In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you"

Bismillah Wal hamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaykum WA-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakaatuh

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Important Lessons for the Muslim

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Three are the signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another narration adds the words: "Even if he observes Saum (fasts), performs Salat (prayer) and claims to be a Muslim." 86/689 - Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Al-Allamah Ibn Baaz (rahimahullah)All Praise is due to Allâh, we praise Him, and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allâh, the Most High, from the evils of our own selves and from our wicked deeds. Whomsoever has been guided by Allâh, none can misguide him, and whomsoever has been misguided by Allâh, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allâh, alone, without partner or associate. I further bear witness that Muhammad is His true slave and Messenger. May Allâh, the Exalted, bestow His peace and blessings on the final Prophet Muhammad, upon his good and pure family, and upon all of his noble companions."O ye who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He ordered and abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared, and die not except in the state of Islâm(as Muslims with complete submission to Allâh)" (the Holy Qur'ân 3:102)"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) and from him He created his wife, and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allâh through Whom you demand your mutual (rights) and (do no cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allâh is ever an All Watcher over you" ( Qur'ân 4:1)."O ye who believe ! Keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth, He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great success" (Qur'ân 33:70-71).Know that the most truthful speech is that of Allâh's Book (the Qur'ân), and that the best of guidance is that of Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. The worst of evils are innovations (foreign to the true teachings of Islâm), and every innovated matter (in religion) is a Bid'ah, and every Bid'ah is a misguidance, and every mean of misguidance is in the Fire of Hell.This is an introductory article for every Muslim. It is a summary of basic Islâmic beliefs and acts of worship. We ask Allâh by His Names and Attributes to accept this work and make it a benefit for those who read it and/or distribute it.

The First Lesson:

Memorizing the opening Surah (Chapter) of the Qur'ân: Al-Fatiha (the Opening) and some short passages and Surahs from No. 99 (Az-Zalzalah) to 114 (An-Naas) Every Muslim must make an effort to memorize, recite and understand passages and/or Surahs from the Noble Qur'ân.

The Second Lesson:

Knowing the meaning and the conditions of the declaration of Ash-Shahadataan that: "there is no true God except Allâh, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allâh". The phrase that "there is no true God" negates anything or anyone that is being worshipped other than Allâh, and the phrase: "except Allâh" confirms that all forms of worship, submission and adoration must be for Allâh alone, without setting up rivals with Him. The conditions needed to fulfill the meaning of Ash-Shahadataan are:Knowledge about what it means. Certainty about its meaning which dispels doubts and suspicions. Sincerity that purifies its declarer from any form of shirk (association).
Honesty which negates hypocrisy. Love and attachment to the declaration of Ash-Shahadataan, which leads to the dispel of uneasiness, dislike, or hate to what it implies.
Adherance: conducting what Allâh has decreed regarding His worship. Accepting to obey Allâh by this declaration. Dissociating from anything or anyone being worshipped other than Allâh.

The Third Lesson:The six fundamental articles of faith are: Believing in Allâh (His Oneness), His Angels, all of His Messengers, all of His Scriptures (in their original and unaltered forms), in the Last Day (of Judgment), and Fate and Divine Decree (whether good or bad), which Allâh Has measured and ordained according to His previous Knowledge and as deemed suitable by His Wisdom.

The Fourth Lesson:

Tawheed (Faith in the Unity of Allâh) is divided into three articles: First, believing in the Oneness of Allâh in the sense of His being the only Creator, Preserver, Nourisher,...etc. This belief is called Tawheed Ar-Ruboobeeyah.Second, acknowledging that Allâh alone is the One and Only true God who deserves to be worshipped and thus abstaining from worshipping any other being or thing. This belief is called Tawheed Al-Ulooheeyah. Third, having faith and belief in the Oneness of Allâh's Names and Attributes. This belief is called Tawheed Al-Asmaa was-Sifat. As for Shirk (associating anything or anyone in worship with Allâh), it is divided into three types: First: Major Shirk (Ash Shirk Al Akbar) which Allâh does not forgive.Allâh says regarding Shirk:"But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them" (Qur'ân 6: 88). "It is not for the Mushrikeen (polytheists) to maintain the Mosques of Allâh (i.e. to pray and worship Allâh therein, to looking after their cleanness and their building,...etc.), while they witness against their own-selves of disbelief. The works of such bear no fruit, and in fire shall they dwell." (Qur'ân 9:17). The one who associate others with Allâh and dies on this shirk will not be forgiven and Jannah (Paradise) is forbidden to him, as Allâh, Most Mighty and Honored says:"Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin." (Qur'ân 4:48). "Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allâh, then Allâh has forbidden the Jannah for him." (Qur'ân 5:72). Asking the dead or idols for help, slaughtering for them and making vows for them are examples of this Shirk. Second: Minor Shirk (Ash-Shirk Al-Asgar) which is stated in the Qur'ân or in the Prophet's tradition but is not the same as Major Shirk.Riya (showing off) and swearing by other than Allâh are examples of this kind of Shirk. Prophet Muhammad, salla Allâh u alihi wa sallam, said: "Of which I fear for you the most is Minor Shirk ".When he was asked what was it, he said, "Riya".He, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said: "He who swears by anything other than Allâh commits Minor shirk ". The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also warned: "Do not say: 'had Allâh and such and such (person) willed', but say: 'had Allâh then such and such (person) willed' ". This kind of Shirk does not necessarily lead to disbelief from Islâm or an eternal stay in Hell. It negates, however, the completeness of faith.

The Third kind of shirk is the hidden Shirk.

Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, explained: "Shall I not tell you of which I fear for you more than I fear of the Anti-Christ?" They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allâh", and he said,"The hidden Shirk, where one beautifies his way of praying only because another one is looking at him".Alternatively, Shirk could be divided into two kinds: Major and Minor. In this case, the Hidden Shirk encompasses both the Major and Minor kinds depending upon the act committed. It is Major if it is the same as the Shirk of the hypocrites who hide their false beliefs while showing off Islâm out of fear. It is Minor if it is the same as Riya.

What the husband should teach his wife.

It is the wives right for the husband to teach her about matters of her religion that she does not know about and of which she cannot afford to remain ignorant about.It was narrated from Abu Moosa Al-Ash'ari (RA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
There are three who will have a double reward : ...
"A man who has a slave woman and he trains her well and teaches her well,then he sets her free and marries her.He will have a double reward."
(Saheeh Al Bukhari 1/29)Al Hafiz Ibn Hajar said in Al-Fath (1/299): This Hadeeth refers to a slave woman,but may be extended by analogy to ones wife,because it is more important to teach a free wife about her duties towards Allah and the Sunnahs of His Messenger than one's slave woman.It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar (RA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock the man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for them..."
(Saheeh Hadeeth narrated by Muslim 3/1495)A man's caring for his family does not only involve providing food,drink,clothing,rather he must also teach them about their religion,because attention to religious matters takes precedence over attention to worldly matters.If the husband is not able to teach his wife,or he does not have the knowledge that she needs of religious matters,then he may go out and ask knowledgeable people on her behalf.If he does not do that,then he has to allow her to go out in order to ask questions and learn.It is not permissible for him to prevent her from taking steps to learn how to practice her religion properly,which is obligatory upon her.If he does that then he is sinning.If she cannot find anyone to go out on her behalf,then she may go out to the extent that is necessary.

Importance of Faith and its Practice

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Follow the Right Path of Faith strictly, and be steadfast; and keep in mind that none of you can achieve salvation through his (good) actions.'' Someone asked, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?'' He (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Not even me, unless Allah grants me His Mercy and Grace". [Muslim]Commentary: This Hadith tells us that although the importance of Faith and its practice is beyond any shadow of doubt, because this is the only way to attain His Favors and Blessings, but one should not entirely depend upon practice only because any shortcoming (which one does not even know) can ruin a good deed. It is, therefore, essential that we also pray that our good deeds are accepted by Allah and that He grants us His Infinite Mercy and sincerity because even the greatest noble deed is invalid without it.Ref.: Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen # 86

by Shaykh 'Abdul-Azeez bin 'Abdullaah bin Baaz
Translation by Khalid A. Al-Awdah __._,_.___

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