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Kuffar Celebrations

Would a Muslim participate in any Jewish religious occasion? Would he join the Christians or people of any other faith in a religious ceremony? The obvious answer is “no” since this would compromise one’s faith and belief. One cannot compromise faith, otherwise one will eventually have no faith at all. Indeed on a humanitarian level one must treat every human being with dignity, kindness and compassion, but without transgressing the boundaries of Imaan..

RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS
One of the very common ways in which the boundary of belief is compromised is by means of participating in the religious celebrations of other creeds. For instance, Christmas is a Christian religious celebration. This is clearly ascertained from the following: “The Roman Catholic Church chose December 25 as the day for the Feast of the Nativity in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. For example, the Church replaced festivities honouring the birth of Mithra, the god of light, with festivities to commemorate the birth of Jesus, whom the Bible calls the light of the world. The Catholic Church hoped to draw pagans into its religion by allowing them to continue their revelry while simultaneously honouring the birthday of Jesus.” (Encarta)

Therefore if one participates in any way in Christmas celebrations, actively or passively, he will in reality be aligning himself with that creed. A Mu’min cannot align himself with any creed other than Islam.

PASSIVE PARTICIPATION
Among the ways of “passive participation” in Christmas celebrations is by means of adopting the Christmas symbols – decorating one’s home or business with Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, wishing people “merry Christmas,” etc. Christmas is a celebration of the faith and creed of Christianity. Included in this is the worship of the so called “son of God”??? Would a Muslim wish a Christian “happy worship of the son …”? It is simply not possible. The same ruling will apply to wishing one “merry Christmas.”

May Allah Ta’ala keep us steadfast on the Straight Path. Aameen.

Q&A: Parents and Oppression

Question: I am the eldest of two brothers and three sisters. Some years back my father took ill and I was brought out of university to run the family business. Over the years my brothers and sisters have all completed their schooling. My sisters are married while my brother is completing his final year at medical school. Everybody was supported from the business while I was the only one working in the business. Over the past decade while I worked in the business it has grown from strength to strength. My father has now decided to share his assets equally among all his children in his lifetime. I strongly apposed this move as I feel that I am definetely entitled to much more then my brothers and sisters. My father has started the process of distributing his assets. How can I stop this oppression?

Answer:May Allah Ta’ala reward you abundantly for having served your parents and family. Kindness to one’s parents is a means of great barakah. The doors of Jannah are also opened for the one who serves his parents.

While you have certainly performed a great service to your parents, you are greatly mistaken if you feel that you are entitled to something in return. It is clear from your question that there was no partnership arrangement with your father. You merely made his khidmat (served him) for which you will insha-Allah be greatly rewarded. However, your service to your parents, irrespective of how much it may be, cannot fulfil one fraction of the rights of your parents upon you. Your parents served you from birth when you could do nothing for yourself. Have you repaid that service?

SUSTENANCE

Furthermore, you have mentioned that the business grew from strength to strength. Do not regard this to be any personal achievement. This barakah has come due to your ailing father. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: “Verily you are granted sustenance and assistance due to the weak among you.” (Ibn majah) This means that due to some weak or sick person in the family, the entire family is granted sustenance. You should therefore realise that Allah Ta’ala has opened the doors of sustenance to you due to you taking care of your parents.

If your father wishes to distribute his assets in his lifetime, he is entitled to do so. In his lifetime he will give all his children equal shares. The rule of sons sharing double the shares of daughters pertains to inheritance which is only applicable after death.

As for stopping the “oppression”, you should have already understood that they have not oppressed you at all. However, had they truly been guilty of oppression, in that case you should reflect on the following hadith: Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (R.A.) is reported to have said: “A person who both his parents are alive and he commences the morning in treating them kindly, Allah Ta’ala opens two doors of Jannah for him. If one is alive, one door of Jannah is opened for him. Further, if he displeases any one of them, Allah Ta’ala will not be pleased with him until he makes them happy.” Someone asked: “Even if they are oppressive (must I still make them happy first to acquire the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala)?” Ibn Abbaas (R.A.) replied: “Even if they are oppressive!”

Therefore do not oppose your father. Rather please him and serve him. Allah Ta’ala will bless you abundantly in both worlds.

Words of Wisdom

Hazrath Luqman (A.S.), who was given the title of Hakeem (the Wise), used to work in an orchard. Once his master came to the orchard and asked for a cucumber. When the cucumber was brought, peeled and sliced, the master gave the first piece to Hazrath Luqman (A. S.) to eat. He placed it in his mouth and began eating it with great relish. When the master observed the degree of relish with which Hazrath Luqman (A.S.) ate the cucumber, he assumed that it must be very tasty. Hence he also put a piece into his mouth.

To his horror he found the cucumber to be extremely bitter. He immediately spat it out and asked in astonishment: “O luqman, how can you eat such a bitter cucumber with such relish?” Hazrath Luqman (A.S.) replied: “The cucumber is indeed bitter. However I thought that if the hand that has already given me countless sweet things gives me one bitter thing, how ungrateful it would be of me to complain about it!!!”

Hazrath Luqman (A.S.) also passed on many gems of advice to his son. Among them he said:

* Son, the world is a very deep sea in which many people have drowned. If you make taqwa (piety) your boat in this sea, fill it with Imaan and make tawakkul (trust in Allah Ta’ala) its sails, you will be saved. Otherwise you will also drown.

* A father disciplining his son (for the sake of his proper nurturing) is like placing fertiliser in the field (which helps to grow healthy crops).

* Son, refrain from debts since debts are the means of disgrace in the day and worry at night

* Son, the radiance from the face of a liar is snatched away, a person with poor character will grieve much and it is easier to move rocks than to explain to a fool.

* To sacrifice one’s respect in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala brings one closer to Allah Ta’ala. On the contrary, to attempt to acquire respect by disobeying Allah Ta’ala distances one from Him (thus leading to disgrace in this world and the Hereafter).

Faqihul Ummah: Concentration in Salaah

Summary of Letter:

Bismihi Ta’ala

Respected Mufti Saheb

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

Question: How does one develop concentration in Salaah?

Summary of Reply:

Bismihi Ta’ala

Respected Brother / Sister

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

Answer: One should consider the directive of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that “worship Allah Ta’ala as if you can see him.” One should strive to achieve this condition. Concentration and devotion will be achieved to the extent that this thought will dominate the mind.

[Upon this answer the questioner remarked: “It is not within our control to make this thought dominant over the mind!” Hazrath responded in the following words:]

In order to achieve this condition, you must pluck the courage (and strive to achieve it). Is plucking the courage also not within your control? When a person wants to do something, he never says “it is not possible for me to do it.” Instead he says “I can do it.” Consider that if your father or some elder informs you that he will arrive by train at midnight and wants you to receive him at the station. Despite it being very late at night and being severely cold, you will immediately prepare to go to the station. You will wear warm clothing to overcome the cold. If you do not have transport, you will make arrangements for the same. If there is a fear of oversleeping, you will set the alarm in order to wake up and reach the station on time. In short, whatever difficulties there may be, you will make every effort to overcome them.

On the contrary, if you do not want to go, your immediate response will be: “How can I go at such late hour? I do not even have a car!” You would then make a hundred excuses to avoid going.

Therefore if one truly wishes to acquire something, one will have to pluck the courage and make an effort. One should be prepared to push aside any obstacle that comes in the way. Otherwise if one is not really interested in achieving something, the smallest obstacle will make one give up. (Malfoozaat)