بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our life is about submission to the Will of Allah. We are expected to submit whether we know the "goodness" of the command or not. It is not acceptable for people to violate what Allah wants from them. Violating Allah's instructions is violating His purpose.
"I did not create man and jinn except to worship Me." Qur'an Zariyat 51:56
Intellect is able to tell right from wrong but this understanding is based on the assumption that matters are intrinsically right or wrong. Neither did God make them such nor the intellect. Rather the intellect discerns this innate goodness or badness in human acts. How can we be sure that what we feel good is good with Allah and what we feel bad is bad with Allah?
Good is that which is pleasing to Allah, that which results in an eternal rank with Allah. Bad is the opposite. There is a Truth that is behind Divine commands. Violating this Truth and acting contrary to Allah's commands has dreadful consequences like in the story of the People of Sabbath in the Qur'an.
We know that life is a blessing and taking it away is going against this. It is wrong to kill someone. Everyone knows that oppression is wrong. Denying one of his basic right to live is an oppression. So, we are sure that to kill someone is wrong. But Ibrahim, Allah grant him peace, was commanded by God to sacrifice his only son, Ismail, and he obeyed the command. It was a good act to offer his son in sacrifice. The Abrahamic way is complete surrender and submission. Whatever Allah wants, Ibrahim was there to surrender. This is the essence of religion--humble slavehood. His Lord rewarded him and made him a father of prophets.
We can understand the intent of God only through Allah telling us. The mind cannot know the intent of God. The mind is not the final source for right and wrong. It is a source of reasoning for the basis of religious belief.
People have values that they see to be universal and these values for them are so universal that they can't imagine not being right in everything. When they see to the contrary they do everything in their power to re-interpret the text. There is an essential problem because we need to know what Allah wants from us, not to know what we want Allah to be telling us about.
"It is not for any believer man or woman, when God and His Messenger have decreed a matter, to have the choice in the affair. Whosoever disobeys God and His Messenger has gone astray into manifest error." Qur'an Ahsab 33:36
If we interpret the law based on our own sense of right and wrong then where do we we draw the line?
"...And who is more astray than he who follow his caprice without any guidance from Allah..." Qur'an Qasas 28:50
Allah is All Wise. His commandments have wisdom. Some of these are discernible to us, some are not. Our feelings or sense of worth are meaningless. Look at where Iblis ended up because he wanted to follow his own sense instead of following Allah's command to prostrate to Adam.
Ibn Khaldun says about the intellect, "Follow what the lawgiver has commanded you of beliefs and practices for He is more keen on your felicity than you, and more aware of what benefits you than you; because it is from a realm higher than yours, and a source more expansive than yours. There is not to detract from the intellect and its insights for the intellect is a true scale, its judgments are certain, no error in it, but you cannot hope to weigh in it...what is beyond its realm for that is hoping for the impossible. That is like the case of a man who saw a weighing scale that is used for weighing a gold and then hopes to weigh with it a mountain--this does not mean that the scale is wrong, but the intellect has a level that it cannot bypass."
The point is not that the mind can tell right or wrong but to bring revelation to the forefront and align ourselves to it.
May Allah guide us and all the Muslims. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Life Is Beautiful!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Life is beautiful! How could it not be beautiful when you are a Muslim--you have only One to submit to, the One who never changes, the One who possesses all the beautiful and powerful attributes. The One you submit to is very easy to please. He already tell you exactly what pleases Him and what great reward for those whom He is pleased with. He did not create you and leave you to fend by yourselves. He sent you a Messenger to teach you everything. All you need to do is to follow His Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Now if you can stand up, sit or move your fingers, remember He is the One who allows you to do this. This is a huge blessing in itself. So, don't waste time. Take the time to thank Him and to know more about Him.
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
"He is Allah beside Whom is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." Quran Hashr 59:23-24
May Allah brings us closer to Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Life is beautiful! How could it not be beautiful when you are a Muslim--you have only One to submit to, the One who never changes, the One who possesses all the beautiful and powerful attributes. The One you submit to is very easy to please. He already tell you exactly what pleases Him and what great reward for those whom He is pleased with. He did not create you and leave you to fend by yourselves. He sent you a Messenger to teach you everything. All you need to do is to follow His Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Now if you can stand up, sit or move your fingers, remember He is the One who allows you to do this. This is a huge blessing in itself. So, don't waste time. Take the time to thank Him and to know more about Him.
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
"He is Allah beside Whom is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." Quran Hashr 59:23-24
May Allah brings us closer to Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Where Does Your Time Go?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
"No creature is there crawling on the earth, but its provision rests on God; He knows its lodging-place and its repository. All is in a Manifest Book." Qur'an Hud 11:6
"If you relied on Allah with a true reliance (Tawakkul), He would provide for you the same as He provides birds: they set off in the early morning with empty stomachs and return back at the end of the day with full stomachs." (Tirmidhi)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, made this du'a, "O Allah, bless my nation in its early mornings." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
So if you have the right Tawakkul in Allah, do your part working, and start your day from early morning (not habitually going back to sleep after Fajr prayer!), there is plenty of time to have personal time with Allah and learning the religion of Allah.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah increase our Iman and Tawakkul and bless our time. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
"No creature is there crawling on the earth, but its provision rests on God; He knows its lodging-place and its repository. All is in a Manifest Book." Qur'an Hud 11:6
"If you relied on Allah with a true reliance (Tawakkul), He would provide for you the same as He provides birds: they set off in the early morning with empty stomachs and return back at the end of the day with full stomachs." (Tirmidhi)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, made this du'a, "O Allah, bless my nation in its early mornings." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
So if you have the right Tawakkul in Allah, do your part working, and start your day from early morning (not habitually going back to sleep after Fajr prayer!), there is plenty of time to have personal time with Allah and learning the religion of Allah.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah increase our Iman and Tawakkul and bless our time. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Among The Best Ummah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In The Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well
Out of Allah's infinite mercy, He has created us as part of the best and most honored nation ever to inhabit the earth. We are also the last and final nation until Judgment Day.
"You are the best Ummah singled out for mankind: you enjoin what is right (ma'ruf), forbid what is wrong (munkar), and believe in Allah." Qur'an AleImran 3:110
The head and the highest ma’ruf is the belief in Allah and the rest of the pillars of Islam. The head of the munkaraat (plural of munkar) and its most evil manifestation is kufr in all its forms. We must avoid the munkar, deter others from it and warn others from falling into it.
But, knowledge precedes action. Before we can enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, we must acquire knowledge on what is right and what is wrong. Then only then we can call others to abide by the ma’ruf and abstain from the munkar.
So, it is imperative that we seek knowledge of this religion so we can fulfill the condition of being the best Ummah.
Qatadah, Allah be pleased with him, said, “We were told that Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Allah be pleased with him, recited this verse during a Hajj that he performed, when he saw that the people were rushing. He then said, "Whoever likes to be among this (praised) Ummah, let him fulfill the condition that Allah set in this Ayah (3:110)."
Aren't you among this best and honored Ummah?
Watch this short video
May Allah guide us and grant us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In The Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well
Out of Allah's infinite mercy, He has created us as part of the best and most honored nation ever to inhabit the earth. We are also the last and final nation until Judgment Day.
"You are the best Ummah singled out for mankind: you enjoin what is right (ma'ruf), forbid what is wrong (munkar), and believe in Allah." Qur'an AleImran 3:110
The head and the highest ma’ruf is the belief in Allah and the rest of the pillars of Islam. The head of the munkaraat (plural of munkar) and its most evil manifestation is kufr in all its forms. We must avoid the munkar, deter others from it and warn others from falling into it.
But, knowledge precedes action. Before we can enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, we must acquire knowledge on what is right and what is wrong. Then only then we can call others to abide by the ma’ruf and abstain from the munkar.
So, it is imperative that we seek knowledge of this religion so we can fulfill the condition of being the best Ummah.
Qatadah, Allah be pleased with him, said, “We were told that Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Allah be pleased with him, recited this verse during a Hajj that he performed, when he saw that the people were rushing. He then said, "Whoever likes to be among this (praised) Ummah, let him fulfill the condition that Allah set in this Ayah (3:110)."
Aren't you among this best and honored Ummah?
Watch this short video
May Allah guide us and grant us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Friday, September 24, 2010
Which of You Is Best in Deeds?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Three things, if you have them, by Allah's grace, will open up everything for you, inshaAllah.
Serve Allah and His creations for His sake only (seeking His pleasure with gratitude and humility)
Patient and persevere in the face of difficulties, problems or hardship
Content with everything--what you have or don't have, what comes your way--little or much, good or bad
The Arabic name for Egypt is Misr. It's Arabic letters are م ص ر. Each letter is said to have the beginning of an Arabic word that can be understood to have the above-mentioned words/meanings.
If you have lived or seen Egypt, you can understand how particularly important this is. Egypt is not like many countries I have been. Some people called this place a factory of knowledge. Indeed, there is a lot of truth to this. But people who come to Egypt or live in Egypt for something else other than to know Allah miss the abundant knowledge that Allah is putting before them in each and every moment.
If you want good, you can find abundant good in Egypt, more than anywhere else I have been, and you feel the compassion and mercy of Allah everywhere. You are thankful for any good and you overlook the bad.
"With Him are the keys of the Unseen, the treasures that none knows but He. He knows whatever there is on the earth, and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is written in a Clear Record." Qur'an An'Am 6:59
Bottom line, wherever you go, wherever you are, whatever you encounter in your daily lives, you should constantly feel the compassion and mercy of Allah. He is Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. You yourselves invoke these Names many times a day--e.g. before you eat, before you take your wudu', before reciting any surah of the Qur'an, and before many of your mundane actions. You should be the same to His creations, especially to the people around you and especially to your parents, your children and your spouse.
The Creation we see around us is not idle sport or play, or whim on the part of Allah. It is the medium through which we develop our spiritual life. This life is our testing time.
"And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds..." Qur'an Hud 11:7
Yesterday, my son and I had to travel to downtown Cairo (my son lost count on how many times we had to do this) in order to try to resolve my son's college admission matters. We wound up having to walk from one place to another or stand most of the 8 hours we were out. We have gone through this similar experience many times before for the past almost 3 months for the same reason. So, I decided not to fast yesterday (Thursday) because I haven't been well and didn't want to worsen my condition with dehydration. At one of the many stops to ask for directions, I saw a fresh juice stand, so I asked my son if he would like a glass of fresh sugar cane juice, his favorite. And of course his answer was "yes." It was a hot day and he was sweating! As I was ordering, I saw from the corner of my eyes, a middle aged woman in all black dress and hijab, who was sitting on the sidewalk next to the store and reciting Qur'an. She looked poor and weak. I ordered another glass of sugar cane juice and offered it to her. But she politely refused and said she was fasting. MashaAllah. I looked at her again. I could see the light in her face. SubhanAllah. I then asked my son to give her some money and he did. May Allah have mercy on the lady.
My son was quiet all throughout the rest of our journey and made my job so much easier.
May Allah shower us with His Light and have mercy on us and all the Muslims. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Three things, if you have them, by Allah's grace, will open up everything for you, inshaAllah.
Serve Allah and His creations for His sake only (seeking His pleasure with gratitude and humility)
Patient and persevere in the face of difficulties, problems or hardship
Content with everything--what you have or don't have, what comes your way--little or much, good or bad
The Arabic name for Egypt is Misr. It's Arabic letters are م ص ر. Each letter is said to have the beginning of an Arabic word that can be understood to have the above-mentioned words/meanings.
If you have lived or seen Egypt, you can understand how particularly important this is. Egypt is not like many countries I have been. Some people called this place a factory of knowledge. Indeed, there is a lot of truth to this. But people who come to Egypt or live in Egypt for something else other than to know Allah miss the abundant knowledge that Allah is putting before them in each and every moment.
If you want good, you can find abundant good in Egypt, more than anywhere else I have been, and you feel the compassion and mercy of Allah everywhere. You are thankful for any good and you overlook the bad.
"With Him are the keys of the Unseen, the treasures that none knows but He. He knows whatever there is on the earth, and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is written in a Clear Record." Qur'an An'Am 6:59
Bottom line, wherever you go, wherever you are, whatever you encounter in your daily lives, you should constantly feel the compassion and mercy of Allah. He is Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. You yourselves invoke these Names many times a day--e.g. before you eat, before you take your wudu', before reciting any surah of the Qur'an, and before many of your mundane actions. You should be the same to His creations, especially to the people around you and especially to your parents, your children and your spouse.
The Creation we see around us is not idle sport or play, or whim on the part of Allah. It is the medium through which we develop our spiritual life. This life is our testing time.
"And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds..." Qur'an Hud 11:7
Yesterday, my son and I had to travel to downtown Cairo (my son lost count on how many times we had to do this) in order to try to resolve my son's college admission matters. We wound up having to walk from one place to another or stand most of the 8 hours we were out. We have gone through this similar experience many times before for the past almost 3 months for the same reason. So, I decided not to fast yesterday (Thursday) because I haven't been well and didn't want to worsen my condition with dehydration. At one of the many stops to ask for directions, I saw a fresh juice stand, so I asked my son if he would like a glass of fresh sugar cane juice, his favorite. And of course his answer was "yes." It was a hot day and he was sweating! As I was ordering, I saw from the corner of my eyes, a middle aged woman in all black dress and hijab, who was sitting on the sidewalk next to the store and reciting Qur'an. She looked poor and weak. I ordered another glass of sugar cane juice and offered it to her. But she politely refused and said she was fasting. MashaAllah. I looked at her again. I could see the light in her face. SubhanAllah. I then asked my son to give her some money and he did. May Allah have mercy on the lady.
My son was quiet all throughout the rest of our journey and made my job so much easier.
May Allah shower us with His Light and have mercy on us and all the Muslims. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Fix Your Eyes Towards The Gardens
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Fix your eyes towards the Gardens...
"...for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. in Paradise)...With spreading branches...In them (both) will be two springs flowing (free)...In them (both) will be every kind of fruit in pairs...Reclining upon the couches lined with silk brocade, and the fruits of the two Gardens will be near at hand...In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched...(In beauty) they are like rubies and coral...And besides these two, there are two other Gardens (i.e. in Paradise)...Dark green (in color)...In them (both) will be two springs gushing forth...In them (both) will be fruits, and date-palms and pomegranates...In them will be fair (companions), good, beautiful... Companions restrained (as to their glances), in (goodly) pavilions...Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched...Reclining on green cushions and rich carpets of beauty...Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny? (Qur'an Ar-Rahman 55)
Be mindful of how we spend our time. This life is but a bridge to our eternal abodes.
"Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord." (Qur'an Qalam 68:34)
"Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). That is the great success." (Qur'an Al-Burooj 85:11)
May Allah increase our Iman and grant us righteous deeds. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Fix your eyes towards the Gardens...
"...for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. in Paradise)...With spreading branches...In them (both) will be two springs flowing (free)...In them (both) will be every kind of fruit in pairs...Reclining upon the couches lined with silk brocade, and the fruits of the two Gardens will be near at hand...In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched...(In beauty) they are like rubies and coral...And besides these two, there are two other Gardens (i.e. in Paradise)...Dark green (in color)...In them (both) will be two springs gushing forth...In them (both) will be fruits, and date-palms and pomegranates...In them will be fair (companions), good, beautiful... Companions restrained (as to their glances), in (goodly) pavilions...Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched...Reclining on green cushions and rich carpets of beauty...Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny? (Qur'an Ar-Rahman 55)
Be mindful of how we spend our time. This life is but a bridge to our eternal abodes.
"Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord." (Qur'an Qalam 68:34)
"Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). That is the great success." (Qur'an Al-Burooj 85:11)
May Allah increase our Iman and grant us righteous deeds. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
wassalaam
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Don't Forget Your Best Companion Always
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Don't forget your best companion always, the Qur'an. It does miracles to your soul and to your being. Nothing you should love to read and listen more than the Qur'an.
It is in the Book of Allah that He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, says:
"...a Qur'an in Arabic, for people who understand, giving good news and admonition, yet most of them turn away, and so they hear not." (Fussilat 41:3-4)
"...For those who believe, it is a guidance and a healing; and as for those who disbelieve, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. They are (as if) being called from a place far distant." (Fussilat 41:44)
May Allah make us His special servants. Ameen. Please don't forget me in your night prayers Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Don't forget your best companion always, the Qur'an. It does miracles to your soul and to your being. Nothing you should love to read and listen more than the Qur'an.
It is in the Book of Allah that He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, says:
"...a Qur'an in Arabic, for people who understand, giving good news and admonition, yet most of them turn away, and so they hear not." (Fussilat 41:3-4)
"...For those who believe, it is a guidance and a healing; and as for those who disbelieve, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. They are (as if) being called from a place far distant." (Fussilat 41:44)
May Allah make us His special servants. Ameen. Please don't forget me in your night prayers Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Worship Allah Alone and Do Righteous Deeds
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well
A few verses from Surah Ar-Room 30
وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِۖ لَا يُخۡلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعۡدَهُ ۥ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (٦)
....Allah fails not in His Promise, but most of men know not. They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world but of the Hereafter, they are heedless.
وَيَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُبۡلِسُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ (١٢)
On the Day that the hour will be established, the guilty will be struck dumb and despair.
وَيَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ (١٤) فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَهُمۡ فِى رَوۡضَةٍ۬ يُحۡبَرُونَ (١٥) وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآىِٕ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ٱلۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُونَ (١٦)
On that Day that the Hour will be established, that Day shall (all men) be sorted out. Then as for those who believed and did righteous good deeds, such shall be honored and made to enjoy luxurious life (forever) in a Garden of Delight (Paradise). And as for those who disbelieved and belied Our Signs, and the Meeting of the Hereafter, such shall be brought forth to the torment (in the Hell-fire).
فَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ حِينَ تُمۡسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصۡبِحُونَ (١٧)
So glorify Allah...
يُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمَيِّتِ وَيُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَىِّ وَيُحۡىِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَاۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ تُخۡرَجُونَ (١٩)
It is He who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and Who gives life to the earth after it is dead, and thus shall you be brought out (from the dead.)
May Allah makes us among the righteous and admits us into Paradise to the company of the righteous. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
P.S. Suggest that you read this short surah and it's meanings
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well
A few verses from Surah Ar-Room 30
وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِۖ لَا يُخۡلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعۡدَهُ ۥ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (٦)
....Allah fails not in His Promise, but most of men know not. They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world but of the Hereafter, they are heedless.
وَيَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُبۡلِسُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ (١٢)
On the Day that the hour will be established, the guilty will be struck dumb and despair.
وَيَوۡمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ (١٤) فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَهُمۡ فِى رَوۡضَةٍ۬ يُحۡبَرُونَ (١٥) وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآىِٕ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ٱلۡعَذَابِ مُحۡضَرُونَ (١٦)
On that Day that the Hour will be established, that Day shall (all men) be sorted out. Then as for those who believed and did righteous good deeds, such shall be honored and made to enjoy luxurious life (forever) in a Garden of Delight (Paradise). And as for those who disbelieved and belied Our Signs, and the Meeting of the Hereafter, such shall be brought forth to the torment (in the Hell-fire).
فَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ حِينَ تُمۡسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصۡبِحُونَ (١٧)
So glorify Allah...
يُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمَيِّتِ وَيُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَىِّ وَيُحۡىِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَاۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ تُخۡرَجُونَ (١٩)
It is He who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and Who gives life to the earth after it is dead, and thus shall you be brought out (from the dead.)
May Allah makes us among the righteous and admits us into Paradise to the company of the righteous. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
P.S. Suggest that you read this short surah and it's meanings
A Few Verses of Surah Ankabut
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
From Surah Ankabut 29
O My servants who believe! Truly, spacious is My Earth. Therefore serve Me (and Me alone).
And this life of the world is only an amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter, that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew.
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And verily, Allah is with the good doers.
يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ أَرۡضِى وَٲسِعَةٌ۬ فَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ ٥٦
وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَهۡوٌ۬ وَلَعِبٌ۬ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلۡحَيَوَانُۚ لَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٦٤
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَہۡدِيَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٦٩
May Allah increases our Iman and makes us among His righteous servants. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
From Surah Ankabut 29
O My servants who believe! Truly, spacious is My Earth. Therefore serve Me (and Me alone).
And this life of the world is only an amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter, that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew.
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And verily, Allah is with the good doers.
يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ أَرۡضِى وَٲسِعَةٌ۬ فَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ ٥٦
وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَهۡوٌ۬ وَلَعِبٌ۬ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلۡحَيَوَانُۚ لَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٦٤
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَہۡدِيَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٦٩
May Allah increases our Iman and makes us among His righteous servants. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sowing The Seeds
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We need to sow the seeds of Islam and the first place we need to do that is in the hearts of our children. Life is short, and the wind is blowing against us. If we don't make a conscious effort to do this, we can be wiped out. Look at Muslim Spain--it is now a history. Read the many stories in the Qur'an about nations that were destroyed--they are for us to reflect on ourselves.
As a single mother, I know how hard it is to raise children to be good and strong Muslims. Never a day is without any challenge. But we must do what we must and be patient. Nothing precious comes without a big price tag. It is easy to give in, to leave them in front of a TV or computer. They are quiet, they don't argue, and they don't give us trouble--so we think. But that is not where Allah wants them to be, and anywhere that Allah doesn't want us to be is not good for us. If we persist to be where Allah doesn't want us to be, the troubles will surface sooner or later. Allah chose us to be their parents and entrusted them to us. So we must do our job, and do it well. This is being a thankful servant. We always go back to Him and ask Him to help us do our job well. He is the only One who can guide and help us.
When you find no where to turn to for the moment, remember what Lukman said to his son:
"O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever befalls you; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. "And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. "And be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass." Qur'an Lukman 31:17-19
Apply this advice to ourselves first as the best teacher is a good example.
We just left the month of Ramadhan where we had trained our children to wake up before Fajr to eat the pre-dawn meal. Then we prayed Fajr with them. For some, you stayed up with them after Fajr and read the Qur'an, and for many others, you took them to the masjid for iftar, prayed Maghrib, 'Isha and taraweeh. Don't lose this momentum. Keep waking them up before Fajr and do a couple rak'ah of prayer, then Fajr, then read a few pages of Qur'an with them. Try to do Maghrib and 'Isha at the masjid. In between these prayers, they can do their homework and/or read/learn Qur'an. Ramadhan should not come and go without them reaping the benefits of it the whole year. It was their training ground. What is life without Allah in your hearts and you want to sow this in your precious children's hearts while you still have the say so in their lives. Each moment you let your children watch shows on TV or computer, you are taking them away from the pre-disposition which Allah created them with.
Remember, Shaytan to us is our clear enemy and so we should treat him like an enemy. He is always there lurking to snatch our Faith away and for sure TV and internet have more soldiers of Shaytan than anywhere else waiting to get your entire family into his domain. So protect your precious ones by giving them Islam.
"Allah cursed him.And he [Shaytan] said: "I will take an appointed portion of your slaves; Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah." And whoever takes Shaytan as a Wali (protector or helper) instead of Allah, has surely suffered a manifest loss." Qur'an An-Nisa 4:118-119
May Allah help us raise our children well and guide them. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We need to sow the seeds of Islam and the first place we need to do that is in the hearts of our children. Life is short, and the wind is blowing against us. If we don't make a conscious effort to do this, we can be wiped out. Look at Muslim Spain--it is now a history. Read the many stories in the Qur'an about nations that were destroyed--they are for us to reflect on ourselves.
As a single mother, I know how hard it is to raise children to be good and strong Muslims. Never a day is without any challenge. But we must do what we must and be patient. Nothing precious comes without a big price tag. It is easy to give in, to leave them in front of a TV or computer. They are quiet, they don't argue, and they don't give us trouble--so we think. But that is not where Allah wants them to be, and anywhere that Allah doesn't want us to be is not good for us. If we persist to be where Allah doesn't want us to be, the troubles will surface sooner or later. Allah chose us to be their parents and entrusted them to us. So we must do our job, and do it well. This is being a thankful servant. We always go back to Him and ask Him to help us do our job well. He is the only One who can guide and help us.
When you find no where to turn to for the moment, remember what Lukman said to his son:
"O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever befalls you; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. "And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. "And be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass." Qur'an Lukman 31:17-19
Apply this advice to ourselves first as the best teacher is a good example.
We just left the month of Ramadhan where we had trained our children to wake up before Fajr to eat the pre-dawn meal. Then we prayed Fajr with them. For some, you stayed up with them after Fajr and read the Qur'an, and for many others, you took them to the masjid for iftar, prayed Maghrib, 'Isha and taraweeh. Don't lose this momentum. Keep waking them up before Fajr and do a couple rak'ah of prayer, then Fajr, then read a few pages of Qur'an with them. Try to do Maghrib and 'Isha at the masjid. In between these prayers, they can do their homework and/or read/learn Qur'an. Ramadhan should not come and go without them reaping the benefits of it the whole year. It was their training ground. What is life without Allah in your hearts and you want to sow this in your precious children's hearts while you still have the say so in their lives. Each moment you let your children watch shows on TV or computer, you are taking them away from the pre-disposition which Allah created them with.
Remember, Shaytan to us is our clear enemy and so we should treat him like an enemy. He is always there lurking to snatch our Faith away and for sure TV and internet have more soldiers of Shaytan than anywhere else waiting to get your entire family into his domain. So protect your precious ones by giving them Islam.
"Allah cursed him.And he [Shaytan] said: "I will take an appointed portion of your slaves; Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah." And whoever takes Shaytan as a Wali (protector or helper) instead of Allah, has surely suffered a manifest loss." Qur'an An-Nisa 4:118-119
May Allah help us raise our children well and guide them. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
2 Powerful Warriors
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Now that Ramadhan is over, the effects of Ramadhan should still linger especially for those who are doing or planning to do the 6 days Shawwal fasting and other sunnah fasting throughout the year.
How different it was in Ramadhan. People were a lot mellow--there were neither shoutings nor fights on the streets or in public transportation. People were more cordial and helpful. There were more bright and smiling faces. How peaceful and how blessed Ramadhan was! SubhanAllah. You wish it stays that way all year.
If we fasted correctly, then we would have benefited from one of the effects of Ramadhan--an increase in patience. One can never have too much patience. Lack of patience can cause lots of problems--to oneself as well as to others. Patience is an acquired trait which many people don't have or many lose it very easily. If you have patience, nothing befalls you disturbs or bothers you. You will go through challenges, difficulties, uneasiness and discomfort in stride.
Patience is waiting--waiting for something to change in your favor. You know everything will change except Allah. So you will be patient because your difficulties, your uneasiness, your discomfort will be relief, ease and comfort sooner or later by the Will of Allah.
Patience is not passively waiting--that is laziness. But to keep going when the going is tough and slow--that is patience. You know all things will pass including the waiting.
Time and patience are two most powerful warriors. In time things will pass. In time all things will change. Only Allah does not change. So, keep going for the sake of Allah and towards Allah. Don't waste time on the sources of distractions--like anger, complaints, arguments and fights. "Truly, Allah is with the patient." (Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:153) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
"By time, Verily, Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual teaching of Truth and of Patience and Constancy." (Qur'an Asr 103)
On the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with them both, who said : One day I was behind the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said to me:
"Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried." (narrated by Tirmidhi, who said it is true and fine hadith)
In a version other than that of Tirmidhi it reads:
"..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."
May Allah give us and all the Muslims victory. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Now that Ramadhan is over, the effects of Ramadhan should still linger especially for those who are doing or planning to do the 6 days Shawwal fasting and other sunnah fasting throughout the year.
How different it was in Ramadhan. People were a lot mellow--there were neither shoutings nor fights on the streets or in public transportation. People were more cordial and helpful. There were more bright and smiling faces. How peaceful and how blessed Ramadhan was! SubhanAllah. You wish it stays that way all year.
If we fasted correctly, then we would have benefited from one of the effects of Ramadhan--an increase in patience. One can never have too much patience. Lack of patience can cause lots of problems--to oneself as well as to others. Patience is an acquired trait which many people don't have or many lose it very easily. If you have patience, nothing befalls you disturbs or bothers you. You will go through challenges, difficulties, uneasiness and discomfort in stride.
Patience is waiting--waiting for something to change in your favor. You know everything will change except Allah. So you will be patient because your difficulties, your uneasiness, your discomfort will be relief, ease and comfort sooner or later by the Will of Allah.
Patience is not passively waiting--that is laziness. But to keep going when the going is tough and slow--that is patience. You know all things will pass including the waiting.
Time and patience are two most powerful warriors. In time things will pass. In time all things will change. Only Allah does not change. So, keep going for the sake of Allah and towards Allah. Don't waste time on the sources of distractions--like anger, complaints, arguments and fights. "Truly, Allah is with the patient." (Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:153) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
"By time, Verily, Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual teaching of Truth and of Patience and Constancy." (Qur'an Asr 103)
On the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with them both, who said : One day I was behind the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said to me:
"Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried." (narrated by Tirmidhi, who said it is true and fine hadith)
In a version other than that of Tirmidhi it reads:
"..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."
May Allah give us and all the Muslims victory. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Catch the Final Moments
بسمالله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Taraweeh and Qiyam for some parts of the world have passed and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, you still have the chance to gain that extra reward from the blessings of Ramadhan. Don't miss this opportunity and don't let the masjids become lean with people because you are preparing for Eid!
For the rest who just completed their last taraweeh or qiyam, reap the benefits of Ramadhan while it lasts during this final moments with many other good deeds--give extra charity and pay your sadaqatul fitr and zakat now before Friday. InshaAllah.
Also, read more Qur'an. Remember each letter you recite is one reward, and rewards are multiplied by 10 of their kind.
Regarding Ramadhan, it was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "...Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligation at any other time.."
May Allah accept our prayers, fasting, charity, du'as and all acts of good deeds. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Taraweeh and Qiyam for some parts of the world have passed and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, you still have the chance to gain that extra reward from the blessings of Ramadhan. Don't miss this opportunity and don't let the masjids become lean with people because you are preparing for Eid!
For the rest who just completed their last taraweeh or qiyam, reap the benefits of Ramadhan while it lasts during this final moments with many other good deeds--give extra charity and pay your sadaqatul fitr and zakat now before Friday. InshaAllah.
Also, read more Qur'an. Remember each letter you recite is one reward, and rewards are multiplied by 10 of their kind.
Regarding Ramadhan, it was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "...Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligation at any other time.."
May Allah accept our prayers, fasting, charity, du'as and all acts of good deeds. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Beaming With Light
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
"Purity is half of faith." Someone who observes purity, he is half way there in terms of his faith. The outer purity is a means to inner purity. Wudu' (ablution) is the foremost form of purification. We must have wudu' to perform our prayers.
Teach your children to do their wudu' properly and encourage them to maintain their wudu' throughout the day and have wudu' before going to bed at night. If you instill this habit in them right from young, it will keep them away from stray behaviors and protect them from evil, inshaAllah.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, will know his Ummah in the Day of Judgment from the light that shines from the places of wudu'. It is important that we do our wudu' properly so those limbs will shine in the Day of Judgment.
I remember a Shafi'i Shaykh explaining how to perform wudu' the Shafi' way to a group of students here in Cairo and then he advised the students to follow the Maliki way in terms of wiping the head (which is wiping the whole head as opposed to wiping three strands of hair). He said: I wouldn't want the light just beaming from 3 strands of hair while the Maliki's have their whole head beaming with light! In matters of worship, we should strive to do the most and the most difficult--this is the way of taqwa.
May Allah purify our intentions and our actions. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
"Purity is half of faith." Someone who observes purity, he is half way there in terms of his faith. The outer purity is a means to inner purity. Wudu' (ablution) is the foremost form of purification. We must have wudu' to perform our prayers.
Teach your children to do their wudu' properly and encourage them to maintain their wudu' throughout the day and have wudu' before going to bed at night. If you instill this habit in them right from young, it will keep them away from stray behaviors and protect them from evil, inshaAllah.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, will know his Ummah in the Day of Judgment from the light that shines from the places of wudu'. It is important that we do our wudu' properly so those limbs will shine in the Day of Judgment.
I remember a Shafi'i Shaykh explaining how to perform wudu' the Shafi' way to a group of students here in Cairo and then he advised the students to follow the Maliki way in terms of wiping the head (which is wiping the whole head as opposed to wiping three strands of hair). He said: I wouldn't want the light just beaming from 3 strands of hair while the Maliki's have their whole head beaming with light! In matters of worship, we should strive to do the most and the most difficult--this is the way of taqwa.
May Allah purify our intentions and our actions. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
wassalaam
Monday, September 6, 2010
Ramadhan Gift from Cairo
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
I would like to share with you this beautiful and emotional du'a by Shaykh Muhammad Jibril from last night's witr prayer at Masjid 'Amr bin al-'As, attended by Muslims and observers who packed the masjid and the city corners and streets many blocks. It was a phenomenal sight and experience! MashaAllah. May Allah increase and preserve the Shaykh. Ameen.
The first masjid of the blessed land of Egypt, Masjid 'Amr bin al-'As was built in 642 AD (21 AH) by 'Amr bin al-'As, Allah be pleased with him, the commander of the Muslim army who opened Egypt. It is the oldest existing masjid, not just in Cairo, but the entire African Continent. It was an Islamic learning center long before Al-Azhar Mosque and held up to 5,000 students.
It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Shamasa Mahri that he said: We went to Amr bin al-As and he was about to die. He wept for a long time and turned his face towards the wall. His son said: Did the Messenger of Allah not give you tidings of this? Did the Messenger of Allah not give you tidings of this? He (the narrator) said: He turned his face (towards the audience) and said: The best thing which we can count upon is the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah. Verily I have passed through three phases. (The first one) in which I found myself averse to none else more than I was averse to the Messenger of Allah and there was no other desire stronger in me than the one that I should overpower him and kill him. Had I died in this state, I would have been definitely one of the denizens of Fire. When Allah instilled the love of Islam in my heart, I came to the Apostle and said: Stretch out your right hand so that may pledge my allegiance to you. He stretched out his right hand, I withdrew my hand, He (the Holy Prophet) said: What has happened to you, O 'Amr? I replied: I intend to lay down some condition. He asked: What condition do you intend to put forward? I said: I should be granted pardon. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)? Verily migration wipes out all the previous (misdeeds), and verily the pilgrimage wipes out all the (previous) misdeeds. And then no one was as dear to me than the Messenger of Allah and none was more sublime in my eyes than he. Never could I pluck courage to catch a full glimpse of his face due to its splendor. So if I am asked to describe his features, I cannot do that for I have not eyed him fully. Had I died in this state I had every reason to hope that I would have bee among the dwellers of Paradise. Then we were responsible for certain things (in the light of which) I am unable to know what is in store for me. When I die, let neither female mourner nor fire accompany me. When you bury me, fill my grave well with earth, then stand around it for the time within which a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed so that I may enjoy your intimacy and (in your company) ascertain what answer I can give to the messengers (angels) of Allah.
May Allah forgive all our sins and grant us Jannatul Firdaus and His Noble Countenance, Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
p.s. To play the videos continuously using Windows Media Player or iTunes in the right order, download and convert the videos to MP3 using Youtube Downloader
http://download.cnet.com/YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-10647340.html
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
I would like to share with you this beautiful and emotional du'a by Shaykh Muhammad Jibril from last night's witr prayer at Masjid 'Amr bin al-'As, attended by Muslims and observers who packed the masjid and the city corners and streets many blocks. It was a phenomenal sight and experience! MashaAllah. May Allah increase and preserve the Shaykh. Ameen.
The first masjid of the blessed land of Egypt, Masjid 'Amr bin al-'As was built in 642 AD (21 AH) by 'Amr bin al-'As, Allah be pleased with him, the commander of the Muslim army who opened Egypt. It is the oldest existing masjid, not just in Cairo, but the entire African Continent. It was an Islamic learning center long before Al-Azhar Mosque and held up to 5,000 students.
It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Shamasa Mahri that he said: We went to Amr bin al-As and he was about to die. He wept for a long time and turned his face towards the wall. His son said: Did the Messenger of Allah not give you tidings of this? Did the Messenger of Allah not give you tidings of this? He (the narrator) said: He turned his face (towards the audience) and said: The best thing which we can count upon is the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah. Verily I have passed through three phases. (The first one) in which I found myself averse to none else more than I was averse to the Messenger of Allah and there was no other desire stronger in me than the one that I should overpower him and kill him. Had I died in this state, I would have been definitely one of the denizens of Fire. When Allah instilled the love of Islam in my heart, I came to the Apostle and said: Stretch out your right hand so that may pledge my allegiance to you. He stretched out his right hand, I withdrew my hand, He (the Holy Prophet) said: What has happened to you, O 'Amr? I replied: I intend to lay down some condition. He asked: What condition do you intend to put forward? I said: I should be granted pardon. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)? Verily migration wipes out all the previous (misdeeds), and verily the pilgrimage wipes out all the (previous) misdeeds. And then no one was as dear to me than the Messenger of Allah and none was more sublime in my eyes than he. Never could I pluck courage to catch a full glimpse of his face due to its splendor. So if I am asked to describe his features, I cannot do that for I have not eyed him fully. Had I died in this state I had every reason to hope that I would have bee among the dwellers of Paradise. Then we were responsible for certain things (in the light of which) I am unable to know what is in store for me. When I die, let neither female mourner nor fire accompany me. When you bury me, fill my grave well with earth, then stand around it for the time within which a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed so that I may enjoy your intimacy and (in your company) ascertain what answer I can give to the messengers (angels) of Allah.
May Allah forgive all our sins and grant us Jannatul Firdaus and His Noble Countenance, Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
p.s. To play the videos continuously using Windows Media Player or iTunes in the right order, download and convert the videos to MP3 using Youtube Downloader
http://download.cnet.com/YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-10647340.html
Friday, September 3, 2010
Allah is jealous?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
You have a regular devotion of reading a juz of the Qur'an everyday, but tonight you have people coming for iftar and you have already spent most of your day shopping and cooking. You said to yourself, "Entertaining guests for the sake of Allah is a worship, so I'll do my reading later tonight after they leave."
But by the time they left and you finished praying taraweeh, you are too tired and too sleepy (after all you have been getting very little sleep since Ramadhan), to even open the Qur'an. So you missed reading a juz for one day!
I remember this story of a man who wanted to marry this beautiful woman. For a long time he wooed her and he finally passed all obstacles. The woman said to him, "You know my sister is even more beautiful than me and she is standing behind you right now." The man immediately turned around and saw no one behind him. The woman slapped him on the face and left him.
Yes, you missed a wird. Your house won't come tumbling down for missing a wird. After all it is not obligatory. What is the big deal? It is a big deal to your soul. The jealousy of Allah demands that Allah doesn't want you to turn to anything else. If at any time we prefer something over our Creator, that opportunity is gone and will never come back. When the time is gone, it is gone. So, no matter how busy you are, remember Allah is more worthy of your time. Set an hour a day or so to keep your daily wird of reading the Qur'an and not let anything come in the way of fulfilling this wird.
Imagine if you don't have a consistent or an established wird, or you miss your prayers because you spend your time in idle chats, arguments/fights, watching TV, listening to music, reading Sports Illustrated and the like, surfing the internet aimlessly, or excessive socialization on FB, YM and the like. How jealous you think the Master will be? What will happen to you? The degree that one turns away from Allah to that degree Allah distances away from the person. This should be punishment enough.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرًّ۬ا وَعَلَانِيَةً۬ يَرۡجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً۬ لَّن تَبُورَ (٢٩) لِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۚۦۤ إِنَّهُ ۥ غَفُورٌ۬ شَڪُورٌ۬ ٣٠
"Verily, those who read the Book of Allah, and establish prayer, and spend, secretly and openly, from that which He has bestowed on them, they look forward to imperishable gain, so that He will fully recompense them their wages and increase them of His grace. Indeed, He is All-Forgiving, Thankful." Qur'an Fatir 35:29-30
Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The one who recites the Qur'an and is skillful therein will be with the obedient, noble, recording angels, and the one who reads the Qur'an stammering, it being difficult for him, has two rewards." (Bukhari)
May Allah forgives us and makes us among the bearers of the Qur'an. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
You have a regular devotion of reading a juz of the Qur'an everyday, but tonight you have people coming for iftar and you have already spent most of your day shopping and cooking. You said to yourself, "Entertaining guests for the sake of Allah is a worship, so I'll do my reading later tonight after they leave."
But by the time they left and you finished praying taraweeh, you are too tired and too sleepy (after all you have been getting very little sleep since Ramadhan), to even open the Qur'an. So you missed reading a juz for one day!
I remember this story of a man who wanted to marry this beautiful woman. For a long time he wooed her and he finally passed all obstacles. The woman said to him, "You know my sister is even more beautiful than me and she is standing behind you right now." The man immediately turned around and saw no one behind him. The woman slapped him on the face and left him.
Yes, you missed a wird. Your house won't come tumbling down for missing a wird. After all it is not obligatory. What is the big deal? It is a big deal to your soul. The jealousy of Allah demands that Allah doesn't want you to turn to anything else. If at any time we prefer something over our Creator, that opportunity is gone and will never come back. When the time is gone, it is gone. So, no matter how busy you are, remember Allah is more worthy of your time. Set an hour a day or so to keep your daily wird of reading the Qur'an and not let anything come in the way of fulfilling this wird.
Imagine if you don't have a consistent or an established wird, or you miss your prayers because you spend your time in idle chats, arguments/fights, watching TV, listening to music, reading Sports Illustrated and the like, surfing the internet aimlessly, or excessive socialization on FB, YM and the like. How jealous you think the Master will be? What will happen to you? The degree that one turns away from Allah to that degree Allah distances away from the person. This should be punishment enough.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرًّ۬ا وَعَلَانِيَةً۬ يَرۡجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً۬ لَّن تَبُورَ (٢٩) لِيُوَفِّيَهُمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۚۦۤ إِنَّهُ ۥ غَفُورٌ۬ شَڪُورٌ۬ ٣٠
"Verily, those who read the Book of Allah, and establish prayer, and spend, secretly and openly, from that which He has bestowed on them, they look forward to imperishable gain, so that He will fully recompense them their wages and increase them of His grace. Indeed, He is All-Forgiving, Thankful." Qur'an Fatir 35:29-30
Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The one who recites the Qur'an and is skillful therein will be with the obedient, noble, recording angels, and the one who reads the Qur'an stammering, it being difficult for him, has two rewards." (Bukhari)
May Allah forgives us and makes us among the bearers of the Qur'an. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Last Chance?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
"Every soul shall have a taste of death; then unto Us you shall be returned." Qur'an Ankabut 29:57
This was the opening reminder given by the imam of Masjid Al-Azhar, one of the most famous and prestigious masjids in the world today, before explaining how to perform a jenazah prayer and then leading the prayer. Afterwards 2 jenazah were carried out of the masjid. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
In the evening during taraweeh, I was reminded of this fact again when surah Ankabut was recited.
Depending where you are, there are only 6 or 7 days left of Ramadhan and this maybe our last chance to do good deeds and hope to gain multiple reward and have our du'as answered.
"Prosperous are the believers who in their prayers are humble and from idle talk turn away and at almsgiving are active and guard their private parts save from their wives and what their right hands own then being not blameworthy (but whosoever seeks after more than that, those are the transgressors) and who preserve their trusts and their covenant and who observe their prayers.Those are the inheritors who shall inherit Paradise therein dwelling forever." Qur'an Mu'minun 23:1-11
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "If you ask Allah for Paradise, then ask him for Al-Firdaus, for it is the highest part of Paradise, in the middle of Paradise, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise, and above it is the (Mighty) Throne of the Most Merciful."
May Allah facilitates us to encounter Laylatul Qadr and forgives all our sins and grants us Jannatul Firdaus and His Noble Countenance. Ameen, Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
"Every soul shall have a taste of death; then unto Us you shall be returned." Qur'an Ankabut 29:57
This was the opening reminder given by the imam of Masjid Al-Azhar, one of the most famous and prestigious masjids in the world today, before explaining how to perform a jenazah prayer and then leading the prayer. Afterwards 2 jenazah were carried out of the masjid. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
In the evening during taraweeh, I was reminded of this fact again when surah Ankabut was recited.
Depending where you are, there are only 6 or 7 days left of Ramadhan and this maybe our last chance to do good deeds and hope to gain multiple reward and have our du'as answered.
"Prosperous are the believers who in their prayers are humble and from idle talk turn away and at almsgiving are active and guard their private parts save from their wives and what their right hands own then being not blameworthy (but whosoever seeks after more than that, those are the transgressors) and who preserve their trusts and their covenant and who observe their prayers.Those are the inheritors who shall inherit Paradise therein dwelling forever." Qur'an Mu'minun 23:1-11
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "If you ask Allah for Paradise, then ask him for Al-Firdaus, for it is the highest part of Paradise, in the middle of Paradise, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise, and above it is the (Mighty) Throne of the Most Merciful."
May Allah facilitates us to encounter Laylatul Qadr and forgives all our sins and grants us Jannatul Firdaus and His Noble Countenance. Ameen, Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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