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The Muslim Family's Role in Building a Righteous Society

The Muslim Family’s Role in Building a Righteous Society

Nazia Abbas

Islam is the only perfect way of life.  It enjoins the maintenance of a refined standard of character.  It can solve all human problems.  It is the only hope for overcoming the present and future challenges of life.  The future of Islam is the future of humanity.  Islam commands righteousness and forbids wrong doings and evil deeds. In other words, it commands all noble morals and forbids all ill and despicable manners.  It is the complete guidance towards righteousness, and hence, success.  What we need only is to practice it.  The most valued virtues of a Muslim include truthfulness, and justice; helping the poor and the needy; respecting parents, scholars, teachers and elders; love and kindness for children, the widows and the poor.  Likewise, it prohibits blasphemy, murders, terrorism, oppression, injustice, enmity, misery, adultery, drug addiction, suicide, graft and corruption, interest, slander, backbiting, lying, ridicule, use of offensive names suspicion, arrogance, and all evil deeds.

 Islam had come to illuminate the lives of the people with the light of virtues and good manners to create righteous, God-loving and God-fearing people.  It develops its believers, the Muslims, with the best of   characters and fills their hearts with much devotion to the One True God, Allah.  It inspires the Believers with Allah’s guidance and rewards to those who do righteous deeds and show devotion to Him.  Muslims who know Islam believe in what Allah the Exalted says in the Qur’an on the virtues and rewards of righteousness:

“As for those who strive hard in Us  (our Cause), We will surely, guide them  to  Our  paths (i.e., Allah’s  religion-Islamic  Monotheism). And  verily, Allah  is  with   the  Muhsinun  (good doers) .” (Qur’an 29:  69)  

 “And  the  Garden  will  be  brought  nigh to the Righteous, ¾  no  more  a  thing  distant. (A voice will say:)  `This is what was promised for you for every penitent heedful one, who feared the Most Gracious unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him): Enter you therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!’  There will be for them therein all that they wish  and there is more with Us.’”  (Qur’an 50:31-35)

They further believe that Islam  is  the  Right  Religion  from  Allah.  They know that it is  the  Straight  way  that  guides  us  to  be  righteous  and  attain  success,  especially  supreme  success  in  the  eternal  life  Hereafter.  In  one  succinct and very enlightening  verse  Allah  explains  the  full  meaning  of  righteousness  as  follows:

 “It  is  not  righteousness  that  you  turn  your  faces  (in  prayer)  towards  East  or  West;  but  it  is  righteousness  to  believe  in  God,  and  the Last  Day,  and  the  Angels  and  the  Book,  and  the  Messengers;  to  spend  of  your  wealth-- in spite  of  your  love  for  your  kin,  for  orphans,  for  the  needy,  for  the  way  farer,  for  those  who  ask  and  the  ransom  of  slaves;  to  be  steadfast  in  prayer  and  practice  regular  charity;  to  fulfill  the  contracts  which  you  have  made;  and  to  be  firm  and    patient,  in  all  pain  and  adversity,  and  through  out  all  periods  of  panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-minded.’’ (Qur’an  2:  177)

Allah the Almighty guides the whole mankind to be righteous through His Book, the Qur’an and His Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, meaning: peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).  In His Book, Allah emphasizes the need for righteousness and the rewards that He promises to those who do righteous deeds.  Those among mankind who believe in Allah and do righteous deeds reap Allah’s  Mercy as they shall have a great reward.  Allah the Most Gracious and Most Merciful says:

“Verily  this  Qur’an  guides  to  that  which  is  most  just  and  right  and  gives  glad  tidings  to  the  believers  who  works  deeds  of  righteousness,  that  they  shall  have  a  great  reward.”  (Qur’an 17 :  9)

 “We  indeed  created   man   in the best of moulds, then do  we  abase  him (to be) the  lowest  of  the  low,  except   such  as those who believe   and do  righteous   deeds, for they shall have a reward unfailing.”  (Qur’an 95: 4-6)

Islam  penetrates  into  all  walks  of  life  to  conduct  all  human  activities  in  a  sound  and  wholesome  manner,  acceptable  to  God  and  beneficial to  man.  The  manifestation  of  power  and  splendor,  which  are  considered  so  important  for  the  people  in  this   world,  will  be  of  no  value  to  Allah.  In  the  Hereafter,  Allah  will  judge  a  person  by  his  faith,  devotion  and  piety.  It  is,  therefore,  essential  that  we  should  concentrate  on  the  reformation  of  our  own  hearts,  minds and souls by sincerely turning to Allah for His Mercy through firm belief and obedience as these are parts of righteousness. Let us take guidance from the following authentic Ahādīth:

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As Abdullah heard Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   as saying: “Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) as one heart. He turns that to any (direction) He likes.” Then Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   said: “O Allah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience.” (Muslim 6418)

Abu Dharr narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  said, “He has been successful whose heart Allah has made sincere towards faith, whose heart He has made free from unbelief, his tongue truthful, his soul calm, his nature straight, whose ear He has made attentive and his eye observant. The ear is a funnel and the eye is a repository for what the heart learns. He is successful whose heart is made retentive.” (Tirmidhi 5200, Ahmad and Bayhaqi)

Islam  commands  all of us to observe righteous deeds and  forbids  all  ill  and  despicable  manners. It  also  commands us to enjoin  righteousness  and  forbids  wrong.  Allah  the Exalted says:

  “Help  you  one  another  in  Al - Birr  and  Al - Taqwa  (virtue, righteousness and piety).” (Qur’an 5:  2)  

“Verily  Allah  enjoins  Al –Adl  and  Al -Ihsaan, (justice and kindness)  and  giving  helps  to  kits  and  kin  and  forbids  Al -Fahshaa,  Al – Munkar  and  Al – Baghy (lewdness, abomination and wickedness) in order that you may take heed.”  (Qur’an  16:  90)

Allah, the Most Just, honors men and women according to righteousness and piety.  He does not see our wealth, our races and other distinctions.  Allah recognizes the distinction  of piety, righteousness and  spiritual  excellence.  In  the  Qur’an  our Only  God  says:

“O  mankind,  verily  We  have  created  you  from  a  single  a  (pair) of  a  male  and  a  female,  and  have  made  you  into  nations  and  tribes,  that  you  may know  each  other.  Verily  the  most  honored  of  you  in  the  sight  of  God  is  the  most  righteous.”  (Qur’an 49 :  13)

In Islam, piety,  righteousness,  and  true  Faith  are  interrelated.  Moreover, its teachings cover  all  aspects  of  this  life  and  the  life  after  death.  It  is  the  only  way  to  salvation.  Unfortunately,  many  Muslims who are ignorant of Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah have  such  a  poor  Islamic  identity  and  perspective  that  they  cannot  bear  to  fulfill  their  Islamic  obligation  under  the  critical  eye  of  the  hostile  world.  Instead  of  clarifying  the  misconceptions  that  non-Muslims  have  on  Islam  and  the  Muslims,  they  themselves  supported  the  distorted  views  by  not  practicing  Islam  faithfully.  One  misconception  pertains  to  the  concept  of family  life in Islam.  

Islam considers family  as the basic  unit of the society.   The quality of social life that a community has depends on the kind of families that constitute the society.  If the members of the families are righteous, we expect the society to be righteous.  Actually, everyone is born in a state of purity or Islam (the nature to worship Allah as the Only God).  However, it is the (non-Muslim or secular Muslim) parents who turn their children into the wrong paths.  This process of socialization is  referred  to  by  the  Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)     in  the following authentic hadīth:

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   said, “No child is born except on Al-Fitra (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian, as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?” Then he recited: ‘The religion of pure Islamic Faith (Hanifa), (i.e. to worship none but Allah), The pure Allah’s Islamic nature with which He (Allah) has created mankind. Let There be no change in Allah’s religion (i.e. to join none in Allah’s worship). That is the straight religion; but most of men know not...’  (30:30).”  (Bukhari 6/ 298,  2 /467 and Muslim)

Islamic  family  appears  better  designed  to  stand  up  to  contemporary and western pressures and influences.  It  is  based  on  a  detailed  and  rigid  set  of  rules  about  interpersonal  relationship.    The  Islamic family  is  a well-ordained  institution. It  was  not  evolved  through  human  experimentation, which  involves a  process  of  trial  and  error  that spreads  over  time.  It  is  an  institution  that  came  into  existence  with  the  creation  of  man.  The  human  race  is  a  product  of  this  institution  and  not  the  other  way  round.

The  creation  of  man  and  woman    and  the  marriage  relationship  permeated  with  tranquility,  love  and  mercy  have  been  described  as  “signs  of  God.” The  institution  of  marriage  and  the  family  have  been  commended  as  the  Sunnah or way  of  the  Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Prophet  Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in the following Ahadīth:

“Marriage  is  a  part  of  my  Sunnah.  Whoever  runs  away  from  my  path  is  not  from  amongst  us.” (Ibn Majah)

Anas ibn Malik Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  said, “When a man marries he has fulfilled half of the religion; so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half.” (Tirmidhi, 3096 and Bayhaqi)

In Islam, men and women are encouraged to enter into  marriage in order to build a righteous family.  The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) emphasizes the need to choose a righteous or religious partner in life in entering into  a family or marriage life.  We read the following Ahadīth:

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   said, “A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser.”   (Bukhari 7/27)

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation on Earth and extensive corruption.”  (Tirmidhi 3090,  Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)

With righteous husband and wife, children  in  the  family learn  the  values  of  love and  compassion, of  sacrifice  for  others,  of  tolerance, mercy  and  kindness, and other virtuous or righteous deeds.  It  is  the  family  that  provides  the  most  congenial  and  fulfillment  of the development of human  personality based on love and mercy: 

“And among His Signs is this, that He created  for your mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearths).  Verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.” (Qur’an 30:21)

In line with the virtue of fostering  love and mercy in the family, the couples and their children are expected to be responsible and accountable members of the family and the society as a whole.  The Muslim parents play an important role in developing their children to be righteous. It is their duty to teach their children or the members of their family the religion (Islam):

Abdullah ibn Umar  reported that he heard the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  saying: “Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody.  The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian  of  his  family  and  is responsible for it;  a lady is a guardian of her husband’s house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it.  A man is a guardian of his father’s property and is responsible for it so all of you are guardians and  responsible   for  your  wards  and  things under your care.” (Bukhari 2/592, 3/73, and 7/128)

Malik bin Huwairth  narrated: “I came to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)    with some men from my tribe and stayed with him for twenty nights. He was kind and merciful to us. When he realized our longing for our families, he said to us:  “Go back and stay with your families and teach them the religion.  And offer the prayer and one of you should pronounce the Adhan for the prayer when its time is due. And the oldest one amongst you should lead the prayer.”   (Bukhāri  1/601)

In Islam the parents are expected to be responsible for their children in molding their character and personality to be righteous, God-loving and God-fearing. Islam is the only religion that clearly encourages parents to take good care of their children, especially their daughters until they grew up as practicing Muslims.  We read the following Ahādīth how Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) enjoined parents to take good care of female children:

Malik reported Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   as saying: “He who brought up two girls properly till they grew up, he and I would  come (together very closely) on the Day of Resurrection.” And he interlaced his fingers (for explaining the point of nearness between him and that person.  (Muslim 4/6364)

`Aisha, the wife of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  said: “A woman came to me along with her two daughters.  She asked me for (charity) but she found nothing with me except one date, so I gave her that.  She accepted it and then divided it between her two daughters and herself ate nothing out of that.  She then got up and went out, and so did her two daughters.  Allah’s Messenger visited me and I narrated to him her story.  There upon Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “He who is involved bringing up daughters, and he accords benevolent treatment towards them, there would be protection for him against Hell-Fire.’” (Muslim 4/6362)

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  said: “If anyone cares for three daughters, disciplines them, have them married, and does good to them, he will go to Paradise.” (Abu Dawud  5128)

In Islam seeking knowledge is a duty that is being enjoined to all Muslims, men and women.  As such, it enjoins parents to give their children good education:

Anas Bin Malik (Radhiallahu anhu: meaning: May Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s  Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Seeking of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim...” (Ibn Majah 1/224 and Tirmidhi 218)

Amr ibn Sa’id or Sa’id ibn Al-‘As narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, “A father gives his child nothing better than a good education.”  (Tirmidhi  4977 and Baihaqi)

It must be noted that in Islam, good education means the formation of the learners’ total personality where they learn both the material and spiritual aspects of development.  Emphasis is given to knowledge of Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah and the right prescriptions of these two revealed knowledge.  This is based on the following authentic Ahadith:

Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Al As narrated that Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Knowledge consists of three things: the decisive verses (Qur’an), authentic Hadith and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two.  What is beside them is superfluous (extra).” (Ibn Majah 1/54 and Abu Dawud 2879)

Jabir Bin Abdullah  reported that... Allah’s  Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)   said, “...The best of affairs is the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and the best of guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad...”  (Muslim 1885 and Ibn Majah 1/45)

With the ample knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Muslim parents can expect their children to be righteous who in return will be assets to the society where they belong.  In this world, they will be happy to see their righteous children who contribute in promoting righteousness in the society; and hence a righteous society.  Above all, they will expect eternal supreme rewards for raising righteous children. Their righteous children can pray for them and help them attain success in the Life Hereafter. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  said in the following authentic Ahadīth:

“A man will be raised some degrees in Paradise and he will say, ‘For what reason I am receiving this?’ He will be told, ‘Because of your son (child) asking forgiveness for you.’”  (Bukhāri 1613)

Abu Hurairah  narrated that Allah’ Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a man dies, accrual of merit in his favor from good deeds ceases except from three actions: 1. A charity which continues after his death; 2. Knowledge left behind from which men continue to benefit, and 3. Righteous offspring who pray for him.”  (Muslim 4005)

Muslim parents must take guidance from the above very inspiring teachings from the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).  They need to learn Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah; to practice it; and strive to give Islamic education to their children.  Likewise, it is the responsibility of all Muslim societies and communities to provide proper education to all Muslim children in order that they will learn to be righteous through knowledge of Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah.  It  is  unfortunate that today we seldom see or hear of  schools and institutions that offer ample knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah from the formative stage (nursery) to the time that learners are ready to serve the society according to what is expected of them as Muslims of high morality and excellent characters. What happens, we see graduates who are devoid of righteousness and good morals.  They become materialistic that they adopt western values totally alien to Islam. Instead of building the image of Islam as the best religion in promoting righteousness, they destroy the truth about the divine and right religion from Allah. The  well-balanced and integrated  Islamic personality  that  are supposed to develop in the society through  the  family  fails  to  emerge.  The family becomes negligent in providing good education (knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah) to children.  Many Muslim families do not care to influence or enjoin the society where they belong to have good educational system where their children learn both the well-balanced knowledge of this world and in the life Hereafter. With the loss of this function of the family the world becomes a poor place to live in. 

The  family  is  a  part  of  the  Islamic  social  order. The  society  that  Islam  wants  to  establish  is  not  a  sensate,  sex – ridden  society.  Islam  establishes  an  ideological  society,  with  a  high  moral  awareness,  strong  commitment  to  the  ideal  of  Khilafah (Caliphate),  and  purposive  orientation  of  all  human  believers.  In  this  society  a  high  degree  of  social  responsibility  prevails.  The  entire  system  operates  in  a  way  that  strengthens  and  fortifies the well-being of every member of the family and society. Allah says:

“O  you  who  believe!  Ward  off  yourselves  and  your  families  against  a  Fire     (hell) whose  fuel  is  men  and  stones,  over  which  are  (appointed) angels  stern  (and) severe, who  disobey  not, (from  executing) the  Commands  they  receive  from  Allah, but  do  that  which  they  are  commanded.” (Qur’an 66:6)

In the absence of Islamic schools and institutions that can teach our children knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, it is a must that we Muslims strive  hard to  raise  our children  in  the Islamic way.  We need to  instill  Islamic  virtues  in  their  souls  from  their  early  childhood by knowing and practicing Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. For  verily,  the  child  grows  up  upon  whatever  his  parents  accustomed  him  to.  Therefore, what  remains  of  our  days  must be filled  with  the  sincere and complete submission to  Allah. Let us beware  of  feeding  our  children  from  forbidden  wealth. The  Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Everybody  that  grows  from  illegal  earnings, then  the  Hell – fire  has  more  right  to  it.”  (Ahmad)

If  small  children  grow  up  upon  righteousness  and  obedience,  it  will be  a  stored  treasures  for  us after  our  death.  Therefore, let us strive  for  this  with  good  rearing  and  choosing  the  best  companionship  for  our  children.  Let us keep  them  away  from  evil  friends.  And let us keep  wickedness  and  evil  away  from  our  house.

In Islam the  family  is  protected  by  prohibiting  sex  outside  marriage.  Zina  (fornication)    has  been  forbidden  and  made  a  punishable  offence.  All  roads  that  lead  to  this  evil  are  blocked  and  whatever  paves  the  way  towards  it  is  checked  and  eliminated. The Islamic  system  of  Hijaab is  a  wide – ranging  system  which  protects  the  family  aid  closes  those  avenues  that  lead  towards  illicit  sex  or  even  discriminate  contact  between  the  senses  in  society. It  prescribes  essential  rules  and  regulations  about  dress, mode  of  behavior, rules  of  contact  between  the  senses  and  a  number  of  other  questions  that  are  central  or  ancillary  to  it.

The  consequences  of  committing  acts, which  are  forbidden  in  Islam, are  not  confined  only  to  those  persons  who  commit  them,  but  the  whole  society  has  to  suffer  them. It is,  therefore,  essential  that  the  people  who  are  in  the  habit  of  committing  sins  and  violate  Divine  injunctions  should  be  checked  to  save  the whole  society  from  destruction. If  this  is  not  done, the  entire  society  will  have  to  face  the  Divine  punishment.

In  clothing  and  adornment  Islam  takes  into  serious  consideration  the  principles  of  decency, modesty, chastity  and  manliness.  Anything  in  clothing  or  adornment  incompatible  with  the  attainment, maintenance  and  development  of  these  qualities  is  inhibited  in  Islam.  Islam  does  not  let  woman  go  loose  or  wander  unrestricted. It allows  her  the  things, which suit her  nature, and, at  the  same  time, cautions  her  against  anything  that  might  abuse  or  upset  that  nature. Islam  has  served  advised  to  both  men  and  woman  to  help  women  in  particular  to  retain  and  develop  their  dignity  and  chastity, safe from being the  subject  of  idle  gossip  or  vicious, rumors, suspicious  thoughts.  The  advice  is  imparted  in  these  Qur’anic  verses:

 “Say  to  the  believing  men  that  they  should  lower  their  gaze  and  guard  their;  that  will  make  for  greater  purity  for  them. And  Allah  is  well – acquainted  with  all  that  they  do …”  (Qur’an 24: 30 – 31)

Muslims (who do not adhere to the Qur’an and the Sunnah) have  subjected  themselves  to  various  temptations  from  Satan  and  his  followers  by  imitating  the  non–Muslims  in  many  ways. Instead  of  learning  the  Qur’an  and  Sunnah  they  waste  their  time  watching  unworthy television  programs, dieting  schedules, chatting on the phone and on the Internet, visiting fashion  web sites,  reading fashion  magazines, etc. The  younger  generation  especially  young  girls take  that  path  from  the  Western  society.

The  dangers  of  misuse of  freedom  continue  to  confront  man  throughout  his  life  on  the  earth.  The  challenge  from  Satan  is  unceasing. To  safeguard  man  against  this, Islamic guidance  is  provided.  The  trail  of  Adam  and  eve  reveals, on  the  one  hand, the  essential  goodness  of  their  nature  and  the  other, their  susceptibility  to  error.  This is the nature of man and woman as Allah has given us freedom of choice – whether to choose the good or the bad;  righteousness or evil; or to prepare ourselves to be denizens of the Paradise or the Hell-Fire.  If we choose goodness, righteousness and Paradise, then we need to work for it by fulfilling the very reason why Allah has created us. We  know  that  Allah  did  not  create  us  without  a  purpose. He  created  us  to  worship  Him  alone, for  whom  there  is  no  partner. Allah the Exalted says in the Holy Qur’an:

“I have created not the jinn and men except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, Most Strong.”  (Qur'an 51:56-58)

We know that worship in Islam does not only mean the five pillars of Islam but it is a comprehensive term to mean submission to Allah and obedience to Him in all what He and His Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) have enjoined upon us and refraining from what is forbidden from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. What  is  afflicting  the  Muslims  and  their  rulers  today  of  division, misunderstanding, weakness, being  overpowered  and  ruled  by  enemies  is  all  because  of  their  distancing  themselves  from  and  their  heedlessness  of  the  Book  of  Allah  and  the  Sunnah  of  Allah’s  Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Islam according to the Qur’an  and  Sunnah  is  the  only  path  of  rescue, success  and  happiness  in  the  two  worlds:

“And  verily  this  is  My  straight  path, so  follow  not  other  paths, for  they  will  separate  you  away  from  His  path.”  (Qur’an 6: 153)

“Whatsoever  the  Messenger  gives  you, take  it, and  Whatsoever  the  forbids  you, abstain  from  it.”  (Qur’an 59: 17)

 “I  left  among  you  two  things  that  if  you  hold  firmly  to  them, you  will  never  be  misguided  the  Book  of  Allah  and  the  Sunnah  of  His  Prophet.”  (Al-Hakim)

If we are among those Muslims who are ignorant of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, if we have not been giving ample Islamic knowledge to our children, if we spend more of our lives imitating the non-Muslims, time has come  for us to seek for repentance, doing  good  deeds  and  fleeing  from  what  is  forbidden. Let us  repent  to  Allah  before  the  fate  of  death  comes.  We never know that  our life is  only  few  days,  a  few  hours  or  a  few  minutes  away  before  us  to  travel  to  the  Hereafter. We  shall  be  left  in  the  grave – pit  alone. Our  family, spouse, children and  wealth  will  not  accompany  us. If  our deeds  are  righteous  then  we  shall  have  felicity, delight  and  bliss. If  they  are  evil, then  for  us  will  be  punishment, gloom  and  grief:

“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the Right Path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way.  We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination.” (Qur’an 4:115)

“Allah  is  the  protector  of  those  who  believe. He  brings  them  out  from  darkness  into  light. But  as  for  those  who  disbelieve, their  supporters  are  false  deities,  they  bring  them  out  from  light  into  darkness…” (Qur’an 2: 257) 

Righteousness, in addition to correct belief,  is  the  way  to  come  closer  to  Allah. We  need  to  strive  hard  to  attain  righteousness  as  Allah  gives  tremendous  rewards  to  the  righteous  believers. Let us help ourselves and our respective families to attain righteousness by knowing and practicing Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah.  Let us obey Allah’s command:  

 “…Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allāh. Verily, Allāh is Severe in punishment.”   (Qur’ān 5: 2)

We need to  learn  ample knowledge of Islam so  that  we  can  implement  the  right  path  in  our  lives  and  also  teach  and  share to  others what  we  learn.  We must teach or convey Islam to others, especially to our own children because we are accountable to them.   Let us obey the  Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) by conveying Islam to others:

 “Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single Āyah (verse)...”    (Bukhari 4/667)

“May  Allah  brightens  the  face  of  the  persons  who  hears  what  I  say  and  retains  it, then  conveys  it  to  others;  for  sometimes  one  who  hears  from  another  remembers  it  better  than  the  original  hearer  himself.” (Ahmed  and  Tirmithi)

In addition to seeking authentic knowledge of Islam, it is part of righteousness that we choose our companions who are knowledgeable and practicing Muslims.  It  is  for  our  benefit  that  we  should  choose  companions who are righteous as the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) taught us in the following hādīth:

Abu  Musa  narrated  that  the  Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The  example  of  a  good  pious companions  and  an  evil  one  is  that  of  a  person  carrying  musk  and  other  blowing  a  pair  of  bellows. The  one  carrying  musk  will  either  give  you  some  perfume  as  a  present,  or  you  will  buy  some  from  him, or  you  will  get  a  good  smell  from  him, but  the  one  is  blowing  a  pair  of  bellows  will  either  burn  your  clothes  or  you  will  get  a  bad  smell  from  him.” (Sahih  Al – Bukhari  7/ 442)

In  a  world  full  of  opportunities  to  benefit  from  the  wisdom  of  others (whom Allah has bestowed Islamic knowledge),  we should not deprive  ourselves by  not  making  the  sacrifice  for  the  ultimate  success, which  is  the  Hereafter.  Let  us  then  take  time  learning  Islam either through formal schooling; distance learning;  by attending Islamic lectures; by buying Islamic books, CDs, magazines and other reading materials to self-study Islam; or by making friends or being in the company of those who know Islam.  Let us strive to learn and practice Islam, as it is the true path to success. Let us teach our children Islamic knowledge so that they become righteous members of the society.  Let us all  keep our duty to Allah who Alone is our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) and Creator and fear His terrible punishments for those who disbelieve and disobey Him and His Messenger.  Let us be conscious of our role or duty to Allah in promoting righteousness for Allah says:

“O  mankind  be  conscious  of  your  duty  to  your  Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer), who  created  you  from  a  single  soul,   created  of  like  nature, his  mate,  and  from  the  created  and  spread  away  men  and  women;  and  be  mindful  of  your  duty  to  Allah  whose  name  you  appeal  to  one  another  and  to (the  ties  of  the  womb). Verily  Allah watches  over  you.” (Qur’an 4:1)

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones…” (Qur’an 66: 6)

If we take admonitions from the above Qur’anic injunctions and do our duty to Allah according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, our children and we will become righteous Muslims.  Allah the Almighty will bless us with righteous actions,  means and opportunities to contribute in building a righteous society.  This means, we will be building a righteous family who will contribute in building a righteous society, preparing the way to the return of the Khilafah (Caliphate), insha Allah.  Brothers and sisters in Islam, let us do our role in promoting righteousness so that we can contribute in building a righteous society (Muslim Ummah) that will pave the way to the revival of the Khilafah.  Let us take inspiration from the following Prophet’s prophecy:

"Prophethood will last among you as long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will raise it up. Afterwards there will be the khilafah according to the ways of the prophethood as long as Allah wishes it to last, then Allah will raise it up. Afterwards there will be hereditary rule (by consent) and it will last as long as Allah wishes, then Allah will raise it up. Afterwards there will be biting oppression it will last as long as Allah wishes, then Allah will raise it up. Afterwards there will be the khilafah according to the ways of prophethood, and then the Prophet (saw) was silent.”  (Ahmad ibn Hanbal)  

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