Bearing Burdens

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

When the going gets tough, remember Allah's promise:

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people. (286)

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

Try to memorize the verse in Arabic and recite it often.

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

Those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah; now surely by Allah's remembrance are the hearts set at rest.

[Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd 13:28]

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٦﴾ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ﴿٧﴾ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ﴿٨

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6) So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (7) And to your Lord direct [your] longing. (8)

[Qur'an, Ash-Sharh 94:5-8]

May Allah bring peace and tranquility to our hearts and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Losing Your Good Deeds

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Imam al-Ghazali discusses the relationship between acts of outward worship and the heart.

—

Thus pride will leave your mind only when you know with certainty that the great man is he who is great in the estimation of God; this (i.e. to be great in God’s estimation) is dependent upon one’s good state of mind at the end to one’s life concerning which there is doubt. Then the fear of the end will keep you from being proud at the expense of servants of God, despite the existence of doubt concerning your fate. Your certain belief, your firm faith in God, at present does not exclude the possibility of change in the future, for God is the disposer of minds –He guides him whom He pleases and leads astray whom He pleases.

Prophetic traditions on envy, pride, ostentation, and conceit are numerous. The following single comprehensive Tradition will be sufficient for you concerning these evil qualities of mind.

Ibn al-Mubarak related, with a chain of narrators going back to a certain man, that his man asked Mu’adh: O Mu’adh, tell me a Tradition you heard from God’s Messenger (may God bless him and greet him!). The man continued: Mu’adh wept (at this question of mine) until I thought he would not cease, but at length he ceased to weep; then he said: I heard God’s Messenger (may God bless him and greet him!) saying to me,

“I am going to tell you a Tradition which is such that if you remember it, it will benefit you before God, but if you lose it and do not remember it, your plea of defense before God on the Day of Resurrection will be removed. O Mu’adh, that Tradition is:

Verily God (blessed and exalted is He!), before creating the heavens and the earth, created seven angels, and appointed one of these seven angels as keeper of each of the seven heavens. Now the system is such hat the guardian angels (Qu’ran, 6:61) ascend with man’s deeds performed from morning to evening; each deed has a light like the light of the sun. After bringing it up to the lowest heaven they increase it and multiply it, and the keeper angel entrusted with this heaven says to the guardian angels, ‘With this deed strike the face of its doer; I am in charge of backbiting; my Lord has commanded me not to allow a backbiter’s deed to pass beyond me.’

Then the guardian angels bring one of man’s good deeds and increase it and multiply it until they reach the second heaven with it. Then the keeper angel entrusted there says, ‘Stop and with this deed strike the face of its doer, for through this deed he sought worldly honour; my Lord has commanded me not to allow this deed to pass beyond me, for he used to boast of his deed among his associates; I am the angel in charge of boasting.’

The guardian angels ascend with a man’s deed– such as charity, ritual prayer, and fasting– which is so bright that it astonishes the guardians. They pass with it to the third heaven, and the angel responsible there says, ‘Stop and with this deed strike the face of its doer; I am the angel in charge of pride; my Lord has commanded me not to allow his deed to pass beyond me, for he took pride at the expense of his associates.’

The guardian angels ascend with a man’s deed– such as glorification of God, ritual prayer, fasting, the greater pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), and the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca (‘umra) — which is shining brightly like a star and resounding. When they pass with it to the fourth heaven, the angel in charge says, ‘Stop and with this deed strike the face of its doer, his back and his abdomen; I am in charge of conceit; my Lord has commanded me not to allow his deed to pass beyond me, for whenever he did a deed he allowed conceit to enter into it.’

The guardian angels ascend with a man’s deed until they pass with it to the fifth heaven. The deed is so embellished that it is like a bridge being conducted to her husband. The angel entrusted with that heaven says, ‘Stop and with this deed strike the face of its doer, carry it to him and place it on his shoulder; I am the angel in charge of envy; he used to envy whoever sought to acquire knowledge and performed a deed like his and all who were superior to men in some way; he used to envy them and slander them; my Lord has commanded me not to allow his deed to pass beyond me.’

The guardian angels ascend with a man’s deed– such as ritual prayer, divine tax, the greater pilgrimage to Mecca, the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, holy war, and fasting– which is as radiant as the moon. The angels pass with it to the sixth heaven. The angel in charge there says to them, ‘Stop and with this deed strike the face face of its doer, for he never showed mercy to anyone of God’s servants who met with misfortune or disease, but felt pleasure in it; my Lord has commanded me not to allow his deed to pass beyond me.’

The guardian angels ascend with a man’s deed– such as ritual prayer, fasting, spending of wealth in charity and in good causes, holy war, and piety — which has a sound like that of bees and a radiance like that of the sun and which was accompanied by three thousand angels. They pass with it to the seventh heaven. The angel entrusted with this heaven says to them, ‘Stop and with this deed strike the face of its doer as well as his limbs, and lock up his mind; I veil from the Lord every action which is not intended for my Lord; by this deed he only sought something other than God (exalted is He!) — by it he certainly sought high rank among the learned men, mention among religious scholars, and reputation throughout the cities. My Lord has commanded me not to allow his deed to pass beyond me, for any action not performed purely for God is ostentation, and God does not accept the deeds of an ostentatious man.’

The guardian angels ascend with a man’s deed– such as ritual prayer, divine tax, the greater pilgrimage to Mecca, the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, good character, observance of silence, and remembrance of God (exalted is He!). Each deed is accompanied by the angels of the seven heavens until they have passed through all the veils to the presence of God (exalted is He!) They stand before Him, bearing witness to Him of the good deed done purely for God (exalted is He!). God (exalted is He!) says, ‘You are guardians over the deeds of My servant, but I am the watcher over his mind; he did not seek Me by this deed; he sought something other than Me; so on him is My curse: Then all the angels present says, ‘Your curse and our curse be upon him!’ The seven heavens and those who are there also curse him.”

Having heard this Mu’adh wept. He said: I asked, ‘O Messenger of God, you are God’s Messenger and I am Mu’adh; how shall I have deliverance and salvation?’ The Messenger of God retorted,

“Follow me even if there be some imperfection in your action. O Mu’adh, guard your tongue against slandering your brothers, i.e. those who believe in the Qur’an; ascribe your sins to yourself and not to them; do not ascribe purity to yourself and blame them; do not exalt yourself above them; do not mingle this-worldly activity with the activity of the Hereafter; do not be proud in your society so that men avoid you for your evil character; do not whisper to one man while another man is present; do not magnify your importance over others so that the good things of this world and the Hereafter will depart from you; do not tear to pieces (the character of) people with the result that on the Day of Resurrection the dogs of Hell will tear you to pieces in Hell. God (exalted is He!) said, ‘By those who draw out violently…’ (Qur’an, 79:1-2) Do you know what these are, O Mu’adh?’ I asked: What are they, O God’s Messenger (may you be ransomed by my father and mother)? He replied, ‘They are the dogs of Hell drawing the flesh of its dwellers from its bones.’ I asked: O God’s Messenger (may you be ransomed by my father and mother), who is able to get rid of these evil qualities and who will escape from them? He replied, ‘Mu’adh, it is indeed easy for him for whom God makes it easy.’

Khalid ibn Mi’dan said: I have not seen anyone more assiduous in reciting the great Qur’an than Mu’adh on account of this great Tradition.

—

Quoted from (Bidaya al-Hidaya) Al-Ghazali on Islamic Guidance, trans. by Muhammad Abul Quasem. 1979. p. 90-95

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

source: SeekersHub

Allah Does Not Need Us, But We Need Allah

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Imagine if we can see what is beyond the sky. It is something more tremendous beyond our imagination. All that is known of the universe, including what we can see, is within what is called the lowest heavens (part of the temporary world).

Allah Most High said,

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ ﴿٦

Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars (6)

[Qur'an, As-Saffat 37:6]

Above it there are six more heavens, and above it is the Baitul Makmur, and above it is the Sidratul Muntaha (it is a lote tree which marks the end of the heavens) and beyond that is another world--Paradise and the Throne of Allah. The sky that we see as compared to the one above it is like a ring in a desert, and the one above as compared to the one above it is like a ring in a desert, and similarly to the one above it as compared to the right above it, and so on. How insignificant what we can see as compared to what is out there! And imagine how much more insignificant we are on the ground!

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said (not exact words): The heavens above you are moaning. On every space equivalent to the size of four fingers, there is an angel bowing or prostrating to Allah. The Baitul Ma'mur (a creation of Allah equivalent to the Ka'bah to us) is visited by 70,000 angels everyday and they never come back again. Imagine, this has been going on for millions or billions or whatever number of years (Allah knows best). There is such a vast creation up there that should humble us to the core, and every time we look up to the skies, it should remind us of this and should humble us.

As you can see Allah does not need us. He does not need our prayers and does not benefit from our worship and obedience nor harm by any disobedience. But we need Him. We need Him in every moment of our lives--in this world and the Hereafter. So be a grateful servant. How do you show gratitude?

"You must fill up your time with acts of worship, so that no period of time elapses, whether by night or by day, without being used in some act of goodness." (quoting from Imam Al-Haddad's Book of Assistance)

Learn the religion of Allah (this is part of worship with sincere intention for His sake only) so you know what you should do, how to worship Him. Don't delay the learning. If you can learn from a learned person, that's good, if not find somebody who are more learned than you, and if not pick up a book, but learn now. Procrastination is not an excuse. Majority of the screaming people in the Hellfire is because of their procrastination on this earth.

وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٧
بَلْ بَدَا لَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُخْفُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَوْ رُدُّوا۟ لَعَادُوا۟ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ ﴿٢٨

If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say, "Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers." (27) But what they concealed before has [now] appeared to them. And even if they were returned, they would return to that which they were forbidden; and indeed, they are liars. (28)

[Qur'an, Al-An'am 6:27-28]

May Allah not leave us alone even for a blinking of an eye, and make us among His grateful servants, and grant us tawfiq to the highest station. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

How to Deal with Your Arrogant Self?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

All pride and arrogance starts from the feeling that we are inadequate. So when something good happens to you, or you achieve something, you feel proud, because that proves that you are not inadequate.

Unfortunately, it can also make you proud and arrogant.

If you do not feel the slightest bit inadequate, achievements won't arouse pride or arrogance. Reflect-- did you feel proud when you successfully went to the toilet, did a number 2 and flushed it? There was once upon a time in your life when being able to do that was a big deal - just ask your parents - that's why there's such a phrase as "potty training". These days, you just take it for granted - biological functions are not a source of pride.

Now, if you can do the same for getting that degree, that trophy, that promotion, that house, that car, or whatever thing you get, you are there. Those things are nothing to feel proud over-- you work long enough, you do enough work, you live long enough - it's the same thing.

The first entity to show pride and arrogance was Shaytan or as he is often called especially in the story of Adam, Iblees. He was filled with pride and arrogance because he thought that he was better than Adam. He felt superior.

That feeling of superiority is the root of all pride and arrogance. I am better than you. I make more money, my house is bigger, my intellect is greater, I have traveled more, my muscles are larger, I cook more delicious meals, my children are in this (successful) job or in this (prestigious) college; the list goes on. One thing that all the things that we feel superior about have in common is that they are almost exclusively related to matters of the dunya. Love of the dunya and all its trappings actually push us further away from Paradise. Being, or appearing superior by dunya standards might just be more of a hindrance than a help. It is our God consciousness (taqwa) that makes a difference; being superior in that respect is the only superiority that counts.

You might make more money, but did you spend it to please Allah? You might make delicious meals but did you feed them to the poor? If you answer yes and you are proud of your accomplishments then this is not the pride and arrogance that translates to the Arabic word kibr (unhealthy and unnecessary pride and arrogance). Islam is not against innovation and achievement, it rewards and encourages excellence and success, and thus motivation, desire for reward and even desire for recognition are not the sins. The sin is in doing things with an incorrect intention. While achievement for the sake of Allah and to serve humanity is the correct intention, doing something for self-gain or self-love is an incorrect intention. Doing something to benefit your sense that the needs and desires of the world somehow revolve around you is kibr.

Kibr (arrogance, pride, haughtiness, conceit or condescension) has the unintentional effect of making people dislike you, even fear you; it strips away respect. In addition and of a far greater consequence is that it may deny you a place in Paradise. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) often counseled the sahabah about the importance of humility. He said, ...Anyone who possesses half a mustard seed of kibr in his heart will not be granted admission to Paradise”. [Muslim]

Arrogance will not get you anywhere except falling into the path of Iblees. Arrogance is the reason Iblees lost his high position an thrown down upon the earth in utter humiliation, and condemned to Hell.

وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.

[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:34]

وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ

And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblees. He was of the jinn..

[Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:50]

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍ ﴿١٢﴾ قَالَ فَٱهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَٱخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ ﴿١٣

[Allah] said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" [Satan] said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay." (12) [Allah] said, "Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased. (13)

[Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:12-13]

قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٨

[Allah] said, "Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together." (18) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:18]

According to the major opinion of scholars, Iblees is from the jinn and created from fire. He however was amongst the foremost of the jinn in worship and he was elevated to the heavens to live amongst the angels by the will and wisdom of Allah Most High. This high position was withdrawn after he showed arrogance, jealousy and disobedience to his Lord, and was thrown down upon the earth in utter humiliation and banishment. He no longer deserved to be in the blessed gatherings of the angels.

The remedy for kibr, and the means by which one can keep well away from pride and arrogance, is as simple as remembering who you are; just a human being, with a mother and father like everybody else. We all cry the same salty tears and bleed the same red blood. And we all have the same purpose in life; to worship Allah. We must also remind ourselves that all rizq (provision) comes from Allah. One person might earn more money but it is Allah that allowed him to acquire the skills to do so. Another person might be more handsome or beautiful, but it is Allah that determined the quality of his or her genes. When we receive something that we perceive as a special blessing from Allah we should remind ourselves to be thankful and grateful. One step up from that would be to strive to use that blessing for the sake of Allah and to benefit humankind or this planet in some way.

Another remedy for kibr is to remember Allah; to keep Him in the forefront of our minds, if possible, at all times. Remember that Allah sees all, even what is in the hearts of each person. As Muslims we are blessed with a way or a system of remembering. We pray five times a day, we use specific words of remembrance, and we are encouraged to make du’a
and remember Allah often. We use these methods to become close to Allah, to obey His commands and please Him. In doing so we protect our own hearts from the sins of desire and greed and the sins involved in feeling superior to those around us.

This dunya is important because it is our ultimate test; not because it allows us to store up goods and chattels. We want to feel good about ourselves because we have achieved God consciousness and not because we take our rizq and deceive ourselves into thinking we created it ourselves. Pride and arrogance should be banished from our lives and replaced with kindness and compassion.

May Allah purify our hearts, remove even a half mustard seed of arrogance from our hearts, and make us of the muttaqun (people with taqwa). Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Choose Your Companions Wisely

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

Assalaamu alaykum

It is extremely important to have righteous companions. If your friends are of the righteous, they will pull you towards what is good and encourage you to do what is pleasing to Allah, that which will take you to Paradise, by the Mercy of Allah. If your friends are of the heedless of Allah, they will pull you towards what is bad and encourage you to do what is pleasing to Shaytan, that which can lead you to the Hellfire.

Therefore, choose your friends wisely.

Qualities to look for in a friend: Faith, Good Moral Character, Righteousness and God-fearing, those who remember Allah often.

Faith:

Faith should be the first criterion for a meaningful friendship.

وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَو‌ٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٧١

The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (71)

[Qur'an, At-Tawba 9:71]

Therefore, the friendship based on the correct faith aims towards supporting and encouraging one another towards the obedience of Allah. Its goal is much more sublime than the friendship that is done for worldly gain, and amongst its benefits is that it is a means to safeguard one's belief from being tainted with incorrect beliefs and practices.

Good Moral Character:

It is necessary that the friends you choose have good character and possess Islamic morals and etiquettes. Good character is a sign of excellence in Iman.

It is essential that those whom you choose as friends recognize and respect the limits of Allah. For example, they should understand the Islamic etiquettes of speaking and language, for sometimes talks among friends can go beyond bounds, like one may be involved in sins like Gheebah (backbiting), slandering, etc. which are generally considered to be very insignificant, but can have disastrous affect on one's Hereafter.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'Beware of sins which are treated as being minor; just like a people who encamp in the center of a valley, so someone brings a stick of firewood and someone else brings a stick until they are able to bake their bread. Likewise, sins which are treated as being minor and for which the person is taken to account will destroy him.' [Musnad Ahmad and others]

It is related that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) was once passing through one of the graveyards of Medina or Makkah; he heard voices of two persons who were being tortured in their graves. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'These two person are being tortured, (but) not for a major sin.' He further added, 'Yes. Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine while the other used to go about with calumnies (to make enmity between friends).' [al-Bukhari]

The importance of good character is also manifest in the Hadeeth of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who said, "Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.' [At-Tirmidhi]

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) was asked about the deed, which will be foremost to lead a man to Jannah, he replied, 'Fear of Allah and the good character.' Then he was asked about the indulgence, which will admit a man to Hell and he replied, 'The tongue and the genitals.' [At-Tirmidhi]

Righteousness and God-fearing:

Allah Most High calls upon the believer to fear Him and tells us how we can accomplish that--by being with the truthful-- those who are true in what they say and what they do.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴿١١٩

O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true (in words and in deeds). (119)

[Qur'an, At-Tawba 9:119]

It was said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Men are of two types, a man who is righteous, fearful of Allah and honorable to Allah, or a man who is vicious, miserable and insignificant to Allah, the Exalted."

The best of people to befriend are those who possess Taqwa (conscious, fear of Allah.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣﴾

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (13)

[Qur'an, al-Hujurat 49:13]

تِلْكَ ٱلْجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِى نُورِثُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا مَن كَانَ تَقِيًّا ﴿٦٣

That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allah. (63)

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:63]

Islam gives precedence to Taqwa in all matters, for example, in cases of marriage while choosing a life partner - Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) stressed upon choosing a righteous spouse, The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'A women is married for four (reasons); her wealth, her nobility, her beauty and her piety. Choose the pious one and you will be successful.' [al-Bukhari]

He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said, 'If a man, whose practice of the religion satisfies you, asks you for your daughter in marriage, you should marry them; otherwise, there will be corruption on the Earth.' [At-Tirmidhi]

Choosing a friend is as important as choosing a life partner, therefore the wise choice are the Muttaqoon (those who possess Taqwa).

Ali bin Abu Talib (radhi allahu anhu) advised, 'Befriend righteous people, for they are a good resource to use in this and the last life.

Benefits of accompanying righteous people are numerous, amongst which is improving one's religion. As people are always found to be competitive within friends, associating with righteous individuals inspires competing them in righteous deeds, thus expanding the scope of performing righteous deeds and perfecting the religion.

Narrated Abu Musa, it was said to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), 'A man may love some people but he cannot catch up with their good deeds?'

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'Everyone will be with those whom he loves.' [al-Bukhari]

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

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

[Qur'an, al-A'raf 7:128]

Consider the example of the Sahabah (radhi allahu anhu), they were only second in righteousness to Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam), because they were so close to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) - the most pious. Also, a number of narrations show that the Sahabah (radhi allahu anhu) would compete with each other in performing righteous deeds and achieving high ranks with Allah.

For instance, 'Umar (radhi allahu anhu) said, 'The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) ordered us to give charity at a time when I had some money. I said to myself, 'This day, if ever, I will be ahead of Abu Bakr (radhi allahu anhu).' I brought half of my money and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) asked me, 'What have you left for your family?' I said, 'A similar amount.' Abu Bakr brought all he had and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked him, 'What have you left for your family?' He said, 'I left for them Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam).' So, I said to myself, 'I will never compete with you again.' [Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi]

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَٱلْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧

O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers. (57)

[Qur'an, al-Maidah 5:57]

Remember Allah Often:

Our companions and environment should help us remember Allah because we are ordered to remember Allah at all times. Remembrance of Allah strengthens the slave's bond with His Creator and prevents his heart and mind from being heedless of Divine guidelines and limits.

Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, 'If anyone sits in a gathering where he does not remember Allah, he will bring grief upon himself (on the Day of Resurrection), and he who lies down in a place where he does not remember Allah, will bring grief upon himself (on the Day of Resurrection).' [Abu Dawood]

The superiority of the remembrance of Allah was explained by Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), who said: "The example of the one who remembers his Lord, in comparison to the one who does not remember his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead.' [al-Bukhari]

In the present time of trials and tribulations, it is very easy to be caught up in worldly affairs. Allah warns His slaves against associating with those who busy themselves in worldly pleasures and give no heed to the remembrance of Allah.

Allah Most High says,

وَٱصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَو‌ٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُۥ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُۥ فُرُطًا ﴿٢٨

And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. (28)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf `8:28]

The Qur'an informs us that on the Day of Judgment there will be people who will bite their hands in regret that they were lead astray because of choosing wrong people as their friends, they would say,

وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا ﴿٢٧

And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. (27)

[Qur'an, al-Furqan 25:27]

Whereas, those who help one another in piety, truth and remembrance of Allah will surely benefit each other in the Hereafter. Allah will grant them His Shade on the Day of Judgment and He says,

ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٦٧

Friends on that day will be enemies to another except Al-Muttaqoon (Godfearing).

[Qur'an, az-Zukhruf 43:67]

May Allah make us of His righteous servants, and grant us righteous companions and environment. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Why Memorize The First Ten Verses?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Abud-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Whoever commits to memory the first ten Ayat of the Surat Al-Kahf, will be protected from (the trial of) Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist)."

[Muslim].

وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏من حفظ عشر آيات من أول سورة الكهف، عصم من الدجال‏"‏ وفي رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏من آخر سورة الكهف‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواهما مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Why memorize the first 10 verses of Surah Kahf?

1) Because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked us to do so.

He only asked us to do what he did himself. So consider it as a sunnah as well (not just the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) but of so many companions, successors and so on).

Though memorization of some Surahs is just plain obvious (like Surah Al-Fatihah for the validation of your prayer), but Surah Kahf’s memorization has been specifically talked about.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was so concerned about us, as mentioned in the sixth verse. Following his advice is the least we can do.

2) Because memorization is important

Most of us think of memorization as an extra deed, but the following hadith clarifies how hollow your soul is when you have nothing of the Quran in your heart.

He who does not memorize any part from the Qur’an he is like the ruined house. [At-Tirmidhi]

You might ask, why memorize in the 21st century when we have the Qur'an preserved by Allah and there are millions of copies and apps for it right at our fingertips, machine memory practically supplanting brain memory?

Because to take a verse to heart is to know it by heart. Memorization provides us with knowledge of a qualitatively and physiologically different variety— you take the verse inside you and you know it at a deeper level than if you had simply read it off a screen. What you have in your heart is more easy to access and apply to your life in spontaneous situations. You won’t have to open the copy of it or turn on your mobile for that.

Qur'an holds so much wisdom in it that keeping it in your heart will make you a wise person as well.

3) Because you will be raised in ranks if you memorize

The more you memorize, the higher the rank.

Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah. [Tirmidhi]

Memorization doesn’t only mean to save it in your heart but also to absorb it deep within. So much so that Qur'an could be seen on you. People could tell, just by looking at you, that you have memorized the Qur'an or a part of it.

The character of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was the Qur'an, as narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).

4) Because memorizing is a source of peace and tranquility

In a world full of turmoil, we could all use a moment of serenity.

“A man was reciting Surat Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet, and told him of that experience. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’an.”” [Bukhari]

5) Because memorizing teaches you the fundamentals of Islam

Allah combines three fundamentals of Islam in first ten verses – Oneness of Allah (as mentioned in verses four and five), revelation upon Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) (as mentioned in the first verse) and recompense [(as mentioned in verses two and three) – hence combining two emotions together; fear (to not let us procrastinate) and hope (to let us always strive for better)]

6) Because memorizing increases your iman (faith)

Surah Kahf has many stories in it that teach you so many practical lessons to implement in your daily life. But the first ten verses help you to develop a strong connection with Quran because there is no possibility of deviation in it (as mentioned in the first and second verse).

How do we know that Islam is the ultimate truth? It’s the Quran.

No matter how languages evolve, cultures change or standards twist, this one book will never change. No matter how many winds swirl, the whole forest may fall to the ground but this tree shall stand still, embed in it’s ground. There’s a war being raged against it. War of values before the war of Dajjal is upon us.

We have something we can hold onto because it will stay the same till the end of time. So if you want strength, you come to Qur'an.

7) It gives you a goal to achieve in this world.

This worldly life is a test for us (as mentioned in the seventh verse) as to how many among us struggle towards the best of deeds. Not the most but rather the best. Allah is not looking for quantity but quality.

Contrary to our belief that hardships are a test from Allah, here Allah tells us that the adornment of this earth (wealth, beauty, spouses, children, fame etc) is also a test for you. Whoever uses these blessings in the best of ways, receives the glad tidings.

The best of rewards are for the best of deeds.

8) It’s a shield against Dajjal (Antichrist).

Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) warned us ahead of time that— Between time of the creation of Adam and the Resurrection Day, there is nothing greater than the trial of Dajjal (the Antichrist). [Muslim]

That’s why the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to seek Allah’s refuge from Dajjal in his prayer.

When any one of you utters tashahhud (in prayer) he must seek refuge with Allah from four (trials) and should thus say: “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the torment of the Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trial of life and death and from the evil of the trial of Masih al-Dajjal (Antichrist).” [Muslim]

اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب جهنم، ومن عذاب القبر ومن فتنة المحيا والممات، ومن شر فتنة المسيح الدجال

Dajjal is a combination of every tribulation man has ever known-- trial of faith (what the companions of the cave went through), trial of wealth (what owner of the two gardens suffered), trial of knowledge (as learned in the story of Musa and Khidr (peace be upon them) and trial of power (taught through Dhul-Qarnayn’s story).

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: . . . Those of you who live up to his time should recite over him the opening verses of Surat al–Kahf, for they are your protection from his trial . . . [Abu Dawood]

9) To be companions of Isa (peace be upon him)

Imagine Isa (peace upon him) repeating what he said once to his hawaariyyoon (disciples)— Who are my supporters? any companions for the sake of Allah? and you answering— we are supporters for Allah.

But for that, you need to survive the fitnah (trial) of Dajjal and to protect yourself, you need to first memorize Surah Kahf’s verses and then live by them.

But you may say that you won’t be living until that time.

First of all, who knows? Time is in Allah’s hands. He may stretch it or shrink it and the Hour may be upon us while we are unaware of it.

Secondly, if it doesn’t happen in your time, your later generations will be faced with that trial. So to teach them these verses, you need to know them first yourself. Don’t you wish that the believers whose faces will be wiped by Isa (peace be upon him) (who will tell them their status in Paradise), are among your generations? Something that will raise your ranks in Paradise as well, inshaa Allah. Think ahead as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) did. Allah indeed accepts the du'as, but for that we need to put some effort too.

Back in our ancestry, may be there were companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) or may be prophets themselves (after all we all are from Adam and Nuh (aadam-e-thaani) (peace be upon them) and may Allah make our generations, down the line, as one of the hawaariyyoon.

10) There is a beautiful du'a at the end.

The tenth verse is a wonderful du'a which those young people of the cave (who Allah presented as role models for the youth) made.

So every time you recite these verses, you make this du'a also, asking for Allah’s special mercy (since the word min ladunka is used, which is superior to words min doonika or min indika— all meaning the same in English but in Arabic, each of them has a specific meaning).

Grant us mercy, very close and near to You, our Rabb, that comes especially from Your secret vaults. Guidance, forgiveness and provision.

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Hypocrisy and Fighting the Ego

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah Most High says,

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ﴿٢٤
تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٥

Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky? (24) It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded. (25)

[Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:24-25]

Ego is basically a self centered love, installed in human babies, such that they survive their early time of their life. Human babies are very weak creations. The idea is the baby should out grow the ego or convert the self centered love into the love for his parents, and in the final form into the love for Allah. The fruit of the love for Allah is the love for the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), the best creation.

The soul is said to possess vile qualities and blameworthy character traits, and that removing these qualities and traits is individually obligatory - as was stated by the generality of the jurists. Having said that, the deficient qualities of the ego are not removed by mere wishful thinking, [or by] knowing the ruling of purifying it, and reading the books of Sufism and good character. In addition to all that, there must be real and actual spiritual striving, practical purification, and weaning the ego from its unruly tantrums and tempestuous desires.

Striving against the ego is done by weaning it and forcing it to carry out that which is against its blameworthy desires, as well as committing it to implement the law of Allah Most High, in both prohibition and command.

Imam Shafi`i (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Only the sincere one (mukhlis) knows hypocrisy (riya’).”

This means that it is impossible to know the reality of hypocrisy and see its hidden shades except for one who resolutely seeks sincerity. That one strives for a long time (yajtahidu azmanan) searching and meditating and examining at length within himself until he knows or knows something of what hypocrisy is. This does not happen for everyone. Indeed, this happens only with the special ones (al-khawass). But for a given individual to claim that he knows what hypocrisy is, this is real ignorance on his part.

I shall mention in this book a chapter, inshaa Allah, in which you will see a type of wonder that will cool your eyes. To illustrate the great extent of the concealment of hypocrisy we only need relate the following from the Teacher and Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri [the sufi shaykh], may Allah have mercy on him, from his ‘Risala’ with our isnad previously mentioned.

He said:

“I heard Muhammad ibn al-Husayn say: I heard Ahmad ibn `Ali ibn Ja`far say: I heard al-Hasan ibn `Alawiyya say: Abu Yazid [al-Bistami], may Allah be well pleased with him, said: I was for twelve years the blacksmith of my ego, then for five years I became the mirror of my heart (mir’atu qalbi), then for a year I looked at what lay between the two of them and I saw around me a visible belt [i.e. of kufr]. So I strove to cut it for twelve years and then looked again, and I saw around me a hidden belt. So I worked to cut it for five years, looking to see how to cut. Then it was unveiled for me and I looked at creation and saw that they were all dead. So I recited the funeral prayer over them.”

I (Imam Nawawi) say: That hypocrisy should be as inscrutable as this to the peerless master in this path [i.e. tasawwuf] is enough to show how greatly hidden it lies. His phrase: “I saw them dead” is the apex of worth and beauty, and seldom do other than the Prophet’s words, Blessings and Peace be upon him, gather up such wealth of meanings. I shall touch upon its meaning briefly. It means that after he had struggled long and hard and his ego had been disciplined and his heart illumined, and when he had conquered his ego and subdued it and achieved complete mastery over it, and it had subjected himself to him totally, at that time he looked at all created beings and found that they were dead and completely powerless:

they cannot harm nor can they benefit;
they cannot give nor can they keep back;
they cannot give life nor can they give death;
they cannot convey nor can they cut off;
they cannot bring near nor can they take away;
they cannot make happy nor can they make sad;
they cannot bestow nor can they deprive;
they possess for themselves neither benefit nor harm,
nor death, nor life, nor resurrection.

This, then, characterizes human beings as dead: they are considered dead in all of the above respects, they are neither feared nor entreated, what they have is not coveted, they are not shown off to nor fawned upon, one does not concern oneself with them, they are not envied nor disparaged, their defects are not mentioned nor their faults pursued and exposed, one is not jealous of them nor thinks much of whatever Allah-given favors they have received, and they are forgiven and excused for their shortcomings, although the legal punishments (al-hudud) are applied to them according to the Law. But the application of such punishment does not preclude what we have mentioned before, nor does it preclude our endeavoring to cover up their faults without disparaging them in the least.

This then is how the dead are viewed. And if someone mentions human beings in a dishonorable manner we forbid him from entering into that subject in the same way that we would if he were going to examine a person who died. We do not do anything for their sake nor do we leave Him for them. And we no more stop ourselves from fulfilling an act of obedience to Allah on their account than we do on account of a dead person, and we do not over-praise them. And we neither love their own praise for us nor hate their insults, and we do not reciprocate them.

In sum, they are as it were non-existent in all the respects we have mentioned. They are under Allah’s complete care and jurisdiction. Whoever deals with them in such a way, he has combined the good of the next world with that of the lower world. May Allah the Generous grant us success towards achieving this. These few words are enough to touch upon an explanation for his [Abu Yazid al-Bistami’s] saying — May Allah be well pleased with him.

May Allah purify our hearts and protect us against hypocrisy. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Adapted from: SeekersHub

The Medicine for Envy

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Imam Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book (Al-Ihya') after a number of pages on envy and its dangers, "Be aware that envy is one of the most dangerous diseases of the hearts, and there is no medicine for the diseases of the heart except with knowledge and deeds.

As to the knowledge that treats the disease of envy is to know without any doubt that envy is dangerous for you in this worldly life and in your deen, and there is no danger from it on the envied person in this life nor in his deen, on the contrary, the envied person will benefit from it.

The fact is envy is dangerous for your deen because with envy, you hated Allah's predestination and hated his blessings that He divided among his servants, and you hated His justice that He established in His world for a wisdom, so you contested that and objected it, and this is against the true oneness and belief. In addition to that, you would have shared with Iblees and the rest of the non-believers with their love for the crises to fall upon the believers and for the blessings to go away from them. These are evils in the heart that eat up the good deeds and erase them like the night erase the day.

And the fact that envy is dangerous upon your worldly life is that because you suffer from your envy in this life and you are tortured by it, and you will always be in sorrows every time you see the blessing of Allah on the envied person."

And as to the deeds that would treat envy, you should control yourself, so everything that you did in the process of your envy for someone else like any saying or action, you should now strive to do the opposite; if envy had driven you to say something bad about your envied person, then strive to make your tongue complement him, and if it had driven you to look down upon him, then act with humility and apologize to him, and if it had driven you to stop doing good things for the envied person, you should push yourself to do good things for him.

Then, Imam Al-Ghazali said: "These are the medicines for envy, and they are very effective, but they are bitter on the hearts, but the effectiveness is in the bitter medicine, so whosoever cannot be patient with the bitterness of medicine cannot get the sweetness of the cure."

May Allah cure all the diseases in our hearts, and remove all our blameworthy traits and replace them with praiseworthy traits. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Characteristics of a Successful Muslim

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Yahya ibn Mu`adh al-Razi (may Allah have mercy upon him), one of the great imams of the spiritual path from the early Muslims (salaf), said:

“Glad tidings be to a servant who has:

1. Made their occupation worship (`ibadah);

2. Neediness (faqr) their longing;

3. Spiritual seclusion (`uzla) their desire;

4. The Hereafter their concern;

5. Seeking a living their means [f: rather than an end in itself];

6. Death their reflection (fikr);

7. Their intention busy with renunciation (zuhd);

8. Killed through abasement (dhull) their self-consequence (`izz);

9. Making their Lord their sole need;

10. Remembering their errors in their solitude (khalwa);

11. Sending forth in ecstasy their contemplation;

12. Complaining only to Allah regarding their strangeness (ghurba);

13. And asking through repentance for Allah’s Mercy.

Glad tidings be to one for whom these are their traits; whose regret is over their sins; ever-yearning in need by night and day; weeping before Allah in the depths of the night; calling upon the All-Merciful; seeking the Gardens of Paradise; and fearing the Fires of Hell.” [Related by Abu Nu`aym, Hilyat al-Awliya, 10.58]

May Allah grant us tawfiq to the highest station. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

source: SeekrsHub

The Worst Jealousy

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The worst and least forgivable form of jealousy is that jealousy we feel when we think Allah is showing more favor to someone else, someone we think doesn’t deserve it the way we do. Another word for this is envy.

Envy is a nasty disease of the heart that leads to bad conduct and behavior, clearly sinful and evil. Envy leads to animosity, evil thinking about others' intentions, backbiting, spreading rumors, lying, turning back on each other, parting with bad terms, it may also lead the envious person to inflict physical damage with the envied person and even murder. It is a bad seed for a terrible tree of diseases.

For this reason, the scholars consider it from among the most dangerous, destructive, inner diseases, and the most destructive for the worldly life and the hereafter.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) forbade envy: "Do not envy one another and do not hate one another, and do not turn your back on one another (in discontent) and be the servants of Allah like brothers." [Bukhari]

Allah Most High also ordered the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and all the believers to seek refuge from the evil of the envious person and envy. Allah Most High says,

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

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

[Qur'an, Al-Falaq 113]

Envy means that you hate a blessing that Allah blessed someone with and like for it to go away, and if you could make it go away, you would do that.

If you do not hate it and do not like for it to go away but you would like for yourself something similar to it, then this is a possessive desire that leads to competition; both of which are good and commendable.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "It is not worth it, to envy anyone except in two cases. A man that Allah blessed with money and he spent it righteously, and a man that Allah blessed with knowledge and he implemented it in himself, and has taught it to others." [Bukhari]

As the Qur'an tells us, jealousy about the revelations sent to individual persons is behind much of the divisions in the one religion— the religion that Allah gave us from the beginning. Unfortunately, competition among scholars and religious leaders soon rendered the religious blind and deaf to each other.

Allah Almighty says,

كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَ‌ٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَ‌ٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٢١٣

Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path. (213)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:213]

This ayah clearly applies not only to followers of the last Prophet, Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) but to all those whose paths lead to Allah. Sometimes it looks like the only thing that people of all faiths can agree on is the existence of God.

How many times have you watched chasms grow between Muslims because of disagreements about how to dress, eat, or wash, as if these are the only thing about Islam? How many times have you heard Muslims from one country condemn Muslims from another country for being either too strict or too lenient in their religions?

If you ever felt overwhelmed by disagreements in the Ummah, or between Muslims and Muslims, or between Muslims and non-Muslims, try this simple mental experiment. Instead of focusing on the differences, look for the common ground.

We might find that leaving our petty disagreements behind will transform our experience with Allah and create greater unity in the Ummah, which in turn will create a welcoming atmosphere for those longing to join us.

And remember we are all going to die and no amount of intelligence, power or status can prevent that moment from happening even for a breath, and we may be a thing forgotten.

Allah Most High says,

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْ‌جَعُونَ

Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.

[Qur'an, al-Ankabut 29:57]

May Allah protect us from envy and bring peace to the world and unite the ummah, and make us die only as believers while He is pleased with us.

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Dealing with Stress and Anxieties - Qur'anic Remedies

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Life is never a bed of roses. We suffer from heartbreak, pain, and calamity, any of which might drive us to extreme distress and anxiety.

Stress and anxiety do have their place. They push us to make necessary changes in our lives. They signal when we may be in danger, and inspire us to take action to get ourselves out of danger. This danger can be any type of threat to our physical or emotional well-being, from not doing well on a test to losing a job to losing friends or loved ones. In this way, feelings of stress and anxiety are healthy and necessary; without them, we may not act in our own best interest.

The point at which worry and anxiety become unhealthy is when they stop pushing us to act. This can either be because we are worried about things that are not under our control or that have not happened yet, or because we are immobilized by the stress and anxiety we feel, rather than being inspired to act. Whatever the reason, this worry and anxiety can cause a lot of stress on our minds and bodies, and affect our health. Excessive or unmanaged anxiety can become unhealthy if it takes the form of an anxiety disorder, for example. When this happens it is important that we seek help for it.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with father and son) said, I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) one day and he said:

O young man, I shall teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and He will take care of you. Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. If you ask then ask of Allah, and if you seek help then seek help from Allah. Know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you in some way, they would not benefit you except in something that Allah has decreed for you, and if they were to gather together to harm you in some way, they would not harm you except in something that Allah has decreed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”

[al-Tirmidhi]

Allah Most High has revealed the Qur'an as a guide for mankind till the end of time, giving us a guide to help us through trials and hardship.

Some surahs of the Qur'an are valuable reading during periods of anxieties, as their meanings and messages can help alleviate distress and anxieties, inshaa Allah.

Surah Ad-Dhuha (https://quran.com/93)

Allah Most High revealed it at a time when our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was going through extreme distress and sorrow, to soothe him.

The Surah reminds the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) of the blessings that Allah has opened for him and asks him to help the poor and the needy and to make mention of the blessings of Allah upon him.

Surah Al-Inshirah (https://quran.com/94)

Along with Surah Ad-Dhuha, Allah also revealed Surah Al-Inshirah in the Qur'an. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to feel the heavy weight of his task and responsibility of the Prophethood. He was saddled with a nerve-racking and back-breaking task of raising a morally degenerated people, through propagation of Tauhid (Oneness of God) and elimination of kufr and shirk, from the depths of moral turpitude to the peaks of spiritual excellence, and then through them to cleanse and purify the whole of mankind of the dross of iniquity, ignorance and superstition. Some narration report that a few strands of his beard had turned grey as a result of this command. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is reported to have said that the following verse has made me old:

... فَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ
(So remain on a right course as you have been commanded ... ) [Qur'an, Hud 11:112]

Allah tells the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) about how Allah had eased the pain that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) felt internally by revealing to him the Qur'an. Allah mentions how He will raise the mention of His Prophet around the world. His blessed name is remembered together with the Name of Allah in all the symbols of Islam, like the kalimah, the adhzn, the iqamah, and in sermons from the minarets and pulpits [throughout the world]. And today every second somewhere on earth the adhaan (call to prayer) is going on and someone somewhere is saying Ashadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah (I bear witness Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Allah also mentions that both before hardship and after hardship is ease. Then He instructs the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to pray to His Lord after he is done with his duties to the people.

Hasan Al-Basri (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that once the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) emerged from his home in a very happy mood and, giving cheerful news to his Companions on the basis of the current verse, said: "One hardship cannot overcome twofold ease".

Surah Yusuf (https://quran.com/12)

Among the early surahs revealed to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was Surah Yusuf. This is a unique surah in the Qur'an in that most of it relates just the story of one prophet of Allah, Yusuf (peace be upon him). Countless lessons can be derived from this surah and a lot of it has to do with dealing with hardship— how Ya'qub and Yusuf (peace be upon them) dealt with pain and suffering in this world and how Allah elevated both of them due to their patience. This was also a surah revealed to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to console him, and this should work brilliantly for us too.

Surah Al-Isra (https://quran.com/17), Al-Kahf (https://quran.com/18), Maryam (https://quran.com/19), Taha (https://quran.com/20), Al-Anbiya' (https://quran.com/21)

The eminent companion of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (radi Allahu anhu) said concerning these surahs (Surahs 17, 18, 19, 20, 21), “They were among the first chapters to be revealed and they are my treasures.” Imam al-Bayhaqi mentions about this narration, “He was referring to the superiority of these surahs because of what they contain of stories of the prophets (peace be upon them) and the nations. And they were among the first surahs to be revealed at the beginning of Islam, because they are Makkan surahs, and they were among the first parts of the Qur'an to be recited and memorized.” All of these Surahs contain lots of stories of the prophets, of the nations of old, and of Bani Israeel in particular. All of these stories help with distress and anxiety and help us feel the Power and Majesty of Allah.

Surah Ar-Rahman (https://quran.com/55)

Surah Ar-Rahman probably has the most vivid imagery of both Paradise and Hellfire. It also tells us of so many blessings of Allah that are mentioned within it. It is a surah that is soothing to the ears, calming on the heart, and food for the soul. With its beautiful imagery, description of Paradise, and a mention of the blessings of our Lord, it can take us out of the extreme distress and sorrow.

Surah An-Naas (https://quran.com/114)

A lot of times the extreme anxieties and sorrow has a lot to do with low self-esteem and self-doubt. A lot of it is exaggerated by the whisperings of Shaytan who has sworn to deviate every last human being he can on planet Earth. However, Allah is The Most Merciful and among the surahs He has revealed to combat the whispers of Shaytan is Surah An-Naas. Reciting it often can help in removing doubts and whisperings and is a surah which brings protection from Allah.

May Allah help us stay connected with His Book. May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next, and ease those who are suffering. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

I Love the Righteous

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

Assalaamu alaykum

A conversation between Imam Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on them).

Imam Shafi'i said:

احب الصالحين ولست منهم *** لعلي أن انال بهم شفاعة
واكره من تجارته المعاصي *** وإن كنا سواء في البضاعة

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

So Imam Ahmad responded:

فرد عليه الامام احمد رحمه الله

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

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

We should love the righteous people and not considered ourselves as one of them.

Who are the righteous?

Sayyidina 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (radhiaAllahu 'anhu) reported the Beloved Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“There are people from the servants of Allah who are neither Prophets nor martyrs; the Prophets and martyrs will envy them on the Day of Resurrection, for their rank from Allah, the Most High.” They (the people) asked: “Tell us, Messenger of Allah, who are they?” He replied: “They are people who love one another for the spirit of Allah (i.e. the Qur'an), without having any mutual kinship and giving property to one. I swear by Allah, their faces will glow and they will be (sitting) in (pulpits of) light. They will have no fear (on the Day) when the people will have fear, and they will not grieve when the people will grieve.” He then recited the following Qur'anic verse,

أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢
Behold! Verily for the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve) (Qur'an, Yunus 10:62)

[Abu Dawud]

Wilayah or sainthood is a special rank with which Allah blesses His righteous servants due to their struggle for His Pleasure.

The Qur’an refers to such people as the Soliheen ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ, meaning the righteous, and ranks them with the most honorable of creation.

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

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

[Qur’an An-Nisa 4:69]

Knowledge is the key to arriving at following Allah’s command and following the way of His beloved Messenger, sallallahu alayhi wasallam (Sunnah). This knowledge is that knowledge that is acquired with the intention of acting upon it as well as teaching it.

A person is elevated in the following, starting with leaving prohibitions and fulfilling obligations. Then he continues to rise to a point of adhering to the Sunnah and leaving offensive actions (al-makruhaat). They continue to be elevated in following until they adhere to the Prophetic etiquettes and manners (adab) in dealing with permissible things and having pious intention in doing permissible things.

There is a great magnificent station of following and this station is for the one who sincerely endeavor to oppose the lower self (nafs) and force it to follow Allah's command. By doing so, it produce in the heart an affinity or comfort with following which causes the affinity of the self to follow it such that the self takes comfort and following becomes pleasant to the self and the self grows to incline towards following what His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam brought forth.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was reported to have said, "None of you is a true believer until his Hawaa (blamable inclination of the self in its love and desires]) is in accordance with what I have brought forth."

Allah Most High says,

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفْسَ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ فَإِنَّ ٱلْجَنَّةَ هِىَ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ ﴿٤١

But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from al-Hawaa (impure evil desires, and lusts.) (40) Verily, Paradise will be his abode. (41)

[Qur'an, an-Nazi'at 79:40-41]

Imam ibn al-Jawzi said, “The Friends of Allah and the Righteous are the very purpose of all that exists (al-awliya wa al-salihun hum al-maqsud min al-kawn), they are those who learned and practiced with the reality of knowledge... Those who practice what they know, do with little in the world, seek the next world, remaining ready to leave from one to the other with wakeful eyes and good provision, as opposed to those renowned purely for their knowledge.” [Ibn al-Jawzi's Sifat al-Safwa, Beirut edition 1989/1409, pages 13, 17]

We all know many hadiths (some may have read the entire Sahih Bukhari or memorized the entire 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi) and many verses of Qur'an (some may have memorized the entire Qur'an), and have learned this Deen (some may have a PHD in Islamic studies). In the last few days, have we sat and sincerely taken our self to account for the days which have gone by and the days which are coming? In these days that are coming what kind of aspiration do we have to turn to Allah? Have we asked our self about perfecting fulfillment of obligation and controlling our limbs from doing things which are prohibited (backbiting, lying, talebearing, stealing, cheating, eating/drinking haram, speaking ill of others, spreading evil, seeing/listening to haram ... and so on)? Have we spoken to our self about adhering to supererogatory worship, beginning with prayer before and after obligatory prayers, dhuha prayer and witr prayer? Are we telling ourselves to leave the offensive actions? And encouraging our self to get up and worship at the end of the night and actually stood up and pray?

The real benefit of knowledge manifests in the physical form of action, not in compiling and storing them on bookshelves and in electronic media.

Knowledge demands action. Without action, knowledge will take you nowhere except insanity.

Knowledge without action is insanity, and action without knowledge is vanity. Know that knowledge today will not distance you from sin, nor bring you into obedience, nor distance you from the fire of Hell tomorrow. If you do not act today and do not derive lessons from your past days, you will say on the Last Day: ‘Return us to our previous life, and we will do good deeds,’ and it will be said to you: ‘O Fool, it is from there that you have come.’

[Hujjatul Islam, Imam Ghazali]

There is a subtle secret in acting on knowledge, that we turn seeking the aid of Allah. Indeed the human being if they are not generously given the aid of Allah, they are incapable of acting.

So if you undertook yourself to action, turn urging yourself, blaming yourself for wavering and negligence, encouraging yourself to approach Allah, praying and beseeching Allah, repeatedly asking Him, desiring Him, seeking from Him that He aids you with tawfiq.

Tawfiq is precious and rare for it is not mentioned in the Qur'an except once:

وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴿٨٨ ...

... My ability to do any thing comes from none but Allah. In Him alone I have placed my trust and to Him alone I turn in humbleness. (88)

[Qur'an, Hud 11:88]

So if we understand this secret, we are not heedless in seeking the aid of Allah such that our travel to Allah is by or through Allah not by or through ourselves. This will be a reason for attaining a felicity which has no end from the love and magnificence of Allah.

Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ وَلِـِّۧىَ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٩٦

... and He protects (supports and helps) the righteous. (196)

[Qur’an, Al-A'raf 7:196]

And indeed, Allah Most High says (in a hadith Qudsi):

I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper (Wali) of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (supererogatory worship or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge)and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him.

[Bukhari]

May Allah Most High grant us righteousness.

We ask Allah to give us tawfiq by creating in us the ability to perform actions that pleases Him and to stay away from those actions that displeases Him and causes His anger and wrath.

O Allah, the One who gave the people of goodness tawfiq to perform goodness and help them, give us tawfiq to perform goodness and help us.

Ameen.

Wassalaam Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Love of the Best Kind

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The story of the youth of the cave signifies love of the best kind and shows how the youth had a commitment to such love by seeking to earn the pleasure of Allah Most High, before taking pleasure in His creations.

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا ﴿٩﴾ إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿١٠

Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? (9) [Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." (10)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:9-10]

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى ﴿١٣

It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. (13)

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

Lessons from the story of the Youth of the Cave

Put your trust in Allah Most High

The young men put their trust in Allah when they separated from their disbelieving folk and sought refuge in a cave. They had no idea what would become of them. You should equally learn to trust in Allah at all times and especially in times of uncertainty and trial.

Have faith and take action.

The youth did not only believe, but they also took the necessary steps to act on their belief. First their thoughts and eventually their limbs took action. Begin the journey in your heart, but do not let it end there; verbalize your thoughts, then walk the talk. Now start moving.

Embrace Islam as your true religion.

Islam is the true religion and a complete way of life. In Islam you will find guidance, faith, strength, and the will to submit to the true Creator, Allah Most High. If you embrace it wholly as the youth of the cave did, you will be among the rightly guided Muslims. You will have no unnecessary fears or feel overwhelmed with the challenges around you.

Play your part.

Whatever your station in life, you have an important part to play— in the family, at school or work, and in society— as part of the wider Ummah.

Your role as a Muslim youth comes with responsibilities. These responsibilities will not simply be executed without challenges, choices, and changes.

The Qur'an carries lessons for the youth in all situations and with any kind of challenge.

The life of the Muslim youth is not simply about independence and choosing between black and white. It is a period of change, choices, and challenges, with many shades of grey in between. And these challenges are not without a purpose, just as the entire life of a Muslim is not without a higher purpose beyond fulfilling our immediate needs.

Move forward.

Each time you are faced with issues regarding your faith and Islamic identity, remember the advice of Luqman (peace be upon him). [Surah Luqman 31] Reflect on his words to help you build the best of relationships with your parents and others around you. Emulate Yusuf (peace be upon him) in building a fine character and facing up to daily challenges with patience and trust in Allah Most High.

Follow in his footsteps by repelling evil with good and striving to work hard for your sustenance with excellence. Face up to societal pressure through the example of the youth of the cave. Build a kind of “cave” in your life from time to time so that you can give yourself space away from the noise and commotion around you to reflect on the verses of Allah Most High and nurture the faith within.

Such are the lessons and reminders we find in the Qur'an. The times may be different but the principles and emotions remain the same. Isn’t it time then to take a closer look into the pages of this special book— to study, reflect, seek answers, and adopt the solutions embedded within it?

Keep reading the Qur'an and do not simply recite it; but ponder over the meanings and practice what you learn in addition to sharing the message with others. Take a simple step each day and make your intention sincere. Read a portion of the Qur'an daily (work yourself up gradually to reading one or two juz a day) and take lessons from the stories contained within and you will overcome your challenges without any doubt.

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Where Are You Right Now?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The problem with many of us is that we like to live in the past or the future and we forget to live in the present. But it is this present moment that we are being taken to task. The ordinary human being is torn between all sorts of illusionary considerations. Feeling regret about things in the past, worrying about things in the past, living in the past, reliving the glories of the past or more frequently, we live in terms of the future, of things that we want to do, places that we want to go.

We may have heard people say or it might have come across our mind this too, "I wish I live in the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and it would have been easy to follow his Sunnah." Would it really be easy for you if that is the case? Let's hear what one of the great Companions said about it.

One day a group of people were sitting with Hudhaifa ibn Al-Yamman (may Allah be pleased with him) when someone said to him, "Had I met the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) I would have fought fiercely and sacrificed my life."

Hudhaifa said, "Would you really have? I have seen the time one night during the Battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench) when we were sitting in rows with the army of Abu Sufyan outside Madina and the Jews of the Banu Qurayzah inside Madina. We feared that they would attack our families. We had never before experienced a night that was darker than that night nor a night in which the wind blew more fiercely. The wind made sounds resembling thunder and the darkness was so intense that we could not even see our fingers.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked, "Who will go and see what the enemy is doing?" No one stood up because of the intense fear, hunger and cold that everyone was suffering.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked the second time, "Who will go and see what the enemy is doing and return with the news?" No one stood up.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked the third time, "Who will go and see what the enemy is doing and return with the news?" and added, "I shall make du'a to Allah that he should be my Companion in Jannah." No one stood up.

There were 3000 Companions, including the great Companions who were among the ten promised Paradise, Abu Bakar, 'Umar, 'Uthman and 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with them), but no one stood up. The Companions were paralyzed by the fear, hunger and cold.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said the same thing to us. We can be his companions in Jannah if we follow his Sunnah, obey your parents, take care of the orphans, give people their due rights, take care of your womenfolk, be good to your neighbor, etc. But no one stood up. At least the companions had a reasonable excuse--they couldn't even see their fingers.

What is your excuse? We are not standing up and follow the command of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), out of our laziness or fear of embarrassment. You don't put hijab because you are afraid you will lose your friends or lose your opportunities at work. You don't pray because you are afraid people will look at you funny. You don't pay attention to what you eat if it is halal or haram. You eat at non-halal restaurants and buy meats from non halal section-- because your friends are doing the same or because you couldn't be bothered to check. And when problems come, some couldn't understand why and some blame the One God.

Suddenly, "Hudhaifa! I want you to bring me some information from them," said the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

Hudhaifa continued his story, "Although I was the most frightened at the time and feeling the coldest, I left. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "O Allah, protect him from the front, from the back, from the right, from the left, from above and from beneath." I swear by Allah, that (after this du'a) every bit of fear and cold in me then left and I experience none of it.

Hudhaifa had no choice but to follow the command of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), when he was called. We too have the commands of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and we have no choice but to follow the commands.

Abu Sufyan (Allah be pleased with him) who was the leader of the kuffar at the time, decided to leave the battlefield and he was going to give the command but before that he said to his people, "Everyone should check who is next to him." This was make sure there was no one spying.

Hudhaifa who was now among them, began to feel the fear but he remembered the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) had made a strong du'a for Allah to protect him. Hudhaifa instantly asked the one to his right, "Who are you?" He said, "Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan." He asked the one to his left, "Who are you?" He said, "Amr ibn Al-'As." He pretended as if he was one of them that Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyanand Amr ibn Al-'As forgot to ask him who he was.

The smartest three people in the Arab history were Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan, Amr ibn Al 'As and Mughirah ibn Sho'ba. But Hudhaifa, the most frightened one, was able to fool the smartest people in the Arab history. Why? This is because he came with the Light of Allah, followed the command of Allah, and put himself under the du'a of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Amr ibn Al 'As (may Allah be pleased with him), in later years said that, "Every time I saw Hudhaifa and remembered what he did to me (during the battle of Ahzab), I laughed."

The spiritual path is one of getting in the present moment, being where you are. It is being aware of the situation you are in, being aware of yourself, your breaths and everything else about you; being aware of people that are with you, the needs of people with you and around you; being conscious of your breaths, that in every breath you take, there is a special destiny just in that breathing. You didn’t create that, but Allah created that for you, and you acquired it. It has the spiritual effect of anchoring you in the present moment. It is living in the present moment. It is not living in your dreams, your ideas, your fears, your expectations, or anything else. That is really important. That means also to be thankful for what you have now, instead of when I get this, when I go there, when this time is up, things will be so good. No. Where are you right now?

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ فِي بَصَرِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ مِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا وَعَنْ يَسَارِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ أَمَامِي نُورًا وَاجْعَلْ خَلْفِي نُورًا وَأَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا

O Allah, place light in my heart, and place light in my hearing, and place light in my seeing, and place light beneath me, and place light above me, and light on my right, and light on my left, and place light in front of me, and place light behind me, and make the light greater for me.

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Have You Forgotten What The Messenger (pbuh) Told You?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an,

وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١٢١
إِذْ هَمَّت طَّآئِفَتَانِ مِنكُمْ أَن تَفْشَلَا وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّهُمَا ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢٣

And [remember] when you, [O Muhammad], left your family in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle [of Uhud] - and Allah is Hearing and Knowing - (121) When two parties among you were about to lose courage, but Allah was their ally; and upon Allah the believers should rely. (122) And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah; perhaps you will be grateful. (123)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:121-123]

When the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) mobilized his army for the Battle of Uhud against the disbelievers (kuffar of Quraysh), he selected fifty skillful archers that formed a squad and placed them under the command of Abdullah ibn Jubair.

He ordered them to stay where they were, in a location on Mount Uhud, where they could see the army of the disbelievers when they approached.

He clarified the mission of this squad. He said to Abdullah ibn Jubair:

1. Drive the horses away from us with arrows.

2. Do not let them attack us from behind. (This command is another way of saying the first)

3. Whether we win or lose, stand steadily in your position. (This command is another way of saying the first and the second)

4. Watch that we are not attacked from your side. (This command is another way of saying the first, second and third)

Then he told the fifty archers.

5. If you see us snatched in pieces by birds (a sign that the Muslims were killed), do not leave your position until I send for you.

6. If you see that we have defeated the enemy and trodden on them, do not leave your position until I send for you. (There is a wisdom to hold the posts.)

But what did the archers do? When they saw the Muslims had defeated the kuffar badly, and the kuffar were running away from the battlefield, they left their positions to get the booty, i.e. the dunya.

Abdullah ibn Jubair reminded them and said "Have you forgotten what the Messenger told you?" But they did not hear him. Ten people including Abdullah stayed behind trying to protect the position. The rest went after the booty. Even with clear instructions from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), they left.

Actually, they had ten reminders not to leave their positions under any circumstances--six from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) himself, one from their leader, Abdullah bin Jubair and three from the kuffar. Khalid bin Walid, who was at that time a non-believer and who commanded the Quraysh cavalry, had attempted three times to penetrate the Muslims from the rear but unsuccessful because the archers were shooting arrows at them. The archers should have seen this but they suddenly became deaf and blind.

Khalid ibn Walid seized this opportunity. He rode with his men around Mount Uhud and attacked the flank of the Muslim army through the pass. Abdullah ibn Jubair’s depleted forces tried unsuccessfully to resist the attack.

The fleeing soldiers of the enemy also returned and joined the attack from the front and the scales of the battle turned against the Muslims. The suddenness of these attacks by outnumbering forces, from both the rear and the front, caused great confusion among the Muslim ranks. The enemy's forces wanted to either seize Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), alive or killed. They attacked him from all sides, striking with swords, thrusting with spears, shooting arrows and hurling stones.

There was a rumor that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was martyred in the battle, which led many Companions losing courage. Those who defended him fought heroically. Despite the indescribable resistance of the Muslim warriors around the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) defeat seemed inevitable until Ka’b ibn Malik, seeing the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) shouted: ‘O Muslims! Good tidings for you! This is Allah’s Messenger, here!’ The scattered Companions advanced toward him from all sides, rallied around him, and led him to the safety of the mountain.

If you imagine yourself in Uhud, you might say, "If I am with the fifty archers, I would follow the command of the Prophet." But you might not. These archers forgot the clear instructions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) because Allah wanted them to forget. But this is not the reason that you should disobey Allah. We have to obey the commands of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). We have to plan and take the means to accomplish the plan but we have to know that if you don't achieve the result or if you achieve the result, it is within Allah's plan. Whatever goals we have, it has to be for Allah and through Allah.

The Battle of Uhud is a victory to the Muslims despite seventy companions were killed and many wounded. We have seventy martyrs, that means they are in Paradise with Allah. The kuffar (including many powerful leaders) who Allah knows they were not going to change, were killed in the battle. Muslims who survived, learned a huge lesson, that if you want to do something, you have follow the instructions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). The kuffar who survived, including Hind (who hired Wahshi to kill Hamzah, the beloved uncle of the Prophet and ordered his stomach to split open, mutilated his body and chewed his liver), Abu Sufyan (the leader of the kuffar) and Khalid bin Walid embraced Islam later in the da'wah and became great Companions and instrumental in defending and spreading Islam.

Khalid bin Walid learned a very important lesson from Uhud and it became his attitude which saved the Muslims. When there is a battle, inevitably there is a point when there is disturbance, whether the army is defeated or had victory. Khalid would look for this moment and ceased the opportunity to attack the enemy. In many battles in which Khalid led the Muslim army, he used the lesson of Uhud and thus saved the Muslims. He used this in the Battle of Mu'tah, fighting the apostate and Musaylamah al Kadhab, and in the Battle of Yarmuk of 36,000 Muslims against 200,000 Romans. Hind and Abu Sufyan helped a great deal in Battle of Yarmuk in which the Roman army was defeated and marked the collapse of the Roman empire, the oldest empire in history.

With all that had happened at Uhud-- seventy Muslims killed, many wounded, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) raised his hands and thanked Allah. Why? Because he believed in the Divine plan. Ten years from that date, the Roman empire was defeated by the Muslims under the leadership of Khalid bin Walid.

So when we asked, why bad things happen to the Muslims? Remember what happened to the Muslims in Battle of Uhud, what Hind did to Hamzah and what Khalid did to the Muslims, and what the Muslims achieved as a result of what happened to the Muslims in this battle. These were but a few of the wisdom of Uhud that we know after the fact.

We might not be able to see the wisdom of what is happening to the Muslims now but if we live long enough we might be able to see it. But this is not important. What is important is that we obey Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). We cannot be deaf and blind to the commands of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). They have been repeated to us in many different ways. Don't be heedless lest we will perish. And if we want to achieve something we have to look to Allah, not the dunya. If we don't, even if we succeed, it is not a true success.

رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.

May Allah make us His obedient slaves and a joy to His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). May Allah shower us with His mercy and guide the Ummah.

Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam