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Islam - The Easy Way
I send you today a good article. It could be new and adds to your
knowledge.
Islam - The Easy Way
One of the terms used by the Quran during the early Makkan period to
describe Islam was Al-Yusraa, or The Easy Way. This is simply
because Islam was, and is the natural way of life. Indeed, whatever is
natural for human beings should be easy for them in every way, hence
cause them to gravitate towards it easily, and consequently bring
harmony, peace and tranquillity to their lives. Since the Quran is the
book upon which the Islamic way of life is built, then the Quran has
to be easy to understand and follow-it is The Easy Way.
This view that Islam is easy to understand and practice, is one which
is derived from the primary sources of Islam. In the Quran, Allah
comforts us by continuously reassuring us that He desires for us ease
not hardship, despite the seemingly formidable trials and tribulations
that we may sometimes face. He says:
God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship (2:185);
Truly with hardship comes ease (94: 6);
God will assuredly appoint, after difficulty; easiness (65:7);
Whoso fears God, God will appoint for him, of His command,
easiness (65:4);
We shall speak to him, of our command, easiness (18:88);
God desires to lighten things for you, for the human being has been
created weak (94:28).
In addition to the Quran, the Hadith literature is also replete with
references exhorting us to adopt a balanced and simple approach to
life. Prophet Muhammad (saw) has advised us: This Deen or way of life
is easy But if anyone overdoes it, it gets the better of him. So keep
to the right course, approximate to perfection, rejoice, and ask for
help in the mornings, the evenings, and some of the latter part of the
night (Bukhari). The Prophet (saw) has also praised those who adopt a
moderate approach to ibadah or worship. Ibadab, he said, should be
done with freshness of heart, not an exhausting routine carried out in
spite of fatigue.
Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired
[of giving rewards] till you get bored and tired [of performing good
deeds! ... and the most beloved deed to Allah is the one which is done
regularly even if it is little' (Bukhari).
Islam is not Complex
Islam is not a way of life that is complex or difficult. Rather it is
the human being who practises Islam who often makes it difficult-and
then, complexity overtakes him so that eventually he is unable to cope
with even the simplest of tasks. That it is possible for every person
to understand and practice Islam is assured by the following three
principles:
Firstly, the basic beliefs contain no mystery and are therefore easy
to comprehend. Every tenet in Islam is subject to analysis and
inquiry. Moreover, Islam does not present stumbling blocks to the
mind. Islam does not present concepts or ideas which the intellect
cannot grasp. Even the simplest of minds can understand its basic
beliefs. It is therefore not surprising that its beliefs are
universal.
Secondly, the most important and stringent obligations ordained upon
Muslims are easy to undertake. That is, the duties and obligations
laid down by Allah have been graded. And, it is the wisdom of Allah
that the greater the importance He has attached to any act, the easier
it is for everyone to accomplish it. Thus, for example, the five daily
Salat (Prayers) and Sawm (fasting) during the month of Ramadan are
compulsory upon everyone, since they are within every-one 5 reach to
accomplish. Zakat (almsgiving) and Hajj (pilgrimage), on the other
hand, though fundamental pillars of Islam, are not compulsory upon
everyone. If it were made compulsory upon everyone, then those who did
not possess the financial means would be unable to carry out these
duties. In such cases, it would not have been possible for everyone to
practice Islam in all its facets. Therefore, these duties are
obligatory only upon those who have the means to do so.
Thirdly, there are provisions for derogation when it is genuinely not
possible for someone to fulfil an obligation. For instance, if a
person is genuinely unable to stand up and pray, then he is permitted
to sit down or even lie down and pray. Similarly, if there is no water
available to perform the wudu or ablution before prayer, then one can
make tayammum, which is a simple dry ablution performed by using clean
earth or dust. Therefore, even when there appear to be difficulties,
if one looks closely at the Shari'ah or Islamic legal code as a whole,
one will find so many rules relating to derogation that enable one to
practice Islam very easily-and this is the case regardless of the
problem: political, economic or simply personal. Indeed, throughout
the Quran various provisions have been made to ease things for
travelers, for the sick, for pregnant or nursing women, for the old
and for the poor, for on no soul does Allah place a burden greater
than it can bear (7: 42) and 'He has chosen you, and has imposed no
difficulties on you in religion' (22: 78).
Therefore, as long as one possesses the basic tools-a sound knowledge
of what is stated in the Shari'ah regarding a particular matter and an
awareness of the responsibility for ones own actions-a person may
decide for himself when to derogate from the standard. Thus, although
according to the Shari'ah it is haram (or unlawful) to eat pork, if
someone is on the brink of starvation and the only food available is
this pork, then one can decide for oneself whether and when to consume
this haram meat in order to survive, and thereby derogate from the
standard. Of course, this does not make the pork halal or lawful, but
neither will one be punished for committing a haram or prohibited act,
so long as it is necessary for one's essential well being as a
Muslim.
The Path of Moderation
Moderation which leads to balance, is a fundamental and distinguishing
feature of Islam. Allah tells us: 'We have made you a nation justly
balanced' (2:143). Additionally, when the Quranic verse 'As to
monasticism which they themselves invented, We did not prescribe any
of it for them' (57: 27) was revealed, the Prophet Muhammad commented:
'Do not overburden yourselves, lest you perish. People [before you]
overburdened themselves and perished. Their remains are found in
hermitages and monasteries (Musnad of Abu Yala). In other words,
excesses may eventually develop into large problems and even become a
threat to the well being and security of the Muslim community.
Indeed, the Prophet always resisted any tendency towards religious
excessiveness. He once said to his close Companion Abdullah ibn Amr:
Have I heard tight that you fast everyday and stand in prayer all
night? Abdullah replied, Yes, 0 Messenger of God: The Prophet said,
Do not do that. Fast, as well as, eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as
well as, sleep. This is because your body has a right upon you, your
eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your
guest has a right upon you (Bukhari, Muslim). Abiding by the will of
Allah requires that we seek and maintain a delicate balance between
the various obligations that demand our attention; between our
obligations to Allah, our obligations towards others and our
obligations towards ourselves. Moreover, whenever the Prophet had to
choose between two options, he always chose the easier, unless it was
explicitly forbidden (Bukhari).
Maintaining a Joyful Disposition
Allah wants us to enjoy ourselves not only in the Hereafter but also
in this world. Allah tells us in the Quran to pray for both the good
in this world and the good in the Hereafter (2:201).
Additionally the Quran speaks extensively about the enjoyment of
life:
O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and
place of prayer Eat and drink but waste not by excess, for Allah loves
not wasters. Say: who has forbidden the beautiful gifts of Allah
which He has produced for His servants and the things clean and pure
which He has provided for sustenance (7:30-301).
And again,
O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things Allah has made
lawful to you. But commit no excess, for Allah does not like those
given to excess. Eat of the things which Allah has provided you,
lawful and good, but fear Allah, in whom you believe (4: 86-88).
Surprising as it may seem to some of us, the Prophet not only accepted
jokes; he also told them himself He was cheerful and possessed an
easygoing character He was always smiling at his Companions and
enjoyed their conversations. He also possessed a very keen sense of
humor. But, his jokes were more of a philosophical nature, never
inappropriate and always true. For example, once an old lady went to
the Prophet and asked whether after her death she would enter Paradise
or not. To this the Prophet replied, No old woman would enter
heaven. On hearing this, the woman was naturally very sad. Then,
what is the reward for them? she asked. The Prophet relieved her
anxiety by saying, All old people will be made young before they
enter Paradise.
Relaxing your Mind
From the analysis above, it should be clear that Islam does not expect
of any individual that he should spend all his leisure time in the
mosque or at home and should listen to nothing but recitation of the
Quran, or for that matter, be engaged in exclusively religious
pursuits. Rather, it recognizes that we are human beings, so that, as
we eat and drink, and also need to relax and enjoy our-selves.
Relaxation is not at odds with piety and dignity. The Prophet prayed
and engaged in worship more than anyone, but he also enjoyed good
things, smiled and joked. Indeed, in his prayers he would beseech
Allah for the good things of this world. Relaxing the mind also has
the additional benefit of resting and rejuvenating the body so that
when we eventually return to fulfil out various obligations, we will
be more focused and ready All ibn Abu Talib once said: Minds get
tired, so do bodies, so treat them with humor and Refresh your minds
from time to time, for a tired mind becomes blind. Another Companion
of the Prophet, Abu Darda said: I entertain my heart with something
trivial in order to make it stronger in the service of the truth.
As we have highlighted before, the approach of the Prophet to lifes
activities was always a balanced one. As devoted as he was in his
personal worship, he was quick to indicate to his followers that the
path of Islam is the way of moderation. Thus, when he heard that one
of his attendants was continuously fasting during the day and spending
the entire night in prayer, he remarked: In every deed [of action]
there is a peak followed by lassitude. He who, in his lassitude,
follows my Sunnah [the part of moderation] is on the right path, but
he who, in his lassitude, follows another [guidance] has [erred and]
gone astray [from the straight path Allah has revealed] (al Bazzaz)
Making Islam Easy for Others
In sharing the message of Islam with people the Prophet was advised in
the Quran: It is part of the mercy of Allah that you deal gently with
them If you were severe or hardhearted, they would have broken away
from you (3: 159). Thus, when the Prophet sent his Companions Muadh
and Abu Musa to teach Islam to the people of Yemen, he gave them the
following advice: Facilitate [religious matters to people] and do not
make [things] difficult. Obey each other and do not differ [amongst
yourselves]. (Bukhari & Muslim).
On other occasions he also said: This Deen or way of life is easy;
Make it easy, dont make it difficult; Let people rejoice in being
Muslims and not run away from it and Cheerfulness towards other
people, even a smile is a sadaqah or charity to be rewarded by
Allah.
Moreover, a person-in seeking to purify himself and further develop
his God-consciousness-may choose to place greater demands of worship
upon himself, but this in no way means that he has the right to impose
or force the same on others, and thereby, unconsciously alienate them
from Islam. The Prophet exemplified this in his own life because he
used to prolong the Salat whenever he was alone, but he would shorten
it whenever he led others in Salah. Regarding this he said: Whoever
among you leads the people in Salat, he should shorten it, for amongst
them are the weak, the old, and the one who has business to attend to.
And if anyone among you performs Salat alone, he may then prolong
[Salat] as much as he wishes (Bukhari).
Similarly, Umar Ibn al Khattab emphasized that creating unnecessary
difficulties for people may well have the effect of leading them away
from Allah, rather than making them better Muslims. He advised: Do
not make Allah hateful to His servants by leading people in Salat and
so prolonging it that they come to hate what they are doing
Ease versus Hardship
To say, however, that Islam is easy and not difficult, is not to
imply that Muslims will not face hardship-and here the two terms
must be distinguished. Indeed, although Islam is easy to understand
and practice, the whole purpose of the trial is to make manifest the
degree to which an individual is steadfast (and hence sincere) in his
submission to Allah- and this is precisely what is indicated by the
Quranic verse: And We will most certainly test you with something of
fear and hunger, and loss of possessions and lives and crops (2:155).
Notwithstanding these trials however, we can find ease in this world
and the next. But, this will be so only if we are firm in our faith in
Allah and follow the course prescribed by Islam, as He Himself has
declared: But give good news to those who are patient, who, when a
calamity strikes them, say: Indeed we belong to God and indeed to Him
we shall be returning: They are those on whom are blessings from their
Sustainer, and mercy-and those, they are the rightly-guided. (2:
155-157).
For more information about Islam
http://english.islamway.com/
http://www.islamhouse.com/
http://www.discoverislam.com/
http://www.islambasics.com/index.php
http://english.islamway.com/
http://www.islamtoday.net/english/
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/MainPage/indexe.php
http://www.sultan.org/
Contact Us At
Imanway.group@gmail.com
I send you today a good article. It could be new and adds to your
knowledge.
Islam - The Easy Way
One of the terms used by the Quran during the early Makkan period to
describe Islam was Al-Yusraa, or The Easy Way. This is simply
because Islam was, and is the natural way of life. Indeed, whatever is
natural for human beings should be easy for them in every way, hence
cause them to gravitate towards it easily, and consequently bring
harmony, peace and tranquillity to their lives. Since the Quran is the
book upon which the Islamic way of life is built, then the Quran has
to be easy to understand and follow-it is The Easy Way.
This view that Islam is easy to understand and practice, is one which
is derived from the primary sources of Islam. In the Quran, Allah
comforts us by continuously reassuring us that He desires for us ease
not hardship, despite the seemingly formidable trials and tribulations
that we may sometimes face. He says:
God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship (2:185);
Truly with hardship comes ease (94: 6);
God will assuredly appoint, after difficulty; easiness (65:7);
Whoso fears God, God will appoint for him, of His command,
easiness (65:4);
We shall speak to him, of our command, easiness (18:88);
God desires to lighten things for you, for the human being has been
created weak (94:28).
In addition to the Quran, the Hadith literature is also replete with
references exhorting us to adopt a balanced and simple approach to
life. Prophet Muhammad (saw) has advised us: This Deen or way of life
is easy But if anyone overdoes it, it gets the better of him. So keep
to the right course, approximate to perfection, rejoice, and ask for
help in the mornings, the evenings, and some of the latter part of the
night (Bukhari). The Prophet (saw) has also praised those who adopt a
moderate approach to ibadah or worship. Ibadab, he said, should be
done with freshness of heart, not an exhausting routine carried out in
spite of fatigue.
Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired
[of giving rewards] till you get bored and tired [of performing good
deeds! ... and the most beloved deed to Allah is the one which is done
regularly even if it is little' (Bukhari).
Islam is not Complex
Islam is not a way of life that is complex or difficult. Rather it is
the human being who practises Islam who often makes it difficult-and
then, complexity overtakes him so that eventually he is unable to cope
with even the simplest of tasks. That it is possible for every person
to understand and practice Islam is assured by the following three
principles:
Firstly, the basic beliefs contain no mystery and are therefore easy
to comprehend. Every tenet in Islam is subject to analysis and
inquiry. Moreover, Islam does not present stumbling blocks to the
mind. Islam does not present concepts or ideas which the intellect
cannot grasp. Even the simplest of minds can understand its basic
beliefs. It is therefore not surprising that its beliefs are
universal.
Secondly, the most important and stringent obligations ordained upon
Muslims are easy to undertake. That is, the duties and obligations
laid down by Allah have been graded. And, it is the wisdom of Allah
that the greater the importance He has attached to any act, the easier
it is for everyone to accomplish it. Thus, for example, the five daily
Salat (Prayers) and Sawm (fasting) during the month of Ramadan are
compulsory upon everyone, since they are within every-one 5 reach to
accomplish. Zakat (almsgiving) and Hajj (pilgrimage), on the other
hand, though fundamental pillars of Islam, are not compulsory upon
everyone. If it were made compulsory upon everyone, then those who did
not possess the financial means would be unable to carry out these
duties. In such cases, it would not have been possible for everyone to
practice Islam in all its facets. Therefore, these duties are
obligatory only upon those who have the means to do so.
Thirdly, there are provisions for derogation when it is genuinely not
possible for someone to fulfil an obligation. For instance, if a
person is genuinely unable to stand up and pray, then he is permitted
to sit down or even lie down and pray. Similarly, if there is no water
available to perform the wudu or ablution before prayer, then one can
make tayammum, which is a simple dry ablution performed by using clean
earth or dust. Therefore, even when there appear to be difficulties,
if one looks closely at the Shari'ah or Islamic legal code as a whole,
one will find so many rules relating to derogation that enable one to
practice Islam very easily-and this is the case regardless of the
problem: political, economic or simply personal. Indeed, throughout
the Quran various provisions have been made to ease things for
travelers, for the sick, for pregnant or nursing women, for the old
and for the poor, for on no soul does Allah place a burden greater
than it can bear (7: 42) and 'He has chosen you, and has imposed no
difficulties on you in religion' (22: 78).
Therefore, as long as one possesses the basic tools-a sound knowledge
of what is stated in the Shari'ah regarding a particular matter and an
awareness of the responsibility for ones own actions-a person may
decide for himself when to derogate from the standard. Thus, although
according to the Shari'ah it is haram (or unlawful) to eat pork, if
someone is on the brink of starvation and the only food available is
this pork, then one can decide for oneself whether and when to consume
this haram meat in order to survive, and thereby derogate from the
standard. Of course, this does not make the pork halal or lawful, but
neither will one be punished for committing a haram or prohibited act,
so long as it is necessary for one's essential well being as a
Muslim.
The Path of Moderation
Moderation which leads to balance, is a fundamental and distinguishing
feature of Islam. Allah tells us: 'We have made you a nation justly
balanced' (2:143). Additionally, when the Quranic verse 'As to
monasticism which they themselves invented, We did not prescribe any
of it for them' (57: 27) was revealed, the Prophet Muhammad commented:
'Do not overburden yourselves, lest you perish. People [before you]
overburdened themselves and perished. Their remains are found in
hermitages and monasteries (Musnad of Abu Yala). In other words,
excesses may eventually develop into large problems and even become a
threat to the well being and security of the Muslim community.
Indeed, the Prophet always resisted any tendency towards religious
excessiveness. He once said to his close Companion Abdullah ibn Amr:
Have I heard tight that you fast everyday and stand in prayer all
night? Abdullah replied, Yes, 0 Messenger of God: The Prophet said,
Do not do that. Fast, as well as, eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as
well as, sleep. This is because your body has a right upon you, your
eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your
guest has a right upon you (Bukhari, Muslim). Abiding by the will of
Allah requires that we seek and maintain a delicate balance between
the various obligations that demand our attention; between our
obligations to Allah, our obligations towards others and our
obligations towards ourselves. Moreover, whenever the Prophet had to
choose between two options, he always chose the easier, unless it was
explicitly forbidden (Bukhari).
Maintaining a Joyful Disposition
Allah wants us to enjoy ourselves not only in the Hereafter but also
in this world. Allah tells us in the Quran to pray for both the good
in this world and the good in the Hereafter (2:201).
Additionally the Quran speaks extensively about the enjoyment of
life:
O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and
place of prayer Eat and drink but waste not by excess, for Allah loves
not wasters. Say: who has forbidden the beautiful gifts of Allah
which He has produced for His servants and the things clean and pure
which He has provided for sustenance (7:30-301).
And again,
O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things Allah has made
lawful to you. But commit no excess, for Allah does not like those
given to excess. Eat of the things which Allah has provided you,
lawful and good, but fear Allah, in whom you believe (4: 86-88).
Surprising as it may seem to some of us, the Prophet not only accepted
jokes; he also told them himself He was cheerful and possessed an
easygoing character He was always smiling at his Companions and
enjoyed their conversations. He also possessed a very keen sense of
humor. But, his jokes were more of a philosophical nature, never
inappropriate and always true. For example, once an old lady went to
the Prophet and asked whether after her death she would enter Paradise
or not. To this the Prophet replied, No old woman would enter
heaven. On hearing this, the woman was naturally very sad. Then,
what is the reward for them? she asked. The Prophet relieved her
anxiety by saying, All old people will be made young before they
enter Paradise.
Relaxing your Mind
From the analysis above, it should be clear that Islam does not expect
of any individual that he should spend all his leisure time in the
mosque or at home and should listen to nothing but recitation of the
Quran, or for that matter, be engaged in exclusively religious
pursuits. Rather, it recognizes that we are human beings, so that, as
we eat and drink, and also need to relax and enjoy our-selves.
Relaxation is not at odds with piety and dignity. The Prophet prayed
and engaged in worship more than anyone, but he also enjoyed good
things, smiled and joked. Indeed, in his prayers he would beseech
Allah for the good things of this world. Relaxing the mind also has
the additional benefit of resting and rejuvenating the body so that
when we eventually return to fulfil out various obligations, we will
be more focused and ready All ibn Abu Talib once said: Minds get
tired, so do bodies, so treat them with humor and Refresh your minds
from time to time, for a tired mind becomes blind. Another Companion
of the Prophet, Abu Darda said: I entertain my heart with something
trivial in order to make it stronger in the service of the truth.
As we have highlighted before, the approach of the Prophet to lifes
activities was always a balanced one. As devoted as he was in his
personal worship, he was quick to indicate to his followers that the
path of Islam is the way of moderation. Thus, when he heard that one
of his attendants was continuously fasting during the day and spending
the entire night in prayer, he remarked: In every deed [of action]
there is a peak followed by lassitude. He who, in his lassitude,
follows my Sunnah [the part of moderation] is on the right path, but
he who, in his lassitude, follows another [guidance] has [erred and]
gone astray [from the straight path Allah has revealed] (al Bazzaz)
Making Islam Easy for Others
In sharing the message of Islam with people the Prophet was advised in
the Quran: It is part of the mercy of Allah that you deal gently with
them If you were severe or hardhearted, they would have broken away
from you (3: 159). Thus, when the Prophet sent his Companions Muadh
and Abu Musa to teach Islam to the people of Yemen, he gave them the
following advice: Facilitate [religious matters to people] and do not
make [things] difficult. Obey each other and do not differ [amongst
yourselves]. (Bukhari & Muslim).
On other occasions he also said: This Deen or way of life is easy;
Make it easy, dont make it difficult; Let people rejoice in being
Muslims and not run away from it and Cheerfulness towards other
people, even a smile is a sadaqah or charity to be rewarded by
Allah.
Moreover, a person-in seeking to purify himself and further develop
his God-consciousness-may choose to place greater demands of worship
upon himself, but this in no way means that he has the right to impose
or force the same on others, and thereby, unconsciously alienate them
from Islam. The Prophet exemplified this in his own life because he
used to prolong the Salat whenever he was alone, but he would shorten
it whenever he led others in Salah. Regarding this he said: Whoever
among you leads the people in Salat, he should shorten it, for amongst
them are the weak, the old, and the one who has business to attend to.
And if anyone among you performs Salat alone, he may then prolong
[Salat] as much as he wishes (Bukhari).
Similarly, Umar Ibn al Khattab emphasized that creating unnecessary
difficulties for people may well have the effect of leading them away
from Allah, rather than making them better Muslims. He advised: Do
not make Allah hateful to His servants by leading people in Salat and
so prolonging it that they come to hate what they are doing
Ease versus Hardship
To say, however, that Islam is easy and not difficult, is not to
imply that Muslims will not face hardship-and here the two terms
must be distinguished. Indeed, although Islam is easy to understand
and practice, the whole purpose of the trial is to make manifest the
degree to which an individual is steadfast (and hence sincere) in his
submission to Allah- and this is precisely what is indicated by the
Quranic verse: And We will most certainly test you with something of
fear and hunger, and loss of possessions and lives and crops (2:155).
Notwithstanding these trials however, we can find ease in this world
and the next. But, this will be so only if we are firm in our faith in
Allah and follow the course prescribed by Islam, as He Himself has
declared: But give good news to those who are patient, who, when a
calamity strikes them, say: Indeed we belong to God and indeed to Him
we shall be returning: They are those on whom are blessings from their
Sustainer, and mercy-and those, they are the rightly-guided. (2:
155-157).
For more information about Islam
http://english.islamway.com/
http://www.islamhouse.com/
http://www.discoverislam.com/
http://www.islambasics.com/index.php
http://english.islamway.com/
http://www.islamtoday.net/english/
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/MainPage/indexe.php
http://www.sultan.org/
Contact Us At
Imanway.group@gmail.com