WLUMSA Newsletter
EDITION 1. January 2009
ﺃﺷﻬﺪ ﺃﻥ ﻻ ﺇﻟﻪ ﺇ ّﻻﹶ ﺍﷲ ﻭ ﺃﺷﻬﺪ ﺃﻥ ﳏﻤﺪ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ ﺍﷲ I testify that there is no source of reference except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The Muslims’ Creed
CONTENTS
A Thorough Understanding of the Shahadah
The Muslims’ Creed
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Gaza Massacre
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As Salemu Aleikum As Muslims, we are all required to believe in the following two statements: “Laa ilaaha Ila Laah” “Muhammadan Rassul Al Laah” These two statements are the foundation of our belief and creed, our identity, and what makes us Muslim.
Verses & Hadith
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WLUMSA Information
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If you were to ask any Muslim about what makes him Muslim, and what differentiates him from everyone else, or what differentiates his belief from any other, he would tell you the following sentence which combines these two statements:
Due to the above reason, you will notice that this sentence and statements have not yet been translated, as they will further be discussed in this article, In Sha'A llah.
“Ashhadu An Laa ilaaha Ila Laah, Wa Ashadu Ana Muhammadan Rasool Al Laah”
But a very important point to keep in mind is that when a Muslim says the word “Ashahadu”, it means bearing witness and testifying. This is like a person brought forth to a court in front of a judge, and asked to give an oath that a person saw such and such or did such and such.
This sentence is known as the “kalimah” (the word) or “shahadah” (the testimony). It is the sentence that is the most said and repeated by both old and new Muslims all over the world, defining them as Muslims, and bringing them into the fold of Islam. Yet today, it is the least understood.
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“The Muslims’ Creed” continues next page
That is why it is called the “Shahadah” (testimony). So wouldn't it be very important to know what it is exactly we are bearing witness upon and giving an oath on?
Notice that even if you substitute the word “god” in this verse, the understanding still passes on, but the word “god” in itself is far from giving the full meaning in English, and thus it is better to leave it as “ilaah”.
would maximize the amount of rewards he could gather by praying in Mosques, and undertaking such a long and hard journey to do so.
In the case of the verse, the person took his whims and desires (hawa) as his reference, and thus he took his hawa as his “ilaah”.
The problem is that this is a person's own assumption, and a proof to the above is what the Messenger of Allah (SLAWS) said in a narration.
Source of Reference The first statement of “Laa ilaaha Ila Laah” is usually weakly translated as: “There is no god but God”. However, it would be more accurate to state it as: “there is no other ilaah but Allah”. The reason for this is that usually, weak translations are given for the word “ilaah”, and with this weak translation comes a weak and incomplete understanding.
Whims and desires (or hawa), meaning that the person based his judgement and reference on something that did not come from Allah (SWT), and is therefore baseless, taking himself as his “ilaah”, and taking himself as his own reference. So when we say “Laa ilaaha Ila Laah” (There is no other “ilaah” but Allah), it means that there is no other source of reference or deification but Allah (SWT), as “ila” in Arabic means to the exception of anything else.
This incomplete understanding is so deep that many of the people of today who speak Arabic also do not understand it, because it not an issue of just a word, but a complete concept of its own. So as Muslims, we cannot refer to anything else in our lives, or take anything The word ilaah is usually translated as else as a source of reference but Allah (SWT), and if we do “god” or “deity”, but a better approach so we would be associating with Allah to this issue is to define this word as (SWT). Allah (SWT) Himself has defined it in His book, the Qur'an. In other words, any concept, emotion, or idea must come from Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) says:
ً أَ َرأَﯾْﺖَ َﻣ ِﻦ اﺗﱠ َﺨ َﺬ إِﻟَﮭَﮫُ ھَ َﻮاهُ أَﻓَﺄَ ْﻧﺖَ ﺗَ ُﻜﻮنُ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿ ِﮫ َو ِﻛFor example, assume a person said water ﯿﻼ is permissible for him to drink. Who did this person refer to in order for him to “Have you seen the one who has taken come to the conclusion that water is permissible to drink? his whims and desires as his ilaah? Will you then be a disposer of affairs for him?” [TMQ 25:43] It is clear from this verse that Allah is explaining to us that a person can take an abstract concept (such as whims and desires) as his “ilaah”.
If I assumed that it was permissible to drink, then it is my own conclusion based on my own personal opinion, which means that in effect I referred to myself to come to such a conclusion, and not what Allah (SWT) said.
Allah is not talking about a statue or a person, but whims and desires, so an “ilaah” can be anything that you take as your reference, that you refer to on how you approach life and organize it.
Another representation of this mistake is the example of a person who decides that he would like to undertake a world tour to visit all the Mosques of the world, and therefore he, in his mind,
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ﺓﹶﺮﺮﻳ ﻦ ﹶﺃﺑﹺﻲ ﻫ ﻋ ﺸﺪ ﻢ ﻟﹶﺎ ﺗ ﱠﻠﺳ ﻭﻪﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻲ ﺻ ﻨﺒﹺ ﺍﻟﹸﻠﻎﹸ ﺑﹺﻪﻳﺒ ﻫﺬﹶﺍ ﻱﺠﺪ ﺴﹺ ﻣﺎ ﹺﺟﺪﺴ ﻣﺎ ﹸﻝ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﺇﹺﻟﹶﻰ ﺛﹶﻠﹶﺎﺛﹶﺔﺮﺣ ﺍﻟ ﻣﺍ ﹺﻡ ﻭﺮ ﺍﹾﻟﺤﺠﺪ ﺴﹺ ﻣﻭ ﻰ )ﺻﺤﻴﺢﺪ ﺍﻟﹾﹶﺄ ﹾﻗﺼ ﺴﺠﹺ (ﻣﺴﻠﻢ Abu Huraira (RA) reported it directly from the Messenger of Allah (SLAWS) that he said: “Do not undertake a journey but to three mosques: this mosque of mine (in Medina), the Mosque of al-Haram (in Mecca) and the Mosque of al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).” [Saheeh Muslim] The above examples are simple examples that we take for granted, but even those need to be referred back to Allah (SWT), as it is stated that there is no other “ilaah” (source of guidance and reference) but Him. Another example is that of two companions who made the same mistake at the time of the Messenger of Allah (SLAWS):
ﻘﹸﻮﻝﹸ ﻳﻪﻋﻨ ﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﺿ ﺭﻚﺎﻟ ﻣﻦ ﺑﻧﺲﹶﺃ ﻠﱠﻢﺳﻪ ﻭ ﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻲ ﺻ ﻨﺒﹺﺍﺝﹺ ﺍﻟﺯﻭ ﺕ ﺃﹶ ﻮﺑﻴ ﻂ ﺇﹺﻟﹶﻰ ﻫ ﺎﺀَ ﺛﹶﻠﹶﺎﺛﹶﺔﹸ ﺭﺟ ﻢﻧﻬﻭﺍ ﻛﹶﹶﺄﺧﺒﹺﺮ ﺎ ﺃﹸﻢ ﻓﹶﹶﻠﻤ ﻠﱠﺳﻪ ﻭ ﻠﹶﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻲ ﺻ ﻨﺒﹺ ﺍﻟﺩﺓ ﺎﻋﺒ ﻦﺴﺄﹶﻟﹸﻮﻥﹶ ﻋ ﻳ ﺮ ﻏﹸﻔ ﹶﻗﺪﱠﻠﻢﺳﻪ ﻭ ﻠﹶﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻲ ﺻ ﻨﺒﹺ ﺍﻟﻦ ﻣﻦﻧﺤ ﻦﹶﺃﻳﺎ ﻓﹶﻘﹶﺎﻟﹸﻮﺍ ﻭﻘﹶﺎﻟﱡﻮﻫﺗ ﻠﱢﻲﻲ ﺃﹸﺻﺎ ﻓﹶﹺﺈﻧﺎ ﹶﺃﻧﻢ ﺃﹶﻣ ﻫ ﺣﺪ ﻗﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﹶﺃﺮﹶﺄﺧﺎ ﺗﻣ ﻭﻧﺒﹺﻪﻦ ﺫﹶ ﻣﻡ ﹶﻘﺪﺎ ﺗ ﻣﻟﹶﻪ
ﻢﻧﺘﺎ ﺃﹶﻮﻫﺘﻤﻤﻴ ﺎﺀً ﺳﺳﻤ ﻪ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﺃﹶ ﻭﻧﹺﻦ ﺩ ﻭﻥﹶ ﻣﺒﺪﻌ ﺎ ﺗﻣ ﻢ ﻜﹾﻥ ﺍﹾﻟﺤ ﻥ ﺇﹺ ﻠﹾﻄﹶﺎ ﺳﻦﺎ ﻣ ﹺﺑﻬ ﹶﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﺰﺎ ﹶﺃﻧ ﻣﺅﻛﹸﻢ ﺎﺁﺑﻭ ﻴﻢﻦ ﺍﻟﹾﻘﹶ ﻳ ﺍﻟﺪﻚﻩ ﺫﹶﻟ ﺎﻭﺍ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﹺﺇﻳﺒﺪﻌ ﺮ ﺃﹶﻟﱠﺎ ﺗ ﻪ ﺃﹶﻣ ﻠﱠﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﻟ ﻮﻥﹶﹶﻠﻤﻌﺱ ﻟﹶﺎ ﻳ ﺎ ﹺ ﺍﻟﻨﻦ ﹶﺃﻛﹾﺜﹶﺮ ﻟﹶﻜﻭ
ﺎﺮ ﹶﺃﻧ ﻗﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﺁﺧ ﻭﺮﻟﹶﺎ ﹸﺃﻓﹾﻄﺮ ﻭ ﻫﻡ ﺍﻟﺪ ﻮﺎ ﺃﹶﺻﺮ ﹶﺃﻧ ﻭﻗﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﺁﺧ ﺍﺪ ﹶﻞ ﹶﺃﺑ" ﺍﻟﱠﻠﻴIf not Him, you worship ﻪﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﺻﻮ ﹸﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﺳﺎﺀَ ﺭﺍ ﹶﻓﺠﺪﺝ ﹶﺃﺑ ﺰﻭ ﺎ َﺀ ﻓﹶﻠﹶﺎ ﹶﺃﺗﺴﺰﹺ ﹸﻝ ﺍﻟﻨﻋﺘ ﺃﹶnothing but names which you have named - you and your ﻲ ﹺﺇﻧﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﺎ ﻭﻭ ﹶﻛﺬﹶﺍ ﺃﹶﻣ ﻢ ﻛﹶﺬﹶﺍ ﻗﹸ ﹾﻠﺘﻳﻦﻢ ﺍﻟﱠﺬ ﺘﻢ ﻓﹶﻘﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﹶﺃﻧ ﹺﻬﻢ ﺇﹺﹶﻟﻴ ﱠﻠﺳ ﻭfathers - for which Allah has ﺭﹸﻗﺪ ﺃﹶﻠﱢﻲ ﻭﺃﹸﺻ ﻭﺮﹸﺃﻓﹾﻄ ﻭﻮﻡﻲ ﺃﹶﺻﻜﻨ ﻪ ﻟﹶ ﻢ ﻟﹶ ﻘﹶﺎﻛﹸﹶﺃﺗ ﻭﻠﱠﻪﻢ ﻟ ﺎ ﹸﻛﺸ ﹶﻟﹶﺄﺧsent down no authority: the ﻲ )ﺻﺤﻴﺢﻣﻨ ﺲﻲ ﻓﹶﹶﻠﻴﻨﺘﺳ ﻦ ﻋﺐﻏ ﺭﻦﺎﺀَ ﹶﻓﻤﺴ ﺍﻟﻨﻭﺝ ﺰﹶﺃﺗ ﻭrule is for none but Allah: He has commanded that you ( ﺍﻟﺒﺨﺎﺭﻱworship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most people understand not. Narrated Anas bin Malik: [TMQ 12:40] A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet So Yousuf (AS) was telling his asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed people that what they came up about that, they considered their wor- with was not from Allah ship insufficient and said, "Where are (SWT), and therefore they worshipped themselves in addition we from the Prophet as his past and future sins have been forgiven." Then to Allah (SWT), as they did not take Him as the sole reference. one of them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever." The other said, "I will fast throughout You will notice that it is the unfortunate human disposition the year and will not break my fast." The third said, "I will keep away from that they usually don't think twice before they make concluthe women and will not marry forsions, or judgements, without ever." Allah's Apostle came to them first thinking about whether and said, "Are you the same people this is from them or from Allah who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am (SWT), and thus guidance was more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and sent to mankind. break my fast, I do sleep and I also People will always come up marry women. So he who does not with different issues thinking follow my tradition in religion, is not that they are doing good, while from me (not one of my followin reality these things can lead ers)." [Saheeh Bukhari] to misguidance and misery. Each one assumed that what he was about to do was good, and something that could gain them more reward. However, the Prophet (SLAWS) repudiated them and warned them of not being from him, as in his followers. This concept is summarized by Prophet Yousuf (AS) in the Qur'an in the following verse:
If man was able to guide himself, then there would be no need for guidance from Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) says: ﺮ ﻟﹶ ﹸﻜﻢ ﺧﻴ ﻫﻮ ﻴﺌﹰﺎ ﻭﻮﺍ ﺷﻫﻜﹾﺮﻰ ﹶﺃ ﹾﻥ ﺗﺴﻋ… ﻭ ﹶﻠﻢﻌ ﻳﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﻭﺮ ﻟﹶ ﹸﻜﻢ ﺷﻫﻮ ﻴﺌﹰﺎ ﻭﺷ ﻮﺍﺤﺒ ﻰ ﹶﺃﻥﹾ ﺗﺴﻋﻭ ﻮﻥﹶﻠﹶﻤﻌﻢ ﻟﹶﺎ ﺗ ﻧﺘﹶﺃﻭ 3
… and it could be that you hate something and it is good for you, and it could be that you love something and it is bad for you, and Allah knows and you know not. [TMQ 2:216] In other words, if man could decide for himself as to what is permitted or not, and what is good or not, then he would not need guidance. Allah (SWT) also says: ﻬﻢ ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﹶﺃﻧﺒﺴﻳﺤ ﻢﻫﺎ ﻭﻧﻴ ﺍﻟﺪﺎﺓﻴﻲ ﺍﹾﻟﺤ ﻓﻬﻢ ﻴﻌﻞﱠ ﺳﻦ ﺿ ﻳﺍﱠﻟﺬ ﺎﻌﺻﻨ ﻮ ﹶﻥﺴﻨ ِ ﻳﺤ "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life. While they thought that they were acquiring good by their own works?” [TMQ 18:104] The issue is simple. Did we refer to Allah (SWT) or to ourselves, even if by some coincidence what we undertook or thought turned out to be the same as what Allah (SWT) has commanded, but was it from Him? This topic goes beyond what most people see on the surface. A different way to think about it is with the following example. Assume that Allah (SWT) told us that eating pork was permitted, then what would a person's reaction be to that? If Allah (SWT) permitted it, then it is good. Therefore, it is not an issue of something being good or bad on its own, but rather what Allah (SWT) decided to be good or bad. It is the criteria that Allah (SWT) has chosen for His servants. It is the criteria that He set by which He decides who enters Jannah (Heaven) and who enters Jahanam (Hell).
Therefore, it is ultimately based on what He (Allah (SWT)) has set, and not what we think, and therefore we need to know His rules, and not ours. Isn't it His Jannah that we are trying to enter after-all? This concept of “ilaah” is something we all must agree upon as Muslims, and to diverge from this is to commit shirk (association with Allah (SWT)), because this is what defines us as Muslims: “Laa ilaaha Ila Laah”. “There is no other ilaah (source of guidance or reference) but Allah” The Messenger of Allah as the carrier of Allah's message We say, “laa ilaaha Ila Laah, Muhammadan Rasool al Laah” (There is no other ilaah but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). This statement set Allah (SWT) as the sole reference, however it does not state that Muhammad (SLAWS) is a source, but rather a messenger of Allah (SWT). Muhammad (SLAWS) is the messenger of Allah (SWT), which means that he came with a message, and the message is the Qur'an. So thus far, the Qur'an, which is the word of Allah (SWT), is our sole source of reference, and is the only thing we refer to, in order to make sure that we take only Allah (SWT) as our “ilaah”, and do not refer to anyone or anything else, whether people, statues, or our own whims and desires.
So if Muslims were to differ with each other, then the measuring ruler by which they should resolve their differences is the Qur'an and whatever the Prophet (SLAWS) said or ﻘﹸﻮﺍﺍﺗﻮﺍ ﻭﺘﻬﻧ ﻓﹶﺎﻪﻋﻨ ﺎ ﹸﻛﻢﻧﻬ ﺎﻣﻩ ﻭ ﺨﺬﹸﻭ ﻮﻝﹸ ﻓﹶﺳ ﺍﻟﺮﺎ ﹸﻛﻢﺎ ﺁﺗﻣ ﻭ... did, the sunnah. ﻘﹶﺎﺏﹺﺪ ﺍﻟﹾﻌ ﻳﺪ ﺷﻪ ﹺﺇﻥﱠ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ And not to even the people of authority among you (the Muslims), as “... So take what the Messenger has they themselves need to refer to given you, and forbid yourselves these two sources, as the verse that which he forbade you. And fear clearly states. Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishment.” [TMQ 59:7] It is important to point out a subtle misunderstanding here. ﻮﺟﺮ ﻛﹶﺎﻥﹶ ﻳﻦﻟﻤ ﹲﺔﺴﻨ ﹲﺓ ﺣﺳﻮ ﻪ ﺃﹸ ﻮ ﹺﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﺳﻲ ﺭ ﻓﺪ ﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﻥ ﻟﹶ ﹸﻜﻢ ﻟﹶ ﹶﻘ ﺍﺜﲑ ﻛﹶﺮ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﺫﹶﻛﹶ ﻭﺮﻡ ﺍﻵﺧ ﻴﻮﺍﻟﹾﻪ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﱠThe Prophet of Allah (SLAWS) is not a source himself, as everything that he says or does are directions “You have indeed in the Messenger and revelation from Allah (SWT), of Allah a the best of examples for and thus is a carrier of Allah's (SWT) any one whose hope is in Allah and commands. the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah.” [TMQ In other words, Allah (SWT) is still 33:21] the sole source of reference, and no one else has the right to this but Him, So the above evidences are clear in and thus the statement still stands: their meaning that whatever the “Laa ilaaha Ila Laah” (There is no Prophet (SLAWS) says or does is other source of reference or from Allah (SWT), and has to be guidance but Allah). taken and acted upon, as he is His Messenger, and is the practical appli- We take what the Prophet (SLAWS) cation of Allah’s (SWT) message. says or does, not just because he is a This is the sunnah (tradition, way) of prophet, as we would not have any the Messenger. justification for such a conclusion and would take ourselves as our And as Allah (SWT) says: “ilaah”, but because we have been directed to do so by Allah (SWT), ﺮﹺﻲ ﺍﹾﻟﺄﹶﻣﺃﹸﻭﻟﻮﻝﹶ ﻭﺳﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﺮﻴﻌﺃﹶﻃ ﻭﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻴﻌﻮﺍ ﹶﺃﻃﻣﻨ ﺁﻳﻦﺎ ﺍﻟﱠﺬﻳﻬﺎ ﺃﹶ ﻳand whatever His Messenger ﺘﻢﻨﻮ ﹺﻝ ﹺﺇﻥﹾ ﻛﹸﺳﺍﻟﺮﻪ ﻭ ﻩ ﺇﹺﻟﹶﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ ﻭﺩ ٍﺀ ﻓﹶﺮﻲﻲ ﺷ ﻓﺘﻢﻋ ﺎﺯﺗﻨ ﻢ ﻓﹶﹺﺈﻥﹾ ﹸﻜﻣﻨ (SLAWS) says or does is from Him, as Allah (SWT) already stated. ﹾﺄﻭﹺﻳﻼﹰﻦ ﺗ ﺴﹶﺃﺣﺮ ﻭ ﺧﻴ ﻚ ﹺﺮ ﺫﹶﻟ ﹺﻡ ﺍﻟﹾﺂﺧﻴﻮﺍﻟﹾﻪ ﻭ ﻮ ﹶﻥ ﺑﹺﺎﻟﻠﱠﻣﻨ ﺗﺆ “Nor does he say anything of (his own) Desire. - It is but revelation that is revealed to him” [TMQ 53:3-4]
O you who believed! obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it back to Allah It is in this source of reference, the and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is Qur'an, that Allah (SWT) says: best, and most suitable for final deﻰﻮﺣ ﻳﻲﻭﺣ ﻮ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﻫ ﹺﺇﻥﹾ- ﻯﻮﻦﹺ ﺍﹾﻟﻬ ﻋﻖﻄﻳﻨ ﺎﻣ ﻭtermination. [TMQ 4:59]
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Thus, Allah (SWT) is still the sole source of reference as all comes from Him, and whatever the Prophet (SLAWS) says or does is from Him. The core message of every single Prophet sent to mankind was to remind mankind of this message, and it is always the first thing to be forgotten, and thus people start to make their own thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.
ﻻ ﺇﹺﻟﹶﻪﻪ ﹶﺃﻧﻪﻲ ﺇﹺﹶﻟﻴﻮﺣﻮ ﹴﻝ ﺇﹺﻻ ﻧﺳ ﺭﻦ ﻣﻚﻠ ﹶﻗﺒﻦﺎ ﻣ ﹾﻠﻨﺳﺎ ﺃﹶﺭﻣﻭ ﻭﻥﺒﺪﺎ ﻓﹶﺎﻋﺇﹺﻻ ﹶﺃﻧ “Not a messenger did We send before you except that We reveal to him: that there is no other ilaah but I. Therefore worship and serve Me.” [TMQ 21:25] Allah (SWT) has made the Messengers not only those who bring His message, but also embody it, and exemplify it for all to see and understand, so one cannot be taken without the other, as one is explained through the other. The message is the theoretical form, and the Messenger of Allah (SLAWS) implements the practical form, so that mankind has no excuse in front of his Lord on the day of judgement. The Qur'an and Sunnah can never be separated. The Prophet Muhammad (SLAWS) is the last Messenger to mankind, and thus the final testament to mankind as to what is required of us to enter Jannah. It would be fitting, In Sha'A llah, to end this article with the following verse from Allah's (SWT) book. Allah (SWT) says: ﻲﻤﺘ ﻌ ﻧﹺ ﹸﻜﻢﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻤﺖ ﺗﻤﹶﺃ ﻭ ﹸﻜﻢﻳﻨﻢ ﺩ ﺖ ﻟﹶﻜﹸ ﹾﻠﻡ ﹶﺃ ﹾﻛﻤ ﻴﻮ… ﺍﻟﹾ ﻴﺿﺭﻭ ... ﺎﻳﻨ ﺩﻠﹶﺎﻡﻢ ﺍﻟﹾﺈﹺﺳ ﺖ ﻟﹶ ﹸﻜ … Today I have completed your deen, and have perfected my blessing upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your deen … [TMQ 5:3]
The Gaza Massacre
How over 1300 Worlds were Destroyed In another culmination of its decades-long oppression and bloody persecution of our dear brothers and sisters in Palestine, the Israeli State has again launched an aggressive and inhumane assault against innocent and unarmed civilians. Under the pretext of dismantling rocketlaunch sites, Israel broke its ceasefire with the popularly elected Hamas government and brought upon this world a bloody start to the New Year. Israeli air strikes included the indiscriminate use of phosphorus gas and depleted uranium, in addition to the massive but seemingly careless use of conventional ‘guided’ munitions. From this recent assault, we have stood witness to the slaughter of far over 1300 innocent Muslims, and according to Islam – our Sole Source of Reference – the extermination of over 1300 worlds. ﺮﹴﻭﻋﻤ ﻦﹺ ﺑﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﺒﻋ ﻦﻋ ﻞﹺ ﹶﻗﺘﻦ ﻣﻠﹶﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻮﻥﹸ ﻋ ﻫ ﺎ ﺃﹶﻧﻴﺪ ﺍﻝﹸ ﺍﻟﺰﻭ ﻗﹶﺎ ﹶﻝ ﻟﹶﱠﻠﻢﺳﻪ ﻭ ﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻲ ﺻ ﻨﺒﹺﹶﺃﻥﱠ ﺍﻟ (ﻠ ﹴﻢ )ﺳﻨﻦ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﻣﺬﻱﺴﻞﹴ ﻣﺭﺟ 'Abd al Laah bin 'Amrin said that the Prophet (SLAWS) said: "The extinction of the world is a lighter matter for Allah than the killing of a Muslim." [Tirmidhi, Nisaa'i, Ibn Majah, and others] We must remember that Israel was built upon Muslim Land; it is a mere colonial allocation of stolen land, in which the natives – i.e. local Muslim populations - were essentially driven into ‘reserves’. Despite this unfair allocation, Muslim land continues to dwindle due to encroaching Israeli settlements and internal blockades. The United Nations (U.N) legalized the Israeli State based on British colonial foundations and interests. However Israel itself has failed to follow subsequent U.N resolutions, 5
and its greatest patron, the United States has historically blocked many other initiatives. As a result, Israel could ‘get away’ with using chemical weapons such as phosphorus gas to intensively burn the flesh of infants, as well as expose others to depleted uranium. Israel’s war machine was mostly funded by the United States, however its freedom to use it so callously is the fault of us Muslims.
ﱠﻠﻢﺳ ﻭﻪﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﻪ ﺻ ﻮ ﹸﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﺳﻗﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﺭ ﹸﻜﻢﹶﻠﻴﻰ ﻋﺍﻋﺗﺪ ﻢ ﺃﹶ ﹾﻥ ﻣ ﺍﹾﻟﺄﹸﻚﻮﺷﻳ ﺎﺘﻬﻌ ﻰ ﺍﻟﹾﹶﺄﻛﹶﻠﹶ ﹸﺔ ﺇﹺﻟﹶﻰ ﹶﻗﺼﺍﻋﺗﺪ ﺎﹶﻛﻤ ﺬ ﻗﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﻣﺌ ﻳﻮ ﻦﻧﺤ ﻠﱠﺔﻦ ﻗ ﻣ ﹲﻞ ﻭﻓﹶﻘﹶﺎ ﹶﻝ ﻗﹶﺎﺋ ﻢ ﹸﻏﺜﹶﺎ ٌﺀ ﹸﻜﻜﻨ ﻟﹶ ﻭﺜﲑﺬ ﻛﹶ ﻣﺌ ﻳﻮ ﺘﻢﻧ ﹾﻞ ﺃﹶﺑ ﻭﺭﹺﺻﺪ ﻦ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﻋﺰﻨﹶﻟﻴﻞﹺ ﻭﺴﻴ ﻐﺜﹶﺎ ِﺀ ﺍﻟ ﻛﹶ ﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﺬﻓﹶ ﻘﹾﹶﻟﻴﻢ ﻭ ﹸﻜﻣﻨ ﺔﹶﺎﺑﻤﻬ ﺍﹾﻟﻭ ﹸﻛﻢ ﺪ ﻋ ﺎ ﹲﻞ ﻳ ﻓﹶﻘﹶﺎ ﹶﻝ ﻗﹶﺎﺋﻦﻫﻢ ﺍﹾﻟﻮ ﻲ ﻗﹸﻠﹸﻮﺑﹺﻜﹸﻓ ﺎﻧﻴﺪ ﺍﻟﺐﻦ ﻗﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﺣ ﻫﺎ ﺍﹾﻟﻮﻣﻪ ﻭ ﻮ ﹶﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﺳﺭ ﻤﻮ ﹸﺔ ﺍﻟﹾﻴﺍﻫﻭﻛﹶﺮ (ﺕ )ﺳﻨﻦ ﺃﰊ ﺩﺍﻭﺩ The Messenger of Allah (SLAWS) said: "It is imminent that the nations will call each other over you, the same way that eaters call each other to their bowl." So a person said: "Would
it be due to our small number on that day?" He said: "Nay! For on that day you will be many, but you will be scum, like the scum of the flood. And Allah will remove the fear and respect of you from the chest of your enemies. And Allah will throw in your hearts a Wahin (weakness)." So a person said: "Oh Messenger of Allah! And what is this Wahin (weakness)?" He said: "The love of this Dunya (world) and the hatred of death." [Abi Dawood] How is it that the world could silently sit by and simply let innocent children be bombed by sophisticated high-altitude F-16s? We as Muslims must reconsider our goal and mission in this life, and clearly understand the test Allah (SWT) has given us.
ﺪﻋﺒ ﻦﺎﻥﹸ ﺑﻴﻤﻠﹶﺎ ﺳﹶﺛﻨﺣﺪ ﻲ ﻘﺸﻣﺪ ﺍﻟﺪ ﺎﻟ ﺧﻦﺩ ﺑ ﻮﺤﻤ ﻣ ﺎﹶﺛﻨﺣﺪ ﻦﹺﻄﹶﺎﺀِ ﺑﻦ ﻋ ﻪ ﻋ ﻦ ﹶﺃﺑﹺﻴ ﻚ ﻋ ﺎﻟ ﹺﻦ ﹶﺃﺑﹺﻲ ﻣﻦ ﺍﺑ ﺏ ﻋ ﻮﻮ ﹶﺃﻳﻦﹺ ﹶﺃﺑﺣﻤ ﺮ ﺍﻟ ﻪ ﻮ ﹸﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﺳﺎ ﺭﻨﹶﻠﻴﻞﹶ ﻋﺮ ﻗﹶﺎ ﹶﻝ ﹶﺃ ﹾﻗﺒ ﻋﻤ ﻦﹺ ﺑ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﺒﺪﻋ ﻦ ﺡ ﻋ ﺎ ﹴﺭﺑ ﹶﺃﺑﹺﻲ ﺇﹺﺫﹶﺍﻤﺲ ﻦ ﺧ ﺎﺟﹺﺮﹺﻳﻤﻬ ﺮ ﺍﹾﻟ ﺸﻌﺎ ﻣﻢ ﻓﹶﻘﹶﺎﻝﹶ ﻳ ﱠﻠﺳﻪ ﻭ ﹶﻠﻴ ﻋﻠﱠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪﺻ ﻡﹴﻲ ﹶﻗﻮﺸ ﹸﺔ ﻓ ﺍﻟﹾﻔﹶﺎﺣﺮ ﹾﻈﻬ ﺗﻦ ﹶﻟﻢ ﹺﺭﻛﹸﻮﻫﺗﺪ ﻪ ﺃﹶﻥﹾ ﻮﺫﹸ ﺑﹺﺎﻟﻠﱠﺃﹶﻋ ﻭ ﹺﺑﻬﹺﻦﺘﻢﻴﻠﺑﺘﺍ ﻜﹸﻦﻢ ﺗ ﻲ ﻟﹶ ﺍﱠﻟﺘﺎﻉﻭﺟ ﺍﹾﻟﺄﹶﻮﻥﹸ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻄﱠﺎﻋﻴ ﹺﻬﻢﺎ ﻓﺎ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﻓﹶﺸﻮﺍ ﹺﺑﻬﻠﻨﻌﻰ ﻳﺣﺘ ﻂ ﻗﹶ ﱡ ﺍ ﹶﻥ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎﻴﺰﺍﻟﹾﻤﺎ ﹶﻝ ﻭ ﹾﻜﻴﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﹾﻤ ﹸﻘﺼﻳﻨ ﻢ ﻟﹶﺍ ﻭﻀﻮ ﻣ ﻳﻦ ﺍﱠﻟﺬﻓ ﹺﻬﻢﻠﹶﺎﻲ ﺃﹶﺳ ﻓﻀﺖ ﻣ ﻮﺍﻌﻤﻨ ﻢ ﻳ ﻟﹶﻢ ﻭ ﻴ ﹺﻬﹶﻠ ﻋﻠﹾﻄﹶﺎﻥ ﹺﺭ ﺍﻟﺴﺟﻮ ﻭ ﺔ ﻤﺌﹸﻮﻧ ﺓ ﺍﻟﹾ ﺪ ﺷﲔ ﻭ ﺴﻨﹺ ﺧﺬﹸﻭﺍ ﺑﹺﺎﻟ ﹸﺃ ﹶﻟﻢﺋﻢﺎﺒﻬﻟﹶﺎ ﺍﹾﻟﹶﻟﻮﺎ ِﺀ ﻭﺴﻤ ﻦ ﺍﻟ ﺮ ﻣ ﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﹾﻘﹶﻄﹾﻣﻨﹺﻌ ﻢ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﹺﻬﺍﻟﻣﻮ ﺯﻛﹶﺎ ﹶﺓ ﺃﹶ ﻴ ﹺﻬﻢﹶﻠ ﻋﻂ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻪ ﱠﻠ ﹶﻪ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﺳ ﻮﻟﺳ ﺭﺪﻋﻬ ﻪ ﻭ ﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ ﻬ ﻮﺍ ﻋ ﹸﻘﻀﻳﻨ ﹶﻟﻢﻭﺍ ﻭﻄﹶﺮﻳﻤ ﻜﹸﻢﺗﺤ ﺎ ﹶﻟﻢﻣﻢ ﻭ ﻳ ﹺﻬﻳﺪﻲ ﺃﹶﺎ ﻓ ﻣﻌﺾ ﺧﺬﹸﻭﺍ ﺑ ﻢ ﻓﹶﹶﺄ ﺮﹺﻫ ﹶﻏﻴﻦﺍ ﻣﺪﻭ ﻋ ﻬﻢ ﺑﺄﹾﺳ ﻪ ﹶﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﻌﻪ ﺇﹺﻟﱠﺎ ﺟ ﹶﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﱠﺰﺎ ﹶﺃﻧﻣﻤ ﻭﺍﺮﺨﻴ ﺘﻳﻪ ﻭ ﺏ ﺍﻟﻠﱠ ﺎ ﹺﻜﺘ ﻢ ﺑﹺ ﻬ ﻤﺘ ﺋﹶﺃ ( ﻣﺴﺘﺪﺭﻙ ﺍﳊﺎﻛﻢ، ﺷﻌﺐ ﺍﻹﳝﺎﻥ ﻟﻠﺒﻴﻬﻘﻲ،ﻢ )ﺳﻨﻦ ﺇﺑﻦ ﻣﺎﺟﺔ ﻬ ﻨﺑﻴ Mahmoud bin Khaaled al-Dimashqi narrated: Sulaymaan bin 'Abdil Rahmaan Abu Ayoob narrated: from Ibn Abi Maalik from his father from 'Ataa'i bin Abi Rabaah from 'Abd alLaah bin 'Umar who said: The Mesenger of Allah (SLAWS) came upon us and said: "Oh dwellers of the Muhajireen (emigrants)! There are five if you were afflicted with, and I seek refuge in Allah that you are never overtaken by them:
Clearly to Israel and much of the whole world, respect for humanity and international law is not a priority – if even an intention. However as Muslims, we cannot take these numbers of our murdered brothers and sisters as mere figures. We are in fact prohibited by Islam from - Never will fornication become widedoing so as Allah (SWT) has set the spread in a people until they publicize value for our lives. it without them being overtaken by the plague and diseases We must return to our true source of that never happened to their ancestors reference to bring out the solutions who came before them. that Allah SWT has prescribed for us, and use it as a light to lead our- - Never will a people reduce in the selves out of the darkness. For if we measure and weight (i.e. cheat) but do not, we will in all certainty con- that they are taken by tough, dry (no tinue to suffer, except with much rain) times, a harsh shortage of provimore pain and much more loss. sions, and the tyrany of the ruler. - Never will a people forbid their zakaat (alms giving) but they will be forbidden trickling from the sky (i.e. rain), and if it was not for the cattle, it would never rain for them.
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- Never will a people break the pledge with Allah and the pledge with His Messenger but Allah will dominate over them an enemy from other than them, so they take a division of what is in their hands. - And whenever their leaders do not rule with the book of Allah, and freely choose among themselves what to implement and what not to implement from what Allah has descended, then Allah made their afflictions among them. [Sunan Ibn Majah, Mustadrak al-Haakim, Sha'b alImaan lil Bayhaqi]
Verse of the Month Know it well that the life of this world is nothing but a sport and pastime, and a show and boasting among yourselves and a rivalry in wealth and children. Its example is of vegetation after a shower of rain, which delighted the tillers, then the same ripens and you see it turn yellow, then it becomes straw. Contrary to this, in the life here-after there is severe torment and forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but illusion. (57:20)
Hadith of the Month On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying: 'When I have died, burn me, then crush me and scatter [my ashes] into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one [else].' So they did that to him. Then He said to the earth: 'Produce what you have taken - and there he was!' And He said to him: 'What induced you to do what you did?' He said: 'Being afraid of You, O my Lord (or he said: 'Being frightened of You'),' and because of that He forgave him." It was related by Muslim (also by alBukhari, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah).
WLUMSA Information Jummah Prayers are held in the Seminary Multi-Faith Room. Fridays 1:30 PM
Change: MSA Winter Semester Elections January 21 2009 Members of the Wilfrid Laurier University Muslim Student Association (WLUMSA) elected a set of new executives for the 2009 Winter Semester:
President: - Atif Bhaor Vice President for Brothers: Kwame Obour Vice President for Sisters: Semra Shahji Dawah Director: Wafa Mustafa Finance Executive: Osama Qureshi Operations Executive: Hasan Tariq Marketing Executive: Saad Hasan Web Manager: Yusuf Kachchi
WLUMSA wishes to closely work together with all Muslims on campus in hope of addressing the needs and concerns of the WLU Muslim Community as well as developing a strong Islamic Identity to represent Islam in Wilfrid Laurier University.
Donations In order to continue our events involving knowledgeable and well-versed speakers, as well as social programs such as dinners, we request your assistance. Our work has always and will always continue to go towards fulfilling our Islamic responsibilities on campus. You may contact us through our website: http://www.wlumsa.com Jazak’Allah Khair.
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