Count the Blessings that Allah has Bestowed upon You

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

When morning comes, remember that the sun is shining upon thousands of miserable women, but you are blessed. It is shining on hundreds of hungry women, but you have plenty to eat.

It shines on thousands of women who are imprisoned, but you are free. It shines on thousands of women who have been stricken with calamity and lost their children, but you are happy and healthy.

How many tears flow down women's cheeks? How many mothers' hearts are filled with pain, how many screams come from girls' throats - but you are smiling and happy.

So praise Allah, the Exalted, for His kindness, protection and generosity.

Sit and think, and be honest with yourself; look at the numbers and statistics.

 How many things do you own? How much wealth do you possess? How many blessings do you enjoy? How many things do you have that bring you delight?

Beauty, wealth, children, shade, a home, a country, light, air, water, nourishment, medicine?

Rejoice and be of good cheer.

Wasalaam!

You Will Be a Winner In All Situations

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

You have to seek reward with Allah. If some worry, distress or grief befalls you, remember that it is an expiation for sin. 

If you lose one of your children, remember that he will intercede for you before Allah. If some disability or sickness befalls you, remember that it brings its own reward from Allah, which is preserved with Him.

Hunger, sickness and poverty all bring their own rewards from Allah. Nothing is ever lost with Him. 

He keeps it as a trust with Him until He gives it to its owner in the Hereafter.

Wasalaam!

You are Dealing with a Lord Who is Most Kind and Most Generous

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Be of good cheer, for Allah, the Exalted, has promised you a great reward, as He says:

And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allah , and Allah has with Him the best reward."

Surah Aale-Imraan, Verse 195

Allah has given the same promises to men as to women, and He praises women as He praises men:

Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.

Surah Al-Ahzaab, Verse 35

This indicates that women are the twin halves and companions of men, and that your reward is stored with Allah. You can do good deeds at home and in society, that will help you attain the pleasure of Allah. So, set the best of examples and be a beacon for the children of the Ummah.

Take your cue from the life of Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, may Allah be pleased with her, and Maryam (may peace be upon her), Khadijah, Aisha, Asma and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them).

These were chosen women, devout believers  who fasted and prayed at night. May Allah be pleased with them and grant them great reward. Follow their footsteps and you will find tranquility and dignity.

Wipe away the tears of the orphan in order to attain the pleasure of the Most Merciful and a house in Paradise.

Wasalaam!

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) - His Name

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The name "Muhammad" means "the praised one". Therefore, the Prophet's name is as much a title that describes the Prophet's qualities, as it is a name that identifies the Prophet (s.a.w) as an individual.

Any noble quality one can imagine, the Prophet (s.a.w) possessed. He is divinely protected; he is the seal of all Prophets; he is Allah's obedient slave; he is the chosen one from Allah's created beings; and he is Allah's Khaleel - a Khaleel is more than a friend; it denotes the highest level of friendship and love - therefore, he is certainly deemed one who is worthy of being commended by Allah. And he (s.a.w) is deemed worthy of praise by people, for he is near to their hearts, merciful towards them, and blessed no matter where he is.

He is worthy of praise because his character became refined through revelation, and because his personality became polished through prophethood.

He was known by various names, each of which pointed to at least one of his noble qualities. The Prophet Isa (a.s) gave glad tidings of him to his people, promising them that a Prophet named Ahmad was soon going to be sent to guide mankind to the truth.

A few of his other names are Al-Aqib, Al-Hashir and Al-Mahee. 

Al-Aqib means "one who succeeds others", or "one who comes after others"; the Prophet (s.a.w) was given that name because he came after all other Prophets (a.s), and because no other Prophet will come after him.

Al-Hashir connotes the meaning of resurrection; the Prophet (s.a.w) was given that name because, when this world will come to an end, people will be resurrected at his feet. 

And as for the name of Al-Mahee, it connotes the meaning of "erasing something"; the Prophet (s.a.w) was called Al-Mahee because, through him, Allah erased disbelief.

The Prophet (s.a.w) was mentioned in both the Torah and the Injeel (the Gospel); he was helped in his mission by the Angel Jibraeel (a.s); he carried the banner of honour for the Banu Luaiy clan; and he was the most honoured member of the Banu Abd-Manaf ibn Qusaiy clan.

He (s.a.w) was rightly guided himself; he was the best of guides for others; he was elevated in ranking by his Lord; he was thankful for all that Allah blessed him with; and he was, and continues to be, a source of countless blessings for all of mankind.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, upon his family, and upon his companions as long as stars appear in the sky, as long as birds continue to sing, and as long as the wind continues to blow - Ameen!

Wasalaam!

Build Yourself a Palace in Paradise

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Look how many generations have passed away. Did they take their wealth with them? Did they take their palaces and their high status? Were they buried with their gold and silver? Did they take their cars and planes with them to the Hereafter?

No!

They were stripped even of their clothing, and placed in their graves in their shrouds, then each of them was asked: Who is your Lord, who is your Prophet and what is your religion?

So, prepare yourself for that day; do not grieve or despair about any worldly comforts, for they are cheap and transient. Nothing will abide except righteous deeds.

Allah, the Exalted, says:



Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.
Surah An-Nahl, Verse 97

Wasalaam!

Eid-ul-Adha and Qurbani

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The name of this Eid is Eid-ul-Adha - meaning the festival of the sacrifice.

On this Eid day, we should remember the incident of the Friend of Allah, the Prophet Ibrahim (as), and his adherence to the command of Allah, when being commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail (as).

The great Prophet of Allah was ready to carry out this divine command of Allah, only to find out that he was simply being tested.

The whole incident reminds us all of the acceptance of those who are obedient to Allah – they follow all of Allah’s commands no questions asked! Allah surely tests those whom He loves, and after these tests always comes much reward and acceptance.

We learn the lesson to always try and follow this great example of Prophet Ibrahim (as), and to put Allah before our own wishes and desires. Whether it is the want of our own selves – our nafs, peer pressure or family pressure.

Nothing should come before the pleasure of Allah and His beloved Rasool (saw)!

Virtues of the Night Before Eid

The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever stays awake and performs Ibadah on the two nights before the two Eids, with hope for abundant reward from Allah, his heart will not die on the day when all hearts will be dead (Qiyamah)” – Ibn Majah

Such few people will actually carry out this blessed act so become one of those special ones who does!

Qurbani

·       The most important action to be performed in this month of Dhul Hijjah is Qurbani.

·       Qurbani is wajib (necessary) upon those people who own wealth equal to or more than the nisaab of Zakat.

·       This Qurbani is wajib each year – even if they are not performing Hajj.

·       It can be done in one’s hometown or you can pay for it to be performed on ones behalf in any other country around the world. This can also be done through a reliable charity organisation.

·       The Prophet (saw) said, “There is nothing more dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani, than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair and hooves to be weighed. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood falls to the ground. Therefore perform Qurbani open heartedly.” (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

Wasalaam!

The Takbeer Tashriq

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

It is wajib (necessary) to recite the Takbeer Tashriq after every Fardh salah from the Fajr of the 9th Dhul Hijjah to the Asr of the 13th Dhul Hijjah. Men should recite loudly and women should recite softly.

Wasalaam!