We start the fast in the morning strong. By noon we start to get weaker. By the afternoon, we really begin to feel the fast. By sunset, right before we break it, things get difficult. Our lives mirror this. We start our lives strong as youth until we reach noon time, our 30’s and 40’s, we start to get weak. Once we reach old age (Asr and Maghrib) our physical abilities are greatly reduced until we leave this life. Fasting shouts to us our own mortality. Or own truth, “You are heading back to Allah." It is a reminder of our life, our responsibilities and the value of being young and physically capable. And just as we avoid some delicacies in the day, only to enjoy them later, if we spend our lives fasting from things that God has prohibited we will break our fast with Paradise!
Righteous people used to say, “I fasted from what God commanded and I hope to break my fast on Paradise."
A simple, but powerful, lesson for us all, as we toil through the day. May Allah make this fast a means of spiritual and social awakening.
-- Imam Suhaib Webb
Friday, July 19, 2013
When you enter into Salah turn off your cell phone
When you enter into Salah turn off your cell phone. There isn't anyone who can call that is more important than the one you're about to speak to.
The Ranks of Angels
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) once said to his Companions: “Would you like to stand in rank just the same as the angels stand in rank before their Lord?”
The Companions asked: “How do the angels stand in rank?”
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: “They fill the first rank and they observe extreme care in standing in the rank.” [Muslim, Salaat]
The proper way to stand in rank during congregational prayers is to:
1. Stand shoulder to shoulder.
2. Leave no gaps in between.
3. Complete one rank before forming another.
4. If another Muslim tries to move you to fix your position, take it positively.
5. Don’t stand apart from the ranks of the worshippers to pray separately.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1889
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Do not abuse anyone. Do not look down upon any good work, and when you speak to your brother, show him a cheerful face.”
-- Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1889
Feel Ashamed
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“If somebody reproaches you and makes you feel ashamed of any of your defects, do not make him feel ashamed of any of his defects.”
[Abu Daud]
Usually, when somebody points out one of our shortcomings, we immediately become defensive and start finding faults with them. But the advice of our beloved Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), is that we should listen quietly and evaluate what we are being told. If there is something we can improve about ourselves, it is only to our own advantage to do so. If the criticism is unjustified, then we are rewarded for our patience and good behaviour in not retaliating. The angels will take care of defending our honour. Starting a counter attack opens the door for Shaytaan to come in and take over.
“If somebody reproaches you and makes you feel ashamed of any of your defects, do not make him feel ashamed of any of his defects.”
[Abu Daud]
Usually, when somebody points out one of our shortcomings, we immediately become defensive and start finding faults with them. But the advice of our beloved Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), is that we should listen quietly and evaluate what we are being told. If there is something we can improve about ourselves, it is only to our own advantage to do so. If the criticism is unjustified, then we are rewarded for our patience and good behaviour in not retaliating. The angels will take care of defending our honour. Starting a counter attack opens the door for Shaytaan to come in and take over.
The Month of Blessings
'In His Infinite Mercy, Allah Has Sent The Light Of Ramadhan To Erase The Past. He Has Sent The Month Of The Qur’an So That He Might Elevate Us And Bring Us From Our Isolation To His Nearness. He Has Given Us This Blessed Month To Fill Our Emptiness, Cure Our Loneliness, And End Our Soul’s Poverty.'
Virtues of Observing Taqwa
Many Muslims think that being a Muttaqi means to live a monastic life avoiding all pleasures. This is wrong. Islam forbids Monasticism and encourages family life. Taqwa helps in making your family life a happier one. Many things are related to a happy family life, among the main is 'Barakah' ie. Blessings.
If you study the 96 verse of Surah al A'raf it speaks about virtues of observing taqwa. 'Had the people of the towns believed and observed Taqwa, we would indeed have opened out to them Blessings from heaven and earth.'
The verse assures that if a person observes taqwa and abstains from haram then his life will be a blessed one. If you note the verse again it speaks about the barakah from heavens too! There are many barakah from heavens besides rain. If you study the telecommunication system it runs from the skies. There can be other many ways where a person can be belssed with barakah from the skies.
Now refer to the last part of the 2nd verse of Surah Talaq: Who ever observes taqwa, Allah will prepare a way out for him (From crises) and He will provide for him from (sources) he never could imagine.
The verse assures of help of Allah and increase in rizq. Just because of Taqwa. The same assurance is again repeated in Surah Talaq's 4th verse: For those who observe Taqwa Allah will make their task easy.
The next verse, 5th, again repeats the same assurance with more rewards: If any one observes Taqwa Allah will remove his sins from him and will enlarge his reward. The first of the 5th verse explains the core of Taqwa 'Observing the commands of Allah'
There fore if you abstain from haram temptations then you are observing the hudood set up by Allah by not crossing the limits. In other words you are observing TAQWA
So taqwa will not prevent you from seeking the happiness from halal way but it will protect your from haram.
In Surah Toubah Allah declares: Allah loves those who are muttaqi. If a person is loved by Allah it is announced in the heavens and the earth that Allah loves such and such person so 'you also love him' says a Sahih Hadith. So Let us be loved by Allah and his Makhlooq. Ameen
If you study the 96 verse of Surah al A'raf it speaks about virtues of observing taqwa. 'Had the people of the towns believed and observed Taqwa, we would indeed have opened out to them Blessings from heaven and earth.'
The verse assures that if a person observes taqwa and abstains from haram then his life will be a blessed one. If you note the verse again it speaks about the barakah from heavens too! There are many barakah from heavens besides rain. If you study the telecommunication system it runs from the skies. There can be other many ways where a person can be belssed with barakah from the skies.
Now refer to the last part of the 2nd verse of Surah Talaq: Who ever observes taqwa, Allah will prepare a way out for him (From crises) and He will provide for him from (sources) he never could imagine.
The verse assures of help of Allah and increase in rizq. Just because of Taqwa. The same assurance is again repeated in Surah Talaq's 4th verse: For those who observe Taqwa Allah will make their task easy.
The next verse, 5th, again repeats the same assurance with more rewards: If any one observes Taqwa Allah will remove his sins from him and will enlarge his reward. The first of the 5th verse explains the core of Taqwa 'Observing the commands of Allah'
There fore if you abstain from haram temptations then you are observing the hudood set up by Allah by not crossing the limits. In other words you are observing TAQWA
So taqwa will not prevent you from seeking the happiness from halal way but it will protect your from haram.
In Surah Toubah Allah declares: Allah loves those who are muttaqi. If a person is loved by Allah it is announced in the heavens and the earth that Allah loves such and such person so 'you also love him' says a Sahih Hadith. So Let us be loved by Allah and his Makhlooq. Ameen
ایک بوڑھا ضعیف آدمی مسلمان ہوا
ایک دفعہ قبیلہ بنوسُلَیم کا ایک بوڑھا ضعیف آدمی مسلمان ہوا،حضور صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اسے دین کے ضروری احکام ومسائل بتائے اورپھر اس سے پوچھا کہ تیرے پاس کچھ مال بھی ہے ؟اس نے کہا: ”خدا کی قسم بنی سُلَیم کے تین ہزار آدمیوں میں سب سے زیادہ غریب اورفقیر میں ہی ہوں۔“حضور صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے صحابہ کی طرف دیکھا اورفرمایا:”تم میں سے کون اس مسکین کی مدد کرے گا“۔حضرت سعد بن عبادہ رضی اللہ عنہ اٹھے اورکہا:یا رسول اللہ!میرے پاس ایک اونٹنی ہے جو میں اس کو دیتا ہوں“۔حضور صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے پھر فرمایا: ”تم میں سے کون ہے جو اب اس کا سرڈھانک دے۔“سیدنا علی مرتضیٰ رضی اللہ عنہ اٹھے اوراپنا عمامہ اتارکرا س اعرابی کے سرپر رکھ دیا۔پھر حضور نے فرمایا: ”کون ہے جو اس کی خوراک کا بندوبست کرے؟“ حضرت سلمان فارسی رضی اللہ عنہ نے اعرابی کو ساتھ لیا اوراس کی خوراک کاانتظام کرنے نکلے۔چند گھروں سے دریافت کیا لیکن وہاں سے کچھ نہ ملا۔پھر حضرت فاطمة الزہرارضی اللہ عنہا کے مکان کا دروازہ کھٹکھٹایا۔پوچھا کون ہے۔انہوں نے ساراواقعہ بیان کیا اورالتجاکی کہ ”اے اللہ کے سچے رسول صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی بیٹی اس مسکین کی خوراک کا بندوبست کیجیے“۔سیدہ عَالَم نے آبدیدہ ہوکر فرمایا:”اے سلمان رضی اللہ عنہ خدا کی قسم آج ہم سب کو تیسرا فاقہ ہے۔دونوں بچے بھوکے سوئے ہیں لیکن سائل کوخالی ہاتھ جانے نہ دوں گی۔جاﺅ یہ میری چادرشمعون یہودی کے پاس لے جاﺅ اورکہو فاطمہ بنت محمد(صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) کی یہ چادر رکھ لو اوراس غریب انسان کو تھوڑی سی جنس دے دو۔“سلمان اعرابی کو ساتھ لے کر یہودی کے پاس پہنچے۔ اس سے تمام کیفیت بیان کی وہ حیران رہ گیا اور پھر پکار اٹھا ”اے سلمان !خد اکی قسم یہ وہی لوگ ہیں جن کی خبر توریت میں دی گئی ہے ۔گواہ رہنا کہ میں فاطمہ رضی اللہ عنہا کے باپ (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم )پر ایمان لایا“۔اس کے بعد کچھ غلّہ حضرت سلمان کودیا اورچادر بھی سیدہ فاطمہ رضی اللہ عنہا کو واپس بھیج دی،وہ لے کر ان کے پاس پہنچے ۔سیدہ نے اپنے ہاتھ سے اناج پیسا اورجلدی سے اعرابی کے لیے روٹی پکاکر حضرت سلمان رضی اللہ عنہ کو دی۔انہوں نے کہا: ”اس میں سے کچھ بچوں کےلئے رکھ لیجیے ۔“جواب دیا: ”سلمان جو چیز خداکی راہ میں دے چکی وہ میرے بچوں کے لیے جائز نہیں۔“حضرت سلمان رضی اللہ عنہ روٹی لے کر حضور صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی خدمت میں حاضر ہوئے ۔حضور نے وہ روٹی اعرابی کو دی اورفاطمہ الزہرا رضی اللہ عنہا کے گھر تشریف لے گئے ۔ان کے سر پر اپنا دستِ شفقت پھیرا‘آسمان کی طرف دیکھا اور دعاکی: ”بارِ الٰہا فاطمہ (رضی اللہ عنہا)تیری کنیز ہے ،اس سے راضی رہنا۔“(تذکارِ صحابیات)
The Most Priceless Treasure on Earth is Eeman
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah gives worldly things to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He gives eeman (faith) only to those He loves, so he who is given eeman by Allah, has been loved by Him.” [Ahmad, Bayhaqiy]
The most priceless treasure on earth is eeman. This is the currency that will buy you eternal happiness and all the riches you want to keep forever.
Thus, whoever is given the treasure of eeman is among the most beloved people to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).
If something is not in your share in this worldly life (e.g. car, house, nice clothes, good food), it makes no difference. The duration of this life compared to the life that starts after this, is so short, that it will be as though it never happened.
Material riches in this life could also be the lot of him/her who ends up for eternity in the Fire of Hell. Again, this life is so short compared to the Hereafter, that despite having every luxury in the world, a person who ends up in the Fire of Hell will say that they never experienced anything good. Thus, the only thing of real value is eeman, as this will take one to Jannah. This treasure is only given to the one whom Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) especially loves.