Call for Peace

 

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

In the Name of Allah,

the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful

Ibadaah

[Worship]

Base:

Success in this World

And

Life hereafter

Brothers and Sisters!

Assalam o Alleyykum

[Peace be Upon You]

To perform Ibadaah is Command of Allah to Mankind.

The question arises what is Ibadaah and how it is to be performed and what is the benefit of Ibadaah to mankind and Allah?

Brothers and Sisters! We are living in Scientific Age where every moment of life we observe and experience produces are grown from land or extracted from mountains and seas  , process them, make use of them which keep our body and soul together and provide comforts of life.

Brothers and Sisters! But we go to the shops and buy the goods required in finished form while every product has to go through various processes before it is consumable. For example bread has to go through the following process:

• seed has to be sown in fertile land
  

• keep watering it
  

• waiting for its growth
  

• harvesting it cutting it
  

• converting into flour
  

• mixing it with water, wait for maturing the dough and then baking it in the oven
  

• baked bread are put on the shelves where customer takes to check out point, brings it home and consumes it
  

Brothers and Sisters! As above is a very brief outline of the processes which bread has to go through that one buys from a shop.

Brothers and Sisters! It has become customary to thank for the services. But when a customer buys bread from the shopkeeper he just thanks him while there have been innumerable hands which were behind making of the bread.

Brothers and Sisters!

Do all the hands not deserve to be thanked?

Brothers and Sisters! Every organization has a Managing Director who controls the affairs of the organization. So it will be easier to thank Managing Director where the thanks will be passed on to every member of the organization.

Brothers and Sisters! But there have been many organizations which were behind the production of bread e.g.

• agriculture
  

• industrial units
  

• baking industry
  

• etc.
  

Brothers and Sisters! But again there are innumerable industries, so how can one thank Managing Director of every industry.

Brothers and Sisters! Let us assume that there is a holding company and every other company is subsidiary of this holding company. So if one will thank Managing Director of Holding Company, then thanks will be passed on to every member of holding and subsidiary companies.

Brothers and Sisters! But the Managing Director of the Holding Company has only provided the Fiber and ingredients to make bread. The environments which were required to grow the seed were not under his control. The environments are provided by Nature e.g.

• day and night
  

• variation of temperatures
  

• etc.
  

Brothers and Sisters! So if the nature did not provide the environments the seed would not have grown. And if the seed is not grown there is no use of agriculture, industrial unit and baking industry.

Brothers and Sisters! So as the provider of environments is Nature then one should be thankful to Nature.

Brothers and Sisters! As the Nature is provider of environments then it must be the Nature who has programmed all the steps for the growth of seeds, properties in the seed, taste, size of the product, weight of the product etc. etc.

Brothers and Sisters! So if the Nature has such faculties who can programme and inflict properties in the produces then the Nature must be very intelligent and powerful and capable of doing everything.

Brothers and Sisters! It is such a big universe. There is sun, moon, stars, planets , galaxies etc. etc. So it must be Nature who made all these planets. If the Nature has made all these planets then the Nature must be Great. Great in the sense that a human mind cannot comprehend that how Nature, an Entity, is capable of doing everything.

Brothers and Sisters! Because every produce requires the guidance of Nature then the Nature has to be in every part of the universe i.e. omnipresent.

Brothers and Sisters! In short, if one is thankful to Nature then he is thankful to everybody who had share in making bread.

Brothers and Sisters! But it is not only bread which is required by mankind. There are innumerable goods and products which are required to keep body and soul together. So mankind has to be thankful to Nature for everything.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises that why Nature is providing everything to mankind. Is there any relationship between Nature and mankind?

Brothers and Sisters! There has to be some relationship between Nature and mankind. Why? In our day to day life we work for somebody in return for some reward or we expend our wealth for somebody because we love him e.g. parents love their children and they work hard to bring them up.

Brothers and Sisters! Mankind is dependent upon Nature for everything. Nature has qualities where it can make, grow anything. So Nature must be Creator and the universe: sun, moon, stars, galaxies, planets earth, skies, mountains are creations.

Brothers and Sisters! As Nature is Creator and everything else is creation therefore every creation should be thankful to its Creator.

Brothers and Sisters! When creation is thankful to Creator it submits to its Creator and this submission is the name of Ibadaah.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises where the Nature has come from and how Nature has acquired all the attributes and qualities and powers?

Brothers and Sisters! Human mind has a limited capacity to understand and save data in it. It can be understood by an example.

Brothers and Sisters! Is there any human being in the world who holds comprehensive knowledge about:

• medical profession
  

• engineering
  

• accountancy
  

• law
  

• gardening
  

• information technology
  

• etc.
  

Brothers and Sisters! Human mind’s capacity is so much limited that even only in one profession, e.g. medical it does not know everything. So how is it possible that human mind can comprehend where the Nature came from and how Nature developed every faculty.

Brothers and Sisters! No one can deny the existence of Nature. For the satisfaction of scientific mind Nature assumed name Allah:

Brothers and Sisters! Allah is Creator and He (SWT) was Lone Entity, powerful and capable of doing anything. Allah wanted to show His Greatness and Magnificence. The context of Hadith e Qudsi is where Allah told Prophet Mohammed (SAW):

I was a hidden Treasure.

I wished to be recognized.

So I created Jinn and Inss.

[spirits and mankind]

Brothers and Sisters! As Allah was going to create Jinn and Inss, in order that they will recognize Him (SWT) Allah created the universe:

Translation Surah Al A’raf Ayat no 54

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Indeed your Lord is Allah Who created heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istawa) the Arsh (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night a cover over the day , seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun , the moon , the stars subjected to His command. Surely, His is the Creations and Commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exists).

Brothers and Sisters! The context and substance of the above Verse highlight the creation of environments which are required for the growth of the produces.

Translation Surah Al Hadid Ayat no 4

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

He (Allah) it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows what goes on into the earth and what comes forth from it, and what descends from the heavens and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do.

Brothers and Sisters! The context and substance of the above Verse highlights how the growth in the land can take place.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah Knew that human mind will wonder how the Entity of Allah looks like. So Allah revealed the concept of His Entity in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah An-Nur Ayat no 35

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Allah is the Nur (Light) of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp; the lamp is in a glass , the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive , neither of the east (i.e. neither it gets rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor it gets sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun all day long), whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah Guides to His light whom He Wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah is Nur (Light).

Brothers and Sisters! Scientists have discovered that light travels 186,000 miles per second. Can human mind imagine the speed of light?

Brothers and Sisters! Allah is Nur (light). It does not have to travel as Nur is in whole universe. As Allah’s Nur is every where therefore Allah is Omnipresent. This is revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah An-Nur Ayat no 35

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Allah is the Nur (Light) of the heavens and the earth.

Brothers and Sisters! As Allah is Omnipresent:

Therefore mankind can submit to Him (SWT) anytime at any place. This is also revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah Al Ayat no 4

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

And He (Allah) is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do.

Brothers and Sisters! Thought can emerge in human mind that how an Entity can be active all the time and he must need something to eat or drink to keep in active mode. Allah revealed in the Qur’an that He is not in need of anything:

Translation Surah Al Baqrah Ayat no. 255

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Allah! La ilaha illa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One who sustains and protects all that exists.

Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in heavens and whatever is on the earth. who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?

He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Brothers and Sisters! Alhamdu’lillah! It has been established scientifically that Lone Entity of Allah has been in existence forever, Allah is Creator and creations have to submit to Him.

Brothers and Sisters! It was stated as above:

Brothers and Sisters! There has to be some relationship between Nature and mankind. Why? In our day to day life we work for somebody in return for some reward or we expend our wealth for somebody because we love him e.g. parent love their children and they work hard to bring them up.

Brothers and Sisters! The circumstantial evidence depicts that Allah created the universe and thereafter created Hazrat Adam (PBUH) and took out all souls from loin of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) and had a dialogue which is revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah Al A’raf Ayat no 172

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

And (remember) when you Lord brought forth from Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying):

“Am I not your Lord?”

They said: “Yes! We Testify”,

Lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: Verily, we have been unaware of this.

Brothers and Sisters! The object of the dialogue appears to be that mankind recognize Entity of Allah and admit that Allah is their Rubb (Lord). When mankind admitted that Allah is their Rubb Allah warned them that they must remember this and when they will be accountable on the Day of Judgment they do not pretend that they were not aware of it i.e. Allah is Lone entity.

Translation Surah Al A’raf Ayatno 172

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: Verily, we have been unaware of this.

Brothers and Sisters! The circumstantial evidence depicts that once mankind testified that Allah is their Rubb then Allah had to brief them the object of their creation. At the same time Allah also had to brief the universe the object of their creation.

Brothers and Sisters! So Allah gathered all the creations of the universe: earth, mountains and heavensand mankind and asked them if they will honour their duties and responsibilities. The circumstantial evidence depicts that they were told that if they would honour their duties and responsibilities they will be rewarded otherwise they will be punished. It appears they must have been shown the Paradise and Hell i.e. if they would honour their duties and responsibilities then they will be in Paradise otherwise they will be in Hell.

Brothers and Sisters! It appears the earth, mountain and heavens must have judged their capabilities if they will be able to honour their duties and responsibilities amicably but the Torments of Hell refrained them to accept the proposition and they excused themselves. But mankind, when he saw Paradise got overjoyed and accepted it. The essence of this meeting is revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah Al Ahzab Ayat no 72

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Truly, We did offer Al-Amanah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all that the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allah’s Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).

Brothers and Sisters! As mankind assumed to honour Al Amanah then Allah addressed them that the disobedient will be punished and obedient
will be forgiven:

Translation Surah Al Ahzab Ayat no 73

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

So that Allah will punish the hypocrites men and women, and the men and women who are al-Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers, in the Oneness of Allah, and His Messenger Mohammed (SAW)). And Allah will pardon (accept the repentance of) the true believers of the Islamic Monotheism, men and women. And Allah is Ever Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises what is Al Amanah i.e. duties and responsibilities which the mankind had to honour?

Brothers and Sisters! Duties and responsibilities are the rights which would keep on emerging when the offspring of Hazrat Adam (PBUH) will be given birth in the world and when the rights emerge they have to be honoured. For example:

• when a child is born his rights emerge where parent have to bring him up , educate him and look after in every respect
  

• when parents enter in their old age then their rights emerge that children will look after them
  

Brothers and Sisters! In short, rights keep on emerging at every moment of life as:

• parent
  

• child
  

• brother
  

• sister
  

• friend
  

• employer
  

• employee
  

• etc. etc.
  

Brothers and Sisters! It was advised by Allah that when one will honour his right it will be a good deed and when one will not honour his right it will be bad deed.

Brothers and Sisters! Now the question arises that one cannot keep record of his good deeds and bad deeds so how one would know on the Day of Judgment how many good deeds he has done and how many bad deed he has done.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah has devised a system where there are two Angels with everybody all the time. Both Angels record respective deeds. On the Day of Judgment Book of Deed will be given to everybody.

Brothers and Sisters! The question arises how one would know what good deed is and what is bad deed.

Brothers and Sisters! In short, Allah has given His (SWT) Guidance to the effect what is good and what is bad deed by revelation to His (SWT) Prophets. Prophets are chosen among the people of vicinity. Revelations are made through Angel Gibra’iel (PBUH). These revelations take the form of Books of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises how one can establish a life style which reflects Guidance of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! In short, one has to follow the life style of the Prophet because the object of revelation to the Prophet is that He plans and programmes his life style as per the Guidance of Allah so that people can follow Him. The life style of the Prophet is role model for His followers and termed as Sunnah.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises that mankind is busy in his daily life honouring their duties and responsibilities then there is no contact between the Creator i.e. Allah and mankind.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah has devised a set up that every Muslim must present his deeds five times during day and night and this has revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah Bani Isra’iel Ayat no. 78

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

Perform As Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zohar, Asr, Magrib, and Esha Prayers), and recite the Qur’an in the early dawn (i.e. the Fajar Prayer). Verily the recitation of the Qur’an in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the Angels in charge of mankind of the day and night)

Brothers and Sisters! Although everybody is in the presence of Allah every moment of his life but five times a day it is exclusive presence before Allah. This can be understood by an example.

Brothers and Sisters! In an organization employees are working and they are in the presence of the entrepreneur. But it is the command of the entrepreneur that everybody must come in his presence and submit his report for the work he has been assigned to do.

Brothers and Sisters! Similarly, Allah has set up a time table that as everybody is to expend his day to day life as per the Guidance of Allah, therefore, he must come in the presence of Allah and submit his deeds where it will be judged by Allah if those have been as per His (SWT) Guidance.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah is Great and Magnificent. Therefore when one has to go to his exclusive presence there are certain etiquettes have to be observed. To offer Salat i.e. presence before Allah, he has to wear clean clothes, make Wadu (Ablution) and find an exclusive place where he could not be disturbed. For this purpose Allah has advised Muslim Ummah to build Masjid. However, if one cannot go to Masjid then he can offer Salat anywhere but the place must be clean.

Brothers and Sisters! Normally the daily life starts after Fajar Salat. Thereafter one gets busy in honouring the duties and responsibilities which keep on emerging every moment of his life and he has to honour those.

Brothers and Sisters! Zohar Salat time starts after midday. When one comes in the presence of Allah at Zohar time he is presenting the list of his duties and responsibilities which he has honoured from Fajar to Zohar time. Brothers and Sisters! If he has fulfilled his duties and responsibilities as per the Guidance of Allah then the presence i.e. Zohar Salat will be accepted and if duties and responsibilities are not performed as per Guidance of Allah the Salat will not be accepted.

Brothers and Sisters! If the Salat is accepted then reward for the Salat will be saved and every duty and responsibility which he has performed will be a good deed that will be written by the Angel and if the duties and responsibilities are not performed as per Guidance of Allah then every duty and responsibility will become bad deed and it will be written by the Angel in Book of his Deeds.

Brothers and Sisters! This aspect can be understood by an example.

Brothers and Sisters! An employer gives an assignment to one of his employee to do and gives him instruction and company manual to follow. Brothers and Sisters!
If the employee will do the assignment as per employer’s instruction and company manual then the assignment will be accepted and employee will be rewarded. But if the employee does not do the assignment as per employer’s instruction and company manual the assignment will not be accepted and employee will be punished.

Brothers and Sisters! In short, everyone present his list of deeds five times a day before Allah. However, one would not know if the Salats have been accepted by Allah or not as the Book of Deed shall be opened on the Day of Judgement.

Brothers and Sisters! The scholars have deduced that if after the performance of Salat one feels Serenity in his heart and Peace in mind with the intention to do good deeds then this is sign the Salat has been accepted by Allah with His (SWT) Grace.

Brothers and Sisters! Salat is an Ibadaah. When one is performing his duties and responsibilities as per the Guidance of Allah he is in the process of Iqamat as Salat (putting guidance of Allah in practice). At the appointed times when one come under exclusive presence of Allah he is presenting the process of Iqamat as Salat. In other words the deeds from Fajar to Zohar are put in a pitcher and presented to Allah. This pitcher will be opened on the Day of Judgment and all the good and bad deeds will come out. This means that number of pitchers will represent number of Salat offered. If someone has missed Salat then there will be shortage of pitchers i.e. there will be no good deeds. Rather there will be bad deeds in the sense that he has not followed the Command of Allah and not to follow Command of Allah is bad deed.

Brothers and Sisters! Lets us try to understand by an example.

Brothers and Sisters! If a workman comes in the factory and does not log in his card but works whole day he will not be entitled to his wages because as per records he was absent. Brothers and Sisters! So if a Muslim has been doing good deeds but does not offer Salat he will regarded as an absentee.

Brothers and Sisters! So in fact every Muslim is in the process of Salat every moment of his life and if his day to day life is as per Guidance of Allah it will be termed as Ibadaah, the object of creation of mankind:

Translation Surah Adh Dhariyat Ayat no. 56

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and mankind

except that they should submit to Me (Alone)

Brothers and Sisters! In other words the object of creation of mankind is that he will remain in the position of As Salat i.e.

• performance of duties and responsibilities i.e. Iqamat as Salat (living life as per Guidance of Allah)
  .
  

• Performance of Salat i.e. exclusive presence before Allah to present his deeds for approval
  

Brothers and Sisters! Question will emerge in mind that if one has to remain in the position of As Salat then what is the use of other Ibadaahs:

• Zakat
  

• Fasting
  

• Hajj
  

Brothers and Sisters! These are not independent Ibadaahs. These are subsidiary ibadaahs which help in Iqamat as Salat.

How?

Brothers and Sisters! Let us make an analysis what Iqamat as Salat is?

Brothers and Sisters! Iqamat as Salat is name of performing duties and responsibilities and honouring the rights which emerge every moment of life.

Zakat

Brothers and Sisters! The system of the world is based upon ‘give’ and ‘take’. To give from hard earned money is not easy. To inspire human mind and heart to give Allah has Commanded to pay 2 ½ per cent Zakat once a year upon one’s wealth i.e. savings. Zakat is payable to people in need and underprivileged people.

Brothers and Sisters! When one pays Zakat the element of generosity is developed in his heart and mind. Therefore, whenever one comes across a person who appears underprivileged then one does not have to wait for the time when Zakat will be due, he will immediately comes to his rescue.

Brothers and Sisters! The Scholars have deduced that whenever one donates for the sake of Allah it is a form of Zakat but it is termed as donation or ‘Optional Zakat’. Any one can pay ‘Optional Zakat’. Obligatory Zakat is payable only by the people who’s wealth exceeds a certain limit and this is payable once a year but ‘Optional Zakat’ is payable at any time.

Brothers and Sisters! So Zakat is not an independent Ibadaah. It is an essential which helps in Iqamat as Salat.

Fasting

Brothers and Sisters! Technically, fasting means to be patient.

Brothers and Sisters! Patient means that one has to refrain from fulfillment of a wish or desire which emerges in heart. For example: one feels hungry. So if food is not available then he has to be patient until the time food is available. However, if food is available but it is not Halal then one has to be patient.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises why one has to be patient?

Brothers and Sisters! Allah has sent mankind in this world for a test. Test is if mankind satisfies his Sensual Appetite by Halal means and refrains from illicit means.

Brothers and Sisters! It is natural phenomenon that:

• when man and woman come across each other their sexual urges emerge. This is the time when one has to be patient i.e. lower gaze, fear Allah, pass each other repent and beg forgiveness of Allah.
  

• when one comes across, say, gold or silver then the desire will emerge to steal it. This is the time to be patient not to steal.
  

Brothers and Sisters! To develop the element of Patience Allah has Commanded to keep fasts in the month of Ramadan. The apparent requirement is to refrain from drinking and eating from dawn to sunset. But, in fact, the requirement is to refrain from every type of sin so that one develops confidence where he is able to refrain from every type of sin for the eleven months, in other words to be patient in every respect. It is for this reason Allah has revealed in the Qur’an;

Translation Surah Al Baqrah Ayat no. 183

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

O you who believe! Observing As-Soam (the Fasting) is obligatory for you as it was obligatory for those before you, that you may become At-Muttaqun (the pious)

Brothers and Sisters! So Fasting is not an independent Ibadaah but this helps in Iqamat as Salat.

Hajj

Brothers and Sisters! Hajj means to go to Makkah in Saudi Arab and perform certain essentials once in life time in the month of Zilhajj.

Brothers and Sisters! Mankind has been sent in this world for a test. Due to the inspiration of Naffas and Shaitan (Psyche and Devil) one get overpowered by Sensual Appetite and commits sins.

Brothers and Sisters! Although one can repent and beg forgiveness of Allah for the sins committed but there is no surety if the sins have been forgiven.

Brothers and Sisters! Allah is Rehman and Raheem. Allah wants to forgive His (SWT) Bandahs. One who performs Hajj his all sins are forgiven and after the performance of Hajj he just becomes like a new born baby.

Brothers and Sisters! So Hajj is not an independent Ibadaah it helps in Iqamat as Salat in the sense that when one knowing or unknowingly is careless and reckless in performing his duties and responsibilities and honouring his rights, his sins can be forgiven. In other words the Hajj works like a Bleach to remove all the filth which had remained in Iqamat as Salat.

Eman upon Lone Entity of Allah

Brothers and Sisters! Ibadaah is for Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! Alhamdu’lillah! It has been scientifically proved the Entity of Allah is in existence. But simply to admit the Entity of Allah is in existence in not enough, one has to have Eman (firm belief) upon the Lone Entity of Allah that:

• Allah sees everything in the universe
  

• Allah listens to everything in the universe
  

• Allah
  knows about everything in the universe
  

• Allah is able to do everything
  

• Allah is Creator of everything in the universe
  

• Everyone has to be accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment
  

Brothers and Sisters! Unless and until one has Eman upon the Lone Entity of Allah he will not submit to Allah even though he is in the process of Iqamat as Salat as per the Guidance of Allah. Brothers and Sisters! Let us try to understand this aspect with factual evidence.

Brothers and Sisters!

• At Lincoln’s Inn in London the name of Mohammed Ibne Abdullah (SAW) has been written as the Greatest Law Giver.
  

• Non-Muslims do not believe that Mohammed Ibne Abdullah (SAW) is Prophet of Allah. They are of the view that Qur’an has been composed by Him (SAW).
  

• Alhamdu’lillah! As Qur’an is comprehensive Book of Guidance in every respect they have devised their constitution upon the bases of Qur’an, Hadith and Islamic history.
  

• Guidance in respect of every sphere of life is on scientific basis. So whoever will follow guidance as per Qur’an he will reap the fruits.
  

Brothers and Sisters! In short, the secret of progress of the West is based upon Qur’an, Hadith and Islamic history. On the face value it can be termed as Iqamat as Salat i.e. Guidance of Allah is applied scientifically but it is not Iqamat as Salat in real sense and cannot be termed as Ibadaah.

Brothers and Sisters! Ibadaah means that when it will be accepted by Allah then the reward will be in the life hereafter which may earn place in Paradise. If Ibadaah is not accepted then reward is given in this world only.

Brothers and Sisters! In view of the above it is necessary that Iqamat as Salat to be accepted by Allah, one has to have Eman (firm belief) upon the Lone Entity of Allah.

Criteria for the Acceptance of Ibadaah

Brothers and Sisters! It is natural phenomenon that two things have properties so that they can enjoin together. For example:

• Water if thrown on earth the earth will absorb the water. When water is absorbed in earth it will help to grow what is in the earth.
  

• But if water is thrown in oil it will not absorb water i.e. the water will not mix with oil. As the water will not mix with oil the pollution will start to emerge.
  

Brothers and Sisters! The Ibadaah to be acceptable by Allah has criteria of sincerity which has to be in the hearts and minds of the people along with the Eman upon the Lone Entity of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises how the sincerity can develop?

Brothers and Sisters! The component of sincerity is Morality.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises how Morality can develop?

Brothers and Sisters! Components of Morality are honesty and integrity.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises how honesty and integrity can develop?

Brothers and Sisters! Component of honesty and integrity is rights of people have to be honoured for the sake of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises why rights have to be honoured for the sake of Allah?

Brothers and Sisters! Allah is Creator, Allah is Provider of everything as Allah has assumed responsibility to provide everything to keep body and soul together. So Allah has given resources to pass on to other human being. In other words everyone is a middleman i.e. he is providing services or honouring the right for the sake of Allah.

Brothers and Sisters! Question arises that if one is a middleman and he is doing everything for the sake of Allah then what is for him?

Brothers and Sisters! When one is doing everything for the sake of Allah, Allah is pleased with him and Allah bestows him with serenity of heart and peace in mind in this world and will give him a place in Paradise where he will live forever and enjoy the Bounties of Allah which no eye
has seen, no ear has heard and no mind can imagine.

CONCLUSION

Brothers and Sisters! In view of the above representations it appears that it is easy to be successful in this world and life hereafter i.e.

• offer Salat (Prayers) five times a day i.e. exclusive presence before Allah
  

• expend life as per the Guidance of Allah i.e. Iqamat as Salat
  

Brothers and Sisters! So far as Zakat, Fasting and Hajj are concerned one is only under obligation to perform when they will fall due. Let us see:

Zakat

Brothers and Sisters! The payment of Zakat becomes obligatory when the wealth exceeds Nisab, a certain amount, for one year. So if one’s wealth which exceeds the prescribed limit is not saved for one year then the Zakat is not payable. For example: one has wealth amounting to £!million but he expends it for the sake of Allah just one day before the year ends, the Zakat is not payable.

Fasting

Brothers and Sisters! One has to fast in the month of Ramadan. However, if one is ill or it will be detrimental to health where it is matter of life and death then one is exempt to keep fast.

Hajj

Brothers and Sisters!
Hajj is only obligatory once in life time provided one has Nisab i.e. wealth where he can come and go to Makkah in Saudi Arabia and savings left for the family upkeep. So if one is not in this position then he does not have to perform Hajj.

ARE PEOPLE DEPRIVED OF THE REWARD FOR ZAKAT, FASTING AND HAJJ?

Brothers and Sisters!
Question will emerge in mind that the people who do not fall in the category of Zakat, Fasting and Hajj are deprived of the rewards which on the face value seems unfair. However, this is not the case. How? Let us look at it.

Zakat

Brothers and Sisters!

• The object of payment of Zakat is to eliminate the element of miserliness from the heart of the people so that one can expend his wealth for others.
  

• In short, even to expend money for the brought up of children, looking after the household affairs is form of Zakat. Moreover, people donate from their hard earned money for the benefit of poor and underprivileged people.
  

Brothers and Sisters! So one who does not fall under the category
of obligatory payment of Zakat he can earn the rewards by payment of optional Zakat:

• Lillah,
  

• Sadqa,
  

• Hadia,
  

• sponsorship
  

• etc.
  

Brothers and Sisters! Therefore, one is not deprived of rewards for the payment of Zakat.

Brothers and Sisters!
Anbiyya e Karam (Prophets) did not pay Zakat. Why? Were the exempt from payment of Zakat? No. They always expended their wealth for the sake of Allah and did not save anything. So the people who do not fall under the category of obligatory payment of Zakat they are in the shoes of Anbiyya e Karam (Prophets) provided they expended all of the wealth for the sake of Allah.

Fasting

Brothers and Sisters! The object of Fasting is to learn to be patient and fulfill his wishes and desires as per the Guidance of Allah and not by illicit means.

Brothers and Sisters! If one is Patient in his day to day life then the object of Fasting i.e. to be patient is achieved.

Hajj

Brothers and Sisters! The object of Hajj is to have one’s sins forgiven and he becomes like a new born baby.

Brothers and Sisters! If one offers Salat five times a day and his day to day life is as per Guidance of Allah i.e. Iqamat as Salat then he has no sin committed. However, as per the context of Verses of the Qur’an and Aha-Hadith if one repents and beg forgiveness of Allah, Allah forgives his sins. As below is a Verse of the Qur’an to this effect:

Translation Surah Al Furqan Ayat no 70

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

And those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will convert their sins into good
deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful

Like a New Born Baby

Brothers and Sisters! Allah has devised system of human life in such a manner that one can be clean and pure every moment of his life.

How?

Brothers and Sisters! If one offers Fajar Salat and thereafter until Zohar Salat he expends his life as per the Guidance of Allah and repents and beg forgiveness of his sins which he may have committed knowingly and unknowingly with intention that he will be careful in future then his Salat and Iqamat as Salat is accepted by Allah with His (SWT) Grace and his sins forgiven. Brothers and Sisters! So at Zohar Salat he becomes like a newborn baby. Similarly if his other Salat: Asr, Magrib, Esha and Fajar are accepted by Allah with His Grace and every time he is like a newborn baby then he does not have to worry which is revealed in the Qur’an:

Translation Surah Al Baqrah Ayat No. 38

We said: “Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.

RESOLUTION

Brothers and Sisters! Let us make a resolution without any delay by:

• offering two Rakat Salat ul Hajat and beg Allah to give Toffeeq to repent
  

• when Toffeeq to repent is granted by Allah with His (SWT) Grace then repent and beg forgiveness of Allah for past sins with sincerity of heart and mind.
  

• plan your day to day life to expend as per the Guidance of Allah and also plan to perform Salat five times a day i.e. exclusive presence before Allah when the time falls due.
  

Wass’a’lam

[May Allah Bless You]