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.”
Posted on January 9th, 2013 · Filed under International News
Allah’s slave – i.e. every one of us can find comfort only by turning to Allah, the Exalted, Who mentioned tranquility in many verses of the Qur’an:
Then Allah sent down His Sakinah [calmness and tranquility] upon His Messenger and upon the believers. (Qur’an 48: 26)
…He sent down calmness and tranquility upon them… (Qur ‘an 48: 18)
Then Allah did send down His Sakinah [calmness, tranquility and reassurance, etc.] on the Messenger [Muhammad]… (Qur’an 9: 26)
Tranquility means having a heart that is at peace and that has a sound trust in Allah. Tranquility is a state of calm enjoyed by those believers who have been saved from doubt. And it is according to one’s closeness to Allah and steadfastness in following the Messenger’s way that one will achieve tranquility and peace.
Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world [i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allah Alone and none else], and in the Hereafter (Qur’an 14: 27)
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]
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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!