Check Your Heart Before You Go To The Masjid

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The masjid is a place of worship and where you see a great increase of people gathering to worship Allah in this noble month of Ramadhan.

When you go to your local masjid or far away masjid to pray taraweeh (not only 8 but the full 20 cycles) or stay for qiyamu lail (night vigil), to recite the Qur'an or make i'tikaf (spiritual retreat), be careful what is in your heart. If the basic motive is to be seen by others, and for people to praise you or see you as religious or spiritual, or as someone who follow the sunnah, you lose all the reward for the good deed. Not only that, you are punished for seeking other than Allah.

The Prophet, Allah bless him ad grant him peace, warned against showing off in performing good deed. Even the slightest of showing off (riya') in religious practice is akin to shirk (polytheism).

Riya' is an obstacle to an illuminated heart. No one is free from some element of riya'. It is a matter of degree. We have to be conscious about this all the time and protect ourselves from it. If we are able to remove any and all showing off from our hearts, this is key to illuminate our hearts.

The righteous are those who fear Allah the most. They are people who Allah protected them from riya'. They are a source of light for others. We should seek them and should want to be around them for they are people of benefit and by being around them we ourselves can remove darkness in our hearts.

اللَّـهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّـهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّـهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٣٥﴾ فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّـهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ ﴿٣٦

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things. (35) [Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings (36)

[Qur'an An-Nur 24:32]

May Allah protect us from the disease of riya' and illuminate our hearts. Ameen. Please keep us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

What's For Iftar?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The fast is there to inculcate taqwa (Godfearingness).

لَـٰكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ وَعْدَ اللَّـهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّـهُ الْمِيعَادَ ﴿٢٠

But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in [His] promise. (20)

[Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:20]

Taqwa can only come about through obeying Allah. Allah has set the legal limits of fast--i.e. from Fajr (dawn) to Maghrib (sunset). No more, no less. Therefore, one should be avid and enthusiastic to break one's fast. If we eat after Fajr, even if it is one minute after Fajr enters, there is no fasting for that day. If we delay iftar (breaking fast,) it will not legally invalidate the fast but morally it is not in keeping with the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Like all other matters in our worship, we want to obey Allah as perfectly as we can. So, we start the fast when He commands us to start, and we stop the fast when He commands us to stop. In the starting of the fast, there is obedience in Allah and in the stopping it, there is obedience in Allah. So what we are avid and enthusiastic about breaking fast is obeying Allah concerning the limits of the fast.

When we break our fasts with dates and water, we should be conscious of the significance of dates and water in the time of Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. These two things were essentially what The Prophet, Allah and bless him and grant him peace, and his companions would eat normally. This is a great sunnah and a great secret for the fasting in the month of Ramadhan. So, we should not get into a habit of preparing a lavish meal. The point behind fasting is turning away from the attachment of these appetites. So, what we eat for dinner or supper, this is optimally what we should take for iftar.

When we physically emulate the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, even though there is benefit in of itself, it is done because in his conduct is the secret of lofty moral behavior for human being. When we break our fast with dates and water, that should remind us that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, ate dates and water as his normal meals in Ramadhan. So we should strive to have normal meals unless you are entertaining guests, then you will entertain them like the way you normally would.

In emulating the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, this is where we get the spiritual assistance during the course of the day that causes us to think about Allah and to endure the inconvenience of fasting for His sake only. We are not distracted with thinking about the special Ramadhan food and that everything has to be perfect as if your fast is sustained by the thought of the lavish meal that you are going to eat at the end of the day. There is less spiritual assistance in doing this. This person is not taking advantage of the moments of Ramadhan. Whereas the one who makes the food an act of gratitude and his fasting during the course of the day is there to occupy himself with Allah. He is not thinking about food when he is fasting. He is not looking forward to food but he is looking forward to the provision of Allah. So, it does not matter how many courses are laid on the table, or if the food has too much salt or too little sugar. He is grateful to Allah nonetheless, even if it is only dates and water. The food that he sees becomes a means of his turning to Allah, not his fasting becomes a means of his turning to the food.

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّـهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّـهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٣٥

Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. (35)

[Qur'an Al-Ahzab 33:31]

May Allah forgive us and rain us with His Mercy in this blessed month. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Stop Trying To Buy Happiness

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Many of the things we desire are expensive. The truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free--love, smiles, laughter and working on our passion.

What should be your passion? It is drawing near to Allah, Most High. This is the most pleasurable job and the easiest but many people don't realize this and so they run away and hide from it.

Why?

Because we spend time with the wrong people. Life is too short to spend time with people who are deluded with this world. Never, ever insist yourself to people who continuously overlook their duties to Allah. And remember, it’s not the people that will come to your rescue when you are buried and questioned in your grave and on the Day when many people are drowned in their sweat.

Allah gives you life. He gives you health and He gives you time. He will guide you to Him, if you want to be with Him. They are all free. So get close to Him.

People were born Muslims and endowed with intellect. So use that intellect to complement our nature (fitrah) and to please Allah, not to be untrue to it and displease Allah.

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

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

So, don't worry about what people think of you when suddenly you start praying, fasting, going to the masjid, putting hijab on, learning Qur'an, etc. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others because your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.

Closeness to Allah is not a physical closeness. Closeness to Allah is a spiritual closeness. Closeness to the Lord means you know Him. When you are close to somebody, you know him better than somebody who is far away. The one who is close to Allah is somebody who is realized in his slavehood.

In other words, the more you are aware of your own slavehood, the more you are aware of who Allah Most High really is, and the more you love Him and the more you long for Him.

The ultimate expression of your slavehood is the position of prostration.

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

Prostration for someone who have never done it before, he would feel weird. But after he did it a few times, it just feels right--I was meant to prostrate and being lowly before God; I feel whole; My body was looking for this prostration.

The knowledge of Allah Most High is a tremendous awareness that He is the Lord and we are the slaves.

Being a slave of Allah is the most rewarding job. Stop thinking you’re not ready for the job. Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

Always be thankful to Allah for your life and the food on the table. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs and many are hungry. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing. If you can do this, you are the happiest person on earth at this moment.

May Allah make us His best servants and grant us happiness in this life and the next and save us from the punishment of Hell. Ameen.

Please keep us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive: Choose Your Friends Carefully

Losing Out In Ramadhan

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 warns us to prepare for the next life.

Allah says,

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْ‌جَعُونَ

Everyone shall taste the death. Then unto Us you shall be returned.

[Qur'an al-Ankabut 29:57]

Death creeps into us with every breath we take. It is so real that it is as if it is present now.

Allah has allowed us to reach this blessed month of Ramadhan so we may taste the blessings of Ramadhan. So be thankful to Him that you are alive today so He may bring you closer to Him. We should then strive to increase our worship and be consistent with it.

Don't let our today be the same as yesterday for we will lose out on the opportunity to increase in our good works. We should consider each and every action we do today is our last. This is the key to a good ending.

Strive to better your relationship with Allah in this noble month. Show mercy to Allah's creatures through good character and fulfill other people's rights and not wronging them. Allah is merciful to those who are merciful.

Remove bad habits. Pick one or two bad character traits or bad habits that you have and work this month to change it. Be kind to your parents and be generous to your family and guests. Don't harm the environment we live in--be good to the animals and plants--don't destroy your neighbor's plants or throw rocks at animals, don't throw garbage everywhere (keep it in your bag if you don't find a trash bin and throw it in your garbage can when you get home), and don't pollute the water ways.

People who lose out in this noble month are those who busy themselves with things that do not concern them, and those are things that you cannot take with you to your next life or things that cannot help you to succeed in the Hereafter.

May Allah guide us to ways that most pleasing to Him. Ameen.

Please keep us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Fitrah Of A Kitten

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

For many years, my youngest son has been asking me if he could have a cat. And I always have to say No when he asked. I have a whole list of reasons for not wanting a cat in my house. He didn't give up though and have been more persuasive lately. He tried to get me to agree by giving the examples of a couple of my teachers who own a cat and the other day he reminded me of one of the great Companions, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who had a cat and so he was nicknamed Abu Hurayrah by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

A few weeks ago, there were these 4 beautiful little kittens hiding under our building, apparently without a mom. Again, my son asked me if he could have the kittens. I wasn't sure why I said Yes (not one but to 4 kittens!) but I did. My sons immediately set out to try to catch the kittens and did so for a few days but to no avail. Realizing that it was not an easy task, I offered to pay one of the neighborhood kids to catch at least one of the kittens but she could not catch it either, and finally the kittens disappeared. So, my son gave up on the idea.

On the first night of this blessed month of Ramadhan, right after the taraweeh payer, a family friend came by with a rattan basket. He said, "This is for Omar." In it was a small kitten which he had found wondering alone, crying, as he was walking back home from a masjid where he was the taraweeh imam. He was looking for something to put it in and found the basket near some trash.

The kitten has been with us for 5 days now. Already it has taught me a lot.

It shows you love. He sits on your lap for a long time--never get bored to be with you, but by the same token it also disappears to discover and to give you space. He knows when he can sit with you and when he should leave you alone. When we pray, he would not walk in front of us, but rather stayed quietly on the side, watching attentively. When we do our dhikr of Allah, he would not make a sound.

It offers and receives lots of love but it can also create his own entertainment.

He is very patient and does not complain about anything. Even when he has to go (we moved his litter box to the balcony, quite a distance from the room for little kitten to walk to), he would wait until he gets to the litter (in the new location) to go. Right now he is teething but he does not complain, rather he soothes himself with what he has.

Grooming and appearance is important to him and he happily spends hours cleaning and re-cleaning the same spot, making sure he is at his most attractive. He also makes sure he doesn't leave a mess behind him when using a litter box.

He is a fast learner. My son showed him where he could do his things, and there he went. So far no accidents. InshaAllah.

He won’t pick a favorite. He share his time with all of us and anyone who visits us. He is not fussy and he talks to everyone.

He is such a zahid and not demanding. He doesn't mind even to sleep inside a slipper or in an empty noodle box (don't have to be in those fancy and expensive cat house) or simply on the hard ceramic floor, and play with rags (don't have to be those fancy and expensive cat toys). He doesn't let himself get accustomed to expensive stuff--he drinks full cream milk but when we give him powdered milk, he doesn't mind at all. For that we rewarded him by sharing with him vanilla chocolate ice cream cake (the leftover on the plate).

This is the fitrah (nature) of our kitten. We love him. SubhanAllah.

Cat lessons for us.

Show your love to those you love and give them space to grow.

Be cheerful and don't be bad with anyone you meet or encounter because the person might be a friend of Allah.

Be independent. It’s easy to fall into line and just accept what is being said or done, because it is always been that way. But who is to say that way is the right way? Think for yourself, question the status quo and never accept something for acceptance sake.

Stay clean. Be transparent about all you do and don’t keep secrets that can come back and bite you in a painful way. If you’re doing something that will affect those around you, be they friends or family or employees or bosses at your business, be open and honest. You might need help later on and that can be hard to come by without the trust of your closest allies.

Keep an open mind. Everyone has their favorites. Yet staying within that comfort bubble does nothing for your personal growth. Seek knowledge. Knowledge is power – knowledge gained with wide-scale insight is almost unstoppable. Keep your options open, never close a door completely, and interact with everyone. You never know what you might discover.

Don't complain, but rather be an agent for solutions.

Be patient. You can handle it, and be optimistic--there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Respect people who are praying or reciting Qur'an. They are in the presence of the Lord and you should not walk in front of them or make noise. Be quiet and listen.

Go with the fitrah that Allah created you with and that will make people love you.

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٤

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason.

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:164]

إِنَّ فِي اخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ اللَّـهُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦

Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day and [in] what Allah has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear Allah (6)

[Qur'an Yunus 10:6]

May Allah grant us a deep understanding of our religion and make us among the people of taqwa. Ameen.

Please keep us in your prayers. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive:
Merciless Hearts
You Were Born Muslim
Friends

Are We Ready For The Questioning?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

For those who live in Cairo, grave sites are a common view, some are as far as the eye can see. We will inevitably pass through them to get around. This is a great blessing for they remind us of our final return--you don't know when, but we are tasting death, and the final is not very far away.

Allah says,

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْ‌جَعُونَ

Everyone shall taste the death. Then unto Us you shall be returned.

[Qur'an al-Ankabut 29:57]

The other day, our Day 2 of Ramadhan fasting, as I was walking with one of my sons in front of a famous masjid here, suddenly there appeared a few men carrying away a janazah. May Allah forgive the dead person and have mercy on him/her, and grant patience to those who loved him/her. It was a very hot day and there were not too many people out on the streets. I stopped and stood watching while I imagined myself in that open, cardboard-like coffin and the thought of what is going to happen next was overwhelming. Who will be carrying me to my grave? Will I be able to answer those questions in the grave? .... So many things came through my mind.

Abu Sa`id al-Khudri heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) say,

The dead man recognizes his washer and those that carry him and lower him into his grave.

[Hakim]

Qurtubi relates that Malik ibn Dinar said,

There is not a person who dies except that his soul is in the hand of an angel while he looks at his body, how it is washed, shrouded, carried and buried.” Munawi adds that this does not negate the narrations which mention of the soul’s rising beyond the seven heavens to their Lord, as it is possible that this happens and the soul returns to witness the burial.

[Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir Sharh Jami` al-Saghir]

`Uthman ibn `Affan relates that when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to finish burying someone, he would stand by the grave and say,

All of you, ask Allah to forgive your brother and make him steadfast, for he is now being asked.

[Abu Dawud]

It was narrated that al-Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We went out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar. We came to the grave and when (the deceased) was placed in the lahd, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sat down and we sat around him, as if there were birds on our heads (i.e., quiet and still).

In his hand he had a stick with which he was scratching the ground. Then he raised his head and said, “Seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave”, two or three times.

Then he said, “When the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with white faces like the sun, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. They bring with them shrouds from Paradise and perfumes from Paradise. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O good soul, come forth to forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure.’

Then it comes out easily like a drop of water from the the mouth of a waterskin. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that shroud with that perfume, and there comes from it a fragrance like the finest musk on the face of the earth.

Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this good soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the best names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven.

They ask for it to be opened to them and it is opened, and (the soul) is welcomed and accompanied to the next heaven by those who are closest to Allah, until they reach the seventh heaven.

Then Allah says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon in the seventh heaven, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’

So his soul is returned to his body and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Allah.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They say, ‘Who is this man who was sent among you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).’ They say, ‘What did you do?’ He says, ‘I read the Book of Allah and I believed in it.’

Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth, so prepare for him a bed from Paradise and clothe him from Paradise, and open for him a gate to Paradise.’ Then there comes to him some of its fragrance, and his grave is made wide, as far as he can see. Then there comes to him a man with a handsome face and handsome clothes, and a good fragrance, who says, ‘Receive the glad tidings that will bring you joy this day.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which brings glad tidings.’ He says, ‘I am your righteous deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, hasten the Hour so that I may return to my family and my wealth.’

But when the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him from heaven angels with black faces, bringing sackcloth, and they sit around him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes and sits by his head, and he says, ‘O evil soul, come forth to the wrath of Allah and His anger.’ Then his soul disperses inside his body, then comes out cutting the veins and nerves, like a skewer passing through wet wool. When he seizes it, they do not leave it in his hand for an instant before they take it and put it in that sackcloth, and there comes from it a stench like the foulest stench of a dead body on the face of the earth.

Then they ascend and they do not pass by any group of angels but they say, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they say, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so, calling him by the worst names by which he was known in this world, until they reach the lowest heaven. They ask for it to be opened to them and it is not opened.” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning):

...the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle. ...[al-A’raf 7:40]

He said: “Then Allah says, ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen in the lowest earth, and return him to the earth, for from it I created them, to it I will return them and from it I will bring them forth once again.’ So his soul is cast down.” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

...And he who associates with Allah - it is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or the wind carried him down into a remote place. [al-Hajj 22:31]

He said: “Then his soul is returned to his body, and there come to him two angels who make him sit up and they say to him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They say, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ Then a voice calls out from heaven, ‘Prepare for him a bed from Hell and clothe him from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’ Then there comes to him some of its heat and hot winds, and his grave is constricted and compresses him until his ribs interlock. Then there comes to him a man with an ugly face and ugly clothes, and a foul stench, who says, ‘Receive the bad news, this is the day that you were promised.’ He says, ‘Who are you? Your face is a face which forebodes evil.’ He says, ‘I am your evil deeds.’ He says, ‘O Lord, do not let the Hour come, do not let the Hour come.’”

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4753; Ahmad, 18063 – this version was narrated by him. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1676.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ (Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return). May Allah have mercy on us and on those who have returned before us and forgive all our sins. Ameen.

Please include us in your dua's. May Allah reward you.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Look To Your Heart By First Night OF Ramadhan

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Ramadhan Mubarak to you an your loved ones. Please forgive me and my family for all our shortcomings.

In preparation for the first night of Ramadhan, I would like to share with you an address by Shaykh Abdul Karim Yahya,

Please include us in your du'as. Jazakum Allahu khairan.

Wassalaam.
Aisha

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Praise is for Allah, Lord of the Worlds
May Allah bless and grant peace to our liegelord Muhammad as well as his folk and companions

Dear brothers and sisters from the nation of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),

As we wait in eager anticipation of the noble guest who approaches, the blessed month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed, we undoubtedly are making physical and spiritual preparations therefore.

Among the preparations that the scholars of Islam have encouraged is preparing our hearts for Allah's gaze. Baihaqi relates, “When it is the first night of the month of Ramadan, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, gazes to them and the one to whom Allah looks, He does not punish him, ever.” The place to which Allah looks is the heart. So what will Allah see in your and my heart if He were to look to us on the first night of Ramadan?

One of the qualities that would prevent us from this blessed gaze (and from many other opportunities for forgiveness) is malice. The Prophet, May Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught us of the Night of Power and the Half Night of Sha’ban that those who harbor rancor, mistreat parents, severe bonds of kinship or drink are prevented from Allah’s merciful gaze. Do we want Allah to look to His servants on the first night of Ramadan and overlook us because we are bearing ill will against each other? Is whatever anyone has done to hurt us so important that we can not overlook it in exchange for an opportunity for eternal salvation from Allah's punishment? What about all of those whom we have wronged? Do we not need Allah's pardon as well as theirs?

We can purify our hearts in preparation for this gaze from our Merciful, Forgiving Lord and also expose ourselves to an opportunity for His pardon when we need it most, by pardoning His servants. Allah said, "The one who pardons and reconciles his reward is upon Allah;" Quran (42:40). Tabarani relates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter paradise without reckoning." Imagine being among that fortunate group and having all of our many sins forgiven and receiving our reward directly from Allah!

In preparation for the blessed first night of Ramadan, Insha'Allah, and that day in which each of us will meet Allah, let us pardon one another and all of Allah's servants. I will begin with my own sinful self. O Allah, if any of Your slaves have transgressed the rights You have prescribed to me, they are excused. I ask you to grant them and me Paradise, and that You make us among its dwellers whom You have described in Your saying, "We have removed what was in their breasts of rancor, brethren on couches facing one another;" Quran (15:47). I also ask anyone who I have wronged to seek their due from me and to forgive me.

“Our Lord forgives us and our brethren who preceded us in faith and do not place in our hearts ill will towards those who believe. Our Lord, indeed you are compassionate and merciful.” Quran (59:10)

And Allah alone grants tawfiq (success),
Abdul-Kareem Yahyaa

Zakat: Give Cheerfully and Rejoice

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

While we are preparing to welcome the noble month of Ramadhan, don't forget those who have been hungry most of their lives. If each and everyone of us Muslims who owe zakat pay their zakat, we would see wonders. We would reduce the world hunger, if not end it altogether, inshaAllah.

Zakat is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is reached or exceeded. If you reached the nisab and don't pay zakat, you are taking the right of the poor, and this is sinful.

In the Qur'an, Allah conjoins paying zakat with establishing prayer to show the importance of zakat in our religion.

وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ ﴿٤٣

And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].

(43) [Qur'an 2:43]

But many people fall short in spending their wealth for the poor.

Whatever you give is not going to decrease your wealth and it is not going to make you poor. In fact, it will increase it and purify your remaining wealth. This may not make sense if you based it on math. But we are not talking about math, we are talking about Allah. He does whatever He wills and He gives to whoever He pleases.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَـٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَـٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿١٨

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. (18)

[Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:18]

This obligation, like all other religious obligations, is not to burden us but to help us enter Paradise. If Allah does not make zakat obligatory, people will not give charity because of their great love for money as Allah says in the Qur'an,

وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا

And you love wealth with immense love. (20)

[Qur'an al-Fajr 89:20]

There is also a tremendous reward in this life for those who spend their wealth for the sake of Allah. Allah says,

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]

Allah command us to love only Him. Spending our wealth is a gauge to measure our love for Him. The heart of the believer is only for Allah. Spending is the test for that. Allah doesn't need us. He is Allah, the One Who has Power over all things. We are in complete need of Allah in this life and the next. You don't love anything except you are a slave of it and Allah does not want you to be a slave of anything except Him. To love Allah is for our own good. Everything of this world comes and goes, and we will eventually leave this world too.

Whatever you love of this world cannot help you in your grave, or when you are drowned in your own sweat in the Day of Judgment from the intense heat and fear, or when you are crossing the bridge over the Hellfire, or when you are burning in the Hellfire. May Allah save us from His wrath and punishment.

People who spend everything they own really prove their love for Allah. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), the best of the Companions, was an example of this. When he saw someone in trouble, he did his best to help him. If his money could remove suffering, he did not care how much he had to spend. Once he gave away thirty-five dirhams out of his total fortune of forty thousand. He was an example of the highest level of the believers but most of us are not able to do this. But we can try to shoot for the middle level believer, which is paying zakat due and give extra charity voluntarily. Because the general level of faith has decreased, this is a lofty goal.

Classically, those who only pay their zakat is considered a weak believer. Give voluntary charity on top of the zakat even if it is little just to get out of this level and get to the middle level.

Choose the best recipients for your charity. One of the best recipients are students of sacred knowledge, scholars and righteous people.

Some of the salaf used to say:

Do not eat but the food of the pious and let none eat your food but the pious.

When you give, don't give grudgingly and don't look down upon the recipient or feel that you are better than him. Give cheerfully and rejoice for this is a sign of Allah's acceptance of the good deed. Thank the people who accepted your charity because they have done you a huge favor by enabling you to fulfill your obligation with Allah and helping you to unlock a gate to Paradise.

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

'O Allah, grant me life as a poor man, cause me to die as a poor man and resurrect me in the company of the poor.' His wife asked him why he said that, and he replied: 'Because (the poor) will enter Paradise (before) the rich. Do not turn away a poor man even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you Allah will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection.'

[Tirmidhi]

May Allah increase us in spending for His sake. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Backbiting: A Great Calamity

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Backbiting is a great calamity that is far too common in our daily lives, sometimes we don't think much of it, but can plunge us into the Hellfire, if we are the backbiter. Even if we are only the listener, we will not escape the punishment unless we denounce the action (in our hearts, if we are afraid to do it outwardly) and change the subject of the conversation or walk away, if we are able to do so.

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-Humazah 104:1-9]

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٢

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. (12)

[Qur’an Al-Hujurat 49:12]

لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّـهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا ﴿١٤٨﴾ إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا ﴿١٤٩

Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing. (148) If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent. (149)

[Qur’an, An-Nisa 4:148-149]

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

When I was taken up to heaven (i.e. during the Mi`raj) I passed by people who had nails of copper with which they were scratching their faces and their breasts. I said, ‘Who are these [people], O Gabriel?’ He replied: ‘They are those who consumed the flesh of people [i.e. backbite them] and aspersed their honor.’

[Abu Dawood]

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]

Al-Hasan al-Basri said:

Backbiting has three manifestations, all of which are discussed in Allah’s Book. They are: backbiting, tale-telling, and slander. As for backbiting, it is to say about your brother something that is true about him. Tale-telling is to say something that you have heard about him. Slander is to say about him what is not true.

To avoid this calamity, take heed of what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, has taught us--to say good or remain silent.

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say [something] good, or he should keep silent.

[Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, warned us:

A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and west.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Therefore, it is imperative not to talk unless you have something of clear benefit to use your tongue.

When you want to start talking about people's faults, realize that you are going to incur Allah's displeasure, and remind yourself that you will lose your good deeds, which you have been struggling to accumulate all your life, to the person you have backbitten, and you will take his sins as well if you don't have enough good deeds to compensate him.

People's faults are meant for us to look at ourselves in the mirror. If we are honest to ourselves, we should feel very ashamed before Allah that we have such mountain heap of faults, and ask Allah for forgiveness, making lots of istighfar. If you think you have no fault, then you should busy yourself with thanking Allah for saving you from faults.

May Allah protect us from evil and from incurring His displeasure. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Weigh Your Deeds

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

When the Day comes, our deeds will be placed on the Scale. If it is heavy with good deeds, then we will have a pleasant life afterwards. If it is light with good deeds and heavy with bad deeds, then it will be great torment for a long time.

ٱلْقَارِعَةُ ﴿١﴾ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ ﴿٢﴾ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ ﴿٣﴾ يَوْمَ يَكُونُ ٱلنَّاسُ كَٱلْفَرَاشِ ٱلْمَبْثُوثِ ﴿٤﴾ وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ ٱلْمَنفُوشِ ﴿٥﴾ فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ ﴿٦﴾ فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ ﴿٧﴾ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ ﴿٨﴾ فَأُمُّهُۥ هَاوِيَةٌ ﴿٩﴾ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ ﴿١٠﴾ نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌۢ ﴿١١

The Striking Calamity - (1) What is the Striking Calamity? (2) And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity? (3) It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed, (4) And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up. (5) Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], (6) He will be in a pleasant life. (7) But as for one whose scales are light, (8) His refuge will be an abyss. (9) And what can make you know what that is? (10) It is a Fire, intensely hot. (11)

[Qur'an Al-Qari'ah 10:1-11]

How do you ensure that your scale pan is heavy with good deeds? Take this advice from Omar Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.

Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account [by someone else], weigh your deeds before they are weighed [by someone else].

The one who does not watch over himself in this life will end up feeling sorry for himself in the Day of Judgment. What a great calamity that will be?

So before our deeds are weighed, take accounting of ourselves. When we take account of our own deeds, we are able to realize our mistakes and correct them. Those who do not engage in accounting their own deeds, only condemn themselves before Allah.

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْـَٔلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٩٢﴾ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٣

So by your Lord, We will surely question them all (92) About what they used to do. (93)

[Qur'an al-Hijr 15:92-93]

A true accounting of oneself is to take each of our sin, make a sincere repentance and make amends with the creation and with Allah.

We need to pay special attention to the rights of others. A believer has to honor and respect people. We cannot oppress people. Oppression is not just killing people, putting people in jail without just cause, or beating up your wife, but causing any harm to another, no matter how slight or how insignificant we might think.

Be careful not to make fun or mock people (Muslim or non-Muslim). Even if they laugh with you, that doesn't mean they don't feel hurt. One of the serious oppression of another is gossiping, backbiting, slandering and talebearing. These are extremely common calamities that afflict us. Be careful when you sit together with your friends or even your own family members for an innocent talk can turn into backbiting.

Any wrong you have done to others, make amends with the person you have wronged before you die, that means now--because you don't know when you will die. Otherwise, the person will surely come on that Day to claim his/her rights before Allah, even for a old useless pen that you took without asking. On that Day everyone only care about his own soul. The person will not want back his old pen because he won't have any use for it anymore, but he will want your good deeds and if you don't have any good deeds, you will have to settle it with taking his bad deeds. Imagine, if you used to beat up your ex-wife when you two were married, all your good deeds will just make your ex-wife very happy in the Day of Judgment.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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]

May Allah have mercy on us and make our Scale heavy with good deeds. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Showing Off: A Loathsome Disease

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Showing off is a loathsome and very dangerous disease of the heart that one should strive to rid off. No one, from the poor or the rich, the ignorant or the knowledgeable, is free from it, until one makes a conscious effort and does a lot of struggling to remove it, through a lot of remembrance of Allah and reminding oneself of death all the time.

Remember, when death overtakes you, you are on your own. All your possessions, success, status and the praises you receive cannot help you when you are alone in your grave. In fact, they can be the cause of your great torment and punishment in the life Hereafter.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The slightest bit of showing off in good works is as if worshipping others with Allah.

[Hakim]

This is what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, feared off.

The most greatest of what I fear for my Ummah is setting up partners with Allah; I do not mean [for them to] worship the sun, moon, or statue, but [to do] acts for other than Allah along with hidden desire.

[Ibn Majah]

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

Ash-Shirk-al-Khafi (minor shirk) in the Muslim nation is more inconspicuous than the creeping of black ant on black rock in the pitch-darkness of the night.

It is showing off if you are seeking a worldly benefit with by an action that is normally done for the Hereafter; for example, learning, memorizing or reciting Qur'an (with a beautiful melody) so people will think you are wonderful, learning or teaching sacred knowledge (or becoming a scholar) so you can have the title "Shaykh" or the like, leading your name or to make money, or giving charity so people can see that you are generous. This is opposite to sincerity in worship.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [ The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied - you did but fight that it might be said [of you]: He is courageous. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man who has studied [religious] knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to his His favors and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I studied [religious] knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but study [religious] knowledge that it might be said [of you]: He is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said [of you]: He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to his His favours and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I left no path [untrodden] in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but do so that it might be said [of you]: He is open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire.

[Muslim, Tirmidhi and Nasa'i].

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

Whosoever mentions [his deeds to be known amongst people], Allah will mention him [by revealing the truth about him]; and whosoever shows off [his deeds], Allah will show him off to people [with the truth about him].

[Bukhari and Muslim]

It also showing off if one is seeking status or position amongst people in one's actions (e.g. going to the masjid to pray to show one is pious), in one's speech (e.g. giving lecture or khutbah to impress people), in one's body (e.g. prostrating for a long time to show that he is praying or walking with head down to show his spiritual state), in one's appearance (e.g. growing a beard and wearing a jalbiyyah to show he is following the sunnah), in ones' clothing (e.g. wearing rags to show he has zuhd), or in having many students and companions, and in frequent mention of scholars.

Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari narrated that the Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, once said,

"Three (kinds of people) will neither be spoken to by Allah on the Day of Resurrection, nor looked at, nor purified (from their sins), and shall receive a painful torment." He repeated that thrice, so Abu Dhar said, "They are failures and losers. Who are they, Messenger of Allah?" The Prophet replied, "Al-musbil (the one dragging his lower garment), the one who is used to reminding people of his generosity towards them, and the one who sells his goods through false swearing"

[Muslim].

Our goal in this life is to seek nearness to Allah through our obedience to His commands.

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-Bayyina 98:5]

Everyday, we are also reminded as to Who we worship and Who the Giver is--it is not people, money, celebrities, or your favorite sports team or player, not even a great Shaykh, but Allah.

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

It is You we worship and You we ask for help.

[Qur'an Al-Fatiha 1:5]

When you read Al-Fatiha in your daily prayers, pay particular attention to this meaning.

It is recommended to make this du'a 3 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening

اللهم إني أعوذ بك أن أشرك بك وأنا أعلم وأستغفرك لما لا أعلم
اللهم إني أعوذ بك أن أشرك بك وأنا أعلم وأستغفرك لما لا أعلم
اللهم إني أعوذ بك أن أشرك بك وأنا أعلم وأستغفرك لما لا أعلم

O Allah! I take Your refuge from that I should ascribe anything as partner in Your worship, being conscious of that, and I beg Your pardon for that sin which I am not aware of.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Escape Reckoning

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Almost a year has gone by since last Ramadhan. In less than 2 weeks we will enter the blessed month of Ramadhan. We ask Allah to enable us to reach this noble month with good health and pure heart.

This life is a provision for our next life and the very best of this provision is taqwa (righteousness, piety, Godfearingness). Taqwa is a means to be close to Allah.

Allah gives good tidings to those who have taqwa, in their life here and the Hereafter:

أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّـهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٦٤

Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (62) Those who believed and were fearing Allah (63) For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is what is the great attainment. (64)

[Qur'an Yunus 10:62-64]

The very purpose of the month of Ramadhan is to become of the people of taqwa.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (183)

[Qur'an 2:184]

The noble month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down as guidance for those who have taqwa. The greatest gift in this life is guidance.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:2]

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّـهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (185)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:185]

Do you find yourself close to Allah? If not, fasting is a means of closeness to Allah.

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]

Fasting is a means to thankfulness and gratitude. When you are hungry and refraining from physical pleasures, you can appreciate the blessings and all the great gifts you have from Allah. This is a bridge to the love of Allah because you come to love someone by constantly appreciating what that someone represent to you and what that someone give to you in life.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Allah said: ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it…’”

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Fasting is a unique action, unlike any other actions. Showing off may enter into all good deeds, but no one can see when a person is fasting except Allah. People can display signs of fasting in public (like dry lips, tiredness, not eating in public) but in truth they may be pretending. So fasting is inherently a sincere action. It expresses the reality of your relationship with Allah.

If you fast out of faith and sincere seeking of Allah, you will realize that you are in absolute need of Allah. You will do something about your neediness by directing yourself to your Lord, turning to Him in much repentance. You will realize who the One, who gives you at least your basic needs of food, drink and physical pleasures, truly is. He is indeed Free of need, worthy of all praise and how Tremendous He is.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّـهِ ۖ وَٱللَّـهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ ﴿١٥

O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy. (15)

[Fatir 35:15]

وَلِلَّـهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّـهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّـهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا ﴿١٣١

And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allah. But if you disbelieve - then to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allah Free of need and Praiseworthy. (131)

[Qur'an Nisa 4:131]

If you fast the right way, having the sense of seeking Allah, you will attain unto closeness to Allah. Your fast is not just hunger and refraining from physical pleasures but an expression of la illaha illallah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah). If you attain closeness to Allah, all your past sins are erased.

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

"Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called Ar-Raiyan through which none will enter but those who observe fasting." The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said, "If a person spends two different kinds of something (for Allah's cause), he will be called from the gates of Paradise."

[Bukhari]

How do we avoid sinning in Ramadhan so we can direct ourselves to the gates of Paradise? It is by sincere seeking of Allah and striving to be close to Him through the Prophetic ways.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the the greatest of those who ever worshipped Allah, yet in the month of Ramadhan, he was more avid in all the ways of good. With respect to the good, he did not stop at anything because he has a clear goal in mind--Allah. His entire family, their concern of Ramadhan was to make it a means of nearness to Allah.

The sincere seeking means that you remember why you are fasting. Don't be the people who when they go to sleep, they worry about what's for suhr (pre dawn meal) and during the day, they worry about what's for iftar (break fast meal). Remember each person will have whatever they sought for.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, say,

Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended. So the one whose hijrah was to Allah and His Messenger, then his hijrah was to Allah and His Messenger. And the one whose hijrah was for the world to gain from it, or a woman to marry her, then his hijrah was to what he made hijrah for.

[Agreed upon]

When the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, told the companions about the gates of Paradise, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, if there would there be anyone who would be given a choice to enter from any of them. He didn't say there are all these gates, let me stick to one of them. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said "Yes, and I hope you will be one of them." This is the attitude of people of taqwa, always striving for excellence.

We know our life here will be over, but it is not over until it is over. While we are still breathing, turn to Allah and make a sincere repentance, pardon everybody who have wronged us, and prepare for Allah's gaze on the first night of the noble month of Ramadhan. Make the intention to strive to renew our faith this Ramadhan. May Allah give us tawfiq.

Baihaqi relates that "When it is the first night of the month of Ramadhan, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, gazes to them and the one to whom Allah looks, He does not punish him, ever."

One of the qualities that would prevent us from Allah's gaze is malice. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught us of the Night of Power and the Half Night of Sha’ban that those who harbor rancor, mistreat parents, sever bonds of kinship or drink are prevented from Allah’s merciful gaze.

Tabarani relates that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter Paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter Paradise without reckoning.

May Allah help us to seek Him and make us from those who enter Paradise without reckoning. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Love: An Act of Worship

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

There are a many reasons why we would love someone or a person would love us; most of the time it is for some worldly gain. This love is as flimsy as the spider web. This is because people evolve and circumstances change.

When we love for the sake of Allah, it will stay through thick and thin. We love simply because Allah Almighty decreed us to love. A love revolving around Allah forms and reaffirms the strongest of bonds and creates and builds the strongest of characters.

In order to love others for the sake of Allah we must first love Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, above all else. Loving for the sake of Allah is the truest expression of Faith (Iman) because it reflects complete submission to Allah’s decrees. Love becomes an act of worship. It generates a compassion within that compels one to act purely to gain the pleasure of Allah. Loving for the sake of Allah reminds us of the ultimate goal--Allah.

Allah's Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

None of you will truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.

[Bukhari]

One should treat others in the same manner that one would like to be treated. For instance, every person loves that he should be treated with respect and honor. He does not like to be ridiculed, slandered, or harmed in life, dignity, or property. He should therefore treat others in the same manner. He should not harm anyone in any way or desire any ill for anyone. Likewise, one should love the good for another that one desire for oneself. For example, if you were a homeless person, you would love a roof over your head, good food and nice clothes. So help the homeless, the poor and needy in much charity. Think in a similar manner with regard to every other person, whoever the person may be, and every other condition, whatever it may be. What good you would have desired for yourself had you been in the person's shoes, desire the same for the person.

If every Muslim adopts only this one concise teaching of Islam, most of the problems of the world would be resolved. Envy, jealousy, malice, and many other social evils will be eliminated.

Have a sincere concern for every Muslim. Make daily du'a for all of us. Although we may not know each other and we may be separated by distance, we are all connected and united under the most important and eternal Banner of Allah, the All Mighty.

Another important teaching is that one should not be excessive in love nor hate. This is because love for the sake of Allah is love that is in accordance with the Sacred Law. Out of love of Allah and His Messenger we love what Allah loves and hate what Allah hates. This is the Muslim’s criteria of love and hatred. So, if you love a person, love him for his obedience to Allah, and if he disobeys Allah then hate him because of his disobedience to Allah, not because of his essence.

Allah's Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Love your beloved moderately, perhaps he becomes hated to you someday. And hate whom you hate moderately, perhaps he becomes your beloved someday.

[Tirmidhi]

When it is said that we should be moderate, it is very important to identify the extremes. Moderation does not mean that you stay between Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and Abu Jahl. Moderation is never between Islam and Kufr, between belief and disbelief, but the moderation of a Muslim is to be between Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them.

May Allah increase our love for Him and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and make us love one another for His sake only. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam.

Stories Of The Prophets In 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.

When Allah tells us stories of the Prophets in the Qur'an, it is neither a story to entertain us, nor they are meant to be bedtime stories that we read to our children and they fall asleep with it. It is meant to guide us in our journey to Him. If we want to take a straight path, then we should reflect on these stories and learn from them.

We cannot learn from the stories if we don't know what is being read/said. So knowledge is key. If you don't know Arabic, learn it and meanwhile read a good translation and a good tafsir. Even if you know Arabic, you also should read a good tafsir for deep understanding. You don't have to read the entire book in one day or one week like you would read a best selling novel. Suffice to start with a few pages a day, contemplate and act upon the advice and guidance in your life.

According to the saying of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, "The best actions are continuous ones, even if they are slight."

From one day to the next, from one year to the next, if you are continuous and consistent in your works, it all add up; you increase your knowledge, and if you act upon what you know, it will make you a better servant of Allah and a better human, and keep you on a straight path, the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked His anger or of those who are astray.

Busy yourself with the good, and you will find that the bad will leave you faster than you could ever imagine.

Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, from what he reported from his Lord Mighty and Exalted, that Allah said,

When a servant comes towards Me a hand-span, I go an arm-length towards him. When he comes towards Me an arm-length, I go a fathom towards him. When he comes towards Me walking, I go towards him running.

[Bukhari]

Remember, if you don't busy yourselves with good, you will busy yourselves with bad. An intelligent person will choose what benefit them, which is what is good. And what benefit us most are works for the Hereafter. Why? Because our lives in the Hereafter is for eternity.

Prophet Nuh alayhissalaam remained with his people for 950 years in difficulty and hard work to bring his contemporaries to believe and obey Allah. In spite of this long period, his contemporaries failed to listen, and they were destroyed. The story of the Ark remains an everlasting sign and warning to mankind--a sign of deliverance to the righteous and of destruction to the wicked.

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ ﴿١٤

And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.

(14) [Qur'an Ankabut 29:14]

Note in the word years: In the English translation, you can’t really notice the difference in the word, but there are actually two different words in Arabic--

"...A thousand years (sana سَنَةٍ) minus fifty years (‘aam عَامًا)"

Both mean year, but usually in the Qur’an, when two synonyms appear in the same sentence, there is normally a key difference being highlighted between them.

One interesting view is that sana generally indicates a year of difficulty, hard work and hardship whereas ‘aam usually indicates a year of ease and goodness or blessing.

This is a glimpse of the beauty of the language of the Arabs. If you only read the Qur'an in English or recite the Qur'an without knowing Arabic, one miss out on experiencing the beautiful and powerful meanings of Allah's Speech.

May Allah make us among the righteous and those who He is pleased with and grant us with a sound understanding of the Qur'an. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Time Is Flying

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The time is flying by faster than we can have a grip on it. We are half way through the year, and it only seems like yesterday we began year 2012.

We should reflect on the last half of the year and ask ourselves. What did I do in the last half of the year? Did I add anything to my life? Did I get closer to Allah? Did I just went with the flow of things?

This life is a journey to Allah. The journey can be long and difficult. The time is flying and it flies faster as you get older. The time is not going to wait for you. So work and live smart and don't waste time.

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

By time, (1) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (2) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. (3)

[Qur'an Al-Asr 103]

You can be very smart and successful from the world point of view, but if you don't remember Allah, you are the great loser. Every single moment of your life, whether you are thinking, using your limbs, talking, walking, cooking, eating, driving, studying, conferencing, and so on, you have to remind yourself of Allah Almighty. Everything and every moment is all about Allah.

Allah Almighty invites us so many times to call Him in remembrance:

فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.

[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:152]

May Allah grant us good health and bless our time. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam