Islam and Belief

by Abu Hamzah bin Yusuf Alamo

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Assalaamu Alaikum. All praise is due to Allah, and that is enough for a man to understand. In Islam, one cannot have belief (or faith) without assurance of the heart, and one cannot have assurance of the heart without knowledge, and knowledge without action is useless, and so is belief without knowledge, for belief without knowledge is blind faith, which is also useless. Belief (or faith) in Islam is based on the teachings of our primary textual source (the Qur'an) and our secondary textual source is the Authentic Hadeeth. It is from this that we (Muslims) extract the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be upon him). The Noble Qur'an and the Authentic Sunnah teach us (Muslims) that there are six pillars upon which our faith is based. These pillars are belief in Allah, belief in His Angels, belief in His divine revelations, belief in all of His Prophets and messengers, belief in the last day, and belief in the divine preordainment; including the good and the bad of it. {The Noble Qur'an [2:285] - The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."}, {The Noble Qur'an [4:136] - O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray.}, {Sahih al-Bukhari [6:4448] - One day while Allah's Apostle was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Apostle. What is Belief?" The Prophet said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection."}, {Sahih Muslim [1:4] - Abu Huraira reported: One day the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) appeared before the public that a man came to him and said: Prophet of Allaah, (tell me) what is Iman. Upon this he (the Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Messengers and that you affirm your faith in the Resurrection hereafter.}, Also: {Sahih Muslim [1:6] - It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Ask me (about matters pertaining to religion), but they (the Companions of the Prophet) were too much overawed out of profound respect for him to ask him (anything). In the meanwhile a man came there, and sat near his knees and said: Messenger of Allaah, what al-lslam is? -to which he (the Prophet) replied: You must not associate anything with Allaah, and establish prayer, pay the poor-rate (Zakat) and observe (the fasts) of Ramadan. He said: You (have) told the truth. He (again) said: Messenger of Allaah, what al-Iman (the faith) is? He (the Prophet) said: That you affirm your faith in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Prophets, and that you believe in Resurrection and that you believe in Qadr (Divine Decree) in all its entirety, He (the inquirer) said: You (have) told the truth.} Our primary textual source (the Qur'an) is based on knowledge, and we receive knowledge only as Allah wills. The proof of this is from the Speech of Allah: {The Noble Quran [7:52] - In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful: For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail,- a guide and a mercy to all who believe.}, {The Noble Qur'an [2:255] - In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful: Allah! There is no deity but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).} May Allah Guide all of us to the right path, ameen.

Islam and Plural Marriage

by Abu Hamzah bin Yusuf Alamo

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah and Peace be unto you. Men and women are not the same (equal). We are different in every aspect except that we are human beings. Therefore, we have different roles. Men cannot breastfeed or possess a womb that would carry a child to term. Women do not have the same physical and emotional capacity for warfare and battle that men have. Think of Muslim society as a house; families are the foundation of a Muslim society, women are the pillars of a Muslim society, and men are the roof which shelters and protects a Muslim society. Within this society, the ratio of Muslim women is greater to that of Muslim men. The same rings true amongst the non-Muslim population of the world. Were every single Muslim man to marry one Muslim woman, there would still be lonely single Muslim women who would have no husband and be tempted to have sex with another woman's husband outside the boundaries of marriage. Polyganous (not Polygamous) marriage is one of the best ways to Minimize adultery within a Muslim society. It is the lawful way for Muslim men and Muslim women to co-habit without having the stigma associated with committing fornication and adultery. {The Noble Qur'an [4:3] - If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.} Polygany has never been prohibited within any religious scripture. It is practiced and promoted within all of the Abrahamic textual sources. Lineage is very important within a Muslim society. Every Muslim child has to know exactly who their Muslim father is due to the legal matters of inheritance as prescribed within the Qur'an. Were one Muslim woman to have four different Muslim husbands, there would be confusion as to who exactly is the father of her children. Ever watch 'Maury Povich' or 'Jerry Springer'? This is the type of drama a Muslim society should opt to avoid. Were one Muslim man to have four Muslim wives, there would be no confusion as to who exactly is the mother of his children. There would be a clear understanding as to who the mothers are and who the father is. This is the reason why it is prohibited for Muslim women to have more than one Muslim husband. Please also keep in mind that even in pre-Islamic Arabia, there were more infant girls being born (and more infant girls surviving) than infant boys. It was a pre-Islamic Arab custom that infant girls were often killed by being buried in the desert alive. {The Noble Qur'an

[81:8-9]

- When the female (infant), buried alive, is questioned -For what crime she was killed;} The result was a majority of older women who could not bear children and a decrease in the tribal population growth at that time. This is also why it made more sense to consummate marriage to a young girl upon the event of her first menses (i.e. Prophet Muhammad [sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam] consummating his marriage to A'isha [radiAllahu anha] when she was nine years-old). It meant that a young girl was of childbearing age and therefore (physically) a woman. Pre-Islamic Arab tribal society was dependent on the amount of young men that could be produced for the sake of warfare and commerce. The role of women in both pre-Islamic and post Islamic Arab society (typically) did not fit into either of those categories except when it came to birthing young males who would naturally take active roles in the physical and financial security of their tribes. It also made sense for Muslim men to marry older Muslim women who needed husbands to care for them physically and financially. This system of marriage is both merciful and just to women (young and old) within a Muslim society.

Islam and Actions

by Abu Hamzah bin Yusuf Alamo

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be unto those who follow right Guidance. Islam prescribes that everything Mankind does should be done in a way that seeks to attain the Grace of the Lord (Allah; the Most Gracious) and not in a way that seeks to satisfy base desires. {The Noble Qur’an [1:7] – The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.} The Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam) taught that should Muslims see something unjust, offensive, or unlawful, then Muslims should (inshAllah) change it with their hands (should they have the ability). Should Muslims not have the ability to do so, he (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam) taught Muslims that they should change it with their tongues (i.e. with their speech). He (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam) taught us that the best of speech is the speech of Allah. {The Noble Qur’an [41:33] – Who is better in speech than one who calls (men and women) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, “I am of those who bow in Islam”?} Should Muslims not have the ability to do so, he (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam) taught Muslims then that they should maintain Allah’s hatred for injustice, offense, and lawlessness within their hearts, for this is least amount of (true) faith.

Islam and Salvation

by Abu Hamzah bin Yusuf Alamo

In the Name of Allah ('The Divine' translated; 'Al Lah'), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be unto you. I recommend you to discover the Truth about the Creator of Mankind and I sincerely call you to the Way (Deen) of Islam. Islam is the only Way (Deen) of life which (by the Will and Mercy of the Lord) will bring you the Benefit of Salvation from the Disgrace of this life and the Torment of Hell in the hereafter. Islam isn't only the Way (Deen) of Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam). Islam is the Way (Deen) of all the Prophets; including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (alaihee Salaam). {The Noble Qur'an [42:13] - The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - that which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in (one) religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).} Islam is the Way (Deen) of Peaceful surrender to the One who created Mankind. Should you acknowledge the Sovereign Authority and Oneness of the Creator of Mankind, and acknowledge the Prophet-hood of His final Messenger; Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam), and commit your life to righteous and noble deeds (by the Will and Mercy of the Lord), you will find true success both in this life and in the hereafter. {The Noble Qur'an [23:102] - Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy,- they will attain salvation:} By the Will and Mercy of the Lord, should you Peacefully surrender to Him (the One Creator of Mankind who cannot be divided into two), you will find Peace both in this life and in the hereafter. Should you (by the Will and Mercy of the Lord) refuse to acknowledge the Oneness of the Creator of Mankind, and refuse to acknowledge the Prophet-hood of His final Messenger; Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam), and refuse to accept Islam as your Way (Deen) of life, then know that you will most certainly be amongst those who have lost the (True) Peace of this life and the hereafter. {The Noble Qur'an [3:85] - And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} I sincerely advise you to be patient and learn about the Creator of Mankind (Allah), His final Messenger; Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam), and the complete system of Islam before you rashly decline and lose out on what could be (by the Will and Mercy of the Lord) the greatest achievement of your life; Salvation from Eternity in the Hell-Fire. {The Noble Qur'an [6:16] - "On that day, if the penalty is averted from any, it is due to Allah's mercy; And that would be (Salvation), the obvious fulfilment of all desire.} Be warned that this can only be achieved through (by the Will and Mercy of the Lord) acknowledging the Sovereign Authority of the One and Only Creator of Mankind (Allah), acknowledging the Prophet-hood of His final Messenger; Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihee wa sallam), and conducting righteous and noble deeds purely for the sake of attaining the Mercy of the Most Merciful (Allah). {The Noble Qur'an [28:67] - But any that (in this life) had repented, believed, and worked righteousness, will have hopes to be among those who achieve salvation.} I pray that the Lord (Allah) guides you to the right choice, ameen.