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Begin Right, Begin Light: New Year Message by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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As 2019 begins, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani encourages us to look forward positively and see everything around us as signs from Allah.

Much is going on in the world, much that can be considered stressful, disappointing and devastating However, the believer looks at the world as a sign of Allah.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, when he would wake up for night worship, would recite:

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.  (Sura Ali Imran, 2: 190-191)

Signs in the creation point to the Creator. A believer looks from the eye of faith; everything in this world is from Allah. The struggle of servitude is figuring out how to turn to Allah in the moments where He manifests.

Life is about the Beloved, and there is one Beloved: Allah. The believer sees everything in their life as good, and reminds themselves about Allah’s call to seek Him and know Him.

When we begin something with Bismillah, we are saying, “I am doing this with Allah, for Allah, reliant upon Allah.” These are the keys to the beginning of guidance.

Let’s begin our year with light, and make our year a year of light. Let’s make everything for Allah, reliant on Allah, with Allah and conscious of Allah. If love for Allah is true, what is there to worry about? Everything else is mere dust.

However, there are things to do, so let us direct ourselves to the highest of matters in the best of ways, recognising our shortcomings.

May Allah grant us the most blessed of years, most blissful of years, a year of light, where we begin right and end right, beginning with Allah and ending with Allah. We are Allah’s and to Him we are ever returning.

 

Iman Beyond the Masjid by Shaykh Ahmed Abdo

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What is Iman beyond the masjid? Look to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings upon him, and he will light the way, says Shaykh Ahmed Abdo.

If the light of the sinning believer was revealed the light would envelop the entire universe, what then of the light of the Muslim who is in obedience? And what is the source of this light?

It is the sacred way and tradition of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. His living is good for us, and his death is good for us.

Allah, Sublime and Majestic, granted his noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, the concern and authority to view the actions of his Umma and when he sees that which is good he praises his Lord, and when he sees other than good, our noble messenger seeks forgiveness on our behalf.

Step One: Go to the Highest Authority. Go to Allah’s Messenger

We take example from the noble lady Fatima al Zahra who went to her father for all things that happened in her life. In times of worry, in times of pain or suffering, Fatima went to the noble messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

When in need go to the Messenger of Allah. He will bring you ease and solve your problems. Go by means of sending blessings. Remember him, send peace and blessings upon him, and he will seek assistance for you.

Follow in his footsteps, and he will light your way. Adorn yourself with his manners and you will be illumined. Then the light of Faith sets in the heart and manifests in every place and action.

Step Two: Seek to become like him

In following in his noble footsteps one learns to live fully. One learns to live faith. Footstep by footstep, day by day one remembers Allah. Faith is the everyday when fueled by intentions.

Every moment is an opportunity to illuminate all of your affairs. An opportunity to bring blessings into your life.

In following in his noble footsteps, in uttering his blessed words and doing what he has done, blessings and peace be upon him, one becomes alive to the reality of existing for Allah. Rejoice in the illumination of faith.

Resources for Seekers:

We are grateful to Othman Bin Affan Cabramatta Mosque for the video.

I Pay the Electricity Bill of a Mosque. What Is the Reward?

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Answered by Shaykh Sulayman Van Ael

Question: Assalam alaykum,

Is there any hadith regarding the reward for providing lightning for a mosque? Is it valid to make intention to pay the electricity bill for the mosque as a mean to provide lighting for the believers so that Allah may put light in my grave?

Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Dear questioner about light on the day of resurrection,

No direct proof

There is no direct proof that states that Allah will provide he who provides light for the mosque, with light.

Indirect proof

It is known that Muhammad – peace and blessings be upon him – said: “Actions will be rewarded in harmony with the intention behind them.” And – peace and blessings be upon him – said: “The water of Zamzam will result in that what it was drunk for.” (This is a sound hadith, declared authentic by as-Suyuti, Ibn Hajar, Ibn Khuzayman, Ibn Hummam, ad-Daylami, al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and others)

The early muslims and their understanding of these indirect proofs

Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi drunk from Zam-Zam with three intentions. Ibn Khuzayma was asked where he got his knowledge from. He said: because of the du’a he made while drinking from zam-zam. Others drunk from zam-zam with the intention not to experience any form of thirst on the day of the resurrection.

Be sincere

If you are sincere in what you want, then Allah will give you what you ask for. In the time of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – a man wanted to die in a certain way. And it did take place exactly as he said. Muhammad – peace and blessing be upon him – said: “He was sincere with Allah so Allah gave him what he was longing for.”

Conclusion

If you do this with the intention that Allah will give you light on the day of resurrection, then I believe that all these general proofs and many others that I did not mention show us that you will get what you long for as long as you are sincere.

Better vs. best

I still think that the best thing is to leave things up to Allah. He knows best what we need most. Maybe it is not light in your grave that you need most, but something else.

Worship is for Allah alone

The best thing is to do good because it pleases Allah, and not to think about the reward. That Allah chose you to be that element in this universe through which He wants to be worshipped is the biggest reward and most generous Divine present.

I ask Allah to take us by the hand to everything that pleases Him, amin.

Wassalam
[Shaykh] Sulayman Van Ael

Shaykh Sulayman Van Ael received ijazah from various luminaries in the ten Qur’anic readings, in Ihya Ulum al-Din, in the major books of hadith, in different texts in Guelph classical Islamic sciences–including grammar, tafsir, fiqh, and usul.

Was I Wrong to Fix My Gaze Towards a Light While Praying?

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Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah

Question: Assalamu alaykum

Recently while praying in a mildly dark room, a small red circle appeared in my vision. Because it helped me focus better, I focused my vision on the light. Was this an acceptable thing to do?

Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam. Thank you for your question.

The general ruling is that it is recommend for one to fix their gaze upon the place of prostration during prayer, as it is closer to humbleness and humility (khushu’). It is disliked to look or fix one’s gaze elsewhere, unless for a need or if it increases one’s concentration and khushu’. [Mughni al Muhtaj]

As such, there is nothing objectionable in of itself to what you did, so long as your thoughts were directed towards Allah Most High, reflecting on your recital, and not distracted by the light.

However, if you found that you attached some meaning or importance to the light, even unintentionally, then you should avoid it.

And Allah knows best.

Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah

Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.

Was Prophet Muhammad Light or Human? Is It Obligatory for Me to Know About Every Religious Matter?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Was Prophet Muhammad light or human? Can du’a change Qadar (Destiny)? People around keep debating these issues and I don’t know what to say. Is it obligatory for me to know about every religious matter?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

Most debates on these matters relate to peripheral aspects of prophetology and theology. An individual is not required to understand or know the details of these debates. Rather, in the context of the issues you raise, all that one needs to affirm is:

(a) The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) was a human as affirmed in the Qur’an, “I am but man” (18:110) but unlike any other human since he was someone “who is divinely inspired” as the verse continues to affirm. As Shaykh Nuh Keller states:

The important qualificatory phrase in this verse shows us that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was a completely different sort of human being from anyone else, then or now. For none of us can say he is divinely inspired as the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was. [Keller, Haqiqat al-Muhammadiyya]

At the same time, we also affirm generally that the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) was a “light from God” (5:15). However, apart from generally affirming this, it is not obligatory for an individual to know the details surrounding the matter in terms of the modality of this light, its relation to the prophetic humanness, and so forth.

(b) Qadar is affirmed due to the myriad number of texts that have come regarding it. The most famous is the hadith of Gibril where the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) defines faith as, “believing in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in pre-destination.” [Bukhari, Sahih] As for the particular nature and details of this qadar and how it relates to questions of freewill and accountability, this is not necessary to know.

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.

What does Allah mean by “Light Upon Light”? – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Shaykh Faraz Rabbani explains the Verses of Light (Surat al-Nur 35-38) from the Tafsir of Imam Ahmed ibn Ajiba, al-Bahr al-Madid. What is meant by the light in these verses? What is meant by the niche and oil? Who attains this light, and what are some qualities of the believers? All these questions and other meanings are answered in this brief talk by Shaykh Faraz.

This talk is part of the weekly gathering at SeekersGuidance Toronto, Circle of Light: A Night of Remembrance, Praise & Inspiration. Join us for free, in-person and online.

Help SeekersGuidance provide free classes to 1,000,000 students around the globe through our #SpreadLight campaign.