Advice from the Quran: How to Attain Sincerity.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

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Free oneself from the opinion of others:

..... only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

(Surah Al-Insan, Verse 9)

Compete in doing good:

.... Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation (united in religion) but (He intended) to test you in what He has given you; so race to (all that is) good. To Allah is your return all together ...

(Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 48)

Increase the fear of Allah:

Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.

(Surah Al-Mulk, Verse 21)

Understand that every soul shall taste death:

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your (full) compensation on the Day of Resurrection .... And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.

(Surah Aale Imraan, Verse 185)

Only expect the Pleasure of Allah:

And whoever of you devoutly obeys Allah and His Messenger and does righteousness - We will give her her reward twice; and We have prepared for her a noble provision.

(Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 31)

May Allah give us all the ability to bring sincerity into every part of our lives - Ameen.

Wasalaam!

The Everyday Heroine.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

When many people think of Egypt, they think of the great, historical monuments: the iconic Sphinx, the awe-inspiring pyramids, the enduring flow of the Nile that has nourished the banks of this desert land for thousands of years.

Others think of Egypt's impressive Islamic history: the mosques and madrassahs of the Mamluks, the ancient Islamic section of Old Cairo and the great fort built by Salahuddin himself.

In this land, many mighty heroes have risen and fallen, as they have all over the world. But the hero that I wish to celebrate here is of a much humbler kind.

She is the woman who looks at the world around her with an alert eye and open heart. Where others see catastrophe, she sees opportunity; where others sense only despair, she senses hope; where others throw their hands up, she rolls up her sleeves.

This is the everyday heroine who makes a satisfying, nutritious meal for her family from the simplest ingredients every night, who knows how to cure a sore throat with the contents of her store-cupboard, who knows how to make a child feel like the champion of the world for learning how to spell the world 'beautiful'.

This is the everyday heroine who juggles pregnancy, weaning, learning Surah al-Fatihah and advice on dealing with peer pressure.

This is the everyday heroine who always has time to listen, knows when to talk and when to remain silent.

This is the everyday heroine who sets up a recycling group in her local area, who hosts coffee mornings for new Muslims, who volunteers at a local charity, who lifts up her child so that he can put 5p in the collection box.

This heroine will never make a Power List in any of the broadsheets. She will not be shortlisted for an award, nor will she be granted a medal for her achievements.

But in the eyes of Allah and those who know and love her, she is a hero every single day of the year.

May Allah reward all you heroines out there, every single one of you. Long may you rise every morning to be a hero to your families, your friends and your local community.

May Allah grant you sincerity and accept your righteous actions. May He bless your time and aid you in your cause.

And, if you happen to know one of these heroines, do me a favour: make dua that Allah accepts her work and lightens her load - then tell her how much you appreciate her, maybe even with a card or flowers. 

Chances are, you will make her day, Insha Allah.

With love and salaam to all the wonderful heroines I have met and continue to meet on this amazing journey called life.

(Na'ima B. Robert)

I found the above article in an old magazine yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you. May we all strive to become and to raise everyday heroines - Ameen.

Wasalaam!

The Blessing of Knowledge

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

.... And Allah taught you that which you knew not. And Ever-Great is the Grace of Allah unto you (O Muhammad (saw).

(Surah An-Nisa, Verse 113)

Ignorance can kill a person's conscience and soul.

... I admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorant.

(Surah Hud, Verse 46)

Knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. It is life for your soul and fuel for your character.

Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out?

(Surah Al-'An'am, Verse 122)

Happiness and high spirits come with enlightenment because through knowledge, one may fulfil his goals and discover what was previously hidden from him. The soul, by its very nature, longs for the acquisition of new knowledge to stimulate it and the mind.

Ignorance is boredom and grief, because the ignorant person leads a life that never offers anything new or mind provoking. Yesterday is like today, which in turn is like tomorrow.

If you desire happiness, then seek out knowledge and enlightenment, and you will find that anxiety, depression and grief will leave you.

.... And say: "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge".

(Surah Taha, Verse 114)

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists).

(Surah Al-'Alaq, Verse 1)

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:

If Allah wishes good for someone, He gives him an understanding of the Religion.

Therefore, if someone is ignorant, let him not be proud of either his wealth or his status in society: his life is lacking in meaning and his achievements are woefully incomplete.

Shall he then who knows that what has been revealed unto you (O Muhammad (saw) from your Lord is the truth be like him who is blind? ...

(Surah Ar-Ra'd, Verse 19)

Az-Zamakhshari, the well-known commentator of the Quran, said in verse form:

The sleepless nights I spend in learning the sciences, are more beloved to me than the company or caresses of the enchanting woman, 

My rapturous exhilaration when understanding a difficult concept, is more delicious to me than the most exotic drink,

More delightful to me than the sound of a woman's hands on the drum, are my hands on my papers in order to remove dust.

O he who tries to attain my level by wishful thinking, how much difference there is between the one who finds the pain of climbing to be too much and between the one who climbs and reaches the summit.

Do I toil through the night, while you sleep through it, yet you hope to surpass me?

How noble is enlightenment? And through it, how happy is the soul?

Is he who is on a clear proof from his Lord, like those for whom there evil deeds that they do are beautified for them, while they follow their own lusts (evil desires)?

(Surah Muhammad, Verse 14)

(Dr. 'A'id al-Qarni)

Wasalaam!

Wisdom from my Teachers {Part 1}

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Unity and love, coming together, staying together and helping one another. This is very important so that we can help, encourage and inspire one another to enjoin good and forbid wrong. 

This is our responsibility.

Our religion is not a religion of selfishness. Our religion is a religion of helping and caring, having mercy and being compassionate to each other. The more we do this, the more Allah will help us.

When a group comes together, helping one another and when they are united, then Allah will make decisions of mercy, goodness, blessings and peace for this group.

Allah helps His servant so long as the servant helps his brother.

The most important thing is that we have to stay united.

Life is too short to hate one another. Life is too short to have jealousy in our hearts for someone else. 

It's not worth it.

Wasalaam!

The First Freedom Fighter

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

She lived in the greatest palace of her time, with many slaves, male and female at her command. Hers was a life of luxury and ease.

Her name was Asiyah bint Muzahim, wife of Pharaoh - may Allah be pleased with her - one woman, physically weak, but she was a believer who was at peace in her palace. The light of faith had dawned in her heart and she challenged the system of ignorance at the head of which was her husband.

She had deep insight and did not care about palaces and luxurious furnishings or having many slaves and servants. Hence, she deserved to be mentioned by the Lord of the Worlds in His Holy Book, where she is given as an example for those who believe, as Allah, the Exalted, says:

And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the people who are wrongdoers.

(Quran 66:11)

The scholars said, commenting on this verse:

Asiyah chose the Hereafter over this world. She also deserved to be mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad (saw) among the perfect women, when he said:

Many men attain perfection, but no women attained perfection except Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh and Maryam bint Imran, and the superiority of Aishah over other women is like the superiority of tharid (bread, meat and broth) over other foods.

This is Asiyah the believer, the lamp that shone in the darkness of Pharaoh's palace. Who could light a lamp for us that shines with such patience and steadfastness, calling us to Allah, the Almighty?

(Dr. A'id al-Qarni)

Wasalaam!

The Water of Repentance is the Purest Water

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Allah loves those who repent, and He loves those who purify themselves. He rejoices over the repentance of His slave more than a man rejoices when he finds his mount which carries his food and drink, after losing it in a barren land falling into despair and sitting by the root of a tree to await death, then he suddenly sees his animal standing by his head, with his food and drink on it, so he gets up and takes hold of its reins, and cries out in joy, "O Allah, You are my Lord and I am your slave". 

Glory be to Allah, how great He is and how Merciful, for He rejoices at His slave's repentance and his attaining Paradise and earning his pleasure. Allah calls His believing slaves with the words:

".... And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you may be successful".

(Quran 24:31)

Repentance cleanses the heart with the water of tears and the fire of regret which burns in the heart, and with a feeling of humility and tears in the eyes.

This is the first step of those who seek a path to Allah, it is the capital of those who are successful, and the key to correcting those who have gone astray.

The one who repents, prays to Allah and beseeches Him, weeping. When others relax, he does not. When others are still, his fear does not rest and the longing of his heart never ceases. 

He stands before his Lord with a grieving heart and distressed mind, bowing his head and trembling when he remembers how many sins he committed.

His grief overwhelms him and his tears flow. He prepares himself to be a winner tomorrow and to shed his worldly load so that he may pass quickly over the bridge of Hell.

May Allah give us all the ability to repent sincerely and truly - Ameen!

Wasalaam!

11 Suggested Activities for the Last Ten Days of Ramadan

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. Make a big effort to increase all your religious activities for the last 10 days, such as extra prayers and more Dhikr.

2. Keep reciting this special dua:

Allahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni

O Allah, You are indeed Forgiving and You love to forgive, so forgive me.

3. Make Tawbah (sincere repentance).

4. Evaluate yourself and see how you could be a better person.

5. Make long and sincere duas.

6. Spend quality time with your family.

7. Try to finish the Quran and read the dua for the completion of Quran recitation.

8. Spend some time in Itikaaf. 

If you cannot fulfil the Sunnah of sitting in Itikaaf for 10 days then you can sit in seclusion for any length of time with the sole purpose of drawing closer to Allah and you will, insha Allah, be rewarded accordingly.

9. Try to minimise the time you spend on worldly matters. You could try not watching TV, listening to music or surfing the internet for this short period of time and this will all help you in drawing closer to Allah.

10. Try to memorise some of the shorter Surahs in the 30th Juz which you can recite in your salah.

11. Read and learn some hadith and try to practice these in your daily life.

May Allah give us all the ability to do our best in these last few blessed days - Ameen!

Wasalaam!

11 Things You Can Do When You Are Menstruating

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. Read a translation of the Quran or a commentary of the Quran - with wudhu and without touching the actual Arabic text.

2. Make dua and spend time engaging in dhikr.

3. Listen to the Quran.

4. Read Islamic books.

5. Attend religious classes - although not those taking place in the actual prayer area of the mosque.

6. Increase your dawah activities by encouraging others to do good.

7. Give in charity.

8. Help around the home with the intention of gaining reward.

9. Offer to help out with taking care of children so that others can pray.

10. Get involved with Islamic activities that are taking place in your local area.

11. Try and feed as many fasting people as you can.

Remember, it is your intention that matters.

Wasalaam!

2 Weeks Before Ramadan: "Increase Your Efforts and Allocating Zakaat and Sadaqah Week"

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. Spend more time than you already are reading and understanding the Quran.

2. Focus even more on your Salah.

3. Increase the number of Rakat you pray for Qiyam ul Layl and tahajjud.

4. Increase the amount of time you are spending on tasbeeh and Istighfar.

5. Allocate your zakat if you are due to pay it.

6. Allocate the amount you want to pay for sadaqah in Ramadan and set it aside. As you do so, make an effort to read about the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves. This will have the two fold effect of making you grateful for what you have and wanting to do more for charity.

Wasalaam!

3 Weeks Before Ramadan: "Night Prayer and Charity Week"

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Things To Do 3 Weeks Before Ramadan:

1. If one of your weak points is getting up for Fajr, now is the time to get this right by going to bed early and setting the alarm for Fajr time.

2. Start to pray Qiyam-ul-Layl after Isha. (2 rakats minimum after the Isha prayer).

3. Start getting up for Tahajjud; you only need to wake up half an hour before you normally would for Fajr. (2 rakats minimum before Fajr time begins.)

4. Agree with a friend or family member to wake each other up for Tahajjud.

5. Think of ways you can benefit your community and the Ummah with charitable acts. Be imaginative, try and involve as many people as you can and remember that even the smallest act of kindness counts as charity.

Wasalaam!

4 Weeks Before Ramadan: "Fasting and Quran Week"

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Things To Do 4 Weeks Before Ramadan, Inshallah:

1. Start making up the Qadah of the missed fasts from previous Ramadans.

2. Once you have made up all your Qadah fasts, start fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. It is Sunnah to fast on these days.

3. Involve your family and friends by encouraging them to fast as well.

4. Fix a certain amount of Quran to read each day and ensure that you do it.

6. Get an English translation and a tafseer (commentary) book or app to help you understand the Quran better. Make a habit to read these regularly.

Wasalaam!

How to Pray Salaat-ul-Tasbeeh

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught this namaaz (Salaat-ul-Tasbeeh) to his uncle Hazrat Abbas (ra).

 He (saw) told his uncle that by performing this prayer, all past, present, old, new, small and big sins would be forgiven, inshallah.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) also stressed that this namaaz can be prayed everyday, once a week, once a month, once a year or even at least once in a lifetime.

Method: Firstly, make the niyyah (intention) that I am praying 4 rakaats Salaat-ul-Tasbeeh for the sake of Allah and I am facing towards the Holy Kabah, then say Allah-u-Akbar.

Then, men fold their hands on the navel whilst women fold their hands on their chest, and then say the prayers as per the following chart with this tasbeeh which will be recited 75 times in every rakaat.

For more information about Salaat-ul-Tasbeeh, click here.

Wasalaam!

Evaluation

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

He who does not work shall have no reward. 

It is reported that a man of Bani Israeel worshipped Allah the Exalted for 70 years. Allah intended to test him before the angels, so He sent him an angel to tell him that he did not merit Paradise even with this worship.

When the angel informed him of this, the worshipper replied:

We are created for worship and we can but worship Him.

The angel returned saying:

O my God, you know best what he said.

Allah, the Exalted said:

Since he did not turn away from worshipping Us, then with grace We shall not turn away from him. O my angels, bear witness that I have forgiven him.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

Evaluate your works before you are asked to account for them. Weigh your works before you are evaluated.

Ali (ra) said:

Those who think they can achieve their aims without work are dreaming, and those who think they will attain their goals through exertion alone are over-confident and consider themselves self-sufficient.

Hasan (ra) said:

Seeking and demanding Paradise without actions is a sin from amongst the sins ... The sign of attaining reality is in giving up regard for work, not in giving up the work.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

The wise man is he who judges himself and works for what is after death, and the fool is he who pursues his desires and (vainly) longs for Allah, the Exalted.

(Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali)

Wasalaam!

5 Weeks Before Ramadan: "Heart Focus" Week

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Things To Do 5 Weeks Before Ramadan:

1. Make Tawbah Nasooha - repent sincerely to Allah for all your sins.

2. Listen to Islamic lectures. Choose a scholar and topic that you feel will motivate you and get your heart into the right state.

3. Read Islamic books about self-development and purifying the heart.

4. Do your very best to pray all your Namaaz on time.

5. Ensure that you pray the sunnah-al-muakkadah rakat with your five daily fardh prayers.

6. Actively focus on improving your concentration in Namaaz by spending more time on it and focusing on what you are saying.

7. Allocate time to doing tasbeeh and istighfar especially after Namaaz.

Wasalaam!

6 Weeks Before Ramadan: "Wake Up Call" Week

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Things To Do 6 Weeks Before Ramadan Begins:

1. Recite the following dua to make it to Ramadan. Do this repeatedly throughout the day and every day leading up to Ramadan:

Allahumma baarika lana fi Rajab wa Sha'ban wa ballighna Ramadan

2. Write down specific targets, no more than five, of things that you want to achieve this Ramadan.

3. Start to read books about Ramadan. This will help you get into Ramadan mode and you will also learn about the do's and don'ts of fasting, which is important if you want to derive maximum benefit from it.

Wasalaam!

Allah's Mercy

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Be not bankrupt of good deeds, nor void of spiritual status. Know for certain that abstract knowledge alone will neither increase you in power nor strengthen your situation.

Likewise, if a brave warrior in possession of ten Indian swords and other weapons was alone in the wilderness, and a great ferocious lion attacked him, do you think the weapons could defend him if they were not used against the lion?

It is well known that weapons cannot defend people unless they are brought into use. By the same principle, if a man read a hundred thousand scientific theories, they would be of no use to him if he did not try and apply them.

Similarly, if a man suffering from fever and a kidney disorder, he should be treated with ginger and other plants. Without treatment, no recovery is achieved.

A poet once said:
Though you measure two thousand bottles of wine
Unless you drink, no thrill is thine

If you studied a hundred years and collected a thousand books, you would not be prepared for the mercy of Allah, the Exalted, except by action.

Allah says:
Man shall have nothing but what he strives for.
(53:39)

Whosoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness.
(18:110)

A recompense for what they used to do.
(9:82)

As for those who believe and do good work, they will have for them the gardens of Paradise as an abode. No change will they desire from them.
(18:107)

Except he who repents, believes and does good work.
(25:70)

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) also said:
Islam is built on five pillars: testifying that there is no deity but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing the Prayer; paying the Zakat; Fasting in Ramadan and performing the Hajj at the sacred house for those able to do so.

Iman (faith) is confession with the tongue and belief with the heart and performance of the pillars of Islam. 

There are countless proofs on the necessity of actions; this is despite the fact that the servant shall attain Paradise only by the grace and favour of Allah the Exalted, but such (grace) follows the servant's readiness to obey and worship Him. Verily, the mercy of Allah is very close to the doers of good.

It may be said that the servant may reach that status through faith alone. We say "Yes", but when will he be able to reach it? How many obstacles will he be faced with?

The first of these obstacles is the ravine of Iman; and who is secure (enough to guarantee) that he will not lose his Iman? And if a man loses his Iman, he will be bankrupt and dismayed in the Hereafter.

Hasan al-Basri said:
Allah will say to His servants on the Day of Judgement:
"Allow My servants to enter Paradise by My mercy and divide it amongst them according to their deeds".

(Imam Ghazali ra)

Wasalaam!

Knowledge

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

To advise others is an easy matter.

 The difficulty is accepting advice, since this is a bitter thing for those who follow their own inclinations and desires. 

They love the forbidden from the depth of their hearts. 

This is more applicable to seekers of knowledge and students of learning, those of them who are busy in the grace of spirits and the benefits of this world. 

They believe that mere abstract knowledge, without proper action, will rescue them. This is the belief of the philosophers. 

Praise and glory be to Allah, the Greatest of all.

They do not know this much, that when they acquire knowledge, if they do not work according to it, the indictment against them is certain.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

The person most severely punished on the Day of Judgement is the learned one who did not follow Allah's guidance and did not benefit from his knowledge.

It has been narrated that someone saw al-Junayd (ra) after his death in a dream. Al-Junayd was asking:

What news do you have, Abul Qasim?

He replied:

Perished are the speeches and vanished are the allusions; nothing benefited us except the prostrations which we made in the middle of the night.

(Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali)

Wasalaam!

Morning and Evening Prayers

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This morning, I came across these two videos on YouTube. One contains the Sunnah duas to pray in the morning, and the other for the evening.

Morning prayers

Evening Prayers

I hope you benefit from them and share with others, inshallah!

Wasalaam!