*******
SUMMARY of “The nature and hierarchy of life”:
We have a tendency of defining life as strictly material and then hierarchizing the different life forms. Sometimes we even make dietary choices based on moral values based on this hierarchy.
From a rational view there is nothing within the material essence of any creature that makes it intrinsically superior or subordinate to any other, nor is there any indication of what is moral in our dietary preferences. We are in need of guidance from the Creator of the Universe who is the only One capable of supplying us with a complete and truthful handbook of the existence as well as providing us with a moral compass to match our conscience.
Allah teaches us that our intention in our choices and actions should be that we keep our choices within the limits of what is permitted to us by our Creator and we do so in the name of God.
While the Biology textbook claims the mystery surrounding the nature of life has been lifted away by the discovery of cells, the Quran and hadith portray a different imagery. In these quotes everything has been given life by the Source of Life al-Hayy. The entire universe extols God’s limitless glory and praise. Not only the entire universe is brought to life but we’re told of unseen beings, the jinns and the angels. We’re introduced to a new of way looking at the world where everything is an act of God through angels. We’re connected to every being and their accompanying angels with love. We’re united with the whole universe in sending praises to Our One and Common Creator to heavens in a chorus of “subhanAllah”.
We observe on earth that everything eventually recycles into everything else through dietary consumption, decomposition after death, photosynthesis in green plants etc. In parallel with this cycle of life, Qur’an makes all beings equal within their interconnectedness in that they’re all fulfilling the reason for their existence by praising their Creator. All beings, except some humans who choose not to.
When we humans do not attain to faith and do good works then we actually become lowest of the low, lower than the rest of the creation who all extol God’s limitless glory.But why do we feel that we’re unique among the rest of creation, what makes us feel superior if the case is that if anything, we can become lower than a rock who falls dawn in awe of God?
We have been created with God’s spirit and we have been given the ability to understand God is closer to us than our very selves. It is our potential in knowing all of Asma-ul Husna, God’s names and attributes, that makes us humans potentially greater than other beings, other forms of life.
********KhutbahOne should offer four (or two) Raka'at of Sunnah Prayer before the Friday congregational Prayer. The two Raka'at of Sunnah Prayer to be offered before the Fardh are compulsory and are not dropped even during a journey.
The first Athan is recited
when the sun begins to decline and the second is recited just before the imam stands
up before the congregation to deliver her/his sermon.
"A'uzu Bilahi Minash-Shaitanir Rajeem”
"I seek refuge with Allah from the satan, the accursed"
"Bismil Lahir Rahmanir Raheem"
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
"Al Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil 'Alameen." All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds
"Wassalatu Wassalamu 'Ala Muhammad wa 'Ala Alihi Wa Sahbihi wa Sallim."
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا (4:1)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Ya ayyuha alnnasu
ittaqoo rabbakumu allathee khalaqakum min nafsin wahidatin wakhalaqa
minha zawjaha wabaththa minhuma rijalan katheeran wanisaan
waittaqoo Allaha allathee tasaaloona bihi waalarhama inna Allaha kana AAalaykum
raqeeban
Topics discussed in this Verse: [Day of judgment] [Man:creation of] [Mothers] [Wombs]
· 4:1 (Leopold Weiss Muhammad Asad) O MANKIND! Be conscious of your Sustainer, who has created you out of one living entity, and out of it created its mate, and out of the two spread abroad a multitude of men and women. [1] And remain conscious of God, in whose name you demand [your rights] from one another, and of these ties of kinship. Verily, God is ever watchful over you! -
Ya ayyuhallathina amanuttaqullaha wa quuluu
qawlan sadeeda yuslih lakum a’maalakum wa yaghfir lakum thunuubakum wa
mayyuti’illaha wa rasuulahu fekad faaza fawzan adhimaa
"Alhamdu Lillahi Wassalatu 'Ala Rasulillahi
Wa 'Ala Alihi Wa Sahbihi Wa Man Wala."
Al-Hamdu
Lillahi Thumma Alhamdu Lillah
Al-Hamdu
Lillahi Alzi Hadana Lihaza wama Kunna Lanahtadiya Law’la Ann Hadana Allah.Al-Hamdu Lillahi Ghafiriz Zunibi Jamee’ihaa Illa Shirka Bih,
Wasalatu wasalamu ala rasulil’ahh
Praise is due to Allah,
Praise is due to Allah who guided us to the righteous path, and indeed we wouldn’t have attained this state of guidance without Allah,
Praise is due to Allah who forgives all sins and misdeeds except associating others with It.
Amma Ba’d
THE NATURE AND
HIERARCHY OF LIFE
Today I want to talk
about the nature and hierarchy of life. I will first read a quote from the
introduction of a book titled “Molecular Biology of the Cell” by Alberts and Johnson.
“The surface of our
planet is populated by living things—curious, intricately organized chemical
factories that take in matter from their surroundings and use these raw
materials to generate copies of themselves. The living organisms appear extraordinarily
diverse in almost every way. What could be more different than a tiger and a
piece of seaweed, or a bacterium and a tree? Yet our ancestors, knowing nothing
of cells or DNA, saw that all these things had something in common. They called
that something “life,” marveled at it, struggled to define it, and despaired of
explaining what it was or how it worked in terms that relate to nonliving
matter.
The discoveries of
the twentieth century have not diminished the marvel—quite the contrary. But
they have lifted away the mystery surrounding the nature of life. We can now
see that all living things are made of cells, and that these units of living
matter all share the same machinery for their most basic functions.”
In our current
culture we have a tendency of defining life as strictly material 96% of it made
of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. We then classify life forms into
animals, plants, fungi, bacteria etc. We also hierarchize them. Animals are
superior to plants. We then give value to their respectable lives. A mammal’s
life is more worthy than a fish and a fish’s life is more valuable than that of
a plant. Many of us even make dietary choices based on this hierarchy between
forms of life and become vegetarian because we feel it’s evil to kill an animal
but not necessarily a plant. We consider ourselves at the top of the pyramid of
life and consider ourselves the rightful judges of who to take life from and
who not to take it based on this hierarchical understanding.
Historically, this
view had some interesting rivals. Some cultures were vegetarian because they
thought of animals as being too sacred and superior to humans to be consumed by
humans, while others ate meat because they wanted to infuse themselves with the
spirits of these superior beings.
From a purely
rational point of view all of these views are probable and there is nothing
within the material essence of any creature that makes it intrinsically
superior or subordinate to any other, nor is there any indication of what is
moral in our dietary preferences. Our mind is simply too limited in finding the
real meaning behind existence however it is completely capable of reasoning to
understand and evaluate a guidance it receives. Our very abilities and
shortcomings suggest we are in need of guidance from the Creator of the
Universe who is the only One capable of supplying us with a complete and
truthful handbook of the existence as well as providing us with a moral compass
to match our conscience.
When it comes to
dietary preferences, here is what the Qur’an teaches us. إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالْدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخَنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللّهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (16:115)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Innama harrama AAalaykumu almaytata waalddama walahma alkhinzeeri wamaohilla lighayri Allahi bihi famani idturra ghayra baghin wala AAadin fainna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah's attributes:Most Merciful] [Allah's attributes:Oft_Forgiving] [Food:lawful and forbidden]
· 16:115 (Asad) He has forbidden to you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven [to it] by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -verily, God is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace. [140] -
We are by design
dependent on a plant and/or animal life form for our survival in this world.
Allah teaches us the boundaries of what is ok to eat and not to eat it and
gives us –in my opinion-the most important clue to our guidance in the matter.
What matters more than the specifics of what is eaten is the intention with
which we kill and consume another form of life and that intention is that we
kill and eat what is permitted to us by our Creator and by the Creator of our
food and we do so in the name of God, our Creator. In fact this approach can be
applied to any of our choices in life, as taught by the Qur’an.
Now I would like to
refer to a few more verses from the Quran as well as a hadith.
·
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ثُمَّ قَسَتْ
قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً
وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ
مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاء وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا
يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللّهِ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ (2:74)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Thumma qasat quloobukum min
baAAdi thalika fahiya kaalhijarati aw
ashaddu qaswatan wainna mina alhijarati lama yatafajjaru
minhu alanharu wainna minhalama yashshaqqaqu
fayakhruju minhu almao wainna minha lama yahbitu
min khashyati Allahi wama Allahu bighafilin
AAamma taAAmaloona
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah:is not unmindful of what you do] [Fear ( as motive for reclamation )] [Hearts:hardened like rocks] [Rocks parable of]
· 2:74 (Asad) And yet,
after all this, your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder:
for, behold, there are rocks from which streams gush forth; and, behold,
there are some from which, when they are cleft, water issues; and, behold,
there are some that fall down for awe of God [59] And God is
not unmindful of what you do! -
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Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Tusabbihu lahu alssamawatu alssabAAu waalardu waman feehinna wain min shayin illa yusabbihu bihamdihi walakin la tafqahoona tasbeehahum innahu kanahaleeman ghafooran
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah:all beings in the heavens and earth declare His glory] [Allah:Glory be to Him] [Allah's attributes:Forbearing] [Allah's attributes:Oft_Forgiving] [Heavens:seven in number]
· 17:44 (Asad) The seven heavens [52] extol His limitless glory, and the earth, and all that they contain; and there is not a single thing but extols His limitless glory and praise: but you [O people] fail to grasp the manner of their glorifying Him! [53] Verily, He is forbearing, much-forgiving! -
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (64:1)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Yusabbihu lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi lahu almulku walahu alhamdu wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah:all beings in the heavens and earth declare His glory] [Allah:Praise be to Him] [Allah:to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth]
· 64:1 (Asad) ALL THAT IS in the heavens and all that is on earth extols God's limitless glory: His is all dominion, and to Him all praise is due; and He has the power to will anything. -
Sahih Muslim
Chapter
89 : UHUD IS A MOUNTAIN: IT LOVES US AND WE LOVE IT| Book7,3208. |
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Anas
b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: Ohud is a mountain which loves us and which we love.
This hadith is narrated by Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) with
another chain of transmitters (and the words are):" AIlah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) cast a glance at Ubud and said: Ubud is a mountain
which loves us and we love it."
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Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
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قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ
أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا
عَجَبًا (72:1)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Qul oohiya ilayya annahu
istamaAAa nafarun mina aljinni faqaloo inna samiAAnaquranan
AAajaban
·
72:1 (Asad) SAY: "It
has been revealed to me that some of the unseen beings gave ear [to this
divine writ], [1] and thereupon
said [unto their fellow-beings]: "'Verily, we have heard a wondrous
discourse, -
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Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Wayusabbihu alrraAAdu bihamdihi waalmalaikatu min kheefatihi wayursilu alssawaAAiqa fayuseebu biha man yashao wahum yujadiloona fee Allahi wahuwa shadeedu almihali
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Angels:serve and worship Allah] [Lightning:fear and hope] [Thunder]
· 13:13 (Asad) and the thunder extols His limitless glory and praises Him, and [so do] the angels, in awe of Him; and He [it is who] lets loose the thunderbolts and strikes with them whom He wills. And yet, they stubbornly argue about God, [28] notwithstanding [all evidence] that He alone has the power to contrive whatever His unfathomable wisdom wills![29] -
While the Biology textbook claims the mystery surrounding the nature of life has been lifted away by the discovery of cells, the Quran and hadith portray a different imagery. By comparing the textbook and the Qur’an I only mean to look at the fascinating information science teaches through the lenses of the spiritual guidance the Qur’an provides for us. In the verses I just quoted, everything has been given life by the Source of Life al-Hayy. Rocks are in awe of God and the mountain Uhud loves Prophet Mohammad (asm). The entire universe extols God’s limitless glory and praise. Not only the entire universe is brought to life but we’re told of unseen beings, the jinns who listen to the Quran and the angels who in awe of God extol Its limitless glory and praise It. We’re introduced to a new of way looking at the world where the thunder isn’t an inanimate phenomenon but an act of God through the angels. The Qur’an offers us a universe where the void of space is no longer empty, but filled with angels dancing in praise of God and jinns listening to the sound of Quran that dissipates in the heavens. We’re connected to mountains and their accompanying angels with love. We’re united with the whole universe in sending praises to Our One and Common Creator to heavens in a chorus of “subhanAllah”.
While we may have
the illusion of understanding the nature of life better than our ancestors,
we may have in fact lost the broad scope of life and its consciousness and
its love and we narrowed life to only refer to beings with cells.
Is the Milky Way
superior to me or am I superior to the lettuce? The Sun’s energy is captured
by Divine Will in the green leaves which turn into me when I eat my salad.
Then, when I die al-Bariu al-Musawwiru (the Maker who shapes all forms and
appearances) turns my material flesh into bacteria and nutrients for the
earth. Then from this dust al-Jameel (the Source of beauty) creates a flower,
then a rabbit chews on the leaves of this plant and my material being
continues its life in the form of a rabbit until I then become part of a
coyote. In parallel with this cycle of life we observe on earth, the Qur’an
makes all beings equal within their interconnectedness in that they’re all
fulfilling the reason for their existence by praising their One Creator. All
beings, except some humans who choose not to.
·
At-Tin
(The Fig)
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Laqad khalaqna alinsana
fee ahsani taqweemin
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Thumma radadnahu asfala safileena
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إِلَّا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ (95:6)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Illa allatheena amanoo
waAAamiloo alssalihati falahum ajrun ghayru mamnoonin
·
95:6 (Asad) excepting
only such as attain to faith and do good works: and theirs shall be a reward
unending! -
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Fama yukaththibuka
baAAdu bialddeeni
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95:7 (Asad) What, then,
[O human,] could henceforth cause thee to give the lie to this moral
law? [4] -
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Alaysa Allahu biahkami
alhakimeena
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah's attributes:Best to decide] [Allah's attributes:Wisest of judges] |
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When we humans do not
attain to faith and do good works then we actually become lowest of the low,
lower than the rest of the creation who all extol God’s limitless glory. But why do we feel that we’re unique among
the rest of the creation, what makes us feel superior if the case is that, if
anything we can become lower than a rock who falls dawn in awe of God?
فَإِذَا
سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ (38:72)
Faitha sawwaytuhu
wanafakhtu feehi min roohee faqaAAoo lahu sajideenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi Topics discussed in this Verse: [Adam:angels prostrated to him] [Adam:creation of] [Allah:gives you shape and makes your shapes beautiful] [Angels:and Adam] [Man:creation of] [Spirit the]
· 38:72 (Asad) and
when I have formed him fully and breathed into him of My spirit, fall you
down before him in prostration!” [56] -
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Fasajada almalaikatu kulluhum ajmaAAoona Topics discussed in this Verse: [Adam:angels prostrated to him] [Angels:and Adam] |
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Illa ibleesa
istakbara wakana mina alkafireena Topics discussed in this Verse: [lblis ( Satan ):refused to prostrate]
· 38:74 (Asad) save
Iblis: he gloried in his arrogance, and [thus] became one of those who deny
the truth. [57] -
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قَالَ يَا
إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ
أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ (38:75)
Qala ya ibleesu
ma manaAAaka an tasjuda
lima khalaqtu biyadayya
astakbarta am kunta mina alAAaleenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi Topics discussed in this Verse: [lblis ( Satan ):refused to prostrate]
· 38:75 (Asad) Said
He: “O Iblis! What has kept thee from prostrating thyself before that [being]
which I have created with My hands? [58] Art
thou too proud [to bow down before another created being], or art thou of
those who think [only] of themselves as high?” [59] -
Qala ana khayrun
minhu khalaqtanee min narin wakhalaqtahu min teeninقَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ(38:76) Basit - Hussari - Minshawi Topics discussed in this Verse: [Jinn:creation of] [lblis ( Satan ):refused to prostrate]
· 38:76 (Asad) Answered
[Iblis]: “I am better than he: Thou hast created me out of fire, [60] whereas
him Thou hast created out of clay.” -
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وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا
الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ
مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (50:16)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Walaqad khalaqna alinsana
wanaAAlamu ma tuwaswisu bihi nafsuhu wanahnu aqrabu ilayhi min habli
alwareedi
Topics discussed in this Verse: [Allah:knows the secrets of hearts] [Allah:nearness to Him] [Allah's knowledge] [Creation:new][Man:Allah is nearer than his jugular vein] [Man:creation of]
· 50:16 (Asad) NOW, VERILY, it is We who have created man, and We know what his innermost self whispers within him: for We are closer to him than his neck-vein. -
We have been created
with God’s spirit, God breathed into us of Its spirit and we have been given
the ability to understand God is closer to us than our very selves.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ
لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُواْ أَتَجْعَلُ
فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاء وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ
وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (2:30)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Waith qala
rabbuka lilmalaikati innee jaAAilun fee alardi
khaleefatan qaloo atajAAalu feeha man yufsidu feeha wayasfiku
alddimaa wanahnu nusabbihu bihamdika
wanuqaddisu laka qala innee aAAlamu ma la taAAlamoona
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Adam:creation of] [Allah's knowledge] [Angels:and Adam] [Angels:serve and worship Allah][Man:creation of] [Vicegerent creation of]
·
2:30 (Asad) AND LO! [21] Thy Sustainer
said unto the angels: "Behold, I am about to establish upon earth one
who shall inherit it." [22] They said:
"Wilt Thou place on it such as will spread corruption thereon and shed
blood -whereas it is we who extol Thy limitless glory, and praise Thee, and
hallow Thy name?" [God] answered: "Verily, I know that which you do
not know." -
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وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ
الأَسْمَاء كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلاَئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي
بِأَسْمَاء هَـؤُلاء إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (2:31)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
WaAAallama adama alasmaa
kullaha thumma AAaradahum AAala almalaikati
faqala anbioonee biasmai haolai in kuntum sadiqeena
·
2:31 (Asad) And He
imparted unto Adam all
the names; [23]then He brought
them within the ken of the angels and said: "Declare unto Me these names, if what you say
is true." [24] -
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قَالُواْ سُبْحَانَكَ
لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ (2:32)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Qaloo subhanaka la AAilma
lana illa ma AAallamtana innaka
anta alAAaleemu alhakeemu
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It is our potential
in knowing all of Asma-ul Husna, God’s names and attributes and our potential
in knowing God more than any other being can, that makes us humans potentially
greater than other beings, other forms of life.
****Akuulu kawlii hathaa, wastaghfirullaha liya wa lakum wa lisaairi lmuslimeen, fastaghfiruuhu, innahu huwa lghafuuru rraheem.
"Id’oo Allaha Yaghfir Lakum Zunubakum"
Make a supplication to Allah, It will answer your prayers & forgive your sins.
After delivering the first
part of the sermon, the imam sits down for a short while, everyone
makes istighfar, then imam stands up again and starts with the second part:
Bismillah, walhamdu lillah, wa
ssalaatu wa ssalaamu ala rasuuli llah, salla llahu alayhi wa salam.
Alhamdu
lillahi nahmaduhu wa nasta 'inuhu wa nastaghfiruhu wa nu' minu bihi wa
natawakkalu 'alaih. Wa na 'uThu Billahi min shururi anfusina wamin sayy 'ati a
'malina. Man yahdihillahu fala mudhilla lahu wa man yudlilhu fala hadiya lah.
Wa nash-hadu alla ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu wa nash-hadu anna
Muhmmadan 'abduhu wa Rasuluh. Ibadallah rahima-kumullah. Innallaha ya'muru bil
'adli wal-ihsani wa itai Thil-qurba. wa yanha 'anil fahshai wal- munkari
wal-baghyi, Ya 'izhkum la 'allakum taThakkarun. UThkurrullah yaTh-kur-kum wad
'uhu yastajib lakum. Wala Thikrullahi akbar.
Translation:All praise is due to Allah. We laud Him, we beseech help from Him and ask His protection; we confide in Him, we trust Him alone and we seek protection against the evils and mischief of our souls and from the bad results of our deeds. Whomsoever He guides on the right path, none can misguide him; and whosoever He declares misled, none can guide him onto the right path. And we bear witness that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah. He is alone and has no partner. We bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O servants of Allah! May Allah be merciful to you. Verily, Allah commands you to act with justice, to confer benefits upon each other and to do good to others as one does to one 's kindred and forbids evil which pertain to your own selves and evils which affect others and prohibits revolts against a lawful authority.
He warns you against being unmindful. You remember Allah; He too will remember you; call Him and He will make a response to your call. And verily divine remembrance is the highest virtue.
***
SUMMARY of “The nature and hierarchy of life”:
We have a tendency of
defining life as strictly material and then hierarchizing the different life
forms. Sometimes we even make dietary choices based on moral values based on
this hierarchy.
From a rational view
there is nothing within the material essence of any creature that makes it
intrinsically superior or subordinate to any other, nor is there any indication
of what is moral in our dietary preferences. We are in need of guidance from
the Creator of the Universe who is the only One capable of supplying us with a
complete and truthful handbook of the existence as well as providing us with a
moral compass to match our conscience.
Allah teaches us that
our intention in our choices and actions should be that we keep our choices
within the limits of what is permitted to us by our Creator and we do so in the
name of God.
While the Biology
textbook claims the mystery surrounding the nature of life has been lifted away
by the discovery of cells, the Quran and hadith portray a different imagery. In
these quotes everything has been given life by the Source of Life al-Hayy. The
entire universe extols God’s limitless glory and praise. Not only the entire universe
is brought to life but we’re told of unseen beings, the jinns and the angels.
We’re introduced to a new of way looking at the world where everything is an
act of God through angels. We’re connected to every being and their
accompanying angels with love. We’re united with the whole universe in sending
praises to Our One and Common Creator to heavens in a chorus of “subhanAllah”.
We observe on earth
that everything eventually recycles into everything else through dietary
consumption, decomposition after death, photosynthesis in green plants etc. In
parallel with this cycle of life, Qur’an makes all beings equal within their
interconnectedness in that they’re all fulfilling the reason for their
existence by praising their Creator. All beings, except some humans who choose
not to.
When we humans do not
attain to faith and do good works then we actually become lowest of the low,
lower than the rest of the creation who all extol God’s limitless glory. But why do we feel that we’re unique among the
rest of creation, what makes us feel superior if the case is that if anything,
we can become lower than a rock who falls dawn in awe of God?
We have been created
with God’s spirit and we have been given the ability to understand God is
closer to us than our very selves. It is our potential in knowing all of
Asma-ul Husna, God’s names and attributes, that makes us humans potentially
greater than other beings, other forms of life.
****From Surah Al-Ahzab (The Confederates):
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ
يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ
وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا (33:56)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Inna Allaha
wamalaikatahu yusalloona AAala alnnabiyyi
ya ayyuha allatheenaamanoo salloo AAalayhi wasallimoo tasleemanBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Angels:send blessing on the Prophet] [Greeting] [Muhammad:blessings and peace upon him][Muhammad:speak to him with respect]
· 33:56 (Asad) Verily, God and His angels bless the Prophet: [hence,] O you who have attained to faith, bless him and give yourselves up [to his guidance] in utter self-surrender! -
"Allahuma
Salla 'Ala Muhammadin Wa 'Ala Ali Muhammadin, Kama Sallaita 'Ala Ibrahima Wa
'Ala Ali Ibrahim, Allahuma Barik 'Ala Muhammadin Wa 'Ala Ali Muhammad, Kama
Barakta 'Ala Ibrahima Wa 'Ala Ali Ibrahim. Fil 'Alameena Inaka Hameedun
Mujeed."
"O Allah! Greet Muhammad
and the family of Muhammad, as you greeted Ibrahim and the family of
Ibrahim.""O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim."
"Indeed You are (Ya Allah) Ever-Praised and Ever-Exalted in the universe!"
" Allahuma’ Eghfir
Lil’ Muslimeena wal Muslimat…”
Almighty God, forgive the muslim
men and womenThe congregation says AAMEEN
" Wal Moumineena wal Mouminaat…”
Forgive the believing men and women. Congregation: aameen
" Al-Ahya’ee minhum wal amwat…”
Those who are alive and those who died. Congregation: aameen
"Innaka samee’un mujibul dawat… "
You are indeed the One who listens and answers all supplications. Congregation: aameen
وِمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا
عَذَابَ النَّارِ (2:201)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Waminhum
man yaqoolu rabbana atina fee alddunya hasanatan wafee alakhiratihasanatan
waqina AAathaba alnnariBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Hereafter:better than worldly life] [Hereafter] [Pilgrimage] [Worldly life]
2:201 (Asad) But there are among them such as pray, "O our Sustainer! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come, and keep us safe from suffering through the fire": -
وَلَمَّا بَرَزُواْ
لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ
أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ (2:250)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Walamma barazoo
lijaloota wajunoodihi qaloo rabbana afrigh AAalayna sabran wathabbit
aqdamana waonsurna AAala alqawmi alkafireenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Children of Israel] [Goliath]
2:250 (Asad) And when they came face to face with Goliath and his forces, they prayed: "O our Sustainer! Shower us with patience in adversity, and make firm our steps, and succour us against the people who deny the truth!" -
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ
نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ
رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ
تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا
رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ
لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَآ أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ (2:286)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
La yukallifu
Allahu nafsan illa wusAAaha laha ma kasabat
waAAalayha maiktasabat rabbana la tuakhithna in
naseena aw akhtana rabbana wala tahmil AAalayna isran
kama hamaltahu AAala allatheena min qablina rabbana walatuhammilna ma la taqata
lana bihi waoAAfu AAanna waighfir lana wairhamna anta
mawlana faonsurna AAala alqawmi alkafireenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah:seek His forgiveness] [Allah's attributes:Protector] [Burdens:Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear] [Earnings] [Forgiveness]
· 2:286 (Asad) God does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear: in his favour shall be whatever good he does, and against him whatever evil he does. O our Sustainer! Take us not to task if we forget or unwittingly do wrong! "O our Sustainer! Lay not upon us a burden such as Thou didst lay upon those who lived before us! [278] O our Sustainer! Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear! "And efface Thou our sins, and grant us forgiveness, and bestow Thy mercy upon us! Thou art our Lord Sustainer Supreme: succour us, then, against people who deny the truth!" -
قَالاَ رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ (7:23)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
Qala rabbana thalamna anfusana wain lam taghfir lana watarhamna lanakoonanna mina alkhasireena
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Adam:Fall of] [Adam:repentance of] [Allah's mercy] [Repentance:of Adam and Eve]
7:23 (Asad) The two replied: "O our Sustainer! We have sinned against ourselves -and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost!" -
وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ
أَبْصَارُهُمْ تِلْقَاء أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تَجْعَلْنَا
مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ (7:47)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Waitha surifat
absaruhum tilqaa ashabi alnnari qaloo rabbana la tajAAalnamaAAa
alqawmi alththalimeenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Heights ( the ) ]
7:47 (Asad) And whenever their eyes are turned towards the inmates of the fire, they will cry: "O our Sustainer! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing!" -
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ
ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَى فِي
الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ
الظَّالِمِينَ (21:87)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Watha alnnooni
ith thahaba mughadiban fathanna an lan naqdira AAalayhi fanadafee alththulumati
an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina alththalimeenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah:Glory be to Him] [Allah:no god but He] [Dhu al Nun] [Jonah]
21:87 (Asad) AND [remember] him of the great fish [82] when he went off in wrath, thinking that We had no power over him! [83] But then heeded out in the deep darkness [of his distress]: “There is no deity save Thee! Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! Verily, I have done wrong!” [84] -
وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَى
رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ (21:83)
Basit - Hussari - Minshawi
-
Waayyooba
ith nada rabbahu annee massaniya alddurru waanta arhamu alrrahimeenaBasit - Hussari - Minshawi
Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah's attributes:Best of those who show mercy] [Allah's attributes:Most Merciful of those who show mercy] [Job]
· 21:83 (Asad) AND [remember] Job, when he cried out to his Sustainer, “Affliction has befallen me: but Thou art the most merciful of the merciful!” [78] -
Ibada
Allah:
Inna
Allaha ya-muru bialAAadli waalihsani waeetai thee alqurba wayanha AAani
alfahshai waalmunkari waalbaghyi yaAAithukum laAAallakum tathakkaroonaUthkurullaha ladhima yathkurkum wa shkuruuhu yazidkum wa staghfiruuhu yaghfir lakum wa ttakuuhu yaj’al lakum min amrikum makhrajaa.
16:90 (Asad) BEHOLD, God enjoins justice, and the doing of good, and generosity towards [one's] fellow-men; [108] and He forbids all that is shameful and all that runs counter to reason, [109] as well as envy; [and] He exhorts you [repeatedly] so that you might bear [all this] in mind. -
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ
إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ
الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا
تَصْنَعُونَ (29:45)
Otlu ma oohiya ilayka mina alkitabi waaqimi alssalata inna alssalata tanha AAani alfahshai waalmunkari walathikru Allahi akbaru waAllahu yaAAlamu matasnaAAoona
·
29:45 (Asad) CONVEY [unto others] whatever of this
divine writ has been revealed unto thee, [40] and
be constant in prayer: for, behold, prayer restrains [man] from loathsome deeds
and from all that runs counter to reason; [41] and
remembrance of God is indeed the greatest [good]. And God knows all that you
do. Otlu ma oohiya ilayka mina alkitabi waaqimi alssalata inna alssalata tanha AAani alfahshai waalmunkari walathikru Allahi akbaru waAllahu yaAAlamu matasnaAAoona
Imam says to the mu’azzin so
s/he can call for iqamah (establishing prayers):
Aqimi
Salah.After the iqamah is recited, the imam leads the congregational two Raka'at of Jummah Prayer conducted vocally. Four Raka'at ofSunnah after the congregational Jummah Prayer, but two Raka'at of Sunnah after the congregational Jummah Prayer are also allowed instead of four.
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