Pain That Lingers

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Do we follow the command of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace? If you don't or don't like what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought, keep it to yourself. Don't say it out loud or argue about it. Perhaps one day Allah might change your heart and you see the truth and wish you had not done what you did and had not said what you said.

For 21 years, Suhail ibn 'Amr, one of the Makkan leaders, fought and insulted the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. He was a master of the Makkans and an eloquent speaker.

During the Battle of Badr, Suhail was taken as prisoner of war. Omar, Allah be pleased with him, said to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, "O Messenger of Allah, let me extract the teeth of Suhail ibn 'Amr so no speaker stands against you from today." The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not allow that and said, "Perhaps Suhail will take a stand tomorrow which will make you happy."

Suhail was the one who negotiated a peace treaty with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, at Hudaybiyah, outside of Makkah, when the Muslims were prevented from entering Makkah to perform umrah.

When Suhail came, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Now the matter has become easy."

Suhail said to the Prophet "Please conclude a peace treaty with us."

So the Prophet called Ali, Allah be pleased with him, and said to him, "Write: By the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful."

Suhail said, "As for 'Beneficent,' by Allah, I do not know what it means. So write: By Your Name O Allah, as you used to write previously."

The Muslims said, "By Allah, we will not write except: By the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful."

The Prophet said, "Write: By Your Name O Allah."

Then he dictated, "This is the peace treaty which Muhammad, Allah's Apostle has concluded."

Suhail said, "By Allah, if we knew that you are Allah's Apostle we would not prevent you from visiting the Ka`ba, and would not fight with you. So, write: "Muhammad bin `Abdullah."

The Prophet said, "By Allah! I am Apostle of Allah even if you people do not believe me. Write: Muhammad bin `Abdullah."

The truce of Hudaybiyah was broken by the Quraysh when they sided with the tribe of Banu Bakr (with whom they had a pact to help one another), they attacked the tribe of Khuza'a who were the allies of the Muslims. The treaty was no longer effective. Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, the leader of Quraysh, realized this and did his best to revive the treaty, but the Muslims had already realized that the kuffar were not to be trusted, and the treaty was never revived. This was a victory for the Muslims.

The Muslim army triumphantly entered Makkah without any bloodshed and the kuffar surrendered without an attempt to resist. The city of Makkah was now at the mercy of Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Muslims. Everybody was present in the courtyard of the Haram (sanctuary of the Ka'ba). The enemies of Islam and Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, were helpless. Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked them: 'What do you expect at my hands?'. The voices of their hearts rang out: 'Kindness and pity, gracious brother, gracious nephew'. They were not disappointed. Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used the noble words of Prophet Yusuf alayhissalaam wen he addressed his brothers: 'Have no fear this day, May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy'.

Hinda, the wife of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, who had mutilated the body of Hamza, Allah be pleased with him (the beloved uncle of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace) came in the presence of Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, covered in a veil. The most bitter enemy was touched with general amnesty (general pardon) of Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and accepted Islam. Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, purified the sacred House of Allah (Ka'ba) removing all its 360 idols and stones, reciting "Truth has come and Falsehood vanished and no more shall falsehood return" The sanctuary of the Ka'ba contained such idols as Hubal, Latt and Manaat. They saw their downfall for they were nothing but pieces of stones. Now every nook and corner of Makkah witnessed and resounded with the call of Tauheed. Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also proclaimed that: 'Allah has forbidden the sale of intoxicants and usury (Interest) is declared as Haraam (unlawful)'.

At the same moment, this event which was filled with nobility and glory, stimulated the feelings of Suhail ibn 'Amr, Allah be pleased with him, and he surrendered to Allah and accepted Islam.

When the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed away, there were many Muslims who left Islam. Seeing this was about to happen to the Makkans, Suhail stood up and told the people, "Whoever worships Muhammad, know that Muhammad is dead, whoever worships Allah, Allah is living and never dies." This was exactly the same words that Allah put in the tongue of Abu Bakr, Allah be pleased with him, to the Muslims in Madinah. Suhail also said, "O people of Makkah, don't be the last people to become Muslims and don't be the first people to leave Islam." With these words, no Makkans left Islam. Imagine if the Makkans had left Islam at this time.

Omar, Allah be pleased with him, used to cry when he remembered Suhail's words to the Makkans and what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him when he wanted to pull Suhail's teeth for his evil speeches against the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, "Perhaps Suhail will take a stand tomorrow which will make you happy." Imagine if Omar were to pull Suhail's teeth 13 years before.

Suhail was a great mujahid fighting the Romans and Persians. He was always made du'a for Allah to make him a martyr and Allah granted his du'a. He was martyred in one of the battles. Before he died, he said the thing that caused a pain in his heart was what he had said to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, during the treaty of Hudaybiyah (above).

May Allah increase our love for the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Tasting The Miracle Of The Qur'an

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 enjoy music and music captivates them. They can listen to music for hours and they can't live without music. They have music in the foreground, music in the background, music in the trunk of their cars, music coming out their cars, music in the garage, music on the roof, music everywhere. They even sleep with the music. inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. May Allah protect us from becoming such people.

Some people are captivated by the Qur'an. They spend hours reciting or listening to the Qur'an in the night and in the day. The Qur'an is a miracle. The Qur'an contains the exact words which Allah revealed to His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, with nothing added nor deleted. The Qur'an is a guidance to mankind. How can we implement the guidance of the Qur’an in our daily lives if we don't understand the language of the Qur’an.

We pray in Arabic. We cannot pray in English or in any other languages except in Arabic. How can we attain khushu' in our prayer if we don't understand what we are saying. If you are a new Muslim or non Arab speaker, you might be able to get away with memorizing surah Al-Fatiha and a few short surahs to use in your prayer, but after 5, 10, 20, 30 years and you are still reciting the same short surahs in prayer and not understanding them, you are definitely missing out on the meaning of miracle. That miracle of the Qur'an will never touch our hearts unless we learn and know the language of the Qur’an.

The translation of the Qur'an is not Qur'an. It can aid you to get to the next step, and it will remain as someone else's words, not Allah's. So we should not suffice ourselves with reading the translation of the Qur'an.

Learning Arabic should be part of a Muslim upbringing because Allah chose Arabic to carry His final message to mankind. If we were not raised with Arabic, there is no reason why we cannot learn it now. If you can learn English, Spanish, French, Chinese, computers, science, mathematics, and other languages and subjects that you were not born with, then what is preventing you from learning the Qur'an and the language of the Arabs? It is a matter of sincerity and priority. If you want a miracle, make a sincere intention now to learn Arabic and Qur'an, make it a priority, take the steps, du'as and don't give up. InshaAllah, you will taste the miracle of the Qur'an.

Allah says,

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢

Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. (Qur'an Yusuf 12:2)

كِتَـٰبٌ فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣

A Book, whereof the verses are explained in detail;- a Qur’an in Arabic, for people who understand. (Qur'an Fussilat 41:3)

May Allah grant us tawfiq and make us people of understanding. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Does My Supplication Make You Happy?

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

Dear Friends,

I pray that you are well.

How much do you know the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace?

لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٢٨

Now there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves; grievous to him is your suffering; anxious is he over you, gentle to the believers, compassionate. (Qur'an At-Tawba 9:128)

How much do you love the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace?

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated,

Once, when I saw the Prophet in a good mood, I said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! Supplicate to Allah for me!”

So, he said: “O Allah! Forgive Aisha her past and future sins, what she has hidden, as well as what she has made apparent.”

So, I began smiling, to the point that my head fell into the lap of the Messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam out of joy.

The Messenger of Allah said to me: “Does my supplication make you happy?”

I replied: “And how can your supplication not make me happy?”

He then said: “By Allah, it is the supplication that I make for my Ummah in every prayer.”

Allahumma salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Truth Will Set You Free

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If you made a mistake don't compound your problem with a lie. Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else.

Allah says,

سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّـهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَأَعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٩٥﴾ يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ

They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them that you would leave them alone. So leave them alone; indeed they are evil; and their refuge is Hell as recompense for what they had been earning.(95) They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allah is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people. (96) (Qur'an At-Tawba 9:95-96)

The truth will set you free. We have to own up to our mistakes with Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and repent. That was what Ka'ab ibn Malik, Allah be pleased with him, did. He told the truth and repented. His sincere repentance was accepted by Allah. What a blessed and joyous day for him!

Ka'ab ibn Malik was a great companion. He had fought in every battles except Badr. He was among those who gave his pledge of allegiance, Bay'at al Ridhwan, to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, on the plain of Hudaybiyah, and so he was among those who Allah, as He mentioned in the Qur'an, was pleased with.

قَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّـهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَـٰبَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا ﴿١٨

Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest (18) (Qur'an Al-Fath 48:18)

But Ka'ab ibn Malik got himself into a big trouble for not taking part in the Battle of Tabuk with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. He had no excuse. When the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, returned to Madina, he told him the truth, while all that stayed behind (except 2 companions) gave their excuses and the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, accepted their excuses. But many men of his tribe said something which almost influenced him to go back to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and give himself an excuse but he didn't do that when he heard that the 2 companions who had also told the truth.

Do not underestimate the influence of your environment and company.

Then, narrated Ka'ab ibn Malik,

Allah's Apostle forbade all the Muslims to talk to us, the three aforesaid persons out of all those who had remained behind in that Ghazwa. So we kept away from the people and they changed their attitude towards us till the very land (where I lived) appeared strange to me as if I did not know it. We remained in that condition for fifty nights. As regards my two fellows, they remained in their houses and kept on weeping, but I was the youngest of them and the firmest of them, so I used to go out and witness the prayers along with the Muslims and roam about in the markets, but none would talk to me, and I would come to Allah's Apostle and greet him while he was sitting In his gathering after the prayer, and I would wonder whether the Prophet did move his lips in return to my greetings or not. Then I would offer my prayer near to him and look at him stealthily. When I was busy with my prayer, he would turn his face towards me, but when I turned my face to him, he would turn his face away from me.

We cannot imagine how miserable the 3 companions must have felt losing the companionship of the Prophet, Allah and bless him and grant him peace, and the other companions.

Allah mentioned this incident in the Qur'an,

وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّـهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١١٨﴾ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴿١١٩

And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true. (Qur'an At-Tawbah 9:118-119)

Allah opened the door of repentance for the 3 companions. But how sincere was their repentance? Allah tested them more.

It was not enough saying you are sorry.

Ka'ab continued with his story,

When this harsh attitude of the people lasted long, I walked till I scaled the wall of the garden of Abu Qatada who was my cousin and dearest person to me, and I offered my greetings to him. By Allah, he did not return my greetings. I said, 'O Abu Qatada! I beseech you by Allah! Do you know that I love Allah and His Apostle?' He kept quiet. I asked him again, beseeching him by Allah, but he remained silent. Then I asked him again in the Name of Allah. He said, 'Allah and His Apostle know it better.' Thereupon my eyes flowed with tears and I returned and jumped over the wall.

While I was walking in the market of Medina, suddenly I saw a Nabati (i.e. a Christian farmer) from the Nabatis of Sham who came to sell his grains in Medina, saying, 'Who will lead me to Ka`b bin Malik?' The people began to point (me) out for him till he came to me and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan in which the following was written: "To proceed, I have been informed that your friend (i.e. the Prophet) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not let you live at a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So join us, and we will console you." When I read it, I said to myself, 'This is also a sort of a test.' Then I took the letter to the oven and made a fire therein by burning it.

When forty out of the fifty nights elapsed, behold! There came to me the messenger of Allah's Apostle and said, 'Allah's Apostle orders you to keep away from your wife,' I said, 'Should I divorce her; or else! what should I do?' He said, 'No, only keep aloof from her and do not cohabit her.' The Prophet sent the same message to my two fellows. Then I said to my wife. 'Go to your parents and remain with them till Allah gives His Verdict in this matter."

The wife of Hilal bin Umaiya came to Apostle and said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Hilal bin Umaiya is a helpless old man who has no servant to attend on him. Do you dislike that I should serve him? ' He said, 'No (you can serve him) but he should not come near you.' She said, 'By Allah, he has no desire for anything. By, Allah, he has never ceased weeping till his case began till this day of his.' ... On that, some of my family members said to me, 'Will you also ask Allah's Apostle to permit your wife (to serve you) as he has permitted the wife of Hilal bin Umaiya to serve him?' I said, 'By Allah, I will not ask the permission of Allah's Apostle regarding her, for I do not know What Allah's Apostle would say if I asked him to permit her (to serve me) while I am a young man.'

Then I remained in that state for ten more nights after that till the period of fifty nights was completed starting from the time when Allah's Apostle prohibited the people from talking to us.

When I had offered the Fajr prayer on the 50th morning on the roof of one of our houses and while I was sitting in the condition which Allah described (in the Qur'an) i.e. my very soul seemed straitened to me and even the earth seemed narrow to me for all its spaciousness, there I heard the voice of one who had ascended the mountain of Sala' calling with his loudest voice, 'O Ka`b bin Malik! Be happy (by receiving good tidings).' I fell down in prostration before Allah, realizing that relief has come. Allah's Apostle had announced the acceptance of our repentance by Allah when he had offered the Fajr prayer. The people then went out to congratulate us. Some bringers of good tidings went out to my two fellows, and a horseman came to me in haste, and a man of Banu Aslam came running and ascended the mountain and his voice was swifter than the horse. When he (i.e. the man) whose voice I had heard, came to me conveying the good tidings, I took off my garments and dressed him with them; and by Allah, I owned no other garments than them on that day. Then I borrowed two garments and wore them and went to Allah's Apostle.

The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allah's Acceptance of my repentance, saying, 'We congratulate you on Allah's Acceptance of your repentance." Ka`b further said, "When I entered the Mosque. I saw Allah's Apostle sitting with the people around him. Talha bin Ubaidullah swiftly came to me, shook hands with me and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirin (i.e. Emigrants) got up for me except him (i.e. Talha), and I will never forget this for Talha." Ka`b added, "When I greeted Allah's Apostle he, his face being bright with joy, said "Be happy with the best day that you have got ever since your mother delivered you." Ka`b added, "I said to the Prophet 'Is this forgiveness from you or from Allah?' He said, 'No, it is from Allah.' Whenever Allah's Apostle became happy, his face would shine as if it were a piece of moon, and we all knew that characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle. Allah's Apostle said, 'Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you.' I said, 'So I will keep my share from Khaibar with me,' and added, 'O Allah's Apostle! Allah has saved me for telling the truth; so it is a part of my repentance not to tell but the truth as long as I am alive. By Allah, I do not know anyone of the Muslims whom Allah has helped foretelling the truth more than me. Since I have mentioned that truth to Allah's Apostle till today, I have never intended to tell a lie. I hope that Allah will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allah revealed to His Apostle the Verse:−− "Verily, Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin (i.e. Emigrants (up to His Saying) And be with those who are true (in word and deed)." (Qur'an At-Tawba 9:117−119) By Allah, Allah has never bestowed upon me, apart from His guiding me to Islam, a Greater blessing than the fact that I did not tell a lie to Allah's Apostle which would have caused me to perish as those who have told a lie perished, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else. Allah said:−− "They (i.e. the hypocrites) will swear by Allah to you when you return to them (up to His Saying) Certainly Allah is not pleased with the rebellious people−−" (Qur'an At-Tawba 9:95−96) [related in Bukhari]

May Allah open the door of repentance for us, protect us from lies, make us truthful and grant us righteous companions. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Are Those Who Know Equal To Those Who Do Not Know?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah relates in the Qur'an about the journey of Prophet Musa, alayhissalaam, with his young companion. If there ever existed a person who had no need to travel to seek knowledge, it was Prophet Musa, for Allah had spoken to him and given him the Torah. Nonetheless, when Allah informed him of a man who had been favored with knowledge, Prophet Musa inquired about meeting him, and then set out with his companion to find this man, Khidr, alayhissalaam.

Allah says,

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠

And [mention] when Musa said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." Qur'an Kahf 18:60

Upon meeting Khidr, Prophet Musa asked of him,

قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿٦٦

Musas said to him, "May I follow you on in order that you may teach me of the knowledge you have been given" Qur'an Kahf 18:66

The early generations of Muslims were avid learners and they too had great desire for knowledge and they would travel to distant lands to seek even a single Prophetic hadith.

A man came to Abu Darda' while he was in Damascus. Abu Darda' asked him "What has brought you here, my brother?" He replied, "A hadith which you relate from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Abu Darda' asked, "Have you come for some worldly need?" He replied, "No." "Have you come for business?" He said, "No." "You have come only to seek this hadith?" He said, "Yes."

Abu Darda' then said,

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: 'Whoever travels a path seeking sacred knowledge, Allah will place him on a path leading to Paradise. The angels lower their wings for the student of sacred knowledge, pleased with what he is doing. The creatures in the heavens and earth seek forgiveness for the student of sacred knowledge, even the fish in the water. The superiority of the religious scholar over the devout worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon over the other heavenly bodies. The religious scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets leave no money as a bequest, rather they leave knowledge. Whoever seizes it has taken a bountiful share.

(Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, ibn Majah)

How many of us didn't mind at all the trouble of trying to gain admission into the best schools of arts and sciences even the ones far away from our hometowns, and spent years of studying, spent lots of money and countless sleepless nights to acquire the highest academic degree? But many of us don't put the same effort and money, in fact not even a small fraction of this effort and money to acquire sacred knowledge. Unfortunately, even when it comes to attending short religious classes, lessons or gatherings locally, we hear so many excuses for not attending, not to mention those who avoid them. We can't do this. We can't put learning this religion in the back burner. We can't postpone it until we have accomplished all things in life. You can't wait until you have a degree, or have a job, or have a spouse, or have a kid, or after your kid goes to college, or until you see all grey on your head. We have to find time to learn this religion now, and learn it properly, because if you don't learn it, you won't be able to worship your Creator the way He wants you to.

Allah says,

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ﴿٢٨

... Even so only those of His servants fear God who have knowledge; surely Allah is All-mighty, All-forgiving. (Qur'an Fatir 35:28)

The one who knows is not equal to those who don't know.

Allah says,

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَـٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٩

Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding. (Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:9)

In surah AleImran, Allah began attestation first by Himself, then by His angels and then by the learned. It is understood from this that the rank of the learned and their honor is tremendous with Allah.

شَهِدَ ٱللَّـهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٨

Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Qur'an AleImran 3:18)

May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Righteous Children Don't Come From Thin Air

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

To love Allah is to follow His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Allah says,

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ‌ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ‌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿٣١

"Say: 'If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins; Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.' Qur'an AleImran 3:31

How can one follow the Messenger if one doesn't know him and if one doesn't know what he brought? To love is to know.

The Companions had great love for the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, because they knew him. They would sacrifice their lives for him. We can see their selfless love for him in the stories of the Companions.

Muadh ibn Al-Jumuh and his brother, Muawwadh, were very young Ansari teens of Madina. They hadn't met the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, but they wanted to kill Abu Jahl because they heard from their mother that Abu Jahl had abused and cursed the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. On the day of the battle of Badr, they asked the great companion, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, if he knew Abu Jahl so they could kill him.

Narrated Abdur−Rahman bin Auf:

While I was standing in the row on the day (of the battle) of Badr, I looked to my right and my left and saw two young Ansari boys, and I wished I had been stronger than they. One of them called my attention saying, "O Uncle! Do you know Abu Jahl?" I said, "Yes, What do you want from him, O my nephew?" He said, "I have been informed that he abuses Allah's Apostle. By Him in Whose Hands my life is, if I should see him, then my body will not leave his body till either of us meet his fate." I was astonished at that talk. Then the other boy called my attention saying the same as the other had said. After a while I saw Abu Jahl walking amongst the people. I said (to the boys), "Look! This is the man you asked me about." So, both of them attacked him with their swords and struck him to death... (related in Bukhari)

Who were their parents? Their father was Amr bin Al-Jumuh. The extent of his love and devotion to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was shown during the time of the Battle of Uhud, which occured after the Battle of Badr. Amr saw his three sons (Muadh, Muawwadh and Khallad) preparing for the battle. He resolved to go out with them to wage jihad under the banner of the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace. The youths, however, were all against their father carrying out his resolve. He was already quite old and was extremely weak.

“Father,” they said, “surely God has excused you. So why do you take this burden on yourself?”

The old man became quite angry and went straight away to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. to complain about his sons: “O Rasulullah! My sons here want to keep me away from this source of goodness arguing that I am old and decrepit. By Allah, I long to attain Paradise this way even though I am old and infirm.”

“Let him,” said the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to his sons. “Perhaps Allah, the Mighty and the Great, will grant him martyrdom.”

Soon it was time to go out to battle. Amr bade farewell to his wife, Hind, turned to the qiblah and prayed: “O Lord, grant me martyrdom and don’t send me back to my family with my hopes dashed.” He set out in the company of his three sons and a large contingent from his tribe, the Banu Salamah.

As the battle raged, Amr could be seen moving in the front ranks, jumping on his good leg (his other leg was partially lame), and shouting, “I desire Paradise, I desire Paradise.”

His son Khallad remained closely behind him and they both fought courageously in defense of the Prophet while many other Muslims deserted in pursuit of booty. Father and son fell on the battlefield and died within moments of each other.

There was a rumor that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was killed at the battle in Uhud. News came to Hind that her son and her husband were martyred. She asked about the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Again she was told about her husband's and her son's martyrdom. And again she asked about the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, as if she didn't hear the news of her martyred family. When they said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was alive, only then she could hear what the people said about her husband and son and she said inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (to Allah we belong and to Him is our return).

These were the parents of Muadh, Muawwadh and Khallad, the 3 righteous children of Ansar. Righteous children don't come from thin air. They don't become righteous with "I hope my children become righteous" or by giving them all the best tools or sending them to the best Islamic schools/colleges, but you don't follow the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Righteous children come from good role models. Our job is to be their good role models. We need to be like Amr and his wife Hind. It is not about killing the kuffar but it is about the love of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and killing the Abu Jahl (the father of ignorance) in us and in them, which is the ignorance of the person and the ignorance of the teachings of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

It is very important to fill the hearts of our children with the love of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, because without that love, they cannot taste the sweetness of this faith and worship of Allah. But it can be very difficult to do this without mutual support of both partners in marriage who should live by the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the guidance of Islam. Our deeds are of value when proceed from love, love of Allah Most High. And that love translates in our actions of following His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, supporting and protecting the Shari'ah.

So, we should fix our relationship with Allah by marrying for Allah, and raising our children to love Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace. For those who are thinking about marriage, they should think ahead when choosing a spouse. One should choose a righteous and Godfearing mother/father for their children. One should teach one's children to choose a good spouse, the mother/father for their children so their children can have the best environment to grow up in, learning about their Creator and their responsibilities in life.

It is also vitally important for our children to have the right companions. It is not enough to have the right father and the right mother, we have to make sure that our children have the right friends, those who love the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and protecting what he brought.

Remember Allah says,

ٱلْخَبِيثَـٰتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَٱلْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَـٰتِ ۖ وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ ۖ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٢٦

Corrupt women for corrupt men, and corrupt men for corrupt women; good women for good men, and good men for good women -- these are declared quit of what they say; theirs shall be forgiveness and generous provision. Qur'a An-Nur 24:26

May Allah guide us and give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaaam

True Piety

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Truly, our relationship with Allah is reflected in our treatment of others. We have a duty to Allah as well as a duty to others. Our duties take various forms, which are shown in reasonable gradation in the following verse.

Allah says,

لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ‌ أَن تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِ‌قِ وَالْمَغْرِ‌بِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ‌ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ‌ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْ‌بَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّ‌قَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا ۖ وَالصَّابِرِ‌ينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّ‌اءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَـٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ ﴿١٧٧

"It is not piety, that you turn your faces to the East and to the West. True piety is this: to believe in God, and the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the Prophets, to give of one's substance, however cherished, to kinsmen, and orphans, the needy, the traveler, beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the alms. And they who fulfill their covenant when they have engaged in a covenant, and endure with fortitude misfortune, hardship and peril, these are they who are true in their faith, these are the truly Godfearing." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:177

Deeds are of value when they proceed from love. A righteous and Godfearing person is someone who not only prays, fasts, and obeys the salutary regulations, but he should also fix his gaze on the love of Allah and the love of others.

The words of our mother Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, to comfort her husband, the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, should always remind us to strive to be excellent towards others.

"Never! I swear by Allah! He will never forsake you...you keep good relations with your kith and kin, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously, you assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

May Allah guide us and give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaaam

Blessing of Eloquence

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Speech is the most effective means of conveying what is in my mind into your mind. That's why Allah reminds us the blessing of intelligent speech in the Qur'an.

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ﴿١﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ﴿٢﴾ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ ﴿٣﴾ عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ

The Most Merciful (1) Taught the Qur'an, (2) Created man, (3) [And] taught him eloquence. (4)

Were we not able to speak intelligently we would have a very difficult time communicating with the person next to us. Imagine you want to say to the person, "the sky is blue" but it couldn't come out the way you want, instead what come out are some words of jumbo mumbo. Nobody can understand you. So intelligent speech is a tremendous blessing from Allah that we should be grateful. Even the simplest form of speech is difficult without Allah's generosity. So, remember the One who gave you speech and only use this blessing to worship the One who taught you eloquence.

May Allah bless us with goodly speech and eloquence. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Intelligent People

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We often admire intelligent and knowledgeable people. They are able to see what we cannot see. But some of the most intelligent and knowledgeable people are also the most proud. It is very easy for them to look down upon other people. This pride turns people off. How do we prevent from becoming like them?

It is by realizing that our intelligence and our knowledge are gifts from Allah. Allah created us and Allah also created our minds and understanding. Were it not for His generosity, you would not be able to think and understand. Allah can also take away these gifts from you at any time.

Qarun was a wealthy man who had much knowledge. The wealth he had acquired through his knowledge led him to become arrogant. His people told him to not exult, and they gave him many valuable advice but he didn't take heed. His chest puffed up with pride. "I got what I got because I am so smart!" He forgot Allah and had contempt for the people. When he didn't show gratitude for the gifts that Allah had given him, Allah caused the earth to swallow him and his wealth.

The story of Qarun in the Qur'an,

إِنَّ قَـٰرُونَ ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ‌ۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ ۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلۡعُصۡبَةِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡقُوَّةِ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ قَوۡمُهُ ۥ لَا تَفۡرَحۡ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَرِحِينَ (٧٦) وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (٧٧) قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِىٓ‌ۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَهۡلَكَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مَنۡ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُ قُوَّةً۬ وَأَڪۡثَرُ جَمۡعً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ (٧٨) فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فِى زِينَتِهِۦ‌ۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا يَـٰلَيۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ قَـٰرُونُ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ۬ (٧٩) وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَڪُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٌ۬ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَلَا يُلَقَّٮٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ (٨٠) فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَمَا ڪَانَ لَهُ ۥ مِن فِئَةٍ۬ يَنصُرُونَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنتَصِرِينَ (٨١) وَأَصۡبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوۡاْ مَكَانَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيۡكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقۡدِرُ‌ۖ لَوۡلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا‌ۖ وَيۡكَأَنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (٨٢) تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٨٣)

Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, "Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant. (76)

But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters." (77)

He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked. (78)

So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, "Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qarun. Indeed, he is one of great fortune." (79)

But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient." (80)

And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves. (81)

And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, "Oh, how Allah extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allah had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!" (82)

That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous. (83)

(Qur'an Al-Qasas 28:76-83)

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

Where Are The Chivalrous Men?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

What's worse than seeing a man and a woman hugging and/or kissing in public? In the West this is a pretty normal sight. And we are disgusted by it and we don't want our children to see it. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. And that's why some parents (Muslims and non-Muslims alike) won't put their kids in public schools--they don't want the bad influence.

I sent my children to public schools but I made a point to be involved in their schools and classrooms. I volunteered in their classrooms, chaperoned school field trips, etc, and I saw the universal good manners taught and applied--follow the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would want others to do unto you." Boys are taught chivalry--boys help girls, and boys don't pick on girls. So the public schools are not really the culprit in the deteriorating morals of our youth.

In Islam, we know good character weighs heavy on the Scale in the Day of Judgement, and we know that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sent to perfect noble character traits, and as Muslims we should strive to follow the Prophet's perfect character. And we know as well what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

"None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself."

But what did I see today, not in the West? Half of a bus were young men in traditional Islamic clothing and the other half were young women in traditional Islamic clothing. I saw those young men sat on soft seats but those young women stood on the aisle holding fast to the straps above them so they don't fall over when the bus move or brake suddenly. What is wrong with this picture? Aren't men protectors of women? Aren't there no chivalrous men among these men? Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّـهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means...Qur'an An-Nisa 4:34)

May Allah help us. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

He Will Never Forsake You...

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

What is our religion? Our religion is not just pray, fast and go to hajj or umrah many times, but also give to people their due rights. We need to pay attention to the people around us as well--our parents, our family, our neighbor, our guests, the poor and the destitute, people afflicted with calamities.

During the Prophet's, Allah bless him and grant him peace, spiritual retreat in a cave outside Makkah, he encountered Jibril alayhissalaam and was given the first Message. Profoundly perplexed and heavy hearted, the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, rushed home and said to his wife, Khadija binti Khuwalid, Allah be pleased with her, "Cover me! Cover me! O Khadija, what has happened to me? I fear for myself!"

How did his wife responded and comforted him? She said:

Never! I swear by Allah! He will never forsake you...you keep good relations with your kith and kin, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously, you assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.

She didn't say, "Never! I swear by Allah, He will never forsake you..you pray, you fast, you spent a lot of time thinking about Allah..." because our relationship with Allah appears in our treatment of others, and she saw only the best of her husband by his excellent treatment of others.

This is the message from the tongue of the best woman of Paradise. It should remind us about the importance of choosing a righteous spouse (and to teach our children that) as well as keep family ties, help the poor and the destitute, serve the guests generously (don't be stingy) and help those who are afflicted with calamities.

Our religion is a social religion and by you serving His creation well for His sake, you are serving Allah. One certainly cannot claim to be religious or righteous if one is not good and merciful to others.

So evaluate ourselves.

How is your relationship with your parents, your children, your spouse, your family? How do you treat those under your charge, your neighbors, your teachers/students, your elders? What are you doing to help the poor, the needy and those afflicted with calamities? If you are oblivious of these things and lacking, change. They have certain rights in Islam and you have to give them their due rights and treat them in the best possible manner and Allah will not forsake you inshaAllah.

May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Life Has Consequence

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

What we do in this life has a consequence in our next life and we should be concerned about this because the next life is our permanent life. Our religion, Islam, is meant to make us in tune with this reality so we live a life that will bring us the most benefit in the next life.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not bring a "feel good" religion nor philosophies nor abstracts. He brought actions, i.e details on how to live our lives--how to pray, make wudu', marry, divorce, transact, earning a living, etc.--and through these details we change. This is the idea of closeness to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. We hear and we obey.

One should exhaust every effort to learn the religion and learn the details of how to live one's life according to what his Creator wants. Ignorance is no excuse when we face the Lord on Judgment Day and we had fallen short of doing what Allah wants from us in this life. It would be too late to correct ourselves on that Day. If that happens, we can only hope for His Mercy but remember Allah is also Just. Evildoers and sinners will have their share of punishment by His Justice and good doers and the righteous will have their reward from the great bounties and favors of Allah.

May Allah make us His obedient slaves and protect us from disobedience and from His wrath and anger. Ameen. Please keep us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

When We Read Surah Kahf Every Friday...

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

One of the recommended regular devotions of Friday is reciting Surah Kahf. There are many benefits in reciting Surah Kahf. Here are a couple:

Al Haakim who said it is sahih -- the hadith of Abu Saeed -- that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Whoever reads Suratul Kahf on yaumul Jumuah, a light will shine for him between the 2 Fridays (until the next Friday).

Al Baihaqi also provided that hadith in "As Sunan" from the same narrators and from a different chain.

Ibn Mardwiyah from Ibn Omar, Allah be pleased with them both, who said the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Whoever reads Suratul Kahf on yaumul Jumuah, for him light would shine from beneath his foot to 'Aden in the heavens, shining for him on the Last Day and he will be forgiven for what occurs between the 2 Fridays (minor sins).

There are many lessons in the stories that Allah related to us in Surah Kahf. One that strikes me always is the story of Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, thirst for knowledge and his determination to learn from a mysterious teacher, Khidr, peace be upon him, who he could find at the junction of two seas.

Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Even so that wisdom did not comprehend everything. Divine knowledge, as far as man is concerned, is unlimited. Even after Prophet Musa received his Divine mission, his knowledge was not so perfect that it could not receive more.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًۭا

"Behold, Musa said to his attendant, "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel." [Qur'an al-Kahf 18:60]

How far are you willing to seek Divine knowledge? If you cannot go too far, take the opportunity of the programs at your local masjid. Even if they are not quite organized and perhaps inadequate, you can still learn something and improve it. Have patience. Don't give up. Allah sees what you are doing. If the intention is sincere and you are consistent, Allah will bless your efforts and make things easy for you and open up things for you in ways that you couldn't imagine. InshaAllah.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿١٠

"Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:10

May Allah guide us and shower us with His Light. Ameen. Please don't forget is in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Allah Raises In Degrees Whom He Wills

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Arrogance, however slight, is unacceptable to Allah. If you have an ego problem and if that ego problem is making you intellectually arrogant, check yourself before you try to correct someone. Do you really want the best for this person or do you feel big because you think you have knowledge or do you want to show that you have more knowledge than this person? Check the sincerity of your heart because you might get away with people but Allah knows and Allah sees what is in your heart.

We have to be humble with whatever knowledge that Allah bestows on us lest we become like the non-believers. The non-believers acquire education to put a title beside their names--Dr so-and so--and for worldly gains--speaking engagements, lucrative compensation and perks, etc. We acquire the knowledge of this deen to seek the pleasure of Allah--not for titles, not for praises, not to be famous, not for ranks, not for money. The knowledge of the deen is supposed to make you humble and bring you closer to Allah.

Remember Allah, Al-'Alim, the All-Knowing One, says,

(نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٧٦ ....

... We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing. (76) Qur'an Yusuf 12:76)

The more you have knowledge, the more it should humbles you, not the more judgmental you become, and then you start broadcasting that this person is deviant and that person is deviant, this person is an innovator, that person is an innovator. This act is a disservice to this religion. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un ( إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ -- To Allah we belong and to Him is our return). We must give people their due respect especially the elders, the imams and the people of knowledge in our communities. We don't talk against them.

The more you know, the more taqwa (Godfearingness) you should have, and that's how your rank will go up.

May Allah guide us and unite the Ummah. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Ones Brought Near to Allah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A wird is a regular act that one does to go closer to Allah. The most beloved of works to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, were those which the person did regularly. (Bukhari)

How does one draw closer to Allah. It is mentioned in the famous hadith Qudsi in Bukhari:

...My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than what I have made obligatory upon him,...

Allah has prescribed on us a general regular devotions (awrad) which is the obligatory worship. This is the first step to draw closer to Allah. You have the daily awrad--pray 5 times daily again and again, yearly awrad such as fast in Ramadhan every year, pay zakat every year, and hajj once in a lifetime. This is the minimum awrad that we must do.

Then Allah said,

and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works until I love him...

Somebody who wants to come close to Allah, i.e. somebody who wants to be among the Sabiqun as mentioned in Surah Waqi'ah, does not stop at the obligatory awrad.

وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿١١

And the forerunners, the forerunners - (10) Those are the ones brought near [to Allah] (11)
Qur'an Al-Waqi'ah 56:10-11

He performs the recommended and voluntary acts, such as supererogatory prayers, sunnah fasting, sending blessings upon the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, istighfar, reciting the Qur'an, giving charity, acquiring of sacred knowledge, invocation (dhikr) or reflection (fikr), etc.

The wird is a means to draw closer to Allah. So we should be doing the wird.

Whoever has no wird is a qird (monkey). --Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf.

There is a reward in this life for doing the regular acts of worship. By doing the acts, there is change that happens. With the change, there is knowledge that descend the heart and this is very pleasant. But the real reward is in the next life which outshines everything in this life.

Allah asks us to worship Him and so we do that. This is what a real slave would do. We don't go to Allah to ask Him to give this and give that. Also, our awrad are more important than anything because if you miss this chance to do them, you miss it. You can only do these acts in this life and then it is over. But the fruits of these works will be for eternity and will come as a result of the works. So we should learn what is obligatory on us and do it; we learn what is forbidden on us and what is disliked and avoid it.

To do a good job in worshiping Allah requires planning. For example, if one plans to pray Tahajjud or Fajr, he should not leave it by chance that he will wake up and feel fresh if he wakes up. He should take a few steps before going to sleep, for example, set an alarm clock, take wudu' and pray 2 raka'a, maybe recite Surah Waqi'ah, make intention to wake up for the worship, go to sleep early, etc. This planning is done out of the spirit of slavehood, not out of greed of wanting something from Allah.

The proper manner is always to focus at what one has to do rather than what one expects to receive because the slave does not expect anything but just does his duty. Allah, the All-Generous Master has promised and He doesn't break His promise. He will fulfill His promise whenever He decides to do it. Our duty is to keep doing what we have to do, day in and day out.

May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Have A Blessed Friday--Find the Blessed Hour

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This is the second Friday after Eid and some of us are still celebrating Eid with vigor. We should look forward to Friday and prepare for it as if it is going to be Eid.

Preparations for Friday starts from Thursday. After the 'Asr prayer of Thursday, one should make a lot of istighfaar, asking forgiveness from Allah. The pious people of the past have stated that the person to receive the most benefit on Friday will be that person who waits for it and who makes preparations for it from Thursday. The most unfortunate person will be he who does not even know as to when Friday will fall, so much so that he will ask the people in the morning as to which day this is.

On one Friday, the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said:

O Muslims! Allah Ta'ala has made this day a day of eid. So have a bath on this day, whoever has perfume should apply it, and use the miswaak. (Ibn Majah)

So, on Friday, one should perform the major ritual purification (ghusl)--wash the body from head to toe thoroughly and completely. After making ghusl, a person should wear the best clothing that he possesses, and put on perfume (men only), if he has it. He should also clip his nails.

One should try to go to the masjid very early for the Friday prayer. The earlier a person goes, the more reward he will receive.

Don't miss reciting Surah Al-Kahf on this day. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The person who recites Surah Kahf on Fridays, a nur will appear for him from below the arsh as high as the skies. This light will help him in the darkness of the Day of Resurrection. And all the sins which he may have committed from the last Friday till this Friday will be forgiven.

The scholars have written that this Hadith refers to minor sins because major sins are not forgiven without making sincere repentance. Find a time that is convenient for you to recite the surah and try to keep it consistent every Friday until it becomes your wird. You can choose to recite it on Thursday night after sunset. (Islamic day is sunset to sunset, e.g. Thursday after sunset to Friday at sunset for Friday)

Allah has hidden a blessed hour on Friday in which Allah answers the du'as of His slaves. So we should spend all or much of Friday in supplication in the hope to find this hour. Tawfiq. Please don't forget us in your du'as.

May Allah bless your Friday. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Inner Reality of Prayer

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The ritual prayer is the most important obligation of the obligations in Islam. The prayer is the pillar of the religion. He who gives up prayer intentionally becomes near coming out of faith as his pillar falls down. It's outer acts and movements, such as wudu' (ablution), standing, bowing, prostration are meant to bestow on a person an inner reality.

So Allah says,

إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّـهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. (Qur'an Ta Ha 20:13)

This is the point of all of the rules of the ritual prayer. You establish them and they bequeath in the heart of the person who is focusing on Allah the state of remembrance of Allah. No doubt, the object of religious acts is to remember Allah. If that object is not attained, there is no use in prayer, as it is very easy to move the tongue without attention. If you recite, "Guide us to the straight path", and if you are inattentive at that time, it is only the movement of your tongue and nothing else. His tongue moves only owing to habit but he is far away from the object of the prayer to enliven Allah's remembrance and with that to make firm the tie of faith.

What is this remembrance of Allah? It is a tremendous gift of ease, relaxation and tranquility from Allah.

Allah says,

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Those who believe, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts finds rest. (Qur'an Ar-Ra'd 13:28)

No matter how everything else might be going wrong in your life, but if your heart is with Allah, you find ease and relaxation.

Allah says,

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ ﴿٧﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (1) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive....And they who carefully maintain their prayers - (9) Those are the inheritors (10) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. (Qur'an Al-Mukminun 23:1-10)

The believers have surely succeeded (i.e it is a done deal for them), those who are humble in prayers. This is the first characteristics mentioned before others. Humble does not mean they are slouching over and everyone look at them like they are not worth anything but they have dignity. They are humble and their hearts tremble out of awe before whom they know they are standing. They are not standing in front of a wall but in front of their Lord and this humbles their heart. They don't fidget, they don't look around, and their gaze is lowered throughout their standing during prayer.

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

Prayer is the best matter (Tabarani, sound hadith)

Many scholars have tested this. If they have a free afternoon, they filled it up with extra cycles of prayer. Among the great ulama' of people who made time for extra cycles of prayer, because of the light they found in ritual prayer itself, was Qadi Abu Yusuf, the greatest companion of Imam Abu Hanifa. He was the first judge of judges in Islamic history and despite his great time he must have spent in learning, teaching and and judging, he made extra time beyond that to perform 200 cycles of prayer for the sake of Allah.

In fact, many of the early Muslims did this because they found the light in prayer. The great spiritual master of North Africa, Al Arbi Darqawi, a great Qur'an teacher said:

I tried all manner of of worship for like 50 years, and I found nothing more beneficial and enlightening to the heart than repeating the prayer (meaning praying cycles after cycles of supererogatory prayer).

An arrow stuck on a calf of a Companion and it was too painful to take it out. So the companion asked his companions to wait for him to start praying and then pull the arrow out. The companions pulled it out while he was praying and he didn't feel the arrow being pulled out during that state. When he entered into the prayer, he entered into a state of mind wherein he was with his Lord and so he was less sensitive to the pain of the body.

When prayer works, it has a miraculous effect on these people.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, who is the Sayyid of these people, said:

The coolness of my eyes is in the prayer.

Meaning my happiness and my joy is in the prayer. Prayer is an absolute tranquility and peacefulness.

Where are you in your prayer?

The first level of prayer is when someone does not fulfill the minimum requirements of the exterior and interior part of the prayer. The person is sinful. We seek protection from Allah from being in this level. The exterior part of the prayer are conditions of the prayer: 1) in state of ritual purity 2) body, clothes and place of prayer be free of filth beyond the excused amount 3) cover nakedness 4) facing the Qibla 5)pray within the prayer time 6)intention before beginning 7) say the takbir "Allahu Akbar". The minimum of the interior part of the prayer are integrals of prayer: 1) standing 2) bowing 3) reciting (lips movement) 4) prostrating 5) final sitting.

The second level is when someone who observes the minimum of the exterior and interior parts of prayer. This person’s prayer is legally valid but he is sinful for skipping the necessary elements of the prayer. We seek Allah’s Protection from being in this level. The necessary elements are 1)reciting Al-Fatiha and 3 short verse 2) 2 prostrations in each cycle 3) remain motionless at least a moment in all integrals--no woodpecking 4) first sitting/tashahhud 5) reciting tashahhud at final sitting 6) salam twice at the end 7) recite quietly for daytime prayer, aloud for night prayers and if he is an imam.

The third level is when someone fulfills the exterior part of the prayer but the moment he enters into prayer and says Allahu Akbar, every single thought other than Allah comes to his mind. He starts to think about food, work, school, what so-and-so said to him yesterday, etc. The heart is just not there with Allah. But he knows that he must be khusyu’ so he tries to focus his attention to his prayer. So, he lowers his gaze and tries to focus at his prayer mat. But this lasts for a few seconds and he starts drawing with his eyes the pattern on the prayer mat and starts admiring the intricate design and colors, and it takes him to the place he bought the mat from or the image of the person who gifted it to him. Suddenly, he remembers he is in prayer, so he moves away from that but then the door bell starts ringing and he wonders who is ringing the door bell. He realizes he is in prayer and tries to focus on his prayer again. This cycle repeats (with variety of distractions) until he completes his prayer. In other words, this person takes care of the exterior part and he does his best to fulfill the interior part but fails miserably.

Most of us who pray are in this level. The scholars said that for this type of prayers, there is a double reward. The first reward is because you pray for the sake of Allah and you fulfill the exterior part and interior part of the prayer. The second reward is for the jihad (the strive to succeed) against Shaytan who comes and whispers all sorts of nonsense to distract us.

The key is that we must fulfill the requirements of a valid prayer and do our best to stay focus on what we are doing during prayer and not just let our minds wonder off in different directions because we don’t want to fall back into the first or the second level. We should aspire and strive to attain the next higher levels.

The fourth level is when the person observes the exterior and interior part of his prayer as well as the sunnah, e.g. using miswak before wudu', perform recommended prayers before and after obligatory prayer, reflect on the tremendousness of the Words you are reciting, etc. This person attains khusyu’ in his prayer. The Companions of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, were in this level.

The fifth level is that when the person starts to pray, it is as though he takes his heart out and give it to Allah. This is a highway to Paradise for him. This is the Prophet’s level of prayer.

May Allah guide us in our prayers and to complete His favor upon us and make us His righteous slaves and of those He is pleased with. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Showing Mercy to the Elderly Persons

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Sponsoring the elderly persons and relieving them of harm is a communal obligation (fard kifayah), i.e. if this matter is performed by some (a sufficient number) in the community, the obligation falls from the rest; if not, then everyone in the community is sinful.

The elderly persons should be provided with a life of dignity and they must be given all human rights in full. There is much good in doing this to seek the pleasure of Allah, and whatever you spend on their care will be recorded with multiple reward. Allah says,

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

The likeness of those who expend their wealth in the way of God is as the likeness of a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. So God multiplies unto whom He will; God is All-embracing, All-knowing. (Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:261)

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

Whoever removes a worldly hardship from a believer, Allah will remove one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection from him. Whoever grants respite to (a debtor) who is in difficulty, Allah will grant him relief in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim in this world, Allah will conceal him (his faults) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help a person so long as he is helping his brother. (Muslim)

An elderly person may suffer from obvious weakness in one aspect or another of his life. This might be physical weakness, poor health, loneliness, his need for someone to support him, or any of the many other forms of weakness.

Allah says,

اللَّـهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ

Allah is He that created you of weakness, then He appointed after weakness strength, then after strength He appointed weakness and grey hairs; He creates what He will, and He is the All-knowing, the All-powerful. (Qur'an Rum 30:54)

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave special care to the elderly person owing to their feebleness. He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, confirms the high value of the elderly in Islam. He mentions them before a Qur’an memorizer and a just ruler; in spite of their great value and high rank. He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

One may exalt Allah through showing kindness and respect to the elderly among you, to those who memorized the Qur’an and to a just ruler. (Abu Dawood)

An old man once came to meet the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, so the people were a bit slow in making way for him. Thereupon the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

He who does not show kindness to the young ones and respect to the elderly is not among us. (Muslims)

One of the distinguished characters of a Muslim is his mercy to the young and his respect to the old. Abiding by these morals was characteristic of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, during his lifetime. On the day of Conquest of Makkah, Abu-Bakr, Allah be pleased with him, brought his father Abu Quhafa, a very old man then, to embrace Islam before the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, at the Ka’aba. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Abu Bakr,

"Why did you not keep the old man at home so that I would have come to him there?" (Ahmad)

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was then a victorious leader and a conqueror of Makkah, whilst Abu Quhafa was an old man who embraced Islam after fighting it for twenty years. Despite this, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, showed him great respect and felt that it would have been more appropriate if he – the great victorious Prophet - had gone to the old man’s place. This is the rank of the elderly in the eyes of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, would not approve of prolonging congregational prayers which he loved and valued highly. This was for the sake of not exhausting the old and the unprivileged. One unique incident narrated by Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari.

He said, “A man came to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘O Allah's Messenger! By Allah, I keep away from the morning prayer, only because so and so prolongs the prayer when he leads us in it.’ I have never seen Allah's Messenger more furious in giving advice than he was at that time. He then said, ‘Some of you make people dislike good deeds (the prayer). So whoever among you leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among you are the weak, the old and those with urgent needs.’” (Bukhari)

If this is the mercy for the elderly persons in general, how should we be to our elderly parents?

A man came to Allah's Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said,

O Allah's Messenger! Who is more entitled to get my good companionship?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father.” (Bukhari)

Thus the most deserving of a good companionship is not the friend, the ruler, the employer, or anyone else, but the mother and then the father. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave priority to the mother over the father and mentioned her three times because she would be weaker and needier as she gets old.

Taking care of our own parents is our individual duty (fard 'ain). Allah says,

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. (Qur'an Lukman 31:13)

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught us to be merciful even in the most difficult and strange situations.

A man came to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asking his permission to take part in jihad in the way of Allah (here he meant to fight with non-Muslims). The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked him,

Are your parents alive?" He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, "Then make your jihad (strive and exert yourself) in serving them. (Bukhari)

A man came to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said,

“I came to you to give the pledge of allegiance to you on emigration, and I left my parents weeping. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Return to them and make them laugh as you made them weep.” (Abu Dawood, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah)

We, as Muslims, must teach people how to exalt human rights, and we begin with ourselves towards our own families and our neighbors.

Indeed, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the exemplar. Allah says,

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (Qur'an Anbiya' 21:107)

May Allah guide us and put mercy in our hearts. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Being Consistent With Fasting

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 صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

The most beloved action to Allah is that which is most consistent.

This applies to fasting as well. We don't limit our fasting in Ramadhan but we fast at other times throughout the year (such as fasting the 6 days in Shawwal, Mondays and Thursdays, day of Arafa, first 10 days of Zulhijjah, 3 white days in each lunar month, 9th and 10th of Muharram, most of Sha'ban, etc). When we do this, not only this is a sign of the acceptance of one’s Ramadan fasts because a sign of Allah’s accepting a good deed is to be granted the success to perform similar good deeds, with consistency, this is a sign of one's commitment to continue in worship and submission to Allah, willingly, and not merely out of duty and obligation.

The recipe to gain Allah's love is to perform the obligatory religious duties and add supererogatory works.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said:

Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him. (Bukhari)

Good deeds raise one's rank and erase the person's sins (except major sins which require sincere repentance for forgiveness). It is very important to have clear intent during acts of worship and establish consistency, rather than going overboard and then leaving the acts of worship all together.

May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Keeping In Training

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah blessed us with Ramadhan and made fasting compulsory so that we become pious, God-fearing and God-conscious. He commanded us to stay away from eating, drinking and cohabitation from true dawn to sunset with an intention of fasting.

If we stop eating one minute before dawn, our fast is valid, but if we eat after dawn, even a second later, our fast does not count. What difference does it make between stopping eating or drinking before Fajr and doing so a second later? No significant difference really but a great difference in terms of the reward and punishment.

If we follow the rules of fasting, we can hope for a great reward from Allah for fasting. ["Fasting is for Me. And it is I who shall reward it." Bukhari] But if one were to intentionally eat or cohabit between dawn and sunset without a valid reason (deliberately while aware), one must fast 60 consecutive days after Ramadhan (for each deliberately invalidated fast) as an expiation in addition to making up the fast.

Our fasts won't reach the level of the righteous if we don't also seek to do and avoid what seem negligible and insignificant or what seem don't make sense to many. This is the idea of slavehood. A slave must obey his Lord in all matters, big or small, what make sense and what the minds cannot make sense out of it. We hear and we obey--the way of the Prophets.

وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥

...And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the end of all journeys." Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:285

This applies to all our worship. Ramadhan was the training ground. Don't let the training go to waste. Fast regularly throughout the year and that will keep you in training and make you a better slave of Allah, inshaAllah. Besides, fasting has many physical, moral and social benefits. Everything from Allah is for our own benefit. He is not in need of our anything.

Allah has spread other blessed times throughout the year for fasting, such as 6 days in Shawwal, day of Arafa, first 10 days of Zulhijjah, Mondays and Thursdays, 9th and 10th of Muharram, Sha'ban, 3 white days of each lunar month, etc. -- for us to take advantage of.

And always on a look out for opportunities to do good and seek His Mercy and Pleasure. Pound on all the doors of opportunity. Be The First. And you will be of those who are successful.

Don't miss fasting the 6 days in Shawwal for it has tremendous virtue. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Whoever fasts Ramadhan and follows it up with six from Shawwal, it is as though he has fasted all of time, because each day is equivalent to ten days. Whoever performs a good deed, he will have ten like it.

May Allah give you tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam