بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
There is no future if there is no Islam. We believe that now, Alhamdulillah, but if we don't instill this in our children they will not believe this when we are gone. We will be history.
If you want great things to happen for our children, we need to think far ahead. If we do it right now for our children, 50 years from now we will see the change. We may not be around anymore 50 years from now but our kids, our grandkids will and they will be the ones who will carry the banner to the finishing line if we pave the way for them now inshaAllah.
How do we do this? Not easy. But if we are always after short term gain, not farsighted, not willing to take a couple of setbacks, hits in short term, change is not going to happen and our future is bleak. There was an incident recently in our neighboring community when someone had died for a day and no jenazah because the family members didn't know what to do! Whose fault is this? So that is the answer in the negative.
Andalus (Muslim Spain) was once the ornament of the world, the cradle of civilization, the "Super Power" of the time. It was that way because of righteous, godfearing and brave people like Tariq bin Ziyad, Musa bin Nusayr, Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil, Yusuf ibn Tashfeen, whose desire was to make Allah's words paramount. People at one time flocked to Andalus for knowledge. They learned from the Muslims. The non-Muslims of Andalus (Christians, Jews) wanted to look like Muslims--they became Arabized--some of them knew Arabic language and literature better than Muslims themselves. What happen to this great civilization? This is the consequence of somebody didn't raise their children properly and loving the dunya. People started running after power and glory. People started doubting each other and killed each other and colluded with the enemies of Islam. Constant infighting--brothers fought with each other for power and glory and more wealth. Muslims colluded with the enemies against their fellow Muslims for power and wealth. Rulers divided the states to keep their sons/wives happy and gave each son a share of the state--they thought this was fair (this was a fatal mistake!). When people do things for self-interest and not for the sake of Allah, then things will fall apart.
When we raise our children, it is not about raising them to be nice, compliant, pliable and docile, but raising them to be strong Muslims, with himma. I don't know what to tell you exactly how to get there--but read our history. You will find great lessons and they will motivate you to get up and do more inshaAllah.
When Grenada fell to Ferdinand V and Isabella of Castille, which marked the fall of Andalus, it was a consequence of 100s of years of infighting. Why the infighting--for none other than for the world. Muhammad ibn Al-Hurra, the ruler of Grenada, who gave the keys of Grenada to Ferdinand and Isabella, went to live on the hills overlooking his palace, and he would cry. His mother, Aisha al-Hurra, would recite some lines of poetry to his son, "Weep like a woman over the kingdom you just wasted; you did not protect it like a man did."
We have the power to create a great history for our children through the lessons from our history but the work should start now. We should never forget that what we have is from Allah, the Giver of Allah (al-Wahhab). So don't hold back spending what you have--time, money, health, knowledge, intelligence...for the sake of One and only One, Al-Malik-al-Mulk, the King of Kings, the Owner of All. If you don't do this, then you will lose everything slowly but surely!
"The life of this world is merely a game and a diversion. If you have iman and taqwa, He will pay you your wages and not ask you for all your wealth. If He did ask you for it and put you under pressure, you would be tight-fisted and it would bring out your malevolence. Here you are then: people who are called upon to spend in the Way of Allah and then some of you are tight-fisted! But whoever is tight-fisted is only tight-fisted to himself. Allah is Rich and you are poor. If you turn away, He will replace you with a people other than yourselves and they will not be like you." Qur'an Muhammad 47:36-38
"Say: 'If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your clan, your possessions that you have gained, commerce you fear may slacken, dwellings you love -- if these are dearer to you than God and His Messenger, and to struggle in His way, then wait till God brings His command; God guides not the people of the ungodly.' " Qur'an at-Tawba 9:24
May Allah grant us and our children success in this world and the Hereafter. Ameen. Please don't forget all of us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
When Muslims become lazy and fat
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
It is a recurring theme in the Muslim history that when the Muslims have sincerity towards the religion of Allah, they achieved victory. Allah opened up the land for the Muslims. When the Muslims prospered, they became corrupt and greedy and that led to the downfall.
In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH. The companions used to eat the 2 black thing -- dates and water. In rare occasions when they have bread, salt and oil, this was a great feast to them and they thank Allah profusely! Look at us! Meat/fish/beans 3+ course meals everyday! And what have we become!
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him: Once the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said, "The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection." Bukhari
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The best of my ummah is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them... Then, after them, people will come who will testify only for their own interests, be treacherous, violate their vows, and they will become fat." Bukhari.
How did the companions become the best of nation? It happened in adversity. The companions went through many trying times. Adversity makes people strong. Fearing Allah and living a life of piety and uprightness result in Allah open great bounty to the land.
The concerns of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, came true in Andalus, Muslim Spain. The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct. One of the sunnah of Allah is Muslims win against all odds, when the odds are with them, they lose. The sunnah of history is when people become greedy everything fell apart. This is how Muslim empire and all great empires rise and fall. Indeed, the dunya is the root of all evils.
If we learn our history correctly and learn from the lessons of our history, we will not have the energy to sit back and just go with the flow of our times. We will not sit and fatten ourselves as if we are not fat already. Instead we will find time to build and strengthen our communities--support the community masjid and its activities, take care of our youths who are drifting away from Islam because we are too busy trying to fatten them and ourselves.
May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen.
Please do not forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
It is a recurring theme in the Muslim history that when the Muslims have sincerity towards the religion of Allah, they achieved victory. Allah opened up the land for the Muslims. When the Muslims prospered, they became corrupt and greedy and that led to the downfall.
In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH. The companions used to eat the 2 black thing -- dates and water. In rare occasions when they have bread, salt and oil, this was a great feast to them and they thank Allah profusely! Look at us! Meat/fish/beans 3+ course meals everyday! And what have we become!
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him: Once the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said, "The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection." Bukhari
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The best of my ummah is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them... Then, after them, people will come who will testify only for their own interests, be treacherous, violate their vows, and they will become fat." Bukhari.
How did the companions become the best of nation? It happened in adversity. The companions went through many trying times. Adversity makes people strong. Fearing Allah and living a life of piety and uprightness result in Allah open great bounty to the land.
The concerns of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, came true in Andalus, Muslim Spain. The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct. One of the sunnah of Allah is Muslims win against all odds, when the odds are with them, they lose. The sunnah of history is when people become greedy everything fell apart. This is how Muslim empire and all great empires rise and fall. Indeed, the dunya is the root of all evils.
If we learn our history correctly and learn from the lessons of our history, we will not have the energy to sit back and just go with the flow of our times. We will not sit and fatten ourselves as if we are not fat already. Instead we will find time to build and strengthen our communities--support the community masjid and its activities, take care of our youths who are drifting away from Islam because we are too busy trying to fatten them and ourselves.
May Allah give us tawfiq. Ameen.
Please do not forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Ihsan and Du'a
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) entered Makkah into the city of the pagans of Makkah and the Quraysh, those who killed indiscriminately, those who maimed the Muslims, those who ridiculed at God and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), those who broke covenants with him time and time again, those who sent assassins to kill him, his head was so low out of humbleness, so low that his head was almost touching the neck of his camel. He said to these people, "Go today, you are free."
Before that he went to Ta'if and the people of Ta'if treated him so cruelly. They ridiculed him with venomous poisonous words and children and fools of Ta'if formed lines from the left and right of him and cast stones at him and he bled profusely. Yet he in his magnanimous splendid heart, he prayed for them and not against them. He did not say, O Allah curse them, but he said O Allah may you bring from within them who will affirm your Oneness. A few years later, all of Ta'if became Muslims.
A few decades later his du'a was fulfilled in so many ways. Muhammad ibn Qasim al Thaqafi (may Allah have mercy on him), a young man of 16 1/2 years old led the Muslims and conquered Indian subcontinent. And from there Islam spread to South East Asia, including Indonesia (having the largest population of Muslims in the world) and Malaysia where my father (may Allah bless his soul) came from. Muhammad ibn Qasim Al Thaqafi was from Ta'if. This is the result of the du'a of Ihsan of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Indeed, du'a is a means of triumph. Ihsan is the inner beauty that we must aspire to have. We should strive to be leaders in Ihsan since we have a perfect example, the Rasullullah sallallahu alayhi wassallam.
May Allah put in our hearts Ihsan and increase our love for His beloved. Ameen.
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) entered Makkah into the city of the pagans of Makkah and the Quraysh, those who killed indiscriminately, those who maimed the Muslims, those who ridiculed at God and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), those who broke covenants with him time and time again, those who sent assassins to kill him, his head was so low out of humbleness, so low that his head was almost touching the neck of his camel. He said to these people, "Go today, you are free."
Before that he went to Ta'if and the people of Ta'if treated him so cruelly. They ridiculed him with venomous poisonous words and children and fools of Ta'if formed lines from the left and right of him and cast stones at him and he bled profusely. Yet he in his magnanimous splendid heart, he prayed for them and not against them. He did not say, O Allah curse them, but he said O Allah may you bring from within them who will affirm your Oneness. A few years later, all of Ta'if became Muslims.
A few decades later his du'a was fulfilled in so many ways. Muhammad ibn Qasim al Thaqafi (may Allah have mercy on him), a young man of 16 1/2 years old led the Muslims and conquered Indian subcontinent. And from there Islam spread to South East Asia, including Indonesia (having the largest population of Muslims in the world) and Malaysia where my father (may Allah bless his soul) came from. Muhammad ibn Qasim Al Thaqafi was from Ta'if. This is the result of the du'a of Ihsan of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Indeed, du'a is a means of triumph. Ihsan is the inner beauty that we must aspire to have. We should strive to be leaders in Ihsan since we have a perfect example, the Rasullullah sallallahu alayhi wassallam.
May Allah put in our hearts Ihsan and increase our love for His beloved. Ameen.
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