Trials

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

It is part of Allah's wisdom that He tries His servants with goodness and evil in order that the believer might increase in his belief, reliance and resorting to Allah (may He be Praised). Therefore, believers will exercise patience with what Allah has decreed for them. Trials also make Muslims fear the bad consequences of sins and therefore give them up.

Allah says,

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٥٧

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." (156) Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. (157)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:155-156]

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ ﴿٢١٤

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (214)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214]

وَلِيُمَحِّصَ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَمْحَقَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿١٤١﴾ أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٤٢

And that Allah may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers. (141) Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast? (142)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:142]

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣

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)

[Qur'an Al 'Ankabut 29: 1-3]

وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ ﴿١١

And Allah will surely make evident those who believe, and He will surely make evident the hypocrites. (11)

[Qur'an Al 'Ankabut 29:11]

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥

Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (35)

[Qur'an Al-Anbiya' 21:35]

All these Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) point out that Allah (may He be Praised) tries His servants as He did with the preceding nations. If they repent and exercise patience with regard to all that befalls them, they will receive His reward, forgiveness and satisfaction and they will be admitted to paradise and compensated with what is better than what they have missed or lost.

May Allah forgive our sins and grant us patience. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Just Be Grateful

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 bestowed on us many blessings and countless graces. The most important of these blessings and graces is the blessing of Islam. This great blessing has no equal. Whoever understands it and thanks Allah for it will be successful in this world and the hereafter, if he strictly follows it in words and action.

Allah Almighty says,

وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّـهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ ﴿٣٤

And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful. (34)

[Qur'an Ibrahim 14:34]

وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْـَٔرُونَ ﴿٥٣

And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allah. Then when adversity touches you, to Him you cry for help. (53)

[Qur'an An-Nahl 16:53]

Therefore, it is incumbent upon all Muslims to thank Allah (may He be Praised) for these bounties and to avoid being ungrateful.

Allah Almighty says while mentioning the bounties He bestows upon His servants,

وَٱللَّـهُ 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]

Thanking Allah for His bounties in general and in specific protects these bounties and increases them.

Allah Almighty says,

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]

بَلِ ٱللَّـهَ فَٱعْبُدْ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ ﴿٦٦

Rather, worship [only] Allah and be among the grateful. (66)

[Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:66]

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]

يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ ﴿١٣

They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful. (13)

[Qur'an Saba' 34:13]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, advised the great companion, Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to say this Du`a' (supplication) at the end of every Salah (Prayer): "O Allah, help me to mention, thank and worship You in the best manner."

Thanking Allah for His bounties and using them in all that pleases Him make things much better and diminishes the effect of evils.

One of the best and noblest characteristics of the prophets and messengers of Allah and their followers is thanking Allah for His bounties and asking for His support.

Allah Almighty says about His prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him) in the Qu'ran,

فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٩

So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants." (19)

[Qur'an An-Naml 27:19]

Allah Almighty also said when mentioning His bounties upon His prophet Nuh (peace be upon him),

ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا ﴿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]

Being grateful for Allah's blessings is using the blessings in what pleases Him and avoiding what displeases Him, and acknowledge these bounties and attributing them to Allah alone away from ostentation or pride especially before those who are deprived of these graces.

Ingratitude to Allah's bounties and ungratefulness are some of the causes of removing His bounties. Moreover, doing so is considered to be oppression against one's soul.

Allah Almighty says,

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ﴿٩﴾ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ﴿١٠

Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self.

[Qur'an Ash-Shams 91:9-10]

Man disgraces himself by committing evil deeds.

Fearing Allah, obeying Him, following His commands and avoiding His prohibitions bring goodness, remove evils and keep Allah's bounties.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم 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." (96)

[Qur'an Al-A'raf 7:96]

لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّـهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١

For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him.[] They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector. (11)

[Qur'an Ar-Ra'd 13:11]

May Allah make us among His thankful servants and make us His best servants. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Motherhood

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

When she has her first baby, she must manage for another life even more dependent on her personal sacrifices. By the second, third, or fourth child, her days and nights belong almost entirely to others. Whether she has a spiritual path or not, such a mother can seldom resist a glance at the past, when there were more prayers, more meanings, more spiritual company, and more serenity. When Allah opens her understanding, she will see that she is engaged in one of the highest forms of worship, that of producing new believers who love and worship Allah. She is effectively worshipping Allah for as many lifetimes she has children, for the reward of every spiritual work her children do will be hers, without this diminishing anything of their own rewards: every ablution, every prayer, every Ramadan, every hajj, and even the works her children will in turn pass on to their offspring, and, so on till the end of time. Even if her children do not turn out as she wishes, she shall be requited in paradise forever according to her intention in raising them, which was that they should be godly.

Aside from the tremendous reward, within the path itself it is noticeable that many of those who benefit most from khalwa or ‘solitary retreat of dhikr’ are women who have raised children. With only a little daily dhikr and worship over the years, but much toil and sacrifice for others, they surpass many a younger person who has had more free time, effort, and ‘spiritual works.’ What they find is greater because their state with Allah is greater; namely, the awe, hope, and love of the Divine they have realized by years of sincerity to Him.

....from Motherhood By Shaykh Nuh Keller (may Allah preserve him)

May Allah bless our mothers. Ameen.

Better Mothers, Better Families, Better Humanity

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٤

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. (14)

[Qur'an Luqman 31:14]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.

[Musnad Ahmad Sunan An-Nasa I, Sunan Ibn Majah]

Motherhood is one of the most challenging roles, burdened with difficulty and responsibility, yet a role which brings a woman an honorable position and a privileged status in Islam. This role is also fulfilled with great qualities and numerous skills. If she has the ability to understand this role and to implement the teachings of Islam and raise her children in the best manner, using Islamic knowledge and the guidance of Allah Almighty she can attain great success in this world and the hereafter.

Motherhood is a career that requires certain qualities and skills. Some of these qualities are naturally in the mother because Allah created her biologically different from man, but others are acquired.

Among her greatest qualities for being a mother are sacrifice and dedication. She sacrifices her sleep, her hunger, her social time, her friendships, and her social pleasures for her children. These are among the hardest things to do, but not only does this teach the mother patience, it becomes an investment from which she will reap great rewards.

A good mother can protect her children from the dangers of the world around them. With her Islamic knowledge she can give them security by being wise in managing the home with the stability of the provision of food, clothing, and comforts without being excessively materialistic.

Her awareness of responsibility as a mother encourages her to learn and use techniques and strategies of better parenting. Teaching is one of the key skills used in motherhood, as it is used daily in everything as well as in informing her children about life. Her abilities to nurse her children when they are sick and counsel them when they are faced with trials is a valuable skill. Her other skills involve time management, planning, organizational skills, and even financing. The list is endless.

Allah, in His infinite mercy, has instilled in the nature of the mother one great quality, and that is love. No matter how bad the children are, a mother will always find it hard to hate them, she will always forgive them, love them, care for them. This is the natural true quality of a mother.

Allah has surely created the mother a unique individual. Look at all the qualities she uses in her lifetime to play such a major role -- patience, love, sacrifice, gratitude, commitment, dedication, wisdom, etc., and the list is endless.

For the development of strong families, the mother plays a vital role. The deep love and affection she shows in raising her children, in treating them equally and individually and understanding their abilities, can lead to great achievements, whilst her gentleness can remedy any flaws and weaknesses in their character. The skills of a mother help her to identify her children’s abilities and can develop them in reaching their potential. Raising sensible, virtuous children is extremely vital in Islam so that they can move on to build strong blocks in society which will form stronger societies.

Better mothers mean better families and better families better humanity.

We have to take a serious look at how we treat the women in our household and what we are doing to help women in unfortunate situations. If we don't raise our daughters properly and they grow up to be materialistic and worldly, if we (men) oppress and abuse women, if we (men) neglect their duties to provide for and protect their womenfolk, if we don't respect our mothers, if we close our eyes to the plight of women, then we are directly attributing to the destruction of humanity.

May Allah increase us in Iman, and relieve the suffering of our sisters who are suffering and being oppressed wherever they maybe and grant them patience. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Wonderful Servant

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The mind is a wonderful thing but we cannot become the slave of our mind. It is our wonderful servant and we are Allah's servants.

The mind is a tool in the hands of our spirit. The mind does not make decisions. Decisions are made by the spirit of the person.

The mind reflects the state of the person. Somebody who is far away from Allah, he will have 100 excuses to justify his position. And somebody who is close to Allah, he will have 100 reasons to justify his position.

May Allah bring us closer to Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam