'The Barriers from Al-Mohaimen are four' (qasida 5:16)

This is the motto of this section, which is for talking about the barriers that cuts off the Moslems' relations with Allah [Al-Mohaimen which is a name of Allah that means the Dominant who controls everything]. We need to know these barriers in order for us to be able to avoid or rectify them in our path to Allah.

This section started with a question from one of our viewers, which he sent to the Discussion page. We then found out that it is a big issue that needs more extensive discussion. We found a book made out of a research conducted by a group of brothers which took them 2 years to complete. This book discusses this subject extensively from the point of view of sayyidi Fakhraddin because it was made with the help of some of his older companions. The book's title is "al-Morshid al-Wagis" which means [the summarized guide].

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A continuation from previous issues:

How do we ask Allah?

No, I do not understand… this is how I started my speech with him when I met him after a while from our last meeting. He said: again? Do not you have anyone other than me?

I said: the Lord has tried you with me? So be patient as Allah is with the patient ones. I cannot connect between asking for help and the keeping of Allah, how do I do that? He looked at me then he said: where did we stop last time. I said: we stopped at sayydi Musa [PBUH], and you said many things, the last of them: do not be stubborn. And I went away without understanding anything.

He was silent for a while, and then he said: in the Sura of al-Baqarah, sayydi Musa [PBUH] ordered bani Israel to slaughter a cow. What did they say? I will tell you, [Ask your Lord to clarify to us what it is?] al-Baqarah 2:68. Sayydi Musa explained to them what its kind was from point of age? But did they stop? No. [they said: ask your Lord to clarify to us what its color is?] al-Baqarah 2:69. He told them its color, but they came back to ask [they said ask your Lord to clarify to us what it is? As cows are all alike to us] al-Baqarah 2:70. Please pay attention…

I interrupted him, saying: pay attention for what? The story of the cow in known to all people. I asked you a definite question, but you entered to the story about sayydi Musa [PBUH] and his people. He said: if you were paying attention, you would at least waited until I finished my words. I put my hand over my mouth, signaling my silence. He laughed and said: I hope you stay like this. Then he continued he talk: you know that bani Israel are the most of all people to love arguing, back and forth, lying, and denying what they said. So they are at top of that, did you hear about any people better than them in this? I shook my head to the left and right. He continued: when sayydi Musa [PBUH] ordered them to slaughter a cow, they said: wait until we ask our Lord if said that or not?

I quickly said: no they did not, they said: ask your Lord… O, that is why you are talking about sayydi Musa [PBUH] and the cow story… Ok continue.

He said: bani Israel, with how you know them, stopped at this, but we Muslims went all the way. If you talked in front of someone about and said that you interceded to Allah with the Prophet and his family, he will tell you that you have become a polytheist or at least a disbeliever. He will also tell you: if you ask, you ask Allah and if you get help, you get help from Allah. OK, I have been asking all my life. At first, when I was young, I used to ask for a house, a car, a beautiful wife, and much money. As time goes by, I ask for less, until I now ask for some money to pay my debts. I found out that the intercession with the Prophet [PPBUH] is the fastest way to Allah's acceptance. If you say that this is polytheism, then tell me how do I ask Allah, and get answered? And how do I ask for help from him, and get it? If you know how, say it, but if you do not then shut up your mouth…

I interrupted him saying: Yes, yes... how do we ask Allah? And do we get help from him? He said: sayyduna the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH], when he said that Hadith, he did not say how, but he did say when, i.e. there is a time when ask Allah, you get answered… so the correct question should be: when do we ask Allah, and get answered? Sayyduna the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] said in his Hadith (keep Allah) twice. Each time the meaning was different according to the words that came after that. i.e. the words that comes after explains its meaning. i.e. the first keeping is not like the second keeping. I said: explain, please! He said: the first keeping is Shari'a, and the second keeping is Truth. The keeping of Shari'a is keep Allah's rights, His orders, and His prohibitions. So it is not like memorizing some song. Keeping Allah is by obeying His orders, avoiding His prohibitions, and going not beyond His limits. All of this we knew from sayyduna the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]. I interrupted him saying: the orders, the prohibitions, the limits and other things, we know it all from Qur'an…

I did not finish my words, as he became very angry, as never before, and interrupted me saying: was this Qur'an revealed to your father? Or your family? If it was not for him, you would have not been created… please go away. I quickly added: that was not my intention, I swear… I will never wrong the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH]. These words were in my head, and I only said it for you to clarify. He waited a while then said: Look… our Lord said [And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from] al-Hashr 59:7. What does this mean?

 It means whatever sayyduna the Messenger of Allah says, is valid for all of us… and no one can disobey… this is a clear statement… so whoever said: I hear and obey, and worked with the words of the Master of all worlds, then he has kept the Shari'a… but pay attention, he works with all what the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] asked of him. It was narrated from the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] that he said (he whoever obeyed me, he has obeyed Allah. And he whoever loved me, he has loved Allah). Some of the hypocrites said: this man only wants us to have him as a Lord, like the Christians did with Essa. Then the verse was revealed [He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah ; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian] an-Nisa' 4:80. I interrupted and said: is it not the prayers and fasting and duties, is it not the required obedience. He said: are you taking part of the obedience and naming it the whole obedience? … go sleep … I am tired.

Written by Ahmed Abbas

Translated by Shadia