Subject: The Doctrine and Inimitability (4): Components of Commandments

          His Eminence:Prof. Mohammad Ratib Nabulsi 

         In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

      All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds and blessings upon his messenger Mohammad the true in his promise, the honest. Oh Allah, there is no knowledge that we acquire but the knowledge you taught us, you are the most Knowing, Most Wise. Oh Allah, teach us what is beneficial for us and make benefit of what you teach us and increase our knowledge. Oh Allah, show us the truth in its essentials and bestow upon us to follow it and show us the untrue as faulty and bestow upon us to avoid it and make us among those who hear the speech and follow the best of it. Enter us with your mercy amongst your righteous people. Release us from the darkness of ignorance and delusions to the lights of knowledge and science. From the mud of sensuous to the gardens of pious acts/ good deeds.    

Introductory Reminder

     Dear brothers, with the 4^th lesson of the “Doctrine and Inimitability”. As we have finished in the previous lesson the wide concept of worship. We said that worshipping is “a freewill obedient mixed with agreeable delight in the heart on the basis of absolute certainty that will lead to ever lasting happiness”.

We also explained how the worship hovers around the human being-Muslim-in all aspects of life, time, places, movements and stillness.

I also explained that there is a ritual worshipping -praying, fasting and pilgrimage- and transactional ( dealing) worshipping –being true, honest and chastity. Then we explained the worship of ID, so the rich, scientist, the governor and the woman each have a distinctive worship. On the other hand, there is the worship according circumstances-you have a guest, relative, sick person, or a son who has an exam. And there is the worship of the century ; that is if there is a country plotting for us to be poor, our worship must be in reproduction of opulence, cultivation the land and achievement of projects in order that the nation will sufficient from begging from parties whom Allah is not satisfied upon. I also explained how the kinds of worships –century, circumstance and ID- are of a detailed approach that starts from the marital relationship and ends with international relationship.

components and constants of Commandment  

Now let’s move on to a new subject. When Allah almighty charged us to worship Him, He gave us the components of the commandments, so what do we mean by components of commandments? How do I worship Allah?

I said in a previous lesson that through the universe we know Him, and through Islamic Sharia we worship Him.

We will start with the first components which will take us many lectures-By Allah’s will- but in this lesson I will gather all the components as a summary then the details will follow in coming lessons.

The First Fundamental: the Universe

No two people can argue about this universe. The sun is sun, the moon is moon, the day light is daylight and so on with mountains, seas, lakes, rivers, fish, birds plants, objects, metals, semi-metals creatures… this universe is the first well established thing that utters with the existence of Allah Allah,His Perfection and Oneness.

    This universe is a silent Koran whom any human being can read even non Arab. No doubt between any two that this universe is beneficial for every human being. So it is considered the greatest constants of belief , it indicates the existence of Allah. In the universe there is wisdom that points to The All-Wise, and mercy which points to The Merciful. The way it is driven shows you that He is The Propulsive, and the creatures indicate a Creator, kindness that points to The All-Kind and beauty that leads to The Beautiful , as if this universe is a display for the Attributes of Allah This universe is an agreed upon constant , and everything submits to it.

Therefore; at times of belief disturbance, ordeals or deviations, the universe stays the first constant. No matter how human being is arrogant or stubborn, How wouldn't he submit to a mind overwhelming universal signs and verses? how can he not comply with the fact that a 20 billion light years galaxy is away from us? Light breaks in 300,000 km/sec. How many does it break in a minute, an hour, a day, a month a year …in a billion years .Allah says:.[20][ On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith   ]

                                                                 Surah 51. The Winnowing Winds

WATER

But for this particularity in this element, there would not be this lesson, or this city, or this country, as a matter of fact, there would not be any human being on this earth.

 Water is like any other element: extends by heating and shrinks by chilling. When it shrinks, on 4ºc this particularity is diverted in an amazing mechanism, so its size extends, thus its density will become less and will float on the surface of the water this is why the seas are not frozen. But if water continued to shrink, its density would increase thus it would dive in the depth of the seas and the seas would freeze. So there would not be any falling rains, the plants, animals and human being would’ve died. So this is the particularity of water.

    Dear brothers, By Allah; whom there is no Deity other than Him, we can spend all our lives meditating in the creation of the earth and heavens. How can this mighty God be disobeyed? Shouldn’t we seek his cordiality? Don’t we hope to enter his heaven? Don’t we fear his hell?

This is why universe is constant.

Who set these mountains up? Who made springs on the summits of these mountains? What does it mean that there is water springs in these summits? There must be extensions for a higher mountain for the creatures which live in theses summits.

    In some parts of Indonesia, there are 17,000 islands, each has a spring that suites its area. But the rain of the island is not sufficient to provide this spring with water. So water from ground comes from large area with heavy rain fall to provide the deficiency in water for these springs. Who made theses extensions?

    By Allah brothers, if we meditate in the creation of the heavens and the earth we will be confronting the Majesty of Allah. The whole universe utters by His existence, His Oneness, His Perfection. When human being is lost in nonsense arguments, he will be lost in disrupt belief, delusions and endless differences. In this entire mess universe stays the foremost constant thing. The One who created the worlds is a Great God absolutely perfect. This God revealed this Koran. Allah says: [75].[Furthermore I call to witness the setting of the Stars,-

[76]. And that is indeed a mighty adjuration if ye but knew,-

[77] That this is indeed a qur'an Most Honourable,]     Surah 56. The Event, The Inevitable

Meditating in the Universe is a Kind of Worship       

   Therefore, there is nothing greater than worshipping through contemplation. It is the only way to Allah. rather, it is the only door that leads to Allah: to meditate in the signs ( verses)  of the universe, creation, and Koranic verses. Most of the Maccian Sura(chapters) starts with universal signs ( verses) . Allah says:

[1][By the Sun and his (glorious) splendour; 2. By the Moon as she follows him; 3. By the Day as it shows up (the Sun's) glory; 4. By the Night as it conceals it;]                                             Surah 91. The Sun

[1][By the break of Day  2. By the Nights twice five; 3. By the even and odd (contrasted); 4. And by the Night when it passeth away;- 5. Is there (not) in these an adjuration (or evidence) for those who understand? ]

                                                               Surah 89. The Dawn, Daybreak

So many verses call upon us startlingly. Allah says:

[101][Say: "Behold all that is in the heavens and on earth"; but neither Signs nor Warners profit those who believe not.]            Surah 10. Jonah

[6][He is created from a drop emitted]-           Surah 86. The Morning Star, The Nightcomer

[24][Then let man look at his food, (and how we provide it)]     Surah 80. He Frowned!

SO many verses start with ((Didn’t he see))

Dear honorable brothers, the signs ( verses) of the universe in Koran are an approach for us. They are the most important subject for meditation.

This water for example, who stores it for you in the mountains? Allah says: [22][And We send the fecundating winds, then cause the rain to descend from the sky, therewith providing you with water (in abundance), though ye are not the guardians of its stores.]              Surah 15. Al-hijr, Stoneland, Rock City

We will have a detailed elaboration about the universe. But in this lesson we will follow the components rapidly.

Universe is the first stable thing that no two people can argue about. All the people all over the world admire the majesty of its creator. So it was  subjected to human being the day he bore the moral responsibility. Allah says:[72] [We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish;]-  

                       Surah 33. The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces

Since the day human being accepted to bear the trust, Allah subjected everything in the heavens and earth–all from Him. You are the honored creature; the first in position, Thus who knows himself knows his lord. He-human being- is the master of the all beings, thus he could be above the angles or below the animals. That is angles are created from mind without desire; animals are made from desire without mind but human beings are made up from both. Therefore, if his mind rises above his desire, he will become above angles. Allah says:

[7][Those who have faith and do righteous deeds,- they are the best of creatures.]                                      Surah 98. The Clear Proof, Evidence                            

 You are the best of Allah’s creation. Do you think that you are a small celestial body and in you the whole world has been encompassed!

Dear brothers, Allah Almighty has universal signs verses we should meditate in and creation signs- verses -His deeds- we should consider. This holy verse emphasizes this meaning:

[11][Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who rejected Truth."]                                    Surah 6. Cattle, Livestock

No Hope but in Islam

   Let’s consider those who fought against the messenger of Allah and his companions where are they? They are in history’s dunghill. On the other side, those who fought with him, where are they? In the highest rank( In Paradise) .Those who wanted to demolish Islam, where are they? Thousands of tyrants who wanted to demolish Islam are dead but Islam is remaining. Even some foreign scholars said: “I don’t believe that Islamic world is able to follow up the western world- at least on the range of vision- for there is a great gap between them; but I am confident in my belief that all the world will bow under the feet of Muslims, not because they are powerful but because the salvation of the world is in Islam”. All the positive laws are in the mud and nothing stays on the field of principals and values but Islam as an escape for everyone.

     Dear Brothers, in universe we meditate, and in His deeds we consider. Let’s take extreme cases: Pharaoh, the powerful tyrant, the strong hostile had a numerous army with destructive weapons driven by concealed hatred followed a group of followers to Moses- peace be upon him- and they were in front of the sea, is there any hope at all? None. Allah says:[62][And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken." 63. (Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!"]                                              Surah 26. The Poets

  By Allah, dear brothers, there is a word which I never get tired of repeating ” If Allah is with you, who is against you? Who can defeat you? But if He is against you who is with you?

Something very hard to imagine, so a poet said:

 Be with Allah and you will see that Allah is with you. Leave everyone and be aware of your greed. And if He gives who can prevent His grace, but if He deprives you who will give you?  And Allah says: [12][Allah did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And Allah said: "I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers, practice regular charity, believe in my apostles, honour and assist them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, verily I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resisteth faith, he hath truly wandered from the path or rectitude."]                                Surah 5. The Table, The Table Spread

Then Moses struck the sea with his walking stick and it became a solid ground. For whom do you think the theme of this story is? Is it for him or for us? It is definitely for us to learn. Koran was revealed after Moses- peace be upon him-and this is to learn never to feel depressed or down. Allah says:  [139][So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.]                          Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran    

The Right position of the Universal, Creational and Koranic signs - verses

   As we said, in the universal signs ( verses)  we meditate, in His creation we admire and in His Koranic verses we consider to know Allah. If you know Him, you know everything; If you satisfy Him, you get everything, and if you reach Him you reach everything. Thus I always say a very impressive word “O My Lord; What does a person lose if he finds You? NOTHING. And what does a person gains if he loses You? NOTHING.”

  Uncountable amounts of money fire can not burn, houses, properties are all depending on heart beats; but if this heart stopped beating, one loses everything. Allah says: [15]["Serve ye what ye will besides him." Say: "Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their People on the Day of Judgment: Ah! that is indeed the (real and) evident Loss!]                                                                                                                                Surah 39. The Troops, Throngs    

Thus the origin of religion is to know Allah. It is said in the tradition: “You son of Adam, seek Me and you will find Me, and if you found Me you found everything. But if you missed Me, you missed everything. And I should be the most lovable to you.”

   The universe is constant, 1300 verses that is one sixth of the holy Koran mention universe to meditate in the creation of the heavens and the earth. The basic verse in this aspect is:

[190][Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,-

191. Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.]                          Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of 'Imran

The first fundamental is universe. It is the first constant thing that no nation among the people of the earth conflict about it. Any human being can read through this universe. Allah says:[1][Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-  2. Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:3. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- 4. He Who taught (the use of) the pen,]- Surah 96. The Clot, Read!

The Second Components: Mind

Allah has gifted us with mind. Allah says:[7][And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice),]     Surah 55. The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving    

Let’s take an example of a person who owns nothing in this world but a very valuable house. So he sells it by hard currency. Let’s assume that in his right pocket there is a detector for the false currency and on the other pocket some papers that show the serial numbers of the false currency. So he sells the house without using the detector. He is the biggest loser because it is his fault that he did not use the detector nor did he look into the serial numbers. Thus; the serial numbers stands for the law of Islam and the detector stands for the mind. So mind is the second great component of commandments and it is charged with the commandments.

Principals of Mind: Causality, Finality, and non Contradiction

Mind is an extremely complicated device constructed upon 3 principals:

1-Causality: as a human being with mind you can not understand anything that has no reason

2- Finality: You can not understand anything that has no purpose.

3-non-contradiction: through your mind you can not understand anything contradictory. For example you can’t say that there is a man in presence and absence at the same time in the same place. This is impossible for the mind to understand.

 So the exact thing is that the system of the universe depends on causality and nothing happens without a reason, purpose or in contradiction and your mind is constructed according to those three principals. Therefore mind is the second fundamental.

The Role of Mind in Knowing Allah:

The mission of mind is to reassure the correctness of quotations then to understand them.

What is the role of the mind in knowing Allah?

Mind has 2 missions:

1-The basis of religion is reporting: recited revelation, the holy Koran, and the non-recited revelation, the Sunna. And the basis of religion is to know Allah. Thus before reciting, the mission of the mind is to reassure the correctness of reciting then its next mission is to understand it. But the basis of religion is reporting therefore mind will not judge the reporting.

50 years ago, mind could not believe that a CD contains 7000 volumes, each consists of 40 chapters each has 400 pages, each has 8 lines each has 35 words and each word is made up from 5 letters. Mind is attached to real life; revelation has to do with the creator. Therefore, REVELATION is the origin. Mind’s mission is to reassure the correctness of reporting and to understand it after that.

Mind is in Harmony with the System of the Universe

The most amazing thing is this fact and without it, mind would have been worthless. Everything in this universe has a reason, a purpose and with no contradictions. So, mind does not understand anything unreasonable.

To make it clear, if a you and your wife had gone to another city, you turned off the lights of your house, locked the doors and no one else has the keys; if you came back after a week and saw that the lights are turned on , why do you shiver from fear? If a silly argument between you and your wife happened telling her: “the lights are turned on!” so she answers back: “then turn them off!” It is not a matter of turning them off, it comes to mind that someone has entered the house while your absence. There is no way that they were lit  by themselves.

The same way mind works. It is entrusted for commandments and it is the instrument to know Allah. The principals of mind are in harmony with the principals of the universe. So Allah says:

[68][Will they not then understand]                           Surah 36. Ya-sin

[17][Do they not look at]    . Surah 88. The Overwhelming, The Pall

[69][Seest thou not those that dispute concerning the Signs of Allah. How are they turned away (from Reality)?]-          Surah 40 The Believer, the forgiver (God)            

[154][What is the matter with you? How judge ye?] Surah 37. Those Who Set The Ranks, Drawn Up In Ranks

This mind is exactly like the eye-pay attention to this simile-if this eye sees perfectly, but the problem is that there is no light for the eye to see. This eye is worthless. Therefore, mind without revelation is worthless. Light and eye integrate with each other and so does the mind with revelation. That is revelation to mind is like light to eye. This is why mind with no revelation is inadequate. Allah says:

[18][For he thought and he plotted;19. And woe to him! How he plotted! 20. Yea, Woe to him; How he plotted!-21. Then he looked round; 22. Then he frowned and he scowled; 23. Then he turned back and was haughty; 24. Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 25. "This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 26. Soon will I cast him into Hell-Fire! 27. And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is?

28. Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!-

29. Darkening and changing the colour of man! 30. Over it are Nineteen.]        Surah 74. The Cloaked One, The Man Wearing A Cloak

Mind needs revelation, and anything mind is not able to comprehend; Allah has told you about. So mind is entrusted for commandments and it is the tool to know Allah, its mission is to check the trueness of reporting before reporting; then understanding it; without judging the reported thing.

The Third Commandment: Natural Instinct

You have an instinct. Allah says:[30][So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah.s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind]             Surah 30. The Romans, The Byzantines    

This Instinct is Congruent with the way of Allah

Your psychological construction is integrally harmonious with the way of Allah. And you will feel comfortable by applying any order from Him. Exactly like a very expensive vehicle designed for a paved road. If you drive it through a bumpy road it will break and will not comply with your needs. So, as the vehicle designed for a paved road, you are designed to the way of Allah. Therefore, if you apply the way of Allah, you will feel an indescribable happiness. Allah ordered you to be honest; thus if you were honest you will feel very comfortable. Allah ordered you to have mercy you will feel extra ordinary comfort if you were merciful. Allah says:[30][So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah.s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind]

                                                      Surah 30. The Romans, The Byzantines    

 Islam is the religion of instinct; this psychological particularity  harmonizes with everything Allah Almighty orders you to do. Therefore, Allah -exalted He- named the thing that you feel wrong and your natural psycho does not accept “detestable”-Munkar- but the things that you feel right and your psycho agrees with “courtesy” –Maroof. Thus theses two words: detestable and courtesy- assures the compatibility of instinct with the doctrine. Allah the Great and Almighty says:[7][By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; 8. And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right]

                                                                                         Surah 91. The Sun

So if you do a good deed you do not need anyone to tell you that you did something right because you know that it is right. And if you do a bad deed you know by instinct that it is bad.

If you excuse me for this example but this instinct also exists in animals. For example; if a cat steals a piece of meat it will run away to eat it; but it would just eat it in front of you if you gave it to her. It knew, by instinct, that it did something wrong although it is not commissioned by anything.

 We have talked about: Universe, Mind and Instinct.

The Importance of Desire as a component of Commandment:

Allah the Almighty has placed desires in us, and affection to woman, money, beauty, comfort, comfortable houses and vehicle. Human being likes perfection, beauty and possession ;which are all desires. Theses desires are sometimes to raise us to thank Allah or to experiment our patience. Therefore, desire is like the engine, mind is like the driving-wheel, and the way of Allah( Sharea) is like the road. So your movement in this life is driven by the desires and if there were no desires there would not be anything on earth. No house, no bridge, no road, no teacher no school, no hospital. If there was no desire for food and drink or for woman you would be like this table…if you leave it for a million years it would stay as it is. It doesn’t mate, eat, or drink. Human being could have been like inanimate being that doesn’t do anything. But Allah entrusted desires in you to walk in the markets looking for work and income; in order to get married and to have children to raise them. Therefore, Allah described His prophets as human beings, because they need to eat and to get money to purchase what they want from the markets, Allah says:[7][And they say: "What sort of an apostle is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets]            Surah 25. The Criterion, The Standard

As we all are. Allah says: [14][Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; Heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (To return to).]   Surah 3. The Family Of 'Imran, The House Of Imran

So desires are entrusted in us by Allah – the Al-Mighty.

Each Desire Has a Legal Tunnel to Flow Through.

There is no deprivation for human being because there is no desire entrusted in us that Allah has not set a clean tunnel to flow through. Allah embodied interest in money so the ways of getting money legitimately are widely open; on the other hand there is illegitimate gaining of money. Desire is like 180º angle: 90º angle for the legitimate gaining and the other 90º for the illegitimate; for this reason the believer limits his activity in gaining within the first 90º angle. But the non believer works, steals, monopolies, dispossesses… this is how desire is a  180º angle wide. Believer limits himself within the legitimate allowed area from Allah, and this is the meaning of Allah’s saying:[86]"That which is left you by Allah is best for you, if ye (but) believed! but I am not set over you to keep watch!"]

                                                                                                Surah 11. Hud

Woman: you have a wife, sisters, daughters, your mother, aunties and nieces they are all unmarriageable women whom you can sit with them. But to make a relationship with a woman who is not legitimate for you is prohibited if you are a believer. These are desires.

Money: you have trade, job, gift, independent business, commerce, agriculture or industry within the boundaries of belief, no stealing, taking-over, monopoly, cheating ; any kind of sins in gaining money is prohibited.

Being in High Position on Earth: this is also another desire: To be someone important and celebrity; to be pin-pointed by others but the best way is by learning and doing good deeds. To give an example, a very well known Islamic scholar from an Islamic country traveled to England to have an operation. Thousands of phone calls and messages were established to ask about his health. The BBC was astonished from this thing-he is just a man- thus it interviewed him and asked him about this position that he reached to make such a popularity. The scholar answered a very amazing." answer; he said “I am a subservient to Allah”.

 And you as a believer are subservient to Allah. Thus, being sublime in this world could be in Allah’s obedience, serving the creatures, spreading knowledge and good deeds. And it could be in harming creatures, or illegitimate gaining that leads to a fancy house and vehicle, illegitimate relationships, traveling.

  Your basic needs are for food and drink to survive; for a woman to preserve human species, for being remembered as an important person; all can be in the borders of the law of Islam or out of it. Therefore, any desire that Allah has put in human being He made a clean path to be obtained through without deprivation. Allah says:[50][But if they hearken not to thee, know that they only follow their own lusts: and who is more astray than one who follow his own lusts, devoid of guidance from Allah. for Allah guides not people given to wrong-doing.]                        Surah 28. The Story, Stories

When a person follows his desires according to the way of Allah and gets married, horns are blown and people congratulate them .Aren’t they ashamed? No, they are doing the right thing and they are not ashamed from anyone because marriage is legitimate from Allah.

So we have: universe, mind, instinct and desire.

The Fifth Fundamental: Freewill (The Choice)

[29][Say, "The Truth is from your Lord": Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it).]                                  Surah18. Al Kahf

[3][We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will)]      Surah  76. Time, Man, (every) Man, This (day-and-)age

[148][To each is a goal to which Allah turns him.]       Surah 2. The Cow

[148][Those who give partners (to Allah) will say: "If Allah had wished, we should not have given partners to Him, nor would our fathers: nor should we have had any taboos." So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our wrath. Say: "Have ye any (certain) knowledge? If so, produce it before us. Ye follow nothing but conjecture: ye do nothing but lie."]                                             Surah 6. Cattle, Livestock

Human being has the Choice in Commandment

This what polytheists say, If we were forced to obey; reward would be ineffective, if Allah forced us to commit sins; punishment would be ineffective; if we were left in diversion; it would be incapability in Allah’s ability. Indeed Allah ordered his worshipers optionally, forbid them from disobedience as warning, instructed them with easy things, didn’t instructed them with tough missions, and rewarded a lot for the little.

Human has the freedom to choose; the moment a person imagines that he is driven and does not have the choice or option he is mistaken. He does not have a choice for things that he is not commissioned with such as being a male or female; did anyone ask you to tick the correct answer if you prefer to be a male or a female; whom you prefer to be your father and mother to be; where do you want to be born and when?! You do not have a choice in such matters. You do not have the choice in the place, time, century, being male or female, and your parents of your birthday. All these are Allah’s destiny, but religious scholars say that what you do not have the choice for is for your own sake, and you can’t make better than what Allah bestowed upon you. On the day of judgment when Allah reveals the secrets of being a male or female, or which father or mother you are from, in which country, which place, which time, your efforts, your look, your beauty, etc… you will melt in Allah’s love as He chooses what is best for you. Thus, in all these matters you do not have the option. As for the things you are commenced to do; you have to choose, Allah ordered you to establish prayer, shouldn’t you pray?

Allah says: [119][O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed).]              Surah 9. Repentance, Dispensation

You come to the mosque because Allah asks you to be with the truthful, you came to the mosque, but there is the club, the internet café, dishonored places. Because you have the choice on what you have been entrusted with ,you chose the mosque. Allah says: [29][Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject]                                                     Surah18. Al Kahf

If a moment comes when you imagine that you are don't have the choice,  the consequence should be an abolish of reward and punishment, abolish of commandment, honesty, heaven and hell –fire , and life will seem to become a dull boring play.

If there was a competition for a certain position and there were 3000 applicants; settings were prepared: committees, exams, language competition, general information exam, certificates and marks are needed, yet the one who will be employed for that position is already known in advance!!! It is impossible to be that way.

That’s why the moment you imagine that you are driven in everything you have cancelled the religion, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, you have cancelled everything. When Omar Bin Al-Khatab saw a drunken man ,he ordered that he should be castigated. The man said: “It is my destiny from Allah to drink;” some people say: “few drinks in certain places, this is a fate from Allah”. This is wrong; Allah did not choose him this fate, he himself chooses to be like that. Then Omar said: “Castigate him twice: the first time for drinking wine and the second time for fabricating lies against Allah”. Omar continued:” Shame on you. Allah’s fate does not take you from choice to compulsion”.

Don’t say this is my fate from Allah, you should say: I did bad things, Allah ordered me to do good things but I sinned.

So, choice, desire, instinct, mind and universe are all Components of Commandments.

The sixth Fundamental: The law of Allah-Sharia.

In each country each store has different weights: 2 kilos, half a kilo, ounce, half ounce. If a merchant took 100 grams from the weights underneath the scale, how can we discover that he has cheated? There are certain weights in the municipality which are approved, standard and reliable , is the control. Islamic Sharia is control that we should go with. The good is what Sharia considers good and the bad is what Sharia conceders bad. If you think about things that Sharia denies and you saw it good you have a problem; your thoughts and acts must be encompass with the Islamic Sharia; what is forbidden is forbidden: Combined gatherings with men and women is forbidden, adultery is forbidden and unacceptable. But in some ages of liberality the unacceptable becomes acceptable because it is spread all over the world. Nevertheless, it will not change its standards which are set by Allah.

Then, Al Sharia- methodology- is also one of the basic Components of Commandments, so the brain may mislead but Shara is the control.

If I give you a puzzle to solve and I gave you the answer to the puzzle before you tire yourself. If your answer matches the answer I gave you then your answer is correct; if your answer is something else; then you know then it is incorrect. If you think that a sin is not  considered a sin in religion , what have you done? Giving excuses as:  we live now in a new time: the time of knowledge, an time when woman is supposed to be considered the other half of the society and she is very highly considered. If you conceive anything against Sharia, you are mistaken. Yes, woman is half of the society and highly appreciated , and there is no religion before and no doctrine that has given woman her rights, and looked very highly for her as Islam did.

When prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was bestowed victory in conquest  Mecca, all people opened their houses for Him (PBUH) to spend his night there, he said: “Install a tent at Khadija’s grave”, and he put the flag of victory in front of it to show the whole world that the woman laying down in this grave is his partner is victory. Allah The Al-Mighty said: [6][and take mutual counsel together]                  Surah 65. Divorce

Controls at the Times of Mind’s Deviation and Desire Extinction         

Corruption, immorality, and showing charms, and sanctums are rejected; Therefore, Sharia is the judge: the good is what Sharia accepts. Mind may  mislead, desire may be extinguished. So what is the control, the basic measure to judge our deeds? It is Sharia. Allah the Al-Mighty has given us above all things time to fill our pots of deeds. We; human beings are but a few days, each day passes takes  something from you.

In a new lesson we will start all these Components in details.

                         All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds

Translated by: Shatha Mansi

Sydney/ Australia

19-06-2007

Revised By: Ibtehal Ramadan

Gaza/Palestine