Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Trials of Wealth and Children

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah warns us of the Day of Resurrection which is sure to come, no doubt about it.

... وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْ‌نَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَ‌يْبَ فِيهَآ

And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allah is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt...

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:21]

He warns of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward.

So don't let this worldly life distract you from Allah and keep you away from His remembrance.

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ‌ عِندَ رَ‌بِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ‌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦﴾ وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ‌ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَ‌ى ٱلْأَرْ‌ضَ بَارِ‌زَةً وَحَشَرْ‌نَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ‌ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٧

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) And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone. (47)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46-47]

إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَ‌ٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥

Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (15)

[Qur'an, At-Taghabun 64:15-18]

Allah commanded us not to let our wealth and our children divert us from remembrance of Allah.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَ‌ٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿٩

 O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers. (9) [Qur'an, Al-Isra' 63:9)

May Allah bring us out of the state of heedlessness and carelessness to the state of wakefulness. May Allah help us to worship Him with excellence and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next.

O Allah, Most High, Most Magnificent, Most Forbearing, Full of Wisdom, Most Generous, Ever Near and Ready to respond to Your servants, Most Loving: keep us far from the splendor of this life, the evil end of heedlessness, lust and bad manners; forgive our sins; relieve us from our burdens; remove evil from us; and deliver us from distress, and make for us a way out of it. You have power over all things.

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) -- Your Children, Your Constant Trial

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Children are no doubt a huge tests for parents. For those who have children, you know what I am talking about. We are in a constant trial. The problems may come like waves, one after another, and require lots of patience on our part.

Allah Almighty says,

نَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥

Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (15)

[Qur'an At-Taghabun 64:15]

The wealth and the children are a test from Allah to His slave, so that He may know his ability of (correct) upbringing of his children, and the payment of the zakah on his wealth.

Allah Almighty says,

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]

Raising and teaching our children to be good Muslims and decent human beings is a huge challenge especially in this technological era. They are so many windows available for them to look into, and you can't keep up with them. It's scary out there. Shaytan is everywhere. We have to try our best to direct our children to the right windows and always seek Allah's help and make lots of du'a for them.

The one consolation for us is in the story in Surah Al-Kahf in which Allah tells us about the meeting of Prophet Musa and Al-Khidr, peace be upon them. Al-Khidr reinforced a broken wall in a town in which people were selfish and inhospitable. Beneath the wall lay a treasure that belonged to two orphans, so in order to protect the treasure from the people of the town, Al-Khidr fixed the wall. It was revealed that the reason he was ordered to fix the wall for the orphans was because their father was a righteous man.

وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِى ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿٨٢

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. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience." (82)

[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:82]

Sa'id bin Jubayr narrated from Ibn 'Abbas: “They were taken care of because their father was a righteous man, although it is not stated that they themselves were righteous.”

So, so long as we live, for every breath we take, we keep working on ourselves to do good and be righteous servants of Allah and pray that Allah will protect our children from the menace of this world and disobedience. He is the best Protector and Guardian.

We can't control people's actions, including our children's, but we can control our own actions. Uphold Allah's commands and Allah will take care of your children whether you are with them or not.

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said, "The best of wealth is the righteous for a righteous person." [related by Ahmad]

May Allah grant us righteousness and righteous offspring and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Taqwa of Allah: Respecting and Protecting the Womb

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The real way you have taqwa of Allah (Godfearingness, righteousness) is when you have cautious of the womb.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَآءً ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا ﴿١

O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer. (1)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa' 4:1]

We are to forever dignify and respect the womb, i.e. the mother. Ultimately, all relationships is a by-product of the womb. We are related to our siblings through the womb of the mother. Husband and wife share the relationship of the womb and through them coming together, a child is born.

The basic unit of society is the family and the foundation of society is the womb of the mother. That relationship is to be respected first and foremost in the highest of form.

The connection of the mother is the connection of humanity. So be cautious of the womb.

We depend on our mothers when we were little but when you get older, you get more and more separated from your mother. You don't see eye to eye with her anymore. Even when you feel free from her, you are not free. Don't think you have a free rein. Allah has your neck. Allah should be feared. He is watchful over everyone, always.

May Allah grant us taqwa and increase us in taqwa and help us protect the wombs and enable us to give due respect to the wombs and strengthen our bonds of kinship. 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) -- Choosing and Keeping Righteous Companions

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Islam taught us many things and if we apply even a fraction of what we know, life would be wonderful for us and people around us. Take for example the following two ahadeeth:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported a tradition of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): Every person is influenced by the faith and way of life of his friends. Therefore, one must be very mindful when selecting his friends. [Bukhari]

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Prophet  (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was asked what sort of friends should we keep in our company. To this he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied: The one who reminds you of Allah when you see him, and adds to your knowledge when he speaks, and reminds you of the Hereafter when he acts. (Qurtubi)

If we maintain the reading of Surah Al-Kahf every Friday, we are directly reminded of some of the virtues of choosing and keeping righteous companions. Just look at the following verses of Surah Al-Kahf:

In the story of the companions of the cave...

A source of mercy, guidance and help from your Lord:

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى ﴿١٣
  
It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:13]

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]

In the story of a man with two gardens ...

Your righteous friend will remind you of your Lord before it's too late:

His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man? (37) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:37]

وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٢

And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." (42) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:42]

In the story of Musa and al-Khidr...

Help you in the path of knowledge:

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠

And [mention] when Musa said to his young companion, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (60) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:60]

فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿٦٢

So when they had passed beyond it, [Musa] said to his young companion, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue." (62)  [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:62]

In the story of Dhul-Qarnayn ...

Give you support to ward off evil:

الُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤

They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?" (94)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:94]

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿٩٥

He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam. (95) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:95]

فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا ﴿٩٧

So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration. (97) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:97]

Where do you find people righteous people? Actually they are not hard to find if you are one of them. Birds of a feather flock together.

First, you need to look to your heart and ask these questions. Does my heart incline towards righteous people? Is the heart avid in desiring righteousness? If your heart is moved at the mention of righteous people, this is a sign that you are one of them.

One of the companions came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and said, “I traveled through the day and night and I am filled with thirst and my mount is tired and fatigued, and it was just because I wanted to reach you before you leave this world to ask you a question.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, asked him, “What is it that you want to ask me about?” He replied, “My question is, what is the sign of those whom Allah chooses, and what is the sign of those whom Allah does not choose?” So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, asked him, “In what state did you awake this morning?” Note here that the man asked about divine election and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked him what his state was. He said, “I awoke this morning loving goodness, and joyous with any goodness I do, and saddened by any goodness that I missed….” “Enough,” said the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, “these are the signs of Allah in those whom he chooses. If He wanted you for something else he would have prepared you for it.” [at-Tabrani]

May Allah grant us righteousness and righteous companions and make righteous works beloved to us. 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

Rights of the Qur'an

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has complained to Allah Almighty against those who abandon the Qur'an and turn away from it.

وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا ﴿٣٠

And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (30)

[Qur'an Al-Furqan 25:30]

A person abandons the Qur'an in six ways [Qurtubi]:

1) He is not reading the Qur'an

2) He reads it but he is not understanding it, as if he has abandoned it

3) He reads it, understands it but not accepting it from his heart

4) He reads it, understands it, accepts it but he is not implementing it

5) He reads it, understands it, accepts it, implements it but it is limited to himself. He is not conveying to others

6) He is doing any these five things but sometimes, not all the time.

You see the companions and compare them with the disbelievers (kuffar). Abu Jahal, Abu Lahab and all the leaders who were against the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). They understood the Qur'an and most of them were able to read the Qur'an. It is mentioned in the seerah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab could not sleep at night before they listen to the Qur'an. So, they would go behind the houses of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) or Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and would listen to some parts of the Qur'an so they could get spiritually healed and then they would go back to their houses. So they read, they understood, and some of them accepted it in their hearts like Abu Talib. Abu Talib knew what his nephew, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was teaching is true but he did not implement it.

Here we are different then those people. There are people, among the Muslims, who read the Qur'an, understand the Qur'an, and accept the Qur'an from the heart but when it comes to implementing, we are different than the kuffar and the mushrikin of Makkah because the sahabah when they came to Islam, the first thing that they did was learning the Quran.

As Muslims, we owe six rights to the Qur'an:

1. To Read/Recite the Qur'an

The first word from angel Jibril alayhissalaam to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the first statement that he conveyed to people was "iqra'". What does that mean? It means, "Read/Recite." It means you have to read/recite the Qur'an. So the difference between sahabah and the kuffar is that the sahabah read/recite the Qur'an.

The proper way to recite the Quran is explained in a science known as “tajweed”. It is mandatory for a person to read the Quran with tajweed (i.e. following the rules of recitation) because if one recites the words incorrectly, it could lead to changing the meaning.

How can you recite the Quran with tajweed?

-- Get a qualified teacher ASAP. You cannot do this alone as someone has to be there to spot your mistakes.

-- Practice, practice, practice and after that, practice some more.

What if you have no teachers in your area? Get recommendation from people for online teachers.

Also, you could try to keep listening to the ayaat (verses) over and over again.

An important point regarding reciting the Quran is that many people do not recite the Qur'an daily and they do not recite it in order. One is supposed to recite the Qur'an from Al-Fatihah, then move on to Al-Baqarah and so on until one reaches Surah An-Naas (the last Surah). After that, one returns to Al-Fatihah and starts all over again. That was what the  Companions of the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam)) did. Some of them recited the whole Qur'an in a month, others completed it in a week and still others finished it in three days. Yes, that may sound impossible but it’s not.

Apart from reciting the Qur'an in order, you should recite some of it daily even if you can only manage to recite a few verses. Don’t sleep without doing that, no matter how tired you are.

Just think about this: What if you were in bed and you realized that the gas stove was switched on or that you had left your car keys in your car (some people do that!)? Would you still go to sleep? No! You’d jump out of bed and solve the problem. So, if you’re in bed and you realize that you haven’t recited your daily portion of the Qur'an, then get up and do it. This way, you’ll make sure that it becomes a habit. Remember to recite with tajweed. The whole point of learning how to recite properly is to….well, recite properly.

2. To Understand the Qur'an

Allah Almighty says,

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ ﴿٢٤

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? (24) [Qur'an, Muhammad 45:24]

Allah has said, why don't they read the Qur'an with understanding as if their hearts were locked. This does not mean they don't want to understand. If they want to understand most certainly their hearts would be unlocked.

Allah Most High repeats this verse four times in Surah al-Qamar:

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ ﴿١٧

And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? (17) [Qur'an, al-Qamar 54:17]

Allah says the one who does not read the Qur'an with understanding, it seems that their hearts are locked. So we have to study and learn the Qur'an with understanding.

See the respect that we have given to the Qur'an. Today we are shouting, we are crying, and we are showing our hatred towards those people who are insulting and burning the Qur'an, but where do we stand when it comes to this respect of the Qur'an? How many of us have opened the Qur'an and read it with understanding, and how many of us everyday spend time reading the newspapers, magazines, or social messages (whatsapp, FB, online messages, etc)? Are newspapers, magazines, social messages important in the Qur'an? Allah is describing a person in the Day of Judgment is biting his fingers because he did not study and understand the Qur'an in this dunya. If we don't understand the Qur'an, if we don't implement Allah's message in our life, then when are we going to do that? What is the difference between we neglecting the commands and the message of Allah compare to those people? If the kuffar, if they are not following the Qur'an, it is because they are kuffar. When the kuffar don't want to study the Qur'an, it is because they are kuffar. They don't believe in it. But when we say we are Muslims, when we say we believe in the Qur'an, then what is the right that we owe to the Qur'an?

This is the right that we should read it, we should understand it. If we don't understand it then it seems that our hearts are locked, this is what has described about the kuffar. Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab when the Qur'an is recited, they turn their backs as if they have heard nothing. So the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) felt bad about it. So Allah revealed an ayah that he shouldn't feel bad about them, that they are human bodies, moving around as if they are living but they are dead. This is how Allah has compared them- like dead bodies, they cannot hear.

In order to understand the Qur'an, one needs to understand Arabic.

3. To Accept the Qur'an

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿١٢١

Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers. (121) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:121]

It was asked by a sahabi and ibn Abbas gives the answer that what is the meaning of reciting as as it should be recited -- he said as if it has to be followed, when the Qur'an says do this, you have to do that and when the Qur'an says don't do that, you have to prevent yourself from that. This is the right of recitation that you have accepted it from it.

4. To Implement the Qur'an

Allah Most High says,

ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣

Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember. (3) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:3]

It is our duty we have to fulfill the rights of the Qur'an by following it. When the Qur'an says halal, you have to say halal, when the Qur'an says haram, you have to say haram.

And it is not like the Jews and the Christians who believe in their Scriptures, but partly, and they did not follow the other part.

Allah Most High says,

أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ....

وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٥

...So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. (85) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:85]

So, how can we fulfill this right of the Quran? We need to take everything that it tells us as the truth. We need to judge everything else according to it and not the other way around. For example, suppose someone mentions a scientific “fact” that goes against the Qur'an. We need to accept what the Qur'an says and reject this scientific “fact”. Another way would be to learn aqeedah (creed). This is one way of increasing oneself in certainty and iman (faith).

As believers of the Qur'an, if we don't believe in the way it should be believed, and we don't follow as it should be followed, then we are falling into this ayah. This means, we have to follow completely, as Allah Most High says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِى ٱلسِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَ‌ٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢٠٨

O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. (208) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:208]

5. To Convey and Propagate the Qur'an

Another right that we owe to ََQur'an is conveying and propagating it. If we don't do this we are abandoning the Qur'an.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٦٧

O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. (67) [Qur'an, Al-Ma'ida 5:67]

If you limit this knowledge to yourself, that means you are not fulfilling those duties you are assigned with. Don't worry about the people, don't expect good from them when you want to good for them, and don't worry about their harm, it will not reach you unless Allah has willed it. Allah will protect you from the harm that might come through people

We know that this is the duty of every Muslim, whomever we know, wherever we go, wherever we sit. This is what Allah has described the best of nation:

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿١١٠

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. (110) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:110]

You are the best of nation if you give this dawah to the people, command them of good and stop them from evil otherwise, as Allah says in the Qur'an,

يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَ‌ٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٢٢

O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds. (122) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:123]

The Jews were the best but then Allah has cursed them because they did not fulfill the rights of their Scripture.

We are the best of nation if we fulfill these six rights and we will be successful in this dunya and akhirah.

Allah Most High mentions in Surah al-'Asr

وَٱلْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ ﴿٣

By time, (1) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (2) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. (3) [Qur'an, Al-'Asr 103]

6. To Do all Five  -- Reading it, Understanding it, Accepting it, Implementing it, Conveying it

We have to do all these things throughout our lives.

May Allah give us the power, strength and sincerity to speak the truth, to understand, to exhibit and to implement the Qur'an and Sunnah.

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

Rights of Parents -- Respecting and Being Dutiful to Your Parents (Birr al-Walidayn)

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Fulfilling the rights of your parents with excellence is your greatest religious duty after faith and worship.

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَ‌ٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ﴿٢٣

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. [Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:23]

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

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]

Respecting and caring for one’s parents (birr al-walidayn) is one of the foundational aspects of human society that all major religions and cultures teach. The lessons of birr al-walidayn have been reaffirmed and clarified by the Qur’an and the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

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, Luqman 31:14]

Ibn Abbas 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 sit back and access ourselves for a moment about how we have been treating our parents. We shy away from them when they may need something. We don't visit them 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. Many more have not spoken a word to their parents for months, maybe years. This is far from being good to our parents, let alone calling it excellent treatment, which we are commanded to do. May Allah protect us all.

May Allah guide us and our children and help us be dutiful to our parents and strengthen our relationships with 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

Rights of Children

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Source: SeekersHub -- Rights of Children
 
Children are a mercy and a gift from the Almighty Creator to the parents. They serve as a means of coolness for the eyes. Just ask those who have not been so fortunate with this great gift of Allah. As such, Shariah has set certain rights of the children that must be fulfilled by the parents.

Below is a brief look at some the fundamental rights of a child:

1) The first and foremost right of a child is that he/she has an Islamic upbringing. Parents are responsible for their religious and spiritual training.

Allah Most High says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6)

[Qur'an, al-Tahrim 66:6]

The above verse clearly states that it is not sufficient for an individual to achieve salvation in the hereafter by implementing the laws of Shariah on himself and not saving the family from the fire of Hell. Rather, in order to save oneself from the punishment of the hereafter, one must ensure that his children have a correct Islamic upbringing.

Many times it is observed that the father is actively involved in religious matters, yet his children are not even aware of the basics of Islam. He is very punctual with his Salat, Fasting, Zakat and the other aspects of Deen, whilst the son/daughter is engrossed in wrongdoings and sins, and the father is content with his personal actions.

It must be remembered that to save yourself from the fire of Hell, you must direct your family members towards good and forbid them from evil.

At times, people say that we have tried but the child does not want to listen, so it is not our fault. It is true that if the parents fulfilled their responsibility of good Islamic upbringing and the child never took heed of it, then the responsibility will be lifted. However, in the verse of the Qur’an, the word ‘fire’ was used indicating that you must try and save your offspring from the punishment of the hereafter as you would try to save them if they were entering into fire in this world. If you failed to do this, then you will also be held responsible for their actions.

2) The parents are responsible for the religious education of the child. Children must be taught the basics of Islamic doctrine that includes Aqida, oneness of Allah and his attributes, Sirah of the blessed Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), basics of what is lawful and what is unlawful, the Fiqh with regards to Salat, fasting, etc…

3) Parents are also responsible for the moral training of the child which is to learn and put into practice the principles of morality and ethics. They should be taught that telling lies, deceiving, backbiting, quarelling, fighting, theft, abusive language, etc are not acceptable in any way, and the parents must themselves set a good example.

4) Physical training of children is also an important parental responsibility, which ensures children remain alert and healthy. They should be encouraged to take part in physical exercises that are beneficial for the body.

5) Parents must ensure that they select good and pious friends for their children, and prevent them from evil and bad company.

6) Children must be shown love, affection in every possible way. Parents should spend time with them and not let them feel neglected in any way.

7) Finally, the father is responsible for the financial support of his children. However, there are few situations here:

a) If the son or daughter is rich due to acquiring wealth by inheriting or receiving a gift, then the father is not responsible to provide for them financially, rather, their expenses will be paid from their own money.

Allah Most High says:

“The father will bear the costs of their food and clothing on equitable terms.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 233)
Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“It is necessary upon the father to financially support his children (male or female) if they are poor and have not reached puberty.” (Durr al-Mukhtar)

b) If they don’t possess wealth and have reached puberty, then there are two possibilities:
Firstly, if they are able to work and provide for themselves, then the responsibility from the father will be lifted.

Imam Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“If they are able to work, then the father will be obliged to find work for them and their expenditure will be from their own earnings…..This also includes females in that she will find a job that suits her such, such as sewing and weaving.” (Radd al-Muhtar, 3/612)

Secondly, if they are unable to work, then the father will be responsible for supporting them financially.

Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“Similarly, providing financial support for a grownup is necessary if he is unable to earn.” (Durr al-Mukhtar)

c) In the case where the child has not yet reached puberty (and has no wealth), then if the father is alive, he will have to provide, and if he has passed away then the mother will be responsible along with other immediate members of the family.

It should be remarked here that the fuqaha have mentioned that acquiring religious knowledge is a good enough excuse for the son/daughter not being able to earn, thus (in light of ‘C’) the father should be responsible for maintenance. However, Ibn Abidin mentions that this was when students were serious and genuine with regards to their studies, whereas now, most of them waist their time and eventually money. However, if the child is intelligent and serious in studying, then his maintenance will be upon the father.

However, this is with regards to essential and basic Islamic knowledge. The Fuqaha have mentioned that acquiring the essentials is personally obligatory (fard ayn), thus parents can not prevent the child from acquiring it. In order to study beyond the essentials, the permission of the parents must be first sought.

by
Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

May Allah help us become better parents and help us raise our children according to what pleases Him. May Allah make our children and offspring a joy and happiness to their parents and the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). May Allah save us and our families from Hellfire and enter us all into the highest Paradise with His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). 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) -- Setting Goals

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

Assalaamu alaykum

If you haven't been reciting Surah Kahf every Friday,  make it a goal to recite it every Friday. In it there are many lessons to help us in our personal transformation and achieving a successful life inshaa Allah.

Other than reciting it, we should take the opportunity today to really understand Surah Kahf by first, know what you read in terms of the meaning, and find a good tafsir and commit to finish reading it today. (I don't recommend video watching or audio listening at this time). This may take a few hours of your time today, but it is well worth your time. Don't put this off for procrastination is one of the potent tricks of Shaytan to prevent us from achieving success in this life and the next.

As Muslims we should constantly be assessing our lives and setting goals and making resolutions, rather than waiting for special days during the year to perform the exercise. This is the attitude of successful people.

We don't need to dig far to know this. We see a powerful example in the life of Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) whose endless efforts and perseverance with the help of Allah, brought guidance to humanity at large and as a result of which we see more than a billion Muslims on this planet today. He was committed to Allah's religion, and through his wisdom, hard work, commitment, perseverance, and Allah’s will, he achieved what he had set out to achieve.

In the stories of Surah Al-Kahf, we can see more great examples:

The young companions of the cave were committed to Allah's religion that they were willing to leave the comfort of their "homes" and retreated to a cave. Allah complimented them and increased them in guidance.

The neighbor of the man with the two splendid gardens was committed to the religion of Allah that he, despite the man's arrogance and his put downs towards him, he patiently remained with the man to help him repent to Allah. He was successful, by the help of Allah.

Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was committed to seeking knowledge that he was willing to travel a long and difficult journey to find the teacher who Allah says is more knowledgeable than him. He was successful in finding him and learned valuable lessons.

Zulkarnain, a powerful King, was committed to a mission and so he traveled east and west and established good and justice.

The question you need to ask yourself is where do you stand in your commitment to the religion of Allah and what are you doing to achieve it?

You can start thinking about it now and set some goals and resolutions. If you don’t set your goals, you don’t move forward. If you set them and don’t follow through, you still don’t move forward. Goals are the specific steps that propel your life forward toward your goals while still immersed in the daily chores of life; resolutions are about how your behavior impacts other people’s lives; More importantly, resolutions are about your relationship with your Creator and how you strengthen that relationship by living life in accordance to His guidance.

If you are not in the habit of setting goals and resolutions, you should review the direction of your life and assess how your actions are contributing to your betterment and to your family and loved ones in accordance with the teachings of your Creator?

If you have a mere general idea on where you are heading simply because you are too busy to chart out a more directed course of action, you may not be fully harnessing your God-gifted abilities.

Setting goals and resolutions therefore enable you to step away and analyze the clutter in your life; they let you rise above the daily chores that keep you busy and keep you from organizing. The process is therefore about prioritizing and highlighting what is more important to make your life more meaningful.

It is about “actions” and execution – Setting a resolution is much more than dreaming, thinking and planning about what you want to change. It is about real execution – about doing something – about undertaking a course of action that actually starts bringing you closer to what you want to achieve. Many a people, organizations and countries fail in their lives and in their pursuits simply because of lack of execution. They plan but then can’t follow through; they talk but they can’t perform.

Even in the religion of Islam that emphasizes asking your Creator and Sustainer about your needs, there is an equal and parallel importance of your personal actions and deeds. Once 'Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) got very angry with youth who were simply spending time in the masjid and told them: “Go out and seek sustenance, for the sky does not send down rain of gold or silver.” Confucious, a famous philosopher once said: “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” Florence Nightingale who had a lasting contribution in founding the modern nursing profession once said: “You ask me why I do not write something...I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words, they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions which bring results.”

How many times have you planned but failed to execute? Isn’t it time to actually get on with a sustained course of action?

It is about using time wisely – Setting resolutions helps us maximize our time in life instead of squandering the valuable moments away. We all know how time flies but unfortunately many times we do not make full use of our time and life in general. The big fitnah (trials) of our time is the internet/wifi and the social media (whatsap and the like). Lots of people, young and old, waste a lot of time with and in it, as if their lives revolve around it.  Some use it in the name of the religion. Just look around you.

Mu`adh ibn Jabal reported the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) as saying: “A servant of Allah will remain standing on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it up, his property and how he acquired and managed it and his knowledge and how he utilized it.”

We should therefore remind ourselves that we too have an end that is approaching. So, why squander our time away on nonessential pursuits?

It is about focused actions and tasks – Resolutions and goals help you focus on the right actions and tasks. Think about when you are about to take a long trip away from home. Our productivity in the number of tasks we complete before we take a trip is phenomenal simply because we have a deadline to meet and our energies are extremely focused. The closer you get to your time of travel, the more you ensure that you utilize each and every second available to you.

Can you imagine how much you will be able to accomplish daily only if you became half that productive and efficient?

It is about behavioral change – Setting goals and resolutions involves completely stepping away from behaviors you want to change – In Islam, this parallels the concept of “Repentance” or “Taubah” because the psychological, spiritual and physical dynamics is almost the same. Repentance in Islam entails stopping bad behavior, regretting past indulgence in that behavior, understanding the need to shy away from the bad behavior, making a strong intention not to return to the old behavior and finally substituting bad with good behaviors (better deeds).

Why not then apply the same dynamics to change any of your undesirable behaviors and habits, and embark on a major journey of personal progress?

It is about clarity of vision – Setting goals requires that you are clear about who you are and what you want to achieve. A confused mind can not set meaningful goals. A person not confident about his beliefs and values is rarely successful in charting out a meaningful course of action. This is why the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) were able to unilaterally commit to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and his cause. They clearly understood their role in this life. Once when in Madinah, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had to send a group to Yemen for teaching new Muslims there about Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi was sallam) picked Mu’adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) as their leader (even though Muadh was very young – perhaps in his early twenties). The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most knowledgeable of my ummah [community] in matters of Halal [permitted, allowed, lawful or legal] and Haram [forbidden] is Mu’adh bin Jabal.”

If Muadh was able to get that clarity at such a young age where he was chosen by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to lead a group of mentors and teachers to a foreign land, why can’t we get clearer on who we are?

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.

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

Learn Inheritance (Fara'id), the Forgotten Knowledge

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Inheritance is known as 'Fara-idh' (plural 'Fareedah') in Arabic, which means something that has been fixed, set or determined. This branch of knowledge is known as 'Fara-idh' because it has been fixed by Allah in the Qur'an (Surah An-Nisa verses 11, 12 and 176). 

The first branch of knowledge to be taken away from the ummah is knowledge of inheritance. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said:

“Learn inheritance and teach it for it is half the knowledge and it will be forgotten, and it is the first thing to be ripped from my Ummah.” [Ibn Majah 2710]

This is happening now. Students of knowledge either shy away from learning inheritance law or they couldn't find qualified teachers to teach them the inheritance law. And even well known Islamic colleges and universities don't put much emphasis in teaching inheritance law. If you survey the graduates in Islamic studies, you will find that most of them don't even understand the basics of the Islamic inheritance law.

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

"Learn inheritance and teach it to people for I am a mortal being and knowledge will decrease until two people would differ among themselves over inheritance, but wouldn’t find an arbitrator.” [Nisa’i 6305]

Look around you. You will see the truth of the Prophet’s statement — families divided over property, children hurt over parental preference in wills, siblings no longer on speaking terms with each other. 

Islamic inheritance laws are there to preserve certain things, and among those things, is to preserve our families and societies. It gives balance to our lives.

In the family, we learn our first lessons of God and creation, love and discipline, rights and responsibilities, human dignity and human frailty. The strength of our families is vital to our well-being. When inheritance law is not applied, families break apart and we lose the strength and we lose the balance.

Still, many Muslims ignored and abandoned this Islamic teaching and follow the ways and the practices of non-Muslims, in which one person or only a few selected ones would be given or receive the inheritance. In my law practice, it is often too common among my Muslim clients to find them not very keen to divide their estate according to the Shari'ah Law of Inheritance. Rather, many started off by giving their estate to one or a few other persons who may or may not be entitled to receive under the Shari'ah, and if they are married, most common inheritor is the surviving spouse only, even though the deceased left parents, children and or close relatives entitled to inherit under the Shari'ah.

The leader of the faithful, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), used to say,

O people, learn Fara-idh with the same concern and effort with which you learn from the Qur'an.

It was also said that Umar said (in the meaning of), if you want to have play, play archery, if you want to speak, speak about mirath (inheritance).

It is incumbent upon each of us to learn Islamic inheritance and apply it. Otherwise you might be denying the rights of certain people or you might be eating wealth that is unlawful for you if you take someone else's inheritance. 

May Allah save us from ignorance and enable us to learn, teach and apply inheritance law properly, and save us and our families from the trials and tribulations 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

Truths About Lying

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

Assalaamu alaykum

'Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah be pleased with him) as saying:

It is obligatory for you to tell the truth, for truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise, and the man who continues to speak the truth and endeavors to tell the truth is eventually recorded as truthful with Allah, and beware of telling of a lie for telling of a lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the person who keeps telling lies and endeavors to tell a lie is recorded as a liar with Allah.  [Muslim]

Lying can become addictive and destructive, destroying relationships, families, communities, even countries. The Quran is clear on where the good road lies.

1. We are not to lie, even if this might win us an advantage.

And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allah only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ. [Quran, An-Nahl 16:92]

2. We’re not only to avoid lying ourselves, we’re also to avoid supporting liars in their sin.

And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver. [Quran, An-Nisa 4:107]

3. When we lie, we lie first and foremost to ourselves— which puts us on a slippery slope to hellfire.

They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:9]

4. Lying is a disease of the heart that only gets worse if left uncorrected.

In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie. [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:10]

So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him – because they failed Allah in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie. [Quran, At-Tawbah 9:77]

5. Lying— especially lying about Allah— is a symptom of injustice and results in extreme humiliation.

And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or says, ‘It has been inspired to me,’ while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, ‘I will reveal [something] like what Allah revealed.’ And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], ‘Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.’ [Quran, An-'Am 6:93]

6. How do we tell liars from truth tellers? Allah doesn’t guide liars.

And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, ‘Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, “My Lord is Allah” while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.’ [Quran, Ghafir 40:28]

7. We don’t need to worry about guarding ourselves against deception; Allah is ever ready to protect us.

But if they intend to deceive you – then sufficient for you is Allah. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers. [Quran, Al-Anfal 8:62]

8. No one can ever get away with lying; in the end it will be clear who was truthful and who was not.

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. [Quran, Al-Ankabut 29:3]

9. The truthful have a wondrous reward

Allah will say, ‘This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.’ For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. [Quran, Al-Ma'idah 5:119]

May Allah make us among the Siddiqeen (truthful) and protect us from the fitnah of lies. 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

Trials, Patience and True Success

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

Assalaamu alaykum

True success doesn't happen overnight. Not only you must have a desire to succeed, you must have righteous people working alongside you. Maybe you don't have these kind of people around you and you are totally alone, but you've got to keep picking yourself up off the floor and keep going.

Despite all the people around you, recognize that many people lack the stamina to do what it takes to be successful. It is actually a relatively small number of people that are living Islam, and a relatively small number of people that end up really leave a legacy in Islam, and it doesn't take a lot of people to lead you astray. And ultimately success depend on how much you trust and rely on Allah.

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

Allah Almighty says,

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ‌ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَ‌ةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah] (45) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:45]

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

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

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

Allah teaches us patience with all kinds of tests (fitnah). If you receive them with patience, your are on the road of success.
The word fitnah as used in the Qur'an and hadith means test or trial. It does not necessarily mean a negative thing, although, being a test, It can have either a positive or negative effect on the person, depending on the way he or she faces it.

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

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

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

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥

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

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

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

People love having things and not just that, Allah tells us that we love wealth with immense love.

وَتُحِبُّونَ الْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا ﴿٢٠

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

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

 زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ‌ الْمُقَنطَرَ‌ةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْ‌ثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّـهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ ﴿١٤

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return. (14)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:14]

May Allah help us in our affairs and not leave us alone even for a blinking of an eye. May Allah make us of those who are patient and grant us success 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

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

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah Most High says,

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧

Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. (7) 

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:7]

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

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

[at-Tirmidhi]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember,

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

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

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

May Allah guide us on a straight path, the way that leads us to His pleasure, the eternal good. 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

A Glimpse of a Believer

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

Believers are not harsh, hostile, violent or hateful people. They breathe love and kindle love all around. Their hearts are rich and spacious, with feelings vast and deep, embracing others with mercy and compassion.

They stand with courtesy and politeness; good mannered, respectful, kind, merciful and compassionate are their main attributes. Even if their lives are at stake, or they face oppression or slander, they find no need to behave crudely and violently.

Their behavior corresponds to affluence and wisdom. Their path is well-set, their destination lofty, and none of these are to be bartered for. With commitment to their faith, they acknowledge the great ones as great, and the smaller ones as a rose to be smelled with care and concern.

Believers represent people of good character and prevent mischief and hideousness that they race beside the angels, who say,

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ

All-Glorified You are (in that You are absolutely above having any defect or doing anything meaningless, and Yours are all the attributes of perfection). We have no knowledge save what You have taught us. Surely You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:32]

Such believers never abuse the blessings that are innately bestowed in contradiction to the purpose of their creation; their hearts quake when Allah is mentioned.

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّـهُ 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

Those only are believers who, when God is mentioned, their hearts quake, and when His signs are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and in their Lord they put their trust, (2) those who perform the prayer, and expend of what We have provided them, (3) those in truth are the believers; they have degrees with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous provision. (4)

[Qur'an Al-Anfal 8:2-4]

In each moment of their lives, believers act knowing that Allah is watching them; they always act in a refined and courteous manner, whether in the presence of Allah alone or in the company of others.

Believers are exceptional for they display an elegance arises from the awareness of their status as servants of Allah; they are as kind as much as they are cautious, fully conscious of what they say or do; they avoid frivolity in all matters, while maintaining calm and lenience with a generous heart open to all.

Believers make this brief life long enough to build this world and to invest in the next. They do not waste even the smallest of the many innate blessings bestowed upon them; they do not busy themselves with useless things. They can give away all that has been bestowed on them for the pleasure of the One while scrupulously making sure a single penny is not wasted.

True believers ameliorate each favor in abundance, like an ear of grain producing as many as seven, seventy, or seven-hundred more grains. Each of these favors becomes a staircase ascending to the One, a ramp to attain His good pleasure. Then believers march to their destination together with the inheritors of the Heavens.

They share the blessings of their closeness to Allah with those their paths cross, and they strive to inspire their souls.

They are people who prosper and the Gardens await them.

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥

Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, (3) And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. (4) Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful. (5)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:1-5]

وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُتَشَـٰبِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَ‌ٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿٢٥

And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before." And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally. (25)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:25]

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

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

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

May Allah make us among His righteous servants and make us keys to lock evil and unlock goodness. May Allah grant us the highest Paradise, Al-Firdaus, and His Noble Countenance. Ameen.

Assalaamu alaykum 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