Level 8 Al-Hikma - Student Copy PDF

Al-Hikma - 8 WINGS OF WISDOM Level 8 AL-HIKMA Al-Hikma - 8 hidaya nagar, chemmad, tirurangadi po malappuram, kerala, india tel: 0494 2463681, +91 9562 66 11 33 [email protected]...

Al-Hikma - 8 WINGS OF WISDOM Level 8 AL-HIKMA Al-Hikma - 8 hidaya nagar, chemmad, tirurangadi po malappuram, kerala, india tel: 0494 2463681, +91 9562 66 11 33 [email protected] www.bookplus.co.in (Level-8) Al-Hikma second edition January 2024 right reserved no part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.  Al-Hikma - 8 Preface Many have long needed a curriculum that would impart religious awareness and values to a Muslim child growing up in a multi-ethnic society. Indigenous and foreign Muslim parents living in different countries, where systematic facilities for religious education are not available, are particularly concerned about their growing children. As a solution to this, Words Academy has developed an excellent curriculum that can be followed both online and offline. Developing a curriculum that takes into account the different countries in which children are growing up, the study methods they follow, and the linguistic and cultural diversity is all the more difficult. The curriculum is based on the book series ‘Wings of Wisdom’, which is designed in such a way as to enable children to develop their mentality to a level where religion is important in their thoughts and actions. It mainly includes recitation and study of the Holy Qur’an, Jurisprudence, History, Faith, Character Lessons, Arabic Language and Hadith Lessons. It is prepared in levels from one to ten. By completing this course, students will be able to recite the Qur’an without error, memorize the important Surahs, understand and comply with the laws of religious jurisprudence in daily life, develop a good character as a Muslim, and gain a sense of pride in faith and history. The curriculum also includes the instruction and accurate evaluation system for extracurricular activities. May this curriculum be most effective in a world of knowledge where boundaries are irrelevant. Al-Hikma - 8 Table of Contents Morality.................................................5 Pluralism: The Sunni Path......................12 Jihad to Self..........................................17 Forgiveness...........................................22 Let Us Make Others Happy...................29 Being Kind by Doing Khidmah................35 The Social Media Etiquette...................39 Knowledge and Islam.............................44 Unity Is Strength..................................47 Alcohol Is forbidden..............................52  Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 1 Morality N ajeeb was praying near the qabr of his friend Yaseen, who was killed with his family by a man who rushed into his house with a rifle. His eyes were full of tears, and he was really shocked after hearing the incident. Seeing him crying, Najeeb’s father, Jazeel, came to him and hugged him. Najeeb asked his father, “How can one kill children like us?” Father held his hand tightly and said, “Son, don’t be desperate; Allah is with us. Human beings are born with pure hearts, and the later situations of their lives make them cruel and merciless. Son, do you know Adolf Eichmann? He had captained for the murders of five million people in Germany. He said 5 Al-Hikma - 8 while being hanged for his crimes: “I do not feel myself guilty” What does it mean? According to his consciousness, killing five million people is not a matter of crime. Son, Millions of people including children were killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the nuclear bombing. Few years ago, a man killed school students in USA while they were studying in their class rooms. After two years of that incident, 132 school children were killed in Pakistan by six gunmen. Besides these, we see in television and internet daily incidents of son killing father and mother, man assaulting women, man harming his friend, wife killing husband and vice versa etc. That is what is happening everywhere.” Najeeb said, “That is terrific, father. How 6  Al-Hikma - 8 can people be that merciless and selfish? Don’t they have any morals? What is the solution to these?” Father said, “Son, no need to be hopeless. It is the case of morality. Everyone acts on their own selfishness and their own assumption of wrongs and trues. Someone takes the killing of another person as enjoyment and pleasure, and they argue it is good. This kind of act is dangerous to humanity. It is sure that a human, basically, himself cannot distinguish between good and bad unless an external force guides him. For us, that distinguishing force is Allah. Allah has instructed in the Qur’an what moral values are. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬has taught us how to apply them in our lives. Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬taught us how to treat parents, how to treat brothers and sisters, how to treat wives and husbands, how to treat relatives, how to treat neighbours, how to treat elders and youngsters, how to treat women and men, how to treat patients, orphans, widows, poor people, and all other animals. For us, following our Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬is the way of our morality because Allah has described Prophet Muhammad 7 Al-Hikma - 8 ‫ ﷺ‬in Surah Al-Qalam: ‫َو إِ نَّ َك َل َع َلى ُخ ُلقٍ ع َِظي ٍم‬ And indeed, you are of a great moral character Morality is having a good character, and that behaviour is formed according to the instructions of Allah. Here are some hadiths in which the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬encourages morality. Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬says, “The best of you is the best among you in conduct.” In another occasion, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬states, “The heaviest thing to be placed in the balance of a believing slave on the Day of Judgement will be good behaviour. And Allah hates the one who uses bad language.” Someone once asked the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, “Which deed would lead a man to paradise? And he answered, “Piety and good conduct.” Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said to his followers, “The most perfect man in his faith, among the believers, is the one whose behaviour is the most excellent; and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives.” 8  Al-Hikma - 8 While describing about the closest people to Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬in heaven, he said, “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who is the best in conduct.” Dear son, now we understand how much importance Islam has given to morality and good conduct. In this way, we realise Islam as the religion of peace, brotherhood, and love. We act on this morality in order to please Allah and it is compulsory for us to follow it. A true Muslim obeys these moral values and guidelines. He or she acts according to Ihsan and Taqwa, being conscious that Allah is watching him or her always. This consciousness makes a Muslim a perfect moral being. Beside this, a Muslim believes that his or her deeds will be judged on the day of judgement, and will be rewarded with paradise if he or she has done good and punished if otherwise. This realisation also compels a Muslim to have good character throughout life. 9 Al-Hikma - 8 Some examples of morality as the Qur’an instructed: 1. Dealing with one’s parents in the best manner 2. Being nice to one’s relatives and neighbours 3. Taking care of orphans and the poor 4. Being honest 5. Being sincere in all of one’s intentions 6. Fulfilling one’s promises 7. Treating all people fairly 10  Al-Hikma - 8 Activities Answer briefly 1. What is morality in Islam? 2. Free thinkers say, “Everyone should act according to what he or she likes.” If someone argues that their behaviour will cause violence against other people if they act as they will, what will be your response? 3. What makes a Muslim a perfect moral being? Experience the chapter 1. Recall some situations from your life experience in which you felt moral contentment. 2. List out some moral values based on the Qur’an and Hadith described in this chapter. Discuss Behaviour towards widows, women, and disabled people should be ethically constructive. Discuss Islamic ethical values. 11 Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 2 Pluralism: The Sunni Path D o you have any idea why Allah created human beings with versatile beliefs? Is Allah unable to make us all believers in Islam? Why did Allah not make all human beings Muslims? The following verse says: ِ ‫َو َل ْو َشا َء ال ل ُه َل َج َع َل ُك ْم أ َّم ًة َو‬ ‫احدَ ًة‬ Had Allah intended He would have made you all one nation (on the same faith). So, Allah mentions that this is His intention to diversify people, as He created different types of plants and animals 12  Al-Hikma - 8 with distinct characteristics. Allah allows pluralism, and He didn’t restrict it. Although Allah knows that Islam is the only true path, He allowed people to follow their faiths. What mercy that Allah is pouring upon His creatures! However, we are bound to trace the path of Allah, which is the adorable path that causes no harm to fellow human beings. It is the beauty of Islam. Once, a Christian group from Najran came to visit Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬in Madinah. They came arguing 13 Al-Hikma - 8 with Prophet Muhammed ‫ ﷺ‬about what they believe about Esa p or Jesus Christ. They argued that Jesus is the son of God. Is it true? Never, but Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬talked to them with patience. It is not the most interesting part. They were even allowed to pray at the mosque of Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬, the holiest site in Islam! There are many incidents in history about the way Islam deals with people of different religions. Ask your teacher to narrate some of them for you. As mentioned above, Allah made us belong to different classes. He is the sole Creator of people with different faiths and of people who do not believe in any god. Imagine your neighbour James belongs to Christianity, and he worships Jesus Christ instead of Allah, the Almighty. Are you going to speak with him in a hateful manner? Are you going to harm him? Never. It is a grave sin to harm others. But what would you do? You should speak with him, and you must treat him gently. Allah instructs us to actively engage with them and 14  Al-Hikma - 8 get to know each other. Knowing each other is more powerful. By treating him with the utmost care, you are respecting him as your neighbour. That is rewardable from Allah. Allah says the reason behind the diversification through following verse: “O mankind, We have created you out of a male and a female, and We have made you tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognise and do good to one another. Surely the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is he who guards against evil the most.” Can you list out what you understand from the above verse? 15 Al-Hikma - 8 Activities Write your thoughts 1. Why did Allah create human beings with versatile beliefs? 2. How should we approach people of different faiths? 3. What is the reason behind the diversification of human beings into numerous groups and sub- groups? 4. Does pluralism have any link with abandoning one’s belief in Islam? Narrate 1. Describe to your friends an event, that happens in your native place, which is pluralistic in nature. Ask your teacher 1. Collect three verses from the Qur’an mentioning the coexistence of different beliefs. 2. How did the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬engage with non-Muslims? 16  Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 3 Jihad to Self D o you know the difference between angels, human beings, and animals? Angels have only wisdom, while animals have only emotions. As human beings, we have both emotions and wisdom. We have a chance to be like angels and animals. So, it is mandatory for human beings to excel with wisdom rather than emotions and to train our bodies to appropriate the instructions of Islam. It is known as Jihad An-Nafs (battling with the body) or Al-Jihadul Akbar. Our body has the tendency of choosing and participating in bad activities. You may see people who are teasing others, blaming them in their absence, and telling lies. As human beings, we are inserted with free will to determine our path, whether it is good or bad. So, it is upon 17 Al-Hikma - 8 us to maintain our body with good deeds. It is mandatory to attain the pure path set forth by our Almighty Allah. Allah mentions in Holy Qur’an: “And the human soul and that Mighty Lord Who made it perfect, then He revealed to it its evil and righteousness; one who purifies it certainly succeeds, and he indeed is ruined who corrupts it.” (Surah Ash-Shams: 7 - 10) So, how do we train our bodies to accept Islamic teachings? Along with doing good activities, we have to abstain from bad deeds. Refraining from bad activities is more important and harder. We could easily offer five prayers every day. But it is hard to not lie every day. Imam Gazzali asays, “Abandoning formidable matters is more 18  Al-Hikma - 8 risky, because everyone can do what he has been ordered from Allah. Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬says: ‫ َوا ْل ُم َجا ِه ُد َم ْن َجاهَ دَ هَ َوا ُه‬،‫السو َء‬ ُّ ‫َاج َر‬ ِ َ‫َا ْل ُمه‬ َ ‫اج ُر َم ْن ه‬ Muhajir is the one who abandoned the bad, and Mujahid is the one who battled with his desires. Can you list some of the habits that we must quit? The following conversation between Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬and Abu Zarr aconveys the message of Jihad An-Nafs and how it should be done: Abu Zarr anarrates that Messenger Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬ told him, “Urge you to be in consciousness with Allah. Because it is the head of all matters.” Abu Zarr aresponded, “Please tell me more.” Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said, “Recite the Qur’an because it is the cause of your light on earth.” The companion asked again for more instructions. Then Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬replied, “Be cautious of increasing your laughs, because it will cause the diminishing of light (of Iman) from your face. Do not speak except good. Be engaged in jihad. Love poor people and sit with them; look who is beneath you, as it helps to not neglect blessings from Allah. Do not fear anyone in the path of Allah.” 19 Al-Hikma - 8 To battle with the impure interests of our body, we have to acquire knowledge and act accordingly. And know that Satan will come to distract us from the path of Allah through various forms. Now, if this is called Jihad, then what is that jihad which we often see through social media like Facebook and Twitter? All activities of heinous destruction pretending to be in the name of Islam are never considered as jihad. We studied that everyone has the free will to determine the path, and there is not any form of compulsion in Islam. Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬never fought any war for converting others into Islam. And his only duty was preaching Islam with wisdom and exhortation. Dear students, ask your teacher to describe more about Jihad. 20  Al-Hikma - 8 Activities Let’s answer 1. What is Jihad Al-Akbar? 2. Are we given free will to choose our path? 3. What is the prime difference between angels, animals, and human beings? 4. What is meant by the term “Muhajir”? Describe It is mandatory to train our bodies to accept the teachings of Islam. How will you train your body? What activities will you do for this reason? Ask your teacher 1. Badr and Uhud are some jihads in Islam. What are the differences between these battles? 2. Who is Imam Gazzali a? 21 Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 4 Forgiveness I t was reported that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬never took revenge for his own sake, but only when the sacred laws of Allah were violated. Once, our beloved Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was returning from the battlefield along with his companions. It was raining, and Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬hung his sheathed sword on a tree. Then suddenly, an enemy named Ghawrath bin Al-Harith wanted to kill him and unsheathed the hanging sword while he was sleeping. Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬woke up and found him pointing the sword at him and asking,“Who will save you today?” Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬stared at him, and the sword dropped from his 22  Al-Hikma - 8 hands. Then the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬picked up the sword and asked, “Who will save you?” The enemy was so scared of what he had done. Imagine what you will do when you are able to kill someone who has threatened you that he will kill you. Would you forgive him or punish? Here, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬forgave him and let him go free. Let’s talk about forgiveness. Allah, the Almighty, says about the believers: َ‫َو إِ َذا َما َغ ِض ُبوا ُه ْم َي ْغ ِف ُرون‬ When they are angry, they forgive. Have you heard of Yusuf p. His brothers threw him into a well out of jealousy. And what did he say to his brothers, even though he was in a position to take revenge on them for what they had done to him? He said to them, 23 Al-Hikma - 8 ‫يب َع َل ْي ُك ُم ا ْل َي ْو َم َي ْغ ِف ُر ال ل ُه َل ُك ْم‬ َ ‫َلا َت ْث ِر‬ No reproach on you this day, May Allah forgives you. Our beloved Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬forgave the eighty people who intended to do harm to him during the year of Al- Hudaybiyah, camping by the mountain of At-Tan’im. Do you know what he did when he overpowered them during Fathu-Makkah? He set them free and never uttered a harmful sentence to them, neither with the mouth nor with the heart. Brothers and Sisters, why don’t we imitate this mode of behavior? We should absorb the conduct of Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬as the roots of trees absorb water. Let’s try in the upcoming days for your lifetime. Here we go with an interesting story. A kindergarten teacher conducted a game. It was curious that the children were requested to bring some potatoes in a plastic bag as per the number of students they hate, and each potato would be affixed with the name of the student whom they hate. Now, listen carefully. Do you know what happened on the day of the game? Everyone brought some potatoes 24  Al-Hikma - 8 affixed with the names of the students they hated. It was exciting that some brought five potatoes. The teacher told them to carry with them the plastic bag along with the potatoes wherever they go for one week. After one week, they complained about the bad smell of the rotten potatoes. Are you curious to know what the teacher said to them? She said, “This is exactly the situation when we carry our hate and revenge for somebody inside our hearts for a long time. If the bad smell of potatoes irritates us for one week, how can we bear with the bad smell of revenge for a lifetime? Don’t keep any anger, contempt, or disgust to anyone in our hearts. We must forgive them and be soft-hearted. Put our trust in Allah, the Almighty, and sufficient is Allah as a Trustee. Imagine, you have a friend named Naveed who has often laughed at you and teased you. Once, when he was injured, your friend Suhail asked you, “Shall we not help him?” Then you may say, “Absolutely not. He always teases and harasses me. So why should we help him?” Suhail asked you, “Have you thought of your Lord Allah? How can 25 Al-Hikma - 8 you suffer, if He doesn’t forgive you whenever you commit sin and don’t thank His blessings. Never say so. Let’s hurry up. We should help even those who have ill feelings for us.” Dears, you must control your anger. Forgive your friends and forget the sin they commit, because this was the action of our beloved Prophet ‫ﷺ‬. He always treated others well, helped them, and forgave them. Look what Allah says in Holy Qur’an about forgiveness. He says: َ ‫ض ع َِن ا ْل َجا ِه ِل‬ ‫ين‬ ِ ‫ُخ ِذ ا ْل َع ْف َو َو أ ْ ُم ْر بِا ْل ُع ْر‬ ْ ‫ف َو أ ْع ِر‬ Show forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (don’t punish them). It is reported by Ibn Jarir a that when Allah Almighty revealed the above-mentioned verse to His Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬asked, 26  Al-Hikma - 8 “What does it mean, O Jibreel” Jibreel p said, “Allah commands you to forgive those who wronged you, give to those who deprived you, and keep relations with those who cut theirs with you.” Now, read the story narrated on the authority of Anas bin Malik a: “While I was walking with the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, who was wearing a thick outer garment, a man came near the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and pulled his garment so violently, and a mark remained on his shoulder, affected by his strong pull. The man said, “Order for me something from what Allah has given you.” Consider how we would react in the moment if you were treated in this manner. We may beat them or scold them. Now look at the story. How beautifully the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬reacted to him! He smiled and ordered his companions to give him a gift! What a soft-hearted Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was. Did you be amazed at what he has done? Yes, we should imitate him and accept him as our role model. 27 Al-Hikma - 8 Activities Let’s answer 1. Who stole the hanging sword while Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was sleeping? 2. What did Allah say in the Holy Qur’an about forgiveness? 3. How did Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬react to the man who pulled his garment violently? Let’s discuss 1. Forgiveness of Yusuf p to his brothers 2. Any occasion you had forgiven your friends Let’s do https://youtu.be/TpzBywxSxlY Watch the video about forgiveness and make it your habit. 28  Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 5 Let Us Make Others Happy O ne day a poor man gifted a bunch of grapes from his own grape farm to the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, please accept this small gift from me.’ The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬wholeheartedly accepted the gift and thanked him graciously. As the man looked at him expectantly, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬ate one grape. The Prophet ‫ﷺ‬ smiled at him. Then the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬ate another one, and then another one, till he finished them all by himself! He did not offer the grapes to anyone present. The poor man who brought those grapes was very pleased and felt blessed. He left happily. Meanwhile, the companions of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, who were around him, got highly surprised. Usually the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬shares whatever he gets with everybody around him. They used to eat together. But this time, the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬ 29 Al-Hikma - 8 did not do it, and he ate all the grapes completely alone! Out of everyone’s curiosity, one of the companions asked the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, “Oh messenger of Allah! What is the reason behind this change, as you ate all the grapes by yourself and did not offer them to any one of us?” The beloved Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬replied with a beautiful smile on his face, “I ate all the grapes by myself because the grapes were sour. If I had offered it to you, you might have negatively reacted to it and made fun of the poor man. And that would hurt his feelings. I thought to myself that it was better to eat all of them cheerfully by myself and please 30  Al-Hikma - 8 the poor man. I did not want to make him feel disappointed or hurt.” Look what an amazing way it was from the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬ to make others happy! How beautifully he has taught us that concept! To be a reason for others’ success and happiness and not a reason for others’ sadness and failure should be our way of dealing with others. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬says, “The most beloved deed to God, the Almighty, after obligatory duties, is to bring pleasure to a Muslim.” (Abrani) How great it is to be the cause of others’ pleasure! While helping the needy and seeing the smile on his face, sending the words of solace to the stressed one, being a part of his healing, and always smiling at others and making their faces brighter, your account of good deeds is automatically filled. There are almost 7 billion people living in this world, yet the irony is that so many of them feel incredibly alone and separated from other fellow human beings. How can we let this happen? Why can’t we be with them in their hard 31 Al-Hikma - 8 times? Our simple smiles have the power to change the whole life of somebody else! Abu Dharra reported: The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said, “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face.” [Muslim] Ibn Umara reported: The Messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬ said, “A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim; he neither does wrong to him nor hands him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfils his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfil his needs; if one relieves a Muslim from his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone covers up (the sins of) a Muslim, Allah will cover him up (his sins) on the Resurrection Day.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Now, discuss with your friends and write down what you understand from the above hadith. Thus, try to make others happy. Give at least a smile or a Salam to others. Feel others’ pains and heal them if you can, because that means a lot to them. If Allah tests you with the same pain the next day, there will be someone to 32  Al-Hikma - 8 take care of you too. Life laughs at you when you are unhappy; life smiles at you when you are happy; but life salutes you when you make others happy! Activities Discuss the hadith of Ibn Umarawith your friends and write down what you understand from the above hadith 1..................................................................................... 2..................................................................................... 3..................................................................................... 4..................................................................................... 5..................................................................................... 33 Al-Hikma - 8 Let’s answer 1. Have you made anybody happy in your life? Tell us how. 2. Mention somebody (of course, not your family members) who has made you happy. 3. Summarise what you understood from the holy story of Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬. Think and write List out the things you think you should do for others (friends, family, and so on) to make them happy. 1..................................................................................... 2..................................................................................... 3..................................................................................... 4..................................................................................... 5..................................................................................... 34  Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 6 Being Kind by Doing Khidmah A kbar is a secondary school boy who has always loved to serve drinking water to the public. First, he started saving some pocket money to buy a water dispenser machine. After he received enough money, he bought such a machine and got it installed on a busy walking street. People started using it daily to the extent that at least 50 people would benefit from it. What would be the motive for Akbar to have such a great service? Have you ever tried to serve others like him? Allah, the Almighty, admitted a man to jannah for giving some water to a thirsty dog. The only reason was that he was kind to the dog! So, Allah rewarded him with kindness too! Now, can you guess what Akbar would be rewarded for? 35 Al-Hikma - 8 What Akbar did here was a beautiful voluntary social service (khidmah). A small act of kindness can be considered service. Being kind could be through your money, your heart, your words, your prayers, etc. Al-Tabarani areported a hadith narrated by Sayyidina Abdillah ibn Umar a that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said: ِ ‫س أ ْن َف ُعهُ ْم لِلنَّا‬ ‫س‬ ِ ‫َخ ْي ُر النَّا‬ “The best of people is the most beneficent of them to others.” This hadith is a great motivation for us to do good to others by any means. Islam has encouraged everyone to do service for anyone in this world. Think about what you can do for society in this aspect. In the Islamic perspective, social work or community service can be defined as any form of deed in which the effect is extended to benefit human beings, animals, or even the environment. Donating wealth to the needy and even removing a branch of tree, thorn, or stone from the walkway are included in this service. Do you remember having removed any of such stuff? If yes, then you have 36  Al-Hikma - 8 done a wonderful service and will be rewarded by Allah! As social beings, it is upon us to do our duties towards our society as much as we can. Even planting a tree and growing it for public use is a great service to humanity. As the effects and benefits of such initiatives remain useful for generations after generations, you will be rewarded abundantly. If you are willing to accept the blessings of the Almighty God, plant a tree and take care of it. The Prophet‫ ﷺ‬says, “Allah will help His slave as long as His slave helps his fellow human being.” Getting someone to serve is a great blessing from Almighty Allah. To have the chance to serve parents, answer their calls, and do the needful even if you are busy, obey teachers, respect and serve them as your guides to Jannah, help the elders, such as by giving a hand to a blind person to cross the road, donating blood, etc., are some of the greatest acts of kindness and khidmah. List out more such acts of kindness and think about how many of them you can do. Islam also considers animals when we carry out community service. We must be kind to them by not hurting 37 Al-Hikma - 8 or killing them without a valid reason. We are not supposed to kill even a small insect unnecessarily because all of them are part of our eco system. In a hadith narrated by Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik a and authenticated by Imam Al-Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬said: “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows a seed, and then a bird, a human, or an animal eats from it, but it is regarded as a rewardable charity for him.” This is a beautiful concept that Islam puts forward with regards to public service, not only for human beings but also for all the living creatures on earth. And since there is a big scope for being rewarded by Allah, we all should put such acts on our priority list. May Allah bless us - Aameen. 38  Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 7 The Social Media Etiquette F atima and Muad are classmates who are Facebook users. Fatima uses it very carefully by sharing moral values and Islamic teachings that are beneficial for others. Meanwhile, Muad shares unwanted posts, videos, and fake news, and hundreds of his friends always watch those. What do you think about both? Both are users of the same application, almost at the same time, but the result of their actions is ultimately different. While Fatima is getting rewarded by Almighty Allah, what would be the reward of Muad? Nothing, but only the sins of spreading fake news and others. This is the condition of every social media platform. 39 Al-Hikma - 8 Are you a user of social media? If so, which one are you using? What things do you use to share and watch? Have you ever thought of your aim by using it? Have you ever thought about what you can do with it as a Muslim? 3.96 billion people use social media worldwide, according to platform reports on the current number of active users. It is very important to remember that whenever you connect with a social media network, you are joining a community. The manners and values of community and social living, such as keeping others’ privacy, morality, and trustworthiness, should be applied there too. Islam teaches us how social media should be used. Allah mentions in Surah Al-Hujurāt, verse 6, “O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” In this verse, Allah mentions an Islamic ethic called Tabayyun, or the effort to validate or cross-check the truth of information. It can be done by checking the reliability of the sources or investigating the extent of the authenticity of the information. Indeed, the directive for tabayyun is 40  Al-Hikma - 8 essential in order for us to avoid relying on baseless information, which may lead to any preconception and prejudice to the detriment of social harmony. Another value we should have is to avoid negative assumptions or suspicions. Allah mentioned in Surah Al- Hujurāt, verse 12, “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed, some suspicions are sin. And spy not; neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it. And have taqwā of Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” Also, it is very clear that without the permission of the owner, any information cannot be accessed or used. Allah says in His Holy Book, “O believers! Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission and greeted their inmates.” (An-Nur: 27) What you need to do is not leave social media forever. But there are many positive things you get only through social media in this e-world. Staying connected to friends, meeting new friends with shared interests, finding community and support for specific activities, exploring 41 Al-Hikma - 8 and expressing themselves, and staying connected with families are among such positive things. It can also be used as a tool to introduce Islamic values to our friends, regardless of religion. Write down five useful things you can do via social media. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Meanwhile, you should be aware of social media scams. Exposure to harmful or inappropriate content (e.g., sex, drugs, violence, etc.), contact with dangerous people, cyberbullying, and oversharing personal information should not be done at all. Let us conclude with a hadith Abu Hurairah a reported from the Messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬, “If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent 42  Al-Hikma - 8 to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect, and if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect.” So, each post, share, and chat is recorded in your book of rewards by angels. Thus, keep the moral and Islamic values in each of your moves. 43 Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 8 Knowledge and Islam T here is a wealth that cannot be stolen by others. It always sticks with its owner and helps him throughout his life. That wealth is called knowledge (‘ilm). If we acquire it, we can create wonders in this world. Without knowledge, we cannot survive as human beings. The Almighty Allah has offered many rewards to those who seek knowledge. That is, whoever Allah wishes good for, he guides him or her to knowledge. Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬once said the angels lower their wings over the students of knowledge. Since you are a student of knowledge, Allah will bless you with His mercy and protection. The prophets don’t leave any inheritance behind; but 44  Al-Hikma - 8 the only thing they leave behind is knowledge. If you are a knowledge seeker, you are the inheritor of prophets. What a great inheritance! Knowledge doesn’t give you some of it until you give it all of yours. The steps that you take to seek knowledge are in themselves the steps that will take you to Jannah. It is up to you how many steps you can take. ‫َم ْن َس َل َك َط ِري ًقا َي ْط ُل ُب فِي ِه ِع ْل ًما َس َل َك ال ل ُه ِب ِه َط ِري ًقا ِم ْن‬ ِ ِ‫ُط ُر ِق ا ْل َجنَّ ِة َو إِ َّن ا ْل َملاَئِ َك َة َلت ََض ُع أ ْج ِن َحتَهَ ا رِضً ا لِ َطال‬ ‫ب ا ْل ِع ْل ِم‬ Whoever takes a path in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to walk in one of the paths to paradise. Indeed, the angels will lower their wings in great pleasure with the one who seeks knowledge. (Sunan Abi Dawud) Knowledge is a shield; it protects you from ignorance because ignorance is a disease that, if it spreads amongst people, will destroy them. Learn and be masters of what humans have written, whether it is chemistry, physics, or history. But they realise Allah taught them all of these things. They didn’t get it by themselves. Even the art of writing Allah taught it to 45 Al-Hikma - 8 humans. Because he is more generous. He gave us the Quran, which is the source of all knowledge, because Allah cared about us. The Sharia of Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬is focused on knowledge and seeking knowledge. More importantly, the purpose of knowledge is action. Without action, knowledge is nothing. You can gain knowledge of how to become a good Muslim, but if you never acted on guidelines or helped others with this knowledge, what value does it have? Comprehensive understanding Write down two virtues of knowledge seeker. Discuss with your Teacher Knowledge is the cornersstone and foundation factor of Islam, in light of the first five verses of Surah Al-Qalam. 46  Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 9 Unity Is Strength )103 :‫َص ُموا ب َِح ْب ِل ال ل ِه َج ِمي ًعا َو َلا َت َف َّرقُوا ( آ لُ ِع ْم َران‬ ِ ‫َوا ْعت‬ And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves. There lived an old farmer in a distant village. He had four sons who were very quarrelsome. That is why he was too worried about them, because they may go to any extent after his death. One day, he was too sick and was lying on his deathbed. He called all of his sons. When they came, he told them to bring a bundle of sticks. They did so. Then he asked each of them to take the bundle and break it. They tried, but failed. Then, he asked one of them to untie the bundle and break each stick. The sticks broke 47 Al-Hikma - 8 easily. He requested his sons to remain united like a bundle of sticks, or else anyone could harm them easily. What did you understand from this story? Is it the same as the phrase, United we stand, divided we fall?. Islam promotes unity, harmony, and love by all means. Islam always emphasises the power of unity. There is so much we can gain just by uniting. Our Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was a man of unity. He ensured that he spread love and kindness wherever he went, and just through these actions, he attracted millions of people to join the religion of Islam. Islam united different tribes in Mecca and Madinah and formed a single community. Yathrib used to witness blood-shedding fights between Awth and Khasraj for decades. But Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬united them all under the banner of Islam and rejected all forms of social inequalities except in the matter of faith. He said to them, “No Arab has superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; no white has superiority over a black, nor a black over a white, except in piety. To put into practice the concept of true unity, Islam implemented strict laws regarding human relations. To 48  Al-Hikma - 8 understand this, we can go through some of the Qur’anic verses and hadiths: Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed, some suspicions are sins. And spy not; neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” (Al- Hujurat 12) Through this verse, Islam ordered to uphold trust, loyalty, and reliability among the members of the community. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬says, “None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Al- Bukhari] Here, Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬includes both Muslims and non- Muslims in maintaining brotherhood and unity. Preferring others overself leads to avoiding selfishness and promoting amiability. Qur’an says, “Truly believers are brothers; therefore, 49 Al-Hikma - 8 make peace and reconciliation between you and be pious to Allah, that possibly you will be granted mercy.” (Al- Hujurat: 10) Allah describes here the entire community as a single unit making them brothers in faith. And anything that may cause harm to the unity and integrity is discouraged by the law makers. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬says, “One who makes the turmoil shall not enter heaven.” In this hadith, Islam rejects all forms of interventions that destabilse the order of society. Emphasising this meaning, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬says, “Verily, the believers are like a structure, each part strengthening the other.” Living with unity and cooperation helps us create wonders. Have you ever thought of ants? They are one of the small visible insects on the planet. But their unity and hard work make it possible for them to simply carry heavy objects. So, when we are united, we can do more than we do alone. And once our unity is broken, we can be easily defeated. So, always remember, “Unity is strength.” 50  Al-Hikma - 8 Activities Let’s discuss 1. What did you understand from the above-mentioned story? 2. What is meant by the hadith “Verily, the believers are like a structure”? Let’s try Collect as many hadiths and verses about the concept of unity as possible. Translate 1. ‫َوا ْع َت ِص ُموا بِ َح ْبلِ ال ل ِه َج ِمي ًعا َو َلا َت َف َّرقُوا‬ 51 Al-Hikma - 8 CHAPTER - 10 Alcohol Is Forbidden M any great figures in history have lost their lives being addicted to alcohol. Even though they appeared great in front of the world, they lived a painful life within themselves. And at the end, they had failed their lives due to their consumption of drugs and alcohol. Thousands of writers, actors, musicians, kings, and other celebrities suffered and died due to alcohol consumption. For example, read the life stories of Vincent Van Gogh, the painter; Stephen King, the American writer; Alexander the Great, the Macedonian King; Leonard Nimoy, the American actor; Betty Ford, the American first lady; Ernest Hemingway, the American writer; Elizabeth Taylor, the American actress; and the famous footballer Diego Maradona. You may discuss with your teacher what happened to them. 52  Al-Hikma - 8 Many types of alcoholic materials are widespread globally among people. It causes tremendous mental and physical problems. Alcoholic consumption will affect the whole body, from toes to the head. It will shrink our brain, change behaviour to worse, cause throat cancer, infect lungs, damage the heart, fail the liver and kidney, weaken our Muscles and reproductive power, and bring other hazards like family problems and social insecurity. According to the reports of the World Health Organisation, 3 million deaths every year result from the use of alcohol; this represents 5.3 % of all deaths. The use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions. Alcohol is the second-leading cause of death after tobacco. If you see an alcoholic addict, you will see him frustrated and suffering from mental illness. He will never have a good family and social life with his alcoholic consumption. He cannot maintain a balanced life and personality. To make things worse, he may have already lost his credibility among people. This is what alcohol can do. It will definitely ruin life. The Prophet Muhammed ‫ ﷺ‬was sent to a society that 53 Al-Hikma - 8 was addicted to alcohol drinking. Everyone enjoyed the drinks and rejoiced in drunkenness. They lived to consume wine and alcohol and sang in intoxication, praising their drunkenness. They were living for three W’s: war, wine, and women. The wine had made the life of Jahiliya heinous and immoral. It triggered numberless wars, crimes, and all kinds of bad characters. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was sent to restore order and humanity through them. Allah planned to transform a community that was addicted to alcohol. So Almighty Allah forbade alcohol in three steps. First, He uglified the use of alcohol, then banned its use during prayer time. At last, the divine revelation came to the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬banning the consumption of alcohol completely. The Holy Qur’an declared it a big sin in this way: ‫ــاب‬ ُ ‫نص‬ َ ‫َيٰٓ أيُّهَ ــا ٱلَّ ِذ‬ َ ‫يــن َءا َم ُنــو ْٓا إِ نَّ َمــا ٱ ْل َخ ْمــ ُر َوٱ ْل َم ْي ِســ ُر َوٱ ْل أ‬ َ‫ٱج َت ِن ُبو ُه َل َع َّل ُك ْم تُ ْف ِل ُحون‬ ْ ‫ٱلش ْي َط ِن َف‬ َّ ‫س ِّم ْن ع ََم ِل‬ ٌ ‫َوٱ ْل أ ْز َل ُم رِ ْج‬ “O ye who believe, alcoholic beverages, gambling, idols, and divining of arrows are only an infamy of Satan’s handiwork. Leave them aside in order that ye may succeed.” 54  Al-Hikma - 8 (Sura Al-Ma’idah; 90,91) The companions never hesitated to follow the command of the Almighty God and his Prophet ‫ﷺ‬. They poured out enormous pots of wine they had preserved for years. All took the oath to never consume wine anymore. It was a great social transformation made by Islam. ِ ‫ ُك ُّل ٌم ْس‬. Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬says, ‫ك ٍر َح َرا ٌم َق ِلي ُل ُه َو َك ِثي ُر ُه‬ Every intoxicant is forbidden - a little of it and a lot of it. It is also narrated from Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, “Whoever drinks wine in this world and does not repent from that, he will be deprived of it in the Hereafter. (Bhukhari and Muslim) Islam has banned all kinds of drugs and alcohol. Intelligence and consciousness are great blessings Allah has bestowed on humanity. There is no creature on the earth with such vigilance. Hence, we are not supposed to lose it at any time. It would be the biggest blasphemy we do. A true Muslim never uses any type of alcohol at all. Islam wants to preserve our intelligence and rations. A human being will achieve great heights if he is awake all 55 Al-Hikma - 8 the time. Our body is an Amanah (trust) of Allah handed over to us. We should keep it from harm and keep it healthy. That is why anything that harms our body and makes it unhealthy is forbidden in Islam. Thus, we are not allowed to use drugs, wines, poisons, alcoholic pills, or similar stuff. Activities Choose the correct one: 1. Alcohol is very harmful to health: True/ false 2. Alcohol will harm the: Brian/ Throat/ Lungs/ Kidney/ All of above. 3. Alcohol consumption is a …………. in Islam: Sin/ Major sin/ Karaha/ Bad action 4. One who consumes any type of intoxicant is friend of: Satan/ Angels 5. Alcohol consumption has killed thousands of: Writers/ Actors/ Musicians/ Kings/ All of the above. 56  Al-Hikma - 8 Answer the Following 1. Name five celebrities who died because of alcohol. 2. Name four diseases alcohol will cause to our body. 3. What were the three W’s in the life of Dark age or Jahiliyya? 4. What did the companions do when Islam forbade alcohol? 5. How did the Holy Qur’an forbid the alcohol in three steps? Let’s do We are not consumers of alcohol. But there are many drinkers around us. How should we treat them? Ask your teacher about the prophetic examples of that. 57