Maintain Reading The Quran A Juz A Day

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Reading the Quran have many benefits, among which it will light up your day. Start your day with reading Allah's Book, the best of Speeches, the Divine guidance for humanity. It will be a proof of your faith in Allah on the Day of Judgment, your status in this life before Allah will be higher than if you don’t read the Quran, and your position in Paradise is even higher for each letter of the Quran that you read.

Aisha radhiAllahu anha reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: One who is skilled in the Qur'an is associated with the noble, upright recording angels, and he who falters when he recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult for him will have a double reward. [Abu Dawood]

 

Narrated Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi: "I heard 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud saying: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "[Whoever recites a letter] from Allah's Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter." [Tirmidhi]

 

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One who was devoted to the Qur'an will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites. [Abu Dawood]

The Quran is split into 30 juzs (20 pages a juz). It is ideal for a common Muslim to read a juz a day and complete reading the entire Quran every month. 

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "Recite the whole Qur'an in one month's time." I said, "But I have power (to do more than that)." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Then finish the recitation of the Qur'an in seven days, and do not finish it in less than this period." [Bukhari]

Narrated `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is a bad thing that some of you say, 'I have forgotten such-and-such verse of the Qur'an,' for indeed, he has been caused (by Allah) to forget it. So you must keep on reciting the Qur'an because it escapes from the hearts of men faster than camel do." [Bukhari]

If you find difficulty to get into this habit, try to read the Quran during the dawn hours and don't postpone it to later in the day thinking that you will have more time. Procrastination is one of shaytan's tricks to prevent you from reading the Quran and reaping its benefits. Most often you will wind up reading none at all, especially when you are just starting to build the habit. Trying to read 2 or more juzs a day is more difficult than reading a juz. When the juzs start piling up and you try to catch up reading, your nafs will rebel and shaytan will come in and tell you it is too difficult or convince you that you are better off reading the meanings or understand the Quran first.

Allah Most High says,

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا ‎﴿٧٨﴾

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. [Quran, Al Isra 17:78]

Narrated Abu Hurairah: regarding Allah, Most High, saying: "And recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed (17:78)." The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day." [Tirmidhi]

Sakhr ibn al-Ghamidi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah, bless my nation in their early morning.” [Tirmidhi]

Teach your children Quran and instill in them the habit of reading the Quran regularly but first you must build this habit for yourself. You are your children's best role model.

It was narrated that Buraydah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: 

“The Qur’an will meet its companion on the Day of Resurrection when his grave is opened for him, in the form of a pale man. It will say to him, ‘Do you recognize me?’ He will say: ‘I do not recognize you.’ It will say: ‘I am your companion the Qur’an, who kept you thirsty on hot days and kept you awake at night. Every merchant benefits from his business and today you will benefit from your good deeds.’ He will be given dominion in his right hand and eternity in his left, and there will be placed on his head a crown of dignity, and his parents will be clothed with priceless garments the like of which have never been seen in this world. They will say: ‘Why have we been clothed with this?’ It will be said: ‘Because your son used to recite Qur’an.’ Then it will be said to him: ‘Recite and ascend in the degrees of Paradise,’ and he will continue to ascend so long as he recites, either at a fast pace or a slow pace .”   [Ahmad, Ibn Maajah]       

May Allah make the Quran our companion in this life and the next. Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Worried About Your Children?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The youth in the story of the companions of the cave were righteous. They gave up the city life and retreated to the cave so they can worship Allah. Allah was pleased with them and protected them in the cave for 300 years plus.

ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْ‌شِدًا ﴿١٧ ...


...That was from the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He leaves astray - never will you find for him a protecting guide. (17)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:17]

What do we see with our youth today? How about your children? Are you worried about their Deen? Before we worry about them, we should worry about ourselves first.

On the Day of Judgment we will be asked how we raised our kids. We won't be judged on the outcome of our efforts raising them but we will be judged by how much we have exhausted ourselves to raise them to be an obedient slave of Allah, according to our own circumstances. It may be that your children are bad after you have done everything you could possibly do, this inshaa Allah will not be counted against you.

You may be living in the most advance country in the world and you sent your kids to the best schools and they wound up in one of the high demanding careers and may be donating lots of money to build a masjid and other Islamic causes, but they barely able to keep up with the 5 obligatory prayers or praying at the masjid. When you try to call them once in a while, they barely have time for you. On the other hand, you may be living in the poorest country in the world but your children are always around ready to attend to your needs and never talk back at you. What's the difference? The difference is in our priority. If we make Allah our priority, our children do see it, then they will follow suit and will make Allah their priority when they grow up. They would automatically have a clear priority in their own life -- Allah first, parents second. Righteous children don't come out of thin air. We have to make them righteous with Allah's help. For that we too have to be righteous.

Once a great shaykh was teaching his students and he heard his mother calling. He immediately left his students to go to his mother and when he returned after a while, he noticed that his students were clearly bewildered. So he told them that he went to feed the chickens as his mother wanted. And continued the lessons.

We have to exhaust ourselves to teach our children about their Lord and inculcate the Islamic values and manners in their lives. Parenting does not stop when our children reach puberty or the legal age of 18 (in most places). There's one thing about parenting; it never stops. Once you become a parent you remain a parent the rest of your life. So the end of your child's adolescence is not the end of parenting; it only marks the transition to a new set of changes and challenges. After adolescence, parenting adult children remains challenging and complex. But don't worry, each struggle is being written as our good deed that we can take to our graves, inshaa Allah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ‌ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ‌ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرً‌ا حَسَنًا ﴿٢﴾ مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1) [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward (2) In which they will remain forever (3)  [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:1-4]

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ‎﴿٧٤﴾

Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous. [Qur'an, Al Furqan 25:74]

رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ‌نَا رَ‌شَدًا

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]

Ameen.

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Reading The Quran a Juz a Day at Dawn

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah Most High says,

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا ‎﴿٧٨﴾

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. [Quran, Al Isra 17:78]

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

regarding Allah, Most High, saying: "And recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed (17:78)." The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day." [Tirmidhi]

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "Recite the whole Qur'an in one month's time." I said, "But I have power (to do more than that)." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Then finish the recitation of the Qur'an in seven days, and do not finish it in less than this period." [Bukhari]

'Aishah reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:

One who is skilled in the Qur'an is associated with the noble, upright recording angels, and he who falters when he recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult for him will have a double reward. [Abu Dawood]

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One who was devoted to the Qur'an will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites. [Abu Dawood]

Narrated `Abdullah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is a bad thing that some of you say, 'I have forgotten such-and-such verse of the Qur'an,' for indeed, he has been caused (by Allah) to forget it. So you must keep on reciting the Qur'an because it escapes from the hearts of men faster than camel do." [Bukhari]

It was narrated that Al-Bara' bin Azib said:

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Make your voices beautiful when you recite Quran.'" [Nasa'i]

May Allah make the Quran our companion and make us His elect people of the Quran. Aameen.

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Du'a (Supplication), A Powerful Tool For Success

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Du'a is talking to Allah. Not a demand or reminder—it is showing we depend on Him. Du'a displays our humility as His servants, recognizing His might.

Remember, our most significant need isn’t worldly desires. It is to get closer to Allah. Other needs express our reliance on Him. Du'a lets us connect deeply.

Du'a is about expressing needs and understanding only Allah fulfills them. The highest form of du'a is when your heart is in it and connected to the One who answers.

For seekers of knowledge, students of Quran and Islamic studies, du'a is a powerful tool. Seek Allah's guidance, strength, and wisdom through it. Du'a turns learning into worship, connecting you spiritually. Success is beyond grades, certificates, or diploma; it is first and foremost about spiritual growth.

Du'a also turns our mundane works and activities into worship when we turn to Allah for help, knowing that nothing is difficult with Allah's help and nothing is easy without Allah's help. La hawla wala Quwwata illa bil lahi Al 'Aliyyil Atheem (There is no might or power except with Allah, The Most High, The Supreme [in Glory].

 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. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:186]

May Allah grant us nearness to Him and success in this life and the next. Aameen.

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What It Means By Being Muslims

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Islam is not a new religion. It is a continuation of the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam. Allah Most High says in the Quran,

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ‎﴿٦٧﴾‏

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. [Quran, AleImran 3:67] 

If we think about Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam, the last thing comes to our mind is easy life. He faced challenges nobody ever had to face. He had to leave his wife and infant son in the middle of the desert and walk away. Before that, as a young man, he had to challenge his father and the entire community and he was thrown into the fire because he believed in Islam. When he got older and his son was old enough that he could finally run around with his son, he saw a dream that he was slaughtering his son over and over again. Those are not easy trials. He was asked to do these things that nobody was ever asked to do.

Allah has never asked another human being to abandon his family or jump into the fire or slaughter his own child. If Allah can make standing up, not only to his father but also to the entire community easy, if Allah can make jumping into the fire easy, leaving his wife and infant son in the middle of the desert easy, if Allah can make him take a knife and put on his son's neck because Allah commanded it easy, then what is Allah asking you? Allah did not ask that from you, He asked much less from you. Allah asked from you to stay away from filthy things and make the good and pure things halal for you, and mandate a few good deeds from you. Just do these few things and stay away from the few bad things, that's all He asked. 

وَجَٰهِدُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِۦ ۚ هُوَ ٱجْتَبَىٰكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّىٰكُمُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِى هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ ‎﴿٧٨﴾‏

And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. [Quran, AleImran 3:78]

 
Allah chose us to be born in this age knowing full well the trials we are going to have. The best people who are qualified to struggle in these trials are the Muslims alive today, that's why you and I are taking a breath right now. Allah has a purpose for us because He created the skies and the earth with precise purpose and molded us because we have a purpose to serve. Eventhough it is a challenging purpose, Allah Himself is not going to make it difficult for you. We have been told by the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam that no matter what difficulty you have, you will never be able to compare your difficulty with the difficulty Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam was put in and even that, Allah can make that easy. So you have no reason to wonder or even question that Allah will make easy for you. 

Allah is the One who named us Muslims. Muslim means the one who submits calmly. When Allah tells you to do something, you are not agitated by it. You are at ease on the inside and willingly submit yourself to Allah. Whatever Allah says must be good for me no matter what my mind says, what my family says, what my friends say, and what the society says. If you can do that, you are the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam.

Calling ourselves Muslims is easy. Being Muslim is not. It's not even about behavior. It's about something very deep internally. It is when you are completely satisfied with what Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam command, you are comfortable with it, you are at ease with it and at peace with the fact that you are obeying Allah. You are not thinking that by obeying Allah, you are going to miss out on something because He is asking you to stay away from pleasures or opportunities that He said they are haram. You are at ease because there is no way anybody who obeys Allah are at loss. 

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ ‎﴿٨٥﴾

And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. (85) [Quran, AleImran 3:85]

Muslims are the ones who come with comfort before Allah. That's the comfort we want to find before Allah. We are not agitated by the commandments of our religion. When our daughters and women are asked to put on hijab, they are not annoyed by it, and our sons and men are not agitated by the idea that they have to go to pray at the masjid and wake up early for fajr.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ‎﴿١٠٢﴾

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].  [Quran, AleImran 3:102]

May Allah make us die as Muslims. Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Rush To Do Righteous Deeds

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Islam is a great blessing for those who understand it. Islam is not here to burden you but to provide you a wholesome and happy life. But it takes knowledge for a person to realize this. Surah Al Kahf reminds you to seek knowledge even if it means you have to travel to an unknown place in a far away land (from the story of Musa and Khidr, peace be upon them).

Once you get your two feet standing in the middle of the religion, you will find that this religion is easy and each routine becomes easier and easier and you will do more and more. Reading Qur'an becomes enjoyable and a thing you look forward to everyday.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, gives us things to do. Through these actions, among them reading Surah Kahf every Friday, transformation takes place. Such a person if he asks Allah for something, Allah will give it to him. Why? Because Allah loves him.

So strive to continue this Friday tradition from the Sunnah of His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam, until you die. Don't let shaytan whisper to you otherwise. Don't let Shaytan take you away from your opportunity to be loved by Allah.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿٣٠﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿٣١

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. (30) Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place. (31)

[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:30-31]

Ibn al-'Arabi quotes his Shaykh, Turtushi: 'Let not the hours of your dear life pass away confronting contemporaries and socializing with friends. Watch out! Allah Ta'ala has concluded His statement on the following verse: 

فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدَۢا ‎﴿١١٠﴾‏

So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." [Quran, Al Kahf 18:110]

May Allah grant us righteous deeds and make our meeting with Him the best of our meetings. Aameen.

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Quran Is Not To Make Your Life Difficult

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Ibn Katheer narrated that in the early days following the revelation of the Quran while the believers spent whole nights in prayers, the disbelievers mocked and taunted the Muslims that the revelation of the Quran brought nothing to them but hardship, allowing them no rest and peace.

Allah Ta'ala revealed the following ayahs,

طه ‎﴿١﴾‏ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ ‎﴿٢﴾‏ إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ ‎﴿٣﴾‏ تَنزِيلًا مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلْعُلَى ‎﴿٤﴾‏

Ta, Ha. (1) We have not sent down to you the Qur'an that you be distressed (2) But only as a reminder for those who fear [Allah] - (3) A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens, (4)   [Quran, Ta-Ha 1:4]

In this verse, Allah Ta'ala says that these wretched and miserable people cannot sense that the Quran and the knowledge communicated through it can bring only blessings and felicity. They cannot appreciate this because they are ignorant and misguided. 

In a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet sallalalhu alayhi wasallam said, "When Allah wills good for a person, He causes him to understand the religion." [Ibn Maajah]

And this is good news to learned people. 

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "On the Day of Judgment when Allah will ascend His Kursiyy (Chair) to pronounce judgment on the actions of His servants He will tell the learned people that He had placed His knowledge and wisdom in their hearts for the sole reason that He wished to forgive them in spite of their failings, and that these matters were of no concern to Him."

It is evident that in this Hadith the reference to learned people applies to those only who possess the fear of Allah Ta'ala which is a sure sign of Quranic knowledge.

May Allah grant us a sound understanding of the Quran and make us of the God-Fearing people. Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Remember Your Beginning

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

When we read the Qur'an, it should change us immediately and we should rush to leave the bad and rush to do much good. Why shouldn't we? Because Hell is definitely not a fun place. It is a place of pain and misery. Paradise is eternal bliss. 

The truth is Paradise and Hell are real but how many a people forget this, and so they go about this life as if there is no end. Allah can change our states at any moment and if we are at the top, He can bring us down, and if we are down, He can take us up. So remember Him day and night.

Paradise and Hell are just around the corner depending on how long or how short you will live. Every beginning has an ending. Our life in this world will end. Don't puff up with pride and arrogance. We are nobody. Remember your beginning--you were created from a fluid held despicable (Surah al-Mursalat 77:20) and Hell is the punishment of the arrogant and wrongdoers.  

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala reminds us in Surah Al Kahf,

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ‎﴿٤٦﴾ 

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

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ‎﴿١٠﴾‏

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [Quran,  Al-Kahf 18:10]

Aameen

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Don't Cross The Limits Of Allah -- Learn Inheritance And Teach It

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ِInheritance is known as 'Fara-idh' (plural 'Fareedah') in Arabic, which means something that has been fixed, set or determined. This branch of knowledge is known as 'Fara-idh' because it has been fixed by Allah in the Quran (Surah An-Nisaa verses 11, 12 and 176).  

Islamic inheritance laws are there to preserve certain things, and among those things, is to preserve our families and societies. It gives balance to our lives. In the family, we learn our first lessons of God and creation, love and discipline, rights and responsibilities, human dignity and human frailty. The strength of our families is vital to our well-being. When inheritance law is not applied, families break apart and we lose the strength and we lose the balance. 

Still, many Muslims ignored and abandoned this Islamic teaching and follow the ways and the practices of non-Muslims, in which one person or only a few selected ones would be given or receive the inheritance.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,

وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ‎﴿١٨٩﴾

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is over all things competent. [Quran, AleImran 3:189]

Allah owns everything we have and everything that we will leave behind after we die. The topic of inheritance is so important that Allah details the distribution of our wealth in the Quran and He reminds us of the subject again at the end of the long Surah, and tells us,

...يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ أَن تَضِلُّوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمُۢ ‎﴿١٧٦﴾‏

... Allah makes clear to you [His law], so you don't go astray. And Allah is Knowing of all things. [Quran, An-Nisaa 4:176]

We don't think inheritance as being the hudud (boundaries) set by Allah. Sometimes we don't even think that it is an important matter. Allah says after specifying the distribution of inheritance,

تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ‎﴿١٣﴾‏ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَٰلِدًا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ ‎﴿١٤﴾‏

These are the limits [set by] Allah, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment. (13) And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (14) [Quran, An-Nisaa 4:13-14]

The first branch of knowledge to be taken away from the Ummah is knowledge of inheritance. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said:

“Learn inheritance and teach it for it is half the knowledge and it will be forgotten, and it is the first thing to be ripped from my Ummah.” [Ibn Majah]

"Learn inheritance and teach it to people for I am a mortal being and knowledge will decrease until two people would differ among themselves over inheritance, but wouldn’t find an arbitrator.” [Nisa’i]

Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), used to say,  "O people, learn Fara-idh with the same concern and effort with which you learn from the Quran."

It was also said that Umar said (in the meaning of), if you want to have play, play archery, if you want to speak, speak about mirath (inheritance).

It is incumbent upon each of us to learn Islamic inheritance and apply it. Otherwise you might be denying the rights of certain people or you might be eating wealth that is unlawful for you if you take someone else's inheritance. 

May Allah save us from ignorance and enable us to learn, teach and apply inheritance law properly. May Allah grant us and our families great success in the hereafter and save us from the Fire and humiliating punishment. Aameen.

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Attaining Allah's Love

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘if Allah loves a person, He calls Jibrael saying, ’Allah loves so and so; O Jibrael love him.’ And make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of the heaven: “Allah loves so and so therefore you should love him also, and so all the inhabitants of the heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasures of the people on the earth.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Love for Allah is to follow the teachings of His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Allah Almighty says,

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ‎﴿٣١﴾‏

Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [Quran, AleImran 3:31]

Love for Allah is to love what Allah loves, and to stay clear of all those causes which distances the heart from Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٲبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

...Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who keep themselves pure. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:222]

One of the things we should be doing daily is to be in seclusion reciting the Quran, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent, during that time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of the night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allah’s forgiveness and repenting to Him. 

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا ‎﴿٦﴾‏ 

Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words. (6)  [Quran, Al Muzzammil 73:6]

Benefits of Allah's love on this earth

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that Allah said: “I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My worshipper keeps on coming close to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, then I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hands with which he grips, and his legs with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (refuge), I will protect him.” [Al-Bukhari]. 

May Allah purify our hearts and make us His best obedient servants, and bring us closer to Him. Aameen. 

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Alhamdulillah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala begins Surah Al-Kahf with Alhamdulillah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:1]

When we say Alhamdulillah, we are saying we praise Allah for whatever He is doing, and at the same time we thank Him that He did it.

Muslims are people of Alhamdulillah which means we are constantly grateful and constantly positive. If we understood Alhamdulillah we will never depressed, angry, stressed, nervous, fearful, lose hope or complain.

We are grateful for Alhamdulillah because other religion don't have Alhamdulillah. Sometimes, we find some Muslims who don't understand Alhamdulillah. So when someone asked them, "How are you?", "How's your family?", they might say "Alhamdulillah" but it is almost a complain or a dissatisfaction rather than truly thanking and praising Allah.

Alhamdulillah should come from the bottom of our hearts, even in the midst of tribulations and all the things that are going wrong in our lives, we are finding many things that are going right. If you can't find them, keep looking. We should not lose sight of the things that are going right in our lives and the many great things that Allah has blessed us with until now. We must thank and praise Allah abundantly and praise and thank Him again for the realization. Alhamdulillah. 

We can turn our messes into golden opportunities. The formula for doing that has been provided to us by His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace):

How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him. [Muslim]

May Allah make us among the people of His remembrance and of those who are grateful to Him in every moment of our lives. Aameen.

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