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)]
Zaid bin Arqam (radhiAllahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would supplicate:
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من العجز والكسل، والبخل والهرم، وعذاب القبر، اللهم آت نفسي تقواها، وزكها أنت خير من زكاها، أنت وليها ومولاها، اللهم إني أعوذ بك من علم لا ينفع ومن قلب لا يخشع، ومن نفس لا تشبع، ومن دعوة لا يستجاب لها
[Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-'ajzi wal-kasali, wal-bukhli wal-harami, wa 'adhabil-qabri. Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha Anta khairu man zakkaha, Anta waliyyuha wa maulaha. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfau', wa min qalbin la yakhsha'u, wa min nafsin la tashba'u, wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha'
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the inability (to do good), indolence, cowardice, miserliness, decrepitude and torment of the grave. O Allah! Grant me the sense of piety and purify my soul as You are the Best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Protecting Friend. O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the knowledge which is not beneficial, and from a heart which does not fear (You), and from desire which is not satisfied, and from prayer which is not answered.]
[related by 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
Thursday, April 17, 2014
If You Have Parents
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: "Whoever comes into the morning and both his parents are pleased with him, he comes into the morning with two doors of Paradise open to him. Whoever goes into the evening and both parents are pleased with him, he goes into the evening with two doors of Paradise open for him. And if he has just one parent, then one door of Paradise is open to him. Whoever comes into the morning and both his parents are angry with him, he comes into the morning with 2 doors of hellfire open to him. Whoever goes into the evening with both parents are angry with him, he goes into the evening with 2 doors of hellfire open to him. And if he has just one parent, then one door is open for him." After realizing this huge position of parents that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was telling the companions about, one of the Companions asked, "Even if the parents were oppressive to them?" The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, "Even if they oppress the child, even if they oppress the child, even if they oppress the child."
Imagine a child who died in a state in which his parents are being pleased with him, he has 2 doors of Paradise he could choose to enter from, and imagine a child who died in a state in which his parents are being angry with him, he is doomed.
Once a scholar was seen weeping at the death of his mother, and when asked why he wept, he said, "Why shouldn't I cry when one of the doors of Paradise has left me." His mother, while she was alive a door of Paradise was opened for him and once she passed away, that door becomes closed.
This is a important reminder for us that while our parents are still alive, it is important to do as much as we can for them because once they are gone, there is no going back. The nature of this world is that time passes very quickly and there is always a lot to do, and you think once you have some time, you would go and spend time with your mother/father, but she/he dies before you could do that, and it's over. Then the child has to spend the rest of his/her live, feeling remorse over the time he/she didn't spend the time with the parent.
For those who have at least one of your parents living, take lessons from those around you who did not have the opportunity to do all the good that they could do for their parents while their parents were alive. Put your parents in the forefront before your career, traveling for leisure, before your friends, before amassing wealth. Make a point to ask them if they are pleased with you. So, if they are not, you have time to remedy it. For those who have lost their parents, make du'a for them day and night and give charity on their behalf.
Some scholars said being good to your parents means to accompany them in a good manner and never to wait for them to ask you for what they need.
Advice of a scholar: Begin supporting your parents financially, even if they don’t need any help. Purchase their groceries, buy their appliances. Get used to making room for their needs from your earnings while they don’t need us. So that when (and if) they need financial support from us, it’s less difficult. And in some cases, our parents may be totally dependent on us. If they are, and you have the honor to serve them, remember, it’s an honor, not a burden. Parents can’t do half the things they used to be able to do. If there’s heavy lifting, moving large things, etc; do it for them. They should be able to call on us to assist, and we need to make time for them, so they are not burdened with such things.
Even if your parents are not nice to you, even if they abuse you, it is not a condition that they be nice to you before you are nice to them. You still be good to them, and if you fear harm for yourself, then you do that from a distance.
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “One who has been disowned by his parents is told: ‘Act as you please, for I shall not forgive you.’ Whereas one who is good towards his parents is told, ‘Act as you please. I will be forgiving towards you.’”
Allah Almighty says,
All of us will go through many tests in this life to measure our worth with Allah. Some are tested with bad parents, some with bad spouses, some with bad neighbors, some with bad children, some with bad in-laws, some with all of the above. We are tests to each other. This is our jihad in this life and it will end with our defeat or victory. We can attain victory only if we act and react in accordance to the teachings of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
May Allah have mercy on our parents and make us His obedient servant and good children to our parents. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Related Archives:
Being Good Parents
Turning Our Children Into True Muslims
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: "Whoever comes into the morning and both his parents are pleased with him, he comes into the morning with two doors of Paradise open to him. Whoever goes into the evening and both parents are pleased with him, he goes into the evening with two doors of Paradise open for him. And if he has just one parent, then one door of Paradise is open to him. Whoever comes into the morning and both his parents are angry with him, he comes into the morning with 2 doors of hellfire open to him. Whoever goes into the evening with both parents are angry with him, he goes into the evening with 2 doors of hellfire open to him. And if he has just one parent, then one door is open for him." After realizing this huge position of parents that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was telling the companions about, one of the Companions asked, "Even if the parents were oppressive to them?" The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, "Even if they oppress the child, even if they oppress the child, even if they oppress the child."
Imagine a child who died in a state in which his parents are being pleased with him, he has 2 doors of Paradise he could choose to enter from, and imagine a child who died in a state in which his parents are being angry with him, he is doomed.
Once a scholar was seen weeping at the death of his mother, and when asked why he wept, he said, "Why shouldn't I cry when one of the doors of Paradise has left me." His mother, while she was alive a door of Paradise was opened for him and once she passed away, that door becomes closed.
This is a important reminder for us that while our parents are still alive, it is important to do as much as we can for them because once they are gone, there is no going back. The nature of this world is that time passes very quickly and there is always a lot to do, and you think once you have some time, you would go and spend time with your mother/father, but she/he dies before you could do that, and it's over. Then the child has to spend the rest of his/her live, feeling remorse over the time he/she didn't spend the time with the parent.
For those who have at least one of your parents living, take lessons from those around you who did not have the opportunity to do all the good that they could do for their parents while their parents were alive. Put your parents in the forefront before your career, traveling for leisure, before your friends, before amassing wealth. Make a point to ask them if they are pleased with you. So, if they are not, you have time to remedy it. For those who have lost their parents, make du'a for them day and night and give charity on their behalf.
Some scholars said being good to your parents means to accompany them in a good manner and never to wait for them to ask you for what they need.
Advice of a scholar: Begin supporting your parents financially, even if they don’t need any help. Purchase their groceries, buy their appliances. Get used to making room for their needs from your earnings while they don’t need us. So that when (and if) they need financial support from us, it’s less difficult. And in some cases, our parents may be totally dependent on us. If they are, and you have the honor to serve them, remember, it’s an honor, not a burden. Parents can’t do half the things they used to be able to do. If there’s heavy lifting, moving large things, etc; do it for them. They should be able to call on us to assist, and we need to make time for them, so they are not burdened with such things.
Even if your parents are not nice to you, even if they abuse you, it is not a condition that they be nice to you before you are nice to them. You still be good to them, and if you fear harm for yourself, then you do that from a distance.
The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “One who has been disowned by his parents is told: ‘Act as you please, for I shall not forgive you.’ Whereas one who is good towards his parents is told, ‘Act as you please. I will be forgiving towards you.’”
Allah Almighty says,
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ﴿٢٣[Al-Isra 17:23]
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23)
All of us will go through many tests in this life to measure our worth with Allah. Some are tested with bad parents, some with bad spouses, some with bad neighbors, some with bad children, some with bad in-laws, some with all of the above. We are tests to each other. This is our jihad in this life and it will end with our defeat or victory. We can attain victory only if we act and react in accordance to the teachings of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace.
May Allah have mercy on our parents and make us His obedient servant and good children to our parents. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Related Archives:
Being Good Parents
Turning Our Children Into True Muslims
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Mending Relationships
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Disputes and disagreements arise mostly with the people we interact with regularly, such as family members, friends and colleagues.
There can be several underlying causes or reasons for disputes. It usually happens when one person unintentionally wrongs or mistreats another. At other times, someone who covets a blessing that they do not possess might feel envious of another who does, and this envy can come out in the form of bad treatment or caustic talk. Then there are personal traits and behaviors that cause conflicts e.g. it is a fact that arrogant and insecure people who suffer from low self-esteem habitually mistreat and demean others just to feel better about themselves. Many a time, it might simply just be a personality or cultural clash that can cause two people to not get along.
In all cases of dispute, it is very important for the others around the two disputing people or groups, especially those in positions of authority, to wisely play the role of advocacy, pacification and moderation in order to prevent the situation from being blown out of proportion and causing a permanent straining of relations.
There is a great reward for those who facilitate reconciliation between disputing parties.
Narrated Abu Darda’, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
“Shall I not inform you of something better than fasting, prayer and charity (sadaqah)?” The Companions replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “Making peace between people among whom there is discord, for the evil of discord is the shaver.” [Abu Dawud]
“It is the shaver, and I do not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (i.e., destroys) the deen (i.e. religious commitment).” The version in Jami` Tirmidhi was authenticated as sahih by Shaykh al-Albani.
"Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." [Muslim and Bukhari]
This does not discount the importance of prayer and fasting but mending relationship has a greater reward.
So look around us and take the means to join between people who have corrupted their relations. Take the means to bring people who have distanced themselves from each other close to each other. If you see any two friends who are not in good terms, take the means to bring them together -- say some good words. Also look in your own family -- if there are members of your family, e.g. any siblings, cousins, etc, who are not in talking terms, take the means to mend their relationships.
Allah Almighty says,
Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa'd that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:
So be that believer and bring to life this great sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Take the means to bring wholeness and goodness in relationships. This will bring life back to our own lives, our families and our communities. This is such a tremendous work, so we should strive to do. If you can do that you are among the best believers.
How the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) resolve disputes between two people:
1. He heard complains of both sides before passing a verdict.
2. He mentioned the good traits and righteous deeds of the wrong-doer if the latter was apologetic and repentant, to facilitate reconciliation.
3. He allowed the recipient of an undeserved verbal onslaught to defend their honor, even if they were younger in age.
4. He did not - and this is a very important key point - exhort the wronged person to keep silent in the name of patience and restraint. He did not allow their oppressor to continue with their injustices. Rather, he made sure that the wrongdoing was not just stopped, but that the one who was wronged also defended themselves.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
May Allah guide us. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Related Archives
Want a Prolonged Life Span, Abundant Wealth, and Loved by Your People?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Disputes and disagreements arise mostly with the people we interact with regularly, such as family members, friends and colleagues.
There can be several underlying causes or reasons for disputes. It usually happens when one person unintentionally wrongs or mistreats another. At other times, someone who covets a blessing that they do not possess might feel envious of another who does, and this envy can come out in the form of bad treatment or caustic talk. Then there are personal traits and behaviors that cause conflicts e.g. it is a fact that arrogant and insecure people who suffer from low self-esteem habitually mistreat and demean others just to feel better about themselves. Many a time, it might simply just be a personality or cultural clash that can cause two people to not get along.
In all cases of dispute, it is very important for the others around the two disputing people or groups, especially those in positions of authority, to wisely play the role of advocacy, pacification and moderation in order to prevent the situation from being blown out of proportion and causing a permanent straining of relations.
There is a great reward for those who facilitate reconciliation between disputing parties.
Narrated Abu Darda’, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
“Shall I not inform you of something better than fasting, prayer and charity (sadaqah)?” The Companions replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “Making peace between people among whom there is discord, for the evil of discord is the shaver.” [Abu Dawud]
“It is the shaver, and I do not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (i.e., destroys) the deen (i.e. religious commitment).” The version in Jami` Tirmidhi was authenticated as sahih by Shaykh al-Albani.
"Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." [Muslim and Bukhari]
This does not discount the importance of prayer and fasting but mending relationship has a greater reward.
So look around us and take the means to join between people who have corrupted their relations. Take the means to bring people who have distanced themselves from each other close to each other. If you see any two friends who are not in good terms, take the means to bring them together -- say some good words. Also look in your own family -- if there are members of your family, e.g. any siblings, cousins, etc, who are not in talking terms, take the means to mend their relationships.
Allah Almighty says,
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿١٠[Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:10]
The believers are but brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy. (10)
Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa'd that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said:
This wealth consists of various kinds of treasures and those treasures have keys. Blessed is the man whom Allah has made a key for good and a lock for evil, but woe to the man whom Allah has made a key for evil and a lock for good.[Tirmidhi]
So be that believer and bring to life this great sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Take the means to bring wholeness and goodness in relationships. This will bring life back to our own lives, our families and our communities. This is such a tremendous work, so we should strive to do. If you can do that you are among the best believers.
How the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) resolve disputes between two people:
1. He heard complains of both sides before passing a verdict.
2. He mentioned the good traits and righteous deeds of the wrong-doer if the latter was apologetic and repentant, to facilitate reconciliation.
3. He allowed the recipient of an undeserved verbal onslaught to defend their honor, even if they were younger in age.
4. He did not - and this is a very important key point - exhort the wronged person to keep silent in the name of patience and restraint. He did not allow their oppressor to continue with their injustices. Rather, he made sure that the wrongdoing was not just stopped, but that the one who was wronged also defended themselves.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
Do not desert (stop talking to) one another, do not nurse hatred towards one another, do not be jealous of one another, and become as fellow brothers and slaves of Allah. It is not lawful for a Muslim to stop talking to his brother (Muslim) for more than three days.[Bukhari and Muslim]
May Allah guide us. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Related Archives
Want a Prolonged Life Span, Abundant Wealth, and Loved by Your People?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Learn The Prophetic Supplications (Du'a)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
There is no good except that it is from Allah and it is acquired by walking the footsteps of His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam came to guide us to Allah. We should use the guidance to direct ourselves to Allah so that our acts of worship are not just rituals but they become means of drawing closer to Allah and transform us to become people who have this relationship with Allah -- "He loves them and they love Him."
One of the amazing ways to acquire this relationship with Allah is to bring the du'a of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam into our day to day lives. There is a Prophetic du'a for every moment and every circumstance of our lives, even things you never think of. By learning them we learn how to turn to Allah so that we become people who not only profess لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله -- la illaha illallah Muhammad Rasulullah (there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) but who live its reality.
Each day try to learn and memorize a Prophetic supplication and understand what it means. Start with the short ones.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "There is nothing more honorable to Allah than supplication" [Tirmidhi]
One of the frequent supplications in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam is a general du'a in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam asked Allah for 4 matters. It summarizes what a believer seeks in life.
'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud radiallahu 'anhu relates that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam would supplicate, "O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, dignified restraint, and contentment and sufficiency." [Muslim]
In this supplication the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam gather all the good for both this life and the next.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Allahumma inni as 'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina.
1) al-huda (the Guidance) -- we seek all of it and ability to follow it in the best way
2) at-tuqa (Piety, God fearingness) -- we seek the perfection of taqwa -- righteous actions and leaving off what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden; and this is asking for correctness and well-being of a person's religion. The best among you is the most taqwa.
This Deen comprises of beneficial knowledge and recognizing the truth - which is guidance - and standing firm upon obedience to Allah and His Messenger sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam - and this is piety.
3) al-'afaafa (dignified restraint, Divine honoring, well being and safety) -- 'Iffa is a quality of believers. We seek the capacity to refrain from everything that is not dignified not only in the sight of people but also in the sight of Allah, and safety from the harms of the creation and that the heart is not attached to them.
4) al-ghina (being rich, contentment and sufficiency) -- Regardless whether you are rich of poor, you don't need of people, you only need Allah. We seek richness of self i.e. free of need of any other except Allah.
Whosoever is granted the provision of guidance, piety, al-'afafa and al-ghina has indeed achieved true happiness, and has acquired all that could be possibly sought after, as well as being saved from all that is dreadful and frightening, and contentment with Allah and what He provides. So with this, happiness in this worldly life is completed, and the heart tastes true sweetness and delight - and this is a goodly life.
Manners of Supplication
1. Show sincerity and submission to Allah
2. Keep supplicating and do not wait for a quick response
3. Start supplication with praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam
4. Keep away from invoking curses on one's family, property, or children
5. Perform ritual ablution and turn one's face towards the qiblah while supplicating
6. Lower one's voice and uttering supplications in no voice
7. Not use rhyming in affectation
8. Admit sins and ask for forgiveness
May Allah accept our worship and grant our du'as. 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.
There is no good except that it is from Allah and it is acquired by walking the footsteps of His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam came to guide us to Allah. We should use the guidance to direct ourselves to Allah so that our acts of worship are not just rituals but they become means of drawing closer to Allah and transform us to become people who have this relationship with Allah -- "He loves them and they love Him."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى ٱللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآئِمٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٥٤[Qur'an, Al-Ma'ida 5:54]
O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He loves and who love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the reproach of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (54)
One of the amazing ways to acquire this relationship with Allah is to bring the du'a of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam into our day to day lives. There is a Prophetic du'a for every moment and every circumstance of our lives, even things you never think of. By learning them we learn how to turn to Allah so that we become people who not only profess لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله -- la illaha illallah Muhammad Rasulullah (there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) but who live its reality.
Each day try to learn and memorize a Prophetic supplication and understand what it means. Start with the short ones.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "There is nothing more honorable to Allah than supplication" [Tirmidhi]
One of the frequent supplications in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam is a general du'a in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam asked Allah for 4 matters. It summarizes what a believer seeks in life.
'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud radiallahu 'anhu relates that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam would supplicate, "O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, dignified restraint, and contentment and sufficiency." [Muslim]
In this supplication the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam gather all the good for both this life and the next.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Allahumma inni as 'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina.
1) al-huda (the Guidance) -- we seek all of it and ability to follow it in the best way
2) at-tuqa (Piety, God fearingness) -- we seek the perfection of taqwa -- righteous actions and leaving off what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden; and this is asking for correctness and well-being of a person's religion. The best among you is the most taqwa.
This Deen comprises of beneficial knowledge and recognizing the truth - which is guidance - and standing firm upon obedience to Allah and His Messenger sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam - and this is piety.
3) al-'afaafa (dignified restraint, Divine honoring, well being and safety) -- 'Iffa is a quality of believers. We seek the capacity to refrain from everything that is not dignified not only in the sight of people but also in the sight of Allah, and safety from the harms of the creation and that the heart is not attached to them.
4) al-ghina (being rich, contentment and sufficiency) -- Regardless whether you are rich of poor, you don't need of people, you only need Allah. We seek richness of self i.e. free of need of any other except Allah.
Whosoever is granted the provision of guidance, piety, al-'afafa and al-ghina has indeed achieved true happiness, and has acquired all that could be possibly sought after, as well as being saved from all that is dreadful and frightening, and contentment with Allah and what He provides. So with this, happiness in this worldly life is completed, and the heart tastes true sweetness and delight - and this is a goodly life.
Manners of Supplication
1. Show sincerity and submission to Allah
2. Keep supplicating and do not wait for a quick response
3. Start supplication with praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam
4. Keep away from invoking curses on one's family, property, or children
5. Perform ritual ablution and turn one's face towards the qiblah while supplicating
6. Lower one's voice and uttering supplications in no voice
7. Not use rhyming in affectation
8. Admit sins and ask for forgiveness
May Allah accept our worship and grant our du'as. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Monday, April 14, 2014
When Allah Desires Good For You
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "When Allah desires good for someone He afflicts them."
The good is a lot of good -- for this life and the next life. As one is tried it is a means for one to turn to Allah and it is an atonement of one's wrong deeds, the writing of good deeds or both. Allah causes one to go through physical tribulations in the body, wealth, children, family and those things that are beloved to them in order to purify them and raise their ranks with Him. Trials are Divine type of medicine through which someone is purified and cured from mortal sins that will destroy one.The good is a lot of good -- for this life and the next life.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "A believer is always in a state of either illness, circumstances of lack of wealth or state of humiliation."
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” [Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah]
The most severely tested of the people are the Prophets. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: “O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most sorely tested?” He said: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his religious commitment is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his religious commitment. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.” [Tirmidhi]
In His Book, Allah has mentioned different kinds of calamity that befell the Prophets.
Narrated Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): I never saw anybody suffering so much from sickness as Allah's Apostle.
We may be tested by all sorts of difficulties -- small and big -- e.g. sickness, lack of income, disobedience of children, family discord, bad spouse, loss of a loved one, water crisis, toilet problem, people backbite/slander you, traffic jam, bad imam/leader, neighbor problems, environmental problems, political problems... In fact, the many afflictions that may beset a person are uncountable. This is the point that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam was stressing when he mentioned: "No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts any Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping out his sins by it." [Bukhari and Muslim]
The way we interact with tribulations is that when tribulation comes, we say inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, and patiently persevere.
Allah Almighty says,
When we say inna lillahi, we recognize that we belong to Allah, that we are part of His dominion, and He does whatever He pleases with us. wa inna ilayhi raji'un -- and indeed unto Him we shall return and such that He will reward us for this tribulation with such a reward which no eyes have seen, no ears have heard nor even come to the heart of the human being.
When we recognize that we belong to Allah, not ourselves, and that we will return to our Lord, this will help us bear this tribulation that come to us from Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
Through difficulties the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith and strong will.
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam say: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better’ – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” [Muslim]
She said: When Abu Salamah died, I said: Who among the Muslims is better than Abu Salamah, the first household to migrate to join the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam? Then I said it, and Allah compensated me with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam.
Allah provided for her better than her great husband, and decreed for her to marry he beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam.
How wonderful are those moments in which a person turns to his Lord and knows that He alone is the One Who grants relief from distress. How great is the relief when it comes after hardship.
Our adab (manners) we are supposed to have when we have the various tribulations is shown on the tongue of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam, which Allah mentions in the Qur'an,
Notice the difference between his mention of food and drink and illness.
May Allah enable us to see all things are from Him and grant us patience and increase us in patience and send relief to those who are in distress and grant us all tawfiq in all of our affairs. 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.
Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "When Allah desires good for someone He afflicts them."
The good is a lot of good -- for this life and the next life. As one is tried it is a means for one to turn to Allah and it is an atonement of one's wrong deeds, the writing of good deeds or both. Allah causes one to go through physical tribulations in the body, wealth, children, family and those things that are beloved to them in order to purify them and raise their ranks with Him. Trials are Divine type of medicine through which someone is purified and cured from mortal sins that will destroy one.The good is a lot of good -- for this life and the next life.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, "A believer is always in a state of either illness, circumstances of lack of wealth or state of humiliation."
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” [Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah]
The most severely tested of the people are the Prophets. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: “O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most sorely tested?” He said: “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his religious commitment is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his religious commitment. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.” [Tirmidhi]
In His Book, Allah has mentioned different kinds of calamity that befell the Prophets.
Narrated Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): I never saw anybody suffering so much from sickness as Allah's Apostle.
We may be tested by all sorts of difficulties -- small and big -- e.g. sickness, lack of income, disobedience of children, family discord, bad spouse, loss of a loved one, water crisis, toilet problem, people backbite/slander you, traffic jam, bad imam/leader, neighbor problems, environmental problems, political problems... In fact, the many afflictions that may beset a person are uncountable. This is the point that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam was stressing when he mentioned: "No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts any Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping out his sins by it." [Bukhari and Muslim]
The way we interact with tribulations is that when tribulation comes, we say inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, and patiently persevere.
Allah Almighty says,
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّـهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿١٥٧[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:155]
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (155) Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.)" (156) Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. (157)
When we say inna lillahi, we recognize that we belong to Allah, that we are part of His dominion, and He does whatever He pleases with us. wa inna ilayhi raji'un -- and indeed unto Him we shall return and such that He will reward us for this tribulation with such a reward which no eyes have seen, no ears have heard nor even come to the heart of the human being.
When we recognize that we belong to Allah, not ourselves, and that we will return to our Lord, this will help us bear this tribulation that come to us from Allah.
Allah Almighty says,
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ﴿٢[Qur'an, al-Mulk :2]
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving - (2)
Through difficulties the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith and strong will.
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam say: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better’ – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” [Muslim]
She said: When Abu Salamah died, I said: Who among the Muslims is better than Abu Salamah, the first household to migrate to join the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam? Then I said it, and Allah compensated me with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam.
Allah provided for her better than her great husband, and decreed for her to marry he beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam.
How wonderful are those moments in which a person turns to his Lord and knows that He alone is the One Who grants relief from distress. How great is the relief when it comes after hardship.
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٦﴾ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ﴿٧﴾ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ﴿٨[Qur'an Ash-Sharh 94:5-8]
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (5) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6) So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (7) And to your Lord direct [your] longing. (8)
Our adab (manners) we are supposed to have when we have the various tribulations is shown on the tongue of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam, which Allah mentions in the Qur'an,
فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّىٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٧٧﴾ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَنِى فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ ﴿٧٨﴾ وَٱلَّذِى هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِى وَيَسْقِينِ ﴿٧٩﴾ وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ ﴿٨٠﴾ وَٱلَّذِى يُمِيتُنِى ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ ﴿٨١﴾ وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لِى خَطِيٓـَٔتِى يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٨٢﴾ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿٨٣[Qur'an, Ash-Shu'ara 26:75-83]
He (Prophet Ibrahim) said, "... Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds, (77) Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me. (78) And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink. (79) And when I am ill, it is He who cures me (80) And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life (81) And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense." (82) [And he said], "My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous. (83)
Notice the difference between his mention of food and drink and illness.
May Allah enable us to see all things are from Him and grant us patience and increase us in patience and send relief to those who are in distress and grant us all tawfiq in all of our affairs. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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