Knowing About Allaah and How Allaah Nurtures His Slaves (1 of 2) – Sunday 31 March, 2013

Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) has set forth an example in the Qur’aan for the tree of faith in the heart of the believer. If this tree is fixed firmly in the heart of the believer the branches will extend high to the sky and these branches resemble the good deeds which are based on the firm belief. As the Aqeedah of the person is fixed firmly as the person does more good deeds. This means there will be more branches extending high in the sky.

These good deeds ascend to Allaah as Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) said in Surah Fatir (35:10):

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ

Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish.

This means that this goodly word should be followed by a good deed. If Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) accepts this good deed then the result will be the fruits which will benefit the person and other people. These fruits indicate the acceptance of the good deed. The reward will be multiplied with Allaah.

We conclude that the tree will not grow except with knowledge. Nothing will make the faith stay firm except the knowledge, and the most important knowledge is the knowledge of Allaah. We should know about Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) in order for our Aqeedah and faith to stay firm in our heart.

We are going to meet Allaah one day. Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) says in Surah Yunus (10:4):

إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا ۖ 

”…To Him is the return of all of you”

Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) will talk to all of us without any mediator or interpreter in between. So shouldn’t we know about Him? And when we meet Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala), we hope to find the reward of our deeds with Him. When you know the appointment with Allaah is inevitable then this should make you:

1. Seek the knowledge about Allaah
2. Do more good deeds such that you will find the reward of these deeds waiting for you with Allaah. As Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) says in Surah Yunus (10:2):
   

   أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ قَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Have the people been amazed that We revealed [revelation] to a man from among them, [saying], “Warn mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they will have a [firm] precedence of honour with their Lord”? [But] the disbelievers say, “Indeed, this is an obvious magician

Qadam is the foot. The “Qadam Sidq” which literally is the ‘truthful foot’. It is as if Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) resembles the good deed with someone who is walking towards Him. It is as if your good deeds are walking ahead of you and will wait for you with Allaah.

Allaah is Ar-Razzaq, the Provider. The best of provision He gives is the provision of our souls. Our bodies have the souls, even our heart needs a soul and that comes with  knowledge. This knowledge will revive the heart. If the faith increases in the heart because of  knowledge of Allaah, you will find yourself that you will be satisfied with the least in the Dunya. This is the effect of those who taste the sweetness of the faith.

Evidence:  Abu Hurairah  (Radhia-Allaahu ‘anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) invited a non-Muslim. Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) commanded that a goat be milked for him. It was milked and he drank its milk. Then the second one was milked and he drank its milk, and then the other one was milked and he drank its milk. This continued till he drank the milk of seven goats. On the next morning he embraced Islam. Again,  Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) commanded that a goat should be milked for him and he drank its milk.  Then, another was milked but he did not finish it, whereupon Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said,” A believer drinks in one intestine whereas a non-believer drinks in seven intestines.”[Sahih Muslim Book 37, Hadith 5500]

When you satiate your hunger with faith you will be satisfied with the least of the Dunya. You will not long for the materialistic things in the Dunya. Your wishes are noble and always high. Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) said in Surah Alaq verse 2:

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

”Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).”

Alaq is literally a hanging, clinging substance. This is our origin. This is our nature we like to be attached. The people who have faith about Allaah have only One to attach themselves to and that is Allaah. While those whose faith is weak they cling to people, materialistic things, low hopes. As faith increases as the heart is attached to Allaah.

It is very important to spend time learning about Allaah. We are told about Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) in detail in every Surah we recite. He tells us He is Al-Azeez, Al-Hakeem, etc. He tells us about Himself in order that we may know Him and accordingly, for our hearts to be attached to Him.

Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) continuously tells us in the Qur’aan about His attributes, names and actions in order that we only magnify and love Him, and accordingly worship Him.

When Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) tells us about Himself in detail this should make us think good of Allah and always expect good from Allaah. This is a very important impact of knowing Allaah – To think and expect good from Allaah.

As you know Allaah more, you will see the good in all His actions. You will explain everything Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) does to you in a good way. You will not look at the calamity as something bad, and you will not attain this unless you learn more and more about Allaah.

As you know Allaah more as you will benefit from His nurturing.

Exp: Allaah said He is “Rabbi’l ‘Aalameen” and we are one of His ‘Aalameen. He nurtures us generally by sustaining us, etc.  He also nurtures the believers by a special nurturing. From the impacts of this is that He nurtures His believers to increase them in faith. He makes them go through situations in order to bring them from a deficient state to a perfect state.

Everyone goes through tests and we have to know that Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) loves for us to succeed in the test. When He makes you go through any trial He makes it easy for you to pass it, He makes the means for you easy to overcome it.

Whenever He withholds something know that Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) wants good for you, so expect something better than that. But always keep in mind that He will give it to you in the right time because He is Al-Hakeem. In this way the believer receives the nurturing of Allaah, expecting good from Allaah all the time.

Before the slave goes through any trial, Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) prepares them in advance such that when the calamity comes it is light on them.

There is no affliction that befalls you but Allaah:

1. Teaches you how to come out of it either by sending someone, or through reading something or hearing something.
2. He prepares all the means for you to come out of it.
3. He will provide you with all kinds of firmness. 

Ex. A woman may lose her child. Before that Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) may make her go to a lecture and she will hear about the reward of one who loses her child. So she lost her child after and what she learnt became a comfort for her.

Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) prepares and protects His believing slaves. But only the person who sees with his heart which is full of faith and knowledge of Allah can see the facts which others can’t see. If he gets something, he knows Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) had written it for him 50,000 years before the creation of the heavens and the earth. If he doesn’t get it, he knows that Allaah did not write it for him. This is the difference between a believer with weak faith and strong faith.