Birr Al-Walidayn (Kindness to Parents)

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah did not create us except to worship Him.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (56)  [Qur'an, Adh-Dhariyyat 51:56] 

Second to worship Him and a big part of our worship is to be dutiful to our parents and treat them with excellence.

Allah Almighty says,

وَقَضَىٰ رَ‌بُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ‌ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْ‌هُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِ‌يمًا ﴿٢٣﴾ وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّ‌حْمَةِ وَقُل رَّ‌بِّ ارْ‌حَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَ‌بَّيَانِي صَغِيرً‌ا ﴿٢٤

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, excellent treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small." (24) [Qur'an, Al-Israa’ 17:23-24]

Ad-Daylami collected from Al-Husayn ibn Ali, that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “If Allah knew any smaller than 'uff' to be disrespectful to parents, He would have decreed it to be Haram!” In Bukhari, a man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) - seeking permission to go for Jihad. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He said, “Yes.” He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Perform Jihad (in you kind treatment) of them.”

If someone came to you today and offered you a free lunch, what would be your response? No doubt you would smile, speak kindly to and of them, and reserve a special place in your heart for their memory. Why is it then that our parents receive only cold stares, harsh words and bitter treatment and they are who they are in our lives? For twenty or thirty years they fed us, clothed us, washed us, and showered their mercy on our soft skin. Their love for us never dies even if we do, love that goes even beyond us, to our children and even their children.

We all have parents – whether they are with us or not – and many have not understood the their grand position in our lives and their right to be respected and revered.

Birr Al-Waalidayn is a characteristic of the believer (Mu’min). Al-Hasan Al Basri defined it saying, “Al-Birr is to obey the parents in everything that they ask so long as it is not to disobey Allah. "Uqooq" is to disown your parents, denying them all of your goodness.”

By the consensus of the scholars, being respectful and obedient to ones parents is obligatory (fard). Ibn Hazm said, “(Obeying ones parents) is fard” and he quoted the verse:

And your Lord decreed that you should worship none but Him and that you be dutiful to your Parents.

To better understand what is meant by Birr Al-Walidayn (kindness to parents), the scholars set the following conditions:

1) He should place the pleasure of his parents above the pleasure of anyone else, including himself and his wife and kids. Everyone!

2) He should obey them in everything they command or forbid, whether it agrees with his desires or not, so long as they do not command the disobedience of Allah.

3) He should present them with everything he feels they desire, whether they ask for it or not. He should present it with kindness and mercy, understanding – no matter what he does – his shortcomings in fulfilling the true kindness that his parents deserve.

The great scholar, Abu al-Faraj Ibn Al-Jawzî (d. 1201CE) explained:

To be kind to one's parents is: to obey them when they order you to do something, unless it is something which Allah has forbidden; to give priority to their orders over voluntary acts of worship; to abstain from that which they forbid you to do; to provide for them; to serve them; to approach them with gentle humility and mercy; not to raise your voice in front of them; nor to fix your glance on them; nor to call them by their names; and to be patient with them. (Ibn al-Jawzî, Birr al-Wâlidayn)

Allah’s love comes when our parents love us. And Allah’s anger comes when our parents are angry with us. Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with father and son) said, “There are three things that will not be accepted if it’s mate is not fulfilled. (And he mentioned),

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ‌ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ‌ ﴿١٤

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. (14) [Qur'an, Luqmaan 31:14]

Ibn Abbaas continued, “Thus whoever thanks Allah and is not thankful to his parents, Allah will not accept from him.”

This sentence too describes the hardships suffered by the mother for her baby. It points out that even after suffering hardships during pregnancy and the severe labor pains, the mother does not get respite from toils, because the natural food of the infants is in her breasts, and she has to suckle them. (Shafy, Ma'âriful Qur'ân [Eng. trans.], vol. 7, pp. 795-796)

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “the Pleasure of Allah is from the pleasure of the parents, and the anger of Allah is from the anger of the parents.”

Let us think about how many of us treat our parents. We shy away from them when they may need something. We never visit if we live away from them. And especially after we get married, we don't see them as significant people in our lives anymore and shoved them in the corner. Many people dispose of their parents in nursing or retirement homes. And when an argument ignites between our parents and us, many of us shout at them as if we were arguing with our evilest enemy. May Allah protect us all.

May Allah make us of those who are grateful and enable us to obey Him and be excellent to our parents. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

How Our Children Will Turn Out?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Parenting and being parents is a lifelong struggle. We have aspirations of who we want to be as parents and we strive to achieve them. But there is no guarantee how our children are going to turn out.

Parents can be the most pious, practicing, loving parents, nonetheless they can have many disappointments by their children at every turn. These parents are in the company of prophets like Prophet Adam and Prophet Nuh (peace be upon them) who had sons who rejected their teachings — yet these were fathers who were from among the best of humanity, parents who were in a constant state of supplication and prayer, who received guidance from Allah Almighty.

There is great comfort in knowing that parents will be rewarded not for how our children “turn out” but for the intentions we had while raising them, for the steps we took to facilitate their spiritual growth and success. All we can do is take the means; the end is up to Allah. Even if your children go astray, you should always leave a ‘door’ open for them and pray that they will one day ‘come back’. We should never cut off relations; we should never despair of Allah’s Mercy and Guidance.

We should never feel safe or believed that we have done a good job raising our children either. No matter how great life is, how righteous your family is, no one is safe until he/she dies with iman (faith) (husn al-khaatimah). Always and continue to pray for our children.

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤

Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous. [Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:74]

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ ﴿٤٠﴾ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ ﴿٤١

My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. (40) Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established." (41) [Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:40-41]

We pray that Allah grants us the du'a for “a pure progeny” that He granted Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Zakariyya, and the mother of Maryam (peace be upon them) in the Qur'an. We pray that we are able to be worthy teachers for our children who will carry this noble religion on, a precious trust to be handed from one generation to the next. May we not be “the weak link”. 

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Blessing of Righteous Companions

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Having righteous companions is a blessing, even for a dog.

Ibn 'Atiyyah says that his father told him that he heard a sermon of Abu al-Fad1Jawhari in the Hijrah year 469 at the Great Mosque of Egypt. Speaking on the Mimbar, he was telling everyone, 'whoever loves good people, he too gets a share from their goodness. See when the dog of the Al-Ashab al-Kahf (companions of the cave) loved them and followed them closely as if appended with them, Allah Ta'ala mentioned it in the Qur'an'.

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا ﴿١٨

And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror. (18) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:18]

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءً ظَـٰهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿٢٢

They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone." (22) [Qu'an, Al-Kahf 18:22] 

Al-Qurtubi mentions this report of Ibn 'Atiyyah in his Tafsir. In his comments, he says when a dog can reach this station by being in the company of the righteous and the saintly, imagine how high the station of true believers and pure monotheists who love righteous men of Allah would be. In fact, there is comfort and good news in this event for Muslims who are weak in deeds but do love the Holy Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, fully and duly.

Anas radhiallahu anhu, said, "One day, I and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam were coming out of the Masjid. We met a person at the door. He asked, "Ya Rasulullah, when will the Qiyamah come?" He said, "What preparations have you already made for Qiyamah? (In view of which you want it to come soon)."Hearing this, the man was somewhat ashamed and corrected himself by saying, "I have not collected a lot of prayers, fasts and charities for Qiyamah, but I love Allah and His Messenger." He said, "If so, [on the day of Qiyamah] you shall be with those whom you love." Anas says, "when we heard this bliss of a sentence from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam, we were so happy that we had never been that happy since we embraced Islam." After that, Anas said, "Alhamdulillah, I love Allah, His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, Abu Bakr and Omar radhiAllahu anhuma, therefore, I look forward to being with them." [Qurtubi]

You love someone because you feel they are close to Allah. Their closeness to Allah wins your love for them. It is a very virtuous deed indeed when you love someone for Allah. Through it you get the sweetness of faith. You feel content and your heart is tranquil. The heart moves with Allah.

The sign that you love someone for Allah is that you can leave them when they are distant from Allah. People who are distant from Allah, you have an aversion of them. You don't want to be their best friend.

Choose your friends carefully. You will be like them. These are the people that can bring you closer to Allah or away from Allah.

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

It is good to love the believers because this is your means of success in the Day of Judgment.

When you see righteousness in your friends, it is good to say "I love you."

May Allah grant us righteous companions and make us of the righteous. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Fake Scholars

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Today, so many things have changed with the creation of the internet and wifi. You can find Islamic knowledge at your fingertips. There is no excuse for anyone to not learn Islam, Arabic and Qur'an.

You pick who you want to listen to and choose who you don't want to listen to. If you are confused about what they said, then you have to recognize something. Like all humans, all scholars have faults. Some have more faults than others. So we take what is good and ignore what is bad. But we have to be very careful of the so-called scholars. They can be huge distractions and time wasters, for all they are good at is riling up the audience. These people cause problems for the Muslim Ummah and they are more dangerous than anything else. Just because they have a title Shaykh, Ustaz, Imam or the like before their names or just because they have tens of thousands fans, that doesn't mean you can take from them.

People are driven away because of fake scholars. Who are the fake scholars? These are people who think they have knowledge but when we compare it with their character, we get shocked.

Knowledge is what benefits you and what is manifested in your person. Knowledge leads you to better your character and increases your understanding.

Imam Ghazali said that knowledge is not to narrate a lot but to have piety, righteousness and fear of Allah.

Knowledge is a vehicle that leads you to a destination. The destination is meeting with Allah. Very few people know the purpose of knowledge.

A person who teaches others and spreads knowledge and does not manifest it in himself, his character is like a doctor who prescribed medicine for others and he himself is sick.

Until the purpose of knowledge is clear to the person, he will harm himself with his knowledge. He becomes of those who are lost and his destiny may be hellfire. The scholar who doesn’t apply his knowledge will be punished before idol worshippers.

Allah Almighty says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٣﴾
O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? (2) Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do. (3)

[Qur'an As-Saff 61:2-3]

Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

"The first of men (whose case) will be decided on the Day of Judgement will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought forth. Allah will make him recount His blessings (i. e. the blessings which He had bestowed upon him) and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his life). (Then) will Allah say: ‘What did you do (to requite these blessings)?’ He will say: ‘I fought for You until I died as a martyr.’ Allah will say: ‘You have told a lie. You fought so that you may be called a brave warrior. And you were called so.’ (Then) orders will be passed against him and he will be dragged with his face downward and cast into Hell.

Then a man will be brought forward who acquired knowledge and imparted it (to others) and recited the Qur’an. He will be brought forth and Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Then Allah will ask: ‘What did you do (to requite these blessings)?’ He will say: ‘I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the Qur’an seeking Your pleasure.’ Allah will say: ‘You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you may be called a scholar, and you recited the Qur'an so that you may be called a Qari and such has been said.’ Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire.

Then a man will be brought whom Allah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought forth and Allah will make him recount His blessings and he will recount them and (admit having enjoyed them in his lifetime). Allah will (then) ask: ‘What have you done (to requite these blessings)?’ He will say: ‘I spent money in every cause in which You wished that it should be spent.’ Allah will say: ‘You are lying. You did so, so that you may be called a generous person, and so it was said.’ Then Allah will pass orders and he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell.”

[Sahih Muslim]

A scholar of the Hereafter will receive salvation and gain nearness of Allah. There are many signs of the scholars of the Hereafter.

1. He does not seek the world by his learning. He considers the world as insignificant and the hereafter as great and ever lasting.

2. His words and actions are the same, rather he does not order an action to be done without first doing it himself.

3. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Don't accompany every learned man. Be with the learned man who calls towards five matters: towards faith from doubt, sincerity from show, modesty from pride, love from enmity, and asceticism from worldliness.

4. His mind would be directed towards such learning that will be useful for the next world and give encouragement to pious deeds. He will avoid those learning which will bring lesser benefit but much arguments.

5. He has no attraction for various kinds of foods and drinks, luxury in dresses, furniture and houses, but rather he adopts moderate course in all these things following the earlier sages and he is best satisfied with the least of everything.

6. He is a man who fears of Allah and to avoid all manner of risk.

7. He keeps himself distant from the ruling authorities and avoids their company, because this world is sweet, ever new and its bridle is in their hands. He who get closer to them is not free from their pleasures and harms. They are mostly unjust and do not obey the advice of the learned men.

8. He does not give fatwa in a hurry but tries to be relieved of it. When he is asked and if he knows he gives his opinion. When he has doubt, he says, "I don't know." He is careful not to commit himself but refer the matter to someone else who is more capable than him.

(The great Imam Malik, Allah be pleased with him, once was asked about 40 questions by someone who traveled from a far away land of Iraq to Madina to present these questions from his people, and he all he could say was "I don't know" for all of them except a few.")

9. His main object of anxiety is to learn sacred knowledge, observation of the heart, and knowledge of the paths of the hereafter, to travel thereon and to have abiding faith in finding self-mortification.

10. He is sincere and upright for making his faith firm and strong, as firm faith is the root of religion.

11. Another sign of the learned man of the next world is that he becomes humble and adopts silence. The effect of the fear of Allah appears on his body, dress, character movements, speech and silence. His sight reminds one of Allah and his nature and character are proofs of his actions. His eye is a mirror of his mind. The signs of the learned man of the hereafter are recognized in his face, tranquility, modesty and freedom from pride and vanity. A sage said, "Allah has not given a man with a garment better than the garment of the fear of Allah. It is the garment of the Prophets, Siddiqs (the truthful) and the learned men".

Allah Almighty says,

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.

[Al-Araf 7:26]

Once I asked one of my teachers..."Where do I find a good righteous scholar?" He did not give me a direct answer but said, do lots of salawat upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

May Allah guide our scholars and guide us to the righteous scholars of this time and preserve them for the Ummah. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Death and Dying

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Death is so much closer to us this year than previous ones. We have witnessed the passing of many a parent, teacher, sibling, friend, and child. Some of us directly suffered these losses; others suffered through seeing these losses endured by people they knew, such as friends; yet, other losses were so global and impactful that all of us were effected by them.

I was never particularly fearful of death until two of my younger siblings passed away.  But my attitude had changed now. I knew they had moved into another room that was out of my sight. But I was no longer afraid to have the door to that room opened for me because I know Allah is all Merciful, all Compassionate, and "you will be with those whom you love."

Narrated Anas:

A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, "When will the Hour be?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will be with those whom you love." We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., "You will be with those whom you love.") Therefore, I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs. [Bukhari]

This taught me an important lesson. We often understand death in negative terms: we will be questioned, there is a thing called Hell, Allah will take us to account for everything, and so forth. The motivating factor in death for many is the fear factor. This is important, of course. Yet, the passing of my siblings taught me that it is also a motivator because of a love factor, a love and desire for reunion.

This was the perspective of Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her). When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was in his final illness “he said something secretly to Fatima and she wept. Then he said something secretly to her and she laughed.” [Bukhari] When asked later why she wept, she said it was because the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was moving to the next life. But when asked what made her smile, it was because she was told that she would join him in Paradise.

This was the perspective of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). In one of his final sermons, he mentioned how “Allah had given a slave the choice between immortality in this world or meeting his Lord, and he had chosen to meet his Lord.” He was speaking about himself. His last words according to A’isha were, “to the highest Companion!” He had chosen to move on and unite with Allah. [Bukhari]

A Beautiful Union

To all who have lost someone, to those saddened by separation, and to those still grieving, do not forget the union that death brings. A union with a merciful and compassionate Lord. A union with a most beautiful and perfect Prophet who will not cease pleading to Allah until each and every one of his followers is in Paradise with him.

Remember that your loved ones wait for you, and that you have the opportunity to be with them in a place where time has ceased, where there will be no separation, nor grief, nor sadness, nor pain. It is a place where all of you can be together in utter bliss, love, and happiness.

This is the hope and trust we place in our Lord. This is why we worship and engage in righteousness: so we can reunite with those whom we love – Allah, His Prophet, our parents, children, siblings, friends, and others. So, do not despair, do not lose sight of the bigger picture, and make your life a road to reunion.

We ask Allah to renuite us in the eternal garden with those we love in the company of our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and all the righteous. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Patience is Waiting

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

Assalaamu alaykum

We cannot go through life without patience and we will miss out a lot by impatience. We learn this from the story of Musa and Al-Khidr (peace be upon them) in Surah Al-Kahf. Al-Khidr had warned Musa that he would not be able to have patience to learn from him.

قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا ﴿٦٧﴾ وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرًا ﴿٦٨

Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience. (67) And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge? [Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:67-68]

Nonetheless, Al-Khidr allowed Musa to follow him with a condition, "(Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything) do not initiate any discussion of the matter."

But Musa was not patient when Al-Khidr did those things, which were contrary to his law (of goodness, mercy and justice)-- damaging the boat belonging to some poor fishermen, killing an innocent boy and helping people of a town who were inhospitable to them.

So when Musa questioned him about his actions, Al-Khidr reminded him.

قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا ﴿٧٢

[Al-Khidhr] said, "Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?" (72) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:72]

قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا ﴿٧٥

[Al-Khidhr] said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?" (75) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:75]

Our religion is predicated upon humility. Mind and notions cannot reach the Divine. We cannot grasp Allah. We can't even understand so many aspects of a human being, let alone Allah, His decree, His actions, and so on. The mind and intellect has limits.

Al-Khidr told Musa that, "My knowledge and your knowledge, in comparison to Allah's knowledge, is like what this bird has taken out of the sea (with its beak)."

'Ibn Jarir narrated from Ibn `Abbas that Ubayy bin Ka`b said: "Whenever the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned anyone, he would pray for himself first. One day he said: (May the mercy of Allah be upon us and upon Musa. If he had stayed with his companion he would have seen wonders, but he said, (`If I ask you anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me.')

Before they parted, Al-Khidr said:

قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿٧٨

This is the parting between you and I, I will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were not able to be patient. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:78]

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

وَدِدْنَا أَنَّ مُوسَى كَانَ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يَقُصَّ اللهُ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ خَبَرِهِمَا

We wish that Musa was patient so that Allah would have told us more about both of them.

Waiting (whether for answer or otherwise) is difficult for many people. But patience is waiting. No passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is tough and slow - that is patience. The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.

The bottomline is that Allah is merciful, compassionate, wise and beautiful. His mercy, compassion, wisdom and beauty permeate all of creation. Anything of that which we cannot appreciate in this life shall become manifest in full clarity in the next life.

And we be patient and do our job, worshipping Him and submitting to His Will. We respect Him because He Most High is worthy of all praise and respect, utterly transcendent above creation and independent of creation, while all of creation is in absolute need of Him.

May Allah bring us closer to Him and grant us patience and make us of the patient ones. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Not a Moment in Hell -- Don't Take Sins Lightly

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah created Hellfire for disbelievers, hypocrites and disobedient people. Hell is an actual place, not a mere state of mind or a spiritual entity. Hell is real. The horror, terror, agony, pain, anguish, and punishment are all real. Hell is an ultimate humiliation and loss for disbelievers, hypocrites and disobedient people. Nothing is worse than it.

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ ٱلنَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُۥ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ ﴿١٩٢

Our Lord! Surely, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed You have disgraced him, and never will the wrongdoers find any helpers.

(Qur'an AleImran 3:192]

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ ﴿٥٢﴾ فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾ فَشَـٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ ﴿٥٤﴾ فَشَـٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ ﴿٥٥﴾ هَـٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٥٦

Then you erring ones, you that cried lies, (51) you shall eat of a tree called Zaqqum, (52) and you shall fill therewith your bellies (53) and drink on top of that boiling water (54) lapping it down like thirsty camels.' (55) This shall be their hospitality on the Day of Doom. (56)

[Qur'an Al-Waqi'ah 56:51-56]

Indeed, Hell is a blessing for people because it pushes us to protect ourselves against it. It is as if Allah is telling us, "You must enter Paradise." But if people want to be stubborn, then wait and see and they will be sorely sorry, to put it mildly.

It is extremely important to get your prayers, fasting and zakat in place, and as soon as you are financially and physically able, to not delay performing hajj. If you don't, nothing else is going to work for you. But once you get them in place, don't think that you have a one way ticket to Paradise. People and society also have rights on us and we must give them their due rights. We have to be acutely aware of the rights of Allah and His creatures or suffer tremendously to a point of no return.

We must leave disobedience and avoid sins, even minor sins and anything that could lead us to sin.

A sin we have committed is a grave mistake but if we realize this, the realization in itself is beloved to Allah, and Allah forgives those who sincerely repent.

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّـهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـٰتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّـهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٧٠

Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (70) And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance. (71)

[Qur'an Al-Furqan 25:70-71]

However, when we commit even a minor sin, without even batting an eyelash, that is when we are in grave danger of earning the wrath of Allah. So regardless of whether a sin is big or small, we must always remember to turn to Allah and ask His forgiveness. The best du'a for this is: Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa afwannee— “O Allah, indeed you love to forgive, so forgive me!”

There are three acts that are so grave that when a Muslim does one of them they are punished twice as much--associate partners with Allah (shirk), commit murder and involve in zina (adultery or fornication).

وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّـهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّـهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا ﴿٦٨﴾ يُضَـٰعَفْ لَهُ ٱلْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِۦ مُهَانًا ﴿٦٩﴾ إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّـهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـٰتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّـهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٧٠

And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (68) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (69) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (70)

[Qur'an Furqan 25:68-70]

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًا ﴿٣٢﴾ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّـهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ

And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way. (32) And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right...

[Qur'an Al-Isra 17:32-33]

Shirk is so grave that it puts you outside the fold of Islam. Shirk can come in many forms – from following and worshipping idols (statues, human or other creation) to something as simple as reading the horoscope section in the newspaper or showing off /riya' (hidden shirk). So we must be very careful to not even go close to any forms of shirk.

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱللَّـهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتُلْقَىٰ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَلُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ﴿٣٩

And, [O mankind], do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and banished. (39)

[Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:39]

People should not take Hell lightly. Even the slightest detour into Hell is no small matter, a painful torment none of us will ever live long enough to experience it in this life. A moment in Hell is enough for a person to forget all the good times and pleasures he had in this life.

“One of the people of Hell who found most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen anything good?’ Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?’ He will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord.” [Muslim]

The Qur'an describes a scene where a person is outside the Hell and the breeze of Hellfire just brushes past his skin for a split second and the person says,” O Allah! it feels like I have been in the worst part of Hell!”

In this world, despite the worst of your loneliness, you could call on Allah. You could cry out to Him and make du'a. You could ask Him to forgive and mend your hardened heart. Mistake after mistake, sin after sin and a single heartfelt du'a and He would forgive you. Imagine not having made that du'a. In this dunya, you could call Him and He would respond. Imagine calling out in Hell but getting no response.

Protect yourself against the great calamity. Make a conscious decision to live Islam for the rest of your life. Armor yourself with the knowledge of Islam and be of those who say,

وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥ ...

And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." [Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:285]

May Allah forgive our sins and save us from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Day of Judgment and the punishment of the Hellfire. May Allah grant us patience and good in this life and the next. May Allah make us and our loved ones among the righteous. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Being Powerful

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

Assalaamu alaykum

It does not matter how much you have or how powerful you are, Truth is not related to anything but sound faith. If you’re powerful, but you don’t have a relationship with Allah Almighty, you are totally weak. And if you’re seen as weak by people but you have a strong relationship with Allah, this is powerful.

You are powerful when Allah loves you.

How do you attain Allah's love? There is no short cut towards it. We have to take steps to Allah, we have to work, we have to struggle, we have to make sacrifices.

In the story of the companions of the Kahf, we find great sacrifices. Society does not reinforce positive Islamic attitude and behavior. So, going against the grain, going against the tide, being strong and clinging to Allah and trusting Allah is a very important message to take from this story.

Reciting Surah Kahf every Friday and at least the first 10 verses and last 10 verses every night will keep us reminded and inspired to keep going with the struggle.

No matter how great, successful and accomplished we are, we have to realize that everything is due to Allah’s unlimited blessings upon us. The story of Dhul-Qarnayn in the Surah is a great example of a powerful and knowledgeable king who used his power and knowledge assisting people and spreading good from the east to the west, while remembering Allah, relying on Allah and putting his trust in Allah.

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

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

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

We have to be humble before Allah, make abundant supplication, manifesting our neediness, in obedience to Allah’s command:

وَقَالَ رَ‌بُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُ‌ونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٦٠

And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. (60)

[Qur'an, Ghafir 40:60]

That was exactly what the youth in Surah al-Kahf did when they retreated to the cave -- they called upon Allah.

إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ‌نَا رَ‌شَدًا ﴿١٠

[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 18:10]

And Allah immediately answered their du'a and took it upon Himself to protect and care for them while they sleep for over 300 years in the cave.

فَضَرَ‌بْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ فِى ٱلْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿١١

So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. (11)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:11]

وَلَبِثُوا۟ فِى كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَـٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنِينَ وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ تِسْعًا ﴿٢٥

And they remained in their cave for three hundred years and exceeded by nine. (25)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:25]

This is powerful when Allah makes you His friend. So, don't waste any more time -- struggle towards Him.

May Allah grant us from Himself mercy and make us of those He loves and follow His guidance. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

What is the Purpose of Life?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

What is the purpose of life? Most of those who reflect or think about life in any detail will consider and ponder this question. There are as many different answers to these questions as there are people asking the questions. Some would hold that the purpose of life was to acquire wealth. Yet suppose they were to acquire millions of dollars, what then would they claim is their purpose after doing so?

If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose after becoming wealthy.

The fact is that when people approach their purpose here in this life from the aspect of only gaining wealth, after collecting the money they have dreamed of their lives lose purpose and then they live in restless tension suffering from a feeling of worthlessness.

How could wealth then be considered as the aim of life?

Could the acquisition of wealth guarantee happiness? Of course not.

When we hear of millionaires or members of their families committing suicide, how could we consider the purpose of life would be to gain great wealth?

A five year old child would obviously prefer a new toy to a deposit slip for a million dollars.
A teenager does not consider millions of dollars in the bank a substitute for movies, videos, pizza and hanging out with his friends.
A person in their 80s or 90s would never consider holding on to their wealth in place of spending it to hold on to or regain their health.

This proves that money is not the main purpose at all the stages of one's life.

Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to one who is a disbeliever in Allah because regardless of what he or she would gain in this life they would always live in fear of what will happen to them in the end. They would wonder what would become of them and how they would end up.

Wealth and its accumulation as a purpose would be doomed to a temporary success at best and in the end it would only spell out self destruction.

So, what is the use of wealth to a person without belief? He would always fear his end and would always be skeptical of everything. He may gain a great material wealth but he would only lose himself in the end.

Worship of the One True Almighty Creator of the Universe as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in both this life and the next Life.

As Muslims, our whole purpose of life is to worship the One True Almighty God on terms and under His conditions.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (56) [Qur'an, Adh-Dhariyyat 51:56]

The term "worship" includes any and all acts of obedience to Almighty Allah.

So his purpose of life is a standing purpose; worshipping Allah by accepting Allah's Will over his own.

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

It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error. (36) [Qur'an, Al-Ahzab 33:36]

This act of worship is throughout his whole life regardless of the stage. Whether he is a child, adolescent, adult or aged person, he is seeking after the Will of the Almighty in all these stages.

His life here on earth, although short, is full of purpose and is totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission to Allah.

Similarly, in the next Life as well, his faith, intentions, attitudes and good deeds will all be weighed into his account as favorable putting him in high esteem with his Creator and Sustainer.

Because Islam teaches that this life is only a test or trial for the individual to show him his true nature it is only natural that he would accept death as not so much an ending to everything but more as a beginning of the final and lasting life in the Hereafter.

Before entering into either of the final abode -- Paradise or Hell, there must be a Day of Judgment or showing of one's true self to make them aware of their own nature and thereby understand what they have sent on ahead during the life here on the earth.

Every person will be rewarded [or punished] according to their attitude, appreciation and efforts during this stay on earth. None will be asked about the actions and beliefs of others, nor will anyone be asked regarding that which he was unaware of or incapable of doing.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ

 Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:286]

As the life here is considered as an examination for the individual, the death stage is considered as a resting period after the test. It could be easy for those who were faithful and dedicated or it could be grueling and horrible for the wicked and disobedient.

Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to each person and it is only Allah, alone who will be the ultimate Judge over us all.

So in the teachings of the True Surrender, Submission, Obedience, In Sincerity and Peace to the Almighty One God [Islam], the line of life and its purpose is logical, clear and simple:

The first life is a test

The life in the grave is a resting or waiting place before the Day of Judgment

The Day of Judgment brings about the clear understanding of what will now happen to the individual based on his own desires and actions

The Permanent or Afterlife will either be spend in luxurious splendor or miserable punishment .

Following this clear understanding of life, the Muslim's purpose is clear.

First of all, he has no doubt in his mind that:
he is only created by Allah
he is going to spend a period of time in this material world (dunya)
he knows he will die
he knows he will spend time in the grave, either pleasant or difficult depending on his own choice of attitude and actions
he knows he will be resurrected for the Day of Judgment
he knows he will be judged according to the most fair of standards by Allah the Almighty

Knowing he realizes his attitude and actions are going to come under very close scrutiny
he knows that this short life compared to the Eternal Life was in fact, only for a test

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the believing Muslim, as he realizes that it will determine his outcome and permanent position in the next Life.

The Muslim's permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible everyday.

This includes the orders of Allah in His Book, the Quran and His final Messenger and Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace)

For a disbeliever the purpose of this life is to collect and amass great wealth, money, power and position. Over indulging in eating, drinking, drugs, sex and gambling are a high priority to them. But all of this will not avail them anything good in the grave, on the Day of Judgment or in the Next Life. Eventually he will be faced with the question:
Now what?
What's Next?
Where am I going?
What will happen to me?

He will come to know. For sure he will come to know. But then what will the knowledge avail him?

كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤﴾ ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٥

No! They are going to know. (4) Then, no! They are going to know. (5) [Qur'an, An-Naba 78:4-5] 

You too will come to know. For sure, you will come to know. 

كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣﴾ ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤﴾ كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ ٱلْيَقِينِ ﴿٥

No! You are going to know. (3) Then no! You are going to know. (4) No! If you only knew with knowledge of certainty... (5)  {Qur'an, At-Takathur 102:3-5]

Look how Islam solves the mystery of the puzzle of life. It provides the answers to the questions and concerns of the human beings on all levels and in every aspect. It is really quite simple.

The purpose of life as understood by the believing Muslim can be simply stated in these three words: Hear and Obey (Allah). Our only purpose and salvation lie in these three words.

ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿٢٨٥

 The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." (285) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:285]

We must come to know our Creator, Sustainer and Ultimate Judge. We must learn to believe in Him, thank Him, praise Him, honor Him and worship Him, alone without any partners from His Creation. We must learn about His Messengers and Prophets, peace be upon them, and the message with which they were all sent. We must learn the Word of God as was directly revealed, preserved and memorized and passed down by memory throughout all the generations of Muslims to the present day.

Those who are in search of truth, having open minds and hearts will recognize this as a message in truth and sincerity. Open your heart and your mind now and ask the Almighty God of the Universe to guide you now to His True Way. And then be ready to accept your true purpose in life.

O Allah, guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked Your anger or of those who are astray. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Bittersweet of Trials and Tribulations

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Who on this earth doesn't have difficulties? Are we looking at difficulties as problems or as gifts.

Difficulties are a problem when we make them a problem. If we focus on the difficulties themselves and not paying attention to the benefits that they may bring and we forget the blessings we have, then even a small difficulty is a big problem. This is actually our weakness and shortsightedness that we should strive to wean out of.

Everything will pass, including the difficulties you are suffering right now. After that difficulty has passed, you forget that it ever happened, like many other ones you experienced before. At the time it happened, you think you will never make it.

Imagine, if you can remember all the pains, all the sufferings you have endured from the time you were born, even just all the pains and sufferings of the last five years, you would be in bed, unable to lift yourself up to do what you are doing right now. This is out of Allah's mercy and in itself a great blessing, that Allah saves you from remembering every calamity in your life all at once.

So, when you are hit with another difficulty, remember the All Merciful. Don't panic...for it makes your enemy rejoice and makes your friend feel sad, and it makes Allah angry and makes the shaytan happy, and it destroys reward and weakens resolve. Be patient and strive to please Allah, turn to Allah and say, Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’un (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), make your friend happy, console your friends before they console you. This is steadfastness and a sign of perfection – not slapping one's cheeks, rending one's garment, wishing for death and being discontent with the Divine decree.

Yes, we don't want difficulties and we always ask Allah to save us from trials and tribulations of this life and the next. But Allah will test us with difficulties and with ease.

Allah Almighty says,

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (3)

[Qur'an Ankabut 29:2-3]

Sometimes the test of ease is more difficult than the test of difficulties.

Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said: "A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.”

The higher your station with Allah, the harder the tests. Just like the tests during our grade school and high school--there were not easy from our little perspective at the time, but you know now that they were not near as difficult as the college exams or bar exams you had just taken but you endured and passed the exams nonetheless, because you want this promise of a good career and to reach the status of those who are successful in the field.

Likewise, if you respond well to Allah's tests for you, it can become a great gift for you...for if you are patient and content with the Divine decree, Allah has stored up for you something that is many times greater than what you have suffered through the difficulty, and if He willed He could have made the calamity even greater. [Similarly, if you show gratitude for the blessing of ease and it drives you to higher and lofty goals, it is a means of increase for you from the Most Generous.]

Have faith in the All Merciful and have trust in Him and although, sometimes we may not understand the reason behind certain things, know that as long as you obey Him, whatever He will do for you is, in fact for your betterment.

Allah Almighty says,

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا ﴿٣

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

[Qur'an at-Talaaq 65:3]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'If you put your trust completely in Allah, He will arrange for your sustenance in the same way as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with their stomachs empty and return filled in the evening.' (Tirmidhi).

If you have been ill for a long time, sure it is not easy for you and for everyone around you. But know that this is better for you. Be patient and you do your best to treat your sickness, while believing that only Allah cures, not the medicine. Sickness is a means of expiation for your sins and a source of great reward.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allah will record one good deed for him and will remove one bad deed from him.' (Muslim)

And He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said: 'On the Day of Resurrection, when people who had suffered affliction are given their reward, those who were healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world (when they see the immense rewards for the afflictions they suffered).' (Tirmidhi)

If you don't have that big house, that nice car, that high career, or you can't find any job except pushing carts or cleaning toilets or sweeping floors or flipping hamburgers, or you don't have that many fans or speaking engagements, or you don't have that beautiful spouse/children, or you cannot have children, know that it is better for you. Maybe these things that you desire would have become a source of 'fitnah' (trial) for you. Perhaps you would have become arrogant, proud and conceited because of it, and Allah saved you from it.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'Any one in whose heart is even a mustard seed's worth of pride will not enter Paradise.' (Muslim)

If one of your loved one passed away, believe that it is for the best. You never know, had the one who passed away lived longer, may be his life would have been one of sins and disobedience and Allah, out of His Mercy, took him before that....in a state of Iman.

If life has been truly difficult, one difficulty after another hits you (often unexpectedly), hear the good news from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: 'Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allah with no sin on them.' (Tirmidhi)

So, take solace and comfort by this hadith when your children are driving your crazy, being totally disobedient and hostile towards you, and people are throwing fitnah at you and slandering and backbiting you.

Remember that the One Who is testing you is the Most Wise, the Most Merciful and the Most Loving. He did not send the difficulties to cause you pain or to destroy you. Rather, He wants you to come close to Him, to elevate your rank with Him--through your supplication to Him, seeking His protection filled with humility, and complaining to Him, alone, in the depths of the night. The difficulties you are facing is a reminder for you to return to Allah and ask for His forgiveness. Who knows, if He didn't give you this difficulty, maybe you would have strayed away from Him far, far away. Indeed, your difficulties are your opportunities to know Him.

When we go through pain and suffering, keep in mind that as long as we fear Allah and stay away from the forbidden and try our best to obey His Commands, He will never do us wrong. Have good opinion of Allah, that He will protect us, guide us and do the best for us.

Allah says in a hadith Qudsi: 'I am as my slave thinks of me and I am with him whenever he remembers me.' (Agreed Upon).

وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا ﴿٢ ...

... And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (2) [Qur'an At-Talaaq 65:2]

Difficulties are like medicine: even though it is bitter, yet, in spite of its bitterness you still give it to the one whom you love. Your difficulties are a sign of Allah's love for you. Be patient and wait for the fruits of your patience.

Think what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Paradise is surrounded with difficulties, and Hell is surrounded with desires.”

The bitterness of this world is the essence of sweetness in the Hereafter. Similarly the sweetness of this world is the essence of bitterness in the Hereafter. It is better to move from temporary bitterness to eternal sweetness than the other way round.

May Allah ease our difficulties and help us remember Him in times of ease and difficulties and grant us patience. May Allah save us from the trials and tribulation of this life and the next and help us worship Him with excellence. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

The Way to a Good End

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

Assalaamu alaykum

We all hope for a good ending and the highest Paradise. How do we get there?

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said,

“Carry out the obligatory duties [Fard Ayn] for the pleasure of Allah and Allah will surely lead you to straight to Paradise [Jannah].”

A good end means when a person was guided before his death to keep away from that which angers Allah and to repent from sin, and to focus on doing acts of worship and good deeds, and then he died in this good state.

One of the indications of this is the saheeh hadeeth narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “When Allah wills good for His slave, He uses him.” They said, “How does He use him?” He said, “He guides him to do good deeds before he dies.” [Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi}

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “When Allah wills good for His slave, He sweetens him.” He was asked, “What is this sweetening?” He said, “Allah guides him to do righteous deeds before he dies, then He takes (his soul) whilst he is in that state.” [Ahmad]

There are signs of a good end, some of which are seen by the dying person as he is dying, and some which may be visible to other people.

With regard to the signs of a good end that appear to the dying person, these are things that give him the glad tidings, as he is dying, that Allah is pleased with him. As Allah says,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ﴿٣٠

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (30)

[Qur'an, Fussilat 41:30]

This is also indicated by the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, from the Mother of the Believers Aisha (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah, do you mean hating death, for all of us hate death?” He said, “It is not like that; but when the believer is given the glad tidings of the mercy and pleasure of Allah, and His Paradise, he loves to meet Allah, And when the kaafir is given the tidings of the wrath and punishment of Allah, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.”

Imam An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What this hadeeth means is that the love and hate that are referred to here are those that happen when one enters the stage in which repentance is not accepted, where the dying person is told of his situation and he is shown his destiny.

There are many signs of a good end, which the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have derived from the texts which speak of that, but despite that we cannot be certain that a specific person is one of the people of Paradise unless the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) testified that he will go to Paradise, such as the ten Companions who were promised Paradise, including the four righteous caliphs:

1} Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (573-634 C.E)
2} Umar bin Al-Khattab Al-Faruq (584-644 C.E)
3} Uthman bin Affan, Dhun-Nurayn (577-656 C.E)
4} Ali bin Abi Talib (600-661 C.E)
5} Talha bin Ubaidullah (596-656 C.E)
6} Zubair bin Al-Awwam (596-656 C.E)
7} Abdur-Rahman bin Awf (580-652 C.E.)
8} Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (600-675 C.E)
9} Sa’id ibn Zayd (593-673 C.E)
10} Abu Ubaidah Aamir bin Abdullah bin Al-Jarrah (583-638 C.E)

We ask Allah to protect us from His displeasure and grant us deeds that are pleasing to Him and forgive our sins. 

May Allah grant us an excellent ending and make our meeting with Him the best of meetings. 

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

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Are You Truly Repentant?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

All human beings make mistakes, and all that is needed is to recognize the error, rectify it, and seek forgiveness for it.

The Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you did not commit sin Allah would do away with you and bring people who would commit sin then pray for forgiveness. [Muslim]

The shaytan makes sin attractive to us, so we fall into things that Allah has forbidden. Now the question is not whether or not you will sin, but the question is: what will you do after you’ve sinned?

Allah instructs us,

"Turn towards Allah, O believers, every one of you, so that you may be successful."
[Qur'an, An-Noor 24:31]

And He says, "Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then turn in repentance to Him,"
[Qur'an, Hud 11:3]

and He says, "O you who believe! Turn in sincere repentance to Allah."
[Qur'an, At-Tahrim 66:8]

The secrets of an effective repentance:

"Turn towards Allah, O believers, every one of you, so that you may be successful."
[Qur'an, An-Noor 24:31]

Repentance— an Opportunity!

The concept of tawbah is amazingly beautiful and unique in Islam. We don’t confess to any intermediary; we turn to our Creator directly.

Allah al-Ghaffaar opened the gate of repentance to Himself and commanded us to turn to Him. This is an amazing combination. The fact that we can repent at any time and the fact that Allah gave us the knowledge of how to repent is a great rahmah (mercy). Tawbah is an opportunity.

The Wisdom Behind Repentance

Do you recognize this pattern? You commit a sin and then you feel bad afterwards, so bad that your guilt makes you feel down and so low that you feel you can’t be forgiven— so why repent?

If you’ve done something so wrong, you must be a terrible person, right? Wrong! There’s a major difference between being a bad person and doing something bad. Allah gave you the chance to repent and inshaa Allah your sin will even be transformed into a good deed.

Recognizing your mistakes and sins, feeling ashamed of violating Allah’s trust, and making the promise to Allah never to do it again are the three conditions of your repentance being accepted. The most important thing about tawbah is that it doesn’t mean you sit down feeling sad and guilty, dwelling on your sin. It means that whenever you sin, you grab the chance to get back up and do better.

What Repentance Brings to You:

Repentance brings success.

If you go on a path forbidden by Allah, you choose to miss out on Allah’s mercy, rewards, help, and protection. But at the moment that you sincerely repent, you can be assured of His help in your life.

Allah tells us "…And beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." [Qur'an, An-Noor 24:31]

Examples of success are: wealth, children, and increased productivity and blessings, as Allah says in Surah Hud, ayah 52:

"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimoon (criminals, evil doers, etc)." [Qur'an, Hud 11:52]

Repentance keeps you away from hardship.

The more we sin, the more we can be deprived of Allah’s blessings and the more trials we might have to endure. Tawbah can give us a way out of our troubles in life, as Allah says:

"See they not that they are put in trial once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it)." [Quran, At-Tawba 9:126]

Repentance earns you Allah’s love.

Know that repentance is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Him. Allah says:

"… Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves. "[Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:222]

Repentance makes you feel happy.

Tawbah cleans your heart. It makes you feel lighter, just as the burden of sin makes you feel heavy. Just say to yourself: who is there to stop me from turning back to Allah?

Repentance leads to forgiveness

The rewards of repentance are: purity of heart, erasing of sins, and increasing of hasanaat (good deeds). Both the Quran and the ahadeeth are clear that those who repent sincerely to Allah, acknowledging their sins, and commit to not return again to those sins will have their sins forgiven.

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: If the servant acknowledges his sin and repents, then Allah accepts his repentance.

The conditions for repentance are well known:

1. Leaving the sin;
2. Remorse over having committed the sin;
3. Resolve never to return to the sin;
(If it relates to the rights of another person, then to return the rights or property one wrongly took, and make amends to the person whom you have wronged and anyone affected by it)


If these conditions are truly met, then one can expect one's sins to be forgiven. However, one has to be very careful about how sincere one is in fulfilling one's conditions. It is recommended to seek forgiveness a lot, and to repent every time the sin comes to one's mind.

If one keeps repeating the sin, then one should find the root cause(s) of the sin and eliminate them. For example, if one falls into a certain sin because of the company one keeps, then it would be necessary to either stop keeping their company, or to change the nature of one's relationship with them.

When you repent...

1. Meet the conditions: 1, 2, and 3.

Repentance is returning to Allah, giving up sin and hating it, regretting falling short in obedience to Allah, and being determined not to do that sin again. If one of these three is missing, then your repentance is not sincere. If the sin has to do with the rights of another person, then there are four conditions: the three mentioned above plus restoring the rights of that person, like returning money, property and making amends with the person you have wronged and anyone affected by it.

2. Don’t worry about waswaas.

Based on the above, if these conditions are met by the person who is repenting, then there is the hope that his repentance will be accepted, by Allah’s leave. After that he should not worry about waswaas (whispers) suggesting that his repentance is not accepted, because that is from the shaytaan and is contrary to what Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have told us— repentance is accepted if it is sincere.

3. Follow up repentance with good deeds.

Whenever we do a bad deed we should make sure to follow it up with as many good deeds as possible. You committed a sin, so give charity, help someone else, focus on reading the Quran— anything good. If this is your formula in life, insha’Allah you will succeed.

Allah says:

"Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful." [Quran, 2:160]

So whatever bad you do, don’t stay down— get up and throw yourself on good deeds.

4. Pray the repentance prayer.

If following up a bad deed with a good one can change your sins into good deeds, what deed is better than prayer?

Ali’ said that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them) told him that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: There is no servant who commits a sin and then he purifies himself (wudoo’) and then prays two rakaahs and then seeks forgiveness of Allah except that Allah forgives him.

Allahu akbar! This is a forgotten sunnah! You can pray this prayer anytime in the day or night and you should pray it as soon as possible after your bad deed.

5. Make use of the six hours!

The Prophet said: The Scribe on the left delays registering the sin of a Muslim for six hours. If he repents (within these six hours), and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, they drop if off. If he doesn’t, they write is down as a single sin. [at-Tabarani] So evaluate your deeds every six hours, four times a day, and benefit from this amazing mercy of Allah.

A Breath-taking Scene in the Hereafter

Remember, Allah says,

"O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance."

The ayah continues. Allah tells you what you can get when you stop being passive, down, and sad:

"It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and (with their Records Books of deeds) in their right hands. They will say: ‘Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Siraat (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things."

[Quran, At-Tahrim 66:8]

May Allah enable us to keep turning to Him in sincere repentance and grant us righteous deeds and forgive all our sins and admit us into His Paradise without reckoning. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

How to Avoid Gossip and Backbiting

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah Almighty says,

بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ﴿١١

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers. (11)

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٢

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. (12)

[Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:11-12]

The Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace)

As a model and example for Muslims to follow, the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) about how to deal with the evils of gossip and backbiting. He started out by defining these terms:

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once asked the Companions, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He continued, “Saying something about your brother that he dislikes.” Someone then asked, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) responded: “If what you say is true then you have backbitten about him, and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.”

Once a person asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to give him an idea of good work which would admit him into Paradise and distance him from the Hellfire. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) began to share with him a list of many good deeds. Then he said: "Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?" He took hold of his own tongue and said, "Restrain yourself from this." Surprised, the questioner exclaimed, "Oh, Prophet of Allah! Are we held to task for the things that we say?" The Prophet Muhammad replied: "Does anything topple people headlong into Hellfire, more than the harvests of their tongues?"

How to Avoid Gossip and Backbiting

We may say that we know all of this… yet backbiting and gossip remain the main causes of the destruction of personal relationships. It destroys friendships and families, and fuels mistrust among community members. Islam guides us in how to deal with our human tendency towards gossip and backbiting:

• Recognize that Allah sees and knows all things, while our own understanding and view is limited.

• Recognize that nobody is perfect; we are all lacking in some way.

• Recognize that shaytan seeks to fuel doubt and mistrust among believers.

• Speak well or keep quiet. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “One can greatly beautify himself with two habits--good manners and lengthy silence.” On another occasion, he said: “Let the one who believes in Allah and the Hereafter utter good words, or let him be silent.”

• If you hear a rumor about someone’s misfortune, strive for compassion rather than continuing the gossip. Remind others not to gossip, and if they don't listen, walk away. Allah praised such action in the Quran: وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِى ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿٥ " 'And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, "For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant." ' (Quran, Al-Qasas 28:55)

• Avoid spying. Spying fuels the trade of secrets and misinformation, and creates a climate of mistrust.

• Seek to make excuses for others. If a person does something that you think is wrong in some way, try to think about the issue from other person’s point of view. Engage in making excuses for the person. If we do this, we are less likely to dwell on the negative and seek to talk about it with others.

• Repent to Allah for any mistakes you make, and seek the forgiveness of the person you hurt.

Exceptions

 

There may be some situations in which a story must be shared, even if it may be hurtful. Muslim scholars have outlined six situations in which one is justified in sharing gossip:

• When making a complaint to a judge about an injustice that has been done, in order for one to reclaim his or her rights.

• To seek help which will prevent a person from continuing to commit a certain sin.

• To seek advice from a Muslim scholar about whether a particular action is allowed or disallowed. In this case, one may mention a certain situation without giving names, in order to obtain a judgment on the matter.

• To identify a particular person.

• If someone publicly declares his sins, openly, there is no harm in speaking about it.

• To warn others about a certain person. For example, it is an obligation for us to warn others about a person who is known to cheat or steal.

May Allah protect us from actions that displeased Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

What To Do When You Hear Slandering and Backbiting

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Faith (Iman in the Oneness of the Creator) calls upon us to bring out the best in ourselves and in others. Treating other people with integrity and respect is a sign of a believer. It is not permissible for a Muslim to spread rumors, gossip, or engage in backbiting one another.

When you hear others talk about others, be careful, you may be engaging in gossip and may cause you to have a bad opinion of the person talked about.

When a poor opinion of others occurs to mind, recognize that it is a type of whispering the devil has sent your way. You should consider it a fabrication, as he is the most evil of evildoers.  It is therefore not permissible to lend credence to the devil.

When an evildoer or disobedient one brings you news, verify it before you harm others in ignorance and are then sorrowful over what you have done. 

Allah Almighty says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ ﴿٦

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful. (6)  [Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:6]

Islam teaches us to validate their sources, and not engage in conjecture.

Repeatedly in the Quran, Muslims are warned about the sins of the tongue.

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا ﴿٣٦

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned. (36) [Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:36]

لَّوْلَآ إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَآ إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٢﴾ لَّوْلَا جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِى مَآ أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٤﴾ إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُۥ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُۥ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥

Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, "This is an obvious falsehood"? (12) Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars. (13) And if it had not been for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been touched for that [lie] in which you were involved by a great punishment (14) When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous. (15) [Qur'an, An-Nur 24:12-15]

If there happens to be some circumstantial evidence that indicates impropriety, but it is also possible that the charge is not true, it remains impermissible to harbor malignant thoughts towards another.

One of the signs of having such thoughts towards others is that your heart is no longer the same with respect to them; you flee from them and find their company burdensome; you are unable to give them due consideration, to be hospitable towards them or to feel pain at their situation.

That is simply because the devil tries to convince the heart, with even the most tenuous of threads, of the evilness of another. He even throws into the heart the idea that this observation of another’s state is actually due to one’s own perspicacity, intelligence, and sharpness of mind, and that after all a believer can see clearly with the light of the Divine, while he is really speaking through the deception of shaytan and his darkness!

Even were one trustworthy person to tell you something about another person, do not lend credence to it, but do not at the same time consider it false. This is just so that you don’t end up thinking badly of another.

Do The Opposite

Whenever a malevolent thought towards another Muslim comes to mind, respond by doing even more to treat him well and honor him. That alone angers the devil and drives him away from you, such that he no longer throws those kinds of thoughts your way, for fear that you would respond by busying yourself with prayers for that person.

Whenever you learn of the misstep of another Muslim, through clear proof that does not admit doubt, advise them secretly. Do not allow yourself to be deluded by shaytan, who calls you towards speaking about them behind their backs.

When you admonish them, do not do so happy that you’ve managed to come across a deficiency on their part, such that they have to look up at you in your position of strength, while you look down at them as if they are nothing.

Rather, have as your ultimate goal ridding them of this sin, while being in a state of sorrow, the way in which you would be sad over your own character when it is found to be be in some way deficient.

It’s Not About You

And finally, let it be the case that this person’s leaving off this blameworthy trait without you having said anything is more beloved to you than them having done so due to your having admonished them.

May Allah grant us noble character and keep us away from gossip and using our limbs He has blessed us with in actions that are displeasing to Him. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam