Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Wake Up Young People!

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Sometimes when you decide you want to do something for Allah and you are going to truly hold on to your faith, Allah will put something inside you to start something, to take an action, to make a move and the barakah (blessing) will come from Allah. He will guide the project through and through.

This was what happened for the youths in the story of the cave in Surah Kahf. When they showed that they were truly trying to hold on to their iman (faith), Allah carved a way out for them. He guided them to the right mountain. Allah put firmness in their hearts to face the most intimidating and nerve-wrecking moments of their lives to stand trial about their faith in front of the king and his courtiers and his soldiers. Without this from Allah, they would not be able to carry themselves and they would have caved in. But because they had exhibited the right character before, at the right moment Allah gave them a strength of heart that they could not have possessed themselves. And they stood up to the king.

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى ﴿١٣﴾ وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا ﴿١٤﴾ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمُنَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ كَذِبًا ﴿١٥

It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. (13) And We made firm their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression. (14) These, our people, have taken besides Him deities. Why do they not bring for [worship of] them a clear authority? And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah a lie?" (15)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:13-15]

Allah talks about how young people would be great in times of trial. Allah says the flag bearers of the Deen (religion of Islam), the people who prefer the discomfort over the luxury of life when it comes to holding on to the religion, are going to be young people.

So, come on young people, wake up!

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, advised to: “Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death.” (Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)

May Allah guide our youths. May Allah save us from the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Easy Way To Get Started With Spirituality

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,

إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهَا خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا۟ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ۩ ﴿١٥

Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. (15)

[Qur'an, As-Sajda 32:15]

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿١٦

They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16)

[Qur'an, As-Sajda 32:16]

This is the scene of someone who really believes in the akhirah (Hereafter). When the level of iman (faith) reaches to yaqeen (certainty), then they feel that kind of disturbance at night. They get the feeling of the akhirah as though it is around the corner and they turned to Allah full of fear and hope and they make du'a to Allah that way.

How are we going to get a relationship like this with Allah? How do we get there? You don't turn into a spiritual sage in a few days. Everything starts with little things. We have to instill certain healthy practices into our lives that allow us to build a relationship with Allah.

1. Do no harm to others and to yourself. Don't kill yourself spiritually -- don't watch filth, don't use foul language, don't be in company of people who use foul language, don't backbite against people. Everything you do to harm yourself and others, your heart is damaged and you are more distant from Allah.

2. Immediately make small adhkar (remembrance). You don't wait until you become pure.

Everyone should have a copy of Hasanul Muslim (Fortress of the Muslim) and memorize as many du'as in it as possible. There is a beautiful du'a for every action of ours (when waking up, putting on/taking off clothes, entering/leaving toilet, before/after eating food, leaving/entering the house, entering/leaving the masjid, settling a debt, etc). If you can instill a few of these du'as in your daily life that are associated with daily actions, you will feel a spirituality that you have never felt in your life. All you have to do is be cognizant of the fact that you are talking to Allah, not because this is a subconscious habit. You will notice a significant difference in how you feel about Allah and how you remember Allah. If you don't do this, you will find very hard to think about Allah and to converse with Allah in prayers.

3. Make a project to memorize those verses in the Qur'an that have du'a in them. Make solat with these du'as.

If there is one thing you should be enthusiastic in memorizing is du'as.

We are body and spirit. The body finds rest in bed. The ruh (spirit) finds rest in du'a. We should let the ruh wins.

فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٧﴾ أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقًا ۚ لَّا يَسْتَوُۥنَ ﴿١٨﴾ أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا۟ فَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أُعِيدُوا۟ فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٢٠

And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. (17) Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal. (18) As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do. (19) But as for those who defiantly disobeyed, their refuge is the Fire. Every time they wish to emerge from it, they will be returned to it while it is said to them, "Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny." (20)

[Qur'an, As-Sajda 32:17-20]

May Allah bring us closer to Him and grant us tawfiq (success) to the highest station. Ameen.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Video of Beautiful Du'as - 73 Prayers from the Qur'an

Don't Get Stuck On Your Screen, Limit Your Entertainment

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

There was a businessman, Nadr ibn Harith, from Makkah who was one of the top businessmen from among the polytheists of Makkah. He used to travel to different countries in connection with his business. According to a narration of Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas, the businessman brought in a singing bondwoman he bought in a foreign country. It was through her that he devised a plan to stop people from listening to the Qur'an. When he found anyone intending to go and listen to the Qur'an, he would have him hear his bondwoman sing before him. He used to say: 'Muhammad makes you listen to the Qur'an, then goes on to ask you to pray and fast which make life difficult for you. Come, you listen to this music and enjoy the fun.'

A verse of the Qur'an was revealed in relation to this event, though it is general.

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِى لَهْوَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ ﴿٦

And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. (6)

[Qur'an, Luqman 31:6]

There are industries dedicated to just keeping people's free time occupied, whether it be the movies industries, sports industries, or video games industries. Obviously they are not there for your busy time but they are there for your free time. They want to occupy that entire time and they invested a lot in it.

The entertainment not only is distracting and taking people away from the path of Allah but the activities themselves have a lot of evil in them. They make certain evil and heinous things commonplace. Entertainers and singers talked about things that are normally not talked about in decent settings and things people won't speak to descent people about but those are the kinds of vocabulary they used, and social phenomena and vulgarities they talked about. Certain things that are taboo in society and not supposed to happen in society become commonplace and become acceptable. Youths want to follow because they have seen them on TV. They want to dress like the entertainers, talk like them, and reiterate the words they used. And so it creates a culture of misguidance.

There are limits that we have to put on our entertainment so we don't fall into misguidance. We are living in a time like never before that we have immediate gratifying access to entertainment. We don't have to wait for a TV show to come on. You can just Netflix it, Youtube it -- they are right there all the time. And then if the movie entertainment wasn't bad enough, your iPod is there to fill in the space. You can't watch movies while driving, so at least you can listen to songs. If you can't get 3G connection and can't finish the movies you already have 20 video games installed on your phone to fill up your free time wherever you are.

So there is not a moment of your day that goes entertainment free. And that time is supposed to be spent doing the dhikr of Allah

But this creates a form of corruption in in society. This entertainment does not add to any knowledge. They don't even realize even realize the kind of misguidance they are doing and they take the path of Allah as a joke. Those are the kinds of people who will have humiliating punishment. You don't want to go down with them.

Trash those things that have distract or taken you away from the path of Allah -- movies, video games, music, etc. You should encourage your family to do same. And now you will have time to do dhikr, pray and reflect on the beauty of Allah's creation.

People who are obsessed with entertainment have no time to observe the beauty of the world around them -- sky, trees, mountains, waterfall, lakes, oceans, rain. They are too stuck on their screens.

خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ ۚ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ ﴿١٠﴾ هَـٰذَا خَلْقُ ٱللَّـهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿١١

He created the heavens without pillars that you see and has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with you, and dispersed therein from every creature. And We sent down rain from the sky and made grow therein [plants] of every noble kind. (10) This is the creation of Allah. So show Me what those other than Him have created. Rather, the wrongdoers are in clear error. (11)

[Qur'an, Luqman 31:10-11]

May Allah make us people of His constant remembrance. Ameen.

And Allah knows best
Wassalaam

What Message Are You Giving To Your Children?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Parents have to take an active role in raising children to be good Muslims. We can't leave this job on auto pilot. We don't live in the times of our parents or our grandparents where families were more connected and neighbors were more neighborly, and our parents could rely on society to keep our behavior in check -- uncles/aunties would make sure no kids are running around outside the masjid when adhan is called, etc. It is a different world now and quite scary. Everybody is too busy with their own lives or too afraid to say anything. Even teachers are afraid to give homework (for the benefit of the student), let alone discipline their students, for fear being dragged to court by parents.

We can't raise kids in the back burner, not in Muslim countries, not anywhere in the world. You are on your own at least for the time being. After the internet explosion, it is so easy to develop secret lives. We have to know our kids personally, what they like what they don't like, know each of their friends. We have to learn to adapt to this age and address the needs of our children accordingly. Families can't afford any sibling rivalries but older siblings should act like parents to their younger siblings and be their counselor.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) delivered his last sermon on the 9th Dhul-Hijjah, 10 A.H. at Arafah, during the Farewell Pilgrimage. It was repeated sentence by sentence by Safwan's brother Rabi'ah (may Allah be pleased with him), who had a powerful voice, at the request of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he faithfully proclaimed to over ten thousand gathered on the occasion. Toward the end of his sermon, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked “O people, have I faithfully delivered unto you my message?" A powerful murmur of assent “O Allah, yes!", arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words “Allahumma na’m” rolled like thunder throughout the valley. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) raised his forefinger and said: “Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people."

How about you? Have you delivered the message to your children? What message are you giving to your children?

We are all shepherds in various capacities. As shepherds, we can reach the highest rank with Allah. But we have to do our job in this life. We have to take this job of shepherding our flocks seriously.

As parents, we strive, we seek knowledge, we do our best, we make du'a, we forebear and exercise beautiful patience. How our children turn out to be is in the hands of Allah. If they turn out wonderful, that is the destiny of Allah and we thank Allah. If they turn out bad, that too is the destiny of Allah and we are patient. We don't despair.

But we must do our part and we struggle and keep struggling. We don't deafen our ears to the teachings of Islam and we don't blind our eyes to the disobedience of our children. If we do, we can't get comfort to our eyes (qurrata a'ayun) from our children.

Your children are chained to you. If they go down, they will drag you down with them.

وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا ﴿٧٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤

And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind. (73) And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." (74)

[Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:73-74]

We should be avid farmers of this world and constantly sow the seeds. If you plant the seeds of guidance in the hearts of your children, do you not think Allah is generous enough to allow those seeds to bear good fruit?

May Allah have mercy on us and our parents and grant us righteous children and offspring and make it easy for us and them to raise righteous children. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Duties of the Month of Muharram

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

1. It is the best of months for general voluntary fasts, after Ramadan.

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrated, that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” [Muslim, 1163]

Given that Allah ascribed fasting, between all spiritual works, to Himself [saying, "It is Mine,"] it was suitable that this month, which is also ascribed to Allah, be selected for this particular form of worship.

Fasting is a secret between the servant and his Lord. This is why Allah Mighty and Exalted says, [in the divine hadith (hadith qudsi)], “Every action of the son of Adam is his, except for fasting. It is Mine, and it is I who reward it.” [Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayra]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said, “The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord.”[Muslim]

It has been related that fasting is a means for good health. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is reported to have said, “Fast, and you shall have good health.” [Ahmad, from Abu Hurayra]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to a man, “If you want to fast a month after Ramadan, then fast Muharram, for it has a day (Day of 'Ashura) in which Allah forgave an entire people, and He turns to others in repentance in.” [Tirmidhi (841)]

2. Start praying or do more of the night prayers

Night prayers (qiyam al-lail) is superior to voluntary prayer during the day because it is closer to secrecy, and nearer to sincerity (ikhlas). Allah Almighty says:

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا ﴿٦

Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words. (6)

[Qur`an, al-Muzzammil 73:6]

This is because the time of the night vigil (tahajjud) is the best of times for voluntary prayer, and the closest a servant gets to his Lord. It is a time when the doors of the skies are opened, supplications answered, and needs fulfilled.

Allah Almighty says:

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿١٦﴾ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٧

They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16) And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. (17)

[Qur`an, As-Sajda 32:16-17]

Allah Almighty says:

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَـٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَآئِمًا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٩

And, “Or he who pays adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord? Say: Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only those of understanding will pay heed.”

[Qur`an, Az-Sumar 39:9]

Allah Almighty says:

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا ﴿٧٩

And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station. (79)

[Qur`an, Al-Isra' 17:79]

It has been said that those who worship at night will enter Paradise without reckoning, and that standing in night prayer shortens the length of one’s Standing on the Day of Judgment.

This is why the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “Stick to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you. Night prayer is a means of closeness to Allah Most High, of expiating for bad deeds, avoiding sins, and keeping away illness from one’s body.” [Tirmidhi (3543], Bayhaqi, and others; it is a sound (hasan) hadith]

Lovers have no time more joyous than when they are alone in entreating their Beloved. This is the healing for their hearts, and the great thing that they could long for.

This is why Abu Sulayman al-Darani would say, “The people of the night find more joy than the people of distraction (lahw) in their distractions. Were it not for the night, I would not like to remain living.”

3. Recommended to fast on the 10th of Muharram (known as the Day of `Ashura), with a day before it or after it, and give charity on this day.

It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As (Allah be pleased with him), that “Whoever fasts `Ashura, it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year.”

It is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he was asked about fasting the Day of `Ashura [10th of Muharram]. He said, “I did not see the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fast a day while more avid to seek its virtue than this day,” [meaning the Day of `Ashura]. [Bukhari (2006), and Muslim (1132)].

The Day of `Ashura has great virtue, and tremendous sanctity (hurma). The virtue of fasting it was known among the Prophets (peace be upon them all). Both Prophet Nuh and Prophet Musa (peace be upon them both) fasted it.

The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) used to fast this day even in Mecca, though he had not yet ordered others to do so, as mentioned in both Bukhari and Muslim. [Bukhari (2002), Muslim (1125)]
When he migrated to Medina, and found the People of the Book fasting this day and venerating it, he ordered the Muslims to fast it, and encouraged it so much that even the children would fast it.

It has been reported in both Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), that, When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) reached Medina, he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura, so he asked them, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Musa and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.” The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, “And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.” So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted. [Bukhari (2004) and Muslim (1130)]

At the end of his life, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) made the determination not to fast this day alone, but with another day [f: either before or after it], in order to be different from the People of the Book.

It has been reported in the Sahih of Imam Muslim (Allah have mercy on him), also from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that, “When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fasted the Day of `Ashura and ordered his companions to fast it, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! This is a day that the Jews and Christians venerate.’ So the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, ‘When next year comes - if Allah wills - we will fast the Ninth [of Muharram with it].’ But the next year did not come before the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) passed away.” [Muslim (1134), Abu Dawud (2445)]

And it is reported in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad (Allah have mercy on him), from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Fast the Day of `Ashura” and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” [Ahmad]

May Allah grant us tawfiq (success). And Allah alone gives success.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Source

Welcoming A New Hijri Year 1436

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This new year is a great gift from Allah because we don't know if we can reach the next one. So, we should receive this new year in the best way, with pious intentions and good goals.

At the end of the financial year businessmen analyze their year’s trading, but our trade is with Allah and is more worthy of being evaluated. We thank Allah for the gifts with which we have been blessed and we seek His forgiveness for our wrongdoings and shortcomings. We also make our new year’s resolutions for the coming year – what we intend to achieve on our journey to Allah, and the traits which we wish to leave behind. We should bear in mind that both Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, the first month of the new year, are from the four inviolable months so the reward of our actions is multiplied. Our bad deeds are also more grave in these times.

We should open the new year with good works. Amongst the best of these works is fasting. The greatest day in Muharram to fast is of course the tenth, `Ashura.’ Fasting on this day wipes out the sins of the previous year.

One of the wisdoms behind the merit of fasting in the month of Muharram is that both are attributed to Allah – Muharram is the “the Month of Allah” and fasting, as in the hadith qudsi, “is Mine, and I will reward accordingly.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The best (month) to fast after Ramadhan is the Month of Allah which you call al-Muharram. The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” [Muslim]

Both fasting and the night prayer have been made easy in the winter. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that winter is like spring for a believer: the night is long so he is able to stand in prayer in it, and the day is short so he is able to fast during it. [Ahmad and al-Bayhaqi]

Make the intention to wake up before Fajr to pray Tahajjud and Witr. Make the intention to attend gatherings of sacred knowledge and benefit from them.

We should leave our blameworthy traits and fear what might be coming before the next new year -- the beginning of our own Judgment Day (when we die), the punishment of the grave, the torment on Judgment Day and the punishment of the Hellfire. We should protect ourselves against these calamities. This is the basic meaning of taqwa. We do something to place between ourselves and the wrath of Allah. We knock at every door of opportunity to be close to Allah.

People of taqwa will always have Allah to take care of their needs.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا ﴿٣ ...

...And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (2) And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. (3)

[Qur'an At-Talaq 65:2-3]

We ask Allah that He gives the hearts of every believers the taste of love of Allah and the taste of love of His beloved Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the taste of love of his family and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them.

O Allah, just as You have granted me all that I have loved, let those things be a means of strength for me to use in the way You love. O Allah, whatever love (of things) You have removed from me then grant in its place the love (of things) that You love.

O Allah, I ask you for your love and the love of those you love and the love of that deed which would draw me closer to Your love. O Allah, make Your love more beloved to me than myself, my family, and more beloved than cold water [on a hot day]. O Allah, grant me your love and the love of that person whose love will benefit me by you.

We ask Allah that He makes us from those who are obedient to Him and make us keys to goodness on this earth.

May Allah grant us every benefit from this new year and make it a year of great openings and good.

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

How Much You Lose By Keeping A Dog

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

How much you lose by keeping a dog...

Narrated Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Apostle (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Whoever keeps a dog, one Qirat of the reward of his good deeds is deducted daily, unless the dog is used for guarding a farm or cattle." Abu Hurayra (in another narration) said from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), "unless it is used for guarding sheep or farms, or for hunting." Narrated Abu Hazim from Abu Hurayra: The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "A dog for guarding cattle or for hunting."
[Bukhari]

What is a Qirat?

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Whoever follows the funeral procession and offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever attends it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirat.'' It was asked, "What are two Qirat?'' He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, "Equal to two huge mountains.''
[Bukhari and Muslim]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Who Are The True Slaves Of The Ultimately Merciful?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If you are not a slave of Allah, then you are a slave of His creation -- money, people, jobs, cars, games, TV, phones, wifi/internet, iPads/iPhones, social media, music, etc.

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

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

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

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

Undoubtedly Allah, the Exalted, is the most merciful of those who show mercy; His mercy encompasses all things, and He is more merciful to His slave than a mother to her child; indeed He, glorified is He, is more merciful to a person than the person is to himself.

The slaves of the ultimately Merciful as mention in the Surah Al-Furqan...

1) they walk on this earth with humility. They have a softness and weakness in their walk on the earth. They don't stomp on the earth when they walk or swagger or sticking out their chest.

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًا ﴿٣٧﴾ كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ كَانَ سَيِّئُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّكَ مَكْرُوهًا ﴿٣٨

And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. (37) All that - its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested. (38)

[Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:37-38]

2) when someone address them, they reply back with mild words of gentleness.

When people come to you and they say obscene things, you don't have to respond, you don't have to engage. Just let it be. You are not responding to them because you understand that the only thing that can come out of this is more evil. Don't say anything except PEACE. It was said, when Jahl (ignorance) is there, Aql (intellect) isn't. You can't engage with jahl in intellectual conversation and you can't give them rational proofs.

Ignorant people don't lower their voices. They don't have control over their emotions. People who follow whims, they have no limits and they can say the most outrageous things. For some of them, when you give them truth, they make fun of the truth, and when you tell them about Allah, they make fun of Allah. You shouldn't engage with them further.

A slave of Allah is sensitive to the emotional state of people. There is time to bring up something and there is something to leave alone. When someone is emotionally volatile, just leave it alone. As well, we shouldn't be frustrated with people especially if you are engaged in Allah's work. The more you engage in Allah's work, the more you have to be conscious of this. All human being make mistakes but if you are in dakwah, people are looking to undermine your message. So you have to hold yourself in a much higher standard and be extra cautious. Everything you do is a representation of Islam. One mistake you make, all good you have done are washed away.

Once the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) was meeting with the leaders of Makkah and a blind sahabah came to ask him some questions and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) frowned because of the interruption. Allah revealed a verse admonishing the Prophet sallalllahu alayhi wassallam for that. Why? The sahabah is blind, so he cannot be offended by the frown. But Allah was offended.

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ﴿١﴾ أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ ﴿٢﴾ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ ﴿٣﴾ أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ ﴿٤﴾ أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ ﴿٦﴾ وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ ﴿٧﴾ وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ ﴿٨﴾ وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ ﴿٩﴾ فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ ﴿١٠﴾ كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ ﴿١١﴾ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ ﴿١٢﴾ فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ ﴿١٣﴾ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ ﴿١٤

The Prophet frowned and turned away (1) Because there came to him the blind man, [interrupting]. (2) But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified (3) Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him? (4) As for he who thinks himself without need, (5) To him you give attention. (6) And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified. (7) But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge] (8) While he fears [Allah], (9) From him you are distracted. (10) No! Indeed, these verses are a reminder; (11)[It is recorded] in honored sheets, (13) Exalted and purified, (14)

[Qu'ran, Abasa 80:1-14]

3) they spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing. They say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily! Its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment."

Jahannam (Hell) is a horrible place to be even for a moment. Some Muslims who messed up and think "I should be alright because I am a Muslim after all" and a slight detour to Hell is no big deal. No, No, No. Even if you finally will end in Paradise, if you have iman, you don't want to be touched by Hellfire even for a split second.

4) when they spend, they don't go overboard. If they can by the same thing for cheaper, they would not spend at the high end department store because they want to shop in class. They know this is israf (wastefulness). They do not hold back the family budget, pinching pennies, or refuse to spend even for the essential things.
In short, they find the balance -- not cheap, not overly excessive on the budget and not carefree.

5) they don't call to other than believe in Allah. They stay away from big sins -- e.g. neglecting prayers. People who pray at night are not at risk of doing murder. The goodness to Allah begins with avoiding care of the major sins. Just because you are doing dhikr, that does not make you above the law. When adhan is called and time to pray, you must pray. Dhikr is not above solat.

6) they don't kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause,

7) they don't commit zina (illegal sexual intercourse)

Both killing and zina are equally offensive crimes to allah, after shirk (associating partners to Allah). One kills the body and the other kills the soul.

8) they do not witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.

9) when they are reminded of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat.

10) they say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqûn (pious)"

Allah will reward His true slaves the highest place in Paradise because of their patience.

Allah Almighty says,

وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلْجَـٰهِلُونَ قَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمًا ﴿٦٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَـٰمًا ﴿٦٤﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا ﴿٦٥﴾ إِنَّهَا سَآءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا ﴿٦٦﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا۟ وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا ﴿٦٧

And the (faithful) slaves of the Most Gracious (Allâh) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness. (63) And those who spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing (64) And those who say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily! Its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment." (65) Evil indeed it (Hell) is as an abode and as a place to rest in. (66) And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes). (67) And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment[] (68) The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; (69) Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful[] (70) And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds, then verily, he repents towards Allâh with true repentance. (71) And those who do not witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity. (72) And those who, when they are reminded of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat. (73) And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqûn (pious)" (74) Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect. (75) Abiding therein;— excellent it is as an abode, and as a place to dwell. (76) Say (O Muhammad SAW to the disbelievers): "My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to Him. But now you have indeed denied (Him). So the torment will be yours forever (inseparable permanent punishment)." (77)

[Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:63-71]

May Allah increase our iman and make us His true and faithful slaves. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

The Conflict of Night and Day

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah makes the night and the day to conflict with each other for two kinds of people: 1) People who want to make an effort to remember Allah, i.e. the night time is for night prayer, the morning time is for morning prayer, the daytime for daytime prayer (afternoon and evening prayer). The battle of the night and day is convenient for the one who wants to make an effort to remember Allah. Their prayers revolve around that conflict around the night and the day. Also, for 2) people who want to thank Allah for the blessings. Every time a whole day comes to completion or the slave made it through the night, he thanks Allah for another day that he got to breathe on this earth, another day to serve Allah, another day to ask for forgiveness.

The one who believes in Allah, realize that Allah is great and he is not, in contrast to the one who is arrogant. Realizing the greatness of Allah leads to one's humility. When we say "Allahu Akbar" it is a declaration of 2 things: Allah is great and my lack thereof.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ خِلْفَةً لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُورًا ﴿٦٢

And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude. (62)

[Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:62]

Be thankful to the One who gives you life for being alive now, and remember Him night and day.

May Allah make us of those who are thankful and humble. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Giving Charity Everyday

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The standard on which our life is judged in Islam is not the materialistic or the economic standard alone but one based on faith, feeling, and sensitivity, which form the core of human relations.

Charity is a necessary part of our every day life. Charity is giving and it is not limited to tangible things like money and services, but also has a vast meaning and covers all forms of virtues. So, all people, whether rich or poor, big or small, strong or weak, male or female, can give charity, and can give everyday.

Our mother Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The deeds most loved by Allah (are those) done regularly, even if they are small.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah’s Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illAllah) is an act of charity; and enjoining M`aruf (good) is an act of charity, and forbidding Munkar (evil) is an act of charity, and two Rak`ah Dhuha prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).

[Muslim].

“Charity is due from every joint bone” means that when a person gets up in the morning, it is obligatory for him to thank Allah for having every joint of his intact. Therefore, one must praise and glorify Allah. Since a single invocation of the words mentioned in this Hadith is equivalent to one Sadaqah, one must say these words for 360 times – a number which equals the number of joints in man’s body. Moreover, to enjoin someone to do what is good and dissuade somebody from vice constitutes Sadaqah. However, if one performs two Rak`ah of Duha prayer, it will serve for Sadaqah for all the joints of the body. Thus, this Hadith highlights the merits and importance of Dhuha prayer.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to perform four Rak`ah of Dhuha prayer (at the forenoon) and would add to them whatever Allah wished.

[Muslim].

Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:

I went to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He was taking a bath at that time. When he finished the bath, he performed eight Rak`ah (of optional) prayers. This was during the Dhuha (forenoon).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

A smile is also a charity. So begin meeting with someone in your household (maybe your spouse, your parents/grandparents, your children, your brothers/sisters, your roommates) with a smile and give the salutation of peace, assalaamu alaykum (may peace be upon you). You would attain great rewards and blessings from Allah.

No good action is too small. Aisha once gave a beggar a single grape. Someone questioned her regarding her negligible contribution to which she replied, "This is heavier than many small ants!"

Whatever good we do, it should be solely for the sake of Allah. If we are truthful to ourselves, we don't tell people what good we have done.

If you do that, you have to ask yourself, "Did I secretly have some sort of desire for reward or some recognition or affirmation from people?" If you do have the expectation of some sort of reward from other than Allah, this will negate the good that you did. If you sincerely did it for Allah, then you don't need to seek recognition or affirmation from others.

Once you give something to people, you have no connection with the person who you gave to with regard to that thing you gave. You have no right to tell people, "I did this" and "I gave this." It is as if you are telling them "I still have a connection with that person."

When you give to people, material or non-material, such as money, advice, or time, whether it be to your friend or family, you don't want to destroy your good deed by reminding them of what you did for them or give to them. This could hurt their feelings. We should always mind other's feelings. Some people are more emotional than others and depending on their state at that moment, the person might be more sensitive than at other times, but that does not matter. What matters is the other person's feelings. You should ask pardon from that person and excuse yourself for what you did and in the future, stay way from reminding people what you did for them. A believer has subtle insights of how people feel, and we should not be totally blind of this matter.

Sometimes you want to remind your children or your spouse that there are other people in their lives. In this situation, it is permissible to remind them what you have done for them because you are trying to point out the blessings and that they should be thankful to people.

Narrated from Abu Hurayrah: Rasulullah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah.

(Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

But be very careful how you say it, when you say it and where you say it, so it does not turn into harm to you and the other person. If you don't administer it properly, it can easily turn into a sick tree with poison.

When you give sadaqah (charity), maintain good manners. Allah loves good character and good manners, and dislikes evil character and bad manners. Give with spirit of love and giving. Don’t give with “your hand on top” as in reminding the taker and yourself that you are giving. Don't just throw it to the hands of the person as this would hurt the person's feelings. Hold the hand or if the person is sitting on the ground, lower yourself and give it to the person.

Remember you give to please Allah Almighty. Show humility and thank Allah and thank the person for accepting your giving.

Our mother Aisha perfumed the charity she was giving because it would go right into Allah's hands and it is more fitting that it smells good. She thanked the poor person for giving her the opportunity to give to Allah.

One should be diligent in giving charity in secret. In this way, it will make sure that the taker can avoid the feeling of embarrassment and you can avoid the feelings of fame or boasting.

إِن تُبْدُوا۟ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا ٱلْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿٢٧١

If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds [thereby]. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted. (271)

[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:271]

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

In the day of judgment in which the sun approached 1 mile and people are drowned sweating, seven groups of people will be put in the shadow of arsh (heaven):

1. a just ruler,
2. a youth who grows by worshiping Allah,
3. one who makes dhikr and sheds tear due to fear of Allah where no body exists,
4. one whose heart is connected to the masjids,
5. one who gives sadaqa and conceals it and one whose left hand does not aware of what right hand is,
6. Two people who like each other for the sake of Allah,
7. One who rejects when a beautiful lady invites him, by saying: “I fear from Allah Almighty.”

May Allah enable us to give charity everyday and only for His sake. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today -- No Higher Status Than A Slave of Allah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Surah Kahf is one of the most recited Surah in the Islamic tradition. Of the many benefits it has is that it protects us from the fitnah of Dajjal, the greatest trial of this life that will fall upon this Ummah and the humanity. The teachings of the surah has to do with how to deal with the fitnah.

One of the greatest honor that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) was ever given was that he was allowed to travel miraculously to not only meet with other Prophets but eventually to Allah azza wa jall. The slave of Allah travels to heights that is never been reached by human being to receive revelation and communicate with Allah. Before the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) ascended, the greatest honor a human being had ever reached was on top of a mountain -- Prophet Musa alayhissalaam had spoken to Allah (Surah Taha, Surah Qasas). Physically he was on top of a mountain. But that was dwarfed by what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) had reached.

No matter how much a slave rises, he remains a slave. The lowest status you can give someone, in language, is a slave. There is no word to describe a person lower than a slave. Somebody can be under anyone but nobody is beneath a slave. But in Islam, when you become a slave of Allah, there is no higher status than that.

In Surah Isra', the most incredible thing is that revelation did not travel to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), but he travelled to revelation. Instead of the revelation comes down, the slave goes up and receives revelation and was given the 5 prayers at the time.

In Surah Kahf, Allah sent down the Qur'an to His slave.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢﴾ مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣﴾ وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّـهُ وَلَدًا ﴿٤

All the praises and thanks are to Allâh, Who has sent down to His slave the Book (the Qur'ân), and has not placed therein any crookedness. (1) (He has made it) Straight to give warning (to the disbelievers) of a severe punishment from Him, and to give glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism), who do righteous - deeds, that they shall have a fair reward (i.e. Paradise). (2) They shall abide therein forever. (3) And to warn those (Jews, Christians, and pagans) who say, "Allâh has begotten a son (or offspring or children)." (4)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:1-4]

In the beginning of the Surah, Allah highlighted the word 'abdi (slave), and not any name (Prophet or Messenger) given. We share that word 'abdi with the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) for ourselves. This is a powerful lesson in that we do not separate ourselves from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, in that he (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) is a slave, and that is the highest honor that a human being can attain.

The followers of Musa alayhissalaam didn't understand what it means to honor a messenger. On the other hand the Christians raise their messenger too high to a point they don't even think he is a slave anymore.

May Allah make us His best slave. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archives
Slave of Al-Hadi, Ar-Rashid
We Hear and We Obey

Advice For Women During Pregnancy by Habib Umar

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This is a brief list of advice for women during pregnancy by Habib Umar

The Intention:

You should make the intention of Saiyyidah Hanna - the mother of Saiyyidah Maryam, the mother of Saiyyidina Isa (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon all of them). Saiyyidah Hanna dedicated the child in her womb to the service of Allah.

Her intention is described in the Qur’an:

إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ عِمْرَٰنَ رَبِّ إِنِّى نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِى بَطْنِى مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ﴿٣٥﴾ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَضَعْتُهَآ أُنثَىٰ وَٱللَّـهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلْأُنثَىٰ ۖ وَإِنِّى سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّىٓ أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ ﴿٣٦﴾ فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ﴿٣٧

(Remember) when the wife of 'Imrân said: "O my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing." (35) Then when she gave birth to her [child Maryam], she said: "O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child," - and Allâh knew better what she brought forth, - "And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge with You (Allâh) for her and for her offspring from Shaytan (Satan), the outcast." (36) So her Lord (Allâh) accepted her with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zakariyâ. Every time he entered Al-Mihrâb to (visit) her , he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allâh." Verily, Allâh provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit." (37)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:35-37]

وَإِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٤٢

And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allâh has chosen you, purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinn) (of her lifetime)." (42)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:42]

In a lecture entitled, Isa (peace be upon him) and his Blessed Mother (peace be upon her), Habib 'Ali al-Jifri attests to the sincerity and far-reaching consequences of Saiyyida Hanna's intention: " The intention of Hanna made the one she bore be accepted by Allah. She possessed an intention with Allah. When she intended that in her offspring there would be someone who serves Allah, someone who would serve this religion - when she was truthful in such an intention, Allah honored her because of her intention. Look at the effect of that intention: the very deliverance this community will take place at the hands of Prophet Isa.”

Repeat the following verses during pregnancy:

رب هب لي من لدنك ذرية طيبة إنك سميع الدعاء

Rabbi hab li milladunka dhurriyatan tayyibah innaka samiu-du'a

"O my Lord, grant me a progeny that is pure, for You hear (our) prayers! [AleImran 3:38]

ربنا هب لنا من أزواجنا وذرياتنا قرة أعين واجعلنا للمتقين إماما

Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata 'ayun waj'alna lilmuttaqin imama
"Our Lord, grant us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous." [Al-Furqan 25:74]

ثم السبيل يسره

Thumm-assabila yassarah

Then He made the path easy [Abasa 80:20]

والله أخرجكم من بطون أمهاتكم

Wallahu akhrajakum min butuni ummahatikum

Allah brought you forth from your mothers’ wombs [An-Nahl 16:78]

Read Daily:

- Surah Inshiqaq – to be recited on a daily basis throughout pregnancy
- Surah Luqman – to be recited in the 1st trimester
- Surah Yusuf – to be recited in the 2nd trimester
- Surah Maryam - to be recited in the 3rd trimester as labour approaches
- "Ya Latif" – to be recited 129 times every morning and evening
- "Ya Qawī" – to be recited 116 times daily for strength

For 7th month:

Ask your husband to recite Surah Sharh (Surah 94) 152 times (in one sitting) on the baby during the 7th month.

General Advice:

- Recite all your daily adhkar and awrad, and pray as many prayers in jama’ah with your husband as possible
- Read as much Qur’an as possible
- Do as much salawat on the Prophetﷺ as possible
- Just as babies are said to recognise certain music from the time spent in their mother’s wombs, similarly, reading texts such as the ‘Book of Assistance’ by Imam al-Haddad, are advised in order to bring about similar recognition

During labor:
- The first ayat of Surah al-Fath’ (surah 48)
- Surah Maryam (surah 19)
- Surah Inshirah (surah 94)
- "Ya Latif"
- "Assalaam alaykum ayyuha-nnabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh"
- Read Surah al-Baqarah in the room in which the baby is to be born, as this drives away the Shaytan for three days

During birth and leading up to it repeat Allah’s name "al-Latif" in abundance, along with the following:

يا لطيفا بخلقه يا عليما بخلقه يا خبيرا بخلقه ألطف بنا يا لطيف يا عليم يا خبير
يا لطيفا لم يزل ألطف بنا فيما نزل إنك لطيف لم تزل ألطف بنا والمسلمين

Ya Latifan bi khalqihi ya 'Aliman bi khalqihi ya Khabiran bi khalqihi ultuf bina ya Latifu ya 'Alimu ya Khabiru (repeat 3 times)
Ya Latifan lam yazal ultuf bina fima nazal innaka Latifun lam tazal ultuf bina walmuslimin (repeat 3 times)

O One Who is gentle with His creation, O One who has complete knowledge of His creation, O One who has complete awareness of His creation! Treat us with gentleness O Gentle, O All-Knowing, O All-Aware!
O Gentle Who remains forever, be gentle to us in all that befalls us, You are constantly Gentle, treat us and the Muslims with gentleness!

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Source

Great Incentive to Forgive and Forget

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Close relatives are really in a good position to hurt our feelings -- like husband/wife, mother/father, children, brothers/sisters, uncles/aunties/cousins, etc. They are so close to your heart which means it is easy for them to stab you in the heart. Sometimes you may forgive but that doesn’t guarantee that you don’t remember, not scarred. It is possible that you forgive somebody but your relationship with that person is not the same anymore.

When Mistah, a maternal cousin of Abu Bakr (radhiAllahu anhu), spoke about his beloved daughter, the mother of the believers and the most beloved of people to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), Aisha (radhiAllahu anha), during the Incident of the Slander, Abu Bakr, who had been paying his stipend, took the money back and swore that he would never give him money again. But Allah says, pardon and overlook -- means forgive and forget -- let it go, turn the page, let the heart just completely heal, don’t remember what he did, that chapter is over, love him like you love him before. Allah Almighty revealed:

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]

Any father who had raised his daughter with haya' (modesty, shyness, social morality, values and behavior) and then someone comes and makes this very serious accusation against his daughter, has the right to be angry but Allah just bring the extinguisher and Abu Bakr, one of the 10 promised Paradise, took it.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

ألا تحب يا أبا بكر أن يغفر الله لك

O Abu Bakr, would you not love for Allah to forgive you?

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said:
والله إنـي لأحبّ أن يغفر الله لـي

By Allah, verily, I would love for Allah to forgive me!

And so he resumed paying the stipend (to Mistah).

If this is not enough incentive for you, then the only problem you have is iman (faith). Don't argue that it was Abu Bakr. Allah didn't mention his name. In other words, it applies to his situation and will apply forever after.

Put a weight to your anger and put a weight to your sins. Now, how badly do you want Allah to forgive you? If you forgive and forget, Allah guarantees you His forgiveness and He will overlook your sins. Would you not love for Allah to forgive you?

Don't say "I can't do it, I just can't!", "I cant forgive, there is a big dark hole in my heart!" You can tell anything you want to yourself but the Truth does not submit to you. You submit to the Truth. Allah says He does not burden anyone with something he cannot bear.

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

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned...

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:286]

Stop telling yourself, "I can't!" Snap out of it. There is nothing holding you back. Don't follow the whispers of shaytan. The word shatan also means rage. Shaytan wants to keep the fire of rage burning.

Anyone who harbors a grudge against someone is not free of three concerns:

He either struggles against himself in order to do good (to his enemy) and increase his consideration; this is the degree of the truly righteous, or…
He does not do any good or evil deeds. This is the degree of the moderate, or…
He does rude things to him and does not do any good; this is the degree of the vicious and the oppressors.
There is no intimacy with Allah greater than this: that you do good to him who does evil to you. If you are unable to do that, at least forgive him; for the virtue of forgiveness is great.
[al-Ghazzali]

May Allah enable us to forgive the people who have hurt us and turn the page. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Make Qur'an More Than Your Full Time Job

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Qur'an that Allah sent down is enough as an aid for us in this life.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢

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

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:2]

But how many people know this? How many people really believe this? You hear people say, "We are far too educated to be taken by the Qur'an." You hear people say, "I already know it!" But do they really? Qur'an is not something you read by someone's death bed or after someone's death or in some other special occasion, but it is your entire life. No one is too educated to learn this Book or learned enough to keep learning this Book.

So many Muslims are not even curious about the Qur'an. A Muslim should not die a death "I left the Qur'an in abandonment." When he looks back to his life in the Day of Judgment, he better not have this in his record.

We have to be active in spreading the understanding of the Qur'an, creating curiosity about the Qur'an that so many Muslims aren't even curious about. The few Muslims who are actually sitting in classes of Qur'an (learning proper recitation of Qur'an, tafsir, etc.) are the ones who should go on a campaign making Qur'an a common place.

We are supposed to give Qur'an to the rest of humanity. The vast majority of the Muslim Ummah is sleeping. If we too are sleeping, who is going to wake them up and bring them back to Qur'an?

After the ayah of changing the Qibla came down, billions of people on the planet pray towards a different direction. It was changed not because Ka'bah was the first house of Allah or it was built by Ibrahim alayhissalaam. But Allah changed the Qibla so His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam could be pleased. He saw the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam look up to the sky and without him saying anything, Allah changed the Qibla.

...قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ

We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram...

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:144]

If that was how sensitive Allah was when His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam didn't utter any words, what kind of trouble someone will be when His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam complains about that person on the Day of judgment?

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, had complained to Allah Almighty against those who abandon the Qur'an and turn away from it.

وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا ﴿٣٠

And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (30)

[Qur'an Al-Furqan 25:30]

Imagine the kind of trouble that person would be in for abandoning the Qur'an.

Do everything you can -- begging, pleading -- starting with your family and close friends, to learn the Qur'an. We don't want anyone to rise one day and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam speak these words and pointing at them.

وَيَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِٱلْغَمَـٰمِ وَنُزِّلَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ تَنزِيلًا ﴿٢٥﴾ ٱلْمُلْكُ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْحَقُّ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ وَكَانَ يَوْمًا عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَسِيرًا ﴿٢٦﴾ وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا ﴿٢٧﴾ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِى لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا ﴿٢٨﴾ لَّقَدْ أَضَلَّنِى عَنِ ٱلذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَنِى ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ خَذُولًا ﴿٢٩﴾ وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا ﴿٣٠﴾ وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّا مِّنَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا ﴿٣١

And [mention] the Day when the heaven will split open with [emerging] clouds, and the angels will be sent down in successive descent. (25) True sovereignty, that Day, is for the Most Merciful. And it will be upon the disbelievers a difficult Day. (26) And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. (27) Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. (28) He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter." (29) And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (30) And thus have We made for every prophet an enemy from among the criminals. But sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper. (31)

[Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:25-31]

The obligation the Muslims owe to the Qur'an is a very serious matter. It's not a weekend or between Maghrib and 'Isha job, it is more than a full time job. So you see my friends, we are so much lagging behind.

May Allah make us from people of the Qur'an 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

Related Archive
A Glimpse of Abandoning The Qur'an

Do Yourself A Great Favor, Seek Righteous Companions

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

You may be smiling and laughing now for the great circle of friends you have -- those who you see often and have fun together, and who ask about you if they haven't seen or heard from you, even for a day. If they are not righteous, do you think they will ask about you in the Day of Judgment? NO! They will be too busy trying to escape from the great torment of the Day of Judgment.

فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ ﴿٣٣﴾ يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ ﴿٣٤﴾ وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ ﴿٣٥﴾ وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ ﴿٣٦﴾ لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ ﴿٣٧

But when there comes the Deafening Blast (33) On the Day a man will flee from his brother (34) And his mother and his father (35) And his wife and his children, (36) For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him. (37)

[Qur'an, Abasa 80:33-37]

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَلَآ أَنسَابَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلَا يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ﴿١٠١﴾ فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠٢﴾ وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فِى جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾ تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَـٰلِحُونَ ﴿١٠٤

So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. (101) And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful. (102) But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally. (103) The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles. (104)

[Qur'an, Al-Mu'minun 23:101-104]

Your friends in Paradise, even after the long separation in this world, will ask about you if they don't see you around. And these are the people you want to be with in this life. Seek righteous people and keep company with them. This is a great favor to yourself in this world.

If someone's state does not lift you up,
and his words do not lead you to Allah
- then do not keep his company!

... Hikam of ibn 'Ata'llah

The one whose state lifts you up is someone who is such that, when you see him, you remember Allah. If you see him when you are in a state of heedlessness, he lifts you to a state of wakefulness. If you see him when you are in a state of desire, he raises you to a state of asceticism. If you see him when you are in a state of occupation with disobedience, he raises you to a state of repentance. If you are in a state of ignorance of your Lord, he raises you to recognition of your Lord, and so forth.

The one whose words guide you to Allah is the one who speaks by Allah. He directs you to Allah and withdraws from other than Him. When he speaks, he takes all the hearts, and when he is silent, his state raises you to the Knower of the Unseen worlds. So his state confirms his words and his words are in harmony with his knowledge. The company of someone like this is an elixir which transforms the sources. This is understood from the words of the Shaykh, "If someone's state does not life you up, then do not keep his company." Keep the company of the one whose state will lift you up and whose words will lead you to Allah.

...ibn Ajiba's commentary

Choose your companions carefully. You will be like them. The ones you want to keep company are the people that can bring you closer to Allah or away from Allah.

May Allah grant us righteous companions and make us and our families among the righteous. Ameen.

We ask Allah to give us tawfiq (success) by creating in us the ability to perform actions that pleases Him and stay away from those actions that displeases Him and causes His anger. O Allah, the One who gave the people of goodness tawfiq to perform goodness and help them, give us tawfiq to perform goodness and help us. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Make Your Limbs Testify Against You

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 two angels, one on your left and one on your right, who record everything you do or say. Think about this. It might not be visual now, but it is real and it will come back to you.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفْسُهُۥ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ ٱلْوَرِيدِ ﴿١٦﴾ إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ ﴿١٧

And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein (16) When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. (17) Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]. (18)

[Qur'an, Qaf 50:16-18]

Each word you say will be recorded. Whenever you want to open your mouth visualize the angel sitting next to you, ready to write each word down.

When you are about to go to a place with forbidden (haraam) activities, remember when your actual legs will tell Allah. When you are about to touch something haraam, whether it be your tablet to listen to music, or your remote control to watch something forbidden, think of the moment when your hands will reveal you, while in this world you might have been able to keep it behind closed doors.

Don’t make your limbs testify against you. Use your tongue for speech beloved by Allah, Ash-Shaheed (The All and Ever Witnessing), your eyes to read the Qur'an, your limbs to pray to Him as they will all testify as what you used them for.

ٱلْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَآ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٦٥

That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn. (65)

[Quran, Yaasin 36:65]

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: I was amazed at how a servant will dispute with his Lord on the Day of Resurrection. He will say, “My Lord, did You not promise me that you would not treat me unjustly” Allah will say, “Yes.” The man will say, “I will not accept any witness against me except from myself.” Allah will say, “Is it not sufficient that I and the angels, the noble scribes, are witnesses” These words will be repeated several times, then a seal will be placed over his mouth and his organs (or limbs) will speak about what he used to do. Then he will say, “Away with you! It was only for your sake that I was arguing!”)” [Muslim & An-Nasa'i]

Be aware of how you use your limbs and only use them for the purpose they are created -- to worship the Creator.

May Allah enable us to use our limbs in the manner most pleasing to Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

You Have An Appointment

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

There is no more important meeting than our meeting with our Creator. The appointment has been made. How many days have gone by in which you haven't thought about this most important meeting of your existence?

ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُۥ ﴿١٩
كَلَّا بَلْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ ﴿٢٠﴾ وَتَذَرُونَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ﴿٢١﴾ وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ ﴿٢٣

Then it is for Us (Allâh) to make it clear (to you). (19) Not [as you think, that you (mankind) will not be resurrected and recompensed for your deeds], but you (men) love the present life of this world, (20) And neglect the Hereafter. (21)

[Qur'an, Al-Qiyamah 75:19-21)

You will soon stand before Allah, personally, one by one, to be judged. People are divided into two categories: Category 1: People with bright faces, due to their happiness, standing there looking at their Lord, and Category 2: people with darkened faces, due to their bad deeds.

وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَاسِرَةٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ تَظُنُّ أَن يُفْعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَةٌ ﴿٢٥﴾ كَلَّآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلتَّرَاقِىَ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَقِيلَ مَنْ ۜ رَاقٍ ﴿٢٧﴾ وَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ ٱلْفِرَاقُ ﴿٢٨﴾ وَٱلْتَفَّتِ ٱلسَّاقُ بِٱلسَّاقِ ﴿٢٩﴾ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْمَسَاقُ ﴿٣٠﴾ فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ ﴿٣١﴾ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ﴿٣٢﴾ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ يَتَمَطَّىٰٓ ﴿٣٣

Some faces that Day shall be Nâdirah (shining and radiant). (22) Looking at their Lord (Allâh); (23) And some faces, that Day, will be Bâsirah (dark, gloomy, frowning, and sad), (24) Thinking that some calamity is about to fall on them; (25) Nay, when (the soul) reaches to the collar bone (i.e. up to the throat in its exit), (26) And it will be said: "Who can cure him (and save him from death)?" (27) And he (the dying person) will conclude that it was (the time) of parting (death); (28) And one leg will be joined with another leg (shrouded) (29) The drive will be, on that Day, to your Lord (Allâh)! (30) So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this Qur'ân, and in the Message of Muhammad sallallahu aalayhi wassallam) nor prayed! (31) But on the contrary, he belied (this Qur'ân and the Message of Muhammad sallallahu aalayhi wassallam) and turned away! (32) Then he walked in conceit (full pride) to his family admiring himself! (33)

[Qur'an, Al-Qiyamah 75:22-33]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: The first thing the people will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer, Allah will say to His angels: ‘Look at my servants prayers. Were they complete or not?’ If they were complete it will be written as complete. If they were not fully complete Allah will say: ‘See if my servant has voluntary prayers, if he has them Allah will say: Complete his obligatory prayers shortage with his voluntary prayers.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner. [Ahmad, Abu Dawood, An-Nasaa’i, Al-Haakim]

Make it your priority to pray your five daily prayers on time and learn to understand whatever you recite in them to increase your khushoo. Remember this hadith and let it motivate you to do those extra sunnah prayers.

May Allah 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

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today -- Brace Yourself With Humility

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 good practice to recite Surah Kahf every Friday. We live in a very materialistic world and this Surah attacks the problems of materialism. The most materialistic people can be the most proud people. We should not let any pride enters our hearts because as the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) warns:

“Whoever has pride in his heart equal to the weight of a mustard seed shall not enter Paradise.” [Muslim]

People, whether as an individual, as a family, as a group, as a community, as a country, can be so proud when they have accomplished something -- modernized road system, tall buildings, masjid, house, academic degrees, children, status, influence, and the list goes on. Even in religious areas, people can take pride in their efforts in the worldly sense. For example, someone donated lots of money to the masjid or someone who started or lead/oversee a masjid project and saw it to successful completion would take pride in it --"Alhamdulillah, I/We build this place (masjid)." What have you done to yourself?

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا ﴿١٠٣﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا ﴿١٠٤

Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? (103) [They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work." (104)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:103-104]

This worldly life is in its entirety a test. What we have been provided with in terms of family, wealth, health and opportunities are part of our question papers. What we do with them is our test.

The real great and successful people are those filled with humility. The mark of them is that they don't take credit for their accomplishments. They give all credit to Allah. Dhul-Qarnayn in Surah Kahf accomplished great things but when he achieved the most of his accomplishments, he immediately give credit to Allah.

قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّا ﴿٩٨

[Dhul-Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true." (98)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:98]

In the last 2 verses of Surah Kahf, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) wants to make sure that when we praise the words of Allah, we don't confuse that with him himself (Allah bless him and grant him peace). The only thing is that revelation is given to him (Allah bless him and grant him peace) but the entity worthy of worship for us is one single entity, Allah.

The words of Allah is of two kinds -- revelation that He sends to His Messenger and His instructions (kalimah.) Every "kun" is a kalimah. If the ocean were used as means of documenting the instructions of Allah, the ocean will run out before even the words of Allah run out. Even if another ocean were to be brought out to further extend Allah's word, the ocean would be exhausted before the words of Allah were exhausted. On one hand this is showing us the greatest of the Qu'ran, on the other hand is the humility of the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). The credit only goes to Allah, even though the medium of its delivery is the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) himself.

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِۦ مَدَدًا ﴿١٠٩﴾ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا ﴿١١٠

Say, "If the sea were ink for [writing] the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement." (109) Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (110)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:109-110]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) praised people of the last generation, that one of them is like ten of the sahabah. Why? Because they believe in Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) without even seeing him. They live in the toughest time, around Dajjal, in the world that is beautified and materialistic but they pick allegiance in Allah's cause over all the temptations of the world.

You see materialism dies when someone develops hopes of meeting with Allah. They don't become materialistic anymore because there is nothing more desirable than meeting with Allah. You may want wealth luxury, beautiful things but when you develop inside of you that desire, "I want to meet with Allah," you lose desire of the things of this dunya.

May Allah save us from the fitans that lay ahead and help us be and raise the generation that bring Islam to the world. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Keeping the Takbeer

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

In the last several days you filled your days with saying the ‘Dhul Hijjah’ and ‘Eid’ takbeer. Don't stop.

وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ ٱلَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِيكٌ فِى ٱلْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ مِّنَ ٱلذُّلِّ ۖ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًۢا ﴿١١١

And say, "Praise to Allah, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification." (111)

[Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:111]

Kabirhu كَبِّرْهُ means to declare His greatness and magnify Him and how? Takbeera تَكْبِيرًۢا by saying Allahu akbar, the greatest way of magnifying Allah.

Abdullah ibn ‘Umar narrates that a man came late to Salāh. Upon arriving to the line he started his prayer with the following words, Allaahu Akbaru Kabeeran wal-hamdulillahi katheeran wa subhaan Allaahi bukratan wa aseelaa. The Prophet, after completing the prayer, asked the people who had said this. The man said, O Rasūlullah, I did not intend by it other than good. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, I saw the gates of heaven open because of those words. Ibn ‘Umar added, I never ceased saying these words since hearing the Prophet say that. [Muslim, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa’i and Ahmad]

Say the dhikr from this hadith at the beginning of your prayer. And whenever you say takbeer, feel it and truly realize that Allah is greater than anything else you love, own, or desire.

May Allah make us realize His greatness and make us of those who glorify Him a lot. Ameen.

Please don't forget

Not a Hajji

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a requirement that any Muslim who has the means to carry out the Hajj should perform it, at lease once in a lifetime.

Every year, especially around the day of Arafah and when the Hajjis start coming home, many of us start having the intention to do Hajj (whether going for the first time or repeat hajj) and the year quickly passes by and we find ourselves wishing others 'hajj mabrur' and welcoming the Hajjis back. If you really want to go to hajj next year, the preparation should begin now -- physically and spiritually.

While preparing to go to hajj next year, you can start earning the reward like that of a hajj and umrah 365 days a year.

The Prophet said: Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two rak’ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah.” He said: ‘Complete, Complete, Complete. [At-Tirmidhi]

You should gather your family and friends and meet at the masjid and revive this sunnah.

May Allah grant us tawfiq. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam.

Post Day of Arafah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The amazing reward of fasting on the day of Arafah is that it expiates the (minor) sins of the previous year and of the coming year [Muslim] but what about your major sins? All your major sins can be forgiven by you doing something beautiful: sincere repentance (tawbah).

Allah Almighty has made it very clear that His forgiveness and mercy is very extensive.

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣﴾ وَأَنِيبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا۟ لَهُۥ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾ وَٱتَّبِعُوٓا۟ أَحْسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٥٥

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) And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped. (54) And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly while you do not perceive, (55)

[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:53-55]

However, that the time of tawbah has a deadline - it has to be well before death. If someone were to think of making his tawbah after death on the Day of Judgment, or is simply filled with remorse over what awful things he had done to himself, then, that will bring him no benefit.

Ask Allah to help you say and mean this beautiful supplication everyday for the remaining days of your life.

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Astaghfirullaa-hal-ladhee laa ilaaha illaa huwal-ḥayyul-qayyoomu wa atoobu ilayh

I seek Allah’s forgiveness, besides Whom, none has the right to be worshipped except He, The Ever Living, The Self-Subsisting and Supporter of all, and I turn to Him in repentance.

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever says [above]… Allah would forgive him even if he was one who fled during the advance of an army. [Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi]

May Allah enable us to turn to Him in sincere repentance. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive
Let's Repent

Beyond The Ten Days of Dhu'l-Hijjah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

A sign of Allah accepting your good deeds during the last 10 days of Dhu'l-Hijjah is that He enables you to continue doing them. All year round.

Even though a set of truly blessed days have come to an end, it is time to realize that each day is a blessing and we should recognize it and seize every moment to come closer to Allah.

Allah Almighty says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١١

O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers. (9) And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous." (10) But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (11)

[Qur'an, Al-Munafiqun 63:9-11]

May Allah make us of people of His remembrance and of those who are grateful and truthful. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Slaughter Well, Spread The Ihsan (Excellence)

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We all have heard about animal cruelty in slaughterhouses. They are not just happening in slaughterhouses in non-Muslims countries, but you will find animal cruelty in slaughterhouses in Muslim countries as well as in the hands of Muslim individuals and communities. You might have witnessed it yourself during slaughter for sacrifice ('udhiya'/qurbani) this Eid. Obviously, the degree of cruelty varies, ranging from forcing the animal down through manpower to actual beating/stunning.

Islam commands Muslims to practice and apply Ihsan, striving for excellence, in all that they do. Ihsan is so important that it was actually made obligatory, or wajib. It has been mentioned in the Qur'an, where Allah the Almighty says,

إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٩٠

Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. (90)

[Qur'an, An-Nahl 16:90]

On the authority of Abu Ya'la Shaddad bin Aws (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

"Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (perfection) in all things. Thus if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."

[Muslim]

The meaning of "kill well" is to exert oneself the utmost in performing the action well, without causing unnecessary pain or torment through it. “Slaughter well" implies that we show mercy and kindness to the animal being slaughtered, do not push it to the ground cruelly or harshly, nor drag it from one place to another. It also includes facing it towards the Qibla (facing towards Ka'abah), pronouncing the name of Allah upon it, cleanly and quickly cutting the throat and the two jugular veins, and finally leaving it until it has turned cold. This hadith also includes recognizing and acknowledging Allah's favors upon us, and thanking Him and being grateful to Him. Allah Almighty has subjected some of His creation to us, and made their meat permissible when He could have made it forbidden, if He had wished.

The whole universe, that is, with its heavens, stars, planets, galaxies, the sun, the moon, rain, fishes, birds, animals, plants, flowers, is but a substantiation of Allah’s Love for mankind.

Allah Almighty says,

ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ ﴿٣٢﴾ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ﴿٣٣

It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and sent down rain from the sky and produced thereby some fruits as provision for you and subjected for you the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers. (32) And He subjected for you the sun and the moon, continuous [in orbit], and subjected for you the night and the day. (33)

[Qur'an, Ibrahim 25:32-33]

The sacrifice Muslims are doing during this time of the year is offered in order to commemorate the total submission displayed by Prophet Ibrahim (may Allah grant him peace) when he was commanded to sacrifice his son, Ismail (may Allah grant him peace).

Allah Most High says,

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّـهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (102)

[Qur’an, As-Saffat 37:102]

It is a demonstration of total submission to Allah and a proof of complete obedience to Allah’s will or command. When a Muslim offers an ‘udhiya’ this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus, the ‘udhiya’ offered signifies that he is a slave of Allah at his best. And that he would not hesitate even for a moment once he receives an absolute command from his Creator to surrender before it, to obey it willingly, even if it be at the price of his life and possessions.

So, why then we are not applying ihsan to the cows, goats, lambs or camels that we are sacrificing for the sake of Allah? It is no wonder these animals would escape each time you try to get them down to the ground for slaughter, as if these animal didn't want to die in your hands. Of course, 5, 10, 15 or 20 men can eventually overpower a resistant domestic animal, no matter how big, but how could you begin to offer its meat as charity or even put it on your dinner table for your family and friends, when you had killed it without ihsan? How could you step or walk on it after it is dead, not honoring this gift from Allah? Remember, it reaches Allah before it reaches people's hands and mouths.

Among the many virtues we know of our Mother Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, the one she received a nickname for was charity. She was called Umm al-Teeb (the mother of fragrance). Using “umm” or “mother” in Arabic emphasizes that this person is the source of something or that this is a particular characteristic of the person or object. Aisha was called Umm al-Teeb because she used to spray perfume on the money she donated. When asked why she did this, she explained that charity reaches Allah before the receiving person’s hand so she wanted it to smell nice. She did this so often that it became her trademark and earned her this nickname.

Slaughtering animals is worship, not merely for food, and slaughtering for 'udhiya' is your opportunity to come close to Allah. Don't spoil it by being cruel to the animal. Slaughter the animal well and treat it with honor even after its death. May Allah accept your qurbani.

Please watch and benefit from these very insightful videos.

Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 1
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 2A
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 2B
An award winning Muslim slaughterhouse in Abu Dhabi

InshaAllah you and your community will take an active role to promote mercy on animals and spread ihsan in animal slaughter, whether for 'udhiya', aqiqah, or normal consumption.

May Allah grant us tawfiq and guide us to excellence. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam