Fall in Love with Allah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Ibn Mashish, one of the great spiritual masters (died 622 A.H), on being asked to recommend spiritual practices for a seeker, said, "Am I a Prophet? The commands and prohibitions are all known, perform the obligations of the Law and avoid sin. Keep your heart aloof from all temporal attachments. Accept and be content with everything that Allah sends to you and fall in love with Allah."

The love for Allah is the only pole around which good deeds turn. Let your tongues speak of nothing but Allah, instead of occupying themselves with the things of this world. [Imam Mashish]

Abu’l Hasan al-Shadhili, his student and a great spiritual master (died 656 A.H) said, "Whoever directs you to action alone, tires you. Whoever directs you to worldliness, cheats (deceives) you. Whoever directs you to Allah has been of sincere counsel to you."

Strive to nurture ourselves with the love for Allah, the One who gives our very lives and all that are precious to us. Try to change the nature of our relationship with Allah and with His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Those who believe are more intense in their 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]

Try to connect with this reality of love. Our love for His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is from the intensity of love for Allah.

Love is easier to claim but difficult to realize. When people say they love Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is it love? Not sure.

True love is constant inclining with the heart that overcomes by that which you love. 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.

Thankfulness is a bridge to love of Allah. Thank Allah for everything. When you bite into your favorite chocolate ice cream cake, or put on that slippers, or turn on the tap, thank and praise Allah for it. There are millions of people who never saw ice cream in their lives; there are millions of people who don't have nice slippers to walk around (many walk around barefooted); there are millions of people who don't have running water. Don't take all these things and all the things you have for granted. When you open the pantry and see all these choices of cereal for your breakfast, thank Allah and praise Him.

Being grateful and praising Allah has tremendous consequence.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' " (7)
[Qur'an Ibrahim 14:7]

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٣

And indeed, your Lord is full of bounty for the people, but most of them do not show gratitude." (73)

[Qur'an An-Naml 27:73]

May Allah make the love for Him a reality for us. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

It Is Not All Rights

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The man who knows that he has the upper right upon his spouse, know that your upper right is organized through the Shari'ah and you have to follow.

We all know that there are rights of the husband and there are rights of the wife. That is the law from our Creator. Each can demand their rights but we cannot build relationships based on rights and obligations. The law is like a body. It has a spirit (ruh) to give it life. Nothing can be solved by rights and obligations. We have to understand the spirit of the relationship between a man and a woman and we have to understand that Allah has made oppression haram.

Allah has made man as the leader for his family and with that comes great responsibility towards his family. If the man does his responsibility and succeeded, he will lead his family to Jannah to be with Allah. This is the spirit of the law that made man in charge of women [الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ Qur'an An-Nisa 4:34] and the commonly quoted hadith of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: "It is not right for any human being to prostrate to another; if it were right for one human being to prostrate to another, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands because of the great rights that they have over them..."

This law is a message to men before women. But many men used this as evidence that they can treat their womenfolk like slaves. This is a clear oppression. Men have to follow the Shari'ah and apply the Shari'ah. If he misused his rights, it means he is disobeying his Creator.

If you want to live a life of this religion, it is not enough to know the rules of the Shari'ah, you have to understand the spirit of the law. The man who doesn't understand the spirit of the law that gives him the upper right is like a body without spirit --a corpse. By the same token the woman who understands the spirit of the law but does not give the rights given to her husband, she cannot do that either. Can anyone live with a spirit and no body? Can anyone live with a dead body, a body without a spirit?

May Allah make us obedient to Him and help us in our affairs. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.

Wassalaam

Belief in Destiny

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Belief in destiny consists in knowing that what hit one was not going to miss, and what misses one was not going to hit. The question sometimes arises: Why then are people responsible when Allah destines our acts and creates them?

From the point of view of ultimate verities, Allah is the "Creator of everything” (Koran 6:102). But from the point of view of human experience, first, Allah has given us moral imperatives; secondly, we have a will; and third, we find in ordinary life that we have to make up our minds about nearly everything we do before we can do it. As far as we can tell, our actions arise by free choice.

Allah has told us that we will be judged for these actions, that our eternal soul "has what it earns, and incurs what it commits” (Koran 2:286), indicating that though all actions are created, human choice has an exceptional status among these actions, and is a faculty genuinely possessed by the soul. The precise relation between divine destiny and human choice, however, is not comprehended by us in all its particulars.
This is no reason in itself to doubt the existence of either destiny or human choice, for there are many things we do not know all the particulars of, but do not therefore doubt. If we survey the things immediately around us, for example, we find that our ignorance of most of them is much greater than our knowledge, yet this is unimportant for using them in our lives. From how the paper we write upon is manufactured, to the thousands of separate molecular reactions needed to produce incandescence in a simple candle, to the relation between our cellular biology and our most familiar companion, human consciousness – our typical ignorance of things does not prevent us from benefitting from them.

With destiny and human choice too, we know enough to benefit. We know that Allah is Master of everything that exists, and that events are His creations. But this does not prevent anyone from obeying Him and earning His good pleasure. We experience our own choices as free and uncompelled, and Allah will judge us from this human, experiential point of view- the context of obedience, sin, repentance, and forgiveness—not from a divine point of view of timeless destiny to which we have no access.

Allah’s foreknowledge of our destiny may be likened, for comparison, to a teacher in a classroom full of students. He has been teaching them all year, yet he gives them a final examination anyway, so they can see for themselves their achievement. No one has reason to complain after having been given a chance to determine their final grade.

Because of the way we experience things, no one has an excuse or case against God, when He has send prophetic messengers telling us what He expects of us, given us ears with which to hear the message, and finally an intellect with which to choose our course in life. Like a host of other things we do not fully comprehend, we know enough about human choice, good, and evil to make successful decisions.

Finally, the hiddenness of destiny is not only a truth, but a blessing. If people knew the full secret of their destiny in advance good men would grow complacent and bad men worse. That it remains a secret is a motive for excelling to the highest stations attainable, while knowing that matters have already been decided gives us strength and fortitude for what is beyond our power.

by Shaykh Nuh Keller, from Sea without Shore

And Allah knows best
Wassalaam

Source: Sekersguidance.org Belief in Destiny, It’s Good and Evil

Oppression

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If we choose to disobey Allah, we have oppressed ourselves, because we are depriving ourselves from good and hurting ourselves in this life before the next. So when we are hurt or when we have problems or disasters, don't be so quick to point fingers at others, rather look into ourselves, individually as well as collectively, and ask, "What have I done to disobey Allah?". If you are truthful to yourself, you will find there are many. The first thing we should do is to turn to the All Merciful and start correcting our own mistakes.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "Allah the Almighty said: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.'" [At-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.]

Keep asking Allah for guidance and tawfiq.

The Qur'an is the answer to the call for guidance. Allah increases in guidance those who adopt guidance.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥

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 2:2-5]

Allah does whatever He wills. He gives tawfiq to whoever He wills and He misguides whoever He wills. If we want to be of the people of Allah's tawfiq, we have to choose to obey our Lord. He misguides those who choose to disobey Him. When Allah gives us tawfiq, we should be thankful.

The path towards Allah is not without many many tests. Allah tests the believers. He knows who is going to be successful and who is going to fail. His knowledge is perfect. His testing is to establish the worth of those who succeed and the case against those who fail.

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣﴾ أَمْ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسْبِقُونَا ۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٤

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (3) Or do those who do evil deeds think they can outrun Us? Evil is what they judge. (4)

[Qur'an Al-Ankabut 29:2-4]

Narrated Shaqiq: I heard Hudhaifa saying, "While we were sitting with 'Umar, he said, 'Who among you remembers the statement of the Prophet about the afflictions?' Hudhaifa said, "The affliction of a man in his family, his property, his children and his neighbors are expiated by his prayers, Zakat (and alms) and enjoining good and forbidding evil." 'Umar said, "I do not ask you about these afflictions, but about those afflictions which will move like the waves of the sea." Hudhaifa said, "Don't worry about it, O chief of the believers, for there is a closed door between you and them." 'Umar said, "Will that door be broken or opened?" I said, "No. it will be broken." 'Umar said, "Then it will never be closed," I said, "Yes." We asked Hudhaifa, "Did 'Umar know what that door meant?" He replied, "Yes, as I know that there will be night before tomorrow morning, that is because I narrated to him a true narration free from errors." We dared not ask Hudhaifa as to whom the door represented so we ordered Masruq to ask him what does the door stand for? He replied, "'Umar." [Bukhari]

May Allah guide us and grant us tawfiq to the highest station. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Magnificent Character

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A magnificent charecter is a correct way of living and receiving the events of life and dealing with them. It does not exist except in someone who possesses a vast intellect. The intellect is the human soul which prevents its possessor from engaging in vile, shameful or evil conduct.

So, someone who has a vast intellect will restrain himself at the time of anger and display beautiful character. He would be able to control himself and be more wary of allowing it to bring him down to that which is not appropriate for him to engage in.

The Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, had an excellent, complete and sound intellect. No man has ever had an intellect as complete and perfect as his.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was a living example for all humans to follow. His wife Aisha, may Allah be pleased with he, was asked about his manners, and she said,

His manners were the Qur’an.

In this statement, Aisha meant that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, abided by its laws and commands and abstained from its prohibitions, and observed the virtuous deeds mentioned in it.

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

Allah has sent me to perfect good manners and to do good deeds.

(Bukhari & Ahmed)

Allah, the Exalted, described the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying,

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

And indeed, you are of a great moral character

[Qur'an Al-Qalam 68:4]

Abu Ad-Darda reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

There is nothing that weighs more heavily on the scales than good character.

[Abu Dawood]

Therefore, it is obligatory upon us, for our own benefit, to have concern for good moral traits for our own self and for our families and those we are responsible for.

It is possible for every individual to be purified from vile characteristics and character traits, to become adorned with praiseworthy qualities, and noble and beautiful qualities. This is by their sincerely seeking this and having resolve in attaining this. If this resolve becomes completed, the person will begin to observe that which precede from him, whether from sayings, deeds, or ways in which he deals with others, so he can beautify his inward appearance.

But how many people do we see in the world who spent wealth and endure difficulties in order to beautify some aspect of ther outward appearance (face, teeth, nose, etc) and all of that do not amount to anything in comparison to beautifying one's character.

Don't busy yourself with the wrong things.

1. If people busy themselves with worldly matters, busy yourself with next-worldly matters.

2. If people busy themselves with beautifying their outward, busy yourself with beautifying your inward.

3. If people busy themselves with building palaces, busy yourself with preparing for your grave.

4. If people busy themselves with others’ faults, busy yourself with your own faults.

5. If people busy themselves with serving created things, busy yourself with serving the Creator.

[Ibrahim bin Adham, may Allah be pleased with him]

May allah grant us tawfiq to become rid of blameworthy traits and to become adorn with noble qualities. We ask Allah to give us taqwa and guide us to the best character traits and steer us away from evil. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

An Unceasing Duty to Parents

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah has commanded us to be good to our parents in countless verses of the Qur'an and they are many hadith and hadith literature that talk about being good to one's parents.

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ﴿٢٣

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

[Qur'an Al-Isra 17:23]

After enjoining upon us the duty of excellence in rendering kindness towards our parents, Allah orders us to pray for our parents,

رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا

My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.

[Qur’an al-Isra' 17: 24]

One should show all types of kindness to one’s parents. Some scholars said being good to parents means to accompany them in a good manner and never wait for them to ask you for what they need. One should avoid doing anything that can cause one's parents to be angry or disown one.

Being good to one's parents is not conditional upon them being good to one or them being Muslims.

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

Whoever comes into the morning and both his parents are pleased with him, he comes into the morning with two doors of Paradise open to him. Whoever goes into the evening and both parents are pleased with him, he goes into the evening with two doors of Paradise open for him. And if he has just one parent, then one door of Paradise is open to him. Whoever comes into the morning and both his parents are angry with him, he comes into the morning with 2 doors of hellfire open to him. Whoever goes into the evening with both parents are angry with him, he goes into the evening with 2 doors of hellfire open to him. And if he has just one parent, then one door is open for him." After realizing this huge position of parents that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was telling the companions about, one of the Companions asked, "Even if the parents were oppressive to them?" The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, "Even if they oppress the child, even if they oppress the child, even if they oppress the child.

One of the scholars was seen weeping at the death of his mother, and when asked why he wept, he said, "Why shouldn't I cry when one of the doors of Paradise has left me." His mother, while she was alive allows a door of Paradise opens for him and once she passed away, it's over.

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

“One who has been disowned by his parents is told: ‘Act as you please, for I shall not forgive you.’ Whereas one who is good towards his parents is told, ‘Act as you please. I will be forgiving towards you.’”

Narrated Anas ibn Malik, that Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, says,

Whoever has pleased his parents, he has pleased Allah and whoever has angered his parents, he has angered Allah.

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

Allah will not accept the prayers of the person whose parents are angry with him and their parents are not oppressors.

Because of severity of disrespecting or mistreatment of parents, it is quick to be punished and that punishment will come in this life, and one can expect punishment in the next life.

Children should always seek forgiveness from their parents and don't wait till Eid or before going away for a long journey or before leaving for hajj or umrah.

Dutifulness to our parents do not cease with their death. It continues as long as we live.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is reported to have said,

"When a son of Adam passes away, he is cut off from his deeds except for three things: a current or perpetual charity, good knowledge that benefits someone, and a righteous/pious child who makes du'a (supplication) for him.

One can show kindness and do acts expressing dutifulness to his parents after their death by making du'a for them. Prayers for forgiveness offered by the deceased children bring great benefits to the deceased. Strive to pray for them as much as possible--ask for forgiveness, mercy, Paradise and salvation from the Fire for them, and make other good and beautiful du'a' (supplications) for them. One of the best way to remember to make the du'a is to do it during (especially during prostration when we have our foreheads on the ground in humility) or after each obligatory prayer.

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

“A man’s status will be raised in Paradise and he will ask, ‘How did I get here?’ He will be told, ‘By your son’s du'a’s (prayers) for forgiveness for you.”

[Ibn Majah]

Most scholars are of the opinion that children may do all kinds of charitable or good deeds on behalf of their deceased parents, with the intention of sending their rewards to them. Allah, out of His sheer mercy, will convey rewards to them. Many scholars include reading of the Qur’an in this category of permissible good works that one may do on behalf of one’s deceased parents or relatives.

Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that a man said to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, “My mother has passed away, and if she could have spoken, she would have given something in charity. Will she receive a reward if I give something on her behalf?" He said, “Yes.” [Bukhari]

A man approached the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, asking, “Is there anything I must do in terms of kindness towards my parents after their death?” The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, “Yes, there are four things for you to do: Praying and asking forgiveness of Allah on their behalf, fulfilling their promises, respecting their friends, and fostering their ties of kinship..." [Bukhari al-Adab al-Mufrad]

There are also several hadiths reported on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas and others to the effect that a Muslim child can do several acts of righteousness as well as religious obligations (such as hajj, fasting, zakat, kaffarah, vows, paying off debts, etc.) on behalf of his deceased parents as a form of showing kindness to them after their death.

‘Abdullah ibn Buraydah reported that his father, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “While I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, a woman came to him and said: ‘I gave my mother a slave-woman in charity, and now my mother has died.’ He said: ‘You have got your reward, and your right of inheritance has brought your gift back to you.’ She said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, she still had one month to fast – can I fast it on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Fast it on her behalf.’ She said, ‘She never went to Hajj – can I perform Hajj on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Perform Hajj on her behalf.’” [Muslim]

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that a woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “My mother made a vow to perform Hajj but she died before she could do it. Can I perform Hajj on her behalf?" He said, “Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf. Don’t you think that if your mother owed a debt you would pay it off?” She said, "Yes." He said, “Then pay off what is owed to Allah, for Allah is more deserving of having vows fulfilled.” [Bukhari]

Another thing that may benefit the deceased is if his relative devotes a share to him of a sacrifice he offers. When the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, offered a sacrifice, he said: “In the name of Allah, O Allah, on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.” [Muslim] The family of Muhammad included both the living and the dead.”

It is highly recommended for us to visit the graves of our parents. Such visits serve as excellent reminders for us besides prompting us to remember and pray for our parents. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “In the past, I had forbidden you from visiting graves, but now you should do so, for it might remind you of the next world.”

May Allah have mercy on our parents and grant them the highest Paradise without reckoning, and help us to be dutiful to our parents till we meet Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Are People Drunk?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah is the Rich and we are the poor. We are in need of Allah and Allah does not need us. He can do away with all of us and bring forth a new creation. And that is not difficult for Allah.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّـهِ ۖ وَٱللَّـهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ ﴿١٥﴾ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ ﴿١٦﴾ وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ بِعَزِيزٍ ﴿١٧

O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy. (15) If He wills, He can do away with you and bring forth a new creation. (16) And that is for Allah not difficult. (17)

[Qur'an Fatir 35:17]

هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ ۖ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَـٰلَكُم ﴿٣٨

Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. (38)

[Qur'an Muhammad 27:38]

This is a fact that none can escape, yet people go after the treasures of the world and heedless of Allah.

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ ﴿٢٠

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

[Quran Al-Hadid 57:20]

The Most Wise did not create you to gratify your base desires and passions, nor did He create you for fun, amusement, eating, drinking, sleeping, or having sex.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

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

[Qur'an Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]

But most people are so heedless as if they are drunk with the elixir of immortality. They think the angel of death will never squeeze their souls out of their body. They are totally unaware of the punishment that awaits them in their grave.

They are clueless of the terror of the Day, the Day that everyone will have to bear his burden and no one will be able to bear the burden of another person's sins. On that Day, a father would say to his son, 'You know how affectionate a father I was to you?' He will say, 'yes, your favors to me are countless. You have certainly faced many a hardship for me during the life of the world.' Then, the father will say, 'son, today I need you. Give me some of your good deeds, so that I can have my salvation.' The son will say, 'father, the return you asked for is not much, but what can I do? If I were to give that to you, I shall be facing the same situation that you are facing now, therefore I am sorry, I cannot help you.' Then, he will say the same thing to his wife, 'I sacrificed everything for you during the life of the world. Today, I need a few of your good deeds. Please give these to me.' The wife will give him the same answer as was given by the son.

They forget that they will pass through the Siraat with the intense Fire of Hell underneath them.

فِى سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ ﴿٤٢﴾ وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ ﴿٤٣﴾ لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ﴿٤٤﴾ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٤٦

[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water (42) And a shade of black smoke, (43) Neither cool nor beneficial. (44) Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence, (45) And they used to persist in the great violation,

[Qur'an Al-Waqi'ah 56:42-46]

Protect yourself from Hellfire. Make your deeds pure for His sake alone, and He will extend His mercy to you. Upload His religion, and He will extend His bounty to you. Follow the Sunnah of His beloved, and He will extend His love to you.

Look forward to your meeting with the Lord. Make preparation for that meeting now. It will be very soon.

Beg the Lord of His Mercy. Turn to Him with a heart full of sincere repentance.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّـهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّـهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٨

O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent." (8)

[Qur'an At-Tahrim 66:8]

Stand before your Lord with humility, implore the Dispenser of Grace by His Most Beautiful Names and Attributes of perfection. If He fulfills your wish, increase in your gratitude and servitude to Him. If He denies your request, then succumb to the Divine Decree of the All-Wise with a submissive heart. Do not argue or object to His will.

And always remember,

وَٱللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٩ ...

... Allah knows and you know not.

[Qur'an An-Nur 24:19]

لَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَٔلُونَ ﴿٢٣

He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned. (23)

[Qur'an Al-Anbiya 21:23]

May Allah rain us with His mercy and forgiveness and make our meeting with Him the best of meetings. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Betrayal

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Most High says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّـهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.

(Qur'an Al Anfal 8:27)

If we leave the orders of Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, we are essentialy betraying the trust of Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and we will be accountable before Allah.

Everything in our lives is in the form of a trust from Allah--our body, our possessions, our knowledge, our environment, our positions, and so on. Everything belongs to Allah.

وَلِلَّـهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطًا ﴿١٢٦

And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allah, of all things, encompassing. (126)

[Qur'an An-Nisa 4:126]

Nothing belongs to us. We cannot do whatever we like with them. We must follow what the Owner wants us to do with them.

Just like when your neighbor gives you the keys to his house and ask you to take care of his house while he is traveling, you do just that--take care of his house. You will make sure the lawn is watered and no menace comes to his house. Actually you should take care of his property better than you would yours. You don't invite your friends and have a party by his pool. This is misappropriation, theft, breach of trust, abuse of the power that your neighbor had temporarily given to you, to name a few crimes you have committed. Just because you have access to his house, that doesn't mean you own his house and everything in it to allow you to do as you like. You will have to seek forgiveness from your neighbor and repent to Allah. Otherwise, it will be shown in the Day of Judgment, and it won't be an easy reckoning for you.

Allah says,

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا ﴿١﴾ وَأَخْرَجَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا ﴿٢﴾ وَقَالَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا لَهَا ﴿٣﴾ يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا ﴿٤﴾ بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا ﴿٥﴾ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ ٱلنَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا۟ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُۥ ﴿٧﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُۥ ﴿٨

When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake (1) And the earth discharges its burdens (2) And man says, "What is [wrong] with it?" - (3) That Day, it will report its news (4) Because your Lord has commanded it. (5) That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds. (6) So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, (7) And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. (8)

[Qur'an al-Zalzala 99:1-8]

May Allah protect us from disobedience and conceal our sins. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Leadership

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Leadership is, at its core, all about power and influence. A leader can use his or her power to benefit others but also to gain personally. How many poor former or current leaders of countries in recent times that you know of?

Leaders should live like the poorest members of their community. They should never discriminate among their subjects; rather, they should strive to love them, prefer them over themselves, and act so that their people will love them sincerely. They should be faithful to their community, and secure their community's loyalty and devotion in return. In no way should they be seduced by the world's charms and life's attractions. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, had all the necessary qualities for success in every aspect of life. He had no worldly ambitions nor abused his authority. When he was confronted with great hostility and tempting bribes, he instead told them, "Say: 'There is no god but Allah,' and prosper (in both worlds)" [Hakim]. He was able to lead his community to success in every field. He is the source from which flowed all later developments related to command, statecraft, religion, spiritual development, and so on in the Muslim world.

Power has advantages and disadvantages for leaders. Power makes leaders more assertive and confident and certain of their decisions. This enables them to move forward on chosen courses of action. But the more people possess power, the more they tend to focus on their own egocentric desires and the less able they are to see others' perspectives. Leaders who become "intoxicated" by power - engaging in wrong behavior simply because they can and they can get away with it (and some followers are willing to collude). Some people are simply power hungry and prone to use their power to subjugate others. And so we hear about dictators and many many corrupt leaders, those who use their power for personal gain at the expense of others. What can we do about those leaders? Not much. In most cases, it would make things worse for the people if you try to remove them. But we can do something about ourselves, as leaders in our individual capacities. And if we do that, it will make a huge difference to the world we live in now.

Whether you are a parent, a sibling, a teacher, a student, a professional, an entrepreneur, a politician or an imam, we are all leaders. Leadership is about influencing others towards a goal. Even if you think you are a follower, you are a leader of another follower or someone else in another capacity. At a basic level, you are entrusted to lead others to good. One simple example, but a great good nonetheless, is your giving salaams to another Muslim. Here, you are leading the Muslim in doing good by his responding to your salaams which now increases his good deed. Although, it is sunnah to give salaams to a Muslim (i.e. you don't sin by not doing it) but look at how your action set the stage for goodness. Therefore, Muslim households that do not have this habit of giving salaams to each other are missing a great good.

The most important characteristic in a leader is trustworthiness. The most famous characteristics of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, even before his Prophethood were honesty and trustworthiness. He was referred to "The Trustworthy". Even his enemies who hated him entrusted him with their most valuable possessions. They would curse him in the day and entrusted him with their valuables in the night.

Being untrustworthy are despicable traits for anyone. Everyone detests an untrustworthy person.

Even in our personal worship, we are leaders for people around us. Effective leaders are those who lead by examples. So, we should have absolute conviction towards our belief. We should not put off our worship or hide our prayers on account of others. I once had a gathering in my house and among those invited were a few non Muslims. When prayer time entered, adhan was called and we (except a few Muslims) prayed as a group but the non-Muslims decided to follow after we had started the prayer.

It is easier for people to believe in what we believe in if our actions are in line with our belief. If you tell people how great Islam is but you are not doing what Islam is teaching you--when they see you shouting and angry, they see you wearing just like them, they see Muslim men prosecuted for domestic violence, they hear Muslim leaders stealing from the people's wealth and oppressing their people or selling their countries, they see much poverty and lack of cleanliness in Muslim communities, how can we expect to change their negative perceptions of Muslims and so-called Muslims countries? How can we rise to lead the Ummah?

So where do we begin? We can't change the world, but we can change ourselves. Change begins at home. As Muslims, it is crucial we have our worship straight. Be a good leader to your family by showing good examples.

If you tell your children to pray or go to the masjid, and you don't pray and hardly go to the masjid, they are not going to obey you happily. If you tell your children Qur'an is the answer to everything and they should learn the Qur'an but they never saw you touch the Qur'an except to place it on the shelf or move it to dust the shelf, it would be very difficult for them to believe you and follow what you said. If they see you lie, they will lie. Be brave and be honest. You are not expected to have all the answers and it is okay to say "I don't know" but work hard to try to solve the problems together. Be resilient, don't give up--leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. When the Companions complained about the harsh conditions and persecution in Makkah, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, responded, "By Allah, Allah will bring this matter (the establishment of Islam) to its consummation till a rider will travel from San'a' (in Yemen) to Hadramaut fearing none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty" [Bukhari].

Muslims have the greatest power, which is Islam. Don't abuse this power and don't forget that people are watching. Unless you’re locked alone in your bedroom, and you’re sure that no one can see or hear you, you need to recognize that anything you say and do can and will be used against you and Muslims as a whole, and you as leaders, in the court of public opinion.

May Allah make us steadfast in our worship and make us leaders of the righteous. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best,
Wassalaam

Your Importance

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Look up to the skies often
Day and night
For you will find beauty in every inch
It will bring you joy.
You might ask
What can you see in a pitch black night?
What can you see in a gloomy day
overwhelmed with rain clouds?
You see Allah at work
And everything He painted is beautiful!
And beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Imagine if we can see what is beyond the sky. It is something more tremendous beyond our imagination.

All that is known of the universe, including what we can see, is within what is called the lowest heavens (part of the temporary world).

Allah says,

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ ﴿٦

We have adorned the lower heaven with the adornment of the star. [Quran As-Saffat 37:6]

Above the lower heaven there are six more heavens, and above it is the Baitul Ma'mur, and above it is the Sidratul Muntaha (it is a lote tree which marks the end of the heavens) and beyond that is another world--Paradise and the Throne of Allah.

The sky that we see as compared to the one above it is like a ring in a desert, and the one above as compared to the one above it is like a ring in a desert, and similarly to the one above it as compared to the right above it, and so on. How insignificant what we can see as compared to what is out there. And imagine how much more insignificant we are on the ground.

The heavens are moaning. On every space equivalent to the size of four fingers, there is an angel bowing or prostrating to Allah.

Abu Dharr reported that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

I see what you do not see and I hear what you do not hear. Heaven moans and it has the right to moan. There is no place in it the width of four fingers without an angel placing his brow on it, prostrating to Allah Almighty. By Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much and you would not enjoy women on beds and you would go out to the streets seeking the help of Allah Almighty.

[Tirmidhi]

The Baitul Ma'mur (a creation of Allah equivalent to the Ka'bah to us) is visited by 70,000 angels everyday, they pray and do tawaf in it. Each day a fresh batch of 70,000 angels come to it. Till the Day of Judgement the same batch of angels will not get a chance to return to it again. When this is the number of Allah’s work force, how powerful must Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) be?

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said narrating about the journey of ‘Isra wa Miraaj,

Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur. I asked Jibril about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Imagine, this has been going on for millions or billions or whatever number of years (Allah knows best). There is such a vast creation up there that should humble us to the core. Every time we look up to the skies, it should remind us of this and should humble us.

As you can see Allah does not need us. He does not need our prayers and does not benefit from our worship and obedience nor harm by any disobedience from us and any of His servants. But we need Him. We need Him in every moment of our lives--in this world and the Hereafter.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ﴿٣٨﴾ إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا۟ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٣٩

O believers, what is amiss with you, that when it is said to you, 'Go forth in the way of God,' you sink down heavily to the ground? Are you so content with this present life, rather than the world to come? Yet the enjoyment of this present life, compared with the world to come, is a little thing. (38) If you go not forth, He will chastise you with a painful chastisement, and instead of you He will substitute another people; and you will not hurt Him anything, for God is powerful over everything. (39)

[Qur'an At-Tawba 9:38-39]

هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ ۖ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَـٰلَكُم ﴿٣٨

Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. (38)

[Qur'an Muhammad 47:38]

Be a grateful servant. It is only our own loss if we are not grateful. How do you show gratitude?

"You must fill up your time with acts of worship, so that no period of time elapses, whether by night or by day, without being used in some act of goodness." (quoting from Imam Al-Haddad's Book of Assistance)

Learn the religion of Allah (this is part of worship with sincere intention for His sake only) so you know what you should do, how to worship Him. Don't delay the learning. If you can learn from a learned person, that's good, if not find somebody who are more learned than you, and if not pick up a book, but learn now. Procrastination is not an excuse. Majority of the screaming people in the Hellfire is because of their procrastination on this earth.

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٧
بَلْ بَدَا لَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُخْفُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَوْ رُدُّوا۟ لَعَادُوا۟ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ ﴿٢٨

If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say, "Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers." (27) But what they concealed before has [now] appeared to them. And even if they were returned, they would return to that which they were forbidden; and indeed, they are liars. (28)

[Qur'an An-An'am 6:27-28]

May Allah not leave us alone even for a blinking of an eye. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Seeing Life in a Different Light

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

As Muslims, we have a broad perspective of life. We are not constricted to the narrowness of this world. We are not in the dark. We have the Qur'an to guide us.

Without Qur'an, we would not be able to understand the purpose of this life. We see a very skewed view on life. Somehow money comes to people's minds often and they can't see much of anything else. They fantasize having loads of money and having a great job and high positions and becoming rich, famous and popular, living a glamourous life of the rich and famous, attracting beautiful women (rich men). They grab everything they could put their hands on, from whoever, wherever and using whatever means. They live to eat--and they overfill their stomachs like there is no tomorrow. Obviously, these people don't have a clue about the consequences of their actions, don't know what is halal and what is haram, most don't care. Why? Because they are living only for the moment.

When we recite the Qur'an, we see the entire span of creation in front of our eyes--the heavens and the earth, the Prophets (started with Adam, Allah grant him peace, to Muhammad Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace), the nations before us (Fir'aun, Bani Israel, people of Salih, Hud, Shu'aib, Nuh, etc), and the future (death, life in the grave, resurrection, Day of Judgment, Paradise and Hell.)

With Qur'an, we see the vastness of this life and the afterlife. We see things in a different light. No longer money becomes our concern, no longer we worry about what people would say to us when we try to do something good, no falling into depression. We don't give up so soon when something turn out difficult. Allah is the Creator of everything and to Him we shall return. "...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." (Hadith Qudsi related by Bukhari)

If you have Faith, Taqwa and patience, you will succeed in the good you want to do, no matter how impossible that task may seem, no matter what eyes may see and what ears may hear.

Remember, the story of Musa, Allah grant him peace, and his people--the sea was in front of them and Fir'aun and his army were pursuing them? His people were afraid and said, "We are sure to be overtaken!". But Musa turned to Allah to guide him (to show him some way of escape from the danger). Fir'aun was drowned and Musa and his people were taken across the sea safely. Surely, the faith of Musa stands in strong contrast to the fears of his people.

There are many many stories in the Qur'an which are meant for us to learn from and guide us through our lives. That is why it is recommended to recite the Qur'an everyday. The closer you are with the Qur'an, the easier your life will be. The blessings of reciting Allah's Speech are tremendous. If you start now, you are ahead of those who haven't started or have slackened. Don't procrastinate.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢
This is the Book (the Qur'an) about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah -

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:2]

This life is a journey, not a destination. It is a journey home to our Creator. So travel to Him in whatever state you are in, paralyzed, broken bones, broken heart, healthy, wealthy, but don't wait until everything is fine or everything is gone.

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

May Allah make our journey safe and easy, and make our lives fill with His Light. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Greatest Favor

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

... ۚ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًا ...

...This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion...[Qur'an Al-Maida 5:3]

But how many Muslims feel Islam is a favor for them rather than a huge burden? How many Muslims take the religion seriously? Perhaps it is as many as the number of people praying Fajr and Isha' at the masjid. For Muslim men, especially those who live close to the masjid, that is within 5 to 20 minutes walking or driving distance, there is really no excuse not to pray at the masjid.

The nafs will find it easy to wake up in the morning and drive to work everyday but difficult to wake up in the morning and walk or drive to the masjid every morning. Why? It is the nature of the nafs which finds it easy to obey our own desires but difficult to obey the commands of Allah, who is the One who gives us everything we have. But if we realize that Islam is a great favor bestowed upon us, we will rush to do what Allah told us to do.

In order to make easy on the nafs to do what Allah wants us to do, we have to have knowledge of Islam, both inward and outward. Allah has made seeking knowledge obligatory for every Muslim and that is to make it easy for us (one less thing to think about--just do, "we hear and we obey" [Al-Baqarah 2:285]). The Shari'ah is there so there can be order in our lives, personally and collectively, if we follow. A life that is haphazard is not going to work for us, like the roads without traffic rules in which everyone do whatever they like, it will be chaos.

The people of knowledge are the heirs of the Prophets and they inherit knowledge. The one who takes knowledge is taking an ample share. And if someone travels a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make his path to the Garden easy.

Allah says, "Only His slaves who have knowledge fear Allah," (35:28) and "Only those with knowledge will understand it," (29:43) and "They will say, 'If only we had really listened, used our minds, we would not have been the Companions of the Blaze." (67:10) and "Are they equal: those who know and those who do not know?" (39:9)

While you are still young and healthy, go seek knowledge and don't wait much longer. Even if you have small children to run around for, even if you are busy with your marriage, your work, your secular studies, whatever else that maybe, don't postpone it. Believe me it won't get any easier. I have been there and I know it takes a lot to raise a family. But we don't rely on ourselves for anything. It should never be that way. We rely on Allah alone and have trust in Him. Nothing is difficult with Allah's help. My life transformed when I came to this realization. Allah has helped me to succeed in my law school and my law career during trying times of my life and so I asked myself, why wouldn't Allah help me to succeed in seeking the knowledge of His deen? I left everything behind to be around people of knowledge and many people thought I was crazy and did my children a disservice by depriving them of the American universities. Not everyone should pack up and leave just like that--it needs consultation with trusted scholars and some planning, but bottomline we have to make a decision and brave ourselves and take the first step towards Him, and the rest will be easy and you are in for an enjoyable ride, inshaAllah.

Allah has promised that "He who draws close to Me a hand's span, I will draw close to him an arm's length. And whoever draws near Me an arm's length, I will draw near him a fathom's length. And whoever comes to Me walking, I will go to him running."

By the authority of Abu Dhar that Allah's Messenger said that Allah said: He who comes with a good deed, its reward will be ten like that or even more. And he who comes with vice, his reward will be only one like that, or I can forgive him. He who draws close to Me a hand's span, I will draw close to him an arm's length. And whoever draws near Me an arm's length, I will draw near him a fathom's length. And whoever comes to Me walking, I will go to him running. And whoever faces Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, I will meet him with forgiveness nearly as great as that, provided he does not worship something with me. (This Hadith is sound and reported by Muslim, Ibn Majah and Ahmad in his Musnad). Another prophetic tradition says: (He who met Allah associating anything with Him, will enter Hell) (Muslim)

I know many young families and baby boomers who left their respective home country to seek sacred knowledge abroad and to give their children that opportunity, and they are many many more I came across over the years from all over the world and all walks of life. So, they are your examples and inspiration. Even if you are old, don't think it is too late. It is never too late to seek knowledge as long as you are alive. In fact, you should have no excuse if you can still comprehend things. With the availability of internet, you don't even have to travel far, you can sit in the comfort of your own home to learn the religion. So there is no excuse. Of course, there are so many of them out there and you have to be careful from who you are taking the knowledge and for that you have to ask.

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

Take benefit from five things before five things: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your preoccupation, and your life before death.

[Al-Hakim]

And the words of Allah, "Allah will raise in rank those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge," (58:11) and "Say: 'Lord, increase me in knowledge.'" (20:114)

O Allah, increase us in knowledge and make our task easy. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Anything For a Piece of Pie

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 a recurring theme in the Muslim history that when the Muslims have sincerity towards the religion of Allah, they achieved victory. Allah opened up lands for the Muslims. When the Muslims prospered, they became corrupt and greedy and that led to the downfall.

In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH. The companions used to eat the 2 black things -- dates and water. In rare occasions when they have bread, salt and oil, this was a great feast to them and they thank Allah profusely. Look at us now -- meat, fish, poultry, 3+ course and elaborate meals everyday for some people. And what have we become as a society?

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him:

Once the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said, "The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."

[Bukhari]

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

The best of my ummah is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them... Then, after them, people will come who will testify only for their own interests, be treacherous, violate their vows, and they will become fat.

[Bukhari]

How did the companions become the best of nation? It happened in adversity. The companions went through many trying times. Adversity makes people strong. Fearing Allah and living a life of piety and uprightness result in Allah open great bounty to the land.

The concerns of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, came true in Andalus [Muslim Spain]. The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came to Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece of the pie and self destruct. One of the sunnahs of Allah is Muslims win against all odds, but then when the odds are with them, they lose. Why? Because they were greedy. The sunnah of history is when people become greedy everything fell apart. This is how Muslim empire and all great empires rise and fall.

Indeed, the dunya is the root of all evils. All the matters of this world – wealth, spouses, children, commerce and worldly ambitions – is keeping many people busy in this life, and make them heedless of the Creator and forget about the Hereafter, which is a perfect and infinitely superior residence for them. Some would even sell their dignity and integrity just so they can have a small piece of this dunya. Allah has spoken about these kind of people in the Qur'an.

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿٨٦

Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided. (86)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:86]

If we learn our history correctly and learn from the lessons of our history, we won't have the energy to sit back and just go with the flow of our times. Our children are drifting away from Islam because we are too busy trying to fatten them and ourselves. We forget the orphans, the widows, the single mothers and the poor, who are among the most vulnerable people in society, because we are too busy fattening ourselves to notice them. If we don't stop this momentum, we will lose our next generation to this dunya and history will repeat.

Don't forget the purpose of our creation. This world is only a means of attaining the good pleasure of our Creator. Don't expect great things from this flawed life.

وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٠

And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason? (60)

[Qur'an al-Qasas 28:60]

May Allah give us the strength and aid us to fight our internal and external enemies. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

A Day of Remembrance

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

When I am awakened in the morning, I thank Allah for giving me life after that short death and giving me another opportunity to fulfill the purpose He created me and repent for my sins. True life is only His, everything outside of Him is death. He is the One who gives life, He is the One who gives death and to Him I shall return and be taken to task. He is Al-Muhyi, Al-Mumit, Al-Hakam, Al-Hasib, Al-Jami', Al-Awwal, Al-Akhir.

I seek Allah's protection from the filth of sins, externally and internally and protection of heart from slips and inmost soul from breaks. I ask Allah to hold my hand and make my tasks easy for me.

Knowing that Allah is Al-Malik, the King, and Malik al-Mulk, the Possessor of the dominion, makes it easy to go through my day. He has complete control of my destiny. He has already charted my life and my children's lives and there is no running away from it or changing it. He knows what's best for me and what's best for my children because He is the Creator.

He is the best Wakil. I rely on Him in everything and I put my trust in Him. And my day will be calm, by His Will. Allah is sufficient for me. He is Al-Aziz, Al-Hakim, Al-'Alim.

I am not alone. He is not absent. He is Al-Shahid, Al-Khabir, Al-Sami', Al-Baseer. He knows everything, sees everything, and hears everything. Not even a black ant under a black rock that moves in a dark pitch black night He does not see and hear. I am at ease knowing that Allah has these Attributes. I ask Him to give me knowledge of Him and make me learned of the realities of whom He loves. I turn to Him, not afraid of people, and conscious about using His gifts to do what He wants from me--listening, seeing, hearing, knowledge--striving to increase my knowledge of the world and knowledge of the workings of Him for His sake, calling others to Him gently and subtly, and drawing closer to Him. I surrender to His knowledge and destiny.

I ask Allah to give me the ability to show kindness to my family and other people, no matter how rough and tough they are to me and how bad they may appear to be, because Allah is loving and forgiving, and He conceals sins. He is Al-Tawwab, Al-Ghaafir, Al-Ghafur, Al-Ghaafar.

When things become difficult, I know that Al-Wadud shows His love through tests and not by giving me everything I like and everything I want. I ask for His love and I ask Him to help me take the traits of people who love Him and who He loves.

Life is not without challenge. Sometimes I want to be angry, but I am reminded of Allah, Al-Halim, Al-Sabur. Being patient gives me control in situations where I have little or no control. I cannot control others and I cannot control what happens but I can control my reaction to my circumstances. It is important to remind myself always that I don't control all the variables in the world. Allah does. He is the Wise, the All-Knowing. I ask Al-Hadi, to guide all of us and give all of us tawfiq. Success is from Him Alone. I ask Allah to give me lots of sabr in doing what He wants and in avoiding what doesn't please Him.

Walking outside, I am bound to encounter unpleasant sight, the garbage and people who are unmindful of their manners. Knowing that Allah created everything, "Who are we to find this repulsive?" to quote the words of a great imam. Whoever knows Allah is Al-Khaliq will look careful at the mastery of His creation and don't look down upon His creation. Through His creation, I can know Allah, I can see His mastery and I can see His attributes. If it were not of this world, I wouldn't know anything about my Lord.

Knowing that Allah is Al-Razzaq, it lifts me from worrying. The One who is responsible for our provisions will take care of us. He is Al-Wahhab, Al-Muqit, Al-Bari', Al-Musawwir.

Knowing that Allah is Al-Basit, the One who gives without limit, and only gives what is good for me, and the expander and the spreader, I ask Allah to increase me in all good and expand my knowledge of Him. If Allah restrains things from me, it is because He knows what is best for me, and everything that comes from Allah is good for me. I can show my gratitude to Him by spreading out in all pleasing matter and expanding myself to do everything good.

He is Al-Nafi', the One who brings benefit to His creatures. I ask Allah to give me the ability to thank Him for everything and to turn to Him for everything. I ask Him to make me means of giving to people and benefiting people. He is Al-Samad, the One who fulfills needs, and everything is in need for Him and He needs no one. I return to Him with vast desperate desires in all times and states and be a refuge for the needy to fulfill people's need.

Allah rewards people in huge degrees for such a small action that we did and for our little obedience for He is Al-Shakur. I ask Allah to help me show my gratitude to Him by praising Him a lot and using His blessings to serve Him and not using His blessings to disobey Him. I ask Allah to help me be humble before Him because no one pays back a good with more like He does. I ask Allah to help me to give back to people more than they give to me, repaying people's kindness and favors, thinking much of what people do for me, and talking about His blessings.

Everything around me is showing Allah's power and strength. He is Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir, Al-Qahhar, Al-Matin, Al-Qadir, Al-Muqtadir, Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum, Al-Muntaqim, Al-Mani', Al-Daar. No one can outdo Him. No one can escape His grasp. Allah is the Possessor of every might and every majesty. All that is happening is the will of God. I turn to him to help me in whatever He has chosen for me and surrendering to Him without complaining. I don't need to get back at anyone because Allah will take care of everything.

When I make du'a, He answers. I may not know it or I may not realize it but that is because of my shortsightedness, not because He didn't answer. If He doesn't answer to my du'a exactly, He has His wisdom for it, and I should not despair. I ask Allah to make me among those who hear and obey His commands.

"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)

Allah is the Wise, the All-Knowing. My limited human faculties are not able to comprehend the wisdom of the All-Wise behind what happens to me and to others, but knowing that He is in control and that I am a His slave, I submit to His Will, and this will enrich my humanity and enhance my obedience towards my Lord.

When my heart feels heavy with stress and sorrow, I remember Allah says:

وَقَالَ رَبُّڪُمُ ٱدۡعُونِىٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

"And your Lord says: 'Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer)..." (Quran Ghafir 40:60)

فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ لِى وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ

"Remember Me, and I shall remember you; be grateful to Me, and deny Me not." (Quran Al-Baqarah 2:152).

I end my day by forgiving everyone and thanking Allah for everything, for laying all the good for me and my children, and for warding off evil from me and my children. I ask Allah to guide us to excellence and give us tawfiq to the highest station. I ask Allah for an excellent ending at the highest of iman. To Allah we shall return.

All His actions are beautiful.

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٢٢) هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ (٢٣) هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٢٤

He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the Al-'Alim (All-Knower) of the unseen and the seen. He is Al-Rahman (the Most Gracious), Al-Rahim (the Most Merciful.) He is Allâh beside Whom is Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) Al-Malik (the King), Al-Quddus (the Holy), Al-Salaam (the One Free from all defects), Al-Mu'min (the Giver of security), Al-Muhaymin (the Watcher over His creatures), Al-Aziz (the All-Mighty), Al-Jabbar (the Compeller), Al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme). Glory be to Allâh! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allâh, Al-Khaliq (the Creator), Al-Baari' (the Inventor of all things), Al-Musawwir (the Bestower of forms). To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the Al-Aziz (All-Mighty), Al-Hakim (the All-Wise).
(Qur'an Al-Hashr 59:21-24)

رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا

My Lord, have mercy upon them [my parents] as they brought me up [when I was] small. [Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:24]

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

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

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

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

May Allah increase our love for Him and for His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and rain His mercy on the Ummah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. Ameen. wa sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Honoring Rajab

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Today begins the month of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic Calendar and one of the four sacred months. In the month of Rajab, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, went on the Night Journey and Ascension (Al-Isra wa Al-Mi'raj). This month opens the series of three holy months culminating in Ramadhan: Rajab, Sha'ban, and Ramadhan. During these three months we should prepare and keep ourselves away from sins and disobedience, and low traits and bad manners.

Part of being a slave of Allah is to honor what Allah has honored and considered great what Allah has made great. Allah has made this month of Rajab sacred. So we honor this month and be a thankful slave by indulging ourselves in extra worship and race to good actions, and avoid all disobedience and bad actions at all costs.

Abu Hurayra reported the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Race to good actions as fast as you can. What are you waiting for except delayed poverty, oppressive wealth, debilitating illness, dottering senility, a swift death or the Dajjal? Or are you waiting for an unseen evil, or the Last Hour? The Last Hour will be most bitter and terrible.

[Tirmidhi]

Pay special attention to the rights of others and fulfill them. It is extremely important to get your obligatory prayers, fasting and zakat in place, and as soon as you are financially and physically able, don't delay performing hajj. If you don't perform the obligation, nothing else is going to work for you. But once you get them in place, don't think that you have a one way ticket to Paradise without a detour to a place where no one cares to stop--the Hellfire. We have to be acutely aware of the rights of Allah and everybody. If you don't you will suffer tremendously to a point of no return.

They are rules we have to follow in dealing with people.

We cannot oppress people. Oppression is causing any harm to another, no matter how slight or how insignificant you might think. It is not limited to what we know of tyrants or oppressive and corrupt rulers and authorities.

Be especially careful not to hurt others and wrong others. 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.

We treat people with respect and honor, whether you think they deserve it or not. Your opinion doesn't count in this matter. We cannot treat people like animals. In fact, even with animals, we have to show mercy.

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

The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the Emigrant is he who abandons what God has prohibited.

Be an agent of peace or help others to be agents of peace. You don't thwart any peace works. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms and prayers? Making peace between one another. Enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.

If you have any of the signs of hypocrisy, lying, breaking promises or betraying trusts, work on removing them. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he speaks lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays his trust.

Allah says,

إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا ﴿١٤٥

Surely, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.

(Quran An-Nisa 4:145)

If you catch yourself in a situation that makes you angry, keep it down and Allah will reward you. Do not try to take your rights by force. Pardon and overlook.

Allah says,

Whoever forgives and makes peace will receive his reward from his Lord.

Allah says,

وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّـهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٢

And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (22)

[Qur'an An-Nur 24:22]

Take accounting of ourselves every night before going to sleep. When we take account of our own deeds, we are able to realize our mistakes and try to correct them immediately. Those who do not engage in accounting of 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]

Omar Al-Khattab, the Commander of the believers, advised us that:

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

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.

Remember often the terminator of pleasures.

Let's begin this month with repentance to Allah. Astaghfirullaha Al-Adhim wa atubu ilaik

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire, (16) [Qur'an AleImran 3:16]

لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ﴿١٤٩ ...
...If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers." (149) [Qur'an Al-A'raf 7:149]

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرٍّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide to your covenant and promise as best as I can, I take refuge in you from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily no one can forgive sin except you.

May Allah forgive all our sins, grant us steadfastness, guide us to excellence and unite the Ummah in peace Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive: The Four Sacred Months, Do Not Wrong Yourselves Therein

Stress About Exam?

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 exam time...here is some good advice.

In times of difficulties, confusion, stress, panic or the like, quickly go and make wudu' and pray. Remember, the delight of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is in the prayer. Prayer is an absolute tranquility and peacefulness, and wudu' burns off sins to ashes. Make lots of istighfar (asking Allah for forgiveness), dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and salawat (sending peace and blessings) upon the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and recite some Qur'an.

Realize that you are not God; you are a servant of Allah and you are powerless; and you depend on Him in everything; and He has planned and determined everything for you. When you realize this, that will benefit you beyond your imagination, more than passing your exam. Among other things, it will enable you to put things into perspective and should reduce the anxiety levels you might have, you become more relaxed and productive. But this doesn't mean you sit back and do nothing--you have to take the means and work very hard to excel in your studies, and at the same time not neglecting your duties toward your parents, your family and other people who have rights upon you.

Anything you do, and all the sacrifices and hard work and you put into seeking and learning knowledge--choosing the school/college; living away from the comfort of home; patiently dealing with bureaucracies, inefficiencies and people's idiosyncrasies; going to and attending classes in scorching heat or freezing cold with perseverance; diligently studying and preparing for the exam; going to the exam; taking the exam; etc, the whole goal is to become beloved to Allah.

If you are seeking religious knowledge, make sure you have the correct intention.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever seeks knowledge not for the sake of Allah the Exalted but rather for some worldly benefit, then he will never know Paradise on the Day of Resurrection,” meaning its fragrance. [Sunan Abu Dawud]

Likewise, if you are seeking secular knowledge, it should also be for His sake. Then, everything you do to gain this knowledge is worship of Allah which you be rewarded and Allah will put barakah in it.

Umar bin Al-Khattab narrated: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “The deeds are upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever’s emigration for worldly benefits or for to marry a woman, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”

And Success is with Allah Alone. May Allah grant you success. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Arvhive: The Coolness of My Eyes

Remorse

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Are we going to think that we are created without a purpose? This does not make sense...for those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

We are not created to amass this world, nor we are created to eat, sleep, procreate and have fun. We are created to worship Allah. We can have some fun but within the boundaries set by our Creator.

Anas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, addressed us with a speech whose like I have never heard. He said, 'If you were to know what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.' The Companions of the Messenger of Allah covered their faces and sobbed." [Agreed upon]

'Abdullah ibn ash-Shikhkhir said, "I came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was praying and his chest was heaving like a caldron from weeping." [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]

Once Hasan al-Basri passed by a man who was laughing and asked him: “Oh my nephew! Have you safely passed over the Sirat (bridge over Hell)?” He replied, “No.” Hasan al-Basri asked: “Have you received news whether you will end up in Paradise or Hell?” The man replied that he hadn’t. So Hasan al-Basri asked, “Why do you laugh then, may Allah save you, while the matter ahead is horrifying?” That man was never seen laughing until he died. (But he smiled as this is a part of the Sunnah of the Prophet.)

The horror of Hell is such that when one look at it will have a man willing even to throw his children, his wife, his brother, his parents, and his entire clan into it if by doing so he can escape himself. We cannot imagine throwing our children into any fire in this life to escape it ourselves, yet this is what people will be doing as a result of just a glance at the Fire.

On the Day of Judgment Allah Almighty will ask a sinner whether he would like to ransom himself from the Fire by giving equivalent to the weight of the world in gold. The sinner will readily agree to give twice as much. Then Allah Almighty will say: Did I not ask you for something much less than this in the world? Only a few sujuds, only to make your guest feel welcome, only to say ‘La ilaha illa Allah’? Unfortunately, the most ordinary and easy task seems difficult to us because we don’t see the Fire before our eyes. But when we do see it with our eyes it will be too late to redeem ourselves.

Allah Almighty gives sacred law for our benefit. If we remain within the sacred law, even if it is not being enforced, it will produce light in our hearts and it will realign with our lord and then there will be barakah (blessing) in our lives.

We all stained and human being sin, it's just a matter of degree, and the difference between someone enlightened and someone who is not is in how we approach our sins. Are we remorseful when we sin or are we not feel the slightest discomfort?

As Muslims we have to come to terms with reality. It is uncomfortable to come to terms with somebody you did wrong. But this is a blessing when you feel uncomfortable when you wronged someone. It motivates you forward--making tawbah (true repentance to Allah). There are 3 essential conditions of valid repentance: remorse, abandon the sin, intend and resolve never to return to the sin, and rectify the wrong.

You either burn out by fire of remorse or fire of Hell. It's our individual choice.

May Allah have mercy on us and forgive all our sins and save us from the fire of Hell. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Sanctity of the Believers

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was sent by Allah Most High to evolve moral virtues to highest perfection.

Treating others with respect, love and harmony is an important obligation that many Muslims overlooked. Many Muslims restrict Islam to modes of worship and outer appearance and do not consider one's relationship with fellow family members, friends, other Muslims and humans in general as something to do with Islam.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked regarding what is most likely to send people to Paradise? He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: 'Fear of Allah (taqwa) and good manners. And he was asked regarding what is most likely to send people to Hellfire? He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: 'One's mouth and private parts'. (Tirmidhi and others)

Sayiduna Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that "the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was the best of people in character." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Amr (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: 'Nearest to me among you are those who have the best manners.' (Bukhari)

One of the places that the people of Allah are most sensitive to is the feelings of other people.

Sayiduna Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Khattab one day looked at the Ka'aba and said, "You have an immense sanctity, but by Allah, the sanctity of the believer is greater than you."

Hurting the feelings of a believer is more serious in the sight of Allah than tearing the Ka'aba rock by rock, a powerful metaphor, if you think about it.

May Allah protect our limbs from hurting others or making people feel bad. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Malaysian Election is Over, 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.

The Malaysian election (GE13) is over. Everybody can go back to work and your family. Don't glue yourself to the internet or the print media reading about it, or sit in coffee shops or stand on street corners talking about it, or TV watching the news about it. This is a waste of time and unproductive. Allah does not love the wasters.

Remember, your time is your capital in your investment for the next life. When the capital is gone, so is your opportunity to make higher profits.

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 103:1-3]

Don't start protesting and disturbing the peace. This is a mighty transgression.

وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّـهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٧٧

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

[Qur'an Al-Qasas 28:77]

This life wants Godfearing people to seek it. This life is tired of unscrupulous people. It needs people who do not use their wealth or their power to spread corruption or to look at other human beings with contempt. It looks for the human being who realizes the nature of the role assigned to him as he is placed in charge of the Earth. Such a person provides the role model for others, showing them what it means to fulfill man's vicegerency on Earth: a vicegerency given the task to work and build, without arrogance, corruption, cheating, lying or indulgence in sin.

In every election, there are winners and there are losers. It is the nature of every election. But, as Anwar reported to say "keep calm and maintain cool, leave the matter to be handled by their leaders."

For the losers and the winners, and their respective supporters, armor yourself with patience. This is your trial and so it is a tremendous opportunity to practice patience. You are angry but you restrain yourself from acting out your anger. This is the minimum you should do.

The higher patience is avoiding the bad and disobedience. It is imperative that you don't do anything to jeopardize the security of the people. Don't be of those people who Allah talks about in the Qur'an--those who spread evil and corruption on earth. Those are the real losers.

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَـٰرَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٦

Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided. (16)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:16]

Remember, Shaytan loves to cause dissension among humans. He wants you and I and all humankind to be his company in Hell. Don't give him that companionship.

The highest level of patience and the hardest is patient of bearing things which are disliked. You want to complain, you want to be bitter, you want to say "I can't believe this is happening!", but you grip all that very tight and bear it with your face up strong and say "Alhamdulillah". You are not complaining because you know this is the destiny of Allah. This is the highest rank of the patient. Those who don't complain about the destiny of Allah, they have a tremendous reward with Allah.

Allah is As-Sabur. In the world of the Divine, the Sabur is the One who delays punishment on sinners to a determined time and then seizes them or relents, it is up to Him.

The patient is a very strong person. He is the one who have a grip upon himself. So, try to have a grip. Always remember, Allah loves the patient one and with Him is the reward of patience.

Our life here is to seek the pleasure of Allah and for Him to love us. So this is your chance. If you want Allah to love you, try patience. Those Allah loves are the real winners.

And indeed, Almighty Allah says,

I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper (Wali) of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge)and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him.

[Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadith no. 509]

May Allah bless Malaysia and bring peace to all those places where His servants are doing dhikr and remembering Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam