The following is an excerpt from a compilation of notes from the AlMaghrib Institute class: Rays of Faith, taught by Sh.Waleed Basyouni. The following covers an aspect of the topic of Al Qadar, specifically the topic of Allah (Swt)’s Will and Wisdom. For anyone going through a test, hardship or difficulty they should know that it is happening due to the wisdom of Allah (Swt), so do not despair have hope and trust in your Lord.

Third Principle: Allah’s Will

Allah’s will (mashee’ah) and wisdom (hikmah) are the reason behind all of His Actions. His will and wisdom are based on His knowledge.

As much as you have knowledge you will have wisdom. If you are sent to an island that you have never been to, it will be difficult for you to make wise decisions or wise statements because you don’t have knowledge of the place or people. If you can imagine Allah’s knowledge, you can imagine His wisdom.

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that the scholars at the time of fitnah they can see the evil in it when it approaches. But the average person can see the evil in it only after it passed.

Don’t ever question Allah (swt), because His knowledge is greater. Don’t think you can figure out every single wisdom behind every single action. If you claim this you are saying that your knowledge is equal.

We know that Allah does not do anything or legislate anything unless there is wisdom behind it. Also, it’s because Allah wanted it to happen it.

But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Qur’an 76:30)

The attributes All-Knowing and All-Wise are usually mentioned together in the Qur’an.

When Allah mentions in Surah Nisaa’ how to divide the inheritence, he ends the ayah with these attributes. The legislation comes from His wisdom and knowledge.

Everything that exists does so because of a wisdom and because Allah wants it to. Also, everything that does not exist or happen is because of His wisdom and will. For example, if someone wants a son and only gets daughters, there is a wisdom behind it and Allah does not want it to happen.

One of the major differences between Ahl As-Sunnah and other sects is that we say that something happened or didn’t happen because Allah wanted it in that way for a reason, a wisdom. Other sects say that it is only because of His will and without a reason. Some even go to the extreme of saying that if one believes it is for a reason is against Islam.

We have a more positive view of Allah. Others will say “because Allah wanted to” and that’s it, while we say “because Allah wanted to for a reason”.

Allah has the ability to do things without a reason. However, it does not happen this way because Allah does things in the most perfect of ways.

When Allah wanted to save Musa (R), He ordered his mother to feed him, and put him in the river. Then Allah returned him to his mother. He could have just made the baby invisible, or make the people skip or forget his house. But what is more perfect? Allah saved him through the very people who wanted to kill him. This way he grew up not as a slave, so his motivation for conveying the message would not be to rebel or have a revolution.

Allah establishes wisdom in four ways:

1. By stating that He is the Most Wise. Hakeem comes form the word haakim, which is ruler. It means he rules His creation with wisdom. Allah gives creation some wisdom, how can he do so without having wisdom?

Perfect wisdom (this Quran), but (the preaching of) warners benefit them not (Qur’an 54:5)

And indeed We bestowed upon Luqman Al­Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding, etc.) saying: “Give thanks to Allah,” and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his ownself. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allah is All­Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise. (Qur’an 31:12)

We made his kingdom strong and gave him Al-Hikmah (Prophethood, etc.) and sound judgement in speech and decision. (Qur’an 38:20)

2. Allah denies doing anything without wisdom or reason. The disbeliever views Allah in the opposite way, and they will be punished for this.

And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islamic Monotheism) from the Fire! (Qur’an 38:27)

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” (Qur’an 23:115)

3. Allah also denies that He will do anything unjust, because doing things unjustly contradicts wisdom. Justice is to put things where they belong, so if someone is not just they are not wise.

Shall We then treat the (submitting) Muslims like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)? (Qur’an 68:35)

Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right? (Qur’an 38:28)

How can you justify making people who do evil the same as those who do good?

Allah also says sometimes that He didn’t do something for a reason.

Had Allah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen, and even if He had made them listen, they would but have turned away, averse (to the truth). (Qur’an 8:23)

And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad SAW) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allah’s) Forgiveness. (Qur’an 8:33)

There is a difference between the word wisdom in the science of ‘Aqeedah, and the word wisdom in the word Usool Al-Fiqh. In Usool Al-Fiqh, the word ‘illah is used for the reason, and the word hikmah is the wisdom. ‘Illah can be used to legislate, but hikmah cannot. For example, the reason you shorten prayer is because you travel, but the wisdom is because you get tired. However, if you don’t get tired because of modern technology can you cancel the rule? No, because the reason is you are traveling. For ‘Aqeedah we use the word wisdom for both the reason and the wisdom.

Find the full notes here

 ”And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.”

[Translation Quran 65: 2-3)

Source: Islamqa

To all those Muslims who will be celebrating Eid tomorrow (insha Allah) Eid Mubarak Taqabbala Allah minna wa minkum.

A non-Muslim girl who was in my class. one day had a scarf tied around her neck; she asked me if I could help her put it on. I did. The next thing you know she says: “I’m going to wear this the entire day and they can’t say anything about it because its for religious reasons.”

Subhan Allah, her friends giggled a little, not sure how I felt at that moment, I went to go sit in my chair. That day as my teacher was handing out paper to the class he asks the non-muslim hijabi “What’s that baboshka on your head?” she replies “Its not a baboshka its a hijab.”

For the rest of the day, girls asked me why she had it on. I would reply with a simple ‘I don’t know’ or ‘Its her choice.’ Girls that day laughed, stared and gossiped about the poor girl. They had never done that to me, in their eyes I guess I was suppose to wear it.

I sent an email to the non muslim hijabi that day in school, saying how many muslim hijabi’s around the world go through that she is going through. Alhumdullilah she smiled after reading it, and later when I got home I would send her links about Islam and even the hijab I believe. When I would go to her and ask if she read them she would say no.

I wasn’t close friends with this girl, nor did I talk to her a ton that year, thus I guess I didn’t openly talk to her about the hijab

Even when the next day came, she still had it on, it wasn’t only giving her tons of attention (negative) but, it was for me too. She wore it for a few days, and later took it off, through the stares and gossip, her friends were there with her. When I was talking to one of her friends, it seemed like her friends perception of people covering changed, and she was up for defending those who cover.

Anyways, after she took it off, things went back to normal. I guess I really should have explained that the hijab (and covering oneself modestly) is more then merely a cloth over oneself, its obedience to Allah. I do feel I missed a good opportunity, maybe even due to my own shyness. Perhaps she wanted something in her life, or recognized good. Wallahu alam but, there may have been something about the hijab that really intrigued her.

I don’t want this to happen again, so here are my own lessons I learned:

Lessons:

• Don’t always rely on books or the internet to educate people.. sometimes they don’t read it – show the person you care and take the time to sit and explain
• Sometimes you don’t even have to say a word let your actions do the talking
• If someone ask you why your doing something (obligation, obedience etc) don’t sugar coat it, say it like it is: Allah commanded me to. If you want to get all analogical and all that can come second
• An advice i have heard: Care about the people you are giving dawah to

A few days ago I was sitting in the Masjid after Ishaa’ prayer, waiting for Taraweeh prayer to begin. When all of a sudden, all the lights went off and the entire masjid was darker than the darkness of the night. Seconds after the lights when out, women began to gasp and panic.  I could see nothing whatsoever. I clenched my sisters hands while she held onto my hand. Along with the darkness of the masjid, the air conditioning had been shut off as well. Being in a country where temperatures can reach to the 40′s I began to feel the heat.

Ladies cell phones began to turn on in attempts to find light. Suddenly the shaykh began  Taraweeh’ prayer while we were still in the midst of darkness. A few ladies opened the windows, so even a little light could enter the darkened Masjid. And we began to pray, in the midst of a blackout.

To be honest I actually liked the darkness of the masjid (not hotness) I remembered the grave. I remembered that just as the light was snatched away without any warning whatsoever, likewise we will be snatched from this dunya without any warning whatsoever. We may be enjoying the entertainment of this dunya, but verily one day we will be dragged inside a grave, sunk below, alone.

What will we actually be questioned about in the grave? How will the believers answer?

“The life of the deceased in the grave is different from his life in this world…It is a special kind of life wherein he can understand the questions and answers, so the two angels will ask him, Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet?

The believer will say, My Lord is Allaah, Islam is my religion and Muhammad is my Prophet. This will be the answer of believing men and women. Then he will be asked, What do you know about this man (Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him))? He will say, He is the Messenger of Allaah. He brought us guidance and we believed in him and followed him. It will be said: we knew that you were a believer. Then a gate to Paradise will be opened for him, and he will feel its rest and provision and blessings. It will be said, This is your place until Allaah resurrects you to it. And he will be shown his place in Hell, and it will be said to him, This would have been your place if you had disbelieved in Allaah, but now Allaah has granted you refuge from it and you have ended up in Paradise.”

[Source: IslamQA]

This really highlights to us the reality as to WHY we are actually on this earth, is it really for sheer amusement or is it to seek the pleasure of Allah (Swt)?  The reality of this life is it to worship Allah alone, to clear ourselves from Kufr (disbelief) , shirk (associating partners with Allah) and hypocrisy (hiding ones disbelief, to please people.) We really need to check our hearts and make duah that Allah (Swt) cures us of such diseases, for don’t we want the beautifies of  Jannah? Or do we really want the horror and misery of the Hell Fire (May Allah protect us all.)

“Iman will protect a person from the fire of Hell, either a complete protection or a partial protection depending on his Iman.

If a person has the minimum required level.. there is a guarantee from Allah that the Fire of Hell shall not touch him. He might be punished in other ways, he might be punished in this world through many musibah’s (calamities) and afflictions, he might be punished in the grave, he might be punished on the day of judgment, he might be punished on the seerat. But the worst punishment which is the punishment of Hell.. he will be protected from the worst punishment when he has the minimal level of Iman. What is the minimal level of Iman? It is that you fulfill Allaah’s obligations upon you and you abstain from the  major sins. Allah’s obligations they are the 5 pillars of Islam,  the major sins you know them (shirk, fornication, ribaa etc.) However even if he falls below this minimum required level, but.. he is a faasiq or a sinner even then there is a protection, but it is a partial protection… Even if a person who has Eeman enters the fire of Hell he will eventually be removed from it because of his Eeman”  - Shaykh Yasir Qadhi [ Link ]

If you think about it – even some people with Eeman will need to go through the Hell Fire, in order to be purified of there sins so that they may make it to Jannah. Do you really want to even touch the Hell Fire even for a little while? Why not make it to Jannah free from the hellfire? For that is true success.

Allah (Swt) says in the Quran (Translation and Interpretation):

 Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.”  (3:185)