Righteousness and Good Character

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam points to good character being the greatest characteristic of Bir (righteousness).

"Righteousness is in good character, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul, and which you dislike people finding out about."

[Muslim]

Bir is what encourages people to perform righteous actions, and is associated with Al-Abraar - righteous, pious people who are obedient to Allah Most High.

Bir encompasses many characteristics: justice in one’s dealings, kindness, consideration in one’s endeavors, being generous in offering help, as well as other traits of the believers whom Allah Most High has described by saying:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِ‌ضُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَو‌ٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُ‌وجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَ‌ٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ‌ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَ‌آءَ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ ﴿٧﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَ‌ٰ‌عُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَ‌ٰتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَ‌ٰرِ‌ثُونَ ﴿١٠

Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (1) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive (2) And they who turn away from ill speech (3) And they who are observant of zakah (4) And they who guard their private parts (5) Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - (6) But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors - (7) And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive (8) And they who carefully maintain their prayers - (9) Those are the inheritors (10) [Qur'an, Al-Mu'minunn 23:1-10]

Whoever is unsure of his condition, he should measure these characteristics within himself; if he finds in himself these good qualities, then this is a sign of possessing good character. If he finds that he does not possess any of these characteristics, this is a sign of bad character. If he finds only some of them, then he should strive to retain what he possesses and to obtain what he does not.

May Allah increase us in taqwa and remove our blameworthy traits and replace them with praiseworthy traits. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Source: Hadith27

Why Do People Sin? Not Taking Minor Sins Seriously

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Sin is what wavers or trembles your soul.

On the authority of an-Nawas bin Sam'an (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Righteousness is in good character, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul, and which you dislike people finding out about." [Muslim]

And on the authority of Wabisah bin Ma'bad (may Allah be pleased with him) who said,

"I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and he (peace be upon him) said, 'You have come to ask about righteousness.' I said, 'Yes.' He (peace be upon him) said, 'Consult your heart. Righteousness is that about which the soul feels at ease and the heart feels tranquil. And wrongdoing is that which wavers in the soul and causes uneasiness in the breast, even though people have repeatedly given their legal opinion [in its favor].'"

A good hadeeth transmitted from the musnads of the two imams, Ahmed bin Hambal and Al-Darimi, with a good chain of authorities.

Sin causes aversion or dislike in the heart; it is that thing which wavers in the breast, and the individual hates that people should come to know of it. The commentators of this hadith stress that the 'people' referred to in this hadith are respected and righteous people.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam gave very important signs of sin. The first one is an internal sign within the human being: a feeling of aversion in the soul with respect to the particular act. The second sign also involves internal feelings, but deals with the outward reaction to the act itself: sin causes a wholesome soul to be uneasy and troubled. These signs occur because a person is naturally disposed to favor what leads to positive results and avoid what leads to negative results.

Many people take minor sins lightly and taking it for granted that Allah will forgive them for such sins. As a result, they persist in such sins thereby getting desensitized to the need to address them.

Consider the hadith of the Prophet sallallahhu alayhi wassallam where according to one report he said, “Beware of minor sins, for they will pile up until they destroy a person” (Reported by Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2686-2687).

Some scholars are of the view that when minor sins are accompanied by a lack of shame or remorse, and with no fear of Allah, and are taken lightly, then there is the risk that they will be counted as major sins. Therefore, it is said that no minor sin is minor if you persist, and no major sin is major if you seek forgiveness.

Allah has created us with a pure, innate disposition that is called fitra. This means to love the truth and the good, and to hate falsehood and evil. Consequently, good believers with pure fitra should never confuse truth with falsehood.

To develop the capacity of knowing right from wrong in your heart, you have to realize that what’s good in your heart can be affected by what you consume in terms of ideas and knowledge. So the more you know about the Prophet sallallahu aayhi wassallam - who he was, how he acted in different situations - the more you will be able to distinguish right from wrong. Get to know the Prophet sallallahu aayhi wassallam so you know how he will act in any context.

Remember, a portion (of good) for a person in this world is his lifetime; if he makes good use of it in things that benefit him in the eternal abode (Paradise), then his trade will be of a great profit. But if he misuses it (his life) by committing sins and disobedience till he meets Allah in such a state, he is surely of those who are losers. Think...how many of them in the graves?!

He who is of a sound sense calls himself for account before Allah calls him to account (on the Day of Account), and fears his sins (and consequently get far away from them) before they lead him to destruction (i.e. HellFire).

Life in this world is of many types but death is of two kinds only -- good ending (Husnul Khaatimah) or bad ending (Suu-ul Khaatimah)).

We should now ask ourselves: "If I die in the state I am today, will I die with Husnul Khaatimah or Suu-ul Khaatimah?" Do you want a good ending? If so, don't take any sins lightly. Don't hurt other people and other creatures of Allah whether it be through our words, actions or attitude.

‏اللهم إني أعوذ بك من شر ما عملت ومن شر ما لم أعمل‏

Allahumma inni audhu bika min sharri ma 'amiltu, wa min sharri ma lam a'mal

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the evil of that which I have done and the evil of that which I have not done.

[Muslim].

May Allah protect us and our families and help us avoid sins and anything that could lead us to sins.

Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Why Do People Sin? Not Knowing the Ill effects of Sins

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Sin, big or small, is bad news for the one who does it. One of the reasons why many people sin, or care little about their sins is their failure to see the impact that sins can have on their lives in this world and in the Hereafter. Every single person (alive, dead and to be born) is also affected by your sin no matter how miniscule your sin might be. Reflect on what Allah says,

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّ‌ةٍ خَيْرً‌ۭا يَرَ‌هُۥ ﴿٧﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّ‌ةٍ شَرًّ‌ۭا يَرَ‌هُۥ ﴿٨

So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, (7) And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. (8)

Remember that you and I are part of a society. When sins become rampant, we all suffer.

If we don’t understand the ghastly nature of sins, we wouldn’t stay away from them. That's why we need to seek knowledge.

Consider a sample of the ill effects of sins that Ibn Al-Qayyim had explained:

1. Sins deprived of knowledge for knowledge is light that Allah causes to reach the heart, and sin extinguishes that light. When Imam al-Shaafa’i sat before Imam Maalik and read to him, he admired him because of the intelligence, alertness and understanding that he saw in him. He said, “I think that Allah has caused light to enter your heart, so do not extinguish it with the darkness of sin.”

2. Sins deprived of provision. In Musnad Ahmad it is narrated that Thawbaan said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘A man is deprived of provision because of the sins that he commits.’” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 4022, classed as hasan/sound by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah).

3. Sense of alienation that comes between a person and his Lord, and between him and other people. One of the salaf (righteous predecessors) said he could see the impact of disobedience to Allah (in some aspects of his daily life). He said, “If I disobey Allaah, I see that in the attitude of my riding beast and my wife.”

4. Things become difficult for him, so that he does not turn his attention towards any matter but he finds the way blocked or he finds it difficult. By the same token, for the one who fears Allah, things are made easy for him.

5. The sinner will find darkness in his heart, which he will feel just as he feels the darkness of night. So this darkness affects his heart as the physical darkness affects his vision. For obedience is light and disobedience is darkness. The stronger the darkness grows, the greater becomes his confusion, until he falls into innovation, misguidance and other things that lead to doom, without even realizing, like a blind man who goes out in the darkness of the night, walking alone This darkness grows stronger until it covers the eyes, then it grows stronger until it covers the face, which appears dark and is seen by everyone. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas said: “Good deeds make the face light, give light to the heart, and bring about ample provision, physical strength and love in people’s hearts. Bad deeds make the face dark, give darkness to the heart, and bring about physical weakness, a lack of provision and hatred in people’s hearts.”

6. Deprivation of worship and obedience. If sin brought no punishment other than that it prevents a person from doing an act of worship which is the opposite of sin, and cuts off access to other acts of worship, that would be bad enough. So the sin cuts off a third way and a fourth way and so on, and because of the sin he is cut off from many acts of worship, each of which would have been better for him than this world and everything in it. So he is like a man who eats food that is bound to cause a lengthy sickness, and thus he is deprived of many other foods that are better than that. And Allah is the One Whose help we seek.

7. Sin breeds sin until it dominates a person and he cannot escape from it.

8. Sin weakens a person’s willpower. It gradually strengthens his will to commit sin and weakens his will to repent until there is no will in his heart to repent at all...so he seeks forgiveness and expresses repentance, but it is merely words on the lips, like the repentance of the liars, whose hearts are still determined to commit sin and persist in it. This is one of the most serious diseases that are most likely to lead to doom.

9. He becomes desensitized and will no longer find sin abhorrent, so it will become his habit, and he will not be bothered if people see him committing the sin or talk about him.

For the leaders of immorality, this is the ultimate shamelessness in which they find great pleasure, such that they feel proud of their sin and will speak of it to people who do not know that they have done it, saying, “O so and so, I did such and such.” Such people cannot be helped and the path to repentance is blocked for them in most cases. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: “All of my ummah (followers) will be fine except for those who commit sin openly, and that includes cases where Allah conceals a person’s sin, but the following morning he exposes himself and says, ‘O So and so, I did such and such last night, so he shamelessly exposes himself when all night his Lord had concealed his sin.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5949; Muslim, 2744).

10. When there are many sins they leave a mark on the heart of the person who commits them, so he becomes one of the negligent. As one of the salaf said, concerning the aayah (verse),

كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَ‌انَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿١٤

No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning. (14) [Qur'an, al-Mutaffifin 83:14]

this means sin after sin.

Let us remember that for us to stay clear from sins we need to constantly work at building a strong internal frame of reference that is reinforced with knowledge of the truth. This must be coupled with a living conscience that can help us recognize sins when we see them and to have it poke at us should we get inclined to indulge in those sins. It is critical that we live in a good society with good friends and good family. You cannot have a good society without good friends and family. You cannot have good friends without good family. And if you don't have a good family, everything falls apart. That's why there is so much emphasis in keeping and protecting silaturrahim (familial ties/ties of the womb) in Islam...

Let us strive to keep the burden of our sins light when we meet Allah, so that our faces are Nadirah (shining and radiant) rather than Basirah (dark, gloomy, frowning, and sad) and let us reflect on these verses from the Qur'an,

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّهَا نَاظِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَاسِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ تَظُنُّ أَن يُفْعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٥

Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, (22) Looking at their Lord. (23) And [some] faces, that Day, will be contorted, (24) Expecting that there will be done to them [something] backbreaking. (25) [Qur'an, Al-Qiyamah 75:22-25]

May Allah help us to avoid sin and forgive all our sins, and make us among those whose faces, that Day, will be radiant, looking at their Lord. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Resource: Islamqa.com

Why Do People Sin? Neglecting the Duty of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Bad or Evil.

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

One of the reasons why we see sin proliferate is that many of us have forgotten the principles of inviting people to good and stopping them from doing bad. When people live in environments (within the family or other social circles) where advice for the good isn’t encouraged much, it takes away the opportunities for improvements and also lets people develop false perceptions about themselves.

Staying away from sins requires periodic doses of knowledgeable advice and wisdom. Additionally, Islamic teachings also command us to advise each other on matters of right or wrong. When families and communities fail to espouse these principles, sins spread more easily. Allah Most High says in the Qur'an (about Muslims):

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ‌ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِ‌جَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُ‌ونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُ‌وفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ‌ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرً‌ۭا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُ‌هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿١١٠

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. (110) (Qur'an, Aleimran 3:110]

Malik ibn Dinar said, “We have become accustomed to loving the world, so that we do not enjoin good or forbid evil to one another. Allah the Most High will certainly not permit us to continue doing this, but would that I knew what kind of punishment shall befall us!” Imam Al-Bayhaqi (The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith).

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: “If the people see an evil and they do not change it, soon Allah will inflict them all with His Punishment (Hadith – Ahmed, graded authentic by Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (1/398).”

Man is a very forgetful creature and makes a lot of mistakes. His own self (nafs) tells him to do evil and the Shaytan tempts him to commit sin. When bodies get sick and are afflicted with disease, one has to find a doctor who can prescribe the appropriate medicine so that the body may be restored to full health. Similarly, souls and hearts may be afflicted with the diseases of desire and doubt, so people do things which Allah has forbidden, such as being bad to their parents, oppressing people (stealing, cheating, lying, etc.), neglecting the rights of others, consuming haram, shedding blood, committing adultery, drinking alcohol, preventing people from following the way of Allah and disbelieving in Allah.

The diseases of the heart [psychological and spiritual diseases] are worse than diseases of the body. This means that one must find a doctor who is skilled in treating such diseases. Because the diseases of the heart are so many and cause the spread of evil and corruption, Allah has enjoined the believers to treat these diseases, by enjoining that which is good and forbidding that which is evil. Allah Most High says,

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ‌ وَيَأْمُرُ‌ونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُ‌وفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ‌ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠٤

And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful. (104) [Qur'an, Ale'Imran 3:104]

Enjoining what is good (al-ma’roof) and forbidding what is evil (al-munkar) is one of the most important Islamic duties, stressed repeatedly in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Indeed it is the noblest and most sublime. This is the task of the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them all), as Allah Most High says,

رُّ‌سُلًا مُّبَشِّرِ‌ينَ وَمُنذِرِ‌ينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّ‌سُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١٦٥

[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. (165) [Qur'an, al-Nisaa’ 4:165]

If the ummah fails to do its duty of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, wrongdoing and corruption will spread throughout the ummah, and it will deserve the curse of Allah. For Allah cursed those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved because they failed in this important duty. Allah Most High says,

لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَ‌ٰٓ‌ءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْ‌يَمَ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ‌ۢ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٧٩

Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. (78) They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing. (79) [Qur'an, al-Maa’idah 5:78-79]

Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil provides a mechanism whereby the Muslim Ummah can fight off various social, moral and spiritual ills, and maintain a healthy and dynamic life. If one practices this principle, it provides both a source and an indication of spiritual and moral health. If one does not react in any way in the face of wrong, then this means that in a spiritual and moral sense, one is dead.

`Abd allah ibn Mas'ud was once asked, "Who are the living dead?" and he replied, "Those who never command something good and never forbid something bad".

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is a mission which will never end until the Hour begins. It is obligatory upon the ummah, rulers and subjects, men and women, each according to his or her circumstances. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

If one of you sees something wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart and this is the weakest faith.

Some versions added:

...there is no part of faith behind that, not even so much as a mustard seed.

One should fix oneself, avoiding sins and doing good as much as one can. Fixing oneself includes commanding good and forbidding evil. One cannot be fully guided until he fulfills what Allah has obligated upon him of commanding the good and forbidding the evil. At the very least one should have concern of those who are being wronged.

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is jihaad for the sake of Allah. Jihaad requires putting up with difficulties and bearing insults and harm with patience, as Luqmaan said to his son:

يَـٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَأْمُرْ‌ بِٱلْمَعْرُ‌وفِ وَٱنْهَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ‌ وَٱصْبِرْ‌ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ‌ ﴿١٧﴾

O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. (17) [Qur'an, Luqmaan 31:17]

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is an important mission, hence those who undertake this mission must be of good character and must understand the objectives of sharee’ah; they must call people with wisdom and fair preaching and deal with them in a kind and gentle manner, so that Allah may guide those whom He wills at their hands.

Allah Most High says,

ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَ‌بِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٢٥

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. (125) [Qur'an, al-Nahl 16:125]

It is not uncommon to see people getting discouraged (whether in situations of advising or when being advised) due to the manner in which such advice is given. This is because they fail to see the difference between advising and condemning.

It was said to one of the Salaf (pious followers that came after the death of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam): “Would you love that someone inform you about your faults?” So he replied: “If he does so with the intention of blaming me, then no.”

Also, Al-Fudayl (rahimahullaah) said: “The believer conceals (the sin of his brother) and advises (him), while the evildoer disgraces and condemns (him).”

Similarly, when we know of the wrong actions of believers, we shouldn’t make it a point to propagate their weaknesses to others. The salaf, for example, used to hate the commanding of the good and forbidding evil when it was done to someone in a public forum. Instead, they loved that it be done privately. This is since it is not the goal of the one who is advising to spread and publicize the faults of the person he is advising, rather his goal is only to put an end to the evil that he has fallen into.

The ummah which establishes the symbols of Islam, enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, will attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will send them His support and grant them victory, as He Most High says, (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.

The Muslim ummah is one nation, and if corruption becomes widespread in it and its circumstances turn bad, then all the Muslims are obliged to reform it, rid it of evil things, enjoin what is good and forbid what is bad, and offer sincere advice to all. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Religion is sincerity.” We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah and His Book, and His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” (Narrated by Muslim, 95).

If a Muslim is commanded to do something by Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, he should be the quickest of people to do it, and if he is forbidden to do something by Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, he must be the one who keeps furthest away from it. Allah has issued a warning to those who go against that, as He Most High says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ كَبُرَ‌ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٣

O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? (2) Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do. (3) [Qur'an, al-Saff 61:2-3]

No matter how righteous and how knowledgeable a person may be, he still needs sincere advice, guidance and reminders in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Even the best and most perfect of creation, Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, received advice and guidance. Allah Most High says in the Qur'an,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِ‌ينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١﴾ وَٱتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّ‌بِّكَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرً‌ۭا ﴿٢﴾ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا ﴿٣

O Prophet, fear Allah and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. (1) And follow that which is revealed to you from your Lord. Indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. (2) And rely upon Allah; and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (3) [Qur'an, al-Ahzaab 33:1-3]

May Allah help us fulfill our duties towards Him and towards those who have rights upon us. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Getting Rid of Pride and Arrogance

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Pride and arrogance may be the cause of a person being deprived of Paradise and may mean that the Lord of Glory will not even look at the person.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "The haughty, even with pride equal to a mustard seed in his heart, will not enter Jannah." A man inquired: "What about that a person likes fine dress and fine shoes?" He said: "Allah is Beautiful and likes beauty. Pride amounts to disclaiming truth out of self- esteem, and looking down on people." [Muslim]

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: “Whoever lets his garment drag along the ground out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.” Abu Bakr said: “Sometimes my garment slips down on one side, unless I pay attention to it.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, “You are not doing that out of pride.” [Bukhari]

Arrogance is of several types, including the following:

1. When a person does not accept the truth and produces false arguments against it.

2. When a person admires himself for his beauty or handsomeness, or the fineness of his food or clothing, so he feels proud and arrogant and feels superior to people.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said said: “Whilst a man was walking, dragging his garment with pride, with his hair nicely combed, Allah caused the earth to swallow him and he will go on sinking in it until the Day of Resurrection.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

A similar case is the story of the friend of the man whose companion spoke to him arrogantly. Allah Most High says,

وَكَانَ لَهُۥ ثَمَرٌ‌ۭ فَقَالَ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُ‌هُۥٓ أَنَا۠ أَكْثَرُ‌ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرً‌ۭا ﴿٣٤

..."I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men." (34) [Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:34]

It may be that he was boasting about his tribe and linage.

Signs of arrogance in a person:

He doesn’t like others to have what he has
He cannot avoid anger
He cannot avoid being jealous of others
He doesn’t accept advice from others
He doesn’t want to listen or accept advice from a learned person or even attend lessons
When advising people, he always puts them down
When speaking, he will say good remarks about himself
When he speaks he speaks with pride to let people know he has knowledge
He deals with people in bad way
He walks in bad way
He looks down at people because he is wealthier, or has a better appearance.

The cure for arrogance involves knowledge and action which involves the following remedies:

First, you should know and recognize your Lord and know and recognize your own self as you should be recognized, and that you are not worthy of greatness and that true greatness and pride are only for Allah.

You should think of yourself as being just like other people and realize that they are like you, they were born from a mother and a father just as you were, and that taqwa (piety, fear of Allah) is the true criterion of superiority.

Allah Most High says,

ـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ‌ۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَ‌فُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَ‌مَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ‌ۭ ﴿١٣

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (13) [Qur'an, al-Hujurat 49:13]

You should realize that no matter what he achieves, he is still too weak to attain a stature like the mountains in height or rend nor penetrate the earth.

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ مَرَ‌حًا ۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِ‌قَ ٱلْأَرْ‌ضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًا ﴿٣٧

And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. (37) [Qur'an, al-Isra’ 17:37]

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ‌ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ مَرَ‌حًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ‌ۢ ﴿١٨﴾ وَٱقْصِدْ فِى مَشْيِكَ وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ‌ ٱلْأَصْوَ‌ٰتِ لَصَوْتُ ٱلْحَمِيرِ‌ ﴿١٩

And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. (18) And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys." (19) [Qur'an, Luqmaan 31:18-19]

Al-Qurtubi said:

The sentence “do not walk through the earth exultantly” is a prohibition of arrogance and is enjoining humility. 'Maraha' (translated here as exultantly) is excessive joy, or it was said that it means being arrogant in walking, or thinking too highly of oneself.

Qutaadah said: it means showing off in walking; or it was said that it means vanity.

All of these suggestions are close in meaning, but they may be divided into two categories: those which are blameworthy and those which are praiseworthy.

Arrogance, vanity, showing off and thinking too highly of oneself are blameworthy; joy and energy are praiseworthy.

Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 10/260.

Another remedy for arrogance is for a person to realize that on the Day of Resurrection he will be gathered in a small form like an ant which will be trampled underfoot. Arrogant people are hated by other people just as they are hated by Allah; people love humble, tolerant and gentle people, and they hate those who are harsh and cruel to people.

Another remedy is to remember that we and urine came out of the same place; that we began as a despised drop of sperm and we will end up as a rotten corpse, and that in between us is a vessel for feces. So who are we, what do we he have, to feel proud and arrogant about?!

May Allah rid us all of arrogance and other blameworthy traits, and make us humble. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant tawfiq.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Related Archive

Don't Lose Your Good Works

Why Do People Sin? 3) Pride and Arrogance

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The first one who showed arrogance towards Allah and His creation was the accursed Iblees, when Allah commanded him to prostrate to Adam and he refused and was arrogant, and said, “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.”

Pride is an attribute that is not befitting for anyone except Allah. Whoever seeks to compete with Allah in that, Allah will destroy him, wreak vengeance on him and make things difficult for him.

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: “Might is His garment and pride is His cloak; whoever seeks to compete with Me concerning them, I will punish him.” [Muslim]

Pride and arrogance can lead us to suppress the goodness and common sense within us simply to provide merit to our egocentric agendas. One sign of such an attitude involves engaging in frequent argumentation, disputes, and quarrels simply to push misguided viewpoints. Such an attitude in general stands counter to everything that the Qur'an and the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wassallam taught us. If faith was simply knowing the facts in one’s heart, then that is similar to shaytan's situation because he was very knowledgeable about his Lord, yet his arrogance and pride led him to become argumentative and disobedient to Allah, and in the process became the worst of creatures.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam associated such an attitude with misguidance. He said, “A nation never went astray after being guided except by means of disputation. [Tirmidhi and ibn Majah].

Allah provides examples in the Qur'an about such people, for example:

وَلَمَّا ضُرِ‌بَ ٱبْنُ مَرْ‌يَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ ﴿٥٧﴾ وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَـٰلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ‌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَ‌بُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًۢا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ ﴿٥٨

And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people laughed aloud. (57) And they said, "Are your gods better, or is he?" They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute. (58) [Qur'an, Az-Zukhruf 43:57-58]

Look within ourselves and see whether the pride in our hearts or the arrogance of our attitudes in anyway influence us to refuse seeing or listening to the truth. For those of us who suffer from such diseases, what is needed instead is an attitude of humility or humbleness that can motivate us to stay calm and open to seeing our mistakes thereby providing an opportunity to fix them.

Pride puts a veil on our eyes and hearts and can lead us to more sins.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى

Allahumma inni as 'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina

O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, dignified restraint, and contentment and sufficiency." [Muslim]

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Related Archives
Arrogance v Humility

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Adab in Seeking Knowledge

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah relates in the Qur'an about the journey of Prophet Musa alayhissalaam, with his young companion. If there ever existed a person who had no need to travel to seek knowledge, it was Prophet Musa, for Allah had spoken to him and given him the Torah. Nonetheless, when Allah informed him of a man who had been favored with knowledge, Prophet Musa inquired about meeting him, and then set out with his companion to find this man, Al-Khidr alayhissalaam.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠

And [mention] when Musa said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:60]

Upon meeting Al-Khidr, Prophet Musa asked of him,

قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿٦٦

Musa said to him, "May I follow you on in order that you may teach me of the knowledge you have been given." [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:66]

قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرً‌ۭا ﴿٦٧﴾ وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ‌ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرً‌ۭا ﴿٦٨﴾ قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرً‌ۭا وَلَآ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرً‌ۭا ﴿٦٩﴾ قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرً‌ۭا ﴿٧٠

He (al-Khidr) said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience. (67) And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?" (68) [Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order." (69) He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention." (70) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:67-0]

The Islamic tradition teaches us that both students of sacred knowledge and their teachers have lofty principles and refined codes of conduct that they must adhere to in order to ensure that they can truly achieve virtue through their knowledge and that Allah opens up for them (futūḥ) the full extent of wisdom and perception.

Humility is an essential characteristic that a student must have to truly benefit from his or her teacher.

In the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), when the angel Jibrīl (alayhissalaam) came to ask the Prophet ( sallallahu alayhi wassallam) about Islam, Imān, and Iḥsān, he is described as having, “put his knees against the knees [of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam] and placed his hands on his thighs.”[Muslim]

When the Companions used to sit with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), they did not used to raise their heads up to him out of their reverence for him. It is reported on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), “If the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) used to enter the mosque, none of us used to raise our heads except Abū Bakr and ʽUmar. They used to smile at him and he used to smile at them.”

It is also reported on the authority of ʽUbāda b. al-Ṣāmit that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) said regarding respecting scholars and honoring them, “He is not from my community who does not venerate our elders, have mercy on our youth, and know the rights of our scholars.”

Imam ʽAlī ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) would say regarding the manners of respect a student should have with his or her teacher, “From the rights of the scholar over you is that you give greeting to people generally and greet him specifically, that you do not ask him questions excessively, you do not meet his answers with discord, you do not pressure him if he tires, you do not grab his garment if he sets forth, you do not reveal to him secrets, you do not back bite anyone in his presence, you do not seek out his shortcomings, and if he makes a mistake you accept his excuse. It is incumbent upon you to respect and honor him for the sake of Allah as long as he adheres to the commands of Allah. And [you must not] sit with your back towards him, and if he has a need you should hasten before everyone in serving him.”

It is related by Shaʽbī that, Zayd b. Thābit (may Allah be pleased with him) led a funeral prayer. He then brought his riding animal near so he could ride it and Ibn ʽAbbās came to assist him in mounting. Upon this, Zayd said, “Do not do this O, son of the Messenger of Allah’s uncle.” Ibn ʽAbbās replied, “This is how he ordered us to treat our scholars and elders.”

Sufyān al-Thawrī entered the gathering of Imām Mālik while his students around him were seated as if there were birds perched on their heads. He later recited the following poem to describe this:

يأبى الجواب فلا يراجع هيبة والسائلون نواكس الأذقان

أدب الوقار وعز سلطان التقى فهو المهيب وليس ذا سلطان

He refuses to answer [excessive questions and the questioner] will not return out of awe

Those who ask [in his presence] sit with their necks bent

Refined manners, grace, and the dignity of a chief of piety

He inspires awe [in hearts] yet he is no king

Al-Shāfiʽī said: “Out of my reverence for him, I used to turn pages while being seated in the presence of Mālik with gentleness so that he does not hear the pages turn.”

It is related by Ṣāliḥ b. Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, “Al-Shāfiʽī came one day to visit my father while he was ill. He [Ibn Ḥanbal] lept towards him, kissed him between the eyes, made him sit in his place and he sat in front of him.” He said, “Then he spoke to him for an hour. When al-Shāfiʽī got up to leave, my father rose and took hold of his saddle and walked with him. When [news] of this reached Yaḥya b. Maʽīn, he questioned my father saying, ‘O Abū ʽAbd Allāh, subḥānallah! Were you forced to walk by the side of al-Shāfiʽī’s riding animal?' My father replied, ‘And you O Abū Zakariyya, had you walked on the other side you would have benefited.’ Then he said, ‘Who wishes for goodness should follow the tail of that beast.’” It was said to Iskandar, “Why is your reverence for your spiritual guide (al-muʽaddib) greater than your reverence for your father?” He said, “Because my father is the cause of my temporary life while my spiritual guide is the cause of [success] in my eternal life.”

Many of the Muslim rulers and caliphs also used to give immense importance to knowledge and the reverence of scholars. It is related that Hārūn al-Rashīd used to send his two sons al-Amīn and al-Māʼmūn to learn from Imām al-Kisāʼī who was one of the seven reciters of the Qur’an. One day after class was finished; al-Amīn and al-Maʼmūn were competing to carry the sandals of the shaykh. Each one wanted to carry them and then they settled for each of them carrying one sandal. Meanwhile, Hārūn al-Rashīd was watching them from an elevated place in his residence. He later invited him to a table he had prepared for him. He then asked him during the meal, “Who is the happiest of people?” The Shaykh said to him: “You are O Leader of the Believers.” He said, “No. The happiest of people is the one who the two heirs of the Leader of the Believers (amīr al-muʼminīn) quarrel to carry his sandals.”

From amongst the forms of respect that students must have for teachers is that they should listen with complete attentiveness, even if the teacher is saying something which they already know from a quote, story, or poem. ʽAṭāʼ said, “I listen to a hadith from a man and I am more knowledgeable of it than him. However, I do not show him that I surpass him in anything.” Similarly, he should not precede the teacher in explaining a matter or answering a question posed by one of the students. It is said, “Learn silence the way you learn to speak. And be more vigilant about listening than speaking.”

As for humility, this not only means that students should be in a state of humbleness while learning but that they must also humble themselves to knowledge in the exertion of their efforts to seek it. Ibn ʽAbbās (may Allah be pleased with both father and son) used to say, “I lowered myself seeking, and then I became sought (dhalaltu ṭāliban fafiztu maṭlūban).” It is also related that he said, “When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) died, I said to a man from the Anṣār come lets seek out the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) for they are many today. He said, ‘I am surprised by you, O Ibn ʽAbbās! Whom amongst the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) do you see as better than yourself?’ He said, ‘So I left him and I set out to ask the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and [news of] a hadith from a man had reached me. I came to the door of the one saying [the hadith] and I spread my cloak on his doorstep, all the while the wind was blowing sand in my face.

He came out and saw me and said, ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah’s (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) uncle, what brought you here? Had you sent for me, I would have come.’ I said to him, ‘It is more fitting that I should come to you.’ He said, ‘And I asked him about the hadith. This man of the Anṣār then lived until he saw me when people had gathered around me asking me, and he would say ‘This youth is more intelligent than me.’”

It is also related that Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī would not abandon anyone he knew to possess any knowledge except that he sought him out and found him. Ibrāhīm b. Saʽd said, “I asked my father, how did Ibn Shihāb surpass you?” He said, ‘He used to come to the center of gatherings and not leave an elderly person except that he asked him and not leave a youth except that he asked him. Then he used to go to the homes of the Anṣār and he would not leave a youth he did not ask or an elderly person he did not ask. He used to even speak to the women of the households.’”

It is incumbent that a student does not acquire pride or vanity after having gained an amount of knowledge, remembering that it is ultimately Allah who granted this to him or her. Also because the amount of knowledge that one has accumulated regardless of the heights a student has reached is insignificant in comparison to the knowledge of Allah the Exalted and High.

Allah Most High says in the Qur’an,

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

He has taught humans what they knew not.[Qur'an, Al-Alaq 96:5]

وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَ‌جَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ‌ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُ‌ونَ ﴿٧٨

And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful. (78) [Qur'an, Al-Nahl 16:78]

وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّ‌وحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّ‌وحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ‌ رَ‌بِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿٨٥

And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." (85) [Qur'an, Al-Isra' 16:85]

Have proper adab (manners)– you can only have adab if you learn about it. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, “The only reason I have been sent is to perfect good manners”.

May Allah grant us tawfiq and increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Adapted from seekershub.org

Sincerity with Mawlid an-Nabi

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Rabi'ul-Awwal is the most significant month in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the birth of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassallam. Before the birth of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, not only the Arabian peninsula, but also the so-called civilized nations of Rome and Persia were drowned in the darkness of ignorance, superstitions, oppression and unrest. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, came with the eternal truth of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), the only faith which provides a firm basis for the real concepts of knowledge, equity and peace. It was this faith which delivered humanity from ignorance and superstitions and spread the light of true knowledge all over the world.

Thus the birth of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam was the most significant and the most remarkable event in human history. Many Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of the Prophet of mercy.

The history of this celebration goes back to the early days of Islam when some of the Tabi`in (the successors of the Companions of the Prophet) began to hold sessions in which poetry and songs composed to honor the dignity and the righteous example of the Messenger of Allah were recited and sung to overflowing crowds in the major cities of Islamic Civilization. However, the Mawlid an-Nabi is more than poetry reading. It is a spiritual and social occasion for the Muslims who are so inclined to celebrate it. It is a memorial day when the Seerah (the life story of the Prophet) is revisited and scholars remind people about the teachings of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and the successes and challenges of the young Muslim community in Makkah and Medina.

There are people who disagree with mawlid. If we are of those who disagree with mawlid, we shouldn't be criticizing people who do celebrate unless we are certain that they are doing something unlawful. Even in such cases, proper manners entails that we are being tactful and speak to others respectfully. Remember that our religion is sincere concern. We do things because we care and desire the best for others in this life and in the Hereafter. We don't do things to divide people. A lot of times, silence is better.

If we are of those who celebrate or attend mawlid, we should celebrate or attend it seeking the pleasure of the Creator through loving and venerating His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and mentioning his attributes. We should then think about how we can act upon what we hear, and improve our following of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and making a firm resolve to strive to attain the attributes that we hear mentioned. If we do this in every mawlid we attend we will be connected to the spirit and aims of the mawlid.

Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam is our guiding light to the straight path--the path that will take us to Allah, the All-Merciful, the Everlasting. If we don't want to be lost, we should follow his guidance. His guidance are meant to be practiced, not just information stored in our heads or become part of archives in our library and computers. We should always remember that knowledge and practice go hand in hand in Islam. On the Day of Judgment, we are not going to be asked about how much we knew, but rather about how much of our knowledge we put into practice.

Be a lover of the Prophet's sunnah and hadith. Encourage your family to learn the Prophetic tradition and make it a family tradition. Encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. First step is to learn the forty hadith of Imam Nawawi. Plan to learn a new hadith every day or every week. Be consistent. Read a hadith several times until it is memorized. Then, recite the hadith after each obligatory prayer until you are comfortable with it. Once you have learned several ahadith, make it a habit of reciting one different hadith after every obligatory prayer. Whenever you recite a hadith, it is only appropriate that you invoke blessings upon the Prophet: "Allahmmu salli ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad."

Be in the world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer. This place is only a brief stop and we will have to move on. Don't waste time and don't look back. Take account of yourself at every moment. Don't procrastinate; tomorrow may not be there for you. Make this world a means to attain the pleasure of Allah and His Divine Mercy.

Be merciful to others. Remember, the Merciful One shows mercy to those who are themselves merciful (to others).

When the slave girl of Abu Lahab gave the good news of Prophet's birth to him, he freed her with the gesture of his right finger. Therefore, every Monday night the torment of Hellfire to him is reduced to a certain extent. This is out of the Divine Mercy and Generosity. [Abu Lahab was one of the the Prophet's paternal uncle, son of Abdul Muttalib. Among the Quraysh he was one of the strongest enemies of Islam. Abu Lahab was a rich, proud man who boasted about his wealth and used it against Islam. So much so that a surah of the Qur'an was dedicated to him and his wife, a lesson for us. This Surah, Al-Masad 111, was revealed about 10 years before Abu Lahab died as a disbeliever.]

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧﴾ قُلْ إِنَّمَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٨

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (107) Say, "It is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you be Muslims [in submission to Him]?" (108)

[Qur'an Al-Anbiya 21:107-108]

Sayyida 'Aisha, the mother of the believers (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet's character is the Qur'an. Be an avid student of the Qur'an. Open the Qur'an every day and recite a few pages and read the meanings. If you reflect on a few verses each day, you are on the road to embrace beautiful and noble character, inshaAllah.

When Allah loves one of His slaves, He places in His heart veneration for Him and the people and things which are worthy of veneration. He saves him from venerating anything which is worthless and unworthy of veneration. The Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wassallam is, amongst all people, the most worthy of veneration. This veneration will be the most precious currency you possess on the Day of Judgement and it will be a cause of salvation on that day.

فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُ‌وهُ وَنَصَرُ‌وهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ‌ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٥٧ ...

So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful. (157) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:157]

O Allah, You have blessed our hearts with belief in him, so make this belief firm and increase it. Once someone believes and venerates him, they will naturally support him.

O Allah, increase our belief in him, our veneration for him, our support for him and our following of the light that was sent down with him in every day and every night until we meet You in the best of states.

Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Wassalaam

Is The One Who Knows Equal To Those Who Don't Know?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The early generations of Muslims were avid learners and they too had desire for knowledge and they would travel to distant lands to seek even a single Prophetic hadith. Imagine if they were like most of us non seekers or small time or part-time seekers of knowledge, our generation would be worse off- we wouldn't have the guidance we need.

A man came to Abu Darda' while he was in Damascus. Abu Darda' asked him "What has brought you here, my brother?" He replied, "A hadith which you relate from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Abu Darda' asked, "Have you come for some worldly need?" He replied, "No." "Have you come for business?" He said, "No." "You have come only to seek this hadith?" He said, "Yes."

Abu Darda' then said,

I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam say: 'Whoever travels a path seeking sacred knowledge, Allah will place him on a path leading to Paradise. The angels lower their wings for the student of sacred knowledge, pleased with what he is doing. The creatures in the heavens and earth seek forgiveness for the student of sacred knowledge, even the fish in the water. The superiority of the religious scholar over the devout worshiper is like the superiority of the full moon over the other heavenly bodies. The religious scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets leave no money as a bequest, rather they leave knowledge. Whoever seizes it has taken a bountiful share. [Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, ibn Majah]

How many of us didn't mind at all the trouble of trying to gain admission into the best schools of arts and sciences even the ones far away from our hometowns, even abroad, and spent years of studying, spent lots of money and countless sleepless nights to acquire the highest academic degree. But many of us don't put the same effort and money, in fact not even a small fraction of this effort and money to acquire sacred knowledge. Unfortunately, even when it comes to attending short religious classes, lessons or gatherings locally or taking online courses in the comfort of one's own home, even free ones, we hear so many excuses for not doing so.

We can't do this. We can't put learning this religion in the back burner. We can't shy away from learning Arabic and Qur'an. We can't postpone learning until we have accomplished all things in life. You can't wait until you have a degree, or a job, or a spouse, or a child, or after your child goes to college, or until you see all grey on your head. Time flies. The basket is always full. If you are not busy with Qur'an, you will be busy doing weddings or going to weddings.

We have to find time to learn His religion now, and learn it properly, because if you don't learn it, you won't be able to worship your Creator the way He wants you to. One example unfortunately, is in prayers- if you go to the masjid, you will find the same people praying, young and old, with the same mistakes or making wudu' with the same mistakes. It is clear that they didn't learn properly how to pray. Don't be one of them.

Allah Most High says,

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ﴿٢٨

... Even so only those of His servants fear Allah who have knowledge; surely Allah is All-mighty, All-forgiving. [Qur'an, Fatir 35:28]

The one who knows is not equal to those who don't know.

Allah Most High says,

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَـٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٩

Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding. (Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:9)

In Surah AleImran, Allah began attestation first by Himself, then by His angels and then by the learned. It is understood from this that the rank of the learned and their honor is tremendous with Allah.

شَهِدَ ٱللَّـهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٨

Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Qur'an, AleImran 3:18)

May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam

Why Do People Sin? 2) Lack of Knowledge

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Lack of knowledge about religious matters and the vast chasms that it creates in our understanding is one of the reasons why many of us engage in sins. This also denies us the knowhow about the allowed (halal), the prohibitions (haram), and what's proper and not proper.

Consider what the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said regarding our responsibility to learn Islamic knowledge that he brought for mankind:

“The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet) and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah’s guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.)“ [Bukhari]

Unfortunately, it is too common to see Muslims today who fall in the last category and make little effort to learn such knowledge. This is what Amir-ul Mukminin Umar al-Khattaab had predicted when he said: “Soon the bonds of Islam will be loosened bit by bit, because people will enter into Islam but will be unaware of jaahiliyyah (ignorant practices that Islam opposes),” meaning that they won’t hesitate to follow them.

Moreover, to excuse ourselves from the obligation to learn more about Islamic matters, some of us rationalize to ourselves that our daily worships may be sufficient for us to live meaningfully. Again, this is one of those traps that many Islamic scholars over the centuries had warned us about. This is because worshiping Allah without the basis of knowledge leaves our foundations of faith very vulnerable and fallible.

كَمَثَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ ٱكْفُرْ‌ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ‌ قَالَ إِنِّى بَرِ‌ىٓءٌ مِّنكَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَ رَ‌بَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٦
فَكَانَ عَـٰقِبَتَهُمَآ أَنَّهُمَا فِى ٱلنَّارِ‌ خَـٰلِدَيْنِ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَ‌ٰلِكَ جَزَ‌ٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿١٧

(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitan (Satan), when he says to man: "Disbelieve in Allah." But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan (Satan) says: "I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!" (16) So the end of both will be that they will be in the Fire, abiding therein. Such is the recompense of the Zalimun (i.e. polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers in Allah and in His Oneness, etc.). (17) [Qur'an, Al-Hashr 59:16-17]

In this context, Ibn Al-Qayyim comments about these two verses where an ignorant worshiper based his life on worshiping Allah unknowingly, so shaytan seized the opportunity and thus seduced him (due to lack of his knowledge) to disbelieve in Allah. So, we see that an ongoing effort to strengthen our faith through knowledge is essential not just to protect us from minor sins but also to prevent us from the greatest sin of all, which is to disbelieve in Allah.

May Allah increase us and our families in beneficial knowledge and grant us sound understanding of His Book and His religion. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam

Why Do People Sin? 1) Social Pressures

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The fallibility of our essential nature makes us either forget or neglect our obligations and drives our nafs (self) to sin. To shield ourselves from misguidance, therefore, we should look at the root causes that can help us become aware of shaytan's tactics and accordingly prevent our nafs from being misguided.

Why do people sin?

Some of us sin not because of willful disobedience but because sometimes we get pulled into the act reluctantly. It is no secret that certain social (and other) pressures tend to push us into committing sins that we normally would not commit. When in such situations, we quiet our conscience and then go with the social flow. This is one of the reasons why the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam warned us about keeping company that can take us away from the straight path. He sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:

“A person will follow the way of his khaleel (close friends), so let each one of you look at who he takes as a close friend.” [Abu Dawood]

"Do not keep company except with a believer, and do not feed except a person who has taqwa (fear of Allah)." [Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi]

It is extremely important to choose and have good companions. Such a companion will remind you of Allah and help you follow the straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked His anger or of those who are astray.

Allah calls upon the believer to fear Him and tells us how we can accomplish that--by being with the truthful--those who are true in what they say and what they do.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴿١١٩

O you who believe, fear Allah and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).

[Qur'an At-Tawba 9:119]

The formula is simple. If your friends are of the righteous, they will pull you towards what is good and encourage you to do what is pleasing to Allah, that which will take you to Paradise, by the Mercy of Allah. If your friends are of those who are heedless of Allah, they will pull you towards what is bad and encourage you to do what is pleasing to Shaytan, that which can lead you to the Hellfire.

We should remind ourselves that time always passes and such friends won’t last us for the full journey of our life and they won’t be with us on the day when we are held accountable for the sins that we committed due to their influence. Consider what Allah says in the following two verses about the Day of Judgment.

ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٦٧

Close friends, that Day (Day of Judgment), will be enemies to each other, except al-Muttaqeen (the righteous, the pious) (67) Qur'an, Az–Zukhruf 43:67]

وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّ‌سُولِ سَبِيلًا ﴿٢٧﴾ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِى لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا ﴿٢٨﴾ لَّقَدْ أَضَلَّنِى عَنِ ٱلذِّكْرِ‌ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَنِى ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ خَذُولًا ﴿٢٩

And the Day the wrongdoer will bite at his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken a path with the Messenger. (27) Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. (28) He indeed led me away astray from the the reminder (Qur'an) after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter to man in the hour of need." (29) [Qur'an, Al–Furqaan 25:27–29]

Let’s, therefore, ensure that if our social circles are directly or indirectly pushing us to commit sins or discouraging us from performing good deeds then we should disengage from such groups and people immediately. By quieting our conscience in the face of social pressures, we also start to slowly regard many wrongs as rights and gradually lose our internal compass of the right and wrong.

It goes without saying that we should pay attention who our children and our spouses are friends with for Allah Almighty says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّـهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.[Qur'an At-Tahrim 66:6]

May Allah grant us righteous companions and families, and make us of the righteous. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam

Adapted from Why Do We Sin? (and steps for prevention)

How to Get on the Right Road Fast?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah has ordained the nature of man to be fallible. We are constantly subjugated to the pulls and desires of this worldly life. While we have the ability to steer our “free will” in any direction, we remain exposed to shaytan attacks and whispers that can stray us from the straight path. We can counter shaytan’s plan of pulling us down with sins by increasing our faith, knowledge, and good deeds and that can then elevate us to a level which can merit our meeting with Allah with bright and shining faces. Alternatively, we can ignore Allah’s commands and burden ourselves with sins thus bringing in darkness and sadness on our faces. As Allah says in the Qur'an:

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّهَا نَاظِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَاسِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ تَظُنُّ أَن يُفْعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَ‌ةٌ ﴿٢٥

[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, (22) Looking at their Lord. (23) And [some] faces, that Day, will be contorted, (24) Expecting that there will be done to them [something] backbreaking. (25) [Qur'an, Al-Qiyama 75:22-25).

Islam does not expect humans to not commit mistakes, rather what it wants from us is to realize our mistakes and repent for whatever mistakes we have committed.

The Qur'an provides a roadmap that can get you on the right road fast.

Sin- The bad news? When you commit a sin, you’re automatically on the road to Hellfire.

بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿٨١

Yes, whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally. (81) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:81]

Realizing that you’ve sinned— You won’t actually seek forgiveness until you’re able to see your own sin.

قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرً‌ۭا مِّنَ ٱلْخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبْغِى بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَقَلِيلٌ مَّا هُمْ ۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُۥدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّـٰهُ فَٱسْتَغْفَرَ‌ رَ‌بَّهُۥ وَخَرَّ‌ رَ‌اكِعًا وَأَنَابَ ۩ ﴿٢٤

[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah]. (24) [Qur'an, Sa'd 38:24]

Repentance— There must be a realization that you’ve done wrong and must be put right again, and that the only one who can forgive you is Allah Almighty.

...and turned in repentance [to Allah]. (24) [Qur'an, Sa'd 38:24]

Asking forgiveness— You must demand forgiveness with full sincerity of your heart.

قَالَ رَ‌بِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ‌ لِى وَتَرْ‌حَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٤٧

[Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers." (47) [Qur'an, Hud 11:47]

Receiving forgiveness— The good news? Our Lord is compassionate.

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِ‌يبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ‌ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْ‌حَمُ ٱلرَّ‌ٰ‌حِمِينَ ﴿٩٢

He (Yusuf) said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful." (92) [Qur'an, Yusuf 12:92]

Abandoning the sin— Sincere repentance involves doing your utmost avoid repeating the sin for which you’ve asked forgiveness.

وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَـٰحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُ‌وا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُ‌وا۟ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ‌ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّ‌وا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٣٥

And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know. (135) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:135]

Stay on the right road— Once you’re forgiven and have made a decision to abandon sin, you should increase your efforts to receive and follow Allah’s guidance.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْ‌قَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ‌ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ‌ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٢٩

O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (29) [Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:29]

وَإِنِّى لَغَفَّارٌ‌ۭ لِّمَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا ثُمَّ ٱهْتَدَىٰ ﴿٨٢

But indeed, I am the Perpetual forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance. [Qur'an, Ta-Ha 20 :82]

Readiness to forgive others and to ask forgiveness for them- Allah Most High has given you the priceless gift of forgiveness; now you need to pass it on.

قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُ‌وفٌ وَمَغْفِرَ‌ةٌ خَيْرٌ‌ۭ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٦٣

Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing. [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:263]

Avoidance of penalty- You dodged a serious bullet by seeking forgiveness.

وَإِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَ‌ةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿٦ ...

...And indeed, your Lord is full of forgiveness for the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed, your Lord is severe in penalty. [Qur'an, Al-Ra'd 13:6]

A great reward- It doesn’t get any better than this.

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَ‌ةٌ مِّن رَّ‌بِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِ‌ى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ‌ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ‌ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ ﴿١٣٦

Those – their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers. [Qur'an, AleImran 3:136]

This is a highway with the most beautiful destination imaginable. Let’s stay on it and meet in the highest Paradise, inshaa Allah.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam

Our Mothers, The Best Door to Allah's Mercy

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

In the Qur'an when Allah first introduces Himself, He calls Himself “Rabbul aalameen”— The Master of the Universe. The Master is the one who owns us, nourishes us, and cherishes us, and He does so for the rest of the universe as well.

إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرً‌ۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴿٣٥ ....

... When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. (35) [Qur'an, Maryam 19:35]

But who is this Master? The first description given of Allah by Allah Himself is Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّ‌حِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَ‌بِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّ‌حِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥

[Qur'an, Al-Fatiha]

Translations range from “Most Gracious Most Merciful”, "the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful" to “Most Beneficient Most Kind” and many others. Most of the words are those us regular speakers of English do not even understand.

Both these words mean “merciful” in various ways. Rahman and Raheem both contain the word “rahmah” as part of their roots. Rahmah is commonly translated as “mercy.” However, the English usage of the word “mercy” is a bit negative in its connotation.

What is Mercy?

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines “mercy” as one of two things:

A kind and forgiving attitude toward someone over whom you have the power to harm or right to punish. An event or a situation to be grateful for, usually because it stops something unpleasant.

And these are included in the term “rahmah.” Allah is indeed kind and forgiving towards those He has a right to punish. He stops many unpleasant things for people, a good reason for us to be eternally grateful to Allah. “Mercy” is usually used in modern English to mean relief from difficulty. However, “rahmah” is more than just that.

For example, most people would describe their mothers as “loving and caring” more than just “merciful.” That is because love and care come more directly and are positive ways of expressing a mother’s emotions for a child. “Rahman”— More Than Mercy

To understand better, let us look at a hadith Qudsi, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) quotes Allah and narrates to us from Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Allah said:

‘I am ar-Raḥman and created the rahm (womb) – And I named it after Me.’ [Narrated by Ahmad]

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab relates once being with Allah’s Messenger with a group of women and children detained after battle. One woman among them was searching for her child. Whenever she saw any child, she took the child to her bosom and began breastfeeding it. The Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam asked his companions, ‘Do you think this woman would throw her child into fire?’ They said, ‘No, by Allah, unless she has no power otherwise.’ He replied, ‘Allah has more rahmah (arham) for His servants than this woman for her child.’ [Narrated by Muslim]

It is interesting that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam while explaining the rahmah of Allah used the example of a mother. Let us look into it in a bit more detail.

What Does a Womb Do?

A womb contains an unborn child, child unable to take care of itself. It is taken care of by someone else. It is completely dependent upon the mother for its care. The womb completely encompasses the child from all sides, surrounding it. Even if the child is hurting the mother, causing her to become ill, the mother is still taking care of the child regardless of what the child does inside. That is where the Arabic definition of mercy comes from. It entails love and care.

Allah takes care of us when we cannot take care of ourselves. He is making our hearts beat without us having any control of it. He is making sure that blood reaches all parts of our body every single second to ensure that the food we eat is distributed to the different parts of our body. He is ensuring that the act of breathing is natural to us. He wakes us up every morning after we sleep instead of making us die.

Allah is taking care of us constantly in ways that we cannot count. In spite of the fact that we sin, we transgress, we do all the things that Allah has asked us not to do, we still are encompassed by His mercy, from all sides, just like the child is encompassed by a mother’s womb.

Linguistically Rahman is someone whose rahmah is excessive and vast but has a point where it will stop. Imam at-Tabari said that ar-Rahman is the universal rahmah that Allah has for all of His creation. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that it will end on the Day of Judgment when He will bring justice.

Ar-Raheem on the other hand is one whose rahmah is vast and yet continuous. Imam at-Tabari says that ar-Raheem is the mercy specifically for the believers— a special love, care, and affection for those who believe and submit to Allah. For Believers— Both Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem

Rahman makes clear the immense love, care, and mercy that Allah has towards His slaves, both believing and disbelieving. However, that is only for this world. For believers, He is ar-Rahman as well as ar-Raheem, the one who will show special love, care, and mercy to them in this world and in the hereafter in their greatest hour of need.

Allah has tied rahmah specifically to the womb. To attain His rahmah, let us turn back to our “rahm.” The best door we have to His rahmah is in the service of our mother.

Truly, Allah is ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.

May Allah make us obedient to Him and dutiful to our parents and help all the mothers to raise their children well. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam

Adapted from Understand Quran Academy: What’s Really Meant by “The Most Gracious, Most Merciful?”

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Say Alhamdulillah a Lot

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala begins Surah Al-Kahf with Alhamdulillah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:1]

Hamd is from ha ح meem م daal د. Hamd is to mention the good attribute of a person, such an attribute that is the at the level of perfection. Hamd is based on mahabbah (love) and ta’dheem (greatness). It is not a fake praise, i.e. not done to please the person or with no significance, fake praise is known as madh in Arabic. Hamd implies admiration, love and magnifying the praise of Mahmud (one who is praised). Hamd is sincere, true praise, the Mahmud deserves it.

Why is hamd for Him? Because He is: <<الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ>> , the One who sent down upon His servant the Book. Notice that Allah Ta’ala doesn’t call the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) His Messenger, or His Prophet, or a warner, but He calls him: slave. Therefore, the most honorable name that one can be called is Abdullah or Amatullah, slave of Allah.

At the core of our Iman, the first implication of believing in Allah, is that we take all credit for everything (all goodness, all beauty, all appreciative things, all wonders, every smiles, etc) back to Allah. Even when you thank your parents or teacher, you never absent minded about the fact that it goes back to Allah. This is at the root of Alhamdulillah.

The one who is most deserving of thanks and praise from people is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, because of the great favors and blessings that He has bestowed upon His slaves in both spiritual and worldly terms. Allah has commanded us to give thanks to Him for those blessings, and not to deny them. He says,

فَٱذْكُرُ‌ونِىٓ أَذْكُرْ‌كُمْ وَٱشْكُرُ‌وا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُ‌ونِ ﴿١٥٢

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. (152)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:152]

The greatest ones who obeyed this command, and gave thanks to their Lord until they deserved to be described as shaakir and shakoor (thankful) are the Prophets and Messengers (blessings and peace of Allah be upon them).

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an,

نَّ إِبْرَ‌ٰ‌هِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِ‌كِينَ ﴿١٢٠﴾ شَاكِرً‌ۭا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ ۚ ٱجْتَبَىٰهُ وَهَدَىٰهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَ‌ٰ‌طٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿١٢١﴾ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَ‌ةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٢٢

Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah. (120) [He was] grateful for His favors. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path. (121) And We gave him good in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous. (122)

[Qur'an, An-Nahl 16:120-121]

ذُرِّ‌يَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورً‌ۭا ﴿٣

O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant. (3)

[Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:3]

Alhamdulillah is the best supplication. [Muslim]

Let's learn and memorize some of the du'as which begin with Alhamdulillah today and let your reading of Surah Kahf each Friday serves as a reminder to make these du'as throughout the week and to continue to learn and memorize more du'as and make du'as and dhikr with Alhamdulillah, to ensure that we are constantly thanking Allah for His multitude of blessings on us.

1. Alhamdulillahi 'alaa kul-li haalin
Thanks and all praise be to Allah under all conditions

2. Alhamdulillah hamdan khatheeran taiyyiban mubaarakan feehi
Praise be to Allah, many, pure, blessed praises. Another man commenced with this, to which he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: I saw 12 angels competing as to which of them would take it up.

3. Allahu akbar kabeeran wal hamdulillahi katheeran wa subhaanallahi bukratan wa a seelaa
Allah is the Greatest, very great. Praise be to Allah, again and again.
Glorified is Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala morning and evening - one of the Companions commenced with this, to that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said.

4. Waking from sleep
الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Alhamdulillahi lazee ahyaanaa b'ada amaatanaa wa ilaihil nushoor
Thanks be to Allah who awoke us after our death and He is the only one that can resurrect us.

5. Seeing bad dream
Alhamdulillahi lazee ahyaanaa b'ada amaatanaa wa ilaihil nushoor
Thanks be to Allah who awoke us after our death and He is the only one that can resurrect us.

6. After eating
الحمد لله الذي اطعمنا وسقانا وجعلنا مسلمي
Alhamdu lilahil-athi at'amana wasaqana waja Alana Muslimin
Praise be to Allah Who has given us food and drink and made us Muslims

الحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيْهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْل ٍ مِنِّي وَلا قُوَّة
Alhamdu lil-lahil lathi at 'amani haatha wa razaqanii-hi min ghaire-haulimmin-ni wala Quw'wah
Praise be to Allah Who has fed me with this food and provided me without any effort or power on my part

Alhamdulillahillazee at 'amanaa wa saqaanaa wa kafaa naa wa awaa naa
All Praises be to Allah, who provides us food, drink, satisfaction and protection.

7. When you sneeze
الحَمْدُ للهِ
Alhamdulillah
Praise be to Allah

Dhikr with Alhamdulillah

1.

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ

SubhanAllah, walHamdulilah, wa La illaha ilAllahu, waAllahu Akbar
Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest

The above are mentioned as the four most beloved words to Allah. It does not matter with which one of them is begun.[Muslim]

2. Abu Sa`id reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Perform the enduring goods deeds (al-baaqiyaat al-SaliHaat) more frequently." They asked, "What are these enduring good deeds?" The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) replied: Takbir [Allahu Akbar], Tahlil [la ilaha illallah], Tasbih [Subhan'Allah], Alhamdulillah, and la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.[an-Nasa'i and Hakim, who said its chain is sahih.]

3.
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ -
SubhanAllah, walHamdulilah, wa La illaha ilAllahu, waAllahu Akbar
Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalaam) said: “For me to say (the above) is dearer to me and all that the sun rises upon (ie the whole world).”[Muslim]

4.
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ ، وَ لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ -
SubhanAllah, walHamdulilah, wa La illaha ilAllahu, waAllahu Akbar, wa la Hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, There is no might or any power Except with Allah)

(The above) are the good deeds which endure [al-baqiyaatuS-SaliHaat]

5.

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ ، وَ لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ
SubhanAllah, walHamdulilah, wa La illaha ilAllahu, waAllahu Akbar, wa la Hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, There is no might or any power Except with Allah)

Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: "During the Night Journey I met Ibrahim (alayhis salam) who said to me: ‘O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Community, and tell them that the Paradise is of pure land, its water is sweet, and its expanse is vast, spacious and even. And its seedlings are SubhanAllah, walhamdulilah, wa la ilaha ilAllah, waAllahu Akbar (the above).’”[at-Tirmidhi]

We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. May Allah teach us Alhamdulillah and make us of those who are grateful. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam

Putting Shoes on Your Head

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Habib Ali al-Jifri asks us to imagine if someone walked into a room and placed his shoes on top of his head. What would we think of him? We would think he was crazy or if we had a good opinion, we might say he’s just trying to make us laugh. Even if he is trying to make us laugh, he is partially insane because no one would put their shoes on their head.

This dunya is like a pair of shoes.

It’s a funny analogy but in actual fact, we are all constantly “putting shoes on our heads”. This world, the dunya, is like a pair of shoes and our dogged pursuit of fleeting worldly achievements, such as rank, status, popularity, possessions and wealth – is akin to putting shoes on our head. We are doing things constantly that were it to be unveiled to us, we will be laughing at the ridiculous nature of what we have been doing. Never these things should become the ultimate end, and never do we put them on top of our heads.

Many people are amazed by this world. They laugh for people who put the world on to of their heads. When people of spiritual insight laugh, their laughter stems from compassion and mercy for people who do these things.

Imagine the person with shoes on his head, not only he put shoes on his head, he also asked people to stand up and clap and congratulate him. Is that acceptable? He didn't do anything to deserve honor.

People that place the world on top of their heads, and even worse than that is people that place the world in their hearts, they forget the reason they were created. The forget the purpose of their hearts. The purpose of the hearts is to come to know Allah. Allah is supposed to be in our hearts.

Unfortunately what many people are doing is as if they are clapping and congratulate people that are coming to the room with shoes on their heads. And that many of our young people are clapping for people and congratulate them for putting shoes on their heads.

May Allah empty our hearts and fill them with His Light. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah alone grant success.
Wassalaam

adapted from Habib Ali al-Jifri lecture

Attracting Abundance and Success With Gratitude (Shukr)

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Gratitude is not only the heart and essence of Islam, it is also the key to attracting abundance, prosperity, peace and success.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَ‌بُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْ‌تُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْ‌تُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ ﴿٧

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' (7) [Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:7]

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam continually reminded the believers to be ever grateful to our Lord, and the term shaakir, meaning “one who is grateful,” is often used in Islam as a name of great honor among Muslims.

The Qur’an time and again emphasizes that gratitude is essential to Islamic character, and that exercising gratitude is the means to greater abundance.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam would often spend long hours in prayer and dhikr deep into the night. Once, his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked him, “Messenger of Allah, surely any mistakes you may have made are forgiven, as are any you may make — why do you stand in prayer so much?” He simply smiled and replied, “Shall I not be a grateful servant?”

Be ever grateful to Allah for everything you have, including your parents, your family, your teachers, your wealth, your health, status, your intellectual abilities, your life.

We can never count Allah's blessings. Allah Most High says,

أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُ‌ونَ ﴿١٧﴾ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ‌ۭ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿١٨

Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded? (17) And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (18) [Qur'an, An-Nahl 16:17-18]

The opposite of Shukr (gratitude) is Kufr (disbelief). In many places in the Qur'an, Allah compares the terms shukr and kufr.

فَٱذْكُرُ‌ونِىٓ أَذْكُرْ‌كُمْ وَٱشْكُرُ‌وا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُ‌ونِ ﴿١٥٢

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. (152) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:152]

Iman (belief) implies shukr or gratefulness as opposed to kufr or ungratefulness. A disbeliever is ungrateful to the Being Who has given him everything, whereas a Believer is one who is ever thankful for all that Allah has given him.

Shukr is a quality of success in this life and in the Hereafter.

It was narrated that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "There are four qualities, whoever is given them has truly been given the best in this world and the next. They are: a grateful heart (that is thankful to Allah), a remembering tongue (that mentions Allah often), an enduring body (to persevere through the trials), and a believing wife that helps him with his faith."

Allah explained in the Qur'an that the only people who truly worship Him are those who give gratitude to Him, so those who are not among the people of gratitude are not among the people of Ibadah (worship and obedience).

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَ‌زَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُ‌وا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿١٧٢

O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship. (172) [Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:172]

وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَ‌جَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ‌ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُ‌ونَ ﴿٧٨

And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful. (78) [Qur'an, An-Nahl, 16:78].

Islam teaches that Allah is bounteous, merciful, loving, providing and infinitely gracious. Should not the Muslim then live his or her life from a place of confidence, certainty and gratitude?

The classical Muslim scholars have indicated Shukr can be shown in three ways:

- Shukr of the heart (Qalb), which is achieved by harboring and intending good for all of Allah's creation.
- Shukr of the tongue (Lisan), which involves celebrating the praises of Allah, such as utterance of Alhamdulillah, and expressing gratefulness to Allah with our tongue.
- Shukr of the limbs (Jawarih), which is fulfilled by using our external senses to do good. Every time Allah gives us a blessing, we must use it in a way that benefits humanity and that pleases Allah.

Gratitude is the most essential reason for Islamic practice and worship. Actively and consciously practicing gratitude is the key to a life of abundance, prosperity, peace and joy. So be grateful.

1. Be Grateful Morning and Evening

Practice taking a brief moment first thing in the morning when you wake and last thing at night when you sleep to simply say and experience, “Alhamdulillah.”

2. Be Grateful When You Pray

Islamic practices provide a minimum of five opportunities daily to take rest in the Divine Presence and to be grateful. Make it a practice to consciously take a moment to say “Alhamdulillah,” while feeling and experiencing gratitude after your prayers. In fact, the best way to ensure your prayers are answered is to be grateful.

3. Be Grateful When You Eat and Drink

By taking a little extra time to experience gratitude when you eat and drink, you become more present, and in Islam, eating is meant to be a spiritual experience. Gently and consciously say “Alhamdulillah” as you eat, and you will find the entire experience more joyful and healthy.

4. Be Grateful When You Give Charity

By consciously giving charity, you not only affirm that you are blessed, but you attract greater abundance to yourself as you strengthen your belief and trust in Allah, become less dependent upon dunya, the world, and so become rooted in a paradigm based in Providence.

Keep a small jar or box in your home and before leaving each morning, put a little money, even some loose change, and say, “Alhamdulillah.”

5. Reflection/Contemplation Daily

Spend even just a few minutes to reflection each and every day, for reflection teaches you to be more present, particularly with your breath, with being, and thus with Allah. As awareness and presence increases through a reflection, one’s sense of gratitude naturally develops and becomes a dominant trait of your character and perspective.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Contemplation for an hour is better than standing the night in worship."

6. Practice Dhikr Daily

Tasbih, one of the forms of dhikr, is a powerful spiritual exercise to strengthen one’s mind and soul on Haq, Truth.

Gratitude Will Heal Your Life.

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, be grateful always so that the words “Alhamdulillah” (and thank you) naturally and continuously flow from your lips and are felt in your heart, and your life will increasingly become a shining example of true Islam, a path to peace, prosperity and abundance.

Be grateful even for calamities and misfortunes, for nothing happens except to ultimately serve a Divine purpose. And the fastest way to move beyond undesirable circumstances is to stop resisting them, to simply let them be, be grateful and thus surrender and accept what is, and so allow them to flow out of your life.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:

"How wonderful is the case of a Believer! There is good for him in whatever happens to him -and none, apart from him, enjoys this blessing. If he receives some bounty, he is grateful to Allah and this bounty brings good to him. And if some adversity befalls him, he is patient, and this affliction, too, brings good to him" (Muslim).

Be aware that shaytan's primary mission is to make human beings ungrateful. From the very beginning of the human being's creation, the issue of gratefulness and thankfulness to Allah has been debated. After refusing to bow to Adam, shaytan said,

ثُمَّ لَءَاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَ‌هُمْ شَـٰكِرِ‌ينَ ﴿١٧

Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]." (17) [Qur'an, Al-Araf 7:17]

Allah shows and gives mercy to all, even those who continue to be ungrateful and rebellious towards Him.

أَلَمْ تَرَ‌ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَ‌جُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِ‌هِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ‌ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَـٰهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ‌ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُ‌ونَ ﴿٢٤٣

Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, "Die"; then He restored them to life. And Allah is full of bounty to the people, but most of the people do not show gratitude. (243) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:243]

ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرً‌ۭا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ‌ ﴿١٣ ...

...[We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful. (13) [Qur'an, Saba 34:13]

Don't be ungrateful. Show your gratitude to the One who created you.

Reflect upon your own life and you will find innumerable occasions when Allah's `hand' has been holding you and helping you.

May Allah hold our hands and help us be grateful to Him and make us among those who are grateful. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam