THE TRUE CONCEPT OF IMAN

  (* ELAH * RASOOL * NABI * EMAAN)

by

Sheikh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi

Al-Qaadiri Radawi

 

PUBLISHED BY

IMAM AHMED RAZA ACADEMY

DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA

 

A BARAKAATUR RAZA PUBLICATION

COPYRIGHT RESERVED

Date of Publication: Rajab 1422 A.H. (October 2001)

Number of copies: 1 500

 

Publishers:

Imam Ahmed Raza Academy

Ahmed Raza Building

3rd Floor, 20-22 Lorne Street

Durban. 4001

South Africa

 

Postal Address:

P.O. Box 5325

Durban. 4000

South Africa

 

Phone: (031) 309-3642

Fax: (031) 309-3707

Int. Code: (27) (31) + Number

 

Web Site: www.raza.co.za

e-mail: raza786@mweb.co.za

 

ISBN: 0-9584436-4-5

  

FOREWORD

 

Since time immemorial there existed two groups amongst the Muslims. One group comprised of the sincere believers and other group were the hypocrites. The former group refrained from uttering falsehoods and the latter were steeped in deception and falsehood. The hypocrites placed great emphasis on Tauheed, Shirk and Bid’ah, but their hidden agenda was to keep the hearts and thoughts of the Muslims away from the Beloved Rasool r.

 

Today, the hypocrites still exist in our society. Under the guise of the “righteous people” who themselves only understand the true concepts of Tauheed and who are the true propagators of Tauheed, they have confused the innocent minds on the very issues of Tauheed, Emaan, etc. Unsuspecting Muslims have fallen prey to such aspersions with the result that they themselves doubt their own beliefs.

 

But, Alhamdulillah, the author of this book, Maulana Abdul Haadi al-Qaadiri, has done a great service to the cause of the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jamaah by carefully expounding on the true meanings of all the four Islamic technical terms (Elah, Rasool, Nabi and Emaan). He has logically and rationally explained these concepts so as to facilitate their understanding with much clarity to enable the readers to make a distinction between them. These concepts and their meanings have been carefully researched from the Quran and the Hadith and their authenticity should, therefore, not be doubted.

 

The contents of this book will safeguard the unsuspecting Muslims from falling prey to these hypocrites and Kuffaar. The information contained in this book is, in my humble opinion, most beneficial to the Muslims. May Allah the Almighty make it easy to all Muslims to read, understand and appreciate the knowledge contained in this book. Aameen.

 

Sayed Mohammed Habeeb Chisti
(Publications Department – Raza Academy)

11 Rajab 1422 A.H.
29 September 2001

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 

INTRODUCTION

 

There were always two groups amongst the Muslims.  This is a historic fact.  One group was known as the Mukhliseen[1] and the other the Munafiqeen  (the hypocrites).  The former was regarded as the true religious Believers, and the latter was regarded as mere namesake Believers. There were numerous distinctions between these two groups. One of the important and distinguishing factors of the sincere Muslims was faithfulness in their every action and words which emanated from the depths of their hearts. Every word uttered from their lips was calculated and never contributed to deception or falsehood.  It was for this clarity and truth that Islam honoured their every word. 

 

On the contrary, the Hypocrites spoke sweet words but had a deceptive hidden agenda.  Therefore, the Holy Quran refuted their words in very strong terms though they seemed externally very sincere.  The Holy Quran says that on one occasion the Hypocrites came to the Beloved Habeeb r and declared:

نشهد انك لرسول الله *

We testify that you are the Rasool of Allah r!

 

If one looks at this declaration, it will seem very noble and sincere, but Almighty ALLAH refutes this saying:

والله يشهدان المنافقون لكاذبون*

And ALLAH is the witness that these hypocrites are liars!

In another place the Holy Quran says:

وان تصبهم حسنت يقولوا هذه من عند الله*

And when they receive any good, the hypocrites say that this

good is from ALLAH.

 

How true and noble are these words! But the Holy Quran has condemned their words as Kufr because their intentions were corrupt.  They intended to mislead with sweet talk.  The first declaration made by the Hypocrites that they testify that Sayyiduna Muhammad r is the Rasool of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him), that is, all good comes from ALLAH and the Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him) cannot do any good for anyone. In this declaration, the Hypocrites praised ALLAH with the intention of insulting the Rasool(Peace Be Upon Him).  Therefore, ALLAH condemned their Hamd (praise) as blatant Kufr (infidelity).

 

Such is the condition of today’s Munafiqeen. They place great importance on Tauheed, worship, Shirk and Bid’ah.  But their real intention is to keep the hearts of the Muslim masses away from the Beloved Rasool of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him).  They harp on the Tauheed of ALLAH and insult the integrity of the beloved servants of ALLAH. They misinterpret the technical terms of Elah, Rasool, Nabi, and Emaan. 

 

Their corrupt presentation of these terms confuses the masses, and because of their outward garb of piety and devotion, they easily convince and influence the layman.  The soft and sweetness of their words melt the unwary public who look at them as “angels” that descended on earth as beacons of guidance.  But when the Holy Quran examines this outward piety and sweetness, it turns out to be nothing but hypocrisy and deception. 

 

We have seen many Muslims of good, sound Islamic backgrounds and possessing pristine beliefs become victims of this calculated hypocrisy. This has further led to disunity in the once united brotherhood of the Muslim Ummah.  It is amazing that the promoters of this hypocrisy quote Ayahs of the Holy Quran and Ahadith to substantiate and acknowledge their Kufr to try and convince the unwary Muslims. 

 

I felt the hammer of Truth bash my consciousness to do something about this onslaught against Islam and the Beloved Servants of Allah(Peace Be Upon Him).  Haqq penetrated my heart and forced me to take action swiftly and save the unwary souls from being enslaved by Hypocrisy and Kufr.  Hence, I invoked the Glorious and Compassionate Lord of Mercy(Peace Be Upon Him) through the Waseela of His Beloved Habeeb(Peace Be Upon Him) to grant me courage and Toufeeq to guide this beloved Ummah on the pristine beliefs of the Ahle-Sunnah wa Jama’ah.

 

For this reason, I very humbly present this manual of Haqq to this beloved Ummah for their benefit and reading pleasure. I have sort assistance from many sources to compile the book, especially from the works of Ala’Hadrat Mujaddid Imam Ahmad Rida al-Qaadiri(Radi ALLAH Anho), Hakeemul-Ummat Hadrat Allama Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Na’eemi(Radi ALLAH Anho) and many other Ulama. May the Merciful Allah(Peace Be Upon Him) sanctify their souls. In this book are unbiased and correct explanations of the four fundamental Islamic technical terms of ELAH, RASOOL, NABI and EMAAN.   

 

I pray that Almighty ALLAH protect the Emaan of every Muslim and bless their hearts and souls with love, honour, and Adab for His Beloved Habeeb Sayyiduna Muhammadur-Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) and the Awliya and Swaliheen.   AMEEN.

 

Sheikh Abu-Muhammad Abdul-Haadi Al-Qaadiri Radawi

Khadim of Ilm-Shareef

30 Jamadiul-Awwal 1422

20 August 2001

  

DEDICATION

  

This book is dedicated to all those

who are searching for

TRUTH

for the sake of

TRUTH

  

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 

THE CONCEPT OF ELAH

 

This era is regarded as the modern age and everything is being planned to suit the current times. The modernists have also modified the Religion of Islam, accordingly. They have begun presenting Tauheed, Risaalah, Nubuwwah, and Emaan in scientifically designed models, which has resulted in people destroying their Emaan.  This modernist approach to Islam is having a serious and adverse effect on the beliefs of Muslims. The ill-informed leaders and so-called intellectuals have placed their trust on limited knowledge, whims and fancies to interpret the Divine Laws. They in turn propagate this to the unwary masses resulting in the Emaan of the people to be destroyed or corrupted.  Due to a lack of knowledge and spiritual insight, the general public has lost their sense of judgment and understanding.  The following state of affairs has prevailed:

§         People who speak fluent Arabic or Urdu are regarded as great Ulama.  One who is eloquent in lecturing is regarded as a great Aalim. 

§         One who wears colorful clothes and dances to music is regarded as a great Sufi. 

§         One who writes Taweez or attends to the sick and oppressed is a Wali.  One who quotes Ayahs of the Quran and Ahadith Shareef at every opportunity is regarded as a dynamic leader worthy of being followed. 

§         One who is always seen calling people to the Masaajid and going door-to-door, city-to-city, and country-to-country on Tableegh missions is a pious and true servant of Islam.

 

One will be terribly mistaken if one uses these as a criteria or yardstick to judge excellence. One has to judge everything on the scale of the Sharee’ah, that is, the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.

 

The Holy Quran tells us about two groups who are never compatible.  ALLAH states:

ماكان الله ليذر المؤمنين على ما انتم عليه حتى يميز الخبيث من الطيب *

ALLAHs not to leave the Muslims in the present state of affairs in which you are, until He separates impure

from the pure. (Al- Imraan 3:179)

 

Who are those people whom ALLAH addresses as Tayyib (pure) and who are those people who are referred to as the Khabees (impure) by ALLAH? Are the Tayyib, those who just had a bath and put on clean clothes, and the Khabees, those who have unclean bodies with filthy clothes, the same?  Let us ask the Quran who these two groups are. Concerning the sincere and Tayyib servants, ALLAH states:-

لتجد قوماً يؤمنون بالله و اليوم الاخر يوآدون من حآد الله و رسوله و لو كانوا ابآئهم او ابنائهم او اخوانهم او عشيرتهم ط اولآءك كتب في قلوبهم الايمان و ايدهم بروح منه *

You will not find a people who believe in ALLAH and the Last Day taking as their friends those who oppose ALLAH and His

Rasool, even though they be their fathers or their sons or

their brethren or kinsmen.

 

The above Ayah gives the characteristic of the pure and sincere Muslim who do not compromise with the misled and corrupt sects. Since their faith in ALLAH and His Rasool is pure, therefore they do not associate with the Khabees and impure.

 

ALLAH informs the world about the filth and impurities of the Khabees and evil ones in clear terms as follows:-

يحلفون بالله ما قالوا ط و لقد قالوا كلمة الكفر و كفروا بعد اسلامهم *

They swear by ALLAH that they did not insult the integrity of the Nabi, and no doubt they uttered the words of Kufr and have

become Kaafirs after accepting Islam.

 

Imam Ibne Jareer(Radi ALLAH Anho), Imam Tabraani(Radi ALLAH Anho), Abush-Sheikh(Radi ALLAH Anho) and Ibne Mardoya(Radi ALLAH Anho) all narrate from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibne Abbaas(Radi ALLAH Anho) that once the Beloved Habeeb was sitting under a tree. He then said that shortly a person will come and who look at you with evil satanic eyes. Just then a person with devilish eyes came by. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah called him and asked, “What is the reason that you and your colleagues utter words of disrespect for me?” The man left and returned with his colleagues. They all swore in the name of ALLAH and said that they did not say a word of disrespect to him. On their words the above Ayah was revealed in their refutation and condemnation.

      

Nowadays, the modern trend is not to condemn anyone no matter what ever or however he beliefs. They say that a Muslim is he who reads the Kalima and performs Salaah, immaterial if he subscribes to corrupt beliefs. The ignorant have taken the place of ALLAH and dissolved His entire Divine ordinance. The Kalima and Salaah has become the ultimate yardstick to gauge Emaan, Kufr and piety. Let me present to the reader the yardstick of differentiation as ordered by the Almighty ALLAH. He I states in the Holy Quran:

ليس البرّ ان تولّوا وجوهكم قبل المشرق و المغرب و لكنّ البرّ من امن بالله و اليوم الاخر و الملئكة و الكتاب و النبيين*

True piety is not to turn ones face towards the east or west in Salaah but real piety is that one bring total Emaan on ALLAH  and the Day of Judgment and the Angels and the Quran and all the Prophets.

 

The above Ayah clearly declares that Emaan does not depend on merely believing only on the necessities of Deen and disrespecting the fundamentals.

 

Now that we have distinguished the pure from the impure, let us proceed and discuss the true concept of Tauheed in accordance with the explanation from Holy Quran and Hadith.  I feel that it is important to inform the readers of the correct concept of Tauheed, a concept which has been unanimously accepted for the past 1422 years. 

Everyone knows that Tauheed and Risalah form the fundamental foundation on which the entire structure of Islam rests.  Everyone has to read and believe in it in order to enter Islam.  I would like to discuss the true meaning of Elah (ALLAH) - on what basis the concept of Divinity depends and what are the factors of differentiation between servant-ship and Divinity.

 

The meaning of لااله الاالله, is, “There is no deity besides ALLAH”.  After all, what is Elah?   In this day and age “ELAH” is generally said to be One who possesses the Knowledge of the Unseen (علم غيب), One who is Haazir and Naazir, One who gives children, One who grants you Shifa (cure) from sickness, One who gives assistance, One who listens from a distance and one who sees from a distance, etc. Such classification is done deliberately so as to label the general public, who belief that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him) and the elite Awliya possess such qualities, as Mushriks. The Munafiqeen say that such belief is certainly Shirk because one has put the creation in par with the Creator ALLAH. 

 

The pre-Islamic pagan Arabs held the same belief regarding their idols.  The Mushrikeen said that their “god” had the knowledge of Ghaib and rendered assistance when needed and called upon. The Munafiqeen say that the Muslims have also attributed these qualities to the Prophets u and to the Awliya similar to the Mushrikeen of Arabia. Thus, they say, they have entangled themselves in Shirk.  

 

At the outset, I would like to declare that this allegation is totally baseless. It is a result of corrupt beliefs and ignorance.  The meaning of Elah is certainly not as advocated by the objectors nor is the concept of Divinity based on such qualities. If it was so, then according to the Holy Quran, we will be compelled to accept thousands of Elahs. (ALLAH forbid!)  If Elah was based on the possessing of the Knowledge of the Unseen (Ghaib) then the Holy Quran informs us about Sayyiduna Esa u when he addressed his Ummah, saying:

وانبئكم بما تأ كلون وماتذخرون في بيوتكم *

And inform you about that which you eat in your homes and that which you stored away.

 

Please study the words تأكلون and تدخرون very carefully. In Arabic grammar they are both Munda’re verbs, both being in the present and the future tenses.  So the meaning of the above Ayah will be as follows: “And inform you about that which you eat, and will eat in your homes, and that which you store or will store”.  Sayyiduna Esa u says that he informs them of all that. 

This Ghaib does not end here. Its chain of information goes a long way.  Seeds are planted in the soil. It germinates, bares fruits and grains.  Every grain and fruit has the name of the consumer written on it.  Nabi Esa u knows those fruits and grains and of the people who will eat them. Now imagine how extensive and comprehensive the knowledge Almighty ALLAH has bestowed on Nabi Esa u. If Divinity was based on the knowledge of Ghaib then how does the Holy Quran classify Nabi Esa Will he be classified as Elah?  

 

CONTROL OVER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD

 

If Divinity is based on control over the elements of the world, namely  air, water, sun and the moon, then by the virtue of the teachings of the Holy Quran, we are compelled to accept Sayyiduna Sulayman as “Elah”.  With regards to his authority, the Holy Quran states:

فسخرنا له الريح تجرى بامره رخاء حيث اصاب*

Then we subjected the wind to him that it moved by his command softly wherever he desired. (As-Saad 38:36)

وسخر نا له الر يح عا صفة تجرى با مره *
 ولسلمن الريح عا صفة تجرى با مره *
And for Sulayman We made subservient the violent wind that it blew at his command. (Al-Ambiya 21:18)

 

It is understood that whether it a gale or a breeze, whether it is a wind that blows easterly, westerly, southerly, or northerly, they are all under the command of Sayyiduna Nabi Sulayman.  It is apparent that it is the wind that moves the clouds and clouds in turn bring rain. Rain in turn nourishes the ground, which in turn nurtures vegetation and growth of all creatures on earth.  Existence on the earth depends upon water on earth. By the virtue of this cycle, Almighty ALLAH has entrusted this power to His Prophet, Sayyiduna Sulayman u.  So, in light of this Divine rule, Sayyiduna Nabi Sulayman is to be regarded as “Elah” too!  ALLAH forbid!

 

CURING THE SICK

 

In the Holy Quran, it is stated that Sayyiduna Nabi Yusuf inquired from his brothers about the welfare of his father, Sayyiduna Nabi Yaqoob. They informed him that due to excessive crying in remembrance of him he had lost his eyesight.  Sayyiduna Nabi Yusuf heard this sad news and said to his brothers:

اذهبوا بقميص هذا فالقواه على وجه ابى يأتى بصيرا*

Take my shirt and place it on the face of my father and his eyesight will be restored.

 

The Holy Quran also tells us about Sayyiduna Nabi Ayyob:

ارمض بر جلك هذا مغتسل باردّوشراب*

Rub your feet on the ground that will create water that will supply you water for both bathing and drinking.

 

Sayyiduna Nabi Esa once said:

وابر ء الا برص وا حى المو تى با ذن الله*

And by the command of ALLAH, I cure the blind and leper and raise the dead (give life to them).

 

Nabi Esa u states that he cures the sick and gives life to the dead. Are these not the qualities of Almighty ALLAH which the Holy Quran explains?

واذامر ضت فهو يشفيت*

And ALLAH cures you when you are sick.

The verse ويحي و يميت “And He gives life and death”.  It is certainly so!

 

Nevertheless, by the above Ayah we are given to understand that Almighty ALLAH has blessed His special servants with the power to cure the sick and to raise the dead. 

 

Do not forget the incident of Sayyiduna Ebraheem u mentioned in the Holy Quran wherein we are told about the four birds, which were slaughtered. Their meat were minced and mixed together. Thereafter, the Glorious Prophet u called out to them individually. Each one of the birds became alive as they were before they were slaughtered. The Holy Quran says:

ثم ادعهن يا تينك سعيا*

Then he called on to them and they became alive.

 

In spite of all these blessed powers a servant remains as a servant and ALLAH remains ALLAH.  A servant can never be on par with ALLAH nor can he be associated with ALLAH. His Divine powers will always manifest from the bodies of His beloved servants. From the above incidents, in no way will Sayyiduna Nabi Esa u, Yusuf u, Ayyob u and Sulayman became Elah.  They are and will always remain the beloved servants of the Glorious ALLAH.

 

GRANTING CHILDREN

 

The Holy Quran tells us that Sayyiduna Jibreel u went to Sayyiduna Maryam u at a time when she was preparing to make Ghusal at a concealed spot. When he appeared in a human form, it shocked her to see a foreign man. The Angel confronted her by saying:

انما انا رسول ربك لاهب لك غلا ما زكيتا*

I am a messenger of your Lord I have come to give you a pure son.

 

How was this possible because the Munafiqeen say that only ALLAH can give a son? Is the Angel u committing Shirk or is the Holy Quran contradicting itself?  No certainly not! The Munafiqeen are confusing this issue because they quote this Ayah of the Holy Quran:

يهب لمن يشآء اناثا وّيهب لمن يشاء ذكورا*

He gives a son to whom He ordains and He gives a daughter to

whom He ordains.

You be the judge. The Holy Quran uses the word يهب (to give) for ALLAH and the same word يهب for the Angel Jibreel u.  The words are the same. The meaning is the same but ALLAH does not become Jibreel and nor does Jibreel u become ALLAH.  So if Divinity is based on giving a son then we will be compelled to accept Jibreel as “Elah”.

 

TO LISTEN AND SEE FROM A DISTANCE

 

The Holy Quran speaks about Sayyiduna Sulayman. Once he approached the home of the ants. An ant said to its fellow ants:

ياايهاالنمل ادخلوا مساكنكم لايحطمنكم سليما ن وجنوده وهم لا يشعرون*

Oh Ants! Turn your holes or else you will be trampled by

Sulayman u and his army who will not be aware of you.

 

Sayyiduna Sulayman u heard these words of the ant and smiled. The Holy Quran testifies to this:

فتبسّم ضاحكا من قو لها*

Nabi Sulayman u laughs at the comment of the ant.

 

The Mufassareen state that Sayyiduna Sulayman u heard the speech of the ant from three miles away. Imagine how loud the speech of an ant is when you put it close to your ear. Then too you will not be able to hear it. But the Prophet of Allah heard its words from a distance of three miles!  In this scientific period, no instrument could be invented to hear the sound of an ant.  So if the Munafiqeen base Divinity on the concept of hearing from a distance without any device, then ALLAH forbid! Nabi Sulayman u is considered to be “Elah”.

 

In another incident, the Holy Quran speaks about Sayyiduna Nabi Yusuf.  Zulaikah took Nabi Yusuf u into a secret room which was protected by seven doors inter-linking one chamber to another.  She then locked the secret chamber and tried to seduce the Prophet of Allah u. This incident was taking place in Egypt but his father, Sayyiduna Nabi Yaqoob u, who as in Kin’aan (Syria) was fully aware of the situation and immediately came to his rescue. The Quran testifies to this in these words:

ولقد همت به وهمّا بها لو لاان رائ برهان ربه*

And no doubt the woman desired him and he would have

also desired her if he would not have seen the proof

of his Lord. (Sura Yusuf 12:24)

 

What was that proof which Nabi Yusuf u saw and which assisted him in this serious situation? The “proof” was the presence of his father, Nabi Yaqoob u who appeared in front of him and led him away from the intentions of Zulaikah. Pay attention to the word رائ  , which means “to see” and which refers to Burhaan (proof) that the Nabi u saw.  It does not refer to a Burhaan that he felt or heard of.  Rah’ya” means “to see” and hence he saw the Burhaan of ALLAH i.e. the Prophet of Allah Nabi Yaqoob u who came to his assistance. So the Quran speaks of the Burhaan he saw.  ALLAH states in another Ayah:

يا ايهاالناس قد خا ءكم بر هان من ربكم*

Oh people! Verily a proof from ALLAH has come to you.

 

Everyone recognizes in this Ayah that ALLAH refers to His Beloved Nabi u as His Burhaan (proof). Imagine the powers of Nabi Yaqoob u, who witnessed this incident from a far away country, which was taking place in a super secret chamber hidden from the vision of everyone. He observed and intercepted this happening in the darkness of this chamber and instantly came to assist his son. 

 

The Holy Quran informs us of another incident concerning Nabi Yaqoob.

 ولمّا فصات العير قال ابوهم انى لاجد ريح يوسف*

When the caravan departed from Egypt (with the shirt of Nabi Yusuf u) their father (Nabi Yaqoob u) said in Kin’aan “No doubt I find the fragrance of Yusuf.” (Sura Yusuf 12:94)

 

One should calculate the distance between Egypt and Syria and fathom the power of perception of Nabi Yaqoob u, who smelt the fragrance of the shirt of his son in Egypt from a distance country like Syria.  So if Divinity is based on hearing, seeing and smelling from a distance, then Nabi Yaqoob u and Nabi Sulayman u will also be categorized as “Elah”.

 

HAAZIR AND NAAZIR

 

If Divinity is based on being present everywhere at the same time, then let alone one or two, we will be compelled to accept thousands of Elahs. (ALLAH forbid!)

 

When Nabi Sulayman u was informed of the throne of Bilqees, he ordered for the retrieval of this throne. Bare in mind that Nabi Sulayman u was in Palestine and Bilqees’ throne was secured in a security tight chamber with constant guard in far away Yemen. The Holy Quran explain how this throne was retrieved in the following words:

قال انااتيك به قبل ان يرتدّاليك طرفك*

He said, I would bring the throne of Bilqees to you before the

blink of your eye.

 

Allahu Akbar! Remember that Asif Barkhiyya neither went to nor saw the city of Sabah in Yemen. He also did he see the palace and throne of Bilqees[2]. Yet, he sat at the same spot in Palestine and before the blink of the eye, he brought this huge and heavy throne from Sabah to the presence of Nabi Sulayman u.  This is the power of Haazir and Naazir of a Wali of Bani Isra’eel.

 

The Holy Quran states:

قل يتوفا كم ملك المو ت الذىوكل بكم*

The Angel of Death gives you death that is appointed upon you.

 

The Holy Quran further states:

وتو فتهم رسلنا*

And our Angels give death to them.

 

These Angels refer to the assistants of the Angel of Death.  Imagine how busy are these Angels who remove the souls of millions of creatures around the world at a specific time. They execute this duty with absolute precision and never falter. This entire world and every spot in it are always in their vision as a dot in the center of the palm.  They also recognize creatures on earth and follow them wherever they are to remove their souls on the designated time.

انه يرى كم هو وقبيله من حيث لا ترو نهم*

That Iblees along with an entire group observes you from a spot where you cannot see them.

 

From this injunction, we are given to understand that these cursed devils are granted so much power by ALLAH to mislead that they can see the entire creation at once at any given time. They are also aware of the intentions in the hearts of the people. It is for this reason that when a person intends to do any good, the devil immediately comes to mislead him. This is the power of Haazir and Naazir granted by ALLAH to the cursed Shaytaan. 

 

Look at the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky.  They observe the entire world all the time and prepare the gardens and fields, cleanse the earth and ripen the fruits and grains.  If Divinity was based on being Haazir and Naazir then the exalted Angels, Malakal Maut (Angel of Death) and his assistants will all be “Elahs.”  Similarly, the cursed Shaytaan with his evil gang, the sun, the moon and the stars in the heavens will all be “Elahs”.  The idol worshippers have eight to ten “gods” but the Munafiqeen will end up with more gods than servants.

 

TO FULFILL DESIRES AND OFFER ASSISTANCE WHEN CALLED

 

Divinity also does not depend on these qualities.  Almighty ALLAH has blessed His beloved servants and their belongings with these qualities. When Sayyidah Maryam u experienced labour pains for the first time, she was alone in the jungle.  She had no one to comfort her, as this experience was absolutely foreign to her. She was terrified and cried out:

يا ليتنى متّ قبل هذا وكنت نسيا منسيّا*

Ah! How nice if I had died before this and forgotten everything!

 

Her painful cry invoked the Mercy of ALLAH and the Merciful Lord responded in these words:

فنادهامن تحتها ان لا تحزني قد جعل ربك تحتك سريا*

A voice called from below her, “Oh Maryam do not fear.  Your Lord has made for you a fountain under your feet.”

 

From the word تحتك it indicates that a fountain sprang up from under her feet. This is similar to the fountain of Zamzam that sprung up from under the feet of Sayyiduna Isma’eel u.

 

The Quran further states:

وهزى اليك بجذع النخلة تسا قط عليك رطبا جنيا*

And shake the dry branches of the date tree towards you, it will

drop fresh dates (for you).

 

ALLAH is comforting Sayyidah Maryam u by instructing her to eat the dates and drink the water which will remove her fear and discomfort. It is evident that her discomfort, misery and fear were removed through some dates and water, which were created by her sacred hand and feet.

 

Almighty ALLAH informs the people that He has entrusted amazing powers in the hands and feet of His Awliya. These powers are such that if they touch a dry branch it transforms instantly into fresh fruit, which removes discomfort, misery and fear. If this is so, then why can’t the Awliya of Allah cast a vision on one’s dry and ailing heart and fill it with the sweetness of Emaan and Marifah? Why can’t the beloved servants of ALLAH assist at times of difficulties and solve the problems of the oppressed? It is only the Munafiqeen who disagree with the Divinely Blessed powers entrusted by ALLAH to these beloved servants. 

 

The Holy Quran relates to us the incident of Fir’oun. When the day of Fir’oun’s destruction came, Sayyiduna Jibreel u appeared on horseback. Fresh vegetation sprung up from every spot on the dry desert where the hoofs of the Angel’s horse stepped. Saamri watched this amazing miracle and gathered some sand from under the hoofs of his horse. He kept this sand safely and waited for an opportunity time. 

 

Once when Nabi Moosa went to Mount Tur to receive the Torah, he was delayed to return. A golden calf was made and Saamri placed this miraculous sand in the calf’s mouth. The golden calf came to life and began screaming. The Israelites saw this and began worshipping the calf. This is how the Holy Quran records the words of Saamri:

فقبضت قبضة من اثر الر سول فنبذتها وكذالك سولت لى نفسى*

I (Saamri) gathered a handful of sand from the footprint of

Jibreel’s horse. I put it into the mouth of the calf and this

 is what I desired.

 

This Ayah teaches us that the relics (Tabarrukaat) of the beloved servants can give life to dead things. The sand that gave life to the metal calf did not touch the body of Jibreel u.  It was a reflected touch.  Sayyiduna Jibreel’s u feet touched the saddle, which touched the horse’s stomach. The radiation them moved to the legs, which discharged the radiation to the lifeless sand and ignited it with Hayaat (life). This ignited sand was then transported to the mouth of the calf, which was activated. This activation caused discord amongst the Israelite because the gold used to make the calf was the possession of the Kuffaar. If Saamri used the gold of the Believers then Bani Isra’eel would have all been blessed with Hidayah. This is similar to one attending the lectures and sitting in the company of people with corrupt beliefs, which eventually destroys one’s Emaan. This Ayah also tells us that there is Shifa in the sand of Madina Munawwara because those sand particles had kissed the sacred Nalain Shareefain (Sandals) of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah(Peace Be Upon Him).

 

If Divinity depends on giving Shifa or removing misfortunes then Sayyidah Maryam u and Sayyiduna Jibreel u will also be regarded as “Elah”.  In fact the medication of doctors and herbs of the Hakeems will all have to be called “Elah”.  May ALLAH protect us from the misconception and mischief of the Munafiqeen.

 

CREATOR, OWNER OR POSSESSOR AND ETERNAL

 

The Munafiqeen believe and propagate that Elah is He Who is a Creator, Possessor and Immortal. There is no doubt that Almighty ALLAH possesses these qualities but Divinity does not depend on these qualities. This is because before ALLAH created anything, that is, before His quality of خلق manifested, He was still Elah and after creating creation, He is still Elah. 

 

Similarly, after He sends all those whom He blesses to Jannah and all those whom He sentences to Jahannam and declares that all shall remain therein till eternity, then too it will not affect the status of Him being Elah nor will the eternal dwellers of Jannah and Jahannam become on par with His unique status of Elah.  The Holy Quran speaks of the eternal life of the dweller of Jannah and Jahannam.

اكلها دائم*

They will eat forever the fruit of Paradise.

خالدين فيها ابدا*

The dwellers of Jannah and Jahannam will live there forever.

 

So according to the Munafiqeen the fruits of Jannah, it’s dwellers, Jannah itself, the fire of Hell, its dwellers and Hell itself are all “Elah”. (ALLAH forbid)

 

INTERESTING INCIDENT

 

Once a staunch Tauheedi Scholar Molvi delivered a lecture in a Muslim function.  In the course of his speech he translated the first two words of the Kalima Tayyiba (لااله ) as follows:

·         There is no one who can give you a son.

·         There is no one who can fulfill your needs and desires.

·         There is no one who can listen to your call.

·         There is no one who can assist you in distress.

الاالله only ALLAH Alone can. 

 

Coincidentally, the organizer of the function was a Mukhlis Sunni Muslim.  This statement amazed and troubled him. The next morning, the Touheedi Molvi waited for the host to thank and bid him farewell with a golden handshake. The host was nowhere to be seen.  Frustration led him to the home of the host. When he confronted him, he demanded compensation for his travel expenses and payment for his time. The host replied: “Molvi Sahib! Did you forget last nights inspiring lecture so quickly?  You are entangled so early in the morning with Shirk! I have learnt a great deal from your enlightening talks and strongly intend to apply your pristine teachings as long as I live. Your arguments of Tauheed really impressed me, especially the summary of the first two words of the Kalima Tayyiba  لااله  - There is no one who can compensate your travel costs,  and there is no one who can repay you for your effort, there in no one who can give you any Nazrana (gift) الاالله but ALLAH. Now what do you want from me? Seek your requirements from ALLAH alone.”

 

Whoever regards these powers as “Elah” and base Divinity (Olowwiyyat) on such qualities is absolutely misguided.

 

THE SHAR’EE MEANING OF ELAH AND DIVINITY

 

There is no doubt that it is a fundamental Islamic belief that the Sublime ALLAH is Eternal, The All-Hearing, The All-Seeing, The Granter of Good, The Helper in Need, The Creator and The Owner of the Universe, The Curer of Sickness and The Comforter of Pain. But these are neither the primary factors that Divinity is dependent on nor the differentiating factor between ALLAH and His servants.

 

There is one fundamental factor that really differentiates between ALLAH and servants whereby ALLAH remains ALLAH and the servant remains as the servant. ALLAH or Elah is He Who is غنى Wealthy, Opulent and Independent عبد, but a servant is always in need and dependent on someone.  His status is that he is always in control of someone else.

 

Elah is He Who is totally Independent and Self-sufficient. He is the Wealthiest of all and carefree of everything. In Sura Ikhlaas, we are firstly informed of a unique status of ALLAH.

الله الصمد*

ALLAH is independent and carefree.

 

The next Ayah says:

لم يلد ولم يو لد*

He is Father to no one nor born of anyone. 

 

This Ayah clearly speaks of His Unique Independence because servant- ship and Prophethood is based on dependency. 

 

Finally, He I declares:

ولم يكن له كفوا احد*

And there is nothing similar to Him.

 

This is certainly so because everyone and everything is dependant on Him I and exists due to Him I and it is He I who fulfils the needs of everyone.  In other Ayahs ALLAH says:

والله غنى عن العا لمين*

And ALLAH is Carefree and Independent of the Universe.

الله غنى وانتم الفقراء*

ALLAH is Wealthy and Independent and you are poor and dependent.

ولم يتخذ وليا من الذل*

ALLAH is not in need of any assistance because of

weakness and dependency.

ولم يعى بخلقهنّ*

ALLAH did not create the skies and e