..............He who "does what is beautiful"................
"Perfection" or "Excellence:-The concept of Ihsan means that a Muslim is a responsible person and a person of quality where he does things in a very good manner, in a complete sense, in a nice and tasteful way and is never satisfied with anything other than a quality job in all that he/she does, motivated by realizing that Allah prescribed Ihsan to everything and to all deeds.
Muslims can be categorized as:
* People of Iman – those who are good at faith but not good at Islamic deeds.
* People of Islam – those who are good at Islamic deeds but not good in Islamic faith.
* People of Ihsan – those who are good both in Islamic faith and deeds.
The term “amalan” in its selected form as mentioned in Surat Al-Mulk ayat no 2 implies any kind of deeds. It is not just the religious deeds (ibadah), but also all that we do which is lawful. It should be done according to the concept of Ihsan and we should exert our efforts to live up according to its implications. The way we look and dress, the way we eat, the way we sleep, our work, our profession, our da’wah, teaching and learning, our relationship with our family, relatives, neighbour, and with others in general – Ihsan should be observed and practiced in all these actions. These actions and good deeds can be considered as ibadah
The word "Ihsan" in Arabic is a derivative of the verb "ahsana," which means doing things better. Thus the literal linguistic meaning of Ihsan is doing the best, which is doing what God commanded us to do.
Ihsan is the highest of the three levels of faith and the closest to God. It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him. While you do not see Him, He truly sees you. Then, Ihsan means that a Muhsen is sure that Allah is seeing him/her in everything he/she says or does. Therefore, a Muhsen does his/her best to say and do only what pleases God and conforms to His commands. This is the level of righteousness, the level of perfection, the level of doing and saying the ultimate good, the level of Ihsan.
Abu Ya’ la Shad dad ibn Aus, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam, said:
“Verily, Allah has enjoined excellence (ihsan) with regard to everything. So, when you kill, kill in a good way; when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way; so every one of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably.”
[Muslim]
On the authority of Omer Bin Al-Khattab, the second Caliph (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (i.e. Prophet Muhammad, Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet (Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). Resting his knees against his (the Prophet's) and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said:
O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.
The Messenger of Allah (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
to perform the prayers,
to pay the Zakat(. Often rendered as alms-tax or poor due, it is a tax levied on a man’s wealth and distributed among the poor.)
To fast in Ramadan, and
To make the pilgrimage to the House (Mosque (KABA) in Makkah), only if you are able to do so once in a life time
.
He said: You have spoken rightly, and we were amazed at him asking him (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) and saying that he had spoken rightly.
He said: Then, tell me about Iman. (Iman is generally rendered as religious belief or faith. However, being a fundamental term in Islam, the Arabic word has been retained.)
He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof.
He said: You have spoken rightly.
He said: Then, tell me about Ihsan. (. In this context, the word ihsan has a special religious significance and any single rendering of it would be inadequate. Dictionary meaning for ihsan includes right actions, goodness, charity, sincerity, and the like. The root also means to master or be proficient at,)
He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you.
He said: Then, tell me about the hour.(of the Day of Judgment.)
He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner. He said: Then, tell me about its signs.
He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing lofty buildings.
Then, he took himself off and I stayed for some time. Then he (Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: O Omer, do you know who the questioner was? I said: Allah and His Messenger know better. He said: It was Jibril (Gabriel), who came to you to teach you your religion.
The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) told the truth.
Hadith Imam Muslim...
Ihsan is a comprehensive concept. It denotes doing things completely, nicely and in a tasteful manner. It comprises four components:
Sincerity (Ikhlas)
Completeness
Tastefulness (doing things in a nice manner), and
Correctness: (doing things in the right way).
This concept is translated by commentators and interpreters as Excellence. Being a comprehensive concept, the term Ihsan cannot be translated word for word because there is no word in the English language that gives its exact meaning. Therefore, it is better to use it as it is.
Islam commands Muslims to practice and apply Ihsan in all that they do – hence it is an obligation (wajib).
It has been mentioned in the Qur’an as well. Allah the Almighty says:
“Verily, Allah enjoins Justice, and Ihsan and giving help to kith and kin…”
[Surah Al-Nahl (16): ayat 90]
In Surah Al-Mulk (67), ayat 2 this concept is mentioned as one of two main purposes of human creation, Allah the Almighty says: “The One Who created death and life so that He may test you which of you are best of conduct.”
simplicity and abstinence
Once, the Sahabas (R.A.) were discussing some worldly aspects. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) addressed them and said: “Will you not listen? Will you not listen? Will you not listen? Verily simplicity is a part of Iman. Verily simplicity is a part of Iman. Verily simplicity is a part of Iman”.
The lesson of simplicity and abstinence was so deeply entrenched in the hearts of the Sahabas (R.A.) that despite the fact that some of them owned much wealth, they lived a life of complete simplicity, spending their wealth on others and in the other avenues of Deen. Once, Hazrat Umar (R.A.) was partaking of his meal. Hafs bin Abul’As was sitting with him but not eating. Hazrat Umar (R.A.) enquired as to why he was not partaking of the food. He excused himself by saying that the food was very coarse and difficult to eat. He will return to his abode and eat the more luxurious food that was prepared for him. Upon this Hazrat Umar remarked: “Do you think that I am unable to give the command that a sheep be slaughtered for me, be skinned (and cooked); that flour be finely sieved and thinly baked breads be prepared there from; that raisins be mixed with butter-fat and water and mixed to a fine texture (a kind of desert eaten in those days)?” Hearing this Hazrat Hafs (R.A.) replied: “I see that you are acquainted with the luxuries of life?” Hazrat Umar (R. A.) remarked: “Yes! Had it not been for the fear that some of my good deeds would be decreased on the Day of Judgment, I would have joined you in your easy living”
While emulating the example of the Sahabas (R.A.) in its entirety is not an easy task, nor are we capable of doing so, we nevertheless must always keep in mind the abstinence in their lives. This will help to bring some degree of simplicity in our lives.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Showing posts with label religious identity of the woman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religious identity of the woman. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Islam ordains equality between men and women
The Faith of Islam ordains equality between men and women before the law and in all civil rights. This applies to unmarried girls and to married women. The laws of marriage in Islam differ from the laws of Christianity in the Western World by preserving the Muslim woman’s right to retain her surname after marriage. Her marriage does not cancel her civil rights or her capacity to participate in legal contracts or her right to possess property or wealth. Thus a Muslim woman retains her family’s name after marriage in addition to being entitled to all the civil rights due to men. She owns property in her own name and her wealth belongs to her alone and cannot be appropriated by her husband. The following Quranic verses refer to the dowry which is a woman’s legitimate right in the event of divorce “But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another, even if ye had given the latter a whole treasure for dower, take not the least bit. of it back : would ye take it by slander and a manifest wrong ? And how could ye take it when ye have gone in unto each other, and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?”[7]
Also: “It is not lawful for you (men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives),..”[8]If a man is forbidden to claim what he had given to his wife as a gift, it is only logical that he cannot appropriate any of her own personal wealth or property or any possession of any kind. If a wife in the event of a divorce or during marriage, of her own free will, relinquishes her claim to her dowry which is her due, her husband is allowed to regain it. This is clear from the following Quranic verse “And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift ; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it with right good cheer.” [9]A husband has no right to dispose of his wife’s wealth or property without her consent or without being granted power of attorney to act on her behalf. It is also a wife’s right to cancel the power of attorney granted to her husband and to grant it to whomever she wills.
Most civilized modern democracies have not yet attained this elevated status of equality. In France, until recently, a French woman had no civil rights, since the French law denied her these rights. This is stated in the 217th clause of the French Civil Law “A married woman, even if her marriage is based upon the separation of her property from her husband’s property, does not have the legal right to endow or dispose of her property or mortgage or exchange her property without her husband’s written consent and participation in the contract.”
Although certain amendments were made later concerning this law, its negative bearing upon the legal status of the French woman exists unto this very day. When a woman marries in the Western World, she officially takes her husband’s surname to be her surname and by so doing yields her individuality and is integrated into her husband’s personality.
The Faith of Islam does not discriminate between men and women except in matters when this discrimination is due to the nature of their sex, for their welfare and for the welfare of the community, the family and in particular for the welfare of women.
There are five issues where discrimination between men and women is ordained by Islam, namely: financial responsibilities, inheritance, and the custodianship of the family, testimony and divorce.
During the next stage of a woman’s life, namely during her marriage, the Faith of Islam charges the husband with the responsibility of supporting his wife and family and does not charge the wife with any financial responsibilities. Nevertheless, Islam preserves all the Muslim woman’s civil rights which include her right to possess and dispose of her wealth and property without any intervention from her husband. A wife is not obliged to participate in the financial support of her family even if she is wealthy enough to do so, for supporting the family is the sole responsibility of her husband, this being his religious and legal duty.
In the event of divorce, the husband is also charged by Islam with all the expenses that ensue. He is charged with paying the dowry agreed upon in the event of divorce, in addition to his divorced wife’s financial support which includes her housing, food expenses and, apparel in addition to the children’s expenses which include the wages of their wet nurses who breast feed them, their clothes and their education. The Muslim woman, on the other hand, is not charged with spending a single penny on herself or on her children.
It is obvious from the aforementioned, Islamic rulings that Islam has raised the status of the Muslim woman and has preserved her dignity in her father’s home before marriage, in her own home during her marriage, and even in the event of her divorce. This status has not been attained by any other religion in the past or in the modern world of to day.
Islam has secured for the woman every human right. This includes her intellectual, religious, social, economic and political rights.
Rights in Islam
We should point out that human rights in Islam are not merely rights but are religious obligations. This means that it is obligatory for every person to protect them and restore them if they are taken away. It is equally obligatory upon society to make sure that every individual can enjoy his or her rights to the fullest.
Islam has secured for the woman every human right. This includes her intellectual, religious, social, economic and political rights.
Intellectual and Religious Rights
Islam has guaranteed every man and woman the right to think and believe as they choose. It considers thinking and investigating to be an obligation upon every human being. There are numerous verses in the Quran that encourage people to think about and investigate the phenomena both in the world around them and in the wonder of life itself. Allah says:
Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the Earth and all the things that Allah has created?”
Say (O Muhammad): “Behold all that is in the Heavens and the Earth.’ But neither signs nor warners benefit those who do not believe.”
Say: “‘Travel in the land and see how Allah originated Creation.”
Say (O Muhammad): “I exhort you to one thing only: that you stand up for Allah’s sake together and individually and reflect: there is no madness in your companion (Muhammad).”
As for the right to one’s own belief, Islam has guaranteed it and forbidden anyone to compel another to change his or her belief. Allah says:
There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the true path is clearly distinct from error.
So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind so they will become believers?
You (O Muhammad) are merely a Warner. You are not a dictator over them.
The Quran threatens those who persecute believing men and women in order to turn them from their faith:
Verily those who persecute the believing men and women and then do not turn to Allah in repentance, they will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Fire.
From all of these texts, the independent religious identity of the woman becomes quite clear. No one else can impose upon her what she should believe. She must, of her own free will, decide what to believe. Allah says:
O you, who believe, if believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah knows best their faith. Then, if you ascertain that they are true believers, do not send them back to the disbelievers.
O Prophet, if believing women come to you to give you their pledge that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, nor steal, nor commit fornication, nor kill their children, nor commit slander, nor forge falsehood (to making illegitimate children belong to their husbands), nor disobey you in goodness, then accept their pledge and ask Allah to forgive them. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
O wives of the Prophet! Whoever of you commits manifest lewdness will have a double punishment. This is easy for Allah. And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and works righteous deeds will be given a double reward.
When Islam came, women accepted Islam and made the emigration to Madinah, even though their fathers, husbands, and the rest of their male relatives remained disbelievers. Umm Habîbah, the daughter of Abu Sufyan, accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that her father was one of the leaders of the disbelievers. Even when her husband abandoned Islam, she remained steadfast in her belief.
Fatima, the daughter of al-Khattab, became Muslim before her brother `Umar did and was the cause for him accepting Islam, because of her faith and because she stood up to him when he found out about her becoming a Muslim and wanted to abuse her.
Umm Kulthûm the daughter of `Uqbah bin. Abi Mu`ît. Accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that every member of her family remained polytheists.
There were many women who accepted Islam and were the reasons for their husbands accepting Islam. Umm Sulaym – the wife of Abu Talha al-Ansari – and Umm Hakim bint Huzam, the wife of `Ikrimah b. Abi Jahl, – were among these women.
[1] Surah III, verse 195.
[2] Surah IV, verse 32.
[3] Surah XVII, verse 70.
[4] Surah xxiv, verses 30-31
[5] Surah XXXIII, verse 59.
[6] Surah XXXIII, verses 32-33.
[7] Surah IV, verses 2121.
[8] Surah II, verse 229.
[9] Surah IV, verse 4.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me."
Also: “It is not lawful for you (men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives),..”[8]If a man is forbidden to claim what he had given to his wife as a gift, it is only logical that he cannot appropriate any of her own personal wealth or property or any possession of any kind. If a wife in the event of a divorce or during marriage, of her own free will, relinquishes her claim to her dowry which is her due, her husband is allowed to regain it. This is clear from the following Quranic verse “And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift ; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it with right good cheer.” [9]A husband has no right to dispose of his wife’s wealth or property without her consent or without being granted power of attorney to act on her behalf. It is also a wife’s right to cancel the power of attorney granted to her husband and to grant it to whomever she wills.
Most civilized modern democracies have not yet attained this elevated status of equality. In France, until recently, a French woman had no civil rights, since the French law denied her these rights. This is stated in the 217th clause of the French Civil Law “A married woman, even if her marriage is based upon the separation of her property from her husband’s property, does not have the legal right to endow or dispose of her property or mortgage or exchange her property without her husband’s written consent and participation in the contract.”
Although certain amendments were made later concerning this law, its negative bearing upon the legal status of the French woman exists unto this very day. When a woman marries in the Western World, she officially takes her husband’s surname to be her surname and by so doing yields her individuality and is integrated into her husband’s personality.
The Faith of Islam does not discriminate between men and women except in matters when this discrimination is due to the nature of their sex, for their welfare and for the welfare of the community, the family and in particular for the welfare of women.
There are five issues where discrimination between men and women is ordained by Islam, namely: financial responsibilities, inheritance, and the custodianship of the family, testimony and divorce.
During the next stage of a woman’s life, namely during her marriage, the Faith of Islam charges the husband with the responsibility of supporting his wife and family and does not charge the wife with any financial responsibilities. Nevertheless, Islam preserves all the Muslim woman’s civil rights which include her right to possess and dispose of her wealth and property without any intervention from her husband. A wife is not obliged to participate in the financial support of her family even if she is wealthy enough to do so, for supporting the family is the sole responsibility of her husband, this being his religious and legal duty.
In the event of divorce, the husband is also charged by Islam with all the expenses that ensue. He is charged with paying the dowry agreed upon in the event of divorce, in addition to his divorced wife’s financial support which includes her housing, food expenses and, apparel in addition to the children’s expenses which include the wages of their wet nurses who breast feed them, their clothes and their education. The Muslim woman, on the other hand, is not charged with spending a single penny on herself or on her children.
It is obvious from the aforementioned, Islamic rulings that Islam has raised the status of the Muslim woman and has preserved her dignity in her father’s home before marriage, in her own home during her marriage, and even in the event of her divorce. This status has not been attained by any other religion in the past or in the modern world of to day.
Islam has secured for the woman every human right. This includes her intellectual, religious, social, economic and political rights.
Rights in Islam
We should point out that human rights in Islam are not merely rights but are religious obligations. This means that it is obligatory for every person to protect them and restore them if they are taken away. It is equally obligatory upon society to make sure that every individual can enjoy his or her rights to the fullest.
Islam has secured for the woman every human right. This includes her intellectual, religious, social, economic and political rights.
Intellectual and Religious Rights
Islam has guaranteed every man and woman the right to think and believe as they choose. It considers thinking and investigating to be an obligation upon every human being. There are numerous verses in the Quran that encourage people to think about and investigate the phenomena both in the world around them and in the wonder of life itself. Allah says:
Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the Earth and all the things that Allah has created?”
Say (O Muhammad): “Behold all that is in the Heavens and the Earth.’ But neither signs nor warners benefit those who do not believe.”
Say: “‘Travel in the land and see how Allah originated Creation.”
Say (O Muhammad): “I exhort you to one thing only: that you stand up for Allah’s sake together and individually and reflect: there is no madness in your companion (Muhammad).”
As for the right to one’s own belief, Islam has guaranteed it and forbidden anyone to compel another to change his or her belief. Allah says:
There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the true path is clearly distinct from error.
So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind so they will become believers?
You (O Muhammad) are merely a Warner. You are not a dictator over them.
The Quran threatens those who persecute believing men and women in order to turn them from their faith:
Verily those who persecute the believing men and women and then do not turn to Allah in repentance, they will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Fire.
From all of these texts, the independent religious identity of the woman becomes quite clear. No one else can impose upon her what she should believe. She must, of her own free will, decide what to believe. Allah says:
O you, who believe, if believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah knows best their faith. Then, if you ascertain that they are true believers, do not send them back to the disbelievers.
O Prophet, if believing women come to you to give you their pledge that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, nor steal, nor commit fornication, nor kill their children, nor commit slander, nor forge falsehood (to making illegitimate children belong to their husbands), nor disobey you in goodness, then accept their pledge and ask Allah to forgive them. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
O wives of the Prophet! Whoever of you commits manifest lewdness will have a double punishment. This is easy for Allah. And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and works righteous deeds will be given a double reward.
When Islam came, women accepted Islam and made the emigration to Madinah, even though their fathers, husbands, and the rest of their male relatives remained disbelievers. Umm Habîbah, the daughter of Abu Sufyan, accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that her father was one of the leaders of the disbelievers. Even when her husband abandoned Islam, she remained steadfast in her belief.
Fatima, the daughter of al-Khattab, became Muslim before her brother `Umar did and was the cause for him accepting Islam, because of her faith and because she stood up to him when he found out about her becoming a Muslim and wanted to abuse her.
Umm Kulthûm the daughter of `Uqbah bin. Abi Mu`ît. Accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that every member of her family remained polytheists.
There were many women who accepted Islam and were the reasons for their husbands accepting Islam. Umm Sulaym – the wife of Abu Talha al-Ansari – and Umm Hakim bint Huzam, the wife of `Ikrimah b. Abi Jahl, – were among these women.
[1] Surah III, verse 195.
[2] Surah IV, verse 32.
[3] Surah XVII, verse 70.
[4] Surah xxiv, verses 30-31
[5] Surah XXXIII, verse 59.
[6] Surah XXXIII, verses 32-33.
[7] Surah IV, verses 2121.
[8] Surah II, verse 229.
[9] Surah IV, verse 4.
May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me."
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