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Your value is determined by your faith and character

He was poor and wan and weak. He wore a torn garment with many patches on it. He was barefoot and hungry. Along with his having an obscure lineage, he possessed neither status nor wealth nor family. Without a roof to shelter him, he would sleep in the mosque and drink from public fountains. His pillow was his own arm and his mattress was the uneven, rough ground beneath him. But he always remembered his Lord and he was constantly reciting the verses of Allah’s Book. He would not be absent from the first row in prayer or from the front lines of battle. One day he met the Messenger of Allah (bpuh), who upon seeing him, called him by his name, “O’ Julaybeeb, will you not marry?” “And who would give me their daughter?” was his meek reply. He (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by two others who asked the same question, to which he gave a similar reply. The Messenger of Allah (bpuh) said to him, “O’ Jualaybeeb, go to so and so, the Ansari, and say to him, `The Messenger of Allah sends his greetings of peace to you and he requests you to marry me your daughter.’ This particular Ansari was from a noble and esteemed household. When Julaybeeb carried out the Prophet’s order, the Ansari replied, “And peace is upon the Messenger of Allah. O’ Julaybeeb, how can I marry you my daughter when you have neither wealth nor status?” His wife heard of the news, and she exclaimed in astonishment, “Julaybeeb! He who has neither wealth nor status!” But their believing daughter heard the words of Julaybeeb, words that to her, contained the message of the Messenger of Allah. She said to her parents, “Do you turn down the request of the Messenger of Allah? By Allah, no!” Forthwith, the blessed wedding took place. When their first night came, a caller was in the streets announcing a forthcoming battle. Julaybeeb responded without delay and set out for the battleground. With his own hands, he managed to kill seven disbelievers, and then he himself became martyred. He embraced death pleased with Allah and His Messenger, and pleased with the morals for which he sacrificed his own life. After the battle, the Messenger of Allah was asking about those who were martyred. The people began to inform him of those who died, but they forgot to mention Julaybeeb because of his obscurity. Nevertheless, the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) remembered him, and he said, “But I have lost Julaybeeb.” He (bpuh) then found Julaybeeb’s corpse, the face of which was covered in dust. He shook off the dust from his face and said, “You killed seven and then you were killed! You are from me and I am from you…” And the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) repeated the second part of that statement three times. This medal of distinction from the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) is by itself an ample reward and prize. Read more…

Isolation and its positive effects

If applied with a correct understanding, isolation can be most beneficial.
Ibn Taymiyah said:

“At times, it is necessary for the worshipper to be isolated from others in order to pray, remember Allah, recite the Qur’an, and evaluate himself and his deeds. Also, isolation allows one to supplicate, seek forgiveness, stay away from evil, and so on.” Read more…

Yesterday will never return

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.” Read more…

Blessings in disguise

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…

Invocation for entering a town or city

Allaahumma Rabbas-samaawaatis-sab’i wa maa ‘adhlalna, wa Rabbal-‘aradheenas-sab’i wa maa ‘aqlalna, wa Rabbash-shayaateeni wa maa ‘adhlalna, wa Rabbar-riyaahi wa maa tharayna. ‘As’aluka khayra haathihil-qaryati wa khayra ‘ahlihaa, wa khayra maafeehaa, wa ‘a’oothu bika min sharrihaa, wa sharri ‘ahlihaa, wa shard maa feehaa. Read more…

Invocations for anguish

Laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahul-‘Adheemul-Haleem, laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu Rabbul-‘Arshil-‘Adheem, laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu Rabbus-samaawaati wa Rabbul-‘ardhi wa Rabbul-‘Arshil-Kareem .

There is none worthy of worship but Allah the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne. Read more…

Invocation for Allah’s protection from the False Messiah

Whoever memorizes ten ‘Ayat (Verses) from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf, will be protected from the False Messiah if he recites them in every prayer after the final Tashahhud before ending the prayer, seeking the protection of Allah from the trials of the False Messiah.

Reference:
1 Muslim 1/555, another version mentions the last ten ‘Ayat, Muslim 1/556.
2See invocations no. 55 and 56 of this book.

Invocation for riding in a vehicle or on an animal

Bismillaah , Alhamdu lillaah . Subhaanal-lathee sakhkhara lanaa haathaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineen. Wa ‘innaa ‘ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon . Alhamdu lillaah, alhamdu lillaah, alhamdu lillaah, Allaahu ‘Akbar, Allaahu ‘Akbar, Allaahu ‘Akbar, subhaanakal-laahumma ‘innee dhalamtu nafsee faghfir lee, fa’innahu laa yaghfiruth-thunooba ‘illaa ‘Anta. Read more…

Invocation for going to the mosque

Allaahummaj’al fee qalbee nooran, wa fee lisaaanee nooran, wa fee sam’ee nooran, wa fee basaree nooran, wa min fawqee nooran, wa min tahtee nooran, wa ‘an yameenee nooran, wa ‘an shimaalee nooran, wa min ‘amaamee nooran, wa min khalfee nooran, waj’alfee nafsee nooran, wa ‘a’dhim lee nooran, wa ‘adhdhim lee nooran, wafal lee nooran, waj’alnee nooran, Allaahumma ‘a’tinee nooran, waj’al fee ‘asabee nooran, wafee lahmee nooran, wafee damee nooran, wa fee sha’ree nooran, wa fee basharee nooran. [Allaahummaj’al lee nooran fee qabree wa nooran fee ‘idhaamee.] [Wa zidnee nooran, wa zidnee nooran, wa zidnee nooran.][Wa hab lee nooran ‘alaa noor.] Read more…