Unity & Love between those who Believe

A human tendency is to form connections and bonds with those with whom we share something in common. Consider an environment where there are lots of people all of whom can speak many different languages including a common language such as English. For example, a university or a work place. Within them are groups of friends who are good friends because they share a mother-tongue language in which they can communicate separately. This common language makes them feel like they have something powerful to unite them. It is impossible to be accepted as part of them if you do not speak that same language.

There are people who are friends because they share the same career. For example, among doctor are circles of friends who are also doctors. And even in the same profession, there are groups of doctors who are better friends because they are of a certain seniority level. For example, a group of junior doctors form friendship on the basis that they are the same stage of the career, while the senior doctors have another circle. This is not just a matter of coming together due to circumstance, they actually feel a sense of belonging because of their common career.

There are friendships that find their basis in similarities in age. You are close to your family because they are your blood-ties and you have grown up to love them. If you are a male, you may have friends who are consisting of only or mostly males - as your gender affects who you take as friends or others taking you as a friend. Likewise if you are a female, you may have friends who are consisting of only or mostly females because you are a female. In this case, you decided on making friends with gender as one of the reasons for friendship or no friendship. There are other root variables affecting friendship - even a person's height. We can sometimes observe a group of friends who are all tall, or are all short! The one thing common among all these variables is that they are all worldly criterions.

All human beings on earth are different. We speak different languages, have different skin colour, different professions, wealth, gender, height, appearances and intelligence. However all these differences do not mean anything in the sight of Allah.

Essentially in the Qur'an, human beings can be classified into two major types:

1) The 'true believers' in Allah who believe in the Hereafter and who understand and follow the Qur'an as their guide.

2) All other people such as Atheists, Agnostics, Hindus, Christians and Jews, simply put, anyone who does not belong to no. 1 (although there are ranking among them in the sight of Allah).

These 'true believers' spend their time studying the Qur'an and comprehending its meanings, and who have an unwavering faith in Allah. They are the ones who glorify Allah for every blessing, who love Allah and those who Allah loves in return; who lead a peaceful life and enjoy the blessings of Allah while surrendering to Allah in return. Their entire life is devoted to Allah and Allah alone. They are true flag-bearers of right conduct, the truly good people on earth who obey their conscience out of fear of Allah. They only want Allah's approval and mercy. Allah is the most important existence in their lives.

For the true believers, only this criteria of faith differentiates a person from the rest because this is what matters to Allah and Allah is what matters to them. Thus, they always seek to find and form friendship with others who also love and worship Allah with utmost devotion, and who study and understand the Qur'an as they should. When a believer finds another believer, his or her love for that believer transcends all worldly influences we have detailed. The believer's love for another believer is based on the fact that the other believer is also a devoted servant of Allah like himself or herself. Love for a believer should emanate from one's love for Allah. Allah describes believers' love for one another in following terms:

"Those who were already firmly established in their homes and firmly rooted in faith, show love for those who migrated to them for refuge and harbour no desire in their hearts for what has been given to them. They give them preference over themselves, even if they too are needy. It is those who are saved from the greed of their own souls who are successful. Those who came after them say, Lord, forgive us our sins and the sins of our brothers who believed before us, and leave no malice in our hearts towards those who believe. Lord, you are truly compassionate and merciful." (Qur'an 59:9-10)

Since only those "firmly rooted in faith" show love for the believers, it follows that true love comes from true love for Allah. It is also described in the verse that believers' make no hesitation in looking after the need of fellow believers and can even sacrifice their own interests for them when Allah says "They give them preference over themselves, even if they too are needy". All believers who love Allah ensure that their love for true believers never carries prejudices based on worldly criterias: "Lord, ...leave no malice in our hearts towards those who believe. Lord, you are truly compassionate and merciful". Thus, believers always act in a loving, compassionate and courteous manner with one another, always looking out for the needs and well-being of fellow believers and maintain good ties and regular contact.

After the end of this life, Allah states the blissful harmony of believers in Paradise in the Hereafter as follows:

"On the day when you will see the believing men and women with light streaming out ahead of them and to their right, (they will be told), 'the good news for you today is that there are Gardens graced with flowing streams where you will stay: that is truly the supreme triumph!" (Qur'an 57:12)

"...those are the people of the Garden and there they will remain. And We will remove any malice from their hearts. Rivers will flow under them and they will say, 'Praise be to Allah who has guided us to this! We would not have been guided, had Allah not guided us! The Messengers of our Lord came with the truth.' It will be proclaimed to them: 'This is your Garden which you have inherited for what you did." (Qur'an 7:43)

The believer knows these verses of the Qur'an and is fully enlightened with the knowledge of the kind of love and joy that will exist between believers of paradise. For this reason, he also takes a true believer in this world with the same love and sincerity. There is also a strong reflection of his love and devotion to Allah in his love for another true believer. This is because the believing friend is also a person who truly loves and surrenders to Allah and who would, God-willing, be a friend in Paradise. To meet such a person in this world, is surely the best honour a believer can have.

The friendship of believers break all worldly reasons for friendship and is stronger than any other basis many ignorant people rely on such as language, culture, wealth, career, gender or intelligence. The part of the verse above regarding the people of Paradise, "And We will remove any malice from their hearts" (7:43), indicates that Allah will remove all such tendencies of prejudice from the hearts of believers in Paradise. Yet, as we learn from the other verse, believers try to achieve the same state in the life of this world too, as indicated by their prayer in this world: "Lord, ...leave no malice in our hearts towards those who believe" (59:10). Thus, a believer in this world is a wise person who is careful of 'worldly aspects' clouding his or her judgement of forming friendships.

Ofcourse, the true believer who adheres to the Qur'an may have friends who do not believe or truly believe, but these friendships are never full nor satisfying as his friendship with the true believers. This attribute of believers have been highlighted in the verses of the Qur'an.

"Your protector is only Allah, the Messenger and those who believe, those who perform the prayer and give the charity and bow (to Allah)." (Qur'an 5:55)

True believers always try to overcome any worldly barriers in their friendship, despite the fact that this may be hard.

"An image of the Garden which is promised to those who guard against evil: in it there are rivers of water which will never spoil and rivers of milk whose taste will never change and rivers of wine, delightful to all who drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity; in it they will have fruit of every kind and forgiveness from their Lord. Is that like those who will be in the Fire timelessly, forever, with boiling water to drink which lacerates their bowels?" (Qur'an 47:15)

Women & Beauty: A Secret Revealed in the Qur'an

Women & Beauty: A Secret Revealed in the Qur'an

The Qur'an reveals many secrets to us. One of these secrets is the special beauty which Allah has granted women, that which men have not been given.

In the Qur'an, there is more than one reference to a special form of beauty given to women which Allah highlightsusing the word "zeena", this word can be loosely translated to 'beauty'. There is no application of this word specifically to men however.

The disbelieving women who deny the existence of Allah, or deny the guidance sent down by Allah, are completely unaware of this unique and precious gift they have been given. They lead a life completely heedless and unaware of this great secret revealed to them, and so are not able to derive the pleasure of knowing such an important fact about themselves.

Believing women however, are possessed of this knowledge about themselves. They know that Allah, their Creator, has given them this valuable gift, and are able to derive great joy from knowing this secret revealed to them in the Qur'an. It makes them feel nearer to Allah, and confident in their lives, knowing that Allah has truly fashioned them in His great power and infinite knowledge.

Love for Allah

Love for Allah

The definition of belief in the Qur'an is complete devotion to Allah and Allah alone. The Hereafter is absolutely inescapable. The believer is devoted to Allah because he knows he will certainly give an account of everything he did in the world. Everything a person owns in the world such as health, intelligence, beauty, wealth, career, good standards of living, spouse, children, and other blessings such as food and clothing are all from Allah and is defined by Allah down to the finest detail. There is no provider other than Allah. The true believer knows this undeniable fact and so loves and glorifies Allah ceaselessly. Surely the one who has given everything is deserving of t

he greatest love and respect. He never dares to attribute the source of these blessings to any worldly being, to himself, or anyone else, nor does he love any being as he loves Allah.

“Allah is most compassionate and most merciful to mankind” (Qur’an 22:65)

When people forget Allah and pay no heed to the true religion, they begin to love and chase after objects in life thinking they exist independent of Allah, deceived into thinking that these objects have an existence outside of Allah, who is the One who actually originates them. In Quranic terms, being devoted to objects independent of Allah is associating partners with Allah.

"...Then, when We grant him a blessing from Us he says, 'I have only been given this because of my knowledge.' In fact it is a trial but most of them do not know it." (Qur'an 39:49)

For a believer, the good things in life given to him by Allah, is merely ways to get nearer to Allah. He does this by praising Allah for each and every blessing no matter how disguised it may be. For example, the believer is grateful to Allah for his healthy heart and eyes, this leads him to work more righteously in life as Allah requires him to do so. If he 'loves' anything or any being in life, he does so only so he can increase in his love for Allah and to render thanks to Him. Indeed, that is the purpose of all the blessings Allah has provided people. For example, the believer may love his spouse, this makes him thank and love Allah even more and in no way does he consider this love to have originated from any other than Allah. It is all from Allah. In this way, everything on earth is given to us so we can be more devoted to Allah, and follow His commands as described in the Qur'an. If the believer looses anyone or anything of attachment in the world, he really has not lost anything so long as he has love for Allah and continues to be devoted to Him.

When love for objects or human figures, living or of the past, take an independent standing outside the realm of Allah, a person's purpose of living is faulty and he is only following his own vain desires and not Allah. For instance, a person acquires material wealth without duly thanking Allah or a person who ‘idolises’ an individual due to love for that person outside and beyond the love of Allah, for instance, celebrities, football players, family, scientists, and religious figures.

“Have you considered the one who has taken his own desire as his god? Allah has, knowing him as such, allowed to be strayed? Sealing his ears and heart and covering his eyes – who can guide such a person after Allah has done this? Will you not take heed?” (Qur’an 45:23)

The believer’s only motive on earth is to earn the good pleasure of Allah and only Allah’s approval, no one else’s.

Having now seen the kind of superior understanding of faith and way of life of a true believer, it becomes easier to see that disbelievers are always committing great wrong when they consume Allah's blessings without making it a way to increase in love of Allah and draw nearer to Allah. Indeed, they are arrogant about accepting Allah as the originator of the blessings and deny Him altogether. They begin to venerate human beings and themselves for every blessing they are given and chase after objects thinking they are outside of Allah's originating power. Allah explains this in the Qur'an:

"Yet, there are those who chose to worship others beside Allah as rivals to Him, loving them as they should love Allah, but the believers have greater love for Allah" (Qur'an 2:165)

Knowing that Allah is the source of every single blessing on earth, the true believer derives the greatest pleasure from the worldly blessings Allah has provided for him, while also earning Allah's Paradise in the Hereafter.

The hidden idolatry committed by most people is because their hearts do not reflect on the Qur'an which calls them to true faith by providing necessary lessons and admonitions. They therefore have given themselves no possibility of bringing themselves to true faith. Only the Qur'an explains to people the true sense of faith.

Unfortunately, this form of hidden idolatry we are discussing is not just restricted to disbelievers. Even many so-called Muslims, who think they are practising religion, also fall into this hidden idolatry. For example, some Muslims profess their love for Prophet Muhammad readily and are full of praises and glory for the Prophet. Amazingly, the same does not hold true for Allah. Upon a closer analysis, we find that their case is no different from all the other ignorant people who fail to accept true faith in Allah and fail to love and glorify Allah independent of anything else.

"When you mention your Lord alone using the Qur'an, they turn their backs and run away." (Qur'an 17:46)

Islam is purely and simply a complete surrendering of ones soul to the Almighty Creator and His purpose in Creation. This is actually a comprehension more than anything else. Only the Qur'an provides accurate information on how to attain true faith and comprehension, which is free of corruption, the kind required by Allah in order to be successful in the Hereafter. All Muslims must make sincere attempts to understand what true faith is by taking serious responsibility to study faith directly from the Qur'an, before it is too late. Until a person does this, there can be no chance of true faith.

Love for Allah

Love for Allah

The definition of belief in the Qur'an is complete devotion to Allah and Allah alone. The Hereafter is absolutely inescapable. The believer is devoted to Allah because he knows he will certainly give an account of everything he did in the world. Everything a person owns in the world such as health, intelligence, beauty, wealth, career, good standards of living, spouse, children, and other blessings such as food and clothing are all from Allah and is defined by Allah down to the finest detail. There is no provider other than Allah. The true believer knows this undeniable fact and so loves and glorifies Allah ceaselessly. Surely the one who has given everything is deserving of the greatest love and respect. He never dares to attribute the source of these blessings to any worldly being, to himself, or anyone else, nor does he love any being as he loves Allah.

“Allah is most compassionate and most merciful to mankind” (Qur’an 22:65)

When people forget Allah and pay no heed to the true religion, they begin to love and chase after objects in life thinking they exist independent of Allah, deceived into thinking that these objects have an existence outside of Allah, who is the One who actually originates them. In Quranic terms, being devoted to objects independent of Allah is associating partners with Allah.

"...Then, when We grant him a blessing from Us he says, 'I have only been given this because of my knowledge.' In fact it is a trial but most of them do not know it." (Qur'an 39:49)

For a believer, the good things in life given to him by Allah, is merely ways to get nearer to Allah. He does this by praising Allah for each and every blessing no matter how disguised it may be. For example, the believer is grateful to Allah for his healthy heart and eyes, this leads him to work more righteously in life as Allah requires him to do so. If he 'loves' anything or any being in life, he does so only so he can increase in his love for Allah and to render thanks to Him. Indeed, that is the purpose of all the blessings Allah has provided people. For example, the believer may love his spouse, this makes him thank and love Allah even more and in no way does he consider this love to have originated from any other than Allah. It is all from Allah. In this way, everything on earth is given to us so we can be more devoted to Allah, and follow His commands as described in the Qur'an. If the believer looses anyone or anything of attachment in the world, he really has not lost anything so long as he has love for Allah and continues to be devoted to Him.

When love for objects or human figures, living or of the past, take an independent standing outside the realm of Allah, a person's purpose of living is faulty and he is only following his own vain desires and not Allah. For instance, a person acquires material wealth without duly thanking Allah or a person who ‘idolises’ an individual due to love for that person outside and beyond the love of Allah, for instance, celebrities, football players, family, scientists, and religious figures.

“Have you considered the one who has taken his own desire as his god? Allah has, knowing him as such, allowed to be strayed? Sealing his ears and heart and covering his eyes – who can guide such a person after Allah has done this? Will you not take heed?” (Qur’an 45:23)

The believer’s only motive on earth is to earn the good pleasure of Allah and only Allah’s approval, no one else’s.

Having now seen the kind of superior understanding of faith and way of life of a true believer, it becomes easier to see that disbelievers are always committing great wrong when they consume Allah's blessings without making it a way to increase in love of Allah and draw nearer to Allah. Indeed, they are arrogant about accepting Allah as the originator of the blessings and deny Him altogether. They begin to venerate human beings and themselves for every blessing they are given and chase after objects thinking they are outside of Allah's originating power. Allah explains this in the Qur'an:

"Yet, there are those who chose to worship others beside Allah as rivals to Him, loving them as they should love Allah, but the believers have greater love for Allah" (Qur'an 2:165)

Knowing that Allah is the source of every single blessing on earth, the true believer derives the greatest pleasure from the worldly blessings Allah has provided for him, while also earning Allah's Paradise in the Hereafter.

The hidden idolatry committed by most people is because their hearts do not reflect on the Qur'an which calls them to true faith by providing necessary lessons and admonitions. They therefore have given themselves no possibility of bringing themselves to true faith. Only the Qur'an explains to people the true sense of faith.

Unfortunately, this form of hidden idolatry we are discussing is not just restricted to disbelievers. Even many so-called Muslims, who think they are practising religion, also fall into this hidden idolatry. For example, some Muslims profess their love for Prophet Muhammad readily and are full of praises and glory for the Prophet. Amazingly, the same does not hold true for Allah. Upon a closer analysis, we find that their case is no different from all the other ignorant people who fail to accept true faith in Allah and fail to love and glorify Allah independent of anything else.

"When you mention your Lord alone using the Qur'an, they turn their backs and run away." (Qur'an 17:46)

Islam is purely and simply a complete surrendering of ones soul to the Almighty Creator and His purpose in Creation. This is actually a comprehension more than anything else. Only the Qur'an provides accurate information on how to attain true faith and comprehension, which is free of corruption, the kind required by Allah in order to be successful in the Hereafter. All Muslims must make sincere attempts to understand what true faith is by taking serious responsibility to study faith directly from the Qur'an, before it is too late. Until a person does this, there can be no chance of true faith.

Existence of Good People: A Secret of the Qur'an

Stress, distress, abuse, torture, cruelty, dishonesty, insensitiveness, and all things related experienced by and witnessed by an individual shapes the way he begins to view people in the world. It even leaves many people confused over why people behave that way.

Let us consider a few cases to illuminate further what is being said. For example, if one's best friend who he thought was so close and trustworthy all his life shows disloyalty one day, he becomes depressed, confused and becomes suspicious of everyone he comes across in life and eventually does not trust anyone. Or for instance, a woman who sees a friend leading a life under the constant abuse of her husband despite her best effort to lead a good life begins to wonder why men are so insensitive and cruel. If she notices a group of men staring at her in a perverted way, she begins to think all men are inherently of that nature and begins to treat all men in light of her bad experiences. Briefly, the negative experiences in life whether directly experienced or witnessed, can lead people to view everyone in view of their negative experiences. You can add more to the list from your personal experiences.

We can extend the list of evil to the most extreme of evil deeds we see on TV and read in newspapers. Everyday, one is bombarded with cases of murder, rape, child molestation, war, bloodshed, burglary and fraud among many other highly distressing crimes.

We must keep our mind open for bad people in society who may harm us or harm others. In this article, we will make a very important observation from the Qur'an. Those who are ignorant of religion or do not take the Qur'an as a guide make a mistake when they do not keep their mind open for the possible existence of truly good people who are the complete opposite of the sorts of people we have identified so far.

We will explain who the truly good people are according to the Qur'an. According to the Qur’an, being truly good is not just avoiding the evil deeds we listed above. No doubt, avoiding the evil acts mentioned above are attributes which are certainly required from a believer. But being good from a Qur'anic standpoint, is to sincerely believe in the existence of Allah and working for the sake of the Hereafter by studiously avoiding all types of sins and doing righteous deeds for Allah’s sake. Only when people fear Allah can they steadfastly obey their consciences under all circumstances in both big and small matters. According to the laws of Allah, only then are their good actions counted as good in the Hereafter. People who fit this definition are the true believers. The Qur'an is the only Guide on earth that shows people how to be the truly good people. Following both the Qur'an and conscience through fear of Allah is essential to be a truly good person in Allah's sight. From this we conclude that out of all the people on earth, the truly good men and women are the true believers in Allah and His Book.

“The Believing Men and the Believing Women, they support each other and command what is right and forbid what is wrong” (Qur’an 9:71)

In a world where we see non-ideal people all around us, the Qur'an reveals to us this momentous secret: The existence of believers, the good people on earth. The Qur'an gives mankind examples of believing people who have existed in the past, men and women, who earned the pleasure and mercy of Allah and were the flag-bearers of true goodness. The following are examples of Verses that reveal such people:

“Allah has given examples of believers: Pharaoh’s wife, who said, ‘Lord, build me a house near You in the Garden. Save me from Pharaoh and his actions; save me from the evil doers,’ and Mary, daughter of Imran. She guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her Our spirit. She accepted the truth from her Lord’s words and Scriptures: she was truly devout.” (Qur’an 66:11-12)

“They say, ‘Be Jews or Christians and you will be guided.’ Say, rather adopt the religion of Abraham, a man of natural pure belief. He was not one of the idolaters.’ (Qur’an 2:136)

One important aspect to note from the above Verse is that the believers are not associated with any single Prophet as many people assume them to be. Rather they are people of natural faith in Allah and simply follow the religion of Allah that has been existent through all time. On our planet today, believers are the people who are the reason to why Allah created human beings:

“When your Lord told the angels, ‘I am putting a Successor on earth,’ they, (the angels) said, ‘How can you put someone who will cause damage and bloodshed, when we celebrate Your praise and proclaim your holiness?’, ‘I know things you do not.’ “ (Qur’an 2:30)

The secret we have identified in this article, revealed to the believer, is of great significance to him. Amid all the wrong actions people commit around him, knowing this secret of the Qur'an gives him hope that a person he meets in life may just be the kind of true believer mentioned in the Qur'an. The believers have unwavering faith, sincerity, loyalty, trustworthiness and all things good about them. However, in the world today, people who truly fear Allah with heedfulness of the Qur'an, that is, the truly good people, the believers, are very few in number. Such people are difficult to find but the Qur'an's disclosure of the existence of real believers is a comfort to the true believer. Unlike those who are ignorant, he knows that the reason why there are people who commit evil and unconscientious deeds in the world is because they do not truly believe in Allah and the Hereafter. He knows that they are the people who are preparing for themselves the Fire of Hell. A misguided person who cannot comprehend the existence of good people, is prone to developing the following personality:

• Treating everyone in a semi-harsh or not completely polite manner as he has to be on the defensive against everyone who in his own mind, are out to take advantage of him.

• He becomes incapable of knowing the true believers because he himself is not one. He does not derive any comfort from being with true believers nor enjoy their security and warmth.

• Failure to see honesty in people for the good deeds done for him, because he thinks people only serve their own interests. Believers are the opposite, they are self sacrificing, but he does not know them. He is therefore generally never truly grateful for favours done for him by anyone.

The examples of existence of true believers in the Qur'an also gives the true believer the enthusiasm that he could be different from everyone around him, and be the kind of person who earns Allah's good pleasure and Paradise in the Hereafter.

In conclusion, despite constantly encountering people committing sins of all types everywhere, the true believer is the one who does not loose hope for the existence of true believers, the truly good people. Unlike the ignorant kind of people, he does not rashly view everyone in light of his negative experiences of other people but acts appropriately with an open-mind when meeting people to objectively establish their position in respect to the Qur'an and mindfulness of Allah. This is quite unlike the ignorant sorts of people who become lost, confused and depressed seeing evil-doers around them, and knowingly or unknowingly carelessly view everyone in light of their negative experiences. That is why the believer values people for what they are truly worth, which is based on their nearness to Allah and adherence to the teachings of the Qur’an.

"Those who were already firmly established in their homes and firmly rooted in faith, show love for those who migrated to them for refuge and harbour no desire in their hearts for what has been given to them. They give them preference over themselves, even if they too are poor. It is those who are saved from the greed of their own souls who are successful." (Qur'an 59:9)

Reading the Qur'an but Practising Something Else

There is a prevalent culture among Muslims where they only view the Qur'an as a way of gaining reward for reciting out loud the Arabic words correctly. Such people think that they hold the Qur'an in high esteem, but this only keeps them away from studying the Qur'an as they should. Parents teach their children how to pronounce the Arabic words and send their children to evening schools to learn to recite the Qur'an correctly. Such people do not deny the importance of the Qur'an, but their idea of the role of the Qur'an is extremely mistaken and shallow. It is merely to either gain reward for each letter recited or to validate Salah by reciting some short chapters. Members of this majority group may even enjoy listening to recitations of the Qur'an, not because of the message in the Verses, but to appreciate the melody, or for relaxation purposes!

What Islam is, is merely everything else they hear outside of the Qur'an. Such people consider themselves highly religious, while they hold such an ignorant approach to the Qur'an. They recite the Qur'an frequently, but the recitation does not have any bearing on them. Then, they take all their religious guidance from outside the Qur'an - they think those practices amount to fulfilling their duty to the Qur'an. Many of such ignorant people's ideas and practices are even against what the Qur'an has to say, while they are not aware of it - or are aware of it but deliberately ignore thinking about it, laying excuses such as 'I am not knowledgeable enough' or 'I am a laymen, more knowledgeable people have said this, who are you and me to question?'

The real purpose of the Qur'an is to give guidance to the individual human being who has been created to worship Allah. The Qur'an's guidance is in its meanings, not in the pronunciations of its Arabic letters. The guidance of the Qur'an is a mercy, cure and light for the true believers as it reveals many unknown secrets such as Allah's power, reasons to happening of events around us, and the true nature of Allah's religion. The Qur'an has been necessarily made easy to understand. But this majority have been bereft from this blessing, all while they are deceived into thinking they are following religion perfectly as they are fulfilling their own idea of what the purpose of the Qur'an is.



"We have sent down to you a Book containing your message. Do you not understand?" (Qur’an 21:10)

Thinking one is fulfilling their obligations toward the Qur'an by simply carrying out rituals such as prayer and fasting, without making the effort to find out what the Qur'an actually says about religion is a great deception. This is because the Qur'an is a Book to reflect upon, to learn from and to gain the necessary insight and wisdom it gives to be a real believer, this is a duty upon anyone who wants to be a Muslim. One cannot possibly be a true Muslim without having necessary knowledge and understanding of the Qur'an. If one only learns about the Qur’an from books written about the Qur’an, written by people, and does not feel the necessity to learn from the Qur’an directly himself, he is only deceiving himself. Allah mentions this ignorant approach in the words, “Or do you have another book which you study?” (Qur’an 68:39).



Worship based on make-believing that Qur'an is being followed in the flow of the majority and under blind trust of leaders without a personal attachment to the Qur'an and knowledge of the Qur'an, holds little or no value in Allah's sight.


Let us ask ourselves: how much do we know about the Qur'an? Not superficial knowledge like the number of chapters or verses, or which city a chapter was revealed in, but the message in its Verses and their many intricacies and secrets. How much wisdom have you gained from the Qur'an? Have you read the entire Qur'an even once in your own language? How many times a day do you refer to the Verses of the Qur'an as you lead your day to day life? Are you sure whether any of your outlooks are from the Qur'an, or is your religion muddled?

“The words of your Lord are complete in its truth and justice. Nothing can change His Words – He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. If you obeyed most of those on earth, they would lead you away from the path of Allah. They follow nothing but speculation – they are merely guessing.” (Qur’an 6:115-116)

"This too, is a blessed Book which We have sent down – follow it, and be conscious of your Lord, so that you may receive mercy – lest you say, ‘Books were sent to two communities before us: we were not aware of what they studied’, or ‘if only the Book had been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than them.’ Now your Lord has brought you clear evidence, guidance, and mercy. Who could be more wrong than someone who rejects Allah’s Revelations and turns away from them? We shall repay those who turn away with a painful punishment." (Qur’an 6:155-157)

It is clear that being heedless of the Qur'an will lead to losses in this life and the Hereafter as Allah will call all people into account their level of adherence to the Qur'an.

“Surely, the One who decreed the Qur’an to you will summon you to a predetermined appointment. Say: 'My Lord is fully aware of who it is that brings the guidance, and who has gone astray.' " (Qur’an 28:85)

As stated in the verse, all people are responsible for adhering to the way of life decreed by Allah in the Qur'an. Without direct knowledge of the Verses, practising alleged claims about the Qur'an and following the majority, may not have any value in the sight of Allah.

Many people who do not have any Quranic insight or wisdom spread claims about the Qur'an's verses which are a far cry from the verses' true meanings. They usually get away with it as their audience have also been conditioned to simply follow 'sayings' about the Qur'an, rather than the Qur'an.

It is only when one opens his eyes and begins to comprehend the Verses of Allah, can he begin to follow the Book of Allah and hope to become a true Muslim.

"...Indeed there has come to you from Allah a Light and a Clear Book. With it Allah guides whoever follows His good pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from the darkness into the light by His permission: He guides them onto a straight path" (Qur'an 5:15-16)

That is why all Muslims must consider their position in religion in relation to the Qur'an. Reciting the Qur'an without a sincere effort to understand the verses directly will not enlighten the human soul.

Our Hearts Must Engage in the Worship of Allah

Islam prescribes many forms of worship that have outward expressions, prayer being the most obvious of these. Yet, the greatest, most important facets of worship are the internal ones – the devotions of the heart and of the inner self.

Allah says: “Set your face to the religion in true sincerity.” [Sûrah al-Rûm: 30]

To direct oneself to Allah, to rely on Him alone, and to seek his countenance through one’s deeds is the greatest form of worship there is. This is what purifies and beautifies the heart, and it is accomplished through the love of Allah and being constantly aware of Him. This is the distinction that pious believers have over the sinners and hypocrites.

Just as there are people who play careful attention to their appearances but are neglectful of their inner selves, there are those who keep up a good outward image of religiousness and worship by doing supposedly pious acts conspicuously. They are often most scrupulous in their religious observances, careful never to slip out of fear of public recrimination. Any slip would ruin their reputation, because their status is built upon their being good imams, scholars, or Islamic workers. For this reason they are as conscientious as anyone could be in maintaining their outwardly good conduct, but not out of any real desire to please Allah. Instead, their hearts are full of the love of this world and the love of fame.

They are so concerned about their status and their reputation that they have no time to think about the Hereafter and how they should prepare for it. They have no time to think about the problems afflicting the Muslims and how to solve them. They do not think about calling others to Islam. Their hearts are devoid of the love of Allah and the love of his devoted worshippers. They also feel no fear of Allah. They do not hope for his reward. Their hearts, which are the receptacles of love, hate, hope, anger, joy, and sorrow, are not focused on the worship of Allah at all.

Allah describes the unbelievers in the following way: “This is because they followed that which displeased Allah and they hated to please Him, so He made their deeds of no effect.” [Sûrah Muhammad: 28]

We should see how the heart is the crux of all matters. So what is the value of outwardly good works that are hated by the heart of the one who performs them? What is the state of a person who abstains from some sinful deed for the sake f reputation or honor, while loving that deed in his heart and feeling joy when someone else commits it? Such a person will almost invariably fall into the sin sooner or later.

Such a person, whose heart loves what Allah hates and hates what Allah loves, will without doubt sooner or later act upon the dictates of the heart. The love or fear this heart harbors for some created thing – the fear of other people, of sickness, of poverty, of death, or of the rulers, and the desire for worldly gain, prestige, or position – will ultimately guide the body just as a monarch guides the populace.

Outward actions will take their directions from the heart. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “In the body is a peace of flesh that if it is healthy, the whole body is healthy, and if it is corrupted, the whole body becomes corrupted. It is the heart.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (4423)]

The heart dictates and the limbs obey. This is why Allah has made salvation in the Hereafter dependent upon the sanctity of the heart. Allah says: “The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will prevail, except for him who brings to Allah a sound heart.” [Sûrah al-Shu`arâ’: 88-89]

When we bring to Allah a sound heart, we will find benefit in our wealth, our children, and our deeds. This is because our limbs would have already availed us. As for these who come to Allah with hearts that are dead or sick, they will find no benefit in anything else.

A person whose heart is devoid of the love and fear of Allah, whose heart has no affection for pious people and no love for righteous deeds, is to Allah a person who has no heart, even if the lump of flesh can be found beating in the chest.

Allah says: “Not alike are the living and the dead.” [Sûrah Fâtir: 22]

The comparison being made in this verse is that of a believer in Allah and an unbeliever, or that of a pious person and a sinner.

Allah says: “Can he who was dead to whom We gave life and a light whereby he can walk among the people be like him who is in the depths of darkness from which he can not escape?” [Sûrah al-An`âm: 122]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The likeness of two people, one who remembers his Lord and one who does not, is that of the living and the dead.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (6407) and Sahîh Muslim (779)]

Allah says: “Verily in this is a message for any that has a heart.” [Sûrah Qâf: 37]

All of this confirms a great truth that we must pay attention to: that the purity of the heart and sincerity of purpose is the basis upon which all of our worship rests. If the heart becomes corrupted, good deeds are of no avail. When a person’s intention is no good, nobility of purpose is lost and the person swerves from what is right.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Actions are but by intentions”. When he said this, he was talking about all actions. The acceptability to Allah of any outward action is contingent on the intention behind it, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “…and every person will have only what he intended.”

Actions of the heart, however, are a different matter. The heart’s deeds such as fear, hope, and love, differ from outward actions, in that they, being unseen by others, are not subject to the risk of being for show. They either happen for the sake of Allah or they do not happen at all. One of the distinguishing features of the actions of the heart is that they can be cause for rewarded even if the person possessing them does not perform any outward act.

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was approaching Madinah on his return from the Tabûk, he said to his Companions: “In Madinah there are some people who did not travel nor did they even cross a valley, but they were with you.”

His Companions asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! How can this be while they were in Madinah?”

He replied: “Yes, while they were in Madinah and were prevented by circumstances from going forth.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (4423)]

This idea was expressed by a poet who wrote about the pilgrimage:
O you who traveled to the Ancient House! It is thus,
That you went in body while we went in spirit.

We were prevented by hardships we had to endure,
And thus we are like the ones who went forward.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that there will be people who will enter Paradise without performing any good works because they were prevented from doing so.

Abû Hurayrah used to ask his peers to tell him about a man who went to Paradise without ever having prayed a day in his life. When they could not answer, he would mention to them al-Usayrim from the tribe of Banû `Abd al-Ashhal. [Musnad Ahmad (23634)]

Al-Usayrim was a man who had refused to accept Islam when the rest of his people did so. On the day when the tribe of Quraysh attacked the Muslims in Madinah at Mount Uhud, al-Usayrim came to Madinah to accept Islam. Then he picked up his sword and went out to join in the defense of the Muslims along with his kinfolk who had already accepted Islam. He fought until he was mortally wounded. After the battle, when the tribe of Banû `Abd al-Ashhal began looking for their dead, they found al-Usayrim on the verge of death. They were surprised because they had left him behind.

They asked him: “What made you come out here (to Madinah), your love for your kinfolk or a desire for Islam?”

He replied: “My desire for Islam brought me here. I believe in Allah and his Messenger so I accepted Islam. Then I picked up my sword and went forward with Allah’s Messenger and fought until I came to this.” He died shortly thereafter.

They mentioned this to Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) who said: “He is among the inhabitants of Paradise.” [Al-Haythamî, Majma` al-Zawâ’id (9/362). Al-Haythamî states that all of its narrators are trustworthy (thiqât)]