Islamic marriage advice and family advice

I’m questioning Allah’s justice…

Is this injustice from Allah?

As salam alaikum everyone,

I'm from India, and for the past two years, I'm trying to gain knowledge of Islam. During this process of learning about Islam, I've had some doubts. I came to know that before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came, Allah chose Bani Israel to be his "chosen people" just like the Muslim ummah today. But they had many bounties and advantages compared to us:

1..They had many prophets:(Yusuf, Musa, Dawud, Sulaiman, Isa) peace be upon them all, who showed them miracles and guided them to the path of Allah. But we have only one prophet, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Is this not partiality towards us?

2..Allah provided them food and water from heaven (read this in stories of prophets). Why is Allah not providing us these bounties?

3..Their job was just to obey the commands of Allah, but we have an additional job to propogate the commands of Quran to the non-muslims. Why should we propogate the message if that is the job of the prophets?

4..Even if we propogate the message of Islam, can our status be equal to the prophets? But we are doing their job! Is this not injustice done by Allah to this ummah as they (Bani Israel) had so many advantages above us?

Mtz


Tagged as: , , , ,

4 Responses »

  1. Salam Mtz

    The way you're thinking right now is leading you towards disbelief because you're thinking with pride. Remove pride, add a feeling of belonging to all humans, and look at what the purpose would be, and your issues would not be issues.

    1) Here use inclusion in that you are part of the collective of believing men/women and Jinn. Your great grandfather is Adam and all of us are his grand kids. Now thinking in these terms, your relatives, the Bani-Israel had messengers but you are asked not to make a distinction between messengers and accept all of them. So they are your messengers too, not just messengers for them. In fact, you can find their messages in the Quran as Allah will tell you what they said in the past. The other thing here is that although they are "chosen" by Allah, all who believe are "chosen" by Allah. You are "chosen" too in that Allah chose you as someone worthy of belief. And this is in the Quran. Back then communities were separate and messengers came to towns. If the town disbelieved then the town would be destroyed. The Jews represent the first group of people that are being used to spread faith. So instead of individual messengers they would be a group of people showing the right example. If Allah chooses to send them multiple messengers to correct them then that is ok. There is no need to send multiple messengers to us though, we have the Quran, it's still in its original form. What would be the purpose of sending the Quran again to us?

    2) Allah also tested them by their losing their first born son, why does Allah not test us the same way? You cannot consider it unjust not to receive gifts that haven't been earned. You gave your parents gifts, why didn't I get anything from you? Aren't you unjust then? Of course you're not, whom you choose to gifts to is up to you. Family has a greater right but it wouldn't be unjust if you chose to gift them and not me. This is true for Allah, one prophet received a kingdom like no other, another prophet traveled the desert, another was thrown down a well but was very good looking. It is not unjust for Allah to choose whom Allah wills to gift to.

    3) We do not have the job to propagate the message. We will still be rewarded for being stay at home Muslims. There is an additional reward for going out and propagating. It is up to you if you want that reward, if you don't then you can still stay at home and just earn the reward for being Muslim. This is up to you.

    4) Your status is based on deeds. I don't see anything that would prevent you from earning as many deeds as a prophet. in fact there were people that were told that they've qualified for heaven while they were still alive. Now in reality will you actually strive like a prophet? Probably not. It is known to Allah how the souls will perform and they are then placed in our timeline at a certain time. Mohammad pbuh was incredibly honest and of good character before becoming a prophet. He (pbuh) is considered a mercy to us based on how he attracted people towards heaven based on his personality. If he was not chosen as a prophet, he would still be a high performer. So if you want to strive you should strive. There is no limit on the rewards, just because the others did well doesn't mean they will reduce your rewards It's not like there's one apple pie and each one of us gets a slice. Each one of us gets our own pie if we qualify. Your rewards are yours, so you are not actually in any competition with anyone besides yourself.

  2. There's no use in comparing yourself to others, and there's no use in comparing a society from one time to a society from another time. You live in a technologically advanced time, and that has its fair share of benefits that people from previous times did not enjoy. You live a more convenient life, and in an overall safer and less corrupt world than any other civilisation ever has lived in. What are complaining about? lol.

  3. Walaikumassalaam Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatu.

    Brother, leave aside your questions for a minute and focus on the virtues of our Ummah!

    Allaah states, "You (the followers of Muhammad) are the best of all nations who have been raised for (the benefit and salvation of) mankind. You command what is right, forbid from evil and believe in Allaah. {Surah Aal Imraan, verse 110}

    Our Ummah stands as Witnesses Against Other Nations on the Plains of Resurrection:

    Allaah says: Thus We have made you (the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad) such a group that is moderate in nature so that you may be witnesses (on the Day of Qiyaamah) over people and the messenger (Prophet Muhammad) a witness over you. {Surah Baqara, verse 143}

    Our Ummah has Been Given the Most Compassionate Prophet.

    Undoubtedly a Rasool from yourselves has come to you. The difficulties that afflict you are very distressing to him. He is anxious for (good to come to) you and extremely forgiving and merciful (gentle and kind) towards the Mu'mineen. {Surah Taubah, verse 128}

    There is no Difficulty in the Deen of our Ummah.

    Allaah states:

    So whoever among you witnesses this month (is alive during the month of Ramadhaan and is capable of fasting) should fast in it, while those who are ill or on journey, then (they should make up for the missed fasts by fasting) the same number of days at another time. Allaah desires ease for you (by allowing travelers and the you to fast at a later time) and does not desire hardship for you. {Surah Baqara, verse 185}

    Our Prophet sallahu alaihi wasallam is Commanded to consult with his Ummah.

    "It is because of the mercy of Allaah that you (o Muhammad) are lenient (gentle, forgiving, soft-hearted) with them (with the Sahabah). If you had been ill tempered and hard-hearted, they would have all dispersed (run away) from around you. So pardon them, seek forgiveness for them and consult with them in matters (Prophet Muhammad therefore consulted with the Sahabah very often). When you have taken a firm decision (after consulting with the knowledgeable ones), then place your trust in Allaah (and not on your resources and decision). Verily Allaah loves those who place their trust in Him (and wiii sureiy assist them)." {Surah Aal Imraan, verse 159}

    While praising Prophet Muhammad in Surah A'raaf, Allaah says:

    ...and he removes from them the burden and shackles (the stern laws) that were (binding) upon them...{Surah A'raaf, verse 157}

    Towards the end of Surah Hajj, Allaah states:
    "And strive hard in Allah's Cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior). He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islamic Monotheism to mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islam), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Ibrahim (Abraham) (Islamic Monotheism). It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur'an) hat the Messenger (Muhammad ) may be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind! So perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), give Zakat and hold fast to Allah [i.e. have confidence in Allah, and depend upon Him in all your affairs] He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an Excellent Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper!" {Surah Hajj, verse 78}

    The above are all examples of the ease and concessions in the Deen. When on journey, salaah is halved and when a person is incapable if standing in salaah, he is allowed to sit and even lie down if this too is impossible. When there is no water available or when a person is incapable of using water, Tayammum may be made in the place of wudhu and ghusl. People who are travelling, ill, expecting or breast-feeding are even allowed to miss the fasts of Ramadhaan and keep them during anothertime.

    Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam has also prohibited us from being harsh with ourselves. This means that it is sinful to disregard the ease that the Shari'ah offers. Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, "Do not be harsh with yourselves, for then Allaah will be harsh with you. There were people who were harsh with themselves and then Allaah was harsh with them as a result you see only their remains in the monasteries.

    Allah says, "They invented monasticism which We did not ordain for them." {Surah Hadeed, verse 27}

    Our ummah is praised in the the Torah:

    Ka’b Ahbaar RH mentioned that the following was recorded inthe Torah: “Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam is My chosen servant. He is not ill temperedand harsh, nor one who is noisy in the marketplaces. He does notcombat evil with evil, but forgives and overlooks. His birthplace will be Makkah and he will migrate to Taybah. His rule will be in Shaam and his Ummah will praise Allaah excessively. They will praise Allaah in good conditions and adverse conditions and at every destination. They will express Allaah’s greatness whenever ascending a height and will be watchful of the sun. They will offer salaah whenever the time sets in. Their lower garments will reach up to the middle of their calves and they will wash their limbs in ablution. Their caller to salaah will announce the Adhaan and they will form rows in battle and in salaah. Both these rows will be equal (in sincerity and resoluteness). Their Dhikr at night will be like the buzzing of the bees.”

    Ibraheem AS Sends Greetings to our Ummah.

    Abdullaah bin Mas’ood RA narrates that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “On the night that I was taken for Mi’raaj, I met Ibraheem AS. He said to me, ‘O Muhammad (sallahu alaihi wasallam )! Give your Ummah Salaam (greetings)
    from me and inform them that Jannah has excellent soil and sweet water. However, it is an empty plot of ground and its plants are: subhanallah walhamdulillah wala ilaha illallah wallahu akbar. What an honour that Allaah’s friend and the father of the Ambiyaa should send greetings to this Ummah and advise us through his son Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam how to attain the bounties of Jannah. The words of Ibraheem AS tell us that although Jannah has many bounties, it is useless like a barren field for a person who does no good. This is because such a person will be deprived of it altogether. Just as seeds will flourish in soil that is fertile and which receives sufficient water of good quality, good deeds carried out in this world will reap lush rewards in the Aakhirah. Whoever does no planting here will receive nothing there.

    Our Ummah will be the First to Enter Jannah:
    Abdullaah bin Abbaas RA narrates that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “I shall be the first person to shake the ring (on the door of Jannah) and Jannah will the opened for me. I shall then enter together with the poor Mu'mineen. I am saying this without any pride. In sight of Allaah, I shall be the most honoured of all people from the earlier times and from latter times. This too, I am saying without any pride.”

    Jaabir RA narrates that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “I have been granted five things that no other has been granted before me viz.
    1. I have been assisted with such awe that the enemy is afraid of me at a month’s distance (i.e. even though an enemy is a distance of a month’s journey away from me, he will be overcome with awe for me.)
    2. The entire earth has been made a place of salaah and purification for me. (Salaah can be performed anywhere and, in the absence of water, a person may use sand to purify himself by making Tayammum). Wherever any person of my Ummah finds the time for salaah, he should perform it (without having to search for a Masjid).
    3. The spoils of war have been permitted for me and it was never permitted for any other before me.
    4. I have been granted the intercession. (Only Prophet Muhammad will be permitted to intercede on behalf of the entire creation on the Day of Judgement).
    5. The Ambiyaa before me were sent specifically to their own nations only, but I have been sent to the entire humanity.

    Abu Maalik Ash’ari RA narrates that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “Allaah has saved you from three things:
    1. That your Nabi should curse you, thereby causing the annihilation of you all.
    2. That the forces of falsehood should overpower the forces of the truth (in a manner that the truth never rises again).
    3. That you should all unite on falsehood.
    This means that the entire Ummah shall never unanimously agree with an act or belief that is incorrect. Therefore, Allaah is also in agreement with something that the Ummah unanimously agrees on.

    Sa’d RA narrates that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam once passed by the Masjid of
    the Banu Mu’aawiya tribe. He entered the Masjid and performed two Rakaahs salaah in it. The Sahabah RA also performed salaah with him, after which Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam spent some time making du’aa. Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam then informed the Sahabah RA that he had made du’aa to Allaah for three things, two of which wee granted. The three du’aas were:
    1. That Allaah should save the Ummah from perishing all at once because of drought. Allaah granted this du’aa.
    2. That Allaah should save the Ummah from being drowned. Allaah granted this du’aa.
    3. That Allaah should save the Ummah from fighting amongst themselves. Allaah did not grant this du’aa.

    The Major Sins of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam will be Forgiven and Intercession will be Accepted on their Behalf:
    Anas RA narrates that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “My intercession shall be for those members of my Ummah who committed major sins.”

    Our Ummah is not Accountable for Errors and Acts Done Forgetfully.

    Abdullaah bin Abbaas RA narrated that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said,
    “Allaah has forgiven my Ummah for their errors and for the wrongs they do forgetfully or out of duress.”

    Therefore, if a person commits a sin by mistake or because of forgetfulness, Allaah will not hold them accountable for it. Similar is the case with sins that someone is forced by another to commit. For example, if one completely forgot to perform salaah and remembered only after the time for the salaah had expired, Allaah will not hold him accountable in the Aakhirah even though it is still necessary to perform the Qadha salaah. If one is fasting and then mistakenly swallows some water while making wudhu, his fast will be nullified. However, although (according to the Hanafi Madh’hab) he will have to observe the Qadha fast afterwards, he will not be accountable in the Aakhirah. If a person was tied up and thereby incapable of performing his salaah, he will not be accountable for missing his salaah because of his situation. He will however be required to perform the Qadha salaah when possible.

    Our Ummah is Not Held Accountable for the Evil Whisperings of the Heart.
    Abu Hurayra RA reports that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “Allaah has forgiven my Ummah for the evil whisperings of their hearts as long a they do not bring them on their tongues or convert them to actions.”

    It is therefore clear that as soon as a person makes these evil thoughts verbal or practical, he will become sinful. For example, if a person thinks that Allaah is extremely unkind because he does not give him food, he will be excused for this evil thought. However, as soon as he speaks the words, he becomes a Kaafir. Similarly, the mere thought of committing fornication will not make one sinful until he actually carries out the immoral act.

    And the rewards of our Ummah over others:

    The reward for every good deed is multiplied by a minimum of ten times. This reward is then multiplied further as much as Allaah wills for whoever He wills. The Qur'aan states: And Allaah multiplies (rewards) for whoever He wills. {Surah Baqara,
    verse 261}

    According to the Ahadeeth, there are certain deeds that have their rewards multiplied seven hundred and seventy thousand times as well.

    Allaah multiplies rewards so much that the reward for spending a date in the path of Allaah is multiplied until it equals the size of a mountain.

    The rewards of deeds carried out during certain times are multiplied tremendously e.g. Ibaadah (worship) during Laylatul Qadr equals the Ibaadah of a thousand months

    According to another Hadith, the reward for a salaah performed in the Masjid of Makkah (the Masjidul Haraam) equals the reward of a hundred thousand salaahs performed elsewhere. It is also stated that the reward for performing a salaah in the Masjid of Madinah (Masjidun Nabawi) equals a thousand salaahs performed elsewhere.

    There are many things that are easy to recite and take very little time to recite, but their rewards are greatly multiplied e.g.
    An example of this is the recitation of the Qur'aan. For every letter recited, the reward of ten good deeds is recorded.
    The reward for reciting Surah Yaaseen (Surah 36) equals the recitation of the entire Qur'aan ten times, the reward for reciting Surah Zilzaal (Surah 99) equals the reward of reciting half the Qur'aan whereas the reward for reciting Surah Ikhlaas (Surah 112) equals the reward of reciting a third of the Qur'aan and the reward for reciting Surah Kaafiroon (Surah 109) equals the reward of reciting a quarter the Qur'aan. If a person recites Surah Ikhlaas ten times, a palace will be built for him in Jannah.

    The person who sits in his place after performing the Fajr salaah and then engages in Dhikr until sunrise, followed by two Rakaahs salaah thereafter, he will receive the reward of a complete Hajj and Umrah.

    Rewards for good deeds are multiplied during times of evil and anarchy. Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam therefore said to the Sahabah RA, “After you there shall come days to exercising patience. Whoever will be patient during those days (by remaining steadfast on their Deen) will be (like a person) holding on to burning coals. A person who carries out a good deed during such times will receive the reward of fifty persons carrying out the same deed during other times.” The Sahabah RA enquired, “O Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam! Will they receive the reward of fifty persons?” “Yes,” replied Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam “the reward of fifty of you people who do the same deed.

    According to another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said that a person who engages in Ibaadah during times of murder, anarchy and trials is like a person who migrates to Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam himself.
    Another narration reports that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam said, “During the last period of this Ummah, there will be people who will receive the same rewards as those of earlier times. They will enjoin good, forbid evil and fight those who spread corruption.”

    A reward for carrying out a good deed is earned by merely intending to do it.

    Being a cause for someone else doing a good deed will also earn one the same reward as the doer himself. One manner in which this is done is to show a person how to carry out the act. Another manner is to prepare or provide the means for the person to carry out the act. Yet another manner of doing this is to free the person for the act. Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam has mentioned that whoever donates provisions for a warrior fighting in the path of Allaah has also fought and whoever stays behind to care for the family of a warrior fighting in the path of Allaah has also fought.

    Another example is providing food for a fasting person to terminate his fast. In this case, the person who provides the food will also earn the reward of the fasting person without the reward of the fasting person being diminished in the least.

    Another method of earning such rewards is by means of perpetual charity such as publishing books, building Masaajid and madrasahs, having wells or canals dug or building a place for travellers to stay. The rewards of such deeds are perpetuated because the doer of the deed continues receiving rewards even after his death for as long as others benefit from the deed.

    If one sincerely intends to do an act and is either incapable of doing it or did not have the opportunity to do it, he will be rewarded for the act. Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam has spoken about a person whom Allaah has blessed with both knowledge and wealth. He is therefore conscious of Allaah when he uses his wealth. He employs the wealth to join family ties and in good causes, always keeping the rights of Allaah in mind (by paying zakaah, Sadaqah, etc). Such a person is of an elevate rank. There is then another person who has the knowledge but lacks the wealth. However, his intention is sincere when he thinks that if he had the wealth, he would spend it like the first person. Both these people will have the same reward.

    Another Hadith states that if a person sincerely desires to be martyred, he will be accorded the status of a martyr even if he dies on his bed (at home)

    Anas RA narrates that as Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam was returning from the expedition to Tabook and was close to Madinah, he said, “There are certainly many people in Madinah who have shared the rewards you earned for every valley you traversed.” Surprised, the Sahabah RA asked, “O Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam! Even though they had been in Madinah?” Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasallam replied, “Even though they were in Madinah because they were prevented (from marching with you) by valid excuses.”

    Do you want me to mention more, brother? Because I'm tired now 🙂

  4. MashaAllah...great advice and some good points made in these posts! 🙂

    Nor

Leave a Response

Cancel Reply