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
Friday, August 31, 2018
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
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