20 November 2007
Forty Ahadeeth on Islamic Revival by Dr AH Quick - Hadeeth 1
Posted by Abdullah Hakim Quick under: 40 Ahadith; Uncategorized .
Introduction to the series of Forty Ahadeeth.
All praises are due to Allah , Lord of the worlds. Surely the best reward in the next life is for those who have “Taqwa” and surely there is no animosity except for the oppressor. I bear witness that Allah is One and has no partners, and that Muhammad , the son of ‘Abdullah, is His servant and last Messenger. May Allah send His choicest Blessings and Peace upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad , his family, his Companions, and all those who call to his way and establish his Sunnah till the Day of Judgement.
As to what follows: Islam has taken a firm hold in the Western world during the past thirty years. Those who have been involved in the propagation and establishment of Islam recognize that the greatest enemy to Islamic growth has not been military or political. The greatest threat has come, primarily, from the new and sophisticated tactic of “Confuse and Conquer”. The opponents of Islam have spent millions of dollars convening conferences, publishing books, producing television and radio specials, releasing Hollywood anti-Islamic fantasies and supporting deviant forms of Islam. Despite this tidal wave of confusion, Islam continues to spread. Young people, especially in the United States, see Islam as a type of alternative culture, or as a spiritual sanctuary.
The main obstacle left in the rapid growth and development of Islam is the Muslims, themselves. Fanaticism, tribalism, racism, class conflict, petty power disputes, lack of respect for women, and uncontrolled egoism, have The Forty Ahaadeeth on Islamic Revival 6 marred Muslims’ efforts in forming viable national organizations, and functioning local Masjids and Islamic centers. Allah tells us very clearly in Surah Ra‘d, verse 11: “Verily Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change that which is in themselves.”
After twenty years in the field of Da‘wah and Islamic guidance, I have come to the conclusion that our success in Islam in these confusing times is based on purifying our relationship with Almighty Allah and changing our un-Islamic ideas, habits and cultural baggage. Reviewing my Friday Khutbahs over the past two decades, I found a number of Ahaadeeth constantly repeating themselves in the solutions to the problems that the Muslim community was facing. So, when I was approached, sometime ago, to put together a collection of Ahaadeeth which were authentic, and which would be the most effective in bringing about the revival of Islam within ourselves and our communities, my response was this book.
A number of collections of Forty Ahaadeeth have been written by renowned scholars such as Imam An-Nawawi and Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani. Recent works such as the Forty Hadeeth of Sheikh ‘Alee Hasan ‘Alee ‘Abdul Hameed have also been of great benefit to the Ummah. This set, like the others preceding it, is only a reflection of the undying legacy of the Messenger of Allah(saw). It is not meant to rival the previous works, but to compliment them and provide, for the Muslims of the twenty-first century, valuable reminders of the reality of the Muslim world and the struggle within ourselves.
It is hoped that these Ahaadeeth can answer some of the questions posed by people who are embracing Islam or renewing their inherited faith. I pray that Allah will bless, through this humble effort, my mother who embraced Islam before her death, my wife, Kareema, who has been my most enlightened advisor and companion and my children, whom I pray, will carry on the struggle for Islam after my death. Surely Allah is the hearer of our prayers and He has power over all things.
Al-Faqeer ila-Allah , Shaykh ‘Abdullah Hakim Quick (Ramadaan, 1423 A.H), Cape Town.
HADEETH ONE ON INTENTIONS
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab reported that the Messenger of Allah(saw) said,
“Surely actions are based on intentions and surely every person will get what he intends. So whoever has migrated to achieve a worldly goal, or in order to get married to a woman, then his migration will be for exactly what he intends.” (“Agreed Upon” i.e. by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Commentary:
Intentions are the basis for all actions. People who have entered Islam for the love of a woman or a man should remember that their partner did not bring them to Islam. It is Allah (swt) himself, who guides people. We are only instruments in His will. Those who have migrated to the West in order to gain wealth or to further their education should be reminded that Allah (swt) is the Lord of the East and the West. We are accountable for our Islam in all countries. Death can overtake us at any moment and in any part of the planet.
This Hadeeth was related by ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab. See Al Lu’Lu wal Marjaan fimaa-Tafaqah Alayhi As Shaykhaan (printed by Darul Jeel) Vol.1, p.1.
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