Part 6

Allah, the Most High, says,

{O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may

(learn) selfrestraint. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days,' but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the

prescribed number (should be made up) from days later.} (AI-Baqarah: 183-184)

"Islam is built upon five pillars: Testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the

Messenger of Allah, performing prayers, paying zakah, making pilgrimage and fasting in Ramada."1

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said;

"Whoever breaks a fast during Ramadan" without an excuse or illness could not requite it by fasting a

lifetime, were he to do so." 2

Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said; "Principles of Islam are three: testifying that there is no

god but Allah, prayers and fasting in Ramadan. Whoever misses anyone of them has disbelieved."3

We seek Allah's refuge from them.

Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Reported by Abu Dawud, AtTirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ad-Darimi.

Reported by Ya'la and AI-Haithami.

7) Not Performing The Hajj When Able to

Allah, the Most High, says,

{Pilgrimage thereto is a duty, men owe to Allah those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith,

Allah stands not in need of any of his creatures.} (Al-Umran: 97)

"Whoever can afford this journey to the sacred House, by provision and transportation and he does not

make the pilgrimage, there is no blame if he dies as a Jew or a Christian. This is because Allah says,

"Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah -those who can afford the journey."1

'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I have considered sending men to these

cities to see who has not made the pilgrimage, and collect the non-Muslim poll tax (Jizya) from everyone

possessing the means who has not performed it. They are not Muslims."

Ibn ' Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Whoever does not make pilgrimage or pay zakah will

ask to be returned to life when dying." Someone said, "No one asks to be returned except the unbe-

lievers." He said, "Allah, the Almighty, says,

{And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed on you, before

death should come to any of you and he should say: 0 my Lord! Why didst thou no give me respite

for a little while I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the

i.e., I should have made pilgrimage.

{But to no soul will God grant respite when the time appointed for it has come.}

It was asked, "In what amount is zakah obligatory?" He answered; "Two hundred Dirhams

and the equivalent amount if it is gold." Someone asked, "What about pilgrimage?" He said,

Sa'id Ibn Jubair said, "If I have a wealthy neighbor who died without making pilgrimage, I

would never pray over him."

8) Showing Disrespect to One's Parents

Allah, the Most High, says,

{Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both

of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them but address them in

terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on

them Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.} (Al-Isra: 23-24)

Therefore, you should serve them as they did with you. But your service is not equal to theirs as they

suffered a lot in bringing you up, hoping that you might live long. On the other hand, when you shoulder

their burdens you hope that they will die soon.

Allah, the Most High, says,

{Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: To Me is thy final goal.} (Luqman: 14)

Behold, how Allah has associated gratitude to Him with the gratitude to the parents Ibn 'Abbas (may

Allah be pleased with him), said, "There are three verses (ayat) which have been revealed associated with

three others. They are not accepted separately.

a) Allah, the Most High, says,

{Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger. And beware (of evil) if ye do turn back, know ye that it is our

Messenger's duty to proclaim (the message in the clearest manner.} (Al-Ma'idah: 92)

Thus, whoever only obeys Allah will have his obedience not accepted.

b) {And be steadfast in prayer: Give zakah.} (AI-Baqarah: 43)

Hence, whoever performed prayers and does not pay zakah will have his prayers not accepted

c) {Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is thy final goal.} (Luqman: 14)

Whoever shows gratitude to Allah and neglects his parents will not have his gratitude accepted.

"Allah's satisfaction is the parent's and His Wrath is theirs."1

"A man came and sought permission for Jihad (fighting in the way of Allah). The prophet (pbuh) asked

him: '"Are your parents living? The man said" yes, Sir.' He said, 'Then carry on Jihad in service to your

parents as this is as good as Jihad."1

Behold, how Allah has preferred obeying and honoring the parents to Jihad!

"Shall I not tell you of the worst major sins? Worshipping others with Allah and showing disrespect

Again Allah associates showing disrespect to parents with worshipping others besides Him.

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"Whoever shows disrespect to his parents, he who reminds recipients of his charity to them and he who

addicts to wine will not enter Paradise."2

In another tradition the Prophet (pbuh) said,

"Had Allah known something concerning showing disrespect to one's parents little than Uf (a word of

contempt) He would have forbidden it. Let the rebellious son do whatever he does, he will not enter

Paradise, and let the obedient son do whatever he wants, he will not enter the Hell-Fire."3

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"May Allah curse he who shows disrespect to his parents." 4

"May Allah curse he who reviles his father; may Allah curse he who reviles his mother." 5

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"Allah respites whatever He wants of the sins until the day of Judgment save showing disrespect to one's

parents, it will be hastened to its doer."6

i.e. the worldly punishment before the Day of Judgment

Ka'b Al-Ahbar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Allah hastens the death of anyone who shows

disrespect to his parents so as torture him. On the other hand, Allah increases one's life span if he is kind to

his parents to bless him."

Treating one's parents with honour also requires sustaining them with the living costs when they are

needy. A man came and said to the Prophet (pbuh),

"0 Messenger of Allah, my father asks for my property." Then the. Prophet (pbuh) said, "Both you and

what you possess are your father's."7

When Ka'b Al-Ahbar was asked about the meaning of showing disrespect to one's parents, he said,

Reported by A1-Bukhari and Muslim.

Reported by Ad-Darimi, Ahmad, An-Nisa'i and Ibn Hibban

Reported by Imam Ahmad and An-Nisa'i.

Reported by Ibn Majah and Ahmad.

"When one's father or mother swore an oath and he or she did not fulfill it. When they ordered him to do

something but he did not obey. When they ask him for some thing and he refused. When they entrust him

for something but deceives them.

Ibn 'Abbas was asked about Ashab Al- 'Araf (men of the Heights) and he said; "As for the Heights, it is

a mountain between Fire and Paradise. It is so-called because it outlooks Fire and Paradise. It is also

covered by trees, fruits, rivers and wells. As for the men who seized thereon, they are those who went out

to fight in the cause of Allah without their parents' permission and then are killed. Death in the cause of

Allah protects them from the Hell-Fire. But disobedience to their parents deprived them of Paradise. Thus,

they will be on the Heights until Allah judges them.

It was related that a man asked the Prophet (pbuh),

"Who deserves my service most after Allah?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked again, "And

who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked further, "Who is next?" The Prophet

replied, "Your mother." The man asked once more, "And who is next?" The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Your

father and then the closer kins." 1

Thus, the Prophet (pbuh) emphasizes that the mother is the one who deserves much concern and

therefore he mentioned her three times. It is the mother indeed who bears a lot in pregnancy, giving birth,

and suckling and constant care to the child night and day.

Once Ibn 'Umar saw a man bearing his mother upon his shoulder and making circumambulation around

the Ka'ba. The map ' asked him, "Do you think that I requite her? No, not even with a cry from childbirth.

But, well done. Allah will give you in return for a little deed a great reward."2

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet (pbuh) said,

"There are four people who will not enter Paradise as Allah decreed: a drunkard, a usurer, he who

appropriates the orphan's property without a legal cause and he who shows disrespect to one's parents." 3

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers."4

A man came to Abu Ad-Darda' and said, "O Abu Ad-Darda', I have married a woman but my mother

ordered me to divorce her." Then Abu Ad-Darda' said, "Parents is the middle gate of Paradise. You may

either miss or preserve it."5

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"Three supplications are surely acceptable: the supplication of the oppressed, the traveler and the parents

Reported by Ibn Majah, Ahmad and AI-Hakim.

Reported by AtTirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah

"An aunt is treated as a mother i. e., honorable treatment." 1

Wahb Ibn Munabbih said, "In the tablets written by Allah to Musa is the following, 'O Musa! Respect

your parents. Whoever respects his parents I will extend his life span and grant him a grateful progeny. But,

whoever shows disrespect to his parents I will shorten his life span and grant him an ungrateful progeny."2

Abu Bakr Ibn Abu Mariam also said, "I read in the Torah that he who hits his father will be

killed." Similarly, Wahb said, "I read in the Torah that he who slaps his father should be stoned until