and the most important matter. This is the meaning of the testimony of "La ilaha illa Allah (there is no deity but Allah)." The words and deeds of a servant can never be true unless they are grounded in this fundamental principle. Allah, the Exalted, states, And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳـﻠﻢ), as it was to those (Allâh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."
Second: Understanding the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), holding fast to them both and consulting the scholars concerning matters of faith that require explanation. This is a duty on all Muslims that must neither be neglected, abandoned, nor followed according to one's own opinions and desires without knowledge and insight. This is the meaning of the creed, "Muhammad Rasul Allah (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).'' This testimony entails that a Servant of Allah must believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is truly the Messenger of Allah, hold fast to everything he did, and believe in everything he said. He must worship Allah, the Glorified, alone in accordance with the ordinances set by His Messenger (peace be upon him). Allah, the Glorified, states,
Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins.
And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).
Whoever introduces something into this affair of ours that is not of it, it is to be rejected.
Whoever performs an act which is not based on our Shari'ah, it is to be rejected.
Whoever abandons the Qur'an and the Sunnah is following his desires and disobeying his Lord, do he deserves punishment. Allah, the Exalted, states, But if they answer you not (i.e. do not bring the Book nor believe in your doctrine of Islâmic Monotheism), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allâh?
Allah, the Exalted, describes the Kafirs (disbelievers) saying, They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord! Following personal desires, Allah forbid, dims the light of the heart and hinders people from the truth. Allah, the Exalted, says, "And follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the Path of Allâh." You must beware of following your desires, may Allah have mercy on you! Beware of neglecting the guidance. You must adhere to the truth, call others to it, and keep away from those who oppose it in order to win the blessing of the life of this world and that of the Hereafter.
Third: Performing the five obligatory prayers in congregation is the most important and greatest duty after declaring the testimony of faith. Salah is the pillar of faith, the second Rukn (pillar) of Islam, and the first thing for which a servant will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever maintains Salah is preserving his faith and whoever abandons it, abandons Islam. How great his regret will be and how grievous will be his punishment on the Day when he will stand before Allah! You, may Allah have mercy on you, must offer Salah diligently and advise each other to do so. You must admonish those who casually offer it and abandon it, for this is truly a form of helping one another in performing righteous and pious deeds. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated,
That which differentiates us from the disbelievers and hypocrites is our performance of Salah. He who abandons it becomes a disbeliever.
What makes one a disbeliever and a polytheist is abandoning Salah.
Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with his hand. If he does not have strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue and if he does not have strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of Faith.
Reported by Muslim in the Sahih.
Fourth: Giving careful attention to paying Zakah as obligated by Allah, for it is the third Rukn of Islam. Every Muslim Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) must count his money, calculate the due amount of Zakah on a yearly basis when the money reaches the Nisab (the minimum amount on which Zakah is due). Hence, he should give it out with absolute satisfaction. He should be delighted to carry out the command of Allah, thanking Him for His blessing, and being benevolent with the Servants of Allah. Whenever a Muslim performs such an act, Allah will double his reward, give back to him what he paid, bless the rest of his money, and purify and sanctify him. Allah, the Glorified, states, Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it Whenever a Muslim withholds Zakah and neglects it, Allah will send His wrath upon him, remove the blessing from his wealth, afflict him with the means of spending money in bad matters, and torment him for this sin on the Day of Resurrection. Allah, the Exalted, states,
And those who hoard up gold and silver [AlKanz: the money, the Zakât of which has not been paid] and spend them not in the Way of Allâh, announce unto them a painful torment.
All wealth, upon which Zakah has not been paid, is considered Kanz and its owner will be tormented on the Day of Resurrection. May Allah protect you and me from this! As for Muslims who are not Mukallaf such as children and the insane, their guardians must pay the Zakah due on their money every year, for the general evidence from the Book (Qur'an) and the Sunnah indicating the obligation of paying Zakah due on Muslims' money whether he is a Mukallaf or nonMukallaf. Fifth: Every Muslim Mukallaf, male or
female, is to obey all the commandments of Allah and His Messenger. Sawm (Fast) of Ramadan, performance of Hajj to Ka`bah if possible, and all ordinances of Allah and His Messenger. They should glorify the sanctities of Allah, ponder over the purpose of creation, and take account of him/herself continuously. If they have fulfilled the commands of Allah, they should be pleased, thank Allah, ask Allah to grant them steadfastness, and avoid false pride, arrogance, and conceit. If they neglect the obligations of Allah and commit any prohibited act, they should repent and feel regret. They must adhere to the commands of Allah, recite Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) and Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) frequently, show humbleness to Allah, the Glorified, and ask Him to grant them repentance from their past sins and success to act righteously in word and deed. When servants of Allah are guided to achieve this, it is a sign of their happiness and security in this life and the Hereafter. On the other hand, whenever they blindly follow their desires and caprices, neglect preparation for the Hereafter, this is a sign of their perdition and evidence of their horrible loss. Search your soul, reproach it, and examine your
weaknesses, so you should feel humble, focus on your own self, leave the others, submit to Allah, and feel lowly before Him, asking Him for His pardon and forgiveness. Such selfreproach, submission and humility before Allah is the real reason for happiness, success, and honor in the life of this world and the Hereafter. Let every Muslim know that all blessings including happiness, wealth, high rank, and prosperity are from the grace and benevolence of Allah. Every trial such as diseases, misfortunes, poverty, barrenness, oppressive enemies, or any other misfortune are the result of sin and corruption. All pains and sufferings in this life and in the Hereafter are the consequence of disobedience to Allah, opposition to His command, and negligence of His due right. Allah, the Exalted, states,
And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See the Qur'ân Verse 35:45). Allah (Exalted be He) says: Evil (sins and disobedience to Allâh) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that He (Allâh) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allâh, and begging His Pardon).
O Servants of Allah, Fear Allah as He should be feared, glorify His ordinances and prohibitions, repent to Him from all your sins, rely on Him Alone and place your trust in Him. Verily, He is the Creator and Sustainer of all creatures and their forelocks are in His Hand (i.e. He has total mastery over His creatures). No one other than Allah has any power to cause harm, benefit, death, life, or resurrection. Give priority to the right of Allah and His Messenger over all others', may Allah have mercy on you. Advise one another to hold fast to the right, forbid the wrong, think the best of Allah, and devote much time to Dhikr and Istighfar. Help one another in virtue, righteousness, and piety but do not help one another in sin and transgression. Reproach the foolish among you, let them abide by the ordinances of Allah and forbid them from His prohibitions. Love and hate only for the Sake of Allah. Follow the Awliya' (pious people) of Allah and hold aversion against the enemies of Allah. Remain patient and exhort people to patience until you meet your Lord and achieve the ultimate happiness, honor, dignity, and high rank in the Gardens of Blessing (Paradise).
May Allah grant us and you success in accomplishing that which pleases Him. May Allah reconcile our hearts and fill them with His reverence, love, and fear, and enable us to call to His path and His worship. May Allah safeguard us from the evils of ourselves and our gravest sins, grant success to our rulers and all the Muslim rulers in carrying out that which pleases Him! May Allah support the Truth through them and frustrate falsehood by their hands! May Allah protect all of us from trials and tribulations, for He is the Owner of all things, Omnipotent! May peace, mercy and blessings be upon you! Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!