Building Bridges With The Community
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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 ›
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.
More than thirty chapters of the book Al-Faraju B `ada ash-Shiddah deal with the topic of ease and relief after difficulty. The book stresses the point that the more severely we become engrossed in hardship, the closer we are to ease and relief. The book has more than two hundred stories, all of which revolve around this theme. Whatever the hardship may be, it is only a matter of days before better times arrive. At-Tanookhi said,
To be truly happy, one should enjoy the beauty and splendor of life, an enjoyment that is limited only by the boundaries set forth by Islam. Allah has created for us beautiful gardens because He is Beautiful and He loves beauty, and in order for us to study His signs that are present in His wonderful creation.
He it is who created for you all that is on the earth. (Qur’an 2: 29)
The sweet-smelling odor, the delicious meal, and the awe-inspiring vista these all bring lightness and happiness to the soul.
Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth… (Qur’an 2: 168)
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“What has been made beloved to me from your world are perfume and women. And the delight of my eye is in the Prayer.”
Extremes of self-denial and rigid austerity have clouded and distorted for some the wonders of life. They live a life of celibacy, they purposely live in a state of penury, and they deprive themselves of food. The Messenger of Allah (bpuh) said:
“But I fast sometimes and eat (without fasting) at other times; 1 stand (for prayer at night) and I relax; I marry women; I eat meat. So whoever deviates from my way, He is not from me.”
It is strange and confusing to see what the adherents of some sects have subjected themselves to; some have abstained from certain foods; others have given up laughing; and yet others have forbidden themselves from drinking cool water. It is as though they do not realize that these actions are tantamount to torturing one’s self and to extinguishing the light of one’s soul.
Say [O’ Muhammad who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Tayyibaat [all kinds of Halaal (lawful things) of food] (Qur ‘an 7: 32)
The Messenger of Allah (bpuh) ate honey, and he is the most pious and righteous human being. This is because Allah created honey to be eaten:
There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color wherein is healing for men. (Qur’an 16. 69)
The Messenger of Allah (bpuh) married a virgin, and he also married women who had been either widowed or divorced.
Then marry [other] women of your choice, two or three, or four… (Qur’an 4. 3)
He wore the best of clothes on religious holidays and on other occasions as well.
Take your adornment [by wearing your clean clothes], while praying and going round [the Tawaaf of] the Ka `bah… (Qur ‘an 7: 31)
The Prophet (bpuh) _______whom we must follow and who was sent with the true Religion _______fulfilled the rights of both, body and soul.
The Messenger of Allah (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“We do not say other than that which pleases our Lord.” Read more ›
Do not be sad, for sadness will weaken your determination and the quality of your worship. One of the offshoots of depression is that it often causes one to be pessimistic, to find blame in everyone, including — and we seek refuge in Allah – Allah Himself.
Do not be sad, for sadness, grief, and anxiety are the roots of mental problems, the sources of stress.
Do not be sad, for you have with you the Qur’an, supplication, remembrance, and prayer. You can lighten the load of your anxiety by giving others, doing well, and being productive.
Do not be sad, and do not surrender to sadness by taking the easy path of idleness and inactivity, but pray, glorify your Lord, read, write, work, visit relatives and friends, and reflect. Read more ›
Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi is offering a free course on ‘Your guide to Islamic Finance’ at the MYF on Sunday the 17th of March.
From managing your zakat to banking and mortgages, this course will run from 9.00am to 6.00pm and is highly recommend by the myf as a very useful and financially import course to attend for brothers and sisters.
We look forward to seeing you there.
An intelligent and skillful person transforms losses into profits; whereas, the unskilled person aggravates his own predicament, often making two disasters out of one.
The Prophet (pbuh) was compelled to leave Makkah, but rather than quit his mission, he continued it in Madeenah — the city that took its place in history with lightning speed.
Imam Abmad ibn Hanbal was severely tortured and flogged, and yet he emerged triumphant from that ordeal, becoming the Imam of the Sunnah. Imam Ibn Taymiyah was put into prison; he later came out an even more accomplished scholar than he was before. Imam As-Sarakhsi was held as a prisoner, kept at the bottom of an unused well; he managed therein to produce twenty volumes on Islamic jurisprudence. Ibn Atheer became crippled, after which he wrote Jam `ey al-Usool and An-Nihayah, two of the most famous books in the Science of Hadith. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi was banished from Baghdad. Then, through his travels, he became proficient in the seven recitations of the Qur’an. Maalik ibn ar-Rayb was on his deathbed when he recited his most famous and beautiful poem, which is appreciated until this day. When Abi Dhu’aib al-Hadhali’s children died before him, he eulogized them with a poem that the world listened to and admired.
Therefore, if you are afflicted with a misfortune, look on the bright side. If someone were to hand you a glass full of squeezed lemons, add to it a handful of sugar. And if someone gives you a snake as a gift, keep its precious skin and leave the rest.
And it may be that you dislike a thing that is good for you…
(Qur ‘an 2: 216)
Before its violent revolution, France imprisoned two brilliant poets: one an optimist, the other a pessimist. They both squeezed their heads through the bars of their cell windows. The optimist then stared at the stars and laughed, while the pessimist looked at the dirt of a neighboring road and wept. Look at the other side of a tragedy – a circumstance of pure evil does not exist, and in all situations one can find goodness and profit and reward from Allah.
Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him… (Qur’an 27: 62)
From Whom do the weak and the oppressed seek victory? Who does everyone beseech? He is Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Him.
Therefore it is most advisable for you and I to invoke Him during times of both hardship and ease, to seek shelter with Him in difficult times, and to plead at His doorstep with tears of repentance; then will His help and relief quickly arrive.
(Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him… (Qur’an 27: 62)
He saves the one who is drowning, gives victory to the oppressed, guides the misguided, cures the sick, and provides relief to the afflicted.
And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only… (Qur ‘an 29: 65)
As for the various supplications one makes to remove hardship, I refer you to the books of the Sunnah. In them, you will learn prophetic supplications with which you can call to Allah, supplicate to Him, and seek His aid. If you have found Him, then you have found everything. And if you lose your faith in Him, then you have lost everything. By supplicating to Him you are performing one of the highest forms of worship. If you are persistent and sincere in your supplication, you will achieve freedom from worry and anxiety. All ropes are cut loose save His, and all doors are shut save His. He is near; He hears all and answers those who supplicate to Him.
If you are living through affliction and pain, remember Allah, call out His name, and ask Him for help. Place your forehead on the ground and mention His praises, so that you can obtain true freedom. Raise your hands in supplication, and ask of Him constantly. Cling to His door, have good thoughts about Him, and wait for His help – you will then find true happiness and success.
If you hear the beating of resentful words in your ears, do not worry jealousy is not something new. As a poet said: “Devote yourself to the gathering of virtues, and work, and turn your back on someone who cools his jealousy by giving you censure, Know that your life’s-span is the season of good deeds, in it, they may be accepted, and after is death, when all jealousy ceases.” A wise person said:
“When facing criticism or the unjust rebuke, those who have sensitive feelings must pour a certain amount of coolness into their nerves by force.” Another said:
If Allah wishes good for one of His slaves, He covers him with slumber as a security, as occurred to Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) before the battle of Uhud. A short time before the battle, while the disbelievers waited in nervous apprehension, he was covered with a slumber that made him, on a few occasions, drop his sword, so serene and calm did he feel.
Allah, the Almighty, said:
Say: Do you wait for us [anything] except one of the two best things [martyrdom or victory]; while we wait for you either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Him or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you.) (Qur’an 9: 52)
And no person can ever die except by Allah :c Leave and at an appointed term.
(Qur’an 3: 145)
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Which of the two days of death do I fear? The day in which it was not decreed for me to die or the day in which death was preordained for me. As for the former, I fear it not. And as for the latter, it is destined to happen, and even cautious ones cannot be saved on that day.”
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Seek out death (i.e. be brave) and you shall be granted life.”
Do not be sad, for Allah defends you and the angels ask forgiveness for you; the believers share with you their supplications in every prayer; the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) will intercede for the believers; the Qur’an is replete with good promises; and above all is the mercy of He Who is the Most Merciful.
Do not be sad: the good deed is increased so that its value is multiplied tenfold or seven hundred fold or even much, much more.
Meanwhile, the evil deed is valued without increase or multiplication, and your Lord can forgive even that. How many times do we witness Allah’s generosity, generosity that is unmatched by any! And benevolence from any one else cannot reach even near His Benevolence.
If you do not associate partners with Allah, if you believe in the true religion, and if you love Allah and His Messenger (bpuh), do not feel sad. If you feel regret for your bad deeds and you rejoice when you do a worthy act, do not feel sad. You have much good with you that you do not perceive.
If, in your life, you are able to establish the state of balanced harmony that is referred to in the following hadith, do not feel sad:
“How wonderful is the state of the believer. All of his affairs are good for him! And that is not so, except for the believer. If he has cause to be happy, he is thankful, and that is good for him. And if he is afflicted with hardship, he is patient, and that is good for him.”
Do not be sad: forbearance in times of distress is the path to both success and happiness.
And endure you patiently; your patience is not but from Allah. (Qur’an 16: 127)
So [for me] patience is most. Fitting. And it is Allah [Alone] whose help can be sought against that which you assert. (Qur ‘an 12: 18)
So be patient, with a good patience. (Qur’an 70: 5)
Ore ace be upon you for that you persevered in patience! (Qur’an 13: 24)
And bear with patience whatever befalls you. (Qur ‘an 31: 17)
Endure and he more patient [than your enemy], and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you… (Qur’an 3: 200)
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Through patience we have now achieved a good life.”
For the people of the Sunnah, there are three things that they resort to when faced with calamity: patience, supplication, and waiting with expectation for a good outcome. A poet said:
“We have poured them a glass and they have similarly poured one for us (alluding to the blood enemies draw from each other in battle),
But in the face of death, we were the more patient.” In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“There is none who is more patient when he hears something offensive than Allah. They claim that He has a child and a wife, yet He gives them health and provision.”
The Prophet (bpuh) also said:
“May Allah have mercy on Moosa (Moses)? He was tested with more than this (i.e. than what I have been tested with), and he was still patient.” And he (bpuh) said:
“Whoever is patient, Allah will give him further strength to continue to be patient.”
A poet said:
“I have crawled my way to distinction, and those who have striven have reached it,
With the toil of labor, and the sparing of no small effort, many have tried to reach it, and most became bored or tired during their journey, And they embrace distinction that remain true and are patient, Do not consider distinction to be an apple that you eat, you will not achieve distinction until you beat hardship with your patience.”
Higher goals are not achieved through dreaming or fantasizing; they can only be reached through dedication and commitment.
Do not grieve over how people treat you. And learn this lesson by observing how they behave with Allah.
Imam Ahmad reported a hadith in the book of Zuhd, in which the Prophet (bpuh) relates the following saying from Allah: “Strange are you, O’ son of Adam! I have created you and you worship other than me. I have provided for you and you thank those besides me. I show you love by giving you blessings and I do not need you. While you show me animosity through your sins and you are to me poor. My good is descending to you and your evil is rising to me.’
It is mentioned in the biography of Prophet Eesa (Jesus) (may peace be upon him) that, by the permission of Allah, he healed thirty sick people and cured many who were afflicted with blindness. Afterwards they turned on him as enemies.
A Channel 4-backed Cardiff University study found that “4 of the 5 most common discourses used about Muslims in the British press” from 2000-8 “associate Islam/Muslims with threats, problems or in opposition to dominant British values.” Former tabloid reporters confirm that editors force journalists to fabricate news denigrating Muslims and immigrants.
This undermines cohesion, alienates minorities, and fuels violence. The last decade has seen an exponential rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes, including violent assaults – and 1 in 3 Britons agree the media is “whipping up a climate of fear of Islam in the UK”.
We the undersigned insist that Islamophobia and racism in the British media are an unacceptable affront to democratic principles and British values. We demand that the press be held accountable for irresponsible reporting which demonises faith and ethnic communities wholesale.