Allah Is Number One

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Life is about taking advantage of opportunities to win the love of Allah. We never stop doing things to please Allah and we do things with Allah in mind.

Even if you are traveling, in a gym or a supermarket, this doesn't change. Before we do anything, we ask ourselves, "what does Allah want me to do now."

Allah is always number one and no one else. When Allah is number one, talking with people about Allah comes naturally. You won't feel shy, embarrassed, afraid or intimidated. Remember, you represent the King of Kings. Never miss the opportunity to show Islam to people around you and to talk about Allah with people you meet, Muslims (practicing or not) or non-Muslims. Check your intention to make sure you are doing this for the love of Allah and for His sake alone, not to impress people or to show off.

I was at the London airport the other day and it was quite empty and quiet. Coming from Egypt, this was a huge change. But it was pretty nice actually because I could take off my scarf to make wudu' and it was easy to find a spot to pray. As I was walking around, I found a multi faith room so I figured I could pray in there and went in. I was quite impressed with the facility. It was nice and clean and even had a rock for tayammum. May Allah reward the people who put this together.

I looked for a qibla sign but could not find one in the room. So I went back out to try to find north. There was no sun and there was nothing for me to use to estimate the qibla direction (I forgot to bring a compass!). Never leave home without a compass. Always keep one in your purse or briefcase. I saw a flight attendant at one corner of the terminal who was about to leave. I walked up towards her, had to jump over a few ropes to a secured area, and asked her for a north direction. She smiled as if she understood what I need it for. She did some checking and told me where north is.

When I went back into the room to pray, there it was, a qibla sign on the carpeted floor, which I had missed before (because I looked up for it, not down). It confirmed the direction of the qibla based on the information that the flight attendant gave me. SubhanAllah.

It is a rule in Hanafi mazhab that we have to take reasonable steps to figure out the direction of the qibla for prayer. Once we have done that, even if it is later discovered that we had faced the wrong direction, the prayer is valid. But if we did not do that, then the prayer is invalid.

اللْهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee

O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.

We ask Allah to guide us and forgive all our shortcomings. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Paying Off Debts

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Many people take debts lightly. They spend beyond their means and they don't mind getting into debt. Some of these people, if they can get away from paying their debts, they would. This is a bad attitude and a bad character.

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

Allah commands you to return to their owners the things you hold on trust and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice. How excellent is what Allah exhorts you to do! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

[Qur'an An-Nisa 4:58]

It is related that Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to make supplication in the prayer:

"O Allah, I seek refuge with You from wrong action and debt." Someone remarked to him, "How often you seek refuge from debt, Messenger of Allah!" He said, "When a man is in debt, when he speaks, he lies and when he makes a promise, he breaks it."

There are serious consequences for not paying your debts. The debt collector is not that big a deal when you compare to the torment of the Hereafter.

Narrated by Abu Qatadah:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood up amongst his companions to deliver his sermon, in which he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) told them that Jihad in the Cause of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) were the most meritorious of acts. A man stood up and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace), do you think that if I am killed in the Cause of Allah, (all) my sins will be blotted out from me?” The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘Yes, if you were patient and sincere, and always fought facing the enemy, never turning your back upon him, (all your sins shall be forgiven) except debt.’

[Muslim]

Narrated by Amr ibn al-'As

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘All the sins of a martyr in the Cause of Allah are forgiven, except debt.

[Muslim]

Such is the sanctity of the honoring of one’s debts in Islam that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that Allah might forgive all the sins of a believer, except their unpaid debts….even for the martyr who gave his life for the Cause of Allah.

Salamah reported:

A bier was brought to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he may say funeral prayers over it. He said "Was he in debt?" They said, No. So he said prayers over it. Another bier was brought to him and he said: "Was he in debt?" They said, Yes. He said "Say prayers over your companion." Abu Qatadah said, I will pay his debt, O Messenger of Allāh! So he said funeral prayers over it.

If you ever have to borrow, make the intention to pay it back, rush to pay it back and ask Allah to help you pay the debt.

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

If I had the equivalent of Uhud in gold, I would not be happy for three days to pass with any of it still in my possession except for something I might keep to pay off a debt.

Narrated Abu Hurayra:

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said, "If someone takes people's property intending to repay it, Allah will repay it for him, and if someone takes it intending to destroy it, Allah will destroy him.

When you pay your debts, don't do it grudgingly. Pay it in the most handsome manner.

Narrated Abu Hurayra:

A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and demanded a camel (the Prophet owed him). Allah's Apostle told his companions to give him (a camel). They said, "We do not find except an older camel (than what he demands). (The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered them to give him that camel). The man said, "You have paid me in full and may Allah also pay you in full." Allah's Apostle (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Give him, for the best amongst the people is he who repays his debts in the most handsome manner."

It is related that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said,

"I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was in the mosque. (Mis'ar said, 'I think that he said, 'in the forenoon') He said, 'Pray two rak'at.' He owed me for a debt which he paid me, giving me extra."

We ask Allah to protect us from sins and debts. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Best Generation

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Before the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, left this world, he opened the curtain from his room and saw his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) praying and he became happy. That was his last vision of the Companions.

The Companions were people of sincerity who worship Allah. If we learn history, we would not see the Companions walking in the malls, cruising on the internet, vying for power or argue with people. Rather, as Allah says in the Qur'an, "You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration."

Allah says,

مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward. َ

[Qur'an al-Fath 48:29]

Allah is not describing people who are avid for power, fame and praises. Rather, Allah is describing people who grew to be the best community brought to mankind.

May Allah increase us in our love for this religion and grant us tawfiq in living the examples of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Greatest Gratitude

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah only commands us what benefit us.

...يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ...

... Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship...

Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:185

Ultimately, obedience of Allah leads to Paradise. Even if a particular command were to lead to all kinds of hardship and discomfort, this will dwindle away to nothing with the eternal benefits of Paradise.

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

Allah says,

هُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

It is He who sends down upon His Servant [Muhammad] verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And indeed, Allah is to you Kind and Merciful.

[Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:9]

Allah says,

يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِن سُوءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ أَمَدًا بَعِيدًا ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسَهُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.

[Qur'an AleImran 3:30]

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

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.

[Qur'an al-'Araf 7:56]

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

Narrated by Aisha, Allah be pleased with her,

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

(Bukhari)

The greatest gratitude comes from having this view of Allah.

When someone has a loving relationship with his Lord, they are drawn to his Lord. When he reads the Qur'an, he gains a sense of happiness, optimism and gratitude.

May Allah increase our love and gratitude towards Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Not Seeking Worldly Benefit

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Reciting Qur'an is a great form of worship. We should engage in the recitation for the purpose of gaining the pleasure of Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty says:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّـهِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً لَّن تَبُورَ ﴿٢٩﴾ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ ﴿٣٠

Surely those who recite the Book of God and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them, secretly and in public, look for a commerce that comes not to naught, (29) that He may pay them in full their wages and enrich them of His bounty; surely He is All-forgiving, All-thankful. (30)

[Qur'an Fatir 35:29-30]

Sincerity (ikhlas) is key to worship. Without it what you are building is going to turn into ruins and it is not going to benefit you in the Hereafter.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.

[Qur'an al-Bayyinah 98:5]

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

Actions are only [valued] according to their intentions, and each person has only what he has intended.

This hadith is one of the foundations of Islam.

Abul al-Qasim Al-Qushayri (may Allah grant him mercy) said:

Sincerity is to single our the Real [God] in obedience with full intention: meaning, through obedience, [a worshipper] desires only to draw near to God Most High--nothing else: not ostentation for the sake of others, gaining praise with people, loving praise from them, or something else that shows [an objective] other than drawing closer to God Most High.

He said, "it is correct to say that sincerity is purifying the actions from being observed by people."

A Qur'an teacher or reciter of Qur'an should not make his intentions [to teach or to recite Qr'an] for the purpose of attaining some worldly objective, such as wealth, leadership, influence, rising above his peers, gaining people's praise, or drawing people's attention to himself.

Allah Almighty says:

مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا

Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.

[Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:18]

May Allah Almighty grant us sincerity and save us from ostentation and the Hellfire. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Mercy And Healing

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The entire Qur'an is a mercy and healing for those who revere it, recite it, reflect on it, and resolve to act on its guidance.

Allah says,

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا ﴿٨٢

And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.

[Qur'an, 17.82]

If you are not reciting the Qur'an everyday, you are missing out on tremendous blessing and mercy from Allah.

Allah says,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّـهِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً لَّن تَبُورَ ﴿٢٩﴾ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ ﴿٣٠

Surely those who recite the Book of God and perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them, secretly and in public, look for a commerce that comes not to naught, (29) that He may pay them in full their wages and enrich them of His bounty; surely He is All-forgiving, All-thankful. (30)

[Qur'an Faatir 35:29-30]

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

The likeness of a believer who recites the Qur'an is like that of a citron: its scent is fragrant and its taste delicious. The likeness of a believer who does not recite the Qur'an is like that of a date: it has no fragrance and its taste is delicious. The likeness of a hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is a like a water lily: its scent is fragrant and its taste is bitter. And a likeness of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like a bitter colocynth: it is scentless and its taste is bitter.

[Bukhari]

Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Judgment it will come to intercede for its companion.

[Muslim]

Reciting the Qur'an is a great act of worship. Every letter you recite will earn you the pleasure of Allah and will draw you closer to Him Subhanahu. A person should maintain his recitation and do much of it.

Abi Dawud related from the Righteous Forebears, Allah be well pleased with them, that some of them would finish the Qur'an once very two months, once every month, once every 10 nights, 8 nights; most of them every 7 nights, some every 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 nights, some everyday and night, twice everyday and night, twice each day, and 8 times each day--4 by night and 4 by day. Uthman ibn Affan, Allah be well pleased with him, and Imam Shafi'i and Mujahid, Allah have mercy on them, completed recitation of the Qur'an every day.

A hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik, Allah be well pleased with him, who said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

"The best of works are al-hall and al-rihlat." It was asked, "what are they?" He said, "Beginning the Qur'an and completing it."

May Allah guide us and grant us tawfiq, and increase our love for the Qur'an. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Touch It With A Stick

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Our hearts are jaded. The reason for this is that we are saturated by things we have no need for, e.g. music and ballgames. Pastime is not cheap thrills. Pastime is enriching the soul through worship and remembrance of Allah.

Music only detracts one from Allah. And many scholars say it is haram (forbidden).

Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al−Ash`ari: that he heard the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying,

From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.

[Bukhari]

Allah describes believers as, when God is mentioned, their hearts quake.

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤

Those only are believers who, when God is mentioned, their hearts quake, and when His signs are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and in their Lord they put their trust, (2) those who perform the prayer, and expend of what We have provided them, (3) those in truth are the believers; they have degrees with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous provision. (4)

Many people are completely oblivious to Qur'an. They don't know what Qur'an sounds like and they don't appreciate the realities that are there because they are locked into a virtual hell--they think it is paradise.

Don't touch music with a stick. Don't touch it with a pole. Stay away from music entirely and your life will be richer.

May Allah protect us from what He has forbidden and all evils. Ameen. Pleased don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

related archives:
Diversion
Tasting the Miracle of the Qur'an
It Is The Sound of Music with a video by Shaykh Kamal El-Mekki

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Route She Took

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Umm Sulaym, Allah be pleased with her, was one of the first women of Madinah to accept Islam. She was influenced by the refined, dedicated and persuasive Musab ibn Umayr, Allah be pleased with him, who was sent to Madinah as the first ambassador of Islam by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Her husband, Malik ibn an-Nadr, was not pleased especially when she announced her acceptance of Islam in public and instructed her son, Anas, in the teachings and practice of the new faith. Umm Sulaym taught the young Anas the shahada and he repeated this simple but profound
declaration of faith emphatically.

Malik was now furious. He shouted at her: "Don't corrupt my son." She replied firmly, "I am not corrupting him." Malik then left the house and it is reported that he was met by his enemy and was killed.

Umm Sulaym was known for her excellent character, power of her intellect and her
independent attitude of mind. She wanted to secure the best future possible for her child. What do we do when we want to secure the best possible future for our children? We give them the best education and look for the best opportunities for them. Umm Sulaym wanted the same thing for her child but she went through another route. She went to the beloved of the Lord of the Worlds, Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace. She presented her son to him and asked if he would accept him as a servant.

Umm Sulaym asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to supplicate for her son. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, wiped his head and make du'a for him. "O Allah, increase him in wealth and children, give him long life and forgive him his sins."

Anas ibn Malik was ten years old when he first served the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, until his death ten years later. He lived a long life. He would recollect that he had 125 children, his date orchard gave fruit twice a year and he hoped for the fourth part of the supplication.

Many people narrated hadith from him. Many of the descriptions of the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, were related by Anas. Among them is the hadith describing the character of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, he narrated:

I served the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, for ten years and he never said to me ‘why did you do that?’ after I had done something or ‘why did you not do that?' after I had neglected to do something. He never said a word of contempt to me.

He fought in eight battles with the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, including the opening of Makkah. He was the last Companion to die in Basra in the year 93H aged 103 years old.

May Allah guide us and help us raise our children well. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayer. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

True Love

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This month of Rabi' Al-Awwal marked the birth of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the hijrah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, with his most beloved companion, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, Allah be pleased with him, from Makkah to Madinah. While many people around the Muslim world are talking about it, we have the chance to show our love for the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Our relationship with the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is that of love. It is a kind of love that combines both admiration of his tremendous character and appreciation for his tireless efforts and sacrifice to deliver the message of Allah.

We say peace and blessings be upon him (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) when we mention his name or hear his name being mentioned. This is a simple expression of deep love and attachment to him.

إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٥٦

Allah and His angels bless the Prophet. O believers, do you also bless him, and pray him peace.

[Qur'an Al-Ahzab 33:56]

We should not let the name of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, pass by without sending peace and blessings upon him.

We should teach our children to send blessings upon the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, from young, to imbue their love for the beloved Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

As followers of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, we must live and spread his message. The best way to do this is living by his examples.

True love is shown by deeds rather than words. Emulating the beloved Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the way to show our love for him. We should feel remorse and embarrassed for failing to emulate his examples in everyday life.

A good way to start emulating the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is to engage in a good deed everyday, and encouraged our families to engage in good deeds even if it is as small as smiling to another Muslim. Perhaps your smile will lift the pain of that one person. Giving happiness to the heart of someone will give you tremendous joy in the Hereafter.

Have our children think of a good deed everyday that they can do. Perhaps make this as an on-going project for our youth community at the masjid. Be creative and help them follow through. Consciously thinking of a good deed every day raises awareness and love of the Prophet's life.

May Allah increase our love for the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and resurrect us with him and enter us into the highest Paradise with him. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

His Character Is 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.

Good character weighs heavy on the Scale in the Day of Judgment, and the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sent to perfect noble character. One who wishes for beautiful character should look at the Qur'an and not leave it.

Sa’ad, Allah be pleased with him, reported:

Once I went to Aisha and her father, Allah be pleased with them both, and asked them about the character and conduct of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to which Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, replied: Don't you read the Qur'an? I said: Yes. She said: The character of the Messenger of Allah is the Qur'an.

The beauty of the conduct of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is not expressed in a person whose mind is not illumined with the light of Allah.

If we recite the Qur'an regularly and follow its teachings, we will have beautiful character.

If we have certain bad traits, changing them may not be easy but if we sincerely want to change and ask Allah for His help, nothing is difficult with Allah's help.

Allah says,

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦

And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. (186)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:186]

We ask Allah to guide us and grant us good character and save us from bad character. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam