Great Recession?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

With all the talks about the Great Recession and the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, which aftershocks, they say, will be felt long after President Hillary Clinton leaves the White House in 2024, are you concerned about how long you can hold on to your job or business, or wonder about where you can invest your money--should I buy gold, should I buy euros, should I buy land, how can I hold on to my money when the value is shifting up and down?

We should not be worried at all. Nor should we waste our time everyday watching the news or reading articles about the state of the economic and global affairs at the expense of investing our states with Allah.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدَٲفِعُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ۬ كَفُورٍ (٣٨

Verily, Allah defends (from ill) those who believe. Verily, Allah loves not any that is a traitor to faith or shows ingratitude. (Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:38).

We seek help from the Lord and we put our trust in the Lord. We should not depend upon or be attached to anyone or anything other than Him in all our affairs, no matter how small they may be.

وَيَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُ‌ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمۡرِهِۦ‌ۚ قَدۡ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدۡرً۬ا

"And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him"
(Qur'an At-Talaq 65:3)

On the authority of Abu 'Abbas 'Abdillah bin 'Abbas, Allah be pleased with father and son, who said: One day I was behind the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) [riding on the same mount] and he said:

O 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, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone]. And know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The Pens have been lifted and the Pages have dried.
(related by at-Tirmidhi)

So according to the degree by which a person relies upon other than Allah in his desires and by his heart, or in his hopes, then proportionately he has turned away from the Lord to those who cannot hurt him nor benefit him.

Another narration, other than that of Tirmidhi, reads:

Be Mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. Recognize and Acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will Remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that Victory comes with Patience, Relief with Affliction, and Hardship with Ease.

Man in this World will be presented with trials and misfortunes, especially the pious. Allah says,

وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٲلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ‌ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٥٥) ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ۬ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ (١٥٦) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ صَلَوَٲتٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدُونَ (١٥٧)

155 And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabireen (the patient ones) 156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."
157 They are those on whom are the Salawaat (blessings) from their Lord, and (they
are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.

(Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)

and Allah says,

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ‌ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٌ۬‌ۗ وَأَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٲسِعَةٌ‌ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ۬

Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.
(Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:10)

May Allah have mercy on us and grant us sabr. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Ask For Forgiveness Abundantly

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We sin everyday, small or big, inwardly or outwardly, whether you want to realize it or not. So ask for Allah's forgiveness repeatedly and abundantly, night and day, especially in the last hours of the night. We should fear that we should die today as bankrupts. What then will happen to us in our graves?

Whenever 'Uthman ibn Affan, Allah be pleased with him (the son-in-law of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, the 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."

So, say lots of Astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah or I seek the covering of God’s Attributes) after each prayer.

You can also say, Rabbighfir li wa tub alayya innaka anta Tawwab Ar-Rahim (Lord forgive me and relent toward me, truly, You are the One who relents, the Merciful.)

Use the prayer of Prophet Yunus, peace be upon him,

لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu min adh-dhalimin
(There is no god but You: Glory to You: I have been a wrong-doer!)

It has been related that no one who is worried or aggrieved repeats it but that Allah grants him relief.

Allah says,

وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبً۬ا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى ڪُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٨٧) فَٱسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَهُ ۥ وَنَجَّيۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَمِّ‌ۚ وَكَذَٲلِكَ نُـۨجِى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٨٨

"And remember Dhu al Nun, when he departed in anger and deemed that We had no power over him! But he cried through the depths of darkness, "There is no god but You: Glory to You: I have been a wrong-doer!" "So We listened to him: and delivered him from distress: and thus do We deliver those who have faith." Qur'an Al-Anbiya' 21:87-88

May Allah forgive all our sins and admit us into Paradise with the righteous. Ameen. Please forgive me of all my shortcomings and please don't forget me in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Day Of Remembrance

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

When I am awaken in the morning, I thank Allah for giving me life after that short death, and giving me another opportunity to fulfill the purpose He created me and repent for my sins. True life is only His, everything outside of Him is death. He is the One who gives life, He is the One who gives death and to Him I shall return and be taken to task. He is Al-Muhyi, Al-Mumit, Al-Hakam, Al-Hasib, Al-Jami', Al-Awwal, Al-Akhir.

I seek Allah's protection from the filth of sins, externally and internally and protection of heart from slips and inmost soul from breaks. I ask Allah to hold my hand and make my tasks easy for me.

Knowing that Allah is Al-Malik, the King, and Malik al-Mulk, the Possessor of the dominion, makes it easy to go through my day. He has complete control of my destiny. He has already charted my life and my children's lives and there is no running away from it or changing it. He knows what's best for me and what's best for my children because He is the Creator.

He is the best Wakil. I rely on Him in everything and I put my trust in Him. And my day will be calm, by His Will. Allah is sufficient for me. He is Al-Aziz, Al-Hakim, Al-'Alim.

I am not alone. He is not absent. He is Al-Shahid, Al-Khabir, Al-Sami', Al-Baseer. He knows everything, sees everything, and hears everything. Not even a black ant under a black rock that moves in a dark pitch black night He does not see and hear. I am at ease knowing that Allah has these Attributes. I ask Him to give me knowledge of Him and make me learned of the realities of whom He loves. I turn to Him, not afraid of people, and conscious about using His gifts to do what He wants from me--listening, seeing, hearing, knowledge--striving to increase my knowledge of the world and knowledge of the workings of Him for His sake, calling others to Him gently and subtly, and drawing closer to Him. I surrender to His knowledge and destiny.

I ask Allah to give me the ability to show kindness to my family and other people, no matter how rough and tough they are to me and how bad they may appear to be, because Allah is loving and forgiving, and He conceals sins. He is Al-Tawwab, Al-Ghaafir, Al-Ghafur, Al-Ghaafar.

When things become difficult, I know that Al-Wadud shows His love through tests and not by giving me everything I like and everything I want. I ask for His love and I ask Him to help me take the traits of people who love Him.

Life is not without challenge. Sometimes I want to be angry, but I am reminded of Allah, Al-Halim, Al-Sabur. Being patient gives me control in situations where I have little or no control. I cannot control others and I cannot control what happens but I can control my reaction to my circumstances. It is important to remind myself always that I don't control all the variables in the world. Allah does. He is the Wise, the All-Knowing. I ask Al-Hadi, to guide us and give us tawfiq. I ask Allah to give me lots of sabr in doing what He wants and in avoiding what He doesn't want me to do.

Walking outside, I am bound to encounter unpleasant sight, smell and people who are unmindful of their manners. Knowing that Allah created everything, like in the words of a big imam, "Who are we to find this repulsive?" Whoever knows Allah is Al-Khaliq will look careful at the mastery of His creation and don't look down upon His creation. Through His creation, I can know Allah, I can see His mastery and I can see His attributes. If it were not of this world, I wouldn't know anything about the Lord.

Knowing that Allah is Al-Razzaq, it lifts me from worrying. The One who is responsible for our provisions will take care of us. He is Al-Wahhab, Al-Muqit, Al-Bari', Al-Musawwir.

Knowing that Allah is Al-Basit, the One who gives without limit, and only gives what is good for me, and the expander and the spreader, I ask Allah to increase me in all good and expand my knowledge of Him. If Allah restrains things from me, it is because He knows what is best for me, and everything that comes from Allah is good for me. I can show my gratitude to Him by spreading out in all pleasing matter and expanding myself to do everything good.

He is Al-Nafi', the One who brings benefit to His creatures. I ask Allah to give me the ability to thank Him for everything and to turn to Him for everything. I ask Him to make me means of giving to people and benefiting people. He is Al-Samad, the One who fulfills needs, and everything is in need for Him and He needs no one. I return to Him with vast desperate desires in all times and states and be a refuge for the needy to fulfill people's need.

Allah rewards people in huge degrees for such a small action that we did and for our little obedience for He is Al-Shakur. I ask Allah to help me show my gratitude to Him by praising Him a lot and using His blessings to serve Him and not using His blessings to disobey Him. I ask Allah to help me be humble before Him because no one pays back a good with more like He does. I ask Allah to help me to give back to people more than they give to me, repaying people's kindness and favors, think much of what people do for me, and talking about His blessings.

Everything around me is showing Allah's power and strength. He is Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir, Al-Qahhar, Al-Matin, Al-Qadir, Al-Muqtadir, Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum, Al-Muntaqim, Al-Mani', Al-Daar. No one can outdo him. No one can escape His grasp. Allah is the Possessor of every might and every majesty. All that is happening is the will of God. I turn to him to help me in whatever He has chosen for me and surrendering to Him without complaining. I don't need to get back at anyone because Allah will take care of everything.

When I make du'a, He answers. I may not know it or I may not realize it but that is because of my shortsightedness, not because He didn't answer. If He doesn't answer to my du'a exactly, He has His wisdom for it, and I should not despair. I ask Allah to make me among those who hear and obey His commands.

"And When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way." (Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:186)

Allah is the Wise, the All-Knowing. My limited human faculties are not able to comprehend the wisdom of the All-Wise behind what happens to me and to others, but knowing that He is in control and that I am a His slave, I submit to His Will, and this will enrich my humanity and enhance my obedience towards the Lord.

When my heart feels heavy with stress and sorrow, I remember Allah says:

وَقَالَ رَبُّڪُمُ ٱدۡعُونِىٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

"And your Lord says: 'Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer)..." (Quran Ghafir 40:60)

فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ لِى وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ

"Remember Me, and I shall remember you; be grateful to Me, and deny Me not." (Quran Al-Baqarah 2:152).

I end my day by forgiving everyone and thanking Allah for everything, for laying all the good for me and my children, and for warding off evil from me and my children. I ask Allah to forgive me and my parents and have mercy on them, and to forgive all the Muslims from the living and the dead and have mercy on them. I ask Allah to bestow on us Mercy from Himself and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way, and for an excellent ending. To Allah we shall return.

All His actions are beautiful.


هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٢٢) هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ (٢٣) هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٢٤

He is Allah, beside Whom Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the Al-'Alim (All-Knower) of the unseen and the seen. He is Al-Rahman (the Most Gracious), Al-Rahim (the Most Merciful.) He is Allâh beside Whom is Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) Al-Malik (the King), Al-Quddus (the Holy), Al-Salaam (the One Free from all defects), Al-Mu'min (the Giver of security), Al-Muhaymin (the Watcher over His creatures), Al-Aziz (the All-Mighty), Al-Jabbar (the Compeller), Al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme). Glory be to Allâh! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allâh, Al-Khaliq (the Creator), Al-Baari' (the Inventor of all things), Al-Musawwir (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 Al-Aziz (All-Mighty), Al-Hakim (the All-Wise).
(Qur'an Al-Hashr 59:21-24)

May Allah rain His mercy on the Ummah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Preserve the Beauty and Harmony of the Environment.

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The universe is the place to know the Creator. Through His creation, we know Allah, we see His mastery and we see His beautiful and perfect Attributes. If it were not of this world, we wouldn't know anything about Allah.

Allah says,

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ خِلۡفَةً۬ لِّمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّڪَّرَ أَوۡ أَرَادَ شُڪُورً۬ا (٦٢

“Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven mansions of the stars, and has placed therein a great lamp and a moon giving light! And He it is Who has appointed night and day in succession, for him who desires to remember, or desires thankfulness.

(Qur’an Al-Furqan 25:62)

In this regard, the world is beautiful and looking at this beauty is intended, as through it man truly marvels at the power and beauty of the Creator. This is why many times in the Qur’an, the beauty of this creation is emphasized.

أَمَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَڪُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا بِهِۦ حَدَآٮِٕقَ ذَاتَ بَهۡجَةٍ۬ مَّا ڪَانَ لَكُمۡ أَن تُنۢبِتُواْ شَجَرَهَآ‌ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ۬ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٌ۬ يَعۡدِلُونَ (٦٠

“Nay, He Who created the heavens and the earth, and sent down for you water from the cloud; then We cause to grow thereby beautiful gardens; it is not possible for you that you should make the trees thereof to grow. Is there a god with Allah? Nay! they are people who deviate.”

(Qur’an Al-Naml 27:60)

This love of beauty in the universe leads to a relationship of love and respect for the world and a desire to preserve the beauty and harmony of the environment.

The universe, its beauty and treasures, is a tremendous blessing that we must show thanks to the Creator for lest it be taken away. Gratitude is shown by utilizing blessings in the way that the Bestower wills they be utilized. As with all blessings, if we are grateful we are given an increase, if we are ungrateful we are denied an increase and the blessings will be taken away from us.

This is why several Qur’anic verses contain injunctions to gratitude after discussing the creation of the universe.

Allah says,

تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجً۬ا وَجَعَلَ فِيہَا سِرَٲجً۬ا وَقَمَرً۬ا مُّنِيرً۬ا (٦١) وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ خِلۡفَةً۬ لِّمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّڪَّرَ أَوۡ أَرَادَ شُڪُورً۬ا (٦٢

“Blessed is He Who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a Lamp and a Moon giving light; And it is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: for such as have the will to celebrate His praises or to show their gratitude.”

(Qur’an As-Saff 25:61-62)


وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ لِتَأۡڪُلُواْ مِنۡهُ لَحۡمً۬ا طَرِيًّ۬ا وَتَسۡتَخۡرِجُواْ مِنۡهُ حِلۡيَةً۬ تَلۡبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلۡفُلۡكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (١٤

And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat (i.e. fish), and that you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing through it, that you may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah (by transporting the goods from place to place) and that you may be grateful.

(Qur’an An-Nahl 16:14)

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا خَلَقۡنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتۡ أَيۡدِينَآ أَنۡعَـٰمً۬ا فَهُمۡ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ (٧١) وَذَلَّلۡنَـٰهَا لَهُمۡ فَمِنۡہَا رَكُوبُہُمۡ وَمِنۡہَا يَأۡكُلُونَ (٧٢) وَلَهُمۡ فِيہَا مَنَـٰفِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يَشۡكُرُونَ (٧٣

“Don’t they see that it is We Who have created for them – among the things
which Our hands have fashioned – cattle, which are under their dominion? – And
that We have subjected them to their (use)? Of them some do carry them and
some they eat: And they have (other) profits from them (besides) and they get
(milk) to drink. Will they not then be grateful?”

(Qur’an Ya-seen 36:71-73)

Turning to Allah in gratitude and seeking forgiveness for our shortcomings give an
increase in environmental blessings. In the Qur’an, seeking forgiveness brings blessings.

ثُمَّ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَنتُ لَهُمۡ وَأَسۡرَرۡتُ لَهُمۡ إِسۡرَارً۬ا (٩) فَقُلۡتُ ٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ غَفَّارً۬ا (١٠) يُرۡسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّدۡرَارً۬ا (١١

“I [Prophet Nuh, alayhissalam] said (to them), “Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance; Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of flowing water).”

(Qur’an Nuh 71:10-11)

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Once a man was in a
barren land and he heard a voice in a cloud, “Give water to the garden of so and
so!” so he followed that cloud and found that it emptied its water in an area of
dark rocks and a particular channel had taken all of the water so he followed the
water and found a man directing the water with his shovel, so he said to him, “O
slave of Allah, what is your name?” He answered, “So and so,” the same name
that he had heard in the cloud; and then said, “O slave of Allah, why do you ask
me about my name?” He answered, “I heard a voice in a cloud whose water this
is, saying, “Give water to the garden of so and so!” stating your name, so what do
you do with it?” He answered, “If you say this, then I [tell you] that I see what
comes out [of the land] and give a third in charity, and take a third to eat for me
and my dependents, and return back to it a third.”” (Muslim)

The Qur’an gives accounts of people who were blessed with the beauty of the
environment but they rebelled, disobeyed and became arrogant so their blessings were
destroyed.

Allah says,

لَقَدۡ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ۬ فِى مَسۡكَنِهِمۡ ءَايَةٌ۬ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ۬ وَشِمَالٍ۬ۖ كُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۚ ۥ بَلۡدَةٌ۬ طَيِّبَةٌ۬ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ۬ (١٥) فَأَعۡرَضُواْ فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ سَيۡلَ ٱلۡعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلۡنَـٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيۡہِمۡ جَنَّتَيۡنِ ذَوَاتَىۡ أُڪُلٍ خَمۡطٍ۬ وَأَثۡلٍ۬ وَشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّن سِدۡرٍ۬ قَلِيلٍ۬ (١٦) ذَٲلِكَ جَزَيۡنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَفَرُواْۖ وَهَلۡ نُجَـٰزِىٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡكَفُورَ (١٧

Indeed there was for Saba' (Sheba) a sign in their dwelling place, - two gardens on the right hand and on the left (and it was said to them) "Eat of the provision of your Lord, and be grateful to Him, A fair land and an Oft-Forgiving Lord! (15)
But they turned away (from the obedience of Allah), so We sent against them Sail Al 'Arim (flood released from the dam), and We converted their two gardens into gardens producing bitter bad fruit, and tamarisks, and some few lote trees. (16) Like this We requited them because they were ungrateful disbelievers. And never do We requite in such a way except those who are ungrateful, (disbelievers). (17)

(Qur’an Saba 34:15-17)

Likewise is the incident of the people of the lush garden:

إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَـٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّہَا مُصۡبِحِينَ (١٧) وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ (١٨) فَطَافَ عَلَيۡہَا طَآٮِٕفٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآٮِٕمُونَ (١٩) فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ (٢٠) فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ (٢١) أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِينَ (٢٢) فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ (٢٣) أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّہَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٌ۬ (٢٤) وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٍ۬ قَـٰدِرِينَ (٢٥) فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ (٢٦) بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ (٢٧

Verily, We have tried them as We tried the people of the garden, when they swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning. (17)
Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills). (18)
Then there passed by on the (garden) visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep. (19)
So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins). (20)
Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke, (21)
Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits." (22)
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying), (23)
No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today. (24)
And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom). (25)
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray," (26) (Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!" (27)

(Qur'an Al-Qalam 68:17-27)

and the story of the man with two gardens

وَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُم مَّثَلاً۬ رَّجُلَيۡنِ جَعَلۡنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيۡنِ مِنۡ أَعۡنَـٰبٍ۬ وَحَفَفۡنَـٰهُمَا بِنَخۡلٍ۬ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَہُمَا زَرۡعً۬ا (٣٢) كِلۡتَا ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ ءَاتَتۡ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمۡ تَظۡلِم مِّنۡهُ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَفَجَّرۡنَا خِلَـٰلَهُمَا نَہَرً۬ا (٣٣) وَكَانَ لَهُ ۥ ثَمَرٌ۬ فَقَالَ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ ۥۤ أَنَا۟ أَكۡثَرُ مِنكَ مَالاً۬ وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرً۬ا (٣٤) وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ ۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ۬ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِۦۤ أَبَدً۬ا (٣٥) وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآٮِٕمَةً۬ وَلَٮِٕن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡهَا مُنقَلَبً۬ا (٣٦) قَالَ لَهُ ۥ صَاحِبُهُ ۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ ۥۤ أَكَفَرۡتَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ سَوَّٮٰكَ رَجُلاً۬ (٣٧) لَّـٰكِنَّا۟ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشۡرِكُ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدً۬ا (٣٨) وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ دَخَلۡتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلۡتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۟ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالاً۬ وَوَلَدً۬ا (٣٩) فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يُؤۡتِيَنِ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡہَا حُسۡبَانً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصۡبِحَ صَعِيدً۬ا زَلَقًا (٤٠) أَوۡ يُصۡبِحَ مَآؤُهَا غَوۡرً۬ا فَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ لَهُ ۥ طَلَبً۬ا (٤١) وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصۡبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيۡهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيہَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِہَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى لَمۡ أُشۡرِكۡ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدً۬ا (٤٢) وَلَمۡ تَكُن لَّهُ ۥ فِئَةٌ۬ يَنصُرُونَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا (٤٣) هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡوَلَـٰيَةُ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ هُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ ثَوَابً۬ا وَخَيۡرٌ عُقۡبً۬ا (٤٤


And put forward to them the example of two men; unto one of them We had given two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms; and had put between them green crops (cultivated fields). (32)
Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein, and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of them. (33)
And he had property (or fruit) and he said to his companion, in the course of mutual talk: I am more than you in wealth and stronger in respect of men." (34)
And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and disbelief) unjust to himself. He said: "I think not that this will ever perish. (35)
"And I think not the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, (on the Day of Resurrection), I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him." (36)
His companion said to him, during the talk with him: "Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam), then out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then fashioned you into a man? (37)
"But as for my part (I believe) that He is Allâh, my Lord and none shall I associate as partner with my Lord. (38)
It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allah wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allah'. If you see me less than you in wealth, and children. (39)
"It may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and will send on it Husban (torment, bolt) from the sky, then it will be a slippery earth (40)
"Or the water thereof (of the gardens) becomes deep-sunken (underground) so that you will never be able to seek it." (41)
So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained clapping his hands (with sorrow) over what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, he could only say: "Would that I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!"(42)
And he had no group of men to help him against Allah, nor could he defend (or save) himself. (43)
There (on the Day of Resurrection), Al-Walayah (protection, power, authority and kingdom) will be for Allah (Alone), the - True God. He (Allah) is the Best for reward and the Best for the final end. (La ilaha ill-allah none has the right to be worshiped but Allah). (44)

(Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:32-44)

Many sacred texts tie our treatment of the environment directly to reward or punishment from the Creator.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Once a man was walking
and his thirst became intense so he descended into a well and drank from it, and
then came out and lo there was a dog, sticking out its tongue, eating the dirt from
its thirst so he said, “This has reached a state similar to what I had reached,” so he filled up his shoe, then grabbed it in his mouth and climbed out of the well and
gave the dog drink, and Allah gratefully accepted his work and forgave him.”
They said, “O Messenger of Allah, do we have a reward in [being good to]
animals?” He answered, “In every moist liver.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “A woman was punished
for a cat that she kept in captivity until it died of hunger, so she entered the fire on account of it.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Likewise, there is a great reward in planting trees and shrubs. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is no Muslim who plants a tree or sows seed, and then birds, people and animals eat from except that he has the reward of a charity for that.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

There is also a great urging to keeping roads clean. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Faith is seventy-odd or sixty-odd branches: the most virtuous is saying, “There is no god but Allah,” and the least is removing harm from the street.” (Muslim)

Islamic history is rich with the efforts of the Muslims in preserving the environment, and developing agriculture, irrigation and caring for animals. They left a heritage and it is our responsibility to uphold.

May Allah make us means to preserve our environment. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Rights of Muslims

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Raising children as Muslims is not just about taking them to the masjid, it is also about carrying oneself. Having good character is what we should aspire for our children and it should start with us.

Many of us who have not been brought up in a traditional Muslim setting or Eastern society, we are sometimes alien to certain manners like loyalty, fulfilling trusts, overly friendly, generous to guests, and so on. These are manners not always emphasized in many upbringings.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that good character is the heaviest thing in the Scale on the Day of Judgment. We should be concerned what is the weightiest matter on the Day of Judgment.

Good character is a way of being. In the beginning it takes effort but in the end it should be a natural way of being. This natural way of being--you are naturally polite, loyal, friendly, trustworthy, generous, kind, forgiving, modest and so on, is one of the most important matters in religion. If we are not like that we have to struggle to change.

The people with the best character will be the closest to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, on the Day of Judgment.

Interactions with other Muslims are governed by basic principles. These principles, when observed, promote love and cooperation among a community which is of the most
important objectives of Islam. These principles include:
(1) Showing good character.
(2) Respecting the feelings of others. For example, don't let your children play with their toys outside while the neighbor's kid are looking at the toys that their parents can't afford to buy for them, or you converse with your friend in your native language in the presence of another friend who does not speak your native language.
(3) Making each other happy. There are 1001 things you can do to make people happy.
(4) Giving respect where it is due. (to your parents, your elders, your teachers, your children, scholars, righteous people, neighbors, someone next to you, Muslims in general, etc.)
(5) Dealing with others for the sake of Allah, not for personal interest. For example, when you answer for someone's invitation, you should do it because it is Sunnah to answer an invitation, not because you are dying to eat the food.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Verily the believer
reaches with his good character the rank of the one who fasts and prays.”"

It is reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Verily
from the matters that necessitate forgiveness, is entering happiness into the heart
of your Muslim brother.”

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “The rights of a Muslim
over another Muslim are five: returning greetings, visiting the sick, following
funeral processions, responding to invitations and blessing those who sneeze.”

May Allah give us tawfiq and grant us and our children noble character. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Distractions

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If Allah places a plate of sweets in front of you, and you are a sweet lover, you would forget everything and take a bite, maybe more than a bite, without much thought!

Blessings can distract one from Allah. At the minimum, a blessing distracts you from Allah, but for many people it goes even further. Some people when they have a blessing of money, they become proud and their whole obsession is piling up money. When somebody comes and asks them to share their wealth they chase him away or put a deaf ear.

Allah gave them a blessing, which didn't just distract them from Allah, it led them to disobedience, arrogance and loss of mercy. They can do worse. For some people, blessings cause them to disbelieve.

Blessings can be a serious problem to many. How do you prevent yourself from being distracted by blessings from Allah?

Remember blessings are from Allah, purely from His generosity. So, every bite that you take of that baklava or that basboosa, you remember this is a blessing from Allah. You should be filled with gratitude and indebtedness to Allah for the sweets and the pleasure of eating that wonderful sweet.

As well, remember the terminator of pleasures often. Once a week we visit the graves and maqams of scholars and righteous people. It helps us in drawing closer to Allah and aspiring us to be like the righteous. It reminds us of our own death, which are sure to come sooner than we thought. Allah brought us into existence, maintains us through His power, and He will take us back. He is Al-Muhyi, Al-Mumit. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

Graves and Maqams, Cairo

May Allah make us among the righteous and grant us an excellent ending. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A True Slave

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

"The closest a slave to the Lord is when he is prostrating." (Sahih Muslim)

Closeness to Allah is not a physical closeness. When someone is close to Allah it doesn't mean there is a shorter distance between you and Allah than before. Closeness to Allah is a spiritual closeness. Closeness to the Lord means you know Him. When you are close to somebody you know him better than somebody who is far away. The one who is close to Allah is somebody who is realized in his slavehood.

The ultimate expression of your slavehood is the position of prostration. In other words, the more you are aware of your own slavehood, the more you are aware of who Allah Most High really is. When you know that you are a slave you will know Allah is The Lord. The knowledge of Allah Most High is a tremendous awareness that He is the Lord and we are the slaves.

What do true slaves do? They serve the Master.

A king had a slave who he liked very much. And people asked him why? He was neither more handsome nor valuable in the marketplace. The king rode through the desert and when he passed by a mountain, he moved his head. That slave lowered his head and ran off with his horse before the king even looked at him. No one in the group knew what was going on. Just a short time later, he returned and had some snow with him. How did he know the king wanted snow? Because the king looked at the mountain. When kings look at something they always look at it for a reason. The king answered the people. "I draw him near to me and I prefer him to you because you guys are busy with yourself and he is busy in observing my states. What I am looking for."

This is the meaning of muraqaba, the observance of Allah. Allah is looking at you. Be conscious that He is looking at you. Be to Him as He wants you to be.

May Allah bring us closer to Him. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Your True Identity

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah is Al-Malik, the King. Allah has complete control of creation, destiny, decreeing without need for anything, without being prevented from anything, without having a co-share in anything, conjoin with Majesty, the awesome Being who has complete control in anything. He is the absolute owner of everything.

Imam Kushayri said, "If He is the absolute owner, then what do you have? We have nothing. There is no other owner except Allah.

This is part of the idea of amanah (trust). Everything we have is His. Our brain, our souls, our limbs, our power, they are all His. He has given us control over them for a time. They are loans to us. Everything is His property. He gives them to us for a purpose. If we fulfill that purpose, we are, in truth, His vicegerent over what He has given us control of and we are, in truth, His slaves. And we would have fulfilled the trust. But if we violate these things and don't use them for what they are made for then we have been treacherous in this trust and that is the essence of accountability.

That's why in the Day of Judgment our limbs, which are working for us right now, they don't work for us anymore at that time. They go back to the real Owner. The Owner will give them power that they don't currently have. Our hands will be speaking, although as of yet there is no particular ability that we can see they would be able to speak.

The person will be astonished as to why his own hands, which he used to think an extension of himself, his identity, is now a witness against him. The person will address to the hands, "Why are you bringing witness against me. I thought we are one!" The hands will say, "Allah made us speak, the One who made everything to speak."

He is Malik al-Mulk, the Possessor of the Dominion. There is nothing that we own. The ownership of anything else is just figurative. It is not your hand.

Your identity is the soul inside your body, not how you look, how many degrees, recognitions and plaques hanging on your wall, how many trophies lining up your credenza, how many books you published and autographed, how many speaking engagements you have to turned down because of your popularity. You are what your soul is.

Someone was asked, "Do you have a Lord?"
He answered, "I am a slave, He is not my Lord that I can ascribe Him to me. Who am I that I can say He is mine as if I have some right to claim Him for mine. Rather He is The Lord and I am a bit of a nothing."

One of the rulers said to the righteous, "Ask me what you need."
The righteous said, "How can you say anything is yours when I have two slaves and you are their slaves."
The ruler asked, "Who are they?"
The righteous said, "Greed and Lust. I have overcome them and so they become my slaves, and they have overcome you, so you are their slaves. I have owned them and they have owned you. So how are you going to give me anything?"

May Allah purify our souls. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Du'a Is The Essence Of Worship

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A relationship which purely and truly shows what we belief about Allah is our reliance on Allah and satisfaction with Him. This is one of the most fundamental relationship with Allah, Most High. That's why the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Du'a is the essence of worship."

Some Muslims feel that I feel greedy asking things for myself. But they don't understand the real secret in the du'a is not give me a job, give me a car, give me a beautiful wife/righteous spouse, give me a son/righteous offspring, take me to your House, cure my mother, help me pay my debt, help me pass my exam, and so on. The secret of the du'a is not in this thing that you have been asking for but it is in the asking itself.

The act of asking shows a tremendous certitude. The idea that you raised your hands so that someone who you don't see will give you what you want or solve all your problems for you, no one can do that consistently, believe in it and truly believe that this matter will come to pass except someone with a tremendous Iman.

That's how for some people miracles happen with a du'a. The du'a is the place for miracles for everyone. How many people prayed for what they thought was impossible and then it happened. That is the strongest daily proof people have of their relationship with Allah.

Prophet Ibrahim, Allah grant him peace, left his wife and baby Ismail in a desert valley where there was no vegetation. How did he do that except he realized the power of the Lord. He turned to Allah to care for his family and Allah answered his du'a.

Allah really does see us and hear us. When we speak to Him, He answers.

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ

"And When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way."

(Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:186)

Allah makes us feel ashamed because He is completely free of need and we are completely needy of Him but despite of that He answered when you call. He needs nothing from us. He answers us out of His mercy. So why don't you answer when He calls. He calls us to obedience. He calls us to action.

Among the secrets of du'as are answered is a lawful income and life of obedience. Somebody who has surrendered to Allah, He is kind to that person and He will not let that person down.

Du'a is an excellent worship, so ask Allah for everything, no matter how small and no matter how great. Keep asking and asking because of the closeness to Allah and certitude that the du'a contains.

May Allah increase us in our worship and certitude. Ameen. Please keep us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Allah, The One and Only

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (١) ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ (٢) لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ (٣) وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُ ۥ ڪُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (٤)

Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. (Qur'an 112:1-4)

This is one of the surahs of protection that most of us memorize and recite often, after each prayer and before going to sleep. What does all these mean to you?

Allah is Al-Ahad. Ahad is an emphatic word for Wahid. It means uniquely One, supremely One, in every characteristic, in Attributes, in actions, in every respect. Nothing resembles Him and He resembles nothing. He has no partner or peer.
Nothing is with Him or next to Him or beside Him. It is only the One.

Whoever knows that He is the One, he makes his heart only for Him. Everybody is scattered but this person is unified.

Just as He does not love the work that is shared, He does not love the heart that is shared. (Ibn Ata'illa)

I am praying and I kind of want to show my mom I am praying. Allah is in my heart and so is 101 things. This shared work, Allah doesn't accept. Shared heart is not ready to go forward to Him.

You make your direction only to Him, utterly devoted to Him and rely all matters only on Him. You have full reliance that Allah will take care of your needs. The manners of someone who has complete trust with Allah, he doesn't hold back in spending in charity because he knows replacement will come from Allah quickly.

He is the One who you turned to, forgetting everything besides. You don't see in the world anything except Him, realizing everything in front of you is mirroring His Names, things you like or dislike, things you love or things you fear. And you seek His protection, only His.

People who behold Allah, He strengthens their insights. Words cannot describe this matter, it is in the hearts of those people who Allah has chosen for them. We ask Allah to take us to people who this is their way and enable us to be like them. Ameen.

Please keep us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Why Are You Stressed?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

When people feel responsible for everything, they find themselves always stressed, always concerned, always worried, always planning. Someone like that, it is hard to be pure in his prayers. How could he? He has 101 responsibilities going through his head.

Part of Allah's Name Al-Hakim is that He made the world in Wisdom. Wisdom according to the ulama' is the word they used for the idea of cause and effect. Allah created the world in absolute cause and effect. For example, when we put our feet on the ground, we are going to be on the ground. We are not going to be floating in the air. They called this gravity. If we hit our head on the rock, it hurts. Next time when you hit your head on the rock, it will still hurt. They called this you haven't learned your lesson. The sun rise in the east and sets in the west. You don't see the sun rise one day from the east and another day from the west (we are in great trouble if you see this!) Everything is consistent and everything make sense. That's why we can study the cause and effect and come up with technology.

So part of the adab/manners with Allah is to use these causes and effects. We work and we make ourselves subject to the Wisdom that He created this world, a world of means, but at the same time we realize that our taking the means, means nothing because ultimately Allah is the Creator of every effect. That does not mean that we don't do anything and wait for something to happen. But we separate the exterior from the interior: meaning externally we work, we save and we make plans for the sake of slavehood to Allah because that is the world of Wisdom and the way of the Prophets, but internally we don't feel that we are responsible for giving ourselves our food. We don't feel that our efforts are going to guarantee for us anything. Rather, we realize that He is the One who will create whatever He wills. He is the One who wrote down our provisions when we were babies in the wombs of our mothers.

So our efforts do not bring along with them extra stress. We don't stress ourselves with this idea that I am responsible to create food for me and for my kids. Allah is creating the food and to please Him we work for it and we work well, and when we see the food in front of us, we think of those who are not as fortunate as we are. And so we are grateful. And when we are grateful, we naturally give. And Allah will give more because you cannot outdo Al-Karim, the One who gives without any limit.

سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (١) لَهُ ۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ يُحۡىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ‌ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ (٢) هُوَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُ وَٱلۡأَخِرُ وَٱلظَّـٰهِرُ وَٱلۡبَاطِنُ‌ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ (٣) هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ۬ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ‌ۚ يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡہَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيہَا‌ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ۬ (٤) لَّهُ ۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ


Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the All-Mighty, All-Wise.

His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, It is He Who gives life and causes death; and He is Able to do all things.

He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing.

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawâ) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, and what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what you do.

His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And to Allâh return all the matters (for decision).

Qur'an Hadid 57:1-5

ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسۡتَخۡلَفِينَ فِيهِ‌ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ (٧)

Believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allâh's Way), theirs will be a great reward. (Qur'an Hadid 57:7)

May Allah help us be grateful to Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

I Didn't Get Shot

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

On Friday night we were at Tahrir Square. There were reports that about 3 million people were at Tahrir during the day protesting. So we wanted to check out what was going on. So, after our dhikr gathering, we made a stop at Tahrir. It was after 10:00 pm. The place was still packed with protestors, young and old, along with banners and vendors selling flags and all kinds of sweets and traditional foods. It was quite a festive night!

While we were standing next to the families of those who were killed during the revolution and also near where a puppet symbolizing Mubarak was being hanged, suddenly a wave of men came towards us. We rushed to the side, almost getting stampeded. Alhamdulillah. Afterward, we were told that the protestors were escorting some top military people, who should not be there, out of Tahrir. And I thought it was a sign for us to leave.

As we were walking towards the entrance to the train station to get home, I spotted a group of men who appeared to be learned. I had the opportunity to talk with a few of them who said they have been there since the revolution started on January 25 and witnessed much of what had happened. When I asked one of them why he spent too much time at Tahrir Square, he said, "I feel this is home and it has a lot of memories." A few hours later, he called, concerned that we might still be at Tahrir. He seemed relieved when I told him that we had left after we spoke with him. He told me that the military had came and opened fire and left 4 people dead. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

People think that the blessings are things that they are given and forget all the things that are taken away--the harmful and dangerous things. Imagine the blessings I am enjoying right now which I cannot see them--such as the blessing of not having cancer. Imagine you are diagnosed of having cancer, your whole world would turn upside down. Many did when this happened to them. Imagine you lose your child or your beloved wife/husband right now, you would be totally lost. Many did when this happened to them.

The completion of blessings is not from laying out the means to this world and the ability to acquire wishes but rather the kindness of Allah is what He wards away from us in this world. The things that are taken away from you of harm are actually greater blessing than what is actually given to you.

When we tell people to count their blessings, they often think of their wives, their kids, their bank accounts, their houses, their nice furniture, and all those things that they have. They forget to start counting things that they don't have to suffer from.

Try counting your blessings this way, "I didn't...
1. I didn't lose my job in the economic down turn
2. I didn't lose my house in earthquake or Tsunami or flood or fire or bombing
3. I didn't have cancer
4. I didn't get into an accident the other day
5. I didn't lose my mind or limb or speech or sight or hearing
6. I didn't lose my father or mother or child or beloved wife/husband or brother/sister or good friend ...
7. I didn't lose my freedom and peace
8. I didn't lose my car
9. I didn't get shot ...
and all the many Didn'ts happen to us.

When you are denied something that you have been hoping for, let's bring to mind perhaps Allah is warding off something that you don't realize. We should not be frustrated if we don't have what other people have. It might be that Allah is drawing you closer to Him. So then, what He withholds from you is a greater blessing than what He spreads out to you.

Remember Al-Wasi', the One who encompasses in every praiseworthy matters, the One whose generosity encompasses all existence. Nothing escapes His generosity. His power encompasses all things and nothing escapes Him. His knowledge encompasses all knowledge and no matter distracts Him from another. He knows the evil and He is vast in His power.

We hope in the vastness of His mercy and fears in the vastness of His knowledge.

May Allah have mercy on the Ummah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Happiness In This Life Before The Next

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah only commands us what benefits us. We might not see the benefits because of our own shortsightedness or lack of certitude, but if we realize this, we shall look upon the Islamic legislation, not as a burden, but as a blessing, and shall be duly grateful for the guidance and the lead given to us.

Allah intends every ease for us in prescribing His Laws to us. Fasting in Ramadhan is one example.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’ān, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. God intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him."

Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:185

Ultimately, obedience of Allah leads to Paradise. This fact alone, even if a particular command were to lead to all kinds of detriment--hardship, discomfort, inconvenience, and so on, the benefit of Paradise is so tremendous and the worldly detriment will dwindle away to nothing. The truth is if we do what Allah wants us to do, it will also lead to good in this life before the next life.

Allah describes Himself as Al-Wadud, the One Who loves His slaves and His slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them.

Allah says,

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ

"And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of God. And God is full of kindness to (His) devotees."

Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:207

His servants are those who obey Him. If you obey Allah, He will be compassionate and merciful to you.

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

"Do no mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of God is (always) near to those who do good."

Qur'an Al-Araf 7:56

When there is somebody who has worshiped Allah and they have a loving relationship with his Lord, when they read the Qur'an, they gain a sense of happiness, optimism, and gratitude, and they are drawn to their Lord.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to pray until his feet would swell through standing at night in prayer.

Narrated by Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, "The Prophet used to offer prayer at night (for such a long time) that his feet used to crack. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Why do you do it since Allah has forgiven you your faults of the past and those to follow?" He said, "Shouldn't I love to be a thankful slave (of Allah)?' When he became old, he prayed while sitting, but if he wanted to perform a bowing, he wound get up, recite (some other verses) and then perform the bowing." (Bukhari)

The greatest gratitude comes from having this view of Allah.

فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ

"Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, be grateful to Me, and reject not Me." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:152

Allah contrasts شكر shukr with كفر kufr. Kufr has this sense of anger and bitterness towards God. It is an active disbelief. It's opposite is shukr. Our worship of Allah should be grateful and this is shown very powerfully when the actions that you do, you see them as beneficial to you. It gives you the more reason to be grateful to Allah.

May Allah make us among the grateful. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

To Allah We Must Return

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Day of Judgment is the Event of overwhelming importance in which all our petty differences of this imperfect world are covered over and overwhelmed in a new world of perfect justice and truth. On that Day the true balance will be restored: the Signs of His Majesty even in this life should remind us of this Day, for Allah is good and just, and His creation is for a just Purpose.

On that day, the fate of the evil doers and that of the righteous are contrasted. In the one case there is humiliation in their faces; in the other, there is joy; where there is labor and weariness in warding off the Fire, there is instead a healthy striving, which is itself pleasurable, a striving which is a pleasant consequence of the spiritual endeavor in the earthly life, which brought inward peace and satisfaction.

وُجُوهٌ۬ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ خَـٰشِعَةٌ (٢) عَامِلَةٌ۬ نَّاصِبَةٌ۬ (٣) تَصۡلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةً۬ (٤) تُسۡقَىٰ مِنۡ عَيۡنٍ ءَانِيَةٍ۬ (٥) لَّيۡسَ لَهُمۡ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍ۬ (٦) لَّا يُسۡمِنُ وَلَا يُغۡنِى مِن جُوعٍ۬ (٧

"Some faces, that Day will be humiliated, Laboring (hard), weary,— The while they enter the Blazing Fire,— The while they are given, to drink, of a boiling hot spring, No food will there be for them but a bitter Ḍhari' (a plant, bitter and thorny, loathsome in smell and appearance—a fit plant for Hell, like Zaqqum) Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger.

وُجُوهٌ۬ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ نَّاعِمَةٌ۬ (٨) لِّسَعۡيِہَا رَاضِيَةٌ۬ (٩) فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ۬ (١٠) لَّا تَسۡمَعُ فِيہَا لَـٰغِيَةً۬ (١١) فِيہَا عَيۡنٌ۬ جَارِيَةٌ۬ (١٢) فِيہَا سُرُرٌ۬ مَّرۡفُوعَةٌ۬ (١٣) وَأَكۡوَابٌ۬ مَّوۡضُوعَةٌ۬ (١٤) وَنَمَارِقُ مَصۡفُوفَةٌ۬ (١٥) وَزَرَابِىُّ مَبۡثُوثَةٌ (١٦

(Other) faces that Day will be joyful, Pleased with their Striving,— In a Garden on high, Where they shall hear no (word) of vanity: Therein will be a bubbling spring: Therein will be Thrones (of dignity), raised on high, Goblets placed (ready), And cushions set in rows, And rich carpets (all) spread out."

(Qur'an Ghashiya 88:2-16)

يَـٰٓأَيَّتُہَا ٱلنَّفۡسُ ٱلۡمُطۡمَٮِٕنَّةُ (٢٧) ٱرۡجِعِىٓ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً۬ مَّرۡضِيَّةً۬ (٢٨) فَٱدۡخُلِى فِى عِبَـٰدِى (٢٩) وَٱدۡخُلِى جَنَّتِى (٣٠

(To the righteous soul will be said:) “O (you) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! “Come back you to thy Lord, well pleased (yourself), and well-pleasing unto Him! “Enter you, then, among My devotees! “And enter you My Garden!

(Qur'an Fajr 89:27-30)

The Garden is in contrast to the Fire. Its chief beauty will be that they will hear there nothing unbecoming, or foolish, or vain. It will be a Garden on high, in all senses, fit for the best, highest and noblest. Instead of the boiling hot spring there will be a bubbling spring of sparkling water. Instead of the grovelling and grumbling in the place of Wrath, there will be Thrones of Dignity, with all the accompaniments of a brilliant Assembly.

So instead of bickering and fighting over this world, let us look at His wonderful creation--the animals, the plants, the glorious canopy of stars, the sun, the moon, the mountains that feed the streams, or the wide expanse of the earth that nurtures us, and you will see the ordered plan of Allah and our true purpose in this life. To Allah we must return and give account!

May Allah give us Tawfiq and grant us His Noble Countenance. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Before Too Late

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah tries us both by well being and adversity: in the one we should show humility and kindness; and in the other patience and faith. Often, people get puffed up in well being and depressed in adversity, putting false values on this world.

Allah provides for everyone, but people complain if they are straitened, or if what they have is different from that given to other people. Perchance his mind is so absorbed in what he sees, that he doubts the vast Realities he does not see. The present makes him blind to the past and the future.

When we have plenty, do we think of the fatherless children and the struggling poor? Too many people are ready to embezzle the helpless orphan's inheritance. Too many people are swept away in this fleeting world, forgetting and ignoring the poor and the needy. We choke up the spring of charity and kindness to others.

Whether we failed to respect the rights of the orphans and the poor and the needy or actually suppressed those rights in our mad love for the things of this life, we will have to answer in the realm of Reality. This world, which we imagine to be so real, will crumble to powder before the Haqq, the One Who truly exists, manifested Glory. Then we shall remember, and wish, too late, that we had repented.

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ (١٤) فَأَمَّا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ إِذَا مَا ٱبۡتَلَٮٰهُ رَبُّهُ ۥ فَأَكۡرَمَهُ ۥ وَنَعَّمَهُ ۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّىٓ أَكۡرَمَنِ (١٥) وَأَمَّآ إِذَا مَا ٱبۡتَلَٮٰهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيۡهِ رِزۡقَهُ ۥ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّىٓ أَهَـٰنَنِ (١٦) كَلَّا‌ۖ بَل لَّا تُكۡرِمُونَ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ (١٧) وَلَا تَحَـٰٓضُّونَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ (١٨) وَتَأۡڪُلُونَ ٱلتُّرَاثَ أَڪۡلاً۬ لَّمًّ۬ا (١٩) وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡمَالَ حُبًّ۬ا جَمًّ۬ا (٢٠) كَلَّآ إِذَا دُكَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ دَكًّ۬ا دَكًّ۬ا (٢١) وَجَآءَ رَبُّكَ وَٱلۡمَلَكُ صَفًّ۬ا صَفًّ۬ا (٢٢) وَجِاْىٓءَ يَوۡمَٮِٕذِۭ بِجَهَنَّمَ‌ۚ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ يَتَذَڪَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ (٢٣) يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى قَدَّمۡتُ لِحَيَاتِى (٢٤) فَيَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ لَّا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُ ۥۤ أَحَدٌ۬ (٢٥) وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُ ۥۤ أَحَدٌ۬ (٢٦)

"Verily, your Lord is (as a Guardian) on a watch-tower.
Now, as for man, when his Lord tries him, giving him honor and gifts, then says he, (puffed up), “My Lord has honored me.”
But when He tries him, restricting his subsistence for him, then says he (in despair), “My Lord has humiliated me!”
Nay! But you treat not the orphans with kindness and generosity.
And urge not one another on the feeding of 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."
(Qur'an Al-Fajr 89:14-26)

May Allah has mercy on us and forgive us. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Are You Patient?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Patience in Arabic, sabr, is an active word. It is withholding yourself from what you want to do in view of a greater advantage.

In the morning you want to sleep in but you don't carry out your desire to sleep in in view of the greater advantage of the reward from Allah. You get up and pray a few raka'as of tahajjud prayer. You feel a desire to not give charity but you withhold that desire and reach deep down into your pockets and give the charity. It is also carrying out what you intended to do. You resolve to memorize the entire Qur'an, so rain or shine you keep memorizing that 3 lines after each prayer, that you resolve to do to reach your goal, until you memorize the entire Qur'an (for example). This is the essence of sabr about human.

The higher patience is avoiding the bad and disobedience. You want to look at something unlawful, but you restrain that desire in view of a greater advantage, i.e. avoiding Allah's anger. You want to eat something doubtful but you hold what you want to avoid getting into the unlawful territory.

The patient is a very strong person. He is the one who have a grip upon himself.

The highest level of patience and the hardest is patient of bearing things which are disliked. People are insulting you or slandering you, or somebody put you in jail, or you lose someone beloved to you to cancer or some fatal illness, or you had a stroke which paralyzed one side of your body. You want to complain, you want to be bitter, you want to say "I can't believe this is happening to me!" or "Why me?", but you grip all that very tight and bear your difficulty with your face up strong. You are not complaining because you know this is the destiny of Allah. This is the highest rank of the patient. Those who don't complain about the destiny of Allah, they have a tremendous reward with Allah.

In the world of the Divine, the Sabur is the One who delays punishment on sinners to a determined time and then seizes them or relents, it is up to Him.

You give your children everything and you are kind to them but then they shout at you, or they might insult you, or they might swear at you, or they break your things, or they defy your every instructions. You might get upset and angry. You might shout at them or hit them or punish them. You might ground them or take their favorite things away as a punishment but you would still feed them, clothe them and shelter them. You don't destroy them because you are stronger than them by virtue of being a parent.

Allah has given us much more than we could ever give to our children and Allah's power is much greater than our power over our children. Our crimes against Allah are much greater than the crimes of children against their parents. If Allah wanted to take everyone because they are bad, He would have destroyed everyone and there would not be anyone left on this earth. But Allah has given everyone a respite despite what they are doing and that is His Sabr. He leaves us alone for a time. He still feeds us, shelters us and answers our prayers. Some of us come back to Him and feel His kindness but some of us continue the way they are. Then Allah will come at the appointed time and show the reality of our actions.

Whoever knows that Allah is Al-Sabur, he loves Him for His gentleness with His slaves and is not safe from His planning in any of his states, because He delays but does not ignore.

So how do we know that we are doing something right or wrong? It is by measuring ourselves against the Prophets, against their teachings and we follow that as our rule. We make that our guideline as where we stand.

When difficult times come we should not be complaining, but we should control ourselves. Likewise, in times of well being, it is also a trial. We shouldn't look at people whose houses have been destroyed in the Tsunami and think they have been tried and we are not being tried. We all are being tried. Some are tried in the worship of Al-Sabr while others are tried in the worship of Al-Shakur. Worship of Al-Shakur is even harder than worship of Al-Sabr. If the Tsunami victims have Faith/Iman in their hearts, they will naturally come back to Allah but somebody who live in houses that dazzle people's eyes, even if they believe in Allah, they might forget to be grateful.

We should fulfill our resolve even in times of well being. We should constantly strive to attain patience. We show patience in acts of obedience, in avoiding sins, in tribulations and punishments until patience become a state and a trait which is always with us--there is no more bitterness, no more asking why. You are satisfied and content with the Will of Allah. In this case tribulation becomes blessing and trial transforms into mercy.

Patience is not that you don't mention the tribulations through words or utterances but you don't object in your heart to what was destined. You complain your sorrows to Allah but not to people or to yourself.

A great imam once said, "The patient with the command of Allah should be like the dead body in the hands of the washer, turning as he wills."

The dead body being washed cannot say, "Excuse me, you missed a spot!", "Excuse me you haven't washed this side!" The dead body just turned whichever the washer turns him. That's how the patient should be with Allah's destiny.

May Allah give us sabr in obeying Him, in avoiding acts of disobedience, and make us extremely patient (sabur) in trials and well being. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Consult Your Heart

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We, the sons and daughters of Adam, are very special. We have many senses within us. It means that if we are not corrupted by our societies and if people are nurtured to grow in accordance to their first creation of man (the original way of man, Fitra in Arabic), we would grow with an innate appreciation of what is true.

The Truth is that God created us and that we must submit to Him. If we are nurtured to grow in accordance to our Fitra, we will have a sense of God, a longing for God, and a hollowness without God. It is this feeling that there is something I ought to be doing and there is something I ought not to be doing. These questions are ingrained within us. We are perfected for this purpose. The teachings of Islam enhance this natural appreciation of the Truth.

"Five are from the pure natural disposition: clipping the nails, shortening the moustache, plucking the armpit, shaving the pubic region and circumcision." Bukhari

Clipping the nails and plucking the armpit are from the natural way but it seems counter intuitive. It seems that had you left the nail or armpit hair to grow, that is more natural. So the natural way is not about letting things take the course. It is about something active which you do and it feels that is what you should be doing. Our physical body has a tendency to become smelly and to go towards unpleasantness. The pure human way is preserved by removing this unpleasant things to stay pleasant. When someone performs ghusl or wudu', he feels wholesome and feels right.

In gender interaction, if you pull someone out of a non-Muslim society and put them in a Muslim society and tell him don't do this and don't do that, men sit with men and women sit with women, at first he will say "What's this?" "This is wrong!" But if he were to live like that for a while, he feels the wholesomeness that he did not feel before. The freeness that he had before no longer feels right.

Prostration for someone who have never done it before, he would feel weird. But after he did it a few times, it just feels right--I was meant to prostrate and being lowly before God; I feel whole; My body was looking for this prostration. Going around the Ka'bah seven times during hajj doesn't make sense to the mind, as opposed to prostration which does, but when you do it, it is magical.

A questioner asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, about righteousness. "You have come to ask about righteousness." "Consult your heart. Righteousness is what the soul finds peace and the heart finds peace in. Sin is what stirs in the soul and go to and fro in the breast even if the people pronounce it okay." (Ahmad)

We have something within us, a moral compass, and Islam confirms what we have been looking for. The real truth is not in our minds. It is not subjective. The real Truth is in the revelations of God. Good and bad are only known to Allah. If you submit to Islam, your body will say this is the right thing. Your body will feel wholesome and it feels good.

It is not easy to submit because our body has been taken off course. You might be 50, 70, 120 degrees off course, so to come back is going to be a struggle because your ruler says that is not right. But you surrender because you understand your pure way is corrupted by the corrupt societies around you. You realign yourself through submission. You change what you think. When you do that, Allah's gifts start to kick in, which means you have returned to the first creation, the original way of man. You are now like a plant that has been put in the garden with soil, fertilizers and water. You grow and you flourish.

Now you are a functioning conscience and all your faculties are in place. You then are that person, who the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to "Consult your heart." For example, if there is something inside you that feels uncomfortable with interest loans, even if there is a fatwa saying it is permissible to buy your first home with interest loan, you follow your heart. You don't follow the fatwa. This is righteousness.

The hadith is not for everyone. The hadith is for someone who is aligned with revelation, who submit to the Will of God. That is the one whose conscience is his guide. Everybody else has been corrupted by their societies. Their sense of right and wrong has been completely flipped.

Our sense of right and wrong is in constant flux. At one time, some things feels right and at another time, the same things feels wrong to us. About 50 years ago, long skirts and head cover were the dress code for Western women and anything less was shunned by society. Nowadays, you are viewed strange (or stopped, questioned or persecuted) if you are covered from head to toe. Nowadays, it is normal to see women with scanty and tight clothing while in the olden days these types of clothing separate call girls and prostitutes from the noble and the elite women. So our senses cannot be the ruler for right or wrong, good or bad. Only Allah knows what is right, wrong, good or bad.

May Allah guide us. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Bankrupt

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, once asked his Companions: "Do you know who is the Bankrupt?" The Companions said: a bankrupt man among us is the one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: The bankrupt of my Ummah is he who would come on the Day of Judgment with prayers, and fasting and Zakat; but who had offended one person, slandered another, unlawfully consumed the wealth of another person, shed the blood of this person and beat that person. Each one of these people would be given some of the wrongdoer’s good deeds. If his good deeds are exhausted before paying off what he owes, he takes from their sins which are cast on him, then he is cast into the Hell Fire." Muslim

It is extremely important to get your prayers, fasting and zakat in place. If you don't nothing else is going to work for you. But once you get them in place, don't think that you have a one way ticket to Paradise without a detour to a place where no one care to go--the Fire.

People have rights on us and society have rights on us. We have to be acutely aware of this. If we don't we will suffer tremendously.

As scholars mentioned, Allah is free of need and He does not need our anything and He can forgive us. But people are extremely needy. If we have done something wrong to them, they will be less inclined to forgive us because on the Day of Judgment they will be able to benefit from our wronging them in this life by taking good deeds away from us.

So we should be doubly concerned about the rights of people because people are greedy and needy creatures. On the Day of Judgment, we will be put face to face with those we have wronged.

Bankruptcy in this life is unpleasant, but you can recover from this hardship and someone might be able to help you to stand back on your feet again. Bankruptcy on the Day of Judgment is completely different. Accounts have to be settled. Wealth, power, intelligence or knowledge will not be helpful unless they were used properly during one’s life time. No one can buy good deeds or rewards on the Day of Judgment because none is for sale, and no one, even your own mother, will lend or give you even a single good deed on the Day of Judgmeny. On that day each person is concerned with his/her own affairs and salvation.

"On that Day man shall run from his own brother, and from his mother and father, and from his wife and his children. Each one of them, on that Day, will have enough concern of his own to make him indifferent to the others." Qur'an 80:34

The only thing that might help on that Day is your own good deeds. But if you have violated the rights of others or wronged people, your good deeds cannot help you. So it is extremely important to know what are people's rights on you to make sure you avoid bankrupting yourself on the Day of Judgment.

This person didn't know the rights of people on his tongue--He insulted them. He didn't know the right of people's property--he unlawfully ate their property. He didn't know the right of life--he spilled their blood. He didn't know people's rights to be treated with good conduct--he beat them. If he knew about them, he didn't care about them. So he suffered tremendously. His prayers, his fasting and his zakah did not help him whatsoever and he was flung into the Hell Fire.

"There was a man called Kirkara who used to look after the family and goods of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. He died and the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "He is in the Fire." They went to look and found a cloak that he had stolen." (Bukhari)

We should be far away from wronging people. An advice of one living scholar, it is better to be wronged than to be a wrong-doer. This means that if you ever at a point in your life where if you do something you might be wronging someone and if you don't do something, they might be wronging you, then let them wrong you. You don't want the burden of bankruptcy in the Day of Judgment.

May Allah save us from the Fire. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

O Allah, You Are Al-Salaam اللهم أنت السلام

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah is Al-Salaam. He has made this word beloved to us. He called our religion Islam, the thing that brings about Salaama. Salaama is pure well-being. This is the greeting that He has chosen for this religion.

All of us say to each other Assalaamu alaykum (May well being be yours). This is a prayer for well being which is superior prayer to the other greetings like Hayyak Allah (May Allah give you life). Life without well-being is punishment. Life with well-being is life.

Assalaamu alaykum is the prayer that we pray for each other and also as declaration that we made to each other through which we declare, "I bid you no harm, I wish the good for you, you have peace with regards to me, you will not receive any evil from me, you are safe from me."

So when you meet someone and he says Assalaamu alaykum, know that he is declaring that you are in peace with regard to him and he is wishing only well being to you. So you respond by saying, wa alaykumussalaam (and upon you be peace), or better, wa alaykum salaam warahmatullah (and upon you be the peace and mercy of Allah), or wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh (and upon you be the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah).

When meeting a stranger for the first time, one can figure out if this stranger is a foe or a friend. That's why the ulama' said if somebody coming on a winding road on a horse and if he sees someone walking ahead of him, it is obligatory for him (the one on the horse) to say Assalaamu alaykum.

In Islamic law, it is not obligatory to start a Salaam but obligatory to answer the Salaam. It is a greeting of prayer and an announcement of brotherhood. Allah says this greeting of Assalaamu alaykum is a greeting from Allah full of blessings and very pure and goodly. So we thank Allah for the blessing of the Salaam and we initiate Salaam.

وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَقُلۡ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ‌ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَةَ‌ۖ أَنَّهُ ۥ مَنۡ عَمِلَ مِنكُمۡ سُوٓءَۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ وَأَصۡلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ ۥ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬

When those who believe in Our Signs come to you, say: "Salaamun 'Alaikum" (peace be on you); your Lord has written (prescribed) Mercy for Himself, so that, if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allah), then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Qur'an, Al-Anaam 6:54

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I guide you to something if you did it you will love each other?" ... "Spread the Salaam among yourselves."

Paradise is called Dar us Salaam. It is free of all grief, death, worries, tensions, fatigues, enmities, hatred, and it is a place of safety.

وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ دَارِ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

"But Allah do call to the Home of Peace: He does guide whom He pleases to a way that is straight." Qur'an, Yunus 10:21

In Paradise, it is the greeting of the angels and of them to each other.

The dwellers of Paradise will be greeted with salaam, by Allah, by the angels and by each other. They hear "Peace! Peace!"

إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا

"Only the saying,'Peace! Peace'". Qur'an, 56:26

The "Peace of Allah" is an atmosphere which sums up Heaven even better than "Bliss".

Allah gives Salaam to His slaves in Paradise.

سَلَٰمٌۭ قَوْلًۭا مِّن رَّبٍّۢ رَّحِيمٍۢ

"Peace! - a Word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!" Qur'an, Ya-Sin 36:58

The words sums up the attainment of the final Goal. For it explains the nature of the most High-He is not only a Lord and Cherisher, but a Lord Whose supreme glory is Mercy, Peace, and Harmony!

The slaves will receive the highest rooms in Paradise because of their patience and they get salaam from Allah. This is why we see some people who are suffering a great deal but they are calm and patient, because of this peace and tranquility inside that Allah blesses them with.

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُجۡزَوۡنَ ٱلۡغُرۡفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَيُلَقَّوۡنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً۬ وَسَلَـٰمًا

"Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect." Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:75

وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ

"Peace and security be upon the one who follows the guidance" Qur'an, 20:49
Guidance is not just believing, but it is to follow the guidance and do the actions.

Al-Salaam is the Possessor of Salaam. He is the one who give Salaama to the slaves. We would not be living right now if He doesn't give us well being, if He doesn't protect us from the danger of the elements and the danger within ourselves, the chemical factories inside our bodies. He is protecting us from the harm of that and give the good of that.

Our connection with Al-Salaam is turning to Allah in everything and surrendering to Him with everything. There is is nothing that you are free from needing Him.

Our realization of this Name is that people are safe from and with us. It is to have a wholesome heart, the heart that doesn't have hatred and grudges against others, but there is peace, and a sound heart, the heart that is free of diseases such as rancor, envy, arrogance, pride and other blameworthy traits, perpetually until we meet Allah.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The Muslim is the one other Muslims are in a state of Salaama with regards to his tongue and his hands."

A true Muslim is other Muslims are safe. Other Muslims are in well being and they have nothing to fear from his tongue and his hands. If he cannot do that much then he does not get the least meaning of Salaama.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, "Who is the righteous person?" He replied, "He is the one who doesn't conceal evil and doesn't harm even an ant."

A man was seen backbiting. He was asked, "Did you fight against the Romans this year?" He answered, "No." Then he was asked, "Did you fight the Turks or Indians?" He replied, " No." "How come your enemies of the believers are safe from you, and your Muslim brother is not safe from you?"

When we say Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullah at the end of prayer, it is a complete spread of well being--Peace to the right (to the angels and people); peace to the left (to the angels and people).

اللهم أنت السلام ومنك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال والإكرام‏

Allahumma anta Al-Salam wa minka Al-Salaam. Tabarakta ya Dha Al-Jalali wa Al-Ikram

‘O Allah, You are Al-Salaam and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.’

We should make this du'a after prayer (along with استغفر الله Astaghfirullah - I seek Allah's forgiveness.) It is as if we are saying, “O Allah, if my prayer was not proper, if there was anything You did not like, keep me safe from its consequence, protect me from my shortcomings.”

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassaalaam