Discipline

According to Webster dictionary, discipline means training to act in accordance to rules, or a behavior in accord with rules of conduct. It also means to correct, penalize and punish or chastise.

As we know Islam is a way of life, a complete package.. we can not pick and choose. Allah (SWT) our Creator has completed, perfected and allowed for us Islam as he states in Surah Al Maidah in aya 3.

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالْدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلاَّ مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُواْ بِالأَزْلاَمِ ذَلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلاَ تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (5:3


Islam as a way of life is a constitution for how to conduct our affairs. Islam has policies, procedures and practices.

Policies are those general clear fixed rules, rules which Allah (SWT) has declared and there is no room for interpretation. Examples are Worship your Lord, Stay away from adultery, Do not disobey your parents.

Procedures are mandatory rules which explain how to adhere to the policies. Examples are the procedures of Salat, ablution, intention, direction, rakaas, etc.. and Salat is a way of worshipping our Lord according to his procedure and consistent with his policy.

Practices are optional rules which explain how to adhere to the policies. Example are making a duaa for visiting a sick person. The Prophet (PBUH) taught us certain supplications, however we can stay the supplication while standing next the to the sick person, sitting next to him, touching him, or looking at him, or in any other acceptable position.

The Prophet's practices are the best of practices, and hence as Muslims we should follow them as much as possible, even if they are not obligatory "wageb".

Allah (SWT) orders us in the Quran to obey Allah, the Prophet and those in charge of us. For example in chapter of Women (4:59)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً

and again in aya 69

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا

In the chapter of Al-Anfal, Allah (SWT) explains to us what happens if we do not follow the rules of Allah (SWT) and the Prophet (PBUH)

وَأَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلاَ تَنَازَعُواْ فَتَفْشَلُواْ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

In the chapter of Repentence (Al Tauba) in aya 71 Allah (SWT) explains to us the responsibility we have to remind each other of following the rules,

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Shaytan wants us to not follow Allah's rules,

In the chapter of the Light (Al-Noor)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

And in the chapter of the Cow in aya 208

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ادْخُلُواْ فِي السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

The concept of discipline is not strange in Islam. It is a basic requirement for organization. Organization is a cornerstone of management.

Salat follows a very disciplined and well structured repeatable, consistent, identifiable and modular process.
Zakat follows very clear guidelines and rules
Ramadan and moon-sighting abides by rules
Haj follows a clear well-defined set of rituals and rules. Look at how Allah (SWT) discusses with the Prophet how to ask people to follow the rules of Allah (SWT) in the chapter of the Haj (22:67)

لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوهُ فَلَا يُنَازِعُنَّكَ فِي الْأَمْرِ وَادْعُ إِلَى رَبِّكَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَى هُدًى مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Islam teaches us how to visit each other, how to greet each other, how to be a host, a guest, how to act in a gathering, how to sit in the Masjid, how to have intercourse with our spouses, how to discipline our children, how to treat our neighbors, how to help others, how to eat, how to use the bathroom, how to plant a tree, how to remember what we forget, how to ask for forgiveness, how to help the needy, how to ride our cars, how to slaughter the cattle, how to sit, how to hangout with friends, how to deal with others, how to treat pets, and the list goes on...

As Muslims we must abide by rules of the land which organize our lives and affairs, such as traffic laws, tax filing laws, organizational policies and rules.

We are required to avoid the worse of two harms and spread the greater benefit before the smaller benefit.

We also need to remember the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) when he talked about the "Deen" and mentioned it is strong so get deep into it with ease and gentleness; and he gave the example of the horse which can run very fast but will not be able to withstand the pressure and will collapse, and the jockey will have neither completed a large distance, no have had his horse alive.

We also remember the story of "Hizb Al Fodool" in Makkah. When a merchant came to sell merchandise to the people of Makkah and they told him to give them the merchandise and they will pay him later. Days went by and they would come up with excuses to pay the merchant. The merchant then went to the Kaaba and started to recite poetry to convey his sad feelings of how he was betrayed. When the elite of Makkah heard the merchant, they stated they could not be among the elite of Makkah and let such injustice occur, so they started a group for dispute resolution and called themselves "Hizb Al fodool", this was before the days of the Prophet. The Prophet (PBUH) once told his companions, if that group was around he would have partnered with them to spread justice. The point of this story is that is laws and rules are to promote justice and prosperity for man-kind and do not contradict with Islam then we should support these laws and obey them.

Finally the Prophet (PBUH) when he order Moa'th to go to Yeman to invite people to Islam he asked them to believe in Allah, the Creator and then to command prayer, and then fasting, and then zakat... Islam is gradual for the new and must be taken step by step

As a group they can use the means available to change rules to adhere to the guidance of Allah, but they can not take it upon themselves.

Eid

Alhamedelllah hamadan kathereen mubarakan

These days people around us are celebrating the so called holidays. Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas or the New Year. As Muslims we know that these are not Holy days.. they are man-made occasions.... Occasions for people to shop and spend money..

As Muslims we know and believe that Allah (SWT) has created us to worship him.. The results of this act of worship is happiness and celebration in this world and in the hereafter...

An example is in Al-Zumur (39:73-75)

وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا حَتَّى إِذَا جَاؤُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ


وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاء فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِين


وَتَرَى الْمَلَائِكَةَ حَافِّينَ مِنْ حَوْلِ الْعَرْشِ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ
وَقِيلَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

also in Hud (11:105)

يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لاَ تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِيٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ


We praise and thank Allah everyday, at least 17 times every day and not once a year on the last Thursday of November.

So what holidays has Allah (SWT) prescribed for us. Eid Fitr and Eid Adha. Eid Fitr is a celebration of completing the fasting of Ramadan. Completing a training program, training in Taqwa... a training mixed with an act of worship that only Allah knows its sincerity and an act which has no Riyaa and show-off in it. Eid Adha is a celebration of overcoming Shaytan be commemorating Prophet Ibrahim and the tests he went through - sacrificing his son for the sake of Allah, depositing his family in a valley with no life and plants at Mekka - it also recognizes the greatness of Allah and the unity of the believers on the day of Arafa...

Since Allah prescribed Eid to us, he did not leave us alone for each person to recognize it his or her own way..

Eid prayer was prescribed on the first year of Hijra and it is a confirmed sunna, the Prophet performed it all the time and order men and women to perform it.

It is recommended to wash and put Musk or fragrance on that day, and to wear the best, cleanest and newest of garments. It is also recommended that one eat a few dates or equivalent before heading to the prayer in Eid Fitr, in Eid Adha it is better to wait till after prayer to eat from the slaughtered animal.

It is recommended to perform the prayer in the open.. in the outskirts of the city, except for Makkah.. it should be performed in the Masjid Al haram.

Childen and women are encouraged to attend even the ones who have the period, the old, the disabled.. everyone so everyone can have a share in the joy of that day.. the women with period will not join the prayer.. but will listen to the Khutba

The Prophet (PBUH) would go from a different direction than the one he took to the Masjid on his way back from the Masjid or prayer area.

The prayer will be conducted between the time the sun is about about 3 meters or 10 feet till time of thuhr. There is no athan or iqama for the prayer.. Muslims however praise Allah by doing takbeer..

The prayer is 2 rakkas, in the first rakaa the first qiyaam is 7 takbeera, in the second rakka the first qiyaam is 5 takbeera..

Afer the prayer there is a short khutba...

Eid Adha is approaching us it will be either 12/19 or 12/20... The first 10 days of Thul Hijja are days of blessings and great reward...

The Prophet (PBUH) said in a hadith, the meaning of "There is not a group of days that are more dear to Allah than these 10 days.. the companions asked not even the struggle in the way of Allah.. he replied .. not even the struggle in the way of Allah.. except for a man who went out for the cause of Allah with his soul and all his wealth and did not come back with any of it".

Eid Adha is a glorification of Allah and submission to Allah.. it is also a reflection on the day of judgment.. Chapter of Al Haj opens with (22:1-2)

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ

يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَى وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَى وَلَكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ


and in (22:26-30)

وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ



لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ


ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

ذَلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ (

also (22:32)

ذَلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ


also (22:32)

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ

Break ---

Jesus is not the son of God...

Jesus was not born in the winter. Reflect on (19:25)

وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا


فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ قَالُوا كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِي الْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا


قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا

وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا


وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا


ذَلِكَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ قَوْلَ الْحَقِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ


مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍ سُبْحَانَهُ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَلَدًا (19:88)

لَقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْئًا إِدًّا (19:89)

تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا (19:90)

أَن دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَنِ وَلَدًا (19:91)

وَمَا يَنبَغِي لِلرَّحْمَنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا (19:92)

إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدًا (19:93)
لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا (19:94)
وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا (19:95)


Jesus did not die, he was raised to Allah (SWT)

وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلاَّ اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا (4:157)

We know and love more than anyone else on earth.. the way we do it is by following his teachings ....

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُونوا أَنصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآَمَنَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ (61:14)



Key points:
1. It is not ok to celebrate religious or so called religious events other than what Allah prescribed. It becomes an act of shirk by associating our intellect with Allah's guidance and prescription.

2. Muslims celebrate Eid Fitr and Eid Adha, we dont celebrate the birthday of any Prophets or messengers, not even the Prophet (PBUH).

3. If the Prophet wanted us to celebrate anything else he would have told us. He left us with a complete and perfect way of life.

4. Jesus (PBUH) was not born on Dec 25th, he was born on a hot summer night.

5. What to do if your families celebrate non-Muslim holidays