Distinguishing Qualities of Islam | Part 5

[12] Islam is a Religion which encourages people to seek knowledge. Allah (SWT) says:

 Say: Are those who know equal to those who know not? [39:9]

It dispraises ignorance and the ignorant. Allah (SWT) mentions in the Qur’an that Moses said:

 I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant and foolish. [2:67]

 There are certain types of knowledge which are mandatory upon every Muslim to learn; this knowledge relates to the Muslim’s daily life, worldly and religious affairs. Other types of knowledge are considered a collective duty (i.e. if some learn it, the sin of not learning would not encompass the entire society). Allah did not order His Prophet (ﷺ) to desire more of anything in this life except knowledge. Allah (SWT) says:

 …and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge. [20:114]

 Islam gives high regard to scholars and gaining knowledge. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “He is not from my followers: he, who does not respect his elders, nor shows mercy to the young, nor gives due right to a scholar.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Islam has given scholars an honored status. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:  “The excellence of a scholar over a worshipper is like my excellence over the least of you.”  [At-Tirmidhi] In order to spread knowledge and encourage that it be sought, Islam has considered seeking, learning, and teaching knowledge a type of striving for which a person receives reward and a path which leads to Paradise. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “Whoever seeks knowledge is considered to be in Jihad until lie returns.” [At-Tirmidhi]

 He (ﷺ) also said:

 “Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No group of people gather in a Masjid to recite the Book of Allah and study it, except that peace and tranquility descend upon them, they are enveloped in mercy, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those present with Him. Whoever’s deeds prevent him [from attaining Paradise] his lineage would be of no benefit to him [on the Day of Judgment].” [Muslim]

 Islam not only encourages seeking religious knowledge; rather, it encourages learning all beneficial knowledge. This is considered a collective duty upon the Muslim nation and considers it an act of worship. Allah (SWT) says:

See you not that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colors, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colors and (others) very black, And of men and moving living creatures, and cattle, in like manner of various colors. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving. [35:27-28]

These verses call mankind to ponder and think; which in turn would lead them to affirm then existence of a creator who created all things, it also tells us to benefit from all that Allah has placed in the universe.  There is no doubt that those who are called to think In these verses are not the scholars in other fields who have the ability to discover the secrets Allah has stored in this universe. For example, one learns how clouds are formed and rain falls through chemistry and physics. Similarly, one learns how plants, fruits and crops grow through the knowledge of agriculture, one learns about mountains through geology, and one learns about the forms of humans and animals through genealogy. [13] The religion of Islam encourages people to constantly review their deeds and actions. This in turn causes Muslims to strive and do their utmost and stay away from everything which angers Allah (SWT) Muslims know well that Allah sees them and knows what they do, so they do what they are ordered and refrain from the unlawful. When a Muslim refrains from theft, he does so on account of his fear of Allah, not because he fears humans. Islam harmonizes man’s outward and inward actions. Allah (SWT) says:

 And if you speak aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is even more hidden [20:7]

Prophet Muhammad described Ihsaan

“……to worship Allah as though you see him. Even though you do not see him, for he sees you.”[Al-Bukhari]

Keeping one’s action and deeds in check are a result of the following beliefs: A) The beliefs that Allah is the only one who deserves to be worshipped. He is perfect in all aspects; he knows all of what Takes place in this universe, and nothing occurs except if He wills it. Allah (SWT) says:

He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends there to. And He is with you (by his knowledge) wherever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do [57:4]

His knowledge surpasses material and tangible things. He knows the sentiments and whisperings of the soul. Allah (SWT) says

 And indeed we have created man, and we know what his own self whispers to him. And we are nearer to him (by our knowledge) than his Jugular vein [50:16]

B) To believe that Allah will resurrect all people on the Day of Judgment. Allah (SWT) says:

The disbelievers pretend that they will never be resurrected. Say: Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of what you did, and that is easy for Allah [64:7]

C) To believe that each individual shall be held accountable for all that he has done. Allah(SWT)says

…and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.”[6:164]

Every person shall be held accountable before Allah for everything they did or said, no matter how minute these actions may seem, both good and evil. They will be rewarded for their good deeds, punished for their sins. Allah (SWT) says:

So whosoever does good equal to the weight of a small ant shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of a small ant shall see it. [99:7-8]

D) The obedience of Allah and His Messenger must be given priority over everything. Allah(SWT) says:

Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight… are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (punishment). And Allah guides not the people who are obstinate in their rebelliousness and sinfulness. [9:24]

[14] In Islam, rewards of good deeds are multiplied, while the recompense of evil deeds is not. Allah (SWT) says:

Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit, and whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the recompense of the like thereof. [6:160]

A person is rewarded for merely intending to do good, even if they do not follow up that intention with action. Furthermore, if a Muslim intends to do an evil deed but does not do it out of fear of Allah, they will be rewarded as well, for they left it for Allah’s sake. The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that Allah said”:

 “If My slave intends to do any evil, do not record was an evil deed until he does it. If he does, do not record it except as one sin, and if he leaves it for my sake, record for him one good deed. If he intends to do any deed of righteousness but does not do it, record for him one good deed. If he does it, then record for him the like of that deed up to seven hundred times.” [Al-Bukhari]

Moreover, fulfilling the soul’s lawful desires is considered an act of worship, if the person’s intention is correct. If a person intends to eat and drink in order to keep his body healthy, or to earn a living and provide for his family and other dependants, This will be considered an act of worship and he will be rewarded on account of it. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“If a person spends on his family seeking reward from Allah, it will be like charity for him.” [Al-Bukhari]

 All deeds that a Muslim does, even keeping a good intention, is considered a charity. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “‘Every Muslim must give charity.’ They (his Companions) said: ‘And if they have nothing to give charity with?’ He replied: `lie should work with his hands benefiting himself and give charity.’ They said: ‘And if he is unable’ He said: ‘He should help a suffering person in need.’ They said: ‘If he cannot’. He said: ‘He should enjoin the good.’ They said: ‘And if he does not.’ He said: `He should avoid evil, and that will be his charity.’ [Al-Bukhari]

 [15]In Islam, if one commits a sin, then truly repents, making a firm commitment not to return to it, the evil deed which was recorded is replaced with a good one. Allah (SWT) says:

And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse; whoever does this shall receive punishment. He will repeatedly face the torment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace. Except those who repent and believe and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [25:68-70]

This is in regards to the rights of Allah. As for the rights of people, they must be returned and forgiveness must be sought from them if their rights were transgressed. Islam addresses the intellect of the sinner and rids them of their confusion by allowing them to repent and abandon that sin. Allah (SWT) says:

 Say: O My slaves who have transgressed themselves by committing evil deeds and sins Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [39:53]

 The religion of Islam has made the path to repentance easy. Allah (SWT) says:

And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful. [4:110]

 This is in regards to Muslims. As for non-Muslims who have accepted Islam, they will be given their reward in double, due to their belief in their messengers as well as their belief in Muhammad (ﷺ) Allah (SWT) says:

  Those to whom we gave the Scripture before it, – they believe in it (the Qur’an). And when it is recited to them, they say: ‘We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those who submit themselves to Allah in Islam as Muslims.’ These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient, and repel evil with good, and spend (in charity) out of what we have provided them. [28:52-4]

In addition to this, Allah effaces all the sins they did before accepting Islam. When Amr ibn ul-Ass came to accept Islam, he made a condition that Allah would forgive all his sins. Upon that, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Don’t you know that Islam effaces all the sins one did] before it?” [Muslim]