Class 7 – The Believer & Promises of Allah to him
Class 7
‘The Believer & Promises of Allah’
The Believers (Al Mu’minoon)
There is a Surah revealed about Al Mu’minoon, Allah explains in the first part of the Surah of what is expected of believers. Also it was Narrated from ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) “…One day revelation was coming to him, he faced the Qiblah, raised his hands and said: ‘O Allah! Increase us, do not diminish us. Favor us, do not withhold from us, make us pleased and be pleased with us.’ He ﷺ said: ‘Ten Ayah were revealed to me, whoever abides by them shall enter Paradise (and they are): ‘Successful indeed are the believers…’ until the completion of ten Ayat (Surah Al Mu’minoon 23:1-10).” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3173)
SURAH AL-MU’MINOON (VERSES 1-11)
- Successful indeed are the believers.
- Those who offer their Salât (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness (Khushu).
- And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (vain things or also translated as dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allâh has forbidden).
- And those who pay the Zakât.
- And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts).
- Except from their wives or (slaves) that their right hands possess, – for then, they are free from blame.
- But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.
- Those who are faithfully true to their Amanât (all the duties which Allâh has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts) and to their covenants.
- And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawât (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours).
- These are indeed the inheritors.
- Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.
Commentary
Verse 1, The first question is “What is Success?”
The ultimate goal, or true success in Islam is to bring humans to a close personal relationship in this life with their creator. Allah has created each and every one of us to live our lives on this earth for a time, but after that, it has been ordained by Allah that we return to Him. And Allah (swt) says (interpretation of the meaning is): –
- “….Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden, will have indeed have been successful]” (Aale-Imran 3:185)
- “Not alike are the inmates of the fire and the dwellers of the garden (jannah): the dwellers of the garden (jannah) are they that are the achievers.” (Surah Al Hadeed 59:20)
So, success and failure is based on the ‘ultimate’ result. If we are a millionaire or a king in this finite world but end up in hell-fire in the infinite life, then we are a looser. Also, the finite success here as compared to the infinite failure in the next world is negligible. This is similar to division by infinity in mathematics.
So who are the Successful?
“And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajiroon (the Emigrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madeenah who helped the Muhajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [9:100]
SubhaanAllah, Allah says He will be pleased with “those who followed them…” and also says it is “Supreme Success”. Learning about them would be of great help.
Please join our free online certificate course “MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE”, to learn about all the companions who were given the Glad Tidings of Jannah while they were alive (their seerah). https://learn-islam.org/most-successful-people (available online now, register and learn).
Also available SAHAABIYAAT : https://learn-islam.org/sahabiyaat
Note these are not part of the course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
Verse 2, Salah is the first pillar after testification of Islam, it is the first action required, it is the dividing line between emaan and kufr, it is the first question that will be asked in the afterlife. It comes with great rewards on offering it with Khushoo and abandoning it is a means of Kufr.
Please join our free online certificate course(s) mentioned below , to learn to learn more about the Fiqh, rulings, pillars, waajibaat, Sunnahs of Salah and to learn about the spiritual side of each of the movements in Salah, to get out of Autopilot mode and make it more heartfelt. (available online now, register and learn).
Note these are not part of the course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
- “ESSENTIALS OF SALAH” : https://learn-islam.teachable.com/p/essentials-of-salah
- “ENJOY YOUR SALAH” : https://learn-islam.org/enjoy-your-salah
Verse 3, Literally, laghv is anything nonsensical, meaningless and vain, which is in no way conducive to achieving one’s goal and purpose in life. This is indeed one of the outstanding characteristics of the Believer. He is a person who feels the burden of responsibility at all times; he regards the world as a place of test, and the life as the limited time allowed for the test. This feeling makes him behave seriously and responsibly throughout life just like the student who is taking an examination paper with his whole mind and body and soul absorbed in it. Just as the student knows and feels that each moment of the limited time at his disposal is important and decisive for his future life, and is not inclined to waste it, so the Believer also spends each moment of his life on works which are useful and productive in their ultimate results.
Besides this, the Believer is a person who possesses a right thinking mind, pure nature and fine taste: he has no inclination to indecent things: he can talk useful and healthy things but cannot indulge in idle talk: he has a fine taste of humor, but is not given to jesting, joking, ridicule, etc. nor can he endure dirty jokes and fun. For him a society in which the ears are never immune from abusive language, back-biting, slander; lying, dirty songs and indecent talk is a source of torture and agony. A characteristic of the promised Paradise is: “therein you will not hear anything vain or useless.”
Verse 4, The word Zakat literally means purification and development-to help something grow tip smoothly and develop without obstruction. As an Islamic term, it implies both the portion of wealth taken out for the purpose of purifying the rest of wealth and the act of purification itself. The words of the original Text mean that the Believer constantly practices purification. Not paying Zakah is a Major sin and will be punished. We should not try to play around with this to try and save few but a believer should pay in full.
Verse 5-7. They are modest in every sense of the word. They are free from sex abuse and sex perversion. They are so modest that they even conceal those parts of their bodies which the Law forbids to expose before others. Except their wives. This is a parenthesis which is meant to remove the common misunderstanding that sex desire is an evil thing in itself and satisfying it even in lawful ways is not desirable, particularly for the righteous and godly people. This misunderstanding would have been strengthened had it been only said that the Believers guard their private parts scrupulously, because it would have implied that they live unmarried lives, away from the world, like monks & hermits. Therefore a parenthesis has been added to say that there is nothing wrong in satisfying the sex desire in lawful ways. What is evil is that one should transgress the prescribed limits for satisfying their desire.
Verse 8, the Believers fulfill the terms of the trusts which are placed in their charge. In this connection it should be noted that the Arabic word amanat is very comprehensive and includes all those trusts which are placed in their charge by Allah or society or individuals.According to a Tradition reported both by Bukhari and Muslim, he said: Four characteristics are such that if a person has all the four in him, he is beyond any doubt a hypocrite, and the one who has one of these, is a hypocrite to that extent till he gives it up:
- (a) When something is placed in his trust, he commits breach of the trust,
- (b) when he speaks, he tells a lie,
- (c) when he makes a promise, he breaks it, and
- (d) when he has a quarrel with somebody, he exceeds all limits (of decency and morality)”
Allah mentions in other ayaat of who are the Mu’minoon
- “The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’aan) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone). Who perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑ Salaah) and spend out of that We have provided them. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness and a generous provision (Paradise)” [al-Anfaal 8:2-4]
- “Verily, those who have attained to faith and do good works, and are constant in prayer, and dispense charity – they shall have their reward with their Sustainer, and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve” (2: 277)
- “O you who believe! keep your duty to Allah and speak straight, true words.” (33:70)
- “O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful people.” (9:119)
- “…Avoid the greater crimes and shameful deeds, and, when they are angry even then forgive. Those who harken to their Lord, and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance.” (Ash Shura 42 : 37-38)
- “The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allâh, that you may receive mercy.” (49:10)
- “O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one’s brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: “O sinner”, or “O wicked”]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers).” (49:11)
- “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting)[] . And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” (49:12)
- “When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it, or return it (in the same terms at least).” (4:86)
- “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers” (Quran 51:55). An Improtant ayah this one. It is common to see that people get offended when they are given a reminder, they right away go on the offensive and point the short comings of the person who was reminding, both falling into an argument and not benefiting either one. So if we are finding it hard to take a reminder from a Muslim brother/sister there might be something wrong.
So Allah explained faith to comprise all of the matters mentioned in these verses, first by stating that belivers are successful then by describing their qualities with His words, “Those who are humble in their prayer…..”.
Sometimes Allah mentioned righteous actions alongside faith, other times taqwa and yet other times patience so that one does not think that what is present of is the heart suffices alone. In the Quran how many times does Allah say, “Those who believe and do righteous deeds” and then proceeds to tell us something about them.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
- “None of you is a believer till I am dearer to him than his child, his father and the whole of mankind.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
- “None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Tirmidhi, Nisaa’I, Ibn Majah)
- “The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character among them. And the best of you are those who are best to your women.” (Tirmidhi)
SUMMARIZED LIST OR TRAITS/CHARACTERISTICS OF BELIEVERS
- Establish Prayer on its time with Khushu
- Zakah
- Stay away from Falsehood.
- Guard chastity
- Fulfils trust
- Feel fear in their hearts when they hear the verses of Quran
- Charity
- Truthful and cannot be a liar.
- Avoids shameful acts
- Forgiving
- Are brothers to other believers and reconciles with them.
- Dutiful to parents
- Does not belittles, defames, insults other believers.
- Avoids suspicion, does not spy or back bite believers.
- Greet one another.
- Takes reminders from other believers and make necessary changes.
- The Prophet ﷺ is dearer then everyone on this earth.
- Wants for your brother/sister what you want for yourself
- Are best in character and best with their women
ALLAH’S PROMISES TO THE BELIEVERS
1. Allah will be with you. Allah, the Most High, says “…for verily Allah is with those who believe.” (Al Qur’an 8:19)
2. Light – Noor. Allah, the Most High, says: “One Day shall you see the believing men and the believing women, how their Light runs forward before them and by their right hands: (their greeting will be): “Good News for you this Day, gardens beneath which flow rivers, to dwell therein for forever. This is indeed the highest Achievement” (Al Qur’an 57:12)
Depending on how much Iman (faith and belief) was in the heart. Iman will come on the Day of Judgement in the form of light. Some people will have so much light that they run over the bridge so fast like a breeze. While some run. Some walk, some will take a step then stop until they get their light back again. Some will start but will not reach the end because of insufficient light.
3. The grace and kindness of Allah – Fadl. Allah, the Most High, says, “…for Allah is full of grace to those who believe.” (Al Qur’an 3:152)
4. The protection and friendship of Allah. Allah, the Most High says, “Without doubt, amongst men, the nearest of kin to Ibrahim, are those who follow him, as are also this Messenger and those who believe: And Allah is the Wali [protecting friend] of those who have faith.” (Al Qur’an 3:68)
5. Victory. Allah, the Most High says, “We will, without doubt, help our Messengers and those who believe, (both) in this world’s life and on the Day when the Witnesses will stand forth” [Al Qur’an 40:51]
6. Protection from Shaitaan. Allah, the Most High says, “No authority has he (i.e. Shaitaan) over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord.” [Al Qur’an 16:99]
Put your trust in Allah and Allah will protect you from Shaitaan. Allah has given us many weapons to defeat the Shaitaan. A believer uses these weapons that Allah has given him. Like Ayat al Kursi, Daily Adhkaar, Duas are all weapons that Allah has given to the believers as a protection against the Shayateen (army of devils), both from amongst the Jinn and from amongst Mankind.
7. Allah will save you. “In the end We deliver Our Messengers and those who believe (to safety) Thus is it fitting on Our part that We should deliver those who believe.” [Al Qur’an 10:103]
8. Protection. Allah the Most high, says, “Verily Allah will defend (from ill) those who believe, verily, Allah loves not any that is a traitor to faith or shows ingratitude.” [Al Qur’an 22:38]
TIPS OF TEST
- Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
- Remember the traits of the believers (this is more important for the real life more thn the test).
- Remember the Promises of Allah.