The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A Momin does not taunt, does not curse and reproach, does not indulge in obscene talk and obscene acts.” [Tirmidhi]
Daily check list:
Did we make any sarcastic comments to anyone today?
Did we by word or gesture make fun of anyone today?
Did we insult anyone today?
Did we demoralize anyone today?
Did we put someone down for a mistake that they made?
Did we curse anyone today?
Did we say anything vulgar today?
Did we do anything obscene today?
We need to check ‘No’ next to each of these questions everyday to qualify as Momineen, inshaAllah. May Allah Most High grant us the tawfeeq to implement this hadith in our lives, ameen.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 344
1. Do not isolate or magnify the mistake of your companion, but rather view it in relation to all of his/her other good deeds.
2. One of the many reasons why the pious had "barakah" in their lives is they spent minimum time on necessities and zero time in sins.
3. Life has become hectic, we meet only at weddings or funerals. We should not spoil those rare meetings with nasty comments -- lest we lose that too.
4. Old age is a great boom for those who fear Allah, they have ample time to atone for their previous sins, otherwise a serious liability.
5. A smile is a passport that will take us any where we want to go, and a charity that will fill the hearts of humanity.
6. Avoid disappointment through minimizing expectations from others, including your children. [Shaykh Sulaiman Mulla]
2. One of the many reasons why the pious had "barakah" in their lives is they spent minimum time on necessities and zero time in sins.
3. Life has become hectic, we meet only at weddings or funerals. We should not spoil those rare meetings with nasty comments -- lest we lose that too.
4. Old age is a great boom for those who fear Allah, they have ample time to atone for their previous sins, otherwise a serious liability.
5. A smile is a passport that will take us any where we want to go, and a charity that will fill the hearts of humanity.
6. Avoid disappointment through minimizing expectations from others, including your children. [Shaykh Sulaiman Mulla]
Monday, December 23, 2013
The true understanding of intellect and knowledge....
Any intellect which does not have three things is overpowered by lust:
1. To give preference to obedience (to Allah Most High) over disobedience.
2. To give preference to knowledge over ignorance.
3. To give preference to Islam over this world.
Any knowledge that does not have three things is even worse:
1. Abstaining from harm by severing desire.
2. Presence of deeds with fear.
3. Meting out justice through generosity and mercy.
An intellect that is overpowered by lust is an intellect that deludes the person. It causes him to look at evil as being something good and vise versa.
No one has been embellished with anything better than intellect. And no one has worn a garment more beautiful than knowledge. This is because Allah Most High can only be truly recognized through the intellect. And He can only be truly obeyed through knowledge.
The great Tabai'i Urwa bin Zubayr (may Allah has mercy on him) said: "The best thing that the servants are given in this world is intellect, and the best thing they are given in the hereafter is the pleasure of Allah Most High." [Imam Harith al Muhasibi]
1. To give preference to obedience (to Allah Most High) over disobedience.
2. To give preference to knowledge over ignorance.
3. To give preference to Islam over this world.
Any knowledge that does not have three things is even worse:
1. Abstaining from harm by severing desire.
2. Presence of deeds with fear.
3. Meting out justice through generosity and mercy.
An intellect that is overpowered by lust is an intellect that deludes the person. It causes him to look at evil as being something good and vise versa.
No one has been embellished with anything better than intellect. And no one has worn a garment more beautiful than knowledge. This is because Allah Most High can only be truly recognized through the intellect. And He can only be truly obeyed through knowledge.
The great Tabai'i Urwa bin Zubayr (may Allah has mercy on him) said: "The best thing that the servants are given in this world is intellect, and the best thing they are given in the hereafter is the pleasure of Allah Most High." [Imam Harith al Muhasibi]
Friday, December 20, 2013
Lesson of the day 1344
Ayahs of the day:
God commands you to repay pledges to the people due them; and to judge with justice when you judge between people. Excellent is what God instructs you; for God is all-knowing, all-seeing. [4: 58]
Hadith of the day:
There is nothing dearer to Allah than supplication. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
Worrying about this world is a darkness in the heart, while worrying about the Hereafter is a light in the heart. [Imam al Hajr al-Asqalani]
Guidance of the day:
To withhold zakah is one of the greatest major sins. Against such behavior great threats and severe warnings have been proffered by God and His Messenger.
It is part of good manners of paying zakah to do so from the best of one's possessions. This is the most praiseworthy manner of doing it. And also to do it willingly, with pleasure, feeling good about it, grateful to those who deserve to receive it, never acting as if they are indebted to you. To give away one's zakat while seeming to reproach for taking it annuls its reward. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
"I can forgive, but cannot forget,"is only another way of saying, "I will not forgive." Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note -- torn in two, and burnt up, so that it never can be shown against one. Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another.
God commands you to repay pledges to the people due them; and to judge with justice when you judge between people. Excellent is what God instructs you; for God is all-knowing, all-seeing. [4: 58]
Hadith of the day:
There is nothing dearer to Allah than supplication. [Tirmidhi]
Wise quote of the day:
Worrying about this world is a darkness in the heart, while worrying about the Hereafter is a light in the heart. [Imam al Hajr al-Asqalani]
Guidance of the day:
To withhold zakah is one of the greatest major sins. Against such behavior great threats and severe warnings have been proffered by God and His Messenger.
It is part of good manners of paying zakah to do so from the best of one's possessions. This is the most praiseworthy manner of doing it. And also to do it willingly, with pleasure, feeling good about it, grateful to those who deserve to receive it, never acting as if they are indebted to you. To give away one's zakat while seeming to reproach for taking it annuls its reward. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
"I can forgive, but cannot forget,"is only another way of saying, "I will not forgive." Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note -- torn in two, and burnt up, so that it never can be shown against one. Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
We should always thank Allah for giving us:
1. Enough happiness to keep us sweet.
2. Enough trials to keep us strong.
3. Enough sorrow to keep us human.
4. Enough hope to keep us happy.
5. Enough failure to keep us humble.
6. Enough success to keep us eager.
7. Enough friends to give us comfort.
8. Enough enthusiasm to make us look forward.
9. Enough wealth to meet our needs.
10. Enough determination to make each day a better day than the last.
2. Enough trials to keep us strong.
3. Enough sorrow to keep us human.
4. Enough hope to keep us happy.
5. Enough failure to keep us humble.
6. Enough success to keep us eager.
7. Enough friends to give us comfort.
8. Enough enthusiasm to make us look forward.
9. Enough wealth to meet our needs.
10. Enough determination to make each day a better day than the last.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 343
1. The righteous man entrusts his dependents to Allah and commits them to His safe keeping. As for the immoral hypocrite, his dependents must rely on his wealth and whatever legacy he leaves for them from his real estate and his business.
2. The human is mixed, a blend of good and evil, so if the good predominates he is connected to the angels, and if the evil predominates he is linked to the devils.
3. Destiny (Qadar) smiles at those who are content with the divine judgment. It takes them by the hand and leads them to the King.
4. You must observe your duty (taqwa) to Allah and practice obedience to Him. Fear no one and pin your hopes on no one. Entrust all your needs to Allah, and look to Him to supply them.
5. Surrender yourselves before God in the manner of the devout saints; then God will hold you just as dearly as He did the devout who went before you. Therefore follow His command and bear every affliction with patience. Adhere consciously for this was the path chosen by the sages, the path that will lead you to the ultimate freedom.
6. Do not lose hope in adversity and complain that God singled you out for punishment, remitting others guilty of worse sins. Your present state could very well be His intent to elevate your spiritual station; or He could just be testing your faith. Every day that you persevere, you grow closer to perfection. Thus your present despair may be the beginning of an infinite blessing.
7. If you are destined for good fortune you will be blessed; if afflictions have been ordained, no matter where you abide they will seek you out. Submit therefore before the will of God; be grateful in well-being and endure adversity with fortitude that His light may radiate within your being.
8. Do not be confused with ignorance; turn toward and not away from Allah. Have faith in Him and refrain from transgression. For it is Allah and no other creature who can grant or take away life. He is the Infinite and will always reign Supreme. He bestows prosperity, and decrees poverty. Fear Him alone and none other; adhere to Him that you may prevail. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. The human is mixed, a blend of good and evil, so if the good predominates he is connected to the angels, and if the evil predominates he is linked to the devils.
3. Destiny (Qadar) smiles at those who are content with the divine judgment. It takes them by the hand and leads them to the King.
4. You must observe your duty (taqwa) to Allah and practice obedience to Him. Fear no one and pin your hopes on no one. Entrust all your needs to Allah, and look to Him to supply them.
5. Surrender yourselves before God in the manner of the devout saints; then God will hold you just as dearly as He did the devout who went before you. Therefore follow His command and bear every affliction with patience. Adhere consciously for this was the path chosen by the sages, the path that will lead you to the ultimate freedom.
6. Do not lose hope in adversity and complain that God singled you out for punishment, remitting others guilty of worse sins. Your present state could very well be His intent to elevate your spiritual station; or He could just be testing your faith. Every day that you persevere, you grow closer to perfection. Thus your present despair may be the beginning of an infinite blessing.
7. If you are destined for good fortune you will be blessed; if afflictions have been ordained, no matter where you abide they will seek you out. Submit therefore before the will of God; be grateful in well-being and endure adversity with fortitude that His light may radiate within your being.
8. Do not be confused with ignorance; turn toward and not away from Allah. Have faith in Him and refrain from transgression. For it is Allah and no other creature who can grant or take away life. He is the Infinite and will always reign Supreme. He bestows prosperity, and decrees poverty. Fear Him alone and none other; adhere to Him that you may prevail. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Life of this world -- finger dipped in ocean.....
Rasul Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “By Allah, this world in comparison to the Hereafter is nothing but as though one of you dipped his finger in the sea. So ponder how much (of sea water), the finger returns with.” [Mishkaat]
The duration of the Day of Judgment is equal to 50,000 years. The sun will be brought overhead so that it is unbearably hot. People will be drenched in their sweat according to the amount of their sins. Some will be ankle deep in it, some will be in it up to their ears. In this condition, people will be standing for hundreds of earth years and not even a minute of that day will have gone by. Those who love Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) in this world will be under the shade of Allah’s Throne on the Day of Judgment – the only shade available that Day.
That is why Luqman Hakeem advised his son: “Serve this world according to the time you are going to spend in it, and work for the Akhirah according to the time you are going to spend in it.” After we have been standing in the same spot for thousands of years, our life on earth is going to look like nothing!
We need to make a ration of our time on earth compared to our time on the single Day of Judgment. If we live for a hundred years, it is 100: 50,000. The time to spend each day in the pursuit of dunya comes out to be less than 3 minutes! The rest of the day should be spent preparing for the Day of Judgment. If we were to make a ratio between the time to be spent in dunya compared to the time in Akhira, it would be 100 years: infinity. Any number compared to infinity becomes zero. Effectively, the significance of the duration of dunya becomes zero. 0 minutes, not even 3 minutes! How is it possible that we spend all our time preparing for the Akirah?
We can be in the state of worship (ibadah) every single moment of our lives just by living according to the Quran and the Sunnah. We need to evaluate what we do -- shun the things Allah has prohibited, and act upon the things we do in accordance with the teachings of our Deen. We need to realize that our lives are too precious to be wasted -- not trying to please our Creator/Sustainer every moment of our lives.
Our dunya can be spent working for the Akhirah -- at the same time that we fulfill our duties on earth just by fulfilling our roles and responsibilities according to the guidance of Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala). We need to ask ourselves, "Are we spending all our time on earth working for the Akhirah?" May Allah grant us tawfeeq and the company of those who bring us closer to Himself, ameen.
The duration of the Day of Judgment is equal to 50,000 years. The sun will be brought overhead so that it is unbearably hot. People will be drenched in their sweat according to the amount of their sins. Some will be ankle deep in it, some will be in it up to their ears. In this condition, people will be standing for hundreds of earth years and not even a minute of that day will have gone by. Those who love Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) in this world will be under the shade of Allah’s Throne on the Day of Judgment – the only shade available that Day.
That is why Luqman Hakeem advised his son: “Serve this world according to the time you are going to spend in it, and work for the Akhirah according to the time you are going to spend in it.” After we have been standing in the same spot for thousands of years, our life on earth is going to look like nothing!
We need to make a ration of our time on earth compared to our time on the single Day of Judgment. If we live for a hundred years, it is 100: 50,000. The time to spend each day in the pursuit of dunya comes out to be less than 3 minutes! The rest of the day should be spent preparing for the Day of Judgment. If we were to make a ratio between the time to be spent in dunya compared to the time in Akhira, it would be 100 years: infinity. Any number compared to infinity becomes zero. Effectively, the significance of the duration of dunya becomes zero. 0 minutes, not even 3 minutes! How is it possible that we spend all our time preparing for the Akirah?
We can be in the state of worship (ibadah) every single moment of our lives just by living according to the Quran and the Sunnah. We need to evaluate what we do -- shun the things Allah has prohibited, and act upon the things we do in accordance with the teachings of our Deen. We need to realize that our lives are too precious to be wasted -- not trying to please our Creator/Sustainer every moment of our lives.
Our dunya can be spent working for the Akhirah -- at the same time that we fulfill our duties on earth just by fulfilling our roles and responsibilities according to the guidance of Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala). We need to ask ourselves, "Are we spending all our time on earth working for the Akhirah?" May Allah grant us tawfeeq and the company of those who bring us closer to Himself, ameen.
Friday, December 06, 2013
Lesson of the day 1343
Ayahs of the day:
And do not desire what God has favored some of you with more than others. Men are to have a portion of what they have earned and women are to have a portion of what they have earned. And ask God for plenitude from divine grace; for God knows everything. [4: 32]
Hadith of the day:
It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three (days). [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
He who remembers Allah with all his heart will find that everything other than Allah will leave his heart. [Yahya bin Mu'adh]
Guidance of the day:
Do not prefer the life of this world over the next, for the next is better and more enduring -- zakah is one of the five pillars of Islam and God has bound it to the ritual prayer in His Book. He who pays his zakah receives a great reward, a generous recompense. By so doing he will enjoy many benefits, both religious and worldly. There are in wealth afflictions, temptations, and problems. He who pays his zakah will be safe from these.
The possessions of he who pays his zakah remains safe from damage or ruin, it is protected and guarded by God, for it is full of barakah, but possessions for which zakah has not been paid will suffer damage, for it is evil and devoid of barakah. What good, what benefit can there be in wealth the barakah of which has been removed, leaving the evil and temptations? [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
The one who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears. Nothing in life is to be feared -- it is only to be understood. Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt. Logic and cold reason are poor weapons to fight fear and distrust. Only faith and generosity can overcome them.
And do not desire what God has favored some of you with more than others. Men are to have a portion of what they have earned and women are to have a portion of what they have earned. And ask God for plenitude from divine grace; for God knows everything. [4: 32]
Hadith of the day:
It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three (days). [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
He who remembers Allah with all his heart will find that everything other than Allah will leave his heart. [Yahya bin Mu'adh]
Guidance of the day:
Do not prefer the life of this world over the next, for the next is better and more enduring -- zakah is one of the five pillars of Islam and God has bound it to the ritual prayer in His Book. He who pays his zakah receives a great reward, a generous recompense. By so doing he will enjoy many benefits, both religious and worldly. There are in wealth afflictions, temptations, and problems. He who pays his zakah will be safe from these.
The possessions of he who pays his zakah remains safe from damage or ruin, it is protected and guarded by God, for it is full of barakah, but possessions for which zakah has not been paid will suffer damage, for it is evil and devoid of barakah. What good, what benefit can there be in wealth the barakah of which has been removed, leaving the evil and temptations? [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
The one who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears. Nothing in life is to be feared -- it is only to be understood. Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt. Logic and cold reason are poor weapons to fight fear and distrust. Only faith and generosity can overcome them.
Monday, December 02, 2013
Glad tidings to the strangers!
Rasul Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Islam initiated as something strange, and it will revert to its (old position) of being strange. So,glad tidings to the stranger!” [Muslim]
Today, we have become so distant from Islam that the way in which the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) did some things appears strange to us. Even people who welcome Islam in their lives, find Muslims behaving strangely, which on further investigation turns out to be the recommended behavior in Islam.So we should not shy from being perceived as strange.
Someone asked the Prophet (Sal Allahu alahi wa sallam), “Who are the strangers?” He replied, “The ones who break away from their people for the sake of Islam.” The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) gave glad tidings to those who will be cut off from their people because they choose to follow Islam. Everybody else’s lifestyle will have become so contrary to Allah's wishes, that the person who follows Islam will appear strange and will be rejected.
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
Today, we have become so distant from Islam that the way in which the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) did some things appears strange to us. Even people who welcome Islam in their lives, find Muslims behaving strangely, which on further investigation turns out to be the recommended behavior in Islam.So we should not shy from being perceived as strange.
Someone asked the Prophet (Sal Allahu alahi wa sallam), “Who are the strangers?” He replied, “The ones who break away from their people for the sake of Islam.” The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) gave glad tidings to those who will be cut off from their people because they choose to follow Islam. Everybody else’s lifestyle will have become so contrary to Allah's wishes, that the person who follows Islam will appear strange and will be rejected.
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
Friday, November 29, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 342
1. Give priority to the hereafter over this world, because you will then gain both of them.
2. Before you can preach to others, there is a necessary precondition to be met: you must be a Believer. It is not proper for the servant to summon his fellow creatures to the Lord of Truth before having personally attained Him.
3. Every single one of the people of Allah has a police force to protect his heart, they combat the lower self, the natural urges, the passions and highway robbers on the road to Allah.
4. You must soon return to the Lord of Truth, who will ask about your deeds. He created you for a purpose of affirming His Oneness.
5. He did not create you for the sake of this world, nor for the sake of the hereafter -- but rather He created you for Himself.
6. This world can neither satisfy your hunger nor quench your thirst. It is deceitful and cunning. Your tragedy is due to the attachment you pay to your lower self.
7. Your fascination with the superficial aspect of this world is due to the controlling influence of your lower self.
8. If you become detached from your lower self, your heart will speak to you. Then the inner most being will relate to you both. Then the Lord of Truth will befriend you.
9. Assign your outer being to the creation and your heart to the hereafter. As for the inner most being you must lodge it to the Lord of Truth, beyond both this world and the hereafter. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. Before you can preach to others, there is a necessary precondition to be met: you must be a Believer. It is not proper for the servant to summon his fellow creatures to the Lord of Truth before having personally attained Him.
3. Every single one of the people of Allah has a police force to protect his heart, they combat the lower self, the natural urges, the passions and highway robbers on the road to Allah.
4. You must soon return to the Lord of Truth, who will ask about your deeds. He created you for a purpose of affirming His Oneness.
5. He did not create you for the sake of this world, nor for the sake of the hereafter -- but rather He created you for Himself.
6. This world can neither satisfy your hunger nor quench your thirst. It is deceitful and cunning. Your tragedy is due to the attachment you pay to your lower self.
7. Your fascination with the superficial aspect of this world is due to the controlling influence of your lower self.
8. If you become detached from your lower self, your heart will speak to you. Then the inner most being will relate to you both. Then the Lord of Truth will befriend you.
9. Assign your outer being to the creation and your heart to the hereafter. As for the inner most being you must lodge it to the Lord of Truth, beyond both this world and the hereafter. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, November 25, 2013
Who do we really love?
A man asked the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), "When will the Hour be established O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "I haven't prepared for it much of prayers or fast or alms, but I love Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "You will be with those whom you love." [Bukhari]
Three important points to be noted are:
1. There is something more important than knowing when the Day of Judgement will occur. The more important thing is our preparation for that Day. What good or bad deeds have you sent forth for that Day? Each person's Judgement begins as soon as they die, and their grave becomes either a pit of fire or a garden of Paradise. Therefore, the most relevant thing to worry about is our daily deeds, as we never know when we will die and our Judgement commence.
2. The questioner in the hadith did the Fardh (required) prayers, fasts, and charity but not a whole lot extra. Some people do the opposite; they neglect the Fardh while doing a lot of the nafil (supererogatory). This is misguidance, because the greatest reward is for Fardh deeds and punishment is for neglecting the Fardh, not the nafil
3. Most sobering is that we will be with the people we love on the Day of Judgement. If we love the righteous, God fearing Believers, we will be with them and will follow them to Jannah. We can peek into our heart to see who it is we really love -- the proof of love is in appreciating and trying our best to do what they. This will tell us where we will be on the Day of Judgement.
May Almighty Allah fill our hearts with the love of His lovers, ameen.
Three important points to be noted are:
1. There is something more important than knowing when the Day of Judgement will occur. The more important thing is our preparation for that Day. What good or bad deeds have you sent forth for that Day? Each person's Judgement begins as soon as they die, and their grave becomes either a pit of fire or a garden of Paradise. Therefore, the most relevant thing to worry about is our daily deeds, as we never know when we will die and our Judgement commence.
2. The questioner in the hadith did the Fardh (required) prayers, fasts, and charity but not a whole lot extra. Some people do the opposite; they neglect the Fardh while doing a lot of the nafil (supererogatory). This is misguidance, because the greatest reward is for Fardh deeds and punishment is for neglecting the Fardh, not the nafil
3. Most sobering is that we will be with the people we love on the Day of Judgement. If we love the righteous, God fearing Believers, we will be with them and will follow them to Jannah. We can peek into our heart to see who it is we really love -- the proof of love is in appreciating and trying our best to do what they. This will tell us where we will be on the Day of Judgement.
May Almighty Allah fill our hearts with the love of His lovers, ameen.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Lesson of the day 1342
Ayahs of the day:
If you avoid the worst of what you are forbidden, We will efface your evils from you and introduce you to noble behavior. [4: 31]
Hadith of the day:
None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Every one in this world is a guest, and his wealth is but a loan. The guest must go sooner or later and the loan must be returned. [Ibn Mus'ud radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the day:
Night vigils are among the most difficult things for the soul, especially for one to rise after having slept little. However, they become lighter to bear when one becomes accustomed to them and performs them regularly, when one has patience in enduring hardship and strives hard at the beginning. Then the door is opened to intimate comfort with God, the sweetness of communing with Him, and the pleasure of being alone with Him.
At this point one not only no longer finds night vigils too difficult, nor is inclined to surrender to indolence, but on the contrary remains ever eager for more. This happens to the virtuous among God's servants. So much so that one of them said, "If the people of the Gardens are in a state similar to ours during night, they are living pleasantly indeed." Another said, "The people of the night in their nights have more pleasure than the people of frivolity in their play." Yet another said, "Were it not for the night vigils and the company of the brothers in God, I would not have wished to remain in this world." There are innumerable well known anecdotes to this effect. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
A happy family is but an earlier heaven. The family is one of the nature's masterpieces. Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.
If you avoid the worst of what you are forbidden, We will efface your evils from you and introduce you to noble behavior. [4: 31]
Hadith of the day:
None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. [Bukhari]
Wise quote of the day:
Every one in this world is a guest, and his wealth is but a loan. The guest must go sooner or later and the loan must be returned. [Ibn Mus'ud radi Allah anhu]
Guidance of the day:
Night vigils are among the most difficult things for the soul, especially for one to rise after having slept little. However, they become lighter to bear when one becomes accustomed to them and performs them regularly, when one has patience in enduring hardship and strives hard at the beginning. Then the door is opened to intimate comfort with God, the sweetness of communing with Him, and the pleasure of being alone with Him.
At this point one not only no longer finds night vigils too difficult, nor is inclined to surrender to indolence, but on the contrary remains ever eager for more. This happens to the virtuous among God's servants. So much so that one of them said, "If the people of the Gardens are in a state similar to ours during night, they are living pleasantly indeed." Another said, "The people of the night in their nights have more pleasure than the people of frivolity in their play." Yet another said, "Were it not for the night vigils and the company of the brothers in God, I would not have wished to remain in this world." There are innumerable well known anecdotes to this effect. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
A happy family is but an earlier heaven. The family is one of the nature's masterpieces. Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Unique quality of a Believer -- Never gets tired of doing good
The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A believer never gets satisfied doing good until he reaches Jannah.” [Tirmidhi]
According to this hadith, it is a quality of a Muslim that he or she is very concerned about acquiring virtues and doing good, and never tires of struggling for and living by virtuous deeds. This is because “a believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this. Abu Shihab (the sub-narrator of this statement of Abdullah ibn Masud’s) moved his hand over his nose in illustration.” [Sahih Bukhari]
High achieving students never stop studying because they never feel satisfied that what they know is sufficient. They don’t limit themselves to the bare minimum amount of knowledge needed to pass. One who does so is in danger of failing. Even when they are well prepared they feel that they could know more, or that they might make a mistake which they would have to compensate for with something else. Another reason that high achieving students keep on studying is because of their love for learning.
Similar is the case of a Muslim with good deeds. They love to please Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) and enter His Jannah. Additionally, they are afraid that what they have prepared of good deeds may not be sufficient so they keep doing what is pleasing to Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala). A borderline pass is not what they aim for, because one could easily make a mistake and end up failing. They aim for a high ‘A’. They do not underestimate the enormity of the sins that they commit and see their sins as a huge mountain looming over them. Thus, they are always trying to compensate for their shortcomings. In this struggle a Muslim reaches the end of his or her life. Such is the successful person for he achieves Jannah.
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
According to this hadith, it is a quality of a Muslim that he or she is very concerned about acquiring virtues and doing good, and never tires of struggling for and living by virtuous deeds. This is because “a believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this. Abu Shihab (the sub-narrator of this statement of Abdullah ibn Masud’s) moved his hand over his nose in illustration.” [Sahih Bukhari]
High achieving students never stop studying because they never feel satisfied that what they know is sufficient. They don’t limit themselves to the bare minimum amount of knowledge needed to pass. One who does so is in danger of failing. Even when they are well prepared they feel that they could know more, or that they might make a mistake which they would have to compensate for with something else. Another reason that high achieving students keep on studying is because of their love for learning.
Similar is the case of a Muslim with good deeds. They love to please Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) and enter His Jannah. Additionally, they are afraid that what they have prepared of good deeds may not be sufficient so they keep doing what is pleasing to Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala). A borderline pass is not what they aim for, because one could easily make a mistake and end up failing. They aim for a high ‘A’. They do not underestimate the enormity of the sins that they commit and see their sins as a huge mountain looming over them. Thus, they are always trying to compensate for their shortcomings. In this struggle a Muslim reaches the end of his or her life. Such is the successful person for he achieves Jannah.
http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com
Friday, November 15, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 341
1. If someone puts into practice the knowledge he has already acquired, Allah will endow him with knowledge of what he does not know.
2. If someone devotes himself sincerely to Allah for forty days, the fountains of wisdom will gush forth from his heart onto his tongue.
3. Conduct yourselves properly in this abode, so that your religion, your outward and inward may be kept safe and sound until you are made to stand before Him at the Resurrection.
4. Make no one but Him the object of your affection. Make friends with no one but Him. Open your feelings to no one but Him.
5. The believer must ask, as a way of calling himself to account and improving his behavior: "What did I intend by saying what I said? What did I intend by taking the step I took? What did I intend by eating what I ate? Why did I act as I did? Is this in accordance with the Book or Sunnah?"
6. If it should ever happen that your heart is tempted by the beauty and charm of this world, you must get away from it in a hurry, for it will no doubt chase after you.
7. Take from this world in proportion to your need, not for idle sport and to accumulate great wealth.
8. When Islam becomes real through submission, you will surrender your own self (nafs) to the hand of His destiny (qadar).
9. Wake up now, before death brings you to your senses! Be your own preacher and subdue your own self! Spread your wealth around! You are merely a traveler passing through.
10. Your true friend is he who warns you to take care (of your hereafter). [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. If someone devotes himself sincerely to Allah for forty days, the fountains of wisdom will gush forth from his heart onto his tongue.
3. Conduct yourselves properly in this abode, so that your religion, your outward and inward may be kept safe and sound until you are made to stand before Him at the Resurrection.
4. Make no one but Him the object of your affection. Make friends with no one but Him. Open your feelings to no one but Him.
5. The believer must ask, as a way of calling himself to account and improving his behavior: "What did I intend by saying what I said? What did I intend by taking the step I took? What did I intend by eating what I ate? Why did I act as I did? Is this in accordance with the Book or Sunnah?"
6. If it should ever happen that your heart is tempted by the beauty and charm of this world, you must get away from it in a hurry, for it will no doubt chase after you.
7. Take from this world in proportion to your need, not for idle sport and to accumulate great wealth.
8. When Islam becomes real through submission, you will surrender your own self (nafs) to the hand of His destiny (qadar).
9. Wake up now, before death brings you to your senses! Be your own preacher and subdue your own self! Spread your wealth around! You are merely a traveler passing through.
10. Your true friend is he who warns you to take care (of your hereafter). [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, November 11, 2013
First things first....
ÙˆَعَجِÙ„ْتُ Ø¥ِÙ„َÙŠْÙƒَ رَبِّ Ù„ِتَرْضَÙ‰ٰ
"And I hurried to You, my Lord, so that You'll be pleased."
[Taahaa, [20: 84]
A Qur'aan teacher always advised her students to live by this Ayah:
She told them, "This Ayah is what moves me. When I hear the Adhaan and I'm occupied and in the middle of something, I remind myself of this Ayah and so I get up to pray."
"When my alarm goes off at 2am and I want to go back to sleep I remember: "And I hurried to You, my Lord, so you'll be pleased", and so I get up.
Her husband had the following arrangement with her: On his way home from work he'd call her so she'll get the food hot & ready, so he can come home and eat & sleep.
One day he asked her to make Mahshi (stuffed grape leaves) - very time consuming. You wrap many of them and put the pot of them on the stove to cook. She had 3 more to wrap then she had to put them on the stove to cook.
But the Adhaan came in. So she left the 3 remaining grape-leaves (which would have taken her 5 mins) and went to pray. Her husband kept calling & calling her phone but there was no answer.
He came home and found her in Sujood and food not ready. He saw there were only 3 grape-leaves left. So he got upset & said, "You could have just finished them & put the pot to cook then pray!"
No response.
He went to her to discover she had died in her Sujood!
SubhaanAllaah, had she waited like any of us to "finish whats in her hand" she would have died in the kitchen! But a person dies upon what they lived on. And they are resurrected on what they died on.
When we keep our priorities straight, insha'Allah we will find amazing results --barakah in our time and much more.
"And I hurried to You, my Lord, so that You'll be pleased."
[Taahaa, [20: 84]
A Qur'aan teacher always advised her students to live by this Ayah:
She told them, "This Ayah is what moves me. When I hear the Adhaan and I'm occupied and in the middle of something, I remind myself of this Ayah and so I get up to pray."
"When my alarm goes off at 2am and I want to go back to sleep I remember: "And I hurried to You, my Lord, so you'll be pleased", and so I get up.
Her husband had the following arrangement with her: On his way home from work he'd call her so she'll get the food hot & ready, so he can come home and eat & sleep.
One day he asked her to make Mahshi (stuffed grape leaves) - very time consuming. You wrap many of them and put the pot of them on the stove to cook. She had 3 more to wrap then she had to put them on the stove to cook.
But the Adhaan came in. So she left the 3 remaining grape-leaves (which would have taken her 5 mins) and went to pray. Her husband kept calling & calling her phone but there was no answer.
He came home and found her in Sujood and food not ready. He saw there were only 3 grape-leaves left. So he got upset & said, "You could have just finished them & put the pot to cook then pray!"
No response.
He went to her to discover she had died in her Sujood!
SubhaanAllaah, had she waited like any of us to "finish whats in her hand" she would have died in the kitchen! But a person dies upon what they lived on. And they are resurrected on what they died on.
When we keep our priorities straight, insha'Allah we will find amazing results --barakah in our time and much more.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Lesson of the day 1341
Ayahs of the day:
O human kind, be conscious of your Lord, who created you from one soul, and created its mate from it, and propagated from the two, many men and women. And be conscious of God, by whom you ask of each other; and of relationships; for God is watching you. [4: 1]
Hadith of the day:
Fear the supplication of the one who has been wronged, for there is no barrier between it an Allah. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Raise your words not your voice -- it is rain that grows flowers, not the thunder. [Mawlana Runi]
Guidance of the day:
It is part of keeping the prayer with care and propriety to be humble therein, presence of heart, reflect on what one is reciting, understand its meanings, feel submission and powerlessness before God when bowing or prostrating, have a heart full of magnitude and holiness of God when uttering the takbir and tasbih, as well as throughout every part of the prayer, avoid incidental thoughts and worldly preoccupations, and turn away from the ego's ruminations.
One should concentrate solely on the proper performance of the prayer, in the exact manner that God has prescribed, for prayer accompanied with distraction and lack of humility or presence is not good enough. Strive to be humble and present in your prayer. Reflect on what you recite of the words of your Lord. Do not be hasty in your recitation, for reflection cannot co-exist with haste. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
The highest form of vanity is love of fame. (George Santayan)
Fame is vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. (Harace Greeley)
O human kind, be conscious of your Lord, who created you from one soul, and created its mate from it, and propagated from the two, many men and women. And be conscious of God, by whom you ask of each other; and of relationships; for God is watching you. [4: 1]
Hadith of the day:
Fear the supplication of the one who has been wronged, for there is no barrier between it an Allah. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
Raise your words not your voice -- it is rain that grows flowers, not the thunder. [Mawlana Runi]
Guidance of the day:
It is part of keeping the prayer with care and propriety to be humble therein, presence of heart, reflect on what one is reciting, understand its meanings, feel submission and powerlessness before God when bowing or prostrating, have a heart full of magnitude and holiness of God when uttering the takbir and tasbih, as well as throughout every part of the prayer, avoid incidental thoughts and worldly preoccupations, and turn away from the ego's ruminations.
One should concentrate solely on the proper performance of the prayer, in the exact manner that God has prescribed, for prayer accompanied with distraction and lack of humility or presence is not good enough. Strive to be humble and present in your prayer. Reflect on what you recite of the words of your Lord. Do not be hasty in your recitation, for reflection cannot co-exist with haste. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al Haddad]
Food for thought:
The highest form of vanity is love of fame. (George Santayan)
Fame is vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. (Harace Greeley)
Monday, November 04, 2013
Muharram Mubarak!!!!
Opportunities for the Believers
Winter -- long nights and short days -- an opportunity to get closer to our Creator through our tahajjud at night and fasting during the day, inshaAllah. Let us get used to doing these (best possible things) when it is sooo easy, and afterwards inshaAllah they will still continue (during summer), because of the sweet taste we will develop for them and the result will be -- we will never want to quit.
These two things were always part of the routine of our righteous predecessors -- whose footsteps if we follow we will inshaAllah succeed in this world and the next. May Allah Most High give us the resolve to do them and make them easy for us, and make this new year a very special experience for us, ameen.
Please read the worthwhile articles below on how to get started and the proven spiritual and health benefits of regularly fasting.
http://productivemuslim.com/ramadan-series-creating-a-habit-of-fasting-after-ramadan-2/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/fasting-health_b_1557043.html
Winter -- long nights and short days -- an opportunity to get closer to our Creator through our tahajjud at night and fasting during the day, inshaAllah. Let us get used to doing these (best possible things) when it is sooo easy, and afterwards inshaAllah they will still continue (during summer), because of the sweet taste we will develop for them and the result will be -- we will never want to quit.
These two things were always part of the routine of our righteous predecessors -- whose footsteps if we follow we will inshaAllah succeed in this world and the next. May Allah Most High give us the resolve to do them and make them easy for us, and make this new year a very special experience for us, ameen.
Please read the worthwhile articles below on how to get started and the proven spiritual and health benefits of regularly fasting.
http://productivemuslim.com/ramadan-series-creating-a-habit-of-fasting-after-ramadan-2/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/fasting-health_b_1557043.html
Friday, November 01, 2013
Diffused Congruence: Zahra Billoo of CAIR
For the second episode of the new podcast examining the many fascinating conversations within the American Muslim community, co-hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco-Bay Area chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), for an in-depth conversation on the goals, history, and criticisms of the venerable civil rights organization (it marks its second decade next year), and her own efforts to bridge interfaith understanding both before and after becoming a part of it. Download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes. Send any questions and concerns to DiffusedCongruence@gmail.com.
Monday, October 28, 2013
We are the Carpenter....
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah prepares a house in Paradise for every believer who offers twelve Raka'at of voluntary prayer everyday beyond that which is obligatory for him.” [Muslim]
Although this Hadith specifies voluntary prayer but our every act of obedience of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) is an act of workmanship towards the properties we are preparing for ourselves in Jannah.
A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this would be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."
The carpenter was in shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he had ever built!
Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) has sent us to this world to build our homes in Paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes in which we will live forever.
Every work can be our last; every Salah can be our last; let's pray and work with this realization.
Although this Hadith specifies voluntary prayer but our every act of obedience of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) is an act of workmanship towards the properties we are preparing for ourselves in Jannah.
A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this would be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."
The carpenter was in shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he had ever built!
Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) has sent us to this world to build our homes in Paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes in which we will live forever.
Every work can be our last; every Salah can be our last; let's pray and work with this realization.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 340
1. If you are sensible, count yourself among the people of the fire (of Hell), because this will encourage you to improve your conduct. If you are in fact one of the people of the Garden (of Paradise), you will have demonstrated your gratitude to Him.
2. Your ultimate destination is uncertain, so do not over estimate the purity of your spiritual state.
3. If you are still alive in the morning, do not take evening for granted, and if you are here when evening comes, do not take the next morning for granted.
4. Yesterday is past and gone with everything it contained, to be a witness for you or against you. As for tomorrow, you do not know whether you will survive till then or not. The proof of your heedlessness is your addiction to foolish company.
5. To deserve the company of your Lord, you must carry out His commandments, observe His prohibitions and comply with His wishes by accepting whatever has been decreed by Him.
6. In preserving the integrity of the heart there is indeed a job to keep one fully occupied.
7. One tiny fraction of the deeds of the heart is a thousand times better than all the deeds of the outer limbs.
8. How great is the loss of those who waste their time in the shops of greedy ambition, expectation and reputation! Your inner being will surely die, and your heart will turn dark.
9. If someone tries to worship Allah in a state of ignorance, he will do more harm than good. You must take along with you the lantern of your Lord's sacred law. By the light of law, you will enter into the domain of knowledge. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2. Your ultimate destination is uncertain, so do not over estimate the purity of your spiritual state.
3. If you are still alive in the morning, do not take evening for granted, and if you are here when evening comes, do not take the next morning for granted.
4. Yesterday is past and gone with everything it contained, to be a witness for you or against you. As for tomorrow, you do not know whether you will survive till then or not. The proof of your heedlessness is your addiction to foolish company.
5. To deserve the company of your Lord, you must carry out His commandments, observe His prohibitions and comply with His wishes by accepting whatever has been decreed by Him.
6. In preserving the integrity of the heart there is indeed a job to keep one fully occupied.
7. One tiny fraction of the deeds of the heart is a thousand times better than all the deeds of the outer limbs.
8. How great is the loss of those who waste their time in the shops of greedy ambition, expectation and reputation! Your inner being will surely die, and your heart will turn dark.
9. If someone tries to worship Allah in a state of ignorance, he will do more harm than good. You must take along with you the lantern of your Lord's sacred law. By the light of law, you will enter into the domain of knowledge. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
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