Essential Rights – Sheikh Mohammad Saleh Al'Othaimeen - Rahima-hullaah

[Umm Mohammad]

The First and Foremost Right: The Right of Allah, the Almighty

The most essential right that man must fulfill, first, is the right of his creator, cherisher and care taker, Allah, the Almighty, who has the most important rights of all. Allah , the Almighty , is the king of all kings , the Omnipotent, the just , the Only one , Who has neither wife nor a son , the One Who creates from nothing , and returns His creations again to the earth to become like soil dirt once again. He is the One who grants all the graces since man was a fetus in his mother’s womb where no one was capable of providing sufficient food and nourishment, except Him. In the womb, Allah, the Almighty, provided three layers of darkness for comfort. Protection and proper isolation. Later, He was the one to provide your mother with warm milk from her breast to give you suitable type of food at all times, and in accordance with your age. Yet, Allah, the Almighty, was the One Who directed you to use the sucking function provided for you, enabling you to suckle the milk from your mother. Moreover, He is the one who placed love, tender care, and compassion. Love and the sense of attachment in your parents’ hearts to employ all what they have for your comfort, well –being and early stage of your life when you needed the care, the shelter, the comfort and other things. Furthermore, He is the One Who provided you with natural intelligence, mental faculties, sense, and energy. Strength and so forth to care for yourself and for others, professing the Creator’s abilities and graces unto you. Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran

“It is He Who broughtyou forthfrom the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections:That ye may give thanks (to God)” 16:78

If Allah, the Almighty, stopped His virtuous care for a glimpse of an eye of us, men, women and children, or for only few moments, our entire life or world would collapse, vanish, come to an end, or be destructed. It is because of the mercy, blessings, care, gifts, grants of Allah, the Almighty, unto us, that leads us to think that Allah, the Almighty, is entitled for most important right of all. He , the Almightily, definitely , has the right of creating us from nothing , preparing us for whatever we shall become while realizing we are completely incapable of doing anything , and last , but not the least , providing us with all that we have in terms such as health , strength , senses , food , shelter , abilities. And yet, Allah , the Almighty , does not ask anything in return for all His gifts, grants and bounties offered by generously without limitation , as He grants to all who believe in Him , follow His teachings and commands, and to those who do not , as well. He requires no favors from us He demands no provision of food or drink , as He, the Almighty, is neither in need of nourishment , nor in need for us for ant reason. Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran

“Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for Righteousness.”20:132

The only thing that Allah, the Almighty, demands from His creation, which is again for man’s interest, if applied, fulfilled and practiced, is to worship Him, and Him alone with any association of others with Him in worship. Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran

“I have only created Jinn and men that they may serve Me. No sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For God is He Who gives (all) sustenance, Lord of Power, steadfast (for ever) ''. 51:56-58

Allah, the Almighty, demands complete, through and unrestricted submission in slavery for Him, in respect of His position as Full and Complete Lord, Cherisher and Care taker. Man must present himself before His Creator and Cherisher in full humiliation, obedience and submission to His Commands and Will without questioning the validity of the rule, or even the wisdom behind it, as He, the Almighty, knows well what it is good for His creations as a sole Creator. Man is required to fully believe, wholeheartedly, in that is reported soundly and truly of His Creator through His Prophets, Messengers and Books or scriptures. Man could easily see, touch and feel all the graces of Allah, the Almighty, surrounding him in his life; therefore, it is not extremely impolite, rude and inconsiderate to deny all these gifts and graces

If any provided you with a fraction of what Allah , the Almighty , has provided , you would give him a proper respect , consideration to whatever he demands of you as long as such request are within reason, of course . It is not awful to confront one’s Lord, Creator, Cherisher and Caretaker with denial of His Commands, rules, teachings and instructions which is for the benefit, welfare and well-being of man himself, not for the benefit of the Lord himself? In fact , all good that comes to man is definitely from His Lord , Allah , the Almighty and all evil or bad things dismissed from man is also due to the mercy of Allah , the Almighty. As Allah, the Almighty stated in the glorious Quran

“And ye have no good things but is from God: And moreover, when ye are touched by distress, unto Him ye cry with groans.” 6:53

In reality, this right that Allah , the Almighty , requires for Himself from man is very easy to observe , simple to respect , clear to understand and practical to apply for those whom Allah , the Almighty , made it so for them. The Crux of the matter is that Allah , the Almighty , did not make this right a difficult task to achieve , impossible to live by , hard to apply , or even tough understand. Allah, the Almighty stated in the glorious Quran

“And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be witness for you, and ye be witness for mankind! So establish regular prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to God! He is your Protector, the best to protect and the best to help”. 22:78

This right of Allah, the Almighty, is an ideal belief, truthful faith and belief in justice and fairness. This right results in fruitful and excellent quality, good deed and actions. The essence of this belief is love reverence and respect. Meanwhile, the result and fruit of this belief is dedication, sincerity and full devotion to truth, justice, and good ethnic and moral practice. In fact, the give of daily prayer of Muslims is but a simple result of the application of this right of Allah, the Almighty. However, such daily prayers are for the benefits of man himself. They will abolish the minor sins committed during that day , increase the rewards of man for his good actions, improve morals, practices and devotions of the heart of man while improving various situations of man, such as patience and perseverance, concentration, dedication , steadfastness, devotion, commitment to time, production and excellence and so forth. Although this required from all, it is in accordance with every individual’s abilities as Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran

“So fear as much as ye can” 64:16

The prophet , (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), told a man called ‘Imran bin Al-Hussain , who was ill at that time :” Offer Your Obligatory “ prayer while standing , but if you can not do that , then offer it while sitting , and if you can not do that , then , offer it while laying down on your side:1

Consequently, man as a result of his belief in Allah, the Almighty, and his religion of Islam, is to pay Zakat. This is a small percentage of the entire Wealth is given to man, but yet, it benefits the poor and the needy individuals in the society. It does not benefit Allah, the Almighty. Zakat benefits the poor, but by the same token, it does not harm or burden the rich person who gives of his wealth

As a believing, obedient Muslim, one must observe Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Hijra – lunar calendar, every year, in fulfillment of the right of Allah, the Almighty. However, if one is unable to fulfill this duty for legitimate reason or excuse, then, one may make it up some other time of the year, or pay necessary fines (in charity) for missing it, as Allah, the Almighty, stated in the glorious Quran:

But if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. 2:185

Also , as a result of the application , observation and adherence to this immense right of Allah , the Almighty , a believing Muslim must perform Hajj ( pilgrimage) to the holy shrine of K’aba , at Makah , one tome in one’s life as a requirement for those who can physically and financially can afford it

This natural right of Allah, the Almighty, is the one to be fulfilled wholeheartedly. Consequently, all the matters related to it in terms of full belief, Salah “prayer”, Zakah“charity or poor dues”, saum “fasting” and Hajj “pilgrimage” must be practiced, observed and maintained on regular basis. All other facts , duties and requirements that Islam require from the believers are only required when there is a need for them , such as Jihad ( fight and struggle , holy war) for the cause of Allah , the Almighty supporting the cause of injustice to men when it occurs and needs support

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1Reported by Bukhari and Others