TREASURY OF BLESSED KNOWLEDGE

Which of the deeds obligatory for a Muslim are most valuable before Almighty Allah [1]?

The most valuable of the obligatory deeds before Almighty Allah ﷻ is faith in Him, in His Prophet ﷺ and in all attributes inherent in Allah ﷻ and the qualities of His Prophet ﷺ (sifat) [2]. It is this kind of faith that is the condition under which the Almighty ﷻ accepts the good deeds of a person. Statements that God is on the 'Arsh or that after the Prophet ﷺ left earthly life, there are more benefits from a wooden stick than from him himself [as the Wahhabis assert], as well as assigning to Allah ﷻ and His Prophet ﷺ alien qualities - all these are unbelief [kufr], according to the beliefs of the people of the Sunna (3).

May the Almighty ﷻ save us from assigning Him and His Prophet ﷺ such attributes and qualities, as well as from those who do this!

Which of the sciences is the most valuable?

The most valuable and obligatory science for every person is the science of Monotheism (tawhid) [4], by means of which knowledge of Almighty Allah ﷻ is realized through His inherent attributes (sifat). The Prophet ﷺ said, "The search for knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim man and Muslim woman." In this case, the word "knowledge" means specifically such knowledge that leads a person to the knowledge of Allah ﷻ. Comprehension of this knowledge is possible only through observance of the conditions of iman (faith), Islam and ihsân [5] (true worship).

What is the confirmation of the existence of God?

Confirmation of the existence of God is the presence of this world [with its exoteric (zahir) and esoteric (batin) sides].

In truth, everything has its own creator - the one who made or crafted it. There is no other way. This applies equally to the sun, moon, stars and all of creation. They also have their own Creator, for they could not, like everything else in this world, come about by themselves. All that exists has one Creator – Almighty Allah ﷻ, who governs everything and everyone.

Once, back in Soviet times, a conversation took place on this topic between a KGB official who denied the existence of God and a simple Muslim. At the end of the discussion, the believer asked the atheist the following questions, "Does every house have an owner?", "Is there a leader in every village?" Is there a leader in every state?" To all these questions the atheist answered, "Yes, there is!" “Then,” the Muslim continued, “it is quite logical that this world, with its orderly and harmonious system, should also have its ruler. And who is he?" Here the atheist, not knowing what to say in response, froze in a long pause. He was afraid to recognize the Almighty ﷻ, the Sovereign of this world.

Another atheist, in the form of an ultimatum, declared to a Muslim, "If Allah ﷻ exists, then show me Him!" In response, the believer showed him an electric wire and asked,

“Are you sure that an electric current passes through this wire?”

“Yes!”, he answered. "Are you really sure there is a current here?" He was again asked.

“Yes! Of course there is a current here!” answered the atheist with confidence.

“Then show it to me,” the believer asked.

The atheist did not find an answer to him.

The knowledge of belief in the attributes of Almighty Allah ﷻ in a form sufficient for us is disclosed in the book "Bustan Avaristan" [6]. Anyone who reads it and reaches this level of knowledge will not be mistaken in his beliefs, in sha’Allah [7].

What is the meaning of the words of the shahada [8]?

The meaning of the first part of the shahada is that, relying on the above arguments, you, having firm convictions and confirming them with your deeds, lips and with all your heart, sincerely testify that the One whom you are truly obliged to worship, and no one except Him, is the Only God, Allah ﷻ. To know Almighty Allah ﷻ in a true way, to be ashamed to show disrespect to Him, to be afraid of His displeasure, to be humble before Him and be obedient in everything, to pray to Him, to follow His will, to observe the precepts and pillars of iman and Islam - all this is worship and service ('ibada) to Almighty Allah ﷻ.

The essence of the second part of the shahada is as follows. It is necessary to be convinced and believe in the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, that he was born in Mecca, and that his father's name was Abdullah, his mother was Amina, and that he undertook a migration (hijra) from Mecca to Medina, where he was buried. It is also necessary to believe that Muḥammad ﷺ was sent by the Almighty ﷻ to all mankind with the mission of calling to the One God. There was not and is no person more sincere and more truthful than him, who never said anything in his entire life except truth and right. He was sent as the last Messenger and Prophet to all nations, djinn and even the angels. The Almighty ﷻ ordered all the peoples of the earth to follow him and forbade them to deny his prophetic mission. The faith of one who denies the Messenger ﷺ and the prophetic mission of Muḥammad ﷺ is not accepted by the Creator ﷻ. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ is the best of the creations of the Almighty ﷻ. Love for him is a duty established by Allah ﷻ for all mankind. He was the first of all that was created, despite the fact that his prophetic mission was the last.

Thus, he is the final link in the prophetic chain - the "Seal of the Prophets" ("khatam ul anbiya") [9] and after him until the end of the world there will be no more messengers with a new religion that cancels his religion. He fully and completely fulfilled the prophetic mission entrusted to him and brought to the people everything that was indicated to him by the Almighty ﷻ. The prophet 'Isa (Messiah) will be sent back to earth and he will also propagate his law (ash-shari'a) [10]. Almighty Allah ﷻ exalted Muḥammad ﷺ in a special way, honouring him with a night ascension to heaven (al-isra ’wa-l-mi’raj) [11] and giving him the name habib (“beloved”, “favourite”). A Muslim who has visited Ar-Rawza al-Sharif [12] must receive the intercession of the Prophet ﷺ by the will of Allah ﷻ. Almighty Allah ﷻ will reward ten times one who utters the words of blessing to the Prophet ﷺ (salavat) once. Knowledge of the Prophet ﷺ is a means of knowing Allah ﷻ. It serves as a mirror for everyone who has chosen the path leading to knowledge of the Creator ﷻ.

May Almighty Allah ﷻ bestow by His grace such faith and conviction to the entire Muslim ummah! Amen, Allah ﷻ! O Allah ﷻ!

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[1] Allah is the only God for all mankind, the Creator of all things and the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

[2] Sifat ("qualities", "properties", "characteristics") is a term used to refer to the attributes of God and the qualities of the Prophet ﷺ.

[3] Sunna (As-Sunnah) is the example of the life of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ as a model and guide for the entire Muslim community and every Muslim as a source for the solution of all problems of human life and society.

[4] Tawhid - Monotheism, monotheism.

[5] Ihsân - sincerity, zeal and conscientiousness in the performance of religious duties

[6] "Gardens of Avaria". Avaria is the old name of the area where the Avars lived.

[7] “in sh’Allah” - “if it is the will of God”.

[8] Shahada - testimony of confession of the Muslim religion: "I testify that there are no other deities worthy of worship, except the One God, and that Muḥammad is His Prophet and Messenger."

[9] The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ was sent to people with a perfect religion, which was not given to the previous prophets. His mission as prophet and messenger was last, complete and final.

[10] Ash-shari'a ("straight, correct path") is the religious law and prescriptions established as mandatory for believing Muslims.

[11] Night journey of the Prophet ﷺ from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascension to heaven.

[12] Burial place of the Prophet ﷺ in the Medina Mosque.

TREASURY OF BLESSED KNOWLEDGE