Challenges on the Path of Eeman

By Idris Tiamiyu (MICA RPP Team)For:MICA Abuja

Presentation Outline...

1. Eeman – what it is2. Nature of the Mu’min3. Challenges on the path of Eeman4. Surmounting the challenges5. Acknowledgements

...first of all

“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”

(Qur’an 13.28)

...secondly

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.

(Qur’an 41.30)

...and next

On the authority of Abu `Amr - and he is also called Abu `Amrah - Sufyan ibn `Abdullah Ath-Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam which I can ask of no one but you." He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Say: ‘I believe in Allah’, and then be Steadfast". (Muslim)

1. Eeman – what it is

1. Eeman – what it isIn the Musnad of Imam Ahmad there is from Abu Razin

al-'Uqayli that he asked, "Messenger of Allah, what is iman?" He said,

"That you witness there is no god but Allah alone without partner and that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger,

that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to you than anything else,

that you prefer being burnt to associating anything with Allah, and

that you love people without any kinship [to you] only loving them for the sake of Allah.

If you are like that, then the love of iman has already entered your heart as love of water has entered [the heart of] the thirsty person on a scorching hot day.“…

...Eeman – what it is

Eeman grows stronger or weaker Eeman increases or decreases Eeman may be measured by actions Eeman is a compulsory requirement

for entry into paradise

2. Nature of the Mu’min

The believers...

...who is a Mu’min?

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely -

The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend.

Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.

...who is a Mu’min?

In the Musnad and elsewhere there is from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever is pleased by his good actions and grieved at his wrong actions is a mu’min."

...the sweetness of Eeman

In the two sahih books there is from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "[There are] three things which whoever has them within him will find because of them the sweetness of iman:

for whomever Allah and His Messenger are more beloved than any other than them, and

whoever loves a man only loving him for the sake of Allah, and

whoever dislikes returning to kufr after Allah had rescued him from it as much as he would dislike being cast into the Fire."

3. Challenges on the path of Eeman

You have four enemies :

... Challenges on the path of Eeman You have four enemies

1. ShaytanHis weapons are a full bellyHis prison is hunger

2. DesireIts weapon is speechIt is imprisoned by silence

... Challenges on the path of Eeman You have four enemies

3. This worldWhose weapon is to meet peopleIt is imprisoned by retreat

4. The selfWhose weapon is sleepIt is imprisoned by sleeplessness

4. Surmounting the challenges

The following solutions are recommended:

... Surmounting the challengesSolution 1: Build Your Character In at-Tirmidhi and elsewhere there is

from 'Aishah that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The most perfect of the muminun in iman is the best of them in character."

(Abu Dawud and others narrate it as a hadith of Abu Hurairah.)

... Surmounting the challengesSolution 2: Do the twin actions

Allah says: ( The men and women of the muminun are friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong. ) (9: 72)

Hudhaifah related that the Prophet (PBUH) said, "By Him in Whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, or Allah will certainly soon send punishment from Him to you. Then you will make supplication and not receive any answer.“ (At-Tirmidhi)

... Surmounting the challengesSolution 3: Aspire For The Best Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Humayd

ibn 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Awf from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever hands over two of any type of property in the way of Allah is called to the Garden, with the words, 'O slave of Allah! This is good! 'Whoever is among the people of prayer is called from the Gate of Prayer. Whoever is among the people of jihad is called from the Gate of Jihad. Whoever is among the people of sadaqa is called from the Gate of Sadaqa. Whoever is among the people of fasting is called from the Gate of the Well-Watered (Bab ar-Rayyan).” Abu Bakr as-Siddiq said, "O Messenger of Allah! Is it absolutely necessary that one be called from one of these gates? Can someone be called from all of these gates?" He replied, "Yes, and I hope you are among them."

...aspire for the best (cntd)Choose Your Garden and River

"There are eight Gardens:"The first is the Abode of Majesty, and it is of white pearl."The second is the Abode of Peace, and it is of red ruby."The third is the Abode of Shelter, and it is of green

chrysolite."The fourth is the Garden of Immortality, and it is of red and

yellow coral."The fifth is the Garden of Bliss, and it is of white silver."The sixth is the Garden of Firdaws, and it is of red gold."The seventh is the Garden of 'Adn, and it is of white pearl."The eighth is the Abode of Rest, and it is of red gold, and it

is the dome of the Gardens, and it is raised over the Gardens. It has two gates, and the two leaves are of gold and silver. Between each of the two leaves is what is between the heaven and earth. ..

... Surmounting the challengesSolution 4: Patiently Persevere

The Prophet said to al-Ashaj bin ‘Abd Qays, “You have two qualities that Allah and His Messenger love.” Al-Ashaj became overjoyed and said, “What are the two qualities, O Messenger of Allah?”

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Forbearance and patience.” (Ahmad and Muslim)

... Surmounting the challengesSolution 5: Remember Allah Much

“Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.”

7. Acknowledgements

Heaven’s Door The ill effects of sin Enjoy your life Quran.com The Jibril Hadith Explained -

Essentials of Islam, Iman & Ihsan

Closing Remarks

Wa li-llah-il-hamd