Encouragement From Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Saying لا اله الا الله (la ilaha illaAllah -- There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) is the easy part, but to hold on firmly to the faith and to do the good deeds which the faith demands is not easy. Temptations of shaytan, lower self (nafs) and the world keep people away from obeying Allah in all deeds. Temptations are what we all have in common although the levels may differ.

The one who obeys Allah in all deeds and avoids His disobedience is blessed with angels descending upon him all the time, and their effects and blessings are found in his deeds. At time of his death, the angels will give him good tidings of Paradise. "According to a Hadith that has reached us, the believer at the time of rising in his grave on the Day of Resurrection, will be met by the two angels who used to be with him in the world, and they will console him not to worry or be afraid, rather be happy with the glad tidings of Paradise, which was being promised to him. These words of the angels will bring serenity to the believer."(Mazhari)

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّـهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَآؤُكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِىٓ أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ ﴿٣١﴾ نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ ﴿٣٢

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (30) We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] (31) As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful." (32)

[Qur'an, Fussilat 41:30-32]

The inhabitants of Paradise will have whatever their souls desire whether they request or not. You cannot imagine what Paradise have to offer. The Qur'an only gives us a small glimpse of Paradise. What real Paradise got to offer can't fit in our small minds. You have to be in it to know.

First, you have to learn the Qur'an. If you don't know the Qur'an, you will never appreciate the Qur'an. One of the greatest benefits of reciting the Qur'an with even knowing the meanings at a very basic level is that you will have the right understanding of who your Creator is, what He wants from you, how He deals with people, what kinds of people that should have hope in Him, and what kinds of people that should be worried about their behavior.

So what is it that keep you busy that you don't have time to learn and understand the Speech of Allah, the Qur'an?

May Allah guide us on the straight path and grant us steadfastness. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam