Class 4 ‘What is Your Religion?’
Class 4
‘What is Your Religion?’
To be able to answer this we should learn the basics and follow atleast the minimum
requirements of Islam.
Pillars of Islam
The Pillars of Islam are the cornerstones on which Islam is built. There are five pillars of
Islam. They are mentioned in the Hadeeth of ibn Omar (radiyallaahu anhuma), that the
Prophet ﷺ said, what translated means, ‘Islam is built around five (pillars):
- The testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His
slave and Messenger, - To establish prayer,
- To give Zakaat (obligatory charity),
- To fast in Ramadhan, and,
- To perform Hajj (pilgrimage).” [Saheeh Muslim and Saheeh al-Bukharee]
- The Shahadah (the testimony) that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that
Muhammad ﷺ is His slave and Messenger, requires solid belief, in the heart, in it. This
belief must also be confirmed by the tongue. It is called Shahadah (testimony) to show that
when a believer believes in it, his belief is as solid as if he is an eyewitness. This Shahadah
is one cornerstone, although it contains many aspects that must be taken as belief. This
testimony (comprised of two testimonies as is apparent), is considered one cornerstone,
either because it contains testifying that Muhammad ﷺ is only a conveyer of the Message
from Allah and His slave and Messenger, thus completing the testimony that Allah is One or
because these two testimonies together are the reason behind the acceptance of deeds by
Allah. Deeds are neither valid nor accepted unless they are done with sincerity for the sake
of Allah alone, and this is called “Ikhlas,” and through following the way of the Messenger of
Allah ﷺ.
Realizing the essence of this testimony, that there is no god except Allah, is a result of Ikhlas
(sincerity) to Allah. Realizing the essence of testifying that Muhammad ﷺ is His slave and
Messenger, comes as a result of following the Messenger of Allah. This magnificent
testimony leads to many sweet results. It frees the hearts and souls from being enslaved to
the creation and from following other than the Messenger.
Saying and believing in the Kalimah is the first Pillar of Islam and also the Right of Allah.
Every Muslim knows that the key to Paradise is the statement, “There is none worthy of
worship except Allaah.” But too many Muslims simply rely upon this statement and believe
that as long as they have made this statement, nothing will harm them. The statement of la
ilaaha illa Allaah is the key to Paradise, but every key has ridges. If you come with the key
that has the right ridges, the door will open for you. If you do not have the right ridges the
door will not open for you.
www.Learn
-Islam.org
The conditions of La ilaha illallah are the ridges of this key, and they are: –
- Al-`Ilm – (Knowledge of the meaning of the shahadah, its negation and affirmation)
- Al-Yaqeen – (Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counter-acts suspicion and
doubt) - Al-Qubool – (Acceptance that contradicts rejection).
- Al-Inqiad – (Submission to its rightful requirements, which are the duties that must be
performed with sincerity to Allah (alone) seeking His pleasure) - Al-Sidq – (Truthfulness that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy)
- Al-Ikhlaas – (Sincerity which negates shirk)
- Al-Mahabbah – (Love of the shahadah and its meaning, and being happy with it)
- Establishing the prayers means to worship Allah by praying to Him. One must preserve
the prayers by establishing them on time and in the best manner, as taught by the Prophet
ﷺ. Rewards for establishing the prayers include tranquillity and happiness that are felt in
the heart. Prayer also leads one to abandoning evil deeds and behaviour. - Paying Zakat is worshipping Allah by paying the amount of charity obligated on the ones
who have enough money or possessions that require paying Zakat. Paying the required
Zakat leads to cleansing the heart from the evil of misery. It also fulfils the needs of Islam
and Muslims. - Fasting Ramadhan contains worshipping Allah by fasting during the days of this month, by
not eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. Fasting trains the souls to abandon what is
preferred and desired, seeking the pleasure of Allah. - Performing Hajj is worshipping Allah by visiting the Holy House to perform the rituals of
Hajj. Hajj trains the souls to spend time and physical effort, seeking to obey Allah. This is
why Hajj is considered a type of Jihad (struggle).
LEVELS OF FAITH
Omar R.A. narrated, “One day when we were with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, there
appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and his hair was
exceedingly black, and there were no signs of travel on him.
No one among us recognized him. He came and sat down by the Prophet ﷺ and rested
his knees against his and placed the palms on his hands on his thighs.
He said: “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.”
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “Islam is to testify that there is none worthy of worship
except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to establish regular prayer, to
pay zakaah, to fast Ramadaan and to go on pilgrimage to the House if you are able to.”
He said: “You have spoke the truth.”
www.Learn
-Islam.org
And we were amazed at his asking that and saying that he had spoken the truth.
Then he said: “Tell me about eemaan (faith, belief).”He ﷺ said: “It means believing in
Allaah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and believing in al-qadar
(the divine will and decree), both good and bad.”
He said: “You have spoken the truth.” He said: “Tell me about ihsaan.” He ﷺ said: “It
means worshipping Allaah as if you can see Him, and although you cannot see Him, He can
see you.”
He said: “Tell me about the Hour.” He ﷺ said: “The one who is being asked does not know
more about it than the one who is asking.”
He said: “Then tell me about its signs.” He ﷺ said: “The slave-girl will give birth to her
mistress, and you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing
lofty buildings.”
Then he departed and I stayed for a while. Then he said to me: “O ‘Umar, do you know who
the questioner was?” I said: “Allaah and His Messenger know best.”He ﷺ said: “That was
Jibreel, who came to teach you your religion.”
(Sahih Muslim)
So as defined in the Hadeeth, Islam has three stages: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.
Islam: The meaning of Islam is as defined by the Prophet ﷺ when he was asked by the
Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) A.S: “To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and
that Muhammad is His Prophet (S.A.W.), to establish the prayers, to give the Zakat, to fast
the month of Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to Makkah, if one is able to do so.”
[Reported by Muslim and others]
Iman: The Prophet ﷺ said that Iman is, “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, to
believe in meeting Him, to believe in His Messengers, the Resurrection and the
predestination.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others]
This is the meaning of Islam and Iman if they are mentioned in one context. However, if only
one of them is mentioned, then each one encompasses the meaning of the other one. If the
word Islam only is mentioned, it includes the meaning of Iman, and vice-versa.
By the definitions of Islam and Iman, we notice that Iman is about inwardly actions, and
Islam is about outside actions.
Ihsan: Ihsan is exclusively the highest status of religion, its meaning is: “To worship Allah as
if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you.” This is the definition of Ihsan as
stated by the Prophet (S.A.W.).
That’s to say that Ihsan has two stages: the highest one is to worship Allah as if you see
Him; if you cannot attain this status of worship, then worship Him being certain that He sees
you and that He is All-Aware of your actions and deeds.
www.Learn
-Islam.org
ASPECTS/ACTIONS CONTRADICITING ONES’ ISLAM
There many who say the Kalimah, and also know the pillars of Imaan but still do things that
can put them out of the fold of Islam. The scholars have enlisted ten most dangerous and
widespread aspects that contradict one’s Islâm:
- Shirk in worshipping Allâh
Allâh said,
“إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ”
{Allâh forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgives whom He pleases
other sins than this}.
And He said,
“إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ”
{Whoever joins other gods with Allâh, Allâh will forbid him the Paradise, and the Fire will be
his abode. There will for the wrongdoers be no one to help}.
Calling upon dead people, calling them for help and Nathr (Vows) and Thabh (Slaughtering)
for them is considered so. - Taking other creatures as a means of worshipping
Calling and asking them to intercede for them are considered as disbelief unanimously. - Who does not consider polytheist as disbelivers, or doubts in their disbelief
Who does not consider polytheist as disbelievers, or doubts in their disbelief or tries to
accept their religion is a disbeliever. - Who believes that the guidance of the Prophet is less perfect than other’s guidance
Who believes that the guidance of the Prophet is less perfect than other’s guidance or who
thinks that His Judgment is worse than other’s judgment, as those who prefer Tawagheet’s
rule, is a disbeliever. - Whoever hates something of what the Prophet has been sent with
Whoever hates something of what the Prophet has been sent with even if he applies it, is a
disbeliever, for Allâh said,
“ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ”
{That is because they hate the Revelation of Allâh; so He has made their deeds fruitless.} - Who mocks at something of what the Prophet has been sent with
Who mocks at something of what the Prophet has been sent with or at the Reward or the
Punishments he has informed about, is a disbeliever.
This is because Allâh said,
“قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ. لا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ”
{Say (O Muhammad): “Was it at Allâh, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that you were
mocking?” Make you no excuses: you have rejected Faith after you had accepted it}. - Magic
www.Learn
-Islam.org
Magic including distraction and commiseration (two major kinds of magic, by which
magicians can distract two people from each other of make them love each other). So
whosoever does this or accepts being done is a disbeliver.
Allâh said,
“وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلا تَكْفُرْ”
{But neither of these taught anyone (such things) without saying, “We are only for trial; so do
not blaspheme}.
- Supporting and aiding polytheists against believers
For Allâh said, “وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ”
{And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allâh guides not a
people unjust}. - Whosoever thinks that he could live away from the Islâmic law is a disbeliever
For Allâh said,
“وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإسْلامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ الْخَاسِرِينَ”
{If anyone desires a religion other than Islâm never will it be accepted of him; and in the
Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good)}. - Turning away from the Religion of Allâh (Islâm)
Turning away from the Religion of Allâh (Islâm) not learning and not teaching it is disbelief,
Allâh said,
“وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا إِنَّا مِنْ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ”
{And who does more wrong than one to whom are recited the Signs of his Lord, and who
then turns away therefrom? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due)
Retribution}.
All these contradictions are applicable to all people. No matter if one is serious or not, afraid
or not, except those who are compelled, for Allâh said,
“إِلا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالإيمَانِ”
{..Except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in}.
All of these contradictions are the most dangerous and the most widespread phenomenon
among people, we should learn them so that we can save ourselves from getting involved in
any of these for the sake of himself. May Allâh