Do not despair when you face a difficult situation

Posted on February 24th, 2014 · Filed under International News

If you find yourself in a tough situation, do the following: Read more ›

The bliss of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)

Posted on February 19th, 2014 · Filed under International News

Among the many ways in which they were blessed, the Companions were informed of their ranking through revelation. This verse was revealed about Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him):

And Al-Muttaqoon [the pious and righteous] will be far removed from it [Hell]. He who spends his wealth for increase in self purification. (Qur’an 92: 17-18) Read more ›

The art of happiness – Pause to reflect

Posted on February 18th, 2014 · Filed under International News

Do not be sad. If you are poor, then someone else is immersed in debt. If you do not own your own means of transportation, then someone else has been deprived of his legs. If you have reason to complain concerning the pains of sickness, then someone else has been bedridden for years. And if you have lost a child, then someone else has lost many children, for instance, in a single car accident. Read more ›

Cast off anxiety – Pause to reflect

Posted on February 15th, 2014 · Filed under International News

Do not be sad, for that which has been preordained has already been decided upon and will take place though you may not like it. The pens have dried, the scrolls have been rolled up, and every affair is firmly established. Therefore your sadness will not change your reality in the least.

Do not be sad because, with your sadness, you desire for time’s suspension: for the sun to stop in its place, for the hands of the clock to stand still, for the steps of your feet to move backwards, and for the river to flow back to its source.

Read more ›

Rebel boredom from your life

Posted on February 13th, 2014 · Filed under International News

One who lives a life of repetition and routine will almost inevitably become a victim of boredom, especially since man by his very nature tires from a lack of change. For this reason Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, gave us variety in times and places, in food and drink          diversity in the many forms of creation: night and day, valley and mountain, white and black, hot and cold, shade and sun, sweet and sour.

Allah mentioned this diversity in His book:
There comes, forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color.   (Qur ‘an 16: 69) Read more ›

What Drives People to Convert to Islam

Posted on February 11th, 2014 · Filed under International News

The nature of religious faith is quite mysterious. As part of their religious faiths, people believe in a variety of deities. There arepeople who have religious faith in the unseen supreme transcendental power and then there are others who believe in some humans as Gods, animals (e.g. monkeys), fire, idols made of stone, and the list goes on. Read more ›

The first generation of Muslims

Posted on January 20th, 2014 · Filed under International News

Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Baiy’ah [pledge] to you [O’ Muhammad] under the tree, he knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah [calmness and tranquility] upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.          (Qur’an 48: 18)

This verse explains the highest goal of the believers: achieving the pleasure of Allah. Allah’s was being pleased with you is the most precious thing that you have to gain. This verse mentions Allah’s pleasure for the first generation of Muslims. In other verses, He mentions forgiveness and pardon for them:

That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future…  (Qur ‘an 48: 2)

Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajiroon [Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madeenah] and the Ansaar [Muslims of Al-Madeenah]… 
(Qur ‘an 9: 117)

May Allah forgive you [O’ Muhammad]? Why did you grant them leave? (Qur’an 9: 43)

Seeking Allah’s pleasure, the companions made a pledge under the tree to sacrifice their lives. Why? Through their martyrdom, the religion grew and spread.
Allah, the Exalted, knew that a high level of faith dwelt in their hearts. They toiled, sweated, starved, and were tortured, but the important thing to these noble hearts was that Allah was pleased with them.

They were separated from their families, their wealth, and their homes only to face harsh realities of desert travel to another land, but they cared only for Allah and His being pleased with them.

Was the reward of these defenders of Islam camels, goats, or money? Do you think that these things would have the effect of soothing their hearts? Never! What soothed their hearts was the pleasure of Allah, His forgiveness, and His eternal reward:

And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining therein on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive hitter cold, [as in Paradise there is no sun and no moon]. And the shade thereof is close upon them, and the bunches of fruit thereof will hang low within their reach. And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and cups of crystal, C/ stal-clear; made of silver They will determine the measure thereof according to their wishes.   (Qur ‘an 76: 12-16)

Seerah Series | Part 2: Specialties of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) | Shaykh Yasir Qadhi

Posted on January 14th, 2014 · Filed under International News

[The following is the video and transcript of Shaykh Yasir Qadhi’s Lectures on sīrah. The transcript includes slight modifications for the sake of readability and clarity].

In our last halaqah, we began talking about the khasaa-is, or the specialties of our Prophet Muḥammad  and we mentioned about 15 of them and the fact of the matter is that there are closer to 50 special things that only he was given and no other person was given. Today inshā’Allāh ta’ala we will continue talking about his characteristics and his appearances and his mannerisms. And as I told you last week, the purpose of this is to give you a little bit of a taster of the seerah. A little bit of a summary if you like, a bird’s eye view, so we get the summary of who exactly our Prophet  was.

And we will begin today by talking about his physical appearance, how he used to look . And realize that it is the sunnah of Allāh, it is the custom of Allāh that Allāh  sends prophets and messengers with the most perfect characteristics, inner and outer. And the reason He does so is so that mankind has no reason to reject this messenger. Every messenger has come with the most perfect characteristics, the most perfect mannerisms, and also perfect images as well. So the prophets, as a general rule, are all handsome in nature. And they all have beautiful characteristics.  And as we know, the Prophet Yusuf  was given half of all beauty. And some scholars say that half of all beauty means half of all beauty of mankind, and this is the majority opinion. But there is another opinion as well and I’m just mentioning this because to tell you that there is another opinion there, and that is some scholars say that when the Prophet  said half of beauty, he actually meant half of his own beauty. This is one opinion as well. He actually meant that half of his own beauty, because according to this opinion, the Prophet Muḥammad  is the most handsome and the mostJamaal of the entire creation, he has the greatest Jamaal of the whole creation. And so they say when he is saying he has been given nisfal husn, or half, (Shatrul Husn is the hadith) half of beauty, some scholars have interpreted this to mean half of his own ‘s beauty.

And we have many characteristics that have been described, the physical features of our Prophet . And some of the more beautiful ones are, for example, Ar-Rubayy’ bint Mu’awwidh one of the sahabbiyaat, when her son asked her, “What was the Prophet  like?” this is later on, after he has passed away and she is now an old lady so people are coming to her eagerly, “Describe the Prophet .” And so all she could say, and this is reported in At-Tabaraani’s Kabeer and also Bukhāri’s book Al-Manaqib, all she could say was, “Oh my dear son, if you were to have seen him, you would have thought that the sun had risen up.” I don’t know how to describe it to you, if you were to have seen him you would have thought that the sun has now risen up, this is the rising sun. And it is amazing that Rubayy’i describes him as a sun, beautiful sun.

Ka’ab ibn Malik describes him as a moon. Ka’ab ibn Malik, another famous companion, he said that whenever the Prophet  was happy, his face would light up as if it was the full moon. And it is beautiful that the sahabah are describing the Prophet  with what they know to be the most beautiful, and that is the sun and the moon. So we have one sahabiyyah, she’s saying he is like the sun shining. Another one is saying he is like the full moon. And one of my favorite introductions, to this whole topic, we’re not actually describing him yet, we’re simply saying how the sahabahcould not describe him. They couldn’t describe how handsome he was because it was too much for them. And my favorite tradition, wAllāhi it is a tradition; it almost makes you want to cry when you listen to this. And this is the beautiful tradition of ‘Amr ibn al Aas. ‘Amr ibn al Aas is this sahabi, who used to be of the leaders of the Quraysh who were against Islam. ‘Amr ibn al Aas is of the mala’, he’s of the noble men who rejected Islam. He’s like Abu Sufyaan, he’s like Khalid bin Waleed, this category of people who were noble enemies, they weren’t evil enemies.  What I mean by this is you cannot compare them to Abu Lahab, to Abu Jahal, these are the vulgar enemies. There was a group of people, they opposed Islam, but they didn’t stoop to dirty tactics. And the amazing thing by the way, and we’ll talk about this later on, Allāh guided all of them to Islam and this shows that amongst the kufaar, there are two categories: those who have a good heart and because they had a good heart, Khalid ibn Waleed, Ikrimah the son of Abu Jahl, ‘Amr ibn al Aas, Abu Sufyaan, their hearts, they had a mount of good in them, they had nobility, but they opposed Islam and Allāh guided all of them to Islam because Allāh knew there was good in their hearts, whereas the others, they weren’t like this.

So ‘Amr ibn al Aas is of those who converted to Islam very late and he only had the opportunity to be a sahabi, basically for a few years, two years or so, or a little bit more than two. And later on in his life, and he lived a life of political career, he lived a life of grandeur and majesty, he became the wazeer of Muawiyyah, he lived a grand life. ‘Amr ibn al Aas later on would say that there was nothing that was sweeter to me, more beloved to me, than to stare at the face of the Prophet . Now I want you to pause here. This is not how a man talks usually, right? There was nothing more beloved to me than to stare at the face of another person…that is not how a man talks. But the beauty of the Prophet  is so overpowering, his Jamaal, his noor is so great that ‘Amr ibn al Aas is saying there was nothing that I got more peace from, more serenity from, there was nothing sweeter than to simply look at the face of the Prophet . And he said, “And I could never get enough of looking at him.” I never got tired of looking at him. And yet, were you to ask me how he looked, I couldn’t describe him. Why? He said, “Because along with this desire to stare at him, there was also this awe, this reverence that I had, that couldn’t allow me to just stare directly at him. I’d have to lower my face.” In other words, there are two emotions, if you like, there’s two powers if you like, I don’t like being metaphysical, but there’s two types of types of powers emanating from the Prophet . The first of them, he’s attracting ‘Amr’s vision to him. And the second is that awe, that overpowering-ness that ‘Amr cannot stare directly. This is Rasul Allāh  how can you stare at him? You have to sit with dignity. You have to sit with, what we call in Arabic, hayba and waqaar. You show a type of dignity in front of the Prophet . And therefore he’s saying even though I loved to stare, I couldn’t stare. And because of this I’m always battling between these two emotions. I really cannot do justice in describing the Prophet . It’s a beautiful hadith that shows us, and this is coming from somebody, he is a nobleman of the Quraysh and yet this is how humbled he was just by the appearance, just by theshakal if you like, just by the soorah of the prophet Muḥammad .

Yesterday will never return

Posted on January 13th, 2014 · Filed under International News

The order that you may not be sad over matters that you fail to get…   
(Qur’an 57: 23)

Adam said to Moosa (Moses) may peace be upon them, “Do you blame me for that which Allah had decreed upon me forty years before He created me.”

Concerning this last saying, the Prophet (bpuh) said: Read more ›

Perfect comfort and rest are in Paradise

Posted on January 12th, 2014 · Filed under International News

Verily, we have created man in toil.  (Qur’an 90: 4)

Imam Ahmad was asked, “When is there rest?” He answered, “When you put your foot in Paradise you will find rest.” Read more ›

Do not be chaotic in your life

Posted on January 11th, 2014 · Filed under International News

One day I gathered twelve different commentaries of the Qur’an: At-Tabari, Ibn Katheer, Al-Baghawi, AZ-Zamakhshari, Al-Qurtubi, AZ-Zilaal, As-Shinquiti, Ar-Raazi, Fath ul-Qadeer, Al-Khaazin, Abu Mas’ood, and Al-Qaasimi (some in this list are the names of the authors while others are the names of the actual books). I had intended to read every day the commentary of one verse of the Qur’an from each of these books. I planned to read the explanation of the daily verse from the first book, then the second, and so on, until I had completed them all. I tried this for a while but I quickly felt bored and exhausted. It is true that I was enthusiastic, but I had been too hasty in planning and in choosing a proper method of study. Read more ›

You are doing well if you are healthy and have enough food

Posted on January 9th, 2014 · Filed under International News

In the year 1400 Hijri, I participated in a campaign to propagate Islam, close to the border of Yemen. I temporarily left the camp we were staying in, intending to go with one of my professors to Abha. On the way back I was upset because he was driving his car at a very high speed. I pleaded with him to slow down, but it seemed that this only had the effect of goading him on to go faster. It was raining that night, yet he continued to drive recklessly. We ended up in a valley that was filling with water. At first the water reached a level only slightly above our tires. As we reached the middle of the valley, though, the situation got worse as water started to flow into our vehicle. We left the car and with much difficulty we managed to reach the edge of the valley. We were stuck there all night without food, drink, and more importantly, because we were wet, without blankets. We were contented and thankful for our situation though, because when the flood had overwhelmed us we had expected to die. And so we were thankful just to be alive. In the early morning somebody came and took us to safety. I am reminded by this incident of a story that took place in World War II. An American ship was hit by a missile and as a result began to sink. The captain was stranded for thirteen days with only water and bread to nourish him. He was later asked whether there was a moral that he took away with him from his experience. He said, “Something important that I took away with me from this experience is that if a person is healthy and has bread and water, he has the whole world with him.” Read more ›

The blessing of pain

Posted on January 7th, 2014 · Filed under International News

Pain is not always a negative force and it is not something that you should always hate. At times a person benefits when he feels pain.

You might remember that, at times when you felt a lot of pain, you sincerely supplicated and remembered Allah. When he is studying, the student often feels the pangs of heavy burden, sometimes perhaps the burden of monotony, yet he eventually leaves this stage of life a scholar. He felt burdened with pain at the beginning but he shined at the end. The aches and pangs of passion, the poverty and the scorn of others, the frustration and anger at injustices these all cause the poet to write flowing and captivating verses. This is because he himself feels pain in his heart, in his nerves, and in his blood, and as a result, he is able to infuse the same emotions, via his work, into the hearts of others. How many painful experiences did the best writers have to undergo, experiences that inspired brilliant works, works that posterity continues to enjoy and benefit from today. Read more ›

Happiness is a Divine gift that does not distinguish between the rich and the poor

Posted on January 5th, 2014 · Filed under International News

It is not uncommon to see laborers who are so poor that whatever they earn on any given day is spent on that same day. Yet many of them are happy, peaceful, with strong hearts and tranquil souls. This is because they are too busy to think about yesterday or tomorrow. Their life-style has given them an appreciation of today since they have not been afforded the opportunity of thinking about anything else. Read more ›

Who are the righteous ones?

Posted on January 1st, 2014 · Filed under International News

Waiting eagerly for the call to prayer, arriving at the mosque before the commencement of prayer, bearing no personal grudges against others, leaving alone other people’s private affairs, being content with the basic necessities of life, studying the Qur’an and the Sunnah, feeling concern for the pains of other Muslims, and being charitable with one’s wealth – these are all qualities of a righteous person. Read more ›

Do not grieve – There is another life to come

Posted on December 31st, 2013 · Filed under International News

The day will come when Allah will gather together the first of the creation and the last of it. The knowledge of this occurrence alone should reassure you of Allah’s justice. So whoever’s money is usurped here shall find it there; whoever is oppressed here shall find justice carried out there; and whoever oppresses here shall find his punishment there. Read more ›

Muslim Youth Foundation Open Day Saturday the 14th of December 2013

Posted on December 25th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The MYF opened its doors to the general public for an open day on Saturday the 14^th of December 2013 with the theme of “The Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) in Islam”.

The open day consisted of a small exhibition & and a rolling 1 hour TV presentation on the theme of “The Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) in Islam”. There were displays of Arabic calligraphy & henna hand painting as well as face painting for the children. Mosque tours were also provided for the visitors. There was hot food as well as a rest area with tea, coffee & biscuits. Entry was free & anybody from the general public was welcome to attend.

Volunteers gave out invitation leaflets to the passing general public on the streets near to the MYF & invited them to visit the open day.  MashAllah all the volunteers worked very hard despite the cold & grey weather. Many non-Muslims came to the open day, the vast majority of whom felt that their visit had been a very pleasant & educational experience, Alhamdulillah.

Open days are opportunities for the Muslims to showcase Islam to the general public & to build bridges with the local community. The open day allows for a face to face dialogue between Muslims & non-Muslims to tackle some of the many misconceptions about Islam which are prevalent today.

Special thank you’s  &  Jazak Allah Khair from the MYF to all the volunteers who helped set up the open day on Friday the 13th of December  & to all the volunteers who helped out on the open day itself. The open day could not have been possible without the great work of all the volunteers & I ask Allah (swt) to reward immensely in every possible way everyone who helped out, mashAllah.

A special thank you to all the volunteers who stayed out in the cold distributing flyers & inviting people to come to the open day..

Jazak Allah Khair also to Dr. Abdul Aziz who gave his services magnificently throughout the day. Big Thank you’s also to all the MYF staff who worked very hard behind the scenes to make the day possible.

Please feel free to send in your comments about the open day to me so that we can continually keep making the MYF open day a better experience for all inshAllah.

The next open day at the MYF will be in March 2014 inshAllah with the theme of, “Women in Islam”.

Authentic Supplications Of The Prophet

Posted on December 23rd, 2013 · Filed under International News

Hold a good opinion of your Lord

Posted on December 19th, 2013 · Filed under International News

William James said:

“God forgives us our sins, but our nervous systems do not.”

Read more ›

Seerah Series | Part 1: Specialties of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) | Shaykh Yasir Qadhi

Posted on December 17th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Repel boredom with work

Posted on December 12th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Those who have nothing to do with their lives are the same people who spend most of their time spreading rumors and falsehood, mainly because their minds are devoid of beneficial thoughts:

They are content to be with those [the women] who sit behind [at home]. Their hearts are sealed up [from right guidance] so they understand not.} (Qur’an 9: 87) Read more ›

What Is the “Right” Religion?

Posted on December 12th, 2013 · Filed under International News

O Allāh, none has the right to be worshipped except You alone. And, O Allāh, I bear witness that Muḥammad is Your servant and messenger!

Perhaps it is difficult to imagine, but there was once a time when these words inspired such a tremendous stir in hearts and minds that lives were forever changed, as was the course of history.

Allāh says,

“

Read more ›

A Convert’s Story By: Hina Khan

Posted on December 9th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The conversion ceremony was a very frigid one. I was looking for acceptance; they were looking for submission. In a room full of suspicious women, I was alone with a fear that numbed my senses. The imām stepped into the foyer where I was seated as though it was a demonstration for public viewing. At least that was how I felt. I was asked to repeat after the imām. Taking the shahadah was heavy, but when I recited La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah that evening, a strange peace covered my heart and none of the whisperings were audible to me anymore. I don’t know if it was the silence of a chapter closing, or the tranquility of a blessed decision, but I had made a connection with a superior being and I was now under His care.

Read more ›

Grieve not Over being poor

Posted on November 3rd, 2013 · Filed under International News

The more the body enjoys, the more the soul become sullied, and there is safety in having little. Taking only that which you need from this world is an early comfort that Allah bestows upon those whom He pleases among His slaves.

Verily! We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. (Qur’an 19: 40) Read more ›

Do not carry the weight of the globe on your shoulders

Posted on October 31st, 2013 · Filed under International News

In a certain class of people there rages an internal war, one that doesn’t take place on the battlefield, but in one’s bedroom, one’s office, one’s own home. It is a war that results in ulcers or an increase in blood pressure. Everything frustrates these people: they become angry at inflation, furious because the rains came late and exasperated when the value of their currency falls. They are forever perturbed and vexed, no matter what the reason.

They think that every cry is against them. (Qur ‘an 63: 4) Read more ›

Do not expect gratitude from anyone

Posted on October 27th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Allah, the Almighty, created His slaves so that they may worship and remember Him, and He provided sustenance for them so that they may be grateful to Him. Nevertheless, many have worshipped other than Him and the masses are thankful not to Him, but to others, because the characteristic of ingratitude is widespread among human beings. So do not be dismayed when you find that others forget your favors or disregard your kind acts. Some people might even despise you and make you an enemy for no other reason than that you have shown them kindness.

And they could not find any cause to hear a grudge, except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His Bounty. (Qur’an 9:74) Read more ›

Blessings in disguise

Posted on October 20th, 2013 · Filed under International News

And indeed we have destroyed towns [populations] round about you. (Qur’an 46:27)

There is the tragic example of the Barmak family, a family that lived a life of opulence, comfort, and extravagance. Their end, however, has served as a lesson and example for all Arabs who came after them. Haroon ar-Rasheed, the ruler during their period, ordered an unexpected attack on the Barmak family and on their possessions. Allah’s decree came to pass over them in the morning at the hands of the closest person to them: he destroyed their homes, took possession of their slaves, and shed their blood. Their loved ones and children wept at their disgrace. There is none worthy of worship except Allah; those who know the story should especially appreciate the transitory nature of power and wealth in this world:

Then take admonition, O’ you with eyes [to see]. (Qur’an 59: 2) Read more ›

Today is all that you have

Posted on October 18th, 2013 · Filed under International News

When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening live as though today is all that you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life’s span is but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Qur’an with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs, satisfied with your allotted portion, concerned with your appearance and health. Read more ›

Eid Mubarak – 1st prayer 8.00am 2nd prayer 10.30am

Posted on October 13th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Eid Prayer on Tuesday 15th October:

1st prayer 8.00am

2nd prayer 10.30am

Eid party is on the 19th of October on Saturday.

Contemplate these verses

Posted on October 5th, 2013 · Filed under International News

And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out [from every difficulty]. And He will provide him from [sources] he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, and then He will suffice him.)
(Qur’an 65: 2-3)

Allah will grant after hardship, ease. (Qur’an 65. 7)

Read more ›

Stop to reflect

Posted on September 24th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Do not be sad: for sickness is a transient state of being; the sin can be forgiven; the debt will be repaid; the captive will be released; the beloved one who is abroad will return; the sinner will repent; and the poor will be increased in their wealth.

Do not be sad, for do you not see how the black clouds disperse and the violent winds subside? Your hardships will be followed by comfort and your future is bright.

Do not be sad, for the blaze of the sun is extinguished by luxuriant shade; the thirst of noon is refreshed by fresh water; the pangs of hunger find relief in warm bread; and the anxiety of sleeplessness is followed by calm repose; the pains of sickness are soon forgotten after the return of health. It is only upon you to forbear for a short time and to be patient for a few moments.

Do not be sad, for even doctors, wise men, scholars, and poets are weak and unable to defy or change that which has been decreed. Ali ibn Jabla said: Read more ›

Do not be sad – Always remember Allah

Posted on September 19th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Concerning His remembrance, Allah, the All-Glorious, says:

Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.   (Qur’an 13: 28)

Therefore remember me [by praying, glorifying etc.] and I will remember you…
(Qur’an 2: 152) Read more ›

How to deal with bitter criticism

Posted on September 16th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Those who are ignorant have uttered curses at Allah, the Exalted, the Creator of ill that exists, so what treatment should we, who are full of faults, expect from people. You will always have to face criticism, which in its onslaught is like an interminable war: it shows no sign of ending. As long as you shine, give, produce, and have an effect upon others, then disapproval and condemnation will be your lot in life. Until you escape from people by finding a tunnel in the ground or a ladder leading to the sky, they will not desist from censuring you, from finding fault in your character. For that reason, as long as you are from the denizens of earth, expect to be hurt, to be insulted, and to be criticized. Read more ›

Abu Hurayrah

Posted on September 10th, 2013 · Filed under International News

“An Abi Hurayrata, radiyallahu anhu, qal.’ qala rasul Allahi, sallallahu alayhi wa sailam…” Through this phrase millions of Muslims from the early history of Islam to the present have come to be familiar with the name Abu Hurayrah. In speeches and lectures, in Friday khutbahs and seminars, in the books of hadith and sirah, fiqh and ibadah, the n ame Abu Hurayrah is mentioned in this fashion: “On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may God be pleased with him who said: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said… “. Through his Prodigious efforts, hundreds of ahadith or sayings of the Prophet were transmitted to later generations. His is the foremost name in the roll of hadith transmitters. Next to him comes the names of such companions as Abdullah the son of Umar, Anas the son of Malik, Umm al-Mumininin Aishah, Jabir ibn Abdullah and Abu Said al-Khudri all of whom transmitted over a thousand sayings of the Prophet. Abu Hurayrah became a Muslim at the hands of at-Tufayl ibn Amr the chieftain of the Daws tribe to which he belonged. The Daws lived in the region of Tihamah which stretches along the coast of the Red Sea in southern Arabia. When at-Tufayl returned to his village after meeting the Prophet and becoming a Muslim in the early years of his mission, Abu Hurayrah was one of the first to respond to his call. He was unlike the majority of the Daws who remained stubborn in their old beliefs for a long time. Read more ›

Leave the future alone until it comes

Posted on September 3rd, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Event [the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments], ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it.   (Qur’an 16: 1)

Read more ›

Strive to help others

Posted on August 28th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Aristotle said:

“The ideal person is he who takes pleasure in serving others, and who is ashamed when others do things for him, since showing compassion is a sign of superiority, while receiving it is a sign of failure.”

Read more ›

Do not grieve – There is another life to come

Posted on August 22nd, 2013 · Filed under International News

The day will come when Allah will gather together the first of the creation and the last of it. The knowledge of this occurrence alone should reassure you of Allah’s justice. So whoever’s money is usurped here shall find it there; whoever is oppressed here shall find justice carried out there; and whoever oppresses here shall find his punishment there.

Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher, said,

“The drama of this life is not complete; there must be a second scene to it, for we see the tyrant and his victims without seeing justice being executed. We see the conqueror and the subjugated, without the latter finding any revenge. Therefore there must be another world, where justice will be carried out.” Read more ›

Your reward is Paradise

Posted on August 19th, 2013 · Filed under International News

“My soul that owns things is itself departing, Then why should I cry when something leaves me.”

The whole world, with all its gold, silver, positions, and mansions does not deserve even a teardrop. In a hadith related by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

“The world is cursed, and what is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah, that which follows it (i.e. other good deeds that Allah loves), the scholar, and the student.”

An Arab poet said:

“Wealth and family are only a loan, and the day must come when the loan is returned.”

All of the wealth in the world cannot postpone death when its appointed time comes.

And this life of the world is only amusement and play!  (Qur’an 29: 64) Read more ›

Do not be sad – Always remember Allah

Posted on August 15th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Concerning His remembrance, Allah, the All-Glorious, says:

Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.   (Qur’an 13: 28)

Therefore remember me [by praying, glorifying etc.] and I will remember you…
(Qur’an 2: 152) Read more ›

Cast off anxiety

Posted on August 11th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Do not be sad, for your Lord says:

Have we not opened your breast for you [O ‘ Muhammad]? (Qur’an 94: 1)

The message of this verse embraces all those who carry the truth, who see the light, and who tread the path of guidance.
1s he whose breast Allah has opened to Islam, so that he is in light from His Lord [as he who is non-Muslim]? So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah! (Qur’an 39: 22) Read more ›

Grieve not Over being poor

Posted on August 6th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The more the body enjoys, the more the soul become sullied, and there is safety in having little. Taking only that which you need from this world is an early comfort that Allah bestows upon those whom He pleases among His slaves.

Verily! We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. (Qur’an 19: 40)

One poet said:

“Water, bread, and shade,
These form a most worthy bliss,
I have denied the favors of my Lord,
If I said that I had too little.”

What in this world are truly important, but cold water, warm bread, and plentiful shade!

The Ramadan Tafseer Series | Surah TaHa | Ayahs 124-128 | Abdul Nasir Jangda

Posted on August 3rd, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Ramadan Tafseer Series | Surah TaHa | Ayahs 115-120 | Abdul Nasir Jangda

Posted on August 1st, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Ramadan Tafseer Series | Surah TaHa | Ayahs 105-111 | Abdul Nasir Jangda

Posted on July 30th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Ramadan Tafseer Series | Surah TaHa | Ayahs 80-85 | Abdul Nasir Jangda

Posted on July 27th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Ramadan Tafseer Series | Surah TaHa | Ayahs 73-76 | Abdul Nasir Jangda

Posted on July 25th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Ramadan Tafseer Series | Surah TaHa | Ayahs 36-39 | Abdul Nasir Jangda

Posted on July 18th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Faith is the greatest remedy!

Posted on June 22nd, 2013 · Filed under International News

One of the foremost experts in psychology of our time, Dr. Carl Jung, mentioned on page 264 of his book The Modern Man In Search Of Spirit: Read more ›

Blessings in disguise

Posted on June 22nd, 2013 · Filed under International News

And indeed we have destroyed towns [populations] round about you. (Qur’an 46:27)

There is the tragic example of the Barmak family, a family that lived a life of opulence, comfort, and extravagance. Their end, however, has served as a lesson and example for all Arabs who came after them. Haroon ar-Rasheed, the ruler during their period, ordered an unexpected attack on the Barmak family and on their possessions. Allah’s decree came to pass over them in the morning at the hands of the closest person to them: he destroyed their homes, took possession of their slaves, and shed their blood. Their loved ones and children wept at their disgrace. There is none worthy of worship except Allah; those who know the story should especially appreciate the transitory nature of power and wealth in this world: Read more ›

Despair not — Handicaps do not prevent success

Posted on June 10th, 2013 · Filed under International News

An interview was published in the Arabic daily `Ukkaaz, with a blind man named Mahmood ibn Muhammad al-Madani. He studied books of Arabic literature through the eyes of others. He would listen as others read to him books of history and commentaries on the classics. He used to have one of his friends read to him until 3 o’clock in the morning. Today, he is considered to be a reference book in literature and history.

Read more ›

Do not feel deprived as long as you have a loaf of bread, a glass of water and clothes on your back

Posted on May 22nd, 2013 · Filed under International News

A mariner once became lost at sea, and remained lost for twenty-one days. When he was saved, someone asked him what the greatest lesson was that he took away with him from the experience. He answered, Read more ›

Take a moment to reflect

Posted on May 22nd, 2013 · Filed under International News

Let us make these supplications, their purpose being to eliminate hardship, anxiety and grief:

“There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Ever-Forbearing, and the Most Great. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Heavens, the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne. O’ Ever-Living, and O’ One Who sustains and protects all that exists, there is none worthy of worship except you, and by your mercy do we seek your aid. ”

“O’ Allah, Your mercy do I hope for, so do not leave me to myself; not even for the blinking of an eye. And make well for me all of my affairs. There is none worthy of worship except you.” Read more ›

Thus we have made you a just nation

Posted on May 15th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Thus we have made you a just nation. (Qur ‘an 2: 143)

Both your conscience and your Religion demand that you be just, which means that you should neither exaggerate nor understate, neither go into excess nor do too little. Whoever seeks happiness should be just, regardless of whether he is in an angry, a sad, or a joyful mood. Exaggeration in our dealings with others is unacceptable. The best course is the middle course. Whoever follows his desires will likely magnify the importance of any given situation, always making a big deal out of nothing. He will feel jealousy and malice toward others. Since he lives in a world of exaggeration and imagination, he will envisage everyone else to be against him, even to the extent that he feels others to be always conspiring to destroy him. Because of this, he lives under a dark cloud, constantly overcome by fear and apprehension. Read more ›

Do not lose

Posted on May 6th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Allah answers the prayer of the disbeliever who is in distress; so how much more can the Muslim expect who doesn’t associate partners with Him? Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps second in popularity in India only to the Buddha, was on the verge of slipping were it not for his dependence on the strength of prayer. And how do I know this? Because, he himself said, “If I didn’t pray, I would have gone mad a long time ago. This was the effect of prayer, and Gandhi was not even a Muslim. Unquestionably, his falsehood was great, but what kept him going was that he was on a path.

And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others. (Qur’an 29: 65)

Is not He [better than your gods] who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him… (Qur’an 27: 62)

(And they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him Alone, saying: `If You [Allah] deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful. (Qur’an 10: 22)

Despite a thorough search through the biographies of Muslim scholars, Muslim historians, and Muslim writers as a group, I have failed to find a single one of them who fell prey to anxiety, confusion, and mental illnesses. The reason is that they lived in peace and serenity, and that they lived uncomplicated lives that were free from all forms of affectation.

But those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad, for it is the truth from their Lord, He will expiate from them their sins, and will make good their state. (Qur’an 47: 2)

Contemplate the following statement of Ibn Hazim:

“There is only one day separating kings and me. As for yesterday, their taste of it has vanished, and both they and I equally fear what tomorrow will bring. Thus there is only today. And what will today bring?”

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

“O’ Allah, I ask you for goodness today: in its blessings, success, light, and guidance.”

O’ you who believe! Take your precautions… (Qur’an 4: 71)

And let him be careful and let no man know of you. (Qur’an 18: 19)

And they said nothing but: `Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions [in keeping our duties to you], establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. (Qur’an 3: 147)

Do not be sad — Never lose hope of Allah’s mercy

Posted on May 4th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.
(Qur’an 12: 87)

[They were reprieved] until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied [by their people], then came to them Our Help… (Qur’an 12: 110)

Read more ›

Doing good to others gives comfort to the heart

Posted on April 25th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The first person who benefits from an act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person. Read more ›

Do not be crushed by what is insignificant

Posted on April 15th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Many are those that are distressed not by pressing matters of great import, but by minor trifles.

Observe the Hypocrites and how weak they are in their resolution. The Qur’an relates to us some of their sayings: Those who stayed away [from Tabuk expedition] rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the Cause of Allah, and they said: March not forth in the heat’.  (Qur’an 9: 81) Read more ›

The art of happiness

Posted on April 3rd, 2013 · Filed under International News

Among the greatest of blessings is to have a calm, stable, and happy heart. For in happiness the mind is clear, enabling one to be a productive person. It has been said that happiness is an art that needs to be learned. And if you learn it, you will be blessed in this life. But how does one learn it? A basic principle of achieving happiness is having an ability to endure and to cope with any situation. Therefore you should neither be swayed nor governed by difficult circumstances, nor should you be annoyed by insignificant trifles. Based on the purity of the heart and its ability to endure, a person will shine. When you train yourself to be patient and forbearing, then hardship and calamity will be easy for you to bear.

The opposite of being content is being shortsighted, being concerned for no one but one’s own self and forgetting about the world and all that is in it. Allah described his enemies as follows:

Thinking about themselves [as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet] (Qur’an 3. 154) Read more ›

Smile

Posted on March 26th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Laughing moderately can act as a cure or as therapy for depression and sadness. It has a strong influence on keeping the soul light and the heart clear. Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I make it a practice to laugh in order to give rest and comfort to my heart. And the noblest of people, Muhammad (bpuh), would laugh, sometimes until his molars became visible.” Read more ›

Do not be sad – Everything will occur according to afire-ordainment

Posted on March 17th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Everything occurs according to preordainment and according to what has been decreed. Such is the belief of Muslims, the followers of Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him). And nothing happens in the Universe except through Allah’s Knowledge, Permission, and Divine Plan.

No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees [Al-Lauh al-Mahfuz], before we bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.  (Qur’an 57: 22)

Read more ›

Leave the future alone until it comes

Posted on March 10th, 2013 · Filed under International News

The Event [the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments], ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. (Qur’an 16: 1)

Read more ›

Who are the righteous ones?

Posted on February 20th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Waiting eagerly for the call to prayer, arriving at the mosque before the commencement of prayer, bearing no personal grudges against others, leaving alone other people’s private affairs, being content with the basic necessities of life, studying the Qur’an and the Sunnah, feeling concern for the pains of other Muslims, and being charitable with one’s wealth – these are all qualities of a righteous person.

Read more ›

Blessings in disguise

Posted on February 18th, 2013 · Filed under International News

And indeed we have destroyed towns [populations] round about you. (Qur’an 46:27)

There is the tragic example of the Barmak family, a family that lived a life of opulence, comfort, and extravagance. Their end, however, has served as a lesson and example for all Arabs who came after them. Haroon ar-Rasheed, the ruler during their period, ordered an unexpected attack on the Barmak family and on their possessions. Allah’s decree came to pass over them in the morning at the hands of the closest person to them: he destroyed their homes, took possession of their slaves, and shed their blood. Their loved ones and children wept at their disgrace. There is none worthy of worship except Allah; those who know the story should especially appreciate the transitory nature of power and wealth in this world:

Then take admonition, O’ you with eyes [to see]. (Qur’an 59: 2)

Read more ›

Be content with that which Allah has given you and you will be the richest of people

Posted on February 12th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Wealth, appearance, children, house, and talents you must be content with your share in these things:

So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful. (Qur’an 7: 144)

Read more ›

Pitfalls of a Practicing Muslim

Posted on February 3rd, 2013 · Filed under International News

It is said: “Whoever acts by what he knows, God will bequeath to him knowledge that he does not know.”1 Thus, as a person practices what they know, they are guided to a deepening of faith, a sharpening of the spiritual faculty, and an intensifying of taqwa. The Qurʾān insists:

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety. [Surah Muḥammad,17]

Read more ›

Do not be sad – Always remember Allah

Posted on January 30th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Concerning His remembrance, Allah, the All-Glorious, says:

Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (Qur’an 13: 28)

Therefore remember me [by praying, glorifying etc.] and I will remember you…
(Qur’an 2: 152)

And the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues, Allah has prepared for them. Forgiveness and a Great reward [i.e. Paradise]. (Qur’an 33: 35)

You who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (fajr) and ASR prayers. (Qur ‘an 33: 41-42)

You who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. (Qur ‘an 63: 9)

Aild remember your Lord when you fbrget… (Qur’an 18: 24)

And glory’s’ the Praises of your Lord when you get up from sleep. And in the night-time also, glorify His Praises, -and at the setting of the stars. (Qur ‘an 52: 48-49)

You who believe! When you meet [an enemy] force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allah much [both with tongue and mind], so that you may be successful. (Qur’an 8: 45)

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:

“The example of one who remembers his Lord in relation to one who does not remember his Lord is that of the living and the dead.”

The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) also said:

“The mufarridoon outstrip others.” His Companions asked. “Who are the mufarridoon, O’ Messenger of Allah.” He said, “The men who remember Allah often and the women who remember Allah often.”

And in another authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:

“Shall I not inform you of the best of deeds, and the purest of them with your Lord? The deed which is better for you than spending gold and silver (for a good cause). And which is better for you than to meet your enemy. And you cut their throats and they cut yours?” They said, “Yes_ O’ Messenger of Allah.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah.”

The following is an authentic hadith:

“A man came to the Prophet and said, Messenger of Allah, the commandments of Islam have become too much for me, and I am old in age; so inform of something that I can adhere to.’ He said, `That your tongue (continually) remains moist with the remembrance of Allah.”‘

Know Your Soul, Know Yourself!

Posted on January 26th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Many passages in the Qurʾān extol the significance of the soul or nafs. In one celebrated passage, it says:

By the soul and Him that formed it, then inspired it with its wickedness and God-fearingness. He is truly successful who purifies it, and he is indeed ruined who corrupts it. [Surah Ash-Shams, 7-10]

The Qur’ān also offers this glad-tiding:

But those who feared the standing before their Lord and curbed their soul’s desires, the Garden is their abode. [Surah An-Nazi’aat, 40-41]

The idea of curbing the soul’s passions and of seeking to purify it is reiterated in the following hadith: ‘There are three acts that, whoever does them will experience the sweetness of faith: one who worships God alone, for there is no true god but Him; one who pays his yearly zakat on his wealth with an agreeable soul – not giving a weak, decrepit nor diseased animal, but giving from his middle wealth, for God does not ask for the best of your wealth and nor orders to give the worst of it; and one who purifies his soul.’ A man inquired: What is purification of the soul (tazkiyat al-nafs)? He replied: ‘To know that God is with him wherever he may be.’1

The Qurʾān describes the human soul (nafs) as possessing three potentials or degrees which are present within it simultaneously.2

The first and the lowest degree is al-nafs al-ammarah bi’l-su’ – “the soul that constantly incites to evil”. The Qurʾān says:

…The soul does indeed incite to evil… [Surah Yusuf, 53]

 This untamed, unweaned soul is the abode of a multitude of incessant cravings and passions: be it for wealth, fame, power, physical gratification, exploiting others – that is, anything which deflects one away from God and to the lower possibilities of the human condition. Al-Jurjani (d.816H/1413CE) defined the nafs al-ammarah as: ‘It is that which inclines to the bodily nature, ordering [the pursuit of] physical pleasures and carnal appetites, pulling the heart to debasement. It is the abode of evil, giving birth to all reprehensible traits.’3 So, this nafs, equivalent to the English word “ego”, refers to the reprehensible aspects of our actions and character – actions in respect to our sins of omission or commission; character in terms of pride, envy, vanity, greed, impatience, ostentation, and the like.

As the believer strives to purge his soul of blameworthy traits (radha’il) and labours to replace them by their praiseworthy opposites (fada’il), the nafs al-ammarah is gradually weaned away from heedlessness and disobedience to God, and thus begins to give way to al-nafs al-lawwamah – “the reproachful soul.” The Qurʾān declares:  

No! I swear by the reproachful soul. [Surah Al-Qiyamah, 2]

 This soul is man’s active conscience that is afflicted with regret, remorse and self-reproach whenever the Divine Will is disobeyed and elements of the lower, evil-inciting soul resurface. Al-Jurjani writes of the nafs al-lawwamah: ‘It is that which is illumined with the light of the heart, according to the measure of how much it has become awakened from habitual heedlessness. As soon as it commits a sin due to its natural oppressive disposition, it takes to blaming itself and repenting from it.’4

After much inward striving and discipline, the nafs al-lawwamah is further purified of any opposition to God’s will or shari’ah, and is ever receptive to heavenly outpourings. Here the nafs al-mutma’innah – “the soul at peace” or “the tranquil soul” then begins to predominate. It is this soul that is most worthy of divine assistance and acceptance. It is about this that the Qurʾān says: 

O tranquil soul! Return to your Lord, pleased and well-pleasing. Enter among My servants. Enter My Paradise. [Surah Al-Fajr, 27-30]

Having established His obedience and internalized it, it is intimate with God, at peace with God’s decree (rida bi’l-qada’), tasting the sweetness of faith. Al-Jurjani defines the nafs al-mutma’innah in the following manner: ‘It is that whose illumination is completed by the heart’s light, such that is has been purged of its blameworthy traits and adorned with praiseworthy ones.’5

In all of this, four factors are crucial and have a significant bearing in purification of the soul: (i) one’s inborn nature; (ii) his upbringing; (iii) spiritual striving (mujahadah) and self-discipline (riyadah) in adulthood; and, of course, (iv) God’s tawfiq or enabling grace.

Concerning spiritual struggle or mujahadah, the Prophet , said: al-mujahid man jahada nafsahu fi ta’ati’Llah – ‘The warrior is the one who strives against his lower soul in obedience to God.’6

So let us roll-up our sleeves and let the work begin.

Our Lord! Grant piety to our souls and purify them.

You are the Best of those who purify;

You are their Guardian

and Master.

āmīn!

References:

1. Al-Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra, no.7275. Its chain is sahih – as per al-Albani, Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Ma’arif, 1987), no.1046.

2. Cf. T.J. Winter (trans.), al-Ghazali, Disciplining the Soul and Breaking the Two Desires(Cambridge: The Islamic Texts Society, 1995), xxviii-xxix.

3. Al-Jurjani, al-Ta’rifat (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2000), 239; no.1931.

4. ibid., 239.

5. ibid., 239.

6. Ibn Hibban, Sahih, no.4707; al-Tirmidhi, Sunan, no.1671, who said the hadith ishasan sahih.

Do not despair when you face a difficult situation

Posted on January 20th, 2013 · Filed under International News

If you find yourself in a tough situation, do the following:

1. Ask yourself, what is the worst that can happen?
2. Prepare yourself to cope and deal with that worst-case scenario.
3. If something bad does occur, meet it with calm nerves in order to deal with the situation better.

Those [i.e. believers] unto whom the people [hypocrites] said: `Verily, the people [pagans] have gathered against you [a great army], therefore, fear them.’ But it [only] increased them in Faith, and they said: `Allah [Alone] is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs [for us].  (Qur’an 3: 173)

If you lose a limb, you still have others to compensate for it

Posted on January 20th, 2013 · Filed under International News

Ibn `Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“If Allah removes the light from my eyes,
My tongue and ears still have in them light.
My heart is intelligent and my mind is not crooked, and my tongue is sharp like a warrior’s sword.”

When harm befalls you, perhaps there is a benefit that comes with it, a benefit that you cannot perceive.

And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you… (Qur’an 2: 216)

Bashhar ibn Burd said:

“My enemies disparage me, and the defect is in them, it is not a disgrace to be called defective.
If a person can see gallantry and truth,
Blindness in the eyes will not be a hindrance.
In blindness I see rewards, savings, and protection,
And for these three, I am most needy.”

Observe the difference between what Ibn `Abbaas or Bashhar said and what Saaleh ibn `Abdul Quddoos said when he became blind:

“Farewell to the world; the old man who is blind has no share whatsoever of this life.
He dies and people consider him to be of the living, False hopes have betrayed him from the beginning.”

All Divine decrees will come to pass, both upon the one who accepts them and upon the one who rejects them. The difference is that the former will find reward and happiness while the latter will find only sin and misery.

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz wrote to Maymoon ibn Mehran:

“You have written to console me for losing `Abdul-Malik. For this matter I had been in waiting, and when it finally came to pass, I had no misgivings about it.”

Breaking Bread as Brothers

Posted on January 5th, 2013 · Filed under International News

God insists in the Qur’an: And hold fast, all together, to the rope of God, and do not become divided. [3:103]

The Qur’an further insists: The believers are indeed but brothers. So make peace and reconciliation between your brethren. [49:10]

Brotherhood (ukhuwa) is a great principle of Islam. It is a brotherhood obliged by God. It is a brotherhood, the bonds of which are rooted in love of God and love in God. Islam’s teachings all ensure that these bonds are allowed to flower and flourish, and that whatever stands in the way to prevent this, or to incite discord or division between Muslims, is disowned by the shari’ah.

Hence the Holy Qur’an says about things that may incite schism or friction between Muslims: The Devil seeks only to cast enmity and hatred amongst you by means of alcohol and gambling, and to turn you from remembrance of God and from [His] worship. Will you not then abstain? [5:91]

♦

Islam not only explains the ideals of brotherhood, it lays down specific teachings and measures that help to make it a reality in our lives. Among that which helps nurture a deep and abiding sense of brotherhood are:

Firstly, remembering that God has made the life and honour of every believer sacred and sacrosanct. It is forbidden to harm a Muslim’s honour or repute, as it is to harm their life or their property. Let us remind ourselves about this foundational fact with the following hadith: ‘Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices one to another; do not turn your backs on one another; and do not undercut one another – but be, O God’s slaves, brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim: he doesn’t oppress him or forsake him, nor does he lie to him or hold him in contempt. Piety is right here (pointing to his breast thrice). It is evil enough for a person to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole of a Muslim, for another Muslim, is inviolable: his blood, his property and his honour.’ [Muslim, no.2564]

Secondly, to make it a part of our daily spiritual habit of supplicating for the well-being of Muslims. One hadith says: ‘The du‘ā’ of a the Muslim, for his brother [Muslim] in his absence, is always responded to.’ [Muslim, no.2733] In fact, so great an act is it, and so sacred is the life of a believer, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, declared: ‘Whoever seeks forgiveness for the believing men and women, God records for him a good deed for every believing man and woman [he prays for].’ [Al-Haythami, Majma’ al-Zawa’Īd,10:210]

Thirdly, another way to arouse love of fellow believers in our hearts is to devote some time of our day, each day, in their service or khidmah, in whatever capacity we can. So dear is this dedication and service to God, that one celebrated hadith says: ‘God helps His servant as long as the servant continues to help his brother.’ [Bukhāri, no.2442; Muslim, no.2580]

Fourthly, trying not to end the day with rancour in our hearts against any Muslim, but striving to rid ourselves of this noxious disease whenever it arises. The following du’afrom the Qur’an is a powerful medicine for such a thing: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who preceded us in faith, and leave not in our hearts any rancour or ill-will towards those who believe. Our Lord! You are Kind, Compassionate.” [59:10]

Fifthly, doing one’s utmost to follow the Golden Rule: ‘None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’ [Bukhāri, no.13; Muslim, no.45] But if one fails to live up to this lofty standard, then to never fall below the minimum level of behaviour with others – which was taught to us by the great pietist, Yahya b. Mu’adh al-Razi: ‘Let your dealing with another believer be of three types: If you cannot benefit him, do not harm him. If you cannot gladden him, do not sadden him. If you cannot speak well of him, do not speak ill of him.’1

Allahumma allif bayna qulubina wa aslih dhata baynina waj’alna min al-rashidin.

āmīn!

The key to happiness

Posted on December 31st, 2012 · Filed under International News

If you know Allah and worship Him, you will have found happiness and peace. Even if you are living in a hut made of mud.

But if you deviate from the true path, your life will truly be wretched, even if you are living a life of luxury and comfort in a large mansion. If this latter case applies to you, then you do not have with you the key to happiness.

And we gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. (Qur’an 28: 76)

Pause to reflect

Truly, Allah defends those who believe. (Qur’an 22: 38)

In other words, He protects them from evil, both in this world and in the Hereafter. In this verse, Allah enlightens us, warns us, and gives us glad tidings. He repels evil from the believers in proportion to their faith. The evil of the disbelievers, the evil whispers of the Devil, the evil in their own selves, and the evil of their deeds – all of these does Allah ward off from the true believers. When calamity falls, its burden will be lightened from them. Every believer has a share in this divine protection. Yet it varies according to one’s level of faith: some will receive less, others more.

Among the fruits of faith is that it gives solace to the believer in times of hardship.

… And whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart… (Qur’an 64: 11)

This refers to the believer who is afflicted with hardship, who knows that it is from Allah and that it was written for him. He is satisfied and submits his will to what has been predestined for him. Thus, the fatal blow of hardship will lose its effect on him because he knows that it came from Allah and that he will be rewarded for his patience.

Do not be sad – Do good to others

Posted on December 31st, 2012 · Filed under International News

Being of service to others leads to happiness. In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

Verily, Allah will say to His slave as He is taking account of him on the Day of Judgment, `O’ son of Adam, I was hungry and you did not feed me. He will answer, how can I feed you and you are the Lord of the worlds! He will say, did you not know that my slave so and so who is the son of so and so felt hunger, and you did not feed him. Alas! Had you fed him you would have found that (i.e. reward) with Me. O’ son of Adam, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. He will say, How can I give you drink, and you are the Lord of the worlds! He will say, did you not know that my slave so and so, the son of so and so felt thirsty and you did not give him drink. Alas! If you had given him, you would have found that (i.e. reward) with Me. O’ son of Adam, I became sick and you did not visit Me. He will say, How can I visit you and you are the Lord of the worlds! He will say, did you not know that my slave so and so, the son of so and so became sick and you did not visit him. Alas! Had you visited him, you would have found me with him.”

Here is an interesting point; in the last third of the hadith are the words: …you would have found me with him.

This is unlike the first two parts of the hadith: “You would have found that (i.e. the reward for feeding and giving drink) with Me.”

The reason for the difference is that Allah, the All-Merciful, is with those whose hearts are troubled, as is the case with the person who is sick. And in another hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:

“There is reward in each moist liver (i.e. to do service to any living creature will be rewarded).”

Also, know that Allah admitted the prostitute from the children of Israel into Paradise because she gave a drink to a dog that was thirsty. So what will be the case for the one who feeds other humans, giving them drink and removing from them hardships!

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said,

“Whoever has extra provision should give from it to the one who has no provision. And whoever has an extra mount should give with this extra to the one who has no mount.”

Commanding his servant to search out for guests, Hatim said in some of his more beautiful verses:

“Burn the coals, for truly, the night is chilly,
If you bring me a guest, then I have set you free.” And he said to his wife:
“Whenever you make food, then search
For he who is hungry, as I do not eat alone.”

Ibn Mubarak’s neighbor was a Jew. He would always feed him before feeding his own children and would provide clothing for him first and then for his children. Some people said to the Jew, “Sell us your house.” He answered, “My house is for two thousand dinars. One thousand is for the price of the house and one thousand is for having Ibn Mubarak as a neighbor!” Ibn Mubarak heard of this and he exclaimed, “O’ Allah, guide him to Islam.” Then, by the permission of Allah, he accepted Islam.

On another occasion, Ibn Mubarak passed by a caravan of people who were traveling to make the pilgrimage to Makkah, and he too was on his way to do the same. He saw one of the women from the caravan take a dead crow from a cesspit. He sent his servant to inquire about this and when he asked her, she replied, “We have had nothing for three days except that which finds its way into it.” When Ibn Mubarak heard of this, his eyes swelled with tears. He ordered for all of his provision to be distributed among those of the caravan, and having nothing with which to continue the journey, he returned to his home and gave up making the pilgrimage for that year. Later, he saw someone in a dream saying, “Your pilgrimage has been accepted, as have your rites; and your sins have been forgiven.” Allah says:

And give them preference over themselves, even though they were in need of those themselves. (Qur ‘an 59: 9)

One poet said:

“Even if I am a person who is far,
From his friend in terms of distance,
I offer him my help and wish to alleviate his difficulties, I answer his invitation and his call to me for help, and if he dons a wonderful new outfit I will not say, alas, were I to be blessed with the clothes that he wears.”

By Allah, how wonderful are good manners and a generous soul!

No one regrets having done well even if he was extravagant in doing so. Regret is only for the mistake or for the wrong done, even when that wrong is a minor one.

The art of happiness

Posted on December 9th, 2012 · Filed under International News

Among the greatest of blessings is to have a calm, stable, and happy heart. For in happiness the mind is clear, enabling one to be a productive person. It has been said that happiness is an art that needs to be learned. And if you learn it, you will be blessed in this life. But how does one learn it? A basic principle of achieving happiness is having an ability to endure and to cope with any situation. Therefore you should neither be swayed nor governed by difficult circumstances, nor should you be annoyed by insignificant trifles. Based on the purity of the heart and its ability to endure, a person will shine. When you train yourself to be patient and forbearing, then hardship and calamity will be easy for you to bear.

The opposite of being content is being shortsighted, being concerned for no one but one’s own self and forgetting about the world and all that is in it. Allah described his enemies as follows:

Thinking about themselves [as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet] (Qur’an 3. 154)

It is as if such people see themselves as being the whole universe, or at least at the center of it. They think not of others, nor do they live for anyone but themselves. It is incumbent upon you and me to take time out to be preoccupied with more than just us, and to sometimes distance ourselves from our own problems in order to forget our wounds and hurts. By doing this we gain two things: we make ourselves happy, and we bring joy to others.

Basic to the art of happiness is to bridle our thoughts and to restrain them, not allowing them to wander, stray, escape, or go wild. For if you were to leave your thoughts to wander as they wish, then they will run wild and control you. They will open the catalogue of your past woes. They will remind you of the history of your misfortunes, beginning from the day that your mother gave you birth. If your thoughts are left to roam, then they will bring to you images of past difficulties and images of a future that is frightening. These thoughts will shake your very being and will cause your feelings to flare. Therefore bridle them, and restrain them by directing them to the concentrated application of the kind of serious thought that begets fruitful and beneficial work.

And put your trust in the Ever-Living One who dies not. (Qur ‘an 25: 58)

Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. If that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck down by some unexpected misfortune.

And in a hadith:

“Verily, knowledge is only acquired by the practice of learning, and tolerance is acquired by the practice of tolerating.”

If one were to attempt to apply the meaning of this hadith to the topic under discussion, then he could go one step further and say that happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one’s own self, however awkward that may seem. One does all of these things until happiness becomes second nature.

The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief. And the reason for this is that life was created as a test:

Verily, we have created man in toil. (Qur’an 90: 4)

That He might to, you, which of you are the best in deeds. (Qur ‘an 11: 7)

But the message I wish to convey to you is that you should, as much as is possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief as

For being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter. This is why the dwellers of Paradise will say:

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has removed from us [all] grief’
(Qur’an 35: 34)

This is considered to be a proof that grief will not be removed from them except in Paradise. Likewise, grudges and bitterness will not be completely removed except in Paradise.

(And we shall remove from their breasts any sense of injury [that they may have]…} (Qur’an 15. 47)

So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. An Arab poet said:

“You have taken an oath not to betray us in our pacts, and it is as if you have vowed that in the end, you shall deceive us.”

If the description of this world is as I have described it to be, then it is worthy of the intelligent person not to help it in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with. And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy… (Qur’an 8: 6O)

But they never lost heart. For that which did not befall them in Allah’s Way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. (Qur’an 3: 146)

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About The Kaaba

Posted on November 18th, 2012 · Filed under International News

There is no place on Earth as venerated, as central or as holy to as many people as Makkah. By any objective standard, this valley in the Hijaz region of Arabia is the most celebrated place on Earth.

Thousands circle the sacred Kaaba at the centre of the Haram sanctuary 24 hours a day. Millions of homes are adorned with pictures of it and over a billion face it five times a day.

The Kaaba is the epicenter of Mecca.

The cube shaped building is at the heart of the most well-known real estate in the history of mankind; it is shrouded in black and its fair share of mystery.

Here are just a few things that most people may not know about the Kaaba:

10. It has been reconstructed several times

The Kaaba that we see today is not exactly the same Kaaba that was constructed by Prophets Ibrahim  and Ismail  From time to time, it has needed rebuilding after natural and man-made disasters.

Of course, we all know of the major reconstruction that took place during the life of the Prophet  before he became a Prophet . This is the occasion when the Prophet averted major bloodshed by his quick thinking on how to place the Black Stone using a cloth that every tribe could lift up.

Since then, there has been an average of one major reconstruction every few centuries. The last renovation took place in 1996 and was extremely thorough, leading to the replacement of many of the stones and re-strengthening the foundations and a new roof. This is likely to be the last reconstruction for many centuries (inshā’Allāh) as modern techniques mean that the building is more secure and stable than ever before.

9. It used to have two doors … and a window

The original Kaaba used to have a door for entrance and another for exit. For a considerable period of time it also had a window situated to one side. The current Kaaba only has one door and no window.

8. It used to be multi-coloured

We are so used to the Kaaba being covered in the trademark black Kiswah with gold banding that we can’t imagine it being any other colour. However, this tradition seems to have started at the time of the Abbasids (whose household colour was black) and before this the Kaaba was covered in multiple colours including green, red and even white.

7. The keys are in the hands of one family

At the time of the Prophet , each aspect to do with the rites of Hajj was in the hands of different sub-groups of the Quraish. Every one of these would eventually lose control of their guardianship of a particular rite except one. On the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet  was given the keys to the Kaaba and instead of keeping it in his own possession; he returned them back to the Osman ibn Talha ® of the Bani Shaiba family. They had been the traditional key keepers of the Kaaba for centuries; and the Prophet  confirmed them in that role till the end of time by these words

“Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant.”

Whether Caliph, Sultan or King – the most powerful men in the world have all had to bow to the words of the Prophet  and ask permission from this small Makkan family before they can enter the Kaaba.

6. It used to be open to everyone

Until recently, the Kaaba was opened twice a week for anyone to enter and pray. However, due to the rapid expansion in the number of pilgrims and other factors, the Kaaba is now opened only twice a year for dignitaries and exclusive guests only.

Watch the video attached here to witness the doors of the Kaaba being opened (at 50 seconds) – and the simultaneous gasps of a Million people as they cry out at this auspicious moment.

5. You used to be able to swim around it

One of the problems with having the Kaaba situated at the bottom of a valley is that when it rains – valleys tend to flood. This was not an uncommon occurrence in Makkah and the cause of a lot of trouble before the days of flood control systems and sewage. For days on end the Kaaba would be half submerged in water. Did that stop Muslims from performing the Tawaf? Of course not. As the picture below amply shows – Muslims just started swimming around the Kaaba.

Modern adjustments to the surrounding landscape and flood prevention techniques mean we may never see such sights again. Or will we? Check out this recent video.

4. The inside contains plaques commemorating the rulers who renovated it

For years many have wondered what it looks like inside the Kaaba. Relying on second or third hand accounts from those who were lucky enough to enter just wasn’t satisfying enough. Then one lucky person who went inside took his camera phone in with him and Millions have seen the shaky footage online.

The interior of the Kaaba is now lined with marble and a green cloth covering the upper walls. Fixed into the walls are plaques each commemorating the refurbishment or rebuilding of the House of Allāh by the ruler of the day. Watch the video below of the only place on Earth that you can pray in any direction you want, the House of Allāh, the first place of worship for mankind – the Kaaba.

3. There are two kaabas!

Directly above the Kaaba in heaven is an exact replica. This Kaaba was mentioned in theQurʾān and by the Prophet .

The Messenger of Allāh  said narrating about the journey of ‘Isra wal Miraaj

“Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur (i.e. Allāh’s House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).”

2. The Black Stone is broken

Ever wondered how the Black Stone came to be in the silver casing that surrounds it?

Some say it was broken by a stone fired by the Umayyad army laying siege to Makkah whilst it was under the control of Abdullah ibn Zubair ®.

However, most agree that it was most damaged in the middle ages by an extreme heretical Ismaili group from Bahrain called the Qarmatians who had declared that the Hajj was an act of superstition. They decided to make their point by killing tens of thousands of hujjaj and dumping their bodies in the well of Zamzam.

As if this act of treachery was not enough, these devils took the Black Stone to the East of Arabia and then Kufa in Iraq where they held it ransom until they were forced to return it by the Abassid Caliph. When they returned it, it was in pieces and the only way to keep them together was by encasing them in a silver casing. Some historians narrate that there are still some missing pieces of the stone floating around.

1. It’s not supposed to be a cube shape

Yes, ladies and gentleman… the most famous cube in the world actually started out shaped as a rectangle.

I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaws off the floor.

Right, where were we?

Oh yeah, the Kaaba was never meant to be a cube. The original dimensions of The House included the semi-circular area known as the Hijr Ismail.

When the Kaaba was rebuilt just a few years before the Prophet  received his first revelation, the Quraish agreed to only use income from pure sources to complete the rebuild. That meant no money from gambling, looting, prostitution, interest etc. In the ultimate sign of how deeply mired in wrongdoing the Jahili Quraish were, there was not enough untainted money in this very wealthy trading city to rebuild the Kaaba to its original size and shape!

They settled for a smaller version of the Kaaba and put a mud brick wall (called “Hijr Ismail” although it has no connection to the Prophet Ismail (A) himself) to indicate the original dimensions. Towards the end of his life, the Prophet  intended to rebuild the Kaaba on its original foundations but passed away before he could fulfill his wish. Apart from a brief interlude of a few years during the reign of Caliph Abdullah ibn Zubair ®, the Kaaba has remained the same shape that the Prophet  saw it in.

The history of the Kaaba is not just an interesting story from our past. The Kaaba is a real and present symbol that connects all Muslims together wherever they may be. It also connects us to our glorious and not-so-glorious past so that we may derive lessons and feel that we are a part of an eternal mission. In a day and age where Muslims are increasingly disconnected from our history,as well as each other, the Kabaa reminds us of our shared heritage and bonds. It is a symbol of unity in an Ummah sorely in need of it.

Do not be sad: Seek forgiveness from Allah often, for your Lord is Of-Forgiving

Posted on October 6th, 2012 · Filed under International News

I [Noah] said [to them]: `Ask forgiveness from your Lord; verily, He is Of-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; and give you increase in wealth and children; and bestow on you gardens; and bestow on you rivers. ‘
(Qur’an 71: 10-12)

So seek forgiveness from Allah more often and you will reap the benefits of doing so: peace of mind, lawful provisions, righteous offspring, and plentiful rain.

(And [commanding you]: Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed. And that He may bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace [i.e. the one who helps and serves the needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words]. (Qur ‘an 11: 3)

And the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

“Whosoever seeks forgiveness (from Allah) often, and then Allah makes for him a good ending for every matter of concern and provides for him a way out of every tight situation.”

Related in Bukhari is a hadith that is known as the chief of Al-Istighfaar (i.e., of supplications with which one asks Allah for forgiveness):

“O’ Allah, You are my Lord and none has the right to be worshipped except you. You have created me and I am your slave; and I am upon your covenant and promise as much as I am able to be. I seek refuge in you from the evil that I have perpetrated. I confess to you your favor upon me, and I confess to you my sin. So forgive me; for verily, none forgives sins except you.”