The Right of Allah, the Almighty
- Categories: Da'wah to Non-Muslims -
Allah, the Almighty, is the king of all kings, the Omnipotent, the
just, the Only one, Who has neither wife nor a son, the One Who
creates from nothing, and returns His creations again to the earth
to become like soil dirt once again.
He is the One who grants all the graces since man was a fetus in
his mother's womb where no one was capable of providing sufficient
food and nourishment, except Him. In the womb, Allah, the Almighty,
provided three layers of darkness for comfort, protection and
proper isolation. Later, He was the one to provide your mother with
warm milk from her breast to give you suitable type of food at all
times, and in accordance with your age. Yet Allah, the Almighty,
was the One Who directed you to use the sucking function provided
for you, enabling you to suckle the milk from your mother.
Moreover, He is the one who placed love, tender care, compassion,
love and the sense of attachment in your parents' hearts to employ
all what they have for your comfort, well -being and early stage of
your life when you needed the care, the shelter, the comfort and
other things.
Furthermore, He is the One Who provided you with natural
intelligence, mental faculties, sense, energy, strength and so
forth to care for yourself and for others, professing the Creator's
abilities and graces unto you. Allah , the Almighty , stated in the
glorious Quran: {It is He Who brought
you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and
He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: That
ye may give thanks ( to God)} [Quran 16:78].
If Allah, the Almighty, stopped His virtuous care for a glimpse of
an eye of us, men, women and children, or for only few moments, our
entire life or world would collapse, vanish, come to an end, or be.
It is because of the mercy, blessings, care, gifts, grants of
Allah, the Almighty, unto us, that leads us to think that Allah,
the Almighty, is entitled for most important right of all.
He, the Almightily, definitely, has the right of creating us from
nothing, preparing us for whatever we shall become while realizing
we are completely incapable of doing anything, and last, but not
the least, providing us with all that we have in terms such as
health, strength, senses, food, shelter, abilities. And yet, Allah
, the Almighty, does not ask anything in return for all His gifts,
grants and bounties offered by generously without limitation, as He
grants to all who believe in Him, follow His teachings and
commands, and to those who do not, as well. He requires no favors
from us He demands no provision of food or drink, as He, the
Almighty, is neither in need of nourishment, nor in need for us for
ant reason. Allah , the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran:
{Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be
constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide
it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for
Righteousness} [Quran 20:132].
The only thing that Allah, the Almighty, demands from His creation,
which is again for man's interest, if applied, fulfilled and
practiced, is to worship Him, and Him alone with any association of
others with Him in worship. Allah, the Almighty, stated in the
glorious Quran: {have only created
Jinn and men, that they may serve Me. No sustenance do I require of
them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For God is He Who
gives (all) sustenance, Lord of Power, steadfast (for ever)}
[Quran 51:56-58].
Allah, the Almighty, demands complete, through and unrestricted
submission in slavery for Him, in respect of His position as Full
and Complete Lord, Cherisher and Care taker. Man must present
himself before His Creator and Cherisher in full humiliation,
obedience and submission to His Commands and Will without
questioning the validity of the rule, or even the wisdom behind it,
as He, the Almighty, knows well what it is good for His creations
as a sole Creator. Man is required to fully believe,
wholeheartedly, in that is reported soundly and truly of His
Creator through His Prophets, Messengers and Books or scriptures.
Man could easily see, touch and feel all the graces of Allah, the
Almighty, surrounding him in his life, therefore, it is not
extremely impolite, rude and inconsiderate to deny all these gifts
and graces.
If any provided you with a fraction of what Allah, the Almighty,
has provided, you would give him a proper respect, consideration to
whatever he demands of you as long as such request are within
reason, of course. It is not awful to confront one's Lord, Creator,
Cherisher and Caretaker with denial of His Commands, rules,
teachings and instructions which is for the benefit, welfare and
well-being of man himself, not for the benefit of the Lord
himself?, In fact, all good that comes to man is definitely from
His Lord, Allah, the Almighty and all evil or bad things dismissed
from man is also due to the mercy of Allah, the Almighty. As Allah,
the Almighty stated in the glorious Quran: {And ye have no good things but is from God:
And moreover, when ye are touched by distress, unto Him ye cry with
groans} [Quran 6:53].
In reality, this right that Allah, the Almighty, requires for
Himself from man is very easy to observe, simple to respect, clear
to understand and practical to apply for those whom Allah, the
Almighty, made it so for them. The Crux of the matter is that
Allah, the Almighty, did not make this right a difficult task to
achieve, impossible to live by, hard to apply, or even tough
understand. Allah, the Almighty stated in the glorious Quran: {And strive in His cause as ye ought to
strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He has chosen you,
and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult
of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both
before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be witness
for you, and ye be witness for mankind! So establish regular
prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to God ! He is your
Protector, the best to protect and the best to help} [Quran
22:78].
This right of Allah, the Almighty, is an ideal belief, truthful
faith and belief in justice and fairness. This right results in
fruitful and excellent quality, good deed and actions. The essence
of this belief is love reverence and respect. Meanwhile, the result
and fruit of this belief is dedication, sincerity and full devotion
to truth, justice, and good ethnic and moral practice. In fact, the
give of daily prayer of Muslims is but a simple result of the
application of this right of Allah, the Almighty.
However, sych daily prayers are for the benefits of man himself.
They will abolish the minor sins committed during that day,
increase the rewards of man for his good actions, improve morals,
practices and devotions of the heart of man while improving various
situations of man, such as patience and perseverance,
concentration, dedication, steadfastness, devotion, commitment to
time, production and excellence and so forth. Although this
required from all, it is in accordance with every individual's
abilities as Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran:
{So fear as much as ye can}
[Quran 64:16].
The prophet , P.B.U.H , told a man called 'Imran bin Al-Hussain,
who was ill at that time: «Offer Your
Obligatory " prayer while standing, but if you can not do that,
then offer it while sitting, and if you can not do that, then,
offer it while laying down on your side» [Reported By Abu
Dawood & Classified as Sheeh by Al-Albani].
Consequently, man as a result of his belief in Allah, the Almighty,
and his religion of Islam, is to pay Zakaht (Charity). This is a
small percentage of the entire Wealth is given to man, but yet, it
benefits the poor and the needy individuals in the society. It does
not benefits Allah, the Almighty. Zakaht benefits the poor, but by
the same token, it does not harm or burden the rich person who
gives of his wealth.
As a believing, obedient Muslim, one must observe Swam (fasting)
during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Hijra - lunar
calendar, every year, in fulfillment of the right of Allah, the
Almighty. However, if one is unable to fulfill this duty for
legitimate reason or excuse, then one may make it up some other
time of the year, or pay necessary fines (in charity) for missing
it, as Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran: {But if any one is ill, or an a journey, the
prescribed period (should be made up) by days later} [Quran
2:185].
Also, as a result of the application, observation and adherence to
this immense right of Allah, the Almighty, a believing Muslim must
perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the holy shrine of K'aba, at Makkah,
one tome in one's life as a requirement for those who can
physically and financially can afford it.
This natural right of Allah, the Almighty, is the one to be
fulfilled wholeheartedly. Consequently, all the matters related to
it in terms of full belief, Salah "prayer", Zakah "charity or poor
dues" , swam "fasting" and Hajj "pilgrimage" must be practiced,
observed and maintained on regular basis. All other facts, duties
and requirements that Islam require from the believers are only
required when there is a need for them, such as Jihad (fight and
struggle, holy war) for the cause of Allah, the Almighty supporting
the cause of injustice to men when it occurs and needs
support.
Dear fellow man! Examine this right of Allah, the Almighty. It is
easy to fulfill, maintain and observe. It is also insignificant in
terms of required applications; yet, it is so great un value and
reward for those who observe it and perform whatever it entails.
Observers of such right will live happily in this life, the
hereafter, salvaged from the Hell-fire and will be rewarded with
permanent abode in Jannah (paradise) as Allah, the Almighty stated
in the glorious Quran: {Only he who is
saved far from the fire and admitted to the Garden will have
attained the object (of life): for the life of this world is but
goods and chattels of deception} [Quran 3:185].
Shaikh Mohammed Saleh
Alothaimeen
Charity Organization