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The Glory Of Islam - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
The Glory Of
Islam
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims:
The Almighty Allah says:
“But honour, power and glory belong to Allah,
His Messenger and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.”
(Al-Munafiqoon: 8). He (SWT) also says:
“Whoever desires honour,
power and glory then to Allah belongs all honour, power and glory.” (Fatir:
10).
These above-quoted verses contain guidance for all mankind; that they
should seek for honour and glory from Allah (SWT) alone. Whoever believes in
Allah (SWT) and the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) should take pride and glory
in his faith, have self-dignity, give his allegiance to the religion of Islam
and be distinguished in his manners.
The glory of knowledge and Eeman is totally different from the glory
derived from sin and aggression, for the real glory is the one that is sought
from Allah (SWT) and not from any human being. As for the mean soul, it is
neither useful nor can it bring any good unless it is totally free from its
meanness and knows that noble life can never be achieved except by turning to
Allah (SWT) and sacrificing oneself to please Him. In order that our life may
be full with the real meaning of pride, glory and honour, Islam makes the words
of Athan begin with “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Greatest, Allah is
Greatest). Yes, Allah is greater than everything in magnificence, power and
wealth. He (SWT) is the Great One, the Most-High. Therefore, let those who ask
for glory, honour, life and wealth from the rich people remember that Allah is
richer than all, and let those who seek for honour from great men remember that
Allah (SWT) is greater than all.
Allah (SWT)
ordains that when we move from a position to another in Salah, we say ‘Allahu
Akbar,’ and say, ‘Subhana Rabbiyal-Atheem,’ while in bowing position and say,
Subhaana Rabiyal A’laa,’ (meaning: glory be to my Lord the Most High) while in
prostration. No one is higher above the creation except Allah. This gives you
the real meaning of glory and honour with which man knows his worth. All this
is ordained so that the Muslim may have certainty that every arrogant one is
actually insignificant. It is as if this proclamation (i.e. Allahu Akbar)
brings people back to their senses, just as the beauties of this world make
them heedless and mislead them. Allah (SWT) says,
“As for ‘Aad, they where arrogant in the land
without right and they said, ‘Who is mightier than us in strength?’ See they
not that Allah Who created them is mightier than them? And they used to deny
Our revelations! So We sent upon them furious wind in days of evil omen (for
them) that We might give them a taste of disgracing torment in this present
worldly life, but surely, the torment of the hereafter will be disgracing and
they will never be helped.” (Fussilat: 15-16).
Dear Muslims:
Pride, glory and honour can only be achieved through Islamic education
and impressing the Islamic creed in the hearts. It is actually this creed that
elevated the Arab Muslim, who used to patch his garments, repair his shoes and
eat only dried dates. Yes, it is through Islam that the world was governed
without being arrogant towards the truth, haughty over falsehood, aggressive in
oppression and submissive to lust. Allah (SWT) explains the way to glory and
honour in the glorious Qur’an when He (SWT) says:
“Whosoever desires honour,
power and glory, then to Allah belong all honour, power and glory (and one can
get them only by obeying and worshipping Allah alone). To Him ascends all the
goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it.” (Fatir: 10). Ibn Katheer said,
‘Whoever loves to have glory in this world and the next should adhere to
obedience of Allah, for that will actualize for him this goal and because Allah
is the possessor of this world and the next and all glory belongs to Him’.
Allah (SWT) also says,
“Say (O Muhammad): O Allah, Possessor of the
Kingdom, You give the Kingdom to whom You will and You take the Kingdom from
whom You will. You endure with honour whom You will and You humiliate whom You
will. In Your hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.” (Aal-‘Imraan:
26). Ibn Katheer in his commentary on this verse said, ‘It means. You are the
Giver, the Preventer; whatever You will happens and whatever You do not will
does not happen’.
Dear Brothers
And Sisters In Islam:
It then becomes clear that real glory and honour are attained by
obeying Allah (SWT) and following His Messenger (PBUH) and that real ignominy
and disgrace are caused by not obeying Him. If, however, what appears to be
glory is seen on a sinful person, there are disgrace and ignominy underneath
that, which may be known or unknown to him. Al-Hasan al-Basree said about
sinful people, ‘Even if they ride horses and mules, the ignominy of their sins
has overpowered them, for Allah (SWT) insists that He will disgrace whoever
disobeys Him,’ He (SWT) said,
“And whoever Allah disgraces, none can honour
Him.” (Al-Hajj: 18). The sinner is disgraced and will be in misery in this life
and the next. Allah (SWT) says,
“But whoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e.
neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its orders) verily, for him is a
life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Ta Ha: 124).
As for people of knowledge and Eeman, they shall have glory, honour and
happiness in this world and the next. They will not be deceived by the apparent
beauty of the rich people of this world for they know that Qaroon was given of
the beauty of this world and that when his people wished for the same, the
people of knowledge and Eeman among them
said:
“Woe to you! The reward of
Allah (in the hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good
deeds.” (Al-Qasas: 80).
Some scholars said,. ‘Whoever obeys Allah (SWT) and keeps away from
sins, Allah (SWT) will give him glory, for there is no act of obedience that is
not accompanied by glory and honour and there is no sin that is not accompanied
by disgrace; and Allah has linked glory to acts of obedience and then made it
light. He equally linked disgrace to sin and then made it disgrace, darkness
and a screen between Allah and the sinner.’
Dear Muslims:
Man may be reveling in his physical strength, and then illness comes to
him suddenly and wrecks him. He may be reveling in his wealth and then suddenly
his wealth becomes a disaster that kills him. He may be reveling in his lineage
and then become so helpless as he does not have any lineage. He may be reveling
in his knowledge and then be affected by corruption and error. He may be
reveling in his wealth, fame and power and suddenly become afflicted with a
calamity that will turn him to the meanest and most insignificant person.
People’s pride and glorying in all the above is therefore meaningless and that
is caused by erroneous thinking.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (RAA) went to Syria
After the battle of Uhud, when Abu Sufyaan (then the commander of the
Makkan army) wanted to leave, he stood on a mountain and proclaimed as loud as
he could, ‘Wars are won in turns! This is in return for your victory in the
battle of Badr. Up Hubal!’ The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, ‘Rise up, O
Umar, and answer him.’ Umar (RAA) then said, ‘Allah is rather the Most-High and
the Greatest. Our dead are in Paradise , while
your dead are in Hell!’ (Ahmed).
Dear Muslims:
The glory of Islam is one of guidance not of violence. Rustum requested
Sa’d ibn Abee Waqaas (RAA) to send him an envoy with whom he could negotiate
before the start of al-Qadisiyyah battle and Sa’d sent al-Mugheerah bin Shu’bah
(RAA). Among what he told Rustum was, ‘We do not desire this world; our desire
and concern are for the hereafter.’ Sa’d then sent another envoy to him that
was Rib’ei bin Amir. Rib’ei entered upon him and was then asked, ‘What brings
you here?’ He answered, ‘Allah sent us to bring out those He wills from
worshipping creatures to worshipping Allah; from the narrowness of this world
to it’s spaciousness; from injustice of other religions to justice of Islam’.
This honourable companion exemplified glory in its highest form, he understood
well his mission in this world, to lead the world towards the way of Allah
(SWT), the Lord of the whole universe.
The most dangerous problem that affects Muslims these days is
self-defeat and weak aspiration that results in degeneration and retrogress.
They therefore in seriously need to impress the meaning of pride and glory in
the hearts of their youths, so that it becomes part of their personality,
reforms their thought, raises their names and encourages them to aim high.
A believer who is always conscious of Allah (SWT) will feel a sense of
glory that is derived from his servitude to Allah in his heart, for he knows
that Allah (SWT) is the Lord, the Provider and the Possessor of all things. Having
been aware of all this, he will have no fear of anything besides Him (SWT).
Allah (SWT) also says, “So do
not become weak (against your enemy) nor be sad and you will be superior in
victory if you are indeed true believers.” (Aal-‘Imraan: 139). Allah
(SWT) does not want a Muslim to be weakened or humiliate himself; He wants him
to be always brave, confident and patient.
May Allah (SWT) help us to restore our glory, to liberate our holy
places and to stop our bloodshed all over the world. May He (SWT) bless, guide
and forgive us all. (Ameen).
Do not therefore treat the matter of repentance lightly for
it is the way out of all hardships. Hold fast unto the Book of Allah and the
Sunnah of His Messenger (PBUH) for they are the light and guidance that save
from darkness and error.
O Allah, grant us the sincere repentance
and accept it from us, verily You are the
All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. May Allah
(SWT) bless, guide and forgive us all.
(Ameen).
