Plan your affairs and take proper precautions

When a Muslim sets out to do something, he must do the following: he must plan with caution, and he must put his trust in Allah. The Prophet (bpuh), who was protected by Allah and who had stronger trust in Allah than anyone else, wore armor in battle. A man asked the Prophet (bpuh), "Should I tie my camel to the post or should I put my trust in Allah?" The Prophet (bpuh) said,

"Tie it up and put your trust in Allah."

When you take appropriate steps to reach your goal, and when at him same time you put your trust in Allah, you have implemented two important principles of Islamic Monotheism. To trust in Allah. thought taking appropriate measures - i.e. without making an effort o achieve one's goals - is a contemptible misunderstanding of the 'religion. And to take appropriate measures without trusting in Allah means that there is a defect in one's faith in Allah. An Arab poet said:

"The slow cautious person will achieve part of his goals, while the impetuous hasty one will often fail."

By being circumspect in your affairs, you will not have acted contrary to your belief in pre-ordainment; but rather, you will have implemented a fundamental part of it.

And let him be careful...

[Qur'an 18: 19]

To protect you from the heat [and cold], and coats of mail to protect you from your [mutual] violence.

[Qur'an 16: 81]

[Dont be Sad]

Naseeha - Good Health and Free Time (Sh Dr Ibrahim Dremali)

Whatever is written for you will unerringly come to you

A person who is impatient about his sustenance, worried about why he has so little, and unsatisfied at being lower than others in worldly status is like one who precedes the Imam when going from one stage of prayer to the next. At the end, he cannot make Salaams (the final action that makes the prayer complete) until after the Imam has done so. Similarly, one does not die until he receives all of the provision that was decreed for him. Sustenance and provision were preordained and decided upon fifty thousand years before the creation was created.

The Event ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it.
[Qur'an 16: 1]

And if He intends any good for you there is none who can repel His Favor...
[Qur'an 10: 107]

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"O' Allah, I seek refuge in you from the stamina of the wicked person and from the feebleness that accompanies (a false) confidence."

This phrase has a very significant meaning. As I contemplated key events in history, I found that many of Allah's enemies had prodigious levels of fortitude, hardiness, and perseverance. In contrast, I found that many Muslims were insipid, lethargic, and feeble, all the while thinking and falsely so - that they were putting their trust in Allah. A true trust in Allah requires striving and working, and then leaving the results to Allah.

[Dont be sad]

Happiness is a Divine gift that does not distinguish between the rich and the poor

It is not uncommon to see laborers who are so poor that whatever they earn on any given day is spent on that same day. Yet many of them are happy, peaceful, with strong hearts and tranquil souls. This is because they are too busy to think about yesterday or tomorrow. Their life-style has given them an appreciation of today since they have not been afforded the opportunity of thinking about anything else.

Compare these to those who live in mansions. Inactivity and free time have afforded them with plentiful time to think about their problems and their lack of purpose in life. Thus misery and worry afflict many of them day and night.

[Dont be sad]

The past is gone forever

By brooding over the past and its tragedies, one exhibits a form of insanity - a kind of sickness that destroys resolve to live for the present moment. Those who have a firm purpose have filed away and forgotten occurrences of the past, which will never again see light, since they occupy such a dark place in the recesses of the mind.

Episodes of the past are finished with; sadness cannot retrieve them, melancholy cannot make things right, and depression will never bring the past back to life. This is because the past is non-existent.

Do not live in the nightmares of former times or under the shade of what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past. Do you think that you can return the sun to its place of rising, the baby to its mother's womb, milk to the udder, or tears to the eye? By constantly dwelling on the past and its happenings, you place yourself in a very frightful and tragic state of mind.

Reading too much into the past is a waste of the present. When Allah mentioned the affairs of the previous nations, He, the Exalted, said:

That was a nation who has passed away.

[Qur'an 2. 134]

Former days are gone and done with, and you benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy over them, by turning back the wheels of history.

The person who lives in the past is like someone who tries to saw sawdust. Of old, they used to say: "Do not remove the dead from their graves."

Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present: neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. If every man and every jinn were to try jointly to bring back the past, they would most certainly fail. Everything on earth marches forward, preparing for a new season and so should you.

[Dont be Sad]

The ingredients of happiness

1. A thankful heart and a tongue that is moist with the remembrance of Allah. An Arab poet said "Thankfulness, remembrance, and patience, In them are blessings and rewards"

2. Another ingredient of happiness is the keeping of secrets, especially one's own secrets. Among the Arabs there is a famous story of a Bedouin who was entrusted with a secret for a free of twenty dinars. At first he remained true to the deal and then suddenly, in a fit of impatience, he went and returned the money - he wanted to unburden himself from the load of the secret. This is basically because secrecy requires steadfastness, patience, and will power. "Oh my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers" (12:5)

A weakness of man - which is just one of his many weak traits - is that he constantly feels the urge to reveal the details of his personal affairs to others. This sickness is an old one in the annals of history. The soul loves to spread secrets and disseminate stories. The connection between this topic and that of this book is that whoever spread his secrets will inevitably feel regret, sadness, and misery. "And let him be careful and let no man know of you" (18:19)

["Dont be sad", Dr, Aid Al-Qarni]

Things that bring about happiness

1. Good Deeds

whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, whie he (or she) is a true believer (of islamic monotheism) verily, to him we will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision). (16:97)

2. A Pious Wife

"Our lord, bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes. (25:74)

3. A spacious house

The Prophet (PBUH) said "Oh Allah, make my house spacious for me"

4. Sustenance that is derived and earned through honest means

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said : "Verily, Allah is Tayyib (good and pure), and He does not accept other than what is good and pure".

5.God manners and spirit of fellowship with people.

"And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be" (19:31)

6.Being debt-free and not being a profligate spender.

"And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly" (25:67)

"And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift)" (17:29)

["Dont be sad", Dr, Aid Al-Qarni]

How can I still earn reward when I'm dead?

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "The good deeds that will reach a believer after his (or her) death are: knowledge which he learned and then spread; a righteous child whom he leaves behind; a copy of the Quran that he leaves as a legacy; a mosque that he built; a house that he built for wayfarers; a canal that he dug; or sadaqah (charity) that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death."

[Ibn Maajah]

Tawelun Shawqi

Be of the Children of the HEREAFTER

The world is going backwards and the hereafter is coming forward, and each of the two has its own children. So be of the children of the hereafter and do not be the children of this world. for today there is actions [good or bad] but no accountability but tomorrow there will be accountability but no action''

[Sahih Al-Bukhari - Softening Of the Hearts]

Growing Old in Islam is a Blessing

Allah Says in a Hadith Qudsi:

When My servant reaches the age of 40, I relieve him of 3 calamities: madness, elephantiasis and leprosy. When he reaches the age of 50, I subject him to an easy reckoning. When he reaches the age of 60, I endear to him his return (to Me). When he is 70, I make him dear to the Angels. When he is 80, I write his good deeds and cast away his evil deeds. When he is 90, the Angels say: he is Allah's prisoner on earth; his earlier and later sins are forgiven and his intercession is accepted. When he reaches the age of senility, Allah records for him (his good deeds) equal (in value) to what he did when he was in sound health. If he does anything bad, it is not written. (Tirmidhi)

The Soul is a Grinding Stone

"So let my Enemies say what they will for my Sins are many, and perhaps because of their backbiting and slander My sins will be lightened and instead fall upon their shoulders " Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Hadi Al-Wadi'ee (rahimullah)

Ibn al Qayyim رحمه الله said:

It is well known that man has not been given to power to kill his thoughts nor the strength to severe them. They invade him just as his breathing invades his body.

However the strength of Imân and intellect helps him to accept his best thoughts , to be pleased with them, to experience peace and tranquility from them. It also helps him to repulse his most evil thoughts and dislike and recoil from them.

Allâh created the soul similar to a grinding stone that goes round and round – one that does not stop; and always in need of something to grind. If seeds are placed therein it will grind them. If stones are placed therein it will still grind them.

So the thoughts that revolve in the soul are like a seed that is placed in a grinding stone. That grinding stone is never left idle. Something or the other has to be placed inside it. So from amongst the people are those whose grinding stone grinds seeds which comes out as flour – which he and others derive benefit from.

But most of them grind soil, stones, straw and so forth – so when the time of making the dough and baking comes; he sees the reality of what he ground.

[al-Fawaa’id - Page 31 and 173-174]

Hasan bin Abdullah Al Awadh recitation

Ya Ummi..

I would like to share the lyrics of Ahmed Bukhathirs Ya Ummi Nasheed as it made me to do so. It was very nice. (The same nasheed you can hear it in background).

I will return oh mother
And kiss your chaste head
And supress (blame?) my desires
And taste the scent of your blessings
Besmirch in the richness of your feet
my cheek when I meet you
Water the soil with my tears
Happy that you are alive
How many nights did you stay up late
So that I could sleep to my content?
And how many times did you thirst
So you could quench my thirst with your tenderness?
And one day I was Ill, I do not forget
The tears from you that were like the rain
And your eyes which stayed awake
fearing that I may be in danger
And the day we parted at dawn
and Oh what a harsh dawn that was
Words cannot explain what
I felt when I abandoned you
And you told me things which I still
remember throughout my life
"You will never find a heart
more tender towards you than mine"
"You will never find a heart
more tender towards you than mine"
obedience to you, oh want of my life..
[is what] the God of existence has instructed me to do.
Your content is the secret of my success
And my love of you is the secret of my belief
And the sincerity of your prayer [for me]..
has resolved my misfortunes and my sadness
My love towards you..
no human being loves anything like it
You are the beating of my heart
And you are what lights my vision
And you are the tune on my lips
My problems cease when I see your face
To you I do return oh mother
Tomorrow I rest from my journey
And a second age will begin for me
and the branches will blossom with flowers

Abdullah ibn Masud at his death bed

Abdullah ibn Masud lived to the time of Khalifah Uthman, may God be pleased with him. When he was sick and on his death-bed, Uthman came to visit him and said:

"What is your ailment?"

"My sins."

"And what do you desire?"

"The mercy of my Lord."

"Shall I not give you your stipend which you have refused to take for years now?"

"I have no need of it."

"Let it be for your daughters after you."

"Do you fear poverty for my children? I have commanded them to read Surah al-Waqiah every night for I have heard the Prophet saying, "Whoever reads Al-Waqiah every night shall not be afflicted by poverty ever."

That night, Abdullah passed away to the company of his Lord, his tongue moist with the remembrance of God and with the recitation of the verses of His Book.

Story of a pious woman at the time of Ferawoon

On the Prophet Muhammad's (sul Allahu alayhi wassalaam) Night Journey to Jerusalem:

The Prophet (sul Allahu alayhi wassalaam) smelled a very nice odor. He asked Jibril about this pleasant scent and Jibril informed him this good smell was coming from the grave of the woman whose duty used to be to comb Pharaoh's daughter's hair.

This woman was a good, pious believer. One day, as she was combing Pharaoh's daughter's hair, the comb fell from her hand. At this she said, "Bismillah." Pharaoh's daughter asked her, "Do you have a god other than my father?" The woman said, "Yes. My Lord and the Lord of your father is Allah." Pharaoh's daughter told her father what had happened. Pharaoh demanded this woman blaspheme and leave Islam, but she refused. At that, Pharaoh threatened to kill her children.

He brought a great pot of water and built a great fire under it. When the water boiled, Pharaoh brought her children and started to drop them into that pot one after the other. Throughout all this, the woman remained steadfast to Islam, even when Pharaoh reached her youngest child--a little boy still breast feeding--but she felt pity for him. At that, Allah enabled this child to speak. He said to his mother, "O Mother, be patient. The torture of the Hereafter is far more severe than the torture of this life, and do not be reluctant, because you are right."

At this the woman requested Pharaoh collect her bones and the bones of her children and bury them in the same grave. Pharaoh promised her that--then dropped her into that boiling water. She died as a martyr.

The good odor the Prophet (sul Allahu alayhi wassalaam) smelled coming from her grave is an indication of her high status.

[May Allah make us like these people.]

http://www.islamcan.com/

Standing by his mother's bedside

A long time ago there lived a great saint. His name was Sharafud-Din and he loved his mother very much. Once, when Sharafud-Din was still small, his mother fell very ill and had to stay in bed. One night she awoke with a burning thirst and called out to her son to bring her a bowl of water.

The young boy hurried to do her bidding, but when he returned to her bedside with the water, he discovered that she had fallen asleep again. Sharafud-Din was not sure what to do. Should he wake her up or wait until she awoke, or leave the water by her bedside and go back to bed himself? He decided to wait until she awoke.

Minutes passed...hours passed...the night passed...and still the small boy waited patiently with the water at his mother's side. Finally his mother awoke a little after the first light of dawn had paled the sky, and to her surprise there was her beloved son at her side.

"How long have you been standing here?" she asked. "You haven't been there all night have you?"

'Yes, mother," he replied, "I have been here since you asked me to bring you some water."

His mother was deeply touched by his devotion, and asked Allah to pour His blessings on her son. One day he grew up to be a great saint!

Source: "True Stories for Children" by Matina Wali Muhammad

The wasiyyat of Hadhrat Aadam

Hadhrat Aadam (alayhis salaam) bequeathed to his son, Hadhrat Sheeth (alayhis salaam) five advices. He stressed that Hadhrat Sheeth (alayhis salaam) should deliver this wasiyyat to his sons as well. The following are the five advices:

(1) Never have confidence in the world and its life. Allah did not approve of my confidence in Jannat, hence I had to leave.

(2) Never fulfil the desires of women. I succumbed to the desire of my wife, ate of the forbidden fruit of Jannat, hence I was put to shame and remorse.

(3) Before doing anything, reflect well o­n its consequences. If I had done this, I would not have been put to shame in Jannat.

(4) If your heart is agitated by something, do not do it. When I was about to eat of the forbidden fruit, my heart agitated, but I did not heed it.

(5) Before doing anything consult with people of wisdom. If I had consulted the Angels, I would not have suffered shame.

Naked in Qiyaamah

"There will be many women who were clothed in this world but who will be naked in the Aakhirah." (Hadith)

These will be the women who wear transparent garb, tight-fitting provocative dress, dress with revealing slits, etc.

http://www.themajlis.net/

If You Ask About Paradise...

Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

"And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.

And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.

And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.

And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!'

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allaah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allaah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!'

So, they will all give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, He will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will all give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allaah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?' and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness. '

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife...

"Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, l ooking at their Lord..."

[al-Qiyaamah:22-3]

[from the amazing and beautiful book Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad il-Afraah by Ibn al-Qayyim, pg. 193]

http://www.kalamullah.com/paradise.html

A Mother

Virtues of Ramadan

It is related by Abu Hurairah (RAA) that the Apostle of God (sallallaho alaihi wa sallam) said “When the month of Ramadhan comes, the Gates of Heaven are thrown open and the Gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are put behind bars” In another report, the “Gates of Mercy” are mentioned in place of the “Gates of Heaven”.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

Kaab bin Ujra relates, "Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, "Come near to the mimbar". And we came near to the mimbar. When he ascended the First step of the mimbar he said "Aameen". When he ascended the second step of the mimbar he said, "Aameen". When he ascended the third step he said, "Aameen".

When he descended we said, "O Rasul of Allah, we have heard from you today something which we never heard before". He said, When I ascended the first step) Jibra-eel A.S. appeared before me and said, "Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadhaan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness", Upon that I said, "Aameen". When I ascended the second step, he said "Woe to him before whom thy name is mentioned and then does not read Durood (salaat alan Nabi) on you". I replied "Aameen". When I ascended the third step he said, "Woe unto the person in whose presence both parents or o ne of them attain old age, and (through failure to serve them) is not allowed to enter Jannah" I said "Aameen".

[Reported by Haakim.]

Abu Hurayrah relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said, "My Ummah were given five things for Ramadhaan which were not given to anyone except them. For them, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more sweeter to Allah than the fragrant smell of musk. On their behalf the fish in the sea seek forgiveness for the fasting persons until they break their fast. Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in Jannah everyday and then says (to it), "The time is near when faithful servants shall cast aside the great trials of the world and come to you". In this month (for them) evil-minded Shaytaan is chained so as not to reach unto those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadhaan. On the last night of Ramadhaan they are forgiven".

The Sahaabah R.A. thereupon enquired, "0 Messenger of Allah, is that last night Laylatul Qadr? Rasulullah (SAW) replied, "No. But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his service".

[Reported by Ahmad, Bazzaar and Bayhaqi]

Salmaan (RA) reports, "On the last day of Sha-baan Rasulullah (SAW) addressed us and said, '0 people there comes over you now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made Fasting compulsory by day. And has made sunnah the Taraaweeh by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a fardh, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy faraa-idh in any other time.

This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah ( paradise. It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's rizq is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell}, and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who Fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least."

Thereupon we said, "0 messenger of Allah, not all of us possess the means whereby we can give a fasting person to break his fast." Rasulullah (SAW) replied, "Allah grants the same reward to the one who gives a fasting person to break the fast a mere date, or a drink of water, or a sip of milk."

"This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahan-nam."

"Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (bonds-men) in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam."

"And in this month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Tayyibah Laa llaaha illallaah) and make much Istighfaar beg Allah's forgiveness with Astagirfirul- laah)." And as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah, entrance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from Jahannam."

"And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from My fountain, such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah."

[Reported by ibn Khuzaimah in his 'Saheeh.]

Consequences of not paying Zakath

Narrated Abu Huraira (RA) Allahs apostle (PBUH) said, Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his welath, then on the Day of Resurrecion his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encirlce his neck and bite his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'

(Bukhari)

Welcome Ramadan

When A Child Dies

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a child dies, Allaah says to His angels, ‘You have taken the child of My slave.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘You have taken the apple of his eye.’ They say, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘What did My slave say?’ They say, ‘He praised yoau and said “In naa lil laa hi wa inna ilay hi raa ji’oon (Verily, to Allaah we belong and to Him we shall return).’ Allaah says, ‘Build for My slave a house in Paradise and call it the house of praise.’" (Al-Tirmidhi)

Elaika - To you..

Imam Shafi`i on his death-bed was asked by Al Muzni “What is your condition?”

Then Imam Shafi’ (رحمه الله) replied,

“I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allah, Exalted is His remembrance, arriving. And no! By Allah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!”

Imam Shafi’ (رحمه الله) then began to cry profusely and recited the following;

إلَيكَ إلـهُ الخَلْـق أرْفَــعُ رَغبَتِي *** و‘نْ كُنتُ يَا ذا المَنّ والجُودِ مُجْرِما

‘To You, the Creator, I raise my longing, And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal

ولمَّا قَسَـا قلبي وضَـاقت مَذاهِبي *** جَعَلتُ الرَجـا مِني لِعَفوكَ سَلِمــا

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow, I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape

تعَاظَمَنـي ذنبـي فلمَّـا قرِنتـُـهُ *** بعَفوكَ ربِّي كَانَ عَـفْوكَ أعْظَمــا

My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness, I found Your forgiveness to be much greater

فمَا زِلتَ ذا عفو عَن الذنْبِ لَمْ تَزُلْ *** تَـجُـود وتعـفو منةً وتَكَرُّمـــا

You are and still remain the only One who can forgive sins, You grant and forgive out of Your benevolence and generosity

فلولاكَ لَـمْ يَصْمُـدْ لإبلـيسِ عَابدٌ *** فكَيفَ وقدْ أغْوَى صَفْيَك آدِمـــا

Were it not for You, then a servant could never defy Iblis And how can that be when he mislead Your friend Adam

فيَاليْتَ شَعْــرِي هَل أصَيرُ لِجنة *** أهنـــا؟ وأمَّـا للسَّعِير فأنْدَمــا

If only I knew! Will I arrive at Paradise that I may take delight Or at Hellfire, that I may regret?

فللّهِ دَر العَـــارِفُ الـنـدبُ إنَّه *** تَفيض لفرْطِ الوَجْد أجفانُه دَمَّـــا

How capable is Allah! For the one acquainted with lament,
blood almost flows from his eyelids due to the excess of his emotions (lament)

يَقيـمُ إذا مَـا الليلُ مَدَّ ظَلامَــه *** على نَفسِهِ مِن شدَّةِ الخَوفِ مَأتمـا

He stands when the night extends out its darkness Stands against himself out of extreme fear, sinful

فصِيحاً إذا ما كـانَ في ذكْـرِ رَبِّه *** وفيما سِوَاهُ في الوَرى كان أعْجَمـا

Eloquent when he makes mention of his Lord And in the mention of others than Him, he is speechless

ويَذكُرُ أيَّامـاً مَضَـتْ مِن شَبَابـه *** وما كان فيها بالجَهَـالة أجْرَمـــا

He remembers days gone by of his youth And what was in it of ignorance, he was a criminal

فصَارَ قَرينُ الهمِّ طُولَ نهَـــارِه *** أخا السَّهدِ والنجوى إذا الليل أظلمـا

And so for the whole of his day, the companion of grief has become
the brother of sleeplessness and secret conversation when the night darkens

يقول: حَبيبي أنـتَ سُؤلِي وبَغيتي *** كفى بكَ للرَّاجـيـنَ سُؤلاً ومغنمـا

He says, ‘My beloved, You are what I request and desire
You are enough of a longing and benefit for those who have hope

ألـسْتَ الذي غذيْتني وهَــدَيْتني *** ولا زلتَ مَنـَّانـا عليّ ومُنعِـمــا

Are You not the One who has provided for me and guided me
And You have not ceased being gracious to me and full of favours

عسَى مَنْ لَـهُ الإحْسَانَ يَغفِرُ زَلتِي *** ويَسْترُ أوْزارِي ومـا قـدْ تقدَّمــا

Perhaps the Beneficent One will forgive my mistakes
And cover up my crime and what has gone forth

تعاظمَني ذنبـي فأقبلتُ خاشِعــاً *** وَلوْلا الرِّضَـا ما كنتُ يَاربِّ مُنعَمـا

My sins seemed very great to me, so I turned (to You) in humility
Were it not for my contentment in you, I wouldn’t, O my Lord, have seen any comfort at all

فإنْ تعْفُ عَني تعْفُ عَـنْ مُتمَرِّد *** ظلوم غشــوم لا يَـزايَـلَ مأتمـا

So if You forgive me, You would have forgiven a sinner,
A rebellious, oppressive tyrant still sinning

فإن تنتـقـِمْ مِني فلستُ بآيـسٍ *** ولو أدخلوا نفسي بجـُـرْم جَهَنَّمـا

So if You were to seek revenge from me, I would not despair
Even if they entered my soul into Jahannum, due to the sins

فجُرْمِي عَظيم مِن قديم وحـَـادِث *** وعفوكَ يَأتي العَبْـدَ أعْلى وأجْسَمــا

For my crimes are great, past and present
But Your forgiveness comes to the servant, more exalted and more great

حوالي َّ فضلُ الله مِن كلِّ جَانِـب *** ونورٌ مِن الرَّحمـَن يُفترش السَّمــا

The bounty of Allaah surrounds me from all sides
And Light from the Most Merciful has spread in the sky

وفي القلبِ إشراقُ المحب بوَصْلِه *** إذا قارب البُـشرَى وجَازَ إلى الحمى

And in the heart is the radiance of the beloved when he is reunited
And when glad tidings draw close, it becomes feverish

حوالي إينــاس مِن الله وَحْـدَه *** يُطالعَني فِي ظلـمـةِ القبرأنجَمــا

Exhilaration surrounds me, only for Allaah
It overlooks me in the darkness of the grave, apparent and clear

أصُونُ وَدادي أن يُدنّسـه الهَوَى *** وأحفظُ عـَهْدِ الـحُبِّ أن يَتثلمــا

I protect my love, lest my desires should pollute it
And I preserve the contract of love, lest it be defiled

ففي يَقظتِي شَوْقٌ وفي غَفوَتِي منى *** تلاحـِقُ خُـطوَى نـشوَةً وترنمـا

In my wakefulness is yearning and in my slumber is destiny
That’s pursuing my footsteps in ecstasy

ومَن يَعْتصِمْ بالله يُسَلم مِن الوَرَى *** ومَن يَرْجه هَـيْهَاتُ أنْ يَتندُمـــا

Whoever holds fast to Allaah, he is protected from men
And whoever hopes for Him, then never will he regret..

Their Share is in The Aakhirah

It is narrated that Allah Ta’ala revealed to Hadhrat Moosa (alayhis salaam): "O Moosa! There are some of My servants, if they ask of Me the entire Jannat, I will give it to them, and if they ask Me anything from this world, I will not give it to them, not because they are contemptible to Me, but because I desire to store up the treasures of bounties for them in the Aakhirah. I save them from the world like a shepherd protects his flock from a wolf." The world, Rasulullah-sallallahu alayhi wasallam- said, is carrion.

THE KEY

Ibn Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that everything has a key. The key of Jannat is to love the true and patient Fuqaraa and Masaakeen. o­n the Day of Qiyaamah, they will be the companions of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) supplicated: "O Allah! Keep me alive as a Miskeen; let me die a Miskeen and raise me up ( in Qiyaamah) in the assembly of the Masaakeen."

This supplication of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is more than ample confirmation for the lofty rank and importance of the Fuqaraa and Masaakeen. In this dua, Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) did not ask for the Masaakeen to be raised up in his assembly. Rather, he supplicated to be raised up in their group. This form of his Dua significantly highlights the rank of the fuqaraa.

Toleration

Hadhrat Ka'b Ahbaar (rahmatullah alayh) said:

"A husband who tolerates the indiscretion of his wife will gain the reward (similar to the reward) of Nabi Ayyoob (alayhis salaam), and a wife who patiently bears the injustice of her husband will gain the reward of Hadhrat Aasiyya (rahmatullah alayha)."

(Hadhrat Aasiyya was the Muslim wife of Fir'oun. Allah Ta'ala speaks highly of her in the Qur'aan Majeed.)

Toleration of the wife's indiscretion is a noble attitude. It is a great virtue which is lacking in most husband's.

Tolerating the wife's indiscretion should not be understood to mean acceptance of her acts of transgression against the Shariah which bring about the Anger of Allah Ta'ala. Her indiscretion with regard to the husband's fancies and desires should be tolerated, not her violations and of the Shariah.

Luqman's Advice

Counselling his son, Hadhrat Luqmaan (alayhis salaam) said:

"O my son! I have carried steel and stones, but nothing is heavier than (the Amaanat of) Deen.

I have experienced comfort and pleasure, but nothing is more pleasurable than safety.

I have tasted bitterness of all kinds, but nothing is more bitter than dependence o­n others."

Where to find Safety

Hadhrat Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullahi alayh) said:

"I heard from Hadhrat Ja`far Saadiq (rahmatullahi alayh) that safety has almost disappeared so much so that searching for it has become obscure. If there is safety in anything, it is in anonymity. If it is not in anonymity then it is in solitude, but this is not equal to anonymity. If it is not in solitude then it is in silence, but this is not equal to solitude. If it is not in silence, then it is in the discourses of the pious people of bygone times. A fortunate man is he who finds solitude in his heart."

Dua is to abandon sins. Dua is the tongue of love for the Beloved. Dua is the sinner’s communion with Allah Ta’ala. Dua is to face Allah Ta’ala with the tongue of shame. -- MASHAAIKH

Almighty likes sneezing and dislikes yawning

Narrated Anas bin Malik (Radi Allah Anhu) : Two men sneezed before the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ). Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said to one of them, "May Allah bestow his mercy on you", but he did not say that to other. On being asked (why), the Prophet (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said, "That one praised Allah (at the time of sneezing), while the other did not praise Allah."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 73, Number 240]

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) : The Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said, "Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning, so if someone sneezes and then praises Allah, then it is obligatory on every Muslim who heard him, to say: 'May Allah be merciful to you (Yar-hamukallah) '. But as regards yawning, it is from Satan, so one must try one's best to sop it as much as possible. Because if anyone of you yawns the Satan laughs at him."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 73, Number 242]

4 Poisons Of The Heart

1. Unnecessary Talking

Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "A person who talks too much is a person who often makes mistakes, and someone who often makes mistakes, often has wrong actions. The Fire has a priority over such a frequent sinner."

2. Unrestrained Glances

It has been related that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallum once said words to the effect: "The glance is a poisoned arrow of shaytan. Whoever lowers his gaze for Allah, He will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness which he will find in his heart on the day that he meets Him."

3. Too Much Food

Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'd Yakrib said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "The son of Adam fills no vessel more displeasing to Allah than his stomach. A few morsels should be enough for him to preserve his strength. If he must fill it, then he should allow a third for his food, a third for his drink and leave a third empty for easy breathing."

4. Keeping Bad Company

Allah's Apostle said: "The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is I like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof."

[Extract from the book "Purification of the Soul" By Ibn ul Qayyum al Jawziyya, Imam Abul Hameed al Ghazali and Ibn Rajab al Hanbali.]

Honour of a Mu'min

Abdullah Ibne Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrates that Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked at the Ka'bah and said La Ilaha Illallah, how pure you are, and how sweet is your fragrance and how great is your honour! However the honour of a Mu'min (believer) is greater than yours. Indeed, Allah( subhanahu wa ta'ala ) has made you respectable; (likewise) the wealth, the blood, and the honour of a Mu'min has been made respectable; and Allah( subhanahu wa ta'ala ) has forbidden us to suspect him of wrongdoing.

[Tabarani, Majma-uz-Zawaid]

Almighty says "I am very near to My Servant"

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger ( sal-allahu-alleihi- wasallam) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, thus stated: I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance) , and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.

[Sahih Muslim : Book 35 Kitab Al-Dhikr, Number 6471]

Be satisfied with the little of little of life

Be satisfied with the little of little of life

And prepare yourself for the long journey

In His obedience, you win both life and the hereafter

And in His obedience is the pride for the humiliated slave

And in His disobedience there is, shame and fire

And there is also the distance (from Allah) with humiliation

So, dont disobey your Lord and obey Him, always for you might be luckily accepted!

And our Lord Prays and Blesses at all times And Offers peace (salam) at sunrise and sunset Upon Taha -The Prophet pbuh- who brought the good tidings The seal of the Prophets, the guide and leader

you can download the nasheed in mp3 format by clicking this link

Whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him

And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, Allah will be sufficient for him.

Five Things & Five Matters

Ibn Abee Haatim (d.328H) - rahimahullaah - said:

"I entered Damascus and came upon the students of hadeeth, and I passed by the circle of Qaasim al-Joo'ee (d.248H). I found a group sitting around him and he was speaking. Their appearance amazed me; and I heard him saying: "Seize the benefit of five things from the people of your time: when you are present, you are not known; when you are absent, you are not missed; when you are seen, your advice is not sought; when you say something, your saying is not accepted; and when you have some knowledge, you are not given anything for it. I also advise you with five matters: when you are treated unjustly, do not behave unjustly; when you are praised, do not become happy; when you are criticised, do not become upset; when you are not believed, do not become angry; and if people act deceitfully towards you,do not act deceitfully towards them." Ibn Abee Haatim said: So I took that as my benefit from Damascus."

Related by Ibn al-Jawzee in Sifatus-Safwaa (2/200).

Determination and Patience

Determination is the strength that will enable you to pass the barrier of useless thoughts in order to create positive thoughts and to be successful in whatever you wish. It comes from within and its partner is patience. Patience teaches you not to push but rather to wait and appreciate the game of life instead, knowing that nothing remains the same, and everything will change at some point.

Blessings of a simple marriage

A man came to Sufyan Bin Uyainah (may Allah have mercy on him) and complained about his wife. “I am the lowest and most despicable thing to her,” he said. Sufyan lowered his head for a few moments and asked, “Perhaps you wanted her in order to better your status?” The man said, “Indeed, Abu Muhammad.” Sufyan replied, “Whoever goes for glory will be tested with humiliation; whoever goes for wealth will be tested with poverty; but whoever goes for religiousness, Allah will bring together for him glory and wealth with the religion.”

Sufyan then mentioned his own story to the man. “We were four brothers,” he said. "Muhammad, ‘Umran, Ibrahim and I. Muhammad was the eldest, ‘Umran was the youngest, and I was in the middle. When Muhammad wanted to marry, he desired status and married a woman of higher standing, so Allah tested him with ignominy. ‘Umran desired wealth, so he married a richer woman and Allah tested him with poverty, as (her family) took everything from him and gave him nothing.”

“I pondered over their situation,” Sufyan continued. “Once when Mu’ammar Bin Rashid came to us, I consulted him and told him the story of my brothers. He reminded me of the Hadith of Yahya Bin Ja’dah and the Hadith of Ayesha.” The first Hadith states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A woman is married for four things: her religion, her status (lineage), her wealth or her beauty; so take the religious one and be successful.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) The second Hadith of Ayesha states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The most blessed woman is she who is easiest to maintain.” (An-Nasa’i)

“Thus,” Sufyan said, “I chose (to marry a woman of) religion and with a modest dowry, in accordance with the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) and Allah gave me status and wealth along with the religion.” – Abu Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliya (7/289, 290)

Note: The second Hadith has been graded weak by scholars. However, scholars point out there is another narration that supports and adds to its meaning, which states: “It is from the good qualities in a woman that she (is taken in marriage with) an easy dowry, an easy proposal (via her guardian) and an easy womb (i.e. she is fertile and bares children without difficulty).” (Musnad Ahmad)

Shaytan, tell me who are your friends, and who are your enemies?

Continuation from previous post

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, tell me who are your friends, and who are your enemies?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), first I have 15 enemies:

1) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my first enemy is you and your Ahlul Bayt; if it were not for you and your Ahlul-Bayt, my mission would have been quite successful. There would not have been even a single believer. But you brought the religion of Allah (Islam) to this world and you made people believers of Allah's communication.

2) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my second enemy is that just ruler who rules a nation with complete justice.

3) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh). My third enemy is that rich person who does not have any ego nor feels super to poor people around him.

4) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my fourth enemy is that businessman who conducts his business with justice.

5) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), My fifth enemy is that scholar (Aalim) who fears Allah and practices what he preaches.

6) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my sixth enemy is that specific believer who works to show others the path of truth. Who offers the knowledge of obligatory (Wajibaat) and forbidden (Haraam) duties of Allah. This Person is undoing, all of my hard work.

7) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my seventh enemy is that person who doesn't listen to what is forbidden, doesn't look at what is forbidden, and doesn't eat what is forbidden.

8) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my eighth enemy is that believer who keeps himself clean all the time. A person who remains in Wudhu and who wears clean clothes.

9) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my ninth enemy is that person who has a big heart, who spends his money the sake of Allah.

10) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my tenth enemy is that person who gives charity (Sadaqah) only in the name of Allah.

11) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my eleventh enemy is that person who reads, memorizes and acts according to Qur`an.

12) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my twelfth enemy is that person who recites Salaat Al Lail (prayers recited after midnight and before the Salaat of Fajr). I am always afraid of this person.

13) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my thirteenth enemy is that person who pays his Khums, Zakaat, and other obligatory Sadaqah.

14) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my fourteenth enemy is that person who observes Hijaab (veil), and safeguards her Hijaab.

15) Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my fifteenth enemy is he who performs his worship (Ibaadat) without having any thoughts except for the thoughts of Allah.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, and who are your eleven friends?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my friends are:

1) First, is that leader who is an oppressor.

2) My second friend is that businessman who does his business by deceiving his customers.

3) My third friend is that believer who drinks alcohol.

4) My fourth friend is that rich person who is proud of his wealth and who angrily refuses to give money in charity to the poor and needy.

5) My fifth friend is that person who does backbiting, who talks in such a way that enmity increases between the people, and who reveals the defects of people.

6) My sixth friend is that person who kills another human being for any reason other than for Allah.

7) My seventh friend is that person who snatches away the belongings of an orphan.

8) My eighth friend is that person whose livelihood is based on collecting interest.

9) My ninth friend is that person who gives more importance to his worldly life rather than giving importance to his life after death. This friend of mine prefers to perform those deeds which he knows will bring benefits in this world, but in the hereafter, such deeds will bring loss.

10) My tenth friend is that person who keeps long hopes and delays in asking for forgiveness from Allah.

11) My eleventh friend is that person who helps women increase their interest in performing magic on people.

These are my eleven friends who are the worst enemies of Allah.