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!

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 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 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!

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!

Time

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Among the many pieces of advice which the Messenger of Allah (saw) gave to the Muslims was the following:

The sign that Allah has turned away from His worshipper is his busying himself in what does not concern him; and if a man has passed an hour of his life in other than for which he was created, it is certainly fitting that his grief should be prolonged (on the Day of Judgement), and whosoever has reached (the age of) forty, and his good deed does not surpass his evil, let him prepare for the Fire.

This advice should suffice the people of knowledge.

(Imam Ghazali ra)

Wasalaam!

Revelation

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

May Allah grant you a long life as His obedient servant and may He place you in His service alone.

May Allah guide you to the right path of those who love Him and are loved by Him.

Know that real advice should be sought in the Revelation and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).

If you have attained advice from it, what need have you of my advice?

And if not, then tell me, what you have attained in these past years.

(Imam Ghazali r.a)

Wasalaam!

Is It Really Allah?

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Internal poverty is the poverty of the soul. It describes the unmoved soul. The soul that has been created but has failed to realize why. It is the soul that lives a life without purpose. The heart that beats but has already died. 

Because while this body cries and bleeds and feels pain from the material world, the soul is untouched by these things. There is only one thing that can cut, stab or impoverish the soul. There is only one thing that can kill it. To deprive it of its only one true need. That is for it to be close to its originator. To be near Allah.

Spiritual deprivation is the true impoverishment. True poverty is standing poor on the Day of Judgement. Despite this reality, we continue to live this life, feeding our bodies but starving our souls.

When a body dies, we cry. But our hearts are unmoved by those bodies which are still alive but whose hearts and souls have already died. Because of the alienation from that which gives life - Allah. 

What impoverishes and kills the heart? It is allowing the heart to love anything as it should only love Allah. The heart was created by and for Allah. The heart was created to know and love Allah. The heart was created to be given to Allah and to be filled with His remembrance.

The heart that is given to or filled by any other thing suffers the most painful impoverishment and death. The heart that is owned by this life is a prisoner of the worst kind. The heart that is owned by any other master than the Master of masters, is the weakest of all slaves. 

That is true oppression, true death, true poverty. 

As human beings, we enslave ourselves to different things. Some are enslaved to money or to other people. We love them as we should only love Allah. Some of us are enslaved to our status in society or to our careers. 

What do you love most? 

Many of us will say that we love Allah the most. We say this with our tongues and in our minds. But our hearts and actions say otherwise. 

How do you know what it is that you love the most?

Ask yourself, what is your refuge? When you are most broken, where do you go? When you afraid, where do you hide? When you need, who do you ask? What do you fear most? What do you stay up at night worrying about? What makes you cry most? What do you think about most? What occupies your mind in salah? 

Is it really Allah?

Is it really Allah on our mind the most? Is it really your fear of standing before Him that makes you cry in your bed? 

No, probably not.

It's the person who left you, the money you lost, the career you couldn't have, the pay rise you didn't get. What are you afraid of most? Just the thought of losing that object causes you so much anxiety that you feel it physically? 

Is it your husband? Your wife? Your money? Your job? Is it your image? Your figure? What is it? 

When you are given a choice, what do you do? When Allah says to dress and act a certain way, and then society says the opposite, which do you choose? Who defines beauty for you? Who defines success? 

When Allah says that interest is haraam, but your financial ambitions command otherwise, which do you choose? Who defines richness? Who defines poverty? 

The storm is coming. Seek refuge in the only place that refuge exists. Seek refuge in Allah. 

You and I know what day we were born. But none of us know on which day we will die. And, many people think that we can live our lives in whichever way we like. Then at the time of death, just read the Kalimah. 

But at the time of death, the tongue cannot speak except what the heart commands. Whatever is in the heart, it will come out. 

The impoverished heart will have nothing but the love of the world to speak about on that day. If our heart is empty of Allah during our life, how can it be full of Allah during our death?

If in your life, you carried only La ilaha illallah that truly there is no refuge, no shelter but Him. Then and only then will the tongue be given permission to say the Kalimah.

May Allah make us amongst them who truly take Allah as their refuge - Ameen!

(Adapted from a speech by Yasmin Mogahed)

Wasalaam!

Make Every Day a New Beginning

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Staying away from Allah, the Exalted, only brings bitter fruit. The gifts of intelligence, strength, beauty and knowledge will all turn to calamity and loss if they are kept away from the guidance of Allah, the Exalted, and deprived of His blessings.

It is for this reason that Allah has warned people of the consequences of staying away from Him.

If you are walking down the street and a car comes towards you at high speed and you feel it will hit you and kill you, you have no choice but to act quickly and try to get away.

Allah wants to warn His slaves that they face a similar kind of destruction if they turn away from Him, so He urges them to seek safety with Him alone:

So flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.

And do not make (as equal) with Allah another deity. I am to you from Him a clear warner.

(Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verses 50 and 51)

Turning to Allah requires a person to:

1. Renew herself

2. Reorganize her life

3. Develop a better relationship with her Lord

4. Do better deeds

It is the start of a new covenant and way of life that is summed up in the following dua:

O Allah, you are my Lord and there is no god but You. You created me and I am your slave. And I am trying my best to keep my oath (of faith) to You and to live in the hope of Your promise.

I seek refuge in You from my greatest evil deeds. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I acknowledge my sins. 

So forgive me, for none but You can forgive sins.

Allah says: "I am as My servant thinks I am".

Wasalaam!