Jahannam

 Jahannam is the place of all pain, sorrow, and regret.

Allah warns us about Jahannam many times in the Qur’an.

 Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, they are dwellers of the Fire (i.e. Hell); they will dwell therein forever. [Surah Baqarah 2:81]

Jahannam is so deep that if a stone was thrown in, it would take 70 years before it reached the bottom. The fiercest fire of this world is 70 fold cooler than the Jahannam fire and its sparks are as big as logs. Jahannam is filled with venomous snakes and if a dweller of Jahannam was bitten by one of these snakes he/she would suffer pain for 40 years. The people of Jahannam will be given a horrifying, bitter prickly tree called Zaqqoom to eat from; and hot, boiling pus mixed with blood, puss, urine, tears, etc. to drink. They will wear clothing made of burning sulfur and highly inflammable.  They will be burnt 70 thousand times a day and after the skin and flesh is burnt, it will be restored so that they can experience the pain again. Their bodies will be stretched, pulled, and broken into pieces again and again. Hypocrites will have their cheeks ripped out constantly. Women who used to dress to attract men will be deformed. And those who were arrogant will be reduced to the size of an ant and will be made to drink from puddles of blood and pus on Jahannam floors. Those who used to accept interest money will have squirming snakes that fill their bellies; they will be chained to the floor and other dwellers of Jahannam will trample them under their feet.  The lightest punishment in Jahannam would be to wear “fiery shoes” which would cause one’s brain to boil; one would think this is the worst punishment. These are only a few types of punishments.

The 7 levels of Hell are Jaheem, Jahannam, Sa’ir, Saqar, Nata, Hawiya, and Hutama.

To avoid Jahannam, we must stay away from bad deeds. We must always ask Allah for forgiveness and InshaAllah with Allah’s Mercy, Allah will forgive all of our sins and let us enter Jannah.

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [Surah Az-Zumar 39:53]

Jannah

 Imagine if there was a place where there was no harm, no worries, no pain; where there was just peace, love, and happiness. There is a place that is even better than this imagination, it is called Paradise or Jannah, the most beautiful place, and its beauty cannot be imagined by anyone in this world. 

Allah describes Jannah many times in the Qur’an.  The roof of Jannah is The Throne of Allah, the Most Merciful. In Jannah there are gardens of date-palm trees and delicious fruits, softer than butter and sweeter than honey. Rivers contain pure honey, water, milk; and drinking cups are crystal-clear, made of gold and silver. Trees have trunks made of gold and silver and its leaves are softer than the softest cloth. Rocks are pearls and jewels; and the ground and its soil is of musk and saffron. The bricks of buildings are made of silver and gold. The people of Jannah will be beautiful and their faces will be like the image of the Moon. They will have clothing made of gold and silk. Jannah has a perfect temperature, it neither too hot nor too cold. These are only a few of the enjoyments in Jannah.

“Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said: Whoever enters Paradise will be entertained and will never suffer. His clothes will never fade and his youth will never end. In Paradise there is what an eye has never seen, what an en ear has never heard and what a heart has never thought of.”

We should aim for Jannah because this world is temporary, however Jannah is permanent.

Allah (swt) said in the Qur’an:

 But they who believe and do righteous deeds - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. [Surah Baqarah 2:82]

Within Jannah there are many levels and gates. The highest level of Jannah is called “Jannat-ul-Firdous.” 

 “Paradise has eight gates, as stated by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS): “If any of you performs wudû’ thoroughly and then says: ‘I bear witness that there is no God but Allah alone without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger’ – then all of the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter from whichever gate he pleases.” [Sahîh Muslim]”

There are 8 gates of Jannah and each gate is destined for people who do certain actions. The first gate is called “Baabul Salah.” This gate is destined for those who pray Salat every day, on time. The second gate is known as “Baabul Rayaan.” This gate is open to those who always fast in Ramadan.  The third gate, “Baabul Al-Iman” is for those people who have sincere faith and trust in Allah. It is for those who strive to follow the commands of Allah. The fourth gate is known as “Baabul As-Sadaqah.” This gate is open for those who always give charity. The fifth gate, “Baabul Hajj,” is for those who perform Hajj.  The sixth gate, “Baabul Jihad,” is open to those who do Jihad and struggle for the sake of Allah. The seventh gate is called, “Baabul Kadhim.” This gate of Jannah is for those who control their angers and are able to forgive. The eighth gate, “Baabul Zikr” is for the ones who keep doing Zikr and remember Allah (swt).

We should pray to Allah (swt) for the highest level of Jannah, Jannat-ul-Firdous.

“Oh Allah, I ask You for Al-Firdous Al-A’la in Jannah.”

There are many ways we can win Jannah.

In the Qur’an, Allah says:

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging, [Surah Al-Kahf 18.107]

This ayah shows us that in order to enter Jannah we must first believe in Allah and His messengers; we must put our trust in Allah. It also shows us that if we do righteous deeds we will InshaAllah enter Jannah.

“Based on the Hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr, who said that the Prophet (SAWS) said: “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an: ‘Recite and rise in status as you used to recite in the world, and your position will be at the last verse you recite.’” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1646; al-Tirmidhi, 2914; classed as Saheeh Abu Dawood.”

We should try to recite and memorize the Qur’an as much as possible. If we know the whole Qur’an then InshaAllah we can reach the highest level of Jannah.

Grave Worshipping in Islam

Grave worship has become a wide spread phenomenon in the Muslim World, millions are spent each year on preserving historical sites and gravesites, which Islam absolutely and completely forbids.

Seeking help from the dead is haram in Islam. It is a shirk, a grave sin in Islam. Shirk means associating partners with Allah (swt), the Creator, the Sustainer and the Maintainer of the heavens and the earth universe and its inhabitants.  Allah doesn’t forgive shirk but He forgive sins any less than that. Because shirk is the greatest sin in Allah’s Sight.  Allah said in the Quran: “Surely Allah will not forgive the association of partners (shirk) with Him, but He forgives sins less than that of whomever He wishes” (4:48). In a Hadith Qudsi, the Prophet (SAWS) said, Allah said: “O son of Adam! As long as you supplicate to Me and hope of Me, I’ll forgive whatever you committed, and it will be easy for Me to do that. And even if you brought the earth’s fill of sins to Me, I will bring forth its fill of forgiveness, as long as you do not associate anything or anyone in worship with Me. And even if your err and your errors accumulate until they reach the boundaries of the shy and then ask Me forgiveness, I will forgive you!” (Sahih Muslim)

Seeking help from a dead falls into Shirk in Ruboobiyah (association in the Lordship), shirk Asma-as- sifah ( association in Allah’s names and attributes), and shirk in al ‘Ibadah (association in Worship). It falls in shirk in Ruboobiyah by believing that the dead person could hear and could aid us.   Allah (swt) said: “Allah created all things and He is the agent on whom all things depend” (39:62). Allah created us and Sustains for us, so we should depend on Him and seek His help entirely, not seek help from others and certainly not from a dead. Seeking help from a dead is the most prohibited act in Islam. It should be noted, we are not permitted to seek help from our Prophet (saws) or make his grave into a worshipping place.  It’s not even permissible for anyone to make du’a to bring closer to Allah by touching the chamber of the prophet saws or by facing it. The Prophet (saws) warned us the severity of the grave worshipping and made the du’a: “O Allah! Never turn my grave into an idol to be worshipped. Allah’s wrath intensified on a people who turn their Prophet’s graves into Masjid.” ( Malik in his Muwatta and Ahmed in Al-Musnad). Nothing of Allah’s creation such as: The angels, the prophets, pious and righteous people, idols, etc can help or answer prayers except Allah.  Allah alone answers all prayers and accepts prayers. Allah said: “ Nor call on any besides Allah, such can neither profit you, nor hurt you. If you do, then you will surely be one of the zalimun" (Qur'an 10:106). Consequently, seeking help from the dead person is an absurd and ridiculous idea.  First of all, the dead body who himself is a powerless and hopeless vulnerable body, who can neither help himself nor can aid himself.  Allah said: “Do they attribute as partners to Allah those who created nothing but they themselves are created? No help can they give them, nor do they help themselves.” (soorah Al-A’raaf, 7:191,192). And secondly, why should we seek a dead person’s help or make du’a to bring us closer to Allah when Allah is the all Hearer and all Knower. It doesn’t matter how pious or righteous the persons were or might be, Allah is Sufficient for us. Allah said in the Quran: “When My servants ask you (O Mohammad) about me tell them, ‘Verily I am close to them; I listen to the prayer of every one who calls on Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me in order that they may be guided aright”. (2:186). Another ayah Allah said in the Quran is, “It’s We who created man and We know what his soul whispers to him, for We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (50:16).

Seeking help from a dead is form of shirk in Ibadah (association in Worship) and Asma-as-sifah giving Allah’s creation the attributes of Allah’s.  When someone makes du’a to a dead person is equal to worshiping them, because our prophet saws said “prayer (du’a) is worship” (sunan abi dawud). Allah the all Mighty said: “Do you worship besides Allah that which (cannot and) does not help you at all or harm you?” (21:66). In another ayah Allah (swt) said: “Those on whom you call besides Allah are only slaves like yourselves” (7:194).

Muslims are allowed to travel to only three places to worship.  These are the three masjids: Masjid-al- Haram in Makah, Al-Masjid an- Nabawi in Medina, and Masjid al Aqsa in Jerusalem. The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Do not set out on a journey except for three Masjids, Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Masjid of Allah's Apostle, and the Masjid of Al-Aqsa, (Masjid of Jerusalem)."(Sahih  Bukhari)  However, our Prophet (saws) didn’t encourage setting out on a journey only intended to visit his Masjid-an-Nabawi or visiting prophet (saws)’s grave in Medina. The Prophet (saws) said: “Send blessings upon me, for your blessings will reach me no matter where you are.” And he said, “Allah has angels who travel about throughout the land, conveying to me the salaams of my Ummah.”  (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i). Nevertheless, he encouraged pilgrims to visit and pray in his masjid when they are in the Makah for umrah or hajj, because the blessings of praying in the prophet’s masjid is a thousand times better than praying in any ordinary Masjid. The Prophet (saws) said, “A prayer in this mosque of mine is a thousand times greater than a prayer in other than it, except for the Masjid al-Haram.” (Sahih Bukhari)”. Setting out on a journey besides these three places to worship is an innovation and innovations are prohibited in Islam.  The Prophet (saws) said: “Every innovation is misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire."( Reported by an-Nasaa'ee)

Students of knowledge should approach these issues, such as: seeking help from the dead and travelling to particular places of worship, other than what our Prophet (saws) permitted, in their respective communities with pure knowledge and taqwah(fear of Allah). Students of knowledge need to educate other with the most respected manner and with patience.  Because, most likely, when people hear something different than what they are brought up with, they would be rigid about it and they would react frenetically. Perhaps it is normal for human beings to react this way.  They wouldn’t want to change their habits or practices, which were passed down through their parents and ancestors for years; they would definitely not want to give up their practices overnight. So, instead of being hopeless or upset with them, students of knowledge should follow the Sunnah of our prophet (saws), which is, being patient and making dua for them. Our beloved prophet (saws) was patient, perseverance and prayed for his people who were on the wrong path.  So, by following the footsteps of our prophet (saws) and with evidences from Quran and Sunnah, inshaAlllah these issues could be prevented and erased from our communities.