Belief

ISLAMIC STUDIES

• Lesson 1       The True Belief   

• Lesson 2       The Accountable (Mukallaf)  

• Lesson 3       Allah is the Creator of This World 

• Lesson 4       The Oneness of Allah  

• Lesson 5       The Attributes of Allah  

• Lesson 6       The First Creation: Water  

• Lesson 7       The Order of Creation After the Water and the Throne  

• Lesson 8       Miracles and Karamahs 

• Lesson 9       Believing in What the Prophet Conveyed—
             Part 1: The Torture and Enjoyment in the Grave and the Questioning by the Two Angels: Munkar and Nakir    

• Lesson 10     Believing in What the Prophet Conveyed—
            Part 2: The Day of Judgment, Resurrection, and Assembly   

• Lesson 11     Believing in What the Prophet Conveyed—
            Part 3: The Bridge, Basin, and Intercession   

• Lesson 12     Believing in What the Prophet Conveyed—
           Part 4: Paradise and Hellfire        

• Lesson 13     The Types of Blasphemy and Blasphemers   

• Lesson 14     Believing in the Qadar 

Lesson 1
The True Belief

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanut-taqullaha haqqa tuqatihi wa la tamutunna illa wa antum muslimun.

Ayah 102 of Suratu Al ^Imran means: {O believers, fear Allah properly (as you should) and do not die but as Muslims.} 

The Religion of Islam: Islam is the true Religion that the sound mind supports, and it is appropriate for every age and time. It is the Religion of all the prophets from the first of them, Adam, to the final one, Muhammad, may peace be upon them all. Allah sent the prophets to guide the people to what is good and beneficial, to guide them to piety, and to teach them to be steadfast on this Religion until the end of their lives.

Piety: Piety (Taqwa) occurs by doing all the obligations and avoiding all the sins. Whoever achieves this state becomes a pious person. The first among these obligations is knowing and believing in Allah, ta^ala, and His Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam.

Professing the Two Shahadahs: In regards to the blasphemer who wants to embrace Islam, the belief is not accepted without one uttering the Two Testifications (Shahadahs). In addition, the Muslim is obligated to recite the Two Testifications (Shahadahs) in every prayer for validity of that prayer. The Two Testifications are: I testify that no one is God except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

The meaning of the Two Shahadahs:

·        The meaning of Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah is: I know, I believe, and I declare that no one is God except Allah, i.e., no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.

·        The meaning of Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah is: I know, I believe, and I declare that our Master Muhammad, the son of ^Abdullah, is the Messenger of Allah to both the humans and jinn, and that he is truthful in all of what he conveyed from Allah.

The purpose of the Two Testifications: To confirm that Allah is the One and only God, and that Muhammad is His Messenger, while rejecting that which contradicts this.

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

وَمَن لَّمْ يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَإِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَعِيرًا

Wa mal lam yu’mim billahi wa rasulihi fa’inna a^tadna lil-kafirina sa^ira.

Ayah 13 of Suratul-Fath means: {Those who do not believe in Allah and His Messenger are blasphemers, for whom Allah has prepared Hellfire.}

Questions:

1. State an ayah from the Qur’an that orders the believers to be firm on Islam.

2. What is the Religion of all the prophets?

3. Why did Allah send prophets?

4. What is the meaning of piety (taqwa)?

5. What is the first obligation upon the accountable person?

6. What is the meaning of “No one is God except Allah”?

7. What is the meaning of “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”?

8. What is the purpose of the Two Testifications?

9. State an ayah from the Qur’an that proves the obligation to believe in Allah and His Messenger.

Lesson 2
The Accountable (Mukallaf)

Islamically, the accountable person (mukallaf) is the one who is pubescent, sane, and has received the message of Islam. Pubescence happens when one reaches the age of fifteen (15) lunar years, or otherwise. The sane person is the one who has not lost one’s mind.

For one to be accountable (mukallaf), it is a condition that one receives the call of Islam. This means that if the person is pubescent and sane, he becomes mukallaf simply by receiving the message of Islam, which is: “No one is God except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The non-Muslim mukallaf, is obligated to embrace Islam and follow its teachings. He is also obligated to perform all the obligations and avoid all the sins.

From this, it is understood that the young child is not accountable until he reaches pubescence. Likewise, the insane person is not accountable. The pubescent one who did not receive the message of Islam is also not accountable.

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً

Wa ma kunna mu^adhdhibina hatta nab^atha rasula.

Ayah 15 of Suratul-Isra’ means: {Allah does not torture those who do not receive the basic message of Islam.}

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ: عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ وَعَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يُفِيقَ

Rufi^al qalamu ^an thalathah: ^anin-na’imi hatta yastayqidh, wa ^anis-sabiyyi hatta yahtalim, wa ^anil-majnuni hatta ya^qil.

Which means: “The pen has been lifted from [writing the deeds of] three: the one who is asleep until awakening, the young child until becoming pubescent, and the crazy person until becoming sane.” (Related by Abu Dawud)

Note:

During the season of Hajj when many of the Arab blasphemers used to assemble from different places in Makkah, the Prophet called them to Islam. They would hear from the Prophet the Two Testifications: “I bear witness that no one is God except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The blasphemers came to the Ka^bah in keeping with the traditions of their Muslim ancestors.

Questions:

1.                 How does a person become pubescent?

2.                 When is a person considered to have received the message of Islam?

3.                 Islamically, who is mukallaf?

4.                 What is the non-Muslim mukallaf obligated to do?

5.                 Is the pubescent person who did not receive the message of Islam considered mukallaf? What is the proof?

6.                 What is the proof that the young child is not mukallaf?

 Lesson 3
Allah is the Creator of This World

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

أَفِي اللّهِ شَكٌّ

Afi-llahi shakk.

Ayah 10 of Surah Ibrahim means: {There is no doubt about the existence of Allah.}

The first obligation on the mukallaf person is to know about Allah, ta^ala. Allah is the Creator of all the existent things and is the One Who manages all the creation. If, with our sound mind, we carefully think about all the creations and ponder about their existence, we must know that they have a Creator Who created them.

The mental proof that Allah exists:

With the sound mind, we know irrefutably that every writing has to have a writer, the act of hitting has to have a hitter, and that a building has to have a builder. Therefore, it follows that this universe with all the creations in it has to have a creator Who is Alive, attributed with Will, Knowledge, and Power, and this is Allah. He is clear of all imperfections. He is the One Who does not resemble any of His creations, and nothing resembles Him. The sound mind does not accept the existence of an action without someone who carried it out.

It is not conceivable for nature to be the Creator, because nature has no will. So, how would nature create? It is also not permissible for something to create itself. Finally, something cannot create something that resembles it.

For example, the child is born small; he does not talk or walk. Then he develops. He starts gradually and slowly to talk and walk. Then he matures and becomes a young man, then middle-aged, then old, after which he dies. Who changed him and transformed him from one state to another? Allah is the One Who created and changed him, and willed for him to die.

A story of a man who denied the existence of Allah:

It is related that a man who denied the existence of the Creator came once to one of the caliphs and told him: "The scholars of your time say that there is a creator for this universe, and I am prepared to prove to them that this universe has no creator."

The caliph sent for one of the top scholars telling him of the man's claim and ordering him to come. The scholar was purposely late; then he came. The caliph welcomed him and seated him in the center of the session. Present at this meeting were many scholars and important people. So the man said: "Why were you late in your arrival?" The scholar said: "What if I tell you that a very strange matter occurred to me, and because of it I was late? My house is behind the river of Dijlah (Tigris). I came to cross the river, but I did not find anything other than an old boat with broken planks. When my gaze fell onto it, the planks moved, came together, and reassembled so that the boat became seaworthy. All this happened without the work of a carpenter or a worker. I sat in it, crossed the river, and came to this place.”

The man said: "O people, listen to what your scholar says. Have you heard anything more absurd than this? How can a boat exist without a carpenter to build it? This is an explicit lie."

The scholar said: "O blasphemer, if the mind does not accept the existence of a boat without a builder or carpenter, then how do you say that this entire universe exists without a creator?" The man became silent. He was refuted. The caliph punished him because of his bad beliefs.

Questions:

1.                 What is the proof from the Qur’an about the existence of Allah?

2.                 What is the mental proof that Allah exists?

3.                 Why is it not conceivable for nature to be a creator?

 Lesson 4
The Oneness of Allah

Allah, ta^ala said in the Qur’an:

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ

Laysa kamithlihi shay’.

Ayah 11 of Suratush-Shura means: {Nothing resembles Him (Allah) in any way.}

This means that Allah, ta^ala, does not resemble any of His creations.

It was related that a group of Jews came to the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Muhammad, describe to us your Lord Whom you worship.” Then Suratul-Ikhlas was revealed, and Prophet Muhammad said, “This is the description of my Lord.”

The questioning of the Jews was with the intent of mockery and not to seek the knowledge.

The answer of the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, indicates that Allah is attributed with attributes, and just as Allah Himself does not resemble His creation, His Attributes do not resemble the attributes of the creation. Allah is attributed with all the proper perfection, and He is clear from all the attributes of imperfection.

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

وَلِلّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأَعْلَىَ

Wa lillahil-mathalul-a^la.

Ayah 60 of Suratun-Nahl means: {Allah has the perfect Attributes that are not similar to the attributes of others.} Everything other than Allah is created (i.e., this entire universe).

Allah is the only One attributed with Eternity. That is, Allah has no beginning and likewise His Attributes are eternal, without a beginning. The attributes of other than Allah are created; they change from one state to another. Allah is clear of change. He is the One Who creates changes in His creations, but He does not change. He is the One Who creates development in His creations, but He does not develop.

It is helpful to look at the following phrases to understand this subject of Tawhid (Creed).

Imam al-Junayd, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Tawhid is to differentiate between the Eternal and the created.”
 

Questions:

1.                 State an ayah that states the non-resemblance of Allah to His creation.

2.                 What is the meaning of ayah 11 in Suratush-Shura?

3.                 What is the reason behind the revelation of Suratul-Ikhlas?

4.                 What is the meaning of ayah 60 in Suratun-Nahl?

5.                 What is said concerning the universe?

6.                 What did Imam al-Junayd say about Tawhid?

Lesson 5
The Attributes of Allah

The scholars said that it is obligatory upon every mukallaf to know thirteen Attributes of Allah. They are: Existence, Oneness, Eternity, Everlastingness, Non-neediness of others, Power, Will, Knowledge, Hearing, Sight, Life, Speech, and Non-resemblance to the creation. The explanation of these attributes is as follows:

1. Existence: It is obligatory to believe that Allah exists and that there is no doubt in His Existence. He exists without a place. Time does not lapse on Allah.

2. Oneness: Allah is One without any partners. He is One in His Self, His Attributes, and His Actions.

3. Eternity: Allah is Eternal; there is no beginning to His Existence. He has existed since before the creation.

4. Everlastingness: Allah is Everlasting; His existence does not come to an end. He does not perish.

5. Non-neediness of others: Allah does not need any of His creations and they are all in need of Him.

6. Power: Allah has Power over everything.

7. Will: Everything that occurs in this world is by the Will of Allah.

8. Knowledge: Allah knows about all things before they occur.

9. Hearing: Allah hears all what is hearable, without an ear or any other organ.

10. Sight: Allah sees all what is seeable, without a pupil or any other organ.

11. Life: Allah is alive without a soul, skin, or heart. His Life is not similar to ours. He is alive and does not die.

12. Speech: Allah's Speech is without a tongue or lip. His Speech is not in a language, Arabic or anything else. His Speech does not resemble the speech of the humans.

13. Non-resemblance to the creations: Allah does not resemble the creations.

Questions:

1.                 How many Attributes of Allah is the mukallaf obligated to know?

2.                 List the Attributes of Allah that every mukallaf must know.

3.                 Tell what you have learned about Allah’s Attributes of Existence, and Oneness.

4.                 Tell what you have learned about Allah’s Attributes of Eternity, Everlastingness, and Non-neediness of others.

5.                 Tell what you have learned about Allah’s Attributes of Power, Will, and Knowledge.

6.                 Tell what you have learned about Allah’s Attributes of Hearing, Sight, and Life.

7.                 Tell what you have learned about Allah’s Attributes of Speech, and Non-resemblance to the creation.

Lesson 6
The First Creation: Water

When Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, was asked how this universe started to exist, he said: “Allah existed [eternally] and nothing else existed with Him. He created the ^Arsh (Throne) [and placed it] above the water. Then He [ordered the Pen to] write in the (Guarded) Tablet everything that would happen. Then Allah created the heavens and Earth.” (Related by al-Bukhariyy.)

The Prophet answered this question by first stating that Allah's Existence does not have a beginning, i.e., He is Eternal. There is no one attributed with eternity other than Him. In other words, nothing existed eternally except Allah, and Allah created everything, i.e., He brought all the creation from non-existence into existence.

Allah, ta^ala, did not create all the creations at one time. Had He willed for this, it would have occurred. Rather, in six days, He created the heavens and Earth; and for Earth Allah created rivers, mountains, and valleys. The wisdom of this is to teach us not to be hasty in doing things.

The first creation is water. The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْمَاءِ

Innallaha ta^ala khalaqa kulla shay’im minal-ma’.

Which means: “Allah created everything from water.” (Related by Ibn Hibban.)

This also means that Allah created water before creating light, darkness, Earth, the heavens, the Throne, or the Guarded Tablet. Allah made water the origin for other creations. He created the Throne from water. Then He created the Upper Pen, then the Guarded Tablet. After these creations, Allah created the rest of the creations: the Earth, heavens, animals, mountains, trees, and rivers. Adam, peace be upon him, was of the last kind of creation, humans.

The (^Arsh) Throne: It is a platform with four pillars; it is the largest of Allah's creations. It is also the ceiling of Paradise.

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

مَا السَّمَوَاتُ السَّبْعُ فِي جَنْبِ الْكُرْسِيِّ إِلاَّ كَحَلَقَةٍ فِي أَرْضٍ فَلاَةٍ وَفَضْلُ الْعَرْشِ عَلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ كَفَضْلِ الْفَلاَةِ عَلَى الْحَلَقَةِ

Mas-samawatus-sab^u fi jambil-Kursiyyi illa kahalqatin fi ardin falah. Wa fadlul-^Arshi ^alal-Kursiyyi kafadlil-falati ^alal-halqah.

(Related by Ibn Hibban.) 

This hadith means that the seven heavens in relation to the Kursiyy are like a ring in a very big open space. Likewise, the Kursiyy in relation to the Throne is like a ring in a very big open space. This indicates the huge size of the Throne, which is now carried by four (4) huge angels. It takes a fast bird seven hundred (700) years to cover the distance between the ear lobe and the shoulder of any of these four angels. On the Day of Judgment eight (8) angels will carry the Throne.

The Throne is surrounded by angels. It is not a place for Allah, because Allah is not a body in need of a place.

Imam ^Aliyy, may Allah raise his rank said:

إِنَّ اللهَ خَلَقَ الْعَرْشَ إِظْهَاراً لِقُدْرَتِهِ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذْهُ مَكَاناً لِذَاتِهِ

Innallaha, ta^ala, khalaqal-^Arsha idh-haral-liqudratihi wa lam yattakhidh-hu makanal-li Dhatih.

Which means: “Allah created the Throne as an indication of His Power; He has not taken it as a place for Himself.”

Questions:

1.                 What did the Prophet say when he was asked about the beginning of the creations?

2.                 Were all the creations created by Allah at once?

3.                 What is the meaning of Allah is the Creator of everything?

4.                 In how many days did Allah create the heavens and Earth? What is the wisdom in this?

5.                 What was the first thing Allah created? What did He create after it?

6.                 What is the Throne? What is the last type of creations?

7.                 State the hadith that gives proof that the Throne is the largest thing that exists.

8.                 How many angels now carry the Throne? How many will carry it on the Day of Judgment?

9.                 Who surrounds the Throne? What did Imam ^Aliyy say about the Throne?

Lesson 7
The Order of Creation After the Water and the Throne

After Allah created the water and the Throne, He created the Upper Pen, then the Guarded Tablet, and then the rest of the creations.

The Upper Pen and the Guarded Tablet: It was narrated in the description of the Guarded Tablet that it is a white pearl and its edge is made of red ruby. Its width is the traveling distance of five hundred (500) years.

Allah ordered the Pen to write. The Pen wrote, by the Will of Allah, without anyone holding it. It wrote on the Guarded Tablet what was and what will be in this life until its end. Fifty thousand (50,000) years after this event, Allah created the heavens and Earth in six (6) days. No person is born and no drop of water falls except in accordance to what was written in the Guarded Tablet.

Earth: The Earth that we are on is one of seven (7) Earths that Allah created; it is also the highest one. Each Earth is separated from the other. In the seventh Earth there is a place called Sijjin. The souls of the blasphemers go there after their bodies decay, until the Resurrection (Ba^th). Hellfire (Jahannam) is under the seventh Earth. It is the fire with which Allah threatened the blasphemers and sinners among His slaves. Allah created this Earth during the first two days.

The Seven Heavens: After Allah created the Earth, He created the seven heavens. Each heaven is a solid body that is held up without any pillars. The heavens are separated. From one heaven to the other is a distance of five hundred (500) years, and every heaven has a gate.

The first heaven is so far away from the Earth. Some people are unable to encompass this to the extent that they believe that the space which contains the stars and planets is the entire universe. They also falsely believe that it extends without an end. There is no point to their claims, because Allah told us in the Qur’an and the Prophet also informed us in his hadiths what is contradictory to their claims. Paradise exists above the seventh heaven.

The Earth: After the creation of the seven heavens, Allah created what is on the Earth: rivers, trees, mountains, and the like.

Adam: Allah then created Adam on the last and sixth day, which was Friday. Adam was the last kind of the creation, humans. He is the first of the prophets. Allah created him from clay after it was mixed with water from Paradise. From his left rib, Allah created Lady Eve (Hawwa'). Angels, jinn, and animals were created before Adam.

Questions:

1.                 What did Allah create after creating the water and the Throne?

2.                 What was mentioned about the description of the Guarded Tablet?

3.                 What did Allah order the Pen to do? What did it write on the Guarded Tablet?

4.                 When did Allah create the heavens and Earth?

5.                 How many Earths did Allah create? On what Earth are we?

6.                 What is Sijjin? Where is it located?

7.                 Where is Hellfire (Jahannam)?

8.                 What are the heavens? How many heavens did Allah create?

9.                 Where is Paradise located?

10.             After creating the seven heavens, what did Allah create?

11.             When did Allah create the angels, jinn, and animals?

12.             From what did Allah create our Lady Hawwa' ?

Lesson 8
Miracles and Karamahs

The Miracle:

The miracle is an extraordinary act. It is not a usual event that happens in everyday life or to everyone. Miracles are only for prophets and are always in agreement with what they say. So, no one can do anything that is equal or similar to a miracle to discredit a prophet. Examples of miracles are: the flowing of water from between the fingers of Prophet Muhammad; and transforming the staff of Prophet Musa into a giant snake.

So a strange matter that is not extraordinary is not considered a miracle, such as the flying of an airplane. Also, an extraordinary matter that is not accompanied by a claim of Prophethood is not considered a miracle. Examples are the extraordinary matters that occur to highly righteous Muslims (Waliyys). These extraordinary matters are called Karamahs.

Also what an opposing party can imitate is not a miracle, such as magic, because it can be imitated by opposing magic.

The miracle is of two types: 

One type occurs after the suggestion of the people whom the prophet is calling to Islam. 

The other type occurs without the suggestion of the people. 

An example of the first type is what happened with Prophet Salih, peace be upon him. Upon his people’s suggestion, he brought a camel and its child out of a rock.  

An example of the second type is what happened to Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, when the tree trunk longed for him. Al-Bukhariyy related that the Prophet used to give the speech of Jumu^ah while leaning on a palm tree. One of the Ansar suggested: “O Prophet of Allah, why don’t we make a mimbar for you?” He said: “As you wish.” They built a mimbar for him. When it was the next Friday, the Prophet climbed onto the mimbar but the tree trunk started moaning, longing for him like a child. The Prophet came down and hugged it. This comforted the trunk. 

Whenever he mentioned this miracle, Al-Hasan used to say: “O Muslim people, the wood longed for the Prophet because it missed him. You are more worthy of missing him.”  

The Karamah: The karamah is an extraordinary matter that occurs on the hands of a Muslim waliyy who does all the obligations, refrains from all sins, and does many recommended matters. This is what differentiates the karamah from magic and tricks. A karamah occurred for our Lady Maryam, the mother of Prophet ^Isa (Jesus). Whenever Prophet Zakariyya (her sister’s husband) visited her, he would find that she had the fruit of the summer in the winter and the fruit of the winter in the summer.  

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:  

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقاً قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ هَـذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ 

Kullama dakhala ^alayha Zakariyyal-mihraba wajada ^indaha rizqa. Qala ya Maryamu anna laki hadha qalat huwa min ^indillah. 

Ayah 37 of Suratu Al ^Imran means: {Whenever Zakariyya entered the place where Maryam prayed, he would find fruit there [i.e., the summer fruits during the winter and vice versa]. He asked her how she got it. She replied that this was Allah’s endowment. Allah gives whomever He willed whatever quantity He willed.} 

Questions: 

1. What is the definition of a miracle? 

2. How many types of miracles are there? Give an example of each. 

3. Relate the story of the longing of the tree trunk, which al-Bukhariyy related. 

4. What did al-Hasan used to say when he related this story? 

5. What is the karamah?  

6. State one karamah of Lady Maryam, mentioned in the Qur’an. 

Lesson 9 
Believing in what the Prophet Conveyed—
Part 1: The Torture and Enjoyment in the Grave and The Questioning by the Two Angels: Munkar and Nakir 

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an: 

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى إِنْ هُوَ إِلا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى 

Wa ma yantiqu ^anil-hawa. In huwa illa wahyuy yuha. 

Ayahs 3-4 of Suratun-Najm mean: {He (Prophet Muhammad) does not convey to the people out of his own inclinations. Rather, he conveys what Allah reveals to him.} 

Allah, ta^ala, sent Prophet Muhammad, the son of ^Abdullah, the son of ^Abdul-Muttalib, with the true Religion. Allah ordered Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, to convey the message to the people, which he fulfilled. He conveyed the message truthfully and bravely.  

Everything that the Prophet told is true and right, whether it is among the issues of halal or haram, the stories of the prophets, or matters that will happen in the future during this life and in the Hereafter.  

Among the matters that the Prophet informed about are: the torture in the grave and the enjoyment therein, and the questioning by the two angels: Munkar and Nakir.  

The torture in the grave: It is obligatory to believe that Allah tortures all the accountable blasphemers in their graves. Allah orders the harmful insects of the Earth to eat their bodies. Also, He orders the Earth to close in on them. Other types of torture will also be inflicted on them. Their graves will become like ditches of Hell. On the other hand, the Muslims who are major sinners, and died without repenting are of two groups:  

Those tortured in their graves. 

Others forgiven by Allah from being tortured therein.

The enjoyment in the grave: It is obligatory to believe that Allah endows his pious Muslim slaves with enjoyment in their graves. Among the enjoyment is for their graves to be lit up like the light of a full moon, and to be widened seventy (70) cubits[1] by seventy (70) cubits. There are also other types of enjoyment.

The questioning of the two angels Munkar and Nakir: It is obligatory to believe in the two angels Munkar and Nakir. They are navy blue and they ask the dead person in his grave: "What did you say about this man Muhammad?" If the dead was Muslim he will say: I bear witness that he is the slave of Allah and His Messenger. If he was among the blasphemers, he will not say the Two Testifications of Faith. The angels will hit him with a hammer between his ears. Had the mountains been hit with this hammer, they would have melted away.

The questioning by the two angels happens to the Muslim and the blasphemer alike. However, the perfect Muslim will not be frightened or bothered by the questioning, because Allah will make his heart steadfast. The prophets, martyrs, and children (who died before pubescence) are exempted from the questioning in the grave.

Questions:

1. State an ayah from the Qur’an that indicates the truthfulness of what the Prophet conveyed about Allah.

2. List some of what the Prophet has conveyed.

3. Who will be tortured in the grave?

4. What is the condition in the graves of the Muslims who are major sinners?

5. Who gets the enjoyment of the grave?

6. What are the names of the two angels of questioning?

7. Give an example of the questioning of the dead person.

8. Are all buried people questioned in their graves? Who is exempt from the questioning?

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Lesson 10
Believing in what the Prophet Conveyed—
Part 2: The Day of Judgment, Resurrection, and Assembly

Among what the Prophet conveyed and is obligatory to believe in are: the Day of Judgment, Resurrection, and Assembly.

The Day of Judgment: It is also called the Qiyamah Day. It begins when the people come out of their graves and lasts until the people of Paradise reside in Paradise and the people of Hell in Hell. On that day, the sun will be very close to the heads of the people. Also, many hardships will occur from which the pious Muslims will be safe. The people will be gathered for the judgment, and their deeds will be presented to them. Also, their deeds will be weighed in the Balance. One pan will hold the good deeds and one pan will hold the bad deeds. 

Resurrection: It is when the graves open and the people come out of them for the judgment. The bodies that have decayed will be recreated. These will be the bodies of other than the prophets and martyrs. The Earth will not eat the bodies of such honorable people, i.e., their bodies will not decay. Similarly, the Earth will not eat the bodies of some highly righteous Muslims (waliyys), i.e., their bodies will not decay. 

Assembly: This occurs after Resurrection. The people will be gathered at a place to be questioned about their deeds. This place is the changed Earth. This Earth that we are on now will be changed on the Day of Judgment to a flat Earth with no mountains or valleys. 

The assembled people are in three categories: 

The first type will be assembled fed, riding, and dressed. These people are the pious Muslims who were in this life performing the obligations and avoiding the sins. 

The second type will be assembled barefoot and naked. These are the Muslim major sinners. 

The third and final type will be assembled and dragged on their faces. These are the blasphemers.  

It was mentioned concerning the torture of the arrogant people that they would be gathered having the size of ants but the shape of humans. As an insult, the other people will step on the arrogant people, but they will not die. 

Questions: 

1. What is the Day of Judgment? 

2. What is used to weigh the deeds of the slaves on the Day of Judgment? 

3. What is Resurrection? 

4. Which bodies do not decay? 

5. What is the Assembly? Where does it occur? 

6. What is the description of the land on which the people are assembled? 

7.  In how many categories are the people assembled? 

8. How are the pious and sinful Muslims assembled?  

9. How are the blasphemers gathered?  

10. What was conveyed about the torture of the arrogant?

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Lesson 11
Believing in what the Prophet Conveyed—
Part 3: The Bridge, Basin, and Intercession

Among what the Prophet conveyed and is obligatory to believe in are: the Bridge, Basin, and Intercession. 

The Bridge: It is a bridge that stretches above Hellfire, which all the people will cross. One of its sides is on the changed Earth and the other side is before Paradise and after Hellfire. The people will approach it to cross it but the blasphemers will not be able to get across. The blasphemers will fall off of it into Hellfire. The Muslims, on the other hand, are of two categories: 

One category will not need to step on the bridge. Rather, they will fly over it.  

Another category will step on it. Some of these will fall into Hellfire, and some will cross it safely.  

The Basin: It is a place that Allah prepared for the people of Paradise, from which they will drink before entering Paradise. Each Prophet has his own basin from which his nation will drink. The biggest one is the basin of our Prophet, Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, which receives its water from the water of Paradise. Those who drink from the Basin will never be thirsty again. In Paradise, they will drink out of enjoyment.  

The Intercession: Intercession is asking someone to grant good to another. Among those who will intercede on the Day of Judgment are the prophets, practicing scholars, angels, children for their Muslim parents, and martyrs for seventy (70) of their Muslim family members. Intercession is available for the Muslim major sinners who died without repentance.  

The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, said: 

شَفَاعَتِي لأَهْلِ الْكَبَائِرِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي 

Shafa^ati li’ahlil-kaba’iri min ummati. 

Which means: “My intercession is [reserved] for the major sinners of my nation.” (Related by Abu Dawud.)  

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an: 

ولا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى 

Wa la yashfa^una illa limani-rtada. 

Ayah 28 of Suratul-Ambiya’ means: {They [the intercessors] do not intercede except for those who died Muslim.} 

Questions: 

1. What is the Bridge?  

2. What happens to the blasphemers on the Bridge? 

3. What happens to the Muslims on the Bridge? 

4. What is the Basin? Who drinks from it? 

5. Which basin is the biggest one? From where does its water come? 

6. What is Intercession?  

7. Who intercedes on the Day of Judgment? 

8. For whom is the intercession on the Day of Judgment? State a hadith that supports your answer. 

9. What is the proof from the Qur’an that no blasphemer will receive Intercession on the Day of Judgment? 

Lesson 12 
Believing in What the Prophet Conveyed—
Part 4: Paradise and Hellfire

Among what the Prophet conveyed and is obligatory to believe in are: Paradise and Hellfire. 

Paradise: It is the abode of peace, enjoyment, and happiness. Allah prepared it for the Muslims. It contains rivers of pure honey, milk, and non-intoxicating wine, different from the wine of this world, and other everlasting enjoyments. 

The enjoyment in Paradise is by both body and soul. Paradise has different levels, some of which are higher than the others. The highest level is the level of the prophets. The people of Paradise will not grieve, grow old, or die. They will be forever in Paradise, will never leave it, and will enjoy its everlasting bliss.  

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:  

أَلاَ هَلْ مِنْ مُشَمِّرٍ لِلْجَنَّةِ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ لاَ خَطَرَ لَهَا، هِيَ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ نُورٌ يَتَلأْلأُ وَرَيْحَانَةٌ تَهْتَزُّ وَقَصْرٌ مَشِيدٌ وَنَهْرٌ مُطَّرِدٌ وَفَاكِهَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ نَضِيجَةٌ وَزَوْجَةٌ حَسْنَاءُ جَمِيلَةٌ وَحِلَلٌ كَثِيرَةٌ فِي مَقَامٍ أَبَدِيٍ فِي حُبْرَةٍ وَنُضْرَةٍ فِي دَارٍ عَالِيَّةٍ سَلِيمَةٍ بَهِيَّة 

Ala hal mushammirul-lil-Jannah. Fa’innal-Jannata la khatara laha. Hiya wa Rabbil-Ka^bati nuruy-yatala’la’, wa rayhanatun tahtazz, wa qasrum-mashid, wa nahrum muttarid, wa fakihatun nadijah, wa zawjatun hasna’u jamilah, wa hulalun kathirah, fi muqamin abadiyy(in), fi habratiw wa nadrah, fi darin ^aliyatin salimatin bahiyyah.  

Which means: “Are there any who want to strive hard to receive the endowments of Paradise? Paradise has no equal. I swear by the Lord of the Ka^bah, it contains shining lights, pleasing fragrant plants, big castles, flowing rivers, ripe fruits, beautiful wives and many special clothes. [The residents of Paradise] will have beautiful faces. They will be immersed in endless bliss, living in high, sound, beautiful houses.” (Related by Ibn Hibban.) 

Hellfire: It is also called Jahannam. It is obligatory to believe that Hellfire is the everlasting place of torture. Allah prepared it for the blasphemers who chose blasphemy and refused Islam. The torture of Hellfire is real and physical. Its heat is much more unbearable than the heat of this world. Similarly, its coldness is far more severe than the coldness of this world. It is existent now. It is located beneath the seventh Earth. The blasphemers dwell in it forever and will not leave it.  

On the other hand, the Muslims, who committed the enormous sins and died without repentance, are of two groups: 

One group is relieved by Allah from the torture of Hellfire by the Intercession of the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, or other intercessors. The first group will, by the mercy of Allah, enter Paradise without torture.  

Allah will torture the other group for a period of time in Hellfire. Then Allah will order that they be taken out of it and will admit them to Paradise, because they died on Islam. 

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an: 

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَعَنَ الْكَافِرِينَ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ سَعِيرًا خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا لا يَجِدُونَ وَلِيًّا وَلا نَصِيرًا  

Innallaha la^anal-kafirina wa a^adda lahum sa^ira. Khalidina fiha abadal la yajiduna fiha waliyyaw wala nasira. 

Ayahs 64-65 of Suratul-Ahzab mean: {Allah damned the blasphemers and prepared Hellfire for them, in which they will reside forever, without any supporter or savior.} 

Questions: 

1. What is Paradise? For whom did Allah prepare it? 

2. What are some enjoyments in Paradise? 

3. State a hadith of the Prophet describing Paradise? 

4. For whom did Allah prepare Hellfire? 

5. What is the condition, on the Day of Judgment, of the Muslims who committed enormous sins and died without repentance? 

6. State a verse from the Qur’an that indicates that the blasphemers will stay in Hellfire forever. 

Lesson 13
The Types of Blasphemy and Blasphemers 

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an: 

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ 

Innal-ladhina kafaru wa saddu ^an sabilillahi thumma matu wa hum kuffarun falay-yaghfirallahu lahum. 

Ayah 34 of Surah Muhammad means: {Those who blaspheme and prevent others from embracing Islam, then die as blasphemers, will not be forgiven by Allah.} 

Blasphemy is the opposite of belief, just as darkness is the opposite of light. It is of three types: likening God to the creation (tashbih), contradicting (takdhib), and denying (ta^til). 

Tashbih: Likening Allah to His creation. An example is to say or believe that Allah has legs. 

Takdhib: Contradicting the honorable Qu’ran or what was undoubtedly related from the Prophet and known by every Muslim scholar, like negating the resurrection of the bodies and souls, or negating the obligation of prayer, fasting, or Zakah. 

Ta^til: Negating or denying the existence of Allah. This type is the most blasphemous. Likewise is denying any of Allah’s Thirteen Attributes. 

Blasphemers are of two types. One is the original blasphemer. The other one is the apostate (murtadd). 

The original blasphemer is the one who was born to two blasphemous parents and reached pubescence on a blasphemous belief.  

The apostate (murtadd) is the person who was Muslim, then committed one of the types of blasphemy (riddah). 

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an: 

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ قُلْ أَبِاللّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ 

لاَ تَعْتَذِرُواْ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم 

Qul abillahi wa ayatihi wa rasulihi kuntum tastahzi’un. La ta^tadhiru qad kafartum ba^da imanikum. 

Ayahs 65-66 of Suratut-Tawbah mean: {O Muhammad, say: Do you mock Allah, His verses, and His Messenger? Do not offer excuses. Now you are judged as blasphemers, after you were judged as Muslims.} 

Apostasy (Riddah) is leaving Islam. It is the most abhorrent type of blasphemy. Hence, it is obligatory on every Muslim to preserve his Islam and protect it from apostasy (riddah), which invalidates his Islam. May Allah protect us from it.  

The categories of blasphemy: The scholars classified blasphemy into three categories: blasphemy of belief, blasphemy of action, and blasphemy of saying. 

Each category of these categories is divided into many subdivisions:  

Examples of the blasphemy of belief include: 

• Denying the existence of Allah.  

• Believing that Allah does not have the Power to do something. 

• Believing Allah is ignorant. 

• Believing that Allah is a body, light, or a soul. 

• Believing that drinking alcohol or stealing is permissible. 

• Believing that Allah did not obligate the five prayers, fasting the month of Ramadan, paying Zakah, or making Hajj.  

Examples of the blasphemy of action include:  

• To throw the Qur’an or other Islamic papers purposely in the trash.  

• To prostrate to an idol, or the sun, or to any other creation with the intention of worshipping it. 

• To write ayahs of the Qur’an in urine. 

Examples of the blasphemy of saying include: 

• Cursing Allah, His prophets, angels, Islam, or the Qur’an.  

• Mocking the prayer or fasting. 

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:  

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ لاَ يَرَى بِهَا بَأْساً يَهْوِي بِهَا فِي النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا 

Innal-^abda layatakallamu bil-kalimati la yara biha ba’say yahwi biha finnari sab^ina kharifa. 

Which means: “A slave may utter a word that he deems harmless that may result in his falling the depth of seventy years into Hellfire.” (Related by at-Tirmidhiyy.) 

Falling the distance of seventy years means falling to the deepest bottom of Hellfire, which is reserved for the blasphemers. This hadith is a proof that it is not a condition for falling into blasphemy that one knows the judgment, or feels happy with, or believes in the uttered words.  

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:  

أَكْثَرُ خَطَايَا ابْنِ ءَادَمَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ 

Aktharu khataya bni Adama mil-lisanih. 

Which means: “Most of one's sins are from one’s tongue.” (Related by at-Tabaraniyy.) 

The Rule: Any belief, action, or saying which belittles Allah, His Books, His Messengers, His Angels, His Rites, the well-known practices of His Religion, His Rules, His Promise, or His Threat is blasphemy. So, one must use caution with one’s utmost effort to avoid blasphemy at all times. 

Benefit: The scholars said: Denying what is commonly known among the Muslims to be a part of the Religion is blasphemy. For something to be commonly known to be part of the Religion means that it is a matter that is known by all Muslims, both the laypeople and the scholars alike. In other words, it is not something known only by scholars. This is like the obligation of the five prayers, fasting Ramadan, the permissibility of buying and selling, and the unlawfulness of drinking alcohol and stealing. 

Questions: 

1. What is the proof from the Qur’an that Allah does not forgive the one who dies in the state of blasphemy? 

2. What is blasphemy? What are its types? 

3. What is blasphemy of likening (Tashbih)? 

4. What is blasphemy of contradicting (Takdhib)? 

5. What is blasphemy of denying (ta^til)? 

6. How many types of blasphemers are there? 

7. Who is the original blasphemer? Who is the murtadd? 

8. State an ayah from the Qur’an that the one who belittles Allah or His Prophet is considered a blasphemer. 

9. What is riddah? How many categories does it have? 

10. Give some examples of blasphemy of belief. 

11. Give some examples of blasphemy of action. 

12. Give some examples of blasphemy of saying. 

13. State a hadith from the Prophet which proves that it is not a condition that the one who uttered the blasphemy knows the judgment of the blasphemous saying. 

Lesson 14
Believing in the Qadar  

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an: 

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ 

Inna kulla shay’in khalaqnahu biqadar  

Ayah 49 of Suratul-Qamar means: {Allah creates everything according to His Destining.} 

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:  

اْلإِيمَانُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ 

Which means: “Belief is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and to believe in the qadar (destiny), both the good and the evil.” (Related by Muslim.) 

In the past lessons, we have discussed some of what was mentioned in this hadith. This information is among what the Prophet taught us. It is obligatory that we believe in these teachings. 

Believing in the qadar (good and evil) means: to believe that everything that comes into existence, be it good or evil, is by the Eternal Will of Allah. The good actions of the slave are according to the Will, Love, and Acceptance of Allah.  

The evil actions of the slave are according to the Will of Allah, but not His Love or His Acceptance. 

Benefit: The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, said to Ibn ^Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them:  

وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ لَكَ، وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ لَمْ يَضُرُّوك إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ لَكَ، رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ.  

Wa^lam annal-ummata lawijtama^at ^ala ay-yanfa^uka bishay’il-lam yanfa^uka illa bi shay’in qad katabahu-llahu lak. Wa lawijtama^u ^ala ay-yadurruka bishay’il-lam yadurruka illa bi shay’in qad katabahu-llahu ^alayk. Rufi^atil-aqlamu wa jaffatis-suhuf.

Which means: “Know that if the entire nation agree to benefit you with something, they will not benefit you except with what Allah has willed for you. Likewise, if they agree to harm you with something, they will not harm you except with what Allah has willed for you. The Pen has been lifted, and the Tablet has dried.” (Related by at-Tirmidhiyy.)

Questions:

1. State an ayah from the Qur’an that talks about the belief in Qadar (Destining).

2. State a hadith that tells about the belief in qadar (destiny).

3. What does believing in qadar, both good and evil, mean?

4. State a hadith from the Prophet that indicates that Allah is the Creator of both benefit and harm.

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