Thanks be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the
most honorable of all messengers Mohammad; and all his folks, companions, and
followers to the day they are all summoned together.
This religion is like a
good tree with a firm root and with its branch is in the sky, producing its
fruit every while with the permission of its Lord. And just as the tree has a
root, branches and sub-branches, this religion too has a root or foundation,
branches and sub-branches.
The root or the
foundation of this religion is found in the heart of each believer. That is
the six corners of belief starting with the belief of the one and only god,
Allah may he be exalted. While the branches of this religion are the seen
Islamic actions and seen laws.
The tree does not die as
some of its branches and sub branches die. But, it will die if its root dies.
Also the tree will die if all of its branches and sub branches are completely
eliminated, or if its root is destroyed.
All matters related to
conviction were called by the messenger PPBU as "belief" or Iman. While all
matters related with the seen Islamic actions and seen laws He called them
"Islam". That is in the famous Gabrael hadeeth after the meaning of belief was
explained by the messenger PPBU. Gabrael said to him: Tell me about Islam. The
messenger PPBU said: {Islam is to testify that there is no other god but
Allah, and that Muhammed is a messenger, perform the prayers, pay the Zakah,
fast Ramadan and make pilgrimage to the house of Allah if one has the ability
and means.} Gabrael said: you spoke the truth. The messenger PPBU made it
clear that what is related with one's heartly convictions is known as belief
or Iman in its six corners of belief. Since this mosque has started every
Friday we have been explaining the first corners of belief, that is the belief
in Allah almighty. In this subject there are a number of facts which we must
be aware of. Such facts will clarify many of vague and problematic points in
this subject.
The first fact: is that
it is unimaginable for the entire tree including its trunk and branches to
continue to exist if its root or foundation is destroyed. That is exactly the
same with religion for the human being if his belief and conviction go bad
then his/her entire religion is lost. It becomes Islam with no belief or
religion with no conviction.
The second fact is that
it is also unimaginable for the roots to remain safe and healthy with the
liquid of life flowing through it, and yet its life does not flow through the
trunk, branches and sub-branches of the tree. For if the root or the
foundation remains healthy and strong and alive, it will eventually grow and
its effects will become seen within the branches, sub-branches, flowerings and
fruits.
This is the case with
this religion. If a responsible adult human being does not do any of the
Islamic seen obligations nor obeys any of the Islamic seen laws, then this is
a testimony that this individual is not a believer. For the failure to do the
entire Islamic obligations and requirements will negate the Islam for such an
individual. And if an individual is no longer a Muslim, that indicates that
he/she has no belief within the heart.
The third fact is that
if part of the body of the tree is lost it does not necessarily mean that
entire tree is lost. This can be different based on which part of the tree is
destroyed. If branches, sub-branches or the fruit parts of the tree are
destroyed, then that does not necessarily mean the entire tree will be
destroyed. The tree with its root and trunk can still remain to exist. It may
not be a full tree, with some minor or even major parts of it missing.
If the trunk of the tree
is destroyed, the trunk being the main support of the tree, then the entire
tree may be destroyed. The five prayers in our religion are like the trunk of
the tree or are like the main support in a tent. If a Muslim completely leaves
out the prayers and completely denies it when confronted then his Islam is
gone astray and his faith is corrupt. His religion becomes at ruined because
performing prayers is the trunk of this religion. So, depending on which part
of the tree is destroyed, whither the the entire tree will be destroyed or it
will continue to exist as an incomplete tree.
The forth fact concerns
the understanding of the wording of the Muslim law in such matters. Some of
the Quran text describing some Quranic matters, and describing some matters
relating to faith and conviction, and describing some matters of Islam and out
seen acts describing all by calling it belief.
The quran described that
belief increases and decreases. The scholars that related to the prayers, for
Allah called performing the prayer as belief. And that is one of the seen
actions of Islam.
Allah also referred to
some acts of faith within the heart (like fearing of Allah) and in other
occasions described faith and belief with some seen acts like performing
prayers, and giving charity or zaka.
The messenger PPBU was
reported saying: Are you aware of what belief (or faith) is? "Belief is to
testify that Allah is the only god, and to perform prayers, give charity, fast
Ramadan and give one-fifth of what you gain in a war". The messenger PPBU
described belief or faith with the seen acts of Islam.
In another hadeeth, the
messenger was reported describing Islam using some hearty and some seen
actions together. He said: "Islam is to submit your heart to Allah". This is a
conviction act describing Islam. The messenger PPBU was also reported saying:
{Islam is to submit your heart to Allah, and for other fellow Muslims to be
safe off your tong and hand}. Here, the messenger PPBU described Islam with
both a conviction and seen acts. And when he was asked which one is better, he
replied: "Belief (or faith)". He included faith or belief as being part of
Islam.
Amr asked the messenger
what is belief (or faith).the messenger PPBU said: {belief is to believe in
Allah, his books (scriptures), his messengers and in the resurrection after
death.}. In the messenger's hadeeths, the messenger described Islam by acts
convictions within the heart and by Islamic acts of seen nature, but he
definitely included the belief within Islam.
All this shows that
belief and Islam are two entwined matters with a very strong relation
connecting them. Sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably, and often
one is included into the other. When one mentions Islam it is taken to include
belief and when belief is mentioned, it is taken to include Islam. But when
the two are included in the same statement, they suddenly become different and
they resume different meanings. Belief them resumes the faith in the six
corners of belief, while Islam becomes to mean the seen acts and the laws of
Islam, whether obligatory or optional acts.
The mention of the "Good
tree" used as an example of this religion in the Koran was described by the
messenger PPBU as the dates tree with its foundation firmly into the depth of
the earth, and its trunk elevating into the sky for all to see. Just like this
religion, its foundation is the belief in the firmly fixed in the believer's
heart, and its trunk and branches are the visible acts and visible laws
elevating the believer to higher levels of status with Allah.
The messenger PPBU also
described this religion as having a head, a main supporting column, a peak of
a hump. He said: "The head of this matter is Islam, and the main supporting
column is the prayers, and the peak of its hump is striving in the way of
Allah or Jihad". This indicates that without a head nothing can survive, and
this religion will not survive without the believing in Allah as one. And
nothing can stand without its supporting column or spine, and neither will
this religion without prayers. But many may survive without the peak or the
Jihad.
May Allah bless us with
all the blessings in the Koran, and may Allah make us benefit from the holy
Koran. Ask for forgiveness he is the most merciful the most forgiving of all.
