Bismillah Hir Rahmaan Nir Raheem Assalamau alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu Important lecture by Sheikh Anwar al awlaki-State of the Ummah http://www.anwar-alawlaki.com/?p=83 State of the Ummah http://sumoodan.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/state-of-the-ummah/ عن عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: خمس بخمس ما نقض قوم العهد إلا سلط عليهم عدوهم وما حكموا بغير ما أنزل الله إلا فشا فيهم الفقر ولا ظهرت فيهم الفاحشة إلا فشا فيهم الموت ولا طففوا المكيال إلا منعوا النبات وأخذوا بالسنين ولا منعوا الزكاة إلا حبس عنهم القطر رواه الطبراني وهو حسن، انظر: صحيح الجامع 3240 ‘Abd Allaah bin ‘Abbaas (radi Allahu ‘anhumaa) narrated Allaah’s Messenger (salalahu ‘alayhi wasalam) said: “Five matters result when (another) five things happen: If people break their covenant (with Allaah), He’ll appoint (or send) their enemies against them; if they judge by other than what Allaah has revealed, poverty will be spread among them; If faahishah is manifest among them, death will be spread among them; If they become deceptive in trade, He will deprive them of crops and they’ll be struck with famine; And if they withold the payment of zakah, they will be struck with drought.” [By way of At-Tabaraanee and it is hasan: See Saheeh Al-Jaami' hadeeth number 3240] وفي رواية : ولم ينقضوا عهد الله وعهد رسوله إلا سلط الله عليهم عدوا من غيرهم فأخذوا بعض ما كان في أيديهم، وما لم تحكم أئمتهم بكتاب الله عز وجل ويتحروا فيما أنزل الله إلا جعل الله بأسهم بينهم شديداً And in another narration, he (salalahu ‘alayhi wasalam) said: “If they break the covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, Allaah will send an (external) enemy against them who will seize some of their wealth; And if their leaders do not judge by Allaah’s Book, nor attempt to implement what is in it, Allaah will spread enmity amongst them.” In light of the above report it’s understandable what the causes for hazimah (defeat) are; and obviously we see that they are all in effect and present in the lands of the Muslims. We see the ‘ahd (covenant), which some have said is qitaal (fighting), is broken by many or deserted by most. We see that Allaah’s Laws are broken - abandoned totally in parts, or applied selectively. We see that fawaahish and zinaa are widespread especially amonst younger generations. We see the dealings and deception of “Al-Mutaffifeen” as mentioned to us in the Qur’aan. And also, we see the abandonment and neglection of paying the annual alms giving, too. And so, it’s acceptable to say that amongst the remedies for the state of this Ummah are:
To abide/maintain the covenant with Allaah To judge by what He has sent i.e Shari’`ah To abstain from sins -especially fornication To do business fairly, and give full measure To pay the zakah (2.5%) to those ‘in need’ And Allaah Knows Best. Surah Isra 17 verse 80 Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." Ameen,Thumameen. Transliteration :Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n). Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib. Transliteration:an Abi Hurairah (radiya Allahu anhu) qaal: qaala Rasul Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam): "Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa allimni maa yanfa'oni wa zidni 'ilman, alhamdulillahi alaa kolli haal, wa a'odtho billahi min haali ahlil naar." Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/