Vocation in Islam Lecturer Aysha Wazwaz B A

Vocation in Islam Lecturer: Aysha Wazwaz B. A Islamic Law M. A Contemporary Islamic Studies Ph. D candidate in Islamic Studies http: //ayshawazwaz. wordpress. com

Fitra and Guidance

Are we born with sin? Do humans have a guiding instinct? � Fitra: the pure state that humans are created in � Islam considers every man born with a natural and pure fitra prone to religiosity and belief in God or questioning life and what is behind life and death. � ﻥ آ ﻱ ﻥ ﻯ ﻭ ﻯ ﺍﻭ ﻧ ﺍ ﺍﺍ ﻭﻭ ﻥ ﺍ ﻭﻭ [172] ﺍﻳ ﺍ ﺍ ﺍ ﻥ آﺍﺍ ﺍ ﺍ ﺍ ﻥ [173] ﺍﻭ � (7: 172. ): “ when Thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam from their loins their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (Saying): "Am I not your Lord (Who cherishes and sustains you)? " They said: "Yea! we do testify!" (This), Lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of This we were never mindful": � 173. or Lest ye should say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their) descendants after them: wilt Thou then destroy us because

Man is created in the natural good state, but he maybe deluded for different reasons �The prophet peace be upon him said: “every man is born with a fitra, but his parents make him Jewish, or Christianize him or make him a Zoroastrian”. �Many factors such as community, peers, parents, politics or even sin may play major rolls in deluding the fitra but the fitra in itself is pure and there.

Fitra is always pure, but people maybe deluded or misguided ﻳ ﻟ )) � ﺍﻱ ﺍﻟ ﻳﺍ ﻻ ﺍ ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ﺍﻟ ﻭ ﻻ ﺍ ﺍﻟ . [30: ((]ﺍﻟﺮﻭﻡ � 30. so set You (O Muhammad Sal Allaahu 'alayhe Wa Sallam) Your face towards the Religion of pure Monotheism Hanifa (worship none but Allâh Alone) , with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in the creation of Allah, that is the Straight religion, but Most of men know not. [Tafsir At Tabarî,

Man may choose evil and therefore lose connection with their fitra and therefore lose guidance � ﻣﻦ ﺧﺎﺏ ﻭﻗﺪ ﺯﻛﺎﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺃﻔﻠﺢ ﻗﺪ ، ﻭﺗﻘﻮﺍﻫﺎ ﻓﺠﻮﺭﻫﺎ ﻓﺄﻠﻬﻤﻬﺎ ، ﺳﻮﺍﻫﺎ ﻭﻣﺎ ”ﻭﻧﻔﺲ “ ﺩﺳﺎﻫﺎ �(90: 7 10). 7. by the soul, and the proportion and order given to it; � 8. and its Enlightenment As to its wrong and its right; � 9. truly He succeeds that purifies it, � 10. and He fails that corrupts it!

Fitra is the base of guidance, but is not enough for guidance; prophets were sent to clarify and build guidance. � (2: 164) ﻳ ﻳ � ﻯ ﻭ ﻳ( )آﻞ ﺍﻭﺍ ﺍﻟ ) ﺍﻳ ﻭﻻ آﺍ ﻻ ﺍ ﻱ (164: ﻋﻤﺮﺍﻥ � � (2: 164. ) Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the revelation and purifying them, and teaching them the book (revealed

Prophets guided people through revelation that contained faith through reason ﻱ ﺍ ﺍ � � � ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍ ﺍ ﻱ (75) ﺍﻭﻳ ﺍ (76) ﺍآﻳ ﻭ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﻭ ﺍﻳ ﺍ ﻱ (78) ﻭ ﺍ ﻭ ﻯ ﻯ ﺍ ﻱ ﻱ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍ (77) ﺍﻟ ﺍﻳ ﺍ ﻳ � ﺍ ﺍ ﺍ ﻱ ﻱ ﺍ ﺍ ﻯ ﺍ ﺍ . (79) ﺍﻳ ﺍ ﺍ ﻳﺍ ﺍ 75. Thus did we show Ibrâhim (Abraham) the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth that He be one of those who have faith with certainty. 76. when the night covered Him over with darkness He saw a star. He said: "This is My Lord. " but when it set, He said: "I like not those that set. " 77. when He saw the moon rising up, He said: "This is My Lord. " but when it set, He said: "Unless My Lord guides Me, I shall surely be among the erring people. " 78. when He saw the sun rising up, He said: "This is My Lord. This is greater. " but when it set, He said: "O My people! I am indeed free from All that You join as partners In Worship with Allâh. 79. Verily, I have turned My face towards Him who has created the heavens and

All prophets came with the same message to worshiping only One Almighty God ﺍ ﺍ )) � ﻭﻱ ﺍ ﻭ ﺍ ﺍ ﻻ . [25: ﺍﻷﻨﺒﻴﺎﺀ ](( ﺍﻭ � 25. and we did not send any Messenger before You (O Muhammad ) but we inspired him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the Right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so Worship Me (Alone and none else). "

Worshiping one God includes the following issues �Believing in One Almighty God without associating any partners with Him. �Worshiping one Almighty God, whether that worship was ritual worship or acting upon the guidance of God through action and life. �Not considering any entity holding the attributes of God, such as knowing the future, or having super powers without the will of God (i. e. miracles)…

Quran guided people through revelation that contained faith through reason � Quran in most of its verses faces its words towards human mind and intellect � Many verses in the Quran call on to mankind to think, or research or study or read as ﻣﺨﻠﻘﺔ ﻣﻀﻐﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺛﻢ ﻋﻠﻘﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺛﻢ ﻧﻄﻔﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺛﻢ ﺗﺮﺍﺏ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻠﻘﻨﺎﻛﻢ ﻓﺈﻧﺎ ﺍﻟﺒﻌﺚ ﻣﻦ ﺭﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻨﺘﻢ ﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺃﻴﻬﺎ ﻳﺎ } � ﺃﺸﺪﻛﻢ ﻟﺘﺒﻠﻐﻮﺍ ﺛﻢ ﻃﻔﻼ ﻧﺨﺮﺟﻜﻢ ﺛﻢ ﻣﺴﻤﻰ ﺃﺠﻞ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻧﺸﺎﺀ ﻣﺎ ﺍﻷﺮﺣﺎﻡ ﻓﻲ ﻭﻧﻘﺮ ﻟﻜﻢ ﻟﻨﺒﻴﻦ ﻣﺨﻠﻘﺔ ﻭﻏﻴﺮ ﻫﺎﻣﺪﺓ ﺍﻷﺮﺽ ﻭﺗﺮﻯ ﺷﻴﺌﺎ ﻋﻠﻢ ﺑﻌﺪ ﻣﻦ ﻳﻌﻠﻢ ﻻ ﻟﻜﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﻤﺮ ﺃﺮﺫﻝ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻳﺮﺩ ﻣﻦ ﻭﻣﻨﻜﻢ ﻳﺘﻮﻓﻰ ﻣﻦ ﻭﻣﻨﻜﻢ 5/ ﺍﻟﺤﺞ ﺳﻮﺭﺓ . { ﺑﻬﻴﺞ ﺯﻭﺝ ﻛﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻭﺃﻨﺒﺘﺖ ﻭﺭﺑﺖ ﺍﻫﺘﺰﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﺀ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﺃﻨﺰﻟﻨﺎ ﻓﺈﺫﺍ � 22: 5. O mankind! if You are In doubt about the Resurrection, Then Verily! we have created You (i. e. Adam) from dust, Then from a Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge i. e. offspring of Adam), Then from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) Then from a little lump of flesh, some formed and some unformed (miscarriage), that we may make (it) clear to You (i. e. to show You Our power and ability to do what we will). and we Cause whom we will to remain In the wombs for an appointed term, Then we bring You out as infants, Then (give You growth) that You may reach Your age of full strength. and among You there is He who dies (young), and among You there is He who is brought back to the miserable old age, so that He knows nothing after having known. and You see the earth barren, but when we send down water (rain) on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells and puts forth Every lovely kind (of growth).

Choosing guidance stands on human decision and action and God’s will. � ( 18: 29): { ﻧﺍﺀ ﻥ ﻥ ﺍ ﺍﺀ ﻥ } � 29. and say: "The Truth is from Your Lord. " Then Whosoever wills, let Him believe, and Whosoever wills, let Him disbelieve. ﺃﻦ ﺇﻻ ﺗﺸﺎﺅﻮﻥ ﻭﻣﺎ ، ﻳﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ ﺃﻦ ﻣﻨﻜﻢ ﺷﺎﺀ ﻟﻤﻦ ، ﻟﻠﻌﺎﻟﻤﻴﻦ ﺫﻛﺮ ﺇﻻ ﻫﻮ � ”ﺇﻥ “. ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤﻴﻦ ﺭﺏ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺸﺎﺀ � 27. Verily, This (the Qur'ân) is no less than a Reminder to (all) the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns). � 28. to whomsoever among You who wills to take the guidance � 29. and You will not, unless (it be) that Allâh wills, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and All that exists).

Spreading guidance: a mission left for people after prophets to take over, but through the guidance that God Almighty had sent. ﻳ ﺍ ﺍﻱ ﻯ ﺍ )) � ﺍ ﺍ ﺍ [125: ((]ﺍﻟﻨﺤﻞ � 125. invite (mankind) to the Way of Your Lord (i. e. Islâm) with wisdom (i. e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, Your Lord knows best who has gone astray from his path, and He is the best Aware of those who are guided.

Guidance is based on the guidance Allah Almighty had sent )) : ﺭﺳﺎﻟﺘﻪ ﻭﺣﻤﻠﺔ ﺃﻨﺒﻴﺎﺋﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻋﺪﺩ ﻓﻲ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ � ﻭﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻯ ﺍﻳ [90: ﺍﻷﻨﻌﺎﻡ ](( ﺍ � 6: 90. they are those whom Allâh had guided. so follow their Guidance. say: "No reward I ask of You for This (the Qur'ân). it is Only a Reminder for the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns). "

A number of verses in the Quran ask the general Muslims to call to guidance )) : ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ � ﻭﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺍ ﻯ ﻭ ﺍﻭ ﻭ ((]آﻞ ﺍ [104: ﻋﻤﺮﺍﻥ � 104. let there arise out of You a group of people inviting to All that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al Ma'rûf (i. e. Islâmic Monotheism and All that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and All that Islâm has forbidden). and it is they who are the successful.

The prophet himself peace be upon him orders his companions to call people to Islam and tells them how to do it � He sends correspondents to the rulers of Persia, Byzantine, Copts in Egypt to talk to them about Islam � He sends other companions to teach the people of Madina ﻋﻤﻴﺮ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺼﻌﺐ � He sends Ali and tells him: let the first thing you talk to them about is Islam, and then tell them what Allah obligates them to do. � He tells Mu’ath: “Start with telling people about worshiping God Almighty alone, if they answer you to it then tell them about prayer…” ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﺩﻋﻬﻢ ﺛﻢ ] : ﻋﻨﻪ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺭﺿﻲ ﻟﻌﻠﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺍﻟﺼﻼﺓ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ � ﻭﻳﻘﻮﻝ . . ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ [ ﻓﻴﻪ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺣﻖ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺑﻤﺎ ﻭﺃﺨﺒﺮﻫﻢ ﺍﻹﺳﻼﻡ � [ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺇﻻ ﺇﻟﻪ ﻻ ﺃﻦ ﺷﻬﺎﺩﺓ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﺗﺪﻋﻮﻫﻢ ﻣﺎ ﺃﻮ ﻓﻠﻴﻜﻦ ] : ﺍﻟﻴﻤﻦ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺑﻌﺜﻪ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻟﻤﻌﺎﺫ � ﻭﻳﻘﻮﻝ . . ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ

Guidance in Islam includes � Worshiping God Almighty alone � Guiding people to doing what is right � Advising or sometimes ordering people to leave what is wrong. ﻟﻢ ﻓﺈﻥ ، ﺑﻴﺪﻩ ﻓﻠﻴﻐﻴﺮﻩ ﻣﻨﻜﺮﺍ ﻣﻨﻜﻢ ﺭﺃﻰ ”ﻣﻦ : ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ � ﻗﺎﻝ ( ﻣﺴﻠﻢ )ﺭﻭﺍﻩ ﺍﻹﻳﻤﺎﻥ ﺃﻀﻌﻒ ﻭﺫﻟﻚ ، ﻓﺒﻘﻠﺒﻪ ﻳﺴﺘﻄﻊ ﻟﻢ ﻓﺈﻥ ، ﻓﺒﻠﺴﺎﻧﻪ ﻳﺴﺘﻄﻊ � Abu Sa'id al Khudri said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Whoever of you sees something wrong should change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of belief. '" [Muslim]

The reference to knowing guidance, standards and values � Quran and Sunnah are the main standards, � Almighty says: “today I have perfected your religion” � Muslims look for guidance within the guidelines of Islam without the need for � � priesthood mentoring, as Muslims consider that all people are equal in trying to obtain closeness to Allah Almighty. Yet, one may seek help in attaining inner purification by taking guidelines from a scholar that knows the guidelines of Islam and therefore enlightening the Muslim on what to do in order to overcome inner weakness toward sin or inner weakness toward doing what is good. Keeping in mind that the scholar is not looked at as infallible or has connections with God Almighty, since he himself maybe in need to apply such guidance. As a doctor he may advise his patients not to smoke but be a smoker himself, he knows through his study that smoking is harmful, but he may not apply it on himself. The only infallible humans in Islam are the prophets who applied Allahs guidance in action, Allah Almighty said: “ ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻯ ﺍﻳ )) ،[90: ﺍﻷﻨﻌﺎﻡ ](( ﺍ (60: 6). Certainly, there has been In them (i. e. the prophets) an excellent example for You to follow, for those who look forward to (the Meeting with) Allâh (for the reward from Him) and the Last Day. and Whosoever turn away, Then Verily, Allâh is rich (Free of All wants), Worthy of All praise.

Guiding people is not exclusive on any group of Muslims not even shaikh �All verses in the Quran that ask for calling for the guidance of God Almighty are speaking to every Muslim and not exclusive to any particular person or group. �More responsibility in guiding could be added to certain people based on their : � position such as political leaders, or even parents � Knowledge which are the scholars that learned Islam to teach it to other people. � Capabilities such as knowing other languages or scientific fields…etc.

You don’t have to be a scholar to call people to guidance �The prophet peace be upon him stayed approximately 13 years calling people to worshiping God Almighty alone. �The companions know one thing about Islam worshiping God Almighty and that was the foundation of Islam.

Later scholars take the lead in guiding people, and pursue detailed knowledge on guidance � Scholars learned guidance from Quran and Sunnah (prophetic tradition, words, actions, reports. . ) � Scholars take the responsibility in deriving guidance on all issues and aspects in life from Quran and Sunnah � Scholars in Islam have different fields some are specialized in: Islamic creed, hadith (prophetic tradition) whether in studying its authenticity or its compilance, principals of Islamic law (studying the sources that Muslims depend on in considering guidance and how to derive rulings from them), fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence (the detailed study of human actions and the guidance that relates to them), tafseer (Quran exegesis).

Scholars and their attribute (1) � Scholars are not infallible � The only difference between a scholar and a Muslim individual is only if they had higher piety ﺇﻥ. . . ﻭﺃﻨﺜﻰ ﺫﻛﺮ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻠﻘﻨﺎﻛﻢ ﺇﻧﺎ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺃﻴﻬﺎ ﻳﺎ ﺃﺘﻘﺎﻛﻢ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﺪ ﺃﻜﺮﻣﻜﻢ � (49: 13): “ 13. O mankind! we have created You from a male and a female, and made You into nations and tribes, that You may know one another. Verily, the Most honourable of You with Allâh is that (believer) who has At Taqwa [i. e. one of the Muttaqûn (pious see V. 2: 2). Verily, Allâh is All Knowing, All Aware. ” � Scholars depend on Quran and Sunnah for guidance not any cavort connection between them and Almighty God. � There is no sacerdotal ordination to choosing imams or scholars. � And therefore the discussion about Divine Providence and its decrees is not an issue when it comes to being a Muslim scholar .

Scholars and their attribute (2) � Scholars can be men or women, ﻥ ﻡ ﺍﺣ ﺍ ﻧﻯ } � 97 ﻭ {ﺍﻟﻨﺤﻞ ﺍﻭ ﺍ (16: 97): “ � � 97. whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while He (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) Verily, to Him we will give a good life (in This world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and we shall pay them certainly a reward In proportion to the best of what they used to do (i. e. Paradise In the Hereafter). ” � There were a number of women scholars throughout history…most importantly the prophet’s wife. � Scholars have higher responsibilities in teaching Islam and applying it on themselves and being a good example for others.

Descriptions of those guided �Quran and Sunnah give different levels to those guided: � Being Muslim � Mu’min (believer) � Saleh (Pious) � Taqi (God loving and fearing) � Muhsin (worships God as if he sees God Almighty.

2 � 63. and the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allâh) are those who walk on the earth In humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild Words of gentleness. � 64. and those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing. � 65. and those who say: "Our Lord! avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily! its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment. " � 66. evil indeed it (Hell) is as an abode and as a place to dwell. � 67. and those, Who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes). � 68. and those who invoke not any other Ilâh (God) along with Allâh, nor kill such life as Allâh has forbidden, except for just Cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does This shall receive the punishment. � 69. the torment will be doubled to Him on the Day of Resurrection, and He will abide therein In disgrace; � 70. except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful. � 71. and Whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds, Then Verily, He repents towards Allâh with true repentance. �

3 � 72. and those who do not witness falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play � � � or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity. 73. and those Who, when they are reminded of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc. ) of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat. 74. and those who say: "Our Lord! bestow on us from Our wives and Our offspring who will be the comfort of Our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqûn" (pious see V. 2: 2 and the footnote of V. 3: 164). " 75. those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect. 76. abiding therein; excellent it is as an abode, and as a place to dwell. 77. Say (O Muhammad to the disbelievers): "My Lord pays attention to You Only because of Your invocation to Him. but now You have indeed denied (Him). so the torment will be yours for ever (inseparable permanent punishment). "

Levels of misguidance �Fasiq (a Muslim but not applying Islam) �Munafiq: someone pretending to be Muslim but in reality hiding misguidance �Kafir: denying God Almighty and his guidance after knowing it.

Descriptions of misguided according to Quran � Sadness, instability, depression, hardships in life, problems in life, lost feeling. � ( 20: 124): "But Whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i. e. neither believes In This Qur'ân nor acts on its orders, etc. ) Verily, for Him is a life of hardship and depression, and we shall raise Him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. ” ﻫ ﺍﻟ � ﺍ ﻱ ﻭ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍﻳ ﻯ ﺍ ﺍﻟ (125 ﺍﻻﻧﻌﺎﻡ ) � (6: 125): “and whomsoever Allâh guides, He opens his heart to Islâm, and whomsoever is lead astray, He makes his chest

Spirituality and guidance (Tazkiya in Islam) (1) �Tazkiya : purifying oneself and staying in the natural fitra and guidance within our hearts and actions. �Attaining tazkiya is by: � Having high servitude to Allah Almighty in belief, �by doing everything for His sake alone �Always considering God’s commandments and remembering that Allah Almighty is seeing everything , therefore one must at all times be in a state of high tazkiya even when one is alone; therefore not hiding under the garment of religiosity while doing sin. � Leaving sin as it affects your heart. �Minor sins lead to major sins… not lowering the gaze may lead to losing spirituality and then falling in zina levels. �Not ask people to leave sin while doing it. �Not contradicting ones words in ordering what is good yet his actions are the opposite

Spirituality and guidance (Tazkiya in Islam) (2) � Doing what is good �A Muslim must always try to do what is good, and the more he does the higher he level of tazkiya and belief he may be. Doing it for the sake of God Almighty � Renewing one’s Islam: �By repenting to God Almighty, and asking forgivness.

Mosques and their place in Islam

Mosques and their place in Islam � Everyplace is a place of prayer for Muslims except filthy and impure areas. � Mosques are a place that gathers Muslims in a congregational prayer 5 times a day, and on Fridays. � Mosques are educational institutes to learning Islam and socializing between Muslims. � They are places for increasing reward during prayer and Quran recitation. � Certain etiquettes Muslims are considered for mosques: � Body and clothes cleanness and purification, taking off shoes before entering to keep place clean as well. � Quietness � Praying two raka’s when entering for Muslims � Mosques do not have pictures to preserve Muslims from any polytheism or anthropomorphization �

Monasticism and Islam