In Trying Times

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The central role of the Qur'an is nourishing and sustaining Faith. In these trying times, in fact all times are trying, we can't survive without Faith in Islam.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ ﴿٤

Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. (4)

[Qur'an Al-Balad 90:4]

If you are not toiling and struggling, you are in trouble because you are either deluded or you don't know it is a trial.

Trials are a way to purify us. They ease our burden on the Day of Judgment, if we respond them with patience.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.

[Bukhari].

Trials are also to remind us of our purpose in life. If we are distant from Allah Almighty, the test is usually to bring us close to Him. The test should make one realizes that he has no one at all, but Allah.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ ﴿٥

Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? (5)

[Qur'an Al-Balad 90:5]

If you are close to Allah Almighty, it is a test of your resilience. Can you maintain and sustain the good actions when times are trying and the cloud is changing? Some people lose it when times are difficult, and the Qur'an mention this kind of people.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١١

And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss. (11)

[Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:11]

Tests are also out of Allah’s love. His beloved Messengerﷺ was the most tested.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

When Allah loves a servant, He tests him.

[Tirmidhi].

In a hadith qudsi (a hadith relating the words of Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty tells Jibril to delay the response to the supplication of a servant because Allah Almighty loves hearing his voice [Tabarani].

Trials don't have to be hardship. Sometimes the greatest trial is ease. If you don't know this, at the level of faith this is problematic.

When everything is okay, you may feel that you have no need for Allah. If you say this, that is disbelief. On the other hand, if you do not feel that desperate need of Allah in all your states, you are deficient in faith because that is not how a believer is.

True believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, their heart quakes and when Qur'an is recited to them, it increases them in faith and they put trust in Allah. Outwardly, they establish the prayers and they spend of what Allah has provided them.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely - (2) The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (3)

[Qur'an Al-Anfal 8:2-3]

Allah makes it clear that not all believers are the same--there are limitless ranks.

أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤

Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision. (4)

[Qur'an Al-Anfal 8:4]

May Allah make us among the true believers. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
related archives:
Strengthening Our Certainty
Unshaken Belief
You Were Born Muslim

Relying On Qur'an Transliteration

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

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

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

(Bukhari)

If you want to recite the Qur'an, do it properly by reciting the Arabic Qur'an, not the transliteration book.

Qur'an was sent in Arabic, and as Muslims, we should know how to read the Qur'an in Arabic from the mushaf. Transliteration is not a substitute to Arabic Qur'an.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٣

Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. (3)

[Qur'an Az-Zukhruf 43:3]

No one expect you to be perfect, but you have to give it a try. Over time you will be good at it inshaAllah. Even if you have to struggle your whole life learning how to read the Qur'an properly, Allah sees that you are trying, and this is what counts. We are seeking nearness to Allah in reciting His Speech more than getting everything correct. So, don't spend 10, 20 or 40 years depending on transliteration and saying the Speech of Allah all wrong.

So, learn how to read the Arabic Qur'an. If you have passed primary or grade school, you should have enough IQ to learn the Arabic letters and how letters are joined to make Arabic words. It is not difficult at all, if you have the will and if you have the right priority. You are learning and reciting to seek Allah's pleasure and nearness to Him, and He will hold your hand to take you there. Nothing is difficult with Allah and nothing is easy without Allah. If you go to Allah walking, Allah will come to you running (with speed).

Hadith Qudsi:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: Allah the Almighty said:

I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.

It doesn't take long to recognize the Arabic alphabets and learning the rules of joining letters to form words (definitely not 10, 20 or 40 years), and before long you can read the mushaf.

Remember, each step of your learning is worship and each time you make a mistake in reciting the Qur'an, you have two rewards. This is by the mercy of Allah.

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

The one who recites the Qur'an and is skillful therein will be with the obedient, noble, recording angels; and the one who reads the Qur'an stammering, it being difficult for him, has two rewards.

(Bukhari)

If you don't learn Arabic and recite the Qur'an in Arabic, you will forever rely on transliteration, which is not right necessarily.

Make the intention now to learn how to read the Qur'an in Arabic. InshaAllah, Allah will make it easy for you.

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ ۖ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ ﴿٤٤

And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur'an, they would have said, "Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?" Say, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure." And those who do not believe - in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place. (44)

[Qur'an Fussilat 41:44]

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

related archive:
His Most Elect

No More Excuses

Saving Ourselves From The Great Terror To Come

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The more you study the Qur'an, the more you know you don't know anything and the more anxious you become. This is a problem but a good problem nonetheless, because hopefully you will become more attached to the Qur'an and never abandon the Qur'an.

Once the Qur'an is abandoned--people don't recite them, don't place them in their hearts, don't follow the guidance in the Qur'an--the Day of Judgment will come. Whatever the signs of the Final Hour we know of (trial and fitnah of Dajjal, the rising of the sun from the west, etc), they will happen, and we cannot stop them from happening. But we do have control over what we do with the Qur'an.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الم ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥

Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, (3) And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. (4) Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful. (5)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:1-5]

So learn the Qur'an, recite the Qur'an properly and contemplate upon the meanings, and adhere to the Qur'an and Sunnah. If we do this, inshaAllah, we will be among those who are saved from the terror of the Final Hour.

May Allah grant us a sound understanding of the Qur'an and make the Qur'an our close companion in this life and the next. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Perishing Earth

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Most people put so much focus on trying to make money, trying to look good in front of people and having too much fun, and they are so busy doing that that they lose sight on the One Who never perish and the One Who really matters.

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٢٧

All that is on earth will perish, (26) And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor. (27)

[Qur'an Ar-Rahman 55:26-27]

Set your priority right.

May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Journey Of Life

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This place, people called earth, is like a jail, a huge jail. You can move around but you have to stay within the boundaries. Even though you can eat, drink, get married, have children, have friends, but you can't do everything you want.

This is what people called "life". Some people have more freedom than others. Some life is good and some life is bad depending on how you look at it.

This life is a journey, a journey that is going to end one day and usually people don't know when it ends. But it will become a reality to each and everyone of us one day. You will get out of this jail, whether you like it or not. If you love this jail, you are in serious trouble. What do you have to show for to the outside world if you get out today?

Well, we cannot live this life without love. Whether we love ourselves, someone else or something else (money, prestige, fame, status, etc), we have to love something. Love only Allah Almighty and you will have a lot to show for when you have completed your time in this jail.

And if you love Allah, you should love His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and follow him. He illuminates the path to Allah and we should strive to follow him or we will go astray.

It is difficult to love someone when you don't know the person. Seeking knowledge is key to know Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and being with those who live by the Qur'an's morals will help you practice what you know.

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

Say: 'If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you, and forgive you your sins; Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.'

[Qur'an AleImran 3:31]

It was related in Bukhari that a man came up to the Prophet,Allah bless him and grant him peace, and asked: “What do you say of a man who loves a certain group of people but cannot be of them?”

To this the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied: “A person will be with whom he loves.”

May Allah increase us in our love for His beloved, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Love Without Limits

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah's love is unceasing without limits and His blessings upon us reach the very depths and they are also outwardly manifest. If you try to enumerate Allah's blessings you won't be able to do so.

Someone who always do good to you, you love them because hearts are naturally disposed to love those who do good to them. Every kindness of what the people have shown you is only a shadow of the kindness of Allah. Every good that is ascribed to other than Allah is, in reality, from Allah.

Thus, Allah alone is deserving of the absolute love.

Love is for you to give all of yourself completely to the one you love, and to prefer the beloved over yourself and over your very own soul. Love that is true is for the beloved and there is nothing in it for selfishness.

Those who believe are more intense in love for Allah.

مِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّـهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّـهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ ﴿١٦٥

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. And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment. (165)

[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:165]

If the love of Allah becomes firm in the heart, its traces are then manifest on the limbs in terms of striving in obedience of Allah, finding within oneself the eagerness and keenness to serve Him and the avidness to seek His pleasure, finding sweetness in addressing Him and solace in being alone (in spiritual seclusion or night prayers), finding worldly attachment leaving one's heart and fleeing one's heart from people, finding contentment with respect to His destiny and longing to meet Him, finding intimacy in His remembrance and a sense of alienation from other than Him, and loving all that is beloved to Allah.

Love Allah's creation and teach others love of Allah's creation because everything of the beloved is beloved. But love for the sake of Allah Almighty. It is a futile love when the love is for other than for the sake of Allah Almighty. Don't harm yourself through disobedience of Allah, and don't harm people, animals, plants, air we breathe, waters and waterways and this earth we live in.

May Allah Almighty purify our hearts, make us obedient to Him and content with His decree. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Seeking The Good Of This Life

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A believer is a person of purpose. We seek good of this life and good of the next life.

The good of this life is that which facilitates for us the eternal good of the next life. It means either it is a means of seeking the good of the next life in itself or it is from the gifts of Allah that we are thankful for, that we celebrate, and that which give us that gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation that causes us to raise our determination to seek Allah further.

If you want to be a person who is seeking the good of this life, leave that which does not concern you, whether in speech, actions, or thoughts.

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

From the excellence of a man's Islam is to leave that which does not concern him.

[A sound (hasan) hadith, transmitted by Tirmidhi and others]

Some early Muslims said,

Whoever busies themselves with that which does not concern them misses out on much of that which does concern them.

The reality of that which does not concern him is that which is not needed for a worldly or next-worldly necessity, and does not aid in attaining Allah's good pleasure, such that it is possible to live without it.

Flipping channels for 2 hours a day is of no purpose; watching the news for hours is of no benefit; watching your favorite sports team playing and cheering for them or listening to music is an utter waste of time; spending hours/days in theme parks or riding the roller coaster has no benefit. These are just entertainment and have no purpose in it. You definitely can live without them.

Allah Almighty swears by time in Surah 'Asr,

وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿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]

Do not make this worldly life the greatest of our concerns. Worldliness is foolishness. This world has no lasting beneficial consequences. Even things that may make you feel good, unless it has a next-worldly purpose behind it, don't waste your time with it, it is not worth it--for it will come to nothing and when you go to the next life, you have nothing to show.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٣٢

And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah, so will you not reason?

[Qur'an Al-An'am 6:32]

This is Allah's address to true human being. True human being is the one who realizes this reality. Reason is the capacity of discerning and distinguishing between benefit and harm, good and harm, advantage and disadvantage.

So don't play around and don't engage in things that will disadvantage you in the next life. Pursue this life to pursue the pleasure of Allah only.

May Allah guide us and grant us tawfiq and the good of this life and the next. Ameen,

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

End of Ramadhan: Now What?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Eid Mubarak to your and your loved ones. كل عام وانتم بخير May Allah accept your fasting, prayer, charity, and all your good deeds.

Ramadhan has come and gone. But our Ramadhan worship should not end here or drastically decrease with the end of Ramadhan. Our worship continues until we die and it should improve as days go by. Today's worship should be better than yesterday's. It cannot be the same as 20 years ago, or we have surely missed out on the optimal.

Ramadhan was our training ground. Don't let the training go to waste.

You stood many hours for Taraweeh and qiyamu lail in Ramadhan, and that was a good month long practice indeed. So you should not have much problem performing extra prayers and waking up for tahajjud every night.

You recited and listened to a lot of Qur'an in Ramadhan. Don't stop doing this. Recite the Qur'an regularly and listen attentively to Qur'an everyday. It is recommended to complete reciting the entire Qur'an at least every 30 or 40 days. If you haven't studied the Qur'an with a qualified teacher, you should plan to do so as soon as possible. Reciting Qur'an the correct way is the way of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to learn how to recite the Qur'an properly in order to recite the verses correctly, especially during prayer.

You had self restraint in Ramadhan. You held yourself from food and drink during the day and you eat little at night because your stomach has shrunk. Don't expand it by eating beyond your fill during this Eid celebration and forward. Some of you quit smoking in Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah. You have more patience in Ramadhan. Don't let your nafs take you back to your bad old habits before Ramadhan and avoid the unlawful.

You were very generous and charitable, not just with your money but also with your heart. You gave sadaqatul fitr, zakat and extra charity, and you forgave a lot of people. Continue to give charity all throughout the year and before you go to sleep, forgive those who have wronged you and ask Allah for their forgiveness.

It is Sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, to fast 6 days in Shawwal, Mondays, Thursdays, three white days of each lunar month, the day of Arafah, the first 10 days of Zulhijjah, Ashura, and most of Sha'ban and Muharram.

Fast regularly throughout the year and that will keep you in training, starting with fasting the 6 days Shawwal fasting (beginning 2nd day of Eid). Yes, all those Eid food and many Eid open houses and invitations sound like it is going to be difficult to fast when everyone is celebrating, but try it. Allah will make it easy for you.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Prophet, صلى الله عليه و سلم, said: Allah the Almighty said:

I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.

You can always accept evening invitations.

The Prophet, صلى الله عليه و سلم, said:
Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and he follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted the whole year.

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

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

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

We don't limit our fasting and certain acts of good deed in Ramadhan only. If we are consistent with our fasting and doing other good deed, not only this is a sign of the acceptance of one’s Ramadan fasts and good deed because a sign of Allah’s acceptance of a good deed is to be granted the success to perform similar good deeds, with consistency, this is a sign of one's commitment to continue in worship and submission to Allah, willingly, and not merely out of duty and obligation.

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

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

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

[Bukhari]

Good deeds raise one's rank and erase the person's sins (except major sins which require sincere repentance for forgiveness).

One of the signs of the righteous is patience and restraint. If we fasted correctly, then we would have benefited from one of the effects of Ramadhan--an increase in patience. One can never have too much patience. Lack of patience can cause lots of problems--to oneself as well as to others. Patience is an acquired trait which many people don't have or many lose it very easily. If you have patience, nothing befalls you disturbs or bothers you. You will go through challenges, difficulties, uneasiness and discomfort in stride. The pious and the righteous people, who are not free from trials and tribulations of this life, are the happiest people because they have patience and restraint.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Be Jealous

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.

If you desire that someone lose his blessings or that blessings be bestowed on you as well, this is envy. To envy is an expression of displeasure at the distribution of Allah. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "As fire destroys fuel, so envy destroys virtues."

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Every possessor of any blessing is envied." Someone of means, will have someone who envies him for what he possesses. Even two street sweepers will envy one another. The one who pulls his cart on his own will envy the sweeper who has a donkey.

The Qur'an teaches us to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the envier when he envies.

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak (1) From the evil of that which He created (2) And from the evil of darkness when it settles (3) And from the evil of the blowers in knots (4) And from the evil of an envier when he envies." (5)

[Qur'an 113:5]

Envy is injurious for the envier in this world and the next, but no harm reaches the envied person, rather it benefits him. The envied person if backbited will get the virtues of the envious person.

Stop being jealous of other people. Replace this bad trait by being generous and giving. A Muslim is avid in searching for the needs of others and always giving. Ask yourself, 'What do I have that everyone wants?' Also, don’t worry about others being better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between you and your self only.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported:

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur'an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, waxed faster than the rain bearing wind.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

There is a special gate to Paradise for the charitable believer. Imagine the blissful life beyond that gate.

This is one opportunity in Ramadhan to get you to the gate. Please don't forget to pay your zakat fitrah (obligatory charity payable in Ramadhan). Every member of your family has to pay this charity, including children and babies. It must be paid anytime in Ramadhan and before the time of Eid prayer.

If you don't have any poor relatives or don't know any student of (Islamic) knowledge or any poor Muslim or don't have a mosque in your area to distribute the zakat to the rightful recipients, there are many Islamic and masjid websites where you can pay online for your convenience. Don't wait till the last minute to do this. You don't want to be left behind.

May Allah remove any jealousy in our hearts, increase us in our provision, spiritually and physically, and make our spending for His sake easy. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Ramadhan: Don't Rush To End It

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Tomorrow may be 1 Shawwal, which means tomorrow may be Eid al Fitr. Some people can't wait for Ramadhan to end. Some people are still busy making preparations for Eid. Some people have been treating Ramadhan like any other day. Some of them don't seem to notice Ramadhan--when it comes and when it goes; they eat in public; they lie; they cheat; they fight and argue.

For those who have been observing the fasting, don't rush to finish it. We should feel sad that Ramadhan is about to leave us--we don't know if we will reach Ramadhan next year with all its blessings.

So while it is still here, don't waste any moment to do our best to end Ramadhan strong. We ask Allah to forgive all our shortcomings, grant us tawfiq (success) and accept our fasting and our worship, and make us able to continue our worship.

Regarding Ramadhan, it was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

...Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever performs an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing 70 obligation at any other time..

So, don't let Ramadhan leave you without you spending these final moments in doing as much good as possible. Leave all sins. Use the limbs to do only good--which include, no lying, no cheating, no backbiting, no swearing, no harming people, no fighting...

Help people and give extra charity. This is a great time to pay your sadaqatul fitr (this is obligatory on every Muslim, adult or children) and zakat of wealth. Don't wait till the last minute (before Eid prayer) because the poor too want to enjoy Eid.

Don't let the mosques become lean with people because you are busy preparing for Eid. Your should strive to pray Fajr and 'Asr prayers at the masjid.

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

One who has offered two cool (time) prayers i.e. Fajr (dawn) and 'Asr (afternoon) prayers shall enter Paradise.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Recite more Qur'an. This will avoid use of our tongues on vain talks and other harmful speech. Also, remember each letter you recite is one reward, and rewards are multiplied by 10 of their kind. In Ramadhan, the reward can be much more. You should try to complete reciting the whole Qur'an this one last time in Ramadhan, perhaps you can gather your family members and friends to do a group khatm.

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

When people gather in one of the houses of Allah to recite the Book of Allah and teach it to each other, tranquility and peace descend upon the gatering. (Allah's) mercy covers them, angels spread their wings over them and Allah memtions them among those who are around them.

[Muslim]

On the night of Eid, we should fill the night with takbir from Maghrib until the Eid prayer in the morning. Try to pray at least Maghrib, 'Isha and Fajr in a group, i.e. at the masjid, and participate in the takbir. This is our showing of our gratitude towards Allah for His guidance and for His tawfiq.

May Allah accept all our prayers, fasting, charity, du'as and all acts of good deeds. May Allah grant us forgiveness and save us from Hell, and grant us good health and continue to shower us with His blessings and make us His excellent worshippers. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Precious Things Aren't Given Away For Cheap

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This is the time when we pray the most, make du'a the most, listen attentively to the imam reciting Qur'an the most. We stand, bow, prostrate for a long time, tirelessly, giving no concern to comfort or temperature for that matter. We only hope to find laylatul qadr, the night better than a 1000 months. We have the humility of asking, "O Allah, please accept my worship and let my worship be in laylatul qadr."

Imagine if we knew when laylatul qadr was, we won't be worshiping the same way as we do. When we don't know when it is, we worship all the last 10 nights. Our deeds and earnestness increase by not knowing this night. Our extreme desire of this night and awe of this night increases when the matter is hidden. This is the kindness of Allah to the believers.

Things that are very precious aren't given away for cheap. They are sought after. You have to give up a lot to find this night--your sleep, your comfort, your emails, your FB, your wanting to make money, and many of the worldly things that you ordinarily like to do. As well, this is not the time to make Eid cookies, shopping for Eid clothes and making all those last minute Eid preparations. You can postpone that to some other time. Remember, you might not reach next Ramadhan or even Eid.

If you didn't see laylatul qadr yet, you may still have the chance to witness it. There are a few more nights left of Ramadhan of praying, reciting Qur'an, asking Allah, and crying. Take the opportunity to increase your worship at night. For men, make sure not to miss praying Maghrib and Isha in the masjid.

The scholars said, on this night sins are forgiven except the sins of people who have grudges against other people. So part of the worship of this night is forgiving people, not taking people to task even in the heart.

Ramadhan is the month of generosity, not just with your money, but also with your heart, overlooking people's faults, praying to Allah to forgive them and honor them. We enter into this night with our hearts clean towards the creation of Allah. There is nobody who is free of need of forgiveness in this night. If we hope to be forgiven, we should forgive others and not hold grudges against people. If the thought of so-and-so comes in a negative light, we ask Allah to protect us from these thoughts and we pray for them for Allah to forgive them and to honor them.

May Allah forgive our sins, grant us His mercy and protect us from the punishment of the grave, the torment of Day of Standing and punishment of Hellfire. Ameen.

Please include us in our du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Night Better Than A Thousand Months: Truly Impoverish Is The One Who Does Not Desire To Find 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 blessed month of Ramadhan is about to leave us. We are in the last 10 precious days and nights. In it there is Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power), a night of a tremendous rank with Allah, a night which is better than a a thousand months. This is equivalent to about eighty three years of worship.

The secret of the last ten nights of Ramadhan is the hope of finding Laylatul Qadr. Unlike the previous nations, we don't have a long life span to perform this amount of worship. Allah, through His kindness to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Ummah, the last nation which Allah called the best nation raised to mankind, gives this night. Truly impoverish is the one who does not have the desire to find this night.

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّـهِ

"You are the best Ummah singled out for mankind: you enjoin what is right (ma'ruf), forbid what is wrong (munkar), and believe in Allah..."

[Qur'an AleImran 3:110]

Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadhan.

(Bukhari)

Allah has honored a particular time, certain people and certain places. Part of being a slave of Allah is to honor what Allah has honored and considered great what Allah has made great. Such a person deems them special and he honors them and give them their due out of his desire of winning Allah's pleasure and out of his neediness to be close to Allah.

So the first thing we should do is to honor this time and feel tremendous awe of this time. Whoever venerates and exalts the special symbols of Allah verily that is from the taqwa of the heart.

This night is not like any other night. The angels, throng upon throng, and the Spirit (angel Jibril alayhissalaam) descend on this night with the leave by their Lord from every command. So it is a tremendous night when the heavenly beings all coming down to earth. With them barakah and with them the blessings of Allah. If one was to see these beings one would see something tremendous. The angels and the mankind have close relationship. The angels pray for people's forgiveness, greet people in heaven when they enter Paradise.

The angels have a special love for people of iman and places of worship. They search for places of worship. The people, if they have love for the angels, they seek not to annoy them by praying with garlic and foul smelling substances or quarelling and arguing with each other. When the angels descend and the believers are in worship, without a doubt the angels pray for the people of iman.

This night is nothing but peace, a deliverance from evil and harm. Peace is the greeting of the angels in Paradise. It is the angels' greetings when they come to earth. This peace continues all the way through until the rising of dawn.

Allah revealed the entire surah (Qur'an Al-Qadr 97) about this night. Why? So we would do something about it. It is very special that we search for it earnestly in these last ten nights. It means we worship in many nights hoping to find it. Allah has hidden this night. It is sunnah of Allah that He hides tremendous matters so that people will search for it.

Allah has hidden His friends around people. If we see people around us on the street, we don't know the friends of Allah, and if you are bad to them, hit them for example, you are in big trouble. Allah hides them so we would respect all people that perhaps we will respect those who are close to Allah also.

As well, Allah has hidden His pleasure among the good deeds. We don't know which of our deeds is the most pleasing to Allah so we earnestly continue to do as many good deeds as possible.

Any good deed done on this night is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr.

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

Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.

(Bukhari and Muslim).

The main worship is the prayer, reciting the Qur'an and making du'as. You pray as much as you are able to at night. Do the maximum, push yourself and tax your body, but not tax it to the extent that it burns out. Everyone knows their own circumstance. Quality and quantity is the sunnah. The best thing to ask Allah is what He is asking from you--become firm in our slavehood, firm in acknowledging His Lordhood and rights of His Lordhood.

Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.

[Bukhari and Muslim).

Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, said:

I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' (Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee).

(Ahmad, ibn Majah, Tirmidhi).

This du'a brings the spirit what we are feeling on these last nights, the feeling that we are sinful. We need Allah's mercy and we are begging at His doors for His forgiveness. He is All Generous and Oft Forgiving. We have nothing more than having tremendous hope that Allah will forgive us. This is the spirit that we should have in our worship.

Another special worship is the worship of i'tikaf (spiritual retreat). The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. (Muslim)

The sunnah i'tikaf is to spend the last ten days in mosque continuously. This is a tremendous act of worship. Every moment counts as worship. Ideal place for a woman to do i'tikaf is in her home. She can designate an area which she will stay in for that period and she doesn't leave the place other than using the bathroom. Married woman should get the permission of her husband to perform the i'tikaf only because sexual intercourse is not allowed during i'tikaf. If one cannot do the continuous 10 days, one can intend and do i'tikaf for part of it or for some short intervals according to one's ability and circumstance.

This is a good time to take a vacation from work so you can focus on Allah with various forms of worship (e.g. learning and reciting the Qur'an, memorizing some Qur'an and hadith, more and longer prayers, making lots of du'a, dhikr, put into practice your knowledge of the Qur'an and Hadith, contemplating and reflecting on the meaning of the verses of the Qur'an, read a book on the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace--his life and his characteristics to increase your love for him) and i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) at the masjid. For woman you may designate a place in your home for i'tikaf. If you are married you should get the permission of your husband to perform i'tikaf.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything that you want that is lawful, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. The All Generous loves our asking Him. Ask Allah to give you those things and develop a work plan to get those things. Make long and sincere du'as with conviction every night. This can be done using the Du'as of the Sunnah or in your own language. The best thing to ask Allah is what He asks from us--ask Allah that we become firm in our slavehood, become firm in acknowledging His Lordhord and the rights of His Lordhood. One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Don't forget your family. Have iftar together and take them to taraweeh and qiyamu lail (night prayers) on these last ten days. Put your regular work aside and bond with your family.

Don't forget the poor and the needy. Increase your charity. This is a great time to pay your zakat on your wealth and zakat al-fitr.

Pardon people who have harmed you and try to mend broken relationships.

Choose one night to evaluate yourself and your situation and think about where you want to go for the next 12 months. Then take action. For example, if you haven't been able to read the Qur'an properly or start reading Qur'an regularly or memorize Qur'an, ask yourself what prevented you from doing so and adopt a plan to remove the barriers. Seek Allah's help. Nothing is too big for Allah.

Don't spare any moment during these last ten nights with things other than worshiping and thanking the Lord, and asking for His forgiveness and protection from Hellfire.

May Allah forgive our sins, have mercy on us, save us from the punishment of the Hellfire, and make us witness Laylatul Qadr. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This world is all about patience. It comes with a lot of trials. We have to deal this life with patience. Nothing comes easy without patience. All the day-to-day inconveniences is nothing but trials, which is to prepare us for the Great Trial of the Day of Judgment. So don't sweat the small stuff. Deal with them with beautiful manners.

If someone lied to you or promise something and didn't fulfill the promise, for example, it can cause you a lot of inconvenience because you relied on their words, but it is good for you because you get the chance to practice on your patience and a chance to draw closer to Allah. It is bad for the person who lied or promise because he has used the blessing of Allah, his tongue, to lie or promise without the resolve to fulfill it and has cause harm to others by his bad action, no matter how slight or insignificant it may seem. But it is their sin, not yours. And you have no control over other's actions but you have control over yours. Remember, Allah is with the patient ones.

We don't ask for trials, but we always ask Allah to protect us from trials.

May Allah grant us well being and strength and patience in times of trial. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Your Parents: The Old Fashion Way

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The world indeed has been changing rapidly. Most of us live in a culture that does not emphasize respect to one's parents but rather on one's own independence. So you see young people don't normally listen to their parents. They prefer to ignore their parents' advice altogether as old fashioned and irrelevant. This is an attitude that needs to change among young people for the survival of a decent human race.

Some needs are meant to be continuously met, and some values are forever enduring. Caring, support and belongingness are needs that must always be satisfied. Human values will never be outdated and go out of fashion. Respect for one's privacy, human dignity, respect for the rights of others, conservation of the environment, and not hurting or harming other people are values that endure the test of time.

Parents are a tremendous gift in life but most people don't value them enough. This is because it is hard to value something that has been with you for a long time. Our parents have always been there and we tend to take them for granted. For those whose parents have passed away, you can truly appreciate them now but how do you show it? You can't, because they are dead. But you can honor them by being a person of good character.

All of us have faults and we make mistakes everyday. Our parents are no exception. We don't blame them or look down upon them for their shortcomings; it is a mistake in itself to do so and opens the door to the workings of the Shaytan. Rather we spend our time to work on ourselves to be better than yesterday. We should always be looking at how we can improve the way we do things and the way we are. When we see something that has gone wrong, we should look at it objectively and find out the real reason why things went bad. When our parents pointed something about us that we don't like to hear, be thankful instead of being defensive and hasty in our words to argue and counter.

Parents possess important life lessons that young people must learn so not to repeat the same mistakes. If you look back at your family's history, can you find a few mistakes that are repeatedly made like a vicious cycle that prevents your family from achieving prosperity and happiness--whether it be financial or other things that have to do with making the right decisions and avoiding mistakes? If yes, then these are the life lessons that you must learn from.

We should distill the lessons that life is showing us and learn from our parents. This is how industry develops and so families should too.

You haven't learned anything and have wasted your life if you repeat the mistakes that have been made in the past. Young people should resolve never to become victims to wrong decisions and actions that can lead the family to suffer a great deal. They should actively seek life lessons from their parents and not repeat the mistakes that they have done. Only then can families move to a higher level of existence.

The proper choice of a spouse is of a paramount importance that youth must learn. What qualities should the youth be looking for in choosing someone to marry and be the other parent of their children? How should one to decide on this very important issue? Consultation with their parents and correct guidance from the parents can prevent making poor decision that can lead to future troubles.

As children, your duty is to show good character to your parents at all times. Even if they are annoying to you, respond to them with gentleness. They may say something which may seem bizarre to you but be respectful and give due weight and consideration to what they say because they may have considerations that you are not aware of, after all they have lived longer than you and have experienced more than you. Maybe what they say is wrong, but empathize with them, and don't cause them unnecessary distress and don't ever be rude to them.

One of the worst sins that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, warned people about is being bad to one's parents. The punishment will not just be in the next life, it will come in this life as well. Remember, what goes around, comes around.

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا (٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا (٢٤

And your Lord has decreed that you 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) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small." (24)

(Qur’an Al-Isra' 17:23-24)

Always be good to your parents. It is never enough good that you can do for your parents and by the same token there is no good deed too small for them. The more conscious we are with our duties to our parents, the more conscious we are of Allah. All that we do for our parents turn into remembrance of Allah by your intention to do them for the sake of Allah.

May Allah make us dutiful to our parents and make us the source of happiness to them, and grant us righteous children and families. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Be The First

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Being the first definitely has its advantage. Look where Ukaashah, may Allah be pleased with him, will be for being the first.

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘I was shown the nations. One Prophet passed by with a group, another passed by with a small band, another with ten followers, another with five, and another on his own (with no followers). I looked and saw a huge multitude, and I said, “O Jibril, are these my ummah?” He said “No, but look at the horizon.” So I looked and saw a huge multitude. He said, “These are your ummah, and these are seventy thousand at their head who will not be brought to account or punished.” I said, “How come?” He said, “They do not use branding, or seek ruqya, or believe in bad omens; they put their trust in their Lord.”’ ‘Ukhaashah ibn Mihsan stood up and said, ‘Pray to Allah to make me one of them!’ He [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] said, ‘O Allah, make him one of them.’ Then another man stood up and said, ‘Pray to Allah to make me one of them.’ He said, ‘ ‘Ukaashah has beaten you to it.’

[Bukhari].

Always on the look out to be the first in doing a particular good deed. If you missed that opportunity to be the first, you can always improve on what is already out there. Allah is All Generous, All Merciful. Remember you can always be the first to pick up the trash that is laying around in your masjid or to arrange the shoes that are scattered all over the place to avoid people from tripping over them.

May Allah grant us the highest Paradise without accounting. Ameen.

Please include us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Sincere Concern

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

I pray that you are well.

It is not for everyone to give advice (naseeha) on religious matters, even if you think you know abut the matter.

First and foremost, your intention must be correct--you are doing it to seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty. Only such an intention deserves reward from Allah and His acceptance. If the intention is other than for the sake of Allah, then you deserve the anger and wrath of Allah, not to mention the hatred and rejection of the person to whom the advice was given.

You must have a sincere concern for that person. A believer loves for his brother what he loves for himself. The Prophet, 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]

The naseeha is given to guide the person toward goodness, and take him away from harm. Advice is best given in private, indirectly, and in a positive manner that focuses on the next steps—not on what has already happened.

Ibn Rajab wrote: When the righteous predecessors intended to give naseehah to someone, they admonished him privately, to the point that some of them said, 'The one who exhorts his brother between him and himself, then it is naseeha. The one who exhorts him in front of people, then is merely scolding.'

The sincere advisor should not aid the Shaytan over his brother by publicly rebuking him and letting Shaytan beguile his brother into not taking the naseeha. Every persons love be treated with respect and honor.

A sincere advisor must be kind, soft and well mannered in giving the naseeha to others. Naseeha is like opening a door and that door will not be opened without the proper key. There is no better key to unlock the heart that is locked than kindness in giving advice, gentleness in exhortation and softness in speech.

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

Kindness is not to be found in anything but that adds to its beauty, and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.

[Muslim]

Giving naseeha is a a sign of true brotherhood, a way of bringing the hearts closer, and of closing the doors of hatred and suspicion. When someone mentioned your faults try not to be apprehensive--The person may know something that perhaps you are unaware of, and is compelled to tell you about it out of sheer compassion.

By pointing out each other's faults, we help to keep each other from destruction. May Allah grant us tawfiq to the highest station. Ameen.

Pleased include us in your du'as. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Ramadhan Supplication

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned among the three whose supplication isn’t rejected by Allah: “the fasting person until they break their fast.” [Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]

So supplicate. The best of what you can seek from Allah is what He seeks from you. Seek Allah’s closeness, love, pleasure, contentment, intimacy, and beholding. Ask Allah for the highest of matters in your life and religion. It is recommended to make plentiful supplication for the needs and concerns of others--family, friends, community, the ummah, and all creation, both in general and in specific.

The act of asking shows a tremendous certitude. The idea that you raised your hands so that someone who you don't see will give you what you want or solve all your problems for you, no one can do that consistently, believe in it and truly believe that this matter will come to pass except someone with a tremendous Iman (Faith).

A relationship which truly shows what we belief about Allah is our reliance on Allah and satisfaction with Him. This is one of the most fundamental relationship with Allah, Most High. That's why the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Du'a is the essence of worship."

The sunna supplications when breaking the fast:

ذَهَبَ الظَّمأُ، وابْتَلَّتِ العُرُوقُ، وَثَبَتَ الأجْرُ إِنْ شاءَ اللَّهُ تَعالى

“The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is established–if Allah wills (dhahaba’d dhama’ wa’btallati’l `uruq wa thabata’l ajru in sha’ Allah).” [Abu Dawud]

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي أعانَنِي فَصَمْتُ، وَرَزَقَنِي فأفْطَرْتُ

“All praise is due to Allah who assisted me, so I fasted; and who provided me, so I could break my fast (al-hamdu li’l Llah alladhi a`anani fa-sumt, wa razaqani fa-aftart). [Ibn al-Sunni]

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْنا، وَعلى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْنا، فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إنَّكَ أنْتَ السَّمِيعُ

“Allah, for you we fast, and by your provision, we break our fast. So accept from us, for You are indeed Hearing (Allahumma laka sumna, wa `ala rizqika aftarna, fa-taqabbal minna, innaka anta’s Samee`).” [Ibn al-Sunni]

When breaking fast with others, say:

أفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ، وأكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الأبْرَارُ، وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ المَلاَئِكَةُ

“May fasting people [continue to] break their fast with you; may the virtuous eat your food; and may the angels bless you (aftara `indakum as-sa’imun, wa akala ta`amakumu’l abrar, wa sallat `alaykumu’l mala’ika).” [Abu Dawud, Nasa’i]

Prophet Ibrahim, Allah grant him peace, left his wife, Hajar, and baby Ismail, may Allah grant them peace, in a desert valley where there was no vegetation. How did he do that except he realized the power of the Lord. He turned to Allah to care for his family and Allah answered his du'a.

Allah really does see us and hear us. When we speak to Him, He answers.

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ

And When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.

(Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:186)

Keep asking and asking because of the closeness to Allah and certitude that the du'a contains.

May Allah make us among His best servants, and grant us success in this life and the Hereafter, and grant us the highest Paradise without accounting. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam