<br />
<p class="title">  Different kinds of people:</p>
  <span class="spc"> </span>Dear brother, there are so  many doctrines, creeds, orientations, practices and man-made laws. Well, the earth is brimful of thoughts, perspectives and philosophies, but with regards to people's behavior, there are endless types. However, despite these varieties in the ways according to which people think, and despite the endless types of behavior, they all belong to two examples:<p class="quran">﴾ And (O Muhammad PBUH) reauthor to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam [Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain)]﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 27]</p>
<p> <span class="spc"> </span>Adam PBUH is the father of mankind, and he had two sons, and all the people from Adam till the Day of Resurrection (regardless their sects, religions, affiliations, races, origins, colors, characteristics, creeds and ideologies) are in the end one of two examples; they are either like Cain (Qabil) or like Able (Habil). Habil sacrificed the best of his properties for the Sake of Allah the Almighty, whereas Qabil sacrificed the worst of his properties. Thus, man either offers the best of his deeds to draw close to Allah, or he offers the worst of his deeds.</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Qabil gave preference to his desires over Allah's Law, whereas Habil gave preference to obeying Allah over his fortunes of this worldly life. Every soul on earth belongs to one of those two examples. Allah imposes His laws, but lusts, desires and interests are installed in man, so if you give preference to Allah's Order over your interests, desires and lusts, you are following the example of Habil as an exalted believer, but if you give preference to your interests, desires and lusts over the Order of Allah, you are following the steps of Qabil, and there is no third example on earth other than Qabil and Habil. <br />
<p class="title">  Moral of the story of Qabil and Habil:</p>
  <span class="spc"> </span>Allah the Almighty says:<p class="quran">﴾ And (O Muhammad PBUH) reauthor to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam [Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain)] in truth; when each offered a sacrifice (to Allah), it was accepted from the one but not from the other.﴿ </p>
<p class="quran"> [Al-Ma'idah', 27]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>I interpreted these Ayat in one of Friday's lectures. Today in the limited time we have, I would like to put forth the headlines of this story. Allah the Almighty says:</p><p class="quran">﴾It was accepted from the one ﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 27]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Habil offered a sacrifice from the best of his properties, because he loved Allah the Almighty, whereas Qabil offered a sacrifice from the worst of his properties. Allah the Almighty says:</p><p class="quran">﴾It was accepted from the one but not from the other.﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 27]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>What did Habil do? All he did was sacrificing the best of his properties, because he loved Allah, but Qabil could not take it that Habil was better than him, so he took his life by killing him. Pay attention to the following Ayah, please: </p><p class="quran">﴾They had nothing against them, except that they believed in Allah, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise!﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Burooj, 8]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Muslim's only guilt nowadays is being a Muslim; he is righteous, he does not drink wine, he does not gamble, he does not use arrows for seeking luck or decision, he does not sin, he does not steal, he does not lie and he does not deceive people, and since he is like that, the corrupted is exposed (thus the latter oppressed the former just like Qabil oppressed Habil). In life there are the righteous and the corrupted, the believer and the non-believer, the honest and the dishonest, the faithful and the unfaithful, the merciful and the merciless and the oppressing and the just.</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Habil's only guilt was that he offered the best of his properties for the Sake of Allah, and he gave preference to obeying Allah over his own desires, and so he deserved a very exalted rank in the Sight of Allah, and by being like that he exposed Qabil's lowness, and the latter was offended so he killed him. </p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Have you noticed how this story shows us that the corrupted man tries to kill the believer out of rage? This is exactly what is going on in the world, for Muslims are killed everywhere, so the story (of Qabil and Habil) is repeated over and over again, for whoever follows the Right Path of Allah, seeks His Pleasure, makes his concern the Hereafter and is chaste is always attacked (and sometimes he is killed).<br />
<p class="title">  Why do our enemies hold grudge against us?</p>
<span class="spc"> </span>  A female student dressed to school like lesbians in New York City, so she was rebuked by the principal and was expelled from school, but her father pressed charges and he won the suit, forcing the principal pay 30.000 Dollars as penalty. On the other hand, the female Muslim student in France puts on her Hijab to cover her beauty and to be decent, so that she will not seduce people with her beauty, and despite the fact that one third of people on earth are Muslims, Hijab is forbidden in France. A Muslim student was forbidden, according to their laws, from entering school, otherwise, her father would be prosecuted, so she would  sentenced by school to stay at home instead of learning at school.<br />
  <span class="spc"> </span>Why do westerners have these bitter feelings against Muslims? Actually their only guilt is being Muslims. Why do you think the King burnt the people of Ukhdood (the trench)? Allah the Almighty says:<p class="quran">﴾They had nothing against them, except that they believed in Allah, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise!﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Burooj, 8]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Sometimes the Muslim's only guilt is just being a Muslim and a righteous man who fears Allah the Almighty, and being such a kind of man exposes the corrupted person, and when the latter cannot take that offence, he kills the Muslim:</p><p class="quran">﴾  The latter said to the former: "I will surely kill you. " The former said: "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)."﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 27]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>As if Habil is saying, "I feared disobeying Allah, I accepted His Decree and I sacrificed the best of my properties for His Sake." Allah the Almighty says narrating what Habil said: </p><p class="quran">﴾ "If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists)."* "Verily, I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the recompense of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)."* So the Nafs (self) of the other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair-seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers* Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who regretted.﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 28-31]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Due profound Divine Wisdom, Allah started mankind with a Noble Prophet (Adam PBUH).</p><p class="s7adeth">((Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri: that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "I am the chief of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgement and I am not boasting, and in my hand is the banner of praise and I am not boasting, and there has been no Prophet since Adam or other than him, except that he is under my banner…")) </p>
<p class="author"> [At-Tirmizi and Ibn Majah in their Sunan]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Our Master Adam PBUH is the first among all Prophets and Messengers of Allah, peace be upon them, and from his offspring is Qabil and Habil. While Qabil represented the disbelievers, the debauchers, the oppressors and the murderers, Habil represents the believers, the obedient and the disciplined who strive for the Sake of Allah and the Hereafter. <br />
  <p class="title"><span class="spc"> </span>  When does man break away from Allah's Method?</p>
<span class="spc"> </span>Dear brother, consider the following Ayah, please:<p class="quran">﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH) "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing (as regards guidance)﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 68]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>When we use in Arabic the expression "Ala Ilm" (he has some knowledge) it does not mean that he is very knowledgeable, but it means he has little knowledge. Similarly, when we say that such a person is "Ala Ghina", we mean he has some money, and when we that such a person is "Alah Quwah", we mean he has some power. If a person has the least of something then the word that is used to describe it is "Ala Shai'" (it means he has nothing). Allah the Almighty says: </p><p class="quran">﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH) "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing (as regards guidance) till you act according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel)﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 68]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Let us apply this rule to Muslims: Look around and see buildings, Masajid, collages, exquisite copies of the Noble Quran and other unbelievable Islamic appearances like Islamic art, Islamic architecture, Islamic adornments, Islamic folklore, Islamic books, Islamic conferences, Islamic libraries, Islamic audios and Islamic videos. As if Allah is saying to the one billion and 500 million Muslims, "You are not "Ala Shai'" (you have nothing) unless you apply the Quran, and all the appearances you have are very far from the gist of Islam." Accordingly, this Ayah should be the motto of every Muslim who should say to himself, "I have nothing unless I apply Islam to myself, in my house and at work", and when Muslims do so, Allah will grant us triumph. Some people may assume that Allah has abandoned us, but Allah will never abandon His believing servants. Allah the Almighty says:</p><p class="quran">﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH) "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing (as regards guidance) till you act according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel)﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 68]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>This Ayah is manifested at present time, for we, as Muslims, have nothing unless we apply the Quran which is in our hands, which we read in the morning and in the evening and which we listen to in the whole month of Ramadan. Thus, when you listen to the Quran ask yourself, "Have I leveled with the Ayat of Quran?" </p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Consider this Ayah, please: <br />
</p>
<p class="quran">﴾ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things),﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [An-Nur, 30]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Do you lower your gaze from looking at forbidden things? In another Ayah Allah the Almighty says:</p><p class="quran">﴾And speak good to people [i.e. enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad PBUH]﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Baqarah, 83]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Do you act upon Allah's Orders? Also, Allah the Almighty says: </p><p class="quran">﴾ Verily, Allah enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allah Alone - Islamic Monotheism)﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [An-Nahl, 90]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Do you treat your children equally? Do you treat your sons in law equally? Do you treat your partners equally? I am just summing up the many Divine Orders you are supposed to apply, so we have nothing unless we apply the Noble Quran: </p><p class="quran">﴾ And whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers - of a lesser degree). ﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 45]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>They oppressed their own selves.</p><p class="quran">﴾Such are the Kafirun (i.e. disbelievers - of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allah's Laws ).﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Al-Ma'idah', 44]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>This means that they undermine the greatness of Islam.</p><p class="quran">﴾They are the Fasiqun (rebellious: those who turn away from Allah's Obedience).﴿ </p>
<p class="author"> [Aal-'Imran, 82]</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>They are described like that, as long as they turn away from Allah's Method. Bear these three Ayat in mind. <br />
<p class="title">  Summary:</p>
<span class="spc"> </span>The story of Qabil and Habil is the story of all mankind; it is about the difference between the one who knows Allah and obeys Him, and thus he draws closer to Him and gains happiness thereby in the worldly life and in the Hereafter, and the one who turns away from Allah, gives preference to his desires over obeying Allah and oppresses Allah's creatures even by killing them, and so he will be miserable in the worldly life and in the Hereafter.
</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Qabil and Habil are two examples which are found in mankind; some people are closer to the example of Qabil, while sh3er are closer to the example of Habil. Hence, when you give preference to obeying Allah over your desires and lusts, you are closer to the example of Habil, but when you give preference to your desires, lusts and interests over Allah's Shari'ah, you are closer to the example of Qabil.</p>
<p><span class="spc"> </span>Bear in mind that we have nothing unless we apply the Quran and judge by what Allah the Almighty has revealed in our selling and buying, on ceremonies, celebrations and grieves, in settlements, on travels and in marriages, then the three previous Ayat are applied to us, and we will be oppressors of our selves, disbelievers of the greatness of Islam and Fasqeen by turning away from Allah's Method<br />
</p>