بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The month of Ramadhan is of a high status. So any good deed and acts of obedience during this month is of immense virtue and earn a greatly multiplied reward, So we should make the most of what is left of this blessed month by doing lots of acts of worship and righteous deeds, and giving up all acts of disobedience and bad deeds, in the hope that Allah will bless us by accepting our good deeds, enable us to adhere to the Truth throughout our lives, save us from the Hellfire and grant us His Noble Countenance.
This is our last reading of Surah al Kahf on Friday in this Ramadhan. Let's read the entire Surah al Kahf before sunset today. The reward of each good deed is multiplied in Ramadhan and each letter read of the Quran is rewarded tenfold and multiplied many times more. Imagine the tremendous reward you would miss if you neglect reading Surah al Kahf today. Leave your shopping, cooking and preparation for Eid for later and read it now so you don't forget.
The beginning of great things begins with a du'a. The power of du'a is captured inside this Surah. It is the major turning point for a few young men who fled to a cave from the people of their city who were forcing them to worship other than Allah.
The cave is wide open and more comfortable for the one who calls on Allah as their Lord and the entire open sky is tight on someone who ignores their Lord. You may have the entire world at your feet physically but you will feel discomfort because you don't have Allah in your life and you may have nothing but you will feel comfort because you have Allah to call on to.
As these young men fled towards the cave, they turned to Allah and made this du'a,
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]
Allah granted them their du'a and protected them for more than three centuries. Generations after generations of people derived lessons and benefited from their story, recite the Surah which is named after them every Friday, and made their du'a everyday in various settings -- imagine all the reward they are getting until the end of time.
If you are concerned about your future, increase your du'a. Learn this du'a and make it your daily supplication.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
May Allah grant us mercy from Himself and prepare for us right guidance in all our affairs. May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and protect us from the Dajjal. 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 31, 2019
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Ramadhan Reflection -- Measure Our Character With The Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
We have a few more days before this blessed month of Ramadhan leaves us. Let's try to make up where we fall short, and avoid disobedience and the forbidden at all cost. Such immense rewards are to be gained during these blessed ten days and nights. How can we afford to miss out on them? Who is to say that we will live to see the next Ramadhan?
We must make the best of these remaning last ten days and nights of Ramadhan. Read lots of Quran. Work on our character and show exemplary character.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the Scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” [at-Tirmidhi]. So we must aim to be the best in character during these blessed days and nights and continue to do so for the rest of the year. We must not argue, swear, backbite, slander or gossip.
If we wish for good character, we should look at the Qur'an and never ever leave it.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was only sent to perfect noble character. The greatest and the most distinguishing aspect of the Prophet's person sallallahu alayhi wasallam was his character. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says about his character,
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤
And indeed, you are of a great moral character. (4) [Qur'an, Al-Qalam 68:4]
The Prophet's character sallallahu alayhi wassallam was named tremendous because he had no concern except Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala Himself. His sole motive was Allah. Everything he did was for Allah Himself. Even in the littlest things he manifested excellence and beauty. This excellence and beauty in conduct is summarized in one verse of the Qur'an:
خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿١٩٩
Be easy going, uphold the good, and turn away from the ignorant. (199) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:199]
Sa’ad (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Once I went to Aisha and her father (Allah be pleased with them both) and asked them about the character and conduct of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam to which Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) replied: Don't you read the Qur'an? I said: Yes. She said: The character of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam is the Qur'an.
If you want to see perfect manners, you have to look at the Prophetic example (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). For that you should read the Qur'an attentively and know the meanings because the Qur'an details the character that is pleasing to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.
Every virtue that is expressed in the Qur'an, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) possessed it in the most perfect. The basis of the tremendous character of the Prophet(sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was his gentleness with his ummah and his honoring them. This is part of proper manners. In general we strive to uphold gentleness with people. They return to mercy.
"The merciful is granted mercy by the Merciful."
Islamic manners are the most refined. Islam advocates adab and proper manners so as to perfect our personality. How you act with people refines your character. They take care of the feelings of even the weakest, humblest or youngest in any group or community.
Once Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked how was the character of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, she recited the first ten verses of Surah al-Mu'minun.
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ ﴿٧﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ ﴿٩﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ ﴿١٠
Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (1) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive (2) And they who turn away from ill speech (3) And they who are observant of zakah (4) And they who guard their private parts (5) Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - (6) But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors - (7) And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive (8) And they who carefully maintain their prayers - (9) Those are the inheritors (10) [Qur'an, Al-Mu'minun 23:1-10]
Allah taught our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) adab (manners) and propriety through the Quran. His character is the Quran. The Quranic standard for character is very high. We should measure our character with it. When we read the Quran, we have to measure our behavior with it. And we are supposed to feel broken and we are supposed to work hard to achieve such lofty character.
That's why we should read the Quran with reflection. We should always apply what we read to our own selves. It is important to know that when we learn something, this is from Allah, and that Allah wants us to learn that something in that particular moment. Likewise, every time we are in a learning session or listening to a lecture or a sermon, we should always apply the knowledge to our own selves. It is a big mistake if we apply knowledge to other people.
If we recite the Quran regularly and follow its teachings, we will have beautiful character.
If we have certain bad traits, changing them may not be easy but if we sincerely want to change and ask Allah for His help, nothing is difficult with Allah's help.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says,
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)[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:186]
May Allah help us rid off all our blameworthy traits and replace them with praiseworthy traits. May Allah enable us to follow in the footsteps of His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and grant us noble character. 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, May 26, 2019
Learn and Read Quran With Tajweed
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Orang terpikat dengan music sebab alunan atau lyricnya. Music itu di katakan seni. Ramai yang nak jadi artist dan ramai pula peminat2nya.
Sedar atau tak sedar, alunan Quran itu sendiri adalah seni terhebat yang bolih kita buat. Quran adalah Kalam (Speech) Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Pencipta seluruh alam yang termasuk kita dan orang2 yang hebat2 yang di puja2. Jadi tak ada sesiapa yang bolih mengalahkan al Quran.
Bila kita baca Quran dengan tajweed tentulah berbeza dengan membacanya tanpa ikut hukum tajweed. Untuk membaca dengan betul dan pertingkatkan keindahan bacaan Quran, kita mesti belajar hukum tajweed dengan guru.
Keindahan alunan bacaan ayat suci Quran akan pudar tanpa hukum tajweed yang betul. Oleh itu belajar dan amalkan hukum tajweed yang betul.
🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
"The example of a believer who recited the Quran is like that of a fruit whose smell is good and taste is delicious."
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Percantikan bacaan Quran dengan ...
✅ baca huruf sebiji2 dengan betul makhraj dan sifatnya, (perhatikn bila kita makan buah...mesti sebiji2 🍎untuk merasa enaknya, bukan 2 biji atau banyak sekali 🍒 tercekik pulak)
✅ betulkan bentuk mulut pada fathah, dhammah dan kasrah
✅ Betulkan bunyi fatha, kasra, dhamma
mAmA fEEls cOOl
Bunyi Fatha ... A dalam MAMA
Bunyi Kasra ... EE dalam FEELS
Bunyi Dhamma .... OO dalam COOL
Practice
كُتِبَ
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾
✅ bunyikan huruf qalqalah قطب جد dengan cukup bounce (lantunan) dan jangan qalqalahkn huruf yang lain
✅ bunyikan huruf hams فحثه شخص سكت dengan sepenuhnya dan jangan hamskan huruf yang lain, cuma jelaskan
✅ cukupkan panjangnya madd
✅ cukupkan panjangnya ghunnah (dengung)
✅ tekankn suara pada 5 keadaan nabr -- jangan tekan suara pada yang lain
✅ nipiskan huruf nipis 😁 dan tebalkn huruf tebal
Are you AWESOME or are you HAPPY?
AWEsome --- bunyi huruf tebal خص ضغط قظ (خ غ ص ض ط ظ ق)
Ra tebal
Happy -- bunyi huruf nipis
🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓
"Aisha radhiyallahu ‘anha meriwayatkan bahwa Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam bersabda: “Seorang yang lancar membaca Al Quran akan bersama para malaikat yang mulia dan senantiasa selalu taat kepada Allah, adapun yang membaca Al Quran dan terbata-bata di dalamnya dan sulit atasnya bacaan tersebut maka baginya dua pahala” (Muslim).
Semoga Allah beri kita tawfiq. Ameen.
وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴿٨٨
...dan tiadalah aku akan beroleh taufik untuk menjayakannya melainkan dengan pertolongan Allah. Kepada Allah jualah aku berserah diri dan kepadaNyalah aku kembali.
And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return. (88) [Quran, Yunus 11:88]
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
Orang terpikat dengan music sebab alunan atau lyricnya. Music itu di katakan seni. Ramai yang nak jadi artist dan ramai pula peminat2nya.
Sedar atau tak sedar, alunan Quran itu sendiri adalah seni terhebat yang bolih kita buat. Quran adalah Kalam (Speech) Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Pencipta seluruh alam yang termasuk kita dan orang2 yang hebat2 yang di puja2. Jadi tak ada sesiapa yang bolih mengalahkan al Quran.
Bila kita baca Quran dengan tajweed tentulah berbeza dengan membacanya tanpa ikut hukum tajweed. Untuk membaca dengan betul dan pertingkatkan keindahan bacaan Quran, kita mesti belajar hukum tajweed dengan guru.
Keindahan alunan bacaan ayat suci Quran akan pudar tanpa hukum tajweed yang betul. Oleh itu belajar dan amalkan hukum tajweed yang betul.
🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
"The example of a believer who recited the Quran is like that of a fruit whose smell is good and taste is delicious."
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Percantikan bacaan Quran dengan ...
✅ baca huruf sebiji2 dengan betul makhraj dan sifatnya, (perhatikn bila kita makan buah...mesti sebiji2 🍎untuk merasa enaknya, bukan 2 biji atau banyak sekali 🍒 tercekik pulak)
✅ betulkan bentuk mulut pada fathah, dhammah dan kasrah
✅ Betulkan bunyi fatha, kasra, dhamma
mAmA fEEls cOOl
Bunyi Fatha ... A dalam MAMA
Bunyi Kasra ... EE dalam FEELS
Bunyi Dhamma .... OO dalam COOL
Practice
كُتِبَ
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾
✅ bunyikan huruf qalqalah قطب جد dengan cukup bounce (lantunan) dan jangan qalqalahkn huruf yang lain
✅ bunyikan huruf hams فحثه شخص سكت dengan sepenuhnya dan jangan hamskan huruf yang lain, cuma jelaskan
✅ cukupkan panjangnya madd
✅ cukupkan panjangnya ghunnah (dengung)
✅ tekankn suara pada 5 keadaan nabr -- jangan tekan suara pada yang lain
✅ nipiskan huruf nipis 😁 dan tebalkn huruf tebal
Are you AWESOME or are you HAPPY?
AWEsome --- bunyi huruf tebal خص ضغط قظ (خ غ ص ض ط ظ ق)
Ra tebal
Happy -- bunyi huruf nipis
🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓
"Aisha radhiyallahu ‘anha meriwayatkan bahwa Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam bersabda: “Seorang yang lancar membaca Al Quran akan bersama para malaikat yang mulia dan senantiasa selalu taat kepada Allah, adapun yang membaca Al Quran dan terbata-bata di dalamnya dan sulit atasnya bacaan tersebut maka baginya dua pahala” (Muslim).
Semoga Allah beri kita tawfiq. Ameen.
وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴿٨٨
...dan tiadalah aku akan beroleh taufik untuk menjayakannya melainkan dengan pertolongan Allah. Kepada Allah jualah aku berserah diri dan kepadaNyalah aku kembali.
And my success is not but through Allah. Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return. (88) [Quran, Yunus 11:88]
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 24, 2019
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday, Ramadhan 19) -- True Wealth
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al Kahf, Allah Most High temphasizes the point about wealth,
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]
Many people mistakenly assume that true wealth is that of money and property. It is true that wealth is a great blessing from Allah which He bestows upon His servants. And the one who earns it purely, and spends it properly, and gives it to those that deserve it, without a doubt earns a great reward from Allah.
But at the same time, wealth is not the greatest blessing that can be given to mankind. No matter how much wealth a person has, eventually it will leave him, and pass on into the hands of others. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded us of this when he asked the Companions,
“Who amongst you loves the money of his inheritors more than his own money?” In other words, who amongst you loves the money that is in the hands of the people who will inherit from him when he dies (such as one’s sons and daughters) more than the money that he himself owns.
They replied, “O Messenger of Allah, there is no one of us except that he loves his own money more than he loves the money of his inheritors.”
So the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “But his money is only that which he sent forth, and the money of his inheritors is what he left behind.” [Bukhari]
So in reality most of the money that a person owns will eventually end up in the hands of his or her inheritors, and only that part which was spent for the sake of God will actually benefit one in the Hereafter.
Allah Almighty emphasizes this point in Surah al-Kahf with the teaching that:
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]
So money and children can be a comfort and a pleasure of this life, but righteous deeds are what will remain permanently — not one’s family or wealth. It is these righteous deeds which will bring a person Allah's Pleasure, and through which a person can hope for an ever-lasting reward in the Hereafter.
No matter how much money a person earns, in reality he only utilizes a very small fraction of it. Ponder over the wise reminder from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Abdullah ibn al-Shakhir reported,
“I entered upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he was reciting ‘Alhakum al-takathur’:
أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ
Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you (1)[Qur'an, At-Takathur 102:])
He said,
‘The son of Adam would say: ‘My money! My money!’ But do you have, O son of Adam, anything of your money, except that which you ate, and it was put to waste, or that which you wore, till it wore out, or that which you gave in charity, so you have sent it forth (to get its rewards in the Hereafter)?’” [Muslim]
In this hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded us that, in reality, all of our money is utilized in only three ways. Firstly, the food that we eat, and this eventually is transformed into waste. Secondly, the clothes that we wear, and this eventually wears out such that it is unusable. Thirdly, the money that has been given out for the sake of Allah, and this is the only part whose benefit remains and returns to us. So of what benefit is it for a person to gloat over ‘his money’, and boast about it, and be eager for it, when in reality so little of it is actually spent in such a way as to provide eternal benefit?
Because of these factors, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded mankind that wealth is not proportionate to the amount of material possessions a person owns. True wealth is to be content with what one has, and then to use it to strive for the everlasting reward of the Hereafter. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
“Richness is not in the quantity of possessions (that one has); rather, true richness is the richness of one’s self (or contentment).” [Bukhari]
He also stated,
“That which is little yet sufficient is better than that which is much but distracts.”
And in a third hadith,
“He is indeed successful who has been guided to Islam, and his sustenance was sufficient for him, and he was content with it.” [Muslim]
Lastly,
“The best sustenance that you are given is that which is sufficient.”
From this, we can clearly see that true success and wealth is found in the peace and satisfaction which results from sincerity in faith and practice. The contentment of the heart is what makes a person realize and appreciate this true richness.
يَـٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفْسُ ٱلْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ﴿٢٧﴾ ٱرْجِعِىٓ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً ﴿٢٨﴾ فَٱدْخُلِى فِى عِبَـٰدِى ﴿٢٩﴾ وَٱدْخُلِى جَنَّتِى ﴿٣٠
[To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, (27) Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], (28) And enter among My [righteous] servants (29) And enter My Paradise." (30)
[Qur'an, A-Fajr 89:27-30]
May Allah grant us contentment. 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 Most High temphasizes the point about wealth,
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]
Many people mistakenly assume that true wealth is that of money and property. It is true that wealth is a great blessing from Allah which He bestows upon His servants. And the one who earns it purely, and spends it properly, and gives it to those that deserve it, without a doubt earns a great reward from Allah.
But at the same time, wealth is not the greatest blessing that can be given to mankind. No matter how much wealth a person has, eventually it will leave him, and pass on into the hands of others. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded us of this when he asked the Companions,
“Who amongst you loves the money of his inheritors more than his own money?” In other words, who amongst you loves the money that is in the hands of the people who will inherit from him when he dies (such as one’s sons and daughters) more than the money that he himself owns.
They replied, “O Messenger of Allah, there is no one of us except that he loves his own money more than he loves the money of his inheritors.”
So the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “But his money is only that which he sent forth, and the money of his inheritors is what he left behind.” [Bukhari]
So in reality most of the money that a person owns will eventually end up in the hands of his or her inheritors, and only that part which was spent for the sake of God will actually benefit one in the Hereafter.
Allah Almighty emphasizes this point in Surah al-Kahf with the teaching that:
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]
So money and children can be a comfort and a pleasure of this life, but righteous deeds are what will remain permanently — not one’s family or wealth. It is these righteous deeds which will bring a person Allah's Pleasure, and through which a person can hope for an ever-lasting reward in the Hereafter.
No matter how much money a person earns, in reality he only utilizes a very small fraction of it. Ponder over the wise reminder from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Abdullah ibn al-Shakhir reported,
“I entered upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he was reciting ‘Alhakum al-takathur’:
أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ
Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you (1)[Qur'an, At-Takathur 102:])
He said,
‘The son of Adam would say: ‘My money! My money!’ But do you have, O son of Adam, anything of your money, except that which you ate, and it was put to waste, or that which you wore, till it wore out, or that which you gave in charity, so you have sent it forth (to get its rewards in the Hereafter)?’” [Muslim]
In this hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded us that, in reality, all of our money is utilized in only three ways. Firstly, the food that we eat, and this eventually is transformed into waste. Secondly, the clothes that we wear, and this eventually wears out such that it is unusable. Thirdly, the money that has been given out for the sake of Allah, and this is the only part whose benefit remains and returns to us. So of what benefit is it for a person to gloat over ‘his money’, and boast about it, and be eager for it, when in reality so little of it is actually spent in such a way as to provide eternal benefit?
Because of these factors, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) reminded mankind that wealth is not proportionate to the amount of material possessions a person owns. True wealth is to be content with what one has, and then to use it to strive for the everlasting reward of the Hereafter. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
“Richness is not in the quantity of possessions (that one has); rather, true richness is the richness of one’s self (or contentment).” [Bukhari]
He also stated,
“That which is little yet sufficient is better than that which is much but distracts.”
And in a third hadith,
“He is indeed successful who has been guided to Islam, and his sustenance was sufficient for him, and he was content with it.” [Muslim]
Lastly,
“The best sustenance that you are given is that which is sufficient.”
From this, we can clearly see that true success and wealth is found in the peace and satisfaction which results from sincerity in faith and practice. The contentment of the heart is what makes a person realize and appreciate this true richness.
يَـٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفْسُ ٱلْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ﴿٢٧﴾ ٱرْجِعِىٓ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً ﴿٢٨﴾ فَٱدْخُلِى فِى عِبَـٰدِى ﴿٢٩﴾ وَٱدْخُلِى جَنَّتِى ﴿٣٠
[To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, (27) Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], (28) And enter among My [righteous] servants (29) And enter My Paradise." (30)
[Qur'an, A-Fajr 89:27-30]
May Allah grant us contentment. 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, May 19, 2019
Spend The Last Half of Ramadhan With Lots of Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
We are into the last half of Ramadhan and soon Ramadhan will be over. If we think of Ramadhan as the month of fasting, iftar, food, sahur and more food, and haven't been learning, memorizing, reading and listening to a lot of Quran, then we have lost a lot.
Allah wants us to think of Ramadhan as the month of the Quran, the month of 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]
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 Quran, 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 read and listen to lots Quran day and 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.
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 into the last half of Ramadhan and soon Ramadhan will be over. If we think of Ramadhan as the month of fasting, iftar, food, sahur and more food, and haven't been learning, memorizing, reading and listening to a lot of Quran, then we have lost a lot.
Allah wants us to think of Ramadhan as the month of the Quran, the month of 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]
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 Quran, 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 read and listen to lots Quran day and 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.
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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