Iman

Iman is the main pillar of Islam.  Iman means proper faith, or to believe in Allah from heart and soul.

If we really believe Allah from our heart and soul, then we are morally bound to obey all of his orders and instructions written in the Holy Qur-an.

We have proper faith in fire, that's mean we know very well about the good and bad side of fire.  This is why we never agree to jump into fire in exchange of millions of dollars, as we know it very well fire will burn our body.  We never like to disobey any rules and regulations related to fire hazard, as we know it well that fire will burn our everything.  So our faith in fire is 100%.

Just like this our Iman in Allah should be 100% other wise we have to face hellfire hazard!

In "Sohi hadith" our prophet Mohammed (sm/pbuh) said-proper Iman has 70 branches.  Among them the first one is, to say "La-Ilaha-Illalla", and the last one is up to remval of an obstacle from the way.  That means Iman has 68 others things to do, or we have to carry out all the orders of Allah.

This is why we have to understand the meaning of Iman and try to practice it properly in our practical life to become successful in our after life (akhirath).



6 Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith, are six in total and derived from the hadith mentioned above. Upon being asked to inform a traveler (Angel Gabriel in the human form) about Iman, Prophet Muhammad said: [Iman is] To have faith in:

1. Allah is one god
2. His (Allah) Angels
3. His (Allah) books (The four holy books)
4. His (Allah) Messengers 
5. The last day (The day of Judgement) and the Akirah or afterlife
6. Qa'dr (fate) The good in it, and the evil in it.

Kalimas

The following Kalima's are also associated with Muslim declarations of faith:

Iman-e-Mufassal

Iman-e-Mufassil (or the Detailed declaration of faith)

I have faith in Allah and His Angels, His Books and His Messengers, and the Day of Judgement and that all good and evil and fate is from Almighty Allah and it is sure that there will be resurrection after death.

Iman-e-Mujmal

Iman-e-Mujmal (or the Summary declaration of faith)

I have faith in Allah as He is known by His Names and attributes and I accept all His commands.

77 branches of faith

The 77 Branches of Faith is a collection compiled by Imam Al Byhaqi in his work Shu`ab al-Iman. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true faith (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and prophetic sayings.

1. Belief in Allah

2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence.

3. To believe in the existence of angels.

4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore.

5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow Muhammad alone.

6. To believe that Allah Most High as knowledge of everything from before-hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.

7. To believe that Resurrection will definitely occur.

8. To believe in the existence of Heaven.

9. To believe in the existence of Hell.

10. To have love for Allah Most High.

11. To have love for the Muhammad.

12. To love or hate someone solely because of Allah.

13. To execute all actions with the intention of religion alone.

14. To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.

15. To fear Allah Most High.

16. To hope for the mercy of Allah Most High.

17. To be modest.

18.To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.

19. To fulfill promises.

20. To exercise patience.

21. To consider yourself lower than others.

22. To have mercy on the creation.

23. To be pleased with whatever you experience from Allah Most High.

24. To place your trust in Allah Most High.

25. Not to boast or brag over any quality that you posses.

26. Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.

27. Not to be envious of anyone.

28. Not to become angry.

29. Not to wish harm for anyone.

30. Not to have love for the world.

7 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE TONGUE

31. To recite the testimony of faith (kalimah) with the tongue.

32. To recite the Quran.

33. To acquire knowledge.

34. To pass on Knowledge.

35. To make dua.

36. To make the zikr of Allah Most High.

37. To abstain from the following: lies, backbiting, vulgar words, cursing, singing that is contrary to the Shariah.

40 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENTIRE BODY

38. To make wudu, ghusl, and keep one's clothing clean.

39. To be steadfast in offering salaat.

40. To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.

41. To fast.

42. To perform the Hajj.

43. To make i'tikaaf.

44. To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one's deen.

45. To fulfill the vows that have been made to Allah.

46. To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.

47. To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.

48. To cover those parts of the body that are fard to cover.

49. To perform the ritual slaughter.

50. To enshroud and bury the deceased.

51. To fulfill your debts.

52. To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.

53. Not to conceal something true which you may have witnessed.

54. To get married when the nafs desires to do so.

55. To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.

56. To provide comfort to one's parents.

57. To rear children in the proper manner.

58. Not to sever relations with one's friends and relatives.

59. To obey one's master.

60. To be just.

61. Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.

62. To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the Shariah.

63. To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.

64. To assist in noble tasks.

65. To command the good and prohibit the evil.

66. If it is the government. it should mete out punishments according to the Shariah.

67. To fight the enemies of deen whenever such an occasion presents itself.

68. To fulfill one's trusts (amana).

69. To give loans to those who are in need .

70. To see to the needs of one's neighbour.

71. To ensure that one's income is pure.

72. To spend according to the Shariah.

73. To reply to one who has greeted you.

74. To say Yarhamukallah (‘Allah have mercy on you’) when anyone says Alhamdulillah (‘All praise is Allah’s’) after sneezing.

75. Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.

76. To abstain from games and amusements contrary to the Shariah.

77. To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, and the like from the road

Basic Knowledge in Islam

SIX ETIQUETTES OF LEARNING  

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah- rahimahullaah - said:  

"There are six stages to knowledge:  
Firstly: Asking questions in a good manner. 
Secondly: Remaining quiet and listening attentively. 
Thirdly: Understanding well. 
Fourthly: Memorising. 
Fifthly: Teaching. 
Sixthly- and it is its fruit: Acting upon the knowledge and keeping to its limits." 

PURIFYING THE HEART 


Ibn al-Qayyim - rahimahullaah- said: 

"There is no doubt that the heart becomes covered with rust, just as metal dishes 
- silver, and their like - become rusty. So the rust of the heart is polished with 
dhikr (remembrance of Allah (SWT)), for dhikr polishes the heart until it 
becomes like a shiny mirror. However, when dhikr is abandoned, the rust 
returns; and when it commences then the heart again begins to be cleansed. Thus 
the heart becoming rusty is due to two matters: sins and ahafah ( neglecting 
remembrance of Allah (SWT) ). Likewise, it is cleansed and polished by two 
things : istighfaar (seeking Allah (SWT)'s forgiveness) and dhikr."

The first revelation that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received starts remarkably 
with special emphasis on the importance of knowledge: 


“Proclaim! (or read!) In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created ; 
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood ; Proclaim! And thy Lord is 
Most Bountiful; He Who taught (the use of) the pen; Taught man that which he 
knew not.” (96:1-5)  


The Quran exhorts believers to pray for advancement in knowledge:
  
“Acquire knowledge, because he who acquires it in the way of the Lord performs 
an act of piety ; who speaks of it, praises the Lord ; who seeks it, adores God ; 
who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms ; and who imparts it to its fitting 
objects, performs an act of devotion to God. Knowledge enables its possessor to 
distinguish what is forbidden from what is not ; it lights the way to Heaven ; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when bereft of 
friends ; it guides us to happiness ; it sustains us in misery ; it is our ornament in 
the company of friends ; it serves as an amour against our enemies. With 
knowledge, the obedient servant of God rises to the heights of goodness and to a 
noble position, associates with sovereigns in this world, and attains to the 
perfection of happiness in the next.”  


He would often say: 


 “the ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr”.  
It was due to injunctions of the Holy Quran and instructions of the Prophet that the 
knowledge has been at the core of the Islamic world-view from the very beginning. 
Among his followers intellect, arts and learning prevailed and flourished on gigantic 
scale and the Muslims made glorious and marvellous achievements in almost every 
field of scientific knowledge including Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, 
Medicine and Social Sciences.  
According to Quranic perspective, knowledge is a prerequisite for the creation of a 
just world in which authentic peace can prevail. The Quran emphasizes the 
importance of the pursuit of learning even at the time, and in the midst, of war:
  
“Nor should the Believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every 
expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, 
and admonish the people when they return to them - that thus they (may learn) 
to guard themselves (against evil)” [9:122]  

Basic knowledge of Islam

KNOWLEDGE IN ISLAM 

I begin with the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind, peace and 
blessing be upon beloved Prophet (S.A.W) All praise is for Allah.  
Islam is the religion of knowledge. The first aayah of the Qur’an to be revealed 
enjoined reading which is the key to knowledge. Allah (SWT) says: 
  
“Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).  
He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).  
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.  
Who has taught (the writing) by the pen.  
He has taught man that which he knew not”  
[al-‘Alaq 96:1-5]  

Allah (SWT) created man and provided him with the tools for acquiring knowledge, 
namely hearing, sight and wisdom. Allah says: 
   

“And Allâh has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you 
know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give 
thanks (to Allâh)    [al-Nahl 16:78]   

Because of the importance of knowledge, Allah (SWT) commanded His Messenger to 
seek more of it. Allah (SWT) says: 


“and say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge”[Ta-Ha 20:114]

Islam calls us to seek knowledge. The Prophet (PBUH) made seeking knowledge an 
obligation upon every Muslim, and he explained that the superiority of the one who 
has knowledge over the one who merely worships is like the superiority of the moon 
over every other heavenly body. He said that the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets 
and that the Prophets did not leave behind dinars and dirhams (i.e., money), rather 
their inheritance was knowledge, so whoever acquires it has gained a great share. The 
Prophet (PBUH) said that seeking knowledge is a way to Paradise.  He (PBUH) said:
 
“Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allah (SWT) will make a path 
to Paradise easy for him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-‘Ilm, 10)  

Islam calls us to learn all kinds of beneficial knowledge. Branches of knowledge vary 
in status, the highest of which is knowledge of sharee’ah, then knowledge of 
medicine, then the other fields of knowledge.   
The best of all branches of knowledge are the sciences of sharee’ah through which 
man comes to know his Lord, and his Prophet and religion. This is the knowledge 
with which Allah (SWT) honoured His Messenger; He taught it to him so that he 
might teach it to mankind:  


“Indeed, Allâh conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among 
them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His 
Verses (the Qur’ân), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and 
instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the 
Sunnah of the Prophet (i.e. his legal ways, statements and acts of worship)], while 
before that they had been in manifest error”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:164] 



There is no goodness in knowledge which is not confirmed by action, or words which 
are not confirmed by deeds:   

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?  

Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do”[al-Saff :2-3] 

  

Knowledge brings a great reward. The one who points the way to something good is 
like the one who does it. When the knowledgeable person dies, his reward with Allah 
(SWT) does not cease when he dies, rather it continues to increase so long as people 
benefit from his knowledge. The Prophet (PBUH) said:  

“When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three – an ongoing 

charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous son who will pray for him.” 

(Narrated by Muslim, 1631)   

The first and most crucial obligation on us is to acquire knowledge and secondly to 
practice and preach this knowledge. No man becomes truly a Muslim without 
knowing the meaning of Islam, because he becomes a Muslim not through birth 
but through knowledge. Unless we come to know the basic and necessary teachings 
of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) how can we believe in him, have faith in him, act 
according to what he taught? It is impossible for us to be a Muslim, and at the same 
time live in a state of ignorance. 


A person without knowledge is like someone walking along a track in complete 
darkness. Most likely his steps will wander aside and he easily can be deceived by 
shaytaan. This shows that our greatest danger lies in our ignorance of Islamic 
teachings and in our unawareness of what the Qur’an teaches and what guidance has 
been given by the Prophet (PBUH). But if we are blessed with the light of knowledge 
we will be able to see plainly the clear path of Islam at every step of our lives. We 
shall also be able to identify and avoid the dangerous paths of Kufr, Shirk and 
immorality, which may cross it. And, whenever a false guide meets us on the way, a 
few words with him will quickly establish that he is not a guide who should be 
followed. 
Knowledge is pursued and practiced with modesty and humility and leads to beauty 
and dignity, freedom and justice. 
The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to bring us closer to God. It is not simply 
for the gratification of the mind or the senses. It is not knowledge for the sake of 
knowledge or science for the value of sake. Knowledge accordingly must be linked 
with values and goals. One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of this world, not to 
destroy it through wastage, arrogance and in the reckless pursuit of higher standards 
of material comfort. 

Surah Al-Fatiha سورة الفاتحة

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم

Surah Al Fatiha "The opener" is the first chapter of the holly Qur'an  Its seven verses are a prayer for Allah's guidance, and stress His lordship and mercy. This chapter has an essential role in daily prayers; We Muslims recite the Surah Al-Fatiha seventeen times a day, at the start of each unit of prayer.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰ نِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِ ينَ

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds:

الرَّحْمَٰ نِ الرَّحِيمِ

The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) was ask for help.

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَق ِيمَ

Guide us to the Straight Way

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُو بِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّي نَ

The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.

The benefits of reciting Surah Fatiha are described in the following hadith³ of the the Holy Prophet Muhammad:

Abu Huraira has heard God's messenger declare that God most high had said, " I have divided the prayer into two halves between me and my servant, and my servant will receive what he asks." When the servant says, " Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe, " God most high says, " My servant has praised me." When he says, "The compassionate, the Merciful," God most high says, "My servant has lauded me." When he says, "Possessor of the day of judgment," He says," My servant has glorified me." When he says, "Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help," He says, "This is between me and my servant, and my servant will receive what he asks."Then when he says, "Guide us in the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou art generous, not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray," He says, "This is for my servant, and my servant will receive what he asks." Surah Faatihah is among the greatest gifts which were bestowed upon the Holy Prophet according to the following verse of the Holy Qur'an4: Wa laqad 'aataay-naaka Sab-'am-minal-masaanii wal-Qur-'aanal-'Aziim. (15:87) "We have given thee seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the great Qur'an" (15:87) The Status of Surah Fatiha described in the above ayat of the Holy Qur'an has been explained in the following hadith5: Abu Huraira told that when God's messenger once asked Ubayy b. Ka'b how he recited the course of prayer and he recited Umm al-Qur'an, he said, "By Him in whose hand my soul is, nothing like it has been sent down in Torah, the Injil, the Zabur, or the Qur'an and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses and the mighty Quran which I have been given." The following extract from the Khutba of Hazrat Ali6 (a.s.) clearly describes the relationship between Allah and human beings: "All praise be to God who is sublime due to His power and might. Who is near everything due to His knowledge, kindness and mercy. He alone can bestow every advantage, utility and gain, can grant every celebrity, eminence and fame, and can protect from worst kind of calamities and misfortunes. I praise and thank Him for His constant favours and for His vast bounties and for His lasting protection. It is my firm belief that He is Eternal and existed before anything came into existence and that He is the Mighty Creator. I seek His guidance because He is nearest source of guidance to me. I beseech Him for His help because he is Mighty enough to help me wherever and whenever I need it. I trust Him because He can protect and assist me to overcome every difficulty."