15. Ramzan Quiz

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة 

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

15. Do you know what is الْعَقَبَةُ?  (Verses of 11, 12 of Surah Al-Balad).

Answer: The word الْعَقَبَةُ - ‘aqabah’ is a path heading up a mountain range, a path that is very difficult to climb the path which contains salvation and good.

Allah Subhanahuthala says in Surah Balad:

10. And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? But he would not attempt the uphill road, and what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 12. And what will make you know the path that is steep?  13. (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.). 14. Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 15. To an orphan near of kin. 16. Or to a Miskin (poor) afflicted with misery. 17. Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to mercy and compassion. 18. They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise) (90:10-18)

There are two paths:

A man standing at the foot of a mountain with two paths ahead of him, one leading right and one leading left and Allah (SWT) has clearly shown where each path leads. Both the paths involve climbing, require labour and has its own destination. One of these paths is easy to climb but its destination it’s hard to bear. The second path is difficult to climb and its destination is comfortable.

In both the paths Allah will test. Man will always prefer ease over difficulty. Some people take an easy path that ends up into undesirable destination.

The successful ones, with the guidance of Allah, believed and trusted Him, take the difficult path, strive hard, do charity, help in feeding poor, hungry and homeless and recommend one another for perseverance and patient. Those persons will be on the right hand side of Allah on the Day of Judgement and receive their book in the right hand and enter paradise and live there permanently. Allah, the most Merciful one, feels sorry for those who have not taken to pass on the path that is steep.

Allah encourages us to take path of Goodness and salvation:

We did not know to which path we have to climb. Allah (SWT) will teach us through His Book of guidance how to climb this path with ease. The following acts make the one to climb successfully.

Freeing a neck of a slave:

In the sight of Allah, the freeing of a human being from slavery is among the most praiseworthy act.

In the Musnad, there is a Hadhees from Al-Bara bin Azib that a man asked, “O Allah’s Messengerﷺ! Direct me to an action that draws me closer to paradise and away from the fire.” The messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Emancipate the person and free the neck of a slave”.

Another hadhees: “Sa`id bin Marjanah that he heard Abu Hurayrah (RA) saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever frees a believing slave, Allah will free for every limb (of the slave) one of his limbs from the Fire. This is to such an extent that He (Allah) will free a hand for a hand, a leg for a leg, and a private part for a private part.”

Whoever committed a grave sin such as breaking an oath, saying Zihar to wife etc., its expiation is to free a slave.

Giving food in a day of hunger to poor, miserable, and clinging to the dirt:

Feeding people is one of the most virtuous acts in Islam. It is a way to earn forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and receive rewards in the Hereafter. It is also providing relief to those who are suffering. In one Hadhees, the Prophet ﷺ said, “If a Muslim feeds a hungry Muslim, Allah will feed him from the fruits of Paradise on the Day of Judgment” (Tirmidhi).

This is similar to what was related in a Hadhees that was collected by Imam Ahmad on the authority of Salman bin Amir who said that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Charity given to the poor person is counted as one charity, while if it is given to a relative it is counted as two:  charity and connecting the ties (of kinship)”. At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i both recorded this Hadith

Recommended one another to perseverance and patience:

During the climbing of the steep path one may lose hope. One will face difficulty in doing righteous deeds. At those times the believers can encourage one another to stay firm to get a great reward. Perseverance and patience is required to be exercised:

★ in performing the acts of worship enjoined by Allah;

★ in carrying out the commands of Allah;

★ in abstention from the things forbidden by Allah

★ in abandoning the moral evils and

★ in adopting the pure morals.

★ In the temptations to sin

Recommended one another mercy and compassion:

Mercy and compassion are the highly emphasized divine attributes. Mercy is the fruit of compassion. Mercy is a gift given to someone who is suffering by someone acting with compassion. A believer is an embodiment of Allah’s quality of mercy. This mercy partly operates:

★ by guiding people to the right path and

★ by taking them away from false manmade doctrines.

★ by relieving oppressed from oppression and

★ by recognizing and relieving the ones neglected in society.

★ by stopping human tyranny and

★ by stopping the exploitation of the rich and powerful.

Prayer:

May Allah guides us to take the   with all these virtues الْعَقَبَةُ and make us to be among the people of Right hand. Ameen!

الحمدلله