SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM

[Zainab_M]

 


  everyone

By an enlightened brother and friend who's efforts toward spreading the Truth for the sake of Allah has been immense.  Please read this wonderful article carefully.  Anyone who's interested in finding guidance will find much to gain.


Ever since the begining of time, mankind have been insearch of the path that
would lead him to the Heavens up above.  Many innovations have been
suggested.  The Christians bulit churches with steeples reaching into the
clouds; the hindu tradition has it that by burning their dead the ensuing
smoke would act as a challice on which the soul of the departed one
would travel.  

In Islam, it is different.  There is a path, if consciously
followed, takes Muslims on an express route to our Rab.

In addition to revealing the Holy Qur'an to our Beloved Prophet--
Muhammad(pbuh), Almighty Allah has selected Him from among other
Prophets, as a Guide stationed on that Straight Path.  This Straight Path, we
Muslims know as "SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM" Q 42: 52-53.  No matter by which cross road
(excuse the pun) or by which avenue we approach this Straight Path, we ,
as Muslims, will find our Prophet waiting to Guide us along.

As we perform our daily prayers, we continuously beg Almighty Allah to guide
us along that Path.  It is expedient to mention here that  we do not beg
Almighty Allah to show us the Straight Path.  Through HIS Chosen
Prophet (pbuh) Almighty Allah has shown us this Path.  He did so by revealing
the Glorious Qur'an to Prophet Muhammud(pbuh).  The Path is thus mapped out
and presented in black and white between the two covers of our Holy Book.  
When we pray, we do not say : "Arinass Siratal Mustaqeem." meaning "show us
the"Straight Path".  We say rather: " Ihdinas Siratal Mustaqeem"--- " Guide
us on the Straight Path".

Let us now ponder for a moment on what that Straight Path really is.  
We know from elementary geometry that the shorest distance between two
points is a straight line/path.  A straight line has no angles, no curves and
yes, no crookedness.  In our particular case, the two points are Allah and
mankind; and the straight line/path--- SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM.  As Muslims
we beg Almighty Allah for His Guidance along this path that connects Him with
us.  It is wise to note here that while others will be travelling along
paths riddled with cross roads ( again excuse the pun), curves and bends,
Muslims would be on the shortest route-- SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM--.

If we are to contemplate even a bit more, we find that this STRAIGHT
PATH is supported by five (5) columns--excuse the engineering terminology--.  
For clarity, I would use the more fitting term "Pillars" -- i. e. The
Straight Path is supported by 5 Pillars.  Almighty Allah, for ease of reference,
has given individual names to each and every one of these Pillars.  They
are : (1) SHAHAADA, (2) SALAAT, (3) ZAKAAT, (4) SIYAAN or FASTING and (5)  
HAJJ.

SHAHAADA:  Many of us recite on a daily basis :  " Ashhadu Alla Ilaaha
Illa Laah ashhadu Ana Muhammadur Rasool Allah". Un fortunately, I have
heard this being translaated as : "We believe that there is no diety except
Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger".  Based on my little knowledge, I
think that this is a  wrong interpretation.  The very word "believe"
introduces doubts.  If one were to say that he/she believes that he/she can run
faster than you, immediately an element of doubt is created.  It may or may
not be so.  Having researched the true translation, I have found that the true
translation is: " I testify with irrevocable and firm conviction that
there is no deity but/except Allah and further testify that Muhammad (pbuh)
is His Messenger".  When one testifies to some thing, he/she is actually
taking an oath that what he/she is saying is what he/she truly believes.  Simply
uttering the words without conviction has little or no spiritual value.

FIVE TIMES DAILY SALAT:  There are many, many brothers and sisters who
would make all types  of excuses for not having that special audience with
his/her Creator as commanded.  Many of us are unaware that when we pray, we are
actually in direct contact with the Creator. When a man has a date with a
woman, he makes special arrangements to meet her.  He puts on his best
clothes just to impress her.  With Allah it is different for him.  He cannot find that time.
In spite of his/her refusal to pray the prescribed five daily prayers,
he/she still remains a Muslim; but will be at the end of
the line at the lowest rung of the ladder to SIRTAL MUSTAQEEM.

ZAKAAT:  Zakaat or charity is one of the avenues Muslims have at their
disposal to show our concern for our less fortunate brothers and
sisters. Zakaat is ordained as a means of purifying our wealth.  It is recorded
that if we should go to bed on a full stomach while our neighbour remained
hungry, Almighty Allah would hold that against us on the day we meet
HIM.  Zakaat is Allah's way of levelling the field between the rich and the
poor.  If we fail to observe this requirement, we still remain Muslims but at
the bottom rung of the ladder.

FASTING:  " Fasting is prescribed for you...... " We see again the
choice of words "Prescribe". It is a prescription similar to the one we get from
our doctors.  We may take the prescription to the pharmacy to be filled
out.  We may then take it home and put it on the shelf.  Without taking it as
prescribed, we will remain sick.  Almighty Allah has prescribed Fasting
as a means, among others, to control our NUFFS.  We feel the pangs of
hunger and can only then relate to the hunger of our unfortunate  fellow men.  We
may not fast.  We use the argument that travellers are not required to
fast, and that in this world we are all travellers so we are not required to
fast. Even though we may not fast, we still remain Muslims.  But we would be
at the bottom rung of the ladder to The Straight Path.... SIRATAL
MUSTAQEEM.

HAJJ:  Making the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Mecca, is an obligation
on every Muslim once he/she can afford it.  There is no hardship or
compulsion in religion.  When we look around, how many Muslims do we see taking
their kids to Disney Land, the Bahamas or just touring the beautiful
Carribeans?  At the end of the day, there is no money left.  As a matter of fact
some of us borrow from the banks to finance these trips.  What we hear over and
over is that we cannot afford the money to go to Hajj.  In spite of this, we
still remain Muslims, but where are we,.... at the bottom rung of the
ladder as the others.

Now that we have complied with the SHAHAADA, THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS,  
PAID ZAKAAT, FASTED DURING THE PRESCRIBED  MONTH and MADE OUR PILGRIMAGE TO
MECCA, we are now prepared and ready to climb the second rung of that
Spiritual Ladder--- SIRAATAL MUSTAQEEM --- leaving those who failed to
qualify still standing at the bottom rung of the ladder.

The second stage requires that we exhibit good conduct and render
service to humanity. We must share our time, skills and knowledge with our fellow
beings.  Sitting in a room/Mosque and praying all day and night without
interacting with our fellow brothers and sisters contributes nothing to
society.  Let me here share a story with you.  Once there was a little
island filled with only disbelievers except for one man. This man never
ever mixed with others.  He kept to himself worshiping God day and night.  
One day God gave orders to kill every one on that island.  The angel said :
"Oh! Master there is this one man who worships you night and day "  Then God
said : " KILL HIM FIRST FOR HE HAS FAILED TO SPREAD MY WORD, HE FAILED TO
ENLIGHTEN HIS FELLOW MEN".  This story I hope has driven home the point.  
The super powers of today are happy when we do not interact with one
another.  They are happy when we do not share our time, skills and knowledge with
one another.  In this way, we are kept subservient and remain slaves to
them for the rest of our lives.  We are reminded : " Surely, Allah does not
change the condition of a people until they change their own condition" (Q.
13:11)   Devine assistance is given not as a mater of course; it has to be
earned by harmonizing our will and actions with Allah's will.  We must search out
our less fortunate brothers and sisters before they degrade themselves by
stretching out their hands.

I invite you to remain steadfast as we climb the third rung of our
SPIRITUAL LADDER.  Almighty Allah says; " And what would explain  to you this
uphill task, this steep ascent?  It is to free the bondsman ( the Slave ) or
the giving of food  in a day of privation to the orphan with claims of
relationship or to the indigent down in the dust; then they will be of
those who have faith with firm and irrevocable conviction, and enjoin
patience and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion".  We are reminded that slavery
comes in many different forms.  There is political slavery, social
slavery,  and industrial slavery just to mention a few. Many Muslims are slaves
to their wealth, passion and deep love for power.  It is our duty to
liberate our men and women so enslaved.  Then and only then, we will be counted
among those firm in faith with irrevocable conviction.

Please hold my hands tightly for the final stage proves to be the most
difficult.  Here we must develop the quality of " I'thaar"--- preference--.
The Noble Qur'an in 59:9 tells us that the Ansars of Medina gave
preference to the needs of the fugitives ( the Mujahideens of Mecca) even if
poverty was their lot.  What ever we give, we must give the best.  This rung as
you can see is difficult to reach.  We are comanded to remember , in our
duas, those who did us wrong.  We must remember them, not in a negative way,
but in a positive one.  We mus not pray that they get into an accident and
dies.   We must pray that Allah protect them and enlighten their hearts.  
Difficult to do.  Isn't it?

Now that we have drawn closer to our Lord and have inculcated the
qualities that are most pleasing to HIM we are guaranteed that our happiest day
would be that day we meet HIM.  On that day He would give us His Salams and
welcome us saying : "O you serenely confident person return to your
Lord well pleased and content in His Pleasure. Enter then among my Devotees;
Enter My Heaven" ( Q 89; 27--30 )

At the end of this journey I want to now remind you that here on earth
we are all brothers and sisters one to the other.  There is commonality
among us. We live on the same planet; we breathe the same air;  we cherish
our children's future and when the night falls we sleep under the same
stary sky wrapped in the same blanket of darkness.

I implore you to unshackle yourselves from the customs of our
forefathers.  Customs that have NO bearing and CANNOT be supported by our NOBLE
QUR'AN.  Seek knowledge for it is a commandment of Almighty Allah.

I BEG YOU TO PONDER.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Well perceived.  Nowadays every leader of the ummah works on the basis of "national interest" which is another way of defining "selfish interest."  and of course when selfishness becomes so predominant, there are little chances of preference to others, least of all to those who wronged us.  but I am pleased that the brother highlighted this matter.  Whether or not people follow it, the reminder must be brought forth. 

According to the Noble Quran, nationalism does not have any geographical boundaries, spirit of nationalism for a Muslim must be on the basis of FAITH, not race, color or language etc.  Because of the love of money, power and western political trends, this spirit has been erased from the Muslim culture in current times.   

[Ruhi_Rose]

MashAllah, tremendous article.   The ummah at present is as far away from the values of this article.  However reminders must be put forth. 

It was nice to read the comments on 'shahadah.'  Very well said.  This must be clarified.  We must use the term "testify" or "bear witness."  I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that, as the brother in this article says very correctly, shahadah includes first belief in Allah, and then Muhammad (salallah alayhi wasallam) as His last messenger.  The other day I was going thru a deviant online forum where they were arguing that shahadah should only include the first part, i.e. I testify there is not god but Allah.  They were saying that the second part about the Prophet (pbuh) to be excluded.  They sounded like impertinent kuffar.   

Btw, br. TS' definition of the Islamic concept of nationalism based on faith and not geography was very well put, Mash'Allah. 

Thanks for this very nice post, sis 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Tremendously refreshing.   Allah bless.