WARNING TO MUSLIMS ?

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

ALLAH O-AKBAR?

 What a situation to take lesson from , the warning given to Bani Israel was taken by them as  an empty verbal threat, and they saw the consequence of not paying deed to it. They are wandering today on the surface of the earth. They are being shuttled hither and thither and do not get any resting place. They have coffers brimming with crores of rupees. They are he wealthiest people in the world. But this money is of no use to them.

 By adopting the cursed system of usury instead of Zakat, and by taking to lewdness instead of Salah they have invoked Allah’s curse: and loaded with this curse they are running about contaminating the whole world like plague-rats. Then this very threat was given to Muslims but disregarding it they neglected Salah and Zakat and stopped using the God-given strength for propagating virtues  see its result that they were dislodged from the seat of government and thrown away. They became victim of oppressors throughout the world. They are weak and subjugated in all parts of the earth. 

You have seen the disastrous result of abandoning Salah and Zakat. Now a party has risen among them which wants to drag them into indecency, obscenity and lewdness and is telling them that to end their poverty they should start insurance companies and begin taking usury. By God if they did this they will be overtaken by the same disgrace and ignominy which Jews suffered and they will be subjected to the same curse of God which has afflicted Bani Israel.

DOOM OF DEFAULTERS OF `ZAKAT`.

I shall tell you in my future lectures what Zakat is and what tremendous power Allah has infused in it. I shall also show that this Divine mercy, which is considered an ordinary thing today by Muslims, indeed contains a great blessing for them. My intention in today’s lecture was only to explain to you the  position which Salah and Zakat occupy in Islam. Many Muslims think, and their Maulvis too assure hhem day and night, that they remain Muslim even though they  may not observe Salah and pay Zakat.

 But the Qur’anic  clearly refutes their assumption. From the Qur’anic viewpoint the affirmation of kalmia Tayyiba is itself meaningless if to substantiate it a man does not bind himself to the observing of Slah and giving of Zakat. For this very reason, as I have just now described to you, Hadrat Abu Bakr waged a war against the rejecters’ of Zakat branding them as disbelievers. The Prophet’s companions doubted in the beginning whether or not such a Muslim who professes belief in God and His messenger and observes Salah also can be included in that category against which war is ordered to be waged. But when Hadrat Abu Bakr, who was granted by Allah a very eminent position in Al-Islam became adamant in his opinion and insistently said:

``By God if these people withheld from the Zakat they used to give during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him)even a piece of rope to which a came is tied, I shall raise my sword against them``.

Then eventually Allah opened the hearts of all companions for the perception of Truth and they all accepted the verdict that Jihad must be waged against he rejectors of Zakat is the work of idolaters who deny the Hereafter.

``And woe unto the idolaters who give not Zakat, and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter``. (Al-Qur’an 41: 6-7)

ZAKAT` IMPERATIVE FOR MUSLIM`UMMAH`

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

Now see how these  two Faraid (obligatory acts) go hand in hand in the Shari’ah of prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). On opening the Holy Qur’an what are those verses which you first see?

These are:

``This Qur’an is the book of Allah where of there is no doubt. It shows the right path of life in  the world to the pious people. (pious people are)those who believe in the unseen and observe   Salah and spend of that We have bestowed upon them (in the path of Allah).``

(Al-Qur’an  2: 1-2)

It is then said:

``it is such people who have received guidance from their Lord and it is they who are (successful).``

That is to say those who have no faith and do not adhere to Salah and Zakat are neither receiving guidance nor can they achieve success.

After this, go on reading the same second Surah. After a few verses it is again commanded:

``Be steadfast in saying Salah and giving Zakat and bow your heads with those who bow say Salah in congregation``.

(Al-Qur’an 2 :43)

A little  further in the same Surah it is said:

``Righteousness is not merely that you turn your faces to the East and the West, but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the Prophets: and gives his wealth , for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphan and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and says Salah and gives Zakat; and those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the God-fearing``.

(Al-Qur’ran 2: 177)

Then see further what is said in Surah Ma’idah:

``O Muslim, You real friends and supporters are only Allah. His messenger and believers, such people who say Salah and give Zakat and bow down before God. Therefore , whoso befriends Allah, His messenger and the believers is a man of Allah’s party and Allah’s party alone is going to be victorious.``

(Al-Qur’ran 5: 55-56)

SIGN OF BELIEVERS:`SALAH` AND `ZAKAT`

A great rule has been expounded in this verse. First of all you learnt from it that the believers are only those people who say Salah and give Zakat. Those who discard these two pillars of islam are false in their claim of being believers. Then it becomes known from this verse that there is a party of Allah and His messenger and the believers, and it is the task of the believer to leave others and join this party. If a Muslim befriends a person who is outside this party, may he be his father , brother , son, neighbor, countryman or any on eels, and maintains with him relationship of affection and support, he should not expect that Allah would like to keep up relation with him as his supporter. Finally, it is also learnt from this verse that believers can gain domination only when they single-mindedly make Allah and His messenger and believers their patrons, supporters, friends, and companions.

FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC FRATERNITY.

Now go ahead. In surah Tauba : Allah has commanded Muslims to wage war against disbelievers and polytheists, and has continuously given directions in several Ruku’s about war only. In this connection Allah says:

``Then if they repent from disbelief and polytheism, and affirm faith, and say Salah and give Zakat they are your brethren in religion.``

(Al-Qur’an  9: 11)

This means that mere repentance for disbelief and polytheism is not enough. The proof of their having really repented from disbelief and polytheism and having affirmed faith can be furnished only in this way that they regularly say Slah and pay Zakat . therefore, if by these deeds ,they provide a proof of their faith, then they are your religious brothers , otherwise , do not consider them your brothers and do not end war with them.

``and the believers, men and women, are  protecting  friends of one another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong and they say Salah and pay Zakat and obey Allah and His messenger. As  for these, Allah will have mercy on them.`` 

(Al-Qur’an 60:71)

Now you have heard that no person can at all  become  a religious brother of Muslims until after affirming faith he actually says Salah and pays Zakat. Faith, Salah and Zakat these three things put together bring into being the community of believers. Those who adhere  to these three principles are integrated with this pure community and among them alone exists the relationship of friendship, affection, companionship  and mutual support, while those who disregard these three principles are outside this maintain relations  of friendship , affection and companionship with the latter means that you have broken the Law  of Alah and disrupted the party of Allah. How then do you expect to remain dominant on the world?

Now go still further. It is said in Surah Hajj:

VIRTUES OF ZIKR IN GENERAL.

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

Even if there where no ayaat or hadith  relating to zikr. We should not have forgotten to remember our real Benefactor. whose blessings and favours on us at all times are unlimited, and have no parallel. It is but natural that we should remember our Benefactor. Perform His zikr (remember Him) and thank Him. Countless virtues of zikr are described in the ``QUR’AN`` and Ahaadith. And the sayings and deeds of our elders in support there of are available for our benefit. No doubt. The blessings of the glorious zikr of Allah are unlimited and its effulgence is so sublime.

Here , I first describe a few ayaat (Verses from the Holy QUR’AN ) and then some ahaadith on the subject of His glorious sikr.

QURANIC VERSES REALTING ZIKR.

1.     Therefore remember Me, I will remember you. Give thanks to Me and reject  not Me.

2.     When (during the Hajj) you pass on in the multitude from Arafaat. Remember Allah by the sacred monument. Remember Him as He hath guided you. Although before this you were of those gone  astray.

3.     And when you have completed your Hajj rites, then remember Allah as you remember your fathers, or with a more lively remembrance. There are men who say. ``Our Creator Give unto us. Your bounties in this world.`` But they will have no portion in the Hereafter.

There are men (also) who say. ``Our Creator Give unto us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which good. And guard us from the doom of Fire``. For them, there  is in store a goodly portion (in both worlds) out of that which they have earned. Allah is swift at reckoning .

It is related in a hadith that the du’aa of three persons is not rejected rather it is surely accepted. 1. He who remembers Allah profusely 2. A wronged person 3. A ruler who avoids tyranny.

4.     (During the Hajj) remember Allah all through the a[pomted daus]

5.     Remember thy Lord much, and praise Him in the early hours of night and morning.

6.     (Taking of the wise men, these are) such as remember Allah. Standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of he the Earth, and say, (after deliberation) ``Our Lord  Thou has not created this in vain, Glory be to Thee Preserve us from the doom of the Fire``.

7.     When you have performed the act of salaat , remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining ( We should remember Him in all circumstances.

DUTIES OF A MUSLIM

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

When you recite the Kalim : La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah, it amounts to your simultaneous affirmation that the only law for you is the Law of God your sovereign is only God , your ruler is only God, you have to obey only God , and only that thing is true and right for you which is vouchsafed through Gods book and His messenger.

 This means that you relinquished your independence in favour of God as soon as you became a Muslim. consequently you have forfeited your right to say now: ``My opinion is this, the practice in the world is this , the family custom is this , that  gentleman  and that holy person advises like this``.

 In the face of Allah's word and His messeger's Sunnah, you cannot put forward such excuses. Now your duty is to judge everything in the light of the QUR'AN and Sunnah. Accept what is in conformity with these and throw overboard what goes counter to these, irrespective of its being anybody's order or any body's practice.

 It is an exercise in contradiction to call oneself a Muslim on the one hand, and on the other , gives preference to ones opinion, or worldly custom, or any persons word or action over and above the QUR'AN and Sunnah. Just as a blind man cannot say he has eyes, nor can a noseless person claim to have nose , in the same way no such person can call himself a Muslim who refuses to subordinate all the affairs of his life to the dictates of the QUR'AN and  Sunnah and flaunts his wisdom, or worldly custom, or any human beings saying and practice, in preference to Gods injunctions and His messengers advice.

Whoever does not want to be a Muslim cannot be compelled by anybody to act against his will. He is free to adopt any religion he likes and calls himself a Muslim, he must fully understand that he can remain a Muslim as long as he is within the bounds of Islam. The bounds  of Islam are: to accept the word of God and His messengers Sunnah as the criterion of Truth and Justice, and to regard everything opposed to it as false. 

Whoever remains within these bounds is a Muslim and whoever transgresses them gets expelled from Islam. And if even after this expulsion he considers himself a Muslim and announces that he is a Muslim,he deceives his own self and he world too. 

WHAT IS ZAKAT?

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

IMPORTANCE OF ``ZAKAT``.

After salah, Zakat is the greatest pillar of is lam. Generally, since in the usual series of `Ibadat` fasting immediately follows Salah, people have come to understand that fasting is as next to Salah. But from the Holy `Quran`we learn that in Islam Zakat stands second in importance to Salah. These are the two great pillars on which rests the structure of Islam. If these are removed Islam cannot  survive.

Meaning of `Zakat`.

Zakat means purity and cleanliness. A portion set apart from your wealth for the needy and the poor is called Zakat. Because in this manner a mans wealth and along with it his own Nafs (self) becomes purified. The wealth of that person is impure who does not take out from the God-given wealth what is due to the poor and the needy. And along with his wealth his Nafs too is impure because it is filled with ungratefulness.

His heart is so narrow, he is selfish and so much a worshiper of wealth that it pains him to render what is due in return for the Divine favour of bestowing on him wealth in excess of his real requirements. Can it be expected from such a person that   he will ever do any good deed to please God and will make any sacrifice for the sake of his religion and faith? This is why the heart of such a person  is impure as also his wealth which he amasses in this manner.

`Zakat` is the test.

By making Zakat obligatory Allah has put every person to test. That person alone who willingly takes out what is due to God from that wealth which exceeds his requirements, and helps without the poor and needy, is useful for Allah and is worthy of being counted among the faithfuls. And that one whose heart is so narrow that he cannot make this much sacrifice for the Lord of the world, is of no use to Allah.

 He is absolutely unfit to be included in the community of the faithful. He is a rotten limb  which may better be severed from the body, otherwise it will impure the whole frame. This is why when after the demise of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) whim some tribes refused to give Zakat, Hadrat Abu BAKR Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)waged a war against them, as is done against unbelievers even though they used to say Salah and professed faith in Allah and His messenger. From this it is clear that without Zakat, Salah, fating and affirmation of faith are all useless. 

WHO IS CALLED MUSLIM.

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

Today I shall describe to you toe qualities of a Muslim. I shall indicate the minimum conditions required to be fulfilled by a Muslim and what should a man, at least do , to enable himself to be called a Muslim?

What is `Kufr` and Islam?

To understand the above point you should first of all know  what is `Kufr` and what is Islam . `Kufr`means  refusal of man to carry out the commandments of God, and Islam means obedience to God only and refusal  to acknowledge all such systems, laws or orders as are in contravention of the directions received from God. This contrast between Islam and `Kufr`has been clearly described in the ``QURAN``. Allah says:

Whose judges not by that which Allah hath revealed:

(Al QURAN 5: 44)

Judging does not mean that only those cases which are brought before  the courts should be decided according to the book of God. In fact, it means those decisions which everybody arrives at in his life from time to time. So often does the question arise before you whether to do a certain thing or not ? In what manner should a particular thing be done? Should this method be adopted in a certain affair or the other method? For all such occasions, a method to come to a decision has been laid down in the Book of God and in  the Sunnah of His messenger, while the other opposite method is indicated by selfish desires, ancestral customs or man-made systems and laws.

 Now if a person sets aside the system propounded by God and decides to work according to some other  system, he, in reality, follows the path of `Kufr`. If he has been adopting the latter course throughout his life, he is a complete `Kufr`. And if he obeys the directions of God in some metters and , in some others, gives preference over these to selfish desires or customs or man-made laws, then he is involved in `Kufr`, someone fourth and someone one –tenth or one –twentieth. In short, ``Kufr`` is there in proportion to the extent of rebellion against the law of God.

Islam is nothing except mans exclusive subservience to God. He is not at all servant of his  self , or his ancestors, or his family and tribe, or of the Maulvi Sahib and Pir Sahib, or Zomidar Sahib, Tahsildar Sahib and Magistrate Sahib or of any other person but of God alone. Allah says in the ``QURAN``:O prophet :Tell the people of he scripture;Let us come to an agreement on a point which is identical between us and you. That point is firstly that we whall worship none but Allah, secondly, we shall ascribe no partner unto Him and , thirdly, none of us shall take a man as our Lord and Master in the place of Allah. If they do not accept these three things then tell them to bear witness that we are Muslims, we accept all these three things.

``Do they want to be obedient to others than Allah when unto Him submitteth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly, or unwillingly, and unto Him they will be returned``.

In both these versed only one doctrine has been propounded, the real religion composts of obedience and submission to God. Worshipping of God does not mean simply to bow before Him five times a day.

In fact , it means that His commandments should be carried out at all times during day and night. You should abstain from what He has forbidden and do as He has commanded.

Check up in every matter as to what is the commandment of God about it. Never take into  account what your own heart desires, what your intellect suggests, what your forefathers used to do, what your family and relations prefer, what have the Maulvi Sahib and the Pir Sahib to say in the matter, what does this person order and what would please the other person. If you followed any other persons behest leaving aside Gods commandments, it would amount to making him partner in Godhood. It would mean you gave him that states which exclusively belongs  to God. It is God alone Who gives orders. ``The giving of orders is for Allah only``. 9 Al-Quran 6: 57).

Worthy of worship is He alone Who has created you and on whose support you are keeping alive. Everything in the heavens and the earth obeys Him. No stone obeys another animal. Then , are you worse than animals, trees and stones that they obey only God and you obey human beings leaving aside God ? This is the point which has been explained in the above two verses.                                                                               

BENEFITS OF `SALAH`

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

Now keep in mind Its meaning of `Ibadat` and think out as to what attributes are necessary to perform such a big `Ibadat` and how does Salah produce these qualities in a man.

Consciousness of being slave

First of all it is necessary to make yourself earnestly feel that you are a slave of God and that you have to maintain subservience to Him every moment of your life and in every work you do.

This continuous reminding is necessitated by the fact that concealed in mans Nafs is a satan who continuously instigates him by saying:``You my slave``. And there are millions and millions and millions of satans spread all over the world and each one of them tells man:``You my slave``. The wizardry of these satans cannot be smashed unless man reminds himself several times in  a day that he is not a slave of satan but of God. This work of admonition is performed by Salah. Soon after you get up in the morning, Salah reminds you of this very fact before you start your daily work. When you are busy doing your job during the day, it reminds you of this fact three times. And when you are about to go to bed, this admonition is repeated for the last time. This is the first benefit of Salah.  And on this basis Salah  is described as: 

``REMEMBRANCE``in the Quran , that is to say, it is remembrance of God.

SENSE OF DUTY.

Since at every step in your life you have to carry out the commandments of God, it is also necessary that you develop in yourself the quality of identifying what is Fard and along with it cultivate the habit of performing it with alacrity . one who does not even know what duty implies, cannot become a dutiful person. So is the case of the person who understands its meaning but his training is so defective a that even after realizing what is duty he does not care to perform it. obviously, he can never be expected to actively carry out numerous orders given to him during the twenty-four hours of day and night.

PRACTICE OF OBEDIENCE.

Those who had occasion to serve in the Army  are police know how in both these services they are made to understands and practice duty. Bugle is blown several times during day and night. Sepoys are ordered to gather at a place where they are made to do parade. All this is don't to accustom them to carry   out orders and to dismiss them from service in the very beginning those who have proved themselves  unfit by being so lazy and useless as to stay at home even after hearing the sound  of the bugle or those who do not march in the parade according to orders. Thus in the same manner the call For  Salah is raised five times a day so that on hearing it Allah soldiers  briskly gather from all sides and prove that they are active in obeying the commandments of Allah.

 That Muslim who does not move from his place after hearing the call, in fact proves that either he does not even understand what is duty or if he does understand it , he is so stupid and worthless that he is quite unfit to remain in the army  of Allah. It was for this very reason that the Holy  Prophet (peace be on him )said: ``I feel like going and setting fire  to the houses of those who do not stir out after hearing the sound of Adhan``. And this is why in a Hadith Salah has been made a line of demarcation between Kufr and Islam. During the period of the Holy prophet (peace be on him ) and his successor-companions no person was considered a Muslim unless he joined the congregational Salah so much that even hypocrites were not rebuked for not performing Salah but for the half-hearted and tardy manner of their getting up for Salah. 

RESULTS OF WRONG MEANING OF `IBADAT`

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

Keep the meaning of `Ibadat` in mind and than give answers to my questions.

What will you say about that servant who instead of performing the duties prescribed by his master stands all he time before him with folded hands and goes on chanting his name? The master orders him to go and redeem what is due to such land such persons but he sticks to his post, and bowing to the master salutes him ten times and again stands up with folded hands. The master instructs him to go and remove such and such wrongs but he does not budge an inch and starts prostrating before him. The master commands:

 ``Cut  off the hand of the thief``. On hearing this order the servant still standing there, recites scores of time in an extremely melodious tome:``Cut off the hand of the thief, but not once does he try to establish that system of Government under which the hand of a thief can be severed.Can you say that this man is really serving his master? If do not know what you will say about it. But I am surprised at you that a servant  of God who behaves like this is regarded by you as a devout worshipper of God.this heartless person reads from dawn to dusk , God knows how many times, the Divine injunctions in the ``QURAN``.

  But never stirs himself to carry out these injunctions. On the other hand , he starts offering Nawafil after Nawafil., chants the name of God on a thousand –bead rosary and recites the ``Quran ``in a melodious tone. When you see him in this position you exclaim: ``what a devout and pious person he is`` the misunderstanding arises because you do not know the correct meaning of `Ibadat`.

There is another servant who is busy day  and night discharging duties entrusted to him by other people. He obeys their orders, and acts according to their laws, while he consistently flouts the commands of his real msater but presents himself before him at the time of saluting and wags his tongue in chanting the masters name only. If a servant  of any of you were to follow such a course,what will you do with him? Will you not throw back his salutation on his face ? when he will address you as master and lord, will you not at once turn back and retort:``You are an infernal liar and  a chear, you take salary from me and do the service of others.You verbally call me master and actually serve everybody else except me``.

This is a matter of simple common sense which everyone of you can easily understand. But how astonishing it is that you consider as `Ibadat`of God the prayers, fasting, chanting on rosary-beads, recital of `Quran` pilgrimage and Zakat of those people who day and night violate the law of God ,act on the orders of unbelievers and polytheists, and never care for the commandments of God in the affairs of their life.this misunderstanding is also due to the fact that you are unaware of the real meaning of `Ibadat`.

Take the example of yet another servant, the uniform fixed by the master for his servant is worn by this man with perfect trimming. He presents himself before the master showing the utmost respect and reverence. One hearing orders, every time he bows meekly and says:

``With all my hearts I will obey ``, thus given the impression  that no other servant is more faithful than him . at the time of saluting, he stands ahead of everybody and excels all other servants in chanting the name of the master. But, on the other side, this very man renders service to the rebels and enemies of his master, participates in the conspiracies they hatch against him and co-operates with them in their efforts to efface his name from the world. In the darkness of night he commits burglary in his house and in the morning presents himself with folded hands before  him like and extremely faithful servant. What will you say about such a servant ? only this that he is a hypocrite, rebel and unfaithful.but what do you call those servants of God who behave like this? You call them pir sahib, Hadrat Maulana, religious people, pious persons and devotees of God.

 This is just because on seeing beards of full measure on teeir faces, their pyjamas two inches above their ankles, knobs due to Sajdah on their foreheads, their long sessions of Salah and their rosaries of big beads, you consider them highly religious and full of adoration to God. This misunderstanding arises also because you have not correctly grasped the meaning of `Ibadat`and religiousness.

You think that standing towards `Qibla` with folded hands, bowing with your hands resting on the knees, prostrating with the hands, knees and fore head placed on the ground and uttering a few stereotyped words –only such few actions and movements are by themselves `Ibadat`. You think that to be hungry and thirsty from morning till evening every day from the first of Ramadan till the appearance of Shawwal moon is called `Ibadat`. You think that a verbal recital of some parts of Surahs of the `Quran` is called `Ibadat`. You think that a visit to mecca and circum- ambulation of ``Kaba`` is called `Ibadat`. In sort, you call `Ibadat`only the outward aspects of some actions, and whenever you notice any person doing  these acts in their external forms, you think that he has performed `Ibadat` of God and fulfilled the purpose of the verse:

``I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.`` (Al-Quran 51-56)

``IBADAT``

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

In my previous lecture I had explained to you the meaning of Deen and shariah. Today I elucidate before you the purport of another word which Muslims generally use but few people know its correct meaning. This word is `IBADAT`Allah has said in His Holy Book:

(Al Quran 51:56)

It is clear from this verse that the purpose of your birth and of your life is no other than that of the worship of Allah. Now you can well imagine how much necessary it is for you to know the meaning of `Ibadat`. If you will not know the real meaning of this word you will not be able to fulfill the very purpose for which you have been created. And anything which does not fulfill its purpose results in fiasco.if a doctor cannot restore health to his patient, he is said to have failed in his profession. If a former cannot raise a good crop, he is said to have failed in cultivation. Similarly, if you have hot been able to fulfill the real purpose of your life`Ibadat`and preserve it in mind because on it depends the seccess or failure of your life.

MEANING OF `IBADAT`

The word `Ibadat` is derived from `Abd. The meaning of `Abd is servant and slave. Therefore the meaning of `Ibadat is servitude and slavery. If a person who is a slave of somebody remains in his service as a slave and behaves with him as one should behave with a master, it is called servitude and `Ibadat`.as against this, if a person who is a slave of somebody and also gets full salary from him but does not serve him just as a slave ought to serve his master, it will be called disobedience and insubordination. In fact, more appropriately, it amounts ti being untrue  to ones  salt. Now consider what should be the form of behavior for a slave towards his master.

The first duty of a slave is to regard his master as his lord, and to consider it incumbent upon himself to be faithful to that being who is his master, nourishes, protector and warden, and firmly believe that no one except he is worthy of loyalty.

The second duty of a slave is to be always obedient to his master, to meticulously carry out his orders, never to draw back from his service, and to refrain from saying anything from his own mind or listening to any bodys word against his maters wishes, a save is all the time and in all circumstances a slave. He has not the least right to say that he will obey a particular order of the master and disobey the other order or that he is his masters slave for a certain period and is free of his duty for the rest of the time.

The third duty of a servant is to respect and revere his master. He should follow the method laid down by his master for showing respect and reverence to him. He must definitely be present at the time fixes by his master for saluting him and should furnish proof of the fact that he is quite firm in his faithfulness and obedience to him.

These are the requisites which constitute together `Ibadat`firstly, fidelity to ones master: secondly, obedience to the master, and thirdly, respect and reverence for the master. What Allah has said in the verse :``I have not created the jinn and humankind for any other purpose except that they should worship me ``actually means that Allah created these two species so that they will be faithful only to Allah and to no other being , that they will follow the commandments of Allah only, that they will to listen to the order of any body else against Him, and will bow their heads in respect and reverence only to Him and to none else. These three things have been described by Allah in the comprehensive term:`Ibadat`. This is what is rent from all those verses in which Allah has commanded that `Ibadat`be performed to Him. The gist of the teachings of our Holy prophet, and of all the prophets (peace be upon them) sent by God before him.

Which means that there is only one sovereign to whom you must be faithful, and that sovereign is Allah, that there is one law which you should obey and that is the law of Allah and that there is only one being who should be worshipped and that Being is Allah.

``THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MUSLIM AND A KAFIR ``

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK)

WHY IS THERE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MUSLIM AND A KAFIR?

Every Muslim personally believes and you too must be surely believing alike. That a Muslims rank is higher than that of  a Kafir . God likes a Muslim and dislikes a Kafir. A Muslim will get salvation from God while a Kafir will not.a Muslim will go to paradise and a Kafir will go to Hell.today I want you to ponder over this matter as to why should there be so much difference between a Muslim and a Kafir? A Kafir is as much an offspring of Adam as you are.he too possesses hands, feet, eyes and ears as you possess. He too, like you breathes the same air, drinks the same water, inhabits the same land as you do. Theat very God Who created you, created him also. Then why is his rank low and yours high? Why will you get paradise and why will he be thrown into Hell?.

IS THE DIFFERENCE ONLY NOMINAL?

This is a point to be thought over deeply. Such a big difference between man and man cannot be simply due to the fact that you are called by names like `Abdullah` and `Abdur-Rehman` and he is called by names like Deen Dayal, Kartar singh and Robertson, or hat you get circumcised and he does not , or that you eat meat and he shuns it. The almighty Allah Who has created all human beings and is the Sustain er of all of them cannot be so cruel as to discriminate between His creatures on such petty grounds and sends one slave of His to Heaven and another to Hell.

REAL DIFFERENCE –ISLAM AND KUFR`

When the position is not like this , then think out what is he actual difference between the two? The answer to it is only one and it is this hat the real difference between the two is due to Islam and Kufr. The meaning of Islam is obedience to God while he meaning of kufr is disobedience to God. Muslim and kafir are both human beings , both are slaves of God. But one human being becomes superior for the reason that he recognizes his Master,  obeys His orders and fears the consequences of disobeying Him, whole the other human being falls from the hing rank because he does not recognize his Master and does not carry out His orders. This is why God is pleased with Muslims and displeased with unbelievers. He promises award of Heaven to Muslims and warns unbelievers that they will be consigned to Hell.

CAUSE OF DIFFERENCE –KNOWLEDGE AND DEEDS.

From this it is clear that there are two things which separate Muslims and Kafirs. One is knowledge and the other, deeds. That is, in the first place, one should know who is his Master, what are His orders, what is he method to follow His wishes, which deeds please Him and which displease Him? Then when these things become known, the second step is that man should make himself a slave of his Master, carry out what He desires, and give up own wishes, If his heart desires to do a certain act and the Masters order is against it, he should pay no heed to his hearts desire and carry out his Masters order. If a work appears as noble to him but the Master says it is noble, he too must consider it good.if he sees harm in a certain work but since the Master says that it must be done, he must in any case do it though it may entail him any amount of loss in life and property. As against this, if he expects profit in some other work but the Master forbids him from undertaking it, he must never touch it though it may bring him even the wealth of the whole world.

This is the knowledge and conduct by which a Muslim becomes a true servant of God,on whom he sends His blessing and to whom He awards hon our and dignity. Contrarily, since a Kafir does not possess this knowledge, he is listed as Gods disobedient slave and is deprived by God of His blessings.

Now you should yourself consider with justice that if a man who calls himself Muslim is as ignorant and disobedient as a Kafir, how can he be superior to the latter merely on the basis of bearing a different name, wearing a different dress and eating a different food? Also on what basis is he entitled to the blessing of God in this world and in the Hereafter? Islam is not akin to  a race of family or brotherhood which  is automatically bequeathed from father tho son and from son to grandson. It is not the case here that a Brahmins son, however, ignorant and of bad conduct he may be , will command a lofty status just because he is born in a Brahmins home and belongs to the high caste, while the son of a scheduled caste,however will remain in the low state because he is born in a scheduled caste home and is  a menial. 

THE ESSENTIALITY OF KNOWLEDGE FOR BEING A MUSLIM

BY MD. HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK) 

THE GREATEST FAVOUR OF ALLAH

Every Muslim sincerely believes that the greatest boon of Allah in this world is Islam. He feels grateful to him for having included him in the Ummah of the holy prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)and for having bested upon him the blessings of Islam . Allah himself has reckoned this as his greatest boon to his servants as is mentioned in the Quran.

`This day have I perfected your deen (way of life )for you and completed my favour unto you, and have chosen for you AL-Islam as deen.

OBLIGATION FOR THE FAVOUR.

It is obligatory for you to render Allah his due because of the favour he has conferred on you. Whosoever does not render one his due for his favour, is an ungrateful person. And the worst possible ungratefulness on the p[art of man is to forget what he owes to God.

Now you may ask as to how can one render Allah his due for his favour to us? in reply I have to say that since Allah has included you in the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be on him)the best form of gratitude for this favour of his , is to become the sincere followers of the holy prophet (peace be upon him). Since God has included you in the Muslim community the on only way for you to reciprocate this kindness is to become full-fledged Muslims. In no other way can you render what is due to Allah for this immense favour by him. And if you do not render this due , the punishment for this ungratefulness will be as great as is the favor of Allah. May Allah save all of us from this punishment-amen.

FIRST STEP TO BECOME MUSLIM.

After this you will ask: how can a man become a Muslim in the true sense of the term? The answer to this question requires adequate details and I  shall deal with each and every part of it with full elucidation in my lectures on coming Fridays. But in today’s address, I shall explain to you that point which is of primary importance and which can be termed as the first and foremost step in this direction.

IS MUSLIM THE NAME OF A RACE?

 Please strain your mind to think as to what actually does the word Muslim, you use ,signify?

Does man bring Islam with him when he is born? Is a person Muslim because he is a son or grandson of a Muslim? Is a born as Muslim just as  a Brahmins son is born as Brahmin, or a Raj puts son as Raj put, or Shudras son as a Shudra? Is Muslim the name of a race or nation just as Englishmen? And just as a Jat is Jat because of being born in the Jat community, is a Muslim in the same way a Muslim for being born in a community which is called Muslim ? what answers will you give to the questions, I have asked? You will surely reply:-

 ``No sir, such a man  is not called Muslim. A Muslim is not a Muslim because of belonging to a particular racial group but because of accepting Islam, and if he renounces Islam, he ceases to be a Muslim. Any person who may be a Brahmin or a Raj put, an Englishman or a jat,  Punjabi or a Negro, will be incorporated in the Muslim community on accepting Islam, while another person born in a Muslim home is expelled from the muslim community if he gives up Islam, though he may be the son of a sayid or a path an``.

MEANING OF ACCEPTING ISLAM.

Now let us go ahead. You say that a man becomes Muslim by accepting Islam. The question is :what does the acceptance of Islam signify? Does it mean that whoever makes a verbal profession:``I am Muslim or I have accepted Islam`` ,becomes a Muslim?  Or does it mean that just as a Brahmin worshipper recites a few mantras of Sanskrit without understanding them, if in the same way a man utters some phrases of Arabic without understanding them, he then and there becomes Muslim? Now you may tell what reply will you give to this question. Naturally you will answer that the meaning of accepting Islam is that a man should consciously, and deliberately accept what has been taught by Muhammad (peace be upon him) and act accordingly. Whosoever does this, is  a Muslim and whosoever does not do this , is not a Muslim.

FIRST REQUIREMENT –KNOWLEDGE OF  ISLAM.

From this answer of yours the fact automatically comes to light that AL –Islam is firstly the name of knowledge and then the name of putting that knowledge into practice. A man can be a brahmin without having knowledge because be is born as a brahmin ann remains a brahmin. So also a jat can be jat though he be bereft of knowledge because he is born as a jat and remains a jat  all his life. But a man cannot become a Muslim without acquiring knowledge because he does not become a  Muslim from birth but from knowledge. Unless he comes to kn ow what is the teaching of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), how can he affirm faith in it and how can he act according to it? And if he has not affirmed faith knowingly and after full understanding of it, how can he become a Muslim? So it is clear that it is impossible to become a Muslim and remain a Muslim while in a  state of ignorance . whosoever is born in a Muslim ,home , bears a Muslim like name, dresses like a Muslim, and calls himself a Muslim,is in reality  not a Muslim. but that person alone is a Muslim in the real sense who knows what Islam stands for and affirms faith in it with full consciousness.

The real difference between a  Kafir and Muslim is not  that of a name, that one is Ram parshad and the other one is Abdullah, and so one is a Kafir and the other is a Muslim. Similarly, the real difference between a Kafir and a Muslim is not that of dress also, that one wears dhoti and the other pajamas, and so the former is a Kafir and the latter a Muslim. but the real difference between the two is that of knowledge. The one is a Kafir because  he does not know what relation has God with him and what relation he has with God, and what is the right path for him to lead his life in the world in accordance with the wish of God. If a born Muslim too is ignorant in this respect, then tell me on what ground do you differentiate between him and a Kafir and why do you say that one is a Kafir and the other is a Muslim.

PLEASE GENTLEMEN.

Please listen carefully to the point I am stressing and reflect over it calmly.you must understand it thoroughly that to obtain or to be deprived of the greatest boon of Allah, on which you express thanks and gratefulness to him, depends entirely on knowledge.if there is no knowledge, you cannot at all get this boon. Even if you have a little portion of it, then due to ignorance there is always the risk of losing the magnificent gift. The recipient, only due to simple-mindedness, will be under the impression that he is a Muslim while in fact he is not. The likeness of that person who is totally unaware of he difference between Islam and Kurf and the incongruity between Islam and shirk, is as the likeness of one who is walking in darkness on a track. May be that while following a straight line his steps swerve to another path and he be unaware of this deviation from the right course. And it is also likely that he may meet a Dajjal on the way who may tell him:``O sonny You have lost your way in darkness. Come , let me lead you to the destination``.

The poor wayfarer being enveloped in darkness cannot see with his own eyes as to which is the right path. Therefore unsophistically he will grasp the hand of Dajjal and the latter will lead him astray. These dangers are faced by the wayfarer for the very reason that he himself does not possess any light and so is incapable of himself observing the road-marks, If he were endowed with light, he will obviously neither lose his way nor be led astray by another person. You may guess from this example that the greatest danger to a Muslim lies in his own ignorance of Islamic teaching and his unawareness of what the Quran teaches and what instructions were left by the Holy prophet (peace be upon him). Due to lack of knowledge he will grope his way and will also be led astray by Dajjals. But if he is blessed with the light of knowledge he will be able to deen the plain path of Islam at every step in his life , will discover and avoid the misleading paths of Kufir, shirk, heresy and immorality, which will intercept him, and whenever an inveigler will meet him on the way he will realize after exchanging a few words with him that he is an evil force and so he should not be follower.

 IMPORTANCE KNOWLEDGE OF ISLAM

On this knowledge, the necessity of which  I am explaining to you, depends yours and your children being Muslims and remaining as Muslims. This is not an ordinary thing which may be neglected. You do not show any carelessness in cultivating your land , in irrigating and protecting your crops, in supplying fodder to your cattle and in other work of your profession, simply because if you do so you sill be starved to death and will lose a precious thing like life. Then tell me why do you show negligence in acquiring that knowledge on which depend your becoming a Muslim and remaining  a Muslim. does not this entail the danger of losing a precious thing like Iman? Is not Imam dearer than life? Out of the time and labor you spend on things which sustain your life , can you not spend  one-tenth part of them on things which protect your Iman?.

I do not say that everyone of you should become a maulvi, read voluminous books and spend  ten to twelve years of your life  in this pursuit . it is not necessary to read so much to become a Muslim. I only want  this much that each  one of you should spend only one hour out of the twenty-four hours of day and night in acquiring the knowledge of Deen.

At least that much knowledge should be acquired by every Muslim youth, adult and old person as may enable him to understand the essence of the teaching of Quran and the purpose for which it was revealed. He should be able to clearly understand the mission of the Holy prophet(peace be upon him) with which he came into this world. What was the wrong he wanted to be demolished and what was the right he wished to be established? He should also get acquainted with that  particular mode of life which Allah has ordained for Muslims. Not much time is required to acquire this quantum of knowledge.And if Iman is dear to you, it is not so difficult to find one hour per day to acquire it.

THE PURPOSE OF AFFIRMING FAITH IN `KALIMA TAYYIBA`.

BY MD.HADIUL ISLAM (FARUK)

THE PURPOSE OF AFFIRMING FAITH IN `KALIMA TAYYIBA`

I have explained to you the meaning o kalima tayyiba in my two previous lectures. Today I shall discuss the question as to what benefit accrues from affirmation of faith in the Kalima and why this affirmation is necessary.

Every work has a purpose

You know this fact that whatever work  a man does he has a purpose or some benefit in view. He never does anything which is purposeless or useless. You drink water because it quenches your thirst. If after drinking water your condition remains the same as before, you will never drink it because this will be quite futile. Why do you take food? Simply because you want to satisfy your hunger and you get strength to live. If the result of taking food and that of not eating anything were to be the same, then you will naturally feel that this is a useless pursuit. Why do you take medicine when you are ill?Just because you should get rid of the disease and regain  health. But if after taking the medicine you remain as before, you will say that treatment is a useless thing. Why do you work so hard while cultivating land? So that crops, fruits and vegetables may be produced. But if nothing grows from the earth after sowing seeds, you will never exert yourself so much to p lough the field, to sow the seed and water the ground. In short, whatever work you undertake in this world, it always has an object in view.If the object is achieved, you say it was a good work and if no purpose is served you say it was bad.