Ramadhan Reflection -- Have You Hugged Your Mother Today?

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

Assalaamu alaykum

A study by University of North Carolina researchers found that hugs increase the "bonding" hormone oxytocin and decrease the risk of heart disease. The importance of oxytocin and its potentially cardioprotective effects is greater for women. Allah knows best.

So, have you hugged your mother today? If not, go and hug her now. If your mother is far away, call her now, and say "I love you Mom." If you haven't said this to her since grade or primary school, it is the more reason you should revive that speech. Keep in touch with her. The technology has made it very easy to do this ... use it to earn you Paradise. 

If your mother is deceased, call her sister(s) and chat with her. You will make her (them) very happy. Bringing happiness to the heart of others, the angels will keep you company when you are alone in your grave.

Al-Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying: “A mother’s sister is equivalent to (real) mother (in status).” [At-Tirmidhi]

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both father and son) reports that a man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said, “I have committed a very great sin and I wonder if it can be forgiven”. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked, “Have you a mother?” The man answered that he had lost his mother. “Then, is her sister alive?” Asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) “She is.” The man said. “Then go and treat her well”, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) advised. [Tirmidhi]

Remember, Ramadhan fasting is not about iftars (break fast meals) and suhur (pre-dawn meals). The very purpose of fasting is so we may become people of taqwa (righteousness, piety, Godfearingness).

Fasting is an act of self control/restraint from which a person is meant to acquire a state which is of the most and emphasized of human state -- a state of being conscious of your Lord and wary of disobeying Him in one's action. It is to break the desire for lust, and to cool the fire of selfishness and arrogance, so that the soul instead of being inclined towards the desires of lust, it becomes obedient towards the commands of the Almighty.

Allah Almighty says,

... يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (183) [Fasting for] a limited number of days. ...

[Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:183-184]

Tawqa of Allah (iitaqullah) means to do something (shield of good deeds) to place between yourself and the anger of Allah. It is also used with respect to Hell (ittaqunnar) or the Last Day (wattaqu yauman fihi illallah). Each of these, Hell and the Last Day, there is something to be frightened of.

One area that each and everyone of us need to work on this Ramadhan is taqwa of Allah concerning our mother.

Your mother is the most compassionate of all people to you and the most forbearing of your faults. Many times she overlook your mistakes and forgive you.  She struggles in life in order for you to feel happy and trouble and burden herself in order that you may be comfortable. She gives you in such a way that does not cause you to be indebted to her or in a way that does not hurt your feelings. She wishes you long and good life. On the contrary, when you serve her and provide for her, you make her feel indebted to you and some children even anticipate their mother's death in order to be relieved of their service of her.

Beware of mistreating your mother or hurting her feelings, since the Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam stressed the excellent treatment of mothers more than he did with regard to fathers, because of the great right that mothers have over their children. “A man came to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam and asked: Which of the people is most deserving of my good companionship? He replied: "It is your mother." He said: Who is the next? He replied: "It is your mother." He said: Who is the next? He said: "It is your mother." He asked: Who is the next? The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam answered: "It is your father.” (Bukhari).

Your mother has great rights over you. Allah Most High, by way of highlighting the sacrifices that your mother has made to bring you to this world, should not be taken lightly concerning your duty to your mother.

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٤

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years — give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination. (14)

[Quran, Luqman 31:14]

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٥

And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship And she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)." (15)

[Qur'an, Al-Ahqaf 46:15]

You should be a good companion to her and kind to her as much as you can. This is the way that leads to your pleasure in this world and in the Hereafter. So, hasten before it is too late! Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: ”I do not know a deed more favorable to Allah than kindness to mothers”. Rifa'ah bin Iyas said: “I saw a man weeping at the funeral of his mother. I exclaimed: Do you weep?! He said: Why not? A gate of Paradise has been closed before me”.

Hisham bin Hassan said: “I said to Al-Hasan: I am studying Qur'an, but my mother is expecting me for dinner. Al-Hasan said: Go and have dinner with your mother to please her, for this is dearer to me than a supererogatory pilgrimage you may make”.

Some people listen to their wives, fulfill their demands and seek their pleasure, and at the same time mistreat their mothers, neglecting them, not caring to ask about them or visiting them. They may even agree with ill remarks made by their wives and children concerning their mothers which enrage them and make them wish for the death of their mothers. This is the worst kind of ingratitude towards their mothers.

Instead, a man should seek the pleasure of his mother, even if he displeases all the other people for her sake. Forbid your children and other people to hurt your mother with words or deeds, and strictly reject the complaints made by your wife about your mother. Rather, you should rather exhort your wife to respect your mother and to be more patient with her occasional mistakes. This is your taqwa and your salvation in the hereafter.

Respectful treatment and service to your parents shall be immediately responded by similar treatment with you by your children; and unadulterated pious personal conduct fetches faithfulness and sincerity among your family women.

Be aware that kindness or unkindness to your parents is an act that will be repaid likewise. If a Muslim obeys his parents, his children will obey him. If he honors his parents, his children will honor him, and vice versa. It was narrated in a Hadith: "As you are kind to your parents, so will your children be kind to you."

Beware of Allah's punishment because of your unkindness to your parents. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: "Allah delays the punishment of sins according to His Will until the Day of Resurrection, except for unkindness to parents, Allah hastens its punishment for the one guilty of it before his death."

We should all strive to please our own mothers and treat her with excellence. In so doing we will also develop the best character, which weighs heavy on the Scale in the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The closest to me on the Day of Judgment and the most beloved to me are those who have the best character.”

O Allah, help us be dutiful and excellent to our parents and shower us with Your Mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. O Allah, have mercy on our parents and all our believing ancestors, pardon them and and forgive them, for You are the Pardoner, the Most Forgiving. 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

Ramadhan Reflection -- The Blessing of the Quran and a Big Sign of the Hour

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

Assalaamu alaykum

It's already Day 4 of Ramadhan. In many masjids that plan to finish recitation of the Quran (khatam) this month would have finished three juz of the Quran last night during taraweeh prayer. And those who aspire to finish recitation of the Quran at least once this Ramadhan on their own would have done the same. If you haven't held the Quran and read it this Ramadhan, try to do so today.

Quran is a great blessing from Allah, no doubt.

ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2)  [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:2]

Without Allah's guidance, we will be lost. So we want to keep ourselves very closely connected to the Quran. Allah blessed us with Ramadhan where we can train ourselves to do that.

We thank Allah for the blessing of the Ramadhan and we thank Allah for the blessing of the Qur’an, which is still preserved in our time and is still easy for us to recite. As long as we still possess the Quran, Allah’s mercy is still extended to us.

The Qur’an will only remain with us as long as the people whose hearts and souls contain its secrets remain with us. When they depart, Allah will remove His Book. There will come a night in which Allah will remove it and people will wake up and not a single verse will remain, either written down or preserved in people’s hearts. This is one of the greatest signs of the Last Hour. A wind will then blow which will carry away the soul of anyone who has even an atom’s weight of faith in their heart. All goodness on the earth will be removed and only the worst of people will remain. Three generations of disbelievers will pass and not even one person will remain who says: ‘Allah.’ Then the appointed time will come. We seek refuge in Allah from that time.

May Allah make us His elect people of the Quran and enable us to benefit from His Book. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Acquiring Beneficial Knowledge

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Islam is a treasure chest of wisdom totally relevant to our daily life. It is amazingly beautiful that Allah makes seeking knowledge an obligation upon every Muslim.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim.” [At-Tirmidhi] What is meant by knowledge here is knowledge of shari’ah (Islamic knowledge). It is the knowledge of how a servant should behave with respect to his Lord. Al-Thawri said: “It is the knowledge for which no person has any excuse for not knowing.”

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Allah, His angels and all those in Heavens and on Earth, even ants in their hills and fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct others in beneficial knowledge. [At-Tirmidhi]

This shows us the great excellence of the seekers of knowledge. For whoever sets right his intention in seeking knowledge and desires only Allah's pleasure, is on a road to salvation and happiness.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Whoever goes down a path searching for knowledge, Allah will make it easy for him the road to Paradise." [Muslim]

If seeking knowledge is easy, then so many people would be doing it. The fact is that those who are on the path of knowledge are blessed but you need patience to keep going. So many people fell by the wayside because they don't have patience.

The story of Musa and Al-Khidr (peace be upon them) in Surah Kahf is teaching us patience in seeking knowledge. Thus, we are being reminded about this every week for those who follow the Sunnah of reading Surah Kahf every Friday and reflecting on the verses.

Musa (peace upon him) has a distinct position in the comity of prophets. This has been mentioned explicitly in the Qur'an, and Sunnah. The special distinction of having conversed with Allah is his hallmark. Allah had blessed Musa (peace be upon him) with an intense desire to seek knowledge. As soon as he smell the scent of knowledge elsewhere too, knowledge that he did not have, he was all set to go for it traveling like an ardent student and it was Allah Himself that he turned to for the address of that servant of His, al-Khidr.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَ‌حُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَ‌يْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠

And [mention] when Musa to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (60)

[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:60]

Had it been the will of Allah that Musa should meet al-Khidr at that spot, He could have arranged that easily. Or, if Musa himself was Divinely destined to travel, he could have been given a clear address to help him reach it without any bother. But, what happened here was different. The address given to him was far from being precise - 'when you reach the place where the dead fish stirs and disappears, that will be the place you will find Our servant.

The address of al-Khidr was left imprecise in a manner that it would not remain easy to pinpoint it. Obviously, this too was nothing but a trial and test for Musa. As though this was not enough, when they had reached the exact spot but then they forgot the fish. This was yet another test. After having reached the projected destination, the fish came alive and disappeared into the sea. The reality had unfolded and the place was pinpointed. But, that was not the end. The seeker of knowledge had to undergo yet another test -- hunger and fatigue, and there is no food. When Musa finally saw Al-Khidr and followed him so he could learn from him, this was when he faced the most difficult test.

We should be constantly be acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is that reality whereby the unknown becomes known within us and it is knowledge and worship for which the reason Allah created the heavens and the earth. If this is the reason, every single one of us should have a great portion of it.

First, we should all understand what knowledge is. Second, we strive to seek it, and third, we should strive even further to make it a reality within ourselves. Knowledge is something great. If you give it all of yourself it will give you  part of it. If you give part of yourself, it won’t give you anything. This is the general principle. This is the Sunnah of Allah relating to knowledge. Seeking knowledge is not easy. You have to make sacrifices, which means you have to get out of your norm in order to attain knowledge. We all have gone through this to some degree. When test time, we stop everything, get sleep deprivation, we eat whatever it is  quickly so we can get back to study. Knowledge require a lot of exertion and effort to acquire it. 

All of that effort we put in to achieve knowledge, any type of knowledge especially religious knowledge, putting that knowledge into practice in a religious sense, making that knowledge a reality within ourselves, is even more difficult. Even though we learn, review and teach, there isn’t a sense of a special relationship to that knowledge. Knowledge doesn’t fully become a reality within us and we don’t really have true possession until we are living by it. So when we spend our time in learning we should also spend just as much time putting the knowledge we have into practice,  constantly seeking forgiveness from Allah for falling short in them. 

Not only do we need to seek knowledge, implement the knowledge that we seek, there is also the element of being save from our knowledge. So it is a struggle to seek knowledge, but a greater struggle is to implement that knowledge and a much greater struggle is to be save from our knowledge.

Beneficial knowledge is going to open the door for us to be save us from our knowledge. In order to do that we have to have a sound heart (qalb salim), free from all blemishes, free from all diseases whereby we might either become impress of ourselves, lead to ostentation or arrogance, or other disease of the heart that might appear as a result of our knowledge. 

So we should have a wird of reading useful (beneficial) knowledge.

A sign of a life community or city is that there are numerous of gatherings of knowledge and remembrance of Allah. If there is no gatherings of knowledge and remembrance, it is a sign of that place is dead.

Knowledge relates to sacred law and other than sacred law. All religious knowledge are praiseworthy except to the extent that some people who misunderstand certain aspects of religious knowledge and use them for some other purpose. When that happens, the way it is used becomes blameworthy. 

As for knowledge that is not related to sacred law, they either be praiseworthy, blameworthy or permissible.  Praiseworthy knowledge is knowledge that we need in order for us to establish benefits in this world, e.g. mathematics, medicine, agriculture, hijama. Knowledge that is blameworthy in of itself is like magic. Permissible knowledge is like poetry and history. All knowledge which related to sacred law is in of itself praiseworthy. 

Beneficial knowledge will remove from you the love of this fleeting world and will lead you to the love of the next world, which is permanent. The more that you love the next world, the less that you love this world. It will lead you to zuhd (to renounce, to turn away, to abstain from the various things in the world and a desire for the akhirah) and give you knowledge and insights into your faults. Most people don't want to confront their faults, their dark aspects of their ego. If we want to take the path seriously, we have to have courage to confront our faults. Remember, shaytan is an apparent enemy and he is trying to lead us astray and making our bad actions and sins look good. So we have to learn about his tricks and plots. 

Knowledge of tauhid, fiqh, spiritual excellence and correct practice, is the essence of what is considered beneficial knowledge.  Beneficial knowledge is not mental gymnastics. Beneficial knowledge is knowledge that is accompanied and followed by righteous actions and it is cast into the heart. By this definition, in the age of information today, much of what people are learning today, in reality, is not considered to be knowledge.

May Allah purify our intentions for seeking knowledge, help us be steadfast and productive seekers of knowledge, and increase us in beneficial knowledge and keep us away from blameworthy knowledge.

رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ‌نَا رَ‌شَدًا

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

Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Connecting Ourselves to the Quran this Ramadhan

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

Assalaamu alaykum

When we stand in taraweeh this Ramadhan, we should be present with Allah. Try to bring to heart that we are standing before our Lord. Listen attentively to the recitation of the Quran. Feel in your heart the magnitude of the Speaker subhanahu wa ta’ala.

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (glorified is He) says, 

لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُۥ خَـٰشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١

If we had sent this Quran upon a mountain, you would see this mountain crumble and become weak from the fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought. (21) ” [Quran, Al-Hashr 59:21]

It is in this great Book the guidance for all people, for all generation, for all times. It abrogated all sacred laws that came before it. This is the Divine guidance that will remain till the end of time. This is the eternal speech of Allah.

Outside of taraweeh, we should strive to recite the Quran everyday. Reciting the Quran has great merits, not just in terms of reward, it also has a strong impact in illuminating our hearts. When you recite the Quran, it illuminates your heart. It changes us at the deepest level of our being even if we don’t understand what is being recited. 

 

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,  "The best of my nation's devotions is the recitation of the Qur'an." One of the reasons is because of this impact of the Quran in our hearts. Another reason is because Quran is the source of all other knowledge. When someone take a path to learn, the first thing that they do is that they memorize the Quran. Reciting Quran is the very best of adhkar in that we remember our Lord. It is part of the miracle of the Quran, that the mere recitation of the Quran is meritorious, let alone to study it or recite it in prayer.

'Ali (may Allah ennoble his face) has said: 'The one who recites the Qur'an while standing in prayer receives one hundred rewards for each letter; the one who recites it outside the prayer but in a state of ritual purity receives twenty-five rewards for each letter; and the one who recites it without ritual purity receives ten rewards for each letter.' 

You must have a wird of the recitation of this mighty Book to be read every day. [Imam Al-Haddad] This is very serious.

A wird is a spiritual watering hole. A wird is anything that we do regularly time and time again. We get the true benefit of our various awrad when we are consistent and present with Allah in whatever it is that we are doing. 

The Quran is that it be recited. The primary transmission of the Quran is an oral transmission. You can only imagine to be in the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) as they listened to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) as he was reciting the Quran. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite in a way that it would allow the Companions behind him to understand the meanings. There is an outward and inward dimension to that. The outward dimension is knowing when to emphasize certain word, when to stop, the tones that should be used when you recite the various types of verses. The inward dimension to that is that, from the blessings of the Prophet's recitation, that the meanings of the verses come to the heart of the Companions.

For those who are still struggling with Arabic, they can listen to the Quran. Listening to the Quran is a very good thing, but we should also strive to recite the mighty Book every day. To emphasize this point, we have various ahadith narrated by our mother, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). She asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), “What acts are the most beloved to Allah.” Here, she opened up the door for us to know what is most beloved to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. From here too we can understand why Prophecy is very important. There is no way to come to know that by means of experiment, philosophy and any outward means unless one has been informed of it. This is why everything else has to be governed by prophecy.

Narrated `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):

Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little." [Bukhari]

In reality, no action is small. However, our adab (manners) with Allah, is that everything that we do, even if it be a great action, we deem it to be small because we don’t want to see it as emanating from our own self. And every wrong that we do, even if it is small, we don’t want to think it is small.  Even the slightest mistake, let alone a sin, we deem it to be serious. You should not think of your sin as being great or small. Rather you should think of it with regard to the One you are disobeying.

We should imagine a sin like a mountain above us that is ready to crumble upon us. The hypocrite and the wicked sees a sin as insignificant.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says, "The believer sees his sins as if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he feared was about to fall upon him, whereas the wicked sees his sins like a man who finds a fly settle upon his nose, so he does this (one of the narrators said: He brushes it away from his nose)." [Bukhari]

When you start taking your Deen seriously, it is very easy to become imbalance. The majority of people is in a state of heedlessness. But even those people who take this Deen seriously, it is easy to become imbalance. So remember what the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says, "your deeds will not make you enter Paradise." Here, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is teaching us that balance. You should have high aspiration and you should do everything you can to reach that aspiration but you don’t rely in your actions. It is not your action that is going to get you into Paradise. What can enter you into Paradise is the Mercy of Allah.

In a narration of Muslim, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), if she were to do a good deed, she would stick to it. This is the way of the early people. The other religious responses, is that most of us in our religious practice, what we tend to do is one of the two extremes. Either to be inconsistent in the very little that we do, or try to take on so much that it is burdensome that we are not able to be consistent and not sustainable. The balance is that middle way and that we recognize that this is a long journey and even though it could end at any moment, what comforts us is that we have intention. And from the blessing from our intentions, even if we fall short, inshaa Allah we will reach our intentions potentially that we cannot reach even with our actions.

How this all relates to our own nafs (lower self)? The nature of our nafs is that it either wants to not to have anything with something or it wants to go to extremes in that thing.  In other words, our nafs itself is greatest tool of Shaytan to create imbalance within ourselves. If we can get a hold of our nafs we can move towards balance. The secret of consistency lies in our relationship with our own nafs. In other words, consistency teach us to train ourselves. By being consistent, even if it small, it is very difficult for the nafs. That consistency, even in reading the Quran for twenty minutes, or perform two raka’as of prayer, the secret lies in our relationship with our own nafs. So the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) informed us that, “the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little."

It is said that someone who stand at the door, continuously knocking, is not like the one who comes and go. One of the righteous said, don’t stop any of your service, even it becomes apparent to you that it hasn’t accepted, it is enough of an honor that Allah has placed you in his service, in a state of worship." 

This allows us to be consistent and motivate us. This is from the mercy and compassion of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), that he taught us this religion, all of which is ultimately be present be Allah.

Consistent righteous deeds shape our souls in the best of ways like a consistent flow of water over a rock that enable to make a depression on the rock.

We should make our intention today to have a wird of reciting the Qur’an. How much? It is recommended, the least is reciting 1/30 of the Quran and complete it (khatam) in one month, and the most is to complete it every three days. This is the various ways the salaf approach the Quran. If it is difficult try to read a juz, then at least read half a juz. If this is difficult, then read five pages. If this is still difficult, then recite one page a day. If you don't know Arabic at all, then open up the Quran everyday and look at a page, and make an intention to read were you able to do so. 

Have a wird of listening to a qari (Quran reciter) recite for five minute daily. Also, read the translation of the Qur’an. 

We all must have a connection to the Book of Allah. We should recite the Quran everyday whether we are traveling or at home. 

The majority of people that came before us would do a khatam or two a week. They would start reciting before Fajr into a little bit after Fajr, and after Maghrib into a little bit after Isha. A lot of these people were common people. According to Imam Nawawi, many would finish the khatam of the Quran in a day, two khatams, three khatams, or even eight khatams of the Qur’an (4 khatams during the day and 4 khatams at night). Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) used to complete the recitation of the Quran in one raka’ah of prayer. Mashaa Allah. This information is not to make us feel we are doomed because we are far from this practice. But the purpose of knowing this is two-fold -- first to understand the importance the early people  place the Quran. Second, if you can’t be like them, then resemble them-- do what you can. One of the blessings is, if you approach the Quran with ta’dhim (magnify, exalt and respect Allah’s Book,) Allah will give you opening in His Book that he might give to someone who knows Arabic well. The key is that we love and respect the Quran and have a relationship with the Quran to the extent possible. 

We should strive to have connection to the Quran seriously—to start learning the meanings and the vocabulary,  so the meanings start opening up to us. This Ramadhan is a great opportunity for this. We should try to recite a juz a day this Ramadhan. There are also other verses and chapters of the Quran as well, that we should have recite regulalry because of the special benefit in them like al-Sajda [32], al-Mulk [67], al-Waqi'ah [56] and the last two verses of al-Baqarah [2:285-286], every night before going to sleep. Al-Dukhan [44] on Sunday Thursday evenings, and al-Kahf [18] on Thursday nights and Fridays. Read, if you can, the Seven Saving Ones (Surahs al-Sajda, Yaa-Sin [36], al-Dukhan, al-Waqi'ah, al-Hashr [59], al-Mulk, al-Insaan [76]) every night, for their merits are great. Also mornings and evenings the first few verses of Surah al-Hadid [57], the last few verses of Surah al-Hashr [59], Surah al-Ikhlas [112] three times and the two refuge-taking Surahs three times each; similarly, al-Ikhlas and the last two Surahs [al-Falaq 113, An-Naas 114] together with Ayatul-Kursi verse [2:255] and Surah al-Kafirun [109]

Quran is the Truth we should prepare to receive. The Truth is not in need of people but  people are in need of the Truth We need to adjust ourselves to the Truth Many of us are very fake in the lives that we live. When we look at our own selves, the nafs is the ultimate imposter.  It is only to the extent that we overcome the fakeness of our souls, which wants us to cling to this world, that we open up our heart to the Truth, and we start to embrace that Truth and we start to live by that Truth, and little by little that someone becoming as-Siddiq. After Prophets, the greatest rank we can attain is As-Siddiqqun. 

May Allah make us of the Siddiqqun. May Allah make the Quran the spring of our hearts and the removal of our distress and concerns. May Allah make its recitation be made easy for us. May Allah enable us to dedicate our lives to the Quran and dedicate our lives to service of the Quran and live the meanings of the Quran.

Ameen. 

Ramadhan Kareem to all of you.

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

Preparing for Allah's Gaze on the First Night of Ramadhan

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

Assalaamu alaykum

We wish you and your family a blessed Ramadhan. Please forgive me and my family for any shortcomings.

In preparation for the first night of Ramadhan, I would like to share with you an address by my teacher, Shaykh Abdul Karim Yahya,

Dear brothers and sisters from the nation of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),

As we wait in eager anticipation of the noble guest who approaches, the blessed month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed, we undoubtedly are making physical and spiritual preparations therefore.

Among the preparations that the scholars of Islam have encouraged is preparing our hearts for Allah's gaze. Baihaqi relates, “When it is the first night of the month of Ramadan, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, gazes to them and the one to whom Allah looks, He does not punish him, ever.” The place to which Allah looks is the heart. So what will Allah see in your and my heart if He were to look to us on the first night of Ramadan?

One of the qualities that would prevent us from this blessed gaze (and from many other opportunities for forgiveness) is malice. The Prophet, May Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught us of the Night of Power and the Half Night of Sha’ban that those who harbor rancor, mistreat parents, severe bonds of kinship or drink are prevented from Allah’s merciful gaze. Do we want Allah to look to His servants on the first night of Ramadan and overlook us because we are bearing ill will against each other? Is whatever anyone has done to hurt us so important that we can not overlook it in exchange for an opportunity for eternal salvation from Allah's punishment? What about all of those whom we have wronged? Do we not need Allah's pardon as well as theirs?

We can purify our hearts in preparation for this gaze from our Merciful, Forgiving Lord and also expose ourselves to an opportunity for His pardon when we need it most, by pardoning His servants. Allah said, "The one who pardons and reconciles his reward is upon Allah;" Quran (42:40). Tabarani relates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter paradise without reckoning." Imagine being among that fortunate group and having all of our many sins forgiven and receiving our reward directly from Allah!

In preparation for the blessed first night of Ramadan, Insha'Allah, and that day in which each of us will meet Allah, let us pardon one another and all of Allah's servants. I will begin with my own sinful self. O Allah, if any of Your slaves have transgressed the rights You have prescribed to me, they are excused. I ask you to grant them and me Paradise, and that You make us among its dwellers whom You have described in Your saying, "We have removed what was in their breasts of rancor, brethren on couches facing one another;" Quran (15:47). I also ask anyone who I have wronged to seek their due from me and to forgive me.

“Our Lord forgives us and our brethren who preceded us in faith and do not place in our hearts ill will towards those who believe. Our Lord, indeed you are compassionate and merciful.” Quran (59:10)

And Allah alone grants tawfiq (success),
Abdul-Kareem Yahyaa


May Allah purify our hearts and forgive all our sins and bless us with better and accepted prayers and works that pleases Him throughout this Ramadhan. 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

Ramadhan Detox

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

Assalaamu alaykum 

Our noble guest, the month of Ramadhan, is just around the corner. When we talked about Ramadhan, the first thing that comes to most minds is fasting for 29 or 30 days and because this is summer, perhaps the next thing that comes to mind, is fasting for very long hours. Some Muslims are getting very anxious about fasting a whole month in the summer while non-Muslims asked, "How would you manage not eating and drinking for such long hours?"

Fasting this Ramadhan should not scare you because whatever the circumstance is, Allah will make it easy for you, inshaAllah.

Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed. So this is the month when we should spend most of our time with the Qur'an, the guidance for us in this life, not thinking about iftars, not shopping for Eid, not planning for vacations, etc.

Allah Almighty says,

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّـهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾ وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (185) And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. (186)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:185-186]

So complete reciting the Qur'an as many times you can this Ramadhan, and learn, understand and memorize some verses of the Qur'an everyday in Ramadhan, even if it is an ayah a day. You should encourage your family to do this as well or do it as a family. Make a goal and a schedule for yourself now and follow through. Ramadhan is a special month in which doing all these things would be easier. But you have to get off your devices, especially your WIFI and smartphones. Don't waste Ramadhan on Facebook statuses, text messages, social network, watching TV, cooking lavish meals for iftars and suhr, etc. Make Ramadhan a time to detox yourself and your family from all these.

One of the biggest problem in our life is materialism/consumerism. People are going for the latest this and that, and they are spending most of their time working to acquire the latest this and that, and thus they never get the chance or have very little chance to study the Book of Allah. The real solution to materialism/consumerism is personally understanding the Book of Allah. The more you start understanding the Book of Allah for yourself you will no longer be interested in materialism because it does not fulfill you and you feel empty. So, don't miss this opportunity to get close to the Book of Allah.

Make lots of du'a (supplication) this Ramadhan. Memorize some of the Prophetic du'as and know their meanings. Know that you are not just anybody to Allah and that you can't reach Him. You are a specific person to Allah and He is near. Allah told directly to us this in the Qur'an ... "فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ Indeed I am near." And He responds to invocation. Allah told directly to us this as well in the Qur'an ... "أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me."

We may at times have turned our backs on Allah through our disobedience or our wasting of time all year with all our devices and quests for material, but Allah never turns His back on us. He is always near. When someone is near, you can talk to him. So, you can talk to Allah. When you realize that Allah is near, you become different forever. What better conversation to have other than with Allah, Mighty and Majestic? Allah has blessed us with Ramadhan so we can train ourselves to jump the hurdles and talk to Him. So spend the bulk of your time this Ramadhan with the Book of Allah by reciting, memorizing and learning it. InshaAllah the peace and tranquility you experience this Ramadhan will carry over after Ramadhan and for the rest of your life.

Ramadhan will come and go very fast and then you will feel you have lost a great opportunity to reap its benefits.

Make the intention now that you will get off your devices this Ramadhan and you will bring your family to complete reciting the Qur'an, memorize and learn it. InshaAllah, you and your family will experience the best Ramadhan ever.

May Allah bless us during the remaining of Sha'ban and make us reach and complete Ramadhan with excellence. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Haya' (Modesty), a Great Trait of a Believer

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Haya' (modesty) is one of the great traits of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was more shy (pious shyness from committing religious indiscretions) than a veiled virgin girl.

Narrated `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with both father and son):

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) passed by a man who was admonishing his brother regarding Haya' and was saying, "You are very shy, and I am afraid that might harm you." On that, Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Leave him, for Haya' is (a part) of Faith."

Modesty only comes with good. Indecency would not be in anything except disgrace. This is something that all people in all times and especially young people growing up in our times should know that being shy is good thing. Do not let people lie to you and rip that modesty from you. We live in a time where a lot of people have no idea what it means to be modest. Modesty is a beautiful thing in the way that we speak, dress and carry ourselves.

People with modesty are very quick to have opening in the religion. This is something we have to help the young people to preserve. We have to protect ourselves from the things that we say and the things that we do.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says, "Al-Haya' is a branch of Faith." Modesty is from the various things that lead to and strengthen the foundation of faith (iman), and that it prevents one from doing indecencies and it causes one to do all the different types of good.

Haya' is one of the great signs that someone has the first degree of vigilance. 

So have modesty before your Lord and make sure He never sees you in the things that He has forbidden. The eyes are created to see the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and to see Allah in a way that is befitting of Him without any modality. Know that the heart is created to know Allah. There is no way to see the Noble Countenance of our Lord and to see the radiant face of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) until we purify our eyes from the haram (forbidden), until we protect ourselves from the makruh (offensive), and until we limit our eyes from seeing at things that is mubah (permissible), because if we see too many of the permissible too often, that will clutter the heart.

May Allah grant us haya', and purify our eyes and our hearts from anything that is displeasing to Him. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

If You Want Happiness and Success, Be the Best to Your Mother Everyday

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Islam gave the mother complete and comprehensive rights all the time. So, anyone who does not give due respect and kind treatment to his mother all the time, can not make it up to her just by celebrating the Mother's Day.

Celebrating a designated Day does not give the mother the smallest fraction of what Allah has conferred her. Allah has ordained on us to obey our mothers and do all the good to them as long as they are alive and after they die. 

Umar al Farouq (may Allah be pleased with him), the second Caliph and one of the ten promised paradise was asked by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to seek Uways Al Qaranee and ask him to ask Allah's forgiveness for him. Why? Because Allah would fulfill his du'a. Why? Because he treats his mother with excellence. The hadith says,

Aseer ibn Jaabir narrates: Whenever people would come from Yemen, Umar would ask them, “Is Uways Al-Qaranee amongst you?” until, one year, he met Uways. He said, “Are you Uways Al-Qaranee?” He said, “Yes.” Umar continued, “From Muraad, then Qaran?” He said, “Yes.” Umar then asked, “Were you once afflicted with leprosy and your skin healed except for a dirham’s area?” Uways said, “Yes.” Umar finally asked, “Do you have a mother (that is alive)?” He said, “Yes.” Umar then said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah - Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam - say, "Uways ibn Aamir will come to you with the delegations from Yemen, from Muraad, then from Qaran. He was once afflicted with leprosy and his skin healed except for a dirham’s area. He has a mother, and he treats her with excellence. If he was to ever swear by Allah (for something) Allah would fulfill his oath. If you can, request that he ask forgiveness for you.” Umar then requested from Uways, “Ask forgiveness for me.” And Uways Al-Qaranee did.

If you are concerned about your happiness and success in this life or the next or both, anything you say or do to your parents, especially your mother, it better be the best all the time. Our indebtedness to our mothers is so immense that it is not possible to repay it.

The verses of the Qur’an that address the mother, emphasize the difficulties of pregnancy, giving birth, and breastfeeding and the need to respect one’s mother. These verses many times mention parents in general but go into detail in regard to the mother because she faces challenges that a father does not. Verse 15 from chapter 46 (Al-Ahqaf) illustrates this point.

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَ‌ٰلِدَيْهِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرْ‌هًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْ‌هًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَهْرً‌ا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرْ‌بَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَ‌بِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ‌ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَ‌ٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْ‌ضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّ‌يَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٥

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, excellent treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."

[Qur'an, Al-Ahqaf 46:15]

Then, in Surah Luqman, Allah Most High says,

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَ‌ٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ‌ لِى وَلِوَ‌ٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ‌ ﴿١٤

And We have enjoined upon man [kindness/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]

These verses begin with a command for both parents, but goes into detail in regards to the mother and the difficulties she endures. The command to treat parents with excellence means to treat them with respect under all circumstances, to obey them unless it goes against an edict of the faith, and to care for them in old age as they cared for you as a child.

How a Muslim should treat their parents, especially the mother, is further underscored in the hadith. There are many instances that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded believers to respect and obey their mothers. Here are a few examples:

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) designated mothers as the ones most worthy of excellent companionship. Indeed, in this he gave them precedent over fathers.

A man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Who among the people is the most worthy of my excellent companionship? The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim)

A man once consulted the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

On another occasion, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Allah has forbidden for you to be undutiful to your mothers.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

In the first hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) highlights the importance of the mother over the father by repeating “your mother” three times and then saying “your father” once in response to the man’s question. The second hadith illustrates the significance of the mother by placing caring for her over going to war to defend Islam. In other words, caring for his mother is also a way for a man to serve Allah. By saying that entrance into paradise is linked to caring for and respecting a mother, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) accords them a great honor.

In the last hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asserts that disobedience of mothers is a sin.

‘Ali ibn al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said: “The right of your mother on you is that you should know that nobody could endure the trouble and the conditions under which she protected you and nourished you with the juice of her life, and tried with her heart and soul to satisfy all your needs in relation to hunger, thirst, dress, etc. She passed sleepless nights, suffering anxieties and worries. She provided you with shelter against heat and cold, and protected you from ailments. It is not possible for you to compensate her, or thank her enough for all the services, except that Allah may give you guidance for that. The right of your father on you is that you should know that it is he who brought you into existence, and you are a branch of the tree of his life.”

Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with both father and son) said: "The obedience of the parents increases by being kind and gentle to them. One should reply gently to everything that they tell him. One should not look at them in their eyes. One should not shout at them. Rather, when with one's parents one should be like the slave before his master".
 
Al-Bukhari narrated in his book "Al-Adab Al-Mufrad" that Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "I do not know any good act that brings the person closer to Allah The Almighty than the obedience of one's mother".

All the verses and hadith on mothers demonstrate the importance of this figure in Islam. They also show that the mother is accorded a higher honor than even the father because of all the responsibilities she has towards her child. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) never saw his father because he died before his birth and he lost his mother when he was six years old. Yet many hadith show that he understood the importance of one’s parents, especially the mother.

The obedience of parents is not restricted to their lifetime, it is also done after their death. Abu Dawood reported that a man once came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam and said: "Is there any form of obedience that I could do to my parents after their death?" The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said: "Yes. Ask blessings for them. Ask Allah to forgive them. Carry out their will. Treat kindly anybody with whom they have blood relationships and treat their friends kindly."The level of tribulation in which we find ourselves is according to our deficiency in our love for Allah.

May Allah grant us the ability to please Him through seeking to improve our treatment and service of our parents, especially our mothers, and improve what takes places in our houses and what is in our hearts.

May Allah forgive us and forgive our parents.

رَّ‌بِّ ٱرْ‌حَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَ‌بَّيَانِى صَغِيرً‌ۭا

My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.

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

Be Mindful of God

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

Assalaamu alaykum

On the authority of Abu ‘Abbaas ‘Abdillaah bin ‘Abbaas (radi allahu anhuma) [Ibn-Abbas] who said: One day I was behind the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) [riding on the same mount] and he said:

O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be Mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you. Be Mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone]. And know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The Pens have been lifted and the Pages have dried.  [Related by at-Tirmidhi]

Be mindful of God in times of stillness and movements, with every thought, wish and every other states...Imam Al-Haddad

Islam teaches us to be wakeful, to be aware, to be conscious--conscious of our own selves, conscious of our own behavior, aware of those around us, aware of our state, aware of our time in which we live. However, the majority of people are in the state of heedlessness.

Heedless is the opposite of wakefulness. Just as wakefulness will lead to all good, heedlessness will lead to all evil. All sins stem from heedlessness. So be alert. Do not act upon the state that you have doubt. In travel in the path of Allah earnestly and be upright, adhere to firm resolution. Firm resolution is the highest degree of the way that we exercise our intention. You can make an intention but it might be a weak intention. So, we find people who, when the slightest thing gets in their way, then they start making excuses. There are people who are looking for the slightest thing to happen so they don't have to do the good, whether in learning, giving charity, etc.

Heedlessness is when we become preoccupied with the things of this world and we become forgetful.


Wakefulness will lead to all good, where you are vigilant, watching over your heart, recognizing that Allah sees you at every moment. Why would it lead to all good? Because if you are aware that Allah sees you every moment, you will give that moment due right. You will do that which Allah wants from you. There is something that which Allah wants from us in every moment. If we are in a state of infliction, He wants us to be patient. If we are in a state of blessing, He wants us to be thankful. We have to exercise all of these internal states of servitude to our Lord Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, as we experience every moment. This is why we hear this time and time again but we need to call ourselves to it, which is learning to live in the moment, being aware of the moment. We can't control the past, the past is gone, you can repent and you can try to rectify your wrong, nor can you really control the future. We don't know what's going to happen in five minutes, let alone in hour, in a week, in a month and in a few years. We can't control the future. What you can control is that moment. In other words, you decide what it is that you do in that moment. We cant control the future. The more we learn to live in the moment, the more that we will then can rectify the past and lay down the good for the future.

Imam Al Haddad said, were people were to experience and actualize the realities of their faith and that the realities of having strong intellect, they would have focused on the akhirah (the heareafter), that is completely, absolutely truthfully with firm resolution, and they would have turned away from the dunya completely. Were there be  a reality of faith, or intellect, this would be the case-- they will completely direct their being towards the akhirah. If you want to sum up in the way that the sahabah were, that's how they were. No one has the trait like the sahabah. As a result, Allah brought change on their hands in the way that never happen in history.

If we want to serve in the world, the change we want to bring about, or the service that we want to do, is only as potent and powerful and effective as is the state of our heart, that outside of those various things that we do in relation to Allah and how much we turn towards Him and strive for the next world. From the Divine wisdom, the majority of people are in a state of heedlessness. Were it not to be so is that all of the things that we see in the world, the ability to acquire, to purchase or to benefit from, it won't be there because people will be so focused on the next world. You have people who are even amazed by their own state of heedlessness. They are heedless about their heedlessness. If you know about heedlessness, then you can try to get out of it. But if you don't know that you are heedless, or don't know how to get out of it, then it is two fold.

May Allah grant us wakefulness and protect us from heedlessness and protect us from the thoughts and whispers of shaytan and from going astray. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Learn to Be Humble

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

Assalaamu alaykum

In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Most High promises,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿٣٠

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. (30)  [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:30]

We should look at our works. While we strive to be sincere in what we are doing, at the same we never let ourselves go. We take ourselves to task. We always put ourselves into question and we always want to question and scrutinize our motives. And in doing is that this will lead towards the  path of saints.  All righteous people and people of taqwa, in reality, will fear hypocrisy. They will fear that they are not sincere. This is a necessary sign, if anyone think that he is completely sincere and they don't question their motives, this person is deluded.

Allah Most High says,

أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نُزُلًا ﴿١٠٢﴾ قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا ﴿١٠٣﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا ﴿١٠٤

Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? (103) [They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work." (104) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:104]

We are taught to say astaghfirullah after salah. The greatest ibadah of all is salah (prayers) along with the recitation of the Quran. Despite we just did an great act of goodness. that we say astaghfirullah  ("I seek your forgiveness" three times). Why would we seek forgiveness after performing an act of goodness? One reason is for the shortcomings in our salah. No matter how much we perfect our salah, we never worship Allah as He deserved to be worshipped. 

Another reason is to teach us the etiquette that goes along with worship is one of constant humility. We don't worship Allah to become arrogant and haughty, but we worship Allah to become humble and lower ourselves. So the more that we do the more humble we should become. So whatever we do for the sake Allah, we should say astaghfiirullah.

We never forget to attribute all our good deeds to Allah. This is the attitude of the righteous. We see this in Dhul-Qarnain, a powerful king, after he has helped a people to erect a barrier against the penetration of the corrupters on the land, Gog and Magog.

Allah Most High recorded in Surah Al-Kahf,

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

[Dhul-Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true." (98) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:98]

May Allah grant us sincerity and make us humble. 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

Increase Your Good Intentions

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The intention relates to what makes us human. We are different than other creation because we are given the ability to choose. Our intentions relate to the direction of our heart.

"All good is gathered by making good intentions."  Ibn Ata'illah

"The intention is the spirit of your deed, in a way that your spirit is to your physical body"[Habib Ahmad Al-Habshi] In other words, you are not alive if you have no spirit. He also said, "It is like rain to the earth."

We must improve the soundness and sincerity of our intentions before we act.

The scholars said, "There is nothing from all the statements of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that is more comprehensive than the hadith of intention below:

'Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain, or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrate." [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

The intention is a prerequisite for the acceptance of any act. In other words, there is no reality to any act or deed we do without the intention. The intention, if you make it, need to be sincere.

You must rectify your intentions
You must make sincere intentions
You must examine them
You reflect well before embarking upon your actions
You must therefore utter no word, do no action, and decide no matter without the intention of drawing near thereby to Allah and the seeking the reward He has assigned through His Beneficence and Grace to the intended act... Imam Al-Haddad

In one given act, not only you should have a sincere intention, you can, in one act, make multiple intentions and thereby getting an increase reward just by virtue of your intentions even though you are doing the same act.

You can have a small act but because of your intention, it actually turns into a very great thing. One of the greatest example of this is that if you know there are people who are in pain or depressed, and you might do something very small, like send them a gift, or say a good word, but as a result of your intention is to enter happiness into their hearts, that would be a means for them to have an outlook on life, to change, to be and to be happy even for a short of time, though it seems like it was a small act but if your intention was as mentioned, there would be great reward from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

In devotional act such as when you read the Quran intending to be in a state of munaajah (intimate communication with Allah) which thing you were indeed going to do, you can also make the intention to extract the different kinds of knowledge from Allah's Book for the Quran is the mind of knowledge, to benefit the people who are listening attentively or people that are going to pass by, to preoccupy yourself with good so you don't get drawn into evil, and a number of other good intentions. All of those intentions combine that make that same act of reading the Quran much greater and much heavier on the Scale.

‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (radhiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhi wasallam) said that Allah, the Glorious, said: “Verily, Allah has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

May Allah grant us sincerity in all our actions and bless us in our intentions and bring us closer to Him. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Benefits of Learning about the Righteous

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

Assalaamu alaykum

It is very important that we learn about the righteous and have connection to them.When we learn about the righteous, we are getting into the lives of people who have been validated by Allah. When you read the stories of the righteous, even though you might not be able to attain everything that they did, and it might seem unrealistic and idealistic to you what they did, there are many benefits. Among the benefits are:

1. Love. If you read their stories, your heart will become attach to them and you come to love them. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "A man is with whom he loves" so that love that develops in your heart, even though you can't do what they did maybe, that is a very tangible and important benefit.

2. Following their teachings. That love will lead you to following that teacher's teaching. The more you read about them the more practically speaking, because you are learning an individual example of someone who took theory and knowledge and put into practice. So you learn how to do that in a practical case study of someone who was successful in doing it, interpreting what was the best thing to do despite the challenges of the times.

3. You can understand what is possible for you to attain. If you don't read about the greats who came before who attain great things, how are you going to know what you should even strive for, where you are going to set your sides to raise you spiritual aspiration? It gives you theoretical framework, so we can at least with our spiritual aspiration aspire towards something even though we are not necessarily attain it.

4. If you love the scholar and you have connection with him, Allah might bless you with their intercession. The more people intercede for us the better.

5. Mercy of Allah descends. Just by reading their stories, mercy descends. It is a means for you to attain felicity when you are moving and when you are still. It helps you to get through the crisis. There are some people who waste no time at all when they sit with people--whenever they sit with people, they always talk about the righteous. When you are in these types of gatherings, the gatherings of safa' (purity), you will find that when people start to change the topic and start talking about other things (worldly things), you can feel the blessings leave the gathering, but when you start talking about the righteous again, you feel the blessings come back to the gathering. And you will leave these gatherings uplifted, with a higher aspiration to dedicate yourself, to better yourself and to increase your closeness to Allah. There is enough in the world in any time to make us despair but we should never  be pessimistic and negative. We should always strive to be positive and if we are falling into our rut, we are being negative and we need to get ourselves  out of that.

So the benefits of the stories of the righteous are immense. The reward of disseminating their works is immense. 

May Allah grant us righteous teachers and righteous companions, enable us to follow footsteps of the righteous and make us of the righteous. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Faithful to a Promise -- A Characteristic of a True Believer

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

Assalaamu alaykum 

Allah Most High says,

لَّيْسَ ٱلْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَو‌ٰةَ وَٱلْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ فِى ٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلْبَأْسِ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ﴿١٧٧

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous. (177)  [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:177] 
 
Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) teaches us the best morals and the most useful customs, and also how to fulfill a promise and be punctual.

Imagine that one day you have an appointment with your friend and have agreed to meet him half-an-hour before noon prayer in the masjid to recite the Qur'an together. You arrived on time and waited until the prayer caller (Mu'adhin) called for the noon prayer. You performed the prayer but your friend still had not come. Certainly, you will blame your friend for not keeping his/her promise and making you wait. Hopefully your friend will feel responsible and apologize to you.

But how happy and glad you are if someone promises to do something for you and keeps his promise. Keeping a promise is among the morals of the true believer. And whoever does not fulfill their promise, no one will respect their word nor trust them.

It is obligatory for us to be honest in making a promise and keeping an appointment we have made. It is also obligatory upon us to be punctual about time and not to waste it. We should be exactly on time for study and knowledge circles, Quran studies, school (formal or informal), work, or at an agreed meeting place.

Abdullah ibn Abdul Hamsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he bought something from Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) before he received his prophetic commission, and as there was something still due to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), he promised that he would bring it to his place. But Hamsa forgot about it and remembered three days later. He went to that place and found Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) there waiting for him. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "You have caused me great trouble and inconvenience. I have been here three days waiting for you."

Abdullah ibn Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that his mother called him one day when Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was sitting in their house, saying,  "Come here and I shall give you something." Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked her what she intended to give him; she replied that she intended to give him some dates. He said, "If you were not to give him anything, a lie would have been recorded against you."

Abu Juhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I saw Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) as a fair-skinned man who had become gray-haired. Al-Hasan ibn Ali resembled him. He ordered that thirteen young she-camels should be given to us and we went to receive them, but news of his death reached us before they had been given to us. Then when Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became Caliph, he said, "If anyone has received a promise from Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace, let him come." So I got up, went to him and told him of the promise and he ordered that the camels should be given to me.

May Allah make us of the righteous and the truthful. 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) -- Defense Against Tribulations

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The main idea of Surah Al-Kahf is protection from temptation. This Surah safeguards one from the greatest trial in the history of mankind, from Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment. It is that of the Dajjal. In this respect, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says: “Between the creation of Adam and the Day of Judgment, there exists no greater trial than that of the Dajjal.”


The four stories in Surah Al-Kahf talk about the major trials and temptations in human life:

1- The trial of religion: the case of people’s evil acts towards a believer in the form of harm, torture or threats which may cause his loss of faith, deviation from religion or fear. This was the trial the companions of the cave experienced and passed.

2- The trial of wealth: this was the trial of the man with the two gardens, who was so proud of his wealth that he considered the Hereafter not to be true.

3- The trial of knowledge: the case of someone who possesses knowledge to the extent that he feels proud and forgets about gratitude and humility. Such a person learn things of no benefit to him or to his community. Or he might misuse the knowledge he was granted in a way that harms him or the society in which he lives. The trial of knowledge is illustrated in the story of Prophet Musa and Al-Khidr (peace be upon them).

4- The trial of power: the example of a man who, given all the means to achieve material and technological success to push civilization forward and to gain authority and power, denies Allah, abuses power and oppresses his people. In contrast to this sets the story of Dhul-Qarnain. Dhul-Qarnain is presented as a just king who attributes his wealth and power to Allah alone.

The Dajjal will appear before the Day of Judgment and present the four temptations. He will try to push people to abandon their faith and will ask them to worship him and not Allah. Allah will give him the ability to perform miracles: The Dajjal then may promise to bring to life one’s mother and father if one rejects Allah and believes in him instead. Everybody will be tempted except those blessed by Allah. The Dajjal has the temptation of wealth: he simply commands the sky to rain down on a particular piece of land and vegetation then flourishes. He will be able to transform a barren desert land into a beautiful green garden. He also has the temptation of knowledge: he captivates people with what he knows which leads some of them to believe in him. Finally, he has the temptation of power: he subjugates people to his strength and authority in many parts of the earth except Makkah and Madinah.

These are serious temptations that we must protect ourselves against. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) told us one of the means to do this -- read Surah Al-Kahf every Friday. But don't just read, but understand the meanings within it, especially the four stories and the Divine messages they carry, and do the right thing.

Success is in truthfulness with Allah and working together to please Him. And there is no knowledge that has to come to us other than it was meant to be practical- the way we contextualize through the lens of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), that will prepare us to see the world the right way, and encourage us the correct belief and the right actions.

Allah Most High says,

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿٣٠

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. (30)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:30]

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

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

May Allah save us 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

Finding Contentment in Knowing Al Wasi' and Reflecting on the Prophetic Encompassing Virtues

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Allah encompasses everything by His attributes of Knowledge, Will and Power in that Allah’s knowledge encompasses all matters. Allah’s Will relates to all that exists--it encompasses all that comes to be. His Will encompasses everything. Allah encompasses with His power because everything is under the Power of Allah. They only exist because He created them and remain in existence because He keeps them existing with His Power.

وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا۟ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَ‌ٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١١٥

And to Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (115) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:115]

Allah has informed us that the basis of His dealing with his creation is mercy. Despite what He knows about His creation He deals with them with mercy. That is the beauty of Allah with respect to His attributes.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ ٱلْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُۥ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَٱغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ﴿٧

Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], "Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire. (7) [Qur'an, Al-Ghafir 40:7]

When Allah tells us about Himself, He tells us about Himself as we are to relate to Him. One of the important aspects of knowing that Allah is All Encompassing is to have a sense that Allah knows absolutely everything. So that it Instills in us a sense of consciousness and responsibility such that it stirs within us both hope and fear. Hope because Allah’s mercy encompasses everything. The encompassing of Allah’s mercy is a Divine promise

The Quran begins every chapter but one with …بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (In the Name of Allah Most Merciful, Most Compassionate). Allah could have dealt with His creation on the basis of any of His qualities….for example, The Overwhelming, The Compelling, The Majestic, but He chose to deal with His creation on the basis of mercy.

So this knowledge of the encompassing reality of Allah’s mercy instills one, not only with hope but an awareness the reality of Allah’s knowledge. Not just what we manifest but what we hide. He knows everything about everything and beyond. So that instills a sense of fear and awe of the Divine.

The believer is between unconditional hope and unconditional awe of the Divine. The awe of Allah is not the fear of dislike. Fear of awe who has fear of the great station of their Lord but it is the fear that causes one to turn to Him and yearn for Him.

How does one draw closer to Allah? By knowing that He is the All Encompassing (Al Wasi').

Knowing that Allah is the All Encompassing entails that the servant who knows Allah and seeks Allah relies on Allah’s mercy and knowledge so that one’s seeking is from Allah. And knows that He encompasses everything with His mercy.

The nature of Allah’s mercy has two aspects -- Allah puts together Al-Rahman Al-Rahim. So everything in existence is an expression of Divine mercy in that He brought them into existence but in every moment there is a particular mercy as well, which is granted for those who turn to Him in the ways that would cause one to attain His mercy, if one responds to it in the ways that earn one in Allah’s mercy. So one relies on that and find sufficiency in the knowledge of Allah. In doing the right thing the believer finds sufficiency in the knowledge of Allah. If you are doing the right thing and having the right intention and then someone gets upset, hurt or annoyed, you don’t mind because Allah's knowledge is sufficient for you. Of course for it to be sufficient you had done things in the way that is pleasing to Allah. If people take it the wrong way and they dislike it, one find sufficiency in the expansive knowledge of Allah. And part of that also is that one does not rely in oneself and one’s own ability and intelligence rather one does what is within one’s own capacity and knows the encompassingness of Allah’s mercy. It gives one a sense of sufficiency by Allah, the sense of "la hawla wala quwwata illah billah" (there is no ability nor power except with Allah).

Part of Allah being Al Wasi' is that He has promised His servant is ...

... لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity...[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:286]

Allah’s capacity is beyond limit but part of His encompassingness is that He only takes His servant to account to the extent of their capacity.

As we recite each night the last two verses of Surah Al Baqarah before we go to sleep, reviving the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), one of the things we affirmed is

 لَا يُكَلِّفُ  ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

(Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.)

Allah rewards us by His capacity, which is beyond limit. Knowing that Allah is the all encompassing gives one a sense of internal contentment.

As a servant of Al Wasi' (the All Encompassing), we should reflect on the human qualities of one who serves the All Encompassing. One should strive in most encompassing manner, in one's good character, in one's mercy and and in one's gentleness. "Truly gentleness is the pinnacle of wisdom" (hadith). This is the Prophetic quality. And one deal in expansive way with Allah's creation because they are Allah's creation. If Allah deals with his creation on the basis of mercy, gentleness and expansiveness, then we should strive to do so as well.

It also entails to have encompassing spiritual states. One should not just have a little hope but one's hope in Allah should be vast and without limit. One should not have a little bit fear of Allah but one's fear and awe of Allah should be encompassing and without limit. One's trust and reliance in Allah should be accordingly. One's good opinion of Allah should be vast. One's seeking from Allah should be vast. "Allah loves the highest of matters and dislikes paltry matters." (hadith) If you ask Allah, ask Him for the vastest of matters.

وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٣

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous (133) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:133]

Ask for both of what He has promised of the good of the next life and of your standing with Allah.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was encompassing in his virtues.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to give everyone he sat with their due share such that each person thought that there was no one that he cared for more than them. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) encompassed all people with the vastness of his concern and his character. He was so vast in his concern that he encompass all people, with his concern for them and with his character. He is like a father to them. Anyone could come to him and take them by the hand, he will not let go of their hand until they let go of their hand. Anyone could come to him and express their needs, and he either fulfilled their needs or pointed them to the fulfillment of their needs or assisted them to the fulfillment of their needs. He wouldn't finish their conversation until they finished. He held all people to be the same with respect to their due rights. He give everyone their rights completely as due to them, with excellence. He manifested that in his gatherings. There are many beautiful aspects of his gatherings. During the difficult times (e.g. during the boycott), he could easily deny people a meeting with him, but one of the aspects of the encompassing nature of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is that anyone who are in the gatherings of Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would benefit something. They would taste something of benefit--knowledge, guidance, inspiration. They never part except having benefited something. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would invariably serve something so they taste something of food as well. This you see in the akhlaq (character) of those who reflect on the Prophetic character.

May Allah grant us noble character and encompassing spiritual states, contentment, and conduct most pleasing to Him. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam