Obey Your Husband or Allah?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam guided and commanded the righteous believing wife to be devoutly obedient to the commands of her husband.

Allah says in the Qur'an,

ٱلرِّ‌جَالُ قَوَّ‌ٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَ‌ٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُ‌وهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِ‌بُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرً‌ۭا ﴿٣٤

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand. (34)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:34]

But what if you are put in a situation that what your husband is asking you means disobeying Allah. Who should you obey? The answer is easy if you know who is greater. Allahu Akbar.

Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the Creator."

It is categorically forbidden for the believers to obey any command from anyone in creation if it involves disobedience of the Lord.

Regardless of whosoever it may happen to be, be it one’s elders, or even one’s own parents or one’s husband, etc, if the command or order they give is against the Command and Guidance of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam that unlawful command of theirs will be rejected and not obeyed in the least.

If one’s husband (or anyone else in creation) commands one’s wife to bow down, or invoke, or worship a deity other than Allah or they command their wife to stop wearing the ‘hijaab’, or they command their wife to leave her obligatory fasts or prayers, or they command their wife to lie, cheat, steal, kill, etc, the wife is not to obey such unlawful commands of her husband, if indeed she fears Allah and the Last Day; for such commands are absolutely against the Commands and Guidance of her Lord Creator.

Given that, I know of no husband who doesn't want his wife to look pretty. In fact, if you always look shabby, your husband will be more tempted to look elsewhere. But if looking pretty entails to disobedience of Allah, then the wife should stay away from it and if the husband wants her to do it, then she should not obey him. Disobeying your husband does not mean you get into arguments or fights. There are ways to disobey without getting into arguments or fights. Almost all women are endowed with certain charm so that she can get their way with their husbands....you may use that same charm in this situation as well. Most of the time you will win in this too. Allah will help those who are sincere.

A lot of times, women just want to look pretty outside. And this create fitnah, especially for men, and lead to immorality.

Shari’ah came to forbid the ways that lead to immorality, one of which is looking at non-mahram women.

Allah says,

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِ‌هِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُ‌وجَهُمْ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٣٠

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. (30)

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

Women should cover themselves properly and conceal their adornments outside or in the presence of non-mahrams.

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

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (31)

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

This is a command from Allah to His believing slaves to lower their gaze and refrain from looking at that which is forbidden to them. So they should not look at anything except that which they are permitted to look at, and they should lower their gaze and refrain from looking at forbidden things. If it so happens that a person’s gaze accidentally falls upon something forbidden, he should quickly avert his gaze. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/282]

Allah says:

... وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَـٰعًا فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَ‌آءِ حِجَابٍ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ‌ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ...

...And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts...

[Qur'an, al-Ahzaab 33:53]

Women should stay away from tattooing any part of their bodies or removing eyebrow hairs or creating a space between teeth.

Narrated by Abdullah: Allah has cursed those women who practice tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those who remove their eye-brow hairs, and those who create a space between their teeth artificially to look beautiful, and such women as change the features created by Allah. Why then should I not curse those whom the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam has cursed? [Bukhari]

When the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam has invoked the curse of Allah on the women who remove or shape their eye-brow hairs, absolutely regardless of how much one’s husband (or anyone or anything else in creation) desires it, the wife should categorically reject such an unlawful command of her husband, if indeed she fears Allah and the Last Day.

Obedience to the command of our loved ones (be it our elders, parents, or husband, etc.) is and should always be and remain subservient to the Commands of Allah and His Messenger salallahu alayhi wassallam.

If we trust, obey, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, we can be assured of never ever being misled; but if we believe, obey and follow any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, we can be assured of being led astray.

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَ‌سُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرً‌ا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَ‌ةُ مِنْ أَمْرِ‌هِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَ‌سُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًا مُّبِينًا ﴿٣٦

It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error. (36)

[Qur'an, al-Ahzaab 33:36]

May Allah aid us and make us His obedient servants. 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

Purification of the Soul -- Hearts and Sincerity

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

It is an inescapable fact that we are approaching that Day, which begins with our death. On that Day, only those who come to Allah with a sound (healthy) heart will be saved.

يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾ وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٩٠﴾ وَبُرِّ‌زَتِ ٱلْجَحِيمُ لِلْغَاوِينَ ﴿٩١﴾ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٩٢﴾ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ هَلْ يَنصُرُ‌ونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٩٣

The Day when neither wealth will be of any use (to any one) nor sons, (88) Except to him who will come to Allah with a sound heart, (89) And the Paradise will be brought near to the God-fearing (90) And the Hell will be fully uncovered for the perverse, (91) And it will be said to them, ‘Where is that which you used to worship (92) Beside Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?’ (93)

[Qur'an, Ash-Shu'ara 26:88-93]

Just as the heart maybe described in terms of alive or dead, the heart maybe regarded as healthy, dead or sick.

The Healthy Heart

In defining the healthy, the following has been said, it is a heart cleansed from any passion that challenges what Allah commands, or disputes what He forbids. It is free from any impulses which contradict His good. As a result, it is safeguarded against the worship of anything other than Him, and seeks the judgment of no other except that of His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Its services are exclusively reserved for Allah, willingly and lovingly, with total reliance, relating all matters to Him, in fear, hope and sincere devotion. When it loves, its love is in the way of Allah. If it detests, it detests in the light of what He detests. When he gives, it gives for Allah. If it withholds, it withholds for Allah.

Nevertheless, all this will not suffice for its salvation until it is free from following, or taking as its guide, anyone other than His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

A servant with a healthy heart must dedicate it to its journey’s end and not based his actions and speech on those of any other person except Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) He must not give precedence to any other faith or words or deeds over those of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace),

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَ‌سُولِهِۦ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١

O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before Allah and His Messenger but fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing. (1)

[Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:1]

The Dead Heart

The dead heart is the opposite of the healthy heart. It does not know its Lord and does not worship Him as He commands, in the way which He likes, and with which He is pleased. It clings instead t o its lusts and desires, even if these are likely to incur Allah's displeasure and wrath. It worships things other than Allah, and its loves and its hatreds, and its giving and its withholding, arise from its whims, which are of paramount importance to it and preferred above the pleasure of Allah. Its whims are its imam. Its lusts is its guide. Its ignorance is its leader. Its crude impulses are its impetus. It is immersed in ts concern with worldly objective, It is drunk with own fancies and its love for hasty, fleeting pleasures. It is called to Allah and the Hereafter from a distance but it does not respond to advice, and instead it follows any scheming, cunning Shaytan. Life angers and pleases it, and passion makes it deaf and blind to anything except what is evil.

To associate and keep company with the owner of such a heart is to tempt illness: living with him is like taking poison, and befriending him means an utter destruction.

The Sick Heart

The sick heart is a heart with life in it it, as as illness. The former sustains it at the moment, the latter at another and it follows whichever one of the two manages to dominate it. It has love for Allah, faith in Him, sincerity towards Him, and reliance upon Him, and these are what give it life. It also has a craving for lust and pleasure, and prefers them, and strives to experience the. It is full of self0-admiration, which can lead to its own destruction. It listens to two callers: one calling it to Allah and the His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the Hereafter; and the other calling it to the fleeting pleasures of this world. It responds to whichever one of the two happens to have most influence over it at the time.

The first heart is alive, submitted to Allah, humble, sensitive and aware; the second is brittle and dead; the third wavers between either its safety or its ruin.

Sincerity

It has been related a man used to praying in the first row in the masjid. One day he was late for the prayer, so he prayed in the second row. Feeling embarrassed when people saw him in the second row, he realized that the pleasure and satisfaction of the heart that he used to gain from praying in the first row were due to his seeing people seeing him there and admiring him for it. This is a subtle and intangible condition and actions are rarely safe from it. Apart from those whom Allah has assisted, few are aware of such delicate matters. Those who do not realize it only come to see their goods appearing as bad ones on the Day of Resurrection; they are the ones referred to in the Qur'an,

وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلْعَذَابِ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا۟ يَحْتَسِبُونَ ﴿٤٧
وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ﴿٤٨

And if those who did wrong had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby from the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. And there will appear to them from Allah that which they had not taken into account. (47) And there will appear to them the evils they had earned, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule. (48)

[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:47-48]

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

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

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

Sincerity is a condition for Allah’s acceptance of good deeds performed in accordance with the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Allah commands us in the Qur’an:

وَمَآ أُمِرُ‌وٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَو‌ٰةَ ۚ وَذَ‌ٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ ﴿٥

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. (5)

[Qur'an, Al-Bayyinah 98:5]

Sincerity is the freeing of one’s intention from all impurities in order to come nearer to Allah. It is that intentions behind all acts of worship and obedience to Allah are exclusively for His pleasure. It is the perpetual contemplation of the Creator, to the extent that one forgets the creation.

It has been related tat a righteous man used to say, "O self, be devout and you will be pure." When any worldly fortune, in which the self finds comfort and towards which the heart inclines, intrudes upon our worship, then it impairs the purity of our efforts and ruins our sincerity. Human is preoccupied with his good fortune and immersed in his desires and appetites; rarely are his actions or acts of worship free of temporary objectives and desires of this kind. For this reason it has been said that whoever secures a single moment of pure devotion to Allah in his life will survive, for devotion is rare and precious, and cleaning the heart of its impurities is an exacting undertaking.

In fact, devotion is the purifying of the heart from all impurities, whether few or many, so that the intention of drawing nearer to Allah is freed from all other motives, except that of seeking His pleasure. This can only come from a lover of Allah, who is so absorbed in the contemplation of the next world that there remains in his heart no place for the love of this world. Such a person must be devout and pure in all his actions, even in eating, drinking and answering the calls of nature. With rare exceptions, anyone who is not like this will find the door of devotion closed in his face. The everyday actions a person who is overwhelmed by his or her love for Allah and the Hereafter are characterized by this love and they, in face, pure devotion. In the same way, anyone whose soul is overwhelmed by love for and preoccupation with this world, or stats and authority, will be so overwhelmed by these things that no act of worship, be it prayer or fasting, will be acceptable, except in very rare cases.

The remedy for love of this world is to break the worldly desires of the self, ending its greed for this world and purifying it in preparation for the next world. This will then become the state of the heart and sincere devotion will become easier to attain. There are a great many actions where a man acts thinking that are purely intended for Allah's pleasure, but he is deluded, for he fails to see the defects in them.

Ya'qub said: "A devout person is someone who conceals things that are good, in the same way that he conceals things that are bad."

As-Sousi said: "True devotion is to lose the faculty of being conscious of the your devotion; for someone who identifies devotion in his devotion is a person whose devotion is in need of devotion."

To contemplate devotion is to admire it, and admiration is an affliction; and that which is pure is whatever is free of all afflictions. This means that one’s deeds should be purified from any self-admiration concerning the actions they entail.

Ayyub said: "It is much harder for people of action to purify their intentions than it is to execute any of their actions."

Some people have said, "To be devout for a short while is to survive forever, but devotion is rare.”

Suhail was asked: "What is the most difficult thing for the self?" He said: "Devotion, when the self does not have the good fortune of being endowed with it."

Al Fudayl said: "Forsaking action for the sake of other people is to see their aspiration. To act for the sake of their admiration is to associate others with Allah; Devotion is when Allah frees you from both of these states."

May Allah purify our hearts 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

What Makes You Human?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We are not human by merely a body. What makes us human is our soul. Truly important is constant purification of our souls.

وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّ‌وحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّ‌وحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ‌ رَ‌بِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿٨٥

And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." (85)

[Qur'an, al-Israa 17:85]

If we reflect on this, it is a truly amazing fact that with all the advances in science, mankind still has very little knowledge concerning the workings of our own inner selves. We are each unique individuals, no two of us are alike. Even amongst identical twins who share the same external physical features, we find the inner selves to be very different. Where does this uniqueness come from? It is truly one of the signs of the magnificence of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.

The Qur'an describes the origin of the soul in the creation of humans.

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَ‌بُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرً‌ۭا مِّن صَلْصَـٰلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ ﴿٢٨﴾ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّ‌وحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾ فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ ﴿٣١

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud. (28) And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration." (29) So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely, (30) Except Iblees, he refused to be with those who prostrated. (31)

[Qur'an, Al-Hijr 15:28-31]

The soul often urges people to do wicked things.

وَمَآ أُبَرِّ‌ئُ نَفْسِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَ‌ةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَ‌حِمَ رَ‌بِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَ‌بِّى غَفُورٌ‌ۭ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿٥٣

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful." (53)

[Qur'an, Yusuf 12:53]

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ﴿٩﴾ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ﴿١٠

He has succeeded who purifies it, (9) And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].

[Qur'an, Ash-Shams 91:9-10]

The highest stage of development of the soul brings it lasting peace.

يَـٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفْسُ ٱلْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ﴿٢٧﴾ ٱرْ‌جِعِىٓ إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّكِ رَ‌اضِيَةً مَّرْ‌ضِيَّةً ﴿٢٨﴾ فَٱدْخُلِى فِى عِبَـٰدِى ﴿٢٩﴾ وَٱدْخُلِى جَنَّتِى ﴿٣٠

[To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, (27) Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], (28) And enter among My [righteous] servants (29) And enter My Paradise." (30)

[Qur'an, Al-Fajr 89:27-30]

One of the most important task for which the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) was sent to this nation is the purification of the soul. Allah Almighty says, speaking of this mission,

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى بَعَثَ فِى ٱلْأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَ‌سُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٢

It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error - (2)

[Qur'an, Al Jumu'ah 62:2]

So whoever truly hopes for Allah and the Last Day should have a special interest in the purification of his own soul, for Allah has linked the success of His servant with the purity of his soul, after making eleven consecutive oaths. There is not to be found in the Qur'an another oath such as this. Allah Almighty says,

وَٱلشَّمْسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا ﴿١﴾ وَٱلْقَمَرِ‌ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلنَّهَارِ‌ إِذَا جَلَّىٰهَا ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰهَا ﴿٤﴾ وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَىٰهَا ﴿٥﴾ وَٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ وَمَا طَحَىٰهَا ﴿٦﴾ وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا ﴿٧﴾ فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَ‌هَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا ﴿٨﴾ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ﴿٩﴾ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ﴿١٠

By the sun and its brightness (1) And [by] the moon when it follows it (2) And [by] the day when it displays it (3) And [by] the night when it covers it (4) And [by] the sky and He who constructed it (5) And [by] the earth and He who spread it (6) And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it (7) And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness, (8) He has succeeded who purifies it, (9) And he has failed who instills it [with corruption]. (10)

[Qur'an, AshShams 91:1-10]

The concept of purification of the soul as a whole is and always will be central to the message of Islam and to the welfare of humans, both in this life and the Hereafter. The path described by the Qur'an and Sunnah is the only path that can result in a true purification of the soul. Indeed, it is the only path that is truly consistent with the purpose for which humans were created. Many Muslims themselves are today being influenced by secular, materialistic psychology, leading them to neglect the spiritual side of humans and to ignore the guidance that Islam offers for the purification of the soul. This influence often occurs at a level wherein the person himself may not be completely aware that it is occurring.

May Allah aid us in the true purification of our souls and grant us truthfulness, sincerity, certainty, contentment, forgiveness and health in this life and in the next life. 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.

When Muslims Become Lazy and Fat...and Self-Centered

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

I pray that you are well.

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

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

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

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said: "The best of my ummah (nation) is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them... Then, after them, people will come who will testify only for their own interests, be treacherous, violate their vows, and they will become fat." [Bukhari]

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

The concerns of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) came true in Andalus (Muslim Spain). The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything.

When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct. One of the sunnahs of Allah is that Muslims win against all odds, but when the odds are with them, they lose. The sunnah of history is when people become greedy everything fell apart. This is how Muslim empire and all great empires rise and fall. Indeed, the dunya (material world) is the root of all evils.

If we learn our history correctly and learn from the lessons of our history, we will not have the energy to sit back and just go with the flow of our times. We will not sit and fatten ourselves as if we are not fat already. Instead we will find time to build and strengthen our communities -- support the community masjid and its activities, take care of our youths who are drifting away from Islam because we are too busy trying to fatten them and ourselves.

May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen.

Please do not forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Video
Rise and Fall of Muslim Spain


Original Post

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Intelligent vs The Fool

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Abu Ya’la Shaddad ibn Aws reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

The intelligent person is the one who takes himself to account and works for what will come after death. The stupid man is the one who follows his own whims and hopes that his desires will be gratified by Allah.

[at-Tirmidhi]

True intelligence is not having abundant knowledge but having realization that the afterlife is more important than this life. It is to realize that this life is only a means to the end. It is to realize that this life is just a bridge to the next life. And only the stupid person stops on the bridge and builds his house there. It does not mean we have to be miserable on the bridge, but we need to realize this life should not be our goal. The bridge is there to help us get to the other side and we should use the bridge as such. The bridge may appear to be long but

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ‌ۭ ﴿٤ ...

...and He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing. (4)

[Qur'an, Al-Hadid 57:4]

Imagine you suddenly woke up on a fast train loaded with all luxuries and amenities. Those of intelligence would ask themselves certain urgent questions. How did I get here? Where am I going? What's going to happen? (Because you are on a moving train, a lot of things could happen). Given all that, what am I supposed to be doing while I am on this train? An intelligence really asking oneself these fundamental questions. This what troubles the soul, the thing that makes us human. But most people on that train will never stop and ask these fundamental questions but stop and enjoy the luxuries and amenities.

Our train is moving fast...regardless how much you eat, drink and partake on other blessings, you have to get off the train when the train arrives at its destination and it may not be the place you like, but you have no choice but to get off, no more luxuries, no more amenities you can enjoy.

The intelligent person is the one who seeks their benefit of this life and who acts in a way that would secure his eternal benefit. One must take himself to account by being mindful of Allah, by following the Qur'an and Sunnah, by fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of His creation. One takes himself to account by preferring the afterlife over his whims and desire. One takes himself to account by looking at the bigger picture. By preferring the best over that which is ok.

When there are two things that are permissible, for example having a car, and one has the money to by a BMW, however he knows there is a relative who is in need of money. Well the BMW is nicer and probably more reliable than a cheaper car, but it is wiser for him to buy a Honda, a reliable car, and use the rest of the money to help out the relative in need. In this way he prefers the pleasure of Allah and the pleasure he will attain in Paradise over the pleasure he would have attain in this world.

The intelligent person seeks Allah, while the fool seek this life and hopes that Allah will fulfill his vain desire of this world without taking himself to account. An intelligent person takes the haraam and makruh out of his life in order to gain the pleasure of Allah.

Remember,

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 are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)

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

We ask Allah to guide us on a straight path, the way that leads us to the pleasure of Allah, the eternal good.

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

Ask Like Zakariyya (A.S) and Stop Worrying About Our Relatively Petty Problems

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Surah Maryam, the nineteenth Surah of the Qur'an is one of my favorite Surahs. It is named Surah Maryam but surprisingly though, it starts with the story of Zakariyya alayhissalaam. Why?

The birth of Isa alayhissalaam was indeed miraculous, so miraculous that the Christians came to the conclusion that he must be the son of God – if not, how do you account for Maryam (alayhassalaam) giving birth to him without a father?

Surah Maryam, addressing primarily the Christians, begins by dismissing this concept. Imagine a very old man, weakened by age, with flaming white hair. He has a wife who is barren and old and he does not have any progeny. He was very worried indeed, and in this state he asked Allah Azza wa Jalla for help.

He asks in a way which is so beautiful and exemplary that Allah Azza wa Jall described it in detail in more than one place in the Qur'an.

Following are some of the things we can learn and benefit from this special du'a:

كٓهيعٓصٓ ﴿١﴾ ذِكْرُ‌ رَ‌حْمَتِ رَ‌بِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِ‌يَّآ ﴿٢﴾ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَ‌بَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّا ﴿٣

Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad. (1) [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah (2) When he called to his Lord a private supplication [nidaa`an khafiyya]. . (3)

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:1-3]

Nidaa` — This means calling out with desperation and neediness. This is the way we call our loved ones in intensely emotional situations. For instance, when a mother is saying goodbye to her only child who is going abroad, she requests him or her to be safe, and keep her up to date with his health and well being. Another example is when, after a heated fight, your beloved spouse is about to leave you, and you cry out in desperation, “Please don’t go!” That sort of feeling is captured in the word Nidaa’, and that’s what we need to bring in our prayers.

Khafiyya – Zakariyya alayhissalaam has absolute certainty in the fact that Allah is All-Hearing. His calling him privately is in fact an acknowledgment of this fact. This certainty of Zakariyya that his Lord can hear him wherever he may be is again proved when the angels later come to him with the good news that Allah had answered his supplication. Instead of replying to the angels who are right in front of him, he replies directly to Allah.

Also, calling on Allah in seclusion ensures we don’t fall into showing-off or riya'.

قَالَ رَ‌بِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّ‌أْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَ‌بِّ شَقِيًّا ﴿٤﴾ وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَ‌ٰلِىَ مِن وَرَ‌آءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَ‌أَتِى عَاقِرً‌ۭا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا ﴿٥

He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy. (4) And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir (5)

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:4-5]

Human body becomes weak with the aging of bones, because it is the bones which keep the body firm and upright. When bones lose their strength, the whole body turns weak.

Notice how Zakariyya alayhissalaam starts his dua. He is not asking for what he wants straight out. Rather he is expressing his problems in detail, confiding in Allah Azza wa Jalla, telling Him about his fears and worries.

The verse also tells us that it is better to beseech Allah in supplication in undertone. Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas has narrated that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam once said.

Surely the best way to make supplication to Allah is in undertone and the best sustenance is that which is sufficient for one's needs (i.e.neither more nor less than required).

[Qurtubi]

Rabbi – My Lord, a loving and intimate way of addressing Allah Azza wa Jalla, highlighting the bond between Rabb and 'abd (slave).

وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَ‌ٰلِىَ مِن وَرَ‌آءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَ‌أَتِى عَاقِرً‌ۭا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا ﴿٥﴾ يَرِ‌ثُنِى وَيَرِ‌ثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ ۖ وَٱجْعَلْهُ رَ‌بِّ رَ‌ضِيًّا ﴿٦

And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir (5) Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Ya'qub (Jacob). And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]." (6)

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:5-6]

Explaining the reason behind the du'a: he wants to make sure Allah’s deen is protected after he passes away.

"from the family of Ya'qub alayhissalaam." – Notice how careful he is with his words – not all the children of Ya'qub are worth inheriting from. Some of them were pretty corrupt at one point (Surah Yusuf).

The religious scholars are all agreed that here the inheritance does not mean wealth, because in the first place, it has not been established that Zakariyya had much wealth. Hence, the question as to who would inherit the same, does not arise. Secondly, it is inconsistent with the exalted position of a prophet to concern himself with such matters. And thirdly, a saying of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, which has been unanimously accepted by all religious scholars, says:

"Indeed the knowledgeable scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, because the prophets do not leave any material wealth. Their legacy is knowledge. One who has acquired knowledge has received great fortune."

It is narrated in Sahih Al-Bukhari through Aisha radhiAllahu anha said that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:

"No one inherits our (i.e. prophets') wealth, because whatever wealth we leave behind is Sadaqah (Charity). "

In the verse itself (19:6) confirms the view that here the material inheritance is not implied, because the son, Yahya alayhissalaam, could not have inherited the material wealth of the family of Ya'qub, which could only be inherited by their near relations and not by Yahya. It is against the law of inheritance for distant relations to receive any part of inheritance in the presence of close relatives.

Result of the Du'a

This is where the Christian theory gets defeated. Allah Azza wa Jall gives a child to an extremely old man and a barren woman. If Isa’s alayhissalaam birth is a miracle because he didn’t have a father, Yahya, the son of Zakariyya, is a double-miracle – both his mother and his father were incapable of producing a child. And yet Allah answered this seemingly impossible du'a. In fact, what Allah said was:

قَالَ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ قَالَ رَ‌بُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًٔا ﴿٩

...'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.'

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:9]

So why not stop worrying about our own relatively petty problems, and ask Allah for help just like Zakariyya alayhissalaam?

May Allah remove our worries and grant us righteous families and offspring.

رَ‌بَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَ‌ٰجِنَا وَذُرِّ‌يَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّ‌ةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.

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

Secret to Dealing with Chronic Complainers

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

No matter how good things get, some people just cannot bring themselves to see the good. They would see only bad – and they would go to great lengths to point it out to everyone around them. Those are the complainers.

Optimists believe the glass is half full; pessimists believe the glass is half empty; chronic complainers believe the water is tepid, the glass has a smudge and wait, is that a streak on the side because I just got new dish washing detergent that isn't supposed to leave streaks, so great, what a waste of money, it's just so unfair, why do these things keep happening to me?

Being around a constant complainer is exhausting. If you don't have patience, it is irritating.
When someone around us tends to think and react in negative and pessimistic ways we can "catch" their way of thinking without realizing it. For example, one study found that college roommates of people with negative thinking styles became more negative themselves over the course of the year.

What makes it so difficult to deal with chronic complainers is how resistant they are to support, cheering-up or advice. Indeed, trying to be helpful in such ways will probably backfire because more often than not, nothing makes a chronic complainer happier than being totally miserable.

The secret to dealing with a chronic complainer is to first understand his mindset:

1. Chronic complainers do not usually see themselves as negative people -- they see the world as negative and themselves as merely responding appropriately to annoying, aggravating and unfortunate circumstances. In other words, they complain excessively because they believe they have ample reason to do so. Therefore, do not try to convince a chronic complainer the specific situation they are in or their life as a whole is not as bad as they think -- they will happily bring up other misfortunes to convince you it is.

2. Chronic complainers complain for one main reason -- to get sympathy and validation for how bad, unfair, or annoying their situation is. Therefore, the quickest way to cut a complaining soliloquy short is to give them what they seek -- express sympathy, validate their feelings and then redirect them back to whatever you were doing (e.g., "You had another terrible headaches last night? SubhanAllah, you have had so many of those lately! It must be miserable! That must makes it really hard to fall sleep but I hope you can be a trooper because you really need to get well")

3. Chronic complainers constantly focus on the negative because being victims or unfortunates is a part of their very identity. That is why they react poorly to advice because resolving the issue would take away public recognition of their 'hardship' and threaten their sense of self. Therefore, do not offer advice and stick to sympathy and emotional validation. However, in cases in which the person's problem is authentically distressing and you have valuable advice that could truly help, offer sympathy first, make the advice short and to the point and do not repeat or elaborate it if you get rebuffed.

Many of us are complainers to a certain degree and don't realize it. Catch yourself complain one day and you will agree. Whatever problems you have, try not to complain. Instead, show gratitude. Look at yourself in the mirror in a humble fashion. Recognize that you won't be able to see yourself if Allah didn't bless you with your eyes, even if you have weak eyes. Your eye is a tremendous blessing from Allah. You wouldn't trade it for anything, would you? If you deny one blessing, it is as if you are denying all the other blessings.

How bad can bad be? Nothing is bad if you see it as a gift from Allah. Do you complain when someone give you a gift? Why would you complain about a gift from the One who knows you better than yourself. Nothing is really bad if you are still breathing because as long as you are breathing, Allah is giving you the opportunity to come closer to Him. Thinking positively, what is so bad about what you are facing right now when you compare your situation with worser situation? As long as we are breathing, Allah is giving us the opportunity to come closer to Him. Every moment of our lives is precious. Complain necessarily takes away your precious time.

Say Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah for everything.

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

I am amazed at the affair of the believer, it is all good. If he goes through times of difficulty he is patient, if he goes through times of ease, he is thankful.

If you live with complainers, be patient. Recognize that they are a test of your patience.

Patience (sabr) is one of the most foundation of all virtues and difficult to inculcate. All of us are tested with patience everyday. Allah's reward is tremendous for the patient one.

Patience is to faith as what the head is to body. There is no way of disposing patience. As long as we are alive, we are required to be patient. Otherwise, we are going to abuse ourselves if we are not patient.

Everything around us is teaching us to be impatient. For example, the marvelous air conditioners (AC) -- when it is a little hot, turn on the AC. Then there is this credit card -- when you see something, you can't wait till you actually have the money for it, pull out the plastic; automobiles -- can't walk to the store a block away, start the engine; fast food and restaurants, etc. So, it is actually a blessing when Allah puts you in a situation that causes you to be patient.

If you think you have patience, go to hajj, or take care of a sick person. Until you are tested with all the different scenarios, you can't say you have patience.

May Allah make us among the grateful and the patient. 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

The Final Verdict..Kun

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Some people have the mentality that attribute their success to their knowledge and efforts. The reason you got into college or did well in your exam or got the job or made the right investments and become wealthy is because Allah's "kun" (Be) came. Yes, you should have the qualifications and do well but that is your effort. Allah gives results to those who make effort but the effort itself is not the reason something happens. It is the final verdict from Allah that something happens.

Allah Almighty says,

بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرً‌ۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴿١١٧

Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. (117)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:117]

Some people necessarily say Allah is the One who gives them what they have. But you can't say you deserve what Allah blesses you with either. This is arrogance. Allah describes this person full of himself.

People with wealth can do so much good with their wealth and they won't be missing out on anything if they do good things with it. If you go for more money and luxurious things, think. It is not like you have something that no one else have. And at the end of the day everything will perish and every luxury on this earth will reduce to dirt like us.

Allah Almighty says,

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ لِّلرِّ‌جَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا ﴿٣٢

And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing. (32)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:32]

Don't live a life of jealousy and having low self-esteem. Everyone has something that Allah favors him -- immigration status, citizenship, admission to a school, good looks, status, wealth, good health, etc. Allah didn't give you something but He gives you some other things. So, don't wish for what somebody else has. You have to be patient. If you really desire something, desire Paradise. Don't vie for what other people have in this world. Don't be deluded by "if only we have that, we can have such and such ..." Those nice homes also have fights in them.

The real and final home is the afterlife. Remember Qarun?

Allah Almighty says,

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِىٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُ‌ونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ‌ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِ‌مُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾ فَخَرَ‌جَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فِى زِينَتِهِۦ ۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِ‌يدُونَ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا يَـٰلَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ قَـٰرُ‌ونُ إِنَّهُۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٧٩﴾ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ‌ۭ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٨٠﴾ فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِ‌هِ ٱلْأَرْ‌ضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُ‌ونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنتَصِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٨١﴾ وَأَصْبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا۟ مَكَانَهُۥ بِٱلْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّ‌زْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ‌ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٨٢

He (Qarun) said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked. (78) So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, "Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qarun. Indeed, he is one of great fortune." (79) But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient." (80) And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves. (81) And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, "Oh, how Allah extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allah had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!" (82)

[Qur'an, Al-Qasas 28:78-82]

Wealth is a test like poverty, good and bad health, etc. Allah wants to see what you do with it. People of wealth have to be extra cautious because many people want to be like you and they look up to you. So lead the best examples. Don't show off to others whether in speech or in action. And don't help finance the corrupt places. One of the most corrupt places in United States is Las Vegas. And there are many many other corrupt places around the world even in places we may not expect. And it doesn't have to be huge either. Who keep them afloat? Poor people? No. It is the people with wealth and disposable income.

May Allah guide us, our families and the Ummah, and keep us away from evil and corruption. 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.

Compare Music/Songs With Alif Laam Meem

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Music/songs/singing have taken over people's life -- in homes, offices, cars, weddings, public bathrooms, etc. Music has become the staple. People can't seem to function without music.

They are readily available and many are free which make it easy for our youth to get to them. And they listen to it day in and day out. It is no wonder our youth know more about musicians, new albums, music lyrics, but don't know the attributes and Names of Allah, the names of Allah's Messengers and the Prophets (may Allah grant them peace) and the companions of the Prophet's (Allah bless him and grant him peace), or how to recite al-Fatiha correctly.

Music begins with the Shaytan and ends with the wrath of Allah. There is no doubt about this saying. Don't be fooled by those who said music is halal (lawful). Even if some music is permissible, it is a step towards haram (unlawful). Just watch your behavior when you listen to music or when you sing a song. At the very least, Allah is neither in your heart nor in your mind--so it takes you away from the remembrance of Allah. What if you die at that moment? What do you think would be your final words? La ilaha illa Allah إله إلا الله‎,لا or the music your are humming or some lyrics you have memorized?

Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al−Ash`ari: that he heard the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying,

From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. And there will be some people who will stay near the side of a mountain and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection."

(Bukhari)

Music/songs take so much of people's time. Deep inside people with a little Iman know that music is unlawful. Just ask...Which one does Allah love more, Qur'an or music/songs/singing? Without doubt all the music/singing wouldn't compare with alif laam meem.

Many many years ago scholars said music/songs and Qur'an cannot be combined in the heart of a believer. The Qur'an takes you towards Allah while music takes you in the opposite direction.

Lawful things have good attribute. Where is the good attribute of music and songs?

Just think, who wrote the songs? The people who wrote the songs are not among the righteous. If they are, why would they involve themselves in something that take people in the direction other than Allah?

A righteous man passed by a house and heard a woman singing. The owner of the house invited him to enter. He felt obliged and sat behind a curtain while listening to the woman singing. The next time he passed by, the owner invited him once again and he sat behind a curtain. The owner asked if he could remove the curtain and he said yes. Now he could see the woman singing. Now he combined the fitnah of hearing and seeing. That continued until he completely overtaken by her. The woman invited him to approach her but he refused. The woman said "no one is here to see us." At the moment he realized something and said, "I am not surprised with the decree of Allah and I might die now" and he started to mention the punishment of Allah. He then left and never return.

How many young men have fallen into that kind of fitnah? How many young men attached their hearts to female singers and how many young women attached their hearts to male singers? How will they listen to Qur'an, let alone pick up the Qur'an and read?

We need our youth but many of them can't live without music. They can't hear you, let alone the adhan (call for prayer), when their ears are plugged with those ear buds! What will become of them without the love of Allah?

The heart which loves music has no room to love Allah. And this is what is happening to many of our youth today. They don't know their religion. They don't know their Creator. Music has wasted their time and they don't have time to learn about their Creator and to be productive member of the society for that matter.

Furthermore, music/singing indeed is the facilitator of shamelessness. Stay away from music and delete all your music folders.

May Allah protect us and our families from the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. 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: Having Good Opinion of Allah and Complete Reliance on Allah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Muslims have better than the power of positive thinking and be successful. It is having good opinion of the highest Power, Allah Most Powerful, and completely rely on Him.

With positive thinking, we will experience pleasant and happy feelings. And this brings brightness to the eyes, more energy, and happiness. Our whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even our health is affected in a beneficial way. Imagine what will happen if we have good opinion of Allah, Dhu-al-Jalal wa-al-Ikram (Lord of Majesty and Bounty) and put complete trust in Him in all our affairs. No doubt our entire life will work wonders and we will be among the happiest people on earth.

The Qur'an recorded Prophet Ibrahim's (may Allah grant him peace) good opinion of Allah as our example:

فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّىٓ إِلَّا رَ‌بَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٧٧﴾ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَنِى فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ ﴿٧٨﴾ وَٱلَّذِى هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِى وَيَسْقِينِ ﴿٧٩﴾ وَإِذَا مَرِ‌ضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ ﴿٨٠﴾ وَٱلَّذِى يُمِيتُنِى ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ ﴿٨١﴾ وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ‌ لِى خَطِيٓـَٔتِى يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٨٢

Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds, (77) Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me. (78) And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink. (79) And when I am ill, it is He who cures me (80) And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life (81) And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense." (82)

[Qur'an, Ash-Shu'ara 26:77-82]

Having good opinion of Allah Most High is from the essentials of Tawheed (Monotheism, Oneness of Allah), which many people have become heedless of. It is no wonder you see so many unhappy people.

It is from the attributes of a believer, in fact it is from the obligations of Tawheed. There is no doubt that having good opinion of Allah is coupled with good actions and we must do what is necessary for well being.

... إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ‌ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُ‌وا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ...

...Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves...

[Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd 13:11]

For this, we surely have to be confident in Allah, and that Allah's Power is with Him, and nothing happens without His authority, and nothing occurs except according to His plans and way. We should in constant dependency on Him, always seeking His help. If a slave was to seek refuge in Allah, then he surely have sought an awesome stronghold.

Having good opinion of Allah Most High is built upon your knowledge of His Mercy, His Pride, His Goodness, His Power, His Knowledge, His superiority of selection as well as your complete reliance upon Him. So if all of these conditions are fulfilled, good opinion of Allah will come to fruition in the heart.

For in the Qudsi Hadith, which was narrated by Abu Hurayrah, Allah Most High says:

“I am as my slave thinks of me and I am with him whenever he remembers Me.” (Agreed Upon).

In another hadeeth recorded by Muslim, Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) three days before his death as saying:

“Let none of you die without having a good opinion of Allah High and Mighty.”

وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا ﴿٧

And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. (7)

[Qur'an, Al-Fath 48:7]

And that:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّ‌زَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ ﴿٥٨

Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength. (58)

[Qur'an, Adh-Dhariyat 51:58]

And that He is The Possessor of the Kingdom:

قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ‌ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ‌ۭ ﴿٢٦

Say, "O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent. (26)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:26]

Allah says:

هَلْ يَنظُرُ‌ونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ ٱلْغَمَامِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ‌ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْ‌جَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ‌ ﴿٢١٠﴾\

Do they await but that Allah should come to them in covers of clouds and the angels [as well] and the matter is [then] decided? And to Allah [all] matters are returned. (210)

[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:210]

قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصْبِرُ‌وٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْأَرْ‌ضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِ‌ثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٢٨

Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous." (128)

[Qur'an, Al-A’raf 7:128]

لَّوْ أَرَ‌ادَ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا لَّٱصْطَفَىٰ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَ‌ٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ‌ ﴿٤

If Allah had intended to take a son, He could have chosen from what He creates whatever He willed. Exalted is He; He is Allah, the One, the Prevailing. (4)

[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:4]

He Exalted and High is the One Who may benefit and the One that may harm.

Allah says:

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ‌ۢ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ‌ۢ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ‌ۭ ﴿١٧

And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent. (17)

[Qur'an, Al-An'am 6:17]

This is why when the enemy of Allah attacked the Prophet, Allah destroyed all their plotting. He said:

وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ‌ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِ‌جُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُ‌ونَ وَيَمْكُرُ‌ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ‌ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٣٠

And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners. (30)

[Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:30]

And He Most High says:

قَدْ مَكَرَ‌ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ‌ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُ‌ونَ ﴿٢٦

Those before them had already plotted, but Allah came at their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive. (26)

[Qur'an, An-Nahl 16: 26]

So whomsoever deceives Allah, Allah will deceive him.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَ‌آءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُ‌ونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٤٢﴾

Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little, (142)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:142]


Just as having good opinion of Allah is one of the characteristics of a believer, the ill-opinion of Allah and the opinion that does not befit his Majesty is from the characteristics of hypocrites and polytheists who look at Allah with a view of jahiliyah (ignorance) and falsehood.

Allah has promised these people by saying:

وَيُعَذِّبَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُشْرِ‌كِينَ وَٱلْمُشْرِ‌كَـٰتِ ٱلظَّآنِّينَ بِٱللَّهِ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۚ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَ‌ةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۖ وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَنَهُمْ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرً‌ۭا ﴿٦

And [that] He may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women, and the polytheist men and polytheist women - those who assume about Allah an assumption of evil nature. Upon them is a misfortune of evil nature; and Allah has become angry with them and has cursed them and prepared for them Hell, and evil it is as a destination. (6)

[Qur'an, al-Fath 48:6]

May Allah increase us in iman (faith) and grant us good in this life and the next. 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

Death: What Guarantee You Won't Be Next?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We are not created to amass this world, nor we are created to eat, sleep, procreate and have fun. We are created to worship Allah alone.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (56)

[Qur'an, Adh-dhariyat 51:56]

Many humans live the life of this world, seeking the best that it has to offer, while ignoring what lies ahead of them upon death. This is a result of weak faith, for such people live only for what is before their eyes.

The adornment of this world are but temptations to distract you from the true purpose of life and the reminder that you will indeed be responsible for all you do in this life.

Allah Almighty says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَاللَّـهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١١

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

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

We can have some fun but within the boundaries set by our Creator. This life is very short. Everyday someone died; the person might be someone you know or someone you don't know. What guarantee do you have that you will not be next?

The only thing that is certain in this life is death but how many of us are prepared for it?

Abdullah Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once held my shoulders and said: “Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger (who will sooner or later leave the town he is staying in).”

And Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say: “If you will live till night, do not wait for the next day (i.e. do not have hopes that you will live to the next day), and if you wake up in the morning do not have hope that you will live till night. And take (advantage) from your health for (the times when you are afflicted with diseases (and can not perform any obedience) and take advantage of your life for death (i.e. do every possible obedience in your life before death comes to you for then no deeds can be performed.” [Bukhari and At-Tirmidhi].

When the angel of death comes, no one has the power to chase him away. No one can avoid death, nor does anyone around the dying person have the ability to prevent it. It is something, which happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, the strong and the weak. They are all the same because there is no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power - so that the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it.

Allah Almighty says.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion. (185)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:185]

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

Remember much, that which cuts off pleasure: Death, since no-one remembers it in times of difficulty, except that things are made easy for him, nor mentions it at times of ease, except that the affairs become constricted for him.

[Saheehul-Jaami’us Sagheer, no 1222]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As Muslims we have to come to terms with this reality. Those we have done wrong, we should seek their forgiveness. It is not comfortable to come to terms with somebody you did wrong. But this is a blessing when you feel uncomfortable when you wronged someone because it motivates you forward--making tawbah (true repentance to Allah). Don't let the whispers of shaytan take your motivation away.

There are 3 essential conditions of valid repentance: remorse, abandon the sin, intend and resolve never to return to the sin, and rectify the wrong.

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

Life in this world is of many types but death is of two kinds only -- good ending (Husnul Khaatimah) or bad ending (Suu-ul Khaatimah)).

We should now ask ourselves: "If I die in the state I am today, will I die with Husnul Khaatimah or Suu-ul Khaatimah?"

O Allah make our deeds (in this life) the best ones, and the best of our days the days when we meet You and make us of those whom You have favored with bounties in Your Paradise and Your Presence.

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: Taking Prescription Medicine from the Sunnah

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

It is a settled doctrine of every believer that Allah is the intrinsic cause of every gain and loss in this world as well as in the next world. Without the Divine Will not a speck of gain or loss can be caused to anyone.

The only way to fortify against all physical and spiritual injuries and harm is for person to place himself under the protection of Allah, and by his actions he should attempt to make himself capable of entering the Divine shelter.

How many times do you just go to the doctor and take the doctor's prescription without remembering Allah is Ash-Shaafi (the Healer) and following one of the prescribed cures from the Sunnah?

What is the first thing you do when you have a headache? Grab a Tylenol or a Panadol?

Sayyidah Aisha reported that when any of the members of the household fell ill Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to blow over him by reciting Mu'awwadhatain (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas), and when he suffered from illness of which he died I used to blow over him and rubbed his body with his hand for his hand had greater healing power than my hand. [Related by Muslim]

Imam Malik recorded from Sayyidah Aisha: "Whenever the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) suffered from an ailment, he would recite the Mu'awwadhatain, blow over his hands, and then wiped his whole body with those hands. When his pain became acute on his death-bed, I would recite the Mu'awwadhatain, blow over his hands, and then he wiped them over himself, because my hands could not be the fitting substitute for his blessed hands. [All these narratives have been adapted from Ibn Kathir].

Encourage others to do this, teach your children, and do it for others when they are sick.

Surah Al-Falaq directs how to seek the Divine protection against hardships and worldly calamities, and Surah An-Naas tells the way to seek Divine protection against the calamities of the Hereafter. We are to seek refuge from the evil that is the cause of all sins, namely, the whisperings and insinuations of Shaytan as the anguish and distress of the Hereafter is most severe. The Qur'an appropriately emphasizes at the end to seek Allah's protection against these evil powers.

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

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

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّ‌حِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَ‌بِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ‌ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ‌ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٦

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, (1) The Sovereign of mankind. (2) The God of mankind, (3) From the evil of the retreating whisperer - (4) Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - (5) From among the jinn and mankind." (6) [Qur'an, An-Naas 114]

May Allah grant us excellent health so we may be able to worship Him better and cure those who are sick quickly. 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

Why Some People Don't Give Charity?

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Why some people don't give charity has something to do with selfishness and stinginess. Selfish people suffer from fear of loss of control and that's why they keep all of their resources to themselves. In the case of stinginess the person feels too insecure to give some of his money to others because he believes he doesn't have enough money.

Now does this mean that people with money is generous? No, that's not correct because the insecurity stingy people feel is usually in their minds and might have nothing to do with the amount of money they have. In other words, a person can have a very large some of money yet still feel financially insecure because of believing that he doesn't have enough money.

A study shows that having an unmet need in one domain can result in stinginess in another domain. That's why a person who always felt unloved by others might become very stingy. When a person believes that his resources are scarce even when these resources are emotional then he might become stingy. This also means that feeling insecure about one area of your life might result in emotional or financial stinginess. Another interesting study was carried out to find the connection between thinking about money and stinginess. The conclusion the researchers came up with is that the more a person thinks about money the more likely he is to be stingy.

This might also mean that people who love money or who are obsessed with it might find it very unpleasant to give it away.

If Allah does not make zakat obligatory, people will not give charity because of their great love for money as Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an,

وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا

And you love wealth with immense love. (20)

[Qur'an al-Fajr 89:20]

If a person always felt anxious about money during his childhood as a result of believing that his family didn't have enough money to spend on him then he might grow into a stingy adult. This insecurity the person suffers from will prevent him from giving his limited resources to others.

If we teach our children to give from when they were small, they will not have these two problems of selfishness and stinginess, no matter how poor your family is.

As Muslims, we should know that whatever you give is not going to decrease your wealth and it is not going to make you poor. In fact, it will increase it and purify your remaining wealth. This may not make sense if we based it on math but if we understand "barakah" (Allah's blessings), then it all make sense. And Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَـٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَـٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿١٨

Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward. (18)

[Qur'an Al-Hadid 57:18]

There is also a tremendous reward in this life for those who spend their wealth for the sake of Allah. Allah Almighty says,

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:261]

Giving charity wards off affliction in this world, questioning in the grave and punishment on Judgment Day.

Allah Almighty says,

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٢٧٤

Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. (274)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:274]

Allah commands us to love only Him. Spending our wealth is a gauge to measure our love for Him. The heart of the believer is only for Allah. Spending is the test for that. Allah doesn't need us nor our money. He is Allah, the Owner of everything, including us and everything we have, the One Who has Power over all things. We are in complete need of Allah in this life and the next.

You don't love anything except you are a slave of it and Allah does not want you to be a slave of anything except Him. To love Allah is for our own good. Everything of this world comes and goes, and we will eventually leave this world too.

Whatever you love of this world cannot help you in your grave, or when you are drowned in your own sweat in the Day of Judgment from the intense heat and fear, or when you are crossing the bridge over the Hellfire, or when you are burning in the Hellfire. May Allah save us from His wrath and punishment.

People who spend everything they own really prove their love for Allah. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), the best of the Companions, was an example of this. When he saw someone in trouble, he did his best to help him. If his money could remove suffering, he did not care how much he had to spend. Once he gave away thirty-five dirhams out of his total fortune of forty thousand. He was an example of the highest level of the believers but most of us are not able to do this.

When you give, don't give grudgingly and don't look down upon the recipient or feel that you are better than him. Give cheerfully and rejoice for this is a sign of Allah's acceptance of the good deed. Thank the people who accepted your charity because they have done you a huge favor by enabling you to fulfill your obligation with Allah and helping you to unlock a gate to Paradise.

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

'O Allah, grant me life as a poor man, cause me to die as a poor man and resurrect me in the company of the poor.' His wife asked him why he said that, and he replied: 'Because (the poor) will enter Paradise (before) the rich. Do not turn away a poor man even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you Allah will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection.'

[Tirmidhi]

Choose the best recipients for your charity. In the list of priority first is close relative who are poor and needy, then neighbor and then those in close vicinity, city and nation. One of the best recipients of charity are students of sacred knowledge, scholars and righteous people. Some of the salaf used to say:

Do not eat but the food of the pious and let none eat your food but the pious.

May Allah make us of those who are generous and increase us in provision both physically and spiritually. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam