31 Aralık 2015 Perşembe

Faith, words and deeds

Dear readers,

In my previous writing, I have completed the discussions on faith and explained in detail the requirements for having a proper and complete faith which will open the doors to an eternal bliss for us. But there are still such important points to be known about “faith” that I will address now.

Believing or not believing is something decided in one’s heart (conscience). That is to say, faith is a matter of heart. This is evidenced by the following verses:

Say, "Ye have no faith; but ye (only) say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' For not yet has Faith entered your hearts.  [Hujurat, 14]

For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself.  [Mujadala, 22]

Therefore, the basis of faith is to accept and confirm with heart the requirements of faith as stipulated in our creed.


# Faith is to accept with heart and confirm by tongue

However, Islamic scholars have required us, as beings who live a social life, to declare our faith to other humans with our tongue as well so that we can be treated as a Muslim in the events of our daily life, shopping, marrying, divorcing, borrowing and lending, in our neighborhood relationships and even in our deaths, and they explained that “Faith is to accept with heart and confirm by tongue”. This is certainly true. As faith is a matter of heart, how can others know that we are a believer if we do not express the faith in our heart with words? If we happen to die at that moment, will not people hesitate even as to whether or not to perform a funeral prayer for us?

According to the Ahl as-Sunnah creed, deeds are not a part of faith.

Imam e Azam Abu Hanifa said:

“Deeds are not a part of faith. One who commits a big sin may not be called an unbeliever. While faith is necessary for everyone, not each deed is necessary for each person. For example, a poor person who does not possess enough wealth may not give zakat. But that poor person still needs faith.”

Faith and good deeds are separated from each other in Qur’anic verses as well:

Except to those who believe and work righteous deeds: for them is a Reward that will never fail.  [Inshiqaq, 25]

Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: for they shall have a reward unfailing.  [Tin, 6]


# One is not excluded from religion by committing a big sin

The following hadith clearly shows that one does not abandon the religion by committing a big sin:

“The archangel Gabriel said, 'Any Muslim who dies without committing polytheism against Allah (swt) will enter the Paradise', I asked 'if one who commits adultery and theft will also enter the Paradise?' He said, 'Yes'. I repeated the same question for three times. On the third, he said, 'Yes, a believer who commits adultery or theft will also enter the Paradise.'”  [Bukhari, Muslim, Bazzar]

Dear readers, one does not lose one’s faith or be excluded from religion just because one commits a sin or does not perform their worships. But every deed, either for good or bad, will affect one’s faith. The light of faith is the Love of Allah. As one worships and obeys the rules, this love will increase. One feels oneself closer to one’s Rab. When one commits a sin, on the other hand, this love is reduced. Then one gets away from one’s Rab without being aware of this. In fact, if one continues to commit sins, time will come when the light of faith in that person’s heart will die off. So, then the person is dragged into the swamp of disbelief. Therefore, Our Master the Prophet considered good deeds together with faith:

“Faith is to accept with heart, confirm by tongue, and practice with organs of body.”  [Ihya]


# Faith is protected with good deeds

This is also referred to by some other hadiths. As a matter of fact, Our Master the Prophet said after he instructed a group of visitors to only believe in Allah:

“Do you know what it is to only believe in Allah? It is to testify that there are no gods but Allah and that Mohammed is His Messenger, perform salat, give zakat, perform ramadan fasting, and give one fifth of war booties.”  [Bukhari]

“One who does not respect what is trusted to oneself does not possess faith.”  [Tabarani]

“One who does not have compassion does not have faith either.”  [Tabarani]

“One who drinks alcoholic beverages will lose the light of faith.”  [Tabarani]

Especially salat is completely identified with faith:

“There is an essence of everything and the essence of faith is salat.”  [Bayhaqi]

“What distinguishes impiety from faith is to abandon salat.”  [Tirmidhi]

“One who abandons salat on purpose becomes an unbeliever.”  [Tabarani]

“Salat means faith. A believer is one who performs salat in accordance with its time and other requirements.”  [Ibn al-Najjar]


# Compliance with prohibitions and orders is not related to faith but to sincerity

Dear readers, the following two hadiths reveal that compliance with prohibitions and orders is not directly related to faith but to sincerity (ikhlas) in faith.

“Do not call someone who says ‘La ilaha illallah’ an unbeliever! Otherwise you yourself become an unbeliever.”  [Bukhari]

“One who sincerely states ‘La ilaha illallah’ will go to the Paradise. Saying it with sincerely means that the sayer is faraway from what is prohibited.”  [Tabarani]

As a result, it is necessary to declare the faith in our heart to other people. Deeds are not a part of faith. But good or bad deeds significantly influence our faith by increasing and decreasing the love of Allah, which is the light of faith. Staying away from what Allah (swt) has forbidden and doing what He has commanded are an indication of the sincerity and loyalty in our faith. Therefore, we should try to live our religion with all the principles it involves.


# A few clues for a complete faith

Dear readers,

In this part of my writing, I will try to offer you a few clues for a complete faith based on some statements of our Rab and our Master the Prophet.

I must mention first of all that a perfect, whole, and complete submission to Allah (swt) and His Messenger is certainly a requirement for a correct and complete faith. And the criterion for this submission is to completely comply with the divine provisions (ahkam, sharia). One’s faith is directly proportional to the extent one submits to Allah (swt) and His Messenger and complies with these provisions.

And obey Allah and the Messenger; that ye may obtain mercy.  [Al Imran, 132]

So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His Words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided.  [A’raf, 158]

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger, and make not vain your deeds!  [Muhammed, 33]

He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah.  [Nisa, 80]

So take what the Messenger gives you, and refrain from what he prohibits you."  [Hashr, 7]


# Living in accordance with the commands of Allah

Dear readers, there is only one religion in the sight of Allah, and it is Islam. And Islam means to put aside one’s own will (the desires of one’s ego) and to submit to the will (orders) of Allah (swt), who is one’s creator and educator. “Faith” lies in the foundation of this submission. Completeness of faith is directly proportional to the completeness of this submission. This submission is the key to all kinds of salvations.

But We delivered those who believed and practiced righteousness  [Fussilat, 18]

And we submit to Allah (in Islam).  [Baqarah, 136]

Living in compliance with Allah’s commands is essential for the blessings of the world and the afterworld because the commands of our Rab, who has eternal mercy, will always take one to a lifestyle that eventually leads to goodness. If one believes in one’s Rab and loyally submit to one’s Rab by believing that the Rab is always one’s true friend (protector), then Allah (swt) will open the doors of all blisses for them.

And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to Our Paths.  [Ankabut, 69]


# One’s value depends on one’s devoutness (taqwa)

So this submission is a requirement for a complete faith.

Certainly, prohibitions are more important among divine rules because most of them include interpersonal rights and all of them are provisions that impose limitations on the desires of our egos. Piety (taqwa) means to comply with these provisions and to stay away from what Allah (swt) has prohibited. The value of humans and communities in the sight of Allah (swt) is based on piety (righteousness, taqwa, the fear of Allah).

Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.  [Hujurat, 13]

One always should try to be a servant who fears one’s Rab. If one focuses on sincerity, piety and dhikr (to remember Allah), the elements of maturity, which Our Master the Prophet described, will manifest automatically:

“The most superior deed is faith. The most superior faith is to acknowledge that Allah (swt) is always with them.”  [Tabarani]

“Not forgetting Allah, wherever one is, is an indication of a complete faith.”  [Bayhaqi]

“One who becomes happy upon performing goodness and who becomes worried upon committing a sin is a true believer.”  [Tirmidhi, Hakim]


# The most beautiful of believers in terms of faith

“The most superior believer is the one who frequently remembers Allah.”  [Tirmidhi]

“The faith of one who has these three elements is complete: beautiful morality as in getting along with everyone, piety which prevents from committing sins, and gentleness which covers one’s ignorance.”  [Nasai]

“The most beautiful one among you in terms of faith is the one who is the most beautiful in terms of morality.”  [Hakim]

“Most complete one among believers in terms of faith is the one who has a beautiful morality and who behaves their family gently.”  [Nasai, Tirmidhi]

“The most superior faith is to love for Allah, fight for Allah, mention Allah (swt) also with one’s tongue, consider what is acceptable for oneself for others as well, not desire for others that which one does not desire for oneself, speak on goodness or keep quiet.”  [Tabarani]

“One who is benevolent has a complete faith.”  [I. Ahmad]


# Loving one’s religious sibling is a key of a complete faith

“I swear that you may not enter the Paradise unless you have faith. And you may not have faith unless you love each other.”  [Tirmidhi, I. Ahmad]

“One may not be a true believer unless one loves for his religious sibling that which he loves for himself.”  [Bukhari]

“One who loves Allah’s friends and who considers Allah’s enemies as his own enemies possesses a complete faith.”  [Abu Dawud]

“These three things are indicators of faith: Patience for trouble, gratitude for blessings, and acceptance for predestined occurrences.”  [Ihya]

“Be assured that one who continuously comes to the mosque has faith!”  [Ibn Maja]


# God’s Messenger has identified faith with salat

“Salat means faith. A believer is one who performs salat in accordance with its time and other requirements.”  [Ibn Najjar]

Dear readers, as you can see, it is among the requirements of a complete faith to consider Allah (swt) always together with himself, never forget Him, only love and fight for Allah, stay away from what is prohibited and what is doubtful (taqwa and wara), have benevolence, kindness and beautiful morality, that is, visit who does not visit, give who does not give, forgive who oppresses, meet trouble with patience and blessings with gratitude, not desire something for one’s religious sibling that which one does not desire for oneself, speak useful or keep quiet, and perform salats in a mosque and properly. It is ordered in verse:

And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention.  [Inshirah, 8]

May Allah (swt) make us one of those servants who only focus on their Rab, live and die with a complete faith and who, thusly, are blessed with their Rab’s assistance, support and courtesy both in the temporary world life and also in the eternal afterworld.


Be entrusted to Allah.


All the articles in this series can be found also at the address below.



20 Aralık 2015 Pazar

Divine Destiny

Dear readers,

It is not possible to reach an eternal happiness without becoming a mature human being. And becoming “a mature human being” is only possible with “a perfect faith”. And one of the conditions for a complete faith is to believe free of any doubt and hesitation that everything that happens in this divine order which we call the universe happens according to a divine judgment and fate. This is shortly called as "Qadar" (Predestination). Believing in predestination, that is, believing that all goodness and badness is based on the judgment of Allah is one of the six pillars of faith. Our Master the Prophet explained:

“Faith is to believe in Allah, angels, holy books, prophets, the judgment day, death, resurrection, the paradise, the hell, reckoning, the scale, predestination, and that all goodness and badness are from Allah.”  [Nasai]

“Allah first created the Pen and commanded it, Write whatever will happen until eternity.” [Tirmidhi]

“Everything was written in pre-eternity. The pen dried.”  [Tirmidhi]

“One who denies predestination is really unfortunate from Islam.”  [Bukhari]

“Believing in predestination is one of the principles of faith.”  [Tirmidhi]

“On the last days, those who deny predestination will emerge.”  [Tirmidhi]

“One who denies predestination will be perished.”  [Tabarani]

“No one may be considered to have faith unless they believe in predestination, that what will happen will certainly happen and that what will not happen will never happen.”  [Tirmidhi]

“It is certain that Allah (swt) has created each soul and predestined their life, death, sustenance and troubles.”  [Tirmidhi]


# Believing in predestination is one of the main principles of faith

As is seen, believing in predestination is one of the main principles of faith. The fact that the Qur’an contains very clear statements on this subject actually makes it a requirement to also believe His divine destiny, for anyone who believes in Allah (swt).  Our almighty Rab ordered that:

It is He Who created all things, and ordered them in due proportions.  [Furqan, 2]

Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.  [Qamar, 49]

No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a Book before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah.  [Hadid, 22]

from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous.  [Saba, 3]

Knowest thou not that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Indeed it is all in a Record.  [Haj, 70]

He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a Record clear (to those who can read).  [Anaam, 59]


# Predestination and Its Occurrence (Qadar and Qada)

As can be clearly understood from the above verses, Allah (swt) created everything in the visible and invisible realms in a certain measurement and order, as stipulated in the Preserved Tablet (Lahw-i Mahfoos), and ascertained, in a specific program, all the events that will happen as long as realms will exist. This divine schedule is called “Predestination” (Qadar) and happening of the each predestined event is called “Occurrence” (Qada).

Dear readers, the divine fate does not change.

To every People is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation).  [Araf, 34]

for when the Term given by Allah is accomplished, it cannot be put forward.  [Nuh, 4]

But it is understood from the following verses and hadiths that lifetime of people can increase or decrease according to some good and bad behaviors and that some troubles can be prevented with prayers:

Nor is a man long- lived granted length of days, nor is a part cut off from his life, but is in a Book (ordained). [Fatir, 11]

“Predestination cannot be changed with precautions or avoidance. But a prayer which is accepted will protect against a trouble when it comes.”  [Tabarani]

“Visiting one’s relatives will lengthen one’s life.”  [Tabarani]

“Nothing can change the unknown fate. Only prayer may change it and only beneficence and goodness will increase one’s life.”  [Hakim]

Undoubtedly, these also happen based on Allah’s judgment.


# The divine program gives people the right to choose

As we also clearly observe in the events of our daily lives, that part of the divine program which relates to human behaviors has been arranged so as to offer an intelligent human being a preference.

By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it;  And its inspiration as to its wrong and its right;-  Truly he succeeds that purifies it,  And he fails that corrupts it!  [Shams 7-10]


Say, "The Truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it)  [Kahf, 29]

So, there is a choice for human beings between goodness and badness. In other saying, if an individual prefers goodness (faith), that part of the program which relates to goodness will begin to operate or, if they prefer badness (disbelief), the opposite part will begin to function. The responsibility of an individual arises from this preference anyway.

Even if our ego will find it difficult, we should always prefer goodness and try to gain the consent of our Rab.

Our Master the Prophet said:

“Worship so that you will find it easier to do what is already predestined for everyone.” [Muslim]


Be entrusted to Allah.


All the articles in this series can be found also at the address below.

17 Aralık 2015 Perşembe

Eternal stops

Dear readers,

After reckoning is completed on the judgment day, good people will take their place in the paradise while bad people will go to the hell:

As for the Righteous, they will be in Bliss;  And the Wicked - they will be in the Fire,  [Infitar, 13-14]

Faith” will be the most important thing on the judgment day. Those who have even a modicum of faith in their hearts will be treated well while unbelievers and those who reject the truth and deny Allah (swt) and His Messenger will not be esteemed, they will be punished eternally, and no mercy will be shown to them.


# The situation of deniers

This is explained in the following Quranic verses:

Taste ye then - for ye forgot the Meeting of this Day of yours, and We too will forget you - taste ye the Chastisement of Eternity for your (evil) deeds!  [Sajdah, 14]

They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give them any weight.  [Kahf, 105]

But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing: but he finds Allah there, and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account.  [Nur, 39]

Let not the strutting about of the unbelievers through the land deceive thee:  Little is it for enjoyment: Their ultimate abode is Hell: what an evil bed (to lie on)!  [Al Imran, 196-197]

This is (true) Guidance and for those who reject the Signs of their Lord, is a grievous Chastisement of abomination.  [Jathiya, 11]

And if any believe not in Allah and His Messenger, We have prepared, for those who reject Allah, a Blazing Fire!  [Fath, 13]

But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they shall be companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein.  [Baqarah, 39]


# Faith is the key to salvation both in the world and also in the afterworld

Undoubtedly, the key to salvation both in the world and also in the afterworld is “faith”. Good deeds performed by unbelievers will be of no use in the afterworld.

The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day:  [Ibrahim, 18]

And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter.  [Baqarah, 217]

Mundane riches will also be useless for the afterworld.

Those who reject Faith,- neither their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against Allah. They will be companions of the Fire,- dwelling therein (for ever).  [Al Imran, 116]

Some of them believed, and some of them averted their faces from him: And enough is Hell for a burning fire. Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.  [Nisa, 55-56]

As to those who reject Faith,- if they had everything on earth, and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the penalty of the Day of Judgment, it would never be accepted of them, theirs would be a grievous penalty.  [Maida, 36]


# On that day, efforts for salvation by unbelievers will be wasted

On the judgment day, efforts for salvation by unbelievers will be wasted.

Their wish will be to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom: their penalty will be one that endures.  [Maida, 37]

In fact, they will want to be soil, but even that will not be possible.

and the Unbeliever will say, 'Woe unto me! Would that I were (mere) dust!' [Nabaa, 40]

Dear readers, there will be an intermediate zone called purgatory between the paradise, which is the place of award, and the hell, which is the place of punishment on the judgment day. This zone is described in the Qur'an in the following way:

Between them shall be a veil, and on the Heights will be men who would know every one by his marks: they will call out to the Companions of the Garden, "Peace on you": they have not entered it, but still hoped to (enter it).

When their eyes shall be turned towards the Companions of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! send us not to the company of the wrong-doers."

The men on the Heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks, saying: "Of what profit to you were your hoards and your arrogant ways?  [A'raf, 46-48]


# On that day, mercy will only be to those who have had faith in Allah and done good deeds

On the judgment day, Allah (swt) will show mercy only to those who have had faith in Allah and performed good deeds, avoided what is forbidden, and those who did not skimp but gave zakats.

“'And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee.' He said: I afflict on whom I will; but My mercy extended to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and pay Zakat, and those who believe in Our signs;-  [Araf, 156]

Those who were not arrogant but believed in Allah (swt) and His Messenger and performed good deeds will both possess all the blessings and favors in this world and also reach unlimited blessings in the afterworld in proportion to the good deeds that they performed:

Not equal are the Companions of the Fire and the Companions of the Garden: it is the Companions of the Garden, that will achieve Felicity.  [Hashr, 20]

But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever).  [Baqarah, 82]

But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall soon admit to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal home: Therein shall they have spouses purified: We shall admit them to shades, cool and ever deepening.  [Nisa, 57]


# Deniers must know the treatment that they will be subjected to

Dear readers,

Believe me that I would be lying if I said I did not feel shudder while I was sorting the tens of Quranic verses above which describe the eternal agonies that deniers will suffer on the judgment day. Here, the purpose of your powerless brother is not to spread fear and terror to the hearts of people. I just try to explain “faith” and the importance that our Rab attaches to it. Our Master the Prophet said:

“When you talk about your Rab, do not mention things which will cause fear!”  [Bayhaqi]

“Make Allah’s servants love Him so that Allah, in turn, loves you!”  [Tabarani]

But is not it necessary that those unbelievers clearly know the treatment that they will find in the afterworld?

Either believer or unbeliever, everyone should certainly fear very much their Rab who created them, who cannot be prevented from doing anything He wants to do, and who is the unique owner of all kinds of powers and forces. Our Master the Prophet explained:

“Among all of you, I am the one who fears Allah (swt) the most.”  [Bukhari]

“The fear of Allah is the start of all wisdom.”  [Tabarani]

“A big fear of Allah (swt) means big intelligence.”  [I. Muhbar]

“If you sufficiently feared Allah, you would have a good wisdom.”  [Ibn Sunni]

“One who weeps out of God’s fear will not go to the hell.”  [Tirmidhi]

“As for one whose heart feels tremble due to the fear of Allah, their sins will fall just like leaves falling from trees.”  [Bayhaqi]

“All of the pious avoiding from the harams for fear of Allah will go to the Paradise without a reckoning.”  [Tabarani]


# Allah (swt) possesses unlimited mercy and compassion

Although a believer fears his Rab much, they will also never lose their hope from His mercy. It is explained in the verses:

"O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  [Zumar, 53]

What can Allah gain by your punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe.  [Nisa, 147]

Hadiths provide us with the following information:

“If a believer knew the severity of Allah’s wrath, they would not hope the Paradise, and if an unbeliever knew the infinity of Allah’s mercy, they would not lose their hope of the Paradise.” [Muslim]

“Allah’s mercy to believers is more than a mother’s mercy to her child.”  [Bukhari]

“Allah (swt) will prohibit the Hell for those who recite, La ilahe illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah”.  [Bukhari]

“Allah (swt) will forgive so many people as no one can guess on the judgment day. Even Satan will hope that he might be forgiven.”  [Ibn Abiddunya]

“I am Allah; there is no god but me. My mercy exceeds my wrath. One who acknowledges that there are no gods but Allah and that Mohammed is His servant and messenger will go to the Paradise.”  [Daylami]


# Those who deserve the Paradise will not experience sorrow

Our Rab has infinite mercy. Do not you see that although unbelievers commit all kinds of vulgarities against Allah (swt) every day, He patiently waits until their last breath for them to repent? But they will not find the same mercy in the afterworld. Only believers will be treated with mercy there.

Believers will be blessed by having Allah’s assistance and support in all moments in the world and they will also have the same in the afterworld in proportion to their faith, and they will be provided with a great favor and beneficence. Even those who have a modicum of faith in their heart will take their share from this support.

No one will be treated unjustly there, unbelievers will be directly sent to the hell while believers will eventually be awarded in the paradise after suffering a punishment in the rate of their sins. As for the blessings of the paradise:

“The paradise contains blessings which no one has seen, heard of, or even imagined.” [Muslim]

“Only a name similarly exists between the blessings in the paradise and those in the world.” [Bayhaqi]

“Dwellers of the paradise will never get sick or aged; they will never feel sorrow but be always joyful.”  [Muslim]


# The greatest happiness of believers: The Sight (Ruyatullah)

Dear readers, although an eternal paradise life where one reaches all their desires is a great award for believers, the main happiness for them will be to see their Rab who they had always desired to see in the world but failed. Unbelievers will be destitute of this great happiness too. The sight is a right.

Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled.  [Mutaffifin, 15]

Some faces, that Day, will beam (in brightness and beauty);- Looking towards their Lord;  [Qiyamah, 22-23]

Our Master the Prophet stated:

“As you can see the full moon, you will clearly see your Rab on the judgment day.”  [Bukhari]

Dear readers, as you all know, Allah (swt) is free of all temporal and spatial limitations. And only He can know how He will manifest without such limitations in the afterworld. Valued scholars of our religion stated that everyone will see Allah (swt) in the afterworld to the extent in which they remembered Him in the world. So let us remember Him much in the world so that we will see Him much in the afterworld.

May our Lord make us one of those who He pleases with His paradise in the eternal world.


Be entrusted to Allah.