Serving Your Parents Even After Their Death

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

It's always a shock to receive the news of the death of a parent. And it doesn't matter whether that parent was beloved or resented, whether the relationship was close or distant, warm or cold, harmonious or hotly conflictual. It doesn't even matter how old you are, or how old your parent was at the time of death. For most people, the death of a parent, particularly when the parent is of the same gender, is life altering. Anyone who has lost a mother or father knows this.

Even at 35 or 40, even when careers and/or families had been established, nobody ever really feels grown-up. Then, all too suddenly, they grew up. The events that catapulted me over the barrier to my own maturity were the unanticipated sickness and death of my father. He died at 43. I was then 19. When my mother died 16 years later, a new self emerged, one that felt and claimed the status of grown-up. Central to that new self was a vivid, visceral knowledge of my own mortality. I began to feel I was living on borrowed time. Days, then years, arrived as a gift, unearned, which I received with both gladness and a degree of guilt. And there was the awareness of how vulnerable every life is, how uncertain its duration. Death embedded deep in me a knowledge of my limit, our limits, and the end of our deeds except a righteous child who makes du'a for him, on-going charity, a knowledge (of Islam) from which others benefit.

Kindness and excellent treatment towards your parents go beyond death:

When you put your head down in prostration today, remember to make sincere and earnest du'a for your parents. This is the minimum you should do to serve your parents. Always pray for your parents, recalling their kindness and beg for their forgiveness from The Almighty and His Mercies for them. It is mentioned in the Qur'an:

وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّ‌حْمَةِ وَقُل رَّ‌بِّ ارْ‌حَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَ‌بَّيَانِي صَغِيرً‌ا ﴿٢٤

And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small." (24) (Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:24)

Respect and excellent treatment for your parents:

Having respect and excellent treatment for one's parents is second only to that of prayer and is greater than that of Jihaad (fighting in His cause). In this respect, Abu 'Abdur-Rahmaan 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood may Allah be pleased with him narrated the following: "I asked the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam: 'Which deed is the most beloved to Allah?' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam replied: "Prayers performed on time." I then asked: 'Which one is next?' He replied: "Excellence to parents." I then asked: 'Which is next?' He replied: "Jihaad in the path of Allah.""

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

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23) (Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:23)

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا ۖ وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِ‌كَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۚ إِلَيَّ مَرْ‌جِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨

And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do. (8) [Qur'an, Al-Ankabut 29:8]

Special treatment to your Mother:

One should have special regard for his/her mother. It is the mother that carries the fetus in her womb for nine months and then nourishes the child with her milk. Allah Almighty says,

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْ‌هًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْ‌هًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرً‌ا ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْ‌بَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَ‌بِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ‌ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْ‌ضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّ‌يَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٥

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims." (15) [Qur'an, Al-Ahqaf 46:15]

Abdullah Ibn 'Umar saw a Yemeni man performing Tawâf (circumambulating the Ka'bah) while carrying his mother on his back. This man said to Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, "I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, O Ibn 'Umar?" Abdullah Ibn 'Umar replied, "No, not even one contraction!!" [Al-Adab al-Mufrad Bukhârî 1/62]

SubhânAllah (Glory be to God)! The efforts of a man who carries his mother on his back while performing tawâf cannot even repay his mother for a single contraction that she went through for him. Wise indeed was Ibn 'Umar's reply to this man to show him how massively indebted he was to his mother. This is the tremendous value and prestigious position of mothers in Islam!

Yet another example is found in the following prophecy of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him):

There will come to you with reinforcements from Yemen a man called Uways ibn 'Âmir of the clan of Murâd from the tribe of Qaran. He had leprosy but has been cured of it except for a spot the size of a coin. He has a mother and he has always treated her with kindness and respect. If he prays to Allah, Allah will fulfill his wish. If you can ask him to pray for forgiveness for you, then do so. [Sahîh Muslim 16/95]

As to be excellent to your mother, it means also treating her well, respecting her, humbling oneself in front of her, obeying her without disobeying Allah, seeking her satisfaction and pleasure in all matters, even in a jihaad. If it is optional, he must have her permission, for being kind to her is a type of jihaad. [Jihaad is the struggle (physical, mental, psychological, spiritual, etc.) to preserve the purity and practice of Islam.]

On the authority of Asma'a bint Abu Bakr Al- Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with her), who said; "My mother came to Medina from Makkah to see me, while she was still an unbeliever. She had come to demand something from me. I inquired with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace): 'My mother has come to see me and she is expecting something from me. May I oblige her?' He said: 'Yes, be kind to your mother.'" (Bukhari and Muslim)

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him),who said: A man asked the Messenger of God (S.A.W.) who amongst his near ones had the greatest right over him, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied: "Your mother". He asked, "Then who is next?" The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied: "Your mother". He again asked, "Then who is next?" The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied: "Your mother". He asked: "Then who is next?" The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied: "Your father." (Bukhari and Muslim)

In Islam, respect for parents is so great that the child and his wealth are considered to be the property of the parents: Aisha narrated that a man came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam in order to resolve a dispute that he had with his father regarding a loan he had given him. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said to the man: "You and your wealth are to (i.e., the property of) your father."

What more for a mother who has made all the sacrifices for you from the time you were in her womb until you become this grown-up? I say, "You and your wealth are to your mother even more".

May Allah help us serve Him and treat our parents with excellence, and make us of those who are grateful and patient. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Developing a Sense of Urgency

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Everyday we hear people died. Whether they are someone we know or don't know, there is no doubt that we are soon to follow.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ‌ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ‌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ لَا يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ‌ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ﴿٢٠

O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (18) And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient. (19) Not equal are the companions of the Fire and the companions of Paradise. The companions of Paradise - they are the attainers [of success]. (20) [Qur'an, Al-Hashr 59:17]

Allah mentions in 3 places in the Qur'an that we are going to die.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

Every soul shall have a taste of death. In the end to Us shall you be brought back. (Qur'an Ankabut 29:57)

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ

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 3:185-186]

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ‌ وَالْخَيْرِ‌ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْ‌جَعُونَ ﴿٣٥

Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (35) [Qur'an, al-Anbiya 21:35]

A wise person will take this as a reminder and ponder upon it, and take this opportunity to come close to Allah. The wise man is the one that reminds himself about a very important quality of the believer- having a sense of urgency because there is not much time left.

وَسَارِ‌عُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَ‌ةٍ مِّن رَّ‌بِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْ‌ضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْ‌ضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٣

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous (133) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:133]

Race to forgiveness from Allah because there is not much time left. Your end is unknown- it can end today, tomorrow, a year from now or even 50 years from now, there is not much time.

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

Many of us are familiar with this hadith. We make observations through different phases of life, observations of ourselves and those around us. We make mistakes, and watch others make mistakes, and sometimes we take a lesson from them. Sometimes we don’t, and kick ourselves for not learning from the mistakes.

One of the beauties of Islam is that we are given a secure way of life, and the best understanding, which gives us the highest strength and motive. Islam prevents us from making grave mistakes, pre warning us of what we may fall into, gives us stepping stones and gives us aims, goals and aspirations.

Your youth, before you become old...

When you are young, you take your youth and energy for granted. You feel as if you have all the time in the world to fulfill your dreams and make your mark in the world. But the future creeps up on you slowly -- gray hairs start to appear, your responsibilities pile up, and your energy drops. While you have the youthful energy and hope, do good with it- help your parents and others, and rush to good deeds. With old age, people find it harder to keep fard (obligatory) fasts, they may not be able perform wudhu properly or to pray properly, and they may not have the energy to recite the Qur’an very often. Don't wait until you retire to learn Islam or do extra worship. With old age, people find it harder to keep fard (obligatory) fasts, they may not be able perform wudhu properly or to pray properly, and they may not have the energy to recite the Qur’an very often. Besides, your life tomorrow is unknown. Take this golden opportunity to please Allah.

Your health, before you fall sick...

Health is another thing that people take for granted, until they lose it. Even young people may experience an injury or illness which limits their ability to fulfill their dreams and responsibilities. Pain and sickness are a test from Allah, and one who endures with patience and faith will be rewarded. However, human beings are frail, and we never know when our good health will be taken from us. Our healthy bodies and minds are a blessing that we should not waste.

Your wealth, before you become poor...

Wealth is another blessing that Allah gives some people. Wealth can take the form of money, but also our knowledge, skills, and time. A believer should give as much as possible in charity while there is still something to give. We should not fear poverty, for Allah always provides; rather we should use our wealth to worship and please Allah. Allah says,

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٦١

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. (261)

(Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:261).

Wealth is a test, poverty is a test too. Anyone can give charity. In the Qur’an, charity is referred to as ’spending out of what Allah has given you’. Charity does not have to be purely monetary. It can be given through the spending of energy, talent, resources, or whatever else, to help and do good to those in need, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘Every act of goodness is a charity.’ (Muslim)

Your free time, before you become busy...

Time is something that all of us have, even if we think we're too busy to do anything else. We should not use our precious time in useless activities that have no benefit to us. While relaxation and entertainment are important to the human spirit, we must be careful to balance our time with other fruitful activities. Use your free time wisely.

Your life, before your death...

Allah blesses us with life each and every single day. None of us know when this will be taken from us; we cannot guarantee that we will have a "tomorrow" to rectify the problems of our past. Each day we wake up, is a new opportunity to do well: spending in charity, worshiping sincerely, performing random acts of kindness, helping others. We sometimes don't realize that death could be imminent, until we see or know someone who dies unexpectedly. The final advice from the Prophet Muhammad is to take advantage of the time we have. Don't put things off for tomorrow, because there might not be one.

A believer is very keen on his time. Hasan Al-Basri describing time-- you are nothing but a set of days. If one day passes part of you is gone. Many other scholars said that your only wealth in this life is your time.

If you are catching the morning, you don't know if your life will extend to Maghrib prayer. If you are catching the night, you don't know if your life will extend to Fajr prayer.

Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say,” If you survive to the evening, do not expect to be alive till the morning, If you survive to the morning, do not look forward to the evening. In a healthy condition, prepare yourself for illness and while you are alive prepare yourself for death.” (Al-Bukhari, kitaab Ar-Riqaq)

As for the advice of Ibn Umar, it is derived from the Hadith which he narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took hold of his shoulder and said “Be in the world as if you are a stranger, or a traveller”. (Bukhari)

It also refers to lessening one’s hope for a long life; and that if one survives to the evening, he should not expect to be alive till the morning; and if he survives to the morning, he should not look forward to the evening. He should believe that he may die even before this.

Benefit from you life before Allah takes it from you. This is the feeling of urgency that believer need to develop- every single moment of your life, you are keen on spending it in the way that bring you closer to Allah, that if one moment that passes by and you are not closer closer to Allah, you are in a great loss.

So, when you have the time, open the Qur'an and read it
When you have the time to come to the masjid, benefit from it
When you have an opportunity to get closer to Allah, catch it
When you have the time to serve your parents, take it while they are still alive
Don't be oblivious to the time. Don't lead your life in an ignorant fashion.

May Allah bring us and our family and our loved ones closer to Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Power of Sin and Repentance

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says in Surah Kahf,

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ‌ بِآيَاتِ رَ‌بِّهِ فَأَعْرَ‌ضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرً‌ا ۖ وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿٥٧

And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever. (57)[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:57]

Considering the power of sin, and how it gets hold of the hearts of humans, and considering all the wrongs that humans have done, it is the height of foolishness and injustice on their part to turn away from warnings which are given expressly for their good. But a stage of heartlessness is reached when, by their own choice, they have rendered themselves unreceptive to Allah’s Grace. At that stage, a veil is put over their hearts and they are left alone for a time that they may communicate with themselves and perhaps repent and seek Allah’s Mercy again. If they do not, it is their own loss.

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “All of the children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent.” [Ibn Majah]

A man knew he was nearing his death. Because he had committed innumerable sins, he was terrified to meet his Lord. Before his death, the man said to his children: “If my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one else.” In his fear, the man asked his children to burn his body after his death and scatter his remains.

And so after his death, the man was cremated. But then God said to the earth: “Produce what you have taken.” When the man came before God, God said to him: “What induced you to do what you did?” The man replied, “It was out of fear of you, oh my Lord.” And because of that, he was forgiven [from Hadith Qudsi 32, Bukhari & Muslim].

In this man’s overwhelming fear of God, he had forgotten God’s mercy. Consider a person so sinful that he might receive the greatest punishment ever given. But imagine such a sinner being forgiven still, by no merit of his own—but only by the mercy of his creator. That creator, when describing Himself in the Hadith Qudsi, says: “My mercy prevails over my wrath” [Bukhari & Muslim].

This mercy—which is infinite—defines one of the most emphasized attributes of God. And every moment is a priceless opportunity to come back to Allah, and start over. This process of tawbah, turning back to Allah and seeking His forgiveness, is one of the most vital acts of worship. In fact, it is this act alone, which distinguished Prophet Adam from Iblees (Satan). And it is by this act alone, that some will enter Paradise.

We all make mistakes. Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) made a mistake. And so did Iblees. Prophet Adam worshiped Allah—but so did Iblees. The difference between the two was that when Adam made his mistake, he realized his desperate need for Allah’s forgiveness, while Iblees showed arrogance and did not repent.

Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Every descendant of Adam is oft to err, and the best of those who err are those who are oft to repent” [Al-Tirmidhi (2499) & Ibn Mijah (4251)]. And so, Iblees’s mistake wasn’t that he disobeyed Allah—Adam also disobeyed Allah. Iblees’s mistake was that he disobeyed Allah and then refused to repent for it. Not only did he refuse to make tawbah, Iblees even blamed Allah for his own mistake:

قَالَ رَ‌بِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٣٩

[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all (39) (Qur'an, Al-Hijr 15:39).

In contrast to this, by turning to Allah and realizing our need for His forgiveness and mercy, we actually become more beloved to Him. It was actually after he had made a mistake, realized his need for Allah, and repented, that Adam was sent to earth as a prophet.

In fact Allah, in His infinite mercy, does not just accept our repentance—He loves to forgive. The Prophet says: “If you were not to commit sins, Allah would remove you and replace you with a people who would commit sins and then seek Allah’s forgiveness, so Allah could forgive them” [Sahih Muslim (2749)].

And when we do repent to Allah, He does not just erase our evil deeds, he even transforms them into good deeds: Allah says,

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّـهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ غَفُورً‌ا رَّ‌حِيمًا ﴿٧٠

Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Mercif

ul. (70) (Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:70).

Even more, that forgiveness of Allah has no limit and no bounds. Allah says in the hadith Qudsi: “Oh son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you” [Al-Tirmithi].

We all sin and will sin again. That is a certainty. But the choice is ours. Will we follow the footsteps of the one who repented and became a prophet, or will we follow the one who refused...and became forever cursed?

May Allah make us of those who repent and purify themselves. Ameen.

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِ‌ينَ ﴿٢٢٢

Indeed Allah loves those who repent and purify themselves. [Qur'an, Al Baqarah, 2:222]

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Causes of Hardships and 4 Levels of People Who are Afflicted

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَ‌بَّكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَـٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ وَأَرْ‌ضُ اللَّـهِ وَاسِعَةٌ ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُ‌ونَ أَجْرَ‌هُم بِغَيْرِ‌ حِسَابٍ ﴿١٠

Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." (10) [Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:10]

There are two direct causes for calamities and trials, in addition to the wisdom of Allah, may He be exalted, in what He wills and decrees.

The first reason is:

Sins and acts of disobedience that the person has committed, whether they constitute kufr or are no more than regular sins or are major sins. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will test the one who committed them with calamity by way of requital and immediate punishment (i.e., in this world).

Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “…but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself” [an-Nisa’ 4:79]. The commentators said: i.e., because of your sin.

And He, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much” [Qur'an, ash-Shura 42:30].

It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“If Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and if He wills bad for His slave, He withholds from him (the punishment for) his sin, until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.” [Narrated by at-Tirmidhi]

The second reason is:

That Allah, may He be exalted, wants to raise in status the patient believer, so He tests him with calamity so that he will bear it acceptance and patience, then He will be given the reward of those who are patient in the Hereafter, and will be recorded with Allah as one of the victorious.

Allah Almighty says,

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَ‌بَّكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَـٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ وَأَرْ‌ضُ اللَّـهِ وَاسِعَةٌ ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُ‌ونَ أَجْرَ‌هُم بِغَيْرِ‌ حِسَابٍ ﴿١٠

Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." (10) [Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:10]

Calamities befell the Prophets and the righteous persistently, and Allah, may He be exalted, made it an honor for them by means of which they attained high status in Paradise. Hence it says in the saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace): “If a certain status has previously been decreed by Allah for a person, and he does not attain it by his deeds, Allah afflicts him in his body or wealth or children.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]

It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever shows discontent with it incurs His wrath.” [Narrated by at-Tirmidhi]

In this hadith, we find that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has provided a message of relief for those who endure difficulties with patience. He also associated greatness of difficulties and calamities with higher rewards. Given that this life has its share of challenges and difficulties for all, Allah has provided an opportunity of high rewards for those who endure these challenges with patience rather than with complaints and ingratitude. And for those who show displeasure and discontent with Allah’s decree end up in a lose-lose situation because not only they have to live through their current suffering but also incur Allah’s wrath for their displeasure and discontent with His decree.

The two reasons are mentioned together in the hadeeth of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Nothing befalls a believer, a (prick of a) thorn or more than that, but Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, or erase a bad deed.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Moreover, in most cases these two causes exist together rather than either of them occurring on its own.

It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

When Allah loves a people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever shows discontent with it incurs His wrath. [Narrated and classed as hasan by at-Tirmidhi]

When Allah tests a person with a calamity so that he will reach the lofty status that He has decreed for him in Paradise, his previous sins are expiated and it is regarded as requital for those sins in this world, so the requital will not be repeated for him in the Hereafter. This is what happened to some of the Messengers and Prophets, such as Adam (peace be upon him) and Yunus (peace be upon him): Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, tested Adam with expulsion from Paradise, and He tested Yunus ibn Matta with being swallowed into the belly of the fish. But by means of these tests, Allah raised them in status because of their patience and seeking reward with Him, may He be exalted. It was expiation for what each of them had done of going against His command (blessings and peace of Allah be upon both of them).

This proves that requital in this world is not separate from the requital in the Hereafter. These two reasons are mentioned together in many saheeh Prophetic hadeeths, such as that which was narrated by Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, who among the people are most sorely tested? He said: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is solid, his test will be more severe, but if there is any weakness in his religious commitment, he will be tested according to his level of religious commitment. And calamity will continue to befall a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.” [Narrated by at-Tirmidhi]

Nevertheless, one of these two reasons may be more apparent in some kinds of tests than the other. That may be understood by looking at the circumstances of the calamity.

If the one who is affected is a kaafir, then his calamity cannot be to raise him in status, because the kaafir will have no weight before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. But there may be a lesson and a reminder for others in that, not to do what he did. Or it may be an immediate punishment for him in this world, in addition to what is stored up for him in the Hereafter. Allah, may He be exalted, says

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ ۗ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّـهِ شُرَ‌كَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ ۚ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ أَم بِظَاهِرٍ‌ مِّنَ الْقَوْلِ ۗ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا مَكْرُ‌هُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنِ السَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّـهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ﴿٣٣﴾ لَّهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَ‌ةِ أَشَقُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّـهِ مِن وَاقٍ ﴿٣٤

Then is He who is a maintainer of every soul, [knowing] what it has earned, [like any other]? But to Allah they have attributed partners. Say, "Name them. Or do you inform Him of that which He knows not upon the earth or of what is apparent of speech?" Rather, their [own] plan has been made attractive to those who disbelieve, and they have been averted from the way. And whomever Allah leaves astray - there will be for him no guide. (33) For them will be punishment in the life of [this] world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe. And they will not have from Allah any protector. (34) [Qur'an, ar-Ra‘d 13:33-34]

But if the one who is affected is a Muslim who commits sin openly or is a blatant evildoer, then it is most likely that he is being requited and punished with this calamity, because expiation of sins comes before raising in status, and the sinner is in greater need of expiation for his sins than of being raised in status.

On the other hand, if the Muslim is a devoted worshiper, obedient and righteous, and there is nothing between him and Allah but true ‘uboodiyyah (servitude), gratitude, praise, repentance and submission to Him, may He be glorified, then it is most likely that this calamity is a kind of honor and raising in status, and people are the witnesses of Allah on earth. If they know him to be righteous, then they may give him the glad tidings of raised status before Allah if he is patient in bearing the calamity.

But if the one who is affected shows displeasure and panic, then it cannot be thought that his calamity is an honor from Allah to raise him in status, because Allah, may He be glorified, knew that he would not be patient and accept it with contentment. So in this case it is most likely that it is a requital and punishment. One of the righteous said: The sign of calamity by way of punishment and requital is lack of patience when a calamity befalls, and panic and complaining to people. And the sign of calamity by way of expiation and erasing of sins is beautiful patience without complaining, panic or impatience, and lack of reluctance in fulfilling commands and doing acts of worship.

The sign of calamity by way of raising a person in status is contentment and acceptance, peace of mind, and patience in accepting the will of Allah until relief comes. End quote.

All of this is merely circumstantial evidence that one may ponder in order to learn something of the wisdom of Allah, may He be exalted, that is behind calamities and trials. But he cannot be certain as to which is the case with regard to himself or other people who are afflicted with calamities.

Perhaps it is more important than all of these details to note that the practical benefit that one should think about is that every calamity and test is good for him and will bring reward if he is patient and seeks reward with Allah, and that every test and calamity is bad for him if he panics and get angry. If he trains himself to bear calamities with patience and to be content with the decree of Allah, after that it will not matter if he knows the reason for the calamity or not. Rather it is always better for him to concern himself with his sins and shortcomings and to look for some mistake that he has committed, for all of us make mistakes. Who among us has not been negligent in his duties towards Allah, may He be exalted? If Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, caused the Muslims to suffer the calamity of many of them being killed on the day of Uhud, even though they were the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the best of mankind after the Messengers and Prophets, because they had gone against the command of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), then how can anyone think after that that he is entitled to be raised in status for anything that befalls him? When Ibrahim ibn Adham (may Allah have mercy on him) saw strong winds and clouds building up in the sky, he would say: This is because of my sins; if I depart from among you, it will befall you.]

So how about us with all our shortcomings and sins?

And even more important than all of that is that one should always think positively of one’s Lord, in all situations, for whatever comes from Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is good and He is the Protector of the pious and Oft-Forgiving.

Allah Almighty says,

وَلَا تَهِنُوا فِي ابْتِغَاءِ الْقَوْمِ ۖ إِن تَكُونُوا تَأْلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَأْلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأْلَمُونَ ۖ وَتَرْ‌جُونَ مِنَ اللَّـهِ مَا لَا يَرْ‌جُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١٠٤

And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering - so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allah that which they expect not. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. (104)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:104]

So, a true believer can face his difficulties with a positive state of mind hoping for rewards from Allah and such an attitude can provide true relief and happiness. Besides, if Allah lifts this calamity from the believer and saves him from the torment, then that can double the reward and happiness. Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَ‌اتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ‌ الصَّابِرِ‌ينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَ‌اجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّ‌بِّهِمْ وَرَ‌حْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٥٧

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." (156) Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. (157) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:155-157]

The 4 levels of people who are afflicted with hardships and calamities:

The First Level:

Being angry, and this is in various ways: 
and anger is of two types. The first type of anger is that which is directed toward his Lord. So he becomes angry at what Allah has decreed for him, and this is Haraam (forbidden). 
And it is possible that this could lead to kufr.

Allah says,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْ‌فٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ‌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ‌ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَ‌ةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَ‌انُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١١

And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss. (11) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 22:11]

The second type of anger is expressed by the tongue like making du’a for destruction or ruin and what is similar to that, and this is Haram. 
 The third type of anger is expressed by the limbs like slapping the cheeks, ripping clothing, pulling out hair, and similar to that, and all of this is Haram and in contradiction to patience which is Wajib.

The Second Level:

Being patient, just as in the saying: Patience is like its name – bitter in taste, yet its outcomes are sweeter than honey. 
The person at this level feels the affliction to weighs very heavy upon him, yet he bears it although he dislikes that it happened. Rather, his Iman (Faith) bears it and restrains him from being angry. So the time of affliction and the time of no affliction is not the same to him, and this (level) is Wajib, because Allah commanded the people to be patient, saying: 
 وَاصْبِرُ‌وا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٤٦ “And be patient, indeed Allah is with the patient ones.” [Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:46]

The Third Level:

Being pleased with the affliction in that the person is pleased with the affliction and whether it happened or not, it is the same to him so he it is not difficult upon him. 
He does not bear it as if it is something weighing heavy on him, and this (level) is Mustahabb (preferred) and it is not Wajib according to the most correct opinion. 
The difference between this level and the one before it is apparent because the affliction happening or not happening is the same due to the pleasure of the one on this level. As for the level before it, the affliction is hard upon him, yet he remains patient over it.

The Fourth Level:

Thankfulness and being grateful and this is the highest level. This is that the person thanks Allah for the affliction which has struck him in that he knows that this affliction is expiation for his sins and perhaps a cause for an increase in his good deeds.
 The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “There is no affliction which strikes the Muslim except that
 Allah expiates with it (sins), even with a thorn that may poke him.” [Bukhari & Muslim]


We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to have mercy on us and forgive us, to teach us that which will benefit us and reward us for our calamities.

O Allah, make us from among His patient and thankful slaves, and grant us success to the highest station. You are All-Hearing and answers prayers. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Adapted from Islamqa.info

Patience and Success

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Success doesn't happen overnight. Not only you must have a desire to succeed, you must have righteous people working alongside you. Maybe you don't have these kind of people around you and you are totally alone, but you've got to keep picking yourself up off the floor and keep going. Despite all the people around you, recognize that many people lack the stamina to do what it takes to be successful. It is actually a relatively small number of people that are living Islam, and a relatively small number of people that end up really leave a legacy in Islam, and it doesn't take a lot of people to lead you astray. And ultimately success depend on how much you trust and rely on Allah.

If we want success in this life and the hereafter, we have to be patient and persevere. Allah clearly sets out the ingredients for success in the Qur'an: patience, perseverance, prayer, steadfastness, and taqwa (the fear/consciousness of Allah).

Allah Almighty says,

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ‌ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَ‌ةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿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]

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ‌ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِ‌ينَ ﴿١٥٣

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. (153) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:153]

If you do these things you are going to act according to the laws of Allah. You will also accept and say that whatever happens is by the will of Allah. And success will follow.

Allah teaches us patience with all kinds of tests (fitnah). If you receive them with patience, your are on the road of success.

The word fitnah as used in the Qur'an and hadith means test or trial. It does not necessarily mean a negative thing, although, being a test, It can have either a positive or negative effect on the person, depending on the way he or she faces it.

The fitnah may concern wealth, children, women, spouses, health, life, family, job, poverty, or education, and all the blessings you are enjoying- including knowledge. Hardships and ease are a trial for you. Everything Allah chooses for you; from good or evil, is for your benefit.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٨

And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward. (28) [Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:28]

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥

Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (15) [Qur'an, At-Taghabun 64:15]

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَ‌اتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ‌ الصَّابِرِ‌ينَ ﴿١٥٥

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:155]

We will find the most difficult tests to pass concern our wealth and children, so, it is no wonder there are many verses in the Qur'an reminding us of these tests. People love having things.

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ‌ الْمُقَنطَرَ‌ةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْ‌ثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّـهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ ﴿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]

وَتُحِبُّونَ الْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا ﴿٢٠

And you love wealth with immense love. (20) [Qur'an, Al-Fajr 89:20]

Don't be blinded by something you hate or something you love. Allah says:

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْ‌هٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَ‌هُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ‌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ‌ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
٢١٦

...It may be that you hate something when it is good for you and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. Allah (swt) knows and you know not. [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:216]

Recognize that each one of us is a fitnah for the other:

وَمَا أَرْ‌سَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ الْمُرْ‌سَلِينَ إِلَّا إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ ۗ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُ‌ونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَ‌بُّكَ بَصِيرً‌ا ﴿٢٠

And We did not send before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing. (20) [Qur'anm Al-Furqan 25:20]

Have complete faith that whatever occurred to you could not have missed you and what missed you could never have reached you.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

If you ask, then ask of Allah, and if you seek help, then seek it from Allah. And know that if the whole of the nation were to rally together in order to bring benefit to you in anything, they would not benefit you except with that which Allah has written for you. And if they were to gather together in order to inflict harm upon you with something, they would not harm you except with that which Allah has written upon you. The pens have been raised and the pages have dried.

He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said:

And know that what has befallen you was not going to miss you, and that which missed you was not meant to befall you.

Panic and impatience cannot prevent Allah’s Decree. Shakwah (complaining) is contradictory to Sabr (patience). 
Allah alone can protect you from harm and ease your difficulties. And you must seek help from Allah with patience and prayer. No doubt, patience will bring you closer to Allah. Isn't this what a you want?

وَاللَّـهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِ‌ينَ ﴿١٤٦ ....

Allah surely loves those who are the Sabireen (patient).” [Qur'an, AleImran 3:146]


For those who exercise patience, Allah will help and show a way out of every difficulty.

And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out,

وَيَرْ‌زُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِ‌هِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرً‌ا ﴿٣

And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion. [Qur'an, At-Talaq 65:2-3]

Great rewards are only for those who are patient with the Decree of Allah.

With Every Trial, there is a solution.

Whatever trials we are facing, we should know that we have already been told about this by Allah in the Qur'an. But we are not left alone with all the trials and difficulties. Allah gives us the way out.

فَاصْبِرْ‌ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّـهِ حَقٌّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ‌ لِذَنبِكَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَ‌بِّكَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ‌ ﴿٥٥

So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning. (55)[Qur'an, Ghafir 40:55]

وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُ‌وا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٣٥

But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good]. (35) [Qur'an, Fussilat 41:35]

When things get tough, try to remember what Allah says,

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

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6) [Qur'an, Al-Sharh 94:5-6]

There's light at the end of the tunnel.

The Promise

And for Allah to say this once is enough. But Allah says it twice, one after the other. This is how much Allah is kind towards us. He says ‘O my slaves be patient. Be patient, because with any trial that you are facing there is ease. He tells us that for sure we all will be tested. We all will go through trials and tribulations but nevertheless we will be relieved.

Our burden, our trouble, our difficulty will be removed. How? Through prayers, through patience, through complete faith in Allah.

وَاصْبِرْ‌ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ‌ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١١٥

And be patient, for indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good. (115) [Qur'an, Hud 11:115]

May Allah make us of those who are patient and grant us success in this life and the next. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Don't Settle For The Wrong Person-- Some Questions to Ponder Before You Marry Her/Him

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The person seeking marriage must have his/her priorities straight and be clear on what characteristics are most important to be sought in a spouse in order to have a successful marriage. There are many characteristics that are important in a husband or a wife but some are much more important than others. Overemphasizing the wrong qualities can lead to disaster down the road just as being neglectful of certain considerations can do likewise.

When we come to understand the goals and priorities of marriage in Islam, we may be guided to the Islamic methodology of seeking marriage in Islam and stop blindly following the disbelievers in their ignorant notions of the importance of "getting to know each other" or dating and other such concepts which in reality contribute nothing to and more often sabotage a successful marriage.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught us in many hadith about the various characteristics which one looks for in a spouse and their relative importance and which ones determine success and Allah's blessing on a marriage. Among those hadith:

"A woman is married for her deen (Islam), her wealth or her beauty. You must go for the one with deen, may your hands be in the dust! (if you fail to heed)" [Muslim]

"Choose carefully for your seed. Marry those who are equivalent (or "qualified") and give to them in marriage." Ibn Majah and others and it is sahih.

Religion

In the previous hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned various characteristics that people, by their nature and custom, look for in a spouse. He did not advocate any of them, but merely stated them as facts of human nature except for the issue of "deen", i.e., a prospective spouses piety and practice of Islam - their fulfilling of the wajib and their avoidance of the haram. About this characteristic, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said "alaikum bi dhaati ad-deen" or "it is upon you to seek the one of piety". This is an order and quite different from the general statement at the beginning of the hadith which says "a woman IS MARRIED for..." and separates the issue of deen from the other mundane issues and puts it in a category by itself. Also, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says at the end of the hadith "may your hands be in the dust", invoking this negative outcome on those who disregard his order, it can only refer to the order to seek the spouse with piety, since that is the only order in the hadith.

We must be careful not to be superficial in this issue. The mere wearing of hijab or keeping a beard and praying in the masjid, while obvious requirements of piety, do not by themselves guarantee it. There are many people who at first glance appear to be abiding by Islam, but upon closer inspection have a twisted understanding of Islam and their practice in reality may leave much to be desired. 'Umar once told someone who had testified to the goodness of a person by the fact that he had seen him in the masjid that he does not know him as long as he has not had dealings with him that involved money, had lived with him or traveled with him.

The characteristic of piety applies to the groom just as much as to the bride. The guardian of the woman should make this his first and top priority just as the man looking for a wife should make it his. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"If someone with whose piety and character you are satisfied with comes to you, marry to him. If you do not do so, there will be trials in the earth and a great deal of evil." [At-Tirmidhi and others and it is hassan]

Character and Behavior

In the previous hadith addressed to those in charge of the marital affairs of Muslim women and girls, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded them to facilitate their marriage when they are satisfied with two issues: the faith of the suitor and his character.

Character is of extreme importance in Islam and goes hand in hand with faith and piety. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has even described it as the purpose of his mission to mankind as we can see from the following hadith:

"I have only been sent to complete good character." [Al-Hakim and others (sahih)]

"I am a guarantor of a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who makes his character good." [Abu Dawud and it is hassan]

"Righteousness is good character." [Muslim]

"The believers with the most complete iman (faith) are those with the best character." [Abu Dawud and it is sahih]

In Surah An-Nur verse 26, Allah establishes the relation of this issue to marriage:

الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ ۖ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ مُبَرَّ‌ءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ ۖ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَ‌ةٌ وَرِ‌زْقٌ كَرِ‌يمٌ ﴿٢٦

"Bad women are for bad men and bad men are for bad women. And good women are for good men and good men are for good women." [Quran, An-Nur 24:26]

The word khabith translated as "bad" above means filthy, unclean and despicable. It is a very strong word. The word tayyib translated as good, connotes clean and pure as well as good.

One of the important issues of character in the spouses is the quality of wudd. This means kindness, loving and compassion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Marry the loving/friendly, the child-bearing for I shall outstrip the other nations with your numbers on Qiyamah." Ahmad, Abu Dawud and others and it is [Sahih]

Therefore, the prospective spouses must ask and find out about the other person's behavior and manners. As a sign also, one may look at the other person's family's manners and behavior and many times (but no always) the behavior of people of the same family are similar. In other words, some characteristics tend to run in some families whether they be good or bad characters such as anger, politeness, stinginess, generosity, lying, truthfulness, selfishness, compassion, and so forth.

Child-Bearing

As we saw in the previous hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended men to marry those women who are child-bearing. This characteristic is related to some of the goals and purposes of marriage that were mentioned earlier such as procreating the Muslim Ummah, raising a pious family as a cornerstone of society and so forth.

The scholars mention that a man can look at a woman's female relatives to get an idea whether she is apt to get pregnant easily and often or not. This attribute should also apply to the man. For example a man who say before Islam had a vasectomy would not be an appropriate husband for a Muslim girl getting married for the first time.

Beauty

This characteristic has a certain role to play since one of the purposes of marriage is to keep both spouses from sins. The best way to do this is to have a strong attraction between the spouses. Although this is something which surely grows over time, initial impressions can in some cases become an obstacle to a successful marriage. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) separated Qais ibn Shamas from his wife in the famous case of Khul'a and her stated reason was that he was exceedingly displeasing to her. There are many hadith which urge the prospective spouse to get a look at the other before undertaking the marriage. Once a companion told him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he was going to get married. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked if he had seen her. When the man said no, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Go and look at her for it is more likely to engender love between the two of you." [Ahmad and others and it is sahih]

'Umar ibn Al-Khattab once said: "Do not force your young girls to marry an ugly man, for they also love what you love." Ibn Abidin (a famous faqih from last century) said: "The woman should choose a man who is religious, of good character, generous and of ample wealth. She should not marry an evildoer. A person should not marry his young daughter to an old man and an ugly man but he should marry her to one similar."

Beauty has its role, but remember that it is way down on the priority list under piety, character and deen. When a person puts beauty above all else, the results can be disastrous. This is one of the big reasons that young people seeking to get married must be helped by more mature family members in making their choice.

As a family law attorney and divorce mediator, I’m privileged to be privy to the many discussions between clients describing the reasons for the demise of their marriage. It’s cathartic for most, who often need to identify the reason or reasons for their failed marriage. Interestingly, many of my clients come to the surprising conclusion that it’s not all necessarily attributable to the other person, but rather, their own fault for selecting the wrong person to marry in the first place. Could it be that sometimes we are just too young emotionally to marry?

Following are some questions to ponder before you marry her/him. This can help you evaluate whether the decision to marry is based upon sound reasoning.

(1) Is the timing right?

You’ve heard it before; timing is everything. And the reality is that the strongest marriages begin with optimal timing for both parties.

(2) Why this person?

“Nine times out of ten, marriages fall apart because people either pick the wrong person or marry for the wrong reasons,” says Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist in San Francisco and author of Secrets You Keep From Yourself. “Marrying someone primarily because other potential partners seem few and far between or because you feel you need to be married to feel OK about yourself is what keeps divorce lawyers busy.” If thoughts like: “I am so tired of being alone,” “It’s better than nothing” or “Nobody else seems to want me, so this is probably the best I can do” are what predominantly come to your mind, run — don’t walk — in the other direction. You’re not ready to be married yet, and this isn’t the right long-term partner for you.

(3) Are you marrying a person or the dream?

“You are marrying a person, not a romantic movie, and people don’t follow scripts.” Try to recognize whether or not you are idealizing marriage or the wedding. Be realistic with your expectations, because once all the fun and parties are over, you have real life to contend with. Picture the wedding of your dreams: Is this the partner you’d always imagined would be waiting for you? If a celebrity or former flame comes to mind instead, think twice. Those aren’t options, and you’re going to end up disappointed later on.

(4) Is marrying this person in line with your lifelong goals?

Ask yourself if marriage at this time with this person is really part of the vision you have for your life’s plan. Are you willing to compromise your own dreams because you love this person so much that you can’t imagine being without each other, and are therefore willing to forge new goals together? Or will you resent your partner for keeping you from pursuing what you think you want out of life?

(5) Is my potential spouse emotionally healthy?

Marriage is serious business and when you’re selecting a lifelong partner, you need to be sure that person is emotionally healthy — or, at least, working on becoming that way. “Admitting your partner is a ‘fixer-upper’ and hoping your marriage will serve as that person’s support system is a recipe for disaster,” says Dr. Anderson. “Typically, once the partner gets ‘fixed,’ he or she will move on to someone else, because the glue that held you together was the common goal of healing, which has been accomplished.” Finally, Dr. Anderson warns that if any of the three “A's” are present in your relationship — abuse, anger, or addiction — your decision to reject your partner’s proposal should be quite clear.

(6) Do you appreciate all his/her aspects equally, and without expecting him /her to change for you once you’re married?

You need to marry the person he or she is right NOW — idiosyncrasies, foibles, quirks and all.” In other words, don’t talk yourself into ignoring any qualities that you know will spell trouble for your relationship in the long run! The right spouse will support your ambitions and encourage your dreams.

(7) Do you bring out the best in each other... or the worst?

There’s nothing worse than walking on eggshells around another person or feeling off-balance in a relationship. “If you find yourself avoiding difficult conversations or stressed by the hum of low-level anxiety, it’s time to reevaluate!”

(8) Can you count on your potential spouse to always do the right thing?

While it may be hard to picture yourself 15 years from now with how ever many kids, it’s important to look ahead and think about what kind of a friend, neighbor, in-law, parent or coworker your partner will become. “Be honest: Do you think he/she will do the right thing when it comes to friends and family, even when it is inconvenient or something he or she doesn’t like to do?”

(9) Is fear of being alone your primary motivation to get married?

Be sure there’s absolutely no fear involved in making your decision to get married. We live in a world that seemingly caters to couples, and many people can’t wait to rid themselves of the perceived stigma of being single. You should only marryl because you know this person is right for you and vice-versa, not because you’re afraid of being left out of some couples-only clique or worried how others perceive you socially.

While there are many right reasons people marry the right person, there are also many wrong reasons people marry the wrong one. Before you get into marriage, consider the following top five wrong reasons people decide to marry the wrong person, ultimately resulting in divorce:

1. Next Step. They've been dating a long time, and this is the next step. The length of a relationship is not a measure of it’s long-term success.
2. Peer Pressure. All of my friends are getting married ... it’s time. Feeling left out of the group may feel awkward, but is not a good reason to jump into marriage.
3. Settling. I don’t think I’ll do any better. It may sound cliché, but if you don’t respect and love yourself, it will be difficult to respect and love another person.
4. Behavior Modification. After we get married, I can force the other person to change. A marriage certificate is not a license to force your partner to modify his/her behaviors!
5. Money. He/She will be a good provider or comes from a good family. There’s a lot of truth in the old saying, “If you marry for money, you’ll pay for it.” Though having money certainly doesn’t hurt, it’s not the basis for a solid relationship and won’t hold together a bad union. And coming from a good family is important-- so make sure the family and relatives who are close to your potential spouse have good morals and character.

If you see yourself in any of the above “wrong reasons” list, think twice before committing to marriage, and save yourself from a lengthy, expensive, and emotionally-draining future divorce proceeding.

Recognize red flags
Stop settling for the wrong person
Find the courage to break it off even if it is the day of your wedding, cut your losses, and move on

May Allah grant us righteous spouses and make us righteous. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

The Whispering of Shaytan and the People of Taqwa

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Always bear in mind that you have an enemy whose only aim is to keep you far from Allah, His religion and the Qur'an. He does not relent from his plot even for a moment; lying in ambush, he awaits the opportunity to fulfill his task. He is able to see you from where you cannot see him and tries thousands of methods to entrap you. One of his characteristics is that he is stealthy. His methods, tactics and tricks may vary from one person to next. The tactics he employs may also depend on the time, place and conditions.

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٥...

... Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy. (5) [Qur'an, Yusuf 12:5]

Shaytan will catch you when you are in a vulnerable moment, when you least expect it. But if you have that consistent relationship with Allah, obeying His orders, and avoid what He forbade, you will eventually overcome that impulse (evil thought, or anger, or the whispers of Shaytan cross their mind, or intend to err, or commit an error) and you become aware of the error of your ways. Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful and He will reward you with that taqwa.

Remember and memorize this ayah of the Qur'an,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُ‌وا فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٢٠١

Indeed, those who fear Allah (taqwa)- when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight. (201) [Qur'an, Al-'Araf 7:201-202]

Story Of A Young Man Who Spoke From The Grave

During the caliphate of Umar ibn Khattab (radi Allah ‘anhu) there was a young man who used to spend his time worshiping and praying in masjid. Umar (radi Allah ‘anhu) was very happy with him. The man used to perform 'isha (night) prayers and used to come back to his old father. On this way, there was a house of a woman who liked this young man. The woman used to stand on his way. One day the woman ensnared the young man and he followed her. When they both reached at the door of the woman’s house, the young man started remembering Allah. The following verses came out from his tongue: [Qur'an, Al-'Araf 7:201]

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ

The young man became unconscious and fell down. The woman called her maid; they both lifted the young man and dropped him at his door. The family members of the young man lifted him and took him inside the house. At late night the man became conscious. When his father inquired him about the incidence, the young man narrated the entire incidence. The father asked him: O my son! Which verses (ayah) did you recite? The man repeated the verse and again became unconscious and fell down. The family members tried to revoke his consciousness, but he was dead. They washed his dead body and buried him. In the morning when the news reached Umar(radi Allah ‘anhu) he came to his father for condolence and asked as to why was he not informed? The father told him that as it was night, they did not inform. Umar (radi Allah ‘anhu) said: “Take me to his grave”. Umar (radi Allah ‘anhu) and his companions reached at the grave of that young man.

Umar (radi Allah ‘amhu) said: “ O young man! ولمن خاف مقام ربه جنتان (Whosoever feared to stand in front of his Lord then there are two gardens for him (Surah Ar-Rahman 55:46) The young man replied two times from his grave: O Umar! My Lord has given me two gardens, inside garden.

This narration has been recorded by the following hadith masters:

Hafiz Ibn Kathir [d.774 AH] ( Tafsir, under Sura Al Araf, ayat 201)
Imam Suyuti [d.911 AH] (Sharh al Sudur bi Sharh hal al Mawta wa al Qubur)
Imam Ali ibn Husamud-Din al-Muttaqi al-Hindi [d.975 AH] ( Kanzul Ummal,4634)

May Allah grant us taqwa and increase us in taqwa until we meet Him. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- It's All for the Best

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Reading Surah Al-Kahf is something we should look forward to do every Friday. In it there is a story from which we can derive comfort while going through this life. The lesson contained in this story is this "You should have full faith in the wisdom of what is happening in the Divine Factory in accordance with the will of Allah.

As the reality is hidden from you, you are at a loss to understand the wisdom of what is happening, and sometimes if it appears that things are going against you, you cry out, 'How and why has this happened?' The fact is that if the curtain be removed from the "unseen", you would yourselves come to know that what is happening here is for the best. Even if some times it appears that something is going against you, you will see that in the end it also produces some good results for you.

The first story begins "So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, al-Khidhr tore it open. [Musa] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing." (71)

The second story begins “So they set out, until when they met a boy, al-Khidhr killed him. [Musa] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing." (74)”.

The third story begins "So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so al-Khidhr restored it. [Musa] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment." (77)

As recorded in the Qur'an, Khidr explained his 3 seemingly bad actions for which Musa couldn't remain patient:

"As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force. (79)"

If it appears to you that Allah is putting you through difficult moments don't be afraid because there is goodness behind it.

"And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief. (80) So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy. (81)"

There are parents who lost their child, and they keep their deep sorrow for years, while others who witness the death of their children keep praying for them and asking their award from Allah. As a result, these parents are bonded in their relationship with Allah.

"And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord.

You too might not know about a treasure that Allah has saved for you because if you take it now you might lose it easily.

The three stories compiled the biggest catastrophes you may face during your life. These are injustice, death, and financial problems. However, if you patiently endure, Allah will reward you the best. Today, you must be sure that Allah wants the best for you. Are you then satisfied with your destiny?

Listen to what Allah says in the Qur'an, which can be translated as, “Allah! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” [Al-Baqarah 2:255, also called Ayat-ul-Kursî].

An example of having faith in Allah is Sa'ad Ibn Abi-Waqqas whom the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said about: “O Allah, let him aim his shoot accurately, and accept his Dua'a (supplication)”. Everyone then came to ask for his Dua'a, but he lost his sight in his late years and a young man came to ask him why he would not pray to Allah to return his sight. Sa'ad answered: “Would I ever be dissatisfied with what Allah has accepted for me? I am pleased with my destiny more than I would be pleased with my sight.”

Urwa Ibn Zubayr took his son once to visit the Caliph. When they reached their destination, the boy went to play with the horse outdoors. However, he was soon squashed under its feet and died. His father was sorrowful to hear about this and on the same day his leg was affected and they had to cut it off. People did not know what to pay their condolences about. He smilingly said: “O my Lord, I had four organs, so you took away one and left me three. I had seven children, so you took away one and left me six. If you had taken away some favors, you have also kept some. If you have ceased some blessings, you have given me others. Thanks to you for what you have kept and thanks to you for what you have given.”

Omran Ibn-Qussai, one of the companions, took part in all the battles with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), and he was lately affected with a sickness that made him unable to walk for ten years. Some of the companions came to visit him crying. Omran asked for the reason, and they answered: “We are crying for the suffering and pain you feel”. Omran said: “This is what Allah has accepted for me, and so I am accepting it too. I can truly feel the angels praying beside me, and from that I know that Allah is not dissatisfied with me. Allah is testing my satisfaction. O Allah, I bear witness that I am satisfied, please accept me among the ones whom you are satisfied with too.”

“...his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.” [Ql-Kahf 18:81] If you fear for your children after your death, be a righteous person.

Why did this incident specifically happen with Musa and not with any other Messenger?

To exemplify, the ship was saved from the King by scuttling it, and so did his mother cast him into the sea when he was a baby for Allah to show him that He is the only one who can save his life. Moreover, Musa reproached al-Khidr for rebuilding the wall in return for nothing, and one day he irrigated the land of the two daughters of Madyan in return of nothing. Lastly, Musa saw al-Khidr killing a little boy, and Musa himself killed a man before.

It seems as if Allah wants to teach Musa that He is the one that controls his destiny, and that He can repeat certain incidents for him to learn from it.

What did Musa learn from al-Khidr? Is it knowledge? No, but he learnt to be patient and humble.

The four points in this story:
1-The value of knowledge. Keep yourself busy with learning this religion and learn it from a trustworthy teacher with good morals. Don't say "I'm busy with work!" "I have a hard time memorizing the Qur'an!" etc. Remember, “None but shaytan made me forget to remember” (Al-Kahf 18:63) Can shaytan spoil your memory? No, but he keeps you busy with one thing to forget another. When you choose to follow the path of knowledge, Allah exposes a path for you to Paradise.

2-Our knowledge is very little compared to Allah's, like water drop in a sea. We sometimes face difficult situations which we believe are completely to our disadvantage when Allah means our advantage and benefit, this is best demonstrated when Allah brings our own salvation from menace just as He said in Surat Al-Qasas, ”...but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.” (Al-Qasas:7).

3-You may sometimes not know the wisdom behind a certain incident that you may dislike while it is of benefit for you,

4-You need patience, a strong determination, and humbleness to succeed in life.

May Allah save us from the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. May Allah grant us patience, strong determination, humbleness, and success in this life and the next. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Setting Our Priorities Right

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) were the best generation of this Ummah. They were keen to compete in offering all good deeds and they were very keen students of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant peace). They were in the habit of asking the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) about everything which relates to the religion. They realized that Islam is a complete way of life, which requires them to modify or amend, or totally change their practices, so that they are in line with what Allah requires of them and what pleases Him. Therefore, they went to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asking him about anything on which they did not have clear guidance. At times, they put their questions in general terms in order to establish a certain principle or a definite list of priorities.

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, a companion of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) who achieved great renown as one of the leading scholars among the companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), reports that he asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once: “Which action is most pleasing to Allah?” He answered: “To pray on time.” I asked: “What comes next?” He answered: “Then comes kindness to one’s parents.” I said: “What comes next?” He said: “Next comes jihad for Allah’s cause.” [Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others.]

We note that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) mentions first a pure act of worship (prayer) which falls in the area of personal relationship with Allah as the act most pleasing to Him. He follows that with an action, which falls in a very narrow section of social relations, i.e. family relations. He places both actions above the one, which has more to do with public life and with the common welfare of the Muslim community. If we think about it, the two first actions require much less effort and sacrifice than the third one.

This Hadith reveals that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) had a keen insight into what motivates people to work and to sacrifice. We know that prayer is the most important duty imposed by Islam. The first thing that we will be asked in the Day of Judgment is our prayers.

Prayers do not impose a very heavy burden on the individual. It is an easy and pleasant duty, which makes a person constantly aware of what Allah requires of him and keeps him on his guard against falling in sin. It is only natural that the fulfillment of the top and most frequent duty should earn the greatest reward from Allah. What the Hadith tells us is that prayer must be offered on time in order to earn that great reward and be most pleasing to Allah. In other words, punctuality is of essence for prayers to be so highly rewarded. Praying on time, no doubt, is teaching us to be punctual in all our daily affairs -- appointments and getting worldly things done on time, no procrastination. Punctuality is a quality that is becoming extinct in today's world even in Muslim societies. Next time you delay your prayers, remember, procrastination is one of the shaytan entrances to destroy you. Don't say, "I will pray when I am done with such and such" or "I'll pray at home." etc. Remember, you might not live even till the next breath.

Excellent treatment to parents is placed second in importance. There is no doubt that our parents have the greatest claim on our love and kind treatment. Nothing that we may do for them especially in their old age, when they grow weaker and more dependent on us, compensates them for the kindness and love they show us when we were young and totally dependent on them. We need only look at any child being cared for by his mother in order to appreciate how great the sacrifice of the mother is and how little the child can offer in return. People may not argue about the claim of parents on their children’s kindness, a duty that earns reward from Allah. Allah rewards us for our good actions although we may do them only by way of duty. But the emphasis placed by Islam on this kindness to parents is due to two different considerations.

First, it is easy for a child just reaching adulthood to be preoccupied with his own affairs, looking after his own interests, and to be proud of strength, tough position, etc. It is very easy for such a person to be negligent in his duty toward his parents. Some people find it very difficult to part with their money, even when they have to pay it to their own parents. They may have more than enough for their own needs, and their parents may be poor, but nevertheless they find it extremely difficult to help their parents financially. Some people find it very difficult to keep their communication and good companionship with their parents after they get married. It is not uncommon to hear about cases of unkind treatment of parents. Hence, the reminder is needed and the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminds us in the most effective of ways.

Secondly, with such a great claim on their kindness and love, which our parents posses, if we do neglect our duty, we are bound to neglect other duties which our religion imposes on us. We will definitely be less inclined to be kind to others who are not related to us. We will be hesitant to extend our help and support to those who need it and have no immediate claim on us. Such an attitude is totally alien to Islamic behavior. Hence, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stresses this duty. He says in another Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abdullah ibn Omar: “Allah’s pleasure is dependent on the pleasure of parents, and His displeasure is caused by the displeasure of parents with their child.” In this Hadith the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) shows that the surest way to earn Allah’s pleasure is to be kind to one’s parents. If one is unkind to them to the extent that their love is replaced by displeasure, anger or bitterness, then this is the surest way to earn Allah’s displeasure. There can be no gloomier prospect than this.

Next important action is jihad for Allah's cause. Jihad requires a person to recognize the fact that Allah's words are paramount, accept it and hold firmly to it, and to convey it to others. In order to do this; a person may have to sacrifice his wealth and his life. Jihad means to accept these risks willingly. Although most people understand the term to mean fighting the enemies of Islam in order that Islam may achieve supremacy over all other philosophies and creeds, its significance is much wider than its erroneous translation as “holy war”. Every action which serves the purpose of establishing Islam firm in his heart and conveying it to others, including an information campaign, is part of jihad. It earns great reward from Allah. Since jihad requires a positive effort, which involves sacrifice of one’s time, money or life, it tends to overshadow other virtuous actions, which bring us reward from Allah as well.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asking permission to strive in jihad. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Are your parents alive?” He said yes. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Then strive in their service.”

May Allah grant us sound understanding of His religion and enable us to worship Him and treat our parents with excellence. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam

Focus on the Prize

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

It's everywhere even in masjids! You hardly see people with the Qur'an in their hands- old or young, rather people almost wholly preoccupied with their phones and engaged in much negativity: through useless talk, social chats, baseless arguments, confrontation, gossip, video games, music, movies, ... Their time and energies are constantly being wasted on fruitless distractions that squander their potential, foster enmity, and make them unmindful of Allah’s remembrance. These habits are like an addiction. They are hard to shake off, and they are as effective as any intoxicant in making people speak and act contrary to good sense.

The greatest way to repel such tendencies is to focus on Allah. This is not only a cure for negative thoughts and bigoted notions, but it provides relief for all the negativity, problems and worries of life. The remembrance of Allah calms and fortifies the soul. It cultivates fortitude and perseverance, moderates impatience, and repels depression and despair.

Remembering Allah is also very easy. It is accessible to everyone. There are no prerequisites to fulfill or procedures to follow. There are no permissions to be sought. The doors to Allah’s remembrance are open at all times, whether we have recently been engaged in worship or have recently committed a sin. We have the opportunity to remember Allah upon waking, whenever something good happens, when misfortune strikes, when we make a mistake, and whenever else we are given cause to be reminded of our Lord.

Remembering Allah is the first step in treating all maladies, both physical and spiritual. It is a prescription for every person afflicted with bodily illness or spiritual doubt. It is equally suitable for the young and old, rich and poor, the powerful and the weak, since everyone is equally dependent on Allah.

Anyone who takes time to consider the names of Allah will come to a surprising realization: not one of these names focuses on Allah’s punishment, anger or wrath. Instead, we find names that express His mercy, love, and kindness, others that communicate His knowledge and wisdom, those that speak about His greatness and majesty, as well as those that speak about His creative powers and providence.

We find names like: Ar-Rahman (the Beneficent), Ar-Rahim (the Merciful), Al-Ghafur (the Forgiving), As-Salaam (the Source of Peace), Al-Wahhab (the Bestower), Ar-Razzaq (the Provider), Al-Karim (the Most Noble), Ar-Rauf (the Most Kind), and Al-Wadud (the Loving). There are no names like: “the Punisher”, “the Avenger”, or “the Wrathful”. The Qur’an speaks about Allah being “severe in punishment”, but this is actually a description of Allah’s punishment and not of Allah Himself. It is Allah’s punishment that is severe.

Allah Almighty says,

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ‌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿٩٨

Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (98) [Qur'an, Al-Ma'idah 5:98]

إِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ لَسَرِ‌يعُ الْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ‌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿١٦٧ ...

Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful. (167) [[Qur'an, al-A`rāf 7:167]

Ibn al-Qayyim observes:

Blessings and salvation are attained through Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, benevolence, and generosity. Therefore, we find these meanings attributed to Allah. As for Allah’s punishment and its consequences, these are among Allah’s creations, and as such, Allah is not called “the Punisher” or “the Wrathful”. This is an important difference. The former set of meanings is attributed to Allah directly while the latter are only used to describe His actions. This distinction can even be found in a single passage of the Qur’an, for instance:

نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ‌ الرَّ‌حِيمُ ﴿٤٩﴾ وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْأَلِيمُ ﴿٥٠

[O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful. (49) And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment. (50) [Qur'an, al-Hijr 15:49-50]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, while beseeching Allah in prayer: “Evil is never applicable to You.” [Muslim] This means that Allah is perfectly and completely good in His essence, names, and attributes. He is praiseworthy in every way. His actions are full of wisdom and justice and they are always for the best. His names are all depictions of perfection and beauty.

Evil exists in the world that Allah created, since Allah’s wisdom dictated that He create a world containing both good and evil. It is in this way that evil can be understood to exist as a consequence of Allah’s actions as Creator, and Allah alone knows why the presence of evil in the world is for the best. It is something that goes beyond our limited human understanding.

When we regard all of Allah’s names together, we see a clear pattern. All of His names refer to benevolence, generosity, mercy, kindness, clemency, and forgiveness. This tells us something very important. It shows us that love is the foremost quality that we should focus on in our relationship with Allah. It is the quality that brings us nearest to Him, and it should govern how we conduct ourselves with others in the world.

Our love for Allah should transcend the fear we have of Him as well as the hopes we pin on His favor. This does not mean that we should fail to pin our hopes on Allah, nor that we should be devoid of feelings of awe or fear of Him, since Allah describes some of His righteous servants as follows:

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِ‌عُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَ‌اتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَ‌غَبًا وَرَ‌هَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ ﴿٩٠

So We responded to him, and We gave to him Yahya, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive. (90) [Qur'an, al-Anbiyā’ 90]

ادْعُوا رَ‌بَّكُمْ تَضَرُّ‌عًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ ﴿٥٥﴾ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَ‌حْمَتَ اللَّـهِ قَرِ‌يبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٥٦

Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors. (55) And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good. (56) [Qur'an, al-A`rāf 7:55-56]

However, the fact that Allah’s names praise Him for His mercy, clemency and kindness, means that these are the qualities that we should remind people of when we call them to Allah, and these are the qualities we should strive to cultivate in ourselves and our children.

When we affirm that the love of Allah is foremost, we must not be hesitant in doing so, fearing that our categorical commitment to Allah’s love means we should no longer fear Him or pin our hopes of salvation upon Him. All of these feelings are aspects of our relationship with Allah. They complement and reinforce one another. Once we understand this, we will find ourselves open to more goodness than ever before. Our deeds will be better for it, and we must know that Allah’s mercy far surpasses the merit of our best deeds. So we beseech Allah for His mercy and support, and ask Him never to leave us to our own efforts.

A lot of times, while we go about our daily routine, we never for a minute think that we are going to return to our Creator one day until some calamity happens that might reminded us- death of a loved one, near miss accident, stricken with a terminal illness. What if that one day is today? Are we prepared to meet Him?

When you die, most likely your children, your spouse, your close friends will cry and some will really grieve for various reasons-maybe they miss your cooking, your company, or maybe they regret for not being nicer to you. It doesn't matter to you how much they cry or grieve because you are dead. Eventually, they have to take you to the grave, bury you, and for some really closed ones, they might linger around your grave, recite the Qur'an and make more du'a for you (Alhamdulillah), but whether they like it or not they too will have to leave you alone in the grave.

It is the beginning of your judgment Day. If you brought with you good deeds, you will find bliss in your grave. If you bring sins that you haven't repented for, it would be the beginning of Hell. What happen in the grave is a foretelling of your eternal life. We should be constantly aware of this. And we should question all our actions before we do it-- is this action of mine going to please Allah or displease Allah? Is this action of mine going to take me to Paradise or Hell?

We might think that we have plenty of time still on this earth to think about our next life. But no, we don't. Don't let our good health, our age, our glory, our wealth, or our intelligence fool us. It has happened to young people, healthy people, wealthy people, well known people, intelligent people and surely it could happen to us, sooner than we think.

Since Allah still allow us to breathe a little longer, make sure that every breath you take is taken with much gratitude to Allah. And gratitude entails to acting what He has commanded--brought to us by His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

You do your best in learning and applying what the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) brought to us. Doing your best means pushing yourself as far as you can, making sacrifices for Allah--not give yourself excuses not to do it. How do you know something is an excuse? A good example: Say, a friend asked you for a ride across town but you really didn't want to do that because you are too tired, and you said sorry I can't. Then someone told you someone is giving $1M to anyone who pass through this town where your friend had wanted you to take (and you have no cause to believe that this person is lying). Would you not rush to go to that town so you can collect the $1M despite being tired? So the tiredness was an excuse.

What awaits us after this life is better and worth more than $1M!

"Upon that day some faces shall be radiant, gazing upon their Lord." [Qur'an, Al-Qiyamah 22-23]

"And convey good news to those who believe and do good deeds, that they shall have gardens in which rivers flow; whenever they shall be given a portion of the fruit thereof, they shall say: This is what was given to us before; and they shall be given the like of it, and they shall have pure mates in them, and in them, they shall abide." [Qur'an, Al-Baqara 2:25]

Focus on this big prize, don't let your spouse, your children, your friends or the whole world for that matter, prevent you or slow you down from getting that prize!

May Allah grant us His Noble Countenance. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam