OPPRESSION IS A BOOMERANG: 10:22-23

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا كُنتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ وَجَرَيۡنَ بِہِم بِرِيحٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ۬ وَفَرِحُواْ بِہَا جَآءَتۡہَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ۬ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ۬ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّہُمۡ أُحِيطَ بِهِمۡۙ دَعَوُاْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ لَٮِٕنۡ أَنجَيۡتَنَا مِنۡ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ (٢٢) فَلَمَّآ أَنجَٮٰهُمۡ إِذَا هُمۡ يَبۡغُونَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّۗ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغۡيُكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۖ مَّتَـٰعَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡنَا مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (٢٣)

He it is Who maketh you to go on the land and the sea till, when ye are in the ships and they sail with them with a fair breeze and they are glad therein, a storm-wind reacheth them and the wave cometh unto them from every side and they deem that they are overwhelmed therein; (then) they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only: If Thou deliver us from this, we truly will be of the thankful. (22) Yet when He hath delivered them, behold! They rebel in the earth wrongfully. O mankind! Your rebellion is only against yourselves. (Ye have) enjoyment of the life of the world; then unto Us is your return and We shall proclaim unto you what ye used to do. (23)

TAFSEER BY DR FARHAT HASHMI (Translation)
Allah SWT gives human beings the ability to ‘walk’ (this means the health, the resources, the intellec,  the ability and time) around. He has created winds that allows human beings to sail the water, and yet when a storm comes, and when one loses all support from all sources then one forgets all the false and small gods and calls for Allah.

Human beings then promises that if they are saved they will forever be grateful to Him (SWT), however when Allah SWT rescues them, they forget to thank him and  then they rebel, and become Dhalim (oppressors), and create rebellion in the earth and disturbs the peace on earth around them. They forget their promise to be grateful to Allah.

Allah SWT addresses ALL mankind in a serious and warning tone:

Indeed your oppression will turn around and hurt you in the same manner, thus the oppressor will become the oppressed.
Hadith: Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him said:
Three things return to a person who does them
1.    Dhulm, the oppressor is eventually oppressed. (Allah listens to the dua of the oppressed even if he is a kaafir)
2.    Faraib. One who tricks other people, usually becomes the victim of trickery
3.    Dagha: one who makes a promise and then forsakes it by trickery and turns his back eventually falls victim to the same.
and:
Two sins that Allah Subhanawataala punishes human beings for in this dunya
1.    Al Baghi: Rebellion, oppression, Dhulm.
2.    Okook kul Waledain: Dishonoring ones parents

You have to return to Allah He says and then He will show them their deeds on earth.

LESSON: One reaps what one sows. Oppression is a boomerang, what one sends out, it comes back to hit us hard.

SELF-CHECK: We should check ourselves: Are we oppressing anyone? Are we taking away the God given rights of anyone whom we come in contact with and this includes family, friends, to acquaintances?

MY TAKE: Tread the path of moderation, and with care of the feelings and rights of others, as we may be in their shoes anytime……….it is Allah’s promise: How we treat others thus shall we be treated, either in this world or in the Hereafter.

CHAINS AND FREEDOM……….

Masjid e Quds, Capetown, South Africa

You are free from that which you despair of,

and a slave to that which you covet.

#62 of THE HIKAM

ENTERING THE CIRCLE OF PEACE…………..STEP THREE AND FOUR

The steps for entering the circle of peace are as follows:
1.    Making the Intention
2.    Getting rid of the clutter
3.    Reading the instructions

Learning the Quran, using the ipod

4.    Following the instructions

5.    Finding support in others on this path
6.    Refraining from going back to collecting clutter
7.    Making amends for past mistakes
8.    Traveling
9.    Having a focus in daily life
10.    Saying No to invitations to exit the circle of peace

3.    READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
The methodology to approach the circle of peace is clearly defined in great detail in Instructions in THE BOOK. This book is not really a book but is the word of God Almighty, compiled in a series of chapters; these chapters are not in chronological order of what we need to do from start to end like the instructions to a dishwasher. This book has to be read with understanding, explanation in the light of the explanation given by Prophet Muhammad regarding the events and how to incorporate them in our life.
Not all the instructions given in this book the Quran will be completely understandable to us as this book is for all times, and for all people, therefore, it is advisable to read the life of Prophet Muhammad pbuh and his sunnah and hadith that illuminate the chapters relevant to the practices of our daily life will help in the reading, understanding and reflection of THE BOOK.

There are three prerequisites to the Instructions:
a.    One must want to be instructed
b.    One must know how to read the instructions.
c.    One must ask for help from God as well as scholars if one cannot understand the instructions

There are two impediments to reading the Instructions:
a.    Inside us is a force that preserves our self, our body, mind and spirit. All these elements are in a balance in those people who are in the circle of Peace;

However there is one part of this force (Nafs) that easily becomes a tyrant if not restrained and that is our Nafs e Ammara. It is that part of our self that feeds us, and has some protective (and predatory) instincts, but if these are overfed and overdeveloped then this Nafs Ammara becomes a tyrant and suffocates the spiritual part of our Nafs, which is actually our connection with God.

The inflation of the Nafs comes from overdeveloping our sensual and sexual habits beyond our needs. Our Nafs becomes literally ‘fat’ by eating too much, inflating our importance, arrogance, greed for power and money and doing “good” to get the goodwill of people rather than God Almighty.

The backlash of the Nafs comes when people do not reciprocate with praise, obedience and admiration for the person who has been “doing” the acts to get the acclamation of people, resulting in a spiraling down into depression or further building up the Nafs with overfeeding and overdeveloping those very instincts that brought us out of the circle of peace.

Our Nafs is important for self preservation but the instincts lodged within it to eat excessively, to indulge in sensual pleasures excessively and to succumb or become subservient to seeking these pleasures over and above the ibadah of God Almighty puts a veil on our brain such that even when we read the instructions we are in a hurry to leave to do something else. We become impatient and agitated at the time it is taking to read and understand the instructions.

When this happens to me I understand that the wild horse my “Nafs”is on a willful stampede, unrestrained, and instead of I riding it and guiding it, it is taking me away and out of the circle of peace.

In doing so the gentle spirituality I so desire, which will allow me to enter the circle of peace is being crushed under the flying hooves of my rampant Nafs.

b.    The second most important impediment stems from the promise that Shaytaan made to God when he refused to bow to Adam. He noted that Adam was made of clay and that he, Shaytaan was made of fire.
Thus he said to God Almighty, “I am better than him”. By saying that he sowed the seed of arrogance and racism in the earth and he sought permission from God Almighty that he would prove his point that Adam was inferior, not by forcing the children of Adam to disobedience of God but by suggesting to them to disobey God and providing legitimate distractions which would take them away from the obedience of God.
He is Shaytaan and he is ready and able with his army of shayateen to lure us, distract us and numb us with the barrage of outside stimuli such that we are unable to listen or nurture the angelic or spiritual part within us, muffling all channels to God by subjugation of the spiritual voice within us.

4.    FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The intellectual divide between reading and acting varies in individuals and is subject to what we fill our day with and what we prevent filling our day with.

Acts that inhibit following the Instructions are:

a.    physical apathy: being physically unfit, lazy, procrastinating, or eating too much or foods that make your brain dull and your body too relaxed, are major factors impeding the absorption, understanding and action given in the instructions. Each person has unique reasons form being apathetic. Each one of us has to evaluate our vulnerabilities that will impede our entrance into the circle of peace.
b.    Surrounding oneself with noise, clutter, and companions that are not in sync with your desire and goal to enter the circle of Peace will put a major crimp in your progress. Evaluate what are those for you.

Acts that help us in following the instructions:

a.    The buddy system: If you can find someone who will follow instructions consistently with you, maybe one act a day i.e. praying one salaat in the masjid, he or she calls you or you call him or her to meet up for salaat at the masjid. Or meet up for coffee to discuss what you have learnt that day from the Quran or Hadith
b.    Go to the source first, which means read, understand, reflect, discuss and act on the Quran and Sunnah first before going to the five thousand versions on the Internet.
c.    Try and get a mentor and work with him or her once a week on a specific section or aspect of the Quran.
d.    Keep your focus on the Quran and Sunnah, and practice one act from each per day, or maybe that is too much so find your pace, but do not and I repeat do not read just for academic reasons, that will not get you me into the circle of peace, I have been on that route and it bears no fruits.
e.    Consult only authentic sources for acts of Ibadah, do not go to authors who do not have genuine references from the Quran and Sunnah
f.    Rein in the wild horse of your Nafs by fasting on the days that RasoolAllah (pbuh) used to fast. (Monday and Thursday, and the 14, 15 and 16th of each month). This weakens your Nafs and your shayateen are chained for the time you are fasting, and it gives you the opportunity to consolidate what you read and to practice your instructions.
g.    Start each act with a supplication that Allah may help you with your actions and accept you into the circle of peace and keep you there and protect you from events and people that would cause you to leaving it or being thrown out of it.

I am struggling with this everyday so please keep me in your prayers.
To be continued………..

The Unraveling………….

The fabric of our lives is slowly unraveling.
It all started one day when life was no longer of any value, or was too painful and meaningless to my brother who could gauge the insincerity of people without asking a single question and had continued to live trying to harden the shell that hid his vulnerabilities………..

I remember one clear sunlit day in Pakistan:
I was sitting with my brother Haroon, I a preteen with an avid interest in poetry, he a random reciter of poetry, and renowned in all circles for his photographic memory and his keen intellect.

He had been away on training for several months for a new position and had just returned home briefly.

All of a sudden, the doorbell which had almost retired into silence was ringing and his friends and our friends were dropping in like old times, unlimited numbers of tea cups were being imbibed while the philosophy of life was discussed with ardor and enthusiasm.

His friends seem to be seeing each other after a long time too……….as if all movements of friendship had ceased in his absence. I remarked on that fact and he replied:

Tha mai guldasta e ehbab ki bandish ki giyah
Muntashar ho gaey meray rufaqa meray baad

Roughly translated as “ I was the ribbon that tied the bouquet of my friends, they dispersed after the tie fell off”

I have often thought that was the beginning of the unraveling………he was the first to go.

The most sensitive, even if they hide it under a firm exterior are the first to be recalled. Allah Subhanwataala probably takes pity on them and removes them from the harshness of this world, some very early and some a little bit later.

After him my son left us, followed shortly by my mother…………..both sensitive souls, buffeted relentlessly by the sea of cynicism and materialism. Allah Subhanawataala gave them release and they left us, unraveling the fabric of our lives and our family further, making me realize that the order in which one leaves the misery of this world is not by age or by circumstance……….but something else far deeper and more profound that can only be seen with His (SWT) eye.

As the unraveling continues, a heart attack here and a growing weakness there, I feel the numbering of my days on the wall and as I await my portion of the pattern to unravel, I wonder if I left any Sadaqa e Jariya and will it be enough to give me some posthumous credit in the Hereafter?

The days are full of “running in place” and getting nowhere. At the back of my mind, I feel the clock ticking and I know that I need to get off the treadmill and clean house so that I can be ready for the move……….for I don’t know when the order for my recall will come and yet………..my magical thinking does not cease and I feel……….I will be forgiven for all my sins and that He (SWT) will embrace me effortlessly.

The sane part of my mind questions the disparity between wishes and actions, while my heart has a feeling that all will be well. While my head and my heart war with each other, fatigue over comes and another day passes while the fabric of our family lives continues to unravel stitch by stitch relentlessly………..

JIHAD AND ILM -E- DEEN 9:122

Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/Syria

۞ وَمَا كَانَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُواْ ڪَآفَّةً۬ۚ فَلَوۡلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرۡقَةٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ طَآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُواْ قَوۡمَهُمۡ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡہِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَحۡذَرُونَ (١٢٢

And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware. (122)

TAFSEER BY DR FARHAT HASHMI (Translated)

It is not essential that all Muslims should leave for battle (when jihad is announced) All jihads/battles are not fard e aeyn. (Duty of every individual)
After the battle of Tabook the sahaba became very sensitized to the call for Jihad and would leave for the battle immediately without hesitation.

Here Allah SWT divides the participation of jihad into two sections: One group is those who go out to fight and the second group is those who stay back or go away to learn to fight ignorance with ilm of Deen.

Surah Tawbah is one of the later surahs thus the role of the muslims is being
consolidated as follows:
1.    Jihad for battle to fight the oppressors and free the opressed
2.    Jihad to battle ignorance with education of the ilm of Deen.

This is based on the conditions present.

There are citations in the Quran where the hypocrites and others are cited as being ignorant, thus here Allah SWT gives the solution for the cure of their ignorance

Here Allah SWT guides us how to give education in an organized manner. There should be centers of education where groups would come from different towns, learn the understanding and essence and spirit of the Deen and then go back to their towns and teach their people keeping the the psyche and culture of their townspeople to evaluate and finesse their teaching techniques.

The purpose of the education is to understand the Deen in its full essence  and then go back and warn their own people as well as give them the message of the commands of Allah using the methods that are best for teaching keeping in view the psychological temperament of their own people (the students).

30.000 people went for Jihad to fight at  Tabuk. Here all the people were sent back to their own towns and villages and then were asked to send a group who would come to Medina and learn the understanding and essence of Deen and go back and teach their people

Tafakkur: to learn and develop fahm and Baseerat within one self. The idea is not to become a faqih (jurist) or Mufti. (Scholar)
Three steps and words are explained in this tafseer:
1.    Tafakkur to develop an understanding, reflect and in one own self sense of doing things
2.    Unziru: To warn and to inform the people
3.    Evaluate results of the efforts: Are people learning, what effect is ones effort having on people. are they keeping away from disobediences of Allah, How effective is the tabligh on people on their ability to avoid disobediences.

Sunnah
The total time in Medina for RasoolAllah was ten years. No sahaba studied non-stop for ten years.

Ahl Suffa some people stayed few months, some few days, some few weeks and then went back to their towns and taught them how to practice the spirit of Deen.

Maaruf ul Quran:
Hadith (Hazrart Anas RA) To learn Ilm of Deen is a fard on every Muslim man and woman.

Ilm e  Deen is a combination of many types of Ilm Every Muslim man and woman is not able to learn every aspect of Ilm Deen.

FARD E AEYN (Obligatory on every individual, man or woman)
The  part if ilm of Deen that is fard (obligatory) on each individual woman and man is that portion of ilm without which:
1.    One is unable to fulfill one s obligations of emaan and islam
2.    One is unable to avoid the haraam aspects required by emaan and islam

Every individual does not have to be an expert on:
1.    All the details of jurisprudence of the derived laws of the Quran and Sunnah
2.    However there should be at least one individual expert in each town that can be consulted for details. If there is none currently than one should get at least one expert in each town

FARD E AEYN (Obligation of each individual)
Here are the ilms of Deen that are mandatory for each individual Muslim, man and woman:
1.    Aqeedah of islam
2.    Understanding of Taharah, Najasah, Namaaz Roza and fard and wajab ibadah in shariah
3.    Learn the rules of those things that are haraam and makrooh
4.    Those who have maal (property, money etc) should learn about the rules of Zakah
5.    Those who are capable of Hajj, they need to learn the rules of Hajj
6.    Those who have businesses, they must learn the rules of trade and remuneration of labor etc
7.    If one does Nikkah one must learn about the rules of Nikkah and Divorce

In Summary: What ever the Shariah has made mandatory on each person in their acts of daily living and dealing with others then each person is obligated to learn the rules of Deen e Islam regarding whatever in life impacts him or her.

FARD E KIFAYA (Group Obligation, at least one person in the community should be fulfilling it)
There should be at least one expert in the collective Uloom e Deen or the many different aspects of Deen who can be consulted by the community. If there is no such person then it is an obligation of the community to get such a person or train such a person to be available to the general public.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Learn not only the rules but also the essence and spirit of the Deen OF ISLAM
End part one of tafseer

MY TAKE:
HOW DOES ONE LEARN THE ESSENCE AND SPIRIT OF DEEN?
To entertain the beauty of the Quran in your heart:
1.    Become aware of those acts active or passive that qualify as a disobedience of Allah
2.    Once that recognition is made for each act remove it one by one like removing the needles of a cactus from your hand, patiently and with precise determination.
3.    Clean out the garbage. By removing and then abstaining from all disobediences of Allah.

Once the heart and brain is cleansed of trash (disobediences of Allah) and there is room to bring in the light and beauty of the Quran and Sunnah then:
1.    Install an item of obedience of Allah, one by one
2.    Repeat each item of obedience of Allah continuously for 40 days (it takes 40 days to install a new habit) and then go on to the next and next.
3.    As one practices the obedience of Allah, ask Him to help you (supplication) and watch how the highway of ease towards Him will unfold.
4.    Be warned that when a potential candidate for the Fire is being lost to Shaitaan and he is in danger of losing his proof that the Children of Adam are inferior to him then he will resort to anything and  everything to distract you from your acts of obedience to Allah.
5.    Remember that the distractions come from our Nafs and the whisperings of Shaitaan. They are a strong influence and are usually coupled to things or people we like, and are  always waiting in the wings for a moment of weakness.
6.    Be vigilant of being led down what may seem like the Garden Path abut is really the Path to the Fire.
7.    Strengthen your ilm with acts of affirmation of emaan and ibadah.
8.    Seek others who may encourage you in your endeavors.
9.    Pray for me that I may also be consistent in absorbing the essence and spirit of our Deen.

From FH tafseer:

EVALUATE YOUR AREAS OF STRENGTH AND USE THAT TO TEACH THE ILM OF DEEN

TWO EXAMPLES USE OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS TOWARDS THE SAME AIM:

1.    KHALID BIN WALEED WAS A STRONG WARRIOR AND DEDICATED HIS SERVICE TO ISLAM IN THE JIHADS HE FOUGHT (He reported only100 HADITH which were passed on into the future)
2.    ABU HURAIRA: HE WAS INTELLIGENT AND USED THAT TO SERVE HIS DEEN (REPORTED ALMOST 5000 HADITH)

He asked Rasool Allah to make a dua that \” please ask Allah to improve my memory such that I can use it well to serve my Deen\”
And Rasool Allah said Ameen
He would continuously remain with RasoolAllah as much as possible and would memorize what ever he could and then would write it down, History is forever grateful to him for his indefatigable attention to detail and opening the door of the Sunnah and allowing us a glimpse into the life of Rasool Allah for the generations that followed

End tafseer

HOMEWORK FOR EACH OF US:
Make a map of how we are going to absorb the essence of our Deen and How and to whom will we convey it?

AL HAMIDOON:Those who Praise God

Al Hamidoon are those destined for The Gardens (Jannah) The serenity that comes from the Praise of Allah is best seen in His creation:

A Blue Heron in evening Dhikr after Asr

and

Weaving a web while in Tasbeeh

The sun setting at a time dictated by Allah while in praise of Him

A seagull in evening Dhikr

The light and droplets expressing their praise of Allah

Standing in Praise of Allah

IF YOU LOVE THEM GIVE THEM THE MESSAGE NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE………. 9:113-114

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ وَلَوۡ ڪَانُوٓاْ أُوْلِى قُرۡبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّہُمۡ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ (١١٣

It is not for the Prophet, and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters even though they may be near of kin (to them) after it hath become clear that they are people of hell-fire. (113)

وَمَا كَانَ ٱسۡتِغۡفَارُ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوۡعِدَةٍ۬ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ۥۤ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَدُوٌّ۬ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنۡهُۚ إِنَّ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ لَأَوَّٲهٌ حَلِيمٌ۬ (١١٤)

The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he (Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart, forbearing. (114)

TAFSEER FH

“Nabi and the people who are believers should not pray for those who have died in A state of kuffar (denial of one God)”.
Thus if truth came to a person and he or she denied it and died in that state then we cannot pray for their salvation. While the mushrikeen are alive one can pray for them.

Allah SWT does not question people unless He has clarified the situation regarding dua for the mushrikeen after death. Making a dua to override Allah s rules of the Day of Punishment is not permitted. This is provided the Mushriq was offered the truth of Islam, and Tawheed in life and he or she refused it. E.g. Ibrahim AS made dua for his mushrik father because he had promised his father to ask for his salvation and when his father refused to renege all Gods except Allah then Allah SWT stopped Ibrahim AS to make dua for his father.

Allah knows best.

Al Abidoon: bartering for the Gardens of Jannah

Al Abidoon are one of the ones who will qualify for the barter for Jannah:

In Mina for Hajj

Humble dua courtesy:http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrehan

and

Dhikr always.......even on the go

Dhikr always, keeping Allah on the lips and in the heart at all times.

AT TAIBOON: GETTING PASSAGE INTO THE GARDENS

One of the Assets needed to make a trade to get the Gardens of Jannah is to become one of the At Taiboon, i.e . Those who return to Allah in repentance from their disobediences:

Remembrance of Allah with humility and repentance

Dua......supplication

No Exit on Judgment Day, so return to Allah now......

Istighfaar of Hazrat Younus in the belly of the Whale

THE GARDENS ARE FOR SALE, DO YOU HAVE THE ASSETS? 9: 111-112

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱشۡتَرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَأَمۡوَٲلَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةَۚ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَقۡتُلُونَ وَيُقۡتَلُونَۖ وَعۡدًا عَلَيۡهِ حَقًّ۬ا فِى ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلِ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِۚ وَمَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِعَهۡدِهِۦ مِنَ ٱللَّهِۚ فَٱسۡتَبۡشِرُواْ بِبَيۡعِكُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَايَعۡتُم بِهِۦۚ وَذَٲلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (١١١)

009.111
YUSUFALI: Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur’an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.

ٱلتَّـٰٓٮِٕبُونَ ٱلۡعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلۡحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓٮِٕحُونَ ٱلرَّٲڪِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلۡأَمِرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَٱلۡحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١١٢)

009.112 YUSUFALI: Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance; that serve Him, and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the cause of Allah,: that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limit set by Allah;- (These do rejoice). So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers.

TAFSEER translated from Dr.Farhat Hashmi’s Taleemul Quran

Background: In the earlier Ayahs Allah Subhanawataala warns us of the disease of the heart (hypocrisy) that eats away a man from the inside. In the following ayahs he makes a deal with human beings for Jannah. Like any other trade the clauses are clarified, what assets do we have to have as men and women in this transient time on this earth in order to attain a house in Jannah for ever.
Here is the deal:

Ayah 111: Only complete submission of mind, body and soul in all forms and manner is the barter for the Gardens.

Who are the ones who actually will win Jannah (The gardens)? Their description is given in Ayah 9:112
Those who have the assets to barter for Jannah have the following characteristics:

1.    Ataiboon
Thos who return to Allah is repentance/ Allah SWT knows that human beings are weak, thus he has made a deal in which there is room for genuine mistakes, which after repentance are not repeated.
Self-evaluation: How do I do tawba? What do I read? Say? Do? What method do I use to return from the disobediences of Allah?
•    Listing of disobediences
•    Action taken for the disobediences, is there an action,? Nafil? Giving away my best most desired item, giving sadaqa
•    As soon as I admit the disobedience, immediately do the action with verbal tawbah

2.    AL ABIDOON: Those who pray and keep Allah’s name on their lips and their heart in everything they say and do.
Action: Check my prayers; check the perfection of the steps to prayers, wudu, and salaat post salaat nafil prayer.
•    Check fasts
•    Hajj
•    Zakat

3.    AL HAMIDOON: Those who praise Allah in many different ways in what they see, hear and do.
Self Evaluation: what do I do to sing/recite the praises of Allah, do I thank Allah for gracing me with His naimah and making the prayers. Do I say the masnoon duas as I enter and exit my house and my car? Do I thank him when I eat and drink?

4.    AS-SAIHOON: This has been interpreted by some as those who fast but mostly as those who walk all around the earth (travel) for the sake of Allah, i.e. who leave their homes to learn ilm, to teach ilm of Deen, to help the poor, hijrat, jihad, which includes intellectual war. Those who travel in the world for the sake of Allah. This includes women as this has been used elsewhere in the Quran for Women.
Action:  Maximize utilization of time to learn, teach and help, and convey the message of Allah and do social work. Distribute the time apportioned with balance of each of the things that are reasonable for each individual.

This type of Saihaat has also been used for desirable women, in Surah Tahreem
066.005YUSUFALI: It may be, if he divorced you (all), that Allah will give him in exchange consorts better than you,- who submit (their wills), who believe, who are devout, who turn to Allah in repentance, who worship (in humility), who travel (for Faith) and fast,- previously married or virgins.

Self Evaluation:  For what reasons do we we leave home and for what purpose? Is it within the circle to do His (SWT) work? And at all times respect the restrictions placed on women, (for safety and guarding the chastity) by Allah.

5.    AR RAAKIOON: Those who do Ruku and those who do a lot of Rukus and Sajdahs. This is nafil prayer and being humble in front of others. If one is humble for the sake of Allah and his deen then Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings upon him is related in the Hadith as saying “ He who has bend down in humility then Allah SWT will raise him to great heights”

We can observe how RasoolAllah’s behavior was humble even with the children as well as his companions. Ayah: For Rasool Allah “ bend down your shoulders” Remove the barriers between yourself and others, which are based on arrogance or stiffness or self-righteousness. Let go of ones pride as we are in the business of qualifying for the trade for Jannah.

RasoolAllah was always kind, patient and humble even with children. Five times our shoulders and our back and our heads are bent in salaat this is to practice humility and to remove the stiffness of arrogance from our bodies and our minds.

Self evaluation: When I am giving the message of Islam to a friend or colleague, do I get irritated, impatient or arrogant when I am put in a corner?

6.  AS SAJIDOONA: HADITH: Hazrat Abu Firas (RA), who used to serve Rasool Allah, was part of the Ahle Suffa. He states: ” I used to bring water for his wudu, one night he said ‘ask me for something” I said “ I want to stay with you in Jannah” Rasoolallah (PBUH) said “anything else” He said “no that is all I want is to be with you in Jannah”.
Rasool Allah (PBUH) replied ” Then help me and your soul by increasing your sajdahs”.

Self Evaluation: Do I schedule my sajdahs as the highest priority of my day?

7.    THOSE WHO ENJOIN WHAT IS RIGHT AND FORBID WHAT IS EVIL. Invite others to what is good, and prevent them from what is evil, it is the key to surround oneself with what is good and protect one from what is evil.

Do not limit your search of goodness only to yourself but invite others also to what is good and prevent what is evil. If one does not do that then a single individual cannot stay good and remain protected from evil.

Self Evaluation: Do I share the good ness I learn with those I love and care for? Not in a preach manner but like a delicious piece of cake that I just tasted and wanted to share with them, here is where ikhlaas is truly tested and cannot be faked.

Thus I guess first I have to enjoin what is good in myself and only then can I share it with other and same with forbidding evil, first I must have conviction that it is evil that I am forbidding and that it will take me and my loved ones to the fire before I forbid others.

Knowledge/ILM of Deen is essential here to decide what is evil and what is not, other wise one has to go by what is drummed into our heads via the media.

8.    THOSE WHO STAY WITHIN THE HUDDOOD OF ALLAH. Allah has set limits; those who want to go to jannah have to stay within the huddood(boundaries) He has set for us.

Allah Subhanawataala states: If you complete these clauses of the barter than the promise of jannah to you is firm.

My Dua: I ask Allah for forgiveness for any mistakes I may have made inunderstanding His word.

My mistakes are from shaitaan or my Nafs.

Anything good and correct is from Allah Subhanawataala.

May He always keep me and my pen (my fingerson the keyboard) in the good and correct path, and disallow all the whisperings of the Shaitaan and allow me to tighten the reins of control over my Nafs.

Ameen.