Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Don't Be Losers and Abandon Guidance

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

If you don't pass your exam, you won't get your degree and if you don't get your degree, you won't get into the career you wanted. When you know your exam is connected directly to your success, it gets your time and attention, and you wouldn't mind staying up many nights to study for your exam. A degree is seen as something valuable by modern societies so people spend a lot of money, time and effort to get the degree they wanted, with no arguments. When something is of value, it gets your time and resource automatically.

Most people don't read the Qur'an on a daily basis, let alone learning it, for whatever reason -- maybe busy, maybe lazy, maybe just don't care. When Qur'an failed to get our attention and time, then there is something wrong with our heads.

We all at least know that the Qur'an is Guidance. Most people don't see the value of guidance. Maybe because it does not come on a piece of paper like a degree or maybe it is not directly connected to your success.

قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۗ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَ ٱلَّذِى جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۙ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ‌ ﴿١٢٠﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ‌ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُ‌ونَ ﴿١٢١

Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper. (120) Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers. (121)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:120:121]

Who then wouldn't want Allah's Guidance in his life? They are the losers. Following the guidance of Allah is the sure way to success in this life and the next. Put the same amount of attention to the Qur'an as you would to pass your exam for your degree. And do not abandon the Qur'an.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, has complained to Allah Almighty against those who abandon the Qur'an and turn away from it.

وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا ﴿٣٠

And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (30)

[Qur'an Al-Furqan 25:30]

May Allah guide us and make us of those who follow His Guidance. Ameen.

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Finding Solutions To Your Problems

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Some people are so miserable because they can't control their anger. Some people are consumed with jealousy and envy that it is killing them inside. Some peope are tempted by immorality and obscenity and they can't get out of it. Some people are overrun by greed and they are constantly thinking about money. 

The solutions to these problems come from Allah. You have to ask Allah for forgiveness.

And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. (10) He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers (11) And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (12) 

فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًا ‎﴿١٠﴾‏يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا ‎﴿١١﴾‏ وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَٰرًا ‎﴿١٢﴾

[Quran, Nuh 71:10-12]

What will Allah not give you if you ask Him for forgiveness? 

You might think that when you ask for forgiveness, the only thing you get is forgiveness. You can ask Allah for other things or you can ask for forgiveness and everything is covered. Not only Allah is going to help you in the akhirah, He is going to help you in this life. You will get all of it, in this life and in the next, if you genuinely seeking forgiveness.

May Allah forgive us for all our shortcomings. Aameen.

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Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Alhamdulillah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Eid Mubarak and Jumu'ah Mubarak to you and your families.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala begins Surah Al-Kahf with Alhamdulillah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1) [Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:1]

Hamd is from ha ح meem م daal د. Hamd is to mention the good attribute of a person, such an attribute that is the at the level of perfection. Hamd is based on mahabbah (love) and ta’dheem (greatness). It is not a fake praise, i.e. not done to please the person or with no significance, fake praise is known as madh in Arabic. Hamd implies admiration, love and magnifying the praise of Mahmud (one who is praised). Hamd is sincere, true praise, the Mahmud deserves it.

Why is hamd for Him? Because He is: <<الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ>> , the One who sent down upon His servant the Book. Notice that Allah Ta’ala doesn’t call the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) His Messenger, or His Prophet, or a warner, but He calls him: slave. Therefore, the most honorable name that one can be called is Abdullah or Amatullah, slave of Allah.

At the core of our Iman, the first implication of believing in Allah, is that we take all credit for everything (all goodness, all beauty, all appreciative things, all wonders, every smiles, etc) back to Allah. Even when you thank your parents or teacher, you never absent minded about the fact that it goes back to Allah. This is at the root of Alhamdulillah.

The one who is most deserving of thanks and praise from people is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, because of the great favors and blessings that He has bestowed upon His slaves in both spiritual and worldly terms. Allah has commanded us to give thanks to Him for those blessings, and not to deny them. He says,

فَٱذْكُرُ‌ونِىٓ أَذْكُرْ‌كُمْ وَٱشْكُرُ‌وا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُ‌ونِ ﴿١٥٢

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. (152)

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:152]

The celebration of Eid is a celebration of faith, and gratitude for the gifts of guidance and all good that Allah has blessed us with. When believers enter Paradise, they’ll proclaim,

 وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوٓا۟ أَن تِلْكُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿٤٣﴾‏

"Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do." [Quran, al-A'raf 7:43]

These are Days of rejoicing with family, friends, and community. Make the most of these days. And glorify Allah with the Praise of People of Paradise: الحمد لله Alhamdulillah (All praise is Allah's)

May Allah accept all our good deeds, forgive all our sins, and grant us the highest Paradise. Aameen.

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Bidding Farewell To Ramadhan 1444

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

It feels like yesterday we were celebrating the first day of Ramadhan and now it is almost over. Whether you love Ramadhan so much and want it to stay; whether you fell short in Ramadhan and want it to stay so you can do more, Ramadhan got to go. You cannot stop Ramadhan from leaving. It was only here for a limited number of days -- 29 or 30. And you have to wait till next year to see Ramadhan again, that if Allah had decreed that you live long enough.

Allah Almighty says,

... يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (183) [Fasting for] a limited number of days. ...

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:183-184]

The very purpose of fasting is so we may become people of taqwa (righteousness, piety, God-fearingness). It is meant to transform us into a better human being, a slave of Allah. Have we accomplished this purpose even a little?

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said Ameen to the du'a of Angel Jibril (alayhissalaam), 'Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramadhan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness.'

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said,

Ramadhan, a blessed month, has come to you during which Allah the Most High has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the doors of Heaven are opened, the doors of Hell are closed, and the rebellious shaytan are chained. In it there is a night (worshiping in it) which is better than (worshiping for) a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good (and blessing) has indeed been deprived of all good.

[Nasa’i]

People who have lost out in Ramadhan were those who had busied themselves with things that did not concern them -- those things that they cannot take with them to their graves, i.e. things that cannot help them succeed in the Hereafter. 

Our concern in this life should be Allah alone, our standing with Him, and our next life to come. And this is the concern that we trained ourselves in Ramadhan and should have from now and until we breathe our last.

Whatever time that's left in Ramadhan for you, don't waste it. First, repent for your sins. Do as much devotional acts you can and rush to good deeds. Give charity and pay your zakat. Hold off shopping and cooking for Eid. Do that after your last iftar.

May Allah accept our repentance and good deeds and grant us closeness to Him and the highest Paradise. Aameen.

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Before Ramadhan Ends, Pardon And Overlook

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Close relatives are really in a good position to hurt our feelings -- like husband/wife, mother/father, children, brothers/sisters, uncles/aunties/cousins, etc. They are so close to your heart which means it is easy for them to stab you in the heart. Sometimes you may forgive but that doesn’t guarantee that you don’t remember, not scarred. It is possible that you forgive somebody but your relationship with that person is not the same anymore.

When Mistah, a maternal cousin of Abu Bakr (radhiAllahu anhu), spoke about his beloved daughter, the mother of the believers and the most beloved of people to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), Aisha (radhiAllahu anha), during the Incident of the Slander, Abu Bakr, who had been paying his stipend, took the money back and swore that he would never give him money again. But Allah says, pardon and overlook -- means forgive and forget -- let it go, turn the page, let the heart just completely heal, don’t remember what he did, that chapter is over, love him like you love him before. Allah Almighty revealed:

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]

Any father who had raised his daughter with haya' (modesty, shyness, social morality, values and behavior) and then someone comes and makes this very serious accusation against his daughter, has the right to be angry but Allah just bring the extinguisher and Abu Bakr, one of the ten promised Paradise, took it.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

ألا تحب يا أبا بكر أن يغفر الله لك

O Abu Bakr, would you not love for Allah to forgive you?

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said:
والله إنـي لأحبّ أن يغفر الله لـي

By Allah, verily, I would love for Allah to forgive me!

And so he resumed paying the stipend (to Mistah).

If this is not enough incentive for you, then the only problem you have is iman (faith). Don't argue that it was Abu Bakr. Allah didn't mention his name in the verse. In other words, it applies to his situation and will apply forever after.

Put a weight to your anger and put a weight to your sins. Now, how badly do you want Allah to forgive you? If you forgive and forget, Allah guarantees you His forgiveness and He will overlook your sins. Would you not love for Allah to forgive you?

Don't say "I can't do it, I just can't!", "I cant forgive, there is a big dark hole in my heart!" You can tell anything you want to yourself but the Truth does not submit to you. You submit to the Truth. Allah says He does not burden anyone with something he cannot bear.

...لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned...

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:286]

Stop telling yourself, "I can't!" Snap out of it. There is nothing holding you back. Don't follow the whispers of shaytan. The word shatan also means rage. Shaytan wants to keep the fire of rage burning.

Anyone who harbors a grudge against someone is not free of three concerns:

He either struggles against himself in order to do good (to his enemy) and increase his consideration; this is the degree of the truly righteous, or…
He does not do any good or evil deeds. This is the degree of the moderate, or…
He does rude things to him and does not do any good; this is the degree of the vicious and the oppressors.
There is no intimacy with Allah greater than this: that you do good to him who does evil to you. If you are unable to do that, at least forgive him; for the virtue of forgiveness is great.
[al-Ghazzali]

May Allah enable us to forgive the people who have hurt us and turn the page. Ameen.

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