Thursday, April 2, 2015

Hudud: To Him I surrender my everything...

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In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Do not spy one another,
nor let any of you backbite others..." (Hujurat 49: 12)
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DURING 'this trying times' (such as problems involving parties in Pakatan Rakyat), I as a layman would like to pour out my understanding about Islam which I admitted 'is too little' (scholars and knowledgeable persons please do advise me if I am wrong or gone astray) hoping that it would help fellow citizens in understanding the longing of Muslims to see Allah's laws shine in this land. 

Since small, I was introduced to 'Rukun Iman' and 'Rukun Islam' - the foundation of Islam. There's a 'hadith' on it - It was narrated on the authority of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 

"While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 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 (peace be upon him), rested his knee against his thighs, and said, "O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah, pay the Zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House, if you are able to do so."

The man said, "You have spoken truly." We were astonished at his questioning him (the Messenger) and telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about iman."

He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in qadar (fate), both in its good and in its evil aspects." He said, "You have spoken truly."

Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, "It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet (know that) He sees you."

He said, "Inform me about the Hour." He (the Messenger of Allah) said, "About that, the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said, "Well, inform me about the signs thereof." He said, "They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you will see the barefooted, naked, destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings." Thereupon the man went of. I waited a while, and then he (the Messenger of Allah) said, "O Umar, do you know who that questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He said, "That was Jibril (the Angel Gabriel). He came to teach you your religion." - Muslim

The 'Rukun Iman' (Six Pillars of Iman), also known as the articles of faith, are a portion of the foundation in which a Muslim’s beliefs stand on. These pillars are very important and hold heavy weight on the Day of Judgement. They are, belief in Allah, belief in Al-Malaa’ika (The Angels), belief in Al Kitab (the books of Allah), belief in the prophets, prayers and salutations of Allah be upon them (the Messengers of Allah), belief in Yawmil Qiyaamah (Day Of Rising/The Last Day) and belief in Qada and Qadar (Divine will and Decree).

Dear readers, as Muslims we must believe in Allah and in His Book (one of His book is the Qur'an). Everything said in the Qur'an must be belived...it is the words of Allah SWT. The Qur'an contains messages of Allah to human beings. Messages are not to be read aloud beautifully but are to be carried out if they are orders and to be refrained from if they are forbidden. In your office, you sang out aloud your 'boss' messages or you carried out his/her orders?

Muslim fast (puasa) because of Allah's order in the Qur'an (ayah 183 of Surah Al-Baqarah) which read: “O ye who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” 

Then regarding 'hudud', Allah SWT says: “O you who believe! Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives, etc.) of the killed against blood money, then adhering to it with fairness and payment of the blood money, to the heir should be made in fairness. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. So after this whoever transgresses the limits (i.e. kills the killer after taking the blood money), he shall have a painful torment.” (Al-Baqarah, ayah 178)

Please note that both ayahs begins with, “O you who believe!", then why must Muslims accept the first but decline from the latter. Also noted that Allah's orders is only to 'O you who believe'. If you are not a believer, then His orders are not for you...or none of your concern.

To 'those who believe', are we good in taking what we think are good to us and ignoring what we feel bad? To accept some part of the Qur’an and to reject some, is to reject all of it. There is no room partial acceptance in your relationship with the Qur’an; there cannot be logically be such a situation. 

Regarding this, Allah the Almighty has given us warning on this matter in one Qur’anic verse where He warns us not to become like the Children of Israel who disobey some of Allah SWT’s commandments in the Taurah, as stated in Ayah 85 Surah Al-Baqarah which reads; “…Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful for what ye do.” 

In the following verse (Ayah 86 Al-Baqarah), Allah SWT says: “Such are those who buy the life of the world at the price of the Hereafter. Their punishment will not be lightened, neither will they have support.” 

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