Saturday, October 28, 2023

Know The People of Jannah -- Parents of Righteous Chidren and Children of Righteous Parents

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

A Muslim can benefit from his children in the Hereafter, in that his children supplicate for his forgiveness after his death. And if he had tried to raise the children to be righteous, whatever good they will do, its benefit will also be passed on to him as long as they do righteous deeds. It is also possible that his righteous children obtain his pardon in the Hereafter by intercession.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "When a human being dies, all of his deeds are terminated except for three types: an ongoing sadaqah, a knowledge (of Islam) from which others benefit, and a righteous child who makes du'aa for him." [Muslim and others]

This hadith indicate that a righteous child benefits his deceased parents with du'aa. It is further demonstrated here that he can benefit them by spending sadaqah, as well as doing other charitable deeds, on their behalf. 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Indeed the best that one eats is that which he earns. And his child is from his earning." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and others]

The reason for this is that a parent benefits himself by raising his child according to the teachings of Islam, and exerting a consistent effort to raise him as a righteous person. As the child grows into adulthood and does righteous deeds, his parents deserve a merit in that they helped him accomplish that and his good actions are therefore, at least in part, from his parents' earning. Sadaqah from a child 'Aisha reported that a man asked Allah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, "My mother had a sudden death, and did not have chance to bequeath anything. Had she been able to do, I think that she would have given sadaqah. Would she or I get any rewards if I give sadaqah on her behalf?" He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam replied, "Yes! So give sadaqah on her behalf" [Bukhari, Muslim and others].

Likewise, the children will also benefit from their parents on the condition of faith in that if they were Muslims but their righteous deeds could not attain the level of their parents, then Allah by taking into account their parents good deeds would place them also at the high position of their parents.

Allah Almighty says,
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّ‌يَّتُهُم بِإِيمَـٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّ‌يَّتَهُمْ وَمَآ أَلَتْنَـٰهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ ۚ كُلُّ ٱمْرِ‌ئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَ‌هِينٌ ﴿٢١

And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained. (21)
[Qur'an, At-Tur 52:21]

May Allah make us among the righteous and help us raise our children to be righteous.

رَ‌بَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَ‌ٰجِنَا وَذُرِّ‌يَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّ‌ةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.

Aameen

www.darannoor.com

Monday, October 23, 2023

In Times of Calamity

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In times of calamity, 
there are those who defend the body
and there are those who defend the soul
We are being tested with our deen and our faith

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. [Quran, AleImran 3:185]

When we die, we don’t know where we will end up
May Allah grant us an excellent ending and the highest Paradise. Aameen.

What do you do here?
Be prepared for your own judgment day
You learn your deen, teach it, and practice it
You protect your soul and mind
You protect the souls and mind of the children
Don’t despair
When you are in pain, it should give you courage
Courage to show theTruth and follow the Truth 
Wake up in the last third of the night
and ask Allah, beg Allah, cry your heart out

Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our Protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:286]  
Aameen.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

The Religion of Islam is Sincerity

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 
 

On the authority of Tameem ibn Aus ad-Daree (may Allah be pleased with him):

The Prophet (ﷺ), said, “The deen (religion) is naseehah (advice, sincerity).” We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” [Related by Muslim]

Naseehah to Allah -- have correct belief in Allah, purify our relationship with Him, know how to implement the shariah of Allah in our lives and how to journey towards Him.


Naseehah to Allah’s Book -- have pure and sincere relationship with the Quran, make His words paramount, carryout it’s guidance.


Naseehah to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) -- knowing him, loving him more than anything else, obeying him, rejecting those whom had enmity towards him, being loyal to those who gave allegiance to him, honoring him, and reviving his manners and sunna.


Naseehah to the Leaders of Muslims --  make du’a for them that Allah guides them, protects them and enables them to carry out their responsibilities.


Naseehah to common people -- guiding them towards that which will correct their affairs in both this life and the next, protecting them from harm, helping them in times of need, providing what is beneficial for them, encouraging them to do good and forbidding them from evil with kindness and sincerity, and showing mercy towards them.

 

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Trials, Patience and Worship

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah will test the believers by various means. Allah says,

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ‎﴿١٥٥﴾‏
 
We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:155]
 
The more Allah loves you, the more you are tested. Through the tests, you have the opportunity to raise your rank with Him and be closer to Him.
 
الٓمٓ ‎﴿١﴾‏ أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ‎﴿٢﴾
 
Alif, Laam, Meem. Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?  [Quran, Al Ankabut  29:1-2]
 
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: If only I had done something else. Rather say: Allah has decreed what He wills. Verily, the  phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of Satan.” 
 
We know that our Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, went through the most trials even tough he is the beloved Allah. He suffered ridicules, humiliation and severe oppression in the hands of his own clan and tribe. He suffered the pain of losing his wife, Khadijah (Alah be pleased with her) and his uncle who have been protecting him. He endured the pain of losing and burying his children and many of his companions, but he remain a grateful servant and always turning to Allah. And Allah has placed him in the highest station. His wife, Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) told us about some of his pains in these hadiths.

“I never saw anyone suffer more pain than the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” [Bukhari & Muslim]

"She said, “The Prophet died lying between my breast and my collarbone. I will never feel bad about anyone having a painful death after what I saw the Prophet suffer.”[Bukhari]

Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) went through trials as difficult and painful as the slander against her. But she was patient and she was truthful in turning to Allah. Allah then revealed her innocence in the Quran [Quran, An-Noor 24:11-20] https://tanzil.net/#trans/en.sahih/24:11. This established the high status of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.
 
Asiyah, the wife of Fir'aun was tortured by Fir'aun, but she was patient and truthful in her faith in Allah, and Allah raised her rank and became one of the four women who Allah has perfected their faith. Allah honored her by recording her supplication asking Allah to build a house near Him in Paradise.
 
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ‎﴿١١﴾‏
 
And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people." (11) [Quran, At-Tahrim 66:11]
 
Try to see Allah in everything that happen in every moment of your life, even when you are seeing something very negative, because Allah wants you to see Him in that moment so you become to know Him better. This is the purpose of our lives on this earth -- to know Allah and worship Him in the way that pleases to Him. It is therefore, vitally important that we learn Allah's 99 Names and Attributes to realize who is at work while the events are playing in every moments of our lives. Through knowing Allah, we will be able to cope and react in an appropriate manner.

When we study the lives of the prophets and the righteous, we will learn what make them so special in the sight of Allah.

The fruits of patience will always be sweet and beautiful. "Fasabrun jameel" (beautiful patience) as Prophet Ya'qub, Allah grant him peace, uttered when he lost his young beloved son, Yusuf, Allah grant him peace, and having to deal with siblings rivalry and jealousy. But he believed in the wisdom of Allah Al Hakeem, the Most Wise, and all that was happening. Allah finally reunited him and his family with Yusuf (Allah grant them peace) who has now become a powerful minister of Egypt.

If you are patient and you turn to Allah, you will always be vindicated. Allah will help you even if no one will help you, even if your mother or your father don't know what to do to help you. If you are truthful to Allah, Allah will honor you, even if other people disgrace and humiliate you.

Every musibah (calamity) that happen to us, there is some good in it whether we realize it or whether we don't realize it.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو بِٱلْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ ۚ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ...

Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you....[Quran, An-Noor 24:11]

Everyone goes through trials. Every time of ease is followed by times of difficulty. Every time of difficulty is followed by times of ease. Turn to Allah truthfully and maintain your connection with Him in worship.

‏ فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ‎﴿٥﴾‏ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ‎﴿٦﴾‏ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ‎﴿٧﴾‏ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ‎﴿٨﴾

For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6) So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (7) And to your Lord direct [your] longing. (8) (Quran, 95:5-8)

Allah knows best.

May Allah grant us patience and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Aameen.

www.darannoor.com

Friday, October 6, 2023

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Mashaa Allahu La quwwata illa billah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The story of the man with two gardens in Surah Al Kahf described the event of two men, one of whom had a lot of wealth and, proud of it, he refused to accept that there is any life after death, and if there is one, he claimed, he will be given more wealth and reward therein. His argument was that if Allah was not pleased with him, he would not have this amount of wealth in this world. 

The other person, though less than him in wealth, was a true believer. He refuted the argument of the former one by saying that the worldly wealth is not a sign of one's being close to Allah, because the worldly benefits are given by Allah, in one way or the other, even to the disbelievers and sinful persons, rather to the snakes, scorpions and beasts. It is a terrible mistake to presume that they are the signs of one's being approved by Allah. Therefore, neither your wealth is the proof of your behavior being approved by Allah, nor my lesser wealth is a proof of disapproval by Him. Allah's approval or disapproval depends on one's faith and deeds alone and not on the amount of wealth one has.

وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا ‎﴿٣٩﴾

And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children, [Quran, Al Kahf 18:39] 

About the statement:  : " مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ [Everything is] as Allah wills. There is no power except with Allah," it has been reported  that he Prophet (ﷺ) said, "whoever sees something, likes it - and says 'Mashaa Allahu la quwwata illa billah' - nothing will harm it (that is, what he likes will stay protected).' And it appears in other reports, 'whoever recites this kalimah when he likes something he sees, it will stay protected against the evil eye.'

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s messenger as saying that “ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ There is no might and no power except in Allah” is a remedy for ninety-nine diseases, the lightest of which is anxiety.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ دَوَاءٌ مِنْ تِسْعَةٍ وَتِسْعِينَ دَاء أيسرها الْهم»

May Allah protect us from calamity and the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Aameen.

 

www.darannoor.com

 

 

 

Monday, October 2, 2023

Why Does Someone Not Pray?

Bismillah

Why does someone not pray? Allah has answered in this ayah, 

إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْمَسَاقُ ‎﴿٣٠﴾‏ فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ ‎﴿٣١﴾‏ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ‎﴿٣٢﴾‏

To your Lord, that Day, will be the procession. (30) And the disbeliever had not believed, nor had he prayed. (31) But [instead], he denied and turned away. (32) [Quran. 30-32]

It means you are a Muslim in your head, not in your heart. Sometimes you know something but you don't think about it. Because that's missing that's why many people don't pray or they miss prayers. Their hearts are distracted. Allah doesn't need your prayer and if you prayed because someone couldn't get off your case, it has no value.

Actions have no value unless they have the right intention. The only one who can benefit from your prayer is only you.

What is the purpose of prayer? You might think if you don't pray you will be thrown in hell or the angels will curse you. Prayer is not to get away from something negative but to run towards something positive.  Take for example, the one who study because he doesn't want to fail is trying to escape from something negative, the student who study because he loves the subject, he is going to something positive and he enjoys every moment of it.

Allah told Musa alayhissalaam 

إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ ‎﴿١٤﴾‏

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. [Quran, Ta-Ha 23:14]

Your relationship with the creation is very limited but your relationship with Allah started a long time before you even came to this world and will continue after you leave this world. That relationship is worth remembering because every good thing that comes to you, comes as a result of that relationship. If you want all the positive things to stay in your life, you must remember where all the good, the blessings, the provision, the guidance come from. So Allah says the best way to remember that is prayer.

Just because you are doing it for the right reasons, there are benefits too. 

There is benefit when you truly remember Allah. Allah says,

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ‎﴿٤٥﴾‏

Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do. [Quran, Al Ankabut 29:45]

Prayer has the benefit of stopping you from falling int things that are bad and indescent. Indescency is all around you and no one can stop you from being exposed to it -- indecency is at eid party, school, phone, workplace. Indescency is everywhere. Every time you go towards indescency, your heart will get damaged. Allah says if you maintain the prayer, that will protect you from indescency. It is like breathing in pollution, at first you will cough. But if you stay long enough, you will get used to it. Your immune systems has gotten corrupt. Then you are ready for more toxic behavior and even doing worst things.

The prayer will stop you from going down a negative path in your life. This is why you should pray. At the end of this whole journey, the decision is entirely yours. If you really want to honor that relationship with Allah, then pray. 

As parents, the more you try to control your children, the more frustrated you can become, and the more you try to push the religion on your children with control, the more your chidren rebel in the strangest way. 

The opportunity you have with your children is not to make them surrender to your instructions but the opportunity that you have with your children is to make them think about things that only you can make them think about. Make them love things only you can make them love. Your child loves basketball because he sees you play basketball. He loves video games because he sees you play video games. 

You can put a love in your child because of how you are. If you keep on instructing your child "go do your Quran homework!", "go to the masjid and pray!" he is not going to be 20 years old and say "I love the Quran" or "I love the masjid," but he will say " I love basketball, my dad used to play basketball!" What you love will get transfered over but what you instruct will get rejected. That's your own reality -- some of the things you love about your parents are the things that were passed down by love, and some of the things that you hate about your parents were the things that they forced you to do.

May Allah grant us steadfastness and enable us to be good role models for our children. Aameen.

www.darannoor.com