Its Only A Sunnah

Often,
when Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam is
mentioned we hear the remark, "it is only a Sunnah", implying as if
Sunnah is a mere matter of choice, not a duty or obligation,
recommended, but not required. The response, for most part, is a result
of the lack of understanding of the importance and the place of the
Sunnah in Islam and in a Muslim's life.


What is Sunnah? Allah sent his last Prophet and Messenger Mohammad
Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam to teach and guide humanity how to conduct
their individual and collective affairs and live their lives in a
manner pleasing to their Creator. In this regard, the virtuous acts and
deeds taught by the Prophet, through his words and conduct, are called
Sunnah. They range in their scope from the manner of drinking water to
burial of the dead to solemnizing the marriage to regulation of trade
practices, etc. Even a simple task of drinking water becomes an act of
worship if the intention underlying it is to comply with the Sunnah of
the Holy Prophet. On the other hand, intentionally and habitually
disregarding the Sunnah invites anger of Allah and His Prophet. The
Holy Prophet is reported to said, "Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is
not from me", meaning he is not my follower.


How imperative is it to obey the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallahu
Alaihe Wa Sallam? The imperative significance of the Sunnah is evident
from the fact that Allah has not linked the success and salvation of
humans with His obedience alone but also conditioned it upon the
obedience to His Prophet. That is, Allah Almighty has enjoined on us
obedience to His Messenger, just as He has enjoined His own obedience.
In the Quran Allah says, "And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may
obtain mercy. (3:132). And at another place He warns, "...and whoso disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path (33:36). To obey the Messenger means obey his Sunnah, what he has enjoined and what he has forbidden.


In the Islamic system of beliefs, Allah Subhanahu alone has the
right to declare what is permitted and what is forbidden. He does so
through the Quran
and through His Prophet. Allah vested in His Prophet the authority of a
lawgiver. The Quran says, "...(Prophet) enjoins them good and forbids
them evil, and makes lawful to them the good things and makes unlawful
to them impure things, and removes from them their burden and the
shackles which were upon them..." (7:157).
Therefore, what the Holy Prophet enjoins or forbids is from Allah. ("He
does not speak from his desire; it is nothing except revelation
revealed to him" (53:3-53:4).
Another verse that tells us about Prophet's authority as a lawgiver,
"...So take what the messenger assigns to you and abstain from that
which forbids you ..." (59:7).
This verse is not limited to the division of the war booties as anti
hadith groups claim, it is rather all encompassing and general in its
proclamation.

The other dimension of the Sunnah of the Prophet is that it is a
tangible expression of love for Allah, and the best way to gain Allah's
love and forgiveness. Quran tells Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam
to say to believers, "If you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love
you and forgive you your sins ..." (3:31). This verse makes it plain that
without adhering to the dos and don'ts of the Sunnah, no triumph in this world or the next can be achieved.

The
clear imperative to follow Prophet Mohammad's rulings and decisions can
also be seen unambiguously expressed in this verse "But no, by your
Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you (O' Muhammad) judge
in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance
against your decisions, and accept them with full submission" (4:65).
This verse clearly illustrates the supremacy of the Holy Prophet's
decisions and judgment governing all departments of life - religious,
social, economic, political and cultural, etc. Here the Quran
establishes Sunnah - Prophet's decision and legal judgments - as
irrevocable, not to be challenged or reinterpreted and must be accepted
with full submission. The emphasis on the Sunnah is to the point that
if one knowingly denies the decrees and judgments of the Holy Prophet,
he jeopardizes his faith. 

The obligation to judge all matters in the light of the Quran and the
Sunnah is also recognized from the famous hadith of Muaz bin Jabal
radiyallaahu anhu. When the Holy Prophet appointed him as a Judge in Yemen,
he enquired him, "What will you judge by when you decide a case?" Muaz
bin Jabal said, "By the Book of Allah." The Prophet further asked, "If
you don't find the answer in the Book of Allah, what will you do?" Muaz
bin Jabal replied, "I will look into the Sunnah of the Allah's
Prophet." The answer of Muaz bin Jabal very much pleased Rasulallah
Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam. The hadith further confirms that the
Sunnah, after Quran, is a definite and absolute part of the Muslim
constitution.


The Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam was created as an "exalted standard of character" (68:4)
and the best exemplar for the human race. In enjoining the believers to
pattern their lives after the perfect example of the Prophet's life,
the Quran says, "Certainly, there is an excellent example for you in
the Messenger of Allah, for him who looks forward to Allah and the Last
Day, and remembers Allah much (33:21).
The Holy Prophet said about himself, "Allah has sent me as an apostle
so that I may demonstrate perfection of character, refinement of
manners and loftiness of behavior and conduct." The believers have been
exhorted to follow the Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam not only in
the details of complex matters of their collective life, but also in
the small details of their daily life. For example, matters of eating,
drinking, dressing and sleeping, and those regarding which the Prophet
gave specific guidance.


Today, Muslims overwhelmed by the West and its civilization and raised on secular education
have developed inferiority complex about their religious and cultural
heritage. Though they believe that the system of guidance, the Qur'an and Sunnah,
is true, yet great many of them have abandoned Islamic values and
ideals in favor of western standards and practices. Here it would be
good to remember what the Holy Prophet said about imitating the
non-believers. The Prophet of Allah said, "Whoever imitates a people is
one of them."

Since
the Sunnah is an integral part of Muslim faith, its negligence and
abandonment would diminish the faith of a believer in the same measure.
It is for this reason that the Holy Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam
has promised a great recompense for the revitalization of an abandoned
Sunnah. He said, "Whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah that has been
abandoned after me, then he will have an equal reward of all people who
acts upon it, without decreasing from their reward in any way."


The Fuqaha (jurists) and muhaddithin (traditionists) may debate
over the binding and non-binding status of Sunnah. A common believer
whose eyes are on the Akhira will not fret over the legalities, but
follow the Sunnah with same devotion and conviction in all matters, big
and small. I am reminded of a young British man who after embracing
Islam started to grow beard. A fellow Muslim, perhaps a modernist, said
to him, "keeping beard is not an essential requirement." The comment
evoked a devotional response from the new brother, "Keeping beard is
one of the clear commands of the Prophet and who am I to judge the
essentiality of the Prophet's orders." The young new Muslim gave us a
lesson in abiding in the Prophet's Sunnah without questioning and
arguing about the legalities of it.


Beware those who neglect and abandon the Sunnah and say, "It is
only a Sunnah": The Quran says, "....So, those who violate his
(messenger's) order must beware, lest they are visited by a trial or
they are visited by a painful punishment" (24:63).


It is not just Sunnah, it is the way of life prescribed by none other than the
Allah through the revelation to His Prophet.

story of appreciation

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made
the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic
achievements
were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the
postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the
youth answered "none".

The
director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it
was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked, "
Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as a
clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands.
The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes
before?"
The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and
read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and
clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.*

The
youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went
back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His
mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her
hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly.
His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his
mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her
hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they
were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth
realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes
everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the
mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his
graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me
what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished
cleaning all the remaining clothes'

The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings."

The
youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my
mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, by
working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how
difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come
to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, " This is what I am looking for, to be my manager.
I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of
others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

Later
on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his
subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The
company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has
been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop
"entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be
ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that
every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he
would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame
others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be
successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of
achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more.
If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love
or are we destroying the kid instead?*

You can let your kid live
in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV.
But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a
meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers
and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid,
but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them
to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair
will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most
important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and
experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to
get things done.

Shirk O Bida'at or ALLAH ki wahdaniyat (Quraan ki roo se)

sab ta'areefen ALLAH k lye hen jo tamam jahanon ka palney wala hey..(soorat:1,ayat:1)

------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------

ham sirf teri hi ibadat kartey hen or sirf tujh hi se madad chahtey hen .(soorat:1 , ayat:5)

------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
jab merey bandey merey barey main AP(Nabi Kareem S.A.W) se sawal karen to Ap(Nabi
Kareem S.A.W) keh dijye k main(ALLAH) bohot qareeb hon, her pukarney
waley ki pukar ko jab bhi wo mujhey pukarey qubool karta hon, isi lye
logon ko bhi chahye k wo meri(ALLAH) bat man lya karen or mujh(ALLAH)
per eeman rakhen, yahi un ki bhalai ka bais hey (soorat:2.ayat:186)

------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
aye Nabi kaho k na to main(Nabi Kareem S.A.W) tum se ye kehta hon k merey pas ALLAH k khazaney hen or na main(Nabi Kareem S.A.W) ghaib janta hon , or na main(Nabi Kareem S.A.W) tum se ye kehta hon k main farishta hon.main to sirf jo kuch merey pas wahi ati hey us ka ittiba'a karta hon, ap kahye k andha or beena kahin barabar ho sakta hey , so kia tum ghor nahin kartey
.(soorat:6,ayat:50)

Ittiba'a : yani merey pas ALLAH k khazaney bhi nahin hen ( mean k har tarah ki qudrat o taqat)
k main tumhen ALLAh k uzn o mashiyat k baghair koi aisa bada mo'ojaza
sadir kar k dikha doon k tumhen meri sadaqat ka ilm ho jay , or merey
pas ghaib ka ilm bhi nahin k mustaqbil main pesh aney waley waqiat se
tumhen muttali'e kar don, mujhey farishta honey ka da'awa bhi nahin k
tum mujhey aisey kharq adat umoor par majboor karo jo insani taqat se
balatar hon. main to sirf us wahi ka pero hon jo mujh per nazil hoti he
or is main hadith bhi sahmil he ..
jesa k ap(S.A.W) ne farmaya... أوتيت القران ومثله معهmean mujhey Qura'an k sath is ka misl bhi da gaya hey jesey k hadith e Rasool(S.A.W)

andha o beena: ye istifham Inkar k lye hen ya'ani
k andha or beena , gumrah or hidayat yafta or momin or kafir barabar nahin ho saktey ..

------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Ap
farma dijye k main khud apni zat khas k lye kisi nafa'a ka ikhtyar
nahin rakhta or na kisi zarar ka , magar itna hi k jitna ALLAh ne chaha
ho or agar main ghaib ki baten janta hota to main bohot se munafi'e
hasil kar leta or koi nuqsan mujh ko na pohonchta , main to mahaz
daraney wala or basharat deney wala hon un logon k lye jo eeman rakhtey
hen
(soorat:7, ayat:188)
ye ayat is bat main kitni wazih heyk Nabi Kareem(S.A.W) alim ul ghaib nahin . alim ul ghaib sirf ALLAH ki zat hey.
Halan
k ba'az jangon main Ap(S.A.W) k dandan e mubarak bhi shaheed howey
Ap(S.A.W) ka chehra e mubarak bhi zakhmi howa,  or Ap.S.A.W ne farmaya
k ye qom kesey falah pa sakti hey jis ne apney Nabi Kareem S.A.W k sir
ko zakhmi kia.

Hazrat Ayesha siddiqah(Radhya ALLAH u anha) per tohmat lagi to Nabi Kareem S.A.W sakht muztarib rahey .....
ek yahoodi orat ne Nabi Kareem S.A.W k  khaney main zehre mila dya or (Nabi Kareem S.A.W) ne tanawul bhi farmaya..

------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

Ap
keh dijye k main tum jesa hi ek insan hon, han meri janib wahi ki jati
hey k sab ka Ma'abood sirf ek hi hey, to jisey bhi apney perwardigar se
milney ki arzoo ho usey chahye k nain a'amal karey or apney parwardigar
ki ibadat main kisi ko bhi shareek na karey.(sorat:18.ayat:110)
amal
salih wo hey jo sunnat k mutabiq ho , ya'ani joapney RAb ki mulaqat ka
yaqeen rakhta he, usey chahye k har amal sunnat k mutabiq karey. or
doosrey , ALLAh ki ibadat main kisi ko shareek na karey (dua bhi ibadat hey) is lye k bid'at or shirk donon hi habt a'amal ka sabab hen..ALLAh in donon se haemn mehfoos farmay ameen

------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------

wo
rat ko din or din ko rat main dakhil krta hey or aftab o mahtab ko isi
kam p lagaya howa hey , har ek mi'aad mo'ayyan par chal rahey hen, yahi
hey ALLAh tum sab ka palney wala usi ki saltanat chal rahi hey. jinhen
tum us k siwa pukar rahey ho ! wo to khajoor ki guthli k chilkey k bhi
malik nahin hen .(13)
agar tu unhen pukaro to wo tumhari pukar sunte
hi nahin , or agar (bilfarz) sun bhi len to faryad rasi nahin karengey
, bal k qayamat k din tumharey is shirk ka saf inkar kar jaingey, ap ko
koi bhi ALLAH jesa khabardar khabren na dega(sorat:35, ayat13-14)

------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Ap
keh dijye ! k main koi bilkul anokha paighambar to nahin, na mujhey ye
maloom hey k merey or tumhary sath kia kia jay ga, main to sirf  Us ki
pairwi karta hon jo meri taraf wahi bheji jati hen or main to sirf alal
e'lan agah karney wala hon(soorat:46,ayat:9)

------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Hazrat Anas (ra) kehtay hain k Jab qehet prta, Umer-bin-Khattab(ra)
Hazrat Abbas(ra) -ibne-Abdulmutlb k waseelay se baarish ki dua krtay
aur kehtay:

"Ay hamaray Allah! ham teri taraf apnay Nabi(peace be upon him) ka
waseela ikhtiyaar krtay thay (yani un ki zindagi main un say dua
krwaatay thay). Aur Tu hamein seraab krta tha. Ab (Aap (peace e pon
him) ki wafaat k baad) teri taraf apnay Nabi(peace be upon him) k
chacha ka waseela ikhtiyaar krtay hain (Yani un se dua krwaatay hain)
ps tu ham ko paani pila." Anas-bin-Maalik(ra) kehtay hain "Ps wo seraab
kiyay jaatay thay".
<Sahih Bukhari , Hadeeth 1010>



ALLAH ham sab ko rah e hidayat p chalay or
har har qadam per hamari madad farmay ...behsak Ya RAb teri madad k
baghair ham kuch nahi
Reagards