بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamua alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Nothing is difficult if we sought help through our Lord. Our problem is we don't ask Allah and we are impatient. We ask everybody except Allah. When people don't help or couldn't help, we get depressed, disappointed or upset. What can people do except what Allah lets them. Only Allah can make things happen.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
"Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:255
When Prophet Ya'qub, peace be upon him, saw the blood stains on his beloved son's shirt, he saw there had been some foul play by his older sons against young Yusuf, peace be upon him, but he was patient and implore Allah's assistance.
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬ۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬اۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
"They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is God (alone) Whose help can be sought" Qur'an Yusuf 12:18
Prophet Ya'qub has faith and he knows that all that Allah does is for the best. Indeed, Allah plans and His promise is true. Many years later the family of Ya'qub reunited in the blessed land of Egypt.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَبَوَيۡهِ وَقَالَ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مِصۡرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيۡهِ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ وَخَرُّواْ لَهُ ۥ سُجَّدً۬اۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأۡوِيلُ رُءۡيَـٰىَ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّ۬اۖ وَقَدۡ أَحۡسَنَ بِىٓ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجۡنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡبَدۡوِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَ إِخۡوَتِىٓۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ۬ لِّمَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
"Then, when they came in before Yusuf, he betook his parents to himself and said: 'Enter Egypt, if Allâh wills, in security.' And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaytan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.'" Qur'an Yusuf 12:99-100
So seek Allah night and day and be patient.
May Allah hold us by the hand. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Catch The Final Moments Of Blessed First 10 Days of Zulhijjah!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
What To Do On The First 10 Days Of Zulhijjah?
Plan to sacrifice an animal this Eid if you can afford it. There is a lot of blessing in it. And Remember The Homeless
May Allah accept your worship and good deeds. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.
Hajj Mabrur to those who are performing hajj this year. Please don't forget us in your du'as and at Arafah.
Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
What To Do On The First 10 Days Of Zulhijjah?
Plan to sacrifice an animal this Eid if you can afford it. There is a lot of blessing in it. And Remember The Homeless
May Allah accept your worship and good deeds. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers.
Hajj Mabrur to those who are performing hajj this year. Please don't forget us in your du'as and at Arafah.
Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Wassalaam
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Our Protective Shield
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
All of us know that we need to earn a living so we can feed our families and have a comfortable life. So it is no wonder that parents will make sure that their children go to school and on to college. They spend lots of energy, time and money on this, day in and day out, for many years. They take time off work so they can take their children to far away colleges and pick them up during vacations. They borrow money to pay for the expensive tuition and books. They send them for extra help so they can pass their exams or get better grades. They want their children to get their degrees, be successful, have a good career. That's their goal. This is well and good.
But is this what life is all about? Very seldom you see parents spend even 10% of that amount of energy, time and money for their children's success (in turn theirs) in the life hereafter. If you go to the masjid bathroom/wudu' area, you will see most children, even adult children, even parents, who couldn't even make wudu' (ablution) properly. Teaching someone how to make wudu' properly does not take more than 10 minutes but why do parents neglected to fulfill this very simple but very important obligation--sending their children to qualified teachers to teach them how to make wudu' and pray properly?
We are moved to do for the one we are attached to. So if our hearts are attached to good colleges, to money, to the comfort of this life, we will do our best to get our children to good colleges, to earn that money and get that comfort. But if our hearts are attached to Allah, then we will be moved to do our best to earn the pleasure of Allah. How do we get there? Only knowledge can get us there. And Tawfiq is from Allah.
But let's begin with getting our wudu' done properly because without proper wudu', there will be no proper prayer. Prayer is an important pillar of Islam. If this pillar is shaking, our iman is also shaking. Wudu', like prayer, is an act of worship. It is not a game that we splash some water on our faces, hands and feet. Someone with his heart attached to Allah will perform his wudu' with much reverence and focus, and with every action during the wudu' he hopes for his sins falling off his limbs.
It was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that anyone who does wudu' and does it well and then prays will be forgiven everything that he does between then and the time he does his prayer. So learn how to do wudu' well and make sure we teach our children how to do wudu' well. The way we do this is by following the way of people whose hearts are attached to Allah. And that is the way of the people who perform the wudu' according to the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Your life should be in constant remembrance of Allah, even during wudu', for it is a light that drives away the shaytan, our avowed enemy who is lurking to snatch our iman away and the one causing dissension among us. So be in constant wudu' because it is our protective shield against shaytan.
May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
All of us know that we need to earn a living so we can feed our families and have a comfortable life. So it is no wonder that parents will make sure that their children go to school and on to college. They spend lots of energy, time and money on this, day in and day out, for many years. They take time off work so they can take their children to far away colleges and pick them up during vacations. They borrow money to pay for the expensive tuition and books. They send them for extra help so they can pass their exams or get better grades. They want their children to get their degrees, be successful, have a good career. That's their goal. This is well and good.
But is this what life is all about? Very seldom you see parents spend even 10% of that amount of energy, time and money for their children's success (in turn theirs) in the life hereafter. If you go to the masjid bathroom/wudu' area, you will see most children, even adult children, even parents, who couldn't even make wudu' (ablution) properly. Teaching someone how to make wudu' properly does not take more than 10 minutes but why do parents neglected to fulfill this very simple but very important obligation--sending their children to qualified teachers to teach them how to make wudu' and pray properly?
We are moved to do for the one we are attached to. So if our hearts are attached to good colleges, to money, to the comfort of this life, we will do our best to get our children to good colleges, to earn that money and get that comfort. But if our hearts are attached to Allah, then we will be moved to do our best to earn the pleasure of Allah. How do we get there? Only knowledge can get us there. And Tawfiq is from Allah.
But let's begin with getting our wudu' done properly because without proper wudu', there will be no proper prayer. Prayer is an important pillar of Islam. If this pillar is shaking, our iman is also shaking. Wudu', like prayer, is an act of worship. It is not a game that we splash some water on our faces, hands and feet. Someone with his heart attached to Allah will perform his wudu' with much reverence and focus, and with every action during the wudu' he hopes for his sins falling off his limbs.
It was reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that anyone who does wudu' and does it well and then prays will be forgiven everything that he does between then and the time he does his prayer. So learn how to do wudu' well and make sure we teach our children how to do wudu' well. The way we do this is by following the way of people whose hearts are attached to Allah. And that is the way of the people who perform the wudu' according to the sunnah of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Your life should be in constant remembrance of Allah, even during wudu', for it is a light that drives away the shaytan, our avowed enemy who is lurking to snatch our iman away and the one causing dissension among us. So be in constant wudu' because it is our protective shield against shaytan.
May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Do Your Part for Help
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
When you think your life is tough, it is tough, but you can handle it.
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope..." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:286
The moment it is going to be beyond your ability, help will come inshaAllah. But you have to do your part.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214
If you want something from Allah, you have to take the first step. If you wait and expect things will come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward laziness and procrastination.
Remember Maryam binti Imran, the mother of 'Isa, peace be upon them;
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلۡمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ قَالَتۡ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى مِتُّ قَبۡلَ هَـٰذَا وَڪُنتُ نَسۡيً۬ا مَّنسِيًّ۬ا
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" Qur'an Maryam 19:23
When it became unbearable for Maryam to bear the pain, Allah sent her comfort.
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّۭاوَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًۭا جَنِيًّۭا فَكُلِى وَٱشۡرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيۡنً۬اۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡبَشَرِ أَحَدً۬ا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ صَوۡمً۬ا فَلَنۡ أُڪَلِّمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِنسِيًّ۬ا
"Then [the baby 'Isa or Jibril] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'" Qur'an Maryam 19:24-26
She was told to shake the palm trunk and dates fell for her to eat to gain back her strength. What's the point with shaking the tree? If you have seen a date palm tree and ask a group of men to shake it at the base, they won't be able to move it even a fraction. How could a woman in labor, weak and exhausted, shake it? Allah can make the dates fell on her lap without any effort from her. But Allah wants her to do her part.
So until the help comes, hang in there patiently but also do your part to the best of your ability.
If you seek help from Allah, Allah will give it to you. But remember Him always, do your part and be patient.
"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed." (related by Bukhari)
May Allah grant us steadfastness and patience. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
When you think your life is tough, it is tough, but you can handle it.
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope..." Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:286
The moment it is going to be beyond your ability, help will come inshaAllah. But you have to do your part.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214
If you want something from Allah, you have to take the first step. If you wait and expect things will come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward laziness and procrastination.
Remember Maryam binti Imran, the mother of 'Isa, peace be upon them;
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلۡمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ قَالَتۡ يَـٰلَيۡتَنِى مِتُّ قَبۡلَ هَـٰذَا وَڪُنتُ نَسۡيً۬ا مَّنسِيًّ۬ا
"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" Qur'an Maryam 19:23
When it became unbearable for Maryam to bear the pain, Allah sent her comfort.
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّۭاوَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًۭا جَنِيًّۭا فَكُلِى وَٱشۡرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيۡنً۬اۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡبَشَرِ أَحَدً۬ا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ صَوۡمً۬ا فَلَنۡ أُڪَلِّمَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِنسِيًّ۬ا
"Then [the baby 'Isa or Jibril] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'" Qur'an Maryam 19:24-26
She was told to shake the palm trunk and dates fell for her to eat to gain back her strength. What's the point with shaking the tree? If you have seen a date palm tree and ask a group of men to shake it at the base, they won't be able to move it even a fraction. How could a woman in labor, weak and exhausted, shake it? Allah can make the dates fell on her lap without any effort from her. But Allah wants her to do her part.
So until the help comes, hang in there patiently but also do your part to the best of your ability.
If you seek help from Allah, Allah will give it to you. But remember Him always, do your part and be patient.
"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed." (related by Bukhari)
May Allah grant us steadfastness and patience. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Motherhood
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that the best of women are four: Mariam, mother of Isa, Khadijah binti Khuwalid, Fatima binti Muhammad and Aasiya, wife of Fir'aun, peace be upon them all.
Notice, two of them, Mariam and Aasiya, each raised a Prophet. Mariam raised Isa, Allah grant him peace, and Aasiya raised Musa, Allah grant him peace.
What we can glean from this fact is that the nurturing that a pious woman gives her child, bringing up the child to be a strong Muslim character can elevate her to the highest level.
So, remember the Gardens when you are about to give up on your children who when it comes to Qur'an they fell asleep but they could go on for hours playing stupid quizzes and games on the computer or socializing with their facebook friends. Remember the Gardens if you haven't put Islam at the forefront of your child's life.
You carried them for 9 months like nobody carries anybody. You protected them during pregnancy with your whole being, suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties and sorrows of pregnancy; in pain you gave birth to them while your life was hanging on the thread; you gave them every comfort with your own hardship; lulling them to sleep while keeping yourself awake; you fed them the fruits of your heart which nobody feeds anybody, with much discomfort and pain sometimes, until they can feed themselves. Your job does not end here. You cannot leave them now. You cannot take a break. You cannot give up. You have to continue to nurture them. Nurturing them to be good and strong Muslims takes time. This is your jihad. You have to brave the heat and cold of this challenging world of motherhood.
There are no short cuts to the highest Paradise.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah help us raise our children to be strong Muslims, grant us patience and tawfiq. May Allah grant us Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that the best of women are four: Mariam, mother of Isa, Khadijah binti Khuwalid, Fatima binti Muhammad and Aasiya, wife of Fir'aun, peace be upon them all.
Notice, two of them, Mariam and Aasiya, each raised a Prophet. Mariam raised Isa, Allah grant him peace, and Aasiya raised Musa, Allah grant him peace.
What we can glean from this fact is that the nurturing that a pious woman gives her child, bringing up the child to be a strong Muslim character can elevate her to the highest level.
So, remember the Gardens when you are about to give up on your children who when it comes to Qur'an they fell asleep but they could go on for hours playing stupid quizzes and games on the computer or socializing with their facebook friends. Remember the Gardens if you haven't put Islam at the forefront of your child's life.
You carried them for 9 months like nobody carries anybody. You protected them during pregnancy with your whole being, suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties and sorrows of pregnancy; in pain you gave birth to them while your life was hanging on the thread; you gave them every comfort with your own hardship; lulling them to sleep while keeping yourself awake; you fed them the fruits of your heart which nobody feeds anybody, with much discomfort and pain sometimes, until they can feed themselves. Your job does not end here. You cannot leave them now. You cannot take a break. You cannot give up. You have to continue to nurture them. Nurturing them to be good and strong Muslims takes time. This is your jihad. You have to brave the heat and cold of this challenging world of motherhood.
There are no short cuts to the highest Paradise.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah help us raise our children to be strong Muslims, grant us patience and tawfiq. May Allah grant us Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
Wassalaam
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