Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Seeking Good Companions

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Seek companions who are seeking paradise in the hereafter.

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

And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. (28) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:28]

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) often spoke to his companions about the value of good companionship.  He emphasized the need to surround ourselves with good people.

People who hold the same values and beliefs that we do, make the best friends and companions. Differences of opinion, different lifestyles and interests may make our friendships interesting and sometimes challenging but if the core value system is not the same the friendship itself probably has no solid foundation.

For the believer, the solid foundation must always be Islam; the irrefutable truth that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.  Every believer, past, present and future is linked by this fundamental truth.  The Prophet spoke about this bond on many occasions.

The example of the believers, in their mutual love and mercy for one another is like the example of one body, if one part feels pain, then all of the body suffers in sleeplessness and fever.” [Bukhari]

The believer to the believer is like a solid building, one part supporting the other. [Bukhari]

Those people who you sit with and take as your friends are inevitably going to fall into one of two categories. Either they are going to be good individuals - who guide and encourage you towards what is good and help you to accomplish that which Allah has ordered, or they are going to be bad - encouraging you to do what is pleasing to Shaytaan, that which misleads you, and leads you to the HellFire.

The bad companion is the Shaytan from amongst mankind, and the Shaytan are both men and jinns. Sometimes the harm that comes from the Shaytan amongst men is greater than the harm that comes from the Shaytan of the jinn. 

When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was sent with the Da'wah to establish the Deen of al-Islam, he did not do it on his own. Rather, Allah chose for him companions who accompanied him and who carried the Message until it was complete.

We must choose our friends and companions carefully so that we take friends who are righteous. Such companion will help us do what is good and remind us of Allah, he will enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. If he observes us committing sins he would warn us, if he becomes aware of our shortcomings he would advise us, and if he finds a fault in us he would cover it. About this the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He neither betrays him nor tells him a lie, nor humiliates him." [At-Tirmidhee] 

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) explained the matter of good companionship, so that no room is left for doubt or confusion, when he said: "A person is upon the Deen of his khaleel - close friend, so look to whom you befriend." [Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee]

This means that a person is upon the same manhaj (methodology) as his friend, the same tareeq (path) as his friend, the same nature, manner and behavior as his friend. So we must be careful about whom we befriend. It is easy to take on their mannerisms and qualities without even being aware of it.  If these are good qualities then it is a good thing but what if the people you consider friends have pushed you away from the remembrance of Allah?  This could be a disaster, and Allah warns us about it in the Quran.

 وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا ﴿٢٧﴾ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِى لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا ﴿٢٨﴾ لَّقَدْ أَضَلَّنِى عَنِ ٱلذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَنِى ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ خَذُولًا ﴿٢٩

And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. (27) Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. (28) He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter." (29)  (Quran, Al-Furqan 25:27-29)

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) also reiterated this point when he told the story of the blacksmith and the perfume seller.

The example of a good companion (friend) in comparison with a bad one is like that of one who sells musk and the blacksmith.  From the first, you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell, while from the blacksmith you would either get burned or smell a bad scent. [Bukhari]

Once we have found good friends it is important to keep and maintain the friendship.  Believers are connected by their love of Allah and His messenger and this entails certain responsibilities.  A person must be prepared to overlook some of the faults of his brother or sister in Islam; he must be prepared to give them excuses for any incorrect or bad behavior they see in them.

This does not mean however you should turn a blind eye to sin.  No, rather it means that you must maintain the ties of friendship while seeking to understand and help those who have gone astray.  Believers must never embarrass or publicly harass one another.  They must never expose each other’s faults.  Kindness and mercy must be evident in all dealings.

"Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal his fault on the Day of Judgment.” [Abu Dawood]

Islamic scholar, Ibn Mazin said, “The Believer seeks excuses for his brothers, whilst the hypocrite seeks out their faults.”  And Hamdun al-Qassar said, “If one of your brothers’ commits an error, then seek ninety excuses for him, and if not, then you are the blameworthy one.”

In his traditions, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “A person visited his brother in another town and God sent an angel to wait for him on his way.  The angel said, “Where do you intend to go?”  the man answered, “I intend to go to my brother in this town.” The angel said, “Have you done any favor to him, the repayment of which you intend to get?” He said: “No, I love him for the sake of God, the Exalted and Glorious.” Thereupon the angel said, “I am a messenger to you from God to inform you that God loves you as you love him.” [Muslim]

Believers should never be envious of one another, they should always be happy when the blessings of Allah fall upon their friends and companions. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: 

None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. [Bukhari]

The Muslim’s prayer for his absent brother will be answered.  There is an angel at his head who, whenever he prays for his brother, says, Ameen, and you shall have likewise.

Do not have malice against a Muslim; do not be envious of other Muslims; do not go against a Muslim and forsake him.  Oh the slaves of Allah!  Be like brothers with each other.  It is not violable for a Muslim to desert his brother for over three days. [Muslim]

 

A believer loves all other believers for the sake of Allah.  He desires for them what he desires for himself.  A believer is tolerant of others mistakes or shortcomings and is forgiving.  There is no anger, envy, hatred or malice between believers.  Believers are kind, loyal and generous to one another and they pray for each other.

It may sound too good to be true, doesn’t it?  This however is Islam.  It is a way of life that expects every person to respect every other person.  Islam says you are part of a community and it is your right and your responsibility to be the very best person that you can be.  Seeking good companions and maintaining good relationships is a responsibility that each believer has to himself, his community and to Allah.

May Allah grant us righteous companions and make us of those who are righteous.

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَ‌ٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.

Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

To Love Allah is to Know Allah

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Our noble guest, Ramadhan, is coming our way very soon. The sacred month of Rajab is about to leave us and soon it will be Sha'ban and then Ramadhan.

We ask Allah to make us able to witness its arrival and grant us good health and strength to do more worship and opportunity to be draw closer to Him.

While we anxiously waiting for our noble guest, we should prepare ourselves so we can make the most out of it.

First, we should remind ourselves that we are His slaves. Allah Almighty says,

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

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

In worshiping Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (glorified and exalted be He), we must have total obedience to His commands, full love for Him and complete loyalty to Him. If we have one and not the other, then we need to work on our worship. It is natural that if you truly love someone, you always want to please that person and loyal to that person. This is how we should worship Allah.

We can only love what we know, and we can never know completely what we do not love. How can you love Allah Subḥānahu wa Ta'āla if you don’t know Him that well? We fall in love with people as we get to know them more and realize that they have a lot of beautiful qualities and characteristics. Of course Allah is above any analogy, but we need know Him more.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said, "One among you who knows Allah best is the one who fears Him most, and I fear Him even more than him."

Accurately knowing Allah is the pillar whereupon Islam in its entirety hinges. Without such knowledge, any action in Islam does not have any real value whatsoever: it has neither essence nor value. The Question is: "How can we get to know Allah, and what is the venue for attaining such knowledge?"

The answer is crucially conditional: If we do not know the right course, we can never reach our destination.

Any erroneous approach to knowing Allah is a major contributor to distancing a large number of people from accurately getting to believe in Allah. The Qur’an narrates to us stories about those who disbelieved in Allah in every age and time, depicting for us how they insisted, in order to believe in Him, on hearing or seeing Him, relying on their senses.

Following are only a few examples: Allah Almighty has said,

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ لَوْلَا يُكَلِّمُنَا ٱللَّهُ أَوْ تَأْتِينَآ ءَايَةٌ ۗ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۘ تَشَـٰبَهَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا ٱلْءَايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿١١٨

Those who do not know say, "Why does Allah not speak to us or there come to us a sign?" Thus spoke those before them like their words. Their hearts resemble each other. We have shown clearly the signs to a people who are certain [in faith]. (118)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:118]

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْ‌جُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَ‌ىٰ رَ‌بَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُ‌وا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرً‌ۭا ﴿٢١﴾ يَوْمَ يَرَ‌وْنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ لَا بُشْرَ‌ىٰ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُجْرِ‌مِينَ وَيَقُولُونَ حِجْرً‌ۭا مَّحْجُورً‌ۭا ﴿٢٢

And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence. (21) The day they see the angels - no good tidings will there be that day for the criminals, and [the angels] will say, "Prevented and inaccessible." (22)

[Qur'an, Al-Furqan 25:21-22]

وَقَالَ فِرْ‌عَوْنُ يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ ٱبْنِ لِى صَرْ‌حًا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَبْلُغُ ٱلْأَسْبَـٰبَ ﴿٣٦﴾ أَسْبَـٰبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ كَـٰذِبًا ۚ وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْ‌عَوْنَ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَصُدَّ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۚ وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْ‌عَوْنَ إِلَّا فِى تَبَابٍ ﴿٣٧

And Pharaoh said, "O Haman, construct for me a tower that I might reach the ways - (36) The ways into the heavens - so that I may look at the deity of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar." And thus was made attractive to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was turned away from the [right] course. And the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin. (37)

[Qur'an Ghaafir 40:36-37]

"...the (right) course" refers to the course that ends with acquiring a sound and accurate knowledge of the Almighty. Such a goal should be our first and foremost concern. Without properly knowing Allah, how can we properly worship Him?

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said in a hadith qudsi, "For everything there is a path, and the path to Paradise is knowledge."

Therefore, it behooves us Muslims to seek knowledge and know our Creator well. Begin with learning the 99 Names and Attributes of Allah.

May Allah grant us His Light and help us please Him and make Him our only love.

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا في رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ بَلِّغْنا رَمَضَانَ

“O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha`ban and enable us to reach Ramadhan.”

Ameen.

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

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) -- Signs of Allah's Love for Someone and Attaining His Love

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The love of Allah is "the status for which the righteous compete and strive, It is the nourishment of hearts and souls, the delight of the eyes, It is the life of which one who is denied it is dead, the light which the one who loses it is in deep darkness, the healing of which the one who is denied is sick, the joy which the one who is deprived of it lives in distress and pain.

It is the spirit of faith and good deeds, by means of which one may draw closer to Allah, which, when it is absent, one is like a body in which there is no soul."

O Allah, make us among those whom You love.

The love of Allah has signs and causes which are like the key to the door. These causes include the following:

1. Following the guidance of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Allah says in His Book:

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣١﴾ قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٣٢

Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (31) Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers. (32) [Quran, ALeImran 3:31-32]

2. Loving doing righteous deeds. For example, seeking beneficial knowledge  being excellent to your parents, protecting the property of orphans and others, warding off evil, etc.

Allah Most High says in Surah Al-Kahf,

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1) [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward (2) [Quran, Al-Kaf 18:1-2]

Allah Most High says in Surah Al-Kahf, 

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ 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) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46] 
 
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿١١٠

Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (110) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:110] 
 
3. Being humble towards the believers and stern towards the disbelievers, waging jihad (a battle/struggle) for the sake of Allah, and not fearing anyone or anything but Him. Allah has mentioned these qualities in a single verse, in which He says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٥٤

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (54) [Quran, al-Maa'idah 5:54]

In this verse Allah describes the attributes of those whom He loves, the first of which is: humility and not being arrogant towards the Muslims, and being stern towards the disbelievers, and not humbling or humiliating oneself before them. They (the ones whom Allah loves) strive for the sake of Allah, against the Shaytan, the disbelievers, the hypocrites and the evil doers, and they strive against their own selves (jihad al-nafs). They do not fear the blame of any blamer, because so long as they are following the commands of their religion, he will not care about anyone who mocks him or blames him.

4. Doing naafil (supererogatory) acts of worship.  Allah says -according to a hadith qudsi (divinely inspired saying of the Prophet):

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that Allah said: “Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him”. [Al-Bukhari].  

Supererogatory acts of worship include naafil prayers, charity, 'Umrah, Hajj (minor and major pilgrimage to Makkah) and fasting.

5. Loving visiting one another, helping one another (financially or otherwise) and offering sincere advice to one another for the sake of Allah.

These attributes were mentioned in a single hadith (narration) in which the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) narrated that his Lord said: "My love is guaranteed for two who love one another for My sake; My love is guaranteed for two who visit one another for My sake; My love is guaranteed for two who help one another for My sake; My love is guaranteed to for two who uphold ties with one another for My sake". [Narrated by Ahmad]

What is meant by "two who visit one another for My sake" is that they only visit one another for the sake of Allah, seeking thereby His pleasure for their loving one another for His sake or cooperating in worshiping Him.

6. Being tested. Calamities and disasters, trials and tribulations, are a test for a person, and this is a sign that Allah loves him, because this is like medicine: even though it is bitter, but still you offer the medicine, despite its bitterness, to the one whom you love; and Allah's is the highest description. According to a saheeh hadith (authentic narration): "The greatest reward comes from the greatest trial. When Allah loves people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it gains the pleasure of Allah and whoever complains earns His wrath".  [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi & Ibn Maajah]

It is said that a believer is not free from these three calamities -- poverty, humiliation and illness.

For calamities to befall the believer is better than punishments being stored up for him in the Hereafter. How can it be otherwise when he is raised in status and his bad deeds are erased thereby.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "When Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He wills bad for His slave, He withholds his sins until he comes with them on the Day of Resurrection". [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi]

The scholars have explained that the one from whom calamities and trials are withheld is the hypocrite, for Allah withholds [his punishment] in this world, so as to bring him with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.

If Allah loves you, do not ask about the good that you will attain and the virtue that you will acquire, it is sufficient for you to know that you are the beloved of Allah. The great fruits of the love of Allah for His slave are as follows:

1. People will love him and he will be accepted on earth, as it says in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari: "When Allah loves a slave, He says to Jibreel, "I love so-and-so, so love him", so Jibreel loves him and then calls out to the people of heaven, "Allah loves so-and-so, so love him", and the people of heaven love him, and then acceptance is placed in the Earth for him".

2. What Allah has mentioned in the hadith qudsi above of the great virtues of those whom He loves.

This hadith qudsi includes a number of benefits of Allah's love for His slave:

i. "I am his hearing with which he hears" i.e., he does not listen to anything but that which Allah loves.
ii. "his seeing with which he sees" i.e., he does not see anything but that which Allah loves.
iii. "his hand with which he strikes" i.e., he does not do anything with his hand but that which Allah loves.
iv. "and his foot with which he walks" i.e., he does not go towards anything but that which Allah loves.
v. "Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him" i.e., his du'aa's (supplications) are heard and his requests are granted.
vi. "and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it" i.e., he is protected by Allah from all things.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا 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 help us to please Him and protect 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

Death is not Morbid

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Death is a subject people often avoid talking about much less remember. We live in a society that sees talking about death, thinking about death, writing and reading about death as morbid.

What is morbid, what is indeed unhealthy, is a society that separates and dissociates death from life as if the two can ever be separated – two sides of the same coin. We cannot pretend death doesn’t exist, all the time living as if we still have one foot in the womb.

What is morbid and unhealthy is that we try to sit death quietly in the corner, still pretending it can’t see us and we can’t see it. We try to keep it away from children, and lie to them about it, to ‘protect’ them’ – all the while creating unnecessary fear and perpetuating the vicious cycle of denial around the only thing in life that is an absolute inevitability. And then, when it happens, every time it happens, we are shocked. As if, having avoided reality so very well for so very long, we had no idea it would ever come.

It is extremely difficult to live each day like it really matters without embracing the fact that it could end any day. Every moment is not precious to you when you are fantasizing that you have been guaranteed a life that will never end -- or at least won’t end till you’re 100.

The Qur'an alludes to death at various places. In Surah AleImran, Allah Most High says,

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَ‌كُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ‌ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُ‌ورِ‌ ﴿١٨٥

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion. (185)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:185]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) advises us to, “Remember often the terminator of pleasures.”

The benefits of this include purification from sins, abstinence in this life, making great tribulations manageable, making small worldly means seem much, removal of worry over this life and disdaining vain pleasures.

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once held my shoulders and said:

“Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger.” And Abdullah ibn Umar used to say: “If you live till night, then do not wait for the next day (i.e. do not have hopes that you will live to the next day), and if you wake up in the morning do not have hope that you will live till the night. And take (advantage) from your health before your sickness and take advantage of your life before your death (i.e. do every possible obedience in your life before death comes to you for then no deeds can be performed.)”

[Bukhari and Tirmidhi]

Shaqiq al-Balkhi once went to his mentor, Abu Hashim, with something tied at the end of his clothing. His mentor said, “What is this?” “Almonds,” he replied, “that a brother has given to me, I plan to have breakfast on them.” “O Shaqiq,” his mentor scolded, “You tell yourself that you will live until tonight! Do you remember death? This is what I have to say, and I will not speak to you,” and he closed the door in his face.
Although death is certain and inevitable, people tend to live as if they are going to live forever. Whereas death knows no age. Very often people die in the prime of their youth. There are times a father has to bury his own son. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) buried all his sons and daughters except one.

The term of one’s life is predetermined before birth and this knowledge rests only with Allah.

Allah Almighty says,

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَ‌كَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُ‌هُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُ‌ونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ ﴿٦١

And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]. (61)

[Quran, An-Nahl 16:61]

This mystery of life and death is not without purpose. The life of this world is a test from Allah.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ‌ وَٱلْخَيْرِ‌ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْ‌جَعُونَ ﴿٣٥

Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (35)

[Quran, Al-Anbiya' 21:35]


May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and grant us excellent ending. 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) -- Reflect on the Fleeting Life

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

Assalaamu alaykum

In Ayah 45 of Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Most High says,

وَٱضْرِ‌بْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْ‌ضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُ‌وهُ ٱلرِّ‌يَـٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرً‌ا ﴿٤٥

And present to them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability. (45)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:45]

Worldly life is like water that comes from the sky (rain). Then the vegetation and rain water start mixing together, and then the entire land and vegetation becomes dry and reduce to dirt, which the winds carry and scatter away.

Whatever goodness in this life comes from Allah but it is not going to be permanent. You and I are going to reduce to dirt one day. You have no control over it. Allah has always been in absolute control of all things.

People are obsessed and striving for more and more comforts, more material goods, greater power over his fellow-men or over nature, and unceasing technological progress.

A passionate pursuit of such endeavors, to the exclusion of everything else, bars people from all spiritual insight and, hence, from the acceptance of any restrictions and inhibitions based on purely moral values - with the result that not only individuals but whole societies gradually lose all inner stability and thus, all chance of happiness. This unrestrained pursuit of "economic growth" and this materialistic world has, indeed, brought in our time - frustration, unhappiness and confusion, and people are losing all remnants of spiritual and religious orientation.

People will always be a loser as long as they are attached to this world. Allah Almighty says,

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 103:1-3]

The great fitnah of our time is materialism. The Dajjal will possess power over this world. Allah already set the stage for that person with the materialism that is spread today.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) warns us that in the last days there would be someone who would deceive all of humanity. Thus, Muslims must be careful not to have the love of the world in their hearts so they won’t leave their religion and to follow him.

Where do I begin?

Revive the sunnah of reading Surah Al-Kahf today and every Friday for the rest of your life and encourage others to do so.

On the authority of Sayyidna 'Ali (radhiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) said, "One who recites Surah al-Kahf on the day of Jumu'ah will remain protected from every fitnah. And if Dajjal appears, he will stay safe against the trying challenges released by him as well."

Listen to what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) says, "Accumulate 'everlasting virtues' as much as you can."

All deeds that qualify as righteous and sincere are abiding and everlasting in the sight of Allah.

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

Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds, that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope. (46)

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

Sayyidna 'Ali (radhiAllahu anhu) said, 'Cultivation is of two kinds. Wealth and children are the cash crops of the mortal world while 'everlasting virtues' are the deferred crops of the Hereafter.'

Hasan al-Basri (rahimAllahu Ta'ala) said, 'Everlasting virtues are one's intention as the acceptance of righteous deeds depends on it.'

May Allah purify our intentions, grant us righteous deeds, protect us from the Dajjal and the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make us of those who are grateful. 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) -- Two Difficult Tests to Pass

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

Assalaamu alaykum

There are two very difficult trials in this world -- extreme difficulty and extreme luxury and comfort.

Extreme difficulty are things like serious calamity, earthquake, famine, poverty, violence, etc. Such difficulty can knock the senses out of the one being afflicted and he can lose his faith.

Extreme luxury and comfort is when everything is easy -- you wake up, your wife and your children are beside you; you open the fridge, all kinds of food are looking at you; you turn on the tap, hot/cold water started to flow at the exact speed you wanted; you go to the store, you find everything you need; you want to look up something,just google it; your internet runs 24 hours; everything work like clock work -- e.g. you go to the bank or governmental office/agency or call the number you can expect they are open during stated hours; etc. When you have too much luxury and comfort you can easily take things for granted and when suddenly you have one thing less or slightly below the standard you are used to (e.g. the hotel didn't have extra pillow, the internet is slow), you get upset, you get impatient. You lost your phone, you get upset. You stop being grateful and this is a loss of faith.

The owner of the two gardens in Surah Al-Kahf was tested with extreme wealth and he lost it.

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ﴿٣٥﴾ وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿٣٦

And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever. (35) And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return." (36)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:35-36]

We are being tested all the time. You just have to recognize them and try to overcome them.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Affliction will continue to trouble the believers, men and women, in their bodies, their families, and their property until they meet Allah Almighty purified of every wrong action."

Be grateful with everything you have or don't have. Don't waste anything --  especially your time. This is one of the many tests that many will ignore. Give charity. Whether you have little or plenty, give. Don't hold back. When you chat on the social media or when you gather with your friends and family at home or at the masjid, this is a test -- don't use this blessing to backbite and gossip and having too much talk. If you are sick, be careful not to cause others to feel bad for you. Sickness is purification. So it is a blessing. If you have parents, be extremely nice to them and honor them-- Allah has given them a grand status, and to your mother you can't repay her even for one moan of labor pains giving birth to you, let alone all her efforts in raising you until you are able to be independent. So your parents are a huge blessing and you should be grateful.  

If you are blessed with good health, spend a good amount of time with the Qur'an (learning it and memorizing it) and wake up at night and do the tahajjud prayers. Don't mind if you are alone in this. A lot of times people don't want to follow Allah's guidance because they are afraid they won't be happy. But Allah guarantees those who follow His guidance will not have fear in this life and the next life. You may be the only one in your family who prays. Don't stop. Keep going. Don't feel alone. Be grateful for the blessing of guidance. Following this Deen (Islam) and guidance is very personal and a brave initiative. And nobody outside Allah's guidance can enjoy tranquility and peace. When you do follow Allah's guidance, He will give you new company -- in this dunya (world) you get the company of believers and in the akhirah (Hereafter) Allah will enter you in the company of the righteous.

May Allah keep us on the right path and grant us the company of the righteous in this life and the next.

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

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