Journey2Allah

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Let's Memorize Today -- Prophetic Supplication #15 -- asking forgiveness

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad

O Allah, send peace and blessings upon Muhammad (ﷺ) and the family of Muhammad (ﷺ)

Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to supplicate:

‏اللهم اغفر لي خطيئتي وجهلي، وإسرافي في أمري، وما أنت أعلم به مني، اللهم اغفر لي جدي وهزلي، وخطئي وعمدي، وكل ذلك عندي، اللهم اغفر لي ما قدمت وما أخرت، وما أسررت وما أعلنت، وما أنت أعلم به مني، أنت المقدم، وأنت المؤخر، وأنت على كل شيء قدير

Allahumm-aghfir li khati'ati, wajahli, wa israfi fi amri, wa ma Anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahumm-aghfir li jiddi wa hazli, wa khata'i wa 'amdi, wa kullu dhalika 'indi. Allahumm-aghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu, wa ma a'lantu, wa ma Anta a'lamu bihi minni. Antal-Muqaddimu, wa Antal-Mu'akhkhiru; wa Anta 'ala kulli shai'in Qadir

O Allah! Forgive my errors, ignorance and immoderation in my affairs. You are better aware of my faults than myself. O Allah! Forgive my faults which I committed in seriousness or in fun deliberately or inadvertently. O Allah! Grant me pardon for those sins which I committed in the past and I may commit in future, which I committed in privacy or in public and all those sins of which You are better aware than me. You Alone can send whomever You will to Jannah, and You Alone can send whomever You will to Hellfire and You are Omnipotent. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ameen

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "There is nothing more honorable to Allah than supplication." [Tirmidhi]

Aisha (radhiAllahu anha) said that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "The deeds most loved by Allah (are those) done regularly, even if they are small." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Tawfiq.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive
Learn the Prophetic Supplications

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Mercy and Consequences

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (56)

[Qur'an, Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]

Allah does not create us to leave us to figure out things on our own and then punish us when we fall short. He sent prophets and messengers to teach us and to remind us.

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٤٧

And for every nation is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged (47)

[Qur'an Yunus 10:47]

When we try to teach our children so they become successful, we can get frustrated when they don't do what we expect them to do. But Allah doesn't get frustrated and He doesn't get fadup. Rather, He continues to send prophets and messengers until the last prophet, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassallam, to remind us. The is is the last warning. If someone gives us a last warning, that means we will be in a great trouble if we don't change our ways. But when Allah sent His final Prophet, it is a mercy. Allah did not send His final prophet as an avenger, to seek to punish us, rather as a mercy to the world. He does not limit the mercy -- it is the whole thing of mercy, not just one aspect of mercy, but mercy in its entirety.

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (107)

[Qur'an Al-Anbiya 21:107]

Mercy doesn't mean there are no rules, no consequences and no punishment, not a time to be serious and stern, rather you are merciful in your application of all that is necessary in order to safeguard people and to establish societies that are safe and prosperous. Allah shows us the limits and consequences. People don't do well without structure. We need structure. If there are no rules, it will be chaos. But when you put rules, set limits and tell them the consequences of not following the rules at the outset, then there will be recourse and order.

The consequences in this life serve as reminders. Sometimes you get the consequences of your bad actions immediately so you can fix yourself quickly before it harm your Iman (Faith).

May Allah grant us tawfiq and make us among those who said "we hear and we obey" and make us die at the highest of Iman. Ameen.

Please include us in your night prayers. Jazakum Allahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Let's Memorize Today -- Prophetic Supplication #14 -- asking forgiveness

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad

O Allah, send peace and blessings upon Muhammad (ﷺ) and the family of Muhammad (ﷺ)

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I requested the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to teach me a supplication which I could recite in my Salat (prayer). Thereupon he said: Recite:

اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلمًا كثيرًا، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك، وارحمني، إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh- dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min 'indika, warhamni, innaka Antal-Ghafur-ur-Rahim

O Allah! I have considerably wronged myself. There is none to forgive the sins but You. So grant me pardon and have mercy on me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "There is nothing more honorable to Allah than supplication." [Tirmidhi]

Aisha (radhiAllahu anha) said that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: "The deeds most loved by Allah (are those) done regularly, even if they are small." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Tawfiq.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Related Archive
Learn the Prophetic Supplications

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Honoring Rajab 1435 AH

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Today is the first day of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic Calendar and one of the four sacred months. In the month of Rajab, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, went on the Night Journey and Ascension (Al-Isra wa Al-Mi'raj). This month opens the series of three holy months culminating in Ramadhan: Rajab, Sha'ban, and Ramadhan. During these three months we should prepare and keep ourselves away from sins and disobedience, and low traits and bad manners.

Part of being a slave of Allah is to honor what Allah has honored and considered great what Allah has made great. Allah has made this month of Rajab sacred. So we honor this month and be a thankful slave by indulging ourselves in extra worship and race to good actions, and avoid all disobedience and bad actions at all costs.

Abu Hurayra reported the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

Race to good actions as fast as you can. What are you waiting for except delayed poverty, oppressive wealth, debilitating illness, dottering senility, a swift death or the Dajjal? Or are you waiting for an unseen evil, or the Last Hour? The Last Hour will be most bitter and terrible.

[Tirmidhi]

Pay special attention to the rights of others and fulfill them. It is extremely important to get your obligatory prayers, fasting and zakat in place, and as soon as you are financially and physically able, don't delay performing hajj. If you don't perform the obligation, nothing else is going to work for you. But once you get them in place, don't think that you have a one way ticket to Paradise without a detour to Hellfire. We have to be acutely aware of the rights of Allah and everybody. If you don't you will suffer tremendously. Any moment in Hellfire is not a painful torment.

It is important to know the rights of people. There are rules that we have to follow in dealing with people. When we talk about people, it includes your own family members and relatives. Some people are beautiful butterflies outside but at home they are monsters. We have to watch out for this.

We cannot oppress people. Oppression is causing any harm to another, no matter how slight or how insignificant you might think. It is not limited to what we know of tyrants or oppressive and corrupt rulers and authorities.

Be especially careful not to hurt others and wrong others. Be careful not to make fun or mock people (Muslim or non-Muslim), strangers or family. Even if they laugh with you, that doesn't mean they don't feel hurt. One of the serious oppression of another is gossiping, backbiting, slandering and talebearing. These are extremely common calamities that afflict us. Be careful when you sit together with your friends or even your own family members for an innocent talk can turn into backbiting.

We must treat all people with respect and honor, whether you think they deserve it or not. Your opinion doesn't count in this matter.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the Emigrant is he who abandons what God has prohibited.

Be an agent of peace or help others to be agents of peace. You don't thwart any peace works. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms and prayers? Making peace between one another. Enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.

If you have any of the signs of hypocrisy, lying, breaking promises or betraying trusts, work on removing them. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he speaks lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays his trust.

Allah says,

إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا ﴿١٤٥

Surely, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.

(Quran An-Nisa 4:145)

If you catch yourself in a situation that makes you angry, keep it down and Allah will reward you. Do not try to take your rights by force. Pardon and overlook.

Allah says,

Whoever forgives and makes peace will receive his reward from his Lord.

Allah says,

وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّـهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٢

And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (22)

[Qur'an An-Nur 24:22]

Take accounting of ourselves every night before going to sleep. When we take account of our own deeds, we are able to realize our mistakes and try to correct them immediately. Those who do not engage in accounting of their own deeds, only condemn themselves before Allah.

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْـَٔلَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٩٢﴾ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٣

So by your Lord, We will surely question them all (92) About what they used to do. (93)

[Qur'an al-Hijr 15:92-93]

Omar Al-Khattab, the Commander of the believers, advised us that:

Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account [by someone else], weigh your deeds before they are weighed [by someone else].

A true accounting of oneself is to take each of our sin, make a sincere repentance and make amends with the creation and with Allah.

Remember often the terminator of pleasures.

Let's begin this month with repentance to Allah. Astaghfirullaha Al-Adhim wa atubu ilaik

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire, (16)

[Qur'an AleImran 3:16]

لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ﴿١٤٩ ...

...If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers. (149)

[Qur'an Al-A'raf 7:149]

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرٍّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide to your covenant and promise as best as I can, I take refuge in you from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so fsorgive me, for verily no one can forgive sin except you.

May Allah forgive all our sins, grant us steadfastness, and bring peace and safety to the world. May Allah bless us all in Rajab and Sha'ban, and enable us to reach the blessed month of Ramadan, Allahumma amin.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam