Thursday, April 25, 2019

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Simple Sunnah But Great Virtues

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

Reciting Surah Kahf (the 18th Surah in the Qur'an) on Friday is a well-known Sunnah that we should strive to follow. This Surah gives us the message that those who believe in Allah and ask for protection from Him, He gives them the best protection the likes of which the world has never seen.

Besides this illuminating Message, there’s a simple Sunnah— with amazing virtues— created specifically for Fridays. It is invocating blessings and peace upon the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam (salawat).

Allah Almighty establishes this noble act Himself first and foremost; how noble is an act that Allah, the Compassionate Himself confirms to do. He, The Exalted, states:

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٥٦

Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet: O you who believe, send blessings upon him and salute him with all due respect to him. (56)
[Qur'an Al-Ahzab 33:56]

This verse is just as emphatic as the commands to pray, fast, give zakat, and so on. We should send salutations upon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) because Allah Almighty has exhorted us to do so. It is His Command.
Anyone who would either see the salawat upon the Prophet as a wasteful act or a simple matter, or not worthy of gathering for, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has warned us:

“He who, when I am mentioned before him, fails to invoke blessings upon me is a miser.”

And:

“Disgraced be the person who, when I am mentioned before him, fails to invoke blessings upon me.” [both Hadīths, recorded by Tirmidhi]

Understand its irreplaceable value and hold on to those who aid and assist you to invoke Allah’s Peace and Blessings. As the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said himself:

“Allah, without any doubt, has angels that roam the earth and convey to me the greetings of my community.” [Tirmidhi]

Make a daily routine of sending blessings upon him (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Hasten to send blessings upon him, whenever his noble name is mentioned -- out of following the Divine command, out of love, and out of gratitude for the gift of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

The most famous and best is: “Allahumma salli alaa Muhammadin wa alaa ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta alaa Ibraheem wa alaa ali Ibrahim” [Faydul Qadeer #1403]

Remember, what an honor it is to be able to do something that even Allah does.

Seek every gathering and every moment of your voluntary and free time and send salutation upon the one whom Allah does not reject.

May Allah's Grace be upon us all to be blessed to be part of the Prophet’s community, and may Allah, the Exalted, bestow His unbounded and overflowing peace and blessings be upon His Beloved Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

May Allah increase our love for His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Friday, April 5, 2019

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Alhamdulillah For The Quran

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

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala begins Surah Al-Kahf with Alhamdulillah (All praise and thanks to Allah).

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)

[Quran, 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 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.

Alhamdulillah for the Quran, a guidance for the believers and those conscious of Allah.

الم ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢

Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:1-2]

The Quran reminds us that the everlasting abode is the Aakhirah (hereafter). If we know this, then it is not wise to worry ourselves with this dunya and spend our time to accumulate things or do things that will bring no benefit for us in hereafter.

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَاوَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. [Quran, al-Kahf 18:46]

Sometimes we forget that this is the fleeting dunya (world), the dunya wherein we will face trials, left, right, and center. As long as we say "we believe," we will be tried. Don't be surprise when the trials come like waves. It is only meant to bring you closer to Allah.

Allah Most High says in the Qur’an,

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣﴾ أَمْ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسْبِقُونَا ۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٤﴾ مَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ لَءَاتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ﴿٥﴾ وَمَن جَـٰهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَـٰهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٦

Alif, Lam, Meem (1) Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (3) Or do those who do evil deeds think they can outrun Us? Evil is what they judge. (4) Whoever should hope for the meeting with Allah - indeed, the term decreed by Allah is coming. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (5) And whoever strives only strives for [the benefit of] himself. Indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds. (6)
[Quran, Al-Ankabut 29:1-6]

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.

Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam