بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High says,
ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ ﴿٣
Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe to the disbelievers from a severe punishment (2) The ones who prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter and avert [people] from the way of Allah, seeking to make it (seem) deviant. Those are in extreme error. (3) [Quran, Ibrahim 14:2-3]
Disbelievers are given different qualifications and descriptions in the Quran. And each one of them has to be paid attention seperately. The description given to the disbelievers here--those who prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter and avert people from the way of Allah.
The complaint of Allah of the believers is that they give preference to this life over the next. And though we are not disbelievers, as Muslims, if our life looks like we have priorities for this life and we have no storage for the next life, then even though we are not kuffar, we are sharing some qualities with them. And this is not something you can look at somebody walking down the street or someone next to you and say "Apparently you prefer this wordly life over the next." It doesn't work that way-- this a matter of the heart. So we have to look deep inside our own conscience and ask ourselves these questions as we read these verses.
May Allah bring our hearts 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
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Let Allah's Words Be Part of Our Family Conversation
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High says,
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ ﴿٣٧﴾
And thus We have revealed it as an Arabic legislation. And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allah any ally or any protector. [Quran, Ar-Rad 13:37]
The purpose of revelation is to talk to people. We don't have to talk to people on behalf of revelation. Just let revelation talk.
When we have a book like ours, the Quran, and when we have a Sunnah like our Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam, there is no doubt that it is going to give birth to endless amounts of scholarship. On the one hand, it is a good thing that we have depths upon depths of study. On the other hand. it is a tragedy that peoiple feel that they can no longer connect with revelation, that they have to go through some really big scholarly hoops before they can connect to the Word of Allah. On one hand, our Deen requires in depth learning, on the other hand, our Deen requires that we take its essential text, the Quran, and make it common knowledge easy for people to understand, both at the same time. And for the one who believes and he wants to engage in the road of taddabur, taffakur, ta'allum, that road never come to an end. That road will keep on going your whole life and you will barely scratch the surface of Allah's Book. But it is part of our job to introduce people to Allah's coonversation. Allah addresses people directly.
There are so many familities that are so disconnected to the Quran. Let Allah's Words become a part of our family conversation.
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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High says,
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ ﴿٣٧﴾
And thus We have revealed it as an Arabic legislation. And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allah any ally or any protector. [Quran, Ar-Rad 13:37]
The purpose of revelation is to talk to people. We don't have to talk to people on behalf of revelation. Just let revelation talk.
When we have a book like ours, the Quran, and when we have a Sunnah like our Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam, there is no doubt that it is going to give birth to endless amounts of scholarship. On the one hand, it is a good thing that we have depths upon depths of study. On the other hand. it is a tragedy that peoiple feel that they can no longer connect with revelation, that they have to go through some really big scholarly hoops before they can connect to the Word of Allah. On one hand, our Deen requires in depth learning, on the other hand, our Deen requires that we take its essential text, the Quran, and make it common knowledge easy for people to understand, both at the same time. And for the one who believes and he wants to engage in the road of taddabur, taffakur, ta'allum, that road never come to an end. That road will keep on going your whole life and you will barely scratch the surface of Allah's Book. But it is part of our job to introduce people to Allah's coonversation. Allah addresses people directly.
There are so many familities that are so disconnected to the Quran. Let Allah's Words become a part of our family conversation.
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
Monday, December 17, 2018
Recipe for Tranquil Hearts
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The recipe for tanquility is remembrance of Allah.
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ ﴿٢٧﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨
And those who disbelieved say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him] - Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."
Orang-orang kafir berkata: "Mengapa tidak diturunkan kepadanya (Muhammad) tanda (mukjizat) dari Tuhannya?" Katakanlah: "Sesungguhnya Allah menyesatkan siapa yang Dia kehendaki dan menunjuki orang-orang yang bertaubat kepada-Nya", (yaitu) orang-orang yang beriman dan hati mereka manjadi tenteram dengan mengingat Allah. Ingatlah, hanya dengan mengingati Allah-lah hati menjadi tenteram.
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.
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The recipe for tanquility is remembrance of Allah.
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ ﴿٢٧﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨
And those who disbelieved say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him] - Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."
Orang-orang kafir berkata: "Mengapa tidak diturunkan kepadanya (Muhammad) tanda (mukjizat) dari Tuhannya?" Katakanlah: "Sesungguhnya Allah menyesatkan siapa yang Dia kehendaki dan menunjuki orang-orang yang bertaubat kepada-Nya", (yaitu) orang-orang yang beriman dan hati mereka manjadi tenteram dengan mengingat Allah. Ingatlah, hanya dengan mengingati Allah-lah hati menjadi tenteram.
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.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Enjoying a Good Life-- Ask Forgiveness and Repent
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah distinguished between istighfar (asking for forgiveness)and tawba (repentance). The entrance into the gates of repentance is from istighfar. First you tell Allah that you are sorry and you acknowledge what you have done wrong. After that you take practical steps not to fall into that trap again. Inshaa Allah you will have a good life in this world before the next.
وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ ﴿٣﴾
And [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor. But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day. [Quran, Hud 11:3]
May Allah grant us good in this life and the next, and save from the Hellfire. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah distinguished between istighfar (asking for forgiveness)and tawba (repentance). The entrance into the gates of repentance is from istighfar. First you tell Allah that you are sorry and you acknowledge what you have done wrong. After that you take practical steps not to fall into that trap again. Inshaa Allah you will have a good life in this world before the next.
وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ ﴿٣﴾
And [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor. But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day. [Quran, Hud 11:3]
May Allah grant us good in this life and the next, and save from the Hellfire. 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
Friday, September 14, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Enjoy the Blessings But Don't Be Lazy
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
We learn from the Quran that it’s perfectly fine to eat good and tasty food but don't be lazy. When the People of the Cave woke up from their 300-year-long sleep, they said:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿١٩
And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you. (19)
[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:19]
In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him: Once the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said,
"The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."
[Bukhari]
The concerns of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) came true in Andalus, Muslim Spain. The great Muslim empire began there. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others, everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct. We have become a nation of buying and hoarding stuff.
Remember...
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)
[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46]
Comfort is a Road to Success— Not Success Itself.
May Allah guide us on a straight path and enable us to do deeds that are pleasing to Him. Aameen.
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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
We learn from the Quran that it’s perfectly fine to eat good and tasty food but don't be lazy. When the People of the Cave woke up from their 300-year-long sleep, they said:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿١٩
And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you. (19)
[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:19]
In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him: Once the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said,
"The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."
[Bukhari]
The concerns of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) came true in Andalus, Muslim Spain. The great Muslim empire began there. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others, everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct. We have become a nation of buying and hoarding stuff.
Remember...
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)
[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46]
Comfort is a Road to Success— Not Success Itself.
May Allah guide us on a straight path and enable us to do deeds that are pleasing to Him. Aameen.
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
Friday, August 31, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Upholding Adab (Good Manners)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Adab (good manners) is the right way of doing something. It is putting things in the right places. Every human dealings have an adab of doing it. There is even an adab of eating a banana. Where does this adab come from? It comes from the Prophetic example, the one most praised for his character (sallallahu alayhi wassalam)
Character is the inward disposition that causes one to exhibit praiseworthy traits and acts in praiseworthy ways. Good character has a wide range of manifestation and one way is adab. We can consider adab is a subset of good character (khuluq). Our khuluq is the way you are and manifest in your conduct. The basis of good character is seeking the good pleasure of Allah, such as one's conduct is seeking of Divine mercy.
Some aspect related to our conduct with human being has many benefits. It teaches us restraint and restraint is a means of taqwa, of mindfulness of Allah. It makes you conscious of Allah, a way of being in state of consciousness of Allah. It will remind you of Allah and also awakens you to seeking of pleasure of Allah. It makes you feel beautiful. Allah is beatiful and loves beauty. Good manners is beloved to Allah and people. When you act with proper manners, people feel safe, honored, confortable, and it srengthen bonds between people.
The Prophet's character (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is defined as being tremendous. The basis of the Prophet's character (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is gentleness with people and honoring others. This is part of proper manners. They return to mercy. The one who is merciful is granted mercy by Allah.
Read the Quran attentively because the Quran gives details of the Prophet's character (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Why Islam advcates adab so much? So as to perfect the Islamic personality and bring harmony among people. How you act with people refines your character, part of chiseling this jewel so that it begins to become radiant. It brings us closer to the hearts and minds of others, particularly for those who are calling to Allah. Every Muslim is an ambassador. Are you upholding adab in all your dealings? Be around people of adab and you will learn good manners inshaa Allah.
May Allah grant us noble character and the company of people of adab.
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.
Ameen.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Adab (good manners) is the right way of doing something. It is putting things in the right places. Every human dealings have an adab of doing it. There is even an adab of eating a banana. Where does this adab come from? It comes from the Prophetic example, the one most praised for his character (sallallahu alayhi wassalam)
Character is the inward disposition that causes one to exhibit praiseworthy traits and acts in praiseworthy ways. Good character has a wide range of manifestation and one way is adab. We can consider adab is a subset of good character (khuluq). Our khuluq is the way you are and manifest in your conduct. The basis of good character is seeking the good pleasure of Allah, such as one's conduct is seeking of Divine mercy.
Some aspect related to our conduct with human being has many benefits. It teaches us restraint and restraint is a means of taqwa, of mindfulness of Allah. It makes you conscious of Allah, a way of being in state of consciousness of Allah. It will remind you of Allah and also awakens you to seeking of pleasure of Allah. It makes you feel beautiful. Allah is beatiful and loves beauty. Good manners is beloved to Allah and people. When you act with proper manners, people feel safe, honored, confortable, and it srengthen bonds between people.
The Prophet's character (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is defined as being tremendous. The basis of the Prophet's character (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is gentleness with people and honoring others. This is part of proper manners. They return to mercy. The one who is merciful is granted mercy by Allah.
Read the Quran attentively because the Quran gives details of the Prophet's character (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Why Islam advcates adab so much? So as to perfect the Islamic personality and bring harmony among people. How you act with people refines your character, part of chiseling this jewel so that it begins to become radiant. It brings us closer to the hearts and minds of others, particularly for those who are calling to Allah. Every Muslim is an ambassador. Are you upholding adab in all your dealings? Be around people of adab and you will learn good manners inshaa Allah.
May Allah grant us noble character and the company of people of adab.
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.
Ameen.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Friday, August 24, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Doing Righteous Works, A Sign Allah Loves You
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In the last ayah of Surah Kahf, Allah says,
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿١١
Say (O Muhammad), "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]
One of the signs that Allah loves you is that He guides you to doing good deeds.
Allah Most High says,
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]
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘if Allah loves a person, He calls Jibril saying, ’Allah loves so and so; O Jibril love him.’ And make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of the heaven: “Allah loves so and so therefore you should love him also, and so all the inhabitants of the heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasures of the people on the earth.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
By reading Surah Kahf every Friday we are not only only doing a righteous deed, we are also reviving and following the Sunnah of Allah beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), which is also a righteous deed. Let's read it today and every Friday from now on and guide you with more righteous deeds.
There are many virtues in reading and reciting the Quran, among which:
1. Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the Prophet (Allh bless him and grant him peace saying: “Read the Quran (regularly) for it will act as an intercessor for its readers on the Day of Resurrection.” [Muslim].
2. Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Quran and teach it (to others).” [Bukhari].
3. ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : “When somebody recites one letter from the Quran he will get one good deed in recompense which will be equal to ten good deeds. I do not say that Alif Lam Meem is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Meem is a letter (i.e it is equal to three letters).” [Tirmidhi].
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. [Quran, Al-Kahf 8:10]
May Allah grant us steadfastness in worship, forgive all our sins, grant us righteous deeds, and make us of His elect people of the Quran. Aameen.
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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In the last ayah of Surah Kahf, Allah says,
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿١١
Say (O Muhammad), "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]
One of the signs that Allah loves you is that He guides you to doing good deeds.
Allah Most High says,
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]
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘if Allah loves a person, He calls Jibril saying, ’Allah loves so and so; O Jibril love him.’ And make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of the heaven: “Allah loves so and so therefore you should love him also, and so all the inhabitants of the heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasures of the people on the earth.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
By reading Surah Kahf every Friday we are not only only doing a righteous deed, we are also reviving and following the Sunnah of Allah beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), which is also a righteous deed. Let's read it today and every Friday from now on and guide you with more righteous deeds.
There are many virtues in reading and reciting the Quran, among which:
1. Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the Prophet (Allh bless him and grant him peace saying: “Read the Quran (regularly) for it will act as an intercessor for its readers on the Day of Resurrection.” [Muslim].
2. Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Quran and teach it (to others).” [Bukhari].
3. ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : “When somebody recites one letter from the Quran he will get one good deed in recompense which will be equal to ten good deeds. I do not say that Alif Lam Meem is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Meem is a letter (i.e it is equal to three letters).” [Tirmidhi].
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. [Quran, Al-Kahf 8:10]
May Allah grant us steadfastness in worship, forgive all our sins, grant us righteous deeds, and make us of His elect people of the Quran. Aameen.
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
Monday, August 13, 2018
Fasting During the First Nine Days of Dhu'l Hijjah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The first ten days of Dhu’l Hijjah are considered to be blessed and virtuous, and thus it is highly encouraged to carry out as much acts of worship as possible in them.
Allah Most High Himself swore by them in the Qur’an,
وَالْفَجْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ﴿٢
By the dawn (1) And [by] ten nights (2) [Qur’an, al-Fajr 89:1-2]
The Qur’anic commentators generally agree that the ten nights mentioned above refers to “the first ten days of Dhu’l Hijjah,”
AbdAllah ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There are no days in which righteous acts are more beloved to Allah than in these days – meaning the ten of Dhu’l Hijjah.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the way of Allah?” He replied, “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah, except for the man who goes out with his life and his wealth and does not return with either of them.” (Bukhari no: 926, Tirmidhi no: 757, Abu Dawud no: 2430 and others; the wording is Abu Dawud)
This hadith indicates that there is added significance and extra rewards for carrying out ‘all’ types of righteous deeds and acts of worship during the first ten days and nights of Dhu’l Hijjah, without any exception. This includes fasting, since it is a righteous deed; in fact, it is one of the highest forms of worship. As such; this hadith indirectly establishes the recommendation of fasting for the entire first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah, as fasting is included in the general context of this hadith.
There are some other narrations that make specific mention of fasting the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah.
Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) says, “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) would not leave four matters: Fasting on Ashura [10th of Muharram], the ten days [of Dhu’l Hijjah, with the exception of the 10th], three days of every month; and performing two Rak’ats of prayer before dawn.” (Nasa’i no: 2416 and Ahmad)
Note that the ‘ten days’ in the various hadiths refer to the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah, since it is agreed upon that it is prohibitively disliked and sinful to fast on the tenth day which is the day of Eid al-Adha.
Fasting during these first nine days was a common and known practice during the era of the Companions and early Muslims (Allah be pleased with all of them).
It is recommended and highly virtuous to fast during all or some of the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijja. Of these, it is particularly recommended to fast the Day of Arafah (9th of Dhu’l Hijjah).
Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “Fasting the Day of Arafah expiates for two years, one prior and one forthcoming. And fasting the Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) expiates for the past year.” (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah)
May Allah grant us righteous deeds and accept our worship. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The first ten days of Dhu’l Hijjah are considered to be blessed and virtuous, and thus it is highly encouraged to carry out as much acts of worship as possible in them.
Allah Most High Himself swore by them in the Qur’an,
وَالْفَجْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ﴿٢
By the dawn (1) And [by] ten nights (2) [Qur’an, al-Fajr 89:1-2]
The Qur’anic commentators generally agree that the ten nights mentioned above refers to “the first ten days of Dhu’l Hijjah,”
AbdAllah ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There are no days in which righteous acts are more beloved to Allah than in these days – meaning the ten of Dhu’l Hijjah.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the way of Allah?” He replied, “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah, except for the man who goes out with his life and his wealth and does not return with either of them.” (Bukhari no: 926, Tirmidhi no: 757, Abu Dawud no: 2430 and others; the wording is Abu Dawud)
This hadith indicates that there is added significance and extra rewards for carrying out ‘all’ types of righteous deeds and acts of worship during the first ten days and nights of Dhu’l Hijjah, without any exception. This includes fasting, since it is a righteous deed; in fact, it is one of the highest forms of worship. As such; this hadith indirectly establishes the recommendation of fasting for the entire first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah, as fasting is included in the general context of this hadith.
There are some other narrations that make specific mention of fasting the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah.
Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) says, “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) would not leave four matters: Fasting on Ashura [10th of Muharram], the ten days [of Dhu’l Hijjah, with the exception of the 10th], three days of every month; and performing two Rak’ats of prayer before dawn.” (Nasa’i no: 2416 and Ahmad)
Note that the ‘ten days’ in the various hadiths refer to the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah, since it is agreed upon that it is prohibitively disliked and sinful to fast on the tenth day which is the day of Eid al-Adha.
Fasting during these first nine days was a common and known practice during the era of the Companions and early Muslims (Allah be pleased with all of them).
It is recommended and highly virtuous to fast during all or some of the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijja. Of these, it is particularly recommended to fast the Day of Arafah (9th of Dhu’l Hijjah).
Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “Fasting the Day of Arafah expiates for two years, one prior and one forthcoming. And fasting the Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) expiates for the past year.” (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah)
May Allah grant us righteous deeds and accept our worship. 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
Friday, August 10, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday)-- Safeguarding Ourselves With The Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Kahf,
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave (Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam) the Book (the Qur'an), and has not placed therein any crookedness. (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-Kahf 18:1-2]
The Quran is upright and safeguards the best interest of His servants. It will set anybody right. Even in the toughest of time, the Quran can help us stand up straight. It teaches us to stay within limits. It does not put a burden or responsibility upon the slaves of Allah the kind of burden or responsibility that they can't carry.
It will never fall short in the realm of guidance. That's why Allah sent the Quran as the last Book. The Quran is a complete guidance. Whatever troubles or crisis we are facing -- personal, national, ethical, political, factional, ignorance, morality, shamelessness, etc -- the Quran has the solution for it.
The world we live in now is not much different than the world before in terms of its crookedness and deviations. Quran is committed to rectify the most crooked of nations. So we must have hope that when we restore the relationship with the Quran to people, beginning with ourselves, our children and our families, then there will be good things lie ahead. The Quran is straight and no matter how much society deviates, it will remain straight. It has the power to take that which is bent and make it straight.
The actual relationship we have with the Quran is when we are standing in prayer and reciting it, and when we are standing behind an imam and listening to it being recited. Our relationship with the Quran happens five times a day at least. If somebody's prayer is good, his Quran is good, and if someone is not engaging with the Quran in his prayers, then his relationship with the Quran is entirely superficial.
Isn't it time we take the Qur'an seriously? The hearts of those who claim to have Faith (the believers) should be filled with the grandeur of Allah, in awe of Allah's power, due to the remembrance of Allah. Their hearts should flood with tears because of the Quran. Our hearts should be filled with overwhelming sense of emotion because we haven't connected with the Quran yet.
We should act like the Ummah that we are supposed to be with the Quran.
وَٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلْتَحَدًا ﴿٢٧
And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge. (27)
Allah guarantees Quran is easy for people who want to remember Him.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ ﴿١٧
And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? (17) [Qur'an, Al Qamar 54:17]
The dhikr here is a warning. Quran has been made easy so we will be warned properly. Allah uses the word مُّدَّكِرٍ which is easy to say as compared to other forms of Arabic word for remember. It is as if Allah is asking is there anyone out there that will put the least bit of effort (مُّدَّكِرٍ) to try to remember, to try to take the guidance? Is there anyone out there that will put a little bit of work in remembrance-- the effort you are going to make to take an Arabic class, to study the Quran and memorize its vocabulary and try to learn it, to try memorize the ayah of Quran. If we are among those who are doing all that, don't forget why you are doing it? You are doing it so you can take the advice. Remembrance of the Quran is memorization, its learning, its understanding...but at the end it all is ... if we are not taking its advice and guidance personally, then you are missing the point.
May Allah make us people of His remembrance and His select people of the Quran and guide us on the straight path. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Kahf,
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave (Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam) the Book (the Qur'an), and has not placed therein any crookedness. (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-Kahf 18:1-2]
The Quran is upright and safeguards the best interest of His servants. It will set anybody right. Even in the toughest of time, the Quran can help us stand up straight. It teaches us to stay within limits. It does not put a burden or responsibility upon the slaves of Allah the kind of burden or responsibility that they can't carry.
It will never fall short in the realm of guidance. That's why Allah sent the Quran as the last Book. The Quran is a complete guidance. Whatever troubles or crisis we are facing -- personal, national, ethical, political, factional, ignorance, morality, shamelessness, etc -- the Quran has the solution for it.
The world we live in now is not much different than the world before in terms of its crookedness and deviations. Quran is committed to rectify the most crooked of nations. So we must have hope that when we restore the relationship with the Quran to people, beginning with ourselves, our children and our families, then there will be good things lie ahead. The Quran is straight and no matter how much society deviates, it will remain straight. It has the power to take that which is bent and make it straight.
The actual relationship we have with the Quran is when we are standing in prayer and reciting it, and when we are standing behind an imam and listening to it being recited. Our relationship with the Quran happens five times a day at least. If somebody's prayer is good, his Quran is good, and if someone is not engaging with the Quran in his prayers, then his relationship with the Quran is entirely superficial.
Isn't it time we take the Qur'an seriously? The hearts of those who claim to have Faith (the believers) should be filled with the grandeur of Allah, in awe of Allah's power, due to the remembrance of Allah. Their hearts should flood with tears because of the Quran. Our hearts should be filled with overwhelming sense of emotion because we haven't connected with the Quran yet.
We should act like the Ummah that we are supposed to be with the Quran.
وَٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلْتَحَدًا ﴿٢٧
And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge. (27)
Allah guarantees Quran is easy for people who want to remember Him.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ ﴿١٧
And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? (17) [Qur'an, Al Qamar 54:17]
The dhikr here is a warning. Quran has been made easy so we will be warned properly. Allah uses the word مُّدَّكِرٍ which is easy to say as compared to other forms of Arabic word for remember. It is as if Allah is asking is there anyone out there that will put the least bit of effort (مُّدَّكِرٍ) to try to remember, to try to take the guidance? Is there anyone out there that will put a little bit of work in remembrance-- the effort you are going to make to take an Arabic class, to study the Quran and memorize its vocabulary and try to learn it, to try memorize the ayah of Quran. If we are among those who are doing all that, don't forget why you are doing it? You are doing it so you can take the advice. Remembrance of the Quran is memorization, its learning, its understanding...but at the end it all is ... if we are not taking its advice and guidance personally, then you are missing the point.
May Allah make us people of His remembrance and His select people of the Quran and guide us on the straight path. 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
Saturday, August 4, 2018
For Our Youth -- How to Live a Purposeful Life
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) advised us to: “Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death”
(Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)
Take your youth before your old age.
The finest part of a Muslim youth is finding the purpose of being, striving for the hereafter and in the paths of righteousness. It’s all very easy to attain inshaa Allah. Just instill the importance of bestowing your life to applying Islamic values, no matter how trivial.
Some of the most delightful characteristics beloved to Allah: being grateful and dutiful to your parents, being truthful, being trustworthy, exercising patience and self-restraint, staying focused, being determined, avoiding idle talk/chats, not being wasteful (by wasting your blessings, including your time and health), striving to be pious (having taqwa), and not being attracted to worldly things or being indifference towards the material world (zuhd). Try possessing these qualities and grow to be an honorable adult in the community of Islam.
Be grateful and dutiful to your parents.
Our youth usually try to avoid their parents. They don’t want their parents interfering in their lives. But no guidance is better in this world than that of your parents’. They too have dreams about you and they yearn to see these dreams come true. They might have endured a lot of difficulties that you haven’t seen. So be grateful and dutiful to your parents and seek their advice in everything you do, no matter how successful or knowledgeable you think you are. Remember, one day you will be old like your parents, if you live to old age, and you will reap what you sow.
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. [Quran, 31:14]
Be truthful.
“This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. [Quran, 5:119]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, as narrated by Abdullah (ra): Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to wickedness or evil-doing, and wickedness leads to the (Hell) fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar. (Bukhari)
Be trustworthy.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was trustworthy among His companions, among His wives, and among non-Muslims, and many relied on him when involved in business transactions.
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So, whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. [Quran, 2:256]
Exercise patience and self-restraint.
These are some common circumstances teenagers face in this challenging world and if you exercise self-restraint and patience, you will have no regrets and will attain great heights in your life. Allah (swt) will be pleased with you and you will be rewarded with highest ranks in the hereafter.
But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good]. [Quran, 41:35]
Stay focused.
Do you daydream during class? Can you make a brief account of what you learned few minutes ago? Can you pay full attention when performing a task?
These are just a few attention problems faced by teenagers. A simple way to solve them is to focus on prayer. If you pay complete attention to your salah, you’ll be learning to grant the same concentration to your other activities.
And they who carefully maintain their prayers – Those are the inheritors Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally. [Quran, 23:9-11]
Be determined.
If you are not firm with your purpose, you will never know where you are heading and what your life is. All your activities, from your school works to the prayers, everything will be in vain. The main aspect that requires to succeed is determination.
O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. [Quran, 31:17]
Avoid idle talks/chats.
It’s a custom among youth to involve in idle talks and chats.
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. [Quran, 31:6]
It won’t be a mistake to your eyes. Even if it is so, you will consider it as a very minute mistake, but Allah will bring it forth on the day of judgement.
[And Luqman said], “O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted. [Quran, 31:16]
Don’t waste time and money.
Spending lavishly on unnecessary things, spending your time unproductively, watching TV, listening to music, wasting money on weddings, etc. Avoid wasting, even if you are to eat and drink.
. . . and eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. [Quran, 7:31]
Strive to be pious.
If you’re a pious believer, then you’ll most probably possess all the qualities listed above. If you fear that Allah is watching you all the time; you will be in gratitude to your parents, you will be truthful and trustworthy, you will avoid idle talks, you will be cognizant about how you spend your time and money, and how you use the blessings of Allah, etc. Thus, try to be pious. You will observe how the above qualities come within you.
O children of Adam, we have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. [Quran, 7:26]
Don’t be attracted by worldly things/being indifference towards the material world (zuhd).
Remember Allah is watching and that we will be recompensed for everything we do.
O mankind fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver. [Quran, 31:33]
If you live according to what Allah has said, obeying His commands and controlling yourself from the youthful passions, you will not only be victorious in this life, but also in the hereafter.
There are sevensuch persons for whom Allah will provide shade from His shade on that day where there will be no other shade except His. They will be: A just ruler, a youth who was nurtured in the obedience of Allah . . . [Bukhari]
May Allah make us among the righteous and shade us under His Shade. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) advised us to: “Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death”
(Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)
Take your youth before your old age.
The finest part of a Muslim youth is finding the purpose of being, striving for the hereafter and in the paths of righteousness. It’s all very easy to attain inshaa Allah. Just instill the importance of bestowing your life to applying Islamic values, no matter how trivial.
Some of the most delightful characteristics beloved to Allah: being grateful and dutiful to your parents, being truthful, being trustworthy, exercising patience and self-restraint, staying focused, being determined, avoiding idle talk/chats, not being wasteful (by wasting your blessings, including your time and health), striving to be pious (having taqwa), and not being attracted to worldly things or being indifference towards the material world (zuhd). Try possessing these qualities and grow to be an honorable adult in the community of Islam.
Be grateful and dutiful to your parents.
Our youth usually try to avoid their parents. They don’t want their parents interfering in their lives. But no guidance is better in this world than that of your parents’. They too have dreams about you and they yearn to see these dreams come true. They might have endured a lot of difficulties that you haven’t seen. So be grateful and dutiful to your parents and seek their advice in everything you do, no matter how successful or knowledgeable you think you are. Remember, one day you will be old like your parents, if you live to old age, and you will reap what you sow.
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. [Quran, 31:14]
Be truthful.
“This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. [Quran, 5:119]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, as narrated by Abdullah (ra): Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to wickedness or evil-doing, and wickedness leads to the (Hell) fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar. (Bukhari)
Be trustworthy.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was trustworthy among His companions, among His wives, and among non-Muslims, and many relied on him when involved in business transactions.
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So, whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. [Quran, 2:256]
Exercise patience and self-restraint.
These are some common circumstances teenagers face in this challenging world and if you exercise self-restraint and patience, you will have no regrets and will attain great heights in your life. Allah (swt) will be pleased with you and you will be rewarded with highest ranks in the hereafter.
But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good]. [Quran, 41:35]
Stay focused.
Do you daydream during class? Can you make a brief account of what you learned few minutes ago? Can you pay full attention when performing a task?
These are just a few attention problems faced by teenagers. A simple way to solve them is to focus on prayer. If you pay complete attention to your salah, you’ll be learning to grant the same concentration to your other activities.
And they who carefully maintain their prayers – Those are the inheritors Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally. [Quran, 23:9-11]
Be determined.
If you are not firm with your purpose, you will never know where you are heading and what your life is. All your activities, from your school works to the prayers, everything will be in vain. The main aspect that requires to succeed is determination.
O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. [Quran, 31:17]
Avoid idle talks/chats.
It’s a custom among youth to involve in idle talks and chats.
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. [Quran, 31:6]
It won’t be a mistake to your eyes. Even if it is so, you will consider it as a very minute mistake, but Allah will bring it forth on the day of judgement.
[And Luqman said], “O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted. [Quran, 31:16]
Don’t waste time and money.
Spending lavishly on unnecessary things, spending your time unproductively, watching TV, listening to music, wasting money on weddings, etc. Avoid wasting, even if you are to eat and drink.
. . . and eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. [Quran, 7:31]
Strive to be pious.
If you’re a pious believer, then you’ll most probably possess all the qualities listed above. If you fear that Allah is watching you all the time; you will be in gratitude to your parents, you will be truthful and trustworthy, you will avoid idle talks, you will be cognizant about how you spend your time and money, and how you use the blessings of Allah, etc. Thus, try to be pious. You will observe how the above qualities come within you.
O children of Adam, we have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. [Quran, 7:26]
Don’t be attracted by worldly things/being indifference towards the material world (zuhd).
Remember Allah is watching and that we will be recompensed for everything we do.
O mankind fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver. [Quran, 31:33]
If you live according to what Allah has said, obeying His commands and controlling yourself from the youthful passions, you will not only be victorious in this life, but also in the hereafter.
There are sevensuch persons for whom Allah will provide shade from His shade on that day where there will be no other shade except His. They will be: A just ruler, a youth who was nurtured in the obedience of Allah . . . [Bukhari]
May Allah make us among the righteous and shade us under His Shade. 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
Friday, August 3, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- True Zuhd and Taqwa
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the most beautiful words ever uttered were at the end of a lecture of the Prophet's life where the speaker said referring to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace):
"He had the world at his feet, yet not a dinar to his name."
Indeed that's what true zuhd (asceticism) and taqwa (piety) is, having the dunya (world) bestowed upon you from every angle imaginable and sacrificing it for the Noble Countenance of your Creator and Sustainer. This is a noble attribute that most have lost, except those who have been encompassed by the Mercy of Allah.
'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"Verily the dunya (world) is coming to an end, and the akhirah (Hereafter)is coming to a beginning and they both have children. So be children of the akhirah and don't be children of the dunya. For verily today there is action with no account and tomorrow there's account with no action."
Let us not allow ourselves and our families to be distracted by this dunya and its temporary beauty for the joys which will last for eternity. Let us be the children of the akhirah and not of the dunya.
Let us wear the garments of iman (faith) and taqwa (piety) as they are the only true garments that cover the 'awrah, and are the only protection from the tribulations of the dunya.
Allah Most High says in Surah Al-Kahf,
ـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ
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) Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow... [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:30-31]
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46]
May Allah make us of those people who benefit from admonition. May Allah make us of the Muttaqin and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.
May Allah make grant us true zuhd and taqwa. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the most beautiful words ever uttered were at the end of a lecture of the Prophet's life where the speaker said referring to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace):
"He had the world at his feet, yet not a dinar to his name."
Indeed that's what true zuhd (asceticism) and taqwa (piety) is, having the dunya (world) bestowed upon you from every angle imaginable and sacrificing it for the Noble Countenance of your Creator and Sustainer. This is a noble attribute that most have lost, except those who have been encompassed by the Mercy of Allah.
'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"Verily the dunya (world) is coming to an end, and the akhirah (Hereafter)is coming to a beginning and they both have children. So be children of the akhirah and don't be children of the dunya. For verily today there is action with no account and tomorrow there's account with no action."
Let us not allow ourselves and our families to be distracted by this dunya and its temporary beauty for the joys which will last for eternity. Let us be the children of the akhirah and not of the dunya.
Let us wear the garments of iman (faith) and taqwa (piety) as they are the only true garments that cover the 'awrah, and are the only protection from the tribulations of the dunya.
Allah Most High says in Surah Al-Kahf,
ـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ
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) Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow... [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:30-31]
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46]
May Allah make us of those people who benefit from admonition. May Allah make us of the Muttaqin and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.
May Allah make grant us true zuhd and taqwa. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
How Close Allah Is To You
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
How close Allah is to you. He is the one who makes you laugh and He is the One who makes you cry.
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿٤٢﴾ وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ ﴿٤٣﴾ وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا ﴿٤٤﴾
And that to your Lord is the finality (42) And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep (43) And that it is He who causes death and gives life (44) [Quran, An-Najm 53:42-44]
This is an ayah of love. Our joy and sadness are coming from Him. Subhanallah. The people who makes us cry the most are the people who we love the most.
We ask Allah for His love. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
How close Allah is to you. He is the one who makes you laugh and He is the One who makes you cry.
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿٤٢﴾ وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ ﴿٤٣﴾ وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا ﴿٤٤﴾
And that to your Lord is the finality (42) And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep (43) And that it is He who causes death and gives life (44) [Quran, An-Najm 53:42-44]
This is an ayah of love. Our joy and sadness are coming from Him. Subhanallah. The people who makes us cry the most are the people who we love the most.
We ask Allah for His love. 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
Friday, July 27, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Sharing Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the highlights of Friday to the Muslim is reciting Surah Al-Kahf. In it there are many valuable lessons and reminders for all of us. Allah tells us at the beginning of the Surah,
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢﴾ مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣
[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) In which they will remain forever (3) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:1-3]
The word: عِوَجَا('iwaja) means crookedness of any kind, or inclination towards one side or deviation from the norms of rectitude. The Quran remains pure and free of all that in terms of the perfection of its words and meanings. It simply admits of no distortion anywhere, either in eloquence or in knowledge and wisdom. The sense which has been conveyed in a negative form through: وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا (and has not made therein any deviance) has been fortified positively through the word: قَيِّمًا (qayyima) which follows immediately for emphasis. The reason is that this word carries the sense of: مستقيما (mustaqim) and that which is: مستقيم (mustaqim: straightforward, straight, upright) will not have the least crookedness or tilt towards any side. However, قيم (qayyim) can also have another sense, that of caretaker, custodian and protector. Given this probability, the sense of the expression would be that the Quran, while perfect in itself as free from all kinds of excess, deficiency, deviance and crookedness, keeps others upright, firm and unflinching and protects the interests and advantages of all servants of Allah. Thus the gist of the two expressions would be that the Quran stands perfect in itself and has the ability to make men and women created by Allah become equally perfect. [Mazhari]
May Allah enable us to recite the entire Surah Al-Kahf every Friday until the end of our lives in this world and grant us the benefits of the reciting it and show us the depths of it and enable us to apply the lessons to our lives in the manner most pleasing to Him. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the highlights of Friday to the Muslim is reciting Surah Al-Kahf. In it there are many valuable lessons and reminders for all of us. Allah tells us at the beginning of the Surah,
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢﴾ مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣
[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) In which they will remain forever (3) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:1-3]
The word: عِوَجَا('iwaja) means crookedness of any kind, or inclination towards one side or deviation from the norms of rectitude. The Quran remains pure and free of all that in terms of the perfection of its words and meanings. It simply admits of no distortion anywhere, either in eloquence or in knowledge and wisdom. The sense which has been conveyed in a negative form through: وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا (and has not made therein any deviance) has been fortified positively through the word: قَيِّمًا (qayyima) which follows immediately for emphasis. The reason is that this word carries the sense of: مستقيما (mustaqim) and that which is: مستقيم (mustaqim: straightforward, straight, upright) will not have the least crookedness or tilt towards any side. However, قيم (qayyim) can also have another sense, that of caretaker, custodian and protector. Given this probability, the sense of the expression would be that the Quran, while perfect in itself as free from all kinds of excess, deficiency, deviance and crookedness, keeps others upright, firm and unflinching and protects the interests and advantages of all servants of Allah. Thus the gist of the two expressions would be that the Quran stands perfect in itself and has the ability to make men and women created by Allah become equally perfect. [Mazhari]
May Allah enable us to recite the entire Surah Al-Kahf every Friday until the end of our lives in this world and grant us the benefits of the reciting it and show us the depths of it and enable us to apply the lessons to our lives in the manner most pleasing to Him. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Friday, July 6, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Gardens of Paradise: How To Get There?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us very clearly who will have the Gardens of Paradise -- those who have believed and done righteous deeds. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا ﴿١٠٧﴾ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا ﴿١٠٨
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging, (107) Wherein they abide eternally. They will not desire from it any transfer. (108) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:107-108]
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩
In Surah As-Sajdah, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala repeats the same kind of people who will enter the Gardens.
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩
As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do. [Quran, As-Sajdah 32:19]
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala also tells us about the believers in these verses:
إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهَا خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا۟ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ۩ ﴿١٥﴾ تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿١٦
Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. (15) They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16) [Quran, As-Sajda 32:15-17]
How do we build this relationship with Allah?
Everything starts with little things. We don't turn into a spiritual sage overnight. We have to instill certain healthy practices into our life that allow us to build a relationship with Allah.
First, do no harm. Do no harm to others and do no harm to others. Don't kill yourself spiritually with illicit relationship and other disobedience. Don't watch filth. Don't use foul language and don't be in company who use bad language. Don't backbite and slander people. If you harm yourself and others, your heart is damaged and that will push you further away from Allah.
Second, make small adhkar. Don't wait. Start with reading some Quran everyday. Recite the du'as that associated with daily actions that we do, like the du'a leaving and entering the house, eating, drinking, putting on clothes, entering and leaving the bathroom, etc. If you can instill 4 or 5 of these daily du'as everyday that is associated with daily actions anyway, you will feel closer to Allah that you have never felt in shaa Allah. All you have to do is to be cognizant of the fact that you are talking to Allah. You are making this du'a not because it is a subconscious habit but you are actually talking to Allah. You will notice a significance difference of how you feel about Allah and how you remember Allah. If you don't this, you will find very hard to think about Allah, to converse with Allah in salah (prayer) because God is too abstract a concept to you. This simple du'as that was taught by the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is a very easy way to get a head start in spirituality and to develop that for ourselves.
If there is one thing that you should be enthusiatic in memorizing is du'as. The entire salah is considered a du'a. Memorize the ayat of the Quran that has du'a in them and recite them in your salah. Memorize Surah Al-Kahf and recite it every Friday. Make this your project in the next month or so.
May Allah make us and our children of the righteous and grant us righteous deeds and the highest Paradise. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us very clearly who will have the Gardens of Paradise -- those who have believed and done righteous deeds. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا ﴿١٠٧﴾ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا ﴿١٠٨
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging, (107) Wherein they abide eternally. They will not desire from it any transfer. (108) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:107-108]
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩
In Surah As-Sajdah, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala repeats the same kind of people who will enter the Gardens.
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩
As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do. [Quran, As-Sajdah 32:19]
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala also tells us about the believers in these verses:
إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهَا خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا۟ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ۩ ﴿١٥﴾ تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿١٦
Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. (15) They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16) [Quran, As-Sajda 32:15-17]
How do we build this relationship with Allah?
Everything starts with little things. We don't turn into a spiritual sage overnight. We have to instill certain healthy practices into our life that allow us to build a relationship with Allah.
First, do no harm. Do no harm to others and do no harm to others. Don't kill yourself spiritually with illicit relationship and other disobedience. Don't watch filth. Don't use foul language and don't be in company who use bad language. Don't backbite and slander people. If you harm yourself and others, your heart is damaged and that will push you further away from Allah.
Second, make small adhkar. Don't wait. Start with reading some Quran everyday. Recite the du'as that associated with daily actions that we do, like the du'a leaving and entering the house, eating, drinking, putting on clothes, entering and leaving the bathroom, etc. If you can instill 4 or 5 of these daily du'as everyday that is associated with daily actions anyway, you will feel closer to Allah that you have never felt in shaa Allah. All you have to do is to be cognizant of the fact that you are talking to Allah. You are making this du'a not because it is a subconscious habit but you are actually talking to Allah. You will notice a significance difference of how you feel about Allah and how you remember Allah. If you don't this, you will find very hard to think about Allah, to converse with Allah in salah (prayer) because God is too abstract a concept to you. This simple du'as that was taught by the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is a very easy way to get a head start in spirituality and to develop that for ourselves.
If there is one thing that you should be enthusiatic in memorizing is du'as. The entire salah is considered a du'a. Memorize the ayat of the Quran that has du'a in them and recite them in your salah. Memorize Surah Al-Kahf and recite it every Friday. Make this your project in the next month or so.
May Allah make us and our children of the righteous and grant us righteous deeds and the highest Paradise. 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
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Don't Be Judgmental and Hasty
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Tufayl bin 'Amr Al Dawsi was the one who initially closed his ears to the Message but later open the hearts of other people to the Truth. He is not known to fight in any battles at the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) but rather he focused on uplifting his people, assuring their welfare, and guide them to the right path. He was a given the title, The possessor of lights -- because the light that emitted from him when he became Muslim and the light that he brought to his people who initially disobeyed and refused to follow him.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه قَدِمَ طُفَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الدَّوْسِيُّ وَأَصْحَابُهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ دَوْسًا عَصَتْ وَأَبَتْ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا. فَقِيلَ هَلَكَتْ دَوْسٌ. قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ دَوْسًا وَائْتِ بِهِمْ ".
Tufayl bin `Amr Al Dawsi and his companions came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said, "O Allah's Messenger! The people of the tribe of Daus disobeyed and refused to follow you; so invoke Allah against them." The people said, "The tribe of Daus is ruined." The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "O Allah! Give guidance to the people of Daus, and let them embrace Islam."
[Bukhari]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked him to go back to his tribe and be kind and nice to them. Two years later he came to Madinah to visit the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and brought with him 80 families from his tribe who had embraced Islam.
The example of Tufayl bin 'Amr Al Dawsi teaches us never to be too judgmental nor hasty towards people who may not see what you see immediately.
فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ ﴿١٧ ...
ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿١٨﴾ أَفَمَنْ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَفَأَنتَ تُنقِذُ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ ﴿١٩﴾ لَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٢٠
... So give good tidings to My servants (17) Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding. (18) Then, is one who has deserved the decree of punishment [to be guided]? Then, can you save one who is in the Fire? (19) But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in [His] promise. (20) [Quran, Az-Zumar 39:17-20]
May Allah make us of those who hear and obey His Speech. May Allah guide us, our children, our families and the Ummah. May Allah make us keys to unlock good and to lock evil. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Tufayl bin 'Amr Al Dawsi was the one who initially closed his ears to the Message but later open the hearts of other people to the Truth. He is not known to fight in any battles at the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) but rather he focused on uplifting his people, assuring their welfare, and guide them to the right path. He was a given the title, The possessor of lights -- because the light that emitted from him when he became Muslim and the light that he brought to his people who initially disobeyed and refused to follow him.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه قَدِمَ طُفَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الدَّوْسِيُّ وَأَصْحَابُهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ دَوْسًا عَصَتْ وَأَبَتْ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا. فَقِيلَ هَلَكَتْ دَوْسٌ. قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ دَوْسًا وَائْتِ بِهِمْ ".
Tufayl bin `Amr Al Dawsi and his companions came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said, "O Allah's Messenger! The people of the tribe of Daus disobeyed and refused to follow you; so invoke Allah against them." The people said, "The tribe of Daus is ruined." The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "O Allah! Give guidance to the people of Daus, and let them embrace Islam."
[Bukhari]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked him to go back to his tribe and be kind and nice to them. Two years later he came to Madinah to visit the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and brought with him 80 families from his tribe who had embraced Islam.
The example of Tufayl bin 'Amr Al Dawsi teaches us never to be too judgmental nor hasty towards people who may not see what you see immediately.
فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ ﴿١٧ ...
ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿١٨﴾ أَفَمَنْ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَفَأَنتَ تُنقِذُ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ ﴿١٩﴾ لَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٢٠
... So give good tidings to My servants (17) Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding. (18) Then, is one who has deserved the decree of punishment [to be guided]? Then, can you save one who is in the Fire? (19) But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in [His] promise. (20) [Quran, Az-Zumar 39:17-20]
May Allah make us of those who hear and obey His Speech. May Allah guide us, our children, our families and the Ummah. May Allah make us keys to unlock good and to lock evil. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Protect Yourselves And Your Families From A Fire
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah warns us to protect ourselves and our families from the Hellfire.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6) O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do.(7) [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:6-7]
As angry as you maybe at your family, if they are in a building on fire, would you not want to get them out? Would that anger disappear in a state of emergency? In a state of emergency all prejudices disappear. Hellfire, as Allah describes, is a state of emergency. It's fuel is people and stones. There are more people in Hellfire that are actually keeping it burning. On top of that there are angels that are tough and intense in delivering punishment. They do whatever they are commanded.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٨
O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance (tawbah). Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent." [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:8]
Notice Ayat 6 and Ayat 8, Allah addresses the believers but in between (Ayat 7), Allah addresses the disbelievers. Why? They are not really a different group of people. That same person is a believer in dunya (worldly life) but failed to save himself from Hellfire. Now this person is in hell. They are not going to be addressed as believer. They are going to be addressed as disbeliever and being told don't make escuses that Day.
You were already given what to believe (Ayat 6)--you have to believe there is a danger of Fire. You have to protect yourself and your family from Fire. You have to be proactive in doing so. If you didn't, at least you are a disbeliever in that warning. A believer will listen to this Ayat with attention and shock. If you don't get your act together in this life, you will be addressed as disbelievers in Hell. Then repent to Allah with sincere repentance (Ayat 8). Someone who really makes repentance, Allah takes all his bad deeds and converts them to good deeds. Allah is calling on the believers to make one solid tawbah and do it right. Mean it, not a phase tawbah.
The love we have for our families should be so strong that we don't want each other pain in akhirah. Make plans on how to keep our families and our children safe. The believers have the urge to protect their children in dunya and akhirah.
May Allah help us change the course of life for ourselves and our families towards His Path, and enable us to make a sincere tawbah.
رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent. [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:8]
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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah warns us to protect ourselves and our families from the Hellfire.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6) O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do.(7) [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:6-7]
As angry as you maybe at your family, if they are in a building on fire, would you not want to get them out? Would that anger disappear in a state of emergency? In a state of emergency all prejudices disappear. Hellfire, as Allah describes, is a state of emergency. It's fuel is people and stones. There are more people in Hellfire that are actually keeping it burning. On top of that there are angels that are tough and intense in delivering punishment. They do whatever they are commanded.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٨
O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance (tawbah). Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent." [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:8]
Notice Ayat 6 and Ayat 8, Allah addresses the believers but in between (Ayat 7), Allah addresses the disbelievers. Why? They are not really a different group of people. That same person is a believer in dunya (worldly life) but failed to save himself from Hellfire. Now this person is in hell. They are not going to be addressed as believer. They are going to be addressed as disbeliever and being told don't make escuses that Day.
You were already given what to believe (Ayat 6)--you have to believe there is a danger of Fire. You have to protect yourself and your family from Fire. You have to be proactive in doing so. If you didn't, at least you are a disbeliever in that warning. A believer will listen to this Ayat with attention and shock. If you don't get your act together in this life, you will be addressed as disbelievers in Hell. Then repent to Allah with sincere repentance (Ayat 8). Someone who really makes repentance, Allah takes all his bad deeds and converts them to good deeds. Allah is calling on the believers to make one solid tawbah and do it right. Mean it, not a phase tawbah.
The love we have for our families should be so strong that we don't want each other pain in akhirah. Make plans on how to keep our families and our children safe. The believers have the urge to protect their children in dunya and akhirah.
May Allah help us change the course of life for ourselves and our families towards His Path, and enable us to make a sincere tawbah.
رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent. [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:8]
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
Monday, June 25, 2018
A Treasure in Calamity
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Tests will come to those who do good and to those who do bad. But to those people, an opportunity is being offered.
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١١
No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things. (11) [Quran, At-Taghabun 64:11]
When calamity strikes, that's when most people lose their faith. If you can maintain faith during calamity, Allah guides you heart. The greatest treasure a human being can enjoy on this earth is Allah's guidance.
Allah is not oblivious to your pain. Read Surah Yusuf. The Surah is full with sufferings, so many sad occassions. Despite that Yusuf and Ya'qub maintained their faith and didn't lose their faith and Allah guided their hearts.
How do you maintain your faith during calamity? Obey Allah even more and obey the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ﴿١٢
And obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon Our Messenger is only [the duty of] clear notification. (12) [Quran, Taghabun 64:12]
May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of 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.
My Allah grant us patience and increase our iman.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Tests will come to those who do good and to those who do bad. But to those people, an opportunity is being offered.
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١١
No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things. (11) [Quran, At-Taghabun 64:11]
When calamity strikes, that's when most people lose their faith. If you can maintain faith during calamity, Allah guides you heart. The greatest treasure a human being can enjoy on this earth is Allah's guidance.
Allah is not oblivious to your pain. Read Surah Yusuf. The Surah is full with sufferings, so many sad occassions. Despite that Yusuf and Ya'qub maintained their faith and didn't lose their faith and Allah guided their hearts.
How do you maintain your faith during calamity? Obey Allah even more and obey the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ﴿١٢
And obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon Our Messenger is only [the duty of] clear notification. (12) [Quran, Taghabun 64:12]
May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of 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.
My Allah grant us patience and increase our iman.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Monday, June 18, 2018
See Beyond The Smoke Screen
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High guarantees three things in life:
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) [Quran, AleImran 3:185]
First guarantee -- you are going to die
Second guarantee -- before death comes to you, you will be deceived.
When someone cons you, cheats you, taking advantage of the fact that you were not paying attention, this is a kind of "ghurur". One of the names of shaytan is al-gharur. Allah says worldly life is nothing but a means that deceives you because you are not paying attention. If you really paid attention, then it won't be able to get hold of you. But you get distracted by it, immersed in it, you start thinking it itself is success, it's an indication that you are a "ghaafir."
Third guarantee -- you are definitely, definitely, definitely, over and over again -- لَتُبْلَوُنَّ -- will be tested, go through exhausting tests, in your children, in your own life, in your money, and a lot of painful words from people of the Book.
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ ﴿١٨٦
You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination. (186) [Quran, AleImran 3:186]
We have to hold ourselves back, we can't be reactionary. We have to have cool, calm responses. Person of azima is used for high resolve. They think high, don't think small. Allah says if you can mantain taqwa (Godfearingness) and sabr (patience), this is from the most noble and greatest of deeds. You really know how to think high, not caught up in petty stuff. You know how to think big. This is what the ummah needs-- see beyond through the smoke screen, see that clearly, see what high goals this religion of Islam has.
May Allah make us people of taqwa and sabr and high resolve. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High guarantees three things in life:
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) [Quran, AleImran 3:185]
First guarantee -- you are going to die
Second guarantee -- before death comes to you, you will be deceived.
When someone cons you, cheats you, taking advantage of the fact that you were not paying attention, this is a kind of "ghurur". One of the names of shaytan is al-gharur. Allah says worldly life is nothing but a means that deceives you because you are not paying attention. If you really paid attention, then it won't be able to get hold of you. But you get distracted by it, immersed in it, you start thinking it itself is success, it's an indication that you are a "ghaafir."
Third guarantee -- you are definitely, definitely, definitely, over and over again -- لَتُبْلَوُنَّ -- will be tested, go through exhausting tests, in your children, in your own life, in your money, and a lot of painful words from people of the Book.
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ ﴿١٨٦
You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination. (186) [Quran, AleImran 3:186]
We have to hold ourselves back, we can't be reactionary. We have to have cool, calm responses. Person of azima is used for high resolve. They think high, don't think small. Allah says if you can mantain taqwa (Godfearingness) and sabr (patience), this is from the most noble and greatest of deeds. You really know how to think high, not caught up in petty stuff. You know how to think big. This is what the ummah needs-- see beyond through the smoke screen, see that clearly, see what high goals this religion of Islam has.
May Allah make us people of taqwa and sabr and high resolve. 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
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Instilling The Love of Allah In Your Children
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
A lot of times children are taught the external deeds...fast, pray, hijab, etc. and not much emphasis on the internal. It is very important to combine the external deeds with the spiritual aspect.
Teach your children at a young age who is Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Let them learn the Names and Attributes of Allah, the purpose of life, the existence of the Hereafter, the Paradise and the Hellfire. Teach them the seerah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), the stories in the Quran and the lessons that that can be extracted from those stories.
If you want your children too love Allah you must lead by example. Children learn from their parents like no one else. They are influeneced by your words and your actions, more than your words. You should create an environment in the home of loving Allah, connecting your children to the meanings of Quran, implementing the Quran, motivating them with love, hope, mercy and compassion, showing them the Prophetic manners in your dealings with your parents, your neighbor, and other people. Ultimately we want our children to have love and consciousness of Allah wherever they are. If our children fast, pray or wear hijab out of fear because the parents presence, what happens when parents are not around.
If you instill the love of Allah and consciousness of Allah in the hearts from a young age and do not wait until later, you will find, inshaa Allah, this will be with them wherever they go.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6) O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do. (7)[Quran At-Tahrim 66:6-7]
As parents, we strive, we seek knowledge, we do our best, we make du'a, we forebear, and exercise beautiful patience. How our children turn out to be is in the hands of Allah. If they turn out wonderful, that is the destiny of Allah and we thank Allah. If they turn out bad, that too is the destiny of Allah and we are patient. We don't despair.
But we must do our part and we struggle and keep struggling. We don't deafen our ears to the teachings of Islam and we don't blind our eyes to the disobedience of our children and their bad or immoral actions. If we do, we can't get comfort to our eyes (qurrata a'ayun) from our children, but fuel of the Fire.
Your children are chained to you. If they go down, they will drag you down with them.
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا ﴿٧٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤
And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind. (73) And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." (74)[Quran, Al-Furqan 25:73-74]
We should be avid farmers of this world and constantly sow the seeds. If you plant the seeds of guidance in the hearts of your children, do you not think Allah is generous enough to allow those seeds to bear good fruit?
May Allah help us raise our children well, bless them, and make them among the righteous and a joy to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and save us and our families from Hellfire. May Allah guide us and enable us to lead by example. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
A lot of times children are taught the external deeds...fast, pray, hijab, etc. and not much emphasis on the internal. It is very important to combine the external deeds with the spiritual aspect.
Teach your children at a young age who is Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. Let them learn the Names and Attributes of Allah, the purpose of life, the existence of the Hereafter, the Paradise and the Hellfire. Teach them the seerah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), the stories in the Quran and the lessons that that can be extracted from those stories.
If you want your children too love Allah you must lead by example. Children learn from their parents like no one else. They are influeneced by your words and your actions, more than your words. You should create an environment in the home of loving Allah, connecting your children to the meanings of Quran, implementing the Quran, motivating them with love, hope, mercy and compassion, showing them the Prophetic manners in your dealings with your parents, your neighbor, and other people. Ultimately we want our children to have love and consciousness of Allah wherever they are. If our children fast, pray or wear hijab out of fear because the parents presence, what happens when parents are not around.
If you instill the love of Allah and consciousness of Allah in the hearts from a young age and do not wait until later, you will find, inshaa Allah, this will be with them wherever they go.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (6) O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do. (7)[Quran At-Tahrim 66:6-7]
As parents, we strive, we seek knowledge, we do our best, we make du'a, we forebear, and exercise beautiful patience. How our children turn out to be is in the hands of Allah. If they turn out wonderful, that is the destiny of Allah and we thank Allah. If they turn out bad, that too is the destiny of Allah and we are patient. We don't despair.
But we must do our part and we struggle and keep struggling. We don't deafen our ears to the teachings of Islam and we don't blind our eyes to the disobedience of our children and their bad or immoral actions. If we do, we can't get comfort to our eyes (qurrata a'ayun) from our children, but fuel of the Fire.
Your children are chained to you. If they go down, they will drag you down with them.
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا ﴿٧٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤
And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind. (73) And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." (74)[Quran, Al-Furqan 25:73-74]
We should be avid farmers of this world and constantly sow the seeds. If you plant the seeds of guidance in the hearts of your children, do you not think Allah is generous enough to allow those seeds to bear good fruit?
May Allah help us raise our children well, bless them, and make them among the righteous and a joy to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and save us and our families from Hellfire. May Allah guide us and enable us to lead by example. 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
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Ramadhan 24 -- Going Strong in the Last Ten Days of Ramadhan
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The month of Ramadhan, in which the Qur'an came down, is guidance for people. This month opens the door, not just for the Muslims, but for all humanity, to get closer to Allah than any other time. It is not just the Quran is guidance, it is the month of Ramadhan itself, is guidance.
... شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ
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...
[Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:185]
If Allah is opening guidance to all human being, even the ones who are most far away and have completely lost sight of Allah, then what is to speak of Muslims? If there is one thing we want out of life that we keep asking Allah for, in every single cycle of our daily prayers, is guidance.
We have to refresh our intentions that this is not just a month that we are spending in worship of Allah, but this is a re-commitment of whether or not we want to live by Allah's guidance, whether we want Allah in our life or not.
What is left of Ramadhan, let's make it a strong beginning for the rest of our lives. This month is one of those opportunities in our lives, when all our sins can get wipe out and we can have a fresh start. We don't know if we are going to reach the next Ramadhan, so take this opportunity to make a new commitment to Allah and reconnect with the Guidance.
The amount of worship of the salaf doubled in the last ten nights, meaning the amount of Qur'an, dhikr and nawafil are doubled. Try to find time to double your Qur'an recitation, dhikr and nawafil in these last nights of Ramadhan. The reward of worship in Ramadhan is already multiplied exponentially and imagine the reward and blessings in these last days.
It is said that one SubhanAllah in Ramadhan is equal to 1000 times. If you missed your portion of dhikr at night (tahajjud etc), make sure you do it between Fajr and Dhuhr and inshaa Allah, Allah will write it down as if you did it at night. This is the mercy of Allah. Have good opinion of Allah for this the greatest ibadah.
اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allaahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbu al’afwa fa’fu ‘annee
“O Allah You are One who forgives and You love forgiveness so forgive me.”
This was the du’a the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) taught Aisha (radhiAllahu ‘anha) to say in Laylat'ul Qadr.
May Allah increase us in worship and enable us to finish this Ramadhan strong. May Allah accept our fasting, charity and prayers. May Allah forgive all our sins and bring us closer to Him. May Allah save us from the Hellfire and grant us the highest Paradise.
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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The month of Ramadhan, in which the Qur'an came down, is guidance for people. This month opens the door, not just for the Muslims, but for all humanity, to get closer to Allah than any other time. It is not just the Quran is guidance, it is the month of Ramadhan itself, is guidance.
... شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ
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...
[Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:185]
If Allah is opening guidance to all human being, even the ones who are most far away and have completely lost sight of Allah, then what is to speak of Muslims? If there is one thing we want out of life that we keep asking Allah for, in every single cycle of our daily prayers, is guidance.
We have to refresh our intentions that this is not just a month that we are spending in worship of Allah, but this is a re-commitment of whether or not we want to live by Allah's guidance, whether we want Allah in our life or not.
What is left of Ramadhan, let's make it a strong beginning for the rest of our lives. This month is one of those opportunities in our lives, when all our sins can get wipe out and we can have a fresh start. We don't know if we are going to reach the next Ramadhan, so take this opportunity to make a new commitment to Allah and reconnect with the Guidance.
The amount of worship of the salaf doubled in the last ten nights, meaning the amount of Qur'an, dhikr and nawafil are doubled. Try to find time to double your Qur'an recitation, dhikr and nawafil in these last nights of Ramadhan. The reward of worship in Ramadhan is already multiplied exponentially and imagine the reward and blessings in these last days.
It is said that one SubhanAllah in Ramadhan is equal to 1000 times. If you missed your portion of dhikr at night (tahajjud etc), make sure you do it between Fajr and Dhuhr and inshaa Allah, Allah will write it down as if you did it at night. This is the mercy of Allah. Have good opinion of Allah for this the greatest ibadah.
اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allaahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbu al’afwa fa’fu ‘annee
“O Allah You are One who forgives and You love forgiveness so forgive me.”
This was the du’a the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) taught Aisha (radhiAllahu ‘anha) to say in Laylat'ul Qadr.
May Allah increase us in worship and enable us to finish this Ramadhan strong. May Allah accept our fasting, charity and prayers. May Allah forgive all our sins and bring us closer to Him. May Allah save us from the Hellfire and grant us the highest Paradise.
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
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Making The Most of Ramadhan In The Last Ten Days
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Many us started off Ramadhan with high goals, to make it better than the last year. But for whatever reason we fail to live up to our expectations, which leaves us regretful.
But Alhamdulillah, our Lord is immensely merciful and highly compassionate, for He has given us a number of opportunities like the last ten days.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣﴾ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿٤﴾ سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ ﴿٥
Allah says ‘’ Indeed, we sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn’’ [Quran, Al Qadr 97:1-5]
Let us not waste this golden opportunity.
1. Say NO to socializing: Not at least this time.
2. Resolution
Make a resolution between you and Allah to leave at least one bad habit or a sin that may push you away from Allah. Instead, replace it with a good habit which you find easy, practical and which will drive you closer to Allah, Insha Allah.
3. Dua: Recite this special dua a lot
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He (ﷺ) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, you are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”Book 9, Hadith 205 [At-Tirmidhi]
4. Ask for forgiveness
Narrated by Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhari]
5. Charity
Spend money in the way of Allah each day for the rest of the 10 days, without fail. Also, try and associate at least two more people with this activity so that your rewards are multiplied, Insha’Allah.
6. Read and understand Qur’an
Read and understand some portion of Quran daily.
7. Tafseer
Read Tafseer about Laylatul Qadr, ponder and share the knowledge with family and friends.
8. I’tikaaf
Narrated by ‘Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice Itikaf after him.” [Bukhari]
May Allah help us to find Laylatul Qadr and may we come out of this Ramadhan pure, clean and forgiven. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Many us started off Ramadhan with high goals, to make it better than the last year. But for whatever reason we fail to live up to our expectations, which leaves us regretful.
But Alhamdulillah, our Lord is immensely merciful and highly compassionate, for He has given us a number of opportunities like the last ten days.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣﴾ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿٤﴾ سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ ﴿٥
Allah says ‘’ Indeed, we sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn’’ [Quran, Al Qadr 97:1-5]
Let us not waste this golden opportunity.
1. Say NO to socializing: Not at least this time.
2. Resolution
Make a resolution between you and Allah to leave at least one bad habit or a sin that may push you away from Allah. Instead, replace it with a good habit which you find easy, practical and which will drive you closer to Allah, Insha Allah.
3. Dua: Recite this special dua a lot
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He (ﷺ) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, you are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”Book 9, Hadith 205 [At-Tirmidhi]
4. Ask for forgiveness
Narrated by Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhari]
5. Charity
Spend money in the way of Allah each day for the rest of the 10 days, without fail. Also, try and associate at least two more people with this activity so that your rewards are multiplied, Insha’Allah.
6. Read and understand Qur’an
Read and understand some portion of Quran daily.
7. Tafseer
Read Tafseer about Laylatul Qadr, ponder and share the knowledge with family and friends.
8. I’tikaaf
Narrated by ‘Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice Itikaf after him.” [Bukhari]
May Allah help us to find Laylatul Qadr and may we come out of this Ramadhan pure, clean and forgiven. 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
Living Life With A Clear Purpose
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al Mulk, Allah reminds us of the purpose of life and tells us what will happen to someone who does not follow the Straight Path.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١٠﴾ فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١١
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." (10) And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze. (11) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:10-11]
أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٢٢
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path? (22) [Qur'an, Al Mulk 67;22]
Allah chooses the word مُكِبًّا (mukibban) which is a step higher than كبا kabban to describe someone who is forcing himself to keep his face on the ground.
مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ
mukib already mean upside down on his face
mukibban ala wajhihi, a phrase, means he keep his face down
Imagine human being that is sniffing the ground and looking down and walking.
In the beginning of the Surah, Allah tells us to look on the sky.
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ ۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ﴿٣﴾ ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ ﴿٤
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? (3) Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued. (4) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:3-4]
When you stand up straight you can look up. If you are looking down all the time you see earth.
When a dog is hungry, you see the dog sniffing looking down. You see similar behavior with other animals, looking down. The only time the animals look up is when there is danger. When they don't feel danger, they look down. When all of sudden they hear something, they look up.
There are some human beings who live a life of animals. The only time they truly look up, in the spiritual sense, is when the danger of the hereafter (akhirah) comes, but then Allah won't let them look down. In Surah Yaasin, Allah says, their heads are held back and their eyes are held open.
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِىٓ أَعْنَـٰقِهِمْ أَغْلَـٰلًا فَهِىَ إِلَى ٱلْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٩
Indeed, We have put shackles on their necks, and they are to their chins, so they are with heads [kept] aloft. (8) And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see. (9) [Quran, Yaasin 36:8-9]
In Surah Mulk, Allah talks about a person whose head is down. That means the only aspiration, goals, engagement, or activities that this person has is having to do with dirt, i.e. with this world--pleasure, status, wealth, apetitte. He lives his life facing the earth constantly.
Is this person is more guided as compared with the one who stands up straight, balanced? Someone looking down, they don't even know what danger and what lies ahead. The ones who keep straight, not only they know what lies ahead of them, they have a good picture of what lies ahead. When you are driving, you have a clear view of what lies ahead when the road is straight. If you go on a winding road you don't know what's around the bend. When the road is even and is straigt you can see way down. This is the life of someone who has a clear purpose--they know they are heading somewhere. Someone with head on the ground, they don't know where they are going.
We have to have a clear picture of what we are trying to accomplish, not just goals for the akhirah but also for the dunya--what are we going to do for Islam while we are here.
Surah Mulk is one of the oft recited Surahs and it is recommended to recite this Surah every night before sleep. This will keep a fresh reminder of where we are heading.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ ﴿١٥
It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection. [Quran, Al Mulk 67:15]
May Allah guide us, our loved ones and the ummah on the straight path. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al Mulk, Allah reminds us of the purpose of life and tells us what will happen to someone who does not follow the Straight Path.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١٠﴾ فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١١
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." (10) And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze. (11) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:10-11]
أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٢٢
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path? (22) [Qur'an, Al Mulk 67;22]
Allah chooses the word مُكِبًّا (mukibban) which is a step higher than كبا kabban to describe someone who is forcing himself to keep his face on the ground.
مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ
mukib already mean upside down on his face
mukibban ala wajhihi, a phrase, means he keep his face down
Imagine human being that is sniffing the ground and looking down and walking.
In the beginning of the Surah, Allah tells us to look on the sky.
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ ۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ﴿٣﴾ ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ ﴿٤
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? (3) Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued. (4) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:3-4]
When you stand up straight you can look up. If you are looking down all the time you see earth.
When a dog is hungry, you see the dog sniffing looking down. You see similar behavior with other animals, looking down. The only time the animals look up is when there is danger. When they don't feel danger, they look down. When all of sudden they hear something, they look up.
There are some human beings who live a life of animals. The only time they truly look up, in the spiritual sense, is when the danger of the hereafter (akhirah) comes, but then Allah won't let them look down. In Surah Yaasin, Allah says, their heads are held back and their eyes are held open.
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِىٓ أَعْنَـٰقِهِمْ أَغْلَـٰلًا فَهِىَ إِلَى ٱلْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٩
Indeed, We have put shackles on their necks, and they are to their chins, so they are with heads [kept] aloft. (8) And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see. (9) [Quran, Yaasin 36:8-9]
In Surah Mulk, Allah talks about a person whose head is down. That means the only aspiration, goals, engagement, or activities that this person has is having to do with dirt, i.e. with this world--pleasure, status, wealth, apetitte. He lives his life facing the earth constantly.
Is this person is more guided as compared with the one who stands up straight, balanced? Someone looking down, they don't even know what danger and what lies ahead. The ones who keep straight, not only they know what lies ahead of them, they have a good picture of what lies ahead. When you are driving, you have a clear view of what lies ahead when the road is straight. If you go on a winding road you don't know what's around the bend. When the road is even and is straigt you can see way down. This is the life of someone who has a clear purpose--they know they are heading somewhere. Someone with head on the ground, they don't know where they are going.
We have to have a clear picture of what we are trying to accomplish, not just goals for the akhirah but also for the dunya--what are we going to do for Islam while we are here.
Surah Mulk is one of the oft recited Surahs and it is recommended to recite this Surah every night before sleep. This will keep a fresh reminder of where we are heading.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ ﴿١٥
It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection. [Quran, Al Mulk 67:15]
May Allah guide us, our loved ones and the ummah on the straight path. 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
Monday, June 4, 2018
Marriage Is Not For Everyone
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the biggest concerns in getting married is to protect your shame (haya'). Who is better suited to help us do that? Women that come from descent families, who have the training in haya' and have that sense of shame.
But just because you think you are old enough to get married, or you have a beard, or you have graduated from college, you can't get married. Marriage doesn't work that way. You pursue it only if you are in some financial position to start a family. It is not get your lust out. If everything is taken care of by your parents, if you have a spoonfed life, you have no maturity to fend for yourself even for one day, then marriage is not for you. You have to be ready to take care of a household and able to fulfill your responsibility towards your parents before you can get married. Just because you have urges, that does not mean you are ready to get married.
We should have a real conversation with our children about marriage. We have to be cognizant of the fact that temptations are more accessible than ever before. We have to be able to deal with that, help our children face it, stand up and resist it, and make sure they are are matured enough before they get married. The solution is not marriage. Don't think that just because you get married, fahsha (immorality) is no longer a problem for you. It is a bigger problem than that.
...وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۖ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ ۚ ...
And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allah upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. [Quran, An-Nisa 4:24]
We are living in an impulsive society. When you get a craving or an urge for something, it get fulfilled immediately. You get used to that. But when you become married, you are married to a human being, not to a device. Just because you have a certain feelings, that doesn't mean your spouse does. So what happened is that a lot of families go into chaos because the man is addicted to getting his desires fulfilled immediately. This is destructive for families. We are supposed to be a people of sabr (patience), which qualify us as believers. One of the salient qualities in a life of a believer is sabr, holding back. We have to control ourselves and hold ourselves back from immediate access to everything. Otherwise, you will have a messed up family life. You may not realize it now but you will discover that later in your life and you will bear the brunt of it.
وَأَن تَصْبِرُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٥...
...but to be patient is better for you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. [Quran, An-Nisa 4:25]
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٢٦
Allah wants to make clear to you [the lawful from the unlawful] and guide you to the [good] practices of those before you and to accept your repentance. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. [Quran, An-Nisa 5:26]
Ramadhan is a month to really train ourselves patience, to transform ourselves to be better people, to our parents, our children, our spouses, our families and those around us.
May Allah make us from among the people of sabr. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the biggest concerns in getting married is to protect your shame (haya'). Who is better suited to help us do that? Women that come from descent families, who have the training in haya' and have that sense of shame.
But just because you think you are old enough to get married, or you have a beard, or you have graduated from college, you can't get married. Marriage doesn't work that way. You pursue it only if you are in some financial position to start a family. It is not get your lust out. If everything is taken care of by your parents, if you have a spoonfed life, you have no maturity to fend for yourself even for one day, then marriage is not for you. You have to be ready to take care of a household and able to fulfill your responsibility towards your parents before you can get married. Just because you have urges, that does not mean you are ready to get married.
We should have a real conversation with our children about marriage. We have to be cognizant of the fact that temptations are more accessible than ever before. We have to be able to deal with that, help our children face it, stand up and resist it, and make sure they are are matured enough before they get married. The solution is not marriage. Don't think that just because you get married, fahsha (immorality) is no longer a problem for you. It is a bigger problem than that.
...وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۖ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ ۚ ...
And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allah upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. [Quran, An-Nisa 4:24]
We are living in an impulsive society. When you get a craving or an urge for something, it get fulfilled immediately. You get used to that. But when you become married, you are married to a human being, not to a device. Just because you have a certain feelings, that doesn't mean your spouse does. So what happened is that a lot of families go into chaos because the man is addicted to getting his desires fulfilled immediately. This is destructive for families. We are supposed to be a people of sabr (patience), which qualify us as believers. One of the salient qualities in a life of a believer is sabr, holding back. We have to control ourselves and hold ourselves back from immediate access to everything. Otherwise, you will have a messed up family life. You may not realize it now but you will discover that later in your life and you will bear the brunt of it.
وَأَن تَصْبِرُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٥...
...but to be patient is better for you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. [Quran, An-Nisa 4:25]
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٢٦
Allah wants to make clear to you [the lawful from the unlawful] and guide you to the [good] practices of those before you and to accept your repentance. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. [Quran, An-Nisa 5:26]
Ramadhan is a month to really train ourselves patience, to transform ourselves to be better people, to our parents, our children, our spouses, our families and those around us.
May Allah make us from among the people of sabr. 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
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Fulfill Your Word
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
We are peope of our word. If we are not that, then we are nothing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعُقُودِ
O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. [Quran, Al-Maida 5:1]
When you have to do act of submission to Allah you might miss out on some opportunity but you don't lose anything because Allah will give something extra from His special favor.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا ﴿١٧٣
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty...[Quran, An-Nisa 4:173]
May Allah make us people of our word. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
We are peope of our word. If we are not that, then we are nothing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعُقُودِ
O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. [Quran, Al-Maida 5:1]
When you have to do act of submission to Allah you might miss out on some opportunity but you don't lose anything because Allah will give something extra from His special favor.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا ﴿١٧٣
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty...[Quran, An-Nisa 4:173]
May Allah make us people of our word. 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
Friday, June 1, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- The Greatest Losers
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High informs us in Surah Al-Kahf about the greatest losers. Those are the people who do good but for worldly reasons. Materialism or the love of 'adornments on the earth' can make even acts of worship done for worldly gains, recognition, respect, power and money.
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)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:103-104]
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧
Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. (7)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:7]
Sincere intention is indispensable prerequisite for the acceptance of a good deed. Renew your intentions often as intention that once good and sincere may become rusty.
May Allah make us of those who are sincere and accept our fasting, prayers and good deeds. May Allah grant us the company of the righteous and sincere. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Most High informs us in Surah Al-Kahf about the greatest losers. Those are the people who do good but for worldly reasons. Materialism or the love of 'adornments on the earth' can make even acts of worship done for worldly gains, recognition, respect, power and money.
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)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:103-104]
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧
Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. (7)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:7]
Sincere intention is indispensable prerequisite for the acceptance of a good deed. Renew your intentions often as intention that once good and sincere may become rusty.
May Allah make us of those who are sincere and accept our fasting, prayers and good deeds. May Allah grant us the company of the righteous and sincere. 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
Friday, May 25, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Keep Yourself Patient In Da'wah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Some people are socially, politically and economically superior than the others. But when Islam came, there was a new way of organizing society. The best of you are the ones who have the most taqwa. Seniority, status, .... none of that matters. Taqwa is the only standard. Taqwa, and nothing else, is the only thing that sets us apart. When it comes to the work of da'wah, that hierarchy is eliminated. Value is not determined by human beings but is determined by Allah. So we all are equally valuable and the leader has to communicate that by his behavior.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is warned be happy and patient with those around him.
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]
Taqwa is in the heart. That is the power of this ayah. Don't follow and don't be influenced by the people whose hearts Allah have emptied and made unaware of His remembrance. When Allah is gone from their hearts, what is left is their hawa (desires) and everything they do is evil.
May Allah grant us patience, righteous deeds and righteous companions. 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
Friday, May 18, 2018
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Rush to Good Deeds
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al-Kahf, we are being reminded again on what should be our focus. Allah Most High says,
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
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. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46]
Zeenah زِينَةُ is something which is ornamental, increasing beauty of something else, but by itself is useless. All the worldly possessions (tangible and intangible)--your wealth, children, spouse, job, status, fame, which you love so much are nothing but ornaments. And they will perish. The real useful thing is your good deeds which will help you when you meet your Lord.
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٢٧﴾
Everyone upon the earth will perish, And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor. [Quran, Ar-Rahman 55:26-27]
Allah is gifting us Ramadhan, in which it is easier for us to do good deeds with manifold reward. This is our opportunity for a good training to do good for ourselves, our family, other people, animals and the environment.
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.
May Allah grant us wisdom and taqwa and success in this life and the next.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
The First Night of Ramadhan -- Look to Your Heart
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
As we wait eagerly in anticipation of the blessed month of Ramadhan in which the Quran was revealed, we undoubtedly are making physical and spiritual preparations. Among the preparations that the scholars encourage is to prepare our hearts for Allah's gaze.
Baihaqi relates, “When it is the first night of the month of Ramadhan, 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 our heart if He were to look to us on the first night of Ramadan?
One of the bad qualities that would prevent us from this Blessed Gaze (and from many other opportunities for forgiveness) is malice. The Prophet (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 or disrespecting parents, sever bonds of kinship, or drink intoxicants 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?
أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٢...
...Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (22) [Quran, An-Noor 24,21]
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 says in the Quran,
وَجَزَٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٤٠
And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. (40) [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:40]
Tabarani relates that the Prophet (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 this blessed first night of Ramadhan, and that Day in which each of us will meet Allah, let us pardon one another and all of Allah's servants.
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful. [Quran, Al-Hashr 59:10]
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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
As we wait eagerly in anticipation of the blessed month of Ramadhan in which the Quran was revealed, we undoubtedly are making physical and spiritual preparations. Among the preparations that the scholars encourage is to prepare our hearts for Allah's gaze.
Baihaqi relates, “When it is the first night of the month of Ramadhan, 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 our heart if He were to look to us on the first night of Ramadan?
One of the bad qualities that would prevent us from this Blessed Gaze (and from many other opportunities for forgiveness) is malice. The Prophet (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 or disrespecting parents, sever bonds of kinship, or drink intoxicants 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?
أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٢...
...Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (22) [Quran, An-Noor 24,21]
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 says in the Quran,
وَجَزَٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٤٠
And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. (40) [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:40]
Tabarani relates that the Prophet (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 this blessed first night of Ramadhan, and that Day in which each of us will meet Allah, let us pardon one another and all of Allah's servants.
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful. [Quran, Al-Hashr 59:10]
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 -- The Month to Build Taqwa and Receive Guidance
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The blessed 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. We think of Ramadhan as the month of fasting but Allah wants us to think of it as the month of the Quran. The month of Ramadhan is a celebration of Muslim identity as people of Quran.
The purpose of fasting is taqwa (to protect oneself from Hellfire).
Allah Most High says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (183) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:183]
However, the purpose of Ramadhan is different than fasting. It is to make it easy for us to build taqwa with the guidance of the Quran.
Allah Most High 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 ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥
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) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:185]
Allah wants ease for us and He does not want hardship for us. How come fasting got harder and Allah says He wants to make it easy? Fasting builds taqwa and taqwa is what will give us guidance. Allah Most High says in the Quran,
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah (people who have taqwa)- (2) .
The more you fast the more taqwa you have. The more taqwa you have the more ready you are to take in this guidance. Allah wants guidance to come to you easily but you need a lot of taqwa to get guidance easily. You have to fast a lot to have a lot of taqwa. So this Ramadhan, you fast during the day and build your taqwa, and listen to Quran at night to get guidance. You need a proper regimen to build relationship with the Quran.
Allah promises ease in this life and the next for people who have taqwa. He has made taqwa easier for us and through taqwa He has made the access of guidance easier for us in the month of the Quran.
And so we can declare the greatness of Allah based on how He guided us. This is how we declare Allah's greatness -- by fasting and committing ourselves to Quran. And so that, hopefully, we become grateful. Grateful for what? We should be grateful for having been given the gift of the Quran. On top of that we should be grateful that Allah gives us a month in which the one thing that we need most in life -- guidance.
Shaytan is dedicated to making sure that you don't get guidance. Allah chained up Shaytan in Ramadhan, and then Allah gives you something that builds your taqwa, which is fasting, so that you can get guidance from the Quran. How grateful can you be? When you start getting connected to the Quran then you can ask Allah properly. We are closest to Allah in Ramadhan.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦
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) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:186]
May Allah bring us closer to Him this Ramadhan and make us of the people of taqwa and His elect people of the Quran. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The blessed 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. We think of Ramadhan as the month of fasting but Allah wants us to think of it as the month of the Quran. The month of Ramadhan is a celebration of Muslim identity as people of Quran.
The purpose of fasting is taqwa (to protect oneself from Hellfire).
Allah Most High says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (183) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:183]
However, the purpose of Ramadhan is different than fasting. It is to make it easy for us to build taqwa with the guidance of the Quran.
Allah Most High 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 ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥
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) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:185]
Allah wants ease for us and He does not want hardship for us. How come fasting got harder and Allah says He wants to make it easy? Fasting builds taqwa and taqwa is what will give us guidance. Allah Most High says in the Quran,
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah (people who have taqwa)- (2) .
The more you fast the more taqwa you have. The more taqwa you have the more ready you are to take in this guidance. Allah wants guidance to come to you easily but you need a lot of taqwa to get guidance easily. You have to fast a lot to have a lot of taqwa. So this Ramadhan, you fast during the day and build your taqwa, and listen to Quran at night to get guidance. You need a proper regimen to build relationship with the Quran.
Allah promises ease in this life and the next for people who have taqwa. He has made taqwa easier for us and through taqwa He has made the access of guidance easier for us in the month of the Quran.
And so we can declare the greatness of Allah based on how He guided us. This is how we declare Allah's greatness -- by fasting and committing ourselves to Quran. And so that, hopefully, we become grateful. Grateful for what? We should be grateful for having been given the gift of the Quran. On top of that we should be grateful that Allah gives us a month in which the one thing that we need most in life -- guidance.
Shaytan is dedicated to making sure that you don't get guidance. Allah chained up Shaytan in Ramadhan, and then Allah gives you something that builds your taqwa, which is fasting, so that you can get guidance from the Quran. How grateful can you be? When you start getting connected to the Quran then you can ask Allah properly. We are closest to Allah in Ramadhan.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦
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) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:186]
May Allah bring us closer to Him this Ramadhan and make us of the people of taqwa and His elect people of the Quran. 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
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Convey the Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
“Convey from me even if it is one verse” - Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
How can we spread something if we don't know and don't appreciate them? Muslims are supposed to be ambassadors to this religion of Islam. Clarifying, clarifying, clarifying the Quran. How can we clarify something that we don't live by, that we don't love.
Allah left us a very heavy responsibility--His Book. We have to do our part as an individual.
Allah Most High says,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ ﴿١٥٩﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَبَيَّنُوا۟ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٠
Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture - those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse, (159) Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those - I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (160) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:159-160]
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٦١﴾ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿١٦٢﴾ وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٣
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together, (161) Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved. (162) And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (163) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:161-163]
May Allah purify us and teach us His Book and Wisdom and make us People of the Quran. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
“Convey from me even if it is one verse” - Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
How can we spread something if we don't know and don't appreciate them? Muslims are supposed to be ambassadors to this religion of Islam. Clarifying, clarifying, clarifying the Quran. How can we clarify something that we don't live by, that we don't love.
Allah left us a very heavy responsibility--His Book. We have to do our part as an individual.
Allah Most High says,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ ﴿١٥٩﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَبَيَّنُوا۟ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٠
Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture - those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse, (159) Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those - I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (160) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:159-160]
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٦١﴾ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿١٦٢﴾ وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٣
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together, (161) Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved. (162) And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (163) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:161-163]
May Allah purify us and teach us His Book and Wisdom and make us People of the Quran. 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
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Optimisim and Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
When actions have barakah (commonly translated as blessing) in them, their consequences are beyond imagination. Allah says that there is a name of Allah that has been empowered with barakah, i.e. meaning if you invoke that Name of Allah and do something, then what you do will have barakah in it.
We are taught to start an action with بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate). There is no surprise that at the heart of بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم is Ar-Rahman (The Overwhelmingly Merciful). We start every deed with بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم hoping, optimistically, that Allah will put barakah in that action, that means the good that will come out for ourselves and for others will be beyond expectation.
What actions Allah put barakah, Allah decides. What Allah doesn't put barakah, Allah decides. We are dependent on Him and our dependence shows whenever we say بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. Because we believe in بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم, we should never underestimate the value of our good deeds that we do for Allah. The world around us may look horrible, that it has all those problems -- the economic problems, powerlessness, political problems, education problems, ignorance, division, corruption, deviation, and all of those combined, but as a matter of faith, we can't be pessimistic because Allah gives us barakah.
When I say that Name and begin a good deed, only Allah knows how far the good Allah will bring out of this deed. That is the attitude of a Muslim. When the sahabah understood this, they never underestimated the value of their efforts. Even if nobody was accepting Islam, they still kept going because their efforts have barakah and they don't have to see it with their eyes to know barakah is there.
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٧٨
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor. (78) [Quran, Ar-Rahman 55:78]
May Allah put barakah in our lives and our works. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
When actions have barakah (commonly translated as blessing) in them, their consequences are beyond imagination. Allah says that there is a name of Allah that has been empowered with barakah, i.e. meaning if you invoke that Name of Allah and do something, then what you do will have barakah in it.
We are taught to start an action with بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate). There is no surprise that at the heart of بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم is Ar-Rahman (The Overwhelmingly Merciful). We start every deed with بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم hoping, optimistically, that Allah will put barakah in that action, that means the good that will come out for ourselves and for others will be beyond expectation.
What actions Allah put barakah, Allah decides. What Allah doesn't put barakah, Allah decides. We are dependent on Him and our dependence shows whenever we say بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. Because we believe in بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم, we should never underestimate the value of our good deeds that we do for Allah. The world around us may look horrible, that it has all those problems -- the economic problems, powerlessness, political problems, education problems, ignorance, division, corruption, deviation, and all of those combined, but as a matter of faith, we can't be pessimistic because Allah gives us barakah.
When I say that Name and begin a good deed, only Allah knows how far the good Allah will bring out of this deed. That is the attitude of a Muslim. When the sahabah understood this, they never underestimated the value of their efforts. Even if nobody was accepting Islam, they still kept going because their efforts have barakah and they don't have to see it with their eyes to know barakah is there.
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٧٨
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor. (78) [Quran, Ar-Rahman 55:78]
May Allah put barakah in our lives and our works. 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
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Vote Wisely, O Malaysians
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Vote Wisely O Malaysians!
Applying these rules, anyone with a little bit of intelligence will know what to do with his/her precious vote...
1. If it is not broken, don't fix it.
If there is no evidence of a real problem, and fixing the "problem" would not effectively improve the situation, then don't waste time and energy (yours or anybody else's) trying to fix it.
2. One of these 3 things will happen as a result of your vote, either the situation remain the same, better or worse. Same is better than worse.
3. The unknown is scary. Why go near them?
4. People are human. They all make mistakes, and lots of them. The door of repentance is always open with Allah until sakaratul maut. Even so, no one should wait till they are on their deathbeds to repent for their sins, because the pangs of pain might make you forget to do so, and even worse that you might forget the One entirely.
5. Life is short.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٩٨
Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (98)
[Qur'an Al-Maida 5:198]
Allah is swift to punish as well as to forgive. If we use the gifts that Allah has blessed us with to disobey Him and to deny His Messengers, then we hasten on His punishments in this world and the next. On the other hand, if we employ our gifts in the service of righteousness, then Allah will pardon our shortcomings, for He is truly forgiving and merciful.
إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦ ...
...Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return)
[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:156]
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿
٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)
[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:46]
Selamat mengundi.
May Allah guide us and our leaders. 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
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Vote Wisely O Malaysians!
Applying these rules, anyone with a little bit of intelligence will know what to do with his/her precious vote...
1. If it is not broken, don't fix it.
If there is no evidence of a real problem, and fixing the "problem" would not effectively improve the situation, then don't waste time and energy (yours or anybody else's) trying to fix it.
2. One of these 3 things will happen as a result of your vote, either the situation remain the same, better or worse. Same is better than worse.
3. The unknown is scary. Why go near them?
4. People are human. They all make mistakes, and lots of them. The door of repentance is always open with Allah until sakaratul maut. Even so, no one should wait till they are on their deathbeds to repent for their sins, because the pangs of pain might make you forget to do so, and even worse that you might forget the One entirely.
5. Life is short.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٩٨
Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (98)
[Qur'an Al-Maida 5:198]
Allah is swift to punish as well as to forgive. If we use the gifts that Allah has blessed us with to disobey Him and to deny His Messengers, then we hasten on His punishments in this world and the next. On the other hand, if we employ our gifts in the service of righteousness, then Allah will pardon our shortcomings, for He is truly forgiving and merciful.
إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦ ...
...Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return)
[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:156]
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿
٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)
[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:46]
Selamat mengundi.
May Allah guide us and our leaders. 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
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