Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al Hayy, Al Qayyum (The Liiving, The Sustainer)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

When you find yourself engrossed with this dunya, do dhikr of Allah. Keep your mouth moist with dhikr of Allah. Do things for Allah. Don't look at the news, put yourself away. Make du'a to Allah. O Allah this is all I can do and I am asking You a way out. The moment you start living for Allah, then everything will increase your faith. Try to be noble. Even if bad things are thrown towards you, you smile. Every good action takes you higher. 

Al Hayy is the Living and that everything other than Him is not living. Everything  exist through Him making it exists. 

Al Hayy is often followed by Al Qayyum, the One who undertakes the sustenance of everything in the creation. 

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ﴿٢

Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. [Quran, AleImran 3:2] 

A man came to Imam Kushairi and said that a man died and I cried so much over him that I lost my eyesight. Then the Iman said the sin is upon yourself because you love a living that dies. If you only love the living that doesn't die, you don't need to be crying so much over this person.

Total realization of this Name is by firmly footed in beholding in only His life until You yourself are with Him like a corpse in the hands of its washer. (Ibn Ajiba)

If you realized this trait that you have died in this sort of spiritual death, that is the real door of the real spiritual life and then whoever beholds you is given life through your life, i.e. when your spirit is alive through knowing that its life is though His life then you become a source of spiritual life for other people.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam brought life to all of us. Life has come to continents and across centuries through the life of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. 

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱلْحَىِّ ٱلَّذِى لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِۦ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِۦ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًا ﴿٥٨

And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise. And sufficient is He to be, with the sins of His servants, Acquainted - [Quran, Al Furqan 25:58] 

Al Qayyum is the One whose existence doesn't need the existence of others and the existence of others need the existence of Him. He exists through Himself. He is the One who took responsibility of everything. He is the One who plan and take control of matter that takes place in this world. He is the Sustainer who through Him that everything exist.

The slaves share of this qayyumiyah is commensurate with his freedom of need except Allah. (Imam Ghazali)

Whoever knows that He is Al Qayyum, he is free of the stress of fatique and he lives a content soul. (Kushairi)

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٢٥٥

Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:255] 

O Allah, open our hearts and our souls. Make our appointment with you our biggest worry and sorrow and make the best day in our lives the day we meet You. Make today better than yesterday, tomorrow better than today, the best day that we will ever live is the day You decide to send the angels to take our souls from our throats. Don't take our lives until you completely pleased with us. Enter us into paradise without any afflictions in the Hereafter. O Allah, You are more than capable of doing these and we know we don't deserve any of these, but we know Your Rahmah is bigger than our sins. 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

Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al Qadir, Al Muqtadir (The Able, The Determiner/The Dominant)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

In one's life, one has no need to get back to people. That's why it is said, fear the one who has no protection except Allah. They are the most dangerous people to be messing with. When they are completely helpless they have no means except they turn to Allah. These people Allah will avenge them. 

Al Qaadir is the One who is completely able. He is the possessor of power. He creates everything without any help. He descends everything in a right proportion and in right dosage. He always take responsibility so you don't despair. Only when you see it is from Allah, then it is the key to Allah. Know that Allah is always with you. 

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْىَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْـِۧىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٣٣

Do they not see that Allah, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent. [Quran, Al Ahqaf 46:33]

The one who knows He is Qaadir fears from the strikes of His punishment when disobeyed and hopes in subtleties of His mercies and blessings when asking Him and needing Him, not by means of his disobedience but by means of His generosity and kindness. Allah is All Able and He doesn't need us. We don't see that our worshipping Him is a means to which Allah have to do something for us rather His generosity is what we have to rely on.  Likewise He is calm from revenge is out of trust that His coming to His aid is more perfect than He avenging himself.

قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْءَايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿٦٥

Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand. [Quran, An 'Am 6:65]

 أَوَلَيْسَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ﴿٨١

Is not He who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is the Knowing Creator. [Quran, Yaasin 36:81]

Al Muqtadir -- the Determiner, the Dominant

وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ﴿٤٥

And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability. [Quran, Al Kahf 18:45]   

كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ ﴿٤٢

They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability. [Quran, Al Qamar 54:42]  

If we realized that Allah is the All Mighty, He will take care of the bad guys. We don't feel the need that we have to get back to everyone. When we read the news about someone being oppressed, we can get depressed but don't forget that the Lord is Al Qaadir, Al Muqtadir, Al Muntaqim, Al Aziz, Al Jabbar and the time will come that He will avenge the criminals and when He does that no one can escape His vengeance. When we know that we will feel a trust and so we don't enter into depression. We realize the matter will come when He wills. When it does come no one can send it back.

O Allah have mercy on us. Don't leave us alone even for a blinking of an eye. 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

Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al-Hadi (The Guide)

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

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

Al-Hadi is the Guide. Al-Hadi is the One who guides His slaves through instructions/commands and success (hidayatul tawfiq). Whoever is being guided by Allah is given blessings that cannot be encompassed.

Allah's commands are guidance. The commands in the Quran and on the tongue of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, all of them are for our advantage, for our goodness and bring back benefit to us. They are not against us.

We all have the potential to guide people to the Truth, the Quran and the Sunnah (guidance of instruction). We can instruct and talk to people about all these but we can't force anybody to be guided (tawfiq). This is similar to the idea of you taking the horse to the water but you can't force it to drink it.

For example, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam guided his beloved uncle Abi Talib to the Truth but when his uncle passed away without embracing Islam, he was told by Allah that he can't guide whom he loves but Allah guides whomever He wishes.

Guidance of tawfiq belongs to Allah alone.  Allah recorded this on the tongue of Prophet Shu'aib alayhissalaam,

إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّـهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴿٨٨

I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah. In Him alone I have placed my trust and to Him alone I turn in humbleness. [Quran, Hud 11:88]

Tawfiq is success or the ability to attain what truly benefits you in this life and the next. Tawfiq is precious and rare as it is not mentioned in the Quran except once. Tremendous gift and tremendous matters are not dish to everyone. So whoever Allah gives this tawfiq, He blesses them in all their endeavors.

The best of guidance is when Allah grants you tawfiq. When Allah gives you tawfiq, your affairs are gathered together and you are able to achieve your goals. However, it is extremely important that you take the first step and put in your best effort.

If Allah wants to give you success, He will move others to help you. So be grateful to them.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ اللَّهَ ‏"‏

Abu Sa'eed narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said :

"Whoever is not grateful to the people, he is not grateful to Allah."

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

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' " [Quran, Ibrahim 14:7]

Allah's commands are guidance. The commands in the Quran and on the tongue of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, all of them are for our advantage, for our goodness and bring back benefit to us. They are not against us.

The act of guiding is called Hidayah. Some say its basic meaning is from the imala (to make something incline). Hadiyyah is a present because it makes hearts incline to each other. Hidayah is to make hearts incline to the Truth. So the Hadi is the One who guides the hearts to what is in their advantage.

Some said the basic meaning of Hidayah is putting something in front. From the word hadi--neck because it comes in front or on top of the rest of the body. So the Dadi is the one who puts the righteous forward. He advances them, puts them in front.

In the words of the Quran, Al-Hadi is the one who gave everything its form and then He guided it -- i.e He guided it to what it is created for. For example, He guided the sun so the sun know how to rotate, how to orbit and how to burn its gases. He guided the fish to swim and to what they eat and don't eat. HE guided the birds to migrate. Children come out of the  mother's womb and immediately know that the breast is where they have to go. He taught all kinds of things, taught everything about its purpose. He taught man his purpose and He sends messengers to complete the guidance. He guides hearts to His love and to knowledge. He guides souls to purity and adornment. He guides limbs to obedience and leaving sins. He guides to revelation, to universe. He guides through disasters.

Whoever knows Allah Al-Hadi seeks from Him guidance and Divine care to what he wants. Realize that guidance is from Allah and is not from us and it is for Him to give to whoever He wants and not to assign it to whoever we want. We turn to Him and we ask Him from Him His hidayah and enaya. We ask Him for good character. It is not unlikely that He can change us. We know that whatever He told us to do is from His guidance. Allah's guidance come from His infinite wisdom and knowledge so we should acquire kowledge so we can give what they need

A total realizaton of guidance is the firm resting in the guidance. There are some people who Allah cloak them in the cloak of guidance and everything about them is guidance. They guide people to Allah. These are the people who the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam told his companions as the best among them -- those who when seen, Allah is remembered. In explaining the meaning, a shaykh once said, "whoever cannot benefit from me from my silence cannot benefit from me when I am  speaking. My silence is enough of a guidance and if it doesn't reach you, my speech won't reach you either."

Guidance to good character (akhlaq) is an important branch of guidance to knowledge of the Truth. Good character is an essential part of having good Imaan. It is a sign of Imaan to have good akhlaq.  The closest people to Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam on the Day of Judgment is the one with good akhlaq. The Prophet's sallallahu alayhi wasallam is an exemplar of having a tremendous character. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says about his character in the Quran,

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤

And indeed, you are of a great moral character. (4) [Qur'an, Al-Qalam 68:4]

May Allah guide us on the straight path, to righteousness and the best character, and bless us with tawfiq to the highest station. 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

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- How To Get To The Gardens of Paradise?

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

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

We all want Paradise and Allah wants to put us in Paradise. How do we get there?

In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us very clearly who will have the Gardens of Paradise -- those who have believed and done righteous deeds. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا ﴿١٠٧﴾ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا ﴿١٠٨

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging, (107) Wherein they abide eternally. They will not desire from it any transfer. (108) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:107-108]

أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩

In Surah As-Sajdah, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala repeats the same kind of people who will enter the Gardens.

أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩

As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do. [Quran, As-Sajdah 32:19]

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala also tells us about the believers in these verses:

إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهَا خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا۟ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ۩ ﴿١٥﴾ تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿١٦

Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. (15) They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16) [Quran, As-Sajda 32:15-17]

How do we build this relationship with Allah?

Everything starts with little things. We don't turn into a spiritual sage overnight. We have to instill certain healthy practices into our life that allow us to build a relationship with Allah.

First, do no harm. Do no harm to others and do no harm to others. Don't kill yourself spiritually by engaging in illicit relationship and other disobedience. Don't watch filth. Don't use foul language and don't be in company who use bad language. Don't backbite and slander people. If you harm yourself and others, your heart is damaged and that will push you further away from Allah.

Second, make small adhkar. Don't wait. Start with reading some Quran everyday. Recite the du'as that associated with daily actions that we do, like the du'a leaving and entering the house, eating, drinking, putting on clothes, entering and leaving the bathroom, etc. If you can instill 4 or 5 of these daily du'as everyday that is associated with daily actions anyway, you will feel closer to Allah that you have never felt in shaa Allah. All you have to do is to be cognizant of the fact that you are talking to Allah. You are making this du'a not because it is a subconscious habit but you are actually talking to Allah. You will notice a significance difference of how you feel about Allah and how you remember Allah. If you don't this, you will find very hard to think about Allah, to converse with Allah in salah (prayer) because God is too abstract a concept to you. This simple du'as that was taught by the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is a very easy way to get a head start in spirituality and to develop that for ourselves.

If there is one thing that you should be enthusiatic in memorizing is du'as. The entire salah is considered a du'a. Memorize the ayat of the Quran that has du'a in them and recite them in your salah. Memorize Surah Al-Kahf and recite it every Friday. Make this your project in the next month or so.

May Allah increase us in Imaan and grant us righteous deeds and the highest Paradise. Ameen.

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

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

Wassalaam

Welcome New Hijri Year 1442 -- Live Your Best Every Day

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

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

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin a new Islamic new year. The New Year represents a period for self-reflection, remembrance, gratitude and historical awareness.

The meaning of the word “Muharram” means “Forbidden.” Even before Islam, this month was always known as a sacred month in which all unlawful acts were forbidden, prominently the shedding of blood.

Muharram is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah Almighty says,

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣٦

Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]. (36)

[Quran, At-Tawba 9:36]

There are many blessings in this month, especially the tenth of Muharram. On this day he who spends more lavishly for the sake of his family members, Allah will bestow blessing upon the sustenance of the following year. Fasting on this day, Allah will expiate the sins of a whole year.

Actually for Muslims, every day is the first day of the new first year of the rest of our lives. When it is night, prepare for death. How closely sleep resembles death. And when the dawn arrives it brings with it the stirrings of new life everywhere. So every day is the beginning of an entire new life for us. So fear Allah during the night and prepare to serve Allah and His creation during the day. Allah watches over us during the night and He monitors our every movement during the day.

Everyday we are presented with choices. Whatever it is, choose Allah. Choose to love Allah more than anyone, anything. Take care of your body that He gave you more than the phone that you hang out with all the time so you may serve His religion well. Use your muscles so they won’t have atrophy and be healthy for years to come so you may worship Allah well. Smile at every chance you can because you have so much to be grateful for.

Follow the Islamic guidance to reprogram ourselves on a daily basis without setting ourselves up for failure. Don’t wait for a new year to decide to live our best life. Do it daily. There is no guarantee that we will still be alive tonight, let alone tomorrow or next year.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥﴾ لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَ‌ٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ ﴿١٨٦

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion. (185) You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination. (186) [Quran, AleImran 3:185-186]

O Allah, You are my Lord and Master. You don’t need anything or anyone and You certainly don’t need me. But I am Your creation and I am entirely and totally dependent on Your mercy and grace for everything in every single moment of my life. So Lord, I do hereby resolve, commit and undertake to spend the rest of my life in knowing You; and in learning Your commands; and in serving Your creation in every possible way that I can. And in so doing, I resolve to work tirelessly to improve my own life as well as the lives of those around me and to make this world a better place for all of Your creation. So help me my Rabb, please help me, guide me, and not leave me alone even for a blinking of an eye. 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

Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al-Ghafur, Al-Ghaffar, Al-Ghafir

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

The Names Ghafur, Ghaffar and Ghafir denote forgiving or protecting. Allah is the One who accepts repentance and veils or forgives our faults and sins, time and time again. He loves to forgive. He is the One who sets us free from the guilt and shame of our own sins and faults, such that we may discover inner harmony and peace. He is the One who protects us from the effects of our faults and sins, both in the present world and the future.

As human beings we always fall short but no matter how much we fall, never despair in Allah's mercy and forgiveness. This means that whenever we commit a bad deed, we don’t let it get us down but rather fight back by turning to Allah Al-Ghafur, Al-Ghaffar, Al-Ghafir immediately and followup a sin with a good deed.

Truly asking for forgiveness must be both with word and deed, not with the tongue only. How to get Allah’s forgiveness?

1. Good to Allah creations, not just to humans but also to plants and animals. For example, water the plants and feed the animals. 

2. Forgive others. No matter what they have done to you, no matter how deeply they hurt you, forgive them and hope that Allah will forgive you through that.

وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٢ 

And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. [Quran, An-Noor 24:22]

Think of Allah's forgiveness and be inspired to adopt a habit of being forgiving in your daily life. Always try to go to sleep with a heart clean of grudges. Hamdun al-Qassar, one of the great early Muslims, said: If a friend among your friends errs, make seventy excuses for them. If your hearts are unable to do this, then know that the shortcoming is in your own selves. [Bayhaqi] Always give others the benefit of the doubt, making excuses for them and never hunting for others’ mistakes.

3. Remove obtacles of others -- physical, spiritual or financial

The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam saw a man tumbling in Jannah. He entered Jannah because he had removed an obstacle on the road. And Allah was pleased with him for that and entered him into His Paradise. You will get from Allah what you expect.

4. Cover the faults of others

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: The Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said, Allah will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the defects (faults) of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world [Muslim]. You know what Allah Al-Ghafoor will give you for covering up the faults and shortcomings of others in this world? He loves this quality so much that He’ll forgive your sins and not call you to account for your sins. If at all He will do so, He will not do it publicly so that you’re not embarrassed before others.

5. Don't expose yourself

The Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said: Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): I committed such and such sin last night, while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 

When you commit a bad deed, do you feel ashamed? We should never like to express our sins and sin openly. You often see that people are even bragging about their sins, like being with women (or men), going out and dressing immodestly and gossiping about others. Imagine you tell others about your bad deeds, and they feel inspired to do it too. Never talk to others about your sins.

6. Simply do good deeds. Good deeds remove sins.

Ya Allah, Ya Ghafur, forgive our sins, hide our faults from others, and protect us from the effects of our bad deeds in this life and the next, and support us in never despairing of Your mercy, and aid us in forgiving others. 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

Know The 99 Names of Allah -- Al-Lateef

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

Trials can be overwelming. We are experiencing it right now with the global pandemic. Even within the trials, there are trials. As soon as we get through one, another one seems to simply be waiting for us. Time and time again they pull us backward, and sometimes they slam us flat on our faces not even allowing time for our hands to flail as we fall. They seem never ending, and sometimes it’s just hard to even comprehend why we are going through such things.  

But know that Allah is Al-Lateef, the One who knows the most intricate benefits and goodness for His slaves and brings it to them in the most subtle of ways. His protection and His presence with us are subtle. He knows what is going on in your heart, and sends you what you need out of His Mercy and Kindness in the most subtle way.

للَّهُ لَطِيفٌۢ بِعِبَادِهِۦ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ﴿١٩

Allah is Subtle with His servants; He gives provisions to whom He wills. And He is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might. [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:19]  

لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ ﴿١٠٣

Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted. [Quran, Al-An'am 6:103] 

Allah knows the inticacies and nuances of everything. Whatever flashes in your mind, He is aware of it. That's why when Luqman was giving advice to his, he mentioned Al-Lateef, as recorded in Surah Luqman,

يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٦

[And Luqman said], "O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted. [Quran, Luqman 31:16]

Allah is the One who is so good and He leads us to goodness without we even know it. 

In the story of Yusuf in Surah Yusuf, Allah was bringing Yusuf so subtly to where he was eventually going to be but we don't see it was coming at every single step of his life. Yusuf was being led from one stage to another but we can't see Allah’s guiding hand. But it is the manifestation of Al-Lateef that we see. Yusuf was hrown in the well as opposed to being killed by the brothers. The people that took him out of the well didn’t think he was worth it and so they sold him for a small amount. He was bought by the governor, a powerful and rich man, instead of sold into labor. Though he had to face a difficult scandal, this is in order for his nobility, integrity and trustworthiness to shine in the aftermath when he was exonerated. If he was not thrown in prison he would have never met the man in jail that end up working for the king, who exonerated him from the scandal and appointed him to be the most powerful man in Egypt.

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٠٠

And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.  [Quran, Yusuf 12:100]

We all experience bad things and difficulties in our lives but to recognize that Allah is Al-Lateef is to see byond the bad things and difficulties. Allah will see you through your difficulties. When you have person in prison, we never look at that person destined for greatness. There is goodness behind every step whether you see or not.

Sometimes Allah tests you so you will call on Him. So call on Al-Lateef to bring about the goodness you are seeking for.

The subtleties and kindness are not simply to do with our emotions and worries, but also in Allah’s  dealings with the universe. He beautifies the universe with stars and breezes and sunsets—a subtlety and a kindness we take for granted, but are nevertheless there for us, and scientifically proven to lift our spirits.

When we see the way Al-Lateef treats us with benevolence and gentleness, we cannot but try to be a source of gentleness for others, as a way of being grateful to Allah for His kindness to us. As the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,

“Show gentleness, for if gentleness is found in anything, it beautifies it and when it is taken out from anything it damages it.” (Abu Dawud)

 

Ya Allah, Ya Lateef, take us out of this pandemic and our diffculties. Ya Allah, Ya Lateef, grant us good in this life and the next. 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

Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al-Fattah

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

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

Allah has many Names through which we may know Him. He is not showing all His Names to everyone. Some He shows to a particular person. Some He keeps to Himself. This is not unique in the Shari'ah that Allah hides something of virtue so we might exhaust our effort in finding it. For example, Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power in Ramadhan) is hidden from us so we might exhaust ourselves of finding it. The blessed hour on Friday when du'as (supplications) are answered are hidden so we might exhaust ourselves in finding it. 

Al-Fattah is one of Allah's 99 Names. Al-Fattah is the One who opens all of the gates that no one but Him can open. He is the One who:

1--opens all the gates of mercy, profit and sustenance to His slaves. The gate of the solution of every difficulty can be easily opened by Allah. If Allah so wills, He opens the door of His mercy; and if He so wills, He withholds it as no one else can grant it after Him. Therefore, the whole matter is with Allah and under His Divine control.

2--opens the heart to guidance. He opens the gates of His mercy to true believers and casts His Divine light into their hearts and knowledge into their minds.

3--opens the gates of understanding and knowledge. He opens to you the gates of wisdom and makes it run on your tongue. If you are truthful and sincere to Allah, He makes wisdom run on your tongue. The first kind of opening is that Allah opens to you religious knowledge. Then, He opens to you gates of worldly affairs: you are poor, He enriches you; you are weak, He empowers you; you are oppressed or defeated, He grants you victory over your enemies; you are depressed, He removes depression from you and replaces it with happiness and delight. Therefore, if person turns away from Allah, he can never attain happiness. To this effect, Allah Exalted is He says,

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعْمَىٰ ﴿١٢٤﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِىٓ أَعْمَىٰ وَقَدْ كُنتُ بَصِيرًا ﴿١٢٥

And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." (124) He will say, "My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" (125) 
[Quran, Ta-Ha 20:124-125]
4--opens the gates of solution to every difficulty and settlement between people.

5--grants a new reflection, new understanding

6--grants access to His slaves of the affairs of the dunya. In case of hardship, He helps you, and in case of ease, He grants you more and more. If you are poor, He opens to you the gate of riches. If you are weak, He opens to you the gate of strength and power. If you are ill, He opens to you the gate to good health. If you are depressed, He opens to you the gate to happiness.

7--opens the gates to be intimate with Him; to turn to Him with love and devotion; He opens to you the gate to His good pleasure and contentment, whereby you are contented to live even in a small room saying Alhamdulillah (All Praise belongs to Allah.). Allah may open to a poor person the gate to contentment, thankfulness, and peace of mind. A person who does not know Allah is always unhappy and discontented even if he were the richest person in the world.

Everyone of us has our needs all the time. Al Fattah is so powerful and we need Him all the time. Reflect on this Name and call upon Al-Fattah more. 

O Allah O Fattah, make the best of our life its end and the best of our days the day on which we encounter You while You are well pleased with us. 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

Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al Kabir, Al Mutakabbir

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

We named things that have value to us. We don't name particle of dust or insects. Things are elevated through their names and if something is given many names, it shows that this matter is extremely exalted and also it gives you different angles to look and understand this named being. 

Two of the Names of Allah are Al-Kabir and Al-Mutakabbir. Al-Kabir is the All Great, the Most Great, the Grand. He is the One who is unimaginably great and perfect. Al-Kabir embraces all kinds of greatness, from rank, size, nobility, and knowledge to mercy, and it tells us that nothing was, is, or will ever be like Him.

Al-Kabir Himself says,

ذَ‌ٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ ﴿١٢

[They will be told], "That is because, when Allah was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allah, the Most High, the Grand." [Quran, Ghafir 40:12]

 ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ هُوَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ﴿٦٢

That is because Allah is the Truth, and that which they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand. [Quran, Al Hajj 22:62]

Al-Mutakabbir is the Supremely Great, The Perfection of Greatness. He is the One who is supremely great. Al-Mutakabbir reveals His Greatness and power at every moment and in every incident.

Al-Mutakabbir Himself says,

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُ ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْجَبَّارُ ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٢٣

He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. [Quran, Al Hashr 59:23] 

We are naturally predisposed to admire those who are most beautiful, most intelligent, most eloquent, most powerful, most generous, most merciful, etc. However Al-Kabir Himself says: 

See how We prefer one above another (in this world), and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment [Quran, 17:21]. 

The poorest in this world can be the richest in the Hereafter; it all depends on one thing: your rank with Allah al-Kabir.

When we know that Allah is Al Kabir, Al-Mutakabbir, that immediately puts everyone else in their places. Not only it protects us from being proud but it also protects us from falling into feeling inferior than everybody else. Those people may have more resources, power, titles, position, and everything else but we know someone who is greater than them. They can't break the backs of someone who really knows who Allah is.

When all the kings, the mighty and the proud of this world are being resurrected, Allah will show that He is the greatest of them all.

يَوْمَ هُم بَـٰرِزُونَ ۖ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَىْءٌ ۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَ‌ٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ ﴿١٦

The Day they come forth nothing concerning them will be concealed from Allah. To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allah, the One, the Prevailing.  [Quran, Ghafir40:16]

Allah is great in everything and greater than everything. This concept of Allah being great is found in Surah An-Nisa. Eventhough Allah chooses men to be in charge of their wives, Allah says to men don't be deluded with his power. Allah concludes the verse by reminding men that He is high and great.

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّ‌ٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَ‌ٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا ﴿٣٤

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand. [Quran, An-Nisa 4:34] 

Allah describes people as mutakabbireen (arrogant) on multiple occasions in the Quran. They have arrogance in their hearts and actions towards Allah by disbelieving in His signs and they are arrogant to other people by looking down on them due to position, race, wealth, etc. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, arrogance is: rejecting the truth and looking down on people. [Muslim, At-Tirmidhi] 

Only Allah is Al-Mutakabbir in a positive sense.

The opposite of kibr (arrogance) is humility, the adornment of a believer. 

Abu Hurayrah radiyallaahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: . . . and no one will exercise humility for Allah’s sake, except that Allah will raise him up . [Muslim] 

'Urwah ibn Zubair radiyallaahu ‘anhu said: I saw Umar carrying a large leather water canteen on his shoulder. I said to him, ‘O Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, you shouldn’t be carrying that’. 'Umar replied by saying, A delegation came to Madina and I saw their obedience to me, and some ‘nakwah’ entered into my heart and I wanted to destroy it.

We all know of the strong personality of Umar radiyallaahu ‘anhu and yet when a small amount of pride (nakwah) entered into his heart, he hurried in an attempt to destroy it before it destroyed him.

How Can You Live by These Names?

1. Be great by being humble

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآئِمٍ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَ‌ٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٥٤

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. [Quran, Al Ma'ida 5:54] 

The greatest strength that you can attain is to have true reliance upon Allah and to seek His support in hardship and ease. The highest level of greatness you can attain is to show humility (tawaada) to your Lord. Those who are well grounded in knowledge say: 

وَٱلرَّ‌ٰسِخُونَ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٧ ....

But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.  [Quran, Aleimran 3:7]. 

Don’t only follow the ayaat or ahadeeth that suit you, but strive to apply the whole message to your daily life and dealings.

2. Respect others for the sake of Allah

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَـٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ﴿١١

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.  [Quran, Al Hujurat 49:11] 

Your knowledge of others is only by perception. Don’t mock or insult others as they might have a higher position with Al-Mutakabbir than yourself. Respect others, even though they may possess less beauty, knowledge, wealth, fame, or status or have a different skin color. 

The Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever possesses an atom’s weight of kibr will not enter into the paradise [Muslim]. 

Abu Bakr radiyallaahu ‘anhu said: Let not any Muslim belittle another Muslim, for the lowest of the Muslims is great in the Sight of Allah.

3. Battle arrogance and never be arrogant

Guard yourself against arrogance (kibr). Never look down on others; you don’t know the rank they have with Al-Kabir. Arrogance can also be found in how you deal with the commands of Allah. Look at the sin of Iblees; he refused to bow down due to arrogance. A good tip to keep you away from disobedience to the commands of Allah is that whenever you’re about to sin, look up and imagine Al-Kabeer watching you— would you dare to look up and say “no” to Him?

Allah is the only true king and you are His slave— let’s not forget this. It’s easy to fall into arrogance (takabbur), thinking you know better and transgressing the limits set by Allah al-Mutakabbir. So keep checking your heart for feelings of arrogance creeping in and deal with them straight away by reminding yourself of the greatness of Allah. 

Al-Hasan al-Basri said: I wonder at the son of Adam. He uses his hand to wash himself from his waste once or twice a day, yet he seeks to compete with the All-Mighty? 

Don’t get carried away with your wealth or achievements, know it is from Al-Mutakabbir and not from yourself. The way to avoid arrogance is to remember Allah as much as we can until it becomes a habit to instantly thank Him for any good that comes our way, so increase in saying alhamdulillah.

4. Be humble to increase your knowledge

Abdullah ibn Mu’tazz radiyallahu ‘anhu said: The humble student is the one who gets the most knowledge, just as the lowest places on earth collect the most water. So always be humble towards your teachers and invoke Allah for them.

5. Strive for a high rank with Al-Kabir,Al-Mutakabbir

Glorify Him alone and be humble in life in order to be great in the sight of Al-Kabir, Al-Mutakabbir. If Allah Al-Kabir Al-Mutakabbir blessed you with being kabir in this world in knowledge, job position, or any other skill, make others benefit and truly become kabir to Him in the Hereafter.

6. Call upon Al-Kabir and Al-Mutakabbir

Make dua using these name to ask Him to lead you to deeds pleasing to Him. There is no rank higher or achievement better than attainment of Allah’s good pleasure. 

It is as Al-Kabir, Al-Mutakabbir says: Verily, to Us will be their return; and then verily, for Us will be their reckoning. [Quran, 88:25-26] 

Always aim high in your supplications— ask Him for Jannatul Firdaus, the higest paradise, without reckoning.

Every day ask Allah al-Mutakabbir to save you and protect you from the evil of pride and arrogance.

O Allah, Al-Kabir, Mutakabbir, we know that You are supremely Great. Help us to reflect on Your Greatness in order for us to stay close to Your commandments. Guide our hearts and actions to humility towards You, our Deen and Your creation. Adorn us with pride in Islam, protect us from arrogance and assist us to ways to cure any arrogance that entered our hearts. Make us of those who are blessed to witness Your Grandeur in the highest Paradise without reckoning. 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

Know The 99 Names Of Allah -- Al Mu'min

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

The knowledge of Allah is why we are here. It is why Allah breathed the soul of life into each and everyone of us. Allah sent an angel to the wombs of our mothers when we were four months into our conception and it breathed into it a spirit of life. The spirit that was breathed into us is a secret of Allah.

وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّ‌وحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّ‌وحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ‌ رَ‌بِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿٨٥
And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the ruh (spirit/soul). Say, "The ruh is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." (85)

[Quran, Al-Isra' 17:85]      

The soul, which is a tremendous mystery of the mysteries of the universe, the soul which can be elevated to the ranks to be truly dear to Allah, this soul was only created to worship Allah.  
 
Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both father and son) narrated: "Worshiping Allah means knowing Allah."      

So the only spirit within our bodies, it is only here so that we might know Allah and we know Him through His Names. Those who don't know Him and those who don't remember Him, have only miseries because they have turned away from that very reason they are walking on this earth.

Allah's beautiful Names are limitless perfection. If you learn something is perfect would you just be satisfied with knowing it? Allah is beyond our imaginations but Allah has described Himself with words which, in our limited way, we are able to emulate. In emulating the meanings we are drawing ourselves close to Allah.

هُوَ اللَّـهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّـهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ﴿٢٣

He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. [Quran, Al Hashr 59:23]

Al Mu'min is the One who fulfills His promise. When He says He is going to do something, He is truthful, there is no doubt about it. You as someone who have Imasn need to believe and trust in Allah that He will fulfill His promise. He is the One who fulfills what His slaves expect of Him. He is not going to let you down. 

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩

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." [Quran, Aleimran 3:9] 

When a person is near their death or advanced in age, that's when the person should actually hope for the mercy of Allah. It is sunnah when a person is near death  to remind them of their good deeds. We are supposed to expect goodness of Allah always. He is Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim.   

ِAl Mu'min is also the One who grants security and safety. When a person is in fear, desiring protection, he calls on Al Mu'min. Allah gives people security in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah is the One who makes people, cities and country secure. 

Every one of us have experienced fear at some point, but you know who you can call upon next time when you are in fear. 

We ask Allah to grant us security and safety wherever we are. We ask Allah to answer the call of the needy, the weak, the elderly, the righteous and the distress. We ask Allah to teach us the knowledge of Him and grant us His love and nearness 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