بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
There is no love without giving and there is no lover who does not want to be alone with his/her beloved.
When we give our mind, body and soul to the one we love, that's the highest love. The level of love depends on how much we give. Someone who rush to please Allah is manifesting a greater love for Him than someone who is not. Someone who give himself/herself to Allah by waking up at night to pray is manifesting a greater love for Him than someone who sleeps through the night.
In one of God's revealed scriptures it is said, "He has lied who claims to love Me but who when night falls sleeps (and leaves) Me. Does not every lover love to be alone with his beloved." (source--Imam Al-Haddad's Book of Assistance).
When Zulaikha brought faith and married Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, she kept herself separate from him and remained engaged in divine services and surrendered herself completely to God. Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, called her to his bed in the day time as Zulaikha remained busy at night in divine service. When Yusuf, peace be upon him, called her at nights, she hinted at the day time and said: O Yusuf, I loved you before I recognized God. When I knew God, I can have no love for others except God. I don't hope for anything than this. (source: Imam Al-Ghazzali's Ihya ulum-id-din) (Zulaikha was once the wife of a wealthy man who fell madly in love with Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, because of his beauty, and then caused Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, many trials. Read Surah Yusuf).
By this we can access our love for Allah.
May Allah give us piety and purify our souls. He is the Master and Lord of souls. Ameen.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Beauties of Islam
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalaamu alaykum
One of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, Khalid ibn Al Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated the following:
A Bedouin came one day to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said to him, "O, Messenger of Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter. "
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, responded, "Ask what you wish."
* I'd like to be the most learned of men.
* Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.
* I wish to be the richest man in the world.
* Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.
* I'd like to be the most just man.
* Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.
* I want to be the best of men.
* Do good to others and you will be the best of men.
* I wish to be the most favored by Allah.
* Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be most favored by Him.
* I'd like to complete my faith.
* If you have good manners you will complete your faith.
* I wish to be among those who do good.
* Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don't see Him, Know that He sees you. In this way you will be among those who do good.
* I wish to be obedient to Allah.
* If you observe Allah's commands you will be obedient.
* I'd like to be free from all sins.
* Bathe yourself from impurity and you will be free from all sins.
* I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
* Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
* I'd like Allah to bestow His mercy on me.
* If you have mercy on yourself and on others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.
* I'd like my sins to be very few.
If you seek the forgiveness of Allah as much as you can, your sins will be very few.
I'd like to be the most honorable man.
If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.
I'd like to be the strongest of men.
If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men.
I'd like to enlarge my provision.
If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision.
I'd like to be loved by Allah and His messenger.
If you love what Allah and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.
I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the Day of Judgment.
If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment.
I'd like my prayers to be responded.
If you avoid forbidden actions your prayers will be responded.
I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment.
If you guard your chastity, Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.
I'd like Allah to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgment.
Do not uncover your fellow peoples faults, and Allah will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment.
What will save me from sins?
Tears, humility and illness.
What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah?
Gentle manners, modesty and patience.
What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah?
Hot temper and miserliness.
What alleviates the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter?
Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.
What extinguishes hell's fires on the Day of Judgment?
Patience in adversity and misfortunes.
Imam Al Mustaghfiri said: "I have never heard a tradition more comprehensive of the beauties of religion, and more beneficial than this hadith. It collects all the good things of Islam but not put to use." (Related by Imam Ibn Hambal)
Assalaamu alaykum
One of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, Khalid ibn Al Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated the following:
A Bedouin came one day to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said to him, "O, Messenger of Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter. "
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, responded, "Ask what you wish."
* I'd like to be the most learned of men.
* Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.
* I wish to be the richest man in the world.
* Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.
* I'd like to be the most just man.
* Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.
* I want to be the best of men.
* Do good to others and you will be the best of men.
* I wish to be the most favored by Allah.
* Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be most favored by Him.
* I'd like to complete my faith.
* If you have good manners you will complete your faith.
* I wish to be among those who do good.
* Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don't see Him, Know that He sees you. In this way you will be among those who do good.
* I wish to be obedient to Allah.
* If you observe Allah's commands you will be obedient.
* I'd like to be free from all sins.
* Bathe yourself from impurity and you will be free from all sins.
* I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
* Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
* I'd like Allah to bestow His mercy on me.
* If you have mercy on yourself and on others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.
* I'd like my sins to be very few.
If you seek the forgiveness of Allah as much as you can, your sins will be very few.
I'd like to be the most honorable man.
If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.
I'd like to be the strongest of men.
If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men.
I'd like to enlarge my provision.
If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision.
I'd like to be loved by Allah and His messenger.
If you love what Allah and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.
I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the Day of Judgment.
If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment.
I'd like my prayers to be responded.
If you avoid forbidden actions your prayers will be responded.
I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment.
If you guard your chastity, Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.
I'd like Allah to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgment.
Do not uncover your fellow peoples faults, and Allah will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment.
What will save me from sins?
Tears, humility and illness.
What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah?
Gentle manners, modesty and patience.
What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah?
Hot temper and miserliness.
What alleviates the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter?
Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.
What extinguishes hell's fires on the Day of Judgment?
Patience in adversity and misfortunes.
Imam Al Mustaghfiri said: "I have never heard a tradition more comprehensive of the beauties of religion, and more beneficial than this hadith. It collects all the good things of Islam but not put to use." (Related by Imam Ibn Hambal)
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.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Increasing Iman
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well and in high spirits of Iman.
When the angel of death come to us, nothing else matter except our faith (Iman) in the One. We should be able to say La illaha illallah (there is no god but Allah). You can't say this unless you have been practicing it--like the basketball player who is able to make his basket--he has been practicing for many years to make those perfect shots.
We must go through the physical struggle--something that cause us intense pain--like something happen in our lives, e.g. losing our loved ones, etc. Take for example, Anas ibn Nader (Allah be pleased with him), the companion of Uhud, experienced this intense pain, and that intense pain was hearing the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has been killed.
After the pain is so intense, you need to step back and let go. What did Anas let go off? He let go off this world. We know this because he said to Sa'ad ibn Mua'dah, another great companion (Allah be pleased with him), "I can smell the fragrance of Jannah." And Anas fought unlike any human being could fight.
When you come out of this struggle, your mind body patterns change and you reach a higher level of Iman. And for Anas, he was a matyr and his abode is Jannatul Firdaus inshaAllah.
We may not have the chance to be a matryr like Anas and we don't have to wait till we lose our loved ones or calamities befall us to go through intense pain and hard struggle to reach a higher level of Iman. We can do what was only obligated upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah commanded him (peace and blessings be upon him) to pray at night and this is to prepare him to carry the message of Islam that we have today.
"O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him! Stand (to pray) all night, except a little. Half of it, or a little less than that, Or a little more; And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style. Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws). Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allâh). Qur'an Muzzammil 73:1-6
Many of us don't pray qiyamulail (the night vigil prayer) because it not an easy task to get up at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning while everyone was sleeping. A person has to go through a massive struggle to get up at that time. You go through the process of letting it go and so you rise up from your bed and when you say Allahu Akbar, you entered into a higher level of Iman. Your Iman will get stronger and stronger as long as you don't quit inshaAllah. And you will be able to fight like Anas, in spirit, inshaAllah.
If we wonder why can't we carry the message of Islam, it is because our Iman is not strong and we are not doing anything to make it strong.
May Allah increase our Iman. Ameen.
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well and in high spirits of Iman.
When the angel of death come to us, nothing else matter except our faith (Iman) in the One. We should be able to say La illaha illallah (there is no god but Allah). You can't say this unless you have been practicing it--like the basketball player who is able to make his basket--he has been practicing for many years to make those perfect shots.
We must go through the physical struggle--something that cause us intense pain--like something happen in our lives, e.g. losing our loved ones, etc. Take for example, Anas ibn Nader (Allah be pleased with him), the companion of Uhud, experienced this intense pain, and that intense pain was hearing the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has been killed.
After the pain is so intense, you need to step back and let go. What did Anas let go off? He let go off this world. We know this because he said to Sa'ad ibn Mua'dah, another great companion (Allah be pleased with him), "I can smell the fragrance of Jannah." And Anas fought unlike any human being could fight.
When you come out of this struggle, your mind body patterns change and you reach a higher level of Iman. And for Anas, he was a matyr and his abode is Jannatul Firdaus inshaAllah.
We may not have the chance to be a matryr like Anas and we don't have to wait till we lose our loved ones or calamities befall us to go through intense pain and hard struggle to reach a higher level of Iman. We can do what was only obligated upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah commanded him (peace and blessings be upon him) to pray at night and this is to prepare him to carry the message of Islam that we have today.
"O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him! Stand (to pray) all night, except a little. Half of it, or a little less than that, Or a little more; And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style. Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws). Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allâh). Qur'an Muzzammil 73:1-6
Many of us don't pray qiyamulail (the night vigil prayer) because it not an easy task to get up at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning while everyone was sleeping. A person has to go through a massive struggle to get up at that time. You go through the process of letting it go and so you rise up from your bed and when you say Allahu Akbar, you entered into a higher level of Iman. Your Iman will get stronger and stronger as long as you don't quit inshaAllah. And you will be able to fight like Anas, in spirit, inshaAllah.
If we wonder why can't we carry the message of Islam, it is because our Iman is not strong and we are not doing anything to make it strong.
May Allah increase our Iman. Ameen.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
What are we busy for?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
Why are people going about their normal life as if there is no end? They are so engrossed with the world, to even consider death, busying with things that won't benefit them in the Afterlife.
If they truly know what is going to happen to them, they will stop on the tracks and reflect on the blessings of Allah and use them in the manner they were created--this is gratitude. If one is strong, intelligent or wealthy one must reflect on how one may use these blessings for the service of Allah, His religion and one's fellow men. Gratitude is a means of increase in this world and salvation in the Hereafter. "I swear if you are grateful I will give you more." (Qur'an 14:7)
"Verily, when a slave is placed in his grave, then as his companions are departing and he can still hear their footsteps, two angels come to him, sit him up and say aboout Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). " What did you used to say about this man?" The believer will say, "I testify that he is Allah's slave and messenger, upon which he will be told, "Look at your seat in the Fire, Allah has exchanged it for a seat in Paradise. and he will see them both,...The hypocrite and the disbeliever will be asked, "What did you used to say about this man." He will reply, "I don't know, I used to say what people said," upon which he will be told, "You understood not, neither did you follow," and he will be severely struck with iron hammers, and he will let out a scream that will be heard by everyone around him except humans and jinn." Sahih al-Bukhari.
Death is a "rude awakening." It is a moment when everything is worthless except our good deeds. We need to always check our intentions in all our endeavors, that they are only for His pleasure, so our works can be counted as good deeds in the eyes of Allah. Visiting graveyards is recommended in sacred law. It is a chance to see where one will end up while reflecting on the inability of those in the grave to perform any more good deeds or to repent from their mistakes. We have so little time left before we will be one of them.
May Allah grant us righteous deeds and save us from the punishment of the grave and give us a seat in Paradise. Ameen.
Assalaamu alaykum
I pray that you are well.
Why are people going about their normal life as if there is no end? They are so engrossed with the world, to even consider death, busying with things that won't benefit them in the Afterlife.
If they truly know what is going to happen to them, they will stop on the tracks and reflect on the blessings of Allah and use them in the manner they were created--this is gratitude. If one is strong, intelligent or wealthy one must reflect on how one may use these blessings for the service of Allah, His religion and one's fellow men. Gratitude is a means of increase in this world and salvation in the Hereafter. "I swear if you are grateful I will give you more." (Qur'an 14:7)
"Verily, when a slave is placed in his grave, then as his companions are departing and he can still hear their footsteps, two angels come to him, sit him up and say aboout Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). " What did you used to say about this man?" The believer will say, "I testify that he is Allah's slave and messenger, upon which he will be told, "Look at your seat in the Fire, Allah has exchanged it for a seat in Paradise. and he will see them both,...The hypocrite and the disbeliever will be asked, "What did you used to say about this man." He will reply, "I don't know, I used to say what people said," upon which he will be told, "You understood not, neither did you follow," and he will be severely struck with iron hammers, and he will let out a scream that will be heard by everyone around him except humans and jinn." Sahih al-Bukhari.
Death is a "rude awakening." It is a moment when everything is worthless except our good deeds. We need to always check our intentions in all our endeavors, that they are only for His pleasure, so our works can be counted as good deeds in the eyes of Allah. Visiting graveyards is recommended in sacred law. It is a chance to see where one will end up while reflecting on the inability of those in the grave to perform any more good deeds or to repent from their mistakes. We have so little time left before we will be one of them.
May Allah grant us righteous deeds and save us from the punishment of the grave and give us a seat in Paradise. Ameen.
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