Disciplining Your Children

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Parents have the responsibility to raise their children well. One thing all parents have in common is that children will challenge their authority. They can rebel, they can act out in school, they can act out at home, they can embarrass you in public. The way you respond to your child will determine how long your child will be defiant towards you. Most children just want to be noticed and want to be attention grabbers. Some children choose to do it the right way; while other children do it to draw attention by any means necessary. Showing love and compassion early in their lives will earn you their respect very early in their lives.

To help overcome many behavior problems, discipline your children by teaching and training them very early in life. This is where it is necessary to last for decades to come. Throughout your lifetime chances are you will continue to face the challenges of parenthood even after your children are no longer under your roof. Parenting is a "lifelong" commitment and it does not go away just because your children have reached 18 or 21. Just because your children have moved out of your home, it doesn't really mean they are truly on their own. Though they might think they don't need you anymore at that time, they do need your guidance more than ever.

Many parents fall in the wrong and that harms the children as well as themselves. Raising children well is never a piece of cake and if one does not have patience, one can get angry with one's children at any time of the day. But we cannot get angry with our children because of our impatience. We must restrain our anger.

The only time you can get angry with your children is if the anger is for the sake of Allah Almighty, and only if you know how to express your anger in a way that is pleasing to Allah. Otherwise you will wind up wronging your children with your tongue and your other limbs.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,

That a man said to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace: "Counsel me", so he, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Do not become angry." The man repeated [his request for counsel] several times, and he, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Do not become angry."

[Bukhari and Muslim]

To be a good parent, you must yourself have a good discipline, lest you will wrong your child, by your bad examples and bad actions. So, before we discipline our children, we should discipline ourselves first and don't act out.

Your children are an asset to you and not a liability. If you raise them well, by that it means you raise them to know their Lord, and they act upon such knowledge, you will continue to benefit until the Day of Judgment.

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ

Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.

[Qur'an Ya-Sin 36:12]

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah's Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

When a human being dies, all of his deeds are terminated except for three types: an ongoing sadaqah (charity), a knowledge (of Islam) from which others benefit, and a righteous child who makes du'a (supplication) for him.

[Muslim and others].

Teaching your children to know their Lord should be your foremost goal for them. May Allah grant us tawfiq and our success can only come from Allah alone. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archives:
World's Model Parent

Not A Big Deal And You're Bankrupt

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Remember the times when you borrowed a pen from your friend and forgot to give it back and now it is gone, or perhaps you had taken a pen home from work, didn't think much of it or perhaps you think it wasn't a big deal.

It may very well be that your friend have forgotten all about the pen and it may very well be that it was not a big deal to you boss that you took the pen after all you have been a very productive employee. But this is in this life. When your friend and your boss come for reckoning in the Day of Judgment, they will latch on to anything that they can balance their books with. They won't need the pens anymore, so they will take your good deeds, and if that isn't enough, you will have to take their bad deeds. That's how people can become bankrupt in the Day of Judgment because they violated the rights of others in this life.

You should hasten to return things you borrowed from people because you don't know when you will die or when they will die.

Borrowed items are trusts. While you have the item belonging to someone else, you should be careful with it and take care of it more and better than your own belonging.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, paid the utmost attention to trust in all its different forms and linking it to faith.

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

There is no faith in one who cannot be trusted, and no religion in one who doesn't fulfill their commitments.

[Ahmad]

Trust is a matter that arise in our day-to-day affair. Someone may appear to approve to something but they really don't. They quietly upset and they didn't say anything because they were shy or embarrassed. You should not take another's property without their willful permission. Another's property is not permitted except with their willful permission. Anything taken with the sword of shyness or embarrassment is unlawful (haram). Especially careful when you ask something of others in front of people. We take people's honor seriously and not make them feel embarrassed to give it to you.

When borrowing something like money or something that can intermingle like books, silverware, plates, etc., your concern for other people is that you write down what they borrow from you and your concern for yourself is that you write down what you borrow from other people. If you borrow something from people, you must take the means and hasten to pay the money you borrowed or return the item you borrowed.

May Allah protect us from traits of a hypocrite. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Enjoining The Good And Forbidding The Evil

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If there is a political, social or economic injustice or aggression that leads to the taking of innocent lives, what does one do to stand up against this?

Taking of another's life is a grave sin. Unless the killer truly repented and regret it, he will not be forgiven for the sin. He will be under the curse and anger of Allah.

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَـٰلِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا

But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.

[Qur'an An-Nisa 4:93]

We have a collective duty of commanding the good and forbidding the evil.

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.

[Qur'an AleImaran 3:104]

وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّـهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

[Qur'an At-Tawba 9:69]

Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is one of the most important Islamic principles, stressed repeatedly in the Qur'an and Hadith. It provides a mechanism whereby the Muslim Ummah can fight off various social, moral and spiritual ills, and maintain a healthy and dynamic life. If one practices this principle, it provides both a source and an indication of spiritual and moral health. If one does not react in any way in the face of wrong, then this means that in a spiritual and moral sense, one is dead.

`Abd allah ibn Mas'ud was once asked, "Who are the living dead?" and he replied, "Those who never command something good and never forbid something bad".

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

If one of you sees something wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart and this is the weakest faith.

Some versions added:

...there is no part of faith behind that, not even so much as a mustard seed.

One should fix oneself, avoiding sins and doing good as much as one can. Fixing oneself includes commanding good and forbidding evil. One cannot be fully guided until he fulfills what Allah has obligated upon him of commanding the good and forbidding the evil. At the very least one should have concern of those who are being wronged.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The King's Sanctuary

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah has allowed certain things and has forbidden certain things. A sin is disobedience to the command of Allah Almighty, deserving punishment in the Hellfire. So before we act, we must ask: Is this permissible or not? If we don't know the answer to it or if we are not sure, then we must pause and ask those who have knowledge.

It is more important to avoid the haram than doing a good deed because avoidance of the haram is the basis of a sound heart. When you avoid the haram, the benefit will hasten, If you weigh yourself down with sins, even if you want to do good deed, you won't find the drive to get the good deed done, and even if you are able to do it, you won't be able to sustain it. Furthermore, the good deed will not have the benefit you expect.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu 'anhu) who said: The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the Believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرُّسُلُ كُلُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَـٰلِحًا ۖ إِنِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ

[Allah said], "O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing." [Qur'an Al-Mu'minun 23:51]

and the Almighty has said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّـهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship. [Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:172]

Then he mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying "O Lord! O Lord!", while his food is Haram (unlawful), his drink is Haram, his clothing is Haram, and he has been nourished with Haraam, so how can [his supplication] be answered ?!

[Muslim.]

One of the things that you see many people don't pay much attention to, as they should, is food. They might be conscious about what constitute healthy food, and so they might take the extra trouble and expense to find and buy organic food, but they don't put the same amount of effort and consideration in making sure that what they eat is lawful.

It is important to nourish your physical body properly so you have the physical strength to take care of your responsibilities and worship Allah. But this is not as critical as nourishing your soul. Allah has created a lot of things in your body to ward off bacteria, and He created bodily functions to remove waste and toxins from your body, and you probably won't die from eating non-organic foods. However, consuming non-halal foods will affect your spiritual state. The heart will be deprived of the Light of Knowledge and the Light of Piety, so one might end up doing more haram. And that juicy steak and chicken biryani which are not permissible to eat will instead be a source of evil and punishment, and your actions will not be acceptable by Allah.

Many have been said about halal meat and poultry in the West. One should verify the sources of these product to make sure that they are indeed halal. You have to exercise your due diligence. Sometimes it is a matter of common sense.

One should also be cautious about eating out so one does not wind up doing haram. In the absence of standards, it can easily be said that a majority of restaurants in the West that claim halal is not halal. Even if the restaurant owners are all religious, the economic incentives will cause them to cut corners. Those who lack concern of religious matters (serving alcohol, pictures or posters that does not represent Islam posted on the walls, rock music in the background, etc.), caution requires that you do not eat at those places.

Consuming food that in itself is halal but from unlawful means, is also feeding haram into your body. Be very careful of unlawful earning, which we might not think of it as such. Unlawful earnings need not just be from impermissible work or business. One might be doing work that is lawful but one does things at work which are considered unacceptable by the employer, e.g. surfing the internet, checking or writing personal emails, talking on the phone with your spouse for extended period of time, the earnings during that time is haram.

One should be very careful about these things. When in doubt err on the side of caution. It is not be possible to do that unless you have knowledge. Know what Allah has forbidden and not only avoid the sin but also avoid what lead to the sin.

On the authority of Abu `Abdillah an-Nu`maan the son of Bashir (radiAllahu 'anhuma), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) say:

That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allaah's sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.

[Bukhari and Muslim.]

The one who does not fear Allah and indulges in doubtful matters, eventually begins to practice the forbidden actions too, and becomes lenient in these affairs. And this is as some of the scholars have said that minor sins lead to major sins and major sins lead to kufr.

Just as a King has a sanctuary, which the shepherds must keep their sheep away from, so too has Allah specified certain things as forbidden for his slaves, which they must refrain from - such as murder, usury (riba), theft, drinking wine and alcohol, listening to unlawful music, zina, backbiting, slander and tale-carrying, and other such things, all of which we should keep far from to avoid falling into them.

May Allah protect is from sins and the Hellfire. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive: Wake Up, Hell Is No Joke

Smile :)

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 is directly related to faith itself. The believers who are best in faith are those who are best in character. The weightiest of matter on the Scale in the Day of Judgement is good character.

There is no reciprocating harm with harm but return bad with good. This is the Prophetic ways.

Our character is tested most in our relationships with people, especially with our children, spouses, parents, siblings and relatives.

The sign of the best of believers is that they hasten to repent. Repentance has a worldly aspect to it. If you have wronged someone or said something wrong to someone, a sign of sincerity with your relationship with Allah is that you do not hesitate to apologize. Of course social discretion and wisdom entails that you apologize in such a way that it does not turn you into a doormat on which people start walking all over you. But you hasten to apologize so that the wound does not get deeper.

You can frame a bad relationship in a positive way and the reward is both here and in your next life. Show a cheerful face, put that smile on your face, and invite the person for lunch or go out and have coffee/tea/sweets.

Whenever you smile, it is said that your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone, and that it is widely believed that a serotonin deficiency plays a role in depression.

Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older. You see babies smile all the time (except when they are busy doing their thing) and how much joy those little smiles brought to you and people around. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that "Your smile for your brother is charity." It is charity for you because it makes you feel happy and it is charity for others because it makes them happy. Remember, "Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises."

As well, feeding people is not an accident when the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about faith.

Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, "Which is the best of Islam?" He replied, "Feeding people and giving the greeting to those you know and those you do not know."

May Allah enable us to put smiles on our faces even when things are bad. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Be Careful With Your Tongue

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Be careful with your tongue. It's in a wet place and it can easily slip. If you are not careful walking on a wet floor, you will slip and fall, and it may be hard to regain your posture but eventually you can stand back up, but if your tongue slipped, it could plunge you into the Hellfire.

A believer has to honor other people.

Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbor malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here,(and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honor.

[Muslim]

A believer acts with purpose. Whoever is careful with consequences remain safe. Act only upon due consideration. Think through and play out in your mind what you want to say. Hasty words can harm relationship.

One must use one's tongue with extreme caution, as wrongful use of speech will be held against one on the Day of Judgement and can land one in Hellfire.

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ

Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).

[Qur'an Qaf 50:18].

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.

[Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:36]

On the authority of Mu'adh bin Jabal (radiAllahu anhu) who said:

I said: O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an act which will take me into Paradise and will keep me away from the Hell Fire.

He said: You have asked me about a great matter, yet it is easy for him for whom Allaah makes it easy: Worship Allah, without associating any partners with Him; establish the Prayer; pay the Zakah; fast in Ramadhan; and make the Pilgrimage to the House.

Then he said: Shall I not guide you towards the Means of Goodness? Fasting is a shield; charity wipes away sin as water extinguishes fire; and the Praying of a man in the depths of the Night. Then he recited: "[Those] who forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (charity in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." [Surah as-Sajdah, 16-17]

Then he said: Shall I not inform you of the head of the matter, its pillar and its peak?
I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah.

He said: The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the Prayer and its peak is jihaad.

Then he said: Shall I not tell you of the foundation of all of that?

I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah.

So he took hold of his tongue and said: Restrain this.

I said: O Prophet of Allah, will we be taken to account for what we say with it?

He said: May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu'adh! Is there anything that throws people into the Hell Fire upon their faces - or : on their noses - except the harvests of their tongues?

[Tirmidhi]

The sins of the tongue are numerous (such as lying, breaking one's promise, speaking about everything one's hears, slander, backbiting, talebearing, false witness, calumny, lying against Allah and His Messenger). This is why the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

And what is it that throws the people into the Hellfire upon their noses, except what their tongues have harvested.

He (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) has said:

Everything that the son of Adam speaks will be a proof against him, except the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah and his ordering the good and forbidding the evil.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, once asked his Companions: "Do you know who is the Bankrupt?" The Companions said: a bankrupt man among us is the one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth. The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

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

[Muslim]

You are in control of your tongue and your limbs. If there is no benefit to your speech, or if it is likely to cause harm, or if you are not sure about the benefit or the harm, remain silent.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good, or keep silent; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbor; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

There are great benefits in silence. Silence is dignified. A believer has a sense of composure and dignity. It helps in circumspection and helps to stay focus on what we want to accomplish.

The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Whoever guarantee what is between their jaws and what is between their two legs, I guarantee Paradise for them.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

May Allah protect us from blameworthy speech and help us leave what does not concern us. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive: Wake Up, Hell Is No Joke

Paradise or Hell, The Choice Is Yours

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah did not create us and left us to wander. He gives us reason and sent Prophets and Messengers to remind us of the Truth and warn us against falsehood. It is up to people to choose.

قَدْ جَآءَكُم بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِىَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ

There has come to you enlightenment from your Lord. So whoever will see does so for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever is blind [does harm] against it. And [say], "I am not a guardian over you."

[Qur'an Al-An'am 6:104]

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّـهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:256]

Faith or disbelief, obedience or disobedience, is the matter of personal choice. Allah has made reward and punishment dependent upon this choice.

مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۗ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ

Whoever does righteousness - it is for his [own] soul; and whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants.

[Qur'an Fussilat 41:46]

Allah has permitted good and forbidden evil. If you obey, there will be Paradise for you. If you disobey, they will be Hell for you.

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ﴿٩﴾ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ﴿١٠

Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). (9) And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds) (10)

[Qur'an Shams 91:9-10]

Our job, as Muslims, is to convey Allah's Message and show people the right guidance. But it is up to them to accept. We cannot make people believe in Allah and obey Him.

Guidance is in the hands of Allah alone.

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ

Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

[Qur'an Qasas 28:56]

If Allah willed, He could guide all of mankind, for there is nothing that He cannot do. Nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He wills.

قُلْ فَلِلَّـهِ ٱلْحُجَّةُ ٱلْبَـٰلِغَةُ ۖ فَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Say, "With Allah is the far-reaching argument. If He had willed, He would have guided you all."

[Qur'an An'am 6:149]

وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَـَٔامَنَ مَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ ٱلنَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?

[Qur'an Yunus 10:99]

But in His Wisdom, Allah has created us with the ability to choose, and He has sent down to us guidance and the Criterion.

وَإِن تُكَذِّبُوا۟ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ ۖ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ

And if you [people] deny [the message] - already nations before you have denied. And there is not upon the Messenger except [the duty of] clear notification.

[Qur'an Ankaboot 29:18]

Those who accept guidance, Allah increases them in guidance and gives them righteousness.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهْتَدَوْا۟ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءَاتَىٰهُمْ تَقْوَىٰهُمْ

And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.

[Qur'an Muhammad 47:17]

But those whoever disobeys Allah and turns away from Him, Allah will not guide him.

إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ ...

...Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever.

[Qur'an Zumar 39:3]

May Allah guide us all to the straight path, the path of those upon whom He has bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked His anger or of those who are astray. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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You Were Born Muslim

Al-Latif (The Subtle One)

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Al-Latif, the Subtle One; The Inexpressible, Unfathomable, He who has full knowledge of the finest and the most accurate mysteries and the deepest and the most fundamental secrets of all things He has created. He is the One Who has the will and power to benefit all of His servants. He is the One Who creates things most subtly, which cannot be understood by people, and He who gives blessings to people in the most subtle ways.

ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّـهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ ﴿١٠٢﴾ لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things. (102) Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted. (103)

[Qur'an Al-An'am 6:102-103]

Allah Almighty says on the tongue of Luqman as instructing his son,

يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّـهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ

[And Luqman said], "O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.

[Qur'an Luqman 31:16]

ٱللَّـهُ لَطِيفٌۢ بِعِبَادِهِۦ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ

Allah is Subtle with His servants; He gives provisions to whom He wills. And He is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.

[Qur'an Ash-Shura 42:19]

أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?

[Qur'an Al-Mulk 67:14]

وَٱذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا

And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom. Indeed, Allah is ever Subtle and Acquainted [with all things].

[Qur'an Al-Ahzab 33:34]

Allah Almighty is the Only One, to Who both generosity of acts and deeds, and the full knowledge of the finest mysteries of things are combined. He takes care of the baby while still in the mother's womb, inside 3 depths of darkness, and once the baby is born, He ensures for him those who look after him until he grows up and becomes independent from them.

It is characteristic of generosity of deed that it always accompanies the Divine Decree, in order to dilute whatever evil effect and consequences it might have. Whenever someone is doomed to be smitten by an evil distress, Allah's Kindness is bestowed upon him, so as to lighten the grievous impact which afflicts him with the first stroke of the distress.

Al-Latif is the One who always intends good for His servants, decides what is in their benefit and makes easy for them the way to righteousness and piety.

It is out of His Kindness towards mankind that He did not leave them lost in confusion. He sent Prophets and Messengers to convey His Message and teach them how to live a successful life. He has made subject to mankind all things on earth to be in his service in the world and in the Hereafter. Out of His graciousness, whenever one do a good deed, it will be recorded as 10 in his account, but if one does an evil deed, it is only recorded as one evil deed. If he intends to do a good deed and he does not really do it, it will be recorded as one good deed, but if he intends a bad deed and didn't do it, it will be recorded as one good deed in his account.

Allah invites us to look at the wonders of His creation. He brings us our gifts in the subtle of ways.

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَتُصْبِحُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مُخْضَرَّةً ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ

Do you not see that Allah has sent down rain from the sky and the earth becomes green? Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.

[Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:63]

Looking to Allah as bestower of gifts is a key to the love of Allah. As the ulama' have said that the souls have been predisposed to love whoever that are good to them. You love people because of beauty in their beings, physically or in terms or character, or they have done beautiful actions to you. The beauty of whoever you love is the creation of Allah. If you realize every kindness of people to you is a shadow of the kindness of Allah, then you should realize that our love should be purely for Allah.

... وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّـهِ ...

...But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else)...

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:165]

How many of us realize the blessing of forgetfulness? Imagine, if you remember what happen in the last year, let alone each and every happiness and sorrows in your life all at once, you won't be able to carry yourself up. But Allah made you forget many many things. This is a gift for you.

Whatever blessings we enjoy is from Allah Alone and we can never ever able to count His blessings.

When we realize that everything is a gift from Allah to us, we don't see that we are giving Him anything that He does not already have and that is the beginning of sincerity of worshipping Allah.

If one wants to have a good portion of this Name, one should not be selfish and stingy. He should be kind, courteous, gentle and generous with people, in words and in deeds.

Ya Latif, You are the Knower of the finest mysteries and secrets, deliver us from all that we fear. O Allah, be gracious and kind towards us at the time when the angels will question us in the grave about our deeds. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Look, Don't Touch

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We all seek the good in this life and the next. We want Paradise. We definitely don't want to detour to Hell, however slight. So we ask Allah to give us good in this life and good in the next life and save us from the Hellfire. This is what every mother teaches her kids, typically.

رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَ‌ةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ‌

Rabbana atina fiddunya hasanatan wa fil akhirati hasanatan wa qina azabannar

Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

[Qur'an 2:201]

Seeking the good is not only for our own actions but how our actions played out for others. 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.

[Bukhari, Muslim]

So, just as we seek good for ourselves, we also seek good for others. Just as we avoid harm for ourselves, we also avoid harm for others and avoid harming others in any way.

There is immediate good and there is long term good. Some good we are aware of and some good which we are not aware of. Similarly, some harmful things which we are aware of and there are other things that that we are not aware that they are harmful to us.

Many things that we do has immediate satisfaction or apparent benefit but the long term consequence is detrimental. It is the nature of human being that they incline very often to immediate pleasures rather than the long lasting advantage.

It is part of Divine wisdom that Allah has created attraction between male and female, both physical and emotional. This attraction is for a great good, otherwise there is no preservation of humanity. It is a basis of families coming together. However, this attraction can also be a means of great harm for relationships and the entire society. It can cause much harm, worldly and spiritual harm.

Shari'ah has given guidelines for gender relationship that preserve the good and ward off the harm. One of the things we find in revelation that is the basis for societies crumbling is sexual fulfillment outside marriage. This is called zina.

وَلَا تَقْرَ‌بُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًا

And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.

[Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:32]

Zina is prohibited and everything lead to it is also prohibited

How to avoid that it? There are certain principles we should observe in terms of looking at opposite gender and being alone with opposite gender.

Being alone, in seclusion (in an enclosed space with no third party present), with a non-mahram opposite gender (those you can potentially marry), is impermissible (haram). The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade this repeatedly, and warned gravely about it,

No man and woman are lone except that Shaytan is the third.

One should exercise caution when interacting with non-mahram opposite gender. Interaction should be limited to when there is need or benefit (worldly or next-worldly) for oneself or others, and it is only to the extent of that need or benefit. When one does interact, one should uphold dignity and does so with a degree of restraint and always retains one's caution in that interaction. One should be mindful of one's motives. Don't kid yourself as to why one is interacting because attraction is not only a physical attraction but there is also an emotional aspect. Be very careful in terms of infatuation developing. And Allah is well-acquainted of what you do.

One of the most of harmful of matters in marriages is not just actual physical infidelity but also emotional infidelity.

There are some sunnahs from the Prophetic teachings which we should observe:

1. Lower the gaze

2. Clear dignified speech

3. Avoid dubious matters

Do not imagine yourself to be an angel. One of the things Allah tells us is to follow the path of those who have penitently turned to Him. Ask yourself, would such people approve of this? This is one of the benefits of having good and righteous companions.

4. Avoid extensive interaction

5. Interact in a group.

But be very careful of the dangers of extensive interaction. For example, planning an event together or meeting at public places, outwardly would seem okay but when people meet again and again and again, it can lead to harmful physical or emotional attraction.

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِ‌هِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُ‌وجَهُمْ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.

[Qur'an An-Nur 24:30]

It is permissible to have dignified physical contact with one's mahram and the elderly.

It is a general sunnah to lower the gaze for man and woman.

It is permitted for a man to look at a woman without desire but only limited to her face and hands. It is disliked to look without need, particularly among young people.

A man looking at a man is permitted except between the navel and the knees.

A man looking at his immediate female family members is permitted except between her navel and knees, her stomach and lower back. But this does mean that uncovering other parts body is proper. Rulings of Shari'ah give broad parameters. One should consider modesty and dignity and cover what is modest and dignified.

It is permitted for a woman to look at a man other than between his navel and knees, unless there is fear of fitnah or desire.

Women looking at women is the same as men looking at men. In Hanafi school, a Muslim woman can only uncover her face and hands before a non-Muslim woman.

Looking with desire is unlawful.

Shaking hands with opposite gender is impermissible. In all the four madhabs, shaking hands is not permissible contrary to minority modern 20th century opinions. It was cultural for the Arabs to shake hands with the opposite gender, especially during special occasions. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him went specifically against that. When women came to shake his hands, he said that he doesn't shake hands with women.

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with said, said, "Allah's Messenger never touched a (non-mahram) woman's hand."

Also, be careful with family hugs. It is common in some cultures to greet each other with hugs but you cannot hug non-mahram relatives of opposite gender, like your brother/sister-in-law, your cousins, your second aunts/uncles, spouses of your nieces or nephews, and you cannot let them hug you either.

There are ways to avoid these shaking hands and hugs. You have to use wisdom so as not to offend people. Good characteristics--smiles, politeness, courtesy, little gestures, kind words--go a long way. There are challenges but those who uphold in these matters, they are the agents of change, not just in oneself but also in others.

There is a hadith which states:

For a person to hold fast to a rod of burning metal is better for them than to touch someone of the opposite sex that is not permitted for them to touch.

We should always consider the consequence of our actions both for ourselves and for others. This is the way we can balance modesty and excellence. In all that we do, we strive to be with Allah.

May Allah give us tawfiq and protect us and our families from falling into haram and everything that lead to it. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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A Special Gate To Paradise

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Giving charity is a sign of a good Muslim. Charity is testament of true faith and devotion. A true believer gives a lot of charity. Charity is the best and most beloved thing to Allah. There is a special gate to Paradise exclusively for those who spend their wealth for the sake of Allah.

As Muslims we are to give charity day and night, secretly and publicly.

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Those who spend their wealth [in Allah's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:274]

قُل لِّعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَـٰلٌ

[O Muhammad], tell My servants who have believed to establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, before a Day comes in which there will be no exchange, nor any friendships.

[Qur'an Ibrahim 14:31]

Generally charity is recommended to be given secretly, as it is more likely to be sincere and pure, no show off and avoid hurting the feelings of other people.

إِن تُبْدُوا۟ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا ٱلْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds [thereby]. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:271]

Charity helps purify our soul and remove our greed.

فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ خَيْرًا لِّأَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

[Qur'an At-Taghabun 64:16]

Charity shouldn't be considered a burden to you but rather a gift from Allah that you are blessed to be able to share with others. What you give does not decrease your wealth. In fact, Allah promised to replace it for you, and Allah will bless the remaining wealth and make it useful for you.

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ

Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."

[Qur'an Saba 34:39]

The reward of charity is increased by manifold.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَـٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَـٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ

Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.

[Qur'an Hadid 57:18]

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:261]

Not everyone has wealth but that doesn't mean poor people cannot give charity, and enjoy the great reward.

Out of the mercy of Allah, charity is not just financial but also every act of goodness, physical or spiritual, tangible or less tangible things like knowledge, position, reputation, the well-being of those we love, the regard of those who can help us, etc.

You give something that you value greatly, something that you love. It is unselfishness that Allah demands, and there is no act of unselfishness, however small or intangible, but is well within the knowledge of God.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:267]

لَن تَنَالُوا۟ ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ

Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.

[Qur'an AleImran 3:92]

Narrated by Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that Allah’s Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Your smile to your brother is a charity for you, and your enjoining piety and forbidding evil is a charity. Your guiding one who is lost on the land is a charity for you. Your leading the blind is a charity for you. Your removing from the thoroughfare a stone, a thorn or a bone is for you a charity. And, your filling with your bucket the bucket of your brother is a charity for you.

[Tirmidhi]

The least form of charity is charity to yourself, by being a good person, doing good deeds and abstaining from doing bad deeds. It is a daily obligation in Islam that can be practiced by each and everyone.

Charity should be made a lifelong practice by each and everyone of us. Charity begins at home. Charity to relatives has double reward. Two relatives have priority--orphan and relative who has a hidden hostility towards you. This is a great way to soften one's hearts. Kindness begets kindness.

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ

And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.

[Qur'an Fussilat 41:34]

Charity should also be given to friends, neighbors, students of knowledge, just cause and for matters of public interest.

Generosity is the key for most of the closed hearts.

In the conquest of Makkah, there was a man called "Safwan Ibn Umia". That man ran away after making all possible means in keeping the people of Islam and after making conspiracies to kill the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Later on, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, forgave him and he came back asking the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to give him the time of two months to think about Islam and the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "You can take four months, not just two". In spite of being a disbeliever, he accompanied the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the Hunain and Al Ta'if conquests. In Al Ta'if, while the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was dividing the booties of the war, he noticed that man looking longingly to a vast land in which a large number of cattle were flocking. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked him, "Do you like it?" The man eagerly answered "Yes." The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is for you then." Safwan said, "Only a prophet could behave as generously as you have. I believe that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Prophet."

Remember you can be easily the one who is need but by the Grace of Allah you are not in need, but in a position to help others who are in need. So reach out for them. We need each other for support and sharing. No one can stand alone. At times of calamities and difficulties, sometimes all people need is a caring hand. So, grab this opportunity to be that helping and caring hand.

Whoever relieves a believer of some of the distress of this world, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easier for one who is suffering hardship, Allah will make things easier for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim’s faults, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help a person so long as he helps his brother.

[Muslim]

May Allah remove our selfishness and stinginess, make us among the generous and means of bringing happiness to hearts of people. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

You Were Born Muslim

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you and your family are at the highest iman spirits.

إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.

[Qur'an AleImran 3:19]

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚلَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

[Qur'an Ar-Rum 30:30]

Fitrah is the faculty, which Allah has created in mankind, of knowing Allah. It is the natural constitution with which the child is created in his mother’s womb, whereby he is capable of accepting the religion of truth.

Fitrah is with Islam and being born as a Muslim. This is when fitrah is viewed in respect to shahadah (testimony of faith)– that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah – which makes a person a Muslim.

Since Allah’s fitrah is engraved upon the human soul, mankind is born in a state in which tawhid (monotheism) is integral. Since tawhid is intrinsic to man’s fitrah, the prophets, peace be upon them, came to remind man of it, and to guide him to that which is integral to his original nature.

The ayah describes a fitrah of primordial faith which Allah Himself implanted in human nature. It implies Islam’s essential message of submission to the will of Allah as taught as practised by the prophets.

The Islamic Laws or the shari‘ahs, which the prophets were sent with, are guiding lights to the essential faith in Allah which is created in every human being. Since this faith comes from Allah, it naturally follows that only laws capable of guiding man back to it must also come from Allah.

The one who submits to Allah is called ‘abd (a slave) of Allah, and his service is called ‘ibadah (slavehood or conscious submission to the will of Allah). By worshipping Allah in such a manner, man in fulfilling the purpose of his creation and existence.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

[Qur'an Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

Such worship or submission does not entail loss of freedom, for, freedom is to act as one’s true nature demands; that is, as one’s fitrah demands. When such a man is fulfilling the purpose for his creation and existence, it is obvious that that man’s obligation to serve God is felt by him as normal because it comes as a natural inclination on the man’s part to do so.

Man is distinguished from the rest of the creation because he has been endowed with intellect (‘aql) and free-will (iradah). The intellect enables him to discern right from wrong. He can use these faculties to complement his fitrah and to please Allah or to be untrue to it and displease Allah. The choice is his.

The prophets and Divine revelation are external sources of guidance to guide the intellect and will of man. The Qur’an declares that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, enjoins the right and lawful things (ma‘ruf) and forbids the wrong and unlawful things (munkar).

Man is responsible for his actions and accountable to Allah for every atom of right and wrong that he does. It is in this sense of accountability that guides man to act in accordance with the Divine Will. It empowers him to struggle against the wrong-doing of his lower self (nafs) as well as the negative influences of the social circumstances.

It is the social circumstances after the birth of the child that causes the individual to diverge from fitrah. Hence if someone follows an aberrant path it is not because of any innate wrong within his nature, but because of the emergence of the lower self or nafs after birth, and negative effects in the social circumstances.

Although all children are born in a state of fitrah, the influence of the environment is decisive; parents may influence the religion of the child by making him a Christian, Jew or Magian. If there are no adverse influences, then the child will continuously manifest his fitrah as his true nature.

It is precisely because of man’s free-will and intellect that he is able to overcome the negative influences of the environment and attain to the highest level of psycho-spiritual development, an-nafs al-mutma’innah, ‘the self made tranquil’. At this level, his inner and outer being, his soul and body, are able to conform to the requirements of his fitrah and the dictates of the shari‘ah. He actualizes his fitrah, and attains psycho-spiritual integration and inner peace.

يَـٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفْسُ ٱلْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ﴿٢٧﴾ ٱرْجِعِىٓ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً ﴿٢٨﴾ فَٱدْخُلِى فِى عِبَـٰدِى ﴿٢٩﴾ وَٱدْخُلِى جَنَّتِى ﴿٣٠

(It will be said to the pious — believers of Islamic Monothesim): "O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! (27) "Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing (unto Him)! (28) "Enter you, then, among My (honoured) slaves, (29) "And enter you My Paradise!" (30)

[Qur'an Al-Fajr 89:27:30]

May Allah guide us to the straight path and make us among His honored slaves. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Entering Into The Divine Presence

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Qur'an is the Speech of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace, through Angel Jibril, may Allah grant him peace. It was revealed as a guidance for both humans and jinns, and also for other creations, not as a guidance but of honoring. Even inanimate objects are honored when the Qur'an is recited in their presence.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:2]

When we open the Qur'an, we read a few pages of the text, and we close the Qu'ran. We have met the reading quota for the day and we are done. We don't think anything beyond that. This is what most people do. For those who are a little conscious, you will read the translation or the meanings and then you are done.

When you open the Book of Allah, what comes from you is a recitation but in reality it is something tremendous. You are entering into the Divine presence. What is significant is not your action of reciting but rather the reality of what is taking place. You are being addressed by Allah Almighty--the address of the Lord to His servant, the Creator to His creation, the Beloved to His beloved.

.... وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّـهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّـهِ

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah...

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:165]

Allah is our Beloved and He is addressing you.

This is why we should approach the Qur'an with proper inward manners (e.g. make intention to seek the love of Allah, attentive during recitation, have sense of awe, strive to gain a deep understanding, reflect) and outward manners (e.g. have wudu', dress in the best way, face the Qibla, posture that is respectful, recite the Qur'an in steady, melodious tone, observe the rules of recitaiton, make recitation an act of imploring Allah, make du'a before and after recitation).

If you reflect on the verses and try to make yourself conscious of it you will understand the tremendous and the virtues of Qur'an beyond your imagination.

May Allah grant us a sound understanding of the Qur'an. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archives:
Tasting The Miracle Of The Qur'an
Key To Success

Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Father

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


Dear Friends 

I pray that you are well. 


Allah says,


وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٤

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 Luqman 31:14]

 وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ﴿٢٣﴾ وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا ﴿٢٤

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23) [Qur’an Al-Isra' 17:23-24]

It is obvious that our parents deserve our utmost respect and devotion, second only to Allah. The fact that God has mentioned parents in the same verse as Himself shows the extent to which we should strive in our efforts to serve the mothers and fathers who sacrificed so much for us. Doing so will help us to become better people.

No one can deny the supreme sacrifice and care that a mother gives to her child. The debt we owe to our mothers is magnified due to the difficult nature of pregnancy  and giving birth - not to mention the nurturing and attention paid to us during infancy.

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]

A man once consulted the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet." [Tirmidhi]

On another occasion, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Allah has forbidden for you to be undutiful to your mothers..." [Bukhari]

The Qur'an states: "...and (revere) the wombs (that bore you) for God ever watches over you." [An-Nisa 4:1]

In other words, we must treat our mothers in a manner befitting their exalted position.

Each of us should appreciate what we have in our mothers. They are our teachers and our role models. Every day with them is an opportunity to grow as a person. Every day away from them is a missed opportunity.

A father’s sacrifice is just as big. It is the father who is given the responsibility to to provide for the family. Every day, without wasting time, the father goes to work, be it using his mental faculties or thru physical labor, with perseverance and determination, so he can provide for his family.

Parents hope for their children to succeed in life--that they become Godfearing, have excellent character and praiseworthy manners, and they are dutiful to their parents and their own families, and useful to society.

A child who has achieved this is the one who gladdens the heart of his/her parents, and like a child who is mentioned in the following du'a:

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." [Qur’an Al-Furqan 25:74]

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

When a person dies, he ceases to receive reward for his deeds with the exception of the following: establishing a foundation for the welfare of the public (for example, building a mosque, school, hospital, etc.), knowledge which has benefited others, and a virtuous offspring who supplicates for him. [Bukhari].

Every child must aspire to fulfill the desires and hopes of his/her parents and constantly strive to be virtuous. A child who is good to his parents will be bounteously rewarded with Paradise in the Hereafter and will enjoy a life of happiness in this world. On the other hand, a child who mistreats his parents will incur the wrath of Allah.

"Allah’s pleasure ceases when the parents’ pleasure cease; Allah's Wrath ceases when the parents’ wrath cease." [Bukhari]

Narrated Anas: The Prophet was asked about the great sins He said, "They are:−− (1 ) To join others in worship with Allah, (2) To be undutiful to one's parents. (3) To kill a person (which Allah has forbidden to kill) (i.e. to commit the crime of murdering). (4) And to give a false witness." [Bukhari]

"The punishment of every sin will be held back till the Day of Judgment with exception of the sin of going against one’s parents, in which case, punishment will take place during his lifetime before his death." [Tabarani].

It has been narrated that Alqamah was a good companion of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. He was very diligent when it came to praying, fasting and giving charity. However, upon getting married, his love for his wife was greater than for his mother. As a result, when he was dying, he was not able to recite the Kalimah "la ilaha illallah." The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked the mother to forgive her son, however, she refused to do so. Eventually, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, told bilal to gather some firewood; and told the latter to burn Alqamah. Upon seeing this, the feelings of love for her son prevailed; forgave her son, after which, Alqamah was able to recite the Kalimah "La ilaha illah" as he breathed his last.

Children should help out their parents financially should such help be needed. A young man once came to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, with a complaint that his father wanted to take his property. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied: Anta wa-maluka li-Abika [You and your property are for your father (to use]

No doubt, having parents is a huge blessing. Show your gratitude to Allah by being grateful to your parents. Be kind to them and make du'a for them during each prayer.

My Lord, have mercy on them both as they nurtured me when I was little.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalaam

You Don't Know What You Have Until You Lose It

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


Dear Friends 


I pray that you are well.


The big thing in our lives that we usually take for granted, is our own family, because they have always been there. We just accept their presence, but do not really place any value in them.

Our family is a tremendous gift from Allah. If we fulfill our responsibilities towards them, they are a great source of happiness in this life before the next. But what do we do with them? The usual routine that most people do. You feed them, you clothe them, you shelter them, and you make sure your children go to school everyday and get good grades. But this is not enough.

How many times you ignore your family so you can work extra hours/days? For what? So you can make more money to acquire more possessions, to buy more things for your family, and to keep up with the trend. No doubt most people are happy to get new things. But what will happen tomorrow? Naturally, what is new must turn old. Tomorrow they will be excited about some new gadgets that come to the market and you make them sad because you can't afford to buy them.

Some people will get into debt because they think they have to have everything they hear or see. Then they say, as soon as I paid off this credit card (or that loan), I will then be able to take some vacation time off (or cut down on my work hours) and take my kids to the classes at the masjid and I will have the evening and weekends to eat and pray with my family. But that day will never come because you refused to cut up the plastic and you refused to leave home without it.

In your mind you are justifying your actions to suit yourself, but your life soon become a collection of habits. Every time you say when I have done this, I will do that, you are getting further away from what you really want to do. You form a habit and that then becomes the norm, until eventually you are living your life doing things you do not want to do, in an effort to get to a position where you can do what you want to do.

Unfortunately, by the time you are in a position to do what you want to do, it becomes almost impossible to break the habitual life that you have created to get there. When you actually come to evaluate your life and consider all the sacrifices you have made, in order to give your family a "good life", you have created something that does not even come close to resembling your vision, let alone what Allah wants you to do for your entrusted ones. You have created a family that has gotten used to a lifestyle of hoarding possessions and trendy gadgets, and of fun and games.

In most situations, by the time you have created the environment that you strive for, at the expense of your family, the family is so fragmented, that you all appear strangers. This is when you find out what is more important. But the problem is that it is too late--the children have found their own lives and they don't know their Lord, your spouse has also created a life around what has been happening and you are left there scratching your head wondering what on earth has happened.

We should assess our individual situation now, and make sure we have our priorities right. Check if we are on course to get what we are striving for. If you are just looking to create an environment that impresses the neighbors, friends or other people, that is fine, but if you are thinking to have a happy, bonded, loving, successful family in the future, have a real good look at things. A happy, bonded, loving, successful family does not come out of thin air. It has to be nurtured through living Islam, starting now.

Remember, our children, especially the young ones, are like sponges. They absorbed everything they see, most of the time we are not aware that this is happening. So let us be their best living examples. We ourselves, are in need of good examples, and what better examples other than the foremost of creation, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and those who follow his teachings.

وَٱلْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ ﴿٣

By the afternoon! (1) Surely Man is in the way of loss,(2) save those who believe, and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other unto the truth, and counsel each other to be steadfast.(3) [Qur'an Al-'Asr 103]

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.. [Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:20]

May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.

Wassalaam

Medicine Does Not Cure

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


Dear Friends 


I pray that you are well.


When you go to the doctor, don't think that he can do wonders for you, and when the doctor prescribed some treatment or drugs for you, don't think that you are on your way to recovery. When you are about to swallow that medicine you just bought, remember that the medicine will not cure you. 


It is He, Allah, who cures.  


Even though it is permissible to use medicine to treat yourself, and you should seek cure for your illness, but you do that with the condition that you believe that the cure is only from Allah, and He has made medicine an outer means to cure your sickness. If He wills, He will cure your sickness without you taking medicine or He will not cure despite you taking medicine.


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

Every ailment has a cure; if the cure meets the ailment he is cured with the leave of Allah. (Muslim)

Someone afflicted with sickness should realize that this is a tremendous opportunity to draw close to Allah; be grateful for that and make the most of it.

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

The people who were in well-being in this life will wish on Judgment Day, when the people of tribulations are given their reward, that their skin would have been cut with blades. (Tirmidhi-gharib, Albani-hasan)

He, Allah bless him and give him peace, also said, 

No believer is afflicted with a thorn-prick or what is greater than that except that a higher degree is inscribed for him, or a sin removed from him. (Muslim)

Face the tribulation with a beautiful patience. This is by not complaining to people, demanding attention, being grouchy or angry, missing prayers or having despair. Use this time in much remembrance of Allah and make much istighfar and sincerely seeking Allah for forgiveness.


A person faced with a dire calamity should console himself with the calamities of the foremost of creation, Allah bless him and give him peace, for no one from his nation will be afflicted with the like of it.


When asked which people are greatest in tribulation, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, 

The prophets. Then those most like them then those most like them. A man is tried commensurate to his faith. If his faith is firm, his tribulation is tough. If it has softness, his tribulation is commensurate to it. Tribulations keep falling on a person until they leave him to walk on the earth without any sins. (Tirmidhi)

No calamity that a person faces is greater than the calamity of the death of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace.


It is sunna to say inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un (Verily we are Allah’s, and verily to Him we return) upon every calamity. 


Allah Almighty says,

,وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ

Surely We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and diminution of goods and lives and fruits; yet give thou good tidings unto the patient (155)who, when they are visited by an affliction, say, 'Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return'; (Qur’an Al-Baqara 2:156)

One should say it over every difficulty. 

The leather toe-strap of Omar’s shoe broke and he said, Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.  The Muslims  said, “O Commander of the faithful, concerning the strap of your shoe?!” He said, “Yes, everything that strikes a believer that he does not like is a calamity.”

May Allah bless us with excellent health and cure the sick. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.


And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Backbite; Leave What Does Not Concern You

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We should be grabbing onto Allah's commands like the farmers grabbing onto the ripened crops or the harvest, not shying away from them, not wasting them, and not feeling burdened by them. If we ignore or refuse to follow Allah's commands, we are essentially refusing to be guided and when famine comes, we will starve to death.

When you start talking about people, be very careful, for you might be entering into the dangerous zone of backbiting. Backbiting is one of the vices of the tongue, which is sinful, and may also cause you to be bankrupt in the Day of Judgment, if the person you have backbitten didn't forgive you in this life.

Backbiting is to mention the negative points of a specific person known to you, or to imitate them or communicate them with signals or through writing, in a way of insult and hatred.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, was asked, "What is backbiting?" He said, "Mentioning your brother with what he detests." He asked, "Have you considered if what I say is really in him?" He answered, "If what you say is in him then you have backbitten him, and if what you say is not in him then you have calumniated/slandered him." [Tirmidhi]

Allah Almighty says

وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ ﴿٢﴾ يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ ﴿٣﴾ كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ ﴿٥﴾ نَارُ اللَّـهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ ﴿٦﴾ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ ﴿٧﴾ إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ ﴿٨﴾ فِي عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةٍ ﴿٩

Woe unto every backbiter, slanderer, (1) who has gathered riches and counted them over (2) thinking his riches have made him immortal! (3) No indeed; he shall be thrust into the Crusher; (4) and what shall teach thee what is the Crusher; (5) The Fire of God kindled (6) roaring over the hearts (7) covered down upon them, (8) in columns outstretched. (9)

[Qur'an Al-Humaza 104:1-9]

This Makkan Surah condemns all sorts of scandal, backbiting, and selfish hoarding of wealth, as destroying the hearts and affections of men. Backbiting is one of the three vices condemned in the strongest terms in this Surah.

Would anyone like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٢

O believers, eschew much suspicion; some suspicion is a sin. And do not spy, neither backbite one another; would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.

[Qur'an Al-Hujurat 49:12]

If you are in a gathering of backbiting, you are not free of backbiting even if you are only a listener, except by condemning it with your tongue; if you fear actual harm, then you condemn it in your heart. If you are able to stand up or change the topic then you must.

If people have backbitten you, you shouldn't be spying on them for proof of backbiting. Why? Because, spying of them is busying yourself with what does not concern you. If you are so concerned about it, it shows that you really care about what people think. You shouldn't be too concerned about what people think of you. Our concern should be Allah alone, our standing with Him, and our next life to come.

Remember, if people backbite you, that is giving you reward, meaning your next life is benefiting by people backbiting you.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiAllaahu 'anhu) who said: The Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Part of the perfection of on'e Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.

[Tirmidhi]

May Allah protect our tongues from vices and may Allah help us leave what does not concern us. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive: Wake Up! Hell Is No Joke