[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Worship (3/4)

Maulana Waheeduddin Khan


True Knowledge Is That Which Induces Fear Of God
Once, when some of the Prophet’s companions were sitting with him, he looked up to the heavens and said: “The time is coming when knowledge will be taken away.” One of the Ansar, who went by the name of Ziyad ibn Labeed, asked the Prophet how knowledge would be taken away from them, when they were in possession of the Book of God, and taught it to their wives and children. “I always thought of you as the most intelligent man in Madinah,” the Prophet told him, “Don’t you see how the Jews went astray, even though they were in possession of the Book of God?”
The narrator of this tradition, one Jubayr ibn Nufayr, went to Shaddad ibn Aus and went into the details of the tradition with him. “Do you know how knowledge will be taken away?” Shaddad asked him. Jubair replied that he did not. “By its vessel taken away,” said Shaddad, and he went on to ask; “Do you know which knowledge will be taken away?” When Jubayr once again replied in the negative, Shaddad explained that it was the fear of God that would be taken away. “There will not be a God-fearing man to be seen.” (Reported by Jami‘ Bayan Al-‘Ilm)
No One Is Exempt From Danger Of Going Astray
Abu Hurayrah records the Prophet as saying: “For a time this community will practice the teachings of the Book of God. Then for some time they will adhere to the path of the Prophet. Then they will start acting on the strength of their own opinions. And when they do this, they will go astray.” (Reported by Jami‘ Bayan Al-‘Ilm)
How Saint-Worship Gradually Turns Into Idol-Worship
Several idols which were worshipped by Noah’s people – Wud, Suwa, Yaghuth, Yauq and Nasr – are mentioned in the Qur’an. Ibn Jareer al Tabari has related a tradition on the authority of Muhammad Ibn Qays to the effect that these idols were named after certain saints of ancient times. These were pious men who had lived in the period between Adam and Noah. They had many followers in their lifetime, and when they died these followers said if they were to construct images of their heroes, it would inspire them in their worship of God. They then proceeded to do so. When the next generation made its appearance, Satan introduced another idea: that their forefathers had not just been using these statues as a focus of worship-they had actually been worshipping them as idols. It was these idols who made the rain fall and, in fact, accomplished everything. That was how idol worship started. (Reported by Ibn Kathir, Tafsir)
The Law Of God Is Applicable To Everyone
It is written in the chapter of the Qur’an entitled, “The Table Spread,” that those who do not judge in accordance with God’s revelations are unbelievers, transgressors and evil, doers, the reference being to the Children of Israel. Someone suggested to Hudhaifah, a companion of the Prophet that as these verses had been revealed with regard to the Children of Israel, they did not apply to Muslims, and that what they meant was that those of the Jews who did not judge in accordance with God’s revelations were unbelievers, transgressors and evildoers. “What good brothers you have in the Children of Israel that they should accept all that is sour, leaving all that is sweet for you in life,” replied Hudhaifah. “It cannot be as you say, “God knows, you are bound to follow in their footsteps.””
When Those Bound For Paradise Find Their Way Barred
Jabir ibn Abdullah tells of how, when he learnt of a companion of the Prophet who had actually heard the Prophet’s words of wisdom, he bought a camel, saddled it, and set off for Damascus. It took him a whole month to reach this city, where he betook himself to the house of Abdullah Ibn Unays. There he told the gate-keeper to inform the master of the house that Jabir was at the door. “Is that Jabir the son of Abdullah?” enquired the gate-keeper. On hearing that this was so, he summoned his master, who appeared at the doorway and embraced him. “It came to my knowledge,” said Jabir “that you had heard one of the sayings of the Prophet, and I was afraid that I might die before hearing it.” Abdullah ibn Unays then told him that what he had heard the Prophet say was that, on the Day of Judgement, people would make their appearance naked, uncircumcised and destitute. God would proclaim in a voice audible to the far and near alike that He was the Sovereign Lord; that it was He who would mete out justice on this day. “No one bound for Paradise will be able to take up his abode there if he has wronged one in Hell who seeks redress for the wrong done to him. Even if, in any case, one is bound for the Fire, one shall first have to make amends for any wrong one has inflicted on another of its inmates who seeks redress for the wrong done to him.” “How will it come to pass”, asked Jabir, “as God will raise us up in a naked and destitute state?” “The redressal will be made on the basis of our good and evil deeds,” replied Abdullah ibn Unays. (Reported by Al-Bukhari, Sahih)
Only Disinterested Action Is Of Moral Value
Abu Umamah relates how a man came to the Prophet to ask him about one who did battle with material rewards and fame as his objectives. He wanted to know what his reward would be. “Nothing,” replied the Prophet. The man repeated his question three times and each time the Prophet gave him the same reply. “The only actions acceptable to God are those carried out in absolute sincerity and solely for the sake of God,” added the Prophet. (Reported by Abu Dawud, Nasai)
Between Hope And Fear
Umar once said that if a voice from heaven announced that everyone would enter heaven except for one single person, he would be afraid of being that person, “And if a voice from heaven were to announce that everyone, except for one single person, would enter hell, I would be hopeful of being that person. (Hilyat Al-Auliya)
There Is Charity In Forgiveness
Abu Abbas ibn Hibr relates that one day the Prophet exhorted people to donate something towards the struggle for God’s cause, and people gave according to their means. One of the Prophet’s Companions Ulbah ibn Zayd ibn Haritha, did not, however, have anything to give. He arose that night and, weeping before God, prayed to Him: “Lord I have nothing to give to charity. Instead Lord, I forgive whoever has brought me dishonour.” In the morning when the Companions had gathered, the Prophet asked them, “Where is the one who gave something to charity last night?” When no one arose, the Prophet repeated his question. Still no one answered. Then, when the Prophet had repeated his question for the third time, Ulbah ibn Zayd Haritha arose. “Rejoice,” said the Prophet, “for your gift to charity has been accepted.” (Reported by Al-Bidayah Wa Al-Nihayah)

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