at the Sri Petaling center. It is about how a member of certain mosque congregation could live their mosque or musalla. 

It is said that the mosque during the Madinah period is 24/7 lively with activities and programs. The Tabligh-e-Jama'at ulamas had simplified it to four matters to be understood by parishioners.

1. Da'awa (calling people to Allah and practicing the teachings).

2. Learning and the teachings of religious sciences, I guess this is what they call as bayaan (explanation).

3. Acts of worship (salaat, recitation of scripture, meditation, and prayers).

4. Khidmat (services).

The first step to support the above four practices should begin with five congregational practices of mosque. They are:

1. Musyawarah or meeting about religious matters in our qaryah (parish). What had been done and what should be executed so that our parishioner would be in compliance with what Allah had told us to do. 

2. At least give some times in daily life to the mosque approximately eight hours, and 2 and 1/2 hours to execute what had been discussed in musyawarah. 

3. Hadiths recitation from the kitaab Fadhaail 'Amal (the benefits of practices) so that parish member being determined to strive in salaat, Quranic recitation, zikrullah, charity, and others. Recitation could be done in the mosque or at home, once a day about 10-30 minutes per session.  This session is called as ta'alim (learning). When they spell and pronounce it as taklim in english spelling, I thought that it means discussion, hehe.

4. Ziarah (visit) from house to house once a week for silaturrahim (love among brethren).  They call this as ghasht in Urdu.

5. Three days khuruj to other musalla once a month.  The practices of khuruj is a mean for members to learn the manner of da'awa and implanting imaan (faith) in everyone's heart.

This is a tribute and respect to Tabligh-e-Jama'at brothers and also as a mean to celebrate this movement where some of our brothers are adherents to it. Whatever is good to be practiced I would accept and support it with my life as long as it is in concordance to Quran and Sunnah without looking at who is the person that deliver the speech because I am looking at the essence of the speech and not at the person.

I pray for our brethren in faith and also to my filthy self to please not underestimate any da'awa movements although we might not agree with some of the members in the movement or due to some differences in tasawwuf approaches or cultural differences. If we find differences, we should immediately return to Quran and Sunnah as our primary and secondary sources of faith.

Allah bless our prophet Muhammad (saw), Allah bless all the 'ulamas who had imparted us the knowledge on scripture and sunnah. Allah forgive them their sins and may Allah place them in high places with those who are honored by Allah. Allah forgive us our sins, we are just weak creatures depending on You. Whatever that we see and hear could not always be true because life is a dream, but we also have to listen to our mannasukul (heart and soul) closing our eyes and think deeply. May Allah leads our heart to His Ultimate Truth, Aamin!