Closeness To The Almighty

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said,

When Allah loves a slave, calls out Angel Jibril (alayhissalaam) and says: ‘I love so-and-so; so love him.’ Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so-and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Our life should be about winning Allah’s love. Our aims, endeavors and prayers should be solely directed toward winning Allah’s approval. This effort, intended toward winning the love and approval of Allah Almighty bestows, by Allah’s leave, great spiritual strength on believers, that unbelievers can never possess.

Allah has told us how to gain His Love.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, (radhiAllahu anhu), who said that the Messenger of Allah, (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said:

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

[Bukhari]

Being productive is very important as a Muslim. A righteous deed is like a pearl necklace – when it breaks, all the pearls follow one another quickly. But we cannot expect everything to magically fall into place by doing a righteous deed. We need to struggle a great deal to achieve great things.

The Messengers praised for their exemplary lives in the Qur’an, and the believers who accompanied them faced very difficult situations that superficially appeared to be very "tough events." However, these highly virtuous believers behaved with complete security and submission in the face of everything that befell them and acted in the knowledge that it was Almighty Allah Who created everything that happened, for which reason, everything was in fact all for the best.

As revealed in the verse, "...Say : "Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust (i.e. believers) must put their trust." [Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:38), believers, who are certain that Allah Almighty will never leave them without help or inflict a heavier burden on them than they can bear, and who hope for paradise as a reward for their troubles, have always submitted to Allah under all circumstances. By Allah’s leave, this has made them strong in the face of all events.

Nearness to Allah, the All Powerful, Lord of Majesty and Generosity, Lord of Glory and Honor, is the highest achievement of all. However, it doesn't happen overnight; it takes time. We have to have patience—patience in doing righteous deeds, patience in avoiding prohibitions and patience in difficulties.

If you want to know your worth with Allah, then see what you are doing with your life. Are you pleasing Allah or disappointing Him?

You are disappointing Him if you don't follow His guidance and therefore you have wasted the life that He has given you and will incur His anger.

Seek closeness to Allah. Those who are close to Allah remember Him a great deal, know that Allah, their only friend, creates everything that happens, unhesitatingly spurn all of shaytan's empty promises, by Allah’s leave, and pay no heed to the transitory attractions of this world. These superior attributes of believers also endow them with spiritual strength.

To get close to Allah requires a few things from us: Strong intention to get closer to Allah, patience, consistency in worship and good works, stay away from His prohibitions, and avoid doing nothing/idleness. Be prepared to leave friends and companions who keep you away from your worship.

اللهم إني أسألك حبك، وحب من يحبك، والعمل الذي يبلغني حبك، اللهم اجعل حبك أحب إلى من نفسي، وأهلي، ومن الماء البارد

Allahumma inni as'aluka hubbaka, wa hubba man yuhibbuka, wal-'amalalladhi yuballighuni hubbaka. Allahumm-aj'al hubbaka ahabba ilayya min nafsi, wa ahli, wa minal-ma'il-baridi

O Allah! I ask You for Your Love, the love of those who love You, and deeds which will cause me to attain Your Love. O Allah! Make Your Love dearer to me than myself, my family and the cold water. [At- Tirmidhi]

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Nothing To Be Angry and Nervous About

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

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨

Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (28)

[Qur'an Ar-Rad 13:28]

If we realize that Allah is in control, there is nothing to be angry, to be nervous about, to a point we become sick, out of control or despair.

Stay connected with the Qur'an. Reading or memorizing the Qur’an alone is not enough. Understand it and act upon it. Reflect on its meanings. Qur'an will give you answers to your daily life’s complications. When you read the Qur’an and understand it more you will be more likely to reach the level of ihsan. You will want to do everything right and excellently and "..that you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you don’t see Him then truly He sees you.” [Bukhari Muslim]

May Allah bring us closer to Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Good Times Are Coming

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Before your difficulty there was ease, and after your difficulty there will come ease; that is the cycle of life.

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٦

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6)

[Qur'an Ash-Sharh 94:5-6]

If we are in a difficult situation, remember that Shaytan wants us to to despair. But don't despair, don’t worry, because good times are coming inshaAllah.

Have certainty that Allah will get you out of this difficulty, like the one before and the one before that and ...

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

‘I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am. I am with him when he mentions Me. If he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s length, I draw near to him an arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.’

[Bukhari and Muslim].

You have the Qur'an in your house; open it, read it, ponder it. Qur'an is a greater act of Allah's mercy than our very creation. Don't lose it.

Allah is greater than everything and anything else. Allahu Akbar. Whatever our problem is, Allah is above and beyond that. Remember Allah has guided us to Islam and surely He will not leave us alone to wander.

Get active in the community—help the poor, the needy and the weak. It is a lesson in gratitude and a reminder of our many blessings. And don’t return anyone empty-handed and declare Allah's blessings upon us.

فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ﴿٧﴾ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ﴿٨

So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (7) And to your Lord direct [your] longing. (8)

[Qur'an Ash-Sharh 94:7-8]

Don't forget, du'a, du'a, du'a. Turn to Allah, ask Him. He is As-Sami', the One who Hears. He is As-Sabur, the One who is patient with you and your troubles. He will listen to you, and never leave you empty-handed. Turn to Allah Almighty, and know that He alone can bring you out from trouble to solution.

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

Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is shy from returning them empty.

[at-Tirmidhi]

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

Be Steadfast

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ ﴿١٩

Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account. (19)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:19]

The swiftness of this reckoning starts initially soon after death when man passes into the state known as 'barzakh'. But the detailed accounting for one's deeds shall take place on the Day of Judgement when he will have to account for his doings in the minutest detail. The people who denied the truth will discover their worth and the punishment it calls for shall become known to them.

Deviating from Allah’s religion once it has been revealed to us is a grave sin.

يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلوبنا غلى دينك

Ya Muqallibalqulub, thabbit qulubbana 'ala Deenika

O Reverser of hearts, make our hearts firm on the Faith chosen by You. [Prophetic supplication]

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Jealousy and Envy

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

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

No one should be jealous of anything except two people – a man whom Allah has blessed with knowledge and he teaches it; and a man who has money and he spends it in the sake of Allah.

[Bukhari]

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

Do not be jealous among yourselves.

[Muslim]

One must realize that being jealous or envious of others is actually being displeased with Allah for his bounties upon that person. Allah in His infinite wisdom bestows upon who He wills what He wills. We have to be able to deal with the situation by being grateful (shukr) for what He has given us and being patient (sabr) on what has not been given to us.

A person who is jealous or envious of another will only be hurting himself by the feeling of rage and jealousy consuming his heart. If a person gives physical or verbal expression to his inner feeling then he will be committing an even greater sin.

The harm to his worldly life is the frustration and worry, which perpetually afflicts the envious person. He is consumed by frustration caused by envy for another whose disgrace and fall he always anticipates. In this way the envious one destroys his Hereafter in addition to eliminating his worldly comfort and peace of mind.

The disease of envy (hasad) is remedied by frequently praising the person against whom the jealousy is directed. Praise him no matter how difficult this may seem. Honor him and meet him with respect and humility.

Do not let Shaytan divide us. This is his mission. If you are facing difficulty inside yourself, offer salah, read Quran, and trust Allah Almighty.

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak (1) From the evil of that which He created (2) And from the evil of darkness when it settles (3) And from the evil of the blowers in knots (4) And from the evil of an envier when he envies." (5) [Quran Al-Falaq 113:1-5]

May Allah protect us from the evil of jealousy and envy. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Spread The Wealth

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Wealth is not solely the money or material things a person has; one can also be wealthy with knowledge.

Muslims have been blessed by the gift of Islam. You might not have much money, but you must know something about Islam. Spread the knowledge.

We have been commanded by Allah to give charity and spreading knowledge is big a part of that giving.

Remember that any single blessing Allah has given us He can take away, so benefit from your knowledge after death by sharing others the beauty of Islam so you start a cycle that will continue on inshaAllah.

Allah Almighty says,

أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَـٰتٍ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ ﴿٣٢

Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate. (32)

[Quran Az-Zukhruf 43:32]

May Allah purify our hearts and shower us with His Light. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Hardships, Ease and Patience

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We don't ask for hardships but if we are faced with hardships, trust Allah and be patient.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٢٠٠

O you who believe, be patient, compete with each other in patience, and guard your frontiers, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful. (200)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:200]

قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّـهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّـهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥١

Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector)." And in Allah let the believers put their trust. (51)

[Qur'an At-Tawba 9:51]

And His promise is true

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٦

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6)

[Qur'an ash-Sharh 94:5-6]

He does not burden us with more than we can handle.

... لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ

Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned...

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:286]

رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦

Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people. (286) [Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:286]

May Allah grant us patience. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Absolute Truth

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah's existence is undeniable and nothing else can exist except through Him. Allah calls Himself Al-Haqq— The Absolute Truth, The Reality. His Essence is the only reality and His Words, Actions, Reward, Punishment and Promise are truths.

Al-Haqq Himself says,

وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿٢٩

And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. (29)

[Quran Al-Kahf 18:29]

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُۥ يُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٦

That is because Allah is the Truth and because He gives life to the dead and because He is over all things competent (6)

[Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:6]

وَقُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا ﴿٨١

And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart." (81)

[Quran Al-Isra 17:81]

The Quran is the guidance; and for those who deny it, it will be a source of deep regret.

لَيْسَ لَهُ ٱلْيَوْمَ هَـٰهُنَا حَمِيمٌ ﴿٣٥﴾ وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنْ غِسْلِينٍ ﴿٣٦﴾ لَّا يَأْكُلُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْخَـٰطِـُٔونَ ﴿٣٧﴾ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾ وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾ إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٤١﴾ وَلَا بِقَوْلِ كَاهِنٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾ تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾ وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ ٱلْأَقَاوِيلِ ﴿٤٤﴾ لَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٤٥﴾ ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ ٱلْوَتِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾ فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَـٰجِزِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَذْكِرَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤٨﴾ وَإِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّ مِنكُم مُّكَذِّبِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَحَسْرَةٌ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٥٠﴾ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَحَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ ﴿٥١﴾ فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٥٢

And indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder for the righteous. (48) And indeed, We know that among you are deniers. (49) And indeed, it will be [a cause of] regret upon the disbelievers. (50) And indeed, it is the truth of certainty. (51) So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great. (52)

[Qur'an Al-Haqqa 69:35]

It is not sufficient to just recognize the truth, it is necessary that we act upon it. Likewise, you can not just recognize evil, you must stay away from evil. A true knowledge comes with action.

Be truthful in our speech and actions. Stand up for the truth even it is against yourself.

فَذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّـهُ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ إِلَّا ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ ﴿٣٢

For that is Allah, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted? (32)

[Quran Yunus 10:32]

Standing up for the truth may bring hardship, but the promise of ease is true.

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٦

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6)

[Qur'an ash-Sharh 94:5-6]

Especially in difficult times, remember that the promise of Al-Haqq is true.

Remain steadfast by knowing the reward of Al-Haqq is just and true.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًا وَّارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَه وَاَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَّارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَه

O Allah! Enable me to see the Truth as Truth and give me the ability to follow it. And enable me to see the falsehood as false and give me the ability to refrain from it.

May Allah guide us to live upon the truth and die upon the truth and make make us of those who advice others to the truth. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Stop The Clock

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Sorry, we can't stop the clock. We can be overwhelmed with so many things to do while time flies. How do you keep up? Easy--respect the time.

Write things down and get them out of your head. Every night before you go to bed, write down all the things you need to do the next day, in order of priority. Have a notebook handy during the day. Every time a task pops up, write it down. This way you don't have to constantly think about it or trying to remember it. And you free your mind to do soothing things -- reflecting on Allah's beautiful creation. You will take out the stress of the day and become more productive.

Remember, in the Day of Judgment, we will be asked about every moment we spent in this world.

Allah Almighty says,

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]

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

Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.

[Hakim]

So choose the tasks that would bring you most benefit in your next life.

May Allah bless our time and increase us in good works. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Staying Young

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

There are only two secrets to staying young--being happy and achieving success.

Being happy has nothing to do with having worldly things. Happiness is a sweetness that Allah Almighty places in people's heart. Happiness comes about when you have a purpose in life. And that purpose is closeness to Allah. Seek the good in this life. By that it means seek those things which facilitates for us the eternal good of the next life.

Achieving success: Only Allah Almighty gives success. Therefore, in order to achieve success, you have to do what Allah wants, not what you want. Our guide is the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Everybody think that they have a life because they are busy doing things but we have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it. There is a big difference between the living and the dead--the one who remembers Allah (he is living) and the one who does not (he is dead).

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

The difference between the one who makes dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and the one who doesn't make dhikr is like the difference between the living and the dead.

[Bukhari]

Growing older is mandatory but growing up is optional.

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

Allah has not created a disease except that He has created a cure for it; except for a single disease: old age.

[Tirmidhi]

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 21 and lie in bed for a full year and don't pray and don't fast and don't take care of your obligations, you will turn 22. If you are 80 and lie in bed for a full year and never pray and never fast and neglect your responsibilities, you will turn 81.

The idea of growing up is by about seizing the opportunity to change and transform. Everything will change eventually. It always does, even if things aren't changing. Don't be afraid of change. And if you are, then you are stunting your growth.

We will eventually turn back into dust in our graves. That's the way life goes. But believers know they will one day be brought before Allah to be judged about everything they did in this life and every single action will be displayed to them.

Allah Almighty says,

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ ٱلنَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا۟ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُۥ ﴿٧﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُۥ ﴿٨

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/The Earthquake 99:6-8]

We have to make the choice--to change or not to change. If things aren't working for you, change. We need to put the religion into action. The old people usually don't have regrets for what they did, but rather they regret for things they did not do. So, don't wait till you are 81 to repent, pray, fast, go to hajj and so on. You might not live to that age.

Seize the moment. Take advantage of the five before five. Take advantage of the five before five. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; and your health, before you fall sick; and your richness, before you become poor; and your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.

[Hakim]

Lao Tzu said an inspiring thing: If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the moment.

Be present, focus on the day you have, and know that even in hard times the longest day is only 24 hours. Don't worry about anything. It will all pass. Use the present to work for your hereafter, and don’t let this chance pass you by— you don’t know if there will be a tomorrow. Thank Allah for the moment and say Alhamdulillah.

Say sorry when you do something wrong. Don’t let negative emotions pile up. Make decisions as soon as possible. Accept that people and situations are imperfect and try to let go of things you can’t change.

Stay young and follow the straight path. Keep growing and you will stay young.

May Allah grant us good health and righteous deeds and make us die in La ilaha illa Allah إله إلا الله‎,لا (there is no god except Allah). Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Routine

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Some people hate routines and some say routines are boring but we should have a routine in our lives nonetheless.

Allah has prescribed on us a general regular devotions (awrad) which is the obligatory worship. This is the first step to draw closer to Allah. You have the daily awrad--pray 5 times daily again and again, yearly awrad such as fast in Ramadhan every year, pay zakat every year, and hajj once in a lifetime. This is the minimum awrad that we must do.

Allah Almighty says,

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا ﴿١٠٣

...Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times. (103)

[Quran An-Nisa 4:103]

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا ﴿٤١﴾ وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴿٤٢

O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance (41) And exalt Him morning and afternoon. (42)

[Quran Al-Ahzab 33:41-42]

No state can be sound in the presence of neglect, and no wealth is useful in the presence of heedlessness.

Stick to the routines from the Quran and Sunnah; pray each prayer on time and say your morning and evening supplications on time.

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. This is how barakah (blessings) within time is made manifest, the purpose of life fulfilled, and the approach of God the Exalted made constant.

You should structure your time, arrange your regular devotions (awrad), and assign to each function a set period of time during which it is given first priority but which it does not overstep. Imam al-Ghazali

You should allocate specific periods of time for your habitual activities such as eating, drinking, and working for livelihood.

Whoever has no wird (regular devotion) is a qird (monkey) -- Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf

The very purpose of life is to become of those who are close to Allah and beloved to Him. There is a reward in this life for doing the regular acts of worship. By doing the acts, there is change that happens. With the change, there is knowledge that descend the heart and this is very pleasant. But the real reward is in the next life which outshines everything in this life.

Parents should help their children stick to bedtimes, mealtimes and bath times. Children feel more secure with structure and it will give you more time for yourself to do extra worship.

Accept routines in your life. Your body and spirit need a routine. A good sleep routine is key to be productive. A good meal routine is crucial for your body. Only eat when you’re hungry, not because you’re bored or depressed.

May Allah give us success and success is with Allah alone. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Your Family First

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We are sometimes too busy helping others at work, school or in the community that we forget our own families.

Allah Almighty says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّـهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6)

[Quran A-Tahrim 66:6]

Learn to say no to your friends or colleagues if it means missing dinner with your family and not praying Maghrib or 'Isha with your family.

Put your family first.

Narrated by Aisha: Allah`s Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Among the believers who show most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition, and are kindest to their families.

[At-Tirmidhi]

Narrated by Aisha and Abdullah ibn Abbas: Allah's Messenger, Allah bless him and grant hime peace, said,

The best of you is he who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family. When one of you dies speak no ill of him.

[At-Tirmidhi]

May Allah make us among His best servants. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Tidy Up

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Cleanliness is half of Iman (Faith)." [Muslim]. This means purity and cleanliness of our body, soul, clothes, and environment.

Get into the habit of cleaning and tidy up as you go. Clean dishes after each meal. Don't let dirty dishes pile up overnight.

Don't let things clutter in the closets, drawers and any open spaces. Organize. Pick up after yourselves and put things away after you use them. No one is created to be our picker-upper.

Go through your entire house; closets, drawers, garage, bathrooms, desks/tables, kitchen, pantry, even the fridge/freezer, and your yard/shed--you will find you can dump at least 50% of the stuff. If you haven't seen or used them for more than a year, you don't need them. Get rid of them.

Keep a pretty sparse home. Remember, we are wayfarers in this world--travel light and your journey would be much easier.

Teach your children to pick up after themselves, make their own beds upon rising and clean their own rooms regularly. If you have small children/grandchildren, teach them to put away their toys/books in designated places (or bins/shelves) as soon as they finish playing/reading. This is a small feat for parents but a great service for your children and will bring a huge positive impact in their adult lives.

Cleaning as you go will keep your home (or workplace) organized and in turn you will feel more at peace. Clutter clutters your head and you can't focus. With less stuff, you don’t have to take care of so much. There is much less to clean.

So, say no to excuses and say no to what ifs.

When you clean up your home or room, wash the dishes, take a bath, trim your nails on Fridays, tidy up, you are getting rewarded by Allah for it, if you are doing it because Allah told us to observe cleanliness. Make a conscious intention to clean up for Allah’s pleasure and ask Allah to help you do better at cleaning and organizing.

May Allah take all the clutter from our lives and increase us in Iman. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Dont' Get Distracted, Get Focused

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We get distracted with many things. We get distracted by what others have, what people look like, what others think of us, what is new out there.

Especially with social media, the facebook and all, we are constantly occupied with other people’s statuses, moods, and bombarded with gossips and fitnah.

What about you? What about your relationship with Allah?

Allah Almighty reminds us,

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]

Take time out for a few hours a day from all electronics (including social media and emails) and disconnect entirely at least once a week from all that.

Let go of talking about others. No gossip whatsoever--neither being the bearer nor the listener. Life becomes much easier when you don't talk about people and much more fun when you talk about the Almighty, even to yourself and no one is listening.

May Allah make Him our focus in our lives. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Balancing Fear and Hope

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Hope and love of Allah tell us that faith is like a bird with two wings. The first wing is the fear--the distress of the heart because of the gravity of the wrong committed. The second wing is the hope--the confidence that Allah will forgive sins and omit punishment.

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (53)

[Qur'an Az-Zumar 39:53]

وَإِنِّى لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا ثُمَّ ٱهْتَدَىٰ ﴿٨٢

But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance. (82)

[Qur'an Ta-Ha 20:82]

If a person sincerely repents to Allah, Allah accepts his repentance and forgives him. We have to think well of our Lord and hope that He will accept our repentance.

I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am. I am with him when he mentions Me. If he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s length, I draw near to him an arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.

[Hadith Qudsi narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy on him) said:

The more you have good expectations of your Lord and hope in Him, the more you will rely on and trust in Him. This is why some explained true reliance and trust to be having good expectations of Allah. In reality, having good expectations of Him leads to relying on and trusting in Him, as it is unthinkable that one can trust in someone that he has bad expectations of or no hope in, and Allah Knows best.

However, it is also important not to feel safe from any punishment. If the confidence in Allah exists without fear, it becomes a feeling of certitude, and this feeling of certitude to be safe from Allah’s plan is the essence of disbelief.

If the fear exists without hope, it leads to despair towards Allah, and the despair towards Allah is the essence of disbelief.

We can balance our fear and hope from 'Umar Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, when he said:

If Allah decreed that nobody shall enter Hell except one, I fear that I may be that person. If Allah decreed that nobody shall enter Heaven except one, I hope I am that person.

Don't Take Sins Lightly as we should fear that we may die before we could repent.

رَبَّنَا وَٱجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَآ أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٢٨

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.
[Qur'an Al-Baqara 2:128]
Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

How Much Do You Love Allah?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah gives us all the things we have and everything around us to benefit from and then when we do something wrong He invites us to come to Him.

The pleasure of sipping that hot tea/coffee in this cold weather, the picturesque autumn trees lining the roadside, the ability to get up from your comfy bed this morning to pray Fajr, even that strength to use the miswak this morning before your wudu', the ability to make that sujud, receiving that hugs from your children, hearing salaams from your loved ones, and many many things that we often take for granted which even if we spend a lifetime trying to list them, you will not be able to exhaust what Allah has given and will continue to give. He gives and gives and doesn't need anything back. This is pure love! No one can love as Allah loves us. No one loves us more than Allah. But how much do we love Him?

No matter how big our sin is even if it reaches the clouds of the sky and great as the earth, He will forgive us.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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 at it. It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.

وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّـهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١١٨

And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (118)

[Qur'an At-Tawba 9:118]

Allah is Al-Tawwab, the One who not only accepts repentance but also guides you to repentance. Imagine this, you are the one who committed the sin but He invites you to repent. The fact that you have this bad feeling about what you did, it means He is inviting you to repent. He wants you to come back to Him so He can raise you. So don't miss this opportunity to be with the King of Kings. Run to Him and sincerely ask Him to forgive you. Be thankful and return His invitation. Repent. Say astaghfirullah abundantly with all your heart.

What do we do when someone wronged us, are we quick to forgive? It is not easy sometimes but you should forgive them. You forgive them for the sake of loving and pleasing the One who forgive you no matter how big your sins are.

Don't ever go to sleep without forgiving everyone. This is one of the keys to Paradise.

May Allah forgive all our sins and give us the ability to forgive others. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Remembering Allah: The Beautiful Feeling of All

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Most people cannot remember Allah. This is because they have desires of things and these desires pull them towards those things and so they can't focus on Allah, the Creator of those things.

You can only remember Allah if you forget about what you want. Know that what you want is never part of the equation when you were created. It is what Allah wants that you should be concerned about at this point because your obedience to His guidance is your only true happiness in this life and the next.

Allah is All Powerful. He wants us to worship Him alone. He places signs on this earth so it easy for us to know Him and to remember Him.

Someone who can remember Allah without being distracted, their thoughts will be clear. Someone who does not have a clear thought, when they look at the creation of Allah, they see them as exciting, entertaining, pleasurable, or the opposite--problems, burdens, pain. But someone whose heart has been opened, when they see the creation of Allah, they will forget about themselves. They feel insignificant before the power they see before them. They will see this as a sign that point to the power, greatness, majesty and glory of Allah and so they will want to worship Him and want to do what Allah bid them to do.

People of pure understanding are those who remember Allah not only when they are standing or sitting or lying down but they remember Allah all throughout their daily lives. This was the state of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace. His wife, Aisha, Allah be well pleased with her used to say, "He (the Prophet) used to remember Allah in all of his moments."

One of the signs that point to the power of Allah is the creation of wives for men. People who do not have a clear thought, they will see this creation as an object of pleasure and after some time, they see it as a burden. But someone whose heart has been opened, when they see their wives, they see a beautiful creation of Allah that they will feel insignificant before the power of Allah and that will drive them to worship Him.

Like every other creations of Allah, women are created to help men to worship Him. You are worshiping Him if you do what Allah bid you to do. Allah commands men to treat their wives kindly, so you treat your wife kindly--you don't oppress her and harm her in any way--or you have gone astray.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. (21)

[Qur'an Ar-Room 30:21]

Everything around us points to the Almighty. All we need to do is to ponder and reflect upon them. If your heart is open you will grow to love Him and that is the beautiful feeling of all.

May Allah make us among the people of pure understanding. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Take Guidance For Granted

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah placed signs for people to be guided. In order to be guided, one need to have a willing and submissive heart.

Allah Almighty says,

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is over all things competent. (189) Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (190) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (191) Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire - You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers." (192)

(Qur'an AleImran 3:189-192)

Guidance is a great blessing. Don't be foolish to take such a gift for granted. Once you believe in the Oneness of God, it doesn't stop there. Your journey towards Him has just begun. In order to continue on the path, you have to follow His guidance and always asking Him to guide you on the right path.

Allah Almighty says,

قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿٣٩

We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (38) And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally." (39)

(Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:38-39)

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّـهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٠٥

O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is you return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do. (105)

(Qur'an Al Ma’ida 5:105)

Those who are on the straight path, they will prosper.

وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٥٣

And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous. (153)

(Qur'an Al-An’am 6:153)

Those who have no guidance their end will be misfortune.

مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّـهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِى ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿١٧٨

Whoever Allah guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - it is those who are the losers. (178)

(Qur'an Al A’raf 7:178)

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨

...Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (8) (Qur'an AleImran 3:8)

Please keep us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Sharing The Light

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

How would you feel to stumble around in the dark, not knowing which way to go? You would be hoping for at least a spark. Then you when find light, you know how it feels...

The darkness of this world is illuminated by Islam--the guiding light. And we should want to share this light with other people.

The guidance of Allah is one of the greatest gifts He has bestowed upon us. Life without guidance is dark and lonely. It is uncontrollable and without purpose.

It is not in our power to guide anyone, rather, that belongs solely with Allah. But we do have the opportunity to convey the beautiful message of Islam with words that are eloquent and articulated. We should nurture truth and understanding while exercising patience.

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an,

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. (125)

(An-Nahl:125)

And put your trust in Allah that He knows best who is worthy of guidance, and don’t despair.

Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided. (56)

(Al Qasas 28:56)

Whoever Allah sends astray - there is no guide for him. And He leaves them in their transgression, wandering blindly. (186)

(Al A-raf 7:186)

A group [of you] He guided, and a group deserved [to be in] error. Indeed, they had taken the devils as allies instead of Allah while they thought that they were guided. (30)

(Al A’raf 7:30)

May Allah guide us and our loved ones on the straight path and illuminate our lives with His Light. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Expiating Sins of Two Years

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Tomorrow, October 14, is the Day of Arafah. Don't forget to fast on this day. Fasting on this day will expiate sins of 2 years. InshaAllah.

We ask Allah to remind the hajjis to make du'as for all of us, and for Allah to accept their du'as. We ask Allah to forgive the hajjis and all of us on the day of Arafah and make it easy for us to be in Arafah next year. This is not difficult for Allah to do.

About the Day of Arafah (source Shaykh Faraz Rabbani)

The 9th of Dhu’l Hijjah is known as 'the Day of `Arafah,’ because the pilgrims at Hajj gather at `Arafah in worship, which is one of the three central integrals of the Hajj rituals. Its importance is such that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Hajj is `Arafah.” [Reported in most major hadith works]

The Day of `Arafah is important for those not at Hajj, as well.

Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “Fasting the Day of `Arafah [9th of Dhu’l Hijjah] expiates for two years, one prior and one forthcoming.” [Reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]

As such, the scholars concur that it is highly recommended (mustahabb) to fast the Day of `Arafah [9th of Dhu’l Hijjah], even for the one on Hajj in the Hanafi school, if it does not weaken the pilgrim from spending the day busy in worship. [Haskafi, Durr; Kasani, Bada’i`]

The Day of `Arafah is one of the days when supplications (du`a) are more likely to be accepted. [Ibn al-Haajj,al-Madhkhal; Saffarini, Ghidha’ al-Albab]

This is based on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) saying, “The best of supplications are those on the Day of `Arafah.” [Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Malik, and others] Imam al-Baji explained this as meaning, ‘Having most baraka, the greatest reward, and the quickest in being answered.’ [Baji,al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta]

The Takbirs of Eid Start on This Day: The Fiqh

Allah Most High commanded us to, “Remember Allah through the appointed days.” [Qur’an, 2.203]

Hakim recorded in his Mustadrak, from both Ali and Ammar that they said, “The Messenger of Allah used to… make thetakbirs from the Fajr prayer of the Day of `Arafah and would stop them after the Asr prayer of the final day of the Days of Tashriq [13th of Dhu’l Hijjah].” There is, however, weakness in the chain of narrators, as Imam Bayhaqi mentioned. There are numerous hadiths that have been mentioned on this, as Imam Jamal al-Din al-Zayla`i expounded in his Nasb al-Raya [2.266-269]

This has been established by consensus of the Companions of the Beloved of Allah, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). [Mawaffaq Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni 2.126 #1431]

Legal status:

It is necessary (wajib) for every Muslim (male or female, whether praying in congregation or alone) to make the following takbir (declaration of the greatness of Allah) immediately after each obligatory (fard) prayer.

Time:

From: the Fajr Prayer on the 9th of Dhu’l Hijjah (the Day of `Arafah)

To: the Asr Prayer on the 13th of Dhu’l Hijjah.

Thus, these takbirs last 5 days, and 23 prayers.

The takbirs:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Llahu.

Wa Llahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi Lhamd .

( اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُوَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ )

(Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no god but Allah.

And Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.)

Rulings related to this:

1. The wajib is to recite this takbir once. If done more than this, it is good. [Haskafi, Durr, quoting `Ayni]

2. The position related above that it is obligatory for 23 prayers, whether in congregation or alone, for every Muslim, is the position of Abu Hanifa’s students, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, and it is the position acted upon and chosen for fatwa, because of the strength of their evidence and the inherited practice being on it, and because it is more cautious. [Durrand Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, quoting al-Zahidi] Abu Hanifa’s position, that it lasts only 8 prayers, is supported by evidence, too, though, including the practice of some major Companions such as Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him), and was taken by some major Hanafi imams, though a minority, such as Ibn al-Humam in hisFath al-Qadir.

3. It is not wrong (rather, it is recommended) to also perform it after the Eid prayer itself because the Muslims have performed it generation after generation, so it is proper to follow their inherited practice (that has been accepted by generation after generation of scholars). [Durr and Radd al-Muhtar]

4. The followers must perform it, even if the imam leaves it. [Durr]
Latecomers [=those who missed one or more rakat of the congregational prayer] must perform it, but after completing their prayer.

5. It is necessary for the congregation to perform it out loud. [Ibn Abidin,Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Quhustani]

6. It is necessary to make the takbirs immediately after the salams. If one talks, loses one’s wudu, or performs other actions completely foreign to the prayer, one has missed the wajib. [al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya;Durr]

And Allah alone gives success.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Recommended Read:

Du'a on the day of Arafah

Venerating Allah's Signs in the Best 10 Days Begins October 6

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 chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights Laylat al-Qadr.

People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allah has told us to venerate.

Part of being a slave of Allah is to honor what Allah has honored and considered great what Allah has made great. Slavehood has a meaning of extreme neediness--extreme neediness to please Allah and to be close to Allah, extreme neediness for His forgiveness and mercy. Somebody who feels very needy for Allah's forgiveness and mercy pounds on the door of opportunity that Allah opens for them and looks for every opportunity to please Allah

Allah has made this month of Zulhijjah sacred. There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than the first 10 days of Zulhijjah.

So sacred are the first ten days of ZulHijjah that Allah swears an oath by them when the Almighty says in the Quran,

وَالْفَجْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ﴿٢

By the dawn (1) And [by] ten nights (2) [al-Fajr 89:1-2]

Swearing an oath by something indicates its importance and great benefit.

Let's honor and venerate this month and be a thankful slave by performing extra worship and other good deeds (such as fast, extra charity, dhikr, night prayers, lots of du'a and ask forgiveness, read more Qu'ran, establish and increase ties of kinship/kithship and good to our families and neighbors).

Sins in this month is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward in this blessed month. So avoid sins and disobedience at all costs.

Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah, two of the Prophet's Companions, used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of ZulHijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer individually when they heard them. The Takbeer may include the words "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah; wa Allahu akbar wa Lillahi’l-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise)," as well as other phrases.

May Allah increase us in our worship and obedience of Him and protect us from disobedience. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

First Ten Days of Zulhijjah: Opportunity to Draw Closer to Allah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Faith (iman) wears out in the heart just like the clothes wear out. If you haven't work on building your iman, even if it is good last month or last year, it is worn out now. We can renew our faith each day by actively seeking to do good. There are so many ways in the teachings of our beloved Prophet, Allah bless him and gant him peace, that can help us do this.

We are now almost at the end of the sacred month of Dhul-Qi'dah, one of the four sacred months. This Sunday or Monday will be the beginning of the sacred month of Zulhijjah. This is the season of hajj and many Muslims have begun their journey for hajj. May Allah make their journey safe. Those who are at home should begin to prepare themselves to do extra good deeds during the first 10 days of Zulhijjah.

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

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?" He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing (Bukhari).

Don't forget to make a sincere intention to do extra good deeds on the first 10 days of Zulhijjah. "Actions are but by intention and every man shall have but that which he intended" (hadith). So to get reward for the good deed, sincere intention for the sake of Allah has to precede it.

One thing everyone can do is to look in your food pantry. I am sure you have plenty of food that you don't need that you can give away without you and your loved ones go hungry. Likewise, look in your clothes closet for clothes you haven't worn for more than a year and give them away to people who can wear them. This is one great way to lighten your baggage.

Remember the homeless. They are hungry and needy. Feed them and clothe them. Share what you have with them.

Recommended extra good deeds

1. Fast on the first 9 days of Zulhijjah, at least on Zulhijjah 9, the day of Arafat. Fasting on the day of Arafat will expiate one's sins of 2 years (past and future).

2. Avoid all sins at all costs. Remember there is no connection with Allah except our obedience to Him (...The Muslims are supported by their enemy's disobedience towards Allah. Were it not for that, we would not have any strength, as our numbers are not like theirs. If we were equally matched in sin, they would have an advantage over us in strength, and if we did not have an advantage over them by our virtue, we would not be able to defeat them by our strength...Omar's advice).

3. Make lots of du'a (supplication). Don't forget to ask Allah for what He wants from you.

4. Do more dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. Recite a lot of Tasbeeh ("SubhanAllah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah") and Takbeer ("Allahu akbar") during this time.

5. Say Eid Takbir wherever you go. "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah, wa Allahu akbar wa Lillahi’l-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise)," as well as other phrases.

Men are encouraged to recite these phrases out loud and women quietly. Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah, two of the Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of ZulHijjah, reciting Takbir, and the people would recite Takbir individually when they heard them.

6. Give more charity during these 10 days.

7. Increase ties of kinship and kithship (visit them, call them, say kind words, etc.)

8. Increase prayers at masjid and do more voluntary prayers at home (tahajjud, dhuha, sunnah prayers before and after the 5 daily prescribed prayers, etc).

9. Read more Qur'an and contemplate on the meanings.

10. Thank Allah for all His blessings and seek Allah's forgiveness more frequently. This means more than just a verbal expression of sorrow for past deeds. It also requires a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes in the future by giving up bad habits and behavior while sincerely turning to Allah.

11. Sacrifice an animal after Eid prayer (Zulhijjah 10, 11, 12, 13) and give the meat to the poor and a portion for yourself and friends.

If you have relatives in some of the poor countries like Egypt, Pakistan, Somalia, it is not a bad idea to have the sacrifice done in those countries for it is likely this is the only time the poor there are able to taste meat in the entire year.

12. Go to the Eid prayer on Zulhijjah 10. It is recommended to fast before Eid prayer. You break your fast after the prayer.

Hajj Mabrur to those who are performing hajj this year. May Allah make them remember to make du'a for us.

May Allah accept our works and grant us the opportunity to perform hajj next year.

Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Reward For Attending Funeral of Muslim

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

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

"Every Muslim has five rights over another Muslim (i.e., he has to perform five duties for another Muslim):

1) To return the greetings,
2) To visit the sick,
3) To accompany funeral processions,
4) To accept an invitation,
5) To respond to the sneezer [i.e., to say: `Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah bestow His Mercy on you),' when the sneezer praises Allah].''

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Reward for Attending Funeral

Narrated by Abu Hurayra that Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "(A believer) who accompanies the funeral procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud. He who offers the funeral prayer only and returns before the burial, will return with the reward of one Qirat only." [Bukhari]

Dawud b. 'Amir b. Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas reported on the authority of his father that while he was sitting along with 'Abdullah b. 'Umar, Khabbab, the owner of Maqsura, said: Ibn 'Umar, do you hear what Abu Hurayra says that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say:" He who goes out with the bier when taken out from its residence and offers prayer for it and he then follows it till it is buried, he would have two qirats of reward, each qirat being equivalent to Uhud; and he who, after having offered prayer, (directly) came back would have his reward (as great) as Uhud"? Ibn 'Umar sent Khabbab to 'A'isha in order to ask her about the words of Abu Hurayra (and also told him) to come back to him (Ibn 'Umar) and inform him what 'A'isha said. (In the meanwhile) Ibn 'Umar took up a handful of pebbles and turned them over in his hand till the messenger (Khabbab) came back to him and told (him) that 'A'isha testified (the statement of) Abu Hurayra. Ibn 'Umar threw the pebbles he had in his hand on the ground and then said: We missed a large number of qirats. [Muslim]

Prerequisites and Requirements for a Funeral Prayer

The prerequisites for a funeral prayer are the same as for the obligatory prayers. Anyone intending to offer funeral prayer must be in a state of purity, be free from all minor and major impurities, must cover his or her "awrah," and stand facing the direction of the Ka'bah. Certain requirements must be met for a valid funeral prayer, and failure to meet any of these may invalidate the prayer (Standing except valid excuse, Intention, Salam, Supplication, Takbirs). See Fiqh of Funerals and Funeral Prayers

The Soul after Death

Abu Sa`id al-Khudri heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) say, “The dead man recognizes his washer and those that carry him and lower him into his grave.” [Hakim]

Qurtubi relates that Malik ibn Dinar said, “There is not a person who dies except that his soul is in the hand of an angel while he looks at his body, how it is washed, shrouded, carried and buried.” Munawi adds that this does not negate the narrations which mention of the soul’s rising beyond the seven heavens to their Lord, as it is possible that this happens and the soul returns to witness the burial. [Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir Sharh Jami` al-Saghir]

Returning of the Soul to the Body

Nawawi, in his Bustan al-`Arifin, relates a story in which the jurist Muhammad al-Nawawi confirmed that the soul returns to the body for questioning, after burial. Many prophetic narrations seemingly support this view.

`Uthman ibn `Affan relates that when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to finish burying someone, he would stand by the grave and say, “All of you, ask Allah to forgive your brother and make him steadfast, for he is now being asked.” [Abu Dawud]

May Allah forgive us and our parents, and shower His mercy on our loved ones who have gone before us and make their graves the first stage of Jannah for them, and grant patience to those they left behind. Ameen.

Oh Allah, make me only as concerned about my worldly life as the time that I will spend in it.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam