Part 22

The meaning of its being suitable for every time, place and nation is that adherence to it in no way conflicts with the wellbeing and benefit of the nation at any time or in any place. Rather in it lies the well being and benefit of that nation. It does not mean that Islaam is subservient to every time, place and nation. So the Religion of Islaam commands every good and righteous action, and forbids every evil action: it commands every noble characteristic and prohibits every despicable characteristic. This is the third principle which is that a person should have knowledge of his Prophet Muhammad. This is achieved by studying the life history of the Prophet, and his worship, his character and manners, how he called to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and how he fought jihaad for His cause, and the rest of the aspects of his life. Therefore every person who wishes to increase his knowledge about his Prophet and to increase his eemaan (true faith) in him should read what he is able to about his life in times of war and times of peace, in his times of difficulty and times of ease, and in all his conditions. Then we ask Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, that he makes us from those who follow and obey His Messenger, in those things which are hidden and those which are manifest, and that He causes us to die upon that, indeed He is the one rightfully asked for that and the one having full power to grant it. [THE FIRST PRINCIPLE] So if it is said to you: 'Who is your Lord?’ [45] Then say: 'My Lord is Allaah, who has nurtured [46] me and all of creation with His favours and blessings, ________________________________________________________ I.e. Who is your Lord who created you, and gave you life, and prepared you, and provides you with all your needs. 'Tarbiyah' which means to take care of that which is necessary for the development of the one being raised. The authors words indicate that the word ar-Rabb (the Lord) is derived from the word tarbiyah (to nurture), since he said: "Who has nurtured me and all of creation with His favours and blessings." So Allaah nurtures all of the creation with His favours and blessings, and has prepared them for that for which they were created, and He supported them with all of their needs. Allaah, the exalted and the Most High, said, concerning the conversation between Moosaa and the Pharaoh, "So Pharaoh said: ‘O Moosaa who is the Lord of you two?' He answered: 'Our Lord is the One who provided a suitable mate for all creatures which He created, and then guided them to everything they need with regard to procreation, food, drink and habitation." [surah Taa Haa (20):49-50] So Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, nurtured and provided for all of creation with His blessings. The blessings of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, are so many that they cannot be counted. Allaah, the Exalted and the Most High, says, "And if you were to try to count the blessings of Allaah you would not be able to." [surah Ibraaheem (14):34] He is the one whom I worship, and there is no other whom I worship besides Him.’ [47] ______________________________________________________________________________________ He is the one whom I worship and humble myself to and submit to, in love and reverence. I do whatever He commands, and abandon whatever He forbids. There is nobody else whom I worship besides Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. Allaah, the Exalted and the Most High, says, "We did not send any Messenger before you, O Muhammad, except that We revealed to him that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, so make all your worship purely for Him." [surah al-Ambiyaa (21):25] "And they were not commanded except that they should worship Allaah alone, making their worship and obedience purely for Him, upon the true Religion and free from shirk; and that they should establish the Prayer, and pay the zakaat, and that is the straight and true Religion." [surah al-Bayyinah (98):5] The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High: "All praise is for Allaah, the Lord of all creation"[48] [surah al-Faatihah (1):1]. Everything besides Allaah is a created being and I am one of the creation. [49] So if it is said to you: 'How did you arrive at this knowledge of your Lord?' Then say: 'Through His signs and those things which He has created; [50] ___________________________________________________________________ The author, rahimahullaah, presents as proof for the fact that Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, is the one who nurtures and sustains all of creation, the Saying of Allaah, the Most High: "All praise is for Allaah" meaning that description with the attributes of perfection, majesty and greatness are for Allaah, the Most High, alone. "the Lord of all creation" meaning that He is the one who nurtured and sustained them with His blessings, and that He is their creator and their owner and Sovereign-Lord, and that He is the one Who controls their affairs as He, the Mighty and Majestic, wishes. The creation (al-'Aalam: that by which something is known) is so called because they are a sign for their Creator, their sovereign Lord and the one Who controls their affairs.