The Heart Quakes

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The job of shaytan is whispering to you doubts. He makes you think you have doubts, but there is no doubt that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. Allah alone we worship and He alone we ask for help.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَ‌ٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَ‌ٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (1) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - (2) The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, (3) Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. (4) It is You we worship and You we ask for help. (5) Guide us to the straight path - (6) The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray. (7) [Qur'an, Al-Fatiha]

The cure for this doubt is to show gratitude to Allah. If you are grateful to Allah for the blessings of guidance, the blessing of the Qur'an, the blessings of Iman (faith in the Oneness of God), the blessings of the scholars, the blessing of our parents, and for all the other countless blessings, you won't be trapped by the whispers of shaytan. If we don't thank Allah for these blessings we are in danger of falling into the trap of shaytan.

إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ....

...Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

[Qur'an, Yusuf 12:5].

Allah says,

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤﴾٤

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts quake, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely - (2) The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (3) Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision. (4) [Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:2-4]

May Allah make us true believers and protect our precious iman. 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

Take Care of Animals --They Are Communities Like You

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Our Boboy died. I am saddened by it. I couldn't help it but burst into tears when yesterday I was told he was found lying dead under a parked car in front of our apartment. My sons buried him in a garden.

It appeared he was poisoned and I think I know who killed him. He was a semi outdoor cat. His mom was an outdoor cat and gave birth to him and two other siblings under my dining table about 1 1/2 years ago. So we kept them indoor and my sons taught the kittens when they were about 3 months old to climb down and up the balcony so they can freely go outdoor. 

One day, soon after they were able to climb up and down the balcony and play in front of the building, one of my neighbors complained about them. Later they threatened to kill their father, Waffle, Soya's son. We were afraid that they might be harmed. So we took them and their father to another area where they would be free to roam. We tried to send the mom off with her children but couldn't because she panicked and put up a lot resistance when we tried to picked her up. Later that evening I saw their mom crying for them and was looking nervous. So, I asked my sons to look for the kittens and bring them back. But they could only find Boboy and his brother, Mr. Cow. Their sister, Priti, was no where to be found. Mother and sons reunited happily. That evening Waffle appeared on our balcony. Not long after that the mom, which we named Preggie, and Mr. Cow disappeared and never return, similar to what happened with Kitty, our first cat, and Mousse, which frequented our house, which suddenly disappeared when they were about a year old.

Boboy disappeared about a week ago and we have been looking for him. I suspected that he had died because it was not like him to not appear when we called him from the balcony or greeted us when we walked out of the apartment building or return from somewhere. 

There are a lot of reasons that people will kill cats. One of the most common is that people have not been brought up to understand that cats are living breathing loving creatures. Many people feel perfectly comfortable around some animals, like dogs, but not around cats.

So many people view animals, as "just" animals, meaning that they are not considered to have any inherent value, except whatever they can provide to humans, in whatever way humans deem is acceptable. Animals are considered property, rather than as living creatures who have the same right to exist on this earth as humans, who have emotions and feelings, and who experience pain in the same ways that humans do when hurt, who glorify Allah, our Creator, and make dhikir (remembrance of Allah).

[Falling asleep by the mushaf]

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!

(Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:44)

As Muslims, we should always be cognizant about other creation around us especially the animals, so we don't accidentally cause them harm. If we could hear the animals talking, we would be more careful about destroying their habitat or spraying them with deadly chemicals. But even if we don't understand their speech, Allah tells us that there is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings except that they are communities like us.

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨

And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered. (38)

[Qur’an, An-'Am 6:38]

As signs and worshippers of the Almighty, animals are worthy of great respect. Animals, unlike people, submit naturally to God: “Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allah is Knowing of what they do. ” [Qur'an, An-Nur 24:41] and they, together with nature, constitute signs through which humans might come to know the Creator.

وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّـهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٤ ...

...and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. (164)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:164]

[Attached to the Quran]

Many Prophetic sayings encapsulate the respect for animals. Such compassion is at the core of many laws concerning treatment of animals. Their slaughter, for instance, must follow a strict set of requirements (halal) to ensure that the animal is killed with minimal pain.

We, human beings, cannot survive on this earth without each other and other communities of life. Life is complete only with this interdependency. Life is made beautiful by our compassion towards each other.

The Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught us to protect animal and plant life, and to worship the Creator by being merciful to the creation.

Allah Almighty says,

وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿١٣٢

And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy. (132)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:132]

If you say La illaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah, you should show compassion to all creatures of Allah, not just your children or your loved ones, but all creatures that walk on earth.

Protect our environment...plants, animals, water, etc, are all creatures of Allah.  

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٠

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." (30)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:30]

Take care of animals. Animals have a huge role in the ecological welfare system. The tenets of the Shari'ah law towards animals rights make it obligatory for any individual to take care of crippled animals, to rescue strays and to guard a bird's nest of eggs.

"A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, "This dog is suffering from thirst as I did." So, he went down the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it with his mouth and watered the dog. Allah appreciated him for that deed and forgave him." The Companions said, "O Allah's Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He replied: "There is a reward for serving any living being." [Bukhari]
 
There are too many people in this world who do not stand up for animal rights. We need to start pressuring our city, state, and federal legislators to make stronger laws against animal cruelty, and stronger penalties for committing animal abuse. 
 
May Allah forgive us and have mercy on us. May Allah guide the Ummah and help us protect our environment and His innocent creatures. 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

Related Archives:

Fitrah of a Kitten 
Friends
Four Kittens, Gift from Al-Badee'
Merciless Hearts
 

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Muslims are People of Alhamdulillah

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah begins Surah Al-Kahf with Alhamdulillah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:1]

Muslims are people of Alhamdulillah which means we are constantly grateful and constantly positive. If we understood Alhamdulillah we will never depressed, angry, stressed, nervous, fearful, lose hope or complain.

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

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

[Muslim]

When we say Alhamdulillah, we are saying we praise Allah for whatever He is doing, and at the same time we thank Him that He did it.

Alhamdulillah should come from the bottom of our hearts, even in the midst of tribulations and all the things that are going wrong in our lives, we are finding many things that are going right. We should not lose sight of the things that are going right in our lives and the many great things that Allah has blessed us with until now. We must thank and praise Allah abundantly and praise and thank Him again for the realization. Alhamdulillah. If you can't find them, keep looking.

Something we always take for granted is our bodies -- there could be so many things that can go wrong in our bodies but we are moving and functioning, however slight or even with some difficulties. We should be grateful to Allah for all that. If you complain about the hardship living in a poor Muslim country, be thankful that you are filling your stomach or eating with your family or loved circles, able to hear live adhans (call to prayer) five times a day, pray at the masjid, and enrich your souls. Imagine being in a country where you hardly find Muslims or you have to work day and night to pay your bills and could hardly see your spouse or your children at the dinner table? If you are feeling uncomfortable because of the heat or cold, at least you are have a home, and not sick, and if you are sick, at least you are not very sick or bedridden like so many other people in the hospital or nursing care.

We find today in the Ummah, that people complain and complain about the state of the Muslims -- they complain about the ignorance of the Muslims, the corruption within the Muslim societies, and all the negatives about Muslims, as if we don't have enough from other people attacking Muslims, as if we don't have enough problems within ourselves and our own families that we should take care first.

We have to remember, Allah is the One who can change our circumstances. So, the first thing we should do is turn to Him and say Alhamdulillah. And show a positive attitude towards ourselves and people around us.

Gratitude is not only the heart and essence of Islam, it is also the key to attracting abundance, prosperity, peace and success.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَ‌بُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْ‌تُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْ‌تُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ ﴿٧

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' (7)

[Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:7]

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam continually reminded the believers to be ever grateful to our Lord, and the term shaakir, meaning “one who is grateful,” is often used in Islam as a name of great honor among Muslims.

The Qur’an time and again emphasizes that gratitude is essential to Islamic character, and that exercising gratitude is the means to greater abundance.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam would often spend long hours in prayer and dhikr deep into the night. Once, his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked him, “Messenger of Allah, surely any mistakes you may have made are forgiven, as are any you may make — why do you stand in prayer so much?” He simply smiled and replied, “Shall I not be a grateful servant?

Be ever grateful to Allah for everything you have--your parents, your family, your teachers, your wealth, your health, your status, your knowledge, your intellectual abilities, your life.

We can never count Allah's blessings. Allah Most High says,

أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُ‌ونَ ﴿١٧﴾ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ‌ۭ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿١٨

Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded? (17) And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (18)

[Qur'an, An-Nahl 16:17-18]

The opposite of Shukr (gratitude) is Kufr (disbelief). In many places in the Qur'an, Allah compares the terms shukr and kufr.

فَٱذْكُرُ‌ونِىٓ أَذْكُرْ‌كُمْ وَٱشْكُرُ‌وا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُ‌ونِ ﴿١٥٢

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. (152)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:152]

Iman (belief) implies shukr or gratefulness as opposed to kufr or ungratefulness. A disbeliever is ungrateful to the Being Who has given him everything, whereas a Believer is one who is ever thankful for all that Allah has given him.

May Allah make us among the people of His remembrance and of those who are grateful to Him in every moment of our lives. 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

For Those Who Love to Find Faults with Others ...

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Don't we all want to be better people? Setting aside some time at the end of the day to evaluate ourselves and work on our weaknesses is one of the best methods towards improving ourselves.

Islam places great emphasis on each individual taking account of one’s actions.

But there are people who take it upon themselves to evaluate the faults with others instead of themselves. Most of us like to cry foul the moment someone is wrong and we eagerly wait to penalize that person.  Why? It could be that inherently we are all selfish and need the vessel that embodies us to be full therefore pointing out others faults fills us with the gratification, falsely or not, of knowing that we are on the better half of empty and not the lessor.

Finding faults of others is highly looked down upon in Islam. There are verses in the Qur’an which speak to this specifically and a large number of traditions from the books of Hadith that confirm this.

Pointing out someone's fault is not considered fault finding for people who are sincerely practicing Amr Bil Ma’ruf and Nahi Anil Munkar (enjoining good and prohibiting evil) in the correct way.

Occupying oneself with finding fault in others can lead to many evils. Islam teaches us to overlook the sins and mistakes of others, just as Allah Most High overlooks our sins and mistakes and doesn’t make them public. On the first level, just seeing or knowing someone committed a sin is not enough to accuse them. You can see a Muslim who walks into a liquor store and assume he went in to buy an alcoholic drink, when in reality he could have just needed to ask for directions. We are not all-knowing, and should not pretend to be. 

Likewise, if there could be a reasonable explanation why someone apparently did a sin or made a mistake, we should accept it and move on. This is one reason why finding fault in others is a dangerous action.

Allah Most High says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَـٰبِ ۖ 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) [Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:11]

This verse brings to light one of the other reasons why finding fault in others is a terrible act, which is that it can lead to animosity and humiliation for people in the community. Those who do such an action are called wretched by Allah and should repent. This action can tear apart families and a community in a very short period of time.

It is said that, “The worst form of betrayal is the disclosure of confidential information.” Hurting the reputation of a fellow Muslim is a grievous act. Allah could have made it easy for others to know our true reality, but he has hidden our sins and flaws from others. Maintaining the good reputation of our fellow Muslims is essential for the community, as it helps maintain mutual respect and allows the community move forward.

Finally, a big reason for not prying into others faults is that it takes away from one’s own self-improvement and can in fact take one’s soul even lower.

"Sufficient is a person’s own defect (in himself) that he tries to pick and look for faults in other people, when he himself has those same faults in himself (and does not recognize them)!” 

“One who contemplates his own flaws is too busy to consider other people’s faults, and the one who is satisfied with whatever sustenance Allah has provided him does not grieve over that which he has lost. The one who observes the shortcomings of others, disapproves of them, and then adopts them for himself is truly a fool.” 

Those insincere people who find fault with others without looking at their own are truly a poisonous element in society. Not only do they corrupt their own soul, but they sow the seeds of animosity within the community and cause public humiliation and embarrassment. We should of course make sure that we do not have such a shortcoming in us, but we should also try to stay away and not give credence to these types of people in our communities.

May Allah protect us from disobeying Him and make us keys to unlock good and lock evil. 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

Revive a Sunnah -- Hijama Cupping Therapy and Medical Benefits

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

Assalaamu alaykum

“Whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah and the people practice it, s/he will have the same reward of those who practice it without their reward diminishing…” (Sunan ibn Maajah 209)

The premise of Islamic medicine is faith in Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) and knowing healing comes only from Him, and that there is a cure for every disease.

“There is a remedy for every disease and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted).” (Recorded by Muslim.)

In Islam, health is a very important part of life and there is a great emphasis placed on it. 

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet ﷺ said, “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6412)

The question is, do we give importance to our life or take time out to learn about the natural remedies that the Prophet ﷺ has told us about?

A Forgotten Sunnah

Hijama Cupping Therapy is an Islamic, natural, holistic, healing therapy. Unfortunately, it is a “forgotten sunnah” that has been erased from our valuable history, due to modern medicine and surgery. We need to revive and establish this practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. We need to empower Muslims to be strong, healthy and rise up once again. As Muslims, we need to re-assert ourselves as leaders in the fields of medicine and health, just as we were in the golden age of Islamic science.

Here are the top 10 things you should know about HIjama Cupping Therapy….

1. Hijama Cupping Therapy is a Sunnah

During “Al-Isra Wal Miraj” or the “Night Journey & Ascension”, our Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ experienced many profoundly significant events. He flew on a winged horse (Al-Buraq) from Makkah to Jerusalem, accompanied by the Angel Jibreel. He prayed with many other Messengers of Allah, ascended to the highest of the seven heavens, was given the gift of five times daily  prayer and tenets of creed by Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted).

“Glory to He Who took His servant for a journey by night from the most sacred mosque to the farthest mosque, whose precincts We blessed, in order that We might show him some of Our signs: for He is the One Who hears and sees [all things]”. Quran 17:1

Amongst all these amazing miracles, Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) also ordered the Angels to instruct Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to establish hijama cupping therapy:

“I did not pass by an Angel from the Angels on the Night Journey except that they all said to me; ‘Upon you is Hijama cupping, O Muhammad’”(Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah -3477)

2. “The Best of Medicines”

Hijama was declared the best of medicines by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, alongside the Quran.

He ﷺ said: “Hijama cupping is the most helpful procedure for human beings to cure themselves.” (Al Bukhari # 5357)

3. Other Cultures Practice Cupping Therapy too

Cupping therapy has been practiced for centuries globally. The first documented medical text was found in 1550 BC in Egypt. Cupping was also discovered in China over 5,000 years ago and is still practiced to this day. It was commonly practiced in the Roman Empire, Islamic Empire, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, South Asia and USA. It was very popular during the middle ages and 18th and 19th Centuries in Europe. Right now it is most popular in China, Finland and Russia and many Islamic countries.

4. Cupping Therapy vs. Hijama Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is the name of the actual procedure itself. A vacuum is created in a cup and placed on the body. This vacuum causes a negative pressure and pulls the muscles into the cup and therefore, draws the blood to the cupped area. This is known as “dry cupping”. Then you remove the cup in order to make small, shallow incisions in that same area, before putting the cup back on. This pulls out the toxic blood, acids and excess fluids from the body. This is known as “Wet Cupping or Blood Cupping.”

But what differentiates hijama is the religious and spiritual aspect of the practice. “Hijama” is the Islamic version of cupping therapy.  Muslims practice hijama cupping therapy, in accordance to the way of the Prophet ﷺ. It means that the patient and hijama practitioner should have done their ablutions (wudu) and should recite Quran during the hijama procedure.

5. Hijama Returns The Body To A Normal State

Al-hijamah in Arabic literally means “to suck” and to “return to a normal state” of internal balance. It ultimately helps the body to create a balance, healthy alkaline environment by removing acidity. This fixes any problem that the body has, by bringing it to its normal state. Hijama cupping therapy is a holistic, super powerful detox which removes toxic and stagnant blood from your body. It expels negative, unhealthy elements from the body, and allows it to replenish itself.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best treatment is hijama cupping; it removes blood, lightens the back and sharpens the eyesight.” (At-Tirmidhi, 3053)

6. The Medical Benefits Are Well-Documented

Hijama Cupping is an excellent form of preventative and curative therapy. Below are some of the ways cupping helps:

• Boosts the circulatory and immune systems
• Cleanses and detoxifies the body
• Treats illness and relaxes the patient
• Pain relief
• Fertility
• Hijama is also useful for treating many muscular, skeletal, neurological, immune, cardio-vascular, respiratory, digestive and urinary issues.

Some of its benefits were highlighted by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger ﷺ of Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) said, “Hijama cupping on an empty stomach is best. It increases the intellect and improves the memory. It improves the memory of the one memorizing….” (Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah, 3488). 

7. It Works On An Emotional Level Too

Islamic medicine is holistic and works on the levels of mind, body and soul. Hijama cupping therapy is a minor, surgical procedure which has immediate physical effect. However, it also serves to alleviate, mental, emotional, spiritual and metaphysical issues. It is very relaxing and dispels anxiety and depression. According ibn Al Qaiyum, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had Hijama performed upon his head to remove black magic which had been cast  upon him;

Ibn al-Qaiyum (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions that the Messenger ﷺ was cupped on his head when he was afflicted with magic and that it is from the best of cures for this if performed correctly. [Zaad al Ma’aad (4/125-126)]

8. There Are Sunnah Points On Your Body

The traditional sunnah points for hijama therapy are on the upper back, which essentially target the heart, lungs, brain and spine. All are major foundations for optimal health. 

“Hijama cupping on the back of the neck treat seventy-two illnesses” (Collected by At-Tabarani)

Hijama serves to cleanse and unblock the major arteries and veins.

Anas narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to have Hijama Cupping done on the veins on the side of the neck and the upper back. (At Tirmidhi)

9. There Are Ideal Times To Do It

Hijama cupping is both a preventative and curative remedy. It is recommended that you should have a hijama detox, and then use hijama as a form of maintenance 2-4 times a year if you are healthy. If you have serious medical conditions, it can be performed more often. It is best to have hijama performed on the “Sunnah Days” according to hadith:

“Whoever performs Hijama cupping in the 17th, 19th and 21st day (of the Islamic Lunar month), then it is a cure for every disease”. [Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3861)].

10. The Hijama Therapist Has A Special Status

Imagine having a career in a blessed profession that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has praised himself;

The Prophet ﷺ said: “If there is anything good in the medicines with which you treat yourselves, it is in the incision of the hijama therapist, or a drink of honey….” (Muslim #2205)

We encourage as many Muslims as possible to learn how to perform hijama professionally, in order to:

• Counter the negative side effects of alophathic medication and chemicals
• Treat the diseases that are untreatable even with modern medicine
• Have this treatment available to more people
• Have a satisfying and spiritually rewarding career
• Revive the forgotten sunnah of hijama.

The career of a professional hijama therapist is fulfilling and  benefits the practitioner in this life and the next.

Action Items

Now, armed with this phenomenal knowledge, be proactive. Here is your action list to be part of the revival of the sunnah of hijama cupping therapy:

• Book a hijama treatment and get treated – experience it first hand.
• Learn how to perform hijama and treat your family and friends safely
• Expand your skill set and get qualified as a Certified Hijama Practitioner
• Start treating the community professionally and safely
• Promote hijama, spread the word and educate the Muslim community
• Establish the sunnah of hijama cupping therapy

May Allah grant us excellent health so we may worship Him well.

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

Source: Seekershub Hijama Cupping Therapy

Your Properties And Your Children Are But A Trial

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Breach of trust is an evil conduct lined with many a curse, therefore, going ahead to do something like that is not what an intelligent person would choose to do - and, since the cause of negligence or shortcoming in fulfilling the rights of the servants of Allah is usually one's attachment to property and children, Allah warns us:

وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَ‌ٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٨

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

The word فِتْنَةٌ (fitnah) carries the sense of 'trial' as well as that of 'punishment' and the cause of punishment. There are occasions when one's own property and children become a can of troubles for him and that they would push him into heedlessness, negligence and disobedience and become the very cause of punishment right here in this world is all too obvious.

A Trial -- the sense could be that Allah aims to put you to test through your property and children for these are His blessings. You can prove whether you become grateful and obedient after having received these, or that you choose to be ungrateful and disobedient.

A Punishment -- Should you become all engrossed in your love for your property and children and bring upon yourself the displeasure of Allah, then, these very children and property will become your punishment. There are occasions within this mortal world when one is engulfed into all sorts of hardships because of property and children and he starts experiencing the heat of punishment right here. Even if the case be otherwise, the property which was acquired or spent by ways counter to the injunctions of Allah will itself become, in the Hereafter, the active agent of punishment through snakes, scorpions and brandings by fire.

A Cause of punishment -- Once these things become the cause of heedlessness towards and disobedience to Allah and His injunctions, they automatically become the cause of punishment.

At the end of the verse, Allah says, 'and that Allah has with Him a great reward.' In other words, we should understand clearly that for a person who is not all-subdued by his love for property and children while doing his duty of being obedient to the commands of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), there is a great reward for him with Allah.

The person who keeps his emotion subservient to his reason, remains steadfast in this trial and sees to it that the obedience to Allah and love for Him stay ahead of everything - which is called Taqwa, then, he is blessed with three things in return. These are: (1) Furqan (the criterion of distinguishing between right and wrong), (2) Kaffarah of Sayyi' (the expiation of evils deeds) and (3) Maghfirah (forgiveness from Allah).

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٢٩

O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (29) [Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:29]

May Allah protect us from heedlessness and the fitnah of our property and our children, forgive us our sins, enable us to distinguish between right and wrong, and make us among His obedient and grateful servants. 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

Put in Your Best Effort and Allah Will Take Care of the Rest

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) knew the result of the Battle of Badr before it happened, but he did not sit back and wait for Allah to send the victory. He did his part--planned and prepared the army, not stepping on anybody's toes, and he made a long and intense du'a (supplication) to the Lord the whole night.

We might find certain things difficult or impossible to do but we do them anyway to the best of our ability because we are certain that Allah does not burden a soul beyond his scope (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286). But we don't stand still. We need to push ourselves whether it be giving up haram or doing more worship at night or seeking religious knowledge or memorizing Qur'an or developing good character or learning patience. If we beseech Allah's help humbly, the moment it is going to be beyond our ability, help will come but we have to do our part.

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ ﴿٢١٤

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (214)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214]

Remember Maryam binti Imran, the mother of 'Isa, peace be upon them. When it became unbearable for Maryam to bear the labor pain, Allah sent her comfort.

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" Then [the baby 'Isa or Jibril] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'"

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:23-26]

She was told to shake the palm trunk and dates fell for her to eat to gain back her strength. If we were to ask 10 men to shake a date palm trunk at the base, they won't be able to move it even a fraction. How could a woman in labor, weak and exhausted, shake it? What's the point with shaking the tree? Allah can easily make the dates fell on her lap without any effort from her, kun fayakun, but Allah wants her to do her part.

If we want something from Allah, we have to take the first step. If we wait and expect things will come to us without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward laziness and procrastination.

So until the help comes, hang in there patiently and at the same time do our part to the best of our ability.


May Allah grant us His mercy and help us in all our affairs. 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 Your Future? If You Want to Know, Come to the Qur'an

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

Assalaamu alaykum

When Allah describes our relationship with the Qur'an, He always compares it to water. There is a close relationship that you have with water and that you have with the Qur'an.

A person can only survive for a few days without water. In hot conditions with no water, dehydration can set in within an hour. A baby locked in a hot car or someone who is physically overexerted in the heat without replacing fluids can actually die in a period of several hours. Once the body is deprived of fluids the cells and organs in the body begin to deteriorate. The presence of water in the body could mean the difference between life and death. This is because every organ in the body needs water to continue living. The survival of the kidney, and heart, and the purity of the blood depend on the adequate intake of water.

Humans need water to live, plain and simple. You can't say, "I already had water yesterday, I have no need for it today." Your thirst doesn't let you go. Every few hours, you have to drink again whether it is water or some fruit that has liquid in it.  

Similarly, every few hours you have to fill the thirst of your hearts or it will eventually die. And that water of revelation is the Qur'an itself. Every few hours we stand before Allah in prayers and say "ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَ‌ٰ‌طَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ( Guide us to the straight path - Qur'an, Al-Fatihah 1:5]", we are quenching our thirsty heart with the guidance in the Qur'an.

However, to receive that guidance, you have to come to the Qur'an with no doubt at all that Qur'an is the Speech of Allah. When people are not motivated to follow the words of Allah or when they are not taking the commands of Allah seriously, it is usually because they have doubts. We have to convince ourselves about the miraculous power of the Qur'an and why it can only be the words of Allah. So when you ask for guidance, and then when the guidance come, you will follow it.

Doubt is removed when you see a miracle. The miracles inside the Qur'an are not for the eyes, like the parting of sea with a staff (the miracle given to Prophet Musa) or bringing to life a clay bird (the miracle given to Prophet Isa). Those miracles, even if someone wasn't a follower of Musa or Isa (peace be upon them), would see them if they were there. But those miracles died after that generation of believers of Musa and Isa and they have become just a story.

The miracle of the Qur'an is for the ears and it is not for every ear. There are people who hate Islam before and after they read it, they hate Islam more, and there are people who are skeptical about Islam before and after they read a translation, they become more skeptical.

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُ‌ونَ ٱلْقُرْ‌ءَانَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ‌ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَـٰفًا كَثِيرً‌ۭا ﴿٨٢

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction.

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:82]

Allah decided that the miracle of the Last Message is no longer free. Not everybody who glances at it can see the miracle. The only way you will find the miracle if you come looking for it, reflect in it, ponder it, and dive into it really deep. And then it will become clear that the Qur'an is only from God. If you give it a shallow look, it will give you nothing.

كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَ‌كٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُ‌وٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ‌ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٢٩

[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. (29)

[Qur'an, Saad 38:29]

Qur'an, not only has the power to guide you, it is actually actively guiding you. Qur'an is a living experience for the believers. There are miracles of guidance in the Qur'an that only you will experience and nobody can explain it to you. You could be in a state of difficulty, and when you open Allah's book and read some page and the ayah in it, it is going to have exactly the answer to your problem. This is a personal gift of guidance from Allah to you. When the generation of the Companions had a problem, Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) brought down revelation to them through Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). But for us, the entire 23 years of revelation is with us. It will always give us guidance as though it is just being brought down to us.

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَ‌يْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَ‌زَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣

Alif Laam Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2)

[Qur'an, A-Baqarah 2:1-2]

If you want to lead a careful life, a life pleasing to Allah, there is no way Allah is going to give you misguidance. There is no way Allah will not give you guidance if you want guidance. If you turn to Allah, there is no doubt that His Book will absolutely guide. The Qur'an is the one place of counsel that will not let you down, and will lead you to an eternal blissful future.

May Allah grant us a sound understanding of His Book and enable us to follow His guidance and grant us an excellent ending (husnul khaatimah). 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) -- True Wealth

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Many people mistakenly assume that true wealth is that of money and property. It is true that wealth is a great blessing from Allah which He bestows upon His servants. And the one who earns it purely, and spends it properly, and gives it to those that deserve it, without a doubt earns a great reward from Allah.

But at the same time, wealth is not the greatest blessing that can be given to mankind. No matter how much wealth a person has, eventually it will leave him, and pass on into the hands of others. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded us of this when he asked the Companions,

“Who amongst you loves the money of his inheritors more than his own money?” In other words, who amongst you loves the money that is in the hands of the people who will inherit from him when he dies (such as one’s sons and daughters) more than the money that he himself owns.

They replied, “O Messenger of Allah, there is no one of us except that he loves his own money more than he loves the money of his inheritors.”

So the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “But his money is only that which he sent forth, and the money of his inheritors is what he left behind.” [Bukhari]

So in reality most of the money that a person owns will eventually end up in the hands of his or her inheritors, and only that part which was spent for the sake of Allah will actually benefit one in the Hereafter.

Allah Almighty emphasizes this point in Surah al-Kahf with the teaching that:

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

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)

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

So money and children can be a comfort and a pleasure of this life, but righteous deeds are what will remain permanently — not one’s family or wealth. It is these righteous deeds which will bring a person Allah's Pleasure, and through which a person can hope for an ever-lasting reward in the Hereafter.

No matter how much money a person earns, in reality he only utilizes a very small fraction of it. Ponder over the wise reminder from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Abdullah ibn al-Shakhir reported,

“I entered upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he was reciting ‘Alhakum al-takathur’:

أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ

Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you (1)[Qur'an, At-Takathur 102:])

He said,

‘The son of Adam would say: ‘My money! My money!’ But do you have, O son of Adam, anything of your money, except that which you ate, and it was put to waste, or that which you wore, till it wore out, or that which you gave in charity, so you have sent it forth (to get its rewards in the Hereafter)?’” [Muslim]

In this hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded us that, in reality, all of our money is utilized in only three ways. Firstly, the food that we eat, and this eventually is transformed into waste. Secondly, the clothes that we wear, and this eventually wears out such that it is unusable. Thirdly, the money that has been given out for the sake of Allah, and this is the only part whose benefit remains and returns to us. So of what benefit is it for a person to gloat over ‘his money’, and boast about it, and be eager for it, when in reality so little of it is actually spent in such a way as to provide eternal benefit?

Because of these factors, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded mankind that wealth is not proportionate to the amount of material possessions a person owns. True wealth is to be content with what one has, and then to use it to strive for the everlasting reward of the Hereafter. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

“Richness is not in the quantity of possessions (that one has); rather, true richness is the richness of one’s self (or contentment).” [Bukhari]

He also stated,

“That which is little yet sufficient is better than that which is much but distracts.”

And in a third hadith,

“He is indeed successful who has been guided to Islam, and his sustenance was sufficient for him, and he was content with it.” [Muslim]

Lastly,

“The best sustenance that you are given is that which is sufficient.”

From this, we can clearly see that true success and wealth is found in the peace and satisfaction which results from sincerity in faith and practice. The contentment of the heart is what makes a person realize and appreciate this true richness.

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

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

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

May Allah grant us contentment and the highest Paradise and His Noble Countenance. 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) -- The Right Guidance

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Everything in the Qur'an has a purpose, and nothing in it is put haphazardly. It is really important to note what Allah tells us and it is equally important to note what Allah decided not to tell us. Everything we need to know, Allah tells us in His Book. Qur'an is a Book of teaching, not a Book of information. Teaching is different than giving information. Teaching is a constant back and forth with lots of repetition, so we get it and we don't forget it.

So every ayah in the Qur'an is extremely valuable. And we cannot pick and choose what we like and what we don't like in order to act upon it.

In the story of the companions of the cave of Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Most High tells us,

قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا۟ ۖ لَهُۥ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِۦ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِى حُكْمِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا ﴿٢٦

Say, "Allah is most knowing of how long they remained. He has [knowledge of] the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. How Seeing is He and how Hearing! They have not besides Him any protector, and He shares not His legislation with anyone." (26)

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

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]

The companions of the cave were hidden. The cave was a great place for them to hide and multiple barriers put so they won't be discovered. And yet while nobody could see them, Allah could still see them very well. Even the most private and minutest detail of their conversation, Allah could hear them.

وَإِذِ ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأْوُۥٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿١٦

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

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

وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿١٩﴾ إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِى مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿٢٠

And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you. (19) Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or return you to their religion. And never would you succeed, then - ever." (20)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:19-20]

Obviously they had more conversation than this. Qur'an does not have their entire conversation but picks the highlights of their conversation. What we can take from this is that whatever Allah picked must have something to teach us.

And remember Allah hears and sees everything we say and do. So let this awareness influence what you say and do today and everyday.

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.

May Allah make us of those who reflect and grant excellence in our worship. May Allah increase our love for the Qur'an, teach us the Qur'an, help us live by the Qur'an, and make us His elect people of the Qur'an.

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

Forgiveness for Your Well Being and Your One Way Ticket to Paradise

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Many of us find it very difficult to forgive people, including our own mothers, for what they have said or done that might have hurt us. We hold grudges for days, weeks, months and even years, unable to forget the past. We feel justified in feeling this way. After all, we think we are the ones wronged. Unfortunately, the inability to forgive affects us spiritually and psychologically, and has a detrimental effect on our health. 

As believers, our focus is not simply in how much we pray, fast, or how many times we have gone for hajj or umrah, or giving da'wah to others, although that has its place. Rather we should be focused on gaining the pleasure of Allah, so much so that people’s wrongs against us are insignificant. This is why Allah described the believers as,

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ‌ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَ‌ٰحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا۟ هُمْ يَغْفِرُ‌ونَ ﴿٣٧

And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive, (37)

[Qur'an, Ash-Shu’ara 42:37].

When we are preoccupied with the wrongs others have committed against us, we lose focus of one of the most beautiful ways to get closer to Allah and gain His mercy.

Forgiveness does not mean that you cannot learn from the trial. It doesn’t mean that the person did not do wrong, nor does it justify what they did. If you trusted someone and they betrayed your trust, forgiveness does not mean that you have to trust them again if they haven’t given you reason to. You are able to treat them well, without resentment in your heart, but if you learned something about their character, you should keep that in mind when dealing with them.

Forgiveness is not for the weak. Being able to forgive those who have wronged you is a mark of spiritual strength and confidence. When you forgive, you grow, your heart begins to heal, your back straightens up, your eyes clear so that you can see the road ahead.

It doesn’t matter if the other person deserves forgiveness or not. Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. If someone has hurt you, don’t worry about receiving an apology or explanation, or making them understand you. You’ll rarely get an explanation that makes sense. In fact, if you want to move on, the best way to do that is to forgive.

Resentment is a chain that binds you to the other person, but forgiveness breaks the chain, so that you can release that person along your anger.

Anger is a spiritual sickness; but when you forgive you become healthy--mind, body and soul.

In ancient Chinese thought, the state of forgiveness is like a wide, deep valley. That’s because it opens your mind and allows your thoughts to flow freely, while anger constricts your mind and makes you blind.

There is a direct correlation between the ways we treat others and how Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) treats us. We all know the Prophet’s (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) famous saying “Have mercy on those on the earth, and the One in heaven will have mercy on you” [Tirmidhi].

Of course, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is incomparably greater and more merciful than us. Therefore, whatever we do for others, Allah will multiply that for us. If we are sincere in wanting Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to forgive us for our many slip-ups and sins, we should be prepared to do that for others.

We are not being asked to condone what others have done to us, but rather we should acknowledge that they have hurt us and it was wrong. We should reflect on why this was hurtful, what may have been the motives of the person who hurt us, and what we should learn. And then we should move on, because we cannot change the past, but we can certainly use it to empower ourselves and become better people, inshaa Allah.

When we take the step to learn from a hurtful experience, we should be able to prevent ourselves from doing the same to others. Many times we condemn what we do ourselves- we are hurt that someone has spoken behind our backs, but we backbite all the time. We feel slighted when we are not appreciated by our parents, but never once did we recognize and thank others for the things they do for us. This introspection should help us to gain greater clarity into our own dealings with people.

Forgiving others teaches us empathy. When we let go of anger, we can better understand those who are put in the same situation that we were in previously. Sometimes it helps us to not demonize the person who hurt us; the specific thing that they did may have been bad, but when we step back, we sometimes learn that they have their own baggage that caused them to act in a certain way. This is not to condone what they did, but it is to enable us to see that the world is not always so black and white.

خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ‌ بِٱلْعُرْ‌فِ وَأَعْرِ‌ضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿١٩٩

Hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.

(Qur’an, Al-A'raf 7:199]

In other words be constantly forgiving but don’t give up your principles (“command what is right”). If you’ve forgiven the ignorant and they persist in their hurtful ways, then move on and leave them behind. Separate yourself from those who are negative, and seek the company of people who are supportive and kind. Hold no rancor. When you lay your head on the pillow, sleep in peace, and you’ll wake up with tranquility.

We can learn forgiveness from our small children or grandchildren. Even when you made mistakes to them, their love flow like a mountain stream, no grudges whatsoever. No one forgives with more grace than a child, and no one forgives more fully and perfect than our Lord, the All-Merciful, the All-Wise.

Learn from this hadith...

The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was sitting with a group of sahabah (radhiAllahu anhum) in the masjid and he said “A man will now enter who is from the people of Paradise” and a sahabi walked in. He (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) did this for three days, and every time, it was the same person who entered the masjid. Abdullah bin ‘Amr ibn al-'Aas (radi Allahu anhuma) wanted to know what quality this man possessed that made the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) say that about him, so he spent three nights with that man. 'Abdullah noticed that the man didn’t do anything out of the ordinary - he didn’t fast all the time, he slept some of the night, he didn’t pray tahajjud and so on. So after the three days, 'Abdullah told him the real reason why he requested to stay with him - that he was singled out to be from the people of Paradise and wanted to know why - and he asked him what it was that could be the reason why he was from the people of Jannah. The man replied: “My deeds are nothing more than what you saw”. When 'Abdullah left, he called him back in and said: “My deeds are nothing more than what you saw, but every night, before I go to sleep, I forgive whoever has wronged me. I remove any bad feelings towards anyone from my heart.” Thereupon ‘Abdullah said to him: “This difficult quality to obtain is what granted you this rank”. [Ahmad]

That is what it means to be true believer.

May Allah give us the strength to forgive others for their faults and grant us well-being in this life and the next. 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

Don't Puff Up, Humble Down

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Everything around us and everything happening to us and around us testify to Allah's greatness. If you can't see that, just look up to the skies and see what's up there, whatever time of the day, in whatever weather conditions -- it is tremendous.  Don't wait to do that because you might not have the chance to do it anymore. This is your opportunity to really know your Creator and come to a realization that may take you to success in this life and the next. Yesterday, a student here, in his early 20s, a student leader beloved by many, passed away. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. You don't know when you will be next. Life is short. Death is certain. Once in a while Allah shows us the people He took away. It is not a coincidence nor without purpose. It is a reminder for those who reflect and should spur us to right action.

Imagine if you can see what is beyond the sky. It is something more tremendous beyond your imagination.

All that is known of the universe, including what we can see, is within what is called the lowest heaven (part of the temporary world).

All the stars are located within the lowest heaven and we haven't been able to reach to the end of the creation of the stars. So it is a vast creation. Above it is six more heavens and above it is Bait-ul-Ma'mur and above it is Sidratul Muntaha, a lote tree which marks the end of the heavens. Beyond that is another world -- Paradise with rivers emanating from it, the Throne of Allah, the Footstool (Kursi).

The lowest heaven, which we are in, compared to the one above it is like a ring in the desert, and the second compared to the third is like a ring in the desert, and on and on until we get to the seventh heaven. The seventh heaven compared to the Kursi is like a ring in the desert. All the world we know today is within the seventh heaven as Allah Almighty says,

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]

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 sallallahu alayhi wassallam said that the skies are moaning and they are justified in moaning because every space equivalent to four fingers there are angels bowing down in ruku' or prostrating in sujud worshipping Allah Almighty. Then, who are we compared to this massive and honorable creation of angels?

The same thing is to be said about Bait-ul-Ma'mur. So as here the Muslims will visit the Ka'ba in Bait-ul-Allah in Makkah, the angels will visit Bait-ul-Ma'mur. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said that Bait-ul-Ma'mur is visited by 70,000 new angels everyday and they never come back to it again. Imagine, this has been going on for millions or billions or whatever number of years, Allah knows best. How insignificant our worship compared to the worship of these honorable creation!

You see, there is such a vast creation up there that this itself should humble us. Every time we look up to the skies it should remind ourselves of this and we humble down and don't defy Allah. Every time you think you are somebody and start to puff up, remind yourself of this, and humble down. Only the righteous have ranks with His most honorable creation.

Allah Almighty says,

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

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

[Qur’an An-Nisa 4:69]

Bottomline, Allah does not need us. He does not need our prayers, nor our fasts, our zakat/charity, our hajj/umrah, and He does not benefit from our worship and obedience nor harm by any disobedience. He can replace each and everyone of us at any moment with nations who love Him. We are the ones who utterly in need of Him. We need Him in every moment of our lives -- in this world and the Hereafter. So be grateful to Him for the innumerable blessings -- for creating you, for giving you life, limbs, parents, children, intelligence, friends, technology, science, medicine, things -- tangible and non-tangible, ..., for making the other creation subservient to humans, ...

How do you show gratitude? You must use His blessings to worship Him, to attain His pleasure, and not use them to disobey Him. 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 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.

Allah Almighty says,

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﴾ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً قَالُوا۟ يَـٰحَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ ﴿٣١

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) And they say, "There is none but our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected." (29) If you could but see when they will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will [then] say, "So taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve." (30) Those will have lost who deny the meeting with Allah, until when the Hour [of resurrection] comes upon them unexpectedly, they will say, "Oh, [how great is] our regret over what we neglected concerning it," while they bear their burdens on their backs. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear. (31)

[Qur'an Al-An'am 6:27-31]

May Allah grant us steadfastness and help us worship Him in the manner most pleasing 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

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Road to Success: Knowledge, Patience, and Humility

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Reading or reciting Surah Al-Kahf, the 18th chapter of the Qur'an, is something we should look forward to do every Friday. In it there is a story from which we can derive comfort while going through this life. The lesson contained in this story is this -- "You should have full faith in the wisdom of what is happening in the Divine Factory in accordance with the will of Allah.

As the reality is hidden from us, we can be at a loss to understand the wisdom of what is happening, and sometimes if it appears that things are going against us, we might become angry and say or do things we might regret later. The fact is that if the curtain be removed from the "unseen", we would ourselves come to know that what is happening here is for the best. Even if some times it appears that something is going against us, we will see that in the end it also produces some good results for us.

Let's focus on the story of Musa and Al-Khidr and what we can learn from the incidents of the meeting.

The first story begins "So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, al-Khidhr tore it open. [Musa] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing." (71) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:71]

The second story begins “So they set out, until when they met a boy, al-Khidhr killed him. [Musa] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing." (74)”.  [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:74]

The third story begins "So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so al-Khidhr restored it. [Musa] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment." (77) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:77]

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

"As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force. (79)" [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:79]

The lesson from these stories is that if it appears to you that Allah is putting you through difficult moments don't be afraid because there is goodness behind it.

"And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief. (80) So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy. (81)" [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:80]

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

"And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord..." [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:82]

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

The three stories compiled the biggest catastrophes we may face during our lifetime-- injustices, loss of loved ones (through death, etc), and financial problems. However, if you patiently endure them, Allah will reward you with the best.

So, no matter how difficult your life maybe, how bad people are to you, how hopeless everything may seem, you must be sure that Allah wants the best for you.  Have full and complete faith in Allah. Be patient with what you go through. Repel evil with good.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The four points in this story:

1-The value of knowledge.

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

2-Our knowledge is very little compared to Allah's, like water drop in a sea.

We sometimes face difficult situations which we believe are completely to our disadvantage when Allah means our advantage and benefit, this is best demonstrated when Allah brings our own salvation from menace just as He said in Surah Al-Qasas, ”...but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily, We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.” [Qur'an, Al-Qasas 28:7]

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

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

Listen to what Allah says in the Qur'an,

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٢٥٥

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

Memorize the verse (also called Ayat-ul-Kursi] and recite it after each prayer for your reminder and protection.

May Allah save us from the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. May Allah grant us patience, strong determination, humility, and success in this life and the next. May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge and grant us sound understanding of make us of His religion, and protect us from His disobedience and displeasure. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

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

Wassalaam