        
To help make a mosque in Cold Lake a reality contact Ajaz Quraishi 780-826-0045 ajaz@telus.net
MUSSLAH |
 
The prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was born in the city of Babylon thousands of years ago. At that time, the Babylonians worshipped gods made from clay, wood or stone, known as idols. While he was still young, Ibrahim realized how wrong it was to pray to these idols, or to the moon and the stars. He saw theat they were poewrless and could nottk after tose who worshipped them. In his eyes they could not be real gods. The god that Ibrahim was searching for would be all-powerful, all-knowing, and never-changing. Bravely he debated and argued with his fellow citizens, explaining to them that the only power they should worship was the Creator who made the sun and the moon rise and set, and kept them in order and harmony. The Babylonians were angry with Ibrahim for daring to criticize their beliefs. They closed their ears to Ibrahim's words, so he decided to take action. He waited until the day of the great festival. While all the people were ceelbrating outside the city, he hurried to where the idols stood, and, working quickly, knocked them roughly to the ground, smashing them into hundreds of pieces. He left only the largest idol standing. When the Babylonians returned, they were shocked by what they saw. Immediately they turned on him, accusing him of destroying their idols. Ibrahim said, "It was done by the biggest idol ... Ask him." Of course, the idol said nothing so Ibrahim had proved that it and the others were powerless. Allah is the only One with power and all other 'gods' are false.
King Nimrud ruled Babylon. He was a tyrant, a harsh, stubborn ruler who did not tolerate any questioning of his rule. His word was law. He spread fear amongst the people of Babylon, and everybody was afraid, except Ibrahim who alone trusted in Allah to protect him.
When Ibrahim saw that Nimrud and his people worshipped the moon and stars he knew that they were wrong. Although Ibrahim admired the beauty of the stars as they shone so brilliantly in the night sky, he understood that they were not gods, but were created by the One True God. The sun and the moon, the mountains, the seas and the stars, were signs of Allah, which revealed His greatness and beauty, but wre not worthy to be worshipped themselves. Ibrahim went to see Nimrud and explained that Allah had created the whole universe, including hte sun, the moon and the stars. He asked Nimrud to respect Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. "My Lord is He who gives life and death," he said. "So pray to Him." Nimrud was engaged. He said he too could do so. He claimed that because he could order the death of whoever he wished, he was as powerful as Allah. He said he had no need of Alah. Ibrahim decided to show Nimrud that his powers could not match Allah's by setting him a challenge. He told Nimrud how Allah watches over the world He has created, and provides for mankind. He described how all nature works according to Allah's will. "Allah causes the sun to rise from the East," he said to Nimrud. "Can you make it rise from the West?" Nimrud saw that he was powerless and that, after all, he was just a human being and not a god. It is Allah who is:
Lord of the Heavens and of the earth and of all that is between them: So worship Him .....
Ibrahim was married to Sarah. Even after many years of marriage, they had no children, so they agreed that he should marry Hajarah, their handmaid, as his second wife. Some time later, Hajarah gave birth to a son. Sarah longed for a baby of her own, and seeing Hajarah and her son every day made her very sad. So she asked Ibrahim to find a new home for Hajarah and the child. Ibrahim understood, and took Hajarah and their baby, Ismail (Ishmael), far away, asking Allah to show them where they could live in safety. Allah guided them to a dry, dusty, desert valley called Bakkah, and told Ibrahim to leave Hajarah and the child there close to His sacred house.
Ibrahim prayed: Even though they had only very little food and water, neither Hajarah nor Ismail was afraid. Their faith in Allah's goodness was strong enough to overcome their fear. They put their lives trustingly in His hands. "Allah will not leave us." Hajarah said. Several days passed. Hajarah had eaten all the dates and drunk all hte water. She and her baby were hungry and hirsty. Desperately, she began to search for water. Two hills seperated her valley from the rest of the desert. She climbed one, and then the other, hoping to see a patch of green grass or a clump of trees that would be a sign of water. She ran between the hills seven times altogether, but still found nothing. Wearily, Hajarah sat down on the hard, dry ground, looking up to Allah for succour. When she got back to her son, she found a stream of fresh, clear water bubbling up just where Ismail's heel touched the ground. Allah is merciful. He protects and sustains us.
Hajarah gave thanks to Allah for answering her prayers. From that time on, Ismail's name (which means 'Allah hears') reminded her, and all the people who have heard her story, that Allah had looked after them when they were in need. Many months later, a group of Arabs, known as the Jurhum people, passed by on their camels. Hajarah offered them water from the fresh spring which Allah had given her and which later became known as 'Zamzam'
Eventually, a village was established as more and more Jurhum families came to live near the miraculous spring. Time passed. Hajarah died, and Ismail grew up and married one of the daughters of the Jurhum. As the village prospered , the settlers built houses. Ismail worked alongside the Jurhum people, looking after camels and goats, and hunting in the desert. Twice, Ibrahim made the long journey from his home in Canaan to visit his son. Ibrahim asked Allah to bless the new village:
My Lord! Make this a city of Peace, and feed its People with fruits
One day, Ibrahim came to Ismail and told him he had been commanded by Allah to raise the Ka'bah, sacred house where mankind could worship Allah, Lord of all creation. Together they started work; Ismail carried the stones, while Ibrahim built the walls. While they worked, they said this prayer:
Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: for Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to thy (Will).
Later Allah blessed Sarah too with a son name Ishaq (Isaac). Ishaq's descendaants, the Hebrews, lived in the land of Palestine and traded with Egypt. Many Hebrews moved into Egypt and settled there. Pharaoh, fearing the Hebrews might become too powerful, enslaved them. Worse, he gave orders that all male children born to Hebrew mothers should be killed. he feared the Hebrews would rebel against his cruelty if the boys learned how to fight. The Prophet Musa (Moses) was born to a Hebrew family living in Egypt. His mother, who could not bear to think of him being killed, asked Allah for help. Allah in His mercy told her:
Suckle (thy child), but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our messengers.
So Musa's mother put him in a basket and let it float on the water. The basket, with the baby inside, floated down the river until it reached the royal palace. It was found and brought to Pharaoh. He watned the child to be killed on the spot, but his wife would not allow it. She said:
Here is a joy of the eye, for me and for thee: Slay him not. It may be that he will be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son.
The Pharaoh allowed his wife to keep the baby, but as long as he lived in Pharaoh's palace, Musa would neither eat nor drink. Fearing that he might starve to death, Pharaoh's wife went out to search for a wet nurse. Musa's sister, who had managed to find out where her little brother had gone, came forward and offered to help her. She quickly thought of a way to get him back. She told Pharaoh's wife that she could find a nurse for the baby, adn so Musa was handed over to her. In this way, Musa was reunited with his family.
When Musa grew up he fled from Egypt and finally arrived in the land of Madyan. There, he found work as a shepherd. He often had to cross dry and dusty stretches of land in search of fresh water and good grazing for his sheep and goats. Musa was known as an honest man, quick to help people whenever they were in need.
One night, he and his family lost their way in the desert. They had wandered off their usual tracks and now did not know which path to take. All of a sudden, on a distant mountainside Musa saw a fire. He thought he might find some shepherds there who could tell them the way. So, he set off alone through the darkness, leaving his family to guard the sheep. Slowly, he climbed the moutain slopes and drew closer to the fire. It seemed as if, high up, a bush was burning brightly, sending out welcome warmth and light. Then, out of the night came a voice. Musa was astounded. It was not, as he expected, a shepherd's voice, nor a voice belonging to any man. It was the voice of Allah.
O Musa! Verily I am thy Lord! ... I have chosen thee: listen, then to the inspiration (sent to thee).
Musa listened, full of awe. Allah told him how he must return to Egypt, go to Pharaoh, and ask him to do two things: to worship Allah, and to free the Hebrews from slavery. Allah promised that He would give Musa the strength to perform this difficult and dangerous task. He told him not to be afraid but to trust in His power.
Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I...
Musa returned to Egypt as Allah had commanded. He made his way to the palace of Pharaoh whre he told him that Allah had sent him as a messenger:
O Pharaoh! I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds - One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about Allah. Now have I come unto you (people) from your Lord, with a clear sign: so let the Children of Israel depart along with me.
Pharaoh was furious. He could not bear the presence of this messenger of Allah. He ordered his courtiers to come near to leisten to what Musa was saying. Everyone laughed at Musa, calling him a fool and a madman. He replied patiently, reminding the people of Allah's greatness and power, but Pharaoh boasted that his magic was stronger than anything Allah might command. Proudly, he suggested a trial of strength between his own magicians and Musa. The great day came. Pharaoh's magicians threw ropes and sticks down onto the ground. To everyone's horror, these turned into hissing snakes, which writhed and wriggled their way across the floor. Then it was the turn of Musa. He was afraid, but he put himself in Allah's care and Allah gave him courage. He threw down the stick he was carrying, and immediately it turned into the largest, fiercest serpent that anyone had ever seen. Quickly, it swallowed the magicians' snakes and made everyone shrink back in fear of being eaten next. Pharaoh's magicians lost all faith in their own magic and in their master. Full of respect for the Lord of Musa, who could work such miracles, they bowed low on the ground, praising Allah. Pharaoh tried to make them give up their new faith, by threatening to kill them. But they would not, and said,"Allah is best and most abiding."
Musa lived in Egypt for many years, teaching the Egyptian people about Allah and strengthening the Hebrews' faith in Him. Although Allah sent further signs of His power to Pharaoh, he still refused to give up the worship of his idols. Pharaoh blamed Musa and the Hebrews for all the bad things that happened in his country, and treated the Hebrew slaves even more cruelly than before. He plotted to destroy Musa and all his people.
The Muslim community lived safely in Madinah for almost ten years. Although they were attacked several times by the Makkan enemies, they drove them back and continued to live their new lives in peace as Muslims. More and more people abandoned the old gods and joined them in worshipping Allah. The message brought by Muhammad from Allah was spreading rapidly throughout Arabia, and the Muslims found friends and supporters both far away and close at hand.Allah warned Musa of Pharaoh's wicked plan. When Musa told his people, they quickly made secret preparations to escape. They pretended to set out for a religious festival, but once outside the city gates, hurried through the night towards Syria, where they knew they would be safe. When Pharaoh discovered how the Hebrews had tricked him, he trembled with anger and immediately sent his army after them. The Hebrews were terrified. They knew they were no match for Pharaoh's well-trained and well-equipped troops. But Musa comorted them.
O my people! If ye do (really) believe in Allah, then in Him put your trust.
The Hebrews fled onwards as Pharaoh's army drew steadily closer. Steep mountains guarded the path on both sides, and the Red Sea lay straight ahead. The Hebrews felt certain they would be slaughtered, but Musa prayed to Allah and trusted in His goodness and mercy. His faith was rewarded. As they reached the seashore, Allah commanded Musa to strike the waves with the stick he was carrying. The Hebrews stared in awe as the sea parted, revealing a dry, sandy path between high walls of water. Praising Allah, they crossed the sea in safety. Pharaoh and his army rushed after them. But when they reached the place where the waters were deepest, Allah immediately caused the sea to roll back, drowning Pharaoh and his troops. Allah is the helper and protector of those who believe in Him.
One of the descendants of Ibrahim, Hannah, was expecting a child. She felt certain that it would be a girl and she made a vow to dedicate the child to Allah:
O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: ...
When the child was born she exclaimed:
O my Lord! Behold I am delivered of a female child!' And Allah knew best what she brought forth. And no wise is the male like the female. 'I have named her Mary and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection...'
As Maryam (Mary) grew up, she spent her days praying in the temple. Maryam's uncle Zakariya was a priest there. Often he noticed that she had something to eat and drink.
Every time that he entered (her chamber) to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: 'O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?' She said 'From Allah: for Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure.'
One day, Allah sent an Angel to her. When the angel told her that she would have a son Maryam was puzzled. She was a virgin. How could she give birth to a child? However she put her trust in Allah. When the time came for her child to be born. she found a quiet lonely place, where she would not be disturbed. Allah provided cool water and fresh dates to soothe her, and Maryam gave birth to a son. She called him Isa (Jesus).
When Maryam brought the baby to show to her family, they were shocked and questioned her. She did not speak back to them or try to defend herself but only pointed to the child. Miraculously, her baby spoke. His first words were,
I am indeed a servant of Allah ...
Isa grew up filled with faith and trust in His Lord. He knew that Allah had sent him into this world as His messenger. And he knew that this message was to remind his own people, the Hebrews, of tthe One True God, whom they had forgotten. He should ask them to pray to Allah, to be friendly to each other and live a life of peace.
As the number of friends of Isa increased, so did his enemies. He was opposed by many among his own people. They were more concerned about their wealth than about the truth. The Romans, who occupied the land of Palestine at that time, were busy too with maintaining their political power. They believed in many false gods, and tried t destroy the temple where Maryam had prayed. They also tried to persuade the people of Palestine to forget the teachings of great prophets such as Ibrahim who had guided them in the past. They found ready allies in the enemies of Isa, and often tried to stop him from preaching and teaching about Allah. They even wanted to kill him.But the faith of the people was very weak. Some rejected Isa outright. Others said, "We will follow you if you show us signs, to prove what you say is true." One day, when Isa was sitting with his disciples,
Behold! the Disciples said 'O Jesus, the son of Mary! Can thy Lord send us down a Table set (with viands) from heaven?' Then Isa prayed to Allah, asking Him to send them food from heaven as a sign of His power:
'O Allah our Lord! Send us from heaven a Table set (with viands), that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a solemn festival and a Sign from Thee; and provide for our sustenance, for thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs).'
Allah answered his prayers and, miraculously, a table laden with food appeared. They all began to eat, thankful for the food sent from Allah. One day, by Allah's command, Isa picked up some clay from the roadside, and made a lifelike model of a little bird. He cradled it gently in his hands, but of course, it remained motionless. Isa bowed his head, prayed to Allah and then breathed into the model bird. All at once it shook its feathers, hopped to the tips of his fingers, spread its wings and soared away into the sky. The onlookers were astonished, and gave thanks to Allah. Isa spent his days helping all who would listen to regain their lost faith, helping others to increase their faith and leave behind doubt and worries. All the miracles he performed were brought about by Allah, for:
When Allah decreeth a thing, He saith to it: 'Be," and it is.
It was Allah's pwwer which made the blind regain their sign and brought a dead man back to life. In this way, whoever met Isa understood the truth of the words that he had said when still a small child in his cradle:
And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be ....
Indeed Isa, the messenger of Allah, was blessed by his Lord and he brought his Lord's blessings to whoever met him. In this way, the presence of Allah, the all-merciful, became stronger and stronger amongst those who had true faith.
Isa told his disciples that his mission was not yet fulfilled and a time would come when he would reappear amongst them. When this time had come, Allah raised Isa to heaven. Those who had heard the words of the child Isa in his cradle now learned their truth:
So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to live again.
Meanwhile, those who believed the message Isa had brought and followed his example continued to tell people about Allah and his prophets. They travelled far and wide, spreading the message of the One True God, who is just, compassionate and merciful. They journeyed through the lands ruled by the Romans. In this way, their numbers increased. Many of them faced persecution for their beliefs but they held bravely to them, convinced of Allah's pwer to support them in this world and the next.
But Allah hath full knowledge of your enemies: Allah is enough for a Protector, and Allah is enough for a Helper.
Six hundred years later, Allah sent another one of His messengers, the final one. This last prophet was born in Makkah, the town where Ibrahim and Ismail had raised the house of Allah. His name was Muhammad and he knew sadness in his childhood. His father, Abdullah, had died before he was born. As was the custom in those days, while he was still a baby, his mother, Aminah, sent him outside the city to be nursed by a paid foster-mother from the people who kept sheep. The woman he was given to was Halimah. She was delighted to take him home with her, and he made her and her family very happy.
Muhammad returned to Makkah and was reunited with his mother, but sadly she died when her son was six years old. So Muhammad was brought up by his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, and after his grandfather died, by his uncle, Abu Talib, a merchant who travelled throughout Arabia. He learned to be trustworthy and work hard.
The prophet was neither very tall nor very short, but was a man of medium size; he had neither very curly nor flowing hair but a mixture of the two. He had wide black eyes and long eyelashes. He was truer in his speech than anyone else, had the gentlest nature. Those who shared his companionship loved him. Those who described him said they had never seen anyone like him before or since. When he was pleased, his face lift up. And there was no more given to smiling than God's Messenger.
Later, he went to work for a widow named Khadijah. Through his many journeys on her behalf and his trading with merchants, in Makkah and in distant lands, he became well known for his honesty and intelligence. His friends and colleagues who loved and respected him very much gave him the name Al-Amin, 'the trustworthy one.'
Muhammad did not like the way his fellow citizens were living. The Makkans no longer worshipped Allah, but prayed instead to wooden idols, or to stones they found in the desert and placed in the Ka'bah (the Sacred House). Their minds were occupied with buying and selling, how to strike the best bargains, or outwit their fellow merchants. They did not ask themselves if this was the right way to live. Though many grew rich on the profits of trade, the people of Makkah were greedy, quarrelsome and unhappy. They had forgotten that Allah alone is the Provider.
... Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.
To escape from the noise and quarrels of this life, and to be alone in quietness with his Lord, Muhammad would from time to time leave the town and go to the desert to think. He spent many days and nights in a cave on a high mountainside, where he could be certain of finding peace and solitude. One night, when Muhammad was alone in the Cave Hira he was visited by the Angel Jibril (Gabriel), who brought a message from Allah. The message Allah revealed to Muhammad was clear. The people of Makkah should live better lives and should return to the worship of Allah. When Muhammad brought Allah's message, only a few people would listen. The rest opposed him. They looked down on him and refused to have anything to do with him. He and his companions had to live like outsiders in their own city. Gradually Allah the merciful gave them strength to endure this ill-treatment, and courage to warn those who believed in false gods and to speak the truth to those who did not want to hear. Whenever the Makkans turned against Muhammad he reminded them:
Ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn unto Him (in repentance): For my Lord is indeed full of merciful, loving kindness.
Over the next years, Muhammad received many more messages from Allah. He carefully memorized everything that was revealed to him, and retold it exactly as he had heard it. In Makkah, Muhammad and his companions tried hard to live as Muslims - the way that Allah had commanded. But the hostility of the Makkans increased daily. First they made fun of the Prophet, then they tried to offer him money to keep quiet, then they insulted him and threw things at him. They ordered that no one was to trade with his family, so that they had no food or money. When this did not stop people listening to him, they began to arrest the followers of Muhammad and torture them. The Prophet sent some Muslims away from Makkah to escape from all this. In Abyssinia the Christian king protected them. Meanwhile, the people of Yathrib had heard about the Prophet and the way of life of his companions. They invited Muhammad to their city to give them just and honest leadership. Finally, when his life was in danger, Muhammad and his companions left Makkah and emigrated to the city of Yathrib. Its inhabitants welcomed the Prophet and his companions. They listened to the message which Muhammad brought and accepted the way of living that it implied. When the first Muslims arrived in Yathrib, they had no houses and very few possessions. But the Muslims in the city were ready to help them. In response to the Prophet's appeal, they invited them to share their homes and have them food and clothing. They treated them as honoured guests. Thus the Muslims were at last free to worship Allah without fear of persecution. Later the city was known as Madinat-un-Nabi, City of the Prophet. The Prophet was accepted as the ruler of Madinah where he organized the Muslim community according to the commandments of Allah. But he also gave the few Hebrews living in the city full freedom of belief and worship according to their own religion. Allah brings peace and security to His people.
The Prophet Muhammad led a band of his companions back to Makkah and throughAllah's power, they were able to take the city without bloodshed. Muhammad cleansed and purified the Ka'bah, the House of the Lord, throwing out all the idols and returning it to what it had been at the time of Ibrahim. The Ka'bah became once more the place where Allah could be worshipped, and where Muslims could ask for Allah's help and guidance. Although Muhammad and his fellow Muslims had been very badly treated by the Makkans, he took no revenge. He showed generosity towards his enemies and encouraged them to ask Allah's forgiveness for their past sins, and to worship Allah as Muslims. Towards the end of his life, Muhammad led a great pilgrimage to the House of Allah. He gave a speech to the Muslim community, who gathered together on the plain of Arafat to listen to his words. He told them to worship no god but Allah:
Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you ... Aid the poor and clothe them as you would clothe yourselves ... All the beleivers are brothers ... no one is allowed to take from another what he does not allow him of his own freewill. None is higher than another unless he is higher than virtue.
The Prophet ended with these words, which were revealed to him by Allah:
This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
Praise be to Allah who sent His prophets Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad to guide men out of ignorance to truth as if from darkness to light.
|