بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Beneficial
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
A lousy marriage can literally make you sick. It can raise your risk for heart disease--that is what medical researchers reported.
So if you are experiencing marital strife, you need to do something about it. You cannot shove it under the rug. What to do? It is not as difficult as you want to believe. If you go back to the purpose of marriage, it will be clear to you what you should do. But we are creatures of much desires and so we cannot make up our minds. We complain and complain for years but we are afraid to take a stance.
You either stay together in harmony or you go separate ways in peace. It is that simple. Anything in between is calling misery to all concern--you, your spouse and your children. Sooner or later the inevitable will happen and meanwhile sins pile heap and deep. So why not stop the bleeding this very moment? Choose one or the other.
If you want to choose to separate but cannot leave for whatever reason--maybe you are thinking about your young children, maybe you don't have a job and depend on your spouse to support you, maybe you have an image to protect or to project, then realize that you need your spouse. So stop complaining, ignore and overlook the differences and be patient. No marriage is perfect. And certainly you are not perfect. It you are patient, the reward is tremendous with Allah.
If you can't do this, know that you cannot change someone if he or she doesn't want to change. Don't be blinded by false hopes. If the complaints escalate to hostility, your children become collateral damage in the crossfires. You do not want this to happen to innocent people. What to do? You can call it quits if a few sessions of counseling or third party intervention didn't help. There is no point arguing and cause more hostility. Separate in peace. Don't worry about what the other person is going to do.
Do what you must and leave the outcome to Allah. Allah sees and hears everything. You might ask, "But what is going to happen to my children?" First take care of yourself and leave your children to Allah to protect. He is the best Protector. If you think about it, if you become seriously ill and die, you are not going to be able to protect them anyway!
May Allah protect us and our families. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Who Is In Control?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
When we first came to Egypt, someone had to hold my hand and force me to cross the road/highway or I would never cross the road or highway. I am not blind, Alhamdulillah, but it was just impossible to cross the road with the fast and heavy traffic. People and automobiles (sometimes the 4-legged too) were weaving the road that you cannot tell who is the king of the road! I would wait for a long time until the traffic lightens and then only I would proceed to cross. No Egyptian does this! It could mean you will never get to the other side. My boys learned this very fast and they were not about to wait like me. One day, they crossed the road and ignored my admonition. When I saw them on the other side alone and anxious, I gathered my courage, put my trust in Allah and crossed the road like everybody else!
So, what's the point of them crossing while I haven't--they still have to wait for me? I asked them this. But I realized Allah wants them to learn patience--something they need a lot of to study in Egypt. They have to wait, and waiting is not fun for many. Waiting is being patient.
Sitting in an old taxi, almost falling apart, driven by a reckless driver, and watching automobiles and pedestrians alike darting in front of the taxi, you cannot forget the One who is in control, the One who can let an accident happen or not to happen. At that moment, you see the reality of Egypt being a factory of knowledge. The actual experiences living in Egypt is a big part of learning about Allah, not just from formal studies at universities and with scholars.
Had Allah willed to take away my strength, my ability to speak, my ability to read and write, my ability to sit, stand, walk and run, I could have been in a big accident at that time. But He did not will that to me but He had willed it to many others. Just visit a hospital emergency room, inevitably you will see victims of road accidents, some with no hope of ever walking again, some with no hope of surviving much longer, and some being rolled to the mortuary. This is the will of Allah.
We should be grateful to Allah, the All Powerful, the All Merciful, that we have our strength and our limbs to enjoy this short life, by living a life of obedience to Him.
May Allah keep us and our families under His infinite care. 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.
When we first came to Egypt, someone had to hold my hand and force me to cross the road/highway or I would never cross the road or highway. I am not blind, Alhamdulillah, but it was just impossible to cross the road with the fast and heavy traffic. People and automobiles (sometimes the 4-legged too) were weaving the road that you cannot tell who is the king of the road! I would wait for a long time until the traffic lightens and then only I would proceed to cross. No Egyptian does this! It could mean you will never get to the other side. My boys learned this very fast and they were not about to wait like me. One day, they crossed the road and ignored my admonition. When I saw them on the other side alone and anxious, I gathered my courage, put my trust in Allah and crossed the road like everybody else!
So, what's the point of them crossing while I haven't--they still have to wait for me? I asked them this. But I realized Allah wants them to learn patience--something they need a lot of to study in Egypt. They have to wait, and waiting is not fun for many. Waiting is being patient.
Sitting in an old taxi, almost falling apart, driven by a reckless driver, and watching automobiles and pedestrians alike darting in front of the taxi, you cannot forget the One who is in control, the One who can let an accident happen or not to happen. At that moment, you see the reality of Egypt being a factory of knowledge. The actual experiences living in Egypt is a big part of learning about Allah, not just from formal studies at universities and with scholars.
Had Allah willed to take away my strength, my ability to speak, my ability to read and write, my ability to sit, stand, walk and run, I could have been in a big accident at that time. But He did not will that to me but He had willed it to many others. Just visit a hospital emergency room, inevitably you will see victims of road accidents, some with no hope of ever walking again, some with no hope of surviving much longer, and some being rolled to the mortuary. This is the will of Allah.
We should be grateful to Allah, the All Powerful, the All Merciful, that we have our strength and our limbs to enjoy this short life, by living a life of obedience to Him.
May Allah keep us and our families under His infinite care. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Which Group Do You Want To Be With?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
A young lady wrote to me and asked me for resources about the Day of Resurrection. That is a good sign about the future of our youths. I suggested to her to first read surah Waqi'ah which we are recommended to read every night. One of the benefits of reading this surah is protection from poverty. We all should encourage our children to learn and memorize this surah and read it every night before they go to sleep.
The Surah tells us that in the Day of Judgment we all will be sorted into 3 groups.
Some will be on the right of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's right side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their right hand and will be taken to the right side. As-Suddi explained that they will comprise the majority of the residents of Paradise. Another category is those who will be placed to the left of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's left side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their left hands and will be taken to the left side. They are the residents of the Fire, may Allah save us from their actions. A third category is comprised of those who are the foremost and nearest before Allah. They are in a better grade and status and nearer to Allah than those on the right side. They are the chiefs of those on the right side, because they include the Messengers, Prophets, true believers and martyrs. They are fewer than those on the right side. (Tafsir ibn Kathir)
Which group do you want to be with?
The vivid description of this Day in this surah should not leave you so soon. Immediately before you go to sleep you will set your alarm so you can wake up to do the tahajjud prayers. You will not miss the fajr prayer. You will not go back to sleep after fajr prayer but read some Qur'an before going about to take care of your family, your livelihood and your community. You will be kind to your parents. You will be charitable to the needy. You will be merciful to those under your charge. You will visit the sick. You will be honest and truthful in your dealings. You will not cheat in your business. You will not find time to argue, to fight, to bicker and to gossip.
In short, you will rush to obey Allah and race to good deeds, and you will stay away from evil deeds and disobedience of Allah. You are more conscious of your time to do only good.
Such is a life of a slave of Allah, working our way to draw near to Allah, until the angel of death comes to take our soul away to meet our Lord. And all that matters now is our Faith in Allah and our good deeds before this. This is the point of reading Surah al-Waqi'ah every night and knowing the Day of Resurrection.
And Allah knows best.
May we be given our Books of Records from our right hands and may Allah resurrect us with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and enter us into Paradise with him. 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.
A young lady wrote to me and asked me for resources about the Day of Resurrection. That is a good sign about the future of our youths. I suggested to her to first read surah Waqi'ah which we are recommended to read every night. One of the benefits of reading this surah is protection from poverty. We all should encourage our children to learn and memorize this surah and read it every night before they go to sleep.
The Surah tells us that in the Day of Judgment we all will be sorted into 3 groups.
Some will be on the right of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's right side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their right hand and will be taken to the right side. As-Suddi explained that they will comprise the majority of the residents of Paradise. Another category is those who will be placed to the left of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's left side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their left hands and will be taken to the left side. They are the residents of the Fire, may Allah save us from their actions. A third category is comprised of those who are the foremost and nearest before Allah. They are in a better grade and status and nearer to Allah than those on the right side. They are the chiefs of those on the right side, because they include the Messengers, Prophets, true believers and martyrs. They are fewer than those on the right side. (Tafsir ibn Kathir)
Which group do you want to be with?
The vivid description of this Day in this surah should not leave you so soon. Immediately before you go to sleep you will set your alarm so you can wake up to do the tahajjud prayers. You will not miss the fajr prayer. You will not go back to sleep after fajr prayer but read some Qur'an before going about to take care of your family, your livelihood and your community. You will be kind to your parents. You will be charitable to the needy. You will be merciful to those under your charge. You will visit the sick. You will be honest and truthful in your dealings. You will not cheat in your business. You will not find time to argue, to fight, to bicker and to gossip.
In short, you will rush to obey Allah and race to good deeds, and you will stay away from evil deeds and disobedience of Allah. You are more conscious of your time to do only good.
Such is a life of a slave of Allah, working our way to draw near to Allah, until the angel of death comes to take our soul away to meet our Lord. And all that matters now is our Faith in Allah and our good deeds before this. This is the point of reading Surah al-Waqi'ah every night and knowing the Day of Resurrection.
And Allah knows best.
May we be given our Books of Records from our right hands and may Allah resurrect us with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and enter us into Paradise with him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
Friday, November 26, 2010
Bad Things Happen
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Why do we need to struggle to explain why bad things happen to good people, to children, to innocent people?
Allah is the Creator of everything. He can do whatever He pleases. He can let bad things happen to anyone.
لَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفۡعَلُ وَهُمۡ يُسۡـَٔلُونَ
"He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs)." Qur'an Al-Anbiya' 21:23
What now? Are we going to stop praying? Are we going to forget Islam? Bad things happen to bad people, to non-Muslims, to atheist too! Bad things are not going to stop happening.
There is wisdom and benefit in every difficulties.
When our child get bullied in school, he will learn from the difficulty and he will be better equipped to deal with people when he grows up. You know this but your child doesn't know. You can try to explain this but he probably won't understand.
We, compare to people who are closer to Allah are like children. They see the wisdom but we don't see the wisdom. As we come closer to Allah, as we have greater and stronger relationship with Allah, there is more wisdom we will see, inshaAllah.
يُؤْتِى ٱلْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ
"He gives wisdom to whoever He wills and whoever He gives wisdom has been given a tremendous good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:269
When bad things happen, we should be reminded of the Power of Allah, put away our pride and humble ourselves to Allah.
May Allah save us from the trials of this life and the next. 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.
Why do we need to struggle to explain why bad things happen to good people, to children, to innocent people?
Allah is the Creator of everything. He can do whatever He pleases. He can let bad things happen to anyone.
لَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفۡعَلُ وَهُمۡ يُسۡـَٔلُونَ
"He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs)." Qur'an Al-Anbiya' 21:23
What now? Are we going to stop praying? Are we going to forget Islam? Bad things happen to bad people, to non-Muslims, to atheist too! Bad things are not going to stop happening.
There is wisdom and benefit in every difficulties.
When our child get bullied in school, he will learn from the difficulty and he will be better equipped to deal with people when he grows up. You know this but your child doesn't know. You can try to explain this but he probably won't understand.
We, compare to people who are closer to Allah are like children. They see the wisdom but we don't see the wisdom. As we come closer to Allah, as we have greater and stronger relationship with Allah, there is more wisdom we will see, inshaAllah.
يُؤْتِى ٱلْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ
"He gives wisdom to whoever He wills and whoever He gives wisdom has been given a tremendous good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:269
When bad things happen, we should be reminded of the Power of Allah, put away our pride and humble ourselves to Allah.
May Allah save us from the trials of this life and the next. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Grab The Opportunity To Meet The King
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Maybe you don't think about it but if you have the opportunity to meet with the King of Saudi Arabia or the Sultan of Brunei or the Queen of England or even the King of Malaysia, wouldn't you grab the opportunity to meet them? If you are invited to their palaces today, you would quickly hop on the next flight. You would not let your boss say NO to giving you a few days off work. In fact, your boss might very well offered more days than you have asked or he might offered it to you the moment he heard about the royal invitation! If you are going to school, you would work around your school work to make sure you get to meet with this king. Everybody around you are excited about this, not just you. Why? You all will have a similar answer. And it boils down to because they are kings! Who wouldn't want to meet a king!
Yes, we know about kings a lot. We can see them with our eyes or at least picture them in our minds, what they look like, the splendor of their palaces and the glamor of their royal lives. We have been exposed to these details from little. Remember all those many "happily ever after" bedtime stories and movies? Each culture has its own version of Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin and princess Jasmine, and now we have Shrek and princess Fiona. So no wonder we are fascinated by kings, palaces, princes and princesses. And when this opportunity to meet with a king comes, you naturally run for it. You want to know more and perhaps to experience the glamor of being around a king.
I remember when Shaykh Mishari Rashid Al-Afasy, the well known Qur'an reciter came to town, may Allah preserve and protect him, some people came from far away to the masjid to get a closer look at a member of a royal family. You could hear the whispers and the fascination about this. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
But how about the King of kings? Many don't know Him. They didn't learn about Him or they don't want to learn about Him. Those who know something about Him, many don't care to meet with Him. When He invited them to come to Him, they don't go. They are too busy and some refused the invitation. They ignore the call to prayer, they don't pray, they don't make dhikr of Allah, they don't read Qur'an. These are opportunities that have passed them by to be with the King of kings and they cannot bring them back. Don't be among these people. If nothing else, the King of kings has far more to offer than all these kings combined have to offer. He is the Creator of everything, including those kings, their palaces, their bodyguards and all their glamorous royal lives.
Now, when you open that facebook with no intention to worship Allah, close it. Otherwise, you will miss the opportunity to be with the King of kings. If you miss this opportunity enough times, you are at risk of losing it forever. You are at risk of not getting invited ever again. Remember, Allah can seal the hearts from His Light and make evil seemingly good for the wrongdoers. May Allah protect us from this. May Allah guide us to His Light. Ameen.
Facebook has become a very serious social issue. You don't need to read much about it because that is in itself a distraction from doing dhikr of Allah but suffice with your own common sense, experience or hearing about it to turn you away from using facebook to socialize, play games and answer quizzes, in short, to entertain and to pass time.
In a recent survey conducted by an international firm TNS, Japanese users had the least number of friends, averaging 29. Chinese consumers have an average of 68 friends in their networks. Malaysians have the most number of friends on social networking websites like facebook, average 233 friends in their social network. They also spend the most hours per week on such sites, average nine hours weekly. This is quite embarrassing for me, as a Malaysian and as a Muslim, to know this and to tell you this but it need to be told.
So, if you are spending such amount of time or more on facebook and other social network sites, you need to cut down by whole lot, so you can help yourself come closer to the King of kings, and be a good example to the non-Muslims around you. We want to rank high in technology and using technology to spread and teach the message of Islam, not using technology to waste our time.
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
"By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad)." Qur'an al-'Asr 103
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.
Maybe you don't think about it but if you have the opportunity to meet with the King of Saudi Arabia or the Sultan of Brunei or the Queen of England or even the King of Malaysia, wouldn't you grab the opportunity to meet them? If you are invited to their palaces today, you would quickly hop on the next flight. You would not let your boss say NO to giving you a few days off work. In fact, your boss might very well offered more days than you have asked or he might offered it to you the moment he heard about the royal invitation! If you are going to school, you would work around your school work to make sure you get to meet with this king. Everybody around you are excited about this, not just you. Why? You all will have a similar answer. And it boils down to because they are kings! Who wouldn't want to meet a king!
Yes, we know about kings a lot. We can see them with our eyes or at least picture them in our minds, what they look like, the splendor of their palaces and the glamor of their royal lives. We have been exposed to these details from little. Remember all those many "happily ever after" bedtime stories and movies? Each culture has its own version of Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin and princess Jasmine, and now we have Shrek and princess Fiona. So no wonder we are fascinated by kings, palaces, princes and princesses. And when this opportunity to meet with a king comes, you naturally run for it. You want to know more and perhaps to experience the glamor of being around a king.
I remember when Shaykh Mishari Rashid Al-Afasy, the well known Qur'an reciter came to town, may Allah preserve and protect him, some people came from far away to the masjid to get a closer look at a member of a royal family. You could hear the whispers and the fascination about this. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
But how about the King of kings? Many don't know Him. They didn't learn about Him or they don't want to learn about Him. Those who know something about Him, many don't care to meet with Him. When He invited them to come to Him, they don't go. They are too busy and some refused the invitation. They ignore the call to prayer, they don't pray, they don't make dhikr of Allah, they don't read Qur'an. These are opportunities that have passed them by to be with the King of kings and they cannot bring them back. Don't be among these people. If nothing else, the King of kings has far more to offer than all these kings combined have to offer. He is the Creator of everything, including those kings, their palaces, their bodyguards and all their glamorous royal lives.
Now, when you open that facebook with no intention to worship Allah, close it. Otherwise, you will miss the opportunity to be with the King of kings. If you miss this opportunity enough times, you are at risk of losing it forever. You are at risk of not getting invited ever again. Remember, Allah can seal the hearts from His Light and make evil seemingly good for the wrongdoers. May Allah protect us from this. May Allah guide us to His Light. Ameen.
Facebook has become a very serious social issue. You don't need to read much about it because that is in itself a distraction from doing dhikr of Allah but suffice with your own common sense, experience or hearing about it to turn you away from using facebook to socialize, play games and answer quizzes, in short, to entertain and to pass time.
In a recent survey conducted by an international firm TNS, Japanese users had the least number of friends, averaging 29. Chinese consumers have an average of 68 friends in their networks. Malaysians have the most number of friends on social networking websites like facebook, average 233 friends in their social network. They also spend the most hours per week on such sites, average nine hours weekly. This is quite embarrassing for me, as a Malaysian and as a Muslim, to know this and to tell you this but it need to be told.
So, if you are spending such amount of time or more on facebook and other social network sites, you need to cut down by whole lot, so you can help yourself come closer to the King of kings, and be a good example to the non-Muslims around you. We want to rank high in technology and using technology to spread and teach the message of Islam, not using technology to waste our time.
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
"By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad)." Qur'an al-'Asr 103
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
We Are Lagging Behind!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
All inhabitants of the heavens and the earth celebrate the praises of God. Each has his own mode of prayer and praise, with actions and their peculiar modes of self-expression recognizing and declaring the Glory of God. Waves roaring, moving mightily lapping the shores; birds with their wings outspread in their flight; clouds floating about in fantastic shapes, all in complete submission to Allah Al-Mighty. SubhanAllah.
"See you not (O Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah, He it is Whom glorify whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with wings out-spread (in their flight)? Of each one He (Allah) knows indeed his Salat (prayer) and his glorification, [or everyone knows his Salat (prayer) and his glorification], and Allah is All-Aware of what they do." Qur'an An-Nur 24:41
The pure angelic hosts, high in the spiritual world, near the Throne of God Himself, serve Him without ceasing and are not too proud to do so.
"To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service). They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit." Qur'an Al-Anbiya' 21:19-20
Where are you at in serving Allah and His religion?
May Allah increase us in our worship of Him and in serving His religion. 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.
All inhabitants of the heavens and the earth celebrate the praises of God. Each has his own mode of prayer and praise, with actions and their peculiar modes of self-expression recognizing and declaring the Glory of God. Waves roaring, moving mightily lapping the shores; birds with their wings outspread in their flight; clouds floating about in fantastic shapes, all in complete submission to Allah Al-Mighty. SubhanAllah.
"See you not (O Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah, He it is Whom glorify whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with wings out-spread (in their flight)? Of each one He (Allah) knows indeed his Salat (prayer) and his glorification, [or everyone knows his Salat (prayer) and his glorification], and Allah is All-Aware of what they do." Qur'an An-Nur 24:41
The pure angelic hosts, high in the spiritual world, near the Throne of God Himself, serve Him without ceasing and are not too proud to do so.
"To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service). They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit." Qur'an Al-Anbiya' 21:19-20
Where are you at in serving Allah and His religion?
May Allah increase us in our worship of Him and in serving His religion. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Light upon Light!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
"And to Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the return (of all)." Qur'an Nur 24:42
When we read this verse we should feel very very small. We should not need anything except Allah. He is the Master. He can do whatever He wills and to whoever He wills. We seek guidance from Him to do what pleases Him.
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp, the lamp is in glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east (i.e. neither it gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor it gets sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun all day long), whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything." Qur'an Nur 24:35
Allah increases in guidance to those who adopts guidance. Those who choose to be guided are those who choose to obey Allah and those who choose to be misguided are those who choose to disobey Allah. If we want to be the people of Allah's tawfiq, we must choose to obey Him.
"Verily, Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is bigger (or less when it is smaller) than it. And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: "What did Allah intend by this parable?" By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:26
We ask Allah to guide us and protect us from misguidance. 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.
"And to Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the return (of all)." Qur'an Nur 24:42
When we read this verse we should feel very very small. We should not need anything except Allah. He is the Master. He can do whatever He wills and to whoever He wills. We seek guidance from Him to do what pleases Him.
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp, the lamp is in glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east (i.e. neither it gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor it gets sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun all day long), whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything." Qur'an Nur 24:35
Allah increases in guidance to those who adopts guidance. Those who choose to be guided are those who choose to obey Allah and those who choose to be misguided are those who choose to disobey Allah. If we want to be the people of Allah's tawfiq, we must choose to obey Him.
"Verily, Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is bigger (or less when it is smaller) than it. And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: "What did Allah intend by this parable?" By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:26
We ask Allah to guide us and protect us from misguidance. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, November 22, 2010
You Got A Problem?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
You are excited about a vacation you have been waiting for or perhaps you have an important business trip in another city. Your flight is at 6 a.m. You make sure you get up to catch that flight. You calculate how much time you need to get ready--shower, get dressed, get something to eat, get to the airport, check in, go through security and boarding. This would mean, perhaps waking up at 2 or 3 a.m. You set your alarm to make sure you wake up and not miss this important flight. Some might decide to just stay up!
Are we this excited, this conscious about getting up for tahajjud and fajr prayer? If the answer is no, this is not a good sign especially if you sleep through fajr. It means you got a problem. Your priority is wrong. You don't have the right attitude towards prayer. You need to change.
Prayer is something big. Bigger than any PhD projects. When prayer time comes, you pray. Everything can wait--the shopping can wait, the oil change can wait, the boss can wait, the pet walking can wait. But your prayer cannot wait. Like if you missed your flight, you might be able to catch another flight, but it is not the same--You have missed the fun or business deals which you could have enjoyed had you not missed your flight and arrived at your destination on time. You cannot make up the lost opportunity ever.
If you want to wake up for fajr (and tahajjud), you can wake up. You do whatever it takes to wake up, just as you did to make sure you don't miss your flight. Our lives change at least 5 times a day, with our 5 daily prayers, and it is a wonderful change.
"Verily, the Muttaqun (pious) will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise), Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun (good-doers). They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope]. And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness, And in their properties there was the right of the Sa'il (the beggar who asks), and the Mahrum (the poor who does not ask the others)." Qur'an adh-dhariyat 51:15-19
"Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:277
"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before God in a devout (frame of mind)." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:238
May Allah grant us steadfastness and righteousness. 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.
You are excited about a vacation you have been waiting for or perhaps you have an important business trip in another city. Your flight is at 6 a.m. You make sure you get up to catch that flight. You calculate how much time you need to get ready--shower, get dressed, get something to eat, get to the airport, check in, go through security and boarding. This would mean, perhaps waking up at 2 or 3 a.m. You set your alarm to make sure you wake up and not miss this important flight. Some might decide to just stay up!
Are we this excited, this conscious about getting up for tahajjud and fajr prayer? If the answer is no, this is not a good sign especially if you sleep through fajr. It means you got a problem. Your priority is wrong. You don't have the right attitude towards prayer. You need to change.
Prayer is something big. Bigger than any PhD projects. When prayer time comes, you pray. Everything can wait--the shopping can wait, the oil change can wait, the boss can wait, the pet walking can wait. But your prayer cannot wait. Like if you missed your flight, you might be able to catch another flight, but it is not the same--You have missed the fun or business deals which you could have enjoyed had you not missed your flight and arrived at your destination on time. You cannot make up the lost opportunity ever.
If you want to wake up for fajr (and tahajjud), you can wake up. You do whatever it takes to wake up, just as you did to make sure you don't miss your flight. Our lives change at least 5 times a day, with our 5 daily prayers, and it is a wonderful change.
"Verily, the Muttaqun (pious) will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise), Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun (good-doers). They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope]. And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness, And in their properties there was the right of the Sa'il (the beggar who asks), and the Mahrum (the poor who does not ask the others)." Qur'an adh-dhariyat 51:15-19
"Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:277
"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before God in a devout (frame of mind)." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:238
May Allah grant us steadfastness and righteousness. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
No Escape
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
For 9 months (more or less) we live in comfort and warmth of our mother's body, small and cozy. When we came to this world, it was a completely different world, a big open space. It was a difficult transition. We cried! But soon we get used to this world. Some get too attached to it. Here we will spend our lives for a time.
Soon, sooner than we think, we will face death. There is no escape. At that time we are aware that we are leaving this world to an unknown world, al-barzakh. The ones who have been busy building their lives for this world will hate leaving it, but the ones who have been busy building their mansions for the next life will welcome the angel of death.
Living in the grave is another story--it can be easy or it can be very difficult. May Allah has mercy on us.
Whenever 'Uthman ibn Affan, Allah be pleased with him (the son-in-law of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, third righteous Caliph, one of the 10 being promised Paradise) came near a grave, he wept so much that his beard became wet. Someone remarked to him that when he mentioned the Garden and the Fire he never wept as much, and he said: 'I heard the Messenger of God, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The grave is the first of the Hereafter's stages. If one is saved from it then what comes next is easier, but if one is not saved from it, then what comes next is ever harder."
Next, we will find ourselves crawling out of our graves. The sky cracking, the moon knocked out of its orbit, the sun is over our heads, the stars are falling, the mountains exploding, the ocean is catching fire and burning, earthquakes everywhere, people are running around as if they are drunk. This is the worst stage and we will need tranquility!
"...The day that men shall be like scattered moths, and the mountains shall be plucked wool-tufts. Then he whose deeds weigh heavy in the Balance shall inherit a pleasing life but he whose deed weigh light in the Balance shall plunge in the womb of the Pit. And what shall teach thee what is the Pit? A blazing Fire!" Qur'an Al-Qari'ah 101:4-11
"As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honor and bounties, then he says (in): "My Lord has honored me." But when He tries him, by straitening his means of life, he says: "My Lord has humiliated me!" Nay! But you treat not the orphans with kindness and generosity (i.e. you neither treat them well, nor give them their exact right of inheritance)! And urge not one another on the feeding of AlMiskin (the poor)! And you devour inheritance all with greed, And you love wealth with much love! Nay! When the earth is ground to powder, And your Lord comes with the angels in rows, And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him? He will say: "Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!" So on that Day, none will punish as He will punish, And none will bind as He will bind. (It will be said to the righteous — believers of Islamic Monothesim): "O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! "Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing (unto Him)! "Enter you, then, among My (honored) slaves, "And enter you My Paradise!" Qur'an Al-Fajr 89:15-30
May Allah gives us peace and tranquility in this life and the next. 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.
For 9 months (more or less) we live in comfort and warmth of our mother's body, small and cozy. When we came to this world, it was a completely different world, a big open space. It was a difficult transition. We cried! But soon we get used to this world. Some get too attached to it. Here we will spend our lives for a time.
Soon, sooner than we think, we will face death. There is no escape. At that time we are aware that we are leaving this world to an unknown world, al-barzakh. The ones who have been busy building their lives for this world will hate leaving it, but the ones who have been busy building their mansions for the next life will welcome the angel of death.
Living in the grave is another story--it can be easy or it can be very difficult. May Allah has mercy on us.
Whenever 'Uthman ibn Affan, Allah be pleased with him (the son-in-law of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, third righteous Caliph, one of the 10 being promised Paradise) came near a grave, he wept so much that his beard became wet. Someone remarked to him that when he mentioned the Garden and the Fire he never wept as much, and he said: 'I heard the Messenger of God, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The grave is the first of the Hereafter's stages. If one is saved from it then what comes next is easier, but if one is not saved from it, then what comes next is ever harder."
Next, we will find ourselves crawling out of our graves. The sky cracking, the moon knocked out of its orbit, the sun is over our heads, the stars are falling, the mountains exploding, the ocean is catching fire and burning, earthquakes everywhere, people are running around as if they are drunk. This is the worst stage and we will need tranquility!
"...The day that men shall be like scattered moths, and the mountains shall be plucked wool-tufts. Then he whose deeds weigh heavy in the Balance shall inherit a pleasing life but he whose deed weigh light in the Balance shall plunge in the womb of the Pit. And what shall teach thee what is the Pit? A blazing Fire!" Qur'an Al-Qari'ah 101:4-11
"As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honor and bounties, then he says (in): "My Lord has honored me." But when He tries him, by straitening his means of life, he says: "My Lord has humiliated me!" Nay! But you treat not the orphans with kindness and generosity (i.e. you neither treat them well, nor give them their exact right of inheritance)! And urge not one another on the feeding of AlMiskin (the poor)! And you devour inheritance all with greed, And you love wealth with much love! Nay! When the earth is ground to powder, And your Lord comes with the angels in rows, And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him? He will say: "Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!" So on that Day, none will punish as He will punish, And none will bind as He will bind. (It will be said to the righteous — believers of Islamic Monothesim): "O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! "Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing (unto Him)! "Enter you, then, among My (honored) slaves, "And enter you My Paradise!" Qur'an Al-Fajr 89:15-30
May Allah gives us peace and tranquility in this life and the next. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, November 18, 2010
I Am In Complete and Utter Need of Allah, Most High
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Everything we have is from our Lord and we should be grateful and thankful to Him. We are in complete and utter need of Allah, Most High, in every single moment. Were Allah, Most High, to withdraw His maintaining us in existence for even a second, everything will cease to exist.
Allah does whatever He wills. He is the Creator. Whether you like it or not things happen. Bad things happen. Good things happen. But we are responsible and accountable for our actions. Allah created choice within us to choose between doing good and doing bad, between obeying Him and not obeying Him.
When we obey Allah, we are grateful and thankful to Allah for His tawfiq. We focus on the fact that Allah created the good act. We don't focus on the fact that we acquired it because we will become proud and will have this sense of self-consequence or self-deserving. This is not becoming of a slave. A slave should have a deep sense of duty and deep sense of need for His Master. A slave does not feel independent of His Master.
When we make mistakes and disobey Allah, we are remorseful and immediately turn towards Allah in regretful repentance. We look and focus on the fact that we acquired the disobedience and we are responsible for it.
We don't do the opposite like the Shaytan. When Iblis disobeyed Allah, he looked at the fact that Allah created the action and he didn't accept responsibility. When he did a good act (he worshiped Allah for long time before the creation of Adam, peace be upon him), he looked at the fact that he acquired the action and he became proud. And look where he ended up.
"Whoever finds good let him thank Allah and whoever finds anything else, let him blame no one but himself." (related by Muslim)
قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ۬ مِّن رَّبِّى وَرَزَقَنِى مِنۡهُ رِزۡقًا حَسَنً۬اۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُخَالِفَكُمۡ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنۡهَٮٰڪُمۡ عَنۡهُۚ إِنۡ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلۡإِصۡلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُۚ وَمَا تَوۡفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُ وَإِلَيۡهِ أُنِيبُ
"He (Prophet Shu'ayb, peace be upon him) said: "O my people! see ye whether I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me sustenance (pure and) good as from Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from God. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look." Qur'an Hud 11:88
May Allah 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.
Everything we have is from our Lord and we should be grateful and thankful to Him. We are in complete and utter need of Allah, Most High, in every single moment. Were Allah, Most High, to withdraw His maintaining us in existence for even a second, everything will cease to exist.
Allah does whatever He wills. He is the Creator. Whether you like it or not things happen. Bad things happen. Good things happen. But we are responsible and accountable for our actions. Allah created choice within us to choose between doing good and doing bad, between obeying Him and not obeying Him.
When we obey Allah, we are grateful and thankful to Allah for His tawfiq. We focus on the fact that Allah created the good act. We don't focus on the fact that we acquired it because we will become proud and will have this sense of self-consequence or self-deserving. This is not becoming of a slave. A slave should have a deep sense of duty and deep sense of need for His Master. A slave does not feel independent of His Master.
When we make mistakes and disobey Allah, we are remorseful and immediately turn towards Allah in regretful repentance. We look and focus on the fact that we acquired the disobedience and we are responsible for it.
We don't do the opposite like the Shaytan. When Iblis disobeyed Allah, he looked at the fact that Allah created the action and he didn't accept responsibility. When he did a good act (he worshiped Allah for long time before the creation of Adam, peace be upon him), he looked at the fact that he acquired the action and he became proud. And look where he ended up.
"Whoever finds good let him thank Allah and whoever finds anything else, let him blame no one but himself." (related by Muslim)
قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ۬ مِّن رَّبِّى وَرَزَقَنِى مِنۡهُ رِزۡقًا حَسَنً۬اۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُخَالِفَكُمۡ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنۡهَٮٰڪُمۡ عَنۡهُۚ إِنۡ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلۡإِصۡلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُۚ وَمَا تَوۡفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُ وَإِلَيۡهِ أُنِيبُ
"He (Prophet Shu'ayb, peace be upon him) said: "O my people! see ye whether I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me sustenance (pure and) good as from Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from God. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look." Qur'an Hud 11:88
May Allah grant us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, November 15, 2010
Nothing Is Difficult
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamua alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Nothing is difficult if we sought help through our Lord. Our problem is we don't ask Allah and we are impatient. We ask everybody except Allah. When people don't help or couldn't help, we get depressed, disappointed or upset. What can people do except what Allah lets them. Only Allah can make things happen.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
"Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:255
When Prophet Ya'qub, peace be upon him, saw the blood stains on his beloved son's shirt, he saw there had been some foul play by his older sons against young Yusuf, peace be upon him, but he was patient and implore Allah's assistance.
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬ۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬اۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
"They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is God (alone) Whose help can be sought" Qur'an Yusuf 12:18
Prophet Ya'qub has faith and he knows that all that Allah does is for the best. Indeed, Allah plans and His promise is true. Many years later the family of Ya'qub reunited in the blessed land of Egypt.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَبَوَيۡهِ وَقَالَ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مِصۡرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيۡهِ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ وَخَرُّواْ لَهُ ۥ سُجَّدً۬اۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأۡوِيلُ رُءۡيَـٰىَ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّ۬اۖ وَقَدۡ أَحۡسَنَ بِىٓ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجۡنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡبَدۡوِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَ إِخۡوَتِىٓۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ۬ لِّمَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
"Then, when they came in before Yusuf, he betook his parents to himself and said: 'Enter Egypt, if Allâh wills, in security.' And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaytan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.'" Qur'an Yusuf 12:99-100
So seek Allah night and day and be patient.
May Allah hold us by the hand. 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
Assalaamua alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Nothing is difficult if we sought help through our Lord. Our problem is we don't ask Allah and we are impatient. We ask everybody except Allah. When people don't help or couldn't help, we get depressed, disappointed or upset. What can people do except what Allah lets them. Only Allah can make things happen.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
"Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:255
When Prophet Ya'qub, peace be upon him, saw the blood stains on his beloved son's shirt, he saw there had been some foul play by his older sons against young Yusuf, peace be upon him, but he was patient and implore Allah's assistance.
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬ۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬اۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
"They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is God (alone) Whose help can be sought" Qur'an Yusuf 12:18
Prophet Ya'qub has faith and he knows that all that Allah does is for the best. Indeed, Allah plans and His promise is true. Many years later the family of Ya'qub reunited in the blessed land of Egypt.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَبَوَيۡهِ وَقَالَ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مِصۡرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيۡهِ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ وَخَرُّواْ لَهُ ۥ سُجَّدً۬اۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأۡوِيلُ رُءۡيَـٰىَ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّ۬اۖ وَقَدۡ أَحۡسَنَ بِىٓ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجۡنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡبَدۡوِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَ إِخۡوَتِىٓۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ۬ لِّمَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
"Then, when they came in before Yusuf, he betook his parents to himself and said: 'Enter Egypt, if Allâh wills, in security.' And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaytan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.'" Qur'an Yusuf 12:99-100
So seek Allah night and day and be patient.
May Allah hold us by the hand. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Catch The Final Moments Of Blessed First 10 Days of Zulhijjah!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
What To Do On The First 10 Days Of Zulhijjah?
Plan to sacrifice an animal this Eid if you can afford it. There is a lot of blessing in it. And Remember The Homeless
May Allah accept your worship and good deeds. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.
Hajj Mabrur to those who are performing hajj this year. Please don't forget us in your du'as and at Arafah.
Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
What To Do On The First 10 Days Of Zulhijjah?
Plan to sacrifice an animal this Eid if you can afford it. There is a lot of blessing in it. And Remember The Homeless
May Allah accept your worship and good deeds. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.
Hajj Mabrur to those who are performing hajj this year. Please don't forget us in your du'as and at Arafah.
Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wassalaam
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Our Protective Shield
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
All of us know that we need to earn a living so we can feed our families and have a comfortable life. So it is no wonder that parents will make sure that their children go to school and on to college. They spend lots of energy, time and money on this, day in and day out, for many years. They take time off work so they can take their children to far away colleges and pick them up during vacations. They borrow money to pay for the expensive tuition and books. They send them for extra help so they can pass their exams or get better grades. They want their children to get their degrees, be successful, have a good career. That's their goal. This is well and good.
But is this what life is all about? Very seldom you see parents spend even 10% of that amount of energy, time and money for their children's success (in turn theirs) in the life hereafter. If you go to the masjid bathroom/wudu' area, you will see most children, even adult children, even parents, who couldn't even make wudu' (ablution) properly. Teaching someone how to make wudu' properly does not take more than 10 minutes but why do parents neglected to fulfill this very simple but very important obligation--sending their children to qualified teachers to teach them how to make wudu' and pray properly?
We are moved to do for the one we are attached to. So if our hearts are attached to good colleges, to money, to the comfort of this life, we will do our best to get our children to good colleges, to earn that money and get that comfort. But if our hearts are attached to Allah, then we will be moved to do our best to earn the pleasure of Allah. How do we get there? Only knowledge can get us there. And Tawfiq is from Allah.
But let's begin with getting our wudu' done properly because without proper wudu', there will be no proper prayer. Prayer is an important pillar of Islam. If this pillar is shaking, our iman is also shaking. Wudu', like prayer, is an act of worship. It is not a game that we splash some water on our faces, hands and feet. Someone with his heart attached to Allah will perform his wudu' with much reverence and focus, and with every action during the wudu' he hopes for his sins falling off his limbs.
It was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that anyone who does wudu' and does it well and then prays will be forgiven everything that he does between then and the time he does his prayer. So learn how to do wudu' well and make sure we teach our children how to do wudu' well. The way we do this is by following the way of people whose hearts are attached to Allah. And that is the way of the people who perform the wudu' according to the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Your life should be in constant remembrance of Allah, even during wudu', for it is a light that drives away the shaytan, our avowed enemy who is lurking to snatch our iman away and the one causing dissension among us. So be in constant wudu' because it is our protective shield against shaytan.
May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. 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.
All of us know that we need to earn a living so we can feed our families and have a comfortable life. So it is no wonder that parents will make sure that their children go to school and on to college. They spend lots of energy, time and money on this, day in and day out, for many years. They take time off work so they can take their children to far away colleges and pick them up during vacations. They borrow money to pay for the expensive tuition and books. They send them for extra help so they can pass their exams or get better grades. They want their children to get their degrees, be successful, have a good career. That's their goal. This is well and good.
But is this what life is all about? Very seldom you see parents spend even 10% of that amount of energy, time and money for their children's success (in turn theirs) in the life hereafter. If you go to the masjid bathroom/wudu' area, you will see most children, even adult children, even parents, who couldn't even make wudu' (ablution) properly. Teaching someone how to make wudu' properly does not take more than 10 minutes but why do parents neglected to fulfill this very simple but very important obligation--sending their children to qualified teachers to teach them how to make wudu' and pray properly?
We are moved to do for the one we are attached to. So if our hearts are attached to good colleges, to money, to the comfort of this life, we will do our best to get our children to good colleges, to earn that money and get that comfort. But if our hearts are attached to Allah, then we will be moved to do our best to earn the pleasure of Allah. How do we get there? Only knowledge can get us there. And Tawfiq is from Allah.
But let's begin with getting our wudu' done properly because without proper wudu', there will be no proper prayer. Prayer is an important pillar of Islam. If this pillar is shaking, our iman is also shaking. Wudu', like prayer, is an act of worship. It is not a game that we splash some water on our faces, hands and feet. Someone with his heart attached to Allah will perform his wudu' with much reverence and focus, and with every action during the wudu' he hopes for his sins falling off his limbs.
It was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that anyone who does wudu' and does it well and then prays will be forgiven everything that he does between then and the time he does his prayer. So learn how to do wudu' well and make sure we teach our children how to do wudu' well. The way we do this is by following the way of people whose hearts are attached to Allah. And that is the way of the people who perform the wudu' according to the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Your life should be in constant remembrance of Allah, even during wudu', for it is a light that drives away the shaytan, our avowed enemy who is lurking to snatch our iman away and the one causing dissension among us. So be in constant wudu' because it is our protective shield against shaytan.
May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Do Your Part for Help
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
When you think your life is tough, it is tough, but you can handle it.
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope..." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:286
The moment it is going to be beyond your ability, help will come inshaAllah. But you have to do your part.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214
If you want something from Allah, you have to take the first step. If you wait and expect things will come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward laziness and procrastination.
Remember Maryam binti Imran, the mother of 'Isa, peace be upon them;
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلۡمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ قَالَتۡ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى مِتُّ قَبۡلَ هَـٰذَا وَڪُنتُ نَسۡيً۬ا مَّنسِيًّ۬ا
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" Qur'an Maryam 19:23
When it became unbearable for Maryam to bear the pain, Allah sent her comfort.
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّۭاوَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًۭا جَنِيًّۭا فَكُلِى وَٱشۡرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيۡنً۬اۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡبَشَرِ أَحَدً۬ا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ صَوۡمً۬ا فَلَنۡ أُڪَلِّمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِنسِيًّ۬ا
"Then [the baby 'Isa or Jibril] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'" Qur'an Maryam 19:24-26
She was told to shake the palm trunk and dates fell for her to eat to gain back her strength. What's the point with shaking the tree? If you have seen a date palm tree and ask a group of men to shake it at the base, they won't be able to move it even a fraction. How could a woman in labor, weak and exhausted, shake it? Allah can make the dates fell on her lap without any effort from her. But Allah wants her to do her part.
So until the help comes, hang in there patiently but also do your part to the best of your ability.
If you seek help from Allah, Allah will give it to you. But remember Him always, do your part and be patient.
"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed." (related by Bukhari)
May Allah grant us steadfastness and patience. 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.
When you think your life is tough, it is tough, but you can handle it.
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope..." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:286
The moment it is going to be beyond your ability, help will come inshaAllah. But you have to do your part.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214
If you want something from Allah, you have to take the first step. If you wait and expect things will come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward laziness and procrastination.
Remember Maryam binti Imran, the mother of 'Isa, peace be upon them;
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلۡمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ قَالَتۡ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى مِتُّ قَبۡلَ هَـٰذَا وَڪُنتُ نَسۡيً۬ا مَّنسِيًّ۬ا
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" Qur'an Maryam 19:23
When it became unbearable for Maryam to bear the pain, Allah sent her comfort.
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّۭاوَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًۭا جَنِيًّۭا فَكُلِى وَٱشۡرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيۡنً۬اۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡبَشَرِ أَحَدً۬ا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ صَوۡمً۬ا فَلَنۡ أُڪَلِّمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِنسِيًّ۬ا
"Then [the baby 'Isa or Jibril] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'" Qur'an Maryam 19:24-26
She was told to shake the palm trunk and dates fell for her to eat to gain back her strength. What's the point with shaking the tree? If you have seen a date palm tree and ask a group of men to shake it at the base, they won't be able to move it even a fraction. How could a woman in labor, weak and exhausted, shake it? Allah can make the dates fell on her lap without any effort from her. But Allah wants her to do her part.
So until the help comes, hang in there patiently but also do your part to the best of your ability.
If you seek help from Allah, Allah will give it to you. But remember Him always, do your part and be patient.
"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed." (related by Bukhari)
May Allah grant us steadfastness and patience. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Motherhood
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that the best of women are four: Mariam, mother of Isa, Khadijah binti Khuwalid, Fatima binti Muhammad and Aasiya, wife of Fir'aun, peace be upon them all.
Notice, two of them, Mariam and Aasiya, each raised a Prophet. Mariam raised Isa, Allah grant him peace, and Aasiya raised Musa, Allah grant him peace.
What we can glean from this fact is that the nurturing that a pious woman gives her child, bringing up the child to be a strong Muslim character can elevate her to the highest level.
So, remember the Gardens when you are about to give up on your children who when it comes to Qur'an they fell asleep but they could go on for hours playing stupid quizzes and games on the computer or socializing with their facebook friends. Remember the Gardens if you haven't put Islam at the forefront of your child's life.
You carried them for 9 months like nobody carries anybody. You protected them during pregnancy with your whole being, suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties and sorrows of pregnancy; in pain you gave birth to them while your life was hanging on the thread; you gave them every comfort with your own hardship; lulling them to sleep while keeping yourself awake; you fed them the fruits of your heart which nobody feeds anybody, with much discomfort and pain sometimes, until they can feed themselves. Your job does not end here. You cannot leave them now. You cannot take a break. You cannot give up. You have to continue to nurture them. Nurturing them to be good and strong Muslims takes time. This is your jihad. You have to brave the heat and cold of this challenging world of motherhood.
There are no short cuts to the highest Paradise.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah help us raise our children to be strong Muslims, grant us patience and tawfiq. May Allah grant us Jannatul Firdaus. 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.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that the best of women are four: Mariam, mother of Isa, Khadijah binti Khuwalid, Fatima binti Muhammad and Aasiya, wife of Fir'aun, peace be upon them all.
Notice, two of them, Mariam and Aasiya, each raised a Prophet. Mariam raised Isa, Allah grant him peace, and Aasiya raised Musa, Allah grant him peace.
What we can glean from this fact is that the nurturing that a pious woman gives her child, bringing up the child to be a strong Muslim character can elevate her to the highest level.
So, remember the Gardens when you are about to give up on your children who when it comes to Qur'an they fell asleep but they could go on for hours playing stupid quizzes and games on the computer or socializing with their facebook friends. Remember the Gardens if you haven't put Islam at the forefront of your child's life.
You carried them for 9 months like nobody carries anybody. You protected them during pregnancy with your whole being, suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties and sorrows of pregnancy; in pain you gave birth to them while your life was hanging on the thread; you gave them every comfort with your own hardship; lulling them to sleep while keeping yourself awake; you fed them the fruits of your heart which nobody feeds anybody, with much discomfort and pain sometimes, until they can feed themselves. Your job does not end here. You cannot leave them now. You cannot take a break. You cannot give up. You have to continue to nurture them. Nurturing them to be good and strong Muslims takes time. This is your jihad. You have to brave the heat and cold of this challenging world of motherhood.
There are no short cuts to the highest Paradise.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah help us raise our children to be strong Muslims, grant us patience and tawfiq. May Allah grant us Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
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