بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
In Surah Mu'minun, Allah asks mankind,
أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ
"What, did you think that We created you only for sport, and that you would not be returned to Us?" (Qur'an Mu'minun 23:115)
Most people are heedless of Allah, the Creator. This heedlessness was present in our history as human beings and their persistence led to their destruction. It is nothing new. The stories are told repeatedly in the Qur'an.
Allah is not heedless of His creation.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ ﴿١٦﴾ وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَآئِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ ٱلْخَلْقِ غَـٰفِلِينَ ﴿١٧﴾وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۢ بِقَدَرٍ فَأَسْكَنَّـٰهُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ ذَهَابٍۭ بِهِۦ لَقَـٰدِرُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ فَأَنشَأْنَا لَكُم بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـٰبٍ لَّكُمْ فِيهَا فَوَٰكِهُ كَثِيرَةٌ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
And We created above you seven ways, and We were not heedless of creation. (17)
And We sent down out of heaven water in measure and lodged it in the earth; and We are able to take it away. (18) Then We produced for you therewith gardens of palms and vines wherein are many fruits for you, and of them you eat, (19)
(Qur'an Mu'minun 23:17-19)
We, as a society, have become very individualistic and selfish, a society of I, Me, My, Mine--"I want this and that," "Give ME this and that," "Don't touch MY stuff," "This is MINE." We don't think about other people. We lack the awareness of what is around us. When we look at the night skies, we see the moon or collection of stars just sitting out there, doing nothing, while we drink our tea or coffee or soda under the moonlight and be merry. We don't think of the skies in terms of our connection to the Creator. When we go to the park, we don't even look at the trees that give us shade while we enjoy our picnic or our walks. Perhaps one day when they disappear, we will feel the heat, but then it might be too late.
We waste a lot, not just in our spending but in what we eat (and drink.) Just go to the back of any restaurant (especially the fast food restaurants) or grocery store, you will see so much food in the dumpsters. Even in our own homes, take notice of the leftovers and spoil food we throw in the garbage cans and garbage disposals everyday. What, do people think this will not affect us terribly in the long run?
The way we buy and consume things have a direct impact on production. When we consume more, we need to produce more. When we have to produce more, what is at stake? Our earth and its inhabitants. Forests have to be cleared for agriculture and industries and this already caused several environmental issues, including the climate change we have been experiencing. More fish are rapidly harvested from the oceans and the appalling fishing methods have caused much destruction to marine life. Animals have to be slaughtered at a rate that there is not enough humans to hand slaughter them fast enough to meet the consumption (and Islamic rules are compromised).
If each of us simply change our wasteful buying and eating habits, we would have taken part in preventing over fishing, deforestation and non Islamic practices of slaughtering animals. This is part of fulfilling our duty as viceregent (khalifah) of Allah on this earth.
Whatever we are doing that causes us to reject the blessings of Allah and deviate from the way of the Prophets will result in our not prosper.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ ﴿١٢﴾ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ نُطْفَةً فِى قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ ﴿١٣﴾ ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَـٰمًا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَـٰمَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقِينَ ﴿١٤﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ ﴿١٥﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ ﴿١٦
"We created man of an extraction of clay, (12) then We set him, a drop, in a receptacle secure, (13) then We created of the drop a clot then We created of the clot a tissue then We created of the tissue bones then We garmented the bones in flesh; thereafter We produced him as another creature. So blessed be God, the fairest of creators! (14) Then after that you shall surely die, (15) then on the Day of Resurrection you shall surely be raised up. (16)"
(Qur'an Mu'minun 23:12-16)
May Allah forgive us and have mercy on us. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Believers, The Unbelievers And The Hypocrites
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
In the Qur'an, Allah Most High mentions and describes the three categories of people--the believers, unbelievers and hypocrites, and what will happen to them. We should read it and take construction from it, not to try to find who are those, from our neighbors and other people, are believers, non-believers or hypocrites but to strive to improve in our worship of Allah Al-Mighty, and to eliminate any and certain bad characteristics from ourselves.
The Believers (related article)
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥
Alif Lam Mim (1) That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the Godfearing (2) who believe in the Unseen, and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them; (3) who believe in what has been sent down to thee and what has been sent down before thee, and have faith in the Hereafter; (4) those are upon guidance from their Lord, those are the ones who prosper. (5)
The Non-Believers
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٦﴾ خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ غِشَـٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾
As for the unbelievers, alike it is to them whether thou hast warned them or hast not warned them, they do not believe. (6) God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a covering, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement. (7)
The Hypocrites
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٦﴾ خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ غِشَـٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨﴾ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ ﴿١٠
And some men there are who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day'; but they are not believers. (8) They would trick God and the believers, and only themselves they deceive, and they are not aware. (9) In their hearts is a sickness, and God has increased their sickness, and there awaits them a painful chastisement for that they have cried lies. (10)
(Qur'an Al-Baqara 2:1-10)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (he proves to be dishonest).
[If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.]
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant (promises), he proves treacherous (he breaks his promise).
[Breaking promises fall into two categories. 1) Making a promise without intending to keep it. Al-Awzaa’i said that one who says, "I will do such-and-such inshaAllah," without intending to do it has committed both lying and breaking a promise. 2) Making a promise intending to keep it and then later deciding to break it]
4. Whenever he disputes, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner." (Bukhari)
Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, Allah be pleased with him, reported the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, as saying: The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlessly between two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time. (Muslim)
'Umar, Allah be pleased with him, mentioned the hadith of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace: "The thing from which I fear for you the most is the knowledgeable hypocrite." 'Umar was then asked: "How can a hypocrite be knowledgeable?" To which 'Umar answered: "He speaks with wisdom but acts with injustice."
May Allah guide us to excellence and grant us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
In the Qur'an, Allah Most High mentions and describes the three categories of people--the believers, unbelievers and hypocrites, and what will happen to them. We should read it and take construction from it, not to try to find who are those, from our neighbors and other people, are believers, non-believers or hypocrites but to strive to improve in our worship of Allah Al-Mighty, and to eliminate any and certain bad characteristics from ourselves.
The Believers (related article)
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥
Alif Lam Mim (1) That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the Godfearing (2) who believe in the Unseen, and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them; (3) who believe in what has been sent down to thee and what has been sent down before thee, and have faith in the Hereafter; (4) those are upon guidance from their Lord, those are the ones who prosper. (5)
The Non-Believers
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٦﴾ خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ غِشَـٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾
As for the unbelievers, alike it is to them whether thou hast warned them or hast not warned them, they do not believe. (6) God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a covering, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement. (7)
The Hypocrites
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٦﴾ خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ غِشَـٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨﴾ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ ﴿١٠
And some men there are who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day'; but they are not believers. (8) They would trick God and the believers, and only themselves they deceive, and they are not aware. (9) In their hearts is a sickness, and God has increased their sickness, and there awaits them a painful chastisement for that they have cried lies. (10)
(Qur'an Al-Baqara 2:1-10)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (he proves to be dishonest).
[If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.]
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant (promises), he proves treacherous (he breaks his promise).
[Breaking promises fall into two categories. 1) Making a promise without intending to keep it. Al-Awzaa’i said that one who says, "I will do such-and-such inshaAllah," without intending to do it has committed both lying and breaking a promise. 2) Making a promise intending to keep it and then later deciding to break it]
4. Whenever he disputes, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner." (Bukhari)
Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, Allah be pleased with him, reported the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, as saying: The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlessly between two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time. (Muslim)
'Umar, Allah be pleased with him, mentioned the hadith of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace: "The thing from which I fear for you the most is the knowledgeable hypocrite." 'Umar was then asked: "How can a hypocrite be knowledgeable?" To which 'Umar answered: "He speaks with wisdom but acts with injustice."
May Allah guide us to excellence and grant us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Lifestyle Of The Believers
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The believers are the Godfearing. The immediate consequence of their Godfearingness (taqwa) is seen in their lifestyle. They have a certain lifestyle, not based on fads, trends, magazines, lifestyles of the rich and famous, or popularity of certain drinks, diets, fashion, places or new gadgets, but a particular lifestyle that emerges from revelation and the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
This lifestyle is connected to the awareness of the universe around us, and not feeding into our desires but a lifestyle of moderation, of balance and of restraint. Moderation means not too much of this and too much of that. Balance means sometimes when there is a need to be corrected there need to be permissiveness. For example, when the gap between the rich and poor is great then we need to be permissive with our money. Restraint means when to know to hold back. When it comes to feeding our desires we are restrained and reserved, but when it comes to feeding the poor and helping others, we are permissive and giving with our money, time and energy.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the imam of taqwa. To the extent that we follow him, we will be guided. To the degree that we take after him, we will attain the love of Allah.
Abdullah ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with both father and son, when describing taqwa, he drew his garment in, and he said it is like tucking your garment in close to yourself to walk on a narrow path that has thorns on both ends.
These are the people who prosper and the Gardens await them.
مِ
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥
Alif Lam Mim (1) That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the Godfearing (2) who believe in the Unseen, and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them; (3) who believe in what has been sent down to thee and what has been sent down before thee, and have faith in the Hereafter; (4) those are upon guidance from their Lord, those are the ones who prosper. (5)
وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُتَشَـٰبِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿٢٥
Give thou good tidings to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them await gardens underneath which rivers flow; whensoever they are provided with fruits therefrom they shall say, 'This is that wherewithal we were provided before'; that they shall be given in perfect semblance; and there for them shall be spouses purified; therein they shall dwell forever. (25)
We ask Allah to guide us for without the guidance of Allah we will be ruined. A Day of Remembering Allah.
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.
The believers are the Godfearing. The immediate consequence of their Godfearingness (taqwa) is seen in their lifestyle. They have a certain lifestyle, not based on fads, trends, magazines, lifestyles of the rich and famous, or popularity of certain drinks, diets, fashion, places or new gadgets, but a particular lifestyle that emerges from revelation and the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
This lifestyle is connected to the awareness of the universe around us, and not feeding into our desires but a lifestyle of moderation, of balance and of restraint. Moderation means not too much of this and too much of that. Balance means sometimes when there is a need to be corrected there need to be permissiveness. For example, when the gap between the rich and poor is great then we need to be permissive with our money. Restraint means when to know to hold back. When it comes to feeding our desires we are restrained and reserved, but when it comes to feeding the poor and helping others, we are permissive and giving with our money, time and energy.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the imam of taqwa. To the extent that we follow him, we will be guided. To the degree that we take after him, we will attain the love of Allah.
Abdullah ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with both father and son, when describing taqwa, he drew his garment in, and he said it is like tucking your garment in close to yourself to walk on a narrow path that has thorns on both ends.
These are the people who prosper and the Gardens await them.
مِ
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥
Alif Lam Mim (1) That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the Godfearing (2) who believe in the Unseen, and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them; (3) who believe in what has been sent down to thee and what has been sent down before thee, and have faith in the Hereafter; (4) those are upon guidance from their Lord, those are the ones who prosper. (5)
وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُتَشَـٰبِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿٢٥
Give thou good tidings to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them await gardens underneath which rivers flow; whensoever they are provided with fruits therefrom they shall say, 'This is that wherewithal we were provided before'; that they shall be given in perfect semblance; and there for them shall be spouses purified; therein they shall dwell forever. (25)
We ask Allah to guide us for without the guidance of Allah we will be ruined. A Day of Remembering Allah.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, May 23, 2011
An Intimate Discourse
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
In every situation in our life, whether it is a success or failure, an ease or a hardship, happiness or grief, have or have not, there is a test in it for us. It is a means to draw near to Allah or farther away from Allah.
One's life might be easy right now or one might find success but forget that his success is from Allah alone and that he has nothing to do with it. And he might become ungrateful to Allah and arrogant. The one who faces a disaster in his life might despair and become self-destruct from his words or actions.
Allah has built into our life a place for comfort, a haven, where we can go to many times a day--the prescribed and supererogatory prayers, and in each cycle, a du'a--Surah Al-Fatiha, a powerful discourse between a slave and the Lord. So one should learn how to recite this surah properly in Arabic and know the meaning to have a meaningful discourse.
So, no matter what circumstance we are in right now, we always remember Allah. He is the Lord of the Worlds, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, Master of the Day of Doom. He alone we serve and seek help from. We ask Him to guide us, to guide us in the straight path, the path of those who He has blessed and favored (the Prophets, the awliya' and the righteous people and the matyrs) and not those who earn His wrath nor those who go astray.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being,
the All-merciful, the All-compassionate,
the Master of the Day of Doom.
Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour.
Guide us in the straight path,
the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.
(Qur'an Al-Fatiha 1)
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.
In every situation in our life, whether it is a success or failure, an ease or a hardship, happiness or grief, have or have not, there is a test in it for us. It is a means to draw near to Allah or farther away from Allah.
One's life might be easy right now or one might find success but forget that his success is from Allah alone and that he has nothing to do with it. And he might become ungrateful to Allah and arrogant. The one who faces a disaster in his life might despair and become self-destruct from his words or actions.
Allah has built into our life a place for comfort, a haven, where we can go to many times a day--the prescribed and supererogatory prayers, and in each cycle, a du'a--Surah Al-Fatiha, a powerful discourse between a slave and the Lord. So one should learn how to recite this surah properly in Arabic and know the meaning to have a meaningful discourse.
So, no matter what circumstance we are in right now, we always remember Allah. He is the Lord of the Worlds, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, Master of the Day of Doom. He alone we serve and seek help from. We ask Him to guide us, to guide us in the straight path, the path of those who He has blessed and favored (the Prophets, the awliya' and the righteous people and the matyrs) and not those who earn His wrath nor those who go astray.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being,
the All-merciful, the All-compassionate,
the Master of the Day of Doom.
Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour.
Guide us in the straight path,
the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.
(Qur'an Al-Fatiha 1)
Ameen
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Diversion
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
In the Islamic world, before there was music, there was poetry and Muslims busied themselves with Qur'an--and studying the Shatibiyya--the 7 canonical recitations of the Qu'ran. There was a time when Muslims only had one garment so that there is a section in the Chapter of Prayer in the books of fiqh which taught people how to pray when naked (they were naked because when they washed their garment they won't have anything to put on until the garment was dry). There was a time when eating loaves of bread with salt and oil were considered a feast and people would give much praise to Allah for that.
Nowadays most of us have plenty. Some of us can't even imagine not having cheese or milk for breakfast. We eat a full spread of food frequently--with full range of appetizers, entrees, salads, deserts, and drinks. A feast could be 5 to 10 course meals. We have one or two closet full of clothes (for him/her). We have clothes for all seasons, formal and informal wear, night and day clothes. We see people who seem cannot live without music--you can tell by the continuous music/songs coming out from their homes, or their cars, or their offices, or the humming of songs from their vocal chords and some with headphones sticking in their ears while walking, or in the malls and shopping centers.
The rule is the dunya (world) can be means to the Hereafter or diversion from it. If you have a lot of wealth and you use it to feed the poor, build schools, sponsor students of knowledge in their studies, you have used the dunya for your Hereafter--these are some examples of the direct means to the Hereafter. If you have worked so hard to support yourself and your family and need a break, there is nothing wrong with entertaining yourself but in halal ways like listening to something halal or spend time with a friend(s) and share a good meal together.
If somebody knows and have memorized the songs that are at top of the chart and knows the tune in his mind (even certain so called Islamic songs) but hasn't memorized 10 surahs in the Qur'an, this is shameful. If you are busy in the latest fashion or in the national championship of some ball game or in some TV series/season finales, and this is what you spend much of your time doing, ask yourself, "When was the last time I went to the masjid and pray?" "When was the last time I learn about how the Prophet's, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to dress, walk, eat, drink, sit, sleep, and what he used to be like?" This shows where your priority is and what your concern is.
When entertainment becomes the focus of the society and this is what all life is about, this leads to worldliness and religion goes into decline. We saw this happened in Andalus (Muslim Spain) and it is happening around us even in Muslim countries.
They say the genie is out but we can do something. We start in our homes by teaching our children about Allah and instill in them the love of the Qur'an and the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. But of course it has to start with us. This is priority #1.
The other day we were visited by an Al-Azhari, not an Arab. I consider him a success story for any parent. He came from a family of 12 children and is among nine children who graduated from Al-Azhar university (the other 3 studied or graduated in Islamic studies elsewhere.) His parents did not leave them anything except the real knowledge but they have good and wholesome life. We should aspire to have children to be like them. We should want for our children to be successful in this life and the next, treat us with kindness (and not put us in old folks home when we can't tend to ourselves anymore)and pray for us after we die. But how can we achieve this if we don't teach our children the religion properly; how can we expect this from our children if we don't learn it ourselves and still absorbed and engrossed with the dunya?
May Allah guide us and give 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.
In the Islamic world, before there was music, there was poetry and Muslims busied themselves with Qur'an--and studying the Shatibiyya--the 7 canonical recitations of the Qu'ran. There was a time when Muslims only had one garment so that there is a section in the Chapter of Prayer in the books of fiqh which taught people how to pray when naked (they were naked because when they washed their garment they won't have anything to put on until the garment was dry). There was a time when eating loaves of bread with salt and oil were considered a feast and people would give much praise to Allah for that.
Nowadays most of us have plenty. Some of us can't even imagine not having cheese or milk for breakfast. We eat a full spread of food frequently--with full range of appetizers, entrees, salads, deserts, and drinks. A feast could be 5 to 10 course meals. We have one or two closet full of clothes (for him/her). We have clothes for all seasons, formal and informal wear, night and day clothes. We see people who seem cannot live without music--you can tell by the continuous music/songs coming out from their homes, or their cars, or their offices, or the humming of songs from their vocal chords and some with headphones sticking in their ears while walking, or in the malls and shopping centers.
The rule is the dunya (world) can be means to the Hereafter or diversion from it. If you have a lot of wealth and you use it to feed the poor, build schools, sponsor students of knowledge in their studies, you have used the dunya for your Hereafter--these are some examples of the direct means to the Hereafter. If you have worked so hard to support yourself and your family and need a break, there is nothing wrong with entertaining yourself but in halal ways like listening to something halal or spend time with a friend(s) and share a good meal together.
If somebody knows and have memorized the songs that are at top of the chart and knows the tune in his mind (even certain so called Islamic songs) but hasn't memorized 10 surahs in the Qur'an, this is shameful. If you are busy in the latest fashion or in the national championship of some ball game or in some TV series/season finales, and this is what you spend much of your time doing, ask yourself, "When was the last time I went to the masjid and pray?" "When was the last time I learn about how the Prophet's, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to dress, walk, eat, drink, sit, sleep, and what he used to be like?" This shows where your priority is and what your concern is.
When entertainment becomes the focus of the society and this is what all life is about, this leads to worldliness and religion goes into decline. We saw this happened in Andalus (Muslim Spain) and it is happening around us even in Muslim countries.
They say the genie is out but we can do something. We start in our homes by teaching our children about Allah and instill in them the love of the Qur'an and the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. But of course it has to start with us. This is priority #1.
The other day we were visited by an Al-Azhari, not an Arab. I consider him a success story for any parent. He came from a family of 12 children and is among nine children who graduated from Al-Azhar university (the other 3 studied or graduated in Islamic studies elsewhere.) His parents did not leave them anything except the real knowledge but they have good and wholesome life. We should aspire to have children to be like them. We should want for our children to be successful in this life and the next, treat us with kindness (and not put us in old folks home when we can't tend to ourselves anymore)and pray for us after we die. But how can we achieve this if we don't teach our children the religion properly; how can we expect this from our children if we don't learn it ourselves and still absorbed and engrossed with the dunya?
May Allah guide us and give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Our Records
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our journeying to Allah is by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. When we meet Allah, we will be recompensed either by His beneficence or His justice. His beneficence if we are from the felicitous and His just punishment if we are from the wretched. May Allah save us from being among the wretched.
The felicitous, who will be given his book/record in his right hand will receive an easy reckoning, a presentation of his deeds. He will return joyfully to his family in Paradise for he has attained the reward of Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَـٰقِيهِ ﴿٦﴾ فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ﴿٧﴾ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾ وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا ﴿٩﴾
6) O mankind, you are toiling laboriously toward your Lord. You will meet Him.
7) Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand,
8) he shall surely receive an easy reckoning,
9) and he will return to his family joyfully.
(Qur'an Inshiqaq 84:6-9)
But for him who is given his book/record behind his back, in his left hand, he will cry out for destruction, out of despair and humiliation, and for the sins which he never repented. He will roast in a Blaze. He had once lived happily among his family, without a thought that he would return (to Allah) and that the Resurrection would occur. He had committed sins without a thought that He would return to his Lord and stand before Him. But the Lord always had sight of him.
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهْرِهِۦ ﴿١٠﴾ فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًا ﴿١١﴾ وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا ﴿١٣﴾ إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ ﴿١٤﴾ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًا ﴿١٥﴾
10) But as for him who is given his book behind his back,
11) he shall call for destruction
12) but will roast in a Scorching Blaze.
13) He once lived among his family joyfully
14) without a thought that he would return [to Allah]
15) Yes, indeed! His Lord always had sight of him.
(Qur'an Inshiqaq 84:10-15)
Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “(On the Day of Resurrection) anyone whose account will be taken will be ruined (i.e go to Hell)." I said: 'O Allah's Apostle! May Allah make me be sacrificed for you. 'Doesn't Allah say: “Then he who is given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive and easy reckoning."?' He replied, “That is the presentation of the accounts, but he whose record is questioned, will be ruined.” (Bukhari)
One should not imagine that Allah would leave him to wander without direction, not being commanded, not being prohibited, not being rewarded and not being punished.
May Allah give our record in our right hands and not behind our backs, and save us from the Blaze. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our journeying to Allah is by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. When we meet Allah, we will be recompensed either by His beneficence or His justice. His beneficence if we are from the felicitous and His just punishment if we are from the wretched. May Allah save us from being among the wretched.
The felicitous, who will be given his book/record in his right hand will receive an easy reckoning, a presentation of his deeds. He will return joyfully to his family in Paradise for he has attained the reward of Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَـٰقِيهِ ﴿٦﴾ فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ﴿٧﴾ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾ وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا ﴿٩﴾
6) O mankind, you are toiling laboriously toward your Lord. You will meet Him.
7) Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand,
8) he shall surely receive an easy reckoning,
9) and he will return to his family joyfully.
(Qur'an Inshiqaq 84:6-9)
But for him who is given his book/record behind his back, in his left hand, he will cry out for destruction, out of despair and humiliation, and for the sins which he never repented. He will roast in a Blaze. He had once lived happily among his family, without a thought that he would return (to Allah) and that the Resurrection would occur. He had committed sins without a thought that He would return to his Lord and stand before Him. But the Lord always had sight of him.
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهْرِهِۦ ﴿١٠﴾ فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًا ﴿١١﴾ وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا ﴿١٣﴾ إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ ﴿١٤﴾ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًا ﴿١٥﴾
10) But as for him who is given his book behind his back,
11) he shall call for destruction
12) but will roast in a Scorching Blaze.
13) He once lived among his family joyfully
14) without a thought that he would return [to Allah]
15) Yes, indeed! His Lord always had sight of him.
(Qur'an Inshiqaq 84:10-15)
Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “(On the Day of Resurrection) anyone whose account will be taken will be ruined (i.e go to Hell)." I said: 'O Allah's Apostle! May Allah make me be sacrificed for you. 'Doesn't Allah say: “Then he who is given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive and easy reckoning."?' He replied, “That is the presentation of the accounts, but he whose record is questioned, will be ruined.” (Bukhari)
One should not imagine that Allah would leave him to wander without direction, not being commanded, not being prohibited, not being rewarded and not being punished.
May Allah give our record in our right hands and not behind our backs, and save us from the Blaze. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Cooperate In Obedience And Godfearingness
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We have to help each other in righteousness and piety, not in perpetuating feuds of hatred and enmity. We cooperate in giving charity and helping people, and in bringing good to others. The strength of Islam lies in a strong brotherhood. Islam was strong when the bonds of brotherhood was strong. If you don't have this sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for other people, everybody will just be trying to take their piece of the dunya and things will be self destruct.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
"...cooperate in obedience and Godfearingness and don't cooperate in sins and aggression. And fear God; surely God is terrible in retribution."
(Qur'an Al-Ma'ida 5:2)
A result of fearing Allah and living a life of piety and uprightness, is that Allah opens up a bounty of land--wealth, comfort, safety, etc. Wealth, for example, in of itself is not blameworthy. If Allah opened the door of sustenance to somebody and gave them much wealth, the wealth is not bad. The thing that goes wrong is the people who received the wealth become stingy and wasteful. They become bad. This happens because they were ungrateful with the wealth Allah gave them. They forgot Allah and they became engrossed in the dunya.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ الْأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"It is He who has appointed you vicegerent over the earth, and has raised some of you in rank above others, that He may try you in what He has given you. Surely thy Lord is swift in retribution; and surely He is All-forgiving, All-compassionate."
(Qur'an Al-An'am 6:165)
The rich are tested to see whether they will be kind to poor people. The poor are tested to see whether they would not be jealous of rich people.
May Allah give 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.
We have to help each other in righteousness and piety, not in perpetuating feuds of hatred and enmity. We cooperate in giving charity and helping people, and in bringing good to others. The strength of Islam lies in a strong brotherhood. Islam was strong when the bonds of brotherhood was strong. If you don't have this sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for other people, everybody will just be trying to take their piece of the dunya and things will be self destruct.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
"...cooperate in obedience and Godfearingness and don't cooperate in sins and aggression. And fear God; surely God is terrible in retribution."
(Qur'an Al-Ma'ida 5:2)
A result of fearing Allah and living a life of piety and uprightness, is that Allah opens up a bounty of land--wealth, comfort, safety, etc. Wealth, for example, in of itself is not blameworthy. If Allah opened the door of sustenance to somebody and gave them much wealth, the wealth is not bad. The thing that goes wrong is the people who received the wealth become stingy and wasteful. They become bad. This happens because they were ungrateful with the wealth Allah gave them. They forgot Allah and they became engrossed in the dunya.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ الْأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"It is He who has appointed you vicegerent over the earth, and has raised some of you in rank above others, that He may try you in what He has given you. Surely thy Lord is swift in retribution; and surely He is All-forgiving, All-compassionate."
(Qur'an Al-An'am 6:165)
The rich are tested to see whether they will be kind to poor people. The poor are tested to see whether they would not be jealous of rich people.
May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Be The First
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Abu Hurayrah, Allah be pleased with him, reported: I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying: A group of my Ummah consisting of seventy thousand persons would enter Paradise; their faces would be as bright as the brightness of the full moon. Abu Hurayrah said: 'Ukhaashah b. Mihsan al-Asadi then stood up wrapping the blanket around him and said: Messenger of Allah, supplicate (before) Allah that He should make me one among them. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: O Allah, make him among them. Then stood up a man from the Ansar and said: Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah that He should make me one among them. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Ukhaashah has preceded you in this matter. (Muslim)
As we cannot be the first like Ukhaasha to ask the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to supplicate for us, perhaps we can be the first to remember Allah in places where everybody else are doing things of the world and thinking about everything possible and impossible.
When you are driving in a car and people in the other cars are busy listening to the news or music, or day dreaming, or talking on the phone or to someone next to them, or putting make up on or looking at himself in the mirror, or eating, be the first to say Alhamdulillah for the transportation that Allah provided you. Imagine if you have to ride a donkey instead, you probably will not make it very far!
When you are shopping in the mall, while others are busy choosing their carts or putting stuff in their carts, or in the market and other people are busy looking and choosing what they want to buy, be the first to remember Allah and thank Him for the money He gives you to shop.
When you are in the plane, while people are busy looking for their seats and taking care of their hand luggage or asking for pillows or blankets or drinks, be the first to thank Allah for the blessing of airplanes which had made it easy for you to get from one continent to another within hours.
And you can think of many other instances to be the first. May Allah accept.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was once riding on his camel and he asked Abdullah ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with father and son) to sit with him. After they had ridden for some distance, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, turned around and said You young man. Abdullah replied, Here I am oh Messenger of Allah, can I do something? Then the Prophet began to talk, and he said the following:
“You remember Allah, Allah will remember you. If you will remember Allah, you will find Him before you under all circumstances. You recognize Allah when you are in peace and comfort, Allah will recognize you when you are in trouble. When you have to ask, only ask Allah. When you need help, seek help only from Allah… And understand it very clearly that the help of Allah is with patience, and comfort with hardship, and prosperity with adversity.”
If we remember Allah in our health, He will remember us in our sickness. If we remember Allah in our youth, He will remember us in our old age. If we remember Allah in our good times, He will remember us in our difficult times.
We hope by His Mercy, He will remember us during the biggest trial of the Last Day and enter us and our beloved ones into Paradise without reckoning.
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.
Abu Hurayrah, Allah be pleased with him, reported: I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying: A group of my Ummah consisting of seventy thousand persons would enter Paradise; their faces would be as bright as the brightness of the full moon. Abu Hurayrah said: 'Ukhaashah b. Mihsan al-Asadi then stood up wrapping the blanket around him and said: Messenger of Allah, supplicate (before) Allah that He should make me one among them. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: O Allah, make him among them. Then stood up a man from the Ansar and said: Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah that He should make me one among them. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Ukhaashah has preceded you in this matter. (Muslim)
As we cannot be the first like Ukhaasha to ask the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to supplicate for us, perhaps we can be the first to remember Allah in places where everybody else are doing things of the world and thinking about everything possible and impossible.
When you are driving in a car and people in the other cars are busy listening to the news or music, or day dreaming, or talking on the phone or to someone next to them, or putting make up on or looking at himself in the mirror, or eating, be the first to say Alhamdulillah for the transportation that Allah provided you. Imagine if you have to ride a donkey instead, you probably will not make it very far!
When you are shopping in the mall, while others are busy choosing their carts or putting stuff in their carts, or in the market and other people are busy looking and choosing what they want to buy, be the first to remember Allah and thank Him for the money He gives you to shop.
When you are in the plane, while people are busy looking for their seats and taking care of their hand luggage or asking for pillows or blankets or drinks, be the first to thank Allah for the blessing of airplanes which had made it easy for you to get from one continent to another within hours.
And you can think of many other instances to be the first. May Allah accept.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was once riding on his camel and he asked Abdullah ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with father and son) to sit with him. After they had ridden for some distance, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, turned around and said You young man. Abdullah replied, Here I am oh Messenger of Allah, can I do something? Then the Prophet began to talk, and he said the following:
“You remember Allah, Allah will remember you. If you will remember Allah, you will find Him before you under all circumstances. You recognize Allah when you are in peace and comfort, Allah will recognize you when you are in trouble. When you have to ask, only ask Allah. When you need help, seek help only from Allah… And understand it very clearly that the help of Allah is with patience, and comfort with hardship, and prosperity with adversity.”
If we remember Allah in our health, He will remember us in our sickness. If we remember Allah in our youth, He will remember us in our old age. If we remember Allah in our good times, He will remember us in our difficult times.
We hope by His Mercy, He will remember us during the biggest trial of the Last Day and enter us and our beloved ones into Paradise without reckoning.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Khalifa On Earth
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The Blogger was on read-only mode for a few days so I couldn't post anything for a few days. Actually the day it went down I was in the middle of writing a post and of course I lost the post. Alhamdulillah, I got to spend some time with my son instead chatting about human relationship with other creation of Allah--specifically the animals and the trees.
Our relationship with the animals and trees should be one of love. We love the animals and trees, and the entire universe for that matter, in view of their glorification of Allah.
Allah’s Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: An ant had bitten a Prophet (one amongst the earlier Prophets) and he ordered that the colony of the ants should be burnt. And Allah revealed to him:” Because of an ant bit you that you have ordered a nation of the nations that glorify (Me) to be destroyed?” (Muslim)
So we don't throw rocks at dogs (how would you like rocks to be thrown at you?), we don't break a twig from a branch for no good purpose (how would you like your fingers be broken?), we don't kick a bush (how would you like to be done the same?), we don't let a tree to die, we cannot shoot birds or kill animals for sport (just imagine if the animal kingdom rule us and make us their sport!). We have no right to do any of these to Allah's creation, our fellow creatures, because we want to or because we are angry.
A Muslim who knows that he is Allah's khalifa (viceregent) on earth, walks with humility before the creation of Allah, feels responsible for the world around him, and does his utmost to serve his fellow creatures through the abilities endowed to him, for the sake of pleasing Allah and slavehood to Him.
And I added to the conversation: Don't curse a dog because they can hold a grudge and come after you the next day with the whole family. And don't get too close to the owner of a horse because you might make his horse jealous and it might kick you. Don't equate a lazy human to a donkey--the donkey will take offense--donkeys here are pretty hardworking, sometimes you see them working harder than the owner. Don't equate a stupid human to a mule because the mule's father (a horse) and the mule's mother (a donkey) will take offense, "Wait a minute! You human are talking about our kid!"
And my son started laughing because he remembered the day when he got upset at a barking dog, and a family of dogs waited for him in front of the masjid the next morning after fajr! ...and I couldn't stop laughing for a while myself thinking about our stupid and arrogant human behaviors which got us into trouble ourselves!
May Allah guide us. 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.
The Blogger was on read-only mode for a few days so I couldn't post anything for a few days. Actually the day it went down I was in the middle of writing a post and of course I lost the post. Alhamdulillah, I got to spend some time with my son instead chatting about human relationship with other creation of Allah--specifically the animals and the trees.
Our relationship with the animals and trees should be one of love. We love the animals and trees, and the entire universe for that matter, in view of their glorification of Allah.
Allah’s Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: An ant had bitten a Prophet (one amongst the earlier Prophets) and he ordered that the colony of the ants should be burnt. And Allah revealed to him:” Because of an ant bit you that you have ordered a nation of the nations that glorify (Me) to be destroyed?” (Muslim)
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا(Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:44)
The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ(Qur'an 6:38)
There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.
So we don't throw rocks at dogs (how would you like rocks to be thrown at you?), we don't break a twig from a branch for no good purpose (how would you like your fingers be broken?), we don't kick a bush (how would you like to be done the same?), we don't let a tree to die, we cannot shoot birds or kill animals for sport (just imagine if the animal kingdom rule us and make us their sport!). We have no right to do any of these to Allah's creation, our fellow creatures, because we want to or because we are angry.
A Muslim who knows that he is Allah's khalifa (viceregent) on earth, walks with humility before the creation of Allah, feels responsible for the world around him, and does his utmost to serve his fellow creatures through the abilities endowed to him, for the sake of pleasing Allah and slavehood to Him.
And I added to the conversation: Don't curse a dog because they can hold a grudge and come after you the next day with the whole family. And don't get too close to the owner of a horse because you might make his horse jealous and it might kick you. Don't equate a lazy human to a donkey--the donkey will take offense--donkeys here are pretty hardworking, sometimes you see them working harder than the owner. Don't equate a stupid human to a mule because the mule's father (a horse) and the mule's mother (a donkey) will take offense, "Wait a minute! You human are talking about our kid!"
And my son started laughing because he remembered the day when he got upset at a barking dog, and a family of dogs waited for him in front of the masjid the next morning after fajr! ...and I couldn't stop laughing for a while myself thinking about our stupid and arrogant human behaviors which got us into trouble ourselves!
May Allah guide us. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
If Marriage Doesn't Work
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Some people have the attitude, "If the marriage doesn't work, then divorce," because it's easier to say the D or T or ط word than to put in the time and effort to make the marriage work. The reasons for divorce often point to the selfish attitude of one or more people in the relationship. Commitment to the marriage requires some work and compromise.
People who give up on marriage, before the final straw, they concentrate on changing something else in their lives, like concentrating on work or a new hobby. Having something else to concentrate their energy on creates this temporary happiness and a way to escape the troubles at home. This is not the way of a true Muslim.
We must realize that we cannot make any meaningful change relying on our own resources. "Nothing you seek through your Lord will ever be difficult; and nothing you seek through yourself will ever be easy." (Ibn Ata'illa)
If good times didn't move you to Allah, difficult times should make you run to Allah, and this is the time when you throw yourself to Him completely. If we don't live for the Lord, relying on Him and trusting in His wisdom, we won't be able to go through this life smiling because more often than not we will encounter rough and selfish people than merciful and compassionate and generous people. Some people scream and yell at you, some are rude to you, some take you for granted, some take advantage of you, some manipulate you, some cheat you, some lie to you, some do all kinds of bad and hurtful things to you, and on and on. Who can live with these kinds of people!? When we live for the Lord, it becomes easy to live with people with bad character traits. You see Allah's hands in it. If we see this, how can we go crazy or search for human outlets to solve our problems?
Look at it this way, journey to life will end sooner than anyone would expect. These days will be over and we shouldn't try to act like it is going to last forever. In peace or in war, try to get a few more good deeds in our books before the angel of death comes and take our soul to where it belongs.
Realize that your spouse is, first of all, another Muslim. He or she is your brother/sister in Islam. All rights that fall upon a Muslim to the general brotherhood of Islam are also due to your spouse.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Your spouse has even more rights upon you due to the great and important contract of the marriage.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The best of you is the one who is best to his family (wife) and I am the best of you to my family." He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said: "The best among you are those who have the best manners and character." Show your best manners and treatment to your spouse first!
In our personal relationship, if we embody the spirit of mutual love, mercy and affection, encouraged by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, we will be able to live together in harmony.
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
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Some people have the attitude, "If the marriage doesn't work, then divorce," because it's easier to say the D or T or ط word than to put in the time and effort to make the marriage work. The reasons for divorce often point to the selfish attitude of one or more people in the relationship. Commitment to the marriage requires some work and compromise.
People who give up on marriage, before the final straw, they concentrate on changing something else in their lives, like concentrating on work or a new hobby. Having something else to concentrate their energy on creates this temporary happiness and a way to escape the troubles at home. This is not the way of a true Muslim.
We must realize that we cannot make any meaningful change relying on our own resources. "Nothing you seek through your Lord will ever be difficult; and nothing you seek through yourself will ever be easy." (Ibn Ata'illa)
If good times didn't move you to Allah, difficult times should make you run to Allah, and this is the time when you throw yourself to Him completely. If we don't live for the Lord, relying on Him and trusting in His wisdom, we won't be able to go through this life smiling because more often than not we will encounter rough and selfish people than merciful and compassionate and generous people. Some people scream and yell at you, some are rude to you, some take you for granted, some take advantage of you, some manipulate you, some cheat you, some lie to you, some do all kinds of bad and hurtful things to you, and on and on. Who can live with these kinds of people!? When we live for the Lord, it becomes easy to live with people with bad character traits. You see Allah's hands in it. If we see this, how can we go crazy or search for human outlets to solve our problems?
Look at it this way, journey to life will end sooner than anyone would expect. These days will be over and we shouldn't try to act like it is going to last forever. In peace or in war, try to get a few more good deeds in our books before the angel of death comes and take our soul to where it belongs.
Realize that your spouse is, first of all, another Muslim. He or she is your brother/sister in Islam. All rights that fall upon a Muslim to the general brotherhood of Islam are also due to your spouse.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Your spouse has even more rights upon you due to the great and important contract of the marriage.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The best of you is the one who is best to his family (wife) and I am the best of you to my family." He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said: "The best among you are those who have the best manners and character." Show your best manners and treatment to your spouse first!
In our personal relationship, if we embody the spirit of mutual love, mercy and affection, encouraged by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, we will be able to live together in harmony.
May Allah hold us by the hand. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Choosing The Right Spouse
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
It is our responsibility to bring up our children in the best possible way, providing an environment in which they can grow learning about the Creator, Mighty and Majestic, and responsibilities in life. The best environment possible for a child is having a family who follow the guidance of Islam. He will have his father and mother who live by Islam as examples in his life.
Maybe for some of us who are in a solo parent household, this is a little bit too late, but we might be able to save the next generation of Muslim families by teaching our children the importance of choosing the right spouse and the right mother/father for their children (our grandchildren).
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, guided Muslims to many characteristics that are important in a spouse and alluded to which of them that are more important characteristics.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "A woman is married because of her righteousness, wealth or beauty. So go for the one who is religious and may your hands be filled with dust." (Muslim)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A woman is married for her wealth, her lineage, her beauty, or her religion. So choose the religious one or you will lose." (Bukhari)
It is a great blessing of having a pious wife.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "All of the world are but 'articles or commodities.' And the best of all 'objects of benefits' of this world is a pious wife." (Muslim)
"A thankful heart, a tongue that mentions (Allah) and a pious wife to help you in the affairs of your world and your religion are better than what the people are treasuring." (al-Baihaqi)
"Four aspects are (sources) of happiness: a pious wife, a spacious home, a pious neighbor and a means of transportation that is fast and pleasing. And four are (sources) of unhappiness: an evil wife, an evil neighbor, an evil means of transportation and cramped housing." (al-Baihaqi)
Religiousness is not simply the outward appearance. It is faith (Iman) in the heart demonstrated by actions.
"Verily Allah does not look at your bodies nor to your forms; but rather He looks at your hearts." (Muslim)
Actions have a two-way connection with the heart. The actions are where the heart expresses itself.
How many women, for example, may wear hijab and seem very pious but have bad character, backbite, gossip, spendthrift and wasteful (with their time and resources), that your son has to contend with if he marries a woman on the basis of her dress. Likewise, some men may have beards and "dress according to the sunnah" and go to the masjid, while their understanding of Islam is completely distorted and have bad character--anger issues, stingy, arrogant, self centered, etc. It would be a huge trial for your daughter to have such a husband.
Character is extremely important in Islam.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
"I was sent to perfect noble character." (Ahmad)
"The best among you are those who have the best manners and character." (Bukhari)
"The believers with the most complete Iman are the ones with the best behavior." (Ahmad, Abu Dawood)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, described piety itself as being of good character. "Piety and righteousness is being of good character." (Muslim).
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "If someone whose religion and character you are pleased with comes to you (to marry your daughter or ward), then marry (her off to) him. If you do not do so, there will be commotion on the earth and a great deal of evil." (Tirmidhi)
'Umar, Allah be pleased with him, once told someone, who had testified to the goodness of a person by the fact that he had seen him in the masjid, that he does not know someone else as long as he had not dealings with him that involved money and wealth or had lived next to him or had had to travel with him.
We will not be able to completely know if a person is truly religious in the heart, but we must perform due diligence until we feel fairly certain that this person is a religious person.
May Allah grant our children righteous spouses and righteous offspring. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
Related archive: Taking For Granted
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
It is our responsibility to bring up our children in the best possible way, providing an environment in which they can grow learning about the Creator, Mighty and Majestic, and responsibilities in life. The best environment possible for a child is having a family who follow the guidance of Islam. He will have his father and mother who live by Islam as examples in his life.
Maybe for some of us who are in a solo parent household, this is a little bit too late, but we might be able to save the next generation of Muslim families by teaching our children the importance of choosing the right spouse and the right mother/father for their children (our grandchildren).
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, guided Muslims to many characteristics that are important in a spouse and alluded to which of them that are more important characteristics.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "A woman is married because of her righteousness, wealth or beauty. So go for the one who is religious and may your hands be filled with dust." (Muslim)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A woman is married for her wealth, her lineage, her beauty, or her religion. So choose the religious one or you will lose." (Bukhari)
It is a great blessing of having a pious wife.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "All of the world are but 'articles or commodities.' And the best of all 'objects of benefits' of this world is a pious wife." (Muslim)
"A thankful heart, a tongue that mentions (Allah) and a pious wife to help you in the affairs of your world and your religion are better than what the people are treasuring." (al-Baihaqi)
"Four aspects are (sources) of happiness: a pious wife, a spacious home, a pious neighbor and a means of transportation that is fast and pleasing. And four are (sources) of unhappiness: an evil wife, an evil neighbor, an evil means of transportation and cramped housing." (al-Baihaqi)
Religiousness is not simply the outward appearance. It is faith (Iman) in the heart demonstrated by actions.
"Verily Allah does not look at your bodies nor to your forms; but rather He looks at your hearts." (Muslim)
Actions have a two-way connection with the heart. The actions are where the heart expresses itself.
How many women, for example, may wear hijab and seem very pious but have bad character, backbite, gossip, spendthrift and wasteful (with their time and resources), that your son has to contend with if he marries a woman on the basis of her dress. Likewise, some men may have beards and "dress according to the sunnah" and go to the masjid, while their understanding of Islam is completely distorted and have bad character--anger issues, stingy, arrogant, self centered, etc. It would be a huge trial for your daughter to have such a husband.
Character is extremely important in Islam.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
"I was sent to perfect noble character." (Ahmad)
"The best among you are those who have the best manners and character." (Bukhari)
"The believers with the most complete Iman are the ones with the best behavior." (Ahmad, Abu Dawood)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, described piety itself as being of good character. "Piety and righteousness is being of good character." (Muslim).
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "If someone whose religion and character you are pleased with comes to you (to marry your daughter or ward), then marry (her off to) him. If you do not do so, there will be commotion on the earth and a great deal of evil." (Tirmidhi)
'Umar, Allah be pleased with him, once told someone, who had testified to the goodness of a person by the fact that he had seen him in the masjid, that he does not know someone else as long as he had not dealings with him that involved money and wealth or had lived next to him or had had to travel with him.
We will not be able to completely know if a person is truly religious in the heart, but we must perform due diligence until we feel fairly certain that this person is a religious person.
May Allah grant our children righteous spouses and righteous offspring. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
Related archive: Taking For Granted
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, May 9, 2011
Enjoining Good And Forbidding Evil
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Masjid Al-Azhar is one of my favorite places to just sit in and read. It has a very unique feel to it. There is a feeling of peace and tranquility that comes with it. So whenever we are in the area, we would not miss the opportunity to visit the masjid.
The other day my friend, an Egyptian, and I decided to pray 'Isha at the Al-Azhar masjid after a lecture at the Al-Hussein masjid (named after Imam Hussein, Allah be pleased with him, the grandson of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, where his maqam is also situated). Masjid Al-Azhar is just across the road. We sat in one of the classrooms/study halls. There were 2 young ladies, students of knowledge, sitting and talking and when the adhan was on, they were still talking. We did not say anything. When the iqama was on, they were still talking. We did not say anything as well. When we started praying, they were still talking. We couldn't say anything. Not sure when they joined the group prayer. But after the prayer, my friend quickly turned to the ladies and corrected them in a very straightforward manner. One of them moved to a corner without any argument. The other lady didn't take it very well and started to raise her voice and she went on for a long while. My friend, knowing what to do, did not say anything and let her expressed herself, and after she finished, my friend smiled and politely said a few words, and we left but not without saying assalaamu alaykum to both of them. They returned the salams.
It is obligatory to command the good and forbid the evil, a communal obligation, if one is able to do so and does not fear harm reaching one on account of it, regardless whether one oneself practices the command in question.
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌۭ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity." (Qur'an AleImran 3:104)
The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous; because it invites to all that is good, enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Anyone of you who sees a reprehensible thing should change it with his hand; if he is unable to, then with his tongue; if he is unable to, then with his heart, which thing is the weakest degree of faith."
It is not sufficient to merely forbid a wrong or a sin; rather, one must hate it, feel angry, and leave the group for the sake of Allah if they do not desist.
The following are the conditions for commanding the good;
(a) To intend manifesting the word of Allah.
(b) To know the basis of what he is commanding or prohibiting, i.e. that it indeed is obligatory or forbidden.
(c) Patience in the face of disliked matters that might proceed as a result.
The one commanding the good should have the following traits;
(a) Gentleness,
(b) Forbearing of what is said back to him; he should not get frustrated or annoyed,
(c) Knowledge of what he is commanding to, lest he command the evil or forbid the good.
The learned person must ensure that he is not doing so out of pride from displaying one’s knowledge and the ignorance of the addressee; for such an intention is an evil greater than the evil he is forbidding.
In short, whoever undertakes this obligation must be learned of the opinions of the
scholars so that his command and prohibition return to matters that are agreed upon by scholars, and that he is not excessive in his words or deeds.
May Allah make us keys to unlock good and lock evil. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
related archives:
Call of Prayer (Adhan)
Prayer, Our Haven
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Masjid Al-Azhar is one of my favorite places to just sit in and read. It has a very unique feel to it. There is a feeling of peace and tranquility that comes with it. So whenever we are in the area, we would not miss the opportunity to visit the masjid.
The other day my friend, an Egyptian, and I decided to pray 'Isha at the Al-Azhar masjid after a lecture at the Al-Hussein masjid (named after Imam Hussein, Allah be pleased with him, the grandson of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, where his maqam is also situated). Masjid Al-Azhar is just across the road. We sat in one of the classrooms/study halls. There were 2 young ladies, students of knowledge, sitting and talking and when the adhan was on, they were still talking. We did not say anything. When the iqama was on, they were still talking. We did not say anything as well. When we started praying, they were still talking. We couldn't say anything. Not sure when they joined the group prayer. But after the prayer, my friend quickly turned to the ladies and corrected them in a very straightforward manner. One of them moved to a corner without any argument. The other lady didn't take it very well and started to raise her voice and she went on for a long while. My friend, knowing what to do, did not say anything and let her expressed herself, and after she finished, my friend smiled and politely said a few words, and we left but not without saying assalaamu alaykum to both of them. They returned the salams.
It is obligatory to command the good and forbid the evil, a communal obligation, if one is able to do so and does not fear harm reaching one on account of it, regardless whether one oneself practices the command in question.
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌۭ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity." (Qur'an AleImran 3:104)
The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united, and prosperous; because it invites to all that is good, enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Anyone of you who sees a reprehensible thing should change it with his hand; if he is unable to, then with his tongue; if he is unable to, then with his heart, which thing is the weakest degree of faith."
It is not sufficient to merely forbid a wrong or a sin; rather, one must hate it, feel angry, and leave the group for the sake of Allah if they do not desist.
The following are the conditions for commanding the good;
(a) To intend manifesting the word of Allah.
(b) To know the basis of what he is commanding or prohibiting, i.e. that it indeed is obligatory or forbidden.
(c) Patience in the face of disliked matters that might proceed as a result.
The one commanding the good should have the following traits;
(a) Gentleness,
(b) Forbearing of what is said back to him; he should not get frustrated or annoyed,
(c) Knowledge of what he is commanding to, lest he command the evil or forbid the good.
The learned person must ensure that he is not doing so out of pride from displaying one’s knowledge and the ignorance of the addressee; for such an intention is an evil greater than the evil he is forbidding.
In short, whoever undertakes this obligation must be learned of the opinions of the
scholars so that his command and prohibition return to matters that are agreed upon by scholars, and that he is not excessive in his words or deeds.
May Allah make us keys to unlock good and lock evil. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
related archives:
Call of Prayer (Adhan)
Prayer, Our Haven
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, May 8, 2011
If You Wish To Speak
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
It is said that nine-tenths of well being are in silence and that tribulations are connected to speech. So, whoever wishes to speak, then let him choose words of remembrance of Allah, or commanding the good, or forbidding the evil; and he must avoid words that do not concern him.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him say the good or remain silent.” (Tirmidhi)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, also said, “From the excellence of a person’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him.”(Tirmidhi) “…meaning that a person’s Islam is only perfected once he leaves words and deeds that he neither has a need for nor benefits from.” (Shir'a 314)
Imam al-Ghazali mentioned, “The definition of speech that does not concern you is that you say words that had you been silent instead you would neither sin, nor suffer in your state or wealth. An example of this is that you sit with a people and mention to them of your travels and what you saw in them of mountains and rivers and what circumstance you experienced, and what you enjoyed of food and clothing, and those Shaykhs and incidents that impressed you – these are all
matters that had you been silent instead, you would neither sin nor suffer. Even if you exerted yourself to not mix this account with falsehood from addition or subtraction, nor praising tourself through boasting of the tremendous matters that you experienced, nor backbiting or speaking ill of something Allah created, you have still wasting your time – and how on earth can you be safe from the sins that we have mentioned?” (Ihya 'Ulum al-Din) Nahlawi comments, “[such speech] can be recommended [however] if conjoined with a righteous intention such as warding
off an accusation of arrogance and conceitedness for not speaking, or warding off fear and shame, helping someone to express their thoughts completely when asking for a legal verdict or something else, or warding off grief from someone grief-stricken or afflicted with a calamity, or entertaining one’s womenfolk and treating them well, or being gentle with children, or because the pain of traveling or working or the like are unknown, then with these intentions the speech no longer counts as what does not concern him.”
With the internet and social networking websites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, it is very easy to fall into the mistakes of speech that do not concern. Just see today's posting on your facebook, most of them neither concern nor benefit you. Those people who posted them have wasted their time and you would be wasting your time in just by selecting and pressing "remove post" and if you read them, you would be wasting more time. So, you should consider removing your "friends" who are wasting your time!
Remember, Allah says,
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
By time, Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
(Qur'an Al-'Asr 103)
When we speak (or write), we shouldn’t deem our words of no consequence, even if they be few. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Verily the slave says a word of the pleasure of Allah Mighty and Majestic, to which he does not ascribe any importance, but Allah raises him whole degrees by it; and verily the slave says a word of the anger of Allah to which he does not ascribe any importance, but he plunges by virtue of it into Hell.” (Ahmad)
So, we should avoid talking too much, as plentiful speech is not free from mistakes.
Excessive speech, beyond what is needed, is also considered speech that doesn’t concern a person as in asking questions about what is not important. As for giving details in a complex scenario, especially to people with deficient understanding, and repetition when admonishing, reminding, teaching and the like, this is not from what does not concern a person as there is a need for it.
May Allah grant us righteous deeds and help us with goodly speech. 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.
It is said that nine-tenths of well being are in silence and that tribulations are connected to speech. So, whoever wishes to speak, then let him choose words of remembrance of Allah, or commanding the good, or forbidding the evil; and he must avoid words that do not concern him.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him say the good or remain silent.” (Tirmidhi)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, also said, “From the excellence of a person’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him.”(Tirmidhi) “…meaning that a person’s Islam is only perfected once he leaves words and deeds that he neither has a need for nor benefits from.” (Shir'a 314)
Imam al-Ghazali mentioned, “The definition of speech that does not concern you is that you say words that had you been silent instead you would neither sin, nor suffer in your state or wealth. An example of this is that you sit with a people and mention to them of your travels and what you saw in them of mountains and rivers and what circumstance you experienced, and what you enjoyed of food and clothing, and those Shaykhs and incidents that impressed you – these are all
matters that had you been silent instead, you would neither sin nor suffer. Even if you exerted yourself to not mix this account with falsehood from addition or subtraction, nor praising tourself through boasting of the tremendous matters that you experienced, nor backbiting or speaking ill of something Allah created, you have still wasting your time – and how on earth can you be safe from the sins that we have mentioned?” (Ihya 'Ulum al-Din) Nahlawi comments, “[such speech] can be recommended [however] if conjoined with a righteous intention such as warding
off an accusation of arrogance and conceitedness for not speaking, or warding off fear and shame, helping someone to express their thoughts completely when asking for a legal verdict or something else, or warding off grief from someone grief-stricken or afflicted with a calamity, or entertaining one’s womenfolk and treating them well, or being gentle with children, or because the pain of traveling or working or the like are unknown, then with these intentions the speech no longer counts as what does not concern him.”
With the internet and social networking websites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, it is very easy to fall into the mistakes of speech that do not concern. Just see today's posting on your facebook, most of them neither concern nor benefit you. Those people who posted them have wasted their time and you would be wasting your time in just by selecting and pressing "remove post" and if you read them, you would be wasting more time. So, you should consider removing your "friends" who are wasting your time!
Remember, Allah says,
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ (٣
By time, Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
(Qur'an Al-'Asr 103)
When we speak (or write), we shouldn’t deem our words of no consequence, even if they be few. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Verily the slave says a word of the pleasure of Allah Mighty and Majestic, to which he does not ascribe any importance, but Allah raises him whole degrees by it; and verily the slave says a word of the anger of Allah to which he does not ascribe any importance, but he plunges by virtue of it into Hell.” (Ahmad)
So, we should avoid talking too much, as plentiful speech is not free from mistakes.
Excessive speech, beyond what is needed, is also considered speech that doesn’t concern a person as in asking questions about what is not important. As for giving details in a complex scenario, especially to people with deficient understanding, and repetition when admonishing, reminding, teaching and the like, this is not from what does not concern a person as there is a need for it.
May Allah grant us righteous deeds and help us with goodly speech. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Friday, May 6, 2011
Eating The Lawful
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our provision comes from Allah alone. No one can increase it or decrease it. Knowing
this leads to honesty in our dealings, as cheating and lying cannot give us more than is coming our way. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Had you relied on Allah as He should be relied upon He would provide for you as He provides for the birds; they leave the nest hungry and return satisfied.” (Tirmidhi)
We take the means to earn our living, but it is not because they govern our provision, but they are undertaken out of slavehood. Allah has cloaked the world in wisdom. Effects are connected to their causes, and undertaking these causes is acknowledging the Wisdom of Allah, obeying His commands and following the way of the Prophets.
People with responsibilities are obliged to work to fulfill their obligations. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “It is a sufficient sin for a man to squander those under his care.”
Eating the lawful is of the most emphasized obligations. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Meat that grows from the unlawful does not enter the Garden; the Fire is more worthy of it.”
It is of the most important means to have our supplications answered. The Messenger of Allah, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the Believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: "O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibaat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds." [Qur'an 23:51] and the Almighty has said: "O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you" [Qur'an 2:172] Then he mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying "O Lord! O Lord!", while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered?!' [Narrated by Muslim.]
May Allah expand our goodly provision and help us avoid the unlawful. 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.
Our provision comes from Allah alone. No one can increase it or decrease it. Knowing
this leads to honesty in our dealings, as cheating and lying cannot give us more than is coming our way. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Had you relied on Allah as He should be relied upon He would provide for you as He provides for the birds; they leave the nest hungry and return satisfied.” (Tirmidhi)
We take the means to earn our living, but it is not because they govern our provision, but they are undertaken out of slavehood. Allah has cloaked the world in wisdom. Effects are connected to their causes, and undertaking these causes is acknowledging the Wisdom of Allah, obeying His commands and following the way of the Prophets.
People with responsibilities are obliged to work to fulfill their obligations. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “It is a sufficient sin for a man to squander those under his care.”
Eating the lawful is of the most emphasized obligations. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Meat that grows from the unlawful does not enter the Garden; the Fire is more worthy of it.”
It is of the most important means to have our supplications answered. The Messenger of Allah, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the Believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: "O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibaat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds." [Qur'an 23:51] and the Almighty has said: "O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you" [Qur'an 2:172] Then he mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying "O Lord! O Lord!", while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered?!' [Narrated by Muslim.]
May Allah expand our goodly provision and help us avoid the unlawful. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Seat Of Our Secrets And Affections
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The heart is the seat of our secrets. We are told that the sin will reach our most secret being, though the sin may not be visible or open to the world. The heart is also the seat of our affections, and false dealing taints all our affections.
When our faith and conduct are sincere, we realize how far we are from perfection, and we humble ourselves to Allah Al-Mighty and ask for forgiveness of our sins. Allah imposes no burden on us that we cannot bear, and with this realization in our hearts and in the confession of our lips, we go to Him and ask for His help and guidance.
We must not be arrogant, and think that because Allah has granted us His favor and mercy we have no need to exert ourselves, or we are superior than those before us. On the contrary, we should pray that Allah lightens our burdens, and we should confess our realization that we have a greater need for His mercy and forgiveness.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرً۬ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَٮٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ
Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.
(Qur'an Al-Baqara 2:286)
Ameen.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The heart is the seat of our secrets. We are told that the sin will reach our most secret being, though the sin may not be visible or open to the world. The heart is also the seat of our affections, and false dealing taints all our affections.
When our faith and conduct are sincere, we realize how far we are from perfection, and we humble ourselves to Allah Al-Mighty and ask for forgiveness of our sins. Allah imposes no burden on us that we cannot bear, and with this realization in our hearts and in the confession of our lips, we go to Him and ask for His help and guidance.
We must not be arrogant, and think that because Allah has granted us His favor and mercy we have no need to exert ourselves, or we are superior than those before us. On the contrary, we should pray that Allah lightens our burdens, and we should confess our realization that we have a greater need for His mercy and forgiveness.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرً۬ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَٮٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ
Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.
(Qur'an Al-Baqara 2:286)
Ameen.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Health and Sickness
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 give him peace, said, “There are two blessings
that many people are cheated out of: health and free time. (Bukhari)
Ibn Al-Jawzi said, “A person might be healthy but not have free time due to being
busy with his livelihood, and might be well off but not healthy; so when these two
are combined and the person is overcome by laziness from performing acts of
obedience, he is truly cheated.”
The one who is healthy must be thankful and use his health to serve the Lord and not use it to disobey the Lord, or waste this great blessing of health. He should have a state of fear of Allah that dominates his state of hope in Allah. This pushes him to good actions and repentance. This fear must not, however, take him to the extent of despair of Allah’s mercy.
قَالُواْ بَشَّرۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡقَـٰنِطِينَ (٥٥) قَالَ وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ (٥٦
They (the angels) said: 'We give you glad tidings in truth. So be not of the despairing.' [Ibrahim, peace be upon him] said: 'And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?' (Qur’an Al-Hijr 15:56)
A person who is afflicted with sickness should observe the following manners:
1) Realize that this is a tremendous opportunity to draw close to Allah; be grateful for that and make the most of it.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “The people who were in
well being in this life will wish on the Day of Judgment, when the people of tribulations are given their reward, that their skin would have been cut with blades.” (Tirmidhi)
He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said, “No believer is afflicted with a thorn-prick or what is greater than that except that a higher degree is inscribed for him, or a sin removed from him.” (Muslim)
2) Face the tribulation with a beautiful patience.
This is by not complaining to visitors, missing prayers or having despair.
It is permissible to make statements such as, “I have a big pain,” if said without
complaining; it is preferred to say “Alhamdulillah” (All praise is to Allah) before saying that.
3) To use one’s time in remembrance of Allah.
4) To repent sincerely from the sins he was committing before his sickness.
5) To seek to cure himself through supplication, prayer and remembering Allah; especially by reciting sura Al-Fatiha and the last three surahs of the Qur’an.
Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, said, “The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him
and give him peace, would, when one of his family members became sick, blow a
light spray of saliva on them, reciting the protectors (the last three surahs from the Qur’an). When he became sick with the sickness from which he died, I would
blow a light spray of saliva on him and rub him with his own hands as they had
more blessings than my hands.” (Muslim)
May Allah cure those who are sick and grant us excellent health and excellent worship. 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.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “There are two blessings
that many people are cheated out of: health and free time. (Bukhari)
Ibn Al-Jawzi said, “A person might be healthy but not have free time due to being
busy with his livelihood, and might be well off but not healthy; so when these two
are combined and the person is overcome by laziness from performing acts of
obedience, he is truly cheated.”
The one who is healthy must be thankful and use his health to serve the Lord and not use it to disobey the Lord, or waste this great blessing of health. He should have a state of fear of Allah that dominates his state of hope in Allah. This pushes him to good actions and repentance. This fear must not, however, take him to the extent of despair of Allah’s mercy.
قَالُواْ بَشَّرۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡقَـٰنِطِينَ (٥٥) قَالَ وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ (٥٦
They (the angels) said: 'We give you glad tidings in truth. So be not of the despairing.' [Ibrahim, peace be upon him] said: 'And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?' (Qur’an Al-Hijr 15:56)
A person who is afflicted with sickness should observe the following manners:
1) Realize that this is a tremendous opportunity to draw close to Allah; be grateful for that and make the most of it.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “The people who were in
well being in this life will wish on the Day of Judgment, when the people of tribulations are given their reward, that their skin would have been cut with blades.” (Tirmidhi)
He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said, “No believer is afflicted with a thorn-prick or what is greater than that except that a higher degree is inscribed for him, or a sin removed from him.” (Muslim)
2) Face the tribulation with a beautiful patience.
This is by not complaining to visitors, missing prayers or having despair.
It is permissible to make statements such as, “I have a big pain,” if said without
complaining; it is preferred to say “Alhamdulillah” (All praise is to Allah) before saying that.
3) To use one’s time in remembrance of Allah.
4) To repent sincerely from the sins he was committing before his sickness.
5) To seek to cure himself through supplication, prayer and remembering Allah; especially by reciting sura Al-Fatiha and the last three surahs of the Qur’an.
Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, said, “The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him
and give him peace, would, when one of his family members became sick, blow a
light spray of saliva on them, reciting the protectors (the last three surahs from the Qur’an). When he became sick with the sickness from which he died, I would
blow a light spray of saliva on him and rub him with his own hands as they had
more blessings than my hands.” (Muslim)
May Allah cure those who are sick and grant us excellent health and excellent worship. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Be Good To Your Parents
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Allah conjoined the command to be good to parents with the command to worship Him alone. Good treatment of parents is of the most virtuous acts of worship.
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا (٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا (٢٤
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young."
(Qur’an Al-Isra' 17:23-24)
قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّڪُمۡ عَلَيۡڪُمۡۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬اۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬اۖ
“Say, “Come! I will recite on to you what your Lord has forbidden for you; that
you should not ascribe partners to Him, and be good to your parents..."
(Qur’an Al-Anaam 6:151)
وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬اۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬ا
“Worship Allah and ascribe not partners to him, and be good to your parents...”
(Qur’an An-Nisa' 4:36)
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ لَا تَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَانً۬ا
“When We took the covenant with the children of Israel: you will not worship
except Allah, and be good to your parents...”
(Qur’an Al-Baqarah 2:83)
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٍ۬ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ فِى عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡڪُرۡ لِى وَلِوَٲلِدَيۡكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ
“We have enjoined on the human being concerning his two parents – his mother
bore him, weakness upon weakness, and his weaning was in two years - Be
grateful to Me and your parents; to Me is the return.”
(Qur’an Luqman 31:14)
"A man came to the Prophet of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace,
and said, 'I give you my oath of allegiance that I will emigrate and perform jihad,
seeking a reward from Allah Almighty.' He asked, 'Are either of your parents
living?' He replied, 'Yes, both of them.' He said, 'Do you desire a reward from
Allah Almighty?' He replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'Go back to your parents and keep
good company with them.'” (Muslim)
"A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said,
'Messenger of Allah, which person is the most entitled to the best of my
company?' He replied, 'Your mother.' He said, 'Then whom?' He replied, 'Your
mother.' He said, 'Then whom?' He replied, 'Your mother. He said, 'Then whom?'
He answered, 'Your father.'" (Bukhari and Muslim)
Good treatment of parents includes:
(1) Praying for them regularly.
It is reported that Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayna said, “Whoever prays the five prayers has
thanked Allah, and whoever prays for his parents at the end of the prayer has
thanked his parents.”
(2) To speak to them in a kind, gentle manner to win their love.
It is reported that Ibn Abbas said, “Be with your parents like a sinful, humiliated,
weak slave before a harsh, tough master.”
(3) To serve them so long as they are alive, hoping to win their pleasure.
(4) To not present them with anything that they dislike.
(5) To not raise one’s voice above theirs or speak to them in a loud voice.
(6) To obey them in permissible matters, for the pleasure of Allah is in their pleasure, and His anger is in their anger.
(7) To spend of one’s wealth on them.
(8) To gaze at them with love, compassion and mercy; to not look at them angrily.
(9) To venerate them and be humbled before them.
It is reported that a man came to Abu Ishaq and said, “I saw you last night in a
dream, and your beard was studded with jewels and diamonds.” He said, “You
speak the truth, for yesterday I wiped my beard under the feet of my mother
before I went to sleep.”
(10) To serve them with one’s own hands, and not to hand them over to someone else.
(11) To not lead one’s father in prayer, even if one is more learned.
(12) To not refuse to serve them even if they are idolaters.
(13) To not walk in front of them unless it is to remove something harmful or offensive.
(14) To not assume the head of a gathering in their presence.
(15) To not call them by name, but rather to say, “O Mother,” and “O Father.”
(16) To not curse the parents of another person, causing him to curse one’s own parents.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, from the greatest
of enormities is that a man should curse his parents.” It was said, “O Messenger
of Allah, how does a man curse his parents?” He replied, “A man insults the
father of another man, so he insults his father and insults his mother.”
(17) To not put oneself before them in anything, whether in food, drink, sitting or speech.
(18) To treat their friends and relatives well.
(19) To observe their rights after death. This includes;
a. To attend their funeral prayer
b. To pray for their forgiveness if they died believers
c. To give charity on their behalf
d. To care for their relatives
e. To visit their grave regularly
f. To intend all of one’s good deeds as a gift to them.
It is reported of Rabi’ ibn Hai’am that if he saw a rock in the middle of the road, he would throw it away to the right, intending it on behalf of his father, and throw another to the left, intending it on behalf of his mother, and he would restrain his anger, intending it as an act of righteousness on their behalf.
(20) To stop the one satirizing them, even if by paying him money.
(21) To perceive one’s complete shortcoming, in giving them their due.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "No child can repay his
father unless he finds him enslaved and then buys him and sets him free."
Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, Allah be pleased with father and son, saw a Yemeni man performing Tawaf (circumambulating the Ka'bah) while carrying his mother on his back. This man said to Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, "I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, O Ibn 'Umar?" Abdullah Ibn 'Umar replied, "No, not even one contraction!"
(22) To not leave for jihad except with their permission. If one is traveling for trade, sacred knowledge or hajj, and the road is safe, and the parents have what they need to support themselves, and are able to take care of themselves without one’s service, then one is able to go, even if they are not pleased by that.
May Allah bestow His mercy on our parents. 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.
Allah conjoined the command to be good to parents with the command to worship Him alone. Good treatment of parents is of the most virtuous acts of worship.
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا (٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا (٢٤
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young."
(Qur’an Al-Isra' 17:23-24)
قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّڪُمۡ عَلَيۡڪُمۡۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬اۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬اۖ
“Say, “Come! I will recite on to you what your Lord has forbidden for you; that
you should not ascribe partners to Him, and be good to your parents..."
(Qur’an Al-Anaam 6:151)
وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬اۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنً۬ا
“Worship Allah and ascribe not partners to him, and be good to your parents...”
(Qur’an An-Nisa' 4:36)
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ لَا تَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَانً۬ا
“When We took the covenant with the children of Israel: you will not worship
except Allah, and be good to your parents...”
(Qur’an Al-Baqarah 2:83)
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٍ۬ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ فِى عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡڪُرۡ لِى وَلِوَٲلِدَيۡكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ
“We have enjoined on the human being concerning his two parents – his mother
bore him, weakness upon weakness, and his weaning was in two years - Be
grateful to Me and your parents; to Me is the return.”
(Qur’an Luqman 31:14)
"A man came to the Prophet of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace,
and said, 'I give you my oath of allegiance that I will emigrate and perform jihad,
seeking a reward from Allah Almighty.' He asked, 'Are either of your parents
living?' He replied, 'Yes, both of them.' He said, 'Do you desire a reward from
Allah Almighty?' He replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'Go back to your parents and keep
good company with them.'” (Muslim)
"A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said,
'Messenger of Allah, which person is the most entitled to the best of my
company?' He replied, 'Your mother.' He said, 'Then whom?' He replied, 'Your
mother.' He said, 'Then whom?' He replied, 'Your mother. He said, 'Then whom?'
He answered, 'Your father.'" (Bukhari and Muslim)
Good treatment of parents includes:
(1) Praying for them regularly.
It is reported that Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayna said, “Whoever prays the five prayers has
thanked Allah, and whoever prays for his parents at the end of the prayer has
thanked his parents.”
(2) To speak to them in a kind, gentle manner to win their love.
It is reported that Ibn Abbas said, “Be with your parents like a sinful, humiliated,
weak slave before a harsh, tough master.”
(3) To serve them so long as they are alive, hoping to win their pleasure.
(4) To not present them with anything that they dislike.
(5) To not raise one’s voice above theirs or speak to them in a loud voice.
(6) To obey them in permissible matters, for the pleasure of Allah is in their pleasure, and His anger is in their anger.
(7) To spend of one’s wealth on them.
(8) To gaze at them with love, compassion and mercy; to not look at them angrily.
(9) To venerate them and be humbled before them.
It is reported that a man came to Abu Ishaq and said, “I saw you last night in a
dream, and your beard was studded with jewels and diamonds.” He said, “You
speak the truth, for yesterday I wiped my beard under the feet of my mother
before I went to sleep.”
(10) To serve them with one’s own hands, and not to hand them over to someone else.
(11) To not lead one’s father in prayer, even if one is more learned.
(12) To not refuse to serve them even if they are idolaters.
(13) To not walk in front of them unless it is to remove something harmful or offensive.
(14) To not assume the head of a gathering in their presence.
(15) To not call them by name, but rather to say, “O Mother,” and “O Father.”
(16) To not curse the parents of another person, causing him to curse one’s own parents.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, from the greatest
of enormities is that a man should curse his parents.” It was said, “O Messenger
of Allah, how does a man curse his parents?” He replied, “A man insults the
father of another man, so he insults his father and insults his mother.”
(17) To not put oneself before them in anything, whether in food, drink, sitting or speech.
(18) To treat their friends and relatives well.
(19) To observe their rights after death. This includes;
a. To attend their funeral prayer
b. To pray for their forgiveness if they died believers
c. To give charity on their behalf
d. To care for their relatives
e. To visit their grave regularly
f. To intend all of one’s good deeds as a gift to them.
It is reported of Rabi’ ibn Hai’am that if he saw a rock in the middle of the road, he would throw it away to the right, intending it on behalf of his father, and throw another to the left, intending it on behalf of his mother, and he would restrain his anger, intending it as an act of righteousness on their behalf.
(20) To stop the one satirizing them, even if by paying him money.
(21) To perceive one’s complete shortcoming, in giving them their due.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "No child can repay his
father unless he finds him enslaved and then buys him and sets him free."
Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, Allah be pleased with father and son, saw a Yemeni man performing Tawaf (circumambulating the Ka'bah) while carrying his mother on his back. This man said to Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, "I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, O Ibn 'Umar?" Abdullah Ibn 'Umar replied, "No, not even one contraction!"
(22) To not leave for jihad except with their permission. If one is traveling for trade, sacred knowledge or hajj, and the road is safe, and the parents have what they need to support themselves, and are able to take care of themselves without one’s service, then one is able to go, even if they are not pleased by that.
May Allah bestow His mercy on our parents. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, May 2, 2011
Eat To Live
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
I was sitting by a fence waiting for a bus this morning. It was about 9:30 a.m. A lady came and sat on my left and got a bag of potato chips out of a grocery bag and started eating. She was polite and offered some to me. I declined her offer nonetheless. She finished the whole bag pretty swiftly and then she got out a chocolate bar and finished that too in no time. I thought she was done. But then she whipped out a can of soda and drank it all! Maybe this is normal breakfast for some people, but what are you doing to the poor body?
My eye caught on to a food wrapper that was flying to the ground. I looked up and there was this man standing in front of me who had just released it from his hand. He was still chewing the food that was in it.
While I was thinking about the two behaviors and if I should say something, a man came and sat on the empty space to my right and started to lit a cigarette. And I definitely didn't want to have second hand smoke for my breakfast and so I stood up and walked away.
The most basic matters in living is eating and drinking. Eating and drinking have a great effect on what we turn into. Ultimately, you are what you eat.
We eat for a purpose. That purpose governs what we eat, how much we eat, when and how often we eat. Our body, we should nourish it with halal and wholesome food to keep us healthy and give us strength to worship Allah. That purpose also governs our attitude and that attitude is full of gratitude.
Our attitude to eating and drinking is extremely important and it should be in line with the teachings of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Otherwise, the thing which is the essence of living, can turn into a curse, ruin our body, ruin our heart, ruin our worship, and become an obsession.
We begin eating with, “With the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,” (Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim). If one forgets then one should say, when one remembers, “With the Name of Allah, in its beginning and its end,” (Bismillah
awwalahu wa aakhirahu). At the end, we say, “All praise is for Allah,” (Alhamdulillah).
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever eats food and says, “All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided it to me without any ability of mine or power,” his previous sins are forgiven.”
Allah created the world for us and He didn't create us for the world. He created us for Him. A Muslim eats to live, not live to eat.
May Allah make us among His grateful slaves. 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.
I was sitting by a fence waiting for a bus this morning. It was about 9:30 a.m. A lady came and sat on my left and got a bag of potato chips out of a grocery bag and started eating. She was polite and offered some to me. I declined her offer nonetheless. She finished the whole bag pretty swiftly and then she got out a chocolate bar and finished that too in no time. I thought she was done. But then she whipped out a can of soda and drank it all! Maybe this is normal breakfast for some people, but what are you doing to the poor body?
My eye caught on to a food wrapper that was flying to the ground. I looked up and there was this man standing in front of me who had just released it from his hand. He was still chewing the food that was in it.
While I was thinking about the two behaviors and if I should say something, a man came and sat on the empty space to my right and started to lit a cigarette. And I definitely didn't want to have second hand smoke for my breakfast and so I stood up and walked away.
The most basic matters in living is eating and drinking. Eating and drinking have a great effect on what we turn into. Ultimately, you are what you eat.
We eat for a purpose. That purpose governs what we eat, how much we eat, when and how often we eat. Our body, we should nourish it with halal and wholesome food to keep us healthy and give us strength to worship Allah. That purpose also governs our attitude and that attitude is full of gratitude.
Our attitude to eating and drinking is extremely important and it should be in line with the teachings of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Otherwise, the thing which is the essence of living, can turn into a curse, ruin our body, ruin our heart, ruin our worship, and become an obsession.
We begin eating with, “With the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,” (Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim). If one forgets then one should say, when one remembers, “With the Name of Allah, in its beginning and its end,” (Bismillah
awwalahu wa aakhirahu). At the end, we say, “All praise is for Allah,” (Alhamdulillah).
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever eats food and says, “All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided it to me without any ability of mine or power,” his previous sins are forgiven.”
Allah created the world for us and He didn't create us for the world. He created us for Him. A Muslim eats to live, not live to eat.
May Allah make us among His grateful slaves. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Good Times and Bad Times
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, “Truly wonderous is the matter of the believer, for his every matter is good, and that is not for any but the believer: if good times come to him he is grateful, so it is better for him, and if bad times come to him he is patient, so it is better for him.”(Muslim)
Couple nights ago one of my neighbors on the right of my apartment building got married and the neighborhood was filled with music till the early morning! Some people had a good time, no doubt. Tonight my neighbor on the left of my apartment building got sick. The whole neighborhood came out when we heard some children calling out for help. And the neighbor was carried down from her apartment and rushed to the hospital in one of the neighbors' SUV.
Everyone experiences good times and bad times. Today we are fine, tomorrow only Allah knows. These are tests of gratitude and patience. Whoever deals with them in a manner pleasing to Allah benefits from everything and finds good in everything; and whoever approaches good times with pride and arrogance and bad times with despair and bitterness has failed and become remote from the Lord.
May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make us among the grateful and the patient. Ameen. Please don't forget is 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.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Truly wonderous is the matter of the believer, for his every matter is good, and that is not for any but the believer: if good times come to him he is grateful, so it is better for him, and if bad times come to him he is patient, so it is better for him.”(Muslim)
Couple nights ago one of my neighbors on the right of my apartment building got married and the neighborhood was filled with music till the early morning! Some people had a good time, no doubt. Tonight my neighbor on the left of my apartment building got sick. The whole neighborhood came out when we heard some children calling out for help. And the neighbor was carried down from her apartment and rushed to the hospital in one of the neighbors' SUV.
Everyone experiences good times and bad times. Today we are fine, tomorrow only Allah knows. These are tests of gratitude and patience. Whoever deals with them in a manner pleasing to Allah benefits from everything and finds good in everything; and whoever approaches good times with pride and arrogance and bad times with despair and bitterness has failed and become remote from the Lord.
May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make us among the grateful and the patient. Ameen. Please don't forget is in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam.
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