Thursday 13th August 2009

Zikr lesson for the week

فِطْرَةَ الله
The Nature of Allah (swt) ___________________________________________________________________________________

Prophet Muhammad is Aahraful Mukhluqaat – the best of everything Allah (swt) created. Khatamun Nabieen -The Seal of the Prophets and many other beautiful descriptions Allah (swt) has given him. In spite of all these wonderful qualities Prophet Muhammad has said;

                         
Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is one God. Whoever expects to meet His Lord, let Him work righteousness, And, in the worship of His Lord, admit no one As partner.
(Chapter 18, verse 110)

In another ayat it is recorded that Hazrat Abraham (as) said “I am the first Muslim”, and Allah gave that verse to the Prophet (pboh). These verses show us that all the commands that the Messenger of Allah (swt) gave to the people to do, he also did them. It was not a case of ‘do as I say and not as I do’.

The coming of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) as the expected one, and the way he lived and worshipped was not what the people expected. They were acustomed to seeing unusual things associated with Messengers of God. For example, Prophet Jesus (as) had a virgin birth and he also spoke in the cradle. The people expected a Messenger to be different from them. Allah (swt) records their reaction to Prophet (pboh) in the Holy Quran in Surah Furqan;

                • 
And They say: "What sort of an apostle is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets? Why has not an angel been sent down to Him to give admonition with Him?
(Chapter 25, verse 7)

What is the wisdom behind the simplicity of Prophet Muhammad (pboh)? There is a verse in the Holy Quran which is difficult to explain.

         ••             ••   
So set Thou Thy face steadily and truly to the faith: (establish) Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be). In the work (wrought) by Allah. that is the standard religion: but Most among Mankind understand not.
(Chapter 30, verse 30)

‘Fitra’ literally means ‘nature’, what is a person’s nature or what is inherent to someone. So what this ayat is telling us is that ‘Fitratallah’ – the nature or the attributes of Allah (swt) can be manifested and cultivated by man. For example Allah (swt) is ‘The Embodiment of Love’ and man can also cultivate and exhibit love.

Why is this important? If you can cultivate some of the attributes of Allah (swt) it becomes easy for you to get close to Him. And who of you would not like to get close to your Lord and Master. You don’t need any special, mysterious qualities in order to get close to Him. Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was human and he was able to go back to and greet Allah (swt) on the blessed night of the Miraj.

That is the implication of the ayat mentioned above. Allah (swt) has given man the capacity to get close to Him. Only in Islam can you find this blessed opportunity. Our belove Messenger had the capacity to develop these qualities in his personality and he says that “I am but a man like yourselves”. It sounds simple but it takes a life long mission to develop. Remember this Hadith Qudsi – “And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed”.

May Allah (swt) make it easy for us all to cultivate some of His attributes in our personalities and, through His Grace and Mercy, may we all get close to Him.