بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Everyone on this earth are tested in one way or another. Allah made it very clear that this world is not Jannah (Paradise) and it is not perfect. Allah tells us,
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give gladtidings to the patient, [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:155]
Fear is an emotion. Allah will test us with our emotions and all things that will make us sad and anxious but then Allah gives us hope "give gladtidings to the patient."
Sadness and anxieties are part of this life. They are natural emotions that Allah has created in us. Certain amount of worry and axiety exist in everyone of us and it is completely normal. Allah created a wide range of emotions and we will all experience these emotions even the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam and other prophets. We all know that Prophet Ya'qub alayhissalaam was so sad when he was seperated from his son, Yusuf alayhissalaam, so much so he became blind.
When experiencing a time of distress, remember what Allah has said,
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
Allah does not burden a soul except [with that within] its capacity. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:286]
Know that we are strong and Allah is telling us that we can overcome whatever challenges that come our way. We are given these challenges because He knows that we are strong enough to handle them. Often times we underestimate our abilities. But Allah knows how resilient and strong He created us.
Always turn to Allah through prayer, du'a and Quran. These 3 things are effective way of treating sadness.
Prayers...
When Khadijah and Abu Talib died close apart, obviously the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was very sad, because he, not only lost his beloved wife and uncle, he also lost the two greatest supporters in his dawah of Islam. Then when he went to Ta'f to do da'wah to the people of Ta'f, the people rejected him and stoned him until he was bleeding profusely. He told Aisha that was the most difficult times of his life. Immediately after the event, Allah raised him to the heavens and gifted him and the ummah with the 5 daily prayers.
Du'a...
Allah asks us to call upon Him,
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." [Quran, Ghafir 40:60]
There is a hadith that tells us that Allah is shy and generous. If we ask from Him something He is too shy not to give. Allah is generous that if we ask He would give us more.
Every morning and evening ask Allah to protect you from depression and anxiety. Memorize this Prophetic du'a.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Transliteration – allaa-humma innee a‛oodhu bika mi-nal-ham-mi wal-ḥazan, wal-‛ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa ḍa-la‛id-dai-ni, wa ghalaba-tir-rijaal
O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men. [Bukhari]
The Quran...
Allah calls the Quran a healing, healer of the hearts.
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا ﴿٨٢
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss. [Quran, Al Isra' 17:82]
It is the Quran that can let all problems go away, to mend hearts. Connect with Quran daily. Start from now, even with a verse a day and increase gradually to a juz or two a day. Make that connection with the healer of the heart.
Look for the good and when you do this, good will grow. Each of one of us is blessed in som many different ways. Shaytan whispers and he gets us to focus and pay attention to what is going wrong in our lives and completely forget everything that is going right. Pay attention to the good and actually look for good. Think of blessings in your life and be grateful for them. Practicing gratitude does wonders for our emotional health. When we practice gratitude it causes us to be happier. Even if we can't find anything to be grateful about, remember the hadith that sins of a Muslim are removed even with a prick of a thorn and be grateful for that.
Remember, Allah proclaimed,
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; [Quran, Ibrahim 14:7]
Keep on Smiling 🙂
Even if you force yourself to smile it can lead to a chnage in your mood. You have the ability to smile and remember it is charity.
Spend time with your loved ones. Family support is beneficial. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam first encountered angel Jibril alayhissalaam, he felt afraid. He went to Khadijah and found that support from her. We are created as social creatures, Physical touch from someone you know can be as effective as anti-depressant. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam used to hug, embrace and shake hands with his loved ones and his companions. He sallallahu alayhi wasallam said that when you shake someone hands your sins fall.
May Allah make the Quran a healing for us, replace our sadness with happiness and peace of mind and gather us and our loved ones in the highest Jannah with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. 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
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Monday, November 25, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Towards Understanding of Sacred Knowledge
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the conditions to understand sacred knowledge is taqwa (fear of Allah). Allah says,
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٨٢
...And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:48]
If you are learning sacred knowledge, have taqwa of Allah and He guarantees your success. Inshaa Allah.
What is Taqwa?
Taqwa is one of those unique words in the Arabic language that cannot simply be translated into a word or two in English. As a result, many translators struggle to bring out the real meaning of this word.
Ali (radhiAllahu anhu) defined Taqwa as being the ‘fear of Jaleel (Allah), acting upon the tanzeel (Quran), being content with qaleel (little), and preparing for the day of raheel (journeying from this world).
Umar ibn Khattab (radhiAllahu anhu) once asked Ibn Ka’ab (radhiAllahu anhu) the definition of taqwa. In reply Ibn Ka’ab asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Umar replied in the affirmative and ibn Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?”
Taqwa can be compared to walking through a narrow path with thorny bushes on both sides and a person passing through it tries his level best to save his clothes from being torn. The thorns are the sins and the clothes is one's Iman (faith).
Allah Almighty says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢
O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, as you should have of Him and do not die except as Muslims. (102)
[Quran, AleImran 3:102]
Ibn Mas'ud (radhiallahu anhu) said speaking about this verse, Allah is meant to be obeyed, and not disobeyed; remembered at all times, and not forgotten; and to be thanked; and we are not to be ungrateful to Him."
Taqwa makes one deserving of Allah's pleasure and love. Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa. (13)
[Quran, al-Hujurat 49:13]
Taqwa keeps one steadfast on the Straight Path and protects him from deviation. Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٢٩
O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a Furqaan (criterion to judge between right and wrong) and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (29)
[Qu'an, Al-Anfaal 8:29]
Taqwa is a means by which a believer performs righteous deeds and Taqwa causes the righteous deed to be accepted by Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا ﴿٧٠﴾ يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٧١
O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. (70) He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment. (71)
[Quran, al-Ahzab 33:70-71]
Allah mentioned the characteristics of His Awliya (Friends of Allah) saying:
أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّـهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣
Unquestionably, the friends of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve (62) Those who have believed and have been fearful of Allah. (63)
[Quran, Yunus 10:62-63]
How to achieve Taqwa?
Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٢١
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (those who possess Taqwa) (21)
[Quran, al-Baqarah 2:21]
Thus, Taqwa is the fruit of 'ibadah (act of worship) and can only be achieved by performing acts of 'ibadah. Therefore, we often find Allah mentions Taqwa with 'ibadah. Allah Almighty says regarding the fasts of Ramadhan:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣
O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting)[] is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (those who possess Taqwa) (183)
[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:183]
Taqwa inhabits the heart and it is only within the capability of Allah to know what the hearts conceal. Therefore, judging people's righteousness and spirituality is beyond our ability.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ ﴿٢٠٤
There is among people, he whose speech will dazzle you in this life and he will claim that Allah is witness (to the sincerity of) what is in his heart, yet he will be among the most vicious enemies (of mankind).
(204)
[Quran, al-Baqarah 2:204]
May Allah forgive our sins and make us among the people of Taqwa and guide us, our families and the Ummah. 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
One of the conditions to understand sacred knowledge is taqwa (fear of Allah). Allah says,
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٨٢
...And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:48]
If you are learning sacred knowledge, have taqwa of Allah and He guarantees your success. Inshaa Allah.
What is Taqwa?
Taqwa is one of those unique words in the Arabic language that cannot simply be translated into a word or two in English. As a result, many translators struggle to bring out the real meaning of this word.
Ali (radhiAllahu anhu) defined Taqwa as being the ‘fear of Jaleel (Allah), acting upon the tanzeel (Quran), being content with qaleel (little), and preparing for the day of raheel (journeying from this world).
Umar ibn Khattab (radhiAllahu anhu) once asked Ibn Ka’ab (radhiAllahu anhu) the definition of taqwa. In reply Ibn Ka’ab asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Umar replied in the affirmative and ibn Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?”
Taqwa can be compared to walking through a narrow path with thorny bushes on both sides and a person passing through it tries his level best to save his clothes from being torn. The thorns are the sins and the clothes is one's Iman (faith).
Allah Almighty says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢
O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, as you should have of Him and do not die except as Muslims. (102)
[Quran, AleImran 3:102]
Ibn Mas'ud (radhiallahu anhu) said speaking about this verse, Allah is meant to be obeyed, and not disobeyed; remembered at all times, and not forgotten; and to be thanked; and we are not to be ungrateful to Him."
Taqwa makes one deserving of Allah's pleasure and love. Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa. (13)
[Quran, al-Hujurat 49:13]
Taqwa keeps one steadfast on the Straight Path and protects him from deviation. Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٢٩
O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a Furqaan (criterion to judge between right and wrong) and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (29)
[Qu'an, Al-Anfaal 8:29]
Taqwa is a means by which a believer performs righteous deeds and Taqwa causes the righteous deed to be accepted by Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا ﴿٧٠﴾ يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٧١
O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. (70) He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment. (71)
[Quran, al-Ahzab 33:70-71]
Allah mentioned the characteristics of His Awliya (Friends of Allah) saying:
أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّـهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣
Unquestionably, the friends of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve (62) Those who have believed and have been fearful of Allah. (63)
[Quran, Yunus 10:62-63]
How to achieve Taqwa?
Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٢١
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (those who possess Taqwa) (21)
[Quran, al-Baqarah 2:21]
Thus, Taqwa is the fruit of 'ibadah (act of worship) and can only be achieved by performing acts of 'ibadah. Therefore, we often find Allah mentions Taqwa with 'ibadah. Allah Almighty says regarding the fasts of Ramadhan:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣
O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting)[] is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (those who possess Taqwa) (183)
[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:183]
Taqwa inhabits the heart and it is only within the capability of Allah to know what the hearts conceal. Therefore, judging people's righteousness and spirituality is beyond our ability.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ ﴿٢٠٤
There is among people, he whose speech will dazzle you in this life and he will claim that Allah is witness (to the sincerity of) what is in his heart, yet he will be among the most vicious enemies (of mankind).
(204)
[Quran, al-Baqarah 2:204]
May Allah forgive our sins and make us among the people of Taqwa and guide us, our families and the Ummah. 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
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Finding Closeness To Allah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Do you find yourself close to Allah? Reciting the Quran is a means of closeness to Allah. Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah ayat 186,
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]
When you read the Quran, you will come across many du'as. Pause, know the meanings of those du'as and make the du'a full heartedly. And continue reading the Quran with reflection. Even if you haven't learned or don't know Arabic, you can at least reflect on the point of articulation (makhraj) of each letter and the tajweed. How beautiful Allah has put His Speech together for us.
Indeed the Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of Allah, not a created thing, and the study guide for life and death and what comes after. Therefore it deserves a more careful study than anyone else’s speech. So, as a Muslim, we should recite Quran daily with better understanding so that we can earn Allah’s blessings in this life and the hereafter.
Allah says about the Quran,
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢
Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:1-2]
The rewards of reciting the Quran are many. In a Hadith, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Verily the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
So if we want to be in the company of the noble and obedient angels who are close to Allah, learn how to recite the Quran properly and beautifully.
May Allah guide us and bring us closer to Him. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Do you find yourself close to Allah? Reciting the Quran is a means of closeness to Allah. Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah ayat 186,
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]
When you read the Quran, you will come across many du'as. Pause, know the meanings of those du'as and make the du'a full heartedly. And continue reading the Quran with reflection. Even if you haven't learned or don't know Arabic, you can at least reflect on the point of articulation (makhraj) of each letter and the tajweed. How beautiful Allah has put His Speech together for us.
Indeed the Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of Allah, not a created thing, and the study guide for life and death and what comes after. Therefore it deserves a more careful study than anyone else’s speech. So, as a Muslim, we should recite Quran daily with better understanding so that we can earn Allah’s blessings in this life and the hereafter.
Allah says about the Quran,
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢
Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:1-2]
The rewards of reciting the Quran are many. In a Hadith, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Verily the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
So if we want to be in the company of the noble and obedient angels who are close to Allah, learn how to recite the Quran properly and beautifully.
May Allah guide us and bring us closer to Him. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Al Wahhab (The Bestower of Bounties Without Measure)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in Surah AleImran,
وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٧﴾ رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩﴾
...And no one will be reminded except those of understanding. (7) [Who say], "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (8) Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise." (9)
Those well grounded in knowledge are never proud of their knowledge, howsoever perfect it may be, nor of the strength of their faith. Instead of that, they constantly pray to Allah seeking steadfastness from Him, and His grace and mercy.
Verse (8) shows us that guidance and straying are from Allah alone. When Allah intends to guide someone, He makes his heart tilt towards what is good and right; and when He decides to let someone go astray, He turns his heart away from the straight path. This is just as it was said in a hadith: There is no heart which is not there in between the two of Allah's fingers - He makes it firm on the truth as long as He wills, and turns it away from the truth when He wills.
He is Allah, absolute in power. He does what He wills. Therefore, those who are concerned about how to remain firm in their faith, they go to the source - requesting and praying Allah for steadfastness. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam used to pray for it as it appears in a hadith: 0 Turner of hearts, make our hearts firm on the faith chosen by You.
Allah is Al-Wahhab, the Grantor of Bounties without measure. He has all the measures of the heavens and the earth, Whose mercy and favors He pours over His servants.
Al-Wahhab is the One, Who gives His servants without expecting any benefit from them. One should not then turn to anyone besides Allah for anything, for He alone, Who bestows gifts without recompense. One should not expect good except from Him. Whoever calls to remembrance the Name of Al-Wahhab, Allah Almighty opens to him all gates of goodness, and gives him from sources which he never expects.
No matter how generous we are, we could hardly be a grantor of bounty because all that we have belong to Allah. We cannot grant what does not belong to us. We are appointed by Allah as no more than trustees to dispose of them in the manner He sets for them. We should respond to Allah's command to spend for His Sake out of the good things, of which we are entrusted to dispose. It is out of gratitude that we give of what Allah grants us-- of wealth, knowledge, time, talents, power, etc.
People will always do things for some benefit or gain, even if it is hidden, to derive pleasure from it. It is when the benefit or gain sought is related to worldly things, then this is blameworthy. But if it is sought for Allah, then this is praiseworthy. Allah Himself is his gain and there is no gain beyond Allah.
The highest degree of pleasure is Allah. Who would associate pleasure to getting up at night to pray tahajjud. But those who had experienced the pleasure in getting up at night and pray tahajjud, would say, "if the kings were to know the pleasure that are in seeking pleasure of Allah, they would have come and fought us for it!"
Memorize and make this du'a as part of your du'as/dhikrullah.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy.
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
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in Surah AleImran,
وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٧﴾ رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩﴾
...And no one will be reminded except those of understanding. (7) [Who say], "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (8) Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise." (9)
Those well grounded in knowledge are never proud of their knowledge, howsoever perfect it may be, nor of the strength of their faith. Instead of that, they constantly pray to Allah seeking steadfastness from Him, and His grace and mercy.
Verse (8) shows us that guidance and straying are from Allah alone. When Allah intends to guide someone, He makes his heart tilt towards what is good and right; and when He decides to let someone go astray, He turns his heart away from the straight path. This is just as it was said in a hadith: There is no heart which is not there in between the two of Allah's fingers - He makes it firm on the truth as long as He wills, and turns it away from the truth when He wills.
He is Allah, absolute in power. He does what He wills. Therefore, those who are concerned about how to remain firm in their faith, they go to the source - requesting and praying Allah for steadfastness. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam used to pray for it as it appears in a hadith: 0 Turner of hearts, make our hearts firm on the faith chosen by You.
Allah is Al-Wahhab, the Grantor of Bounties without measure. He has all the measures of the heavens and the earth, Whose mercy and favors He pours over His servants.
Al-Wahhab is the One, Who gives His servants without expecting any benefit from them. One should not then turn to anyone besides Allah for anything, for He alone, Who bestows gifts without recompense. One should not expect good except from Him. Whoever calls to remembrance the Name of Al-Wahhab, Allah Almighty opens to him all gates of goodness, and gives him from sources which he never expects.
No matter how generous we are, we could hardly be a grantor of bounty because all that we have belong to Allah. We cannot grant what does not belong to us. We are appointed by Allah as no more than trustees to dispose of them in the manner He sets for them. We should respond to Allah's command to spend for His Sake out of the good things, of which we are entrusted to dispose. It is out of gratitude that we give of what Allah grants us-- of wealth, knowledge, time, talents, power, etc.
People will always do things for some benefit or gain, even if it is hidden, to derive pleasure from it. It is when the benefit or gain sought is related to worldly things, then this is blameworthy. But if it is sought for Allah, then this is praiseworthy. Allah Himself is his gain and there is no gain beyond Allah.
The highest degree of pleasure is Allah. Who would associate pleasure to getting up at night to pray tahajjud. But those who had experienced the pleasure in getting up at night and pray tahajjud, would say, "if the kings were to know the pleasure that are in seeking pleasure of Allah, they would have come and fought us for it!"
Memorize and make this du'a as part of your du'as/dhikrullah.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy.
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
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Life Is A Struggle
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in Surah Al Inshiqaq,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَـٰقِيهِ ﴿٦
O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it. (6) [Quran, Inshiqaq 84:6]
Allah is saying that all of us are working extremely hard towards Him. All our efforts are in different directions and we might not realize that we are heading towards Him whether we like it or not.
Allah is teaching us that life is full of labor, toil and struggle. That was how it was designed to be for Muslims or non Muslims. All human beings are supposed to be in labor. The only difference is Allah gives us the gift of Iman (Faith) and equips us with all the tools that we can develop our Iman. Then this toil and struggle amounts to something.
A person might work and live a comfortable and luxurious life and another person might work harder but only manage to survive. We might see someone as being significant perhaps because of his title or perhaps because he is the main contributor for a certain charity while another person might be the one who picks up our garbage everyday or a janitor for our masjid or office but he is invisible and insignificant to us. At some point they will be asking what do this all amounts to. What Islam does is it gives life purpose.
Abu Hurairah narrated regarding the story of the black woman who used to clean the mosque. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked about her, and he was told that she had died. He said to them, “Why didn’t you inform me of her death?" It seems that they regarded her as an insignificant person. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Show me her grave." They showed him her grave and he offered the funeral prayer for her.’ Agreed upon. Muslim added in his narration, ‘Verily, those graves are full of darkness for those buried in them. Allah, the Almighty, will illuminate them for their dwellers by my prayer over them"
Because of the view of the Hereafter, nobody lives an insignificant life. Allah created everybody for a purpose. So we don't live life as if we are going to live forever. Just as the day is going to come to conclusion, this world and our lives are coming to conclusion. We can't do anything about that but we can work for the sake of no one except Allah, starting today until we meet Him.
May Allah make our meeting with Him the best of meetings. 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
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in Surah Al Inshiqaq,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَـٰقِيهِ ﴿٦
O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it. (6) [Quran, Inshiqaq 84:6]
Allah is saying that all of us are working extremely hard towards Him. All our efforts are in different directions and we might not realize that we are heading towards Him whether we like it or not.
Allah is teaching us that life is full of labor, toil and struggle. That was how it was designed to be for Muslims or non Muslims. All human beings are supposed to be in labor. The only difference is Allah gives us the gift of Iman (Faith) and equips us with all the tools that we can develop our Iman. Then this toil and struggle amounts to something.
A person might work and live a comfortable and luxurious life and another person might work harder but only manage to survive. We might see someone as being significant perhaps because of his title or perhaps because he is the main contributor for a certain charity while another person might be the one who picks up our garbage everyday or a janitor for our masjid or office but he is invisible and insignificant to us. At some point they will be asking what do this all amounts to. What Islam does is it gives life purpose.
Abu Hurairah narrated regarding the story of the black woman who used to clean the mosque. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked about her, and he was told that she had died. He said to them, “Why didn’t you inform me of her death?" It seems that they regarded her as an insignificant person. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Show me her grave." They showed him her grave and he offered the funeral prayer for her.’ Agreed upon. Muslim added in his narration, ‘Verily, those graves are full of darkness for those buried in them. Allah, the Almighty, will illuminate them for their dwellers by my prayer over them"
Because of the view of the Hereafter, nobody lives an insignificant life. Allah created everybody for a purpose. So we don't live life as if we are going to live forever. Just as the day is going to come to conclusion, this world and our lives are coming to conclusion. We can't do anything about that but we can work for the sake of no one except Allah, starting today until we meet Him.
May Allah make our meeting with Him the best of meetings. 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
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Guidance
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Guidance is a thing which everyone possess in some way, and yet no one, not even the greatest, can do without wishing to attain more. Of all the prayers a person can address to Allah, the most important is the prayer for guidance, which has been taught to us in the very first Surah of the Qur'an, Surah Al-Fatihah; and this prayer is as necessary for the greatest of prophets and people of Allah as for an ordinary Muslim.
When we recite Al-Fatihah during prayer, maybe more than 17 times a day, we are asking Allah for hidayah (guidance). Not only we are asking Allah to guide us to perform this particular prayer in the best way, we are also asking Allah to give us hidayah for everything we do after the prayer and with excellence. So bring this to your heart when you recite,
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us to the straight path. [Quran, Al-Fatihah]
Some Muslims have this big confusion that by being a Muslim means he has been guided. If that is the case, then this supplication should have been for non-Muslims. In fact, becoming a Muslim is only the first step in the world of guidance. In fact, if you are a born Muslim, you have to actually believe La ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah through your own discovery. And we should constantly renew our faith.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Verily, the faith (iman) of one of you will diminish just as a shirt becomes worn out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts.”
We need guidance at every step of our lives and we need guidance to increase us in guidance, so that the more we are guided the closer we get to Allah, the Exalted. The guidance is so precious.
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٥٦
Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided. [Qur'an, Al-Qasas 28:56]
Where do we get the guidance? We get guidance from the Qur'an and Sunnah. If we don't study the Qur'an and Sunnah, then is your prayer sincere? Take for example, a student who makes du'a, asking Allah to make him pass his exams but he does not open his books, then how is this asking sincere? Likewise, if we ask Allah for guidance and we don't open His Book to look for guidance, then there is some problem in our prayers--sincerity.
Actually every prayer is a reminder that understanding the Qur'an is not only necessary but it is an emergency. In fact, after we say "Ameen" after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and another Surah is recited, that Surah is actually a piece of guidance that Allah gives us at that time. If you keep there standing without bothering to understand, then how sincere are you about asking for guidance? We should pay attention to what Allah tells us today in our prayers and act upon them after the prayer. Don't just ignore it. If we don't understand, open the Book and try to understand it from the translation, tafsir, etc. Every piece of the Qur'an is very precious. It is not random. Whatever you listen of the Qur'an is from Allah and He is watching and He wants to see your reaction as He reveals those verses.
May Allah enable us to understand His Book and bring us closer to Him. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Guidance is a thing which everyone possess in some way, and yet no one, not even the greatest, can do without wishing to attain more. Of all the prayers a person can address to Allah, the most important is the prayer for guidance, which has been taught to us in the very first Surah of the Qur'an, Surah Al-Fatihah; and this prayer is as necessary for the greatest of prophets and people of Allah as for an ordinary Muslim.
When we recite Al-Fatihah during prayer, maybe more than 17 times a day, we are asking Allah for hidayah (guidance). Not only we are asking Allah to guide us to perform this particular prayer in the best way, we are also asking Allah to give us hidayah for everything we do after the prayer and with excellence. So bring this to your heart when you recite,
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us to the straight path. [Quran, Al-Fatihah]
Some Muslims have this big confusion that by being a Muslim means he has been guided. If that is the case, then this supplication should have been for non-Muslims. In fact, becoming a Muslim is only the first step in the world of guidance. In fact, if you are a born Muslim, you have to actually believe La ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah through your own discovery. And we should constantly renew our faith.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Verily, the faith (iman) of one of you will diminish just as a shirt becomes worn out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts.”
We need guidance at every step of our lives and we need guidance to increase us in guidance, so that the more we are guided the closer we get to Allah, the Exalted. The guidance is so precious.
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٥٦
Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided. [Qur'an, Al-Qasas 28:56]
Where do we get the guidance? We get guidance from the Qur'an and Sunnah. If we don't study the Qur'an and Sunnah, then is your prayer sincere? Take for example, a student who makes du'a, asking Allah to make him pass his exams but he does not open his books, then how is this asking sincere? Likewise, if we ask Allah for guidance and we don't open His Book to look for guidance, then there is some problem in our prayers--sincerity.
Actually every prayer is a reminder that understanding the Qur'an is not only necessary but it is an emergency. In fact, after we say "Ameen" after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and another Surah is recited, that Surah is actually a piece of guidance that Allah gives us at that time. If you keep there standing without bothering to understand, then how sincere are you about asking for guidance? We should pay attention to what Allah tells us today in our prayers and act upon them after the prayer. Don't just ignore it. If we don't understand, open the Book and try to understand it from the translation, tafsir, etc. Every piece of the Qur'an is very precious. It is not random. Whatever you listen of the Qur'an is from Allah and He is watching and He wants to see your reaction as He reveals those verses.
May Allah enable us to understand His Book and bring us closer to Him. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Boost Up Your Iman (Faith) Before The Next Storm
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
What is it that connects you to Allah? As a beliver, do you think you will be exempt from any problems? No. Allah says in Surah Ankabut,
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣
Alif, Lam, Meem (1) Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (3) [Quran, Al Ankabut 29:1-3]
The closest people to Allah have always been tested. This is part of life. Your level of Iman you presume will save you from the storms, they will come regardless. As you look around you, some are drowning. Your iman (faith in the Oneness of Allah) gives you the strength to sail through it and gives you the ability to weather the storm, reaching to the calmer seas. The path is the same for all.
Iman can wear off like clothes. So we have take care of it so it doesn't wear off. If you want to boost up your iman, you don't need to go far. Everything around you is a sign of Allah. The breeze you feel is a sign of Allah. A sleeping cat is a sign of Allah. No food in the pantry is a sign of Allah (ayat). Even when you your kids fighting and arguing is a sign of Allah. Everything we see and experience is a sign of Allah. All these signs should make us conscious of Allah and boost up the iman.
If we understood what the Quran wants us to reach, we don't have to sit in an Islamic lecture to experience in faith. You just have to pay attention to the world around you, you will increase your faith. The ones who are conscious of the ayat, they will increase in faith because they will be constantly in a state of reminder. The Quran causes us to look at the world and the world forces us to look at the Quran. So nobody can say I don't have a reminder
وَٱلْمُرْسَلَـٰتِ عُرْفًا ﴿١﴾ فَٱلْعَـٰصِفَـٰتِ عَصْفًا ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلنَّـٰشِرَٰتِ نَشْرًا ﴿٣﴾ فَٱلْفَـٰرِقَـٰتِ فَرْقًا ﴿٤﴾ فَٱلْمُلْقِيَـٰتِ ذِكْرًا ﴿٥﴾ عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا ﴿٦﴾ إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَٰقِعٌ ﴿٧﴾ فَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ ﴿٨﴾ وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ فُرِجَتْ ﴿٩﴾ وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ ﴿١٠﴾
By those [winds] sent forth in gusts (1) And the winds that blow violently (2) And [by] the winds that spread [clouds] (3) And those [angels] who bring criterion (4) And those [angels] who deliver a message (5) As justification or warning, (6) Indeed, what you are promised is to occur. (7) So when the stars are obliterated (8) And when the heaven is opened (9) And when the mountains are blown away (10) [Quran, Al Mursalat 77:1-10]
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
What is it that connects you to Allah? As a beliver, do you think you will be exempt from any problems? No. Allah says in Surah Ankabut,
الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣
Alif, Lam, Meem (1) Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (3) [Quran, Al Ankabut 29:1-3]
The closest people to Allah have always been tested. This is part of life. Your level of Iman you presume will save you from the storms, they will come regardless. As you look around you, some are drowning. Your iman (faith in the Oneness of Allah) gives you the strength to sail through it and gives you the ability to weather the storm, reaching to the calmer seas. The path is the same for all.
Iman can wear off like clothes. So we have take care of it so it doesn't wear off. If you want to boost up your iman, you don't need to go far. Everything around you is a sign of Allah. The breeze you feel is a sign of Allah. A sleeping cat is a sign of Allah. No food in the pantry is a sign of Allah (ayat). Even when you your kids fighting and arguing is a sign of Allah. Everything we see and experience is a sign of Allah. All these signs should make us conscious of Allah and boost up the iman.
If we understood what the Quran wants us to reach, we don't have to sit in an Islamic lecture to experience in faith. You just have to pay attention to the world around you, you will increase your faith. The ones who are conscious of the ayat, they will increase in faith because they will be constantly in a state of reminder. The Quran causes us to look at the world and the world forces us to look at the Quran. So nobody can say I don't have a reminder
وَٱلْمُرْسَلَـٰتِ عُرْفًا ﴿١﴾ فَٱلْعَـٰصِفَـٰتِ عَصْفًا ﴿٢﴾ وَٱلنَّـٰشِرَٰتِ نَشْرًا ﴿٣﴾ فَٱلْفَـٰرِقَـٰتِ فَرْقًا ﴿٤﴾ فَٱلْمُلْقِيَـٰتِ ذِكْرًا ﴿٥﴾ عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا ﴿٦﴾ إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَٰقِعٌ ﴿٧﴾ فَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ ﴿٨﴾ وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ فُرِجَتْ ﴿٩﴾ وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ ﴿١٠﴾
By those [winds] sent forth in gusts (1) And the winds that blow violently (2) And [by] the winds that spread [clouds] (3) And those [angels] who bring criterion (4) And those [angels] who deliver a message (5) As justification or warning, (6) Indeed, what you are promised is to occur. (7) So when the stars are obliterated (8) And when the heaven is opened (9) And when the mountains are blown away (10) [Quran, Al Mursalat 77:1-10]
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, November 12, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Good Character
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
The character of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam is a big deal because Allah makes it a big deal in the Quran. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in Surah Al Qalam,
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤
And indeed, you are of a great moral character (khuluq). (4) [Quran, Al Qalam 68:4]
This ayah proves that Allah himself is impressed with the characteristics, the personality and the morals of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam before revelation. He praises the morals of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam before he became a Prophet and uses that as one of His proofs for his truthfulness.
Khuluq is how you deal with khalq (creation). Your dealings with creation makes up your khuluq. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam great quality that qualifies him for revelation is his great, awesome and incredible character.
Muslims love the Quran. We teach it, talk about it, recite and memorize it but what's missing from underneath is the character of Muslims. Our business dealings, political, economic, social, all of that are missiong moral character and you don't need advance degree in fiqh to have morality. You just need human conscience. And that is stripped from the Muslim communities today. In some Muslim areas, while you could see beautiful and some very grand masjids, hear beautiful adhans 5 times daily and beautiful recitation of the Quran in every corner, at the same time people don't know how to stand in a line, don't know how to talk to each other and don't care where they throw their trash. Where is the khuluq? There is something seriously wrong and we are not thinking about it and we are not teaching our children good manners.
Our religion is founded upon good moral character and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was chosen because of his awesome character alone. But it's pretty much gone. We just have so many fundamental missing and we have to revive the Sunnah if we want to be strong again.
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَىٰهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسْتَغْلَظَ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعْجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۢا ﴿٢٩
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.[Quran, Al-Fath 48:29]
May Allah grant us noble character and make us of the righteous. Aamen.
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 character of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam is a big deal because Allah makes it a big deal in the Quran. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in Surah Al Qalam,
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤
And indeed, you are of a great moral character (khuluq). (4) [Quran, Al Qalam 68:4]
This ayah proves that Allah himself is impressed with the characteristics, the personality and the morals of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam before revelation. He praises the morals of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam before he became a Prophet and uses that as one of His proofs for his truthfulness.
Khuluq is how you deal with khalq (creation). Your dealings with creation makes up your khuluq. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam great quality that qualifies him for revelation is his great, awesome and incredible character.
Muslims love the Quran. We teach it, talk about it, recite and memorize it but what's missing from underneath is the character of Muslims. Our business dealings, political, economic, social, all of that are missiong moral character and you don't need advance degree in fiqh to have morality. You just need human conscience. And that is stripped from the Muslim communities today. In some Muslim areas, while you could see beautiful and some very grand masjids, hear beautiful adhans 5 times daily and beautiful recitation of the Quran in every corner, at the same time people don't know how to stand in a line, don't know how to talk to each other and don't care where they throw their trash. Where is the khuluq? There is something seriously wrong and we are not thinking about it and we are not teaching our children good manners.
Our religion is founded upon good moral character and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was chosen because of his awesome character alone. But it's pretty much gone. We just have so many fundamental missing and we have to revive the Sunnah if we want to be strong again.
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَىٰهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِى ٱلْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسْتَغْلَظَ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعْجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۢا ﴿٢٩
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.[Quran, Al-Fath 48:29]
May Allah grant us noble character and make us of the righteous. Aamen.
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, November 11, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Barakah (Blessing)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١﴾
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent - (1) (Quran, al Mulk 67:1)
We think of the world works in physical cause and effect but there is an unseen dimension to that formula, which is the barakah of Allah. When barakah of Allah empowers something the result of it is beyond anyone's expectation.
May Allah put barakah in all our works. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١﴾
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent - (1) (Quran, al Mulk 67:1)
We think of the world works in physical cause and effect but there is an unseen dimension to that formula, which is the barakah of Allah. When barakah of Allah empowers something the result of it is beyond anyone's expectation.
May Allah put barakah in all our works. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
A Deep Relationship With The Creator
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Ar-Rahman, which comprises of 78 verses, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala repeats a verse 31 times,
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿١٣
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? [Quran, Ar-Rahman 55]
Our lives are full of repeats, albeit good or bad, but we don't mind repeating them. We have more than one child (that's a repeat), we choose the wrong friends more than once, we drive to work and back following the same route, we go to the same place for vacation, we eat at the same restaurant over and over again. But when it comes to the religion or learning the religion, we don't like to repeat.
When was the last time you pray the sunnah prayers? For most people they suffice themselves with the five obligatory prayers or less. But we can pray more if we desire nearness to Allah. When was the last time you completed reading the entire Quran? For many people they never read the Quran nor completed reading the entire Quran when we should be reading it everyday, over and over again.
Qur'an is full of repetition. Why? Because we tend to forget a lot. Repetition is good for us so we are reminded of Allah when we forget.
Our foremost and important responsibility is to recognize Allah. Our relationship with Allah is not a few moments of worship but a deep relationship. We should strive to have this relationship with our Lord. The only way to have this deep relationship is through knowledge of Him. How can you know Him without learning and knowing His names and attributes? When you know Allah, you will love Him and all other love is subject to His love. You will want to do everything to please Him. Remember (those who are married) the sweetness of love that you experience with your spouse at one time? You have so much energy, nothing tires you for the sake of your love, everything is sweet. But when the honeymoon is over, the sweetness started to fade away and it becomes a normal thing, you take each other for granted, and for some it turns bitter. Not with Allah, if you fill your heart with the love of Allah, the sweetness stays on and in fact it gets sweeter and sweeter. Your soul is always tranquil no matter what you experience outwardly.
May Allah brings us closer to Him and grant us that peace and tranquility in our hearts. 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 Ar-Rahman, which comprises of 78 verses, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala repeats a verse 31 times,
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿١٣
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? [Quran, Ar-Rahman 55]
Our lives are full of repeats, albeit good or bad, but we don't mind repeating them. We have more than one child (that's a repeat), we choose the wrong friends more than once, we drive to work and back following the same route, we go to the same place for vacation, we eat at the same restaurant over and over again. But when it comes to the religion or learning the religion, we don't like to repeat.
When was the last time you pray the sunnah prayers? For most people they suffice themselves with the five obligatory prayers or less. But we can pray more if we desire nearness to Allah. When was the last time you completed reading the entire Quran? For many people they never read the Quran nor completed reading the entire Quran when we should be reading it everyday, over and over again.
Qur'an is full of repetition. Why? Because we tend to forget a lot. Repetition is good for us so we are reminded of Allah when we forget.
Our foremost and important responsibility is to recognize Allah. Our relationship with Allah is not a few moments of worship but a deep relationship. We should strive to have this relationship with our Lord. The only way to have this deep relationship is through knowledge of Him. How can you know Him without learning and knowing His names and attributes? When you know Allah, you will love Him and all other love is subject to His love. You will want to do everything to please Him. Remember (those who are married) the sweetness of love that you experience with your spouse at one time? You have so much energy, nothing tires you for the sake of your love, everything is sweet. But when the honeymoon is over, the sweetness started to fade away and it becomes a normal thing, you take each other for granted, and for some it turns bitter. Not with Allah, if you fill your heart with the love of Allah, the sweetness stays on and in fact it gets sweeter and sweeter. Your soul is always tranquil no matter what you experience outwardly.
May Allah brings us closer to Him and grant us that peace and tranquility in our hearts. 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, November 10, 2019
Keep The Balance
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah says in Surah An-Naba,
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَـٰدًا ﴿٦﴾ وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا ﴿٧﴾ وَخَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ﴿٨
Have We not made the earth a resting place? (6) And the mountains as stakes? (7) And We created you in pairs (8)
[Quran, An-Naba 78:6-8]
Allah made the entire earth as a loving cradle for us, a place of ease for us, so we can be an awe how Allah constructs and how we construct. Physically we are created as a compatible half of another half. We didn't design this ourselves but Allah did. Allah made us in social groups to compliment each other. Within a group we will find the angry one and the calming effect one and they balance each other out. We will also find the one who rushes into things and the other one who thinks things through, and they balance each other out because the one who keeps thinking doesn't get anything done, and the one who rushes into things goes too fast. So they compliment each other. Within a marriage, Allah put people together for a reason. You will find one spouse is very loud or extremely social and the other one is very quiet or an introvert. They balance each other out. If both are the same it will be a disaster. The failure of so many marriages is because one try to mold the other like themselves.
So, remember our differences is a great gift from Allah and a means for us to go close to Him.
May Allah make us of those who are grateful and bring us close to Him. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah says in Surah An-Naba,
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَـٰدًا ﴿٦﴾ وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا ﴿٧﴾ وَخَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ﴿٨
Have We not made the earth a resting place? (6) And the mountains as stakes? (7) And We created you in pairs (8)
[Quran, An-Naba 78:6-8]
Allah made the entire earth as a loving cradle for us, a place of ease for us, so we can be an awe how Allah constructs and how we construct. Physically we are created as a compatible half of another half. We didn't design this ourselves but Allah did. Allah made us in social groups to compliment each other. Within a group we will find the angry one and the calming effect one and they balance each other out. We will also find the one who rushes into things and the other one who thinks things through, and they balance each other out because the one who keeps thinking doesn't get anything done, and the one who rushes into things goes too fast. So they compliment each other. Within a marriage, Allah put people together for a reason. You will find one spouse is very loud or extremely social and the other one is very quiet or an introvert. They balance each other out. If both are the same it will be a disaster. The failure of so many marriages is because one try to mold the other like themselves.
So, remember our differences is a great gift from Allah and a means for us to go close to Him.
May Allah make us of those who are grateful and bring us close to Him. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Differences is Okay, Division is NOT Okay. Where Are We Today?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah says in Surah AleImran,
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided. [Quran, AleImran 3:103]
The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam defined the true Muslim as one who avoids harming other Muslims with his tongue (words) and hand (actions).
Abdullah bin Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.
(Related by Al Bukhari)
Harun Al Rashid, the fifth Abbasid Caliph (786-809AD), used to bring along his teacher, Qadi Abu Yusuf, when he was going for hajj. Abu Yusuf was one of the pioneering scholar of the Hanafi school of thought, a student of Imam Abu Hanifah,
Being the caliph and religious leader, he led the prayers at the Ka'abah. When it was about dhuhr time, he had hijama (blood cupping) done. Now he was in the front row and was about to lead the dhuhr prayer with his wudu' had officially broken due to the bleeding according to the Hanafi school of thought. If he were to go and take wudu', by the time he gets back, it would be Asr prayer. Next to Qadi Abu Yusuf was Imam Malik, the Imam of the Maliki school of thought. He knew that in the Maliki school, bleeding does not break wudu'. So on purpose he asked Imam Malik about his wudu'. And Imam Malik said his wudu' is not broken because of the bleeding. And so Harun Al Rashid stood up and led the prayer.
As soon as the prayer was done, the students of Hanafi school came running to Abu Yusuf and were very upset because he had allowed the Caliph to lead the prayer without renewing his wudu'. This is because in Hanafi mazhab, bleeding invalidated the wudu'. Abu Yusuf said anybody who doubted the prayer is from the Khawaarij (the extremist who left Islam).
Why did he said that? Because he understood that when the fruits come from the same root, one person may take one fruit and another person may take another fruit. The most convincing evidence to Imam Malik is that bleeding does not break wudu' and the most convincing evidence to Abu Yusuf is that bleeding breaks wudu' and only Allah knows what is the absolute truth. He was humble enough to accept that. And he understood that while he may disgree with Imam Malik's opinion, and Imam Malik may disagree with his opinion but that should not cause a division between them. Differences is okay, division is not okay. This is how the early people understood Islam.
Where are we today? Compare how easily we kick someone else out of Islam just because they stood or held hands the way diffent than us when they pray, and so on. Not to mention, the common habit of sparking doubts about the integrity of other scholars or teachers of this Deen. There is no time for that. If we make this kind of discourse up and make it public constantly, in this world the price will be paid by the next generation who will fall into doubt about the religion.
فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٥﴾
So to that [religion of Allah] invite, [O Muhammad], and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed in what Allah has revealed of the Qur'an, and I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is no [need for] argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is the [final] destination." (15)[Quran, Ash-Shura 42:15]
Islam flourished back then because people understood that differences is okay, division is not okay. During Harun Al-Rashid's caliphate reign, the Caliphate stretched from Spain in the west to Anatolia in the north to India in the east, and it was the largest and most powerful political entity in the world. Where are we today?
May Allah help the Muslims unite, love one another, and merciful towards the weak. 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
the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Allah says in Surah AleImran,
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٠٣﴾
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided. [Quran, AleImran 3:103]
The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam defined the true Muslim as one who avoids harming other Muslims with his tongue (words) and hand (actions).
Abdullah bin Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.
(Related by Al Bukhari)
Harun Al Rashid, the fifth Abbasid Caliph (786-809AD), used to bring along his teacher, Qadi Abu Yusuf, when he was going for hajj. Abu Yusuf was one of the pioneering scholar of the Hanafi school of thought, a student of Imam Abu Hanifah,
Being the caliph and religious leader, he led the prayers at the Ka'abah. When it was about dhuhr time, he had hijama (blood cupping) done. Now he was in the front row and was about to lead the dhuhr prayer with his wudu' had officially broken due to the bleeding according to the Hanafi school of thought. If he were to go and take wudu', by the time he gets back, it would be Asr prayer. Next to Qadi Abu Yusuf was Imam Malik, the Imam of the Maliki school of thought. He knew that in the Maliki school, bleeding does not break wudu'. So on purpose he asked Imam Malik about his wudu'. And Imam Malik said his wudu' is not broken because of the bleeding. And so Harun Al Rashid stood up and led the prayer.
As soon as the prayer was done, the students of Hanafi school came running to Abu Yusuf and were very upset because he had allowed the Caliph to lead the prayer without renewing his wudu'. This is because in Hanafi mazhab, bleeding invalidated the wudu'. Abu Yusuf said anybody who doubted the prayer is from the Khawaarij (the extremist who left Islam).
Why did he said that? Because he understood that when the fruits come from the same root, one person may take one fruit and another person may take another fruit. The most convincing evidence to Imam Malik is that bleeding does not break wudu' and the most convincing evidence to Abu Yusuf is that bleeding breaks wudu' and only Allah knows what is the absolute truth. He was humble enough to accept that. And he understood that while he may disgree with Imam Malik's opinion, and Imam Malik may disagree with his opinion but that should not cause a division between them. Differences is okay, division is not okay. This is how the early people understood Islam.
Where are we today? Compare how easily we kick someone else out of Islam just because they stood or held hands the way diffent than us when they pray, and so on. Not to mention, the common habit of sparking doubts about the integrity of other scholars or teachers of this Deen. There is no time for that. If we make this kind of discourse up and make it public constantly, in this world the price will be paid by the next generation who will fall into doubt about the religion.
فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٥﴾
So to that [religion of Allah] invite, [O Muhammad], and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed in what Allah has revealed of the Qur'an, and I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is no [need for] argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is the [final] destination." (15)[Quran, Ash-Shura 42:15]
Islam flourished back then because people understood that differences is okay, division is not okay. During Harun Al-Rashid's caliphate reign, the Caliphate stretched from Spain in the west to Anatolia in the north to India in the east, and it was the largest and most powerful political entity in the world. Where are we today?
May Allah help the Muslims unite, love one another, and merciful towards the weak. 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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