Welcome New Year 1444AH With Increased Taqwa

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

 

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has prescribed twelve months in a year. The month of Muharram marks the beginning of a new Islamic year. It is one of the four months that Allah gives a higher sanctity. Whoever is mindful of Allah, he does not wrong himself in these months. He gives extra attention to these months. 

 

So, we want to start this new year with a higher conscious of Allah, with a higher veneration of Allah, with extra good deeds for the sake of Allah.

As Muslims we should try at least to begin and end with a good note. Why? Because as humans we make mistakes but if we try to please Allah alone, and when we present our deeds to Allah, the start of it is good and the end of it is good, and we hope He will overlook everything in between because Allah is All Merciful.

Let's enter this new year in the best way, having good intentions and good attitude towards it. Try to fast this month, including the 10th Muharram (day of Ashura).

 

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam described this month as the month of Allah (shahrullah). There is no month after Ramadhan in which fasting is more virtuous than this month of Muharram. Allah says in a hadith qudsi, "Every single act of the children of Adam, it is for him except for fasting, because indeed it is for Me and I shall personally compensate it (or in another narration, "I shall be the compensation for it)."

 

Every single deed we do is ultimately for our own benefit but it is possible for people to do a good deed and allow their intentions to be corrupted. For example, you go to the masjid frequently and people will respect and praise you for that and this might corrupt your previous good intentions. But fasting is such a deed, especially optional fasting, if you do it, it is very difficult for people to know that you are doing it unless you disclose to them. It is therefore fasting is a special act, dedicated to Allah and hidden from the eyes of people, and Allah loves it because it embodies taqwa. 

 

Taqwa is a way Allah gauges by which Allah sees our relationship with Him. Fasting is an act to build this relationship with Allah. The noblest among us is the one with the most taqwa. Allah says,

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ‎﴿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) [Quran, Al Hujurat 49:13]

 

Fasting is a quality that we can increase our relationship with Allah. Therefore, when the month of Allah comes, we are asked to do this deed for Allah. So we can build this quality in the beginning of the year so that it will last with us for the rest of year. 

 

All the things we are asked to do and encouraged to do by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam and Allah set us up for our own success. We all want to be beloved by Allah. No one wants to be the enemy of Allah. This is the prescription from the beloved of Allah, teaching us how you become beloved to Allah.

May Allah give us the ability to act upon this, allow this month to be a means for us to draw closer to Allah and for us to walk closer to Him this year, step by step, until we are beloved to Him as He are beloved to us. Aameen.

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True Friends

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah has created humans to be a social creature. By default we do not live alone but with families, friends and communities. We live in societies and form bonds with each other, at times it benefits us and at times it harms us. The Quran and Sunnah have come with guidelines who to befriend, how to befriend and what are the rights of the friend. 

Allah reminds us in the Quran that good friends are like blood brothers. All of the mu'min should be like one family. 

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ‎﴿١٠﴾

The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy. (10) [Quran, Al Hujurat 49:10]

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said three are the things that whoever has them has tasted the sweetness of iman (Faith) or, in another narration, has completed his iman. One of them is a person has a friend and the only reason for the friendship is the love of Allah. This person meets with this other person not because of a business transaction or mutual benefit but a genuine connection for Allah and by Allah. 

Some of the etiquittes of friendship:
-- Genuinely care for your friend for the love of Allah and for the sake of Allah.
-- Help and take care of each other. We go above and beyond.
-- When a friend invites you, you respond to the invitation.
-- Act like a mirror to your friend and your friend should be able to trust you like he trusts the mirror.
-- Praise your friend in private and in public.
-- Cover the fault/sin of your friends.
-- Defend and make excuse for your friend even if the smear was true. Allah will cover your fault in the Day of Judgment.
-- Don't be jealous of your friend.
-- Don't gossip or spy on your friend or try to outbid them.
-- Make sincere du'a for them. The angels will say aameen to the du'a and ask Allah to give the same to you.
-- When the inevitable happen, pray the jenazah of your friend, make du'a for them, ask Allah's forgiveness for them, and keep in touch with your friend's family and friends. You do this to show that your friend that has passed away meant something to you. Allah will allow sincere friends to enter Jannah together.

Choose your friends carefully and surround yourself with the righteous, not with someone who will harm your religion, your akhirah and your dunya. 

We are friendly with everyone but we don't befriend everyone. Think long and hard who your true friends are and appreciate them. Before it's too late, tell your friends how much you appreciate and love them.

May Allah grant us righteous friends and companions and gather us altogether in Paradise. Aameen. 

www.darannoor.com 

Don't Be Impressed By Other"s Wealth And Children

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Don't be impressed by those who have wealth or children for it maybe that Allah intends to punish them through them.

فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَٰفِرُونَ

So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allah only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers. [Quran, At-Tawba 9:55] 

اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَعْوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الهَـمِّ وَ الْحُـزْنِ، والعًجْـزِ والكَسَلِ والبُخْـلِ والجُـبْنِ، وضَلْـعِ الـدَّيْنِ وغَلَبَـةِ الرِّجال

O Allah, I seek refuge in you from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men (i.e. others). Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Hold On To The Religion

Bismillah

Where can you find the strength to stand up to the social pressures, to the stigma of being a Muslim, to hold on to your religion, and still stand with confidence? The answer is the Quran. 

In times of trials and tribulations, hold on to the Quran because it will give you strength, it will give you courage, and while everyone else is deviating, you can stand up straight.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ‎﴿١﴾‏ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ‎﴿٢﴾

 [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward (2) [Quran, Al Kahf 18:1-2]

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.

Aameen.

Reflect On Your Day

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,

يُقَلِّبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ

 لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَٰرِ ‎﴿٤٤﴾‏

Allah alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision. [Quran, An-Noor 24:45]

Whenever a day has passed and a new day comes, it is a clear sign for us to ponder ... how my day passed and how am I going to spend this day. Was it a day that I am moving closer to Allah and a goal of Paradise or was it a day that I went towards the opposite direction? This is also a reminder that we are heading towards a new year, 1444AH. Ask ourselves... How has this year been? What have I done this year? Whatever we have done, we are a year closer to our death. Remember,  "When a person dies, all action is cut off for him with the exception of three things:

sadaqa which continues, knowledge which benefits, or a righteous child who makes supplication for him." Do we have any of these three?

May Allah enable us to give, grant us beneficial knowledge and righteous children who make du'a for us. Aameen.

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People of The Quran And Knowledge

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Knowledge...to taste it is to understand it.  May Allah make us of people of understanding (Ulul-Albaab)

The people of the Quran are the family of Allah on Earth. Allah chooses the people of the Quran. Someone who Allah has chosen, He will be given the knowledge. Someone who Allah did not choose to carry His Quran, he cannot learn it. He will ultimately quit.

Allah does not force people to accept or reject knowledge. How do you know if you are chosen? You grab on to the Quran, and never let go of it. How do you know if you are not chosen? You don't learn it, or you don't want to learn it, or you learn it but you quit. If you want it, go get it! Allah's favor doesn't go away because you don't want it anymore. It goes away because you quit!

Teachers are vessels of the Prophetic knowledge. And for that reason, we have reverence and deep respect of teachers and carriers of knowledge. Knowledge is redeeming...you can't respect knowledge and disrespect your teachers at the same time. Disrespecting the teacher ultimately undercuts your knowledge. 

Knowledge will not be taken away from the minds but by the death of scholars. We respect our teachers  because we understand that they are the propagators of the Prophetic knowledge. 

Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who

follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

May Allah make us people of the Quran. Aameen.

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Have Hope, Don't Despair

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Life maybe tough but as tough life maybe, for believers it is going to get better because this world is the lowest, and it is going to get higher and higher for believers. Have hope and don't despair.

وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ‎﴿٦٤﴾

And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.  [Quran, Ankabut 29:64]

May Allah grant us a home in Paradise with Him. Aameen

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Take A Moment To Appreciate Those Around You

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

You don't appreciate people until they are gone. Look around and take a moment to appreciate those around you.

How Little You Show Gratitude

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah  makes this world beautiful and He puts in this world things you can live well with but how little you show gratitude.

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ‎﴿١٠﴾

And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful. [Quran, al 'Araf 7:10]

May Allah make us of those who are grateful. Aameen

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Read The Quran

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

If there is any knowledge that the Ummah is deficient in, it is the knowledge of the Quran, whose first word of the first revelation is READ. 

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ‎﴿٣﴾‏ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ‎﴿٤﴾‏ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ‎﴿٥﴾‏ كـَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ ‎﴿٦﴾‏

“Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen— taught humanity what they knew not.” (Quran – Surah al-Alaq :3-6)

So make reading and writing a special habit especially when it comes to learning the Quran. And do it with passion, devotion and sincerity.

May Allah grant us tawfiq to the highest station. Aameen.

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Ask For Increase In Knowkedge

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The only increase Allah taught us in the Quran to ask for is for increase in knowledge.  

رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

My Lord, increase me in knowledge. [Quran, Taha 20:114]

More knowledge will give us stronger faith (iman) and then it would be easier to obey Allah.

Organize your day and give time to learn and understand the Quran.

May Allah grant us tawfiq. Aameen.

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Today there were two funerals at the masjid and people were hugging each other and crying, a scene all too common, and will keep on playing to remind us of our own death. 

So don't wait. Take 5 minutes away from everything dunya related and ask yourself if you were to die today, who is going to take care of your funeral, who is going to pay your debts -- to Allah and to people, what is going to happen to your family after you are gone, ..... ? Take care of these things while you are still alive and make sure you have a Will.

May Allah grant us an excellent ending and the highest Paradise, Aameen.

Quran Is Alerting You

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah did not tell us stories of the people of the past nations -- Bani Israel, Fir'aun, Qarun, Hamman, brothers of Prophet Yusuf a.s., people of Lut, Nuh, etc, in the Quran as fun facts but because we have that potential danger of falling into their tracks.

Never lose sight that the Quran is talking to you, to alert you when you are about to slip into the path of those who has evoked His anger or who are astray, and to guide you to the straight path, the path who He has bestowed His favors. Isn't that what you ask for when you read Surah Al Fatihah during your prayers? So read the Quran daily and contemplate. You will find the guidance in the Quran if only you read it and reflect upon it.

لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ‎﴿١٠﴾‏

We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Then will you not reason? [Quran, Al Anbiya 21:10]

May Allah make us people of His remembrance. Aameen.

Great Inheritance For The Chosen

Bismillah

Know that Allah chose people to inherit the Quran, and for those people, Allah promised Jannah for them. Allah says,

‏ ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقُۢ بِٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ‎﴿٣٢﴾‏ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ ‎﴿٣٣﴾‏

Then we caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself, and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah. That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty. (32) [For them are] gardens of perpetual residence which they will enter. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk. (33) 

[Quran. Fatir 35:32:33]

If you refused to learn the Quran and don't make Quran your daily priority, then you are not getting that share of this great inheritance. If you are not learning it now, if you are not reading it now, it maybe too late tomorrow.

May Allah guide us. Aameen.

Remove Worries And Attract Blessings With The Quran

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

We are all aware that the world is going through serious crisis. It is human nature to feel worried. During these hard times, remember the beautiful Islamic concept of barakah. 

Barakah is blessings from Allah and only comes from Allah. To understand barakah of wealth, let's use a simple example: Someone who has a 100 dollars and when Allah puts barakah in it, the person will experience more happiness and utility with that 100 dollars. There is also barakah of time -- a person can accomplish a lot in one hour, while others can't even accomplish a portion of it in 100 hours. This is because Allah puts barakah in the person's time.

To attract barakah, we must have iman (Faith) and taqwa (God fearingness/consciouness) in Allah. 

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ‎﴿٩٦﴾

And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning." [Quran, Al 'Araf 7:96] 

The first point to increase the blessings of Allah, associate ourselves daily with the most thing that has barakah, which is the Quran. Allah Most High says,

 

كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَٰرَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ‎﴿٢٩﴾

 

[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. (29) [Quran, Sad 38:29] 

Allah is the source of barakah, the Quran is the Speech of Allah, the words of the One that give barakah. So the recitation of the Quran, the memorization of the Quran, the listening of the Quran, the reading of tafsir of the Quran will increase barakah. Everything we do with the Quran has barakah, including learning and teaching the Quran.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "The best among you is the one who learn the Quran and teach it." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Would you not want something better than a camel (or a car in the modern world) everyday of your life without paying for it? Don't make Quran a thing that just sit nicely on your bookshelves. Read it everyday. Learn it so you are reading it properly, not just sounds.

‘Uqba b. ‘Āmir said:

When we were in the Suffa (A kind of verandah at the mosque in Medina where certain poor people lived) God’s mes­senger came out and asked, “Which of you would like to go out every morning to Buthān or al-‘Aqīq (Two wādis not far from Medina where camels were sold) and bring two large-humped she-camels without being guilty of sin or severing ties of relationship?” We replied, “Messenger of God, we would all like that.” He said, “Does not one of you go out in the morning to the mosque and teach or recite two verses of God’s Book? That is better for him than two she- camels, and three verses are better for him than three she-camels, and four verses are better for him than four she-camels, and so on than their numbers in camels.” [Muslim transmitted it]

May Allah give barakah to our lives. Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Du'a

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The beginning of great things begins with a du'a. The power of du'a is captured inside Surah Al-Kahf 

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. [Quran, Al Kahf 18:10]

Aameen

The Path To Paradise

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Whoever traverses the path of Allah without deviating from it, he will reach Allah and His Paradise by the nearest and easiest path.

Abu Hurayrah r.a reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge." [Muslim]

Religious knowledge is one of the foremost ways leading to Allah. By this knowledge, the person becomes correctly guided amidst the darkness of ignorance, doubts, and false beliefs.

Anas r.a reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "He who goes forth in search of knowledge is considered as struggling in the Cause of Allah until he returns." [At- Tirmidhi]

May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge and make our path to Him and His Paradise easy.

Aameen.

The Best Investment For Your Money

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The best investment for your money...

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever sends financial support in the cause of Allah and stays at home, for every Dirham he will have (the reward of) seven hundred Dirham. Whoever fights himself in the cause of Allah, and spends on that, for every Dirham he will have (the reward of) seven hundred thousand Dirham.” Then he recited the Verse: “Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills.”[2:261]

(Ibn Majah)

Don't underestimate your contributions to people who spend their lives in the way of Allah, primarily learning and teaching sacred knowledge.

How Little We Know

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The more you learn, the more you realize there are more to learn and how little you know.  

...  وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ

... but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing. [Quran, Yusuf 12:76]

May Allah make guide is on the straight path Aameen.

Eid Mubarak -- The Significance of Eid

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Eid is a celebration that keeps coming back over and over again. Allah has honored us with two Eids, which are Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha, which are two celebrations that are better than all celebrations that have came before and that will come after. It is a sign of Allah rewarding us for the effort that we put in. 

Eidul Fitr occurs after 29 or 30 days of fasting, of sacrificing our eating and drinking, etc for the sake of Allah. As soon as the 29 or 30 days are over, you come with the celebration. What are you celebrating? You are celebrating the worship of Allah and you are happy for the fact that Allah gives you tawfiq to be able to worship Allah for the entire month. 

When we look at Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the year, what have you done previously to celebrate Eidul Adha? This is the day that you are happy because you spent the last 9 days of the best days of the year worshipping Allah, and this is the day when you will sacrifice your animals. For those who are able to perform hajj, you are able to perform all the five pillars of Islam. May Allah bless you with hajj mabrur and bless us with hajj next year and the years after that. As we ask Allah accept our sacrifice, and we hope our taqwa reaches Allah. 

When we worship Allah, it should bring happiness to ourselves and people around us. When the companions were happy, it was when they saw people worshipping Allah.

This is the day of happiness and remembrance of Allah. This is the time to congratulate the ummah by congratulating people next to you. It is the time to visit your family and friends and share this Eid of yours. 

The Islamic year is coming to an end. This is a time when we need to reflect on what we have done in the last 9 days in ibadaah. How much extra prayers did you perform? Did you fast the entire 9 days? How much Quran have you read? How much dhikr have you done? How much istighfar have you sought for Allah's acceptance? And reflect too, how am I going to be in the days that are coming.

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ‎﴿٣٦﴾‏

Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]. [Quran, Tawba 9:36]

Be aware that you are still in one of the 4 sacred months and you will continue into the month of Allah, which is Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Beware of the sins you are going to commit after Allah gave you tawfiq. You have prepared for ibaadah in the lat 9 days and now you are going to continue. Increase your dhikr of Allah, increase in recitation of Quran, increase in sunnah prayers and fasting.

May Allah make us happy on this Eid day, in our graves, on the Day of Judgment and in Paradise. May Allah grant us good deeds and accept our good deeds. May Allah make us of those who are going to perform hajj in the coming year and the years after. May Allah make our affairs easy. May Allah accept our du'as. Aameen.

First Thing To Do OnThe Day of Arafah

Bismillah 

The day of Arafah is the day we are reminded of the Day of Judgment and the purpose of our existence.

The first thing we should do now is to repent to Allah because none of us have lived our lives the way that we should, keeping Allah a priority  living exactly as Allah has wanted. This is the day Allah accepts everyone du'a and repentance, as long as we are sincere. This is the day you promise you will make Allah, His Deen and the Quran the priority and everything else is secondary. 

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." [Quran, Al A'raf 7:172]

Recite this du'a in abundance on this day.

  لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدي

May Allah pardon us and save us from the Hellfire. May Allah accept our fast, our qiyam, our du'as, our good deeds. Aameen.

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday)

Bismillah

Let's read Surah Kahf today. It is a sunnah of Friday and take the opportunity for extra reward for this day is also the Day of Arafah, the best day of the Islamic year.

The beginning of great things begins with a du'a. The power of du'a is captured in this Surah. It is the major turning point for a few young men who fled to a cave from the people of their city who were forcing them to worship other than Allah.

If you are concerned about your future, increase your du'a. Learn this du'a and make it your daily supplication.

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. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]

Aameen

When You Are Sad, Down and Alone

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

When you are sad, down and alone...

remember Hajar being left alone with her infant son, Ismail A.S. in an arid desert of Makkah, no food, no water. Hajar did not know what Allah had hidden for her but she obeyed and remain patient. And now you know some of the tremendous things that were hidden for her--which include millions of people following her footsteps between Safa and Marwah during hajj and umrah rituals every day until the Day of Judgment. We cannot imagine the reward she is getting in Paradise for her patience.

A Great Worship

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Bringing happiness to the heart of a Muslim is a great ibaadah (worship). Imagine the reward of bringing happiness to the heart of your mother on the Day of Arafah, the best day of the year.  It is not a small matter.

Days In Which Righteous Deeds Are More Beloved To Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than are done during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Rush to good deeds and strike it big. May Allah accept our good deeds and make it a means to enter Paradise. Aameen.

"The Fast Is For Me" -- Don't Miss Fasting In The 10 Best Days

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah's Sight than the smell of musk."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَأَكْلَهُ وَشُرْبَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، وَالصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ وَفَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"‏‏.‏

 [Sahih Bukhari]

If you haven't made the intention to fast in these 10 best days of the Islamic year, try to fast on the 9th Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) for it will also wipe off your sins next year and the previous year. 

May Allah make it easy. Aameen.

Time Is Of The Essence

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Time is of the essence...

Allah's mercy encompasses everything. He did not create us and leave us to roam. He sent us Prophets and Books to guide us.  Not only that, He created for us occasions and opportunities. The 4 sacred months (Dhul Qaidah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, Rajab) and Ramadhan, five months of unique opportunities to really strike it big and take it home. Are we going to take advantage of these opportunities? 

3 of the 10 BEST DAYS of the Islamic year have passed. Whether we take advantage of these days or not, they will pass very quickly.

If you were upon a sin, repent and then focus on worship. If you have improved in your worship, then work on becoming a true Muslim in all encompassing word. If you have become a true Muslim, then work on becoming a true believer, a Mu'min. And if you have attained that level, then go for excellence (ihsaan). So we are constantly moving forward, not backward. 

Allah puts us here for a finite time. So, time is of the essence. We understood this in the worldly business context but when it comes to the next life, we keep on putting off doing the things that will help us in our graves and beyond. 

May Allah give us safety and tranquility. Aameen.