Pearls of Wisdom

Ever wonder what your soul goes through as Soon as you Die?

2012-01-15T00:08:00.000-08:00

The hadeeth of Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) from al-Bara’ ibn ‘Aazib who said:

“We went out with the Prophet (SulAllahu 'alayhi wassalaam) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar, and we reached the grave whilst it was still being dug. The Messenger of Allaah (sulAllahu 'alayhi wassalaam) sat down and we sat down around him, and it was as if we had birds on our heads. In his hand was a stick with which he was scratching in the earth. He raised his head and said, ‘Seek refuge with Allaah from the punishment of the grave,’ two or three times. Then he said:

‘Verily, when the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him angels from heaven with white faces, as if their faces are the sun. They bring with them one of the shrouds of Paradise and some of the perfume of Paradise. They sit with him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death (peace be upon him) comes to him and sits by his head and says, ‘O pure soul, come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of Allaah.’ Then his soul comes flowing out like a drop of water flowing from a cup. Then he takes the soul, and no sooner does he seize it but they take it and place it in that shroud and perfume. Then out of it comes the most excellent fragrance of musk to be found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it and they do not pass by any group of angels but the angels ask, ‘Who is this pure soul?’ and they reply, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – using the best names by which he was known on earth. Then they bring it to the lowest heaven, and ask for it to be opened, and it is opened for him. Those who are of high rank in each heaven accompany it until they approach the next heaven, and so it goes until it reaches the seventh heaven. Then Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon (the highest heaven) and take him back to the earth, for I created them from it, and I shall return them to it, then I shall take them out from it again.’ Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and make him sit up, and ask him, ‘Who is your Lord.’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man that was sent amongst you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him.’ They ask him, ‘What knowledge do you have?’ He says, 'I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.’ Then a voice will call out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth. Prepare for him a bed from Paradise and give him clothes from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise.’ And he will feel its breeze and smell its fragrance, and his grave will be widened for him as far as his eye can see. Then a man with a handsome face, beautiful clothes and a pleasant fragrance will come to him and say, ‘Good news! This is the day that you were promised.’ He will say, ‘Who are you? You face looks as if it brings good news.’ He will say, 'I am your good deeds.’ (The deceased) will say, ‘O Lord, let the Hour come so that I may see my family and my wealth again.’

When the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him angels from heaven with black faces, bringing with them sackcloth. They sit with him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes to him and sits by his head and says, ‘O evil soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allaah.’ Then his soul disperses in his body and is dragged out like a skewer being pulled out of wet wool. Then he takes the soul, and no sooner does he seize it but they take it and place it in that sackcloth. Then out of it comes the most putrid stench of rotten flesh to be found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it and they do not pass by any group of angels but the angels ask, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they reply, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – using the worst names by which he was known on earth. Then they bring it to the lowest heaven, and ask for it to be opened, and it is not opened for him.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning): “… For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle” [al-A’raaf 7:40]. Then he said, “Then Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen (the lowest Hell) in the lowest earth. Then his soul is cast down.” Then he recited (interpretation of the meaning): “… and whoever assigns partners to Allaah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.” [al-Hajj 22:31]. He said, “Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and make him sit up, and ask him, ‘Who is your Lord.’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man that was sent amongst you?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ Then a voice will call out from heaven, ‘He is lying. Prepare for him a bed from Hell and open for him a door to Hell.’ And he will feel its hot winds and smell its stench, and his grave will be constricted for him until his ribs interlock. Then a man with an ugly face, ugly clothes and a horrible stench will come to him and say, ‘Bad news! This is the day that you were warned about.’ He will say, ‘Who are you? You face looks as if it brings bad news.’ He will say, 'I am your evil deeds.’ (The deceased) will say, ‘O Lord, do not let the Hour come!’”

(Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad, 17803; this is a saheeh hadeeth).

He who walks towards Me, I rush towards him

2012-01-14T23:46:00.000-08:00

Abu Dharr (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated: "He who comes with goodness, there are in store for him ten like those and even more than those: 'And he who comes with vice, ' it is only for that that he is called to account. I even forgive him (as I like) and he who draws close to Me by the span of a palm I draw close to him by the cubit, and he who draws close to Me by the cubit I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and he who walks towards Me I rush towards him, and he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth, but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf)."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 35 Kitab Al-Dhikr, Number 6499]

My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones.

What Left with a Dead Man?

2012-01-14T23:40:00.000-08:00

Mutarrif (Radi Allah Anhu) reported on the authority of his father: I came to Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as he was reciting: "Abundance diverts you" He said (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam): "The son of Adam claims: My wealth, my wealth. And he (the Holy Prophet) said: O son of Adam. is there anything as your belonging except that which you consumed, which you utilized, or which you wore and then it was worn out or you gave as charity and sent it forward?"

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7061]

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: "A servant says, My wealth. my wealth, but out of his wealth three things are only his: whatever he eats and makes use of or by means of which he dresses himself and it wears out or he gives as charity, and this is what he stored for himself (as a reward for the Hereafter), and what is beyond this (it is of no use to you) because you are to depart and leave it for other people. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of al-'Ala' b. 'Abd al-Rahman with the same chain of transmitters."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7063]

Anas b. Malik (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: "Three things follow the bier of a dead man. two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family. wealth and his-good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the deeds alone are left with him."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7064]

Words of Wisdom

2011-04-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

* Knowledge is like a father and action is like a child. Knowledge goes with action as narrating goes with understanding.
* Do not feel satisfied with action while being desolate of knowledge, and do not feel satisfied with knowledge whilst being heedless of actions. Rather, combine the two, even if your share of either may be meager. A little of this, with a little of that is safer in the outcome, if Allah bestows His Mercy, and completes His favor upon His stave...
*Knowledge leads to action, just as action leads to salvation. So if the action is less than the knowledge, the scholar's knowledge is a burden upon him.
* Just as wealth has no benefit unless it is spent, knowledge does not benefit except one who acts upon it and observes its obligations.
* Knowledge is one of the pleasures of the world, yet if it is acted upon, it becomes for the Hereafter.
* There are two tyrannies in the world: the tyranny of knowledge and the tyranny of wealth. What saves you from the tyranny of knowledge is worship, and what saves you from the tyranny of wealth is renouncing it.
* Whenever you intend to be honored with knowledge, be attributed to it and be of its people, before giving knowledge its full rights upon you, otherwise its light will be concealed from you and all that will remain on you is its outward illumination. That knowledge is against you, not for you, because knowledge directs towards its application, so if it is not applied appropriately, its blessings are removed.
* The best knowledge is that which benefits, and Allah only causes knowledge to benefit a person when he acts upon it once having learnt it and He does not cause it to benefit the person that leaves it after having learnt it.
* Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit.
* You are now in the preliminary world, in front of you are two places of abode, out of which you must live in one of. You have not been given assurance of protection, causing you to feel safe. Nor have you been granted acquittal, causing you to slacken.
* If I were to know with full certainty that all of my life was but an hour, Why should I not renounce it and dedicate it to righteousness and obedience?
* You are submerged in careless hope, the time or death you do not know of. § Do not be fooled by good health, for it is from the most painful of illnesses.
* Every soul is by its day, In the morning all hope will be removed. So act with good deeds and work hard Before you are prevented from acting.
* Aboo Hurayrah radiallahu 'anhu said, "The example of knowledge not acted upon is that of a treasure none of which is spent in the way of Allah the Mighty and Majestic." * Az-Zuhree said, "The people will never be pleased with the statement of a scholar who does not act, nor of a person who acts but has no knowledge." [hasan]
* Whoever sought knowledge, intending the knowledge alone (i.e. without action) would not benefit by it. Yet whoever sought knowledge intending to act upon it, would benefit, even by a little knowledge.
* Knowledge rests upon action, action rests upon sincerity, and sincerity to Allah brings about understanding of Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
* Whoever seeks knowledge in order to act upon it will be humbled by his knowledge but whoever seeks it for other than that, will be increased by it in arrogance.
* The time will soon come, if you live long, that knowledge will become a source of beautification, just as a person beautifies himself with a garment." · "If Allah grants you knowledge, in return worship Him and do not make your goal merely narrating to the people. * The scholar remains ignorant with regard to what he has learned until he acts according to it, and only then does he become a true scholar.
* The knowledge of the hypocrite is in his speech, yet the knowledge of the believer is in his actions.
* Act upon your knowledge O man, and you will profit, for knowledge does not benefit unless one is proficient in action. Knowledge is a beauty, the taqwaa of Allah being its oration, and the pious are busy with the knowledge they possess. Learn, and then act, as much as you are able to, and do not let amusement nor arguing distract you. Teach the people and always intend to benefit them, and beware! Beware of weariness befalling you.
* Whoever speaks good things yet acts unrighteously, Allah does not accept his good speech. Whereas he who speaks good things and works righteous acts, his speech is raised by his good deeds. That is because Allah says: To Him ascend the goodly word, and the righteous action raises it. [Al-Faatir 35:10]
* Knowledge is the tool of action. So if a person spends his whole life gaining knowledge, when will he act?! § Regardless of what knowledge passes you, do not let acting upon what you already know pass you. § Whoever does not look into Allah's right upon him with regards to his knowledge, that knowledge is a proof against you and its result is evil.
* If knowledge is not acted upon it becomes a proof against you and you are not granted an excuse for the knowledge you possess. So if you have realized this fact also realize, that the proof of a man's speech is in his actions.
* One scholar said, "O how I wish I could gain salvation from my knowledge, it either being for me nor against me."
* If knowledge does not benefit you, it will harm you.
* There is no good in seeking to gain more knowledge, without having acted upon what you have already learnt, for the example of this person is that of one who gathers firewood and then ties them ready to carry. Yet once finding himself unable to do so, adds another to the bundle.
* For how long will I continue seeking knowledge, affectionately gathering with every eagerness, seeking to learn every type of it and every field yet not acting upon a thing of it. If the seeker of knowledge does not act upon what he knows, he is a wretched servant. Indeed knowledge is only of benefit for he who acts upon it and is pious.
* I certainly regard that a person forgets what he used to know because of a sin he commits.
* Indeed if the scholar does not act, his admonitions fail to affect the hearts, just like the rain slides off a smooth rock.
* The example of an evil scholar is that of a large rock which blocks a canal. Neither does it drink from the water, nor does it allow the water to pass, giving life to the trees. So if only the evil scholars advised the servants of Allah saying: "O worshippers of Allah! Listen to what we tell you of your Prophet, and your righteous predecessors, and act upon that. Do not took at these poor actions of ours, as we are a people in trial." They would have, by this, advised the people correctly. Yet they want to call the people towards their bad actions causing them to act similarly.
* A corrupt reciter (of the Qur'aan) is more feared by me than a corrupt man who is open with his corruption, as the latter is the less deceiving of the two.
* One scholar said: "Indeed the Qur'aan was revealed to be acted upon, but the people took its reciting as a vocation." [i.e. in order to earn money by that] At that it was asked, 'What is acting upon it?' So he replied, 'Accepting as halaal what is mentioned in it as halaal and as haraam what is mentioned as haraam. To act upon its orders, abstain from all it prohibits and to ponder over its wonders.
* It has been said with regard to the saying of the Most High: (They) recite it as it should be recited. [Sooratul-Baqarah (2):121] "They follow it as it should be followed, acting upon it." Ibn Katheer mentions in his Tafseer: "lf the reciter reaches mention of Paradise, he beseeches Allah the Most High to grant him Paradise. If he reaches mention of the Fire he seeks refuge in Allaah the Most High from it " He (Ibn Katheer) also mentions, "Aboo al-'Aaliyah said: Ibn Mas'ond radiallahu 'anhu said: 'By Him in Who's Hand is my soul, reciting it as it should be recited is to consider its halaal as halaal and its haraam as haraam. To recite it as Allah revealed it without distorting its words, nor falsely explaining its intended meanings.
* If Allah intends good for a servant he opens for him the door of action and closes for him the door of argumentation. Whereas, if Allah intends for a servant evil [once the servant had decided to follow such a path, Allah the Most Him, allows him to take such a path] He opens for him the door of argumentation and closes for him the door of action.
*We used to seek aid in memorizing hadeeths by acting upon them
*You meet a man not finding one mistake in his speech yet his actions may be completely at fault.
*We have not been given ignorance but we Hide the face of knowledge through ignorance. We detest making mistakes in our speech Yet we do not care about making mistakes in our actions.
* And you will not possess on the Day of Resurrection Other than what you ascertained before death If you do not sow the seeds and the harvest approaches you You will regret not having done so when the time was right.
* When you find yourself in need of provisions You will not find provisions the like of righteous actions.
* One of the scholars saw his neighbors wandering aimlessly, so he asked them, "What is the matter with you?" They replied, "We have finished our duties of the day." So he said' "And is this what the one with no duties has been ordered with?!"
* The people who will be most accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be the healthy ones who had free time. § Take advantage of your spare time by engaging in Prayers For maybe your death will come suddenly So many a healthy person you may have seen His life snatched away from him unexpectedly.
* Some people invited a man to eat with them who in turn said' "I am fasting." They said to him, "Break your fast today and instead fast tomorrow." So he said, "And who will guarantee my living tomorrow?!"
* It was said to a scholar ' "Advise us." So he said' "Beware of saying 'soon. "'
* Beware of procrastination overcoming you and taking over your heart for verily it is the cause of fatigue and wastefulness. Due to it, aspirations are severed and amidst it, death is met. [The names that the sayings were attributed are not cited, fearing the inauthenticity in the original attribution except where the authority is established and has abridged some statements, yet the wisdom within them is resoundingly established.] [al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee rahimahullaah From Iqtidaa-ul-'Ilmil-'Amal]

He who has no manners has no knowledge

2011-04-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

Al-Hasan al-Basri said,

“He who has no manners has no knowledge; he who has no patience has no Religion (din); and he who has no God-consciousness has no closeness to Allah.”

The heart becomes covered with rust..

2011-04-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Ibn al-Qayyim - rahimahullaah- said:

'There is no doubt that the heart becomes covered with rust, just as metal dishes - silver, and their like - become rusty. So the rust of the heart is polished with dhikr, for dhikr polishes the heart until it becomes like a shiny mirror. However, when dhikr is abandoned, the rust returns; and when it commences then the heart again begins to be cleansed. Thus the heart becoming rusty is due to two matters: sins and neglecting remembrance of Allaah. Likewise, it is cleansed and polished by two things : istighfaar and dhikr.'

[Al-Waabilus-Sayyib (p.80)]

All humans are dead except those who have knowledge

2011-04-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

Imam Shafi' said, "All humans are dead except those who have knowledge ... and all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds ... and those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere ... and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry."

When you are present, you are not known

2011-04-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Ibn Abee Haatim Rahimahullah- said: "I entered Damascus and came upon the students of hadeeth, and I passed by the circle of Qaasim al-Joo'ee . 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 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 the people act deceitfully towards you, do not act deceitfully towards them." Ibn Abee Haatim said: So I took this as my benefit from Damascus"

[Related by Ibn al-Jawzee (RH) in Sifatus-Safwaa (2/200)]

Bears your annoyance

2011-04-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

ALLAH’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

“The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the one who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.”

[Al-Tirmidhi 5207, Ibn Majah 4032]

Do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?

2011-04-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

It was narrated that in the days that the Prophet Musa (alayhi asalaam) wandered with Bani Israel (Children of Israel) in the desert, an intense drought befell them. Together, they raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed rain to come. Then, to the astonishment of Musa (alayhi asalaam) and all those watching, the few scattered clouds that were in the sky vanished, the heat poured down, and the drought intensified.

It was revealed to Musa that there was a sinner amongst the tribe of Bani Israel who had disobeyed Allah (SWT) for more than forty years of his life.

“Let him separate himself from the congregation,” Allah (SWT) told Musa. “Only then shall I shower you all with rain.”

Prophet Musa then called out to the throngs of humanity, “There is a person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah (SWT) for forty years. Let him separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be rescued from the drought.”

That man waited, looking left and right, hoping that someone else would step forward, but no one did. Sweat poured forth from his brow and he knew that he was the one. The man knew that if he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst and that if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity.

He raised his hands with a sincerity he had never known before, with humility he had never tasted, and as tears poured down on both cheeks he said, “O Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive me!”

As Musa and the people of Bani Israel waited for the sinner to step forward, the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa asked Allah (SWT), “O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though the sinner did not come forward.”

And Allah (SWT) replied, “O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I blessed all of Bani Israel with water.”

Prophet Moses, wanting to know who this blessed man was, asked, “Show him to me O Allah!”

Allah (SWT) replied, “O Musa, I hid his sins for forty years, do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “My entire nation is safe, except al-Mujahirin (those who boast of their sins). Among the Mujaharah is that a man commits an (evil) act, and wakes up in the morning while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret, he says: ‘O Fulan! Last night I did this and that.’ He goes to sleep while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret but he wakes up in the morning and uncovers what Allah has kept a secret!” [Saheeh al-Bukhari]

Best of the best

2011-03-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

1.The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe. (Muslim).
2.The best of people are those with the most excellent character. (at-Tabarani, Sahih).
3.The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind. (Daraqutni, Hasan).
4.The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling (rights). (Ibn Majah, Sahih).
5.The best of people during fitnah (trouble) is a man who takes up the reins of his horse pursuing the enemies of Allah, causing them fear yet they make him fearful too, or a man who secludes himself in the desert fulfilling the rights of Allah upon him. (Hakim, Sahih).
6.The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come a people after them who will become avaricious, who will love gluttony, and who will give witness before they are asked for it. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
7.The best of people are those who live longest and excel in their deeds, whereas the worst of people are those who live longest and corrupt their deeds. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
8.The best of women are those that please him (her husband) when he sees her, obeys him when she is commanded, and who does not secretly betray him with regards to herself and her money in that which he dislikes. (Ahmad, Sahih).
9.The best of women are those that please you when you see them, obey you when commended, and who safeguard themselves and your money in your absence. (Tabrani, Sahih).
10.The best of marriages are the easiest ones. (abuDawud, Sahih).
11.The best of your dates is the Borniyyu date; it expels disease yet does not contain any disease itself. (Hakim, Hasan).
12.The best of your garments are those which are white; shroud your dead in them and clothe your living with them. The best of that which you apply to your eyelids is antimony causing the eyelashes to grow and sharpening the eyesight. (Ibn Hibban, Sahih).
13.The best quality of your religion is scruulousness. (Hakim, sahih).
14.The best of your religion is that which is easiest.(Ahmad, Sahih).
15.The best of the prayer lines for men are the first rows, the worst being the final rows. The best of the prayer lines for women are the final rows and the worst are the first rows. (Muslim).
16.The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses. (Ibn khuzaymah, Sahih).
17.The best of you in Islam are those who are most excellent in character as long as you deeply understand the religion. (Ahmad, Sahih).
18.The best of you are the best of you in fulfilling (rights). (Ahmad, Sahih).
19.The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
20.The best of you are my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come after them a people who will betray and be untrustworthy, will give witness even though they have not been asked to, will make vows yet will not fulfill them and obesity will appear amongst them. (Sahih Al-Bukhary).

21.The best of you are those who feed others and return greetings. (abu Yala, Hasan).
22.The best of you is he from who good is anticipated and safety from his evil is assured; the worst of you is he from whom nothing good is expected and one is not safe from his evil. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
23.The best thing mankind has been given is excellent character. (Hakim, Sahih).
24.The best of that which you treat yourself with is cupping. (Hakim, Sahih).
25.The best of journeys undertaken are to this Mosque of mind and the Ancient Hosue. (Ahmad, Sahih).
26. The best of which man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him. (Ibn Hibban, Hasan).
27. The best Mosques for women are the most secluded parts of their houses. (al-Bayhaqi, Sahih).
28. The best of the worlds women are four: Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Asiyah the wife of Firawn. (Ahmad, Sahih).
29. The best of days that you should perform cupping are the 17th , 19th and 21st of the month. I did not pass a single gathering of angels on the night of Isra except that they would say to me, O Muhammad, perform cupping! (Ahmad, Sahih)
30. The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it Adam was made to enter Paradise and on it he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday. (Muslim).
31. "Verily, the best of perfume for men is that which is strong in smell and light in color, and the best of perfume for women is that which is strong in color and light in smell." (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
32. "The Most beloved of religions according to Allah the Most High is the 'easy and flexible religion." (Ahmad, Hasan).
33. "The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the continuous ones, even if they are little." (Agreed upon).
34. "The most beloved of names according to Allah are AbdAllah, 'Abdul-Rahman and Harith." (Abu Ya?la, Sahih).
35. "The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the prayer in its right time, then to treat the parents in an excellent manner, and then Jihad in the path of Allah". (Agreed upon).
36. "The most beloved of deeds according to Allah is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allah." (ibn Hibban, Hasan).
37. "The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Lailaha illallah and Allahu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with." (Muslim).
38. "The most beloved of speech according to Allah is when the servant says, 'Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi' (How Transcendent is Allah and we praise him!)." (Muslim).
39. "The most beloved of speech according to Allah the Most High is that which Allah chose for his Angels: Subhana Rabbi wa bihamdihi, Subhana Rabbi wa bihamdihi, Subhana Rabbi wa bihamdihi." (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
40. "The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey." (at-Tabarani, Hasan).

Prophet Sulaiman (solomon) the king Prophet

2011-03-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

For the guidance of mankind, Allah honoured four famous Prophets by revealing to them four Holy Books as under:

1) Taurat to Prophet Musa (Moses):

2) Zaboor (Psalms) To Prophet Dawood (David);

3) Injeel (Evangel) To Prophet Isa (Jesus);

4) Qur'an To Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s).

The commandments of Allah are contained in these books. The first three books were for the earlier times. The Holy Qur'an is the last book of God and is for the guidance of entire mankind till the Day of Judgement.

Prophet Dawood eventually became King of his people. He had 19 sons. Each of them hoped to inherit the father's throne. Allah revealed to Prophet Dawood a few questions and their answers and commanded him to put the questions to each one of his sons. Whosoever answered those questions correctly, would inherit the throne of the father, Prophet Dawood.

One day Prophet Dawood called all his sons in the presence of the scholars and the chiefs of the tribes of his kingdom. He then put forward the following questions:

1) Which thing is closest (nearest) to man?

2) Which is the farthest thing?

3) Which two things are attached to each other?

4) Which is the most awe-creating thing?

5, Which two things remain unchanged?

6) Which two things are always different?

7) Which two things are opposed to each other?

8) What is the action the result of which is good?

9) What is that action the result of which is bad?

The sons of Prophet Dawood felt helpless and could not answer any of these questions. Then the youngest of the sons, Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) stood up and gave the following answers:

1. The nearest things to a man is the hereafter (Life and Death - as one may die any moment);
2. The farthest things is the time which has passed away (which is not to come again);
3. The two things that are attached to each other is man's body with the soul;
4. The most awe-creating is the man's body (dead) without soul;
5. The two things which remain the same are the sky and the earth;
6. The two things which are different are the day and night;
7. The two things which are opposed to each other are life and death;
8. The action - the end of which is good - is patience and forbearance at the time of anger;
9. The action - the end of which is bad is haste at the time of anger.

Prophet Dawood obviously, was very much impressed with these correct answers and appointed Prophet Sulaiman as his successor.

Thus it will be seen that it was the supreme knowledge and understanding that made Prophet Sulaiman succeed his father and become the Great King Prophet.

http://www.al-islam.org/

If Allah loves a people, He tests them

2011-03-10T03:47:00.000-08:00

"If Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is pleased, for him there is pleasure, and whoever is angry, upon him there is wrath."

"The most harshly tested people are the Prophets, followed in succession by those who are best after them. A man is tested according to his religion. If his religion is strong with him, his test will be more intense. If his religion is weak with him, he will be tested according to the level of his religion. (Allah's) slave will continually be tested until he is left to walk on the earth without a mistake (to have to account for)."

"Wonderful is the situation of the believer. All of his affairs are good (for him)! And this is only for the believer. If good befalls him, he is thankful, and that is good for him. If harm afflicts him, he is patient, and that is good for him."

"And know that if the entire Nation were to gather upon benefiting you with something, they would only benefit you with something that Allah has (already) written for you. And if they were to gather upon harming you with something, they would only harm you with something that Allah has (already) written for you."

"The righteous ones are tested: first, the best of them, then the next, and so on."

"The believer is like a tiny branch; the wind blows it to the right and to the left."

[Dont be Sad]

Half our deen

2011-03-06T00:56:00.000-08:00

Al-Haakim narrated in al-Mustadrak from Anas, in a marfoo’ report: “Whomever Allaah blesses with a righteous wife, He has helped him with half of his religion, so let him fear Allaah with regard to the other half.”

[Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb (1916)]

What's the path to Jannah like?

2011-02-20T04:01:00.000-08:00

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "Paradise is surrounded with difficulties, and Hell is surrounded with desires."

[Muslim]

The benefits of being patient

2011-02-20T03:42:00.000-08:00

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) advised Ibn Abbaas (رضي الله عنهما): "Remember that there is much good in bearing with patience that which you dislike, and that victory comes with patience, and that with hardship comes a way out and with difficulty comes ease."

[Ahmad]

I went to Steal from him, but he Ended up Stealing my Heart!

2011-01-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

A burglar scaled the wall of Maalik bin Dinar’s house one night and easily managed to get inside. Once inside the house, the thief was disappointed to see that there was nothing inside actually worth stealing.

The owner of the home was inside at the time, he was busy performing prayer. Realizing that he was not alone, Maalik quickly ended his prayer and turned around to face the thief. Without showing any sign of being shocked or afraid, Maalik calmly extended greetings of peace and then said, ‘My brother, may Allah forgive you. You entered my home and found nothing that is worth taking, yet I do not want you to leave my home without taking away some benefit.’

He stood up, went to another part of the room, and came back with a jug full of water. He looked into the eyes of the burglar and said, ‘Make ablution and perform two units of prayer, for if you do so, you will leave my home with a greater treasure than you had initially sought when you entered it.’

Much humbled by Maalik’s manners and words, the thief said, ‘Yes, that is a generous offer indeed.’

After making ablution and performing two units of prayer, the burglar said, ‘O Maalik, would you mind if I stayed for a while, for I want to stay to perform two more units of prayer?’

Maalik said, ‘Stay for whatever amount of prayer Allah decrees for you to perform now.’

The thief ended up spending the entire night at Maalik’s house. He continued to pray until the morning.

Then Maalik said, ‘Leave now and be good.’

But instead of leaving, the thief said, ‘Would you mind if I stayed here with you today, for I have made an intention to fast the day?’

Stay as long as you wish,’ said Maalik.

The burglar ended up staying for a number of days, praying during the late hours of each night and fasting throughout the duration of each day.

When he finally decided to leave, the burglar said, ‘O Maalik, I have made a firm resolve to repent for my sins and for my former way of life.’

Maalik said, ‘Indeed, that is in the Hand of Allah.’

The man did mend his ways and began to lead a life of righteousness and obedience to Allah.

Later on, He came across another burglar he knew. [His friend] said to him, ‘Have you found your treasure yet?’

He said, ‘My brother, what I found is Maalik bin Dinaar.

I went to steal from him, but it was he who ended up stealing my heart.

I have indeed repented to Allah, and I will remain at the door [of His Mercy and Forgiveness] until I achieve what his obedient, loving slaves have achieved.’

[al-Mawaa'idh wal-Majaalis: 85]

Shaheed Sahaabah

2011-01-22T22:54:00.000-08:00

In 1932, the Sahaabi Hadhrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu anhu) in a dream instructed king Faisal of Iraq to relocate their graves elsewhere since water from the river was seeping in.

The king issued orders for the bodies of Hadhrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu anhu) and Hadhrat Jaabir Bin Abdullah (radhiyallahu anhu) to be exhumed. The exhumation was done in great style and pomp. Thousands of people witnessed the event. When the bodies were removed, it seemed as if they were buried only a couple of hours ago inspite of the lapse of almost 14 centuries. The bodies were fresh and glittering with Noor.Thousands witnessed the exhumation and many non-Muslims who were present embraced Islam.

http://www.themajlis.net/

A man of Almighty

2011-01-22T22:49:00.000-08:00

Hadhrat Shaqeeq Balkhi (rahmatullah alayh) said:

"If you wish to recognize a man of Allah, then look at his attitude to promises— does he generally ignore the promises of Allah and has he reliance on the promises of people."

If his reliance is on the promises of Allah, not on the promises of people, he is a man of Allah.

There is no love in an immoral person

2011-01-22T22:47:00.000-08:00

“A haasid (jealous person) never experiences peace of mind. There is no faithfulness in a miser. A man with a small (constricted) heart has no friends. A liar is bereft of culture. An abuser of trust cannever be trusted. There is no love in an immoral person.”

Hadhrat Ahnaf Bin Qais

Elaika Daf version

2011-01-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

A good life

2011-01-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

A Western thinker said:

"It is most possible for you, while you are behind steel bars, to look out upon the horizon and to smell roses. It is also extremely plausible for you to be in a castle replete with opulence and comfort, and yet be angry and discontented with your family and wealth."

Therefore happiness is not determined by time or by place, but instead by faith in Allah and obedience to Him, matters that are rooted in a person's heart. The heart has a far-reaching significance in that it is the place that Allah looks at and scrutinizes. If faith settles itself in the heart, happiness and tranquility will pervade both the heart and the soul.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal was a venerable scholar and a prolific compiler of hadith. He lived a productive life, yet he was not rich: his garment was patched in many places and every time it tore again, he would sew it himself. He lived in a three-room structure made of mud. Often, all that he could find to eat was a piece of bread. And his biographers mention that he had the same shoes for seventeen years and he would often patch them up or sew them if there was a tear. Meat would find its way to his plate only once a month, and on most days he fasted. He journeyed throughout the lands seeking out ahaadeeth (hadiths). Yet, despite all of the hardships he had to bear, he was contented, comfortable, serene, and unworried, qualities that can be attributed to his fortitude, to his knowing his goal and final destination, to his seeking reward from Allah, and to his striving after the Hereafter and Paradise.

On the other hand, the rulers of his time, such as Al-Ma'moon, Al-Wathiq, Al-Mu`tasim and Al-Mutawakkil, all lived in castles. They owned hoards of gold and silver; an entire army was at their disposal; they had all that they desired. In spite of all their material wealth, they lived in turmoil and they spent their lives in anxiety and worry. Wars, uprisings, and insurgencies brought them misery. In the records of history we even find that many of them would renounce the world bitterly on their deathbed, feeling regretful for their extravagances on the one hand and for their shortcomings on the other.

Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah is another example: he spent his time on this earth with no family, no place to call home, no wealth, and no position. He had a room adjoining the central mosque, a slice of bread to keep him going for the day, and two garments. Sometimes he would sleep in the mosque. But, as he said about his situation, his paradise was in his breast, his execution meant martyrdom, imprisonment was peaceful seclusion, and being exiled from his country meant traveling abroad as a tourist. Such sentiments could come from him only because the tree of faith in his heart had firm and solid roots.

...whose oil would almost glow, forth [of itself], though no, fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. [Qur'an 24: 35]

He will expiate .from them their sins, and will make good their state. [Qur'an 47: 2]

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety. [Qur'an 47: 17]

You will recognize in their, faces the brightness of delight. [Qur'an 83: 24]

Abu Dhar was a Companion known for his abstemious lifestyle. Taking with him his wife and children, he left the city and settled in an isolated location. After setting up his tent, most of his days were spent chiefly in worship, recitation of the Qur'an, and reflection. Most days he fasted. His worldly possessions were limited to a tent, some sheep, and a few other trifling things. Some friends visited him once and they asked, "Where is the world (i.e. where are the material things that others have)?" He said, "In my house is all that I need from this world, and the Prophet (bpuh) informed us that in front of us is an insurmountable obstacle (i.e. on the Day of Judgment), and no one will pass it (safely) except for the one who has a light load."

Despite living a life of penury, he had all that he needed from this world. As for superfluous possessions, he felt that they would divert him from his main purpose and would only cause him worry.

[Dont be Sad]

A few words on patience

2011-01-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Ibn Mas'ood (may Allah be pleased with him) is related to have said: "Relief and aid are from faith and contentment. Anxiety and grief are from doubt and anger."

He also used to say:

"The patient one achieves the best of aims."

Abban ibn Taghlab said:

"I heard a Desert Arab say, `One of the noblest of characteristics becomes manifest when one is afflicted by a trial and then uses patience to overcome that trial. His patience and hope affect him positively; it is as if he constantly visualizes himself being saved from his problem; his state of mind is positive to such a high degree because of his trust in Allah and his good opinion of Him. Whenever one possesses these characteristics, he will never have to wait long for Allah to fulfill his needs and remove hardship from his life. He will be saved, and his religion and honor will remain safe."'

Al-Asma'ee related that a Desert Arab said:

"Fear evil when you find yourself to be in a good situation; hope for good when you are in an evil situation. Many have lived who have sought after death and many have died who have sought after life. And safety comes most often for a person after he has followed the path of fear."

Some of the wise would say:

"The wise person, when afflicted by hardship, consoles himself in two ways. The first is to be contented. The second is in hoping for a way out of the difficulties that have befallen him. The ignorant person is shaken and nervous in situations of hardship in two ways. The first is in the number of people from whom he seeks aid. The second is in his constant fears and apprehensions about that which is worse than what has already befallen him."

And as I mentioned earlier, it has been said that Allah, the Exalted, disciplines us through trials, a form of education that opens hearts, ears, and eyes.

Al-Hasan ibn Sahl described trials as being a wake-up call for the forgetful ones, a means of achieving reward for the patient ones, and a reminder of blessings for everyone. And the decree of Allah is always better, especially for those who, through their bravery, appear to be seeking out deaths - who are searching for a life of remembrance, and who are unlike those that are described in the following verse:

[They are] the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat [at home]: If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed. Say: Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth. [Qur'an 3: 168]

[Done be Sad]

Plan your affairs and take proper precautions

2010-12-05T01:12:00.000-08:00

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)

2010-12-03T08:13:00.000-08:00

Whatever is written for you will unerringly come to you

2010-11-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-29T11:35:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-15T02:25:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-15T02:02:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-11-14T04:58:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Be of the Children of the HEREAFTER

2010-11-04T03:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-23T01:02:00.000-07:00

"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

2010-10-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

Ya Ummi..

2010-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-10T05:02:00.001-07:00

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

2010-10-10T04:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

"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...

2010-09-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Virtues of Ramadan

2010-08-22T02:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-22T02:05:00.001-07:00

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

2010-08-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

When A Child Dies

2010-07-18T00:55:00.000-07:00

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..

2010-07-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T05:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T00:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-12T23:39:00.001-07:00

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"

2010-05-02T01:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-31T01:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-30T02:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-30T02:40:00.001-07:00

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

2010-03-17T00:48:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-03-11T23:16:00.000-08:00

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.

An Interview With Shaytan (The Cursed One) By Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

2010-03-11T22:46:00.000-08:00

Once, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was walking out with his companions from the back-side of Jannatul Baqi (Medina). As he was stepping out, he saw a very old man with a colorful hat on his head, a colorful belt with diamonds around his waist, a bell in his left hand and a net in his right hand. This old man said, "As-Salaamu alaykum Ya Rasulu-llah" (O Prophet of Allah, may the peace of Allah be upon you) to our beloved Prophet (pbuh). The Prophet (pbuh) did not reply to his salaam. This old man knew very well why our Prophet (pbuh) did not return his salaam. After all, this old man was not like any other man, he was Shaytan, the cursed one. Then Shaytan said, "Salaamu-llahi Alaykum Ya Rasulu-llah" (Allah's peace be upon you Oh Prophet of Allah). Then our Prophet (pbuh) accepted his salaam. Now the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) understood that this was the cursed one, Shaytan, and they were all surprised to see the cursed one personally. Without any fruitful results, Shaytan attempted to misguide even the Prophets and Imams (AS). Shaytan, the cursed one, used meet with the Prophets (AS) to answer their questions. In fact, it was obligatory on him (the cursed Shaytan) to answer the questions of the Messengers of Allah.

Our beloved Prophet (pbuh), though he possessed full knowledge, asked Shaytan the following questions for the sake of his companions:

Our beloved Prophet (pbuh), Oh Shaytan, what is this hat?

Shaytan, the cursed one: "Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), My colorful hat is this world. I present this world with all transient materialistic goods, perishable benefits, and temporary enjoyments. Once a person gets caught by this colorful hat of mine, then that person stays in my control and forgets all about the Hereafter.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, what is this belt you are wearing with gold and diamonds around your waist?

Shaytan, the cursed one: "Oh Prophet (pbuh), this is my second weapon which keeps my back bone strong. Oh Prophet (pbuh), when believers do not fall into my trap by my hat then I use this weapon.

Prophet (pbuh): But what is it?

Shaytan, the cursed one: "Oh Prophet (pbuh), These are the materialistic unveiled women of this world. Through these women I deceive the believers.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, what is this bell you are holding in your left hand?

Shaytan, the cursed one: This is a bell through which I destroy the faith (Imaan) of the believers.

Prophet (pbuh): How do you do that?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Whenever I see believe arguing, getting into minor verbal antagonisms or disagreements with each other, then I ring this bell. As I ring this bell, these believers get into major verbal fights and start saying things to each other (such as backbiting, false accusations, or using bad language), due to which their own faith disappears from their hearts.

Prophet (pbuh): What is this net you are holding?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When I see the believers not getting trapped by any of my weapons, then I throw this net at them as my last weapon.

Prophet (pbuh): But what is this net?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), this is Riya! (performing good deeds only to show people). Whenever I see that your believers are performing all the good deeds and that they are not getting caught by my weapons, then I throw this net at them. By stepping into this net their good deeds, which the performed for Allah, become invalid. Because the believers gradually develop an ego in themselves while performing their Prayers, observing Fasts, performing Hajj, paying Zakat and Khums, and several other duties towards Allah. They perform all these and other good deeds; but after they get caught by my net, they show their good deeds to others and think that they have done a favor for Allah by performing such good deeds. They tell people when they perform night prayers. They tell people when they fast. They tell people when they go to Hajj. They give money in charity but only to show off or for their own personal interest. This is how they eventually feel superior to those people whom they know are not performing these good deeds. All these actions, which take place after they step into my net, makes their good deeds go to waste.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, tell me one more thing. Now that you have spent so much of your time in this life with your bad deeds, do you have any friends?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Although I visit all the houses and people in general, there are 11 types of people that are my best friends and companions. And there are 15 types of people that I hate the most. Oh Prophet (pbuh), keep in mind that a person who is my friend is an enemy of Allah, and a person who is my enemy is a friend of Allah.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, tell us why you stop my followers from offering their prayers? What benefit do you get out of it?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Whenever your follower recites prayers, my body gets feverish and it starts to shiver; and with a sick body I can not deceive your followers from obeying Allah.

Prophet (pbuh): Why do you stop my followers from observing their fasts during the month of Ramadan?

Shaytan, the cursed one: I can't deceive them during time they fast because I'm thrown into prison and I can't misguide them.

Prophet (pbuh): When my followers prepare to fight Allah's way, why do you stop them?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When they go to fight for Allah's sake, my hands are tied to my neck, and I can't deceive them by having my hands tied to my neck.

Prophet (pbuh): Why do you prevent my followers from performing Hajj?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When they go for Hajj, their movement of going towards Hajj ties my legs. And with my legs tied, I cannot misguide your followers from obeying Allah's commands.

Prophet (pbuh): Why do you prevent my followers from reciting the Holy Qur`an?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When they recite the Holy Qur`an, my existence turns into non-existence. And without having any existence, how can I deceive your followers from living according to the will of Allah?

Prophet (pbuh): Why do you prevent my followers from offering Du`a (supplication)?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When they recite Du`a I become deaf and dumb. How can I deceive your followers without having the ability to speak and the ability to listen.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, tell me why you prevent my followers from paying Sadaqah?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), when your followers pay Sadaqah (giving money in charity), it is as if I am being cut in two with a saw, and one piece is thrown to the East and the other piece to the West.

Prophet (pbuh): Why do you get such a strong blow when my followers pay Sadaqah? Why do you get cut into two pieces?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Whenever a person gives his money in charity, that person receives three benefits m Allah. The first benefit such a person receives is that Allah becomes his borrower. The second benefit is that Allah makes Heaven his inheritance (such that he will be called an owner of Heaven). And the third benefit is that Allah increases his wealth 700 times, which in turn this person uses the increased wealth for charity.

Prophet (pbuh): Now tell me when does a person who is my follower get under your total control?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), your follower gets under my total control when they perform three things. The first thing is that when your follower becomes stingy he gets under my total control. Stinginess is the root of all sin, which makes a person perform all types of other sins. The second thing is that when a person starts forgiving his own sins. This person performs deeds that are against the will of Allah. Then he does not remember them nor does he ask for forgiveness. At that time he comes under my absolute control. And the third thing is that when a person gambles.

Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), any person who performs these three deeds falls under my absolute control.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, you know that Allah has given my followers the strong weapon of repentance. Whenever my followers ask for true forgiveness with an intention of not repeating that sin, Allah forgives them. How do you deal with this problem?

Shaytan, the cursed one: I know Oh Prophet (pbuh), Allah has given them this strong weapon, but I have prepared myself to confront your followers with their strong weapon.

Prophet (pbuh): What method do you have through which you prevent my followers from asking for forgiveness?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), to deal with this problem I have created four different units. Each unit deals with a different age group of your followers. In each group I make your followers perform such deeds which makes their repentance invalid.

Prophet (pbuh): What are these units?

Shaytan, the cursed one: In the first unit I occupy your old men in four sins. I make them lie, I make them accuse someone of something which they have not done, I make them testify falsely and I make them perform prayers without having the complete knowledge of the laws of performing prayers. Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), your old men will be offering du`as and reciting obligatory prayers; but if you talk to them you will hear them talking bad about other people, falsely attributing bad deeds to other people without having any knowledge about those people, and reciting obligatory prayers without knowing all the laws of prayers. Your old men will not try to learn the laws of prayers because of their pride (ego). Whenever some young men from your Ummah try to explain the right way of performing Wudhu, your old men will get mad and say, "You have just entered Islam, and now you are trying to teach us how to perform Wudhu?"

Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my second unit is that which takes care of your young men. I do not prevent them from reciting prayers, performing Hajj or anything else; except that I lure them into two things. First, I make them look at things that are forbidden for them; and secondly, I make them listen to those things that are forbidden for them.

Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my third unit is that which deceives your old women. I entice them to backbite, to falsely accuse others, to destroy the character of men and women and to perform magic on the people.

Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), my fourth unit is not active because it is suppose to take care of the young women of your Ummah. Since all of your young girls are already my soldiers and I have a strong hold over them, I do not have a hard time deceiving them. However, sometimes I may find one girl in a thousand that is following your way of life and I will not be able to do anything to deceive her.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, tell me do you get upset when you see any of your soldiers fleeing from you and following Allah's commands?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), I do not get upset. I wait until that person performs any good deed, then I go to that person again and deceive him to believe that he has done a favor for Allah by performing that good deed.

Prophet (pbuh): You make that person feel that he has done a favor for Allah?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh). That person goes around after performing a good deed telling people what he has done. Such as, he recited prayers, observed fasts, paid so much money in charity, or helped someone in their time of need.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, how do you deceive those followers of mine who try their best not to be deceived by you?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Allah made one deed, which if your followers perform with the right intention and at the right time, then they can never be deceived me. And that deed is obligatory prayers. But to solve this problem, what I did was that with every one your followers I have assigned to them one of my soldiers, whose name is Mutawaqee. And his job is make your followers procrastinate and to preoccupy them in such activities due to which they will recite their prayers at the last minute. And when your follow recite their prayers at this time, they recite it in such a manner that their prayers are not acceptable to Allah.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, since you know so much about Islam and its followers, why don't you ask Allah for forgiveness?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), Allah does not want me to ask for forgiveness, so what can I do?

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, I heard that sometimes you feel as if someone has thrown a heavy stone on your head, which breaks your head into several pieces.

Shaytan, the cursed one: Oh Prophet of Allah (pbuh), yes it is true. Whenever your follower truly repents to Allah, I feel like that.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, I heard that sometimes you feel as if your body is being cut into several pieces.

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, when your followers go out to fight for the sake of Allah, I feel like that.

Prophet (pbuh): I heard that sometimes you feel a someone is slapping you.

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, when your followers recite the Qur`an with correct pronunciation.

Prophet (pbuh): When are you thrown to the lowest pit of hell?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When your followers perform good deeds towards their parents or relatives.

Prophet (pbuh): I heard that sometimes you feel a great pain in your whole body.

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, when your followers give charity without showing off.

Prophet (pbuh): I heard that sometimes you feel as if someone is whipping you.

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, when your follower sees a non Mehram (a girl with whom a man can marry) and then he immediately casts his eyes down.

Prophet (pbuh). Whom do you like the best among my followers?

Shaytan, the cursed one: that person who does business by deceiving people.

Prophet (pbuh). When do you get hurt the most?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When your followers remember Allah day and night.

Prophet (pbuh): Whom do you fear the most?

Shaytan, the cursed one: I fear those men who recite prayers in the first row of congregation (Jama`at).

Prophet (pbuh): Which people among my followers have you chosen to be your permanent soldiers?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Any of your followers who use any type of intoxicating beverages.

Prophet (pbuh): Which person makes you laugh?

Shaytan, the cursed one: That person who encourages others to commit sins.

Prophet (pbuh): With whom do you speak the most?

Shaytan, the cursed one: A person who lies the most.

Prophet (pbuh): Who is the most pleasing to you?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Any man who divorces an innocent women.

Prophet (pbuh): Do you have any more friends?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, that person who delays in offering his obligatory prayers.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, where do you stay the most?

Shaytan, the cursed one: A place where non Mehram men and women get together without any separation or observing Hijaab, that is my place of stay.

Prophet (pbuh): Where do you meet people?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Bazaars (shopping malls); I try to make buyers deceive sellers and sellers deceive buyers. I also encourage men to do their business with women and women to do their business with men. I persuade people to all types of sins in bazaars.

Prophet (pbuh): What do you read?

Shaytan, the cursed one: I read songs.

Prophet (pbuh): What is your way of calling people towards committing sins?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Music and songs; whenever your followers listen to music they come toward me.

Prophet (pbuh): What is your book?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Playing cards are my book.

Prophet (pbuh): Who is your helper?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Any person who contributes to the defeat of your Muslims.

Prophet (pbuh): What do you eat?

Shaytan, the cursed one: I eat everything that is obtained by forbidden earnings or by not paying khums.

Prophet (pbuh): What do you drink?

Shaytan, the cursed one: I drink alcohol.

Prophet (pbuh): What is your dessert?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Backbiting.

Prophet (pbuh). Do you have any desires?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Every false commitment is my desire.

Prophet (pbuh): Are you thankful for anything?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, I am thankful to those men and women who indulge in sins after asking Allah for forgiveness.

Prophet (pbuh): Do you relax?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, when your followers miss Fajr (morning) prayers.

Prophet (pbuh): Do you get any rewards from my followers?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, whenever your followers break their relationships with relatives or neighbors.

Prophet (pbuh): Do you have any companions?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, that person who has sex with his wife without saying "Bismi-llahir Rahmanir Raheem" and that person whose earnings are through un-Islamic means.

Prophet (pbuh): What deed of my follower makes you angry?

Shaytan, the cursed one: When a mother tries to make her son (or daughter) fast or offer prayers.

Prophet (pbuh): Are there any men among my followers whom you cannot possibly misguide?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, any man who does not intentionally look at a non-Mehram.

Prophet (pbuh): Are there any women among my followers whom you can't misguide?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes, that woman who observes Hijaab and who listens to her husband.

Prophet (pbuh): Shaytan, Out of the men and women you have described, do you have any special men women that you love the most?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Yes! Among women I love those women who do not observe Hijaab. And among men, those who are proud and those who are sinful Ulama (religious scholars).

Prophet (pbuh): Which men do you hate the most?

Shaytan, the cursed one: Four Men: The first are humble rich men. The second are Ulama who practice at they preach. The third are young men who ask for forgiveness. And the fourth are old men who fear Allah.

Prophet (pbuh): Are you alone or do you have any companions?

Shaytan, the cursed one. Yes, I have some companions who gather at the mosques in order to deceive its visitors. My companions make the visitors talk about things that give them bad deeds instead of good deeds. Other companions make your wise followers think of their bad deeds as few and their good deeds as many. And other companions, when they see someone giving money in charity or helping someone for the sake of Allah, they entice that person to tell others of his charity and good deeds.

Then Shaytan, the cursed one said, "O Prophet of Allah (pbuh),. I have talked to you in much detail. I would like to tell you that you are working towards taking people to heaven and I am working towards taking people to hell." After this, Shaytan, the cursed one gave Salaams to our beloved Prophet (pbuh) and disappeared.

http://home.earthlink.net/~halimcisse/warnings_shaytan.html

Qibla Locator

2010-03-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

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Three evil states

2010-03-08T04:46:00.000-08:00

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) declared with great emphasis that in three types of persons will develop three evil conditions. He emphasised this by saying that he guarantees the development of these evil conditions in these people.

(1) A man who plunges headlong in worldly pursuits will be overtaken by such severe financial straits after which he will not again experience wealth.

(2) one who has greed will be overtaken by such worldly involvement which will leave him with no leisure whatsoever.

(3) one who is miserly with worldly wealth will be overtaken by such worry which will not allow him to experience a moment of happiness.

http://www.themajlis.net/

Ikhlaas

2010-03-08T04:45:00.000-08:00

Someone asked Yahya bin Muaaz (rahmatullah alayh):

"When does a man become a mukhlis (a man of sincerity)."

He replied:

"When his attitude becomes like that of an infant, neither caring for prise nor criticism."

Tala al Badr

2010-02-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

Advice of Wisdom for Husbands

2010-02-22T02:05:00.000-08:00

Never hand your pay-packet to your wife.
Never introduce your wife into your business
Never inform her of the amount you earn
Never inform her of what you spend on your parents and other needy relatives
Never make it an obligation on you to take her out every weekend for a drive, etc.

A man should treat his wife kindly and justly. Spend on her lavishly within your means. Do not be miserly. Buy her gifts. Tolerate her indiscretion and nonsense. Assist her in the home. Do not impose your worldly desires on her. Do not regard her as your maid. Provide a maid for her if you can afford. But, never break the ‘NEVER’ rules enumerated above. Remember that most wives are extremely spiteful. From the very first day of their arrival they cherish an inveterate dislike for their in-laws. They conspire to dominate their husbands and will plot to sever his ties from his parents and other relatives. A man must not destroy his Imaan by abandoning his parents at the evil behest of his wife. A man will remain independent and will be able to freely engage in acts of Sadqah(charity) and Silah Rahmi (Kindness to relatives) as long as he does not introduce his wife into his business affairs. A wife craves the inordinate desire that her husband must spend every cent he earns on her and her children. Most wives abhor that their husbands spend on their needy relatives —parents, brothers, sisters, etc. Marriage does not and cannot extinguish the Huqooq which a man has to fulfil towards relatives and the community.

http://www.themajlis.net/

The ungrateful nature of man

2010-02-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

“Man does not get tired of asking for good; but if an evil touches him, then he gives up all hope and is lost in despair. And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from Us, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say: ‘This is due to my (merit); I think not that the Hour will be established. But if I am brought back to my Lord, surely there will be for me the best with Him.’ Then, We verily will show to the disbelievers what they have done, and We shall make them taste a severe torment. And when We show favor to man, he turns away and becomes arrogant; but when evil touches him, then he has recourse to long supplications.” * (Qur’an, 41:49-51)*

Ibn Kathir writes in his commentary on the above verses: Allah tells us that man never gets tired of asking his Lord for good things, such as wealth, physical health, etc., but if evil touches him – trials and difficulties or poverty – “then he gives up all hope and is lost in despair.” He thinks that he will never experience anything good again.

If something good happens to him or some provision comes to him after a period of difficulty, man says, ‘this is because of me, because I deserve this from my Lord.’

The verse “I think not that the Hour will be established” means that he does not believe the Day of Judgment will come. So when he is given some blessing, he becomes careless, arrogant and ungrateful. Allah says: “Nay! Verily, man does transgress. Because he considers himself self-sufficient.” *(Qur’an, 96:6)*

The verse “But if I am brought back to my Lord, surely there will be for me the best with Him” shows man’s feelings that if there were a Hereafter after all, then my Lord will be generous and kind to me just as He was in this world. So he expects Allah to do him favors in spite of his bad deeds and lack of firm faith. Allah then says: “Then, We verily will show to the disbelievers what they have done, and We shall make them taste a severe torment.” Allah threatens punishment and vengeance to those whose conduct and belief is like that.

The verse “And when We show favor to man, he turns away and becomes arrogant” means that man turns away from doing acts of obedience and is too proud to obey the commands of Allah. This is like the verse: “But Pharaoh turned away along with his hosts.” *(Qur’an, 51:39)*

Allah continues to say about man that “when evil touches him,” which means difficulties, “then he has recourse to long supplications.”

Man asks at length for one thing. Long supplications are those which are long in words, but short in meaning. The opposite is concise speech, which is brief but full of meaning.

Allah also says: “And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying on his side, or sitting or standing. But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him!) *(Qur’an, 10:12)*

received by an email

I'm Pious so I'm Safe From Shaytaan, Right?

2010-02-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (rh) was a rock of Imaan (faith) and courage. He endured so much hardship, and he sacrificed so much for the sake of Islam that it is said that not even an elephant could not have endured his burdens. Once, whilst Imaam Ahmad (rh) was laying unconscious at his death bed, the people around him were saying: 'Laa ilaaha il lal laah (There is absolutely nothing worthy of worship at all in the heavens above nor the earth below, except Allah).' However, Imaam Ahmad (rh) repeatedly said: "No... Not yet! Not yet!" This concerned the people around him, so when Imaam Ahmad (rh) regained consciousness, his son asked him about his statement. Imaam Ahmad (rh) said: "Shaytaan (the devil) came to me and said: 'O Ahmad, you have escaped me with your faith intact!' So I replied: 'No.... Not yet! Not yet! I am not safe from you until my soul passes from this world!'

The four categories of Kufr

2010-02-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

There are four kinds of kufr, viz. Kufr Jahl, Kufr Juhood, Kufr Shakk and Kufr Ta’weel. The one guilty of any of these types of kufr is described as a kaafir in the Shariah.

KUFR JAHL:

This means kufr occasioned by ignorance. Islam or the teachings of Islam are denied on the basis of ignorance. The rejector believes that the claim of Islam is false. This was the type of kufr of Abu Jahl and his compatriots.

KUFR JUHOOD:

This means deliberate kufr. The denial of Islam or its teachings is occasioned deliberately, inspite of realising its truth. This type of kufr is the result of rebellion and obstinacy. This was the type of kufr of the Ahl-e-Kitaab (the Jews and Christians). This is also the kufr of Iblees (shaitaan).

KUFR SHAKK:

This means kufr occasioned by doubt. The denier doubts the truth of Islam.

KUFR TA’WEEL:

This means kufr by way of interpretation. The kufr is not committed by outright rejection, but is rendered by means of interpretation. A belief or teaching of Islam is distorted or given an interpretation or meaning other than what was the meaning ascribed to it by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Of the four types of kufr, the last viz. Kufr Ta’weel is the most common nowadays among those who were born Muslim. Corrupt interpretation is widely employed by Muslims to distort the true beliefs and teachings of Islam. By such baatil ta’weel (baseless and corrupt interpretation), Qur’aanic verses and Ahaadith are given meanings which conflict with their true and original meanings explained by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). By means of this type of kufr, numerous born Muslims have become kaafirs.

“In mankind are such men who dispute in the aayaat of Allah without having any knowledge, and they follow every rebellious shaitaan.” (Qur’aan)

The Weak

2010-02-02T23:44:00.001-08:00

"The weak, the forlorn and the poor should not grieve. on the contrary, they should be happy. Parents usually care more for their handicapped and weaker children. Similarly, Allah's special Gaze of Rahmat is focussed on the weak and oppressed ones."

(Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi)

Tawakkul and Rizq

2010-02-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

If you had to adopt tawakkul (trust) on Allah in the proper meaning of tawakkul, then He will bestow rizq (sustenance) to you in the same way as the birds are being fed. They emerge (from their nests) in the morning hungry and they return in the evening satiated." (Hadith)

Consensus of 700 Ulama

2010-02-02T23:40:00.000-08:00

Hadhrat Shaqeeq Balkhi (rahmatullah alayh) said that 700 Ulama were asked:

"Who is an intelligent man? Who is a wise man? Who is a wealthy man? Who is a durwaish (holy man)? Who is a miser? All of them unanimously replied:

`He who does not befriend the world is an intelligent man. He who is not trapped in the deception of the world is a wise man. He who is contented with his taqdeer (what Allah has ordained for him) is a wealthy man. He who does not beg is a holy man. He who withholds Allah's wealth from His creation is a miser."

Simple Roohaani prescription

2010-02-01T00:47:00.000-08:00

FOR PROTECTION AGAINST enemies - human and jinn enemies, recite Surah Ikhlaas, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas thrice, every morning and evening.

Recite the last Ruku' of Surah Baqarah every night before going to bed. After every Salaat recite Aayatul Kursi. Endeavour to inculcate Allah's remembrance by reciting 'Allaahu' and 'Laa ilahaa il-lal-laahu' throughout the day in all walks and conditions.

Remember that the efficacy of these prescriptions is commensurate with the degree of obedience and taqwa. The greater the taqwa, the more will be the beneficial effect of these forms of Thikr. However, everyone, regardless of his lack of taqwa should practise these athkaar (plural of thikr). Some benefit will most assuredly be acquired.

http://themajlis.net/

Tasbeeh of the Malaaikah

2010-02-01T00:36:00.001-08:00

A group of angels in the Heavens continuously recite:

"Glorious is Allah who has adorned men with beards and women with tresses."

http://www.themajlis.net/

The Fruits of Generosity

2010-02-01T00:33:00.000-08:00

Hadhrat Sheikh Ali bin Muwaffiq (rahmatullah alayh) had performed more than fifty Hajj. He had asked Allah Ta`ala to bestow the thawaab of all his Hajj to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Hadhrat Abu Bakr, Hadhrat Umar, Hadhrat Uthmaan, Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhum) and to his parents. He had only one Hajj remaining to his credit. This particular year, standing on the plain of Arafaat, he supplicated:

"O Allah! If there is anyone here whose Hajj has not been accepted, award my Hajj to him."

That night while sleeping at Muzdalifah, he saw Allah Ta`ala in a dream, proclaiming:

"O Ali bin Muwaffiq! By virtue of your generosity I have forgiven the People of Wuqoof (the Hujjaj) as well as four times their number. And, I shall accept the intercession of each one of them on behalf of his family, friends and neighbours. I am The one of Holiness and Forgiveness."

If Almighty Means Love, Why Earthquakes And Sufferings ?

2010-01-17T23:06:00.000-08:00

when i was reading through some online articles about Earthquakes, a person has raised q question similar to above. so the scholars simply replied for that question mentioning the following quranic ayah ;

“Or do you think that you will enter Heaven without being tested like those who were tested before you? They endured suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Prophet and those of faith who were with him cried: ‘When will the help of Allah come?’ Ah! Truly, Allah’s help is always near!” [Holy Quran 2:214]

further they are explaining as below:

The Test.

By earthquakes, Allah Almighty tests the faith, patience, cooperation, helpfulness, and brotherhood of His servants. A believer can be tested with adversity and prosperity.

Suffering is a test for us, a test of our patience. Peace and prosperity is also a test, a test of our gratitude to Allah.

The test may be mild and light or hard and exacting. Sickness, fear, hunger, poverty, death, loss of power or control, losing a battle, failing an examination, failing a marriage, failing a business, losing a job or a friend…etc. are just few examples of testing with adversity.

Testing may also be in the form of blessings, wealth, health, knowledge, children, family, security, peace…etc. What to do with these blessings is a great test. The test may also be given, by testing us by one another. The true believers submit to God in all cases and under all circumstances.

We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast. [2:155]

You should know that your money and your children are a test, and that GOD possesses a great recompense. [8:28]

You will certainly be tested, through your money and your lives, and you will hear from those who received the scripture, and form idol worshippers, a lot of insult. If you steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life, this will prove the strength of your faith. [3:186]

This is a tragedy but it’s also a wake up call.

Allah wants us to really feel and experience our desperate need for Him. He wants us to persevere, patiently. He wants us to repose our complete trust in His mercy, so that we can set ourselves apart from those who disbelieve, those who stand against faith.

Earthquakes are, in fact, signs from Allah Most High.

A Muslim has to reflect on Allah’s creation and always be mindful of His signs. As for the recent earthquakes and disasters, they are not necessarily a type of punishment. Allah Almighty may warn His servants against committing sins and violating His laws.

It Wasn’t God, It Was Scientists

Look at all the scientific experiments being done on earth. Huge holes are dug to the core of the earth. Testing of nuclear experiments are done. The result - calamities and natural disasters.

Scientists who boost of being conquered the world, couldn’t predict the disaster in advance - which could have averted the intensity of the disaster.

Earthquakes Reiterates the Need for Day of Judgement and Afterlife

Earthquakes are a manifestation that this world is not the end. In a world where dreams are left unfulfilled. Buildings brought down in a split second. Earthquakes and other natural disasters teach humanity a great lesson - there needs to be a life where there is no sorrow. A life where only happiness exists. A life where all our dreams are fulfilled. For a believer, earthquakes reiterates the need for an afterlife.

What should the Believers do?

Say, “Nothing happens to us, except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD the believers shall trust.” [9:51]

“When an affliction befalls them, they say, “We belong to God, and to Him we are returning.” [2:156]

In face of adversity or hardship, the true believers are expected to submit. We are being tested to see if we are truly submitters or not, whether we submit to God during the bad times and the good times or not. God gave us the correct solution in His book, the Quran. Submitting to God, means to accept whatever God has given us or taken away from us, to steadfastly persevere and to wait for God’s victory. In practical terms, let us put it in steps;

Whenever an adversity or hardship afflict a believer, he/she should:

(1) Should not panic. God does test the believers and if He is punishing us, it is to get our attention to correct something wrong we did. He is helping us out instead of leaving us in the dark. Since we asked for our freedom, He gave it to us and it is up to us to correct any wrong doing on our own, He only points things to us and we freely chose.

(2) Check to see if he/she has got off the right path. Is he/she still worshipping God alone and following His book. Correct your path and stay with God alone, if you were not.

(3) Submit to God, by accepting what happened to you without objecting.

“We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast. When an affliction befalls them, they say, “We belong to GOD, and to Him we are returning.” These have deserved blessings from their Lord and mercy. These are the guided ones.” [2:155-157]

(4) Implore God to remove the hardship or adversity. God wants us to implore Him. Do not rush an answer. God runs everything.

“Your Lord says, “Ask Me, and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell Fire, forcibly.” [40:60]

(5) Steadfastly persevere - this is the greatest trait of the true believers. God promised those who steadfastly persevere great recompense.

“O you who believe, seek help through steadfastness and the Contact Prayers (Salat). GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.” [ 2:153]

(6) Believe that God’s promise is the truth and that victory belongs to the believers, but you have to pass your test. Victory is in the way. God’s victory is near.

“We have sent messengers before you to their people, with profound signs. Subsequently, we punished those who transgressed. It is our duty that we grant victory to the believers.” [30:47]

(7) There are two kinds of victories according to the Quran, victory in this life and the bigger and most important victory in the Hereafter. God has promised the believers both victories. Some of these victories may be in disguise and not apparent to other people. Other victories are obvious and clear.

The true believer can identify many victories in his/her life even during the most difficult times or the time of testing. Of the many victories that the believers will see in this life, finding the right path and accepting God alone is the most important one. The believers accept whichever victory or testing comes their way, and always strive to achieve the eternal victory in the Hereafter.

With the help of God and the assurance in the Quran, the true believers will make the best out of their test or punishment and wait for God’s victory. They are absolutely sure that God’s Victory is near and that God’s victory is their reward.

Earthquakes - Zilzal

2010-01-17T22:40:00.000-08:00

What does Islam say about Earthquakes?

Islam deems these scientific observations as external views which ultimately lead to the search of the internal causes of how forces and matter actually originated are controlled and the identity of the controller. The search for the internal cause leaves science and man with many answers/theories unproven and many questions un-answered. In the end you have theories, signs and faith. Islam provides the answer where by drawing our attention to His revelation and the Ahadith (Traditions) of the most perfect human created, our Prophet Muhammed May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.

They killed the she-camel and defied their Lord’s command and they said, “O Salih! Bring to us that punishment which you promise us if you are from amongst the Messengers”. The earthquake seized them and they became faced down laid in their houses. (Surah 7:77-78)

The earthquake seized them and they became prostrate on their knees in their homes. Those who rejected Shuayb (alayhis’ salam) seemed as though they never lived in those homes and those who rejected Shuayb (alayhis’ salam) they were the losers. (Surah 7:91-92)

In ahadith it is stated:

“Anas May Allah be pleased with him says, “I went into the presence of Aishah May Allah be pleased with our mother whilst someone else was seated with her. The person asked, ‘O Mother of the believers, relate to us regarding earthquakes (as to their cause)’ She turned her face away. I (Anas) asked her, ‘Relate to us regarding earthquakes, O Mother of the believers!’ She said, “O Anas, if I were to inform you thereof, you will live a sorrowful life and you will die in this state of grief and you will be raised on the Day of Judgement whilst this fear is in your heart.” I said, “O Mother, relate to me.” She then said, “When a woman removes her clothes in a house other than her husbands (an indication towards adultery), she tears the veil between her and Allah. When she applies perfume to please a male other than her husband, this will be a source of fire and a blemish for her. When the people then begin to commit adultery, consume alcohol and use musical instruments, Allah becomes enraged in the heavens and orders the Earth to shake them. If they repent and refrain, then it is good for them, otherwise Allah will cause it to fall upon them.” I asked, “Is this their punishment?” She said, “It is rather a mercy, means of blessings and admonishment for the believers, and a punishment, display of anger and torment for the unbelievers.”

Isn’t this narration a wake up call for us Muslims? Aren’t the reasons crystal clear in the above narration? Can any Muslim deny that drinking, music and adultery are not common issues in communities today?

How many times have we heard the unlawfulness of these things, but our ears are gradually turning deaf because our hearts are not prepared to accept Islamic advice.

Our turning away from Allah simply results in Allah’s anger, and this is why Muslims suffer many calamities. You must remember that Allah warns his people and he gives enough time for his servants to repent, but if they still don’t take heed, then Allah only shows a slight spark of his anger which results into cities and countries left helpless when struck by disasters.

hese calamities will not be labelled punishments sent by Allah, but only a warning and a test for other Muslims to wake up to the reality. Remember, Allah punishes the disbelievers and he tests the believers.

What does Science say about Earthquakes?

Earthquakes are caused by the motion of tectonic plates – Individual sections that make up the Earth’s crust like panels on a football. Immense strain accumulates along fault lines where adjacent plates meet. When the rock separating the plates give way, sudden ground shaking movements occur.

The Earth’s crust on which we live is made up of 12 individual plates. Below the sea, they can measure 3 to 6 miles thick, and under land this increases to 20 – 44 miles. Radiation from Earth’s core heats the surface below the crust to temperatures over 5000’c. This makes hot liquid rise displacing cooler liquid which makes the plates we live on move constantly. Of course, they creep along very slowly – roughly the same speed your finger nails grow. Even at this sub snail-pace, the effects can be devastating. The combined annual force of earthquakes is equal to 100,000 times the power of the atomic bomb.

Oh enough of the science; I know what you are thinking at this moment, but I just wanted to draw your attention towards the scientific cause of an earthquake and what Islam has to say about its causes.

EARTHQUAKES’ Message and Heavy Burdens

2010-01-17T22:32:00.000-08:00

1- When the earth is severely quaked.
2- And the earth throws out its heavy burdens.
3- And man enquires, “What has come over it?”
4- On that day, it will tell its information.

99-The Earthquake, 1-4

The Arabic word “zilzal” means “earthquake.” The above verses are quoted from the sura The Earthquake. These verses are believed to refer justifiably to the earthquake expected to occur in the end of the world; however, we should take due notice of its wider sense, depicting earthquakes in general. The fourth verse announces that men will be informed on that day. A terrible disaster like an earthquake associates in one’s mind destruction in the first place causing material damage and bodily injury, leading to a general terror and panic. This announcement must have astounded the public.

To establish a link between earthquakes and knowledge of certain facts seemed inconceivable to people up until the last century. Today we have a great many data in our possession regarding the ground beneath our feet, thanks to earthquakes. The shortest radius we could draw from where we might be to the center of the earth is longer than 6000 km, a distance we can never cover. Yes, an earthquake provides information about that portion of the earth inaccessible to us. (During the earthquake to take place at the end of the world, it is possible that men will be further enlightened on subjects beyond His prediction. We certainly do not assert that the verse’s meaning is limited to our interpretation.)

BURDENS OF EARTH

The second verse of the sura Earthquake is interesting in that it refers to the burdens of the earth. Years have gone by and men have failed to understand what those burdens might be. The widely accepted interpretation was that the sura referred to the earthquake that was going to take place at the end of the world when the dead would be resurrected and treasures hidden underground would rise to the surface. No one could have guessed that the ground beneath was formed of dense and heavy matter that would rise to the surface. References to earthquakes in the Quran contribute to our better appreciation of them. Let us not forget that people believed at the time that the earth rested on the horns of an ox or on a fish whose tail, when it moved, produced earthquakes (The commentary of Ibn Kethir is an example). The fact that the Quran made no reference to such false beliefs is another indication of its miraculous character.

The more we know about the contents of the Quran and about the universe, the more we appreciate God’s artistry and the perfection of his religion.

http://www.quranmiracles.com/articles.asp?id=7

IBRAHIM KHAWWAAS

2010-01-17T22:24:00.000-08:00

Hadhrat Ibrahim Khawwaas (rahmatullah alayh) was overcome by excessive thirst along a journey in the wilderness. As a result of the extreme thirst he became unconscious. Somebody suddenly appeared and sprinkled water on his face. When his eyes opened he saw a very handsome and pious-looking young man standing by him with a horse. The young man gave Hadhrat Khawwaas (rahmatullah alayh) water to drink. He then instructed Hadhrat Khawwaas to accompany him. After a few minutes the horse-rider said: "Look ahead! What do you see?" Hadhrat Ibrahim Khawwaas said in surprise: "This is Madinah." The man said: "Get down. Convey my Salaam to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and say that your brother Khidr sends his salaams." He then disappeared.

http://www.themajlis.net/

Look at those who stand lower level than you

2010-01-05T22:42:00.000-08:00

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:

"When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and physical structure he should also see one who stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things (in which he stands) at a hi-her level (as compared to him)."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7068]

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:

"Look at those who stand at a lower level than you but don't look at those who stand at a higher level than you, for this would make the favours (conferred upon you by Allah) insignificant (in your eyes). Abu Mu'awiya said: Upon you."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7070]

Three things follow the bier of a dead man

2010-01-05T22:39:00.000-08:00

Mutarrif (Radi Allah Anhu) reported on the authority of his father: I came to Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam) as he was reciting: "Abundance diverts you" He said (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam):

"The son of Adam claims: My wealth, my wealth. And he (the Holy Prophet) said: O son of Adam. is there anything as your belonging except that which you consumed, which you utilized, or which you wore and then it was worn out or you gave as charity and sent it forward?"

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7061]

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam) as saying:
"A servant says, My wealth. my wealth, but out of his wealth three things are only his: whatever he eats and makes use of or by means of which he dresses himself and it wears out or he gives as charity, and this is what he stored for himself (as a reward for the Hereafter), and what is beyond this (it is of no use to you) because you are to depart and leave it for other people. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of al-'Ala' b. 'Abd al-Rahman with the same chain of transmitters. "

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7063]

Anas b. Malik (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam) as saying:
"Three things follow the bier of a dead man. two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family. wealth and his-good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the deeds alone are left with him."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7064]

Five types of Martyrs

2010-01-05T22:36:00.001-08:00

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said:

"While a man was going on a way, he saw a thorny branch and removed it from the way and Allah became pleased by his action and forgave him for that."

Then the Prophet (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said, "Five are martyrs:

1. One who dies of plague,

2. One who dies of an abdominal disease,

3. One who dies of drowning,

4. One who is buried alive (and) dies

5. And One who is killed in Allah's cause."

The Prophet (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) further said, "If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in the congregational prayer) and found no other way to get it except by drawing lots they would do so. And if they knew the reward of offering the Zuhr prayer early (in its stated time), they would race for it. And they knew the reward for 'Isha' and Fajr prayers in congregation, they would attend them even if they were to crawl'."

[Sahih Bukhari : Volume 1, Book 11, Number 624]

Story of a Wrestler Junaid Baghdadi

2010-01-03T23:22:00.000-08:00

Junaid Baghdadi earned his livelihood as a professional wrestler. As was the norm, the Leader of Baghdad announced one day, "Today, Junaid Baghdadi will demonstrate his skills as a wrestler, is there anyone to challenge him." An elderly man shakily stood up with his neck quivering and said, "I will enter the contest with him."

Whoever was witness to this scene could not contain themselves, they burst out howling with laughter, clapping their hands. The King was bound by the law. He could not stop someone who of his own free will entered the bout. The elderly man was given the permission to enter the ring. He was about sixty-five years old. When Junaid Baghdadi entered the ring, he was dumbfounded as was the King and all the spectators of the Kingdom who were present. The single thought that occupied their minds was, "How will this old man be able to fight?"

The old man addressed Junaid with these words, "Lend me your ears." He then whispered, "I know it is not possible for me to win this bout against you, but I am a Sayyid, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). My children are starving at home. Are you prepared to sacrifice your name, your honour and position for the love of Allah's Prophet and lose this bout to me? If you do this I will be able to collect the prize money and thereby have the means to feed my children and myself for an entire year. I will be able to settle all my debts and above all, the master of both the worlds will be pleased with you. Are you, Oh Junaid, not willing to sacrifice your honour for the sake of the children of Rasulullah (peace be upon him)?"

Junaid Baghdadi thought to himself, "Today, I have an excellent opportunity."

In a display of fervour Junaid Baghdadi executed a couple of maneuvers, demonstrating his finesse so that the King does not suspect any conspiracy. Junaid with a great display of antics did not use his strength and allowed himself to be dropped. The elderly man mounted his chest thus entitling him to the prize.

That night, Junaid Baghdadi had a dream of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who said, "Oh Junaid, you have sacrificed your honour, your nationally acclaimed fame, your name and position which was heralded throughout Baghdad in the expression of your love for my children who were starving. As of today, your name is recorded in the register of the Auliya (friends of Allah)."

Thereafter, this great wrestler learnt to defeat his nafs (desires) and became one of the most eminent Auliya of his time!

Source: From the book "Tajalliat-e-Jazb" by Shaikh Hakim Muhammad Akhtar.

Importance of Mother in Islam

2010-01-03T22:37:00.000-08:00

And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! Have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little." Noble Qur'an (17:23-24)

"Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the day when the account is cast." Noble Qur'an (14:41)

"My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, and the believing men and the believing women; and do not increase the unjust in aught but destruction!" Noble Qur'an (71:28)

"And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit." Noble Qur'an (46:15)

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00

For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00

For going to the store for you: $.50

Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25

Taking out the garbage: $1.00

For getting a good report card: $5.00

For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00

Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge.

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge.

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: No Charge.

For all the nights filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge.

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge.

When you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you."

And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) the King Prophet

2009-12-29T22:38:00.000-08:00

For the guidance of mankind, Allah honoured four famous Prophets by revealing to them four Holy Books as under:

1) Taurat to Prophet Musa (Moses):

2) Zaboor (Psalms) To Prophet Dawood (David);

3) Injeel (Evangel) To Prophet Isa (Jesus);

4) Qur'an To Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s).

The commandments of Allah are contained in these books. The first three books were for the earlier times. The Holy Qur'an is the last book of God and is for the guidance of entire mankind till the Day of Judgement.

Prophet Dawood eventually became King of his people. He had 19 sons. Each of them hoped to inherit the father's throne. Allah revealed to Prophet Dawood a few questions and their answers and commanded him to put the questions to each one of his sons. Whosoever answered those questions correctly, would inherit the throne of the father, Prophet Dawood.

One day Prophet Dawood called all his sons in the presence of the scholars and the chiefs of the tribes of his kingdom. He then put forward the following questions:

1) Which thing is closest (nearest) to man?

2) Which is the farthest thing?

3) Which two things are attached to each other?

4) Which is the most awe-creating thing?

5, Which two things remain unchanged?

6) Which two things are always different?

7) Which two things are opposed to each other?

8) What is the action the result of which is good?

9) What is that action the result of which is bad?

The sons of Prophet Dawood felt helpless and could not answer any of these questions. Then the youngest of the sons, Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) stood up and gave the following answers:

1. The nearest things to a man is the hereafter (Life and Death - as one may die any moment);

2. The farthest things is the time which has passed away (which is not to come again);

3. The two things that are attached to each other is man's body with the soul;

4. The most awe-creating is the man's body (dead) without soul;

5. The two things which remain the same are the sky and the earth;

6. The two things which are different are the day and night;

7. The two things which are opposed to each other are life and death;

8. The action - the end of which is good - is patience and forbearance at the time of anger;

9. The action - the end of which is bad is haste at the time of anger.

Prophet Dawood obviously, was very much impressed with these correct answers and appointed Prophet Sulaiman as his successor.

Thus it will be seen that it was the supreme knowledge and understanding that made Prophet Sulaiman succeed his father and become the Great King Prophet.

http://www.al-islam.org

The ant prays for Rain

2009-12-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

Once there was a big famine in Palestine. It was during the time of the Prophet, Prophet Sulaiman (King Solomon). He came out with his people and proceeded to an open place in the desert to pray for the rains to come. Suddenly, he saw an ant standing on its two legs, raising its hands up towards the sky and saying, "Oh Allah! We are but very small among all Thy creatures. We cannot survive without Thy grace. Please bestow upon us Thy sustenance and do not punish us because of the sins of human beings. Please send down the rains so that trees can grow, farms become green and grains become available and we have our food to eat."

Prophet Sulaiman knew the language of all animals. He told his people, "Let us go home. The prayer of this ant is enough." It then rained heavily and all the land became green and productive.

The ant is an intelligent creature. During warm days it collects and stores grain inside the holes. It knows that during wet and cold months, it would not be able to go out to search for food. For fear that grain may start growing because of wetness, it splits it into two or more pieces. At times, during moonlit nights, it brings the split grains out of the stores for drying and preservation against decay. The holes under the ground are made very carefully and covered with shelter to prevent the rain water from getting inside the holes. The ant, unlike the other animals, can lift a burden twice its own weight. It is not a selfish creature. When an ant finds some store of food grains, it runs up to its group and takes its fellow ants to that place. It shows everyone of them its own find of the store. They always behave in this manner. They work and live in co-operation with each other.

This shows how the ant works for the group and how each of them fulfils the needs and livelihood of its fellow-beings. How shameful it is for a man, who has no regard for another man; who has no concern for his fellow human beings who could be starving because of want of food.

Once, while Prophet Sulaiman was travelling together with hosts of men, jinn and birds, they reached a valley of ants.

When the chief of these ants witnessed the pomp and the glory with which Prophet Sulaiman and his companions were approaching toward it. He warned all the ants to get into their holes lest they got trampled and crushed unknowingly by the approaching men and Jinn. Prophet Sulaiman smiled at this warning sounded by the ants' chief, and ordered his companions to wait till the ants went inside their holes. "None of us should hurt any ant while passing over their land", he said.

It is said that Prophet Sulaiman addressed the chief of the ants and said: "How could my people hurt you or your fellow ants when they are floating through air! Don't you know that I am a messenger of God and would never act unfairly?" The chief of the ants replied: "O Messenger of God! My cautioning the ants was not for any hurt that they would suffer but to prevent them getting astray and forgetting the glory of God after seeing your pomp and show."

There is a deep meaning in this event. It shows that even the most humble and smallest of creatures has been endowed with the necessary wisdom to live safely and avoid being hurt as far as possible. It also shows, how even a small ant does have the natural understanding of the true position of Allah. It imparts a lesson that one should not forget the true might and glory of Allah when one experiences a great power and dignity of any creature in this world.

Thus an Ant is one of the most wonderful small creatures in this world. Sura "Naml" (the Ant) in the Holy Qur'an is a chapter named after this creature. Over 1300 years ago, Imam Ali (a) was giving a sermon in Kufa, in which he was describing the beauties of creation in various forms of life. He was referring to small creatures and asking man to study how God made them so small yet so sturdy and strong. He described the ant in these words:

'Look at an ant. How tiny is its body and how delicate are its features! It is such a small creature that it often escapes the eye, and few people care to attach any importance to it among the living beings found on this earth. Look at it and study its ways of life; how it crawls, how it attacks its food; how it lifts a grain so many times heavier than its body, carries it to its hole; how it stores grains; and how in summer it gathers and stocks food for winter and rainy days.'

http://www.al-islam.org

The Hajj of Six Hundred Thousand

2009-12-29T22:24:00.000-08:00

Hadhrat Abu Abdullah Jauhari (rahmatullahi alayh) narrates:

"Once I fell asleep on the Plain of Arafaat. In a dream I saw two Angels descending from heaven. The one asked his companion: ‘How many people performed Hajj this year?’

The second Angel: ‘Six hundred thousand. But the Hajj of only six was accepted.’

First Angel: ‘ What has Allah Ta`ala done with those whose Hajj has not been accepted?’

Second Angel: ‘Allah is Most Gracious. Through the virtue of the six, Allah Ta`ala accepted the Hajj of six hundred thousand. Allah bestows His Kindness to whomever He wishes.’"

Do Not Marry 7 Types of Women...

2009-12-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

1. Al-Annaanah:

The woman who whines, moans and complains and ‘ties a band around her head’ all the time (i.e. complains of a headache or some illness but in reality she is not sick, rather she is faking).

2. Al-Mannaanah:

The woman who bestows favours, gifts, etc. upon her husband then (at that time or the future) says; “I did such and such for you or on your behalf or because of you.

3. Al-Hannaanah:

The women who yearns or craves for her former husband or children of the former husband.

4. Kay’atul-Qafaa:

The women who has a brand mark on the nape of her neck (i.e. has a bad reputation or doubts about her).

5. Al-Haddaaqah:

The women who cast her eyes at things (i.e. always looking at something to purchase, then desires it and requires her husband to buy it (No Matter What).

6. Al-Barraaqah:

The women who spends much of her day enhancing her face and beautifying it to such an extent that it will seem like it was manufactured.

7. Al-Shaddaaqah:

The woman who talks excessively..

‘A Concise Manual of Marriage’ by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen

Shiekh Mishary bin Rashid Al Afasy

2009-12-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

you can download the entire full quraan of Shiekh Mishary bin Rashid Al Afasy from following link in high quality mp3s.

http://www.mp3quran.net/eng/afs_english.html

Why the rib?

2009-12-01T01:40:00.000-08:00

Woman was made from the rib of man,
She was not created from his head to top him,
Nor form his feet to be stepped upon,
She was made from his side to be close to him,
From beneath his arm to be protected by him,
Near his heart to be loved by him.

Reasons for failure of creation

2009-12-01T01:38:00.000-08:00

Shaqeeq Ibn Ibaraheem said: "The doors of success have been closed upon the creation because of six things:

Their busying themselves with the blessings of Allah instead of thanking Allah for them;
Their desire for knowledge while they abandon actions;
The hastiness to sin and delaying repentance;
The deception of having righteous companions and not taking them as examples;
The turning away of the dunya from them while they chase it;
The approach of the afterlife towards them while they turn away from it."

[Al Fawaai'd by Ibn Al Qayim: P. 161]

Stick to seven things

2009-12-01T01:12:00.001-08:00

Abu Dharr(RA) said, “My companion (Rasoolillah(SAW)) ordered me with seven things:

1. He ordered me to love the poor and be close to them,

2. and He ordered me to look at those below me and not to look at those above me,

3. He ordered me to keep the ties of the womb even if others didn’t want to,

4. He ordered me not to ask anyone for anything,

5. He ordered me to speak the truth even if it was bitter,

6. He ordered me not to fear, for the sake of Allaah, the blame of the blamers,

7. He ordered me to frequently say “laa hawla walaa quwwata illa billaah” (there is no might or power except with Allaah), for it is from the treasure from the treasures of Paradise.

Sabrun Jamil - Beautiful Patience

2009-11-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

Mujâhid said: “Beautiful patience is patience without any panic.” ‘Amr ibn Qays said: “Beautiful patience means to be content with adversity and to surrender to the will of Allâh.”

Yûnus ibn Yazîd said: I asked Rabî‘ah ibn Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmân: “What is the ultimate of patience?” He said: “To be outwardly the same at the time of affliction as one was the day before it struck.” (This does not mean that a person does not or should not feel pain or anguish; patience in this instance means that one refrains from panicking and complaining.)

"Whoever tries to be patient, Allah will make him patient. And nobody can be given a better and greater gift than patience."

(Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 24, No. 548)

Omar ibn Al Khattab said: "Whatever hardship befalls a believing servant, Allah will make an opening for him after it, and one hardship will be overcome by two eases." (Malik Muwatta Book 21, No. 21.1.6)

Commenting on the meaning of Sabrun Jamîl, i.e, beautiful patience, in the verse : "So be patient with a good (i.e, beautiful) patience." (Quran Ma'aarij 70:5) Qays ibn al-Hajjâj said: “The person who is suffering from some affliction should behave in such a way that nobody is able to distinguish him from others (Ibn Qayyim)

Timeless truths

2009-11-30T22:10:00.000-08:00

1. Man's way leads to a hopeless end -- Allah's way leads to an endless hope.

2. We don't change Allah's message -- His message changes us.

3. When Allah ordains, He sustains.

4. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.

5. He who angers you controls you.

How do I stop sinning?

2009-11-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

Ibraheem ibn Adham was approached by a man who wanted to stop his sins. He asked for advice that will help him realize the consequences of his actions. He was told:

If you want to disobey Allah, you can, in 5 cases:

1- If you want to disobey Allah, then don't eat from His rizq (provision.)

The man said: Then where am I to eat when every provision is from Allah?

Ibraheem said: O such a person! Is it honorable and good to disobey Allah, and eat from His provision?

The man said: give me the second one.

2- If you want to disobey Allah, then do not live on Allah's property.

The man said: Then where am I to live if not on Allah's property?

Ibraheem said: Is it good then, to eat from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him?
The man said: Give me the third one.

3- If you want to disobey Allah, then disobey Him in a place where He will not see you.

The man said: How am I to do this when He not only sees what others see, but what is in the hearts?

Ibraheem said: o you such a person, how do you eat from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him openly?

The man said: Give me the fourth one.

4- If you want to disobey Allah, when the Angel of Death comes to you, tell him to come back later, after you repent.

The man said: He will not accept this from me!

Ibraheem said: O you such a person, when you cannot delay death, how do you expect a savior?

The man said: Give me the fifth.

5- If you want to disobey Allah, then after death comes to you, on the Day of Judgement, when the Angels of Hell come to drag you into Hell, refuse to go with them.

The man said: They will not accept that from me!

Ibraheem said: Then how do you expect to be saved?

The man said: Enough! Enough! I seek forgiveness in Allah and make tawbaah! AstaghfirAllah wa i'tubuu ilayk!

He made sincere tawbaah, and left all his acts of disobedience, and he died in such a state.

Companion of the dead

2009-11-30T21:56:00.000-08:00

Said `Ubaid bin `Umayr al-Laythi 'Not a single man dies without being called by the pit in which he is buried, which declares, "I am the house of gloom, and of loneliness and solitude! If you were obedient to God during your lifetime then today I shall be a source of mercy for you, but if you were rebellious then I am an act of vengence against you. The obedient who enter me shall come forth joyful, while the rebellious who enter me shall emerge in ruin".'

Said Yazid al-Ruqashi 'I have heard it said that when the deceased is set in his tomb his works amass around him and are given to speak by God, so that they say, "O bondsman, alone in his pit! Your family and friends are now separated from you, so that today we are your sole companions".'

(The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife, Imam Al-Ghazali (rh)