Thariqus Shalihin – Iman and Islam: The Main Road to Jannah

Iman and Islam: The Main Road to Jannah

Translated from: Thariqus Shaliheen by Ust. Anshari Taslim (may Allah preserve him), Chapter I: Iman and Aqeedah

Translator: Fajri Matahati Muhammadin

Ahmad Wahib, a ‘liberal Islam’ figure, once cast doubts on whether God will put a non-Muslim in hell in his book: Catatan Harian Ahmad Wahib.

Under the subtitle of “…would God have the heart to cast them (ed: two Christian romos [trans: romo=preacher? Scholar?]) to hell?”, the book mentioned how Ahmad W. lived for two years under the care of Romo HC Stolk SJ who then became the Rector of the Great Seminary in Kentungan, Yogyakarta, and for three years under the care of Romo Willenborg. Ahmad Wahid noted how happy he was to be reunited with Romo HC Stolk SJ and respected each other in their dialogues because they are both pluralists (believing that all religions are the same/parallel to each other, are all paths to salvation, and that it is impermissible to judge other religions through the eyes of our own religion). The story was closed by the following statement: “I do not know, whether God will have the heart to cast my two fathers to hellfire. I hope not.”

How good, really, are these Romos? How much was their contribution to the religion and humanity? Can it be any greater than that of Abu Thalib who has spent his entire life to aid Rasulullah s.a.w., but still dying as a believer of his ancestor’s religion (trans: polytheism)? What is Allah’s reward for Abu Thalib who has done so much good but died as a disbeliever?

ibn ‘Abbas r.a. narrated than Rasulullah s.a.w. said:

أَهْوَنُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ عَذَابًا أَبُو طَالِبٍ وَهُوَ مُنْتَعِلٌ بِنَعْلَيْنِ يَغْلِي مِنْهُمَا دِمَاغُهُ

“Among the inhabitants of the Fire, Abu Talib would have the least suffering, and he would be wearing two shoes (of Fire) which would boil his brain.”

(Sahih Al-Muslim, Hadith No. 212)

And this is even after receiving the shafa’at from Rasulullah s.a.w. His (Rasulullah s.a.w.) shafa’at still cannot save Abu Thalib from hellfire because of his disbelief towards the true religion, as mentioned in the narration of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri r.a. also reported by Al-Muslim in his Sahih in Hadith No. 201.

Correct Imaan is the main platform for one to be accepted to jannah, and without it there are no good deeds that will be accepted. Therefore, good deeds committed by disbelievers will count for nothing at the side of Allah.

Allah S.W.T. says:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ كُفَّارٌ۬ فَلَن يُقۡبَلَ مِنۡ أَحَدِهِم مِّلۡءُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ذَهَبً۬ا وَلَوِ ٱفۡتَدَىٰ بِهِۦۤ‌ۗ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ

“Lo! those who disbelieve, and die in disbelief, the (whole) earth full of gold would not be accepted from such an one if it were offered as a ransom (for his soul). Theirs will be a painful doom and they will have no helpers.”

(Surah Al-Imran ayat 91)

So what, then, is the correct imaan? It is compulsory for all humanity to believe and become a follower of the prophets (may peace be upon them all) who were sent by Allah. When someone has become a follower of that prophet and carried out their teachings, then this person has a correct imaan.

However, that applies up until the prophethood of the final prophet and messenger Muhammad s.a.w.. From his prophethood, the teachings of the previous prophets are invalidated, so that then the entire humanity shall become his follower by falling into the fold of Islam.

Allah S.W.T. says:

وَمَن يَبۡتَغِ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمِ دِينً۬ا فَلَن يُقۡبَلَ مِنۡهُ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِينَ

“And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.”

(Surah Al-Imran ayat 85)

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Notes from the Translator:

General Note:

Translations for texts of hadeeth and Qur’an are taken from credible English translations (M. Marmaduke Pickthall for the Qur’an, and www.sunnah.com for hadeeth from the as-Sittah).

The other notes I make below (and for future translations of Thariqus Shalihin) is not intended to be some sort of academic commentary, as I am no scholar and definitely not in the position to make such commentary. However, these are just some thoughts that came to my mind when reading the text so I just thought I should share them (since its my blog anyway)

Note 1:

Regarding the translation of Surah Al-Imran ayat 85, I wish to just highlight something I find intriguing. In this ayat, the Arabic word translated by Pickthall into English as “..the Surrender (to Allah)..” is ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمِ or transliterated ‘al-Islam’ (Sahih International translates this word to ‘Islam’, while Yusuf Ali translates this to ‘Islam (submission to Allah)’).

Note that most (if not all) other religions in the world is named after the name of the person spreading it (e.g. Christianity), where it came from (Hinduism), or certain ethnic affiliations (e.g. Judaism). Compare this to ‘Islam’ that is named based on the sum of what it teaches. This may also suggest that anything other path is not “Surrendering to Allah” (thus, consequently, surrendering to someone/thing else).

Note 2:

I am sure that a lot of the (or at least some) readers may be uncomfortable with the idea that good deeds, no matter how good, are nullified by disbelief. I would understand this, because for most of our lives (at least mine and probably some of you as well) we are taught to ‘do good for goodness sake’, something probably rooting from Agape teachings popularized by Christian theologians and philosophers of the medieval days.

Further explaining (and justifying) the Islamic standpoint would take very long so it should be discussed in another forum, since it is just not funny if the translator’s comments are longer than the actual article (which it already is hahaha). For now, it would probably be sufficient to say this: you can only be rewarded by the one you are working for. You cant make really good soda formulas and expect to be paid well by Pepsi, if you are working for Coca Cola. Except, of course, if you then change jobs and start working for Pepsi.

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab r.a., Rasulullah s.a.w. said:

إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى دُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ

“The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadeeth No. 1)

Note 3:

A physical copy of this book (in Bahasa Indonesia) can be purchased for Rp. 80.000,- (excluding delivery costs). Kindly contact Ust. Anshari Taslim directly through his facebook account to place your order.

OTHER PARTS OF THARIQUS SHALIHIN

Chapter I : Imaan and Aqeedah

1. Iman and Islam: The Main Road to Jannah

2. The Believing Sinner can Enter Jannah?

3. Entering Heaven By Fearing Allah (Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3), (Part 4), (Part 5), (Part 6)