بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In His perfect justice and wisdom, Allah does not change the condition of the people from good to bad or from bad to good, from ease to hardship or from hardship to ease, unless they change what is in themselves. Allah Most High says in Surah Ar-Ra'd,
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١
For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. [Quran, Ar-Ra'd 13:11]
Anytime something of a blessing is taken away, we have done something to have it taken away. We are currently under this COVID-19 crisis lockdown and that we are currently being deprived of many blessings that we typically were accustomed to. We need to think long and hard what has humanity done to deserve this and we need to strive at least individually to better ourselves so we save ourselves in front of Allah.
How to change? Through keeping with the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. The greatest action in our lives (after worship, the five pillars of Islam), is purifying our souls - worshipping Allah - realising the teaching of Angel Jibril alayhisallan on ihsan - spiritual excellence, i.e. To worship Allah as though you see Him, and though you do not see Him, you know that He sees you. (Bukhari and Muslim). "Actions are only according to intentions, and to each only what he intended." So we must look at each action that we do, or are about to do, and make sure that it will be correct and pleasing to Allah, and to His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
What is within themselves (ourselves)?
For changing ’what is within ourselves’ we first need to know what it is we are looking for, when referring to the ’within ourselves’ or ’our souls’. These are all subtle, invisible, abstract but real things, which are all known to us intuitively. Jealousy, hatred, greed, etc. are invisibly hidden in the souls, but the effects of those traits - if not stopped - are devastating.
“Knowing the definition of these diseases, their causes and their cures, and remedies how to fix them, is personally obligatory (fard 'ayn) on every Muslim.“ [Imam al Ghazali]
We seek refuge in Allah from the punishment and wrath of Allah. May Allah purify our hearts and help us worship Him well and forgive all our sins. May Allah save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next, from the trial of COVID-19. May Allah lift COVID-19 from the world and answer the du'as of the righteous, the weak and the sick. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
How To Be The Happiest People On Earth?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Anything of this world that you derive pleasure from is not happiness. When the thing is gone, or you have become used to it, or something new replaces it, the pleasure for it is gone. Happiness is not define by what you own and possess but happiness come from within.
Everything on this earth has its appointed time. Anything that has been created will come to an end, except for the One who created all of creation. The real pursuit is for the Creator – the Creator of happiness – and not the feeling of happiness itself, for finding the Creator of it all will provide happiness. So seek Allah, the Everlasting Sovereign, and you will gain the abundance of His creation. Seeking Allah will lead you to a never-ending felicity called happiness.
The one who worship Allah is the happiest person in this world and the next. It is the righteous in this world who will get the dunya and hereafter.
أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٦٤﴾
Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (62) Those who believed and were fearing Allah (63) For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is what is the great attainment. (64) And let not their speech grieve you. Indeed, honor [due to power] belongs to Allah entirely. He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (65)
Allah Most High reminded us that,
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. [Quran, Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]
When you choose Allah life becomes beautiful. You have purpose, life has a meaning and there is something for you to do. When you neglect Allah then all the pleasures of this world that has to offer will mot make you even a fraction of what the worship of Allah will make you.
Everybody know that everybody is going to die. There is no one person who is going to live forever. Then we need to think about why we are here and what is going to happen after we die. This is why religion is so important. The religion explains why we are here.
Allah Most Highs says in Surah Yunus,
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِى فَلَآ أَعْبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٠٤
Say, [O Muhammad], "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion - then I do not worship those which you worship besides Allah; but I worship Allah, who causes your death. And I have been commanded to be of the believers. [Quran, Yunus 10:104]
Allah is telling people to wake up from their slumber and think about why they are here. Don't just live a heedless lifestyle, living for the moment like animals. Death will come to you sooner or later. What have you done for your life?
May Allah make us of the righteous and grant us an excellent ending and join us with the righteous. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Anything of this world that you derive pleasure from is not happiness. When the thing is gone, or you have become used to it, or something new replaces it, the pleasure for it is gone. Happiness is not define by what you own and possess but happiness come from within.
Everything on this earth has its appointed time. Anything that has been created will come to an end, except for the One who created all of creation. The real pursuit is for the Creator – the Creator of happiness – and not the feeling of happiness itself, for finding the Creator of it all will provide happiness. So seek Allah, the Everlasting Sovereign, and you will gain the abundance of His creation. Seeking Allah will lead you to a never-ending felicity called happiness.
The one who worship Allah is the happiest person in this world and the next. It is the righteous in this world who will get the dunya and hereafter.
أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٦٤﴾
Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (62) Those who believed and were fearing Allah (63) For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is what is the great attainment. (64) And let not their speech grieve you. Indeed, honor [due to power] belongs to Allah entirely. He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (65)
Allah Most High reminded us that,
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. [Quran, Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]
When you choose Allah life becomes beautiful. You have purpose, life has a meaning and there is something for you to do. When you neglect Allah then all the pleasures of this world that has to offer will mot make you even a fraction of what the worship of Allah will make you.
Everybody know that everybody is going to die. There is no one person who is going to live forever. Then we need to think about why we are here and what is going to happen after we die. This is why religion is so important. The religion explains why we are here.
Allah Most Highs says in Surah Yunus,
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِى فَلَآ أَعْبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٠٤
Say, [O Muhammad], "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion - then I do not worship those which you worship besides Allah; but I worship Allah, who causes your death. And I have been commanded to be of the believers. [Quran, Yunus 10:104]
Allah is telling people to wake up from their slumber and think about why they are here. Don't just live a heedless lifestyle, living for the moment like animals. Death will come to you sooner or later. What have you done for your life?
May Allah make us of the righteous and grant us an excellent ending and join us with the righteous. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Monday, May 11, 2020
The Sweetness Of Faith And GodFearingness -- Lesson From The Quranic Story Of Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
If you protect your Iman (Faith) and chastity in your youth, Allah will bless you with religiosity in your old age generally speaking and Prophet Yusuf alayhissalaam is one of those who Allah protected.
Men and women have natural dispositions and it is foolish to ignore them. It is not healthy to ignore the Islamic etiquettes and manners. The more we obey the Islamic etiquettes and manners the less problems we will have. To control our urges is the essence of Taqwa (Godfearingness) and that's how Paradise is earned.
Prophet Yusuf alyhissalaam was seduced by the minister's wife and he would have inclined to her but he saw that as a test from his Lord and he did not act upon the desire. Prophet Yusuf has the fortitude and the Iman and the Taqwa that he said no to her. Allah Most High related the incident in Surah Yusuf,
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." (23) And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. (24) [Quran, Yusuf 12:23-24]
There is no way we can come between ourselves and our desires except Allah. Whatever you are strugging with and whatever your addictions are if you turn to Allah sincerely, Allah will protect you. Our sincerity means we are more concerned about how Allah Most High views us than how people view us. So turn to Allah because the worship of Allah is sweeter and more pleasurable than anything a sin can give us.
The inner beauty of good character and the decency of morality is just as attractive. In fact, this is more attractive and desirable than the outer beauty. Yusuf's beauty was so perfect, and when he showed decency and refuse the wife of the minister coming on he became more desirable to her than before. To live an upright life even in a society that is evil earns the respect of everybody around you. The real beauty is not the outer skin beauty but is of iman and taqwa. This what makes us attractive to another believer.
Always conduct ourselves with the dignity of Islam and good mannerisms in all our affairs. Even in prison, Prophet Yusuf conducted himself with the dignity of Islam and good manners, that even the criminals recognized his piety and goodness.
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْءَاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good." (36)[Quran, Yusuf 12:36]
The best da'wah is through your good character and manners. We need to exemply this in our lives as we interact with people, Muslims or non Muslims, and especially our own family.
This Ramadhan work on building our character. First identify our bad and blameworthy traits and make a sincere intention to rid of them.
Perhaps what we don't have is the biggest blessing. Imagine if you are very good looking and people would be interested in you all the time. Can you survive even a fraction of the tests that Prophet Yusuf went through? Whatever people have, don't be jealous. Whatever you have thank Allah and in whatever you don't have thank Allah as well. Allah already knew we are weak. If we were born into a multimillionaire or a royal family, with certain good looks or talents, with plenty of wealth, we would not have the strength to maintain our islamic identity. So Allah saves us by giving what He gave us. Whatever Allah gave us, these are the tools that we can pass our life exams with the best of grades, with a potential to get into the highest Paradise, Jannatul Firdaus. It is likely that if we were to be given a different life with different set of parameters we would fail miserably.
Prophet Yusuf has the most noble lineage. He was born in a household of a prophet (Ya'qub). His grandfather (Ishaq) and his greatfather (Ibrahim) are prophets. He had loving parents. But overnight he was trapped in a well, then sold into slavery, then jailed for no crime. Then overnight he became the minister of finance of all of Egypt. You need to go through a metaphorical well, metaphorical slavery and metaphorical dungence before you can get to the metaphorical palace.
May Allah grant us noble character, help us remove our blameworthy traits and replace them with praiseworthy traits. May Allah make us of the muttaqeen, the muhsinin, and the soliheen. May Allah cause us to die a Muslim and join us with the righteous. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
If you protect your Iman (Faith) and chastity in your youth, Allah will bless you with religiosity in your old age generally speaking and Prophet Yusuf alayhissalaam is one of those who Allah protected.
Men and women have natural dispositions and it is foolish to ignore them. It is not healthy to ignore the Islamic etiquettes and manners. The more we obey the Islamic etiquettes and manners the less problems we will have. To control our urges is the essence of Taqwa (Godfearingness) and that's how Paradise is earned.
Prophet Yusuf alyhissalaam was seduced by the minister's wife and he would have inclined to her but he saw that as a test from his Lord and he did not act upon the desire. Prophet Yusuf has the fortitude and the Iman and the Taqwa that he said no to her. Allah Most High related the incident in Surah Yusuf,
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." (23) And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. (24) [Quran, Yusuf 12:23-24]
There is no way we can come between ourselves and our desires except Allah. Whatever you are strugging with and whatever your addictions are if you turn to Allah sincerely, Allah will protect you. Our sincerity means we are more concerned about how Allah Most High views us than how people view us. So turn to Allah because the worship of Allah is sweeter and more pleasurable than anything a sin can give us.
The inner beauty of good character and the decency of morality is just as attractive. In fact, this is more attractive and desirable than the outer beauty. Yusuf's beauty was so perfect, and when he showed decency and refuse the wife of the minister coming on he became more desirable to her than before. To live an upright life even in a society that is evil earns the respect of everybody around you. The real beauty is not the outer skin beauty but is of iman and taqwa. This what makes us attractive to another believer.
Always conduct ourselves with the dignity of Islam and good mannerisms in all our affairs. Even in prison, Prophet Yusuf conducted himself with the dignity of Islam and good manners, that even the criminals recognized his piety and goodness.
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْءَاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good." (36)[Quran, Yusuf 12:36]
The best da'wah is through your good character and manners. We need to exemply this in our lives as we interact with people, Muslims or non Muslims, and especially our own family.
This Ramadhan work on building our character. First identify our bad and blameworthy traits and make a sincere intention to rid of them.
Perhaps what we don't have is the biggest blessing. Imagine if you are very good looking and people would be interested in you all the time. Can you survive even a fraction of the tests that Prophet Yusuf went through? Whatever people have, don't be jealous. Whatever you have thank Allah and in whatever you don't have thank Allah as well. Allah already knew we are weak. If we were born into a multimillionaire or a royal family, with certain good looks or talents, with plenty of wealth, we would not have the strength to maintain our islamic identity. So Allah saves us by giving what He gave us. Whatever Allah gave us, these are the tools that we can pass our life exams with the best of grades, with a potential to get into the highest Paradise, Jannatul Firdaus. It is likely that if we were to be given a different life with different set of parameters we would fail miserably.
Prophet Yusuf has the most noble lineage. He was born in a household of a prophet (Ya'qub). His grandfather (Ishaq) and his greatfather (Ibrahim) are prophets. He had loving parents. But overnight he was trapped in a well, then sold into slavery, then jailed for no crime. Then overnight he became the minister of finance of all of Egypt. You need to go through a metaphorical well, metaphorical slavery and metaphorical dungence before you can get to the metaphorical palace.
May Allah grant us noble character, help us remove our blameworthy traits and replace them with praiseworthy traits. May Allah make us of the muttaqeen, the muhsinin, and the soliheen. May Allah cause us to die a Muslim and join us with the righteous. Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Sunday, May 10, 2020
5 Ramadhan Hadiths and Du'a
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
1) Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“No servant (of Allah) fasts on a day (merely) for the sake of Allah except that Allah pushes the Hellfire seventy years further away from his face, due to fasting on this day.” Agreed upon and the wording is from Muslim.
مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اَللَّهِ إِلَّا بَاعَدَ اَللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ اَلْيَوْمِ عَنْ وَجْهِه اَلنَّارَ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ, وَاللَّفْظُ لِمُسْلِمٍ
2) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Indeed your Lord said: 'Every good deed is rewarded with ten of the same up to seven hundred times over. Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward for it.' Fasting is a shield from the Fire. The smell coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk. If one of you is abused by an ignorant person while fasting, then let him say: 'Indeed I am fasting.'" (Tirmidhi)
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ يَقُولُ كُلُّ حَسَنَةٍ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ وَالصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَإِنْ جَهِلَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ جَاهِلٌ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ "
3. Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said,
Fasting and the Quran will intercede on behalf of Allah’s servant on the Day of Judgment:
Fasting will say, “O my Lord! I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so accept my intercession for him.”
And the Quran will say, “O my Lord! I prevented him from sleeping by night, so accept my intercession for him.”
The intercession of both will thus be accepted. (Ahmad)
4. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that :
the Messenger of Allah said: "On the first night of the month of Ramadhan, the Shayatin are shackled, the jinns are restrained, the gates of the Fires are shut such that no gate among them would be opened. The gates of Paradise are opened such that no gate among them would be closed, and a caller calls: 'O seeker of the good; come near!' and 'O seeker of evil; stop! For there are those whom Allah frees from the Fire.' And that is every night." [Tirmidhi}
إِذَا كَانَ أَوَّلُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَمَرَدَةُ الْجِنِّ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ. وَفُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمْ يُغْلَقْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ وَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ يَا بَاغِيَ الْخَيْرِ أَقْبِلْ وَيَا بَاغِيَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ وَلِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَذَلِكَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ
5. It was narrated from 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:
"O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).'" [Ibn Majah]
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ وَافَقْتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَدْعُو قَالَ " تَقُولِينَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي " .
May Allah accept our prayers, our du'as, our fasting and our good deeds. May Allah forgive our sins and save us from the Fire.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
اللهم اجعلنا من عتقائك من النار
{Allahumma ja'alna min utaqaa-ika min-an-naar}
Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
1) Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“No servant (of Allah) fasts on a day (merely) for the sake of Allah except that Allah pushes the Hellfire seventy years further away from his face, due to fasting on this day.” Agreed upon and the wording is from Muslim.
مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اَللَّهِ إِلَّا بَاعَدَ اَللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ اَلْيَوْمِ عَنْ وَجْهِه اَلنَّارَ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ, وَاللَّفْظُ لِمُسْلِمٍ
2) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Indeed your Lord said: 'Every good deed is rewarded with ten of the same up to seven hundred times over. Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward for it.' Fasting is a shield from the Fire. The smell coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk. If one of you is abused by an ignorant person while fasting, then let him say: 'Indeed I am fasting.'" (Tirmidhi)
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ يَقُولُ كُلُّ حَسَنَةٍ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ وَالصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَإِنْ جَهِلَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ جَاهِلٌ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ "
3. Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said,
Fasting and the Quran will intercede on behalf of Allah’s servant on the Day of Judgment:
Fasting will say, “O my Lord! I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so accept my intercession for him.”
And the Quran will say, “O my Lord! I prevented him from sleeping by night, so accept my intercession for him.”
The intercession of both will thus be accepted. (Ahmad)
4. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that :
the Messenger of Allah said: "On the first night of the month of Ramadhan, the Shayatin are shackled, the jinns are restrained, the gates of the Fires are shut such that no gate among them would be opened. The gates of Paradise are opened such that no gate among them would be closed, and a caller calls: 'O seeker of the good; come near!' and 'O seeker of evil; stop! For there are those whom Allah frees from the Fire.' And that is every night." [Tirmidhi}
إِذَا كَانَ أَوَّلُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَمَرَدَةُ الْجِنِّ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ. وَفُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمْ يُغْلَقْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ وَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ يَا بَاغِيَ الْخَيْرِ أَقْبِلْ وَيَا بَاغِيَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ وَلِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَذَلِكَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ
5. It was narrated from 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:
"O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).'" [Ibn Majah]
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ وَافَقْتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَدْعُو قَالَ " تَقُولِينَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي " .
May Allah accept our prayers, our du'as, our fasting and our good deeds. May Allah forgive our sins and save us from the Fire.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
اللهم اجعلنا من عتقائك من النار
{Allahumma ja'alna min utaqaa-ika min-an-naar}
Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Friday, May 8, 2020
Quran Reflection -- Learn From The People Before Us
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Surah Al-A'raf is about the perpetual battle between people who believe in Allah who want to live an ethical and moral lives versus those who do not. There is a detailed description of past prophets, events about their communities, their reward and punishment and the punishment which overtook them.
Allah Most High says in Surah Al-A'raf,
الٓمٓصٓ ﴿١﴾ كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾ فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ إِذْ جَآءَهُم بَأْسُنَآ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٥﴾
Alif, Lam, Meem, Sad. (1) [This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muhammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers. (2) Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember. (3) And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon. (4) And their declaration when Our punishment came to them was only that they said, "Indeed, we were wrongdoers!" (5) [Quran Al-A'raf]
Allah rhetorically asks how many nations were destroyed. Allah is reminding us that disobeying Allah has consequences. Allah does not destroy a nation until they were given many chances. Allah does not love to inflict punishment but some people deserve it. Even when they deserve it Allah gave them chances.
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾ أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ ﴿٩٧﴾ أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ ﴿٩٨﴾ أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿٩٩﴾ أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَآ أَن لَّوْ نَشَآءُ أَصَبْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۚ وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ ﴿١٠٠
And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning." (96) Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep? (97) Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play? (98) Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people. (99) Has it not become clear to those who inherited the earth after its [previous] people that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal over their hearts so they do not hear. (100) [Quran, Al A'raf 7:96-100]
The reality of these verses is right here in front of our eyes in this current Covid-19 pandemic. The whole world has come to a screeching halt. The global economy collapsed. As of this writing, almost 4 million confirmed Covid-19 cases, more than 250,000 reported deaths, and the toll is rising. Lockdowns are imposed and people are scared and exhausted. Who could have imagined this? It all happened suddenly and instantaneously in a matter of a few days. Why are we being inflicted with Covid-19? There is no question that this is a communal punishment عذاب because of too much wrongdoings, transgressions, injustices (ظلم ), immorality (فحشاء) and corruption (فساد) going around in the globe. Finally enough is enough. We need to repent to Allah so we are not punished at an individual level.
We should be wise enough to take lesson from the events of other people and avoid doing things that had led them to death and disaster, and we should strive to follow the practices that led the prophets and the believers to eternal success. Let us wake up and understand that Allah is giving us an opportunity to be better through this pandemic. It is meant as a mercy, not a punishment if we turn back to Allah.
May Allah enable us to realize our own shortcomings and always turn back to Him. Aameen.
لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. [Quran, Al Anbiya' 21:87]
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Surah Al-A'raf is about the perpetual battle between people who believe in Allah who want to live an ethical and moral lives versus those who do not. There is a detailed description of past prophets, events about their communities, their reward and punishment and the punishment which overtook them.
Allah Most High says in Surah Al-A'raf,
الٓمٓصٓ ﴿١﴾ كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ ﴿٤﴾ فَمَا كَانَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ إِذْ جَآءَهُم بَأْسُنَآ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٥﴾
Alif, Lam, Meem, Sad. (1) [This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muhammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers. (2) Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember. (3) And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon. (4) And their declaration when Our punishment came to them was only that they said, "Indeed, we were wrongdoers!" (5) [Quran Al-A'raf]
Allah rhetorically asks how many nations were destroyed. Allah is reminding us that disobeying Allah has consequences. Allah does not destroy a nation until they were given many chances. Allah does not love to inflict punishment but some people deserve it. Even when they deserve it Allah gave them chances.
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾ أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ ﴿٩٧﴾ أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ ﴿٩٨﴾ أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿٩٩﴾ أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَآ أَن لَّوْ نَشَآءُ أَصَبْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۚ وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ ﴿١٠٠
And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning." (96) Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep? (97) Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play? (98) Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people. (99) Has it not become clear to those who inherited the earth after its [previous] people that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal over their hearts so they do not hear. (100) [Quran, Al A'raf 7:96-100]
The reality of these verses is right here in front of our eyes in this current Covid-19 pandemic. The whole world has come to a screeching halt. The global economy collapsed. As of this writing, almost 4 million confirmed Covid-19 cases, more than 250,000 reported deaths, and the toll is rising. Lockdowns are imposed and people are scared and exhausted. Who could have imagined this? It all happened suddenly and instantaneously in a matter of a few days. Why are we being inflicted with Covid-19? There is no question that this is a communal punishment عذاب because of too much wrongdoings, transgressions, injustices (ظلم ), immorality (فحشاء) and corruption (فساد) going around in the globe. Finally enough is enough. We need to repent to Allah so we are not punished at an individual level.
We should be wise enough to take lesson from the events of other people and avoid doing things that had led them to death and disaster, and we should strive to follow the practices that led the prophets and the believers to eternal success. Let us wake up and understand that Allah is giving us an opportunity to be better through this pandemic. It is meant as a mercy, not a punishment if we turn back to Allah.
May Allah enable us to realize our own shortcomings and always turn back to Him. Aameen.
لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. [Quran, Al Anbiya' 21:87]
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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