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!

A Beautiful Dua of Prophet Musa (a.s)

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Wasalaam!

Keep Busy with the Present, Rather than the Past or Future

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

What is the point of slapping your cheeks or tearing your garment in sorrow over something you missed or some calamity that befell you?

What is the point in focusing your thoughts and feelings on some incident that has passed so as to increase your pain and make you fall apart?

If it were possible to reach into the past and change its events which we did not like, and alter them the way we like, then going back to the past would be essential.

We would all rush to go back and erase the things we regretted doing and increase our share of good fortune.

But that is impossible, so it is better for us to focus our efforts on what will help us get on with our lives, for that is our only means of compensation.

This is what the Quran drew attention to after Uhud (a battle named after a mountain in Madinah), when Allah said to those who were weeping for the slain and regretting going out in the battlefield:

Say: "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death" ..

(Surah Aale Imraan - Verse 154)

Be patient to be victorious.

Wasalaam!

La Hawla wa la Quwwata illa Billah

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

A young man was jailed and his mother had no one else but him. She could not sleep and distress took hold of her completely. She wept until she could weep no more, then Allah guided her to say, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah).

She repeated these great words, which are one of the treasures of Paradise, and only a few days after she had despaired of her son ever coming out of jail, he was knocking at the door and she was filled with joy. Such is the reward of one who puts her trust in Allah, calls upon Him constantly and delegates all her affairs to Him.

So you should recite this dhikr, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, for these great words are the secret of happiness and success. Recite them a great deal, chase away the specters of grief and distress with them, and receive the glad tidings that Allah will soon grant you happiness and a way out.

Beware of losing hope or becoming frustrated, for there is no hardship but it is followed by ease. This is how it has always been, and always will be.

Think positively of Allah, the Exalted, and put your trust in Him; seek that which is with Him, and wait for a way out.

Wasalaam!

Look at the Clouds and Not the Ground

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Be ambitious, keep climbing and always have hope. Beware of falling, and remember that life is minutes and seconds.

Be like the ant in hard work, patience and perseverance. Always keep trying, and keep repenting. If you go back to sin, then repent again.

Memorize the Quran, and if you forget it, go back and memorize it again and again. 

The main thing is that you should never feel defeated or frustrated, because rationally speaking there is no such thing as the last word or the bitter end, rather there is always trial and error, and learning from your mistakes.

Life is like a building that can be renovated and rebuilt from scratch, with new decor and paint. 

Do away with all thoughts of failure, and stop thinking of calamities and problems, for Allah, the Almighty, says in Surah Maaidah, Verse 23, 

"... and put your trust in Allah if you are indeed believers".

Giving up sin is jihad (fighting in Allah's cause), but persisting in it is stubbornness.

Allah loves those who repent and turn to Him.

Wasalaam!

You Are Better Off Than Millions of Women

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Think of the world as a whole, of the hospitals filled with patients who have been stricken with disease and calamity for many years; and the prisons in which thousands of people are held behind bars, their lives and pleasures ruined; and the asylums and hospitals which accomodate people who have lost their minds and have become insane.

Are there not poor people living in tattered tents and hovels, who cannot find a bite to eat? Are there not women who have been stricken with calamities that took away all their children in a single accident? Or women who have lost their sight or hearing, or whose arms or legs have been amputated, or who have lost their minds, or who have been stricken with chronic diseases such as cancer and the like?

But you are sound in body and in good health, living a life of tranquility, security and contentment. So, give thanks to Allah, the Exalted, All-Merciful, for His blessings and do not waste your time with things that are not pleasing to Him.

Wasalaam!

The Prayer of Umm Salamah (ra)

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Once while Umm Salamah was nursing her sick husband, Abu Salamah (ra), he said to her: "I heard the Prophet (saw) saying. Whenever a calamity afflicts anyone he should say, "Surely from Allah we are and to Him we shall certainly return." And he would pray, 'O Lord, give me in return something good from it which only You Exalted and Mighty, can give."

Abu Salamah (ra) remained sick in bed for several days. One morning the Prophet (saw) came to see him. The visit was longer than usual. While the Prophet (saw) was still at his bedside Abu Salamah (ra) passed away. With his blessed hands, the Prophet (saw) closed the eyes of his dead companion. He then raised his hands to the heavens and prayed:

"O Lord, grant forgiveness to Abu Salamah (ra). Elevate him among those who are near to You. Take charge of his family at all times. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Worlds. Widen his grave and make it light for him."

Umm Salamah (ra) remembered the prayer her husband had quoted on his deathbed from the Prophet (saw) and began repeating it, "O Lord, with you I leave this my plight for consideration . . ." But she could not bring herself to continue . . . "O Lord give me something good from it", because she kept asking herself, "Who could be better than Abu Salamah (ra)?"

The Muslims were greatly saddened by the plight of Umm Salamah (ra). Both the Muhajirun and Ansar felt they had a duty to Umm Salamah (ra). When she had completed the Iddah (four months and ten days), Abu Bakr (ra) proposed marriage to her but she refused. Then Umar (ra) asked to marry her but she also declined the proposal.

The Prophet (saw) then approached her to ask for marriage, and she replied:

"O Messenger of Allah (saw), I have three characteristics. I am a woman who is extremely jealous and I am afraid that you will see in me something that will anger you and cause Allah to punish me. I am a woman who is already advanced in age and I am a woman who has a young family."

The Prophet (saw) replied: "Regarding the jealousy you mentioned, I pray to Allah the Almighty to let it go away from you. Regarding the question of age you have mentioned. I am afflicted with the same problem as you. Regarding the dependent family you have mentioned, your family is my family."

They were married and so it was that Allah answered the prayer of Umm Salamah (ra) and gave her better than Abu Salamah (ra). From that day became the mother of all believers, Umm al-Mumineen. This was the title given to the blessed wives of the Prophet (saw).

The dua`a’ (supplication) that the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) had taught to the ummah (Muslim community) for times of difficulty: 

“If a servant of Allah is afflicted with a misfortune and says: ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, Allahumma ajirni fi musibati wa akhlif li khairan minha‘ (Verily we belong to Allah and truly to Him shall we return. O Allah! Protect me in this calamity that has befallen me and replace it with something better), Allah will accept his prayer, grant him reward for his affliction, and replace it with something better.

May Allah give us the ability to recite this prayer in times of difficulty - Ameen.

Wasalaam!