The Fear For Our Children

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We should have fear for our children especially those who live in societies in which values are distant from Islamic values, even in the so called Islamic countries. This fear, however, should not lead us to despair but rather should lead us to take action. Allah gave the believers a model in the life of the wife of Fir`aun, Asiyah. Although she lived with the tyrant in his palace, she was patient and firm in her faith.

First and foremost, we should shut the doors to corruption as much as we can. One big mistake parents do is to give their children electronics, especially smartphones and iPads (and the like) from an early age and allowing their young children to hook in with social media and internet. You are not putting your children behind if you don't give them this technology. In fact, you are putting them behind in social and learning development because all they do with technology is to watch more useless videos, listen to music, chat and text messages, and play games. These devices that you give your children, in fact, is worse than TV because you can't possibly know everything that they do with these devices -- what they read, watch, listen, and who all their friends are.

Bear in mind that children are like sponges -- they absorb things very fast. So, be very careful what you expose them to.

Children need to be kept busy with activities in order to keep them out of trouble. However, they will be in more trouble when they get hook with electronic games and social media. So if your children are already hooked with these stuff, it's time to remove these things from them. With firmness and du'a, it is not difficult. You must try. Provide them with healthy substitutes. Arrange and involve them in group activities according to their age. These activities should be enjoyable and safe from any harm.

Some of the things that should be given to our children from an early age is the Qur'an. Find a qualified teacher with good manners to teach them and help them memorize the Qur'an. Once they develop the love for the Qur'an, they will not concern themselves with useless things. Give them a portion of adhkar to read and other materials that which illuminates their minds (e.g. seerah, stories of the prophets and the pious, etc). Interest them in Islamic projects -- like learning Arabic calligraphy. Such things will keep them very busy. Take them to visit Makkah and Madinah (for umrah or hajj) and third world Islamic countries, if you can afford it. This will teach them to appreciate what they have and their life of ease and comfort.

If it is possible to move to an environment which is better for your children then do that as long as that does not lead us to neglect any responsibility you have in the place where you are currently living. Otherwise you should remain where you are and be firm in raising a Muslim family. May Allah grant you tawfiq.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارً‌ۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَ‌ةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَ‌هُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُ‌ونَ ﴿٦﴾ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ لَا تَعْتَذِرُ‌وا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6) O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do. (7)

[Qur'an At-Tahrim 66:6-7]

May Allah protect our children and our families. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archives

Advice For Women During Pregnancy by Habib Umar

Being Good Parents

Protecting Your Family

Fighting Depression and Du'as for Depression

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 we are depressed, we seek out for sympathetic people who will listen to us. Most often, we are disappointed, because most people would not understand, or cannot give you enough time, or will have cares of their own. But Allah is Al Haleem (The Forbearing), so why not share with Him? He is always there, waiting for you to talk to Him. Moreover, He understands you better than yourself. Pour your heart to Him.

We can turn our messes into golden opportunities. The formula for doing that has been provided to us by His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace):

How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him.

[Muslim]

Depression is a disease, just like malaria or the common cold. If you have it, it does not mean you are a weak person, it does not mean you have a weak iman (faith), and it in no way means that you are somehow to blame for it. The Qur'an even records a Prophet being so powerfully aggrieved that he loses his eyesight.

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ﴿٨٤

And he [Ya'qub] turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor. (84)

[Qur'an, Yusuf 12:84]

Stop blaming yourself for something out of your control, and half your problem is solved inshaAllah.

As much as possible, cut down your obligations, tasks, chores etc. Remove as much stress as you can without actually shunning from your core responsibilities. Give yourself a break.

Remind yourself that you’re not in control of your life anyway. Whatever has happened, happened by the will of Allah.

Strive to seek that which will benefit you and do not feel helpless. If something overwhelms you, then say: Qaddarallah, wa ma sha’a fa’al (It is the decree of Allah and what He wills He does). And beware of (saying) ‘If only,’ for ‘If only’ opens the door to Satan. [ibn Majah]

So when you think of the ever-increasing pile of chores, say: Qaddarallah, wa ma sha’a fa’al. When you’re feeling too much burden, when you’re in a situation where every attempt of yours is failing to make a way out, rely on Allah. It was Allah’s will that you came in such a state, and all the preceding events that led to it were from His Decree too.

He has given this as a test for you, to see whether you let yourself become crushed under the load of self-blame, or whether you throw that load away and lean on Him for support and relax. Having tawakkul (reliance on Allah) really feels very like leaning on an extremely comfortable couch and just relaxing, your heart filling with Allah’s love, for Allah Almighty says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ﴿١٥٩...

... Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (109)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:159]

Allah Almighty also says:

... وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ...

... And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him...(3)

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

So let go of all feelings of worry and self-blame, and rely completely on Allah. Let Him take care of the situation.

إِن يَنصُرْ‌كُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُ‌كُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٦٠

If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely. (160)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:160]

There are such amazing duas for depression in the Sunnah of the Prophet that it’s almost worth it to fall into depression just to know these duas. Learn and memorize them and recite them at any time you want while standing, sitting, lying, crying... Soon you’ll find that you are experiencing an amazing situation – an awareness of Allah, a sense of connection with Him. You’ll start feeling His presence [by His knowledge]. Ibn al Qayyim describes this building of relationship with Allah:

It is possible that a person has a need of something, so he earnestly prays and requests Allah for it until the sweetness of asking and imploring Allah is opened for him. So he enjoys being humbled before Him and trying to draw closer to Him, and he cuts off any relationship or hope for good from anyone else – all of which would never have happened had it not been for his need -- to such an extent that he wishes to continue in this state, and prefers it over the actual fulfillment of his need.

Some of those that have recognized have stated: ‘Sometimes, I have a need [from] Allah, so I ask Him earnestly. Then I find that the door of dialogue opens up for me, and I recognize Allah more, and feel humbled before Him, due to which I prefer that the answer to my prayer be delayed, so that this state may continue!’ [from the book Dua the Weapon of the Believer]

Du'as for Depression (even if you are not depressed, there is no stopping you to learn, memorize and recite them)

اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي عَبْـدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْـدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِـكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَـدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُـكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّـيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أِوْ أَنْزَلْتَـهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْـتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِـكَ أَوِ اسْتَـأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْـبِ عِنْـدَكَ أَنْ تَجْـعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيـعَ قَلْبِـي، وَنورَ صَـدْرِي وجَلَاءَ حُـزْنِي وذَهَابَ هَمِّـي

O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur'an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.

اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَعْوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الهَـمِّ وَ الْحُـزْنِ، والعًجْـزِ والكَسَلِ والبُخْـلِ والجُـبْنِ، وضَلْـعِ الـدَّيْنِ وغَلَبَـةِ الرِّجال

O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.

اللّهُـمَّ لا سَـهْلَ إِلاّ ما جَعَلـتَهُ سَهـلاً، وَأَنْتَ تَجْـعَلُ الْحَـزَنَ إِذا شِـئْتَ سَهـْلاً

O Allah, there is no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficulty, if You wish, easy.

لَا إلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظـيمُ الْحَلِـيمْ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ العَـرْشِ العَظِيـمِ، لَا إِلَـهَ إِلَّا اللَّهْ رَبُّ السَّمَـوّاتِ ورّبُّ الأَرْضِ ورَبُّ العَرْشِ الكَـريم

None has the right to be worshiped except Allah Forbearing. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, Lord of the magnificent throne. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the Earth and Lord of the noble throne.

اللّهُـمَّ رَحْمَتَـكَ أَرْجـوفَلا تَكِلـني إِلى نَفْـسي طَـرْفَةَ عَـيْن، وَأَصْلِـحْ لي شَأْنـي كُلَّـه لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنْـت

O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshiped except You.

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنْـت سُـبْحانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْـتُ مِنَ الظّـالِميـن

None has the right to be worshiped except You. How perfect You are, verily I was among the wrong-doers. [Qur'an, Al-Anbiya' 21:87]

اللهُ اللهُ رَبِّ لا أُشْـرِكُ بِهِ شَيْـئاً

Allah, Allah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him.

رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith. [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:286]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَقَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَدُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ وَنَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ

O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit, a heart that is not humble, a supplication that is not heard and a soul that is not satisfied. [an Nasaii]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلْتُ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ أَعْمَلْ

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, and from the evil of what I have not done. [Abu Dawud]

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ

Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]. [Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:126]

‏اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي، وأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيها مَعَاشِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيها مَعَادِي، واجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرِ، وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرِّ. ‏

O Allah, make my religion easy for me by virtue of which my affairs are protected, set right for me my world where my life exists, make good for me my Hereafter which is my resort to which I have to return, and make my life prone to perform all types of good, and make death a comfort for me from every evil. [Muslim]

اللهمَّ إنِّي أَعوذُ بِكَ مِن جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ، وَدَرْكِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَسُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الْأعْدَاءِ‏

Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from the distress of trial, from the lowest level of misery, from the perversity of fate, and from the malicious rejoicing of enemies. [Bukhari and Muslim]

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

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

رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ

Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination. [Qur'an, Al-Mumtahina 60:4]

May Allah grant us well being and bring us closer to Him. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday): Loving the Righteous

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Souls feel affinity with others according to the nature in which they were created. 'Although they are all souls, they differ in different ways, so a person will feel an affinity with souls of one kind, and will get along with them because of the special quality that they have in common.' [Qurtubi]

In the story of the companions of the cave (Ashab al-Kahf) in Surah Al-Kahf, a few young men were drawn to each other because of their righteousness. They were the progeny of kings and chiefs among their people who were idol-worshipers.

Once their people went out of the town to participate in some religious festival of theirs. This was a place where they met every year, worshiped their idols and sacrificed animals to please them. Their king was a tyrant, called Daqyanus. He used to force his people to worship idols. That year, when everyone had gathered together in this festival, these young men identified as the Ashab al-Kahf also reached there and saw their people taking rocks carved with their own hands as God, worshiping them and sacrificing for them.

At that time, Allah blessed them with the good sense to shun this absurd practice of their people. Thus, when they used their reason, they arrived at the conclusion that this worship belongs to none but that supreme Power who has created the heavens and the earth and everything therein. This thought crossed the minds of those few young men simultaneously and they started moving away from there to avoid the absurd practice of their people in the fair name of worship.

The first young man who withdrew went far from the crowd and sat down under a tree. After that, came another and he too sat there. Similarly, came the third, and the fourth, and each one of them kept taking a seat under the tree. But, none of them were familiar with each other, nor did they know as to why they had come there. The truth of the matter is that they were brought together on that spot by the Power that lit the light of faith in their hearts. [Ibn Kathir]

Allah recorded the youths conversation in Surah Al-Kahf:

هَـٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّـهِ كَذِبًا (١٥ ) وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿١٦

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) [The youths said to one another], "And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility." (16)

[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:15-16]

It is important to love the righteous. They are means to take you closer to Allah and they can help you overcome your shortcomings.

This is a conversation between Imam al-Shafi' and Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on them).

Imam al-Shafi`, in spite of his high station said:

احب الصالحين ولست منهم *** لعلي أن انال بهم شفاعة

واكره من تجارته المعاصي *** وإن كنا سواء في البضاعة

I love the righteous, although I'm not of them
Perhaps I shall receive intercession through them
And I hate he who trades in sins (deals in acts of disobedience)
Although we are both dealing in the same trade.

So Imam Ahmad responded:

فرد عليه الامام احمد رحمه الله

تحب الصالحين وانت منهم *** ومنكم سوف يلقون الشفاعة
وتكره من تجارته المعاصي *** وقانا الله من شر البضاعة

You love the righteous and you are of them
And from you shall they receive intercession
And you hate he who trades in sins
May Allah protect us from the evil of such trade

Imam al-Shafi` also said:

لَوْ شُقَّ صَدْرِي لَبَدا وَسْطَهُ سَطْرَانِ قَدْ خُطَّا بِلا كَاتِبِ

الشَّرْعُ و التَّوْحِيدُ في جَانِبٍ و حُبُّ أَهْلِ البَيْتِ في جَانِبِ

إِنْ كُنْتُ فِيما قُلْتُهُ كَاذِباً فَلَعْنَةُ اللهِ على الكَاذِبِ

If my chest was split open two lines would be found inside it not drawn by any man:
The Sacred Law and Allah’s oneness on one side and love of the People of the House on the other
If I am lying in what I have said then may Allah’s curse be on the liar

If Allah blesses you with love for Him, love for His Prophet and love for the Prophet’s household (Ahl al-Bayt), this is a great thing. If Allah dislikes someone, He removes love of the righteous from their heart.

May Allah increase our love for His beloved Messenger and his household and companions, and grant us righteous companions and protect us from evil. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Loving the Sunnah: Du'a for Steadfastness in Islam

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

People who are humble to Allah, they are never proud of their knowledge, howsoever perfect it may be, nor of the strength of their faith. They are not proud of their excellence. Instead, they constantly pray to Allah seeking steadfastness from Him, and for His grace and mercy. They pray for steadfastness on the right path, not for any worldly gains, but for salvation in the life Hereafter.

Allah Almighty says,

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَـٰتٌ مُّحْكَمَـٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأُخَرُ‌ مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَـٰبَهَ مِنْهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ ٱلْفِتْنَةِ وَٱبْتِغَآءَ تَأْوِيلِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱلرَّ‌ٰ‌سِخُونَ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَ‌بِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ‌ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٧﴾ رَ‌بَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾ رَ‌بَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَ‌يْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩

It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding. (7) [Who say], "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (8) Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise." (9))

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:7-9]

Guidance and straying are from Allah alone. When Allah intends to guide someone, He makes his heart tilt towards what is good and right; and when He decides to let someone go astray, He turns his heart away from the straight path.
This is just as it was said in a hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace): There is no heart which is not there in between the two of Allah's fingers. He makes it firm on the truth as long as He wills, and turns it away from the truth when He wills.

He is Allah, absolute in power. He does what He wills. Therefore, those who are concerned about how to remain firm in their faith, they go to the source - requesting and praying Allah for steadfastness.

Shahr bin Haushab reported: I asked Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her), "O Mother of the Believers, which supplication did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) make frequently when he was in your house?" She said: "He (ﷺ) supplicated frequently:

‏يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك‏

Ya muqallibal-qulubi, thabbit qalbi 'ala dinika

O Controller of the hearts make my heart steadfast in Your religion.

[At- Tirmidhi]

May Allah purify our hearts and grant us a sound understanding of His religion. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Loving the Sunnah: Patience and Don't Be Angry

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We know that there have been such and such articles, films, videos, cartoons floating around depicting our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in an insulting manner. It shouldn't strike our curiosity to watch them, read them, look at them or viral them to everybody. If you do any of these things you are just wasting your time. And you have fallen right into shaytan's tricks.

Remember, Shaytan is always lurking to throw things out there for us to trip on. If we then react in an emotional manner and engage in senseless violence, then we have fallen. Is this what the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) struggled for 23 years to bring to us?

We should realize that those hateful speech, films, videos, cartoons and articles are futile wasteful attempts to try to undermine the message of Islam and to try to misrepresent Islam. It is nothing new. If we react in senseless violence, we have aided them to misrepresent Islam.

The Qur'an has plenty of reports about how prophets were insulted, ridiculed and rejected in the most obscene way. There is no need to go to these current events. Just read the Qur'an.

For example, Prophet Nuh alayhissalaam complained about his people who find him disgusting and they plug their ears with their fingers and covered themselves with their clothes as a show of insult to him.

وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ‌ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّ‌وا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُ‌وا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارً‌ۭا ﴿٧

And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance. (7)

[Qur'an, Nuh 71:7]

The Qur'an recorded hurtful words towards the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has to recite them -- how the disbelievers rejected him in the most obscene way, the pain that he felt when people made fun of him.

So many accusations were thrown at the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and Allah recorded them in the Qur'an. This is because Allah wants us to remember that all Prophets, though they are the most noble of Allah's creation and that Allah has honored them, at the same time they have faced the worst kind of insults, and they will continue to be ridiculed and insulted.

Malicious attitudes and hateful looks angrily pursued the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـٰرِ‌هِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ‌ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ ﴿٥١

And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad." (51)

[Qur'an, Al-Qalam 68:51]

Their poisonous, feverish looks were accompanied by abusive cursing, insulting, and mocking. They reacted with insolent pride and opposition; confused and wavering, they swayed in their denial of the Message from one pretext to another.

بَلْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍۭ بَلِ ٱفْتَرَ‌ىٰهُ بَلْ هُوَ شَاعِرٌ‌ۭ فَلْيَأْتِنَا بِـَٔايَةٍ كَمَآ أُرْ‌سِلَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ ﴿٥

But they say, "[The revelation is but] a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous [messengers] were sent [with miracles]." (5)

[Qur'an, Al-Anbiya' 21:5]

They called the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) “A magician and a liar!”

وَعَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ‌ۭ مِّنْهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُ‌ونَ هَـٰذَا سَـٰحِرٌ‌ۭ كَذَّابٌ ﴿٤﴾ أَجَعَلَ ٱلْءَالِهَةَ إِلَـٰهًا وَ‌ٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌ ﴿٥

And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, "This is a magician and a liar. (4) Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing." (5)

[Qur'an, Sad 38:4-5]

They called the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), “A mad poet!”

نَّا كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِ‌مِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٣٥﴾ وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِ‌كُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍ‌ۢ مَّجْنُونٍۭ ﴿٣٦﴾ بَلْ جَآءَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ ٱلْمُرْ‌سَلِينَ ﴿٣٧﴾ إِنَّكُمْ لَذَآئِقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَلِيمِ ﴿٣٨﴾ وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٣٩

Indeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allah," were arrogant (35) And were saying, "Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet?" (36) Rather, the Prophet has come with the truth and confirmed the [previous] messengers. (37) Indeed, you [disbelievers] will be tasters of the painful punishment, (38) And you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do - (39)

[Qur'an, As-Saffat 37:39]

They called the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), “A madman!”

وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْ‌يَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ﴿٤﴾ مَّا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٥﴾ وَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِى نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلذِّكْرُ‌ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ ﴿٦﴾ لَّوْ مَا تَأْتِينَا بِٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴿٧

No nation will precede its term, nor will they remain thereafter. (5) And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad. (6) Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?" (7)

[Qur'an, Al-Hijr 15:5-7]

They called the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), “A soothsayer!”

فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ ﴿٢٧﴾ إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلُ نَدْعُوهُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْبَرُّ‌ ٱلرَّ‌حِيمُ ﴿٢٨﴾ فَذَكِّرْ‌ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَتِ رَ‌بِّكَ بِكَاهِنٍ وَلَا مَجْنُونٍ ﴿٢٩﴾ أَمْ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرٌ‌ۭ نَّتَرَ‌بَّصُ بِهِۦ رَ‌يْبَ ٱلْمَنُونِ ﴿٣٠﴾ قُلْ تَرَ‌بَّصُوا۟ فَإِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُتَرَ‌بِّصِينَ ﴿٣١

So Allah conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire. (27) Indeed, we used to supplicate Him before. Indeed, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful." (28) So remind [O Muhammad], for you are not, by the favor of your Lord, a soothsayer or a madman. (29) Or do they say [of you], "A poet for whom we await a misfortune of time?" (30) Say, "Wait, for indeed I am, with you, among the waiters." (31)

[Qur'an, At-Tur 52:27-31]

But the policy of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is to remain patient.

وَٱصْبِرْ‌ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْ‌هُمْ هَجْرً‌ۭا جَمِيلًا ﴿١٠

And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance. (10)

[Qur'an, Al-Muzzammil 73:10]

Obviously, the Companions were with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to hear all these insults but they did not go out and protest, yelling and screaming or engage in senseless violence. If anybody who should be angry, it would be the Companions because they were of the best generation of the Prophet's Ummah. Their faith and love for the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) can't even compare to ours. And how come they didn't get angry and overwhelmed with rage? Because, they understood the Qur'an -- Qur'an didn't just come to give that love for the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) but also to guide that love, and teach them how to respond with those kinds of insults.

ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ ﴿٩٦

Repel, by [means of] what is best, [their] evil. We are most knowing of what they describe. (96)

[Qur'an, Al-Mu'minun 23:96]

There is no where in the Qu'ran that justify our anger and overwhelming rage.

Actually, we should feel sorry for those people.

They can't hurt the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). They can't take away his honor given by Allah. No article, no cartoon, no film, no hate speech, no form of art can take away the dignity of our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

If you are angry, just think of how bullies work. The more you react in an immature way, the more you are encouraging others to pursue more hateful speech towards our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

The Muslims make those things popular -- we are the ones who give it more claim by watching, reading, talking, viral it to everybody. So, don't pay attention to them and delete them from your archives. Focus on the positives.

Respond in mature civil and higher discourse -- the way of the Qur'an and Sunnah taught us. Turn that rage into something positive.

Allah has prepared us for all that.

لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَ‌ٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَ‌كُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرً‌ۭا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُ‌وا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ‌ ﴿١٨٦

You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination. (186)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:186]

May Allah grant us patience and taqwa and guide us and the Ummah. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Loving the Sunnah: Recite Some Qur'an Before Sleep and Upon Waking Up

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

As Muslims, we should sleep and wake up according to the Sunnah. There are also many benefits including health benefits. Find out all the Sunnahs and start implementing them as many as you can.

Sleeping is similar to death. That is why sleeping has been linked to death, and waking with life. When preparing to sleep we should fear that may be our eyes close and do not open again. This has happened many times; so we should ask Allah (The Exalted) for forgiveness of our sins.

The pious would sleep little as the time spent in sleep is of no use. If someone has a life of 60 years and sleeps for 8 hours a day then we would have spent 20 years in sleep, that's 1/3 of the life spent in sleeping. In these 20 years we did not achieve anything, however, if we spend our sleeping in the way of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) then inshaAllah we will gain some benefit as this will become worship.

Do not sleep after 'Asr as there is a chance of loosing the intellect and it is disliked (Makrooh) to sleep in the beginning part of the morning and between Maghrib and 'Isha.

Abu Ya'la narrated from 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, 'Whosoever sleeps after 'Asr Salaah and loses their intellect, has only themselves to blame.'

Recite any Surah from the Qur'an one remembers, especially Surah Mulk, Surah Sajdah, Surah Waqi'ah, Surah Al-Isra' and Surah Zumar. Reciting Surah Waqi'ah before sleeping safeguards one from hunger and poverty.

One of the great companions, Abdullah bin Masood, when he fell sick during the caliphate of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, 'Uthman came to his deathbed. The dialogue that went about between them is as follows: "Are you aggrieved with anybody?" "My sins bother me". "What is you heart's desire". "The mercy of my God" "Shall I add to your account all that is due to you from the Baitul Maal, that you have left unclaimed?" Ibn Masood said, "I do not need the wealth" 'Uthman said, "It will stand in good stead for your daughters who will survive you". "Do you apprehend that my daughters will starve? I have advised my daughters to recite Surah Waqi'ah each night. I have heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say that the nightly recitation of Surah Waqiah will avert the visitation of starvation". As night fell, Abdullah bin Masood passed away. He embraced death with the praises of Allah on his lips.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) did not sleep until he recited Surah Sajdah and Surah Mulk.

Upon waking up, instead of diving right into the dunya and life distractions, rub your face and recite the last 10 verses of Surah AleImran.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: One night I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maymoonah, and said to myself, “I will watch the prayer of Allah’s Apostle.” My aunt placed a cushion for Allah’s Apostle and he slept on it in its length-wise direction and woke up rubbing the traces of sleep off his face and then he recited the last ten verses of Surah AleImran [Qur'an, 3:190-200] till he finished it . . . [full hadeeth found in Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ‌ لَءَايَـٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿١٩٠﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُ‌ونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُ‌ونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ رَ‌بَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ‌ ﴿١٩١﴾ رَ‌بَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ ٱلنَّارَ‌ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُۥ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ‌ۢ ﴿١٩٢﴾ رَّ‌بَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِى لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَ‌بِّكُمْ فَـَٔامَنَّا ۚ رَ‌بَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ‌ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ‌ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَ‌ارِ‌ ﴿١٩٣﴾ رَ‌بَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُ‌سُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿١٩٤
فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَ‌بُّهُمْ أَنِّى لَآ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَـٰمِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ‌ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُ‌وا۟ وَأُخْرِ‌جُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِ‌هِمْ وَأُوذُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِى وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ وَقُتِلُوا۟ لَأُكَفِّرَ‌نَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِ‌ى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ‌ ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ ﴿١٩٥﴾ لَا يَغُرَّ‌نَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ ﴿١٩٦﴾ مَتَـٰعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ ﴿١٩٧﴾ لَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَ‌بَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِ‌ى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ‌ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلًا مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ‌ۭ لِّلْأَبْرَ‌ارِ‌ ﴿١٩٨﴾ وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَـٰشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُ‌ونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُ‌هُمْ عِندَ رَ‌بِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِ‌يعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ ﴿١٩٩﴾ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُ‌وا۟ وَصَابِرُ‌وا۟ وَرَ‌ابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٢٠٠

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (190) Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (191) Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire - You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers. (192) Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller calling to faith, [saying], 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous. (193) Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise." (194) And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allah, and Allah has with Him the best reward." (195) Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. (196) [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. (197) But those who feared their Lord will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein, as accommodation from Allah. And that which is with Allah is best for the righteous. (198) And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allah and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to Allah. They do not exchange the verses of Allah for a small price. Those will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (199) O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful. (200)

[Qur'an, AleImran 190-200]

May Allah enable us to follow the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Ameen.

Allahumma salla 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

If You Haven't Brought Yourself to Love Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) In This Month, Then When?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

This is the month of Rabi'ul Awwal, the month in which the beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was born.

One of the names by which the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is Khayru-l-Khalq or "Best of Creation." Other similar names of his with identical meaning are Khayru-l-Bariyya, Khayru Khalqillah, Khayru-l-`Alamina Turra, Khayru-n-Nas, Khayru Hadhihi-l-Umma, and Khîratullah. These titles refers to his high status over all human Prophets and Messengers as well as over the Jinn and angels - upon them peace.

Allah has blessed us to be the Ummah of His best creation (Allah bless him and grant him peace), the one who has an immense amount of love for his Ummah (us). Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an,

لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَ‌سُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِ‌يصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَ‌ءُوفٌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿١٢٨

There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. (128)

[Qur'an, AtTawba 9:128]

Once the Prophet was reciting the Qur'an and he came across a number of verses. Of them is the famous verse where Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam) is making Dua for his people,

رَ‌بِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرً‌ۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ‌ۭ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿٣٦

My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me - then he is of me; and whoever disobeys me - indeed, You are [yet] Forgiving and Merciful. (36)

[Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:36]

Here Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam is asking Allah to forgive those who are not listening to him. Afterwards, the Prophet recites another verse where Prophet Isa alayhissalaam is making supplication for his people.

إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ‌ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١١٨

If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (118)

[Qur'an, Al-Ma'ida 5:118]

In both of these supplications, Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam and Prophet Isa alayhissalaam) is asking for mercy and forgiveness for their own people. He, the beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) then starts thinking about his own people and what will be their fate. He raises his hand and starts saying, "Allahumma Ummati, Allahumma Ummati (O Allah my Ummah, O Allah my Ummah.)"

He then begins to cry thinking about this Ummah, about us. Allah Almighty at this point, told Jibreel to go to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and ask him why is he crying (of course Allah knew why). So Jibreel came and asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he replied, "I am crying thinking for my Ummah, thinking of what will be their fate."

So Jibreel went back and Allah said to him, "O Jibreel, go back to Muhammad and tell him, We are going to please you for your Ummah. And we are not going to cause you any irritation." [Sahih Muslim]

In other words, because of you O Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace), that you want your Ummah to be blessed so much, we are going to please you and not cause you any irritation.

Now, this month of Rabi'ul Awwal is about to leave us soon. If you haven't brought yourself to love His beloved (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in this month of his birth, then when? Some people reach high stations in closeness to the Beloved (Allah bless him and grant him peace) before the month of Rabi'ul awwal is over. How about you?

You will be with the one you love

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a man came to the Prophet and asked, "When will the Last Hour come, Messenger of Allah?", "What have you prepared for it?" he asked? He replied, "I have not prepared a lot of prayer or fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet said, "You will be with the one you love." (al-Bukhari)

Safwan ibn Qudama (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I emigrated to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and went to him and said, 'Messenger of Allah, give me your hand.' So he gave me his hand. I said, 'Messenger of Allah, I love you.' He said, 'A man is with the one he loves.'" (at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i) 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and Anas (may Allah be pleased with them) related this statement from the Prophet, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) also has something to the same effect.

'Ali said that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) took Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) by the hand and said, "Whoever loves me and loves these two and their father and mother will have the same degree as me on the Day of Rising." (at-Tirmidhi)

It is related that a man came to the Prophet and said, "Messenger of Allah, I love you more than my family and my possessions. I remember you and I cannot wait until I can come and look at you. I remember that I will die and you will die and I know that when you enter the Garden, you will be raised up with the Prophets. When I enter it, I will not see you." Allah then revealed,

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّ‌سُولَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَ‌فِيقًا ﴿٦٩

And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. (69)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:69]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) called the man and recited the verses to him. (at-Tabarani)

In another hadith: "A man was with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), looking at him without turning away. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked, "What is wrong with you?" He replied, "My father and mother be your ransom! I enjoy looking at you. On the Day of Rising, Allah will raise you up because of His high estimation of you!" Allah then sent down the verse mentioned above.

In the hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Whoever loves me will be with me in the Garden." (al-Isfahani)

Signs of love for the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace):

Someone who loves a person prefers them and prefers what they like. Otherwise, he is a pretender, insincere in his love. Someone who has love of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) will manifest these signs.

1. The first sign is that he will emulate him, apply his Sunnah, follow his words and deeds, obey his commands and avoid his prohibitions and take on his adab (manners) in ease and hardship, joy and despair.

Allah testifies to that, "Say: if you love Allah, then follow me and Allah will love you." (3:31)

2. He will prefer what the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has laid down as law and encouraged, over his own passions and appetites.

Allah said, "Those who were already settled in the abode, and in belief, before they came, love those who have emigrated to them and do not find in their breasts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are in want." (59:9)

3. His anger against people will only be for the sake of the pleasure of Allah. Anas ibn Malik said, "The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to me, 'My son, if you can be without any grudge in your heart against anyone in the morning and evening, be like that.' Then he added, 'My son, that is part of my Sunnah. Whoever gives life to my sunnah has loved me and whoever loves me is with me in the Garden.'" (at-Tirmidhi)

Anyone who possesses this particular quality has perfect love for Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Anyone slightly lacking in it is imperfect in his love, while not entirely devoid of it. The proof of this is in what the Prophet said about the man who was given the punishment for drinking. A man there cursed him and the Prophet said, "Do not curse him. He loves Allah and His Messenger." (al-Bayhaqi)

4. He mentions the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) often. Whoever loves something mentions it a lot.

5. Someone who loves the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) will exalt and respect him when he mentions him and display humility and abasement when he hears his name.

Ishaq at-Tujibi said, "Whenever the Companions of the Prophet heard his name after he died, they were humble, their skins trembled and they wept. It was the same with many of the Followers. Some of them act like that out of love and yearning for him, others out of respect and esteem."

6. He has a great yearning to meet the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)]. Every lover yearns for their beloved. When the Ash'arite clan came to Madina, they chanted, "Tomorrow we will meet those we love, Muhammad and his Companions!"

Ishaq at-Tujibi said, "Whenever the Companions of the Prophet heard his name after he died, they were humble, their skins trembled and they wept. It was the same with many of the Followers. Some of them act like that out of love and yearning for him, others out of respect and esteem."

7. Another sign is love for those who love the Prophet and the people of his house and his Companions, both of the Muhajirun and Ansar, for his sake. Such a person will also be hostile to those who hate them and curse them. Whoever loves anyone, loves those he loves.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said about al-Hasan and al-Husayn, "O Allah, I love them, so love them." In al-Hasan's variant, "O Allah, I love him, so love the one who loves him." He also said, "Whoever loves them loves me. Whoever loves me loves Allah. Whoever hates them hates me. Whoever hates me hates Allah." (al-Bukhari)

He said, "Allah! Allah! My Companions! Do not make them targets after me! Whoever loves them loves them by loving me. Whoever hates them hates them by hating me. Whoever does something hurtful to them does something hurtful to me. Whoever does something hurtful to me does something hurtful to Allah. Whoever does something hurtful to Allah is about to be seized." (at-Tirmidhi)

He said about Fatima, "She is a part of me. Whoever hates her hates me." (al-Bukhari)

He said to 'A'isha about Usama ibn Zayd, "Love him for I love him." (at-Tirmidhi)

He said, "The sign of true faith is love for the Ansar and the sign of hypocrisy is hatred for them." (al-Bukhari and Muslim)

In a hadith related by Ibn 'Umar: "Whoever loves the Arabs, loves them because he loves me. Whoever hates them hates them because he hates me." In reality, whoever loves someone loves everything he loves. This was certainly the case with the Salaf, even regarding permitted things and the appetites of the self.

Anas once saw the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reaching for the pumpkin in the plate. He said, "I have loved pumpkin from that day."

Al-Hasan ibn 'Ali, 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Ja'far came to Salma [a servant of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)] - may Allah be pleased with them - and asked her to prepare some food for them which the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) liked.

Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with father and son) began to wear tanned sandals dyed yellow when he saw the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) wearing ones like that.

8. Another sign is hatred for anyone who hates Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), having enmity towards all who have enmity towards him, avoidance of all those who oppose his Sunnah and introduce innovations into his Deen, and finding every matter contrary to his Shari'a burdensome. Allah says, "You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day who having love for anyone who opposes Allah and His Messenger." (58:22)

His Companions killed their loved ones and fought their fathers and sons to gain the pleasure of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). 'Abdullah ibn 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy said to him, "If you had wanted, I would have brought you his head (his father's)."

9. Another sign of it is love for the Qur'an which the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) brought, by which he guided and was guided, and whose character he took on so that 'A'isha said, "His character was the Qur'an." Part of love for the Qur'an is its recitation and acting by it and understanding it, and loving his sunna and keeping within its limits.

Sahl ibn 'Abdullah said, "The sign of the love of Allah is love of the Qur'an. The sign of love of the Qur'an is love of the Prophet. The sign of love of the Prophet is love of the Sunna. The sign of love of the Sunna is love of the next world. The sign of love of the next world is hatred for this world. The sign of hatred for this world is that you do not store up any of it except for provision and what you need to arrive safely in the next world."

Ibn Mas'ud said, "No one needs to ask himself about anything except the Qur'an. If he loves the Qur'an, he loves Allah and His Messenger."

10. One of the signs of love for the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is having compassion for his community, giving them good counsel, striving for their best interests and removing what is harmful from them just as the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was "compassionate, merciful to the believers." [Qur'an, At-Tawba 9:128]

11. One of the signs of perfect love is that the one who aspires to it does without in this world and prefers poverty.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, "Poverty for those among you who love me comes quicker than a flood from the top of the mountain to the bottom." (at-Tirmidhi)

In a hadith from 'Abdullah b. Mughaffal, a man said to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), "O Messenger of Allah, I love you." He said, "Take care what you say!" He said, "By Allah, I love you" three times. He said, "If you love me, then prepare for poverty quickly." There is a similar hadith from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri.

May Allah increase our love for His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and resurrect us with him and enter us into the highest Paradise with him without reckoning. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive
Love of the Lovers of the Beloved

Don't Touch The Cookie Jar!

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Muslims believe that we were put on this earth as a gift not punishment. Allah put all kinds of means for us to live on this earth, but how little are we grateful.

Allah Almighty says,

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّـٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَـٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُ‌ونَ ﴿١٠

And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful. (10)

[Qur'an, Al'Araf 7:10]

The Master of the Universe has made this whole earth and what it contains a giant warehouse of human needs and comforts, a most comprehensive inventory of that inside it. Now, what is left for us to do is to learn to go in there, take out what we need and use it how we will. Science and technology are essentially no more than a trained method of taking out things created by the Master of the Universe and stored in this warehouse, properly and nicely, and use it soundly and beneficially.

One who is short on sense and manners and does not know how to take things out from this warehouse, or does not understand how to use what he has taken out, he remains deprived of their benefits. An intelligent person benefits from both.

Yes, Islam has many rules, but there are means for you to enjoy life. Remember when your mother said, "Don't touch the cookie jar!" (or some candy)...why? because she wanted to see you suffer? because she didn't want you enjoy the cookie? And when you don't see your mother, you went to the cookie jar and dipped your little fingers into it, took out a cookie and hide under the table and ate the cookie (without her permission and against her order) and when your mother saw your sticky fingers and crumbs all over, she put you on time out (or take your toy away)...why? because she is a bad mother? because she doesn't want you to be happy? None of these...you know now that she did all that for your own good but at that moment you were too immature to think that way or to understand her wisdom or reasons.

We are those little kids...we don't know anything about what's really good for us. What we think/feel/see/hear/read as good for us may not be good for us and what we think/feel/see/hear/read as bad may be quite the opposite -- it is good for us. We are not the judge of good or bad, what makes sense or not makes sense. Allah, the Creator and Master of the Universe is. Maybe some things don't make sense to us right now but the time will come when it all make sense inshaAllah.

If you are intelligent, you will choose to follow His rules and don't try to go against them or around them. What Allah tells us to do, we do, and what He tells us to avoid, we avoid. It's following without any resistance like a dead body to the people washing him. If you do that, you will certainly come out very successful in this life before the next.

Allah Almighty says,

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

O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful. (200)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:200]

And Allah does not break His promise.

Enjoyment comes when you get what you desire. If you desire Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), that's where your enjoyment is and manifested when you obey Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) -- when you pray, when you are good to your parents, when you fast, when you perform hajj, when you pay zakat and give charity, when you are good to your neighbors, when you read or listen to the Qur'an, when you are merciful to Allah's creatures, when you put smiles on people's faces .... all seeking His Noble Countenance.

Allah Almighty has placed all that human beings need on this earth which demands that we should be grateful to Him all the time under all conditions. But, we are prone to heedlessness. It does not take much time to forget the favors of the Creator and Master - only to return to the same world of things.

So, Allah is reminding us in a mode of complaint: قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُ‌ونَ (Little are you grateful).

May Allah protect us from disobedience and make us among His grateful servants. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

When Youths Engage in Shameless Acts in Public, Who to Blame?

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 a common misconception that shame has directly to do with human clothing and woman hijab. The ayah on women clothing (hijab) was given importance only about 16 years after Prophethood but shamelessness/indecency was talked about extensively in the Qur'an before that.

The "hijab" fashion industry is growing like mushrooms especially in Muslim countries. Like all fashion industries, the main target is our youths. Some of these "hijabs" are egregiously expensive but youths still buy and wear them. It is abundantly clear that the majority of our youths who you see cover their heads are merely following the trend; it has nothing to do with Islam and far from being the hijab intended in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

When you see youths with "hijab" engaging in shameless acts of kissing, hugging, free mixing with opposite gender (Muslims and non-Muslims) on a concert stage and other public places, then you know that they have no clue what hijab mean. Who to blame? Everybody, not just those kids and their parents.

Allah Almighty says,

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِ‌هِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُ‌وجَهُمْ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِ‌هِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُ‌وجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ‌ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِ‌بْنَ بِخُمُرِ‌هِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَ‌ٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَ‌ٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَ‌ٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ‌ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْ‌بَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّ‌جَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُ‌وا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَ‌ٰ‌تِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِ‌بْنَ بِأَرْ‌جُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. (30) And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms,) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful (31)

[Qur'an, An-Nur 24:30-31]

It is very unfortunate, even among those who cover their heads for most of their adult life are not putting their hijab properly. You will find women with their heads covered but wearing short-sleeved blouses or T-Shirt, thus exposing part of their arms. Then there are those who cover their bodies with long clothes but loose sleeves, thus showing that part of the skin above the wrists when they raised their hands. Then there are those who wear tight clothing like jeans and tights, thus showing the shape of their bodies, the legs, chest, bottoms, etc. Then there are those who, for some reason, must show their necklaces or earrings, thus part of their neck or ears exposed. And there are those (which is quite common even in traditional Muslim households) who are lax around their non-mahram relatives and so they took off their hijabs around them and freely mix with each other. A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed shaytan)

Those are all not proper hijab. And shaytan wants you to think it is okay -- how many times have you heard "partial hijab is better than none" or "I (she) is better than those girls who don't wear hijab at all" or "they are family -- my cousins, in-laws, etc." You should not fall into this waswasa (whispers) of shaytan.

There is no such thing as partial hijab and you will not be partially rewarded for the extra material on your head nor will you be saved from punishment for the disobedience. You must cover your nakedness (awra) and not an inch of it should be seen by non-mahram. And non-mahrams are non-mahrams -- the opposite gender non-mahram can't see your nakedness whether he/she is your cousin, brother/sister in-law or niece's/nephew's spouse, foster/adopted children/sibling, step sibling, etc. Any commandment from Allah is not to make your life difficult or to prevent you from enjoying your life. On the contrary, it is to make our life easy and to enable us to enjoy this temporary stop on this earth. If disobeying Allah seems enjoyable and fun to you, it is because you haven't tasted the sweetness of faith.

So, if you want to wear hijab, wear it properly. Because if you do it to obey Allah and for His sake only, Allah will bless your life and increase you in faith and eventually you will taste its sweetness.

On the other hand, anything less than covering your whole body except face and hands up to the wrists (some scholars said also include the face) under loose and modest clothes and on full time basis (not occasionally), not only you have wronged yourself big time, you have done a huge disservice to this Deen and have deceived others. If you can't be meticulous about this (after knowledge), then certainly shaytan has gotten a hold on you and you are in for a slippery slope unless you immediately turn to Allah and sincerely repent.

Hijab is supposed to prevent you from shamelessness, but if it does not restrain you from acts of shamelessness, then there is something wrong with your understanding of hijab.

It is upon parents to educate their sons and daughters about hijab and Islamic manners. Do not rely on the schools and the masjid to do that for you. And if you are a mother, make sure you wear your hijab properly because your children learn best by example.

May Allah protect us and our youths from shamelessness and grant us haya'. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

When Prayer Works

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

When prayer works, it has a miraculous effect on people.

Obviously, offering Salaah (and reading Qur'an for that matter) is humongously difficult for those who don't fear Allah because they don't see the importance.

Allah Almighty says,

وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ‌ وَٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَ‌ةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah] (45)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:45]

Allah Almighty says,

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِ‌ضُونَ ﴿٣

Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (1) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive (2) And they who turn away from ill speech (3)...

[Qur'an, Al-Mu'minun 23:1-3]

Salaah should keep the people away from immodesty, immorality and shamelessness. Salaah offered unmindfully does not obviously restrain people from evil deeds, and consequently such a person goes farther and farther away from Allah.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has said: "The Salaah simply means self-abasement and humility." Says another hadith: "If his prayers do not restrain a man from immodesty and evil, he goes farther and farther away from Allah."

There is no act more powerful than offering prayers (Salaah) especially the five prayers every day -- Dhuhr (afternoon), 'Asr (mid-afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), 'Isha (night) and Fajr (dawn). These prayers take the weight of fifty prayers. It is a very potent concentrated medicine to pray these prayers. Prayer is our support and strength.

Praying five times a day is our personal school as long as we keep it for the rest of our lives. We will learn knowledge that we cannot learn from books.

Prayer is an absolute tranquility and peacefulness. It is a joy for those people who Allah blessed them in their prayers.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The coolness of my eyes is in the prayer." The call to prayer is a comfort to People of Allah. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said : "O Bilal, comfort us with it." Meaning give the call to prayer.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Prayer is the best matter."(Tabarani, sound hadith)

Many scholars have tested this. If they have a free afternoon, they filled it up with extra cycles of prayer. Among the great 'Ulama' of people (Scholars) who made time for extra cycles of prayer, because of the light they found in ritual prayer itself, was Qadi Abu Yusuf, the greatest companion of Imam Abu Hanifa. He was the first judge of judges in Islamic history and despite his great time he must have spent in learning, teaching and and judging, he made extra time beyond that to perform 200 cycles of prayer for the sake of Allah.

In fact, many of the early Muslims did this because they found the light in prayer. The great spiritual master of North Africa, Al Arbi Darqawi, a great Qur'an teacher said: "I tried all manner of of worship for like 50 years, and I found nothing more beneficial and enlightening to the heart than repeating the prayer (meaning praying cycles after cycles of supererogatory prayer)."

An arrow stuck on a calf of a Companion of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and it was too painful to take it out. So the Companion asked his companions to wait for him to start praying and then pull the arrow out. The companions pulled it out while he was praying and he didn't feel the arrow being pulled out during that state. When he entered into the prayer, he entered into a state of mind wherein he was with his Lord and so he was less sensitive to the pain of the body.

May Allah make us of those who say, "We hear and we obey", and guide us in our prayers and make us His righteous slaves and of those He is pleased with.

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّـهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًا ﴿٦٩

And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets (Nabiyyeen), the steadfast affirmers of truth (Siddiqin), the martyrs (Shuhada) and the righteous (Solihin). And excellent are those as companions. (69)

[Qur’an An-Nisa 4:69]

Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

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

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday): Wealth vs. Enduring Good Deeds

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 want to make a lot of money, go for it, but don't forget to thank Allah, the Bestower of that money and spend the money for His sake only. Otherwise, it is not worth it to get held up at the gate of Paradise on account of that money you had worked so hard for because all of them will have to be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.

Bukhari reports from Usamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "I stood by the gate of Paradise and saw that the majority of those who entered were the poor and wretched. The rich [Muslims] were detained while the people of Hell were ordered to be taken to Hell".

Muslim reports from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said "The poor of the Muhajireen will enter Paradise forty years ahead of the rich". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/663, no. 5235)

Tirmidhi reported from Abu Sa'eed, and Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased him), that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "The poor of the Muhajireen will enter Paradise five hundred years ahead of the rich of the Muhajireen" (Saheeh al-Jaami).

The hadith quoted above stated that the poor will enter Paradise forty years ahead of other people while others state that the difference will be five hundred years. The two statements may be reconciled by pointing out that the poor are not all alike, neither are the rich.

al-Haakim reported from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Do you know who will be the first of my ummah to enter Paradise?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best". He said, "The poor of the Muhajireen. They will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and ask for it to be opened. The gatekeepers will say to them, "Have you been brought to account?" They will say, "What do we need to be brought to account for? We were carrying our swords and fighting for the sake of Allah until we died." Then the gates will be opened for them and they will stay there for forty years before anyone else enters". (Silsilah al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 2/532, no. 853, al-Haakim said it is sahih according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Kahf,

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ‌ عِندَ رَ‌بِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ‌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life but the enduring good deeds (everlasting virtues) are better with your Lord in respect of reward and better to hope for. (46)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46]

Wealth children are the adornment of the worldly life. This is like the Ayah:

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَ‌ٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَـٰطِيرِ‌ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَ‌ةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْ‌ثِ ۗ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ ﴿١٤

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return. (14)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:14].

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَ‌ٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥﴾ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ خَيْرً‌ۭا لِّأَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٦

Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (15) So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful. (16)

[Qur'an, At-Taghabun 64:15-16]

Turning towards Allah and worshiping Him is better for you than keeping busy with them, and accumulating wealth for them and going to extremes in feeling pity and compassion for them.

Allah Almighty says,

"...the everlasting virtues are better with your Lord in respect of reward and better to hope for."

What are the everlasting virtues (Enduring Good Deeds)?

Ibn `Abbas, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others (may Allah be pleased with them) among the Salaf said that the everlasting virtues are the five daily prayers.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Accumulate 'everlasting virtues' as much as you can." It was said, "What are they?" He said, He said, "Saying: Subhanallah La illaha illahu Alhamdulillahi Allahu Akbar wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (Pure is Allah. There is no god but Allah. All praise belongs to Allah. Allah is great and there is no power and no strength except with Allah). Hakim has called this Hadith - Sahih.

And al-'Uqaili reports on the authority of Sayyidna Nu'man ibn Bashir that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, Subhanallahi wa alhamdulillahi wa la illaha illahu wa Allahu Akbar (Pure is Allah and all praise belongs to Allah and there is no god but Allah and Allah is great): These are the 'everlasting virtues."' The same has been reported by al-Tabarani from Sayyidna Sa'd ibn 'Ubaidah.

And the Sahih of Muslim and Tirmidhi have reported on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, Subhanallahi wa alhamdulillahi wa la illaha illahu wa Allahu Akbar (Pure is Allah and all praise belongs to Allah and there is no god but Allah and Allah is great) better than everything under the Sun."

`Ata' bin Abi Rabah and Sa`id bin Jubayr narrated from Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), "The everlasting virtues are `Subhan Allah (glory be to Allah)', `Al-Hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)', `La ilaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship except Allah)', and `Allahu Akbar (Allah is Most Great).'"

The Commander of the faithful, `Uthman bin `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) was questioned, "'Which are the everlasting virtues? He replied, They are: `La ilaha illallah, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah hil-`Aliyil-`Azim (there is no strength and no power except with Allah the Exalted, the Almighty).'''

This was recorded by Imam Ahmad.

Imam Ahmad also recorded from a freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said: (Well done! Well done for five things! (How heavy they will weigh in the balance! "La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, and Al-Hamdu Lillah,'' and a righteous son who dies and his parents seek the reward of Allah.) And he said: (Well done! Well done for five things! Whoever meets Allah believing in them, he will enter Paradise; if he believes in Allah, the Last Day, Paradise and Hell, resurrection after death, and the Reckoning).

`Ali bin Abi Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with father and son) said, "This is the celebration of the remembrance of Allah, saying `La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Tabarak Allah, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, Astaghfirallah, Sallallahu `ala Rasul-Allah', and fasting, prayer, Hajj, Sadaqah (charity), freeing slaves, Jihad, maintaining ties of kinship, and all other good deeds. These are the everlasting virtues, which will remain in Paradise for those who do them for as long as heaven and earth remain.'' Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas: "They are good words.'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "They are all righteous deeds.'' This was also the view chosen by Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him.

May Allah bless our time and grant us righteous good deeds that last. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Lose Your Good Works

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Everyone knows manifest Shirk which is the ascribing of equals or partners to Allah either by associating something with Allah in worship and obedience or in His exclusive attributes.

We all know doing this is clearly haram (forbidden) and that a person who does this has committed a grave sin, and all their good deeds will not be accepted on the Day of Judgment.

Allah Almighty says,

وَلَقَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَ‌كْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٦٥

And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers. (65)

[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:65]

The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: "Allah says, "I am most independent and free from needing partners. Whoever does a deed associating something in it with me, he and his shirk are forsaken." [Muslim]

Hidden Shirk is that one, in his or her vocation in life, in material and religious objectives and in profit and loss, though holds the belief that Allah is the Maker and Mover of things yet, in practice, takes others as such, and pins all efforts and hopes on them, or is a hypocrite in acts of worship, offering prayers correctly to show off before others, or spends in charity to earn a good name for himself, or actually, in practice, takes someone other than Allah to be the controlling authority in profit and loss.

From Abu Sa'eed al-Khudhriyy (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:"Shall I not inform you of what I fear most for you than al-Maseeh ad-Dajjaal?" They said, "Yes O Messenger of Allah!" He said, "Hidden shirk (riyaa'). A man stands to pray, so he beautifies his prayer when he notices someone looking at him."[Ibn Maajah, al-Bayhaqi]

Abu Musa al-Ash`ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger ﷺ delivered a sermon to them one day and said, "O People! Fear this Shirk (meaning riyaa), for it is more inconspicuous than the crawling of an ant."

Only the sincere believer recognizes hidden shirk and feels pain and sadness if he should succumb to it from time to time; but others practice it continually, without even being aware of it. Those are the people who just follow Islam because their parents did and have forgotten Allah to such an extent that opinions of people become all-important.

Deeds done merely for worldly reasons or for the attainment of things in the world: if the person's intent is always for this goal, without having the objective of doing things for the Face of Allah and the abode of the Hereafter, then there will be no reward for him in the Hereafter for these works. Acts characterized in this manner will not be found in the hearts of the believers, as the believer, even if his faith is weak will certainly bring the goal of Allah and the abode of the Hereafter in mind.

As for the one who does such acts for the Face of Allah, as well as for the sake of the world; these objectives being equal or approximately so, then these will, if he is a believer, diminish his faith, tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and sincerity. His deed will be diminished because he has forsaken complete sincerity in them.

"If someone makes himself heard, Allah will make him heard (that which he concealed); and if someone shows off, Allah will expose him". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The primary cause of riyaa' is a weakness in Iman (faith). When a person does not have strong faith in Allah, he will prefer the admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.

There are three symptoms that are indicative of riyaa', and it is essential that a believer avoid all of them -- love of praise, fear of criticism, greed for people's possession

1. Love of Praise

As mentioned in a hadith of the first three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous). All three of these people desired the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore, of him becoming arrogant and boastful.

Abu Hurayrah quoted Allah's Messenger ﷺ warning about a person's adoration of himself:

There are three destructive things: desires that are followed, greediness that is obeyed, and a person's self-admiration and conceit; and this is the worst of the three.

Allah also warned against falling into the category of those Christians and Jews whom the Qur`an mentions:

لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَ‌حُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٨٨

And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment. (188) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:188]

2. Fear of Criticism

No one likes to be criticized. The dislike of criticism regarding religious practices may be divided into two categories:

a) The first category is that of a person who neglects a commandment of Allah in order to avoid the criticism of his peers. However, the true believers are described in the Qur`an as follows:

يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآئِمٍ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَ‌ٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ...

...they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (54)

[Qur'an Al-Maa`idah 5:54]

b) The second category is that of a person who obeys certain commandments of Islam, not for the sake of Allah, but because he fears people will look down on him and criticize him if he does not do it. For example, a man may make his formal prayers in the mosque because he does not want people to criticize him for praying at home, or to think that he is not praying at all.

3. Greed for people's possessions

If a person covets what other people possess, whether it is rank, money or power, then he will wish them to envy him similarly. For example, if he is jealous of a position of a certain person in society, he will try by every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires lead people to spend their lives putting on a show for other people so that they will admire their rank, money, or power.

These three categories are implied in the following statement of the Prophet ﷺ. Abu Musa related that a person came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked: "A person fights to defend his honor (i.e. to avoid criticism), another to prove his bravery (i.e. to be praised for it), and a third to show off (i.e. so that his position can be seen); of these three, which one fights in the way of Allah? " He ﷺ answered:

"Whoever fights to make the word of Allah prevalent [i.e. to bring honor to Islam, and to establish it in the land], he is the one who fights in the way of Allah." [al-Bukhari]

Some examples of deliberate hidden shirk:

1. Lengthening the prayer, or perhaps, only the period of prostration in front of others.

2. Purposely displaying the effects of fasting, jihad or other deeds on the body.

3. Wearing certain clothing known to be that of ascetics or scholars, or taking care to be seen with them.

4. Speaking unnecessarily about good deeds done previously, seeking admiration.

5. Lowering the voice to imply fear of Allah or others affected mannerisms.

6. Showing off knowledge or skills in conversation or using the remembrance of Allah repeatedly to give an impression.

Some things we might imagine to be Shirk but are not:

1. Wearing good clothes - this is not blameworthy unless it is done in conceit, for the purpose of showing off or involves extravagance and waste.

"When Allah blesses His servant with a blessing, He likes to see it upon him". [At-Tabarani]

2. Setting a good example for others (as a means of teaching)

3. Increasing the amount of worship when one is among a group of worshipers is not considered to be showing off, because the normal wish of a believer is to worship Allah, being with a group helps him to overcome certain obstacles (such as his own forgetfulness or laziness).

How to bring back ourselves to the true worship of Allah?

Some scholars advised:

"Remove the causes of riyaa` from yourself by considering the opinion of people as important to you as animals and small children. Do not differentiate in your worship between the presence of people or their absence, or between their knowledge of your actions and their ignorance. Rather be conscious of the infinite knowledge of Allah alone."

Some Ways to Avoid Riyaa'

1. Making abundance remembrance of Allah (dhikr).

2. Remember the greatness of Allah and how insignificant and the fleeting nature of this world is. Remember that the ultimate source of all benefit and harm to yourself and all beings is Allah. Remember that Allah looks into your heart, not your form.

3. Increasing knowledge of Islam and having knowledge of Riyaa`

4. Du`aa

The Prophet ﷺ taught the specific du`aa for Riyaa':

Allahumma innaa na`oothu bika an-nushrika bika shay`an na`lamuhu, wa nastagfiruka limaa laa na`lamuh

[O Allah, we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and ask your forgiveness for (the shirk that we may commit unknowingly"]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate (in these words):

‏اللهم إني أعوذ بك من شر ما عملت ومن شر ما لم أعمل‏

Allahumma inni audhu bika min sharri ma 'amiltu, wa min sharri ma lam a'mal

"O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the evil of that which I have done and the evil of that which I have not done." [Muslim].

5. Reflecting upon Heaven and Hell

6. Hiding one's good deeds. Make a conscious effort to do more righteous deeds secretly without mentioning them until it becomes a habit.

7. Reflecting upon your shortcomings. Once you realized your mistakes, immediately turn to Allah in earnest repentance, asking forgiveness and correcting yourself thereafter.

8. Being with the pious and the righteous. Being with the righteous may also mean studying the life and works of righteous people of the past.

9. Choosing your friends carefully. Take friends and companions who you consider to be sincere, righteous and God-fearing. Encourage them to point out your faults and help you to overcome them. Accept advice without anger and try to follow that which is conducive to improvement.

10. Finally, do not let shaytan prevent your good works by suggesting that you are showing off. If you find something of that within, continue your work but correct your intention, seeking acceptance from Allah alone. For in Allah's acceptance is salvation and success.

رَ‌بَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾ رَ‌بَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَ‌يْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩

"Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (8) Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise." (9)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:8-9]

May Allah protect us from all forms of shirk and grant us sincerity in worship. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Kill 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.

The worst limit of evil treatment of children was what was practiced in the days of Jahiliyyah (ignorance) when they were killed or buried alive. When Islam came to the Arabian Peninsula, this was stopped.

It is obvious that the crime of killing children and that it is a grave sin. But a little thought would prove that the failure to give proper education and training to children as a result of which they remain uninformed or heedless to Allah, His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and the concern for the Hereafter and fall into immoral and shameless life patterns alien to Islam, then, this attitude too, shall be no less than killing of children.

The Qur'an calls a person who does not know Allah and does not obey Him a dead person.

أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَـٰهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ نُورً‌ۭا يَمْشِى بِهِۦ فِى ٱلنَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُۥ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِ‌جٍ مِّنْهَا ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِ‌ينَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٢٢

And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing. (122)

[Qur'an, An-'Aam 6:122]

People who do not attend to the grooming of the deeds and morals of their children, leave them open and free (to be hunted by aggressive influences around them, influences which is an 'open season' in our time), leave them in front of the screens (TV, electronics, computer) all day to watch useless shows and playing useless games, bury them with gadgets to listen to useless music, or let them go through a system of education as a result of which Islamic morals are ruined, then, they too, in a way, are liable to be charged with the crime of killing their children - for formal killing only ruins what is one's transitory life in the mortal world, but this type of killing ruins what is one's eternal life in the 'akhirah (Hereafter), a terrible loss indeed.

Allah Almighty says,

ا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّـهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا الْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6) O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do. (7)

[Qur'an At-Tahrim 66:6-7]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, one day he stood on the pulpit of masjid warning people of Hellfire. The narrator of the hadith said the people in the market place could hear him in the masjid repeating the warning over and over again!

It is the duty of parents to protect their children from the Fire of Hell by teaching them Allah’s commands and prohibitions and Islamic manners (adab). It is the right of children to be brought up in accordance with the guidelines of Islam.

In the Day of Judgment everybody will come after those people that are owed rights to them. Parents who did not fulfill the rights of their children will run away from their children, trying to save themselves from the consequences of this reality.

Allah Almighty says,

يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ ﴿٣٤﴾ وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ ﴿٣٥﴾ وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ ﴿٣٦

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)

[Qur'an Abasa 80:34-36]

Parents should strive to cultivate in their children's hearts a deep love and respect for the Deen (religion of Islam) so that it is the central part of their adult life. And when they are confronted with choices, they can clearly tell the difference between right and wrong and inshaAllah act accordingly.

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: “Act upon the obedience to Allah and avoid the prohibitions of Allah, and order your children to abide by the commandments of Allah and to avoid the prohibitions of Allah, and by that you protect yourselves and them from the Hellfire.”

"For a man to teach his child good adab (manners) is better than giving a sa (2 liters) of grain in charity."

"No father can give his child anything better than good manners." [Tirmidhi]

"Whoever desires to spite the jealous one, should teach his child good adab." Who is jealous of us? The Shaytan and his followers.

The best of you is he who has learned the Qur'an and then taught it." [Bukhari]

Teach your children Qur'an from early age. The first step is to make sure they can read the Qur'an properly and start memorizing. Find a good teacher for them. If you are an adult, you need to do this too, so you can teach your children and be their model in this respect.

It is a well known fact that children do as parents do, not necessarily what they say. Children develop behaviors through observing their parents in day-to-day life. Therefore, every behavior a parent engages in should be worthy of imitating because children will imitate it.

May Allah enable us to raise our children as good and productive Muslims and save us and our families from the Hellfire. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihin wassallam

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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Don't Fall Short of Being the Best to Your Parents
Muslims Don't Have Free Time