Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Rejuvenating Our Spirits Through Knowledge

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

One of the best ways to rejuvenate our spirits is through knowledge. There is nothing that brings about a sense of spirituality like knowledge does. It is ashamed that we have the time to study secular things but we don't have the time to study religious studies or give the same amount of dedication towards religious studies. And so we find so many people perform acts of worship without knowledge, while others trivialize certain acts of worship. 

As an example, when you know each drop of water from wudu' washes away your sins, never again you will trivialize wudu'. We all doing wudu' but just with an ounce of knowledge, it will change us -- it gives spirituality that is lacking.

Prophet Musa (peace upon him) has a distinct position in the comity of Prophets. This has been mentioned explicitly in the Quran and Sunnah. The special distinction of having conversed with Allah is his hallmark. Allah had blessed Musa (peace be upon him) with an intense desire to seek knowledge. As soon as he smelled the scent of knowledge, he was all set to go for it, traveling like an ardent student. In Surah Kahf we leaned that Prophet Musa travelled to a far away place to seek knowledge. He turned to Allah Himself for the location of al-Khidr, whom Allah said that he has been given kowledge which Musa did not have.

 

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَ‌حُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَ‌يْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠

And [mention] when Musa to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (60) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:60]

Allah will raise the ranks of those who have Iman (Faith) and also those who have knowledge by degrees.

يَرْفَعِ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١١ ....

... Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. [Quran, Al Mujadila 58:11]

May Allah make it easy for us to seek and learn beneficial knowledge. 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

Faith And Action In Islam

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

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

Faith and actions are interconnected. When asked about faith, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day and that you believe in pre-ordainment (destiny), its bad and good consequences.” [Sahih Muslim]

There is no faith unless it is accompanied by actions, just as there is no faith unless it is accompanied by words. Physical action is an essential part of faith, without which faith is not valid, and a lack of physical action is indicative of a lack of faith in the heart,

Faith provides the ideological foundation for human existence and the criterion through which to categorize good from bad, right from wrong and righteousness from impropriety.

Actions must be inherently good not just apparently good. (Giving charity for show may appear good but the intention is to show off, whereas giving charity purely out of compassion is genuine.) The most famous Prophetic tradition in all of Islam therefore is: "Actions are by intentions and Allah rewards according to intention." 

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in the Quran,

And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, “This is what we were provided with before.” And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally. [Al Baqarah 2:25]

But they who believe and do righteous deeds – those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. [Al Baqarah 2:82]

Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. [Al Baqarah 2:277]

But as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards, and Allah does not like the wrongdoers. [AleImran 3:57]

But those who believe and do righteous deeds – We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide forever. For them therein are purified spouses, and We will admit them to deepening shade. [An-Nisaa 4:57]

But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds – We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allah, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement. [An-Nisaa 4:122]

And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or helper. [An-Nisaa 4:173]

Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds [that] for them there is forgiveness and great reward. [Al-Maidah 5:9]

But those who believed and did righteous deeds – We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. [Al-Araf 7:42]

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens of Pleasure. [Yunus 10:9]

May Allah grant us righteous deeds and make us of the righteous. 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) -- Shaytan And Depression

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

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

Know and understand that all our good deeds and daily religious routine, including reading Surah Al Kahf every Friday, is not for anyone's benefit except us. Allah does not need them and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam does not need us to follow his teachings. But if we don't do them, or at least try to do some of them regularly, we have no protection against Shaytan.

When someone turns away from the remembrance of Allah, He will appoint a qarin (devil) as his companion.

وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُۥ شَيْطَـٰنًا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٌ ﴿٣٦

And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion (qarin). [Quran, Az-Zukhruf 43:36]

Your connection to this qarin is more evil and more powerful. He is your intimate friend and you his. He will stop you from the halal and sends you to the haram.

When someone has left the remembrance and the worship of Allah, the angels of blessings are no longer around him and only shaytan associates with them.

Shaytan has many tactics that he uses and one of them is to cause a type of what is called depression because the purpose of shaytan is to take you away from the worship of Allah and he uses any means necessary. And one of the things that take one's away from the worship of Allah is so mentally engrossed in a problem or calamity. A lot of mental diseases either are caused by shaytan or made worse by shaytan. Even many of the psychiatric disease are caused by shaytan. People with Iman can battle this more than people without Iman. Someone who loves his God, such person are more optimistic. Generally speaking religious people are more optimistic than people without religion because Allah created us to be religious. A better outlook on life gets us over calamities and problems better.

So remember Allah day and night. Don't be lax with your religion.

The way to overcome religious laxity is first to increase our ibadah -- recite the Quran everyday, do dhikr and perform the daily prayers. Start with the necessary adhkar -- e.g. zikr/du'a of leaving and entering the house, entering and leaving the bathroom, in the market. The more you perfect your adhkar the less shaytan has power over you.

Secondly seek knoweldge because knowledge brings about understanding of the deed. Iman goes up simply by having knowledge of the religion.

Remembrance of Allah gives you a double fortress against shaytan. When shaytain casts something in your heart, seek refuge in Allah.

One of the simplest cure for depression is to hang around righteous people who will remind you of Allah and bring you closer to Him.

Make a habit to recite Surah Al Kahf every Friday and try very hard not to miss it.

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.  [Quran, Al Kahf 18:46]

وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣٥

... And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous. [Quran, Az-Zukruf 43:35]

May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make us among the people of His remembrance. 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

Don't Lose Focus On The Hereafter

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

This life of this world (dunya) is temporary. No one has any idea when, how and where he or she will die. We can't enjoy more than one meal at a time and wear one clothing at a time and live in one room at a time. The world for us is the number of years we stay in it. The rest is relevant. It is foolish to ignore Allah's command for the dunya.  

Follow the religion of Allah fully and without leaving any parts.

أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿٨٦

So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. (85) Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided. (86)

Don't lose focus on the Hereafter. Be in this world as a traveller.

'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) took hold of my shoulders and said, "Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer".

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) used to say: "When you survive till the evening, do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive until the morning, do not expect to live until the evening; (do good deeds) when you are in good health before you fall sick, and (do good deeds) as long as you are alive before death strikes". [Bukhari]

May Allah protect us from practicing the religon only in areas that we are comfortable with and leaving other areas. 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

Honesty Is The Best Policy

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

 

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

 

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was only sent to perfect noble character. The greatest and the most distinguishing aspect of the Prophet's person sallallahu alayhi wasallam was his character. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says about his character,

  وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤

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

 

Prior to prophethood, he married Khadijah, a wealthy businesswoman of Quraysh, who was much older than him, and he remained faithful and loyal to her during her life. 

 

The marriage of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam with Khadijah (r.a.), shows the importance of honesty and good character (akhlaq). Honesty is appreciated by everybody in mankind and it brings about blessings. Because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was honest and trustworthy as a shephard and shy as a worker at a very menial job, that honesty and shyness upgraded his position from a shephard to a successful businessman. 

 

This is the reality of this world, character counts a lot, much more even than experience. Khadijah overlooked his zero experience in business and hired him to beecome one of the highest paid businessmen in Makkah to take her trade goods to Syria where he made huge profits for Khadijah which she never experienced before. 

 

Being honest says more about your character and your values than anything else. When you have honesty, this means people can trust you with absolutely anything and everything. Nobody wants someone in their life who chooses to be dishonest. Rather, we all want someone we can trust, whether it's with minor things or the significant things. 

 

Honesty is the best policy and it doesn't get more real than that. By being honest, you also have fewer things to worry about since it's much easier to tell the truth than to bend it and turn it into a lie. Honest people have pure hearts and intentions, and it's what makes them approachable in the first place. 

 

May Allah make us honest and surround us with honest people. 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

Don't Say About Islam Without Knowledge

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

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

You may find people who will say: This is right in Islam or this is wrong in Islam or they said, you should do this this and you shouldn't do this They speak as if they know Islam without the knowledge and without evidence. If someone asks something about Islam and you don't know, say, "I don't know." There is nothing wrong if you say "I don't know". It doesn't make you look stupid. Ask him to consult a scholar. 

 

Imam Malik ibn Anas was one of the most respected scholars of fiqh ever lived Once a mam came to h from far away lamd and asked him 48 questions. He answered to 16 of them and for the rest, he replied "I don't know لا ادري "

 

To say a lie against Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala or the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam is a crime.  Don't make the same mistake as the Children of Israel as recorded in the Quran,

وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾ بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿٨١﴾

And they say, "Never will the Fire touch us, except for a few days." Say, "Have you taken a covenant with Allah? For Allah will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?" (80) Yes, whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally. (81) 

[Quran, Al Baqarah 2:80-81]

May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge and good deeds. 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