Sunday, March 24, 2019

Transforming Your Love Into Love For The Sake of Allah

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

In Islam, love is more than an emotion and like the weather, a spectrum of vivid or dark colors, is prone to change. Its darker shades can lead to lustful corruption; its purer essence lead to faith. Allah teaches us love (hubb) in various contexts. Here is what Allah mentions about love:

Love is earned - Quran, 30:45
Love is rewarded - Quran, 3:134
Love is steadfast - Quran, 3:146
Love is reliance on God - Quran, 3:159
Loving humanity - Quran, 4:36
Love is not obsessive - Quran, 4:107
Love is intimate - Quran, 7:189
Love is sibling rivalry - Quran,12:8
Love is material - Quran,14:3
Love is true sacrifice - Quran, 2:177
Love alone will not convert people - Quran, 28:56
Love does not corrupt - Quran, 2:205
Love is purity - Quran, 2:222
Love is brotherhood - Quran, 3:103
Love is fair - Quran, 49:9
Love is following the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam - Quran, 3:31
Love is a Divine sign - Quran, 30:21
To love is difficult - Quran, 2:216
You love them but they don’t love you - Quran, 3:119
Fake love is replaceable - Quran, 5:54
Love is temporal - Quran, 3:14
Immaterial love will die - Quran, 29:25
Love is addictive - Quran,100:8
Love can become lust - Quran, 12:30
Beware, love can turn to hate - Quran, 60:7
Real love does not decay - Quran, 49:12
Allah is love - Quran, 11:90 and 85:14

Love is universe’s both light and source of life. As humankind, love is the most comprehensive fruit of the universe; a love so great to cover the whole universe is hidden inside the heart which is the seed of this fruit. Only the owner of infinite perfection and everlasting can deserve such great love. This is Allah Most High. He deserves our utmost love.

Human nature has been endowed with two tools: love and fear. Both of these senses inevitably will be directed to the Creator or the created. Fear of the created or blind love of the created are both dreadful calamities because people become afraid of people and created things that do not show mercy toward them. As for a love of creatures, many of them do not understand love and do not acknowledge us. One may love a beautiful panorama, but the panorama does not acknowledge a person; one may love the stars of night, but the stars do not acknowledge a person; a mother may love her children, but her children do not acknowledge her (they take her for granted). Many of these beloveds leave us without ever saying goodbye, like our youth or our wealth or our children- either they leave us, or we leave them.

We should direct our fear and love to such a One so that our fear will be a pleasant humility and delicate submission and our love a noble happiness free of humiliation.

Fear is a motivator that throws a person on Allah’s mercy just as a child, when threatened, takes refuge in the arms of their mother. Yes, fearing of Allah who is Wrathful means to find a way to His Mercy and seek refuge in Him. Maternal care and compassion for all living beings is only a ray from His Compassion. If we were to gather all mercy from all mothers (humans and animals) together, they are not even equal to a drop of water in the ocean of Allah’s mercy. Our Lord’s slightest love towards us can be larger than the universe. Nothing can be equal to His slightest love.

If fear of Allah is so joyful, then how does the love of Allah compare? There is great joyfulness in the love of Allah. Even the love of creatures is joyful since it is for His sake. Only when you can assign that love to its rightful owner can you love, for His sake and as mirrors to Him, all things without pain or trouble. Such love must not be assigned directly to existence for the sake of existence itself. Otherwise, while being a most pleasurable Divine grace, this love will become a most painful ailment. One who fears only Allah is freed from all other fears. Similarly, if one loves for the sake of Allah, his love for any creature will not be sorrowful.

May Allah love us and make Him our only 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, March 22, 2019

Remember, Life Is A Test

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

Whether in ease or in hardship, remind ourselves that this life is a test.

We will face trials and tribulations as long as we live. But do not despair, God will never give us something we cannot handle, even if we might not like it.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. (Quran, al Baqarah 2:286)

Nothing is difficult, if you seek it through your Lord; nothing is easy, if you seek it through yourself. (Ibn Ata'illa)

Remember our primordial covenant where the Lordship of the Divine is recognized.

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ vبِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ ﴿١٧٢﴾

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." (Quran, Al A'raf 7:172

This presupposes duties upon us -- to be sincere to God and to behave well with people.

Our religion is nasiha...advise and sincerity.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “The deen (religion) is naseehah (advice, sincerity).” We said, “To whom?” He sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” [related by Muslim]

عَنْ أَبِي رُقَيَّةَ تَمِيمِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ الدَّارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: "الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ." قُلْنَا: لِمَنْ؟ قَالَ: "لِلَّهِ، وَلِكِتَابِهِ، وَلِرَسُولِهِ، وَلِأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَعَامَّتِهِمْ."


We ask Allah to give us sincerity, help us to behave well to people, aid us in all our affairs, save us from trials and tribulations, and grant us an excellent ending. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Sunday, March 17, 2019

How You React To The Recent Masjid Shootings

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

No words can describe how angry, how sad, how anxious, how fearful we are when we heard what had happened. But we need to find positive ways to channel it in the right direction. We have to look at the noble examples of the Prophet of mercy sallallahu alayhi wasallam and the great Companions when they were faced with calamities and tribulations. It's time for us to really study the seerah and apply their examples to our situations.

It's okay to be sad, angry, anxious and afraid because we are not human if we don't have those feelings. But we should not be extreme. We should be patient and do our best to avoid calamities. And don't let hatred lead us to oppress others.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us in the Quran,

لَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." (156) (Quran, al Baqarah 2:155-156)

Remember, we all have a deadline. We should be afraid of death and the best use of our time is preparing for it.

Don't be distracted with the news and spend our time watching the videos. Instead, reach out to people, your neighbors, your family and loved ones, get involve in the community and take the lead in helping others and humanitarian projects, and always be active to help people understand who we are as Muslims by being a good Muslim ourselves.

May Allah grant martyrdoom to those who died in the tragedy and heal quickly those who are injured and give the strength
and patience to their families and all of us. May Allah grant us an excellent ending at the highest of iman (faith).

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, March 12, 2019

Be Grateful For Your Blessings

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

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us that,

وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ‌ ﴿١٣..

...And few of My servants are grateful. (13)

[Quran, Saba 30:13]

Most people neglect to give thanks to Allah for the blessings He bestows upon us whereas we enjoy Allah's blessings in every moment of our lives. We ask Allah for success, a good spouse, righteous children, good health, well being, halal income, knowledge, wisdom, safety, etc, but for most things, we don't even think to ask. Allah just handed them to us without being asked.

Did we ask for the sun, the moon, the stars, the ocean, the trees, our mother, our father, our siblings? No. But those are the great bounties of Allah upon us. We need them to continue our lives, at least at one point or some point in our lives. Can you imagine if one day the sun didn't rise? Or the oceans dry up? Or no more birds flying? Or the gravity goes away? Or you lose a parent or a family member?

وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ‌ۭ رَّ‌حِيمٌ ﴿١٨

And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (18)

[Quran, An-Nahl 16:18]

Shukr (gratitude) is to recognize the bounties of Allah. And then respond to it appropriately.

We are all in need of Allah. Our lives, the breath we take, our still and our movements are all in control of Allah and they all happen by the Will of Allah. Giving thanks to Allah in every moment of our lives is one of the most important characteristics of a true believer.

There is a secret in being grateful to Allah. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us,

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَ‌بُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْ‌تُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْ‌تُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ ﴿٧

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "(7)

[Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:7]

Being thankful is a sign of the believers' love of Allah. Those who are grateful have the insight and capability to see the beauties and blessings that Allah creates. Those who disbelieves or ungrateful to Allah only see the imperfections and faults. And because of that they are always unhappy and discontented.

In order to be grateful to your Lord for the blessings that He has bestowed upon you, you must acknowledge in your heart that the Giver and the Bestower of these blessings is Allah, Exalted is He, so you venerate Him, attribute it to Him, and you acknowledge that with your tongue, so you give thanks to Him after waking from sleep for having given new life, and after eating and drinking for having provided you with them and bestowed them upon you, and so on with every blessing that you see in your life.

You give thanks with your limbs and physical faculties by not letting them see or hear any sin or evil, by not engaging in bad speech such as yelling at your parents, arguing, lying, gossiping; you do not walk with your feet to haram places; you do not use your hands to commit evil, such as haram writing in a relationship with non-mahram (one whom you can marry according to Islamic law), or writing haram contracts, or making or doing anything haram. Giving thanks with the physical faculties for blessings also includes using them to obey Allah and perform deeds that are pleasing to Allah-- such as helping your parents, spouses, children, and people in need, taking care of the environment, reading the Qur'an and books of knowledge, listening to beneficial and useful things, and so on, with all the faculties which you should use in various kinds of obedience and worship.

Being grateful to Allah is also by being grateful to our parents and treating them with excellence, and reciprocating good with good to people who have done good to us.

Remember that our gratitude for blessings is also a blessing which needs to be given thanks for, so that you will continue to enjoy the blessings of your Lord, thanking your Lord for those blessings and praising Him for helping you to be among those who give thanks.

We ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala help us do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Allah to fill our hearts with contentment and make us of those who are grateful and good to our parents. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Sunday, March 3, 2019

What Are Your Afraid Of?

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

Allah says in Surah al-Hadid,

سَبَّحَ لِلَّـهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿١﴾ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٢﴾ هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٣

[Quran, Al Hadid 57:1-3]

Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (1) His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent. (2) He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing. (3)

We already know that Allah owns the skies and the earth and He gives life and death. But Allah is still telling us in the Quran. Why? Because He wants us to think about this again and again.

"What is wrong with you? Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allah and you don't?"
"How come My authority is not enough that you don't respect it?"
"Why don't you trust Me?"
"Why are you afraid of people?" Everything that's happening is happening in Allah's kingdom. He gives opportunity and He takes away opportunities.
"Are you afraid of dying?" Allah gives life and He gives death.
"He is the First and the Last" -- at the personal level, the first thought in your day is Allah. The last thing you do before you leave this world (sleep) is that you think about Allah -- O Allah! What did I do today for you Master?
In the middle, you do what pleases Allah and stay away from what displeases Allah.
Allah is so obvious. The one who believes they see Allah in everything. They see Allah in the sunshine, in the moonshine, in His creation, in stillness and in movements, in His planning.

May Allah grant us strong iman and increase us in iman and protect our iman and grant the excellent ending at the highest of iman. 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