Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Today is all that you Have!!
~Sheikh Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
`Whenever you are sad, feel oppressed, wronged, stressed, or hurt, remember that this is an opportunity. Yes, opportunity. It is an opportunity to return to Allah. It is an opportunity to gain Allah's love & rise in status in His sight. It is a great time to direct this emotion and energy in the right place by performing, inside & out, the deeds that Allah loves best. ★Go cry to Allah in sujood (prostration) for help. ★Perfect your five prayers & increase your extra prayers. ★Moist your tongue with dhikr (remembrance of Allah). ★Go start reading the Qur'an & making dua'. It is a great moment to fix the shortcomings. Imagine how pleased Allah will be to see that you truly understand that Allah is the Only One with the solution. How pleased Allah will be with you to see that at such a stressful time, you turn to Only Him instead of committing sins for temporary relief. ♥.. Remember what Allah states in the Qur'an: “… hold fast to Allah [i.e. have confidence in Allaah, and depend upon Him in all your affairs]. He is your Mawla (Patron, Lord), what an Excellent Mawla (Patron, Lord) and what an Excellent Helper!” [al-Hajj 22:78] `
Have you ever reflected over the Power & Might of Allah Ta'ala?
You whisper your Du'aa & Dhikr in the ears of the earth in Sujood...
And As Sami'ee Al 'Aleem listens to you from above the seven heavens. :')
♥ A L L A H U - A K B A R ♥
♥ ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab is reported to have said: ❝ No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of worrying can change the future. Go easy on yourself, for the outcome of all affairs is determined by Allaah’s decree. If something is meant to go elsewhere, it will never come your way, but if it is yours by destiny, from it you cannot flee.❞ ♥
Sunday, March 17, 2013
If people let u down
“If people let you down, specifically those
beloved and close to you, or if you put your hope in someone after Allah
and they don’t come through, at that point know that Allah wants you to
turn to Him.” #♥.
– Sh. Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Shinqiti
– Sh. Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Shinqiti
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Allah uses Broken Things Beautifully:
Broken Cloud Pours Rain!
Broken Soil Sets as Field!
Broken Crop Yields Seed!
Broken Seed Gives Bread!
In Any Hard Situation,
if You Feel that your Heart is Broken, please
Understand that Allah is Planning to Utilize You for some Purpose.
Ma shaa Allah!
How do I quit music?
First: Observe Salaah to the best of your ability.
Remember: Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do. ~ Qur'an 29/45
Second: Delete all your music & replace it with Qur'an. Lectures are a great option too.
Third: Make Duaa.
Fourth: Avoid all places or people who love music and play it often. #♥.
Allah is Al 'Aleem- the All-Knowing: of what is and what could be, what was and what could have been.
The all-Knower even knows every leaf that falls. He knows what our souls whisper to us and He is closer to us “than the jugular vein”. So He knows what you are going through, what you are feeling. Your Lord does not forget either; so do not think that anything you have done has gone to waste. He knows when you prevented yourself from doing bad for His sake, so just because you didn't see the result of your choice immediately, don’t think that it went unnoticed. But some things need patience, and Allah (swt) teaches us with time. ♥
Allah (swt) tells us: “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (Qur’an, 2:216)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Reported from Ibn ’Abbaas (radi Allahu ‘anhu), in marfoo’ form, that Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu ‘alyhi wasallam) said: ❝ Be gentle, and gentleness shall be rendered to you.❞ (Saheeh--As-Saheehah--1456) Explaining it, al-Manawi said in al-Faid, “Deal with Allah’s creation who are [all] dependent on Him and are His slaves with gentleness and ease, and their Lord will render (do) the same to you in this world and the Hereafter.” :) (Al-Manawi in Faid al-Qadir, vol. 1, p. 512)
The summer season has almost begun. The birds need you this summer. If you haven't yet kept a water pot for birds in your balcony, terrace, or any open space; do it today! Help birds cool off this summer. In sha Allah. ♥.. ❝ A reward is given in connection with every living creature.❞ [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] This Hadith emphasises the importance of kindness to every creature, even animals, because A L L A H is pleased with such kindness. (:
Know that life is like a rose - beautiful. There may be thorns which prick us from time to time, but that does not negate the fact that the rose is still beautiful. At times, we need a few trials in our beautiful lives. These trials expiate our sins, teach us great lessons, strengthen us & increase us in wisdom. A L H A M D U L I L A H ♥
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Power of Remembering Allah
There is a feeling that comes to the heart, a feeling of unrest. No matter what is done that feeling of unrest doesn’t leave. Sometimes we try and numb it with entertainment or by distracting ourselves, but again it returns. And it is after this constant return of this feeling of unrest that we may finally remember the ayah (verse), “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!” (Qur’an 13:28)
There are many verses and traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that show us the extreme importance of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) in our lives. One interesting hadith (narration) is that of a man who came to the Prophet who felt that the rules had become too much for him. He felt a burden on his shoulders, unsure if he was to be able to fulfill his roles and obligations to his Lord. He came with a concern to the Prophet and asked: “O Messenger of Allah, the laws of Islam have become many for us, so give us a means of access which is comprehensive to which we can cling.” Notice, he wants something to cling to, something to hold on to so that he doesn’t slip away. What then did the Prophet respond? “Let not your tongue cease to be moist with the remembrance of Allah, The Glorious, The Magnificent.”
Another powerful hadith is that which describes people who will go to Paradise. They will have already made it to the land where all their wishes and dreams are merely a thought away. Where they get to do whatever they please whenever they please and are not plagued by the ups and downs of this worldly life. Will these people, who have made it so far, have any regrets? Will they wish that they could change something in their previous lives, anything? The Prophet tells us about the regrets of the people of Paradise. He says “The People of Paradise will not regret except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by and in which they made no remembrance of Allah.”
Lastly, think back to a story mentioned in many traditions and in our Holy Qur’an. The story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah), who had been swallowed by a whale. He lay there in the stomach of this whale, alone and in darkness—a feeling that some of us can relate to without ever having to find our way into the belly of any animal. His reaction was not to curl up and fall into despair; rather he spoke to the only one who could take him out of this darkness and take him out of his lonely state. He said, “La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minathalimin [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified are You (above all that (evil) they associate with You). Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers].” He made dhikr. When in unimaginable hardship, he made dhikr. Then what happened? Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) removed him from the darkness. He saved him and took care of him. Allah then tells us in the Qur’an a very important point which brings this all home. He says, “Had he not been one of My glorifiers (musabbihin), he would have remained inside the whale’s stomach until Judgment Day,” (Qur’an 37:143-144). The dhikr he made saved him from the loneliness and the darkness that he was enveloped in, along with the pain and suffering he was undergoing in the inside of the whale; imagine then what it can do for us.
An issue that often times arises when we try to implement adding dhikr into our lives is that we start off excited and really feeling it. We start off feeling like a fish that has just been placed in water after struggling to breathe on land. But then, the feeling starts to fade and we stop feeling our words. We start feeling that we are speaking empty words and then shaytaan (Satan) comes in telling us that since we don’t feel it, there is no point in doing it.
A wise man from our history, ibn Ata’illah, speaks of this eloquently and holistically. He says: “Do not stop mentioning God just because your heart is not present. Forgetting Him completely is worse than being inattentive while you are mentioning him; perhaps He will elevate you from being inattentive to being attentive, and from being attentive to being fully present with Him, and from being fully present with Him to being fully absent from anything but Him; ‘and this is not difficult for God’ (Qur’an 35:17).”
Take a moment right now to make a commitment to yourself to add more dhikr to your daily routine. It doesn’t have to be something big, take it easy and take baby steps, but make a commitment that you won’t leave. Remember, Allah (swt) loves those deeds which are consistent even if they are small. Not only that, but when you take one step towards Allah He takes ten steps towards you.
Allahuma a’inna ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husn ibadatak (Oh Allah, assist us in remembering You, thanking You and worshipping You in the best of manners).
--Written by Reehab Ramadan
Summarizing his policy towards Christians & Jews that lived by agreement in Muslim lands, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab radiyAllah 'anhu said:
"Verily, we have given them a firm promise to allow them to freely frequent their churches; and inside of their churches, they may say whatever they want. We have further given them a firm promise to not place upon them a burden that is greater than they can bear; to defend them if their enemy tries to do them harm; to allow them to freely apply their laws among themselves, unless, of their own volition, they come to us and say that they would be better pleased to have their disputes settled based on our laws. In the latter case, we will willingly act as judges in their disputes. And if they want to leave our lands, we will not prevent them from doing so."
Nidhaam Al-Hukm Fee 'Ahd Al-Khulafaa Ar-Raashideen (pg. 117)
In Muslim lands, the People of the Book (Jews & Christians) freely practiced the tenets of their Faith in their homes and in their places of worship. No one prevented them from doing so.
At-Tabaree related that, in a letter that 'Umar radiyAllah 'anhu sent to the people of Eeliyaa, 'Umar made the following guarantees to them: He guaranteed that they would not be harmed; that their wealth was safe, and would not be wrongly taken or seized; and that their crosses and churches would not be destroyed or harmed.*
'Umar's governor of Egypt, 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas radiyAllah 'anhu, wrote the following official letter to the inhabitants of Egypt: "In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas guarantees the people of Egypt safety for their lives, their [freedom to practice their] religion, their wealth, their churches, their crosses, their land, and their sea." **
*Taareekh At-Tabaree (4/158)
**Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (7/98)
Don't think of the trials in your life ('balaa') as just a 'test' in the human form. Allah is not like a professor who hands you a test, moves away and just watches from afar to see how you'll do. Allah is our murabee--the One who raises us with more mercy than a mother raises a child. The Prophet (pbuh) tells us that when Allah wills good for someone, he sends them 'balaa' (trials or tests). When Allah wills good for us, He purifies us. That is why each person is tested in what they love most. In other words our greatest possible 'competitor' in our love for God is what is withheld or must be sacrificed. This is the purification process because it cures the heart of competitors. Why was Prophet Ibrahim (AS) asked to slaughter the most beloved thing to him? Did Allah actually want him to *kill* his son? No. He didn't kill his son. He killed the attachment. By being willing to sacrifice what he loved most, he had slaughtered any possible competing love. Allah was raising him, purifying him and elevating him...::✦:: ❝ By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love. ❞ (3:92)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Your life is nothing more than a love story. Between you and God.
Nothing more. Every person, every experience, every
gift, every loss, every pain is sent to your path for one reason and
one reason only: to bring you back to Him._
“The year is like a tree, months are its branches, days are the branch sticks, hours are its leaves, and the breaths are its fruits. Therefore, if one’s breaths are in obedience (to Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala) and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu`alayhi wa sallam)), the fruits of his tree are good. If they are in disobedience, his fruits are bitter. The harvest is on the Appointed Day, when one’s fruits are found out to be either good or bitter.”.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
❝And whoever fears Allah - He will make a way out for him. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him.❞ :::♥::: [at-Talaq: 2-3] O Allah, we ask no one but You to end our suffering & to solve our problems for us! Allahumma Ameen ♥
Friday, March 8, 2013
Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allah have mercy on him – said: ❝When a man sought knowledge, it would not be long before it could be seen in his humbleness, his sight, upon his tongue and his hands, in his prayer, in his speech and in his disinterest (zuhd) in worldly allurements. And a man would acquire a portion of knowledge and put it into practice, and it would be better for him than the world and all it contains – if he owned it he would give it in exchange for the hereafter.❞ ♥
Saturday, March 2, 2013
How to remember Fajr prayer.
It seems that in this day in age with all the many activities and responsibilities that we have on a daily basis, it’s becoming way too “easy” for brothers and sisters to miss fajr prayer on a regular basis. Making your five daily salat is an important part of being a Muslim, and is one of the five pillars of Islam. The Quran says “Establish regular prayers at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night and the recital of the Qur’an in the Fajr prayer, for the recital of the Fajr is witnessed” (Qur’an Al-Israa 17:78). So how do you get rid of the bad habit of forgetting and sleeping through it?
Following are a few tips to help get you started. In shaa Allah these tips will help you get in the habit of making fajr and you will quickly begin to make it on a regular basis and on time!
1. Keep in mind your intentions. You should wake up with Allah (swt) on your mind and in your heart. This will motivate you to make the prayer because you will think about your intention of making prayer for Allah (swt).
2. Consider how you want your day to go. When doing so, keep this hadith in mind: “During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is long, so keep on sleeping.’ If that person wakes up and remembers Allah, then one knot is undone. When he (or she) performs ablution (wudu) the second knot is undone. And when he (she) prays, all the knots are undone, and he (she) gets up in the morning lively and in a good mood, otherwise he (she) gets up dull and gloomy.”(Bukhari)
3. Stay motivated with family. If you do not live on your own and have a roommate or family that engages in salat as well then use each other as motivation. Whether your Ummi or Abu is your wakeup call or you get your sister or brother to bang on your door. If you can get that help and support do so. You’ll be more likely to wake up and even start doing it on your own whether or not they are there to do it for you.
4. Get help from your brothers and sisters. If you know someone who is getting up for fajr prayer and they live in the same time zone as you then ask them to give you a call when it’s time for salat. Yeah, the phone call may be annoying so early in the morning, but remember- INTENTIONS!!
5. Don’t eat too much before bed. You should also avoid eating right before you go to sleep. This will cause your body to naturally want to sleep. The infamous “itis”! Grab a light snack instead. If you must eat, space that meal out to at least 3-4 hours before going to bed.
5. Go to bed early. No one likes to do this. We all stay up late. Some of us fall out on top of our laptops because we’ve been Facebooking all night while others fall out on the couch watching TV. Some of us simply act like insomniacs and refuse to go to bed at a decent hour; I have to admit that I was guilty of this. Go to bed. If you’re not tired you should still go to bed. DVR and record your “shows”, create better time management throughout your day. Once you stop going to bed two hours before fajr is due you’ll have an easier time waking up for it.
6. Take advantage of technology. Hate the sound of an alarm clock? Or don’t have one at all? Use that technology! Set your alarm clock at a decent sound level to ensure you’ll hear it in your sleep. If you sleep heavy then maximum volume is suggested. A good alarm clock for fajr should also have a snooze feature, just in case. Be sure to set your alarm for at least 20-30 minutes before fajr. This will allow you to wake up and make wudu. This helps on those mornings where you get up and stare at the clock for ten minutes. If you don’t want to use a traditional alarm clock then use your cell phone. There are two ways to do this for some people. If you have a Blackberry or Android phone there are several apps for salat that have the feature of the Adhan recitation. This way you can wake up to Adhan. Or you could simply use the alarm feature on your phone. This is helpful when you hate the sound of an alarm clock. You can choose a “ringtone” or a particular ring instead. Don’t forget there is always a salat alarm available with most online Islamic dealers as well as in Islamic stores.
That’s it! Now there are no excuses. You know what you need to do so In shaa Allah, get to it! See you at fajr!
In order to build our certainty in al-Mujeeb, He tells us stories of how He manifests this Name in the Qur’an.
“And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.’ So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah ].” (Qur’an, 21:83-84)
The Prophet Ayub (Job) `alayhi sallatu wa sallam (may God send His peace and blessings on him) was afflicted with a disease for 18 years, and never once did he complain. Before the disease, he was blessed with abundant wealth for 50 years and was always grateful to Allah (swt). He never once blamed Allah (swt) when he lost everything, and if we look at his du`a’, he called on Allah (swt) by His Majestic Names, and recognized that truly it is only Allah (swt) who could help him. And when Allah (swt) responded to him, He did not just remove the affliction, but gave him more. We should always think the best of Allah (swt) and recognize that even as He is the One who responds, He is also the Most-Generous. And the most hopeful part? That Allah (swt) says: it is “a mercy from Us, and a reminder to the worshippers”—a reminder that when we are afflicted, we need to turn back to Allah (swt). Allah (swt) makes after hardship ease and can cure our afflictions when we turn to Him, but we should also be patient as Ayoub (as) was patient, and certain as Ayoub (as) was certain that he had a Merciful God even as he was being tried. So whenever harm afflicts you, remember this du`a’!
Photo Courtesy: YMP
Friday, March 1, 2013
How to paint your ideal life:
Take out a pen and paper and at the top write: “If Allah were to give me anything in this world and they next, ANYTHING, what would I ask for?” There is no limit, keep writing everything you could EVER want.
Then, write 4 categories on a new paper:
“Spiritual / Personal / Financial-Material / Contribution”
And under each heading, write down 3 or 4 of the things you are
COMMITTED to working to achieve. The things you want the most. And be specific as to the date you are going to achieve them by. And what specifically will be achieved.
Then, take this list and make it your du’aa list. Made du’aa for these 12 things every day, all the time, in sujood, in qiyaam, all the time.
And, bi tawfeeqillah, it’ll be yours. :)
~Muhammad AlShareef~
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