11th
Rabee-al-Thani 1429H
18th
April
2008AC
Certainty and the Testimony of Faith (Part 2)
There are a number
of conditions associated with the testimony of “No God but Allah”, and
associated with the deeds of the hearts. Among those conditions are:
Truthfulness, love for Allah and His messenger and The Certainty in the
testimony of No God but Allah. There are eleven points associated with
certainty. The Imam in a previous talk he discussed five of those conditions,
today he discusses the other six:
5) Types of certainty:
Certainty is of
two types:
a)
Is to be
certain in Allah’s words. Or what Allah tells us.
b)
Is to be in
the Allah’s commands.
To be certain in
Allah’s words meaning those which are related to knowledge and faith. Those
that a believer is ought to believe in and be certain of. No practical action
is required of him.
To be certain in
Allah’s commands relates to the deeds required to be done by the slave. So he
or she become certain of the command and remain abide by it, doing the act
obligated upon him by Allah may He be exulted.
6) Is to be certain in
Allah’s words.
There are a number of
types of the certainty into Allah’s words, for example: the resurrection.
Allah told us that He will bring the dead to life, and resurrect those in the
graves. We are to be certain of this. It is a fact that has no doubt that
there will be a resurrection after death.
Another example is:
death. Every body believes in death including those who believe in God and
those who do not. Al-Hassan Al-Basry says: “I have never seen a certainty that
has no doubt and a doubt that no certainty as death.” Everyone including the
infidel believe in death, yet, what is strange is that one can see no sign for
this certainty in their lives. So, even though everyone is certain in the fact
of death, but their actions and deeds you see them continuously active in
accumulating worldly belongings as if they shall never die.
Before believing in
death and the resurrection, we believe that Allah is a fact, Paradise and
Hellfire are facts. We believe in them before we see them. We believe the day
after will happen. We shall be resurrected and brought to an account. We
believe in all these based on what Allah told us in His words. Another example
is the punishment in the grave or bliss, pleasure and heaven in the grave. We
believe it beyond doubt because the most truthful of all, Muhammad (PPBU) told
us about it, an the Koran contained evidence about it.
Types of the unseen
knowledge we are told about include us believing in that path or walk on the
narrow bridge over Hell fire. We believe in angels, we believe in the blessing
of seeing the face of Allah, and we believe in the scale, we believe in all
the foundations of faith. All such things we were told about is of three
types:
(a)
The absolute unseen:
Allah described the believers in verses 2 and 3 of Chapter 2 when He says:
{That Book that has no suspicion, guidance to the God fearing people * Those
who believe in the unseen}2:2-3. This includes believing in Allah, His angels,
His books, His messengers, the day after, the bridge path over Hell fire, the
scale and others. All such things are of the absolute unseen that shall be
when one meets His lord. But remain unseen as long as one is in this life.
(b)
The relative unseen:
These are of Allah or His messenger have told us and forecasted with what
shall happen in the future in this life. Such as, the certainty of spread of
Islam over all other religions, and the ten major signs of the end of life in
which we believe. They are the coming of the false messiah, the great smoke,
the great fire in the city of Adan in Yeman, the sun rising from the west, the
appearance of the people of Ajooj and Majooj, and the beast, and the coming of
the Isa (PBU), and the three great sun eclipses.
There are many other
minor signs we were told about by the messenger (PPBU) such as: the conspiracy
or splitting amongst the Muslims, the coming or the Mahdi with the coming of
Isa (PBU), the great final war with the Jews. When rocks and trees will speak
in support of Muslims against Jews. We were told about the shepherds building
sky scrapers with vanity and pride.
Therefore, we should be
certain of what Allah or His messenger have told us, with such firm and
unshakable faith.
(c)
The Semi-hidden
matters.
Some matters are hidden to some people and are not to others. The same
knowledge may to some: knowledge through faith in the hidden; and to some is
knowledge through evidence. Examples of that is what the messenger (PPBU) said
to do when a fly falls in one’s drink with one wing dipping into the drink; is
to dip the other wing and through away the fly. Indicating if one wing carries
a disease the other wing carries the treatment. Some will only believe in it
after scientific or experimental evidence is obtained; and they would be told
the testimonial or evidential believers. We believe in this through faith in
the Messenger’s words, and would be of the type of the believers in the
unseen.
We need to have
absolute belief in everything the messenger has told. We are commanded by
Allah in the Koran to do so. Allah goes further saying that whatsoever the
Messenger says is not from him but is inspired by Allah. The only thing is
that we get certain that he did say such a thing.
7) Examples
given by the companions in fulfilling this status
The greatest group
of people who gave examples of certainty (in both commands of Allah and His
words) is that generation of companions who were taught by the messenger (PPBU).
For example, Amer
ebn Quaise when he said: “even if the barrier is removed I wouldn’t have any
more certainty than I already do”
Ali ebn Abi-Talib
said: “Even when I see Heaven and Hell, I would not gain any more certainty,
because I have already seen them through the eyes of the Messenger (PPBU)”.
Meaning his faith in what the messenger told him is more than his faith if he
saw with his own eyes.
Abu-Baker when
told by the unbelievers: “Your friend claims he made a journey to Palestine,
ascended to the heavens and came back in one night. What do you think? You
can’t but disbelieve him?” Abu-Baker said: “If he did say it, then it is
true”. He made accepting that as being true is the condition that it was told
by the messenger (PPBU). He had certainty in not doubting the Messenger (PPBU).
Anas ben-Nathr who
had a problem that can only walk with a limp, took part in a battle. Some said
to him that he has an excuse from Allah and doesn’t need to join the battle.
He said: “With the grace of Allah, I would step into paradise before you do
despite this limp of mine”. Later the messenger said {I saw him in Paradise
and he has no limp}. Indeed his faith in paradise was very high at times of
war when hearts tremble, and thought of escaping and taking refuge over whelm
the mind.
8) The second
part is the certainty in Allah’s command.
It is extremely
important as we Muslims needed it greatly. We need to know that just as
believing with certainty in Allah’s words, we need to have certainty in the
acts or deeds Allah commands us to do. Like the singularity of God, and
worshipping Him with prayers, charity, fasting and all other types of worship.
Certainty is also in abstaining from the acts which Allah commands prohibit.
A believing slave
of Allah must never approach his prohibitions or violate them. And does or
abstain by Allah’s commands with certainty of the reward or punishment Allah
has promised. That is the essence of the God fearing characteristic.
Those with level
of certainty are an elite group of God fearing people. The are certain that
Allah has prohibited adultery, usury (or dealing in interests), Alcohol,
stealing, bribery, slandering or backbiting, tattling or defamation and making
false accusations against the innocent, harming the neighbour, and disobeying
of parents, harming all people, oppression or transgression, tyranny,
prostitution and aggression. All that Allah has prohibited you must abstain
from and never commit.
Be certain that
Allah commanded to do prayers, charity, pilgrimage, fasting, giving for Allah,
justice, perfection, kindness and especially to parents, and doing good in
general. And the certainty that Allah rewards for doing so.
9) Example of
certainty in Allah’s commands.
Bilal as he was
being tortured and a large rock was placed on his chest in the heat of the day
in Mecca, due to his certainty in Allah, he used to repeatedly say: “one God,
one God”.
Others in wars had
to fight even their closest relatives because in that war they were fighting
the enemies of Allah. With the certainty that fighting for the cause of Allah
leads to paradise.
The life of the
companions was full of certainty. An example to use is when Allah sent down
his command to prohibit alcohol. That is a good example to use due to the
addiction factor and the difficulty to give up. When Allah’s command came
down, despite the addiction, the alcoholic drinks were poured down until the
streets of Madina were covered in alcohol. No inspectors, or law enforcers or
police were needed. When certainty does not exist things will happen as what
happened in America in the twenties and thirties of the last century when the
laws of alcohol prohibitions were issued. Then they insisted on outlawing
alcohol, and used the entire country’s powerful advertising machinery and huge
enforcement and other resources to implement it. They spent millions of
dollars, and tens of thousands of inspectors and soldiers and police forces.
As you all know when the US government decides on something it becomes
obsessed with it, it moves, mobilize, manipulates, traces, plans with
precision and perfection. And then what happens? Only thirteen years later
they had to overturn their decree, and change their plans and cancel the
prohibition. Because the people did not respond. In fact, small secret
underground factories came into operation with crimes of murder, more
destruction and problems. So, it was brought back and alcohol became available
again, probably more available than water. A nation with no certainty towards
God.
10) Certainty is a
faithful heart and not a convinced mind
The companions had the
faith in their hearts. Americans had been convinced in their minds logically
and scientifically were convinced but that was not enough for them. They did
not have the faith in their hearts which what mattered.
We see many a doctor
who smokes cigarettes despite his knowledge and being convinced in his mind of
its dangers. But, once he hears an effective religious talk then he/she gives
it up and repent, thanks be to Allah. That is because the talk or the advice
addresses the certainty in the heart. Addressing the mind with logically
convincing arguments sometimes work, but in more cases the effect wares off
after a while. There is no compression between the effect of the two.
Khalid bin-Alwaleed was
challenged once to drink poison if his messenger was right. Realizing that
saying no will indicate lack of faith on his behalf and loosing the argument
with loosing potential converts to Islam. He drank the poison and Allah saved
him.
This opens another door
that certainty is an honor or a special attribute from Allah. And those with
special attributes or special powers are those with true certainty. They may
have a special secret moral power; as in to have their prayers answered and
never tell about it; or to be given the power to see the truth through
complicated situations.
At the end, we finish
with what Allah says: {is it the rule of ignorance they want, and who is
better that Allah as a rule for those who are certain.}5:50. We must rekindle
the meaning of certainty in Allah’s words. Also re-energize and live the
meaning certainty in the Allah’s commands. And what Allah has permitted is the
right, the truth and the good for a great wisdom. We must be certain, and if
we have suspicion then we would be abandoning the command of Allah and
accepting the rule of ignorance. They are the two opposites: the rule of Allah
and the rule of ignorance.
11) Types of certainty.
Certainty divides into
levels:
a)
The certainty
of knowing.
Is like what we read in
the Koran about paradise and Hellfire and their descriptions.
b)
The certainty
of truth (or True Certainty)
Is when actually seeing
that which you were told about and which you knew but had not seen yet; seeing
paradise right in front of you just as Allah promised. Then the certainty of
knowledge changes to become the true certainty.
c)
The core or
certainty
When actually entering
and feeling, enjoying and living paradise itself. This becomes certainty in
its entirety.
12) Strengthening the
certainty of the heart
Certainty within the
heart can be strengthened by all that may make your faith stronger like
reciting the Koran, visiting the graveyard, meditation and thinking of the
creation of the heavens and earth, and all the creatures upon earth, and in
the human race and the differing of color and language, and the sending of the
rain, and the management of all this world.
Let our certainty be in
Allah may He be exulted, and in His promise, and in His commands, and His
words as He wanted for us, and as we were taught by His messenger (PPBU). And
as the companions did and live. May Allah grant us unshakable certainty, and a
non ending contentment.
Amen.
Friday Talks 
