Give With Taqwa

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Our efforts are diverse. Those who give and have taqwa and believe in the best reward from Allah, Allah will ease them in this world and the next.

 فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ ‎﴿٥﴾‏ وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ‎﴿٦﴾‏ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ ‎﴿٧﴾‏

As for he who gives and fears Allah (5) And believes in the best [reward], (6) We will ease him toward ease. (7)

In contrast, those who are stingy and feel that they are self sufficient, don't need Allah, and deny the best reward, Allah will ease them toward difficulty.

 وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ ‎﴿٨﴾‏ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ‎﴿٩﴾‏ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ ‎﴿١٠﴾‏ 

But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need (8) And denies the best [reward], (9) We will ease him toward difficulty. (10)

[Quran, Al Lail 92:5-10]

May Allah make us of those who have taqwa and grant us ease in this life and the next. Aameen.

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Rush To Good Deeds

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

When you do good, Allah will give you the best.

هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَٰنُ ‎﴿٦٠﴾‏

Is the reward for good [anything] but good? 

[Quran, Ar Rahman 55:60]

May Allah grant us good deeds and accept all our good deeds. Aameen.

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Exam Of Life

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

There is an exam far more important than any college exam, and that is the exam of life itself. Allah Almighty says in Surah Al Mulk,

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ 

He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving (2)

Let's never lose track of this ultimate exam in which there is no pass or fail that is based on a grade. This is the exam that will determine our eternal life. Our examiner is our Creator, the Exalted in Might, the Most Forgiving. He is more merciful than our own mother. The syllabus of our life exam is nothing other than the Quran. The Quran is our guide and what a beautiful guide. This is a book anybody can pick up and learn and benefit from it.

May Allah grant us humility, patience and gratitude, and save us from the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. Aameen.

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

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In Surah Al Kahf, Allah Most High reminds us again that the everlasting abode is the Aakhirah (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]

If we are truly certain about this, then we don't worry ourselves with this fleeting dunya, accumulating wealth and trying to impress people, instead we will rush to good deeds as only our deeds will accompany us into our graves.

Sometimes we forget that in this dunya that we will face trials, left, right, and center. But the Quran will help us face it with patience and gratitude.

Alhamdulillah (All praise and thanks to Allah) for the Qur'an, a guidance for the believers and those conscious of Allah. [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:1-2]

So let's make a habit of reading a portion of the Quran everyday and thank Allah for this gift of the Quran by following its advice and guidance.

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.

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Allah All Knowing Teaches You

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.

وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ‎﴿٢٨٢﴾‏

[Quran, al Baqarah 2:282]

Allah recognizes our problems even better than we can recognize our own problems. He knows our feelings, our thoughts, our strengths, our weaknesses. 

Allah is the One who created us. Surely He knows us completely. Knowing all of that He gives advice and guidance.  

Allah's knowledge is knowledge of all things. The Quran is not just for religious advice and guidance but for all things. The truth is if you don't follow His advice and guidance and find an easy way for yourself and you feel it is safer and the best for you, the truth is you are heading towards destruction. 

May Allah save us from destruction and make us of those who listen and obey. Aameen.

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Up and Down

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Everyone goes through trials up and down. Every time of ease is followed by times of difficulty. Every time of difficulty is followed by times of ease. Turn to Allah truthfully and maintain your connection with Him in worship. And remember this promise of Allah.

‏ فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ‎﴿٥﴾‏ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ‎﴿٦﴾‏ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ‎﴿٧﴾‏ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ‎﴿٨﴾

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6) So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (7) And to your Lord direct [your] longing. (8) (Quran, 95:5-8)

May Allah make us of the grateful and patient ones. Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Greatest Losers

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah Most High informs us in Surah Al-Kahf about the greatest losers. Those are the people who do good but for worldly reasons such as for recognition, respect, power and money.

أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نُزُلًا ﴿١٠٢﴾ قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا ﴿١٠٣﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا ﴿١٠٤

Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall We inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? (103) [They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work." (104)

[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:103-104]

Sincere intention is indispensable prerequisite for the acceptance of a good deed. Renew your intentions often as intention that once good and sincere may become rusty.

May Allah grant us sincerity in our works and accept our good deeds. Aameen.

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It May Not Be The Whole Story

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

How many times have people brought us that part of the story that if we were to look into the entire story we wouldn’t have had the same opinion? How many times have fights broken out or bad opinions resulted in a damaged relationship as a result of people telling other people things. Or bringing them other news about other things that people have done or said. It is what Allah is speaking to the people of faith: 

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقُۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمَۢا بِجَهَٰلَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَٰدِمِينَ ‎﴿٦﴾‏

[Quran, al Hujurat 49:6]

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Watch Your Attitude

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

If you have to let down the needy, let them down with respect. If you can hug them, hug them.  They are needy for your money, but you are in desperate need of Allah's  Rahmah (mercy) . So watch your attitude because Allah is watching.

وَإِمَّا تُعْرِضَنَّ عَنْهُمُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ رَحْمَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ تَرْجُوهَا فَقُل لَّهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّيْسُورًا ‎﴿٢٨﴾‏

And if you [must] turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word. [Quran, Al Isra 17:28]

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Be Courteous

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Be courteous. This principle of good character should guide us in everything we do.  We maintain good character with everyone. This is a constant.  Whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, old or young, close or distant, and all other social distinctions, that does not matter.

Read the Book of Allah. It is filled with great passages and great verses that pertain to good character.

Every time we read those verses we should apply them to ourselves instead of trying to bring the Quran down to our own lowly selves, which you can never do and is a grave mistake to try to do so. We should raise ourselves up to the ethical standards of the Quran.

May Allah grant us noble character and surround us with courteous people. Aameen.

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Never Lose Hope In Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Never lose hope in Allah...

We know, as children of Adam, we are prone to slip ups. We are prone to mistakes and we know that we have faults that we are working on. But we fall short at times. Every time you fall short, dust yourself off, and keep on. This is essential and this will protect you from so many things that other people fall into, whereby they become depressed, lose hope in life and they start to spiral downwards from that. Immediately follow a bad deed with a good deed, so the latter will erase the former. It will erase it from our scrolls and it will also erase the traces of that mistake or that sin from our hearts.

Allah says in Surah Hud 11:114

إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ

Indeed, good deeds do away with bad deeds.

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Reality of Taqwa

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The Messenger of God (ﷺ) said, “Keep God in mind wherever you are; follow a wrong with a right that offsets it; and treat people courteously.” (Tirmidhi)

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: اتّق الله حيثما كنتَ و أتبع السيئة الحسنة تمحها و خالق الناس حسن

In all our different states, times and places, what has to be consistent is that we have to be people of taqwa. 

Taqwa is a very sophisticated reality and it pertains to the way that we ultimately exercise our freedom of choice and choosing what is right or, as we move up in the degrees of closeness to Allah, what is best.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Prepare For The Inevitable Day

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Let's Read Surah Kahf today and contemplate on this ayah...

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ‎﴿٤٦﴾

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)]

There will be a day when this world does not mean a thing to you and how you wish you have good deeds to bring with you...the day when you are put in your grave.  Prepare for this inevitable day. Rush to good deeds.

May Allah guide us and grant us righteous deeds and accept all our goods. Aameen

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Benefitting From Online Learning

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Benefitting From Online Learning

When you are learning, you  have to be in tip top. Not just inwardly but outwardly. Don't come to class in your pyjamas or half asleep, don't lie down, don't walk away during session. Come to class with wudu', wearing decent clothes with a heart ready to learn and focus.

If you don't observe the etiquettes of learning, you are not going to benefit much from knowledge.

May Allah grant us knowledge that benefits. Aameen.

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The Abraar

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

If you hold on to good principles...you lead a righteous life, you don't cheat or lie, the luxuries of Paradise are coming. You are going to be surrounded in blessings. You didn't miss out on anything. This is a motivation that Allah gives to those who hold on to their principles (the Abraar). 

Allah says in the Quran,

‏ إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ ‎﴿٢٢﴾

Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure. [Quran, al Mutaffifin 83:22]

May Allah make us of the Abraar. Aameen.

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Blessings

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Blessings

If you find yourself in obedience to Allah and no need of other than Allah, know that they are His outward and inward blessings to you. [Ibn 'Ataillah]

May Allah bless us with guidance,  taqwa, chastity and riches. Aameen.

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Love For The Prophet (ﷺ)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

من نال مني أو علقت بذمته

أبرأته لله راجي منته

 كي لا أعوق مؤمنا يوم الجزاء

أو لا أسوء محمداً في أمته

If any believer offends me or is indebted to me,

Then I absolve them of that offense or debt seeking Allah's mercy.

So that I'm not an obstacle for any believer on the day of judgement,

And so I don't cause anxiety for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with respect to his Ummah.

[Imam Shafi'e]

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