Oh True Lover of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
Oh lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! Most certainly the concerns of your beloved concern you greatly. Without any doubt what he loved, you also love and what he despised and disliked, you too hate those aspects. This is obviously your condition, since you are a true lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Every true and sincere lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has such intense love for his beloved that, as a poet says: “Even if I wash my mouth with musk, it will still not be worthy enough to fulfil the right of mentioning the beloved and esteemed name of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).” Every person is disturbed by bad odours. The stench of sin from the mouth, eyes, ears and all the other limbs are greatly disturbing to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Hence his true lovers will refrain from all sins so that they do not cause any disturbance to their beloved. Therefore, O true lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), consider the following Ahadith of our beloved and noble Master: (sallallahu alaihi wasallam):
* “I have been sent to destroy musical instruments” (Nailul Awtaar).
* “Music creates hypocrisy in the hearts just as water causes the grass to grow” (Baihaqi).
* “Music incites one towards adultery” (Nailul Awtaar).
* “Ibn Umar (radhiallahu anhu) reports that once Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) heard the sound of music. He immediately thrust his fingers into his ears until the sound could no longer be heard” (Abu Dawood).
* “When my Ummah will indulge in fifteen actions, the calamities will befall them one after the other. (Among the fifteen actions is) . . . When singing girls and musical instruments will become rife” (Tirmizi).
* “Verily Allah Ta’ala has forbidden alcoholic drinks, gambling, the drum and tambourine and every intoxicant is forbidden” (Abu Dawood).
* “Listening to music is a sin and sitting for that purpose is a flagrant violation” (Nailul Awtaar).
* “The one who listens to singing girls, Allah Ta’ala will pour molten lead into his ears on the day of Qiyamah” (Ibn Asaakir).
Hence O true lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), it is obvious that after reading the above Ahadith it is impossible for you to listen to that which your beloved Rasul (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) hated to listen to. How can it ever be possible for a true lover to open his ears to listen to that which Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) closed his ears to? How can it ever be possible for a true lover to love that which his beloved prohibited? How can it ever be possible for a true lover to stoop to the level of even paying to indulge in that which his beloved has warned against that it will bring down the “calamities”? After all, is it not correct that you are a true, sincere and ardent lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)???
alhaadi.org.za
The Movie 'Fitna'
In the Name of Almighty Allah
Most Beneficent Most Merciful
Assalamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
Dedicated to the Seekers
of Truth & Enlightenment.
Alhamdu Lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen was Salaatu was
Salaamu 'alaa Ashrafil Ambiyaa'e wal Mursaleen.
Wa Ba'd:
Ya Ummatul Islam! It is an open secret that the entire Muslim Ummah today stands condemned for trying to bring themselves back to the original foundations of the Din of Haqq established over fourteen hundred years ago by the Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam. In these tragic, critical and crucial times in the current historical stage of our Islamic nation, in conjunction with the rapid anti-Islamic sentiments by the enemies of Islam, it would be wise, even obligatory, to pause for a moment and study, contemplate and revise our daily obligatory Islamic duties, our lifestyles and our priorities and commitments as Muslims according to the Most Holy Qur'an and Sunnah of our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.
Islamophobia is a neologism [a word or phrase used in a new meaning] to refer to an irrational fear or prejudice towards Islam, towards the Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam and towards the Muslim Ummah. This great Fitnah and ongoing hatred is being perpetrated against Muslims the world over. Muslims continue to face the onslaught of hatred and racism from both the media and intellectual circles. Those who hate Islam and Muslims thus link every political conflict to Islam. This, they believe, will advance their political agenda and block any rational analysis that might otherwise lead to conflict resolution. Therefore, if a conflict is related to Islam, then what's the use of trying to discuss it? If Islam is the root cause of that conflict, then the victimization of Muslims, all Muslims, can be easily justified.
O you who believe! There is another sort of defense that is much more profound and sweeping than defense of one's homeland, and this is the defense of the Truth, the sole object of the holy faith of Islam. This Divine method exists to promulgate the Truth and reality; thus, our faith is known as the Religion of Truth, meaning a religion that belongs to the Truth, contains nothing but the Truth, and has no other object than the Truth. Accordingly, it is imperative for every Muslim to accord with the Truth, to speak the Truth, and to defend the Truth with all his or her power in any way possible. In describing His Book, which comprehends all realities, Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala informs us in verse 30 of Surah Al-Ahqaf:
"It guides people to the Truth and to the Straight Way."
Where did all this hatred come from and how can the tide be turned? I believe it has its roots in America's reaction to 9-11. The 19 who were accused for committing that heinous crime weren't called criminals. They weren't even called terrorists but rather 'Islamic terrorists' whereas members of, say, the IRA or the Basque separatist group ETA was never referred to as 'Christian terrorists'. Thus the words "Islamic" and "terrorist" became enjoined in the minds of the ill informed. A serious attempt must be made so that the xenophobic masses could benefit from understanding the essence and true meaning of Islam. The general trend all over the West today is to depict Islam as a religion of fanatics and fundamentalists.
Ya Ibad Allah! It's becoming hard to keep up with the steady stream of attacks on Islam or its traditions coming out of the mouths of Western political and religious leaders. It's almost as though hunting season has been declared on a quarter of the world's population, with the most unlikely individuals queuing to take pot shots. We have witnessed Danish cartoons denigrating the Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam, the self-styled leader of the so-called free world declaring war on "Islamic Fascists", his subservient buddy Tony promising to combat "an evil ideology", and Pope Benedict getting in a dig against Islam by quoting an obscure 14th century Byzantine emperor. A few weeks ago a right-wing MP in the Dutch parliament, Geert Wilders released his anti-Islam film titled "Fitna".
From the vast sewers of filth and misinformation that continues to be dished out by the likes of Geert Wilders and his coalition of "Fithnah mongers" across television screens, the internet, the media, as well as radio and television talk shows, there has been little else to let the world know and understand the truth and the root cause of all this hatred. In the meantime, blatant racism and hate crimes are being perpetrated and directed towards innocent Muslims. May Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala in His Infinite Mercy, guide all of us during these difficult times. We pray for the Muslim Ummah as well as for the other faith communities all over the world who have stood by us in peace and healing from within themselves through their prayers and supplications.
Wa ya ahlal Qur'an! As Muslims, we are greatly perturbed by the ongoing hatred directed towards our Din, our most beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam and our way of life. As Muslims, we must not loose sight of the fact that we are the Ummah of Almighty Allah's Beloved Rahmatul Liel Ala'meen - the greatest man who walked upon the face of this earth - Nabee Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam. We must persevere with Sabir through Ibadah and supplications. Condemning our enemies and their mouthpieces who are responsible for this hatred is the easy part. Any rational human being will consider this as most heinous and reprehensible. The declaration by Almighty Allah has been made clear in a most forceful manner in verse 217 of Surah Al-Baqara:
"They will not cease to fight with you till they turn you away
from your religion if they are able to do so; whosoever of you
turns from his religion and dies as a disbeliever have failed in this
life and in the Aghirah they will be the companions of the fire
and will dwell therein forever."
Ya Ummatal Islam! This satanic inspired form of Islamophobia has caused every thinking Muslim individual to cease his or her daily life momentarily and to ponder deeply upon the larger questions of life. There are two possible responses to what is happening. The first comes from compassion and understanding, the second from fear. If we come from fear we may panic and end up doing things that will result in further damage. If we come from compassion and understanding, we will find refuge in faith and strength, even as we provide it to others. We may seek to pinpoint blame, or to pinpoint a variety of causes but until and unless we take the time to earnestly reflect on this experience, it will be very difficult to resolve the emotions within us. This may result that we will live in fear of retribution or to seek retribution. If we allow ourselves to be guided by our emotions we will miss the most basic human lessons and become blind to the most basic human truths. The command of the Divine Message is that humanity must live in peace on this planet without repressing or oppressing one another.
People of Imaan! This is the Divine Message that the human race has willfully ignored. To forget or to ignore this Divine Command is the root cause of hatred and war, and the way to remember this is very simple indeed through compassion, understanding and collective good for all of humanity. Mankind today stands on the brink of a precipice, not because of the danger of complete annihilation which is hanging over its head this being just a symptom and not the real disease but because humanity is devoid of those vital Divine values which are so necessary not only for its healthy development but also for its real progress.
Fa ya Ayyuhan nas! We must remember that September 11th, 2001 was not a unique disaster, but one of a very long lists of disasters. Remembering the other disasters that Muslims have suffered in the past and continue to suffer at this very moment in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Kashmir, Algeria, Bosnia, Kosova, the Caucasus regions, Macedonia, and the Philippines does not diminish the horror of this one. Many statements continue to confuse revenge with defense and retaliation with prevention. Unless the Western governments identify and acknowledge the cause of all this hatred, and take concrete steps to remedy it, efforts to end this hatred will be futile. The West still haven't internalized at a deeper level the instruction by Nabee Esa [Jesus Christ - peace be upon him] to return the other cheek. If this catastrophe does not teach the advocates of force just how insidious all forms of violence and hatred are, nothing will.?
Ya Ummatal Aqeeda! If we could show understanding even to those who have attacked us, and seek to understand why they have done so, how would we react and how would we respond? If we choose to meet blood with blood, rage with rage and attack with attack what will be the final outcome? These are the questions confronting humanity today and they are questions that we have failed to answer for thousands of years. Failure to answer them now could eliminate the great need to answer them at all.
We are taught to wish the very same for the next person that we desire and wish for ourselves. If we wish to experience peace, we provide peace for another.
If we wish to know that we are safe, make it known to another that they are safe. If we wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand. If we wish to heal our own sadness or anger, seek to heal the sadness or anger of another. This is the lesson that we all urgently need to heed. It is also said that no individual or no nation is an island unto them selves. If there were no general rules to which people could take recourse, and no criteria by which truth could be distinguished from falsehood, social order would be disrupted, human society would break down and the mistrust and hatred between people will intensify. The Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an testifies to this in verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat:
"O Mankind! We have created you male and female, and appointed
you nations and tribes, that you may know one another."
If man was not social by nature and individuals were able to live by themselves, there would have been no need of nations and tribes, since they would not require the mutual acquaintance (al-ta'aruf) which depends on close social ties and understanding. Regarding the second important point pertaining to the inevitability of conflict, Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala reminds us in verses 118 and 119 of Surah Hud:
"Had thy Lord willed, He would have made mankind
one nation;but they continue in their differences,
excepting those on whom Thy Lord has mercy".
Almighty Allah then reminds us in verse 9 of Surah An-Nahl:
"Allah's responsibility is to show the way; and some do swerve
from it. If He willed, He would have guided you all together."
Ibad'Allah! As Muslims, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are first and foremost Muslims and that we are the Ummah of Almighty Allah's Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam. We must persevere with Sabir and to fear none other but Almighty Allah as commanded of us. It is known that solidarity, strength and solvency dawn upon people who bind themselves by Divine Commandments, are well organized, peaceful, resourceful and resurgent. We must never ever set aside the Qur'anic belief that we were all created from dust and that we must never ever ignore the Divine Call. Do not be scattered. Hold fast to the Rope of Almighty Allah. The saying of Hazrat Umar R.A. that "Almighty Allah's Hand is with the Jamaat" i.e. a body that is systematically organized and united.
Alhumdoelillah! At this critical juncture - one religion persists - it lives in its original pristine form, and its followers know that they must see that it continues so, for they have been entrusted with the superintendence of the world, the survival of civilisation, the close examination of the good and evil propensities of mankind. They know that they will be held to account for the way they discharge their duty. Islam is distinguished above other faiths for it possesses the Most Holy and Noble Qur'an whose abundant and inexhaustible wisdom is an everlasting source of joy in the way of Almighty Allah and for the benefit of mankind. The Holy Qur'an brought about a mighty revolution in the lives of millions of men and women - unchanged and unaltered for the past fourteen hundred years, it can do so once again. The vast fragrant treasures of the Sunnah of Almighty Allah's Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam, bright and beautiful is a most radiant record in the life of mankind. It unravels the knots that entangle human intellect; it brings out hidden realities and it remains intact, though ages have passed. The Muslim Ummah will rise in readiness for their faith and be capable of the highest sacrifice in the Way of Allah. This, is a resource of which the enemies of Islam are devoid.
Ya Ummatal Tawhid! This is the Truth and the sooner our nation realizes it, the sooner they would able to defend themselves against Islamophobia, the Fithnah and the barbarous tyranny and hatred of its enemies. Islam is the only future hope for humanity. Islam can not be extinguished, Islam is neither aggressive nor oppressive, Islamic ideology is alive and this is having an unbearable effect on the enemies of Islam, who are slowly but surely being driven to despair. It is the foremost duty of each and every Muslim to march on and strive without fear, sacrificing everything to regain our lost heritage. Let us all honour our obligations as true Muslims and carefully differentiate between what is TOLERANCE and what is NEGLECT and be sincere and steadfast in striving for Almighty Allah's Cause so that Allah may be pleased with us and grant us success as He has promised in verse 200 of Surah Al-Imran:
"O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such
perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper."
And Almighty Allah knows best.
Baarak Allaahu Feekum wa-sal Allaahu wa-Sallam 'alaa
Nabiyyinaa Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.
Was Salamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.
Abdul Hamid
Mixing with Jaahiliyyah
In the Name of Almighty Allah
Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
Assalamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen was-Salaatu
was-Salaamu 'alaa Asrafil Anbiyaa'e wal Mursaleen.
Wa Ba'd:
Ummatul Islam! The foremost function of Islam is that it molds human life into a comprehensive concept with its own unique characteristics. It is for this very purpose that Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala has raised this Muslim nation to be a practical example for all of humanity for so declares Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala in verse 110 of Surah Al-i-Imram:
You are the best community raised for the good of mankind. You
enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and you believe in Allah."
This most wonderful declaration means that the Muslim nation has been placed on the Path of Seerathal Mustaqeem by Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala Who characterizes and confirms The Path of this nation in verse 18 of Surah Al-Jathiya:
"We have set you on the Path ordained by Allah; follow that Path
and do not follow the desires of those who have no knowledge for
they will not avail thee anything before Allah. Surely, the evil doers
are friends of one another, and Allah is the Friend of those who fear
none but Him Alone."
People of Imaan! These verses make it crystal clear that there are only two ways in life and that it would be impossible for a third way to exist. We either submit totally and completely to none other than Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala and His Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam or, we follow the Jahiliyyah way of life. This command from Almighty Allah is clear and decisive and leaves no room whatsoever for controversy, apologies or excuses. Islam cannot and will never accept any mixing with Jahiliyyah. If we profess to be "confirmed Muslims", then we, as the "best community who have been raised for the good of mankind" cannot ever accept or agree to any given situation which is half-Islam and half-Jahiliyyah. The Din of Al-Islam is very clear when it says that Truth is one and cannot be divided. The mixing and co-existence of truth and falsehood is impossible because the Command belongs exclusively either to Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala or to Jahiliyyah. Either Almighty Allah's Shari'ah will prevail, or else the Jahiliyyah desires, whims and fancies of people will prevail as we learn from verse 50 of Surah Al-Qasas:
"And if they do not respond to you, then know that they are
following their own opinions; and who can be more misguided
than one who follows his own opinion against the guidance from
Allah - Indeed, Allah does not guide wicked people."
Fa ya Ayyuhan nas! Islam did not come to support or compromise with the misguided desires of people that are expressed in their concepts, habits, interpretations, modes of living, and traditions. Islam does not and will not sanction the rule of selfish desires. Islam came to abolish all such concepts, laws, customs and traditions, and replaced them with a new world on the foundation of submission to none other than Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala. The tree of Islam has been sown and nurtured by the wisdom of Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala'meen, while the tree of Jahiliyyah is the product of the soil of human desires. Jahiliyyah is evil and corrupt, whether it is of the ancient or modern variety. Almighty Allah will not forgive any association with His Person, and He does not accept any association with His revealed way of life for they are both Shirk and a product of the same mentality.
This truth must be firmly and clearly impressed upon when we present Islam to people. Our tongues should not hesitate to announce it, nor should we apologize or be ashamed regardless of whether the people concerned are acquaintances, family, or friends, Muslim or non-Muslim. As confirmed Muslims it is our Islamic duty to make people aware that Islam is not one of the man-made religions or ideologies, nor is it a man-made system. It is pure Islam and nothing else. Islam is noble, pure, and most beautiful, springing directly from the source of Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala. We do not have to rationalize Islam to them, nor do we have to appease their desires, their fanciful interpretations and distorted concepts. This is a fact - a fact that is being proclaimed loudly, without leaving any doubt or ambiguity in the minds of people.
Ma'aa sheral Muslimeen!The ignorance in which Muslims are living makes us impure and Almighty Allah wants to purify us. The distorted nationalistic, tribal, ethnic and village customs that we continue to follow are defiling and Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala wants to cleanse us and wants to uplift us with ease, mercy and Muhabbat. Islam and only Islam will and can change our concepts, our modes of living and our values. Islam will raise us to another life so that we will look upon the life we are now living with disgust and contempt and will introduce us to values such that we will look upon all current values prevalent throughout the world today with disdain.
And if, because of the sorry state we find ourselves in, we fail to see the true picture of the Islamic way of life, then let us open the windows of the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an, of our Shari'ah, of our history and of our concept of the future and of the Aghirah whose coming we do not doubt. In the scale of Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala, the true weight is the weight of Taqwa; in Allah's marketplace the only commodity in demand is the commodity of Imaan. The argument that Islam presents to humanity is that it is certainly better beyond imagination. Islam came to annihilate the Jahiliyyah way. Islam did not come to continue it nor to compromise with it. We do not invite people to Islam to obtain name and fame or reward from them. We invite people to Islam because we love them and wish them well, although they may ridicule and taunt us for not going along or agreeing with their distorted Jahiliyyah views and concepts of Almighty Allah's Din.
Ummatul Muslimeen! People are entitled to learn the true nature of Islam and the obligations it imposes on them, as well as the untold blessings it bestows on them. They are also entitled to know that the nature of what they are doing is nothing but Jahiliyyah with nothing in it from Islam. It is mere fanciful interpretation and desire as long as it is not the Shari'ah; and it is falsehood as long as it is not the truth. We who regard ourselves to be Muslims should compare our lives and our conduct with the Kuffar followers of Jahiliyyah. Kafirs do not read the Most Holy Qur'an nor they do not know or care what is written in it. If Muslims are equally ignorant of it how can they claim to be part of "the best community?" Kafirs follow their own Jahiliyyah desires instead of the Commands of Almighty Allah.
Muslims who are slaves of lust and are similarly willful and undisciplined by setting their own interpretations, ideas and opinions on a pedestal and who remain indifferent to Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala are no better off than the followers of Jahiliyyah. We all know for a fact that the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an is the greatest living miracle.. yet, we ignore it and treat it as a Kuffar treats it. We know that Nabee Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam is the Beloved of Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala and yet we are as unwilling as the Kuffar to follow and live strictly by his Sunnah everyday of our lives without compromises.
Ibad'Allah! Imaan has come to be taken for granted as a birthright; it has become confined to the mere utterance of the Kalimah; it has been placed in the corner of life and has been made innocuous and safe. Being a Muslim is not something automatically inherited from our parents which remains ours for life. Being born in a Muslim home, bearing Muslim names and calling ourselves Muslims is not enough to make us Muslims. To entrust ourselves totally and completely to none other than Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala is Islam. To bring all our affairs under Almighty Allah means to accept unreservedly the Divine Guidance sent through all the Ambiya Alayhim Salatu Wasallam and the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an is Islam. To relinquish all claims to absolute freedom and independence and to follow the Path of Seerathal Mustaqeem is Islam.
Unfortunately there are people who obey the dictates of their own reason and desires, they are engaged in following their tribal and ethnic customs; they accept whatever is happening in society, and they never bother to ascertain from the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah. They even compromise with the laws of the Holy Shari'ah. If we obey the directions of Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala in some matters, while in others we follow our own self desires then we are most certainly guilty of Kufr to the extend of our disobedience. The Kalimah must be rooted in the innermost recesses of the heart and it must drive out any belief opposed to it. True Imaan, once installed at the centre of life, once lodged in the heart, must flourish into a mighty tree of As-Salihat (righteous deeds).
Ummatal Tawhid! Having believed in Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala and His Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam, and accepted Al-Islam as our Din, we must bring ourselves totally under Almighty Allah's rule. As Muslims, we should and we must free ourselves from the burden and the power of compromising with the Jahiliyyah way. If we fail to do that will mean that we are living under two Dins: one in our minds, or at most in our private lives; the other, in our public lives. For, Din without power to govern is just like a house that exists in the mind only. But, it is the house that actually exists, in which we actually live, that is important. It is impossible to follow two Dins. In reality, we are followers only of Almighty Allah's Din and we have been blessed with the noble title of "the best community". Is it then not meaningless to assert that we believe in this Shari'ah when all affairs are conducted by compromising with Jahiliyyah? This situation is unacceptable.
Beloved Ummatul Muslimmen! For how can Allah's Din accept to co-exist with any other system when no other Din will admit to such a partnership? The Din of Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata'ala demands that all authority should genuinely and exclusively be vested in it without any compromises. Throughout the Doonya today we witness the lordship of man over his fellowman based on the Jahiliyyah system and this is the cause of all corrupt rule on earth. As Muslims, it is our duty to stand up and fight against this system and use it on Allah's behalf. It is useless to think that we can change things by preaching alone. We Muslims possess the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an as well as the Sunnah of Almighty Allah's Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam. Despite these great blessings, we suffer disgrace and ignominy, we live under subjugation, we are trampled on and kicked around and carry the yoke of slavery and are led by the nose like animals all over the world today.
People of Imaan! To answer this question we must concede that there is something wrong in our claim that we are "the best community". In this respect our conduct as Muslims towards the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an is very crucial. If a nation possess Allah's Holy Book and still live in disgrace and subjugation then they are surely being punished for doing an injustice to Allah's word. The only way to save ourselves from Allah's anger is to turn back from this grave sin and to make our "Hijrah" back to the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an and the Sunnah of our Beloved Nabee Muhammad sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam. It is our foremost duty as Muslims to acquire sufficient knowledge of Almighty Allah's Din so as to enable us to understand the essence of the teachings of the Most Holy Qur'an and the purpose for which it has been sent down to us.
We must clearly understand the mission that our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam came into this world to fulfil. We will then recognize the corrupt Jahiliyyah order and system that he came to destroy. The Most Holy Qur'an will acquaint us with the life which Allah has ordained for us. If we value Imaan, it cannot be too difficult to find one hour every day to devote to this noble exercise. Today the affairs of this world are being controlled by the Jahiliyyah Way. This should not make us lose hope, but only make us redouble our efforts to follow and promote the path of belief and good deeds.......the Path of Seerathal Mustaqeem.
And Almighty Allah knows best.
Baarak Allaahu Feekum wa-sal Allaahu wa-Sallam 'alaa
Nabiyyinaa Muhammad Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.
Was Salamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.
Abdul Hamid
An Analysis of Misfortune and Hardship
The question of God's justice involves certain problems, such as the
existence of disasters, loss and evil in the natural order, and
inequalities in the social order. This question arouses, in fact, a
whole storm of questions and objections in the minds of many people.
The problems they face are so fundamental that what start out as
doubts and hesitations, ultimately become an indissoluble complex.
Such people ask how it is possible that in a world created on the
basis of intelligence and wisdom, so much suffering, pain and evil
should prevail; that the world should be subjected constantly to the
successive blows of hardship and misfortune, with loss and deficiency
always in the ascendant.
Why is it that in various parts of the world, terrible, overwhelming
events assault mankind, resulting in untold loss and destruction? Why
is one person ugly and another beautiful, one healthy and another
sick? Why are all men not created equal, and does not their
inequality point to an absence of justice in the universe?
Justice in the order of things depends on its being free of
oppression, discrimination and disaster, or the absence from it of
all defect, sickness, and poverty; this, they say, alone would result
in perfection and justice.
We must begin by admitting that our evaluation of the affairs of the
universe does not permit us to penetrate the ultimate depths of
phenomena; it is inadequate for the analysis of the ends and purposes
of things.
Our initial understanding of unpleasant events and disasters is bound
to be superficial; we are not prepared to recognize any truth lying
beyond our initial impression. We cannot, at the outset, delineate
the ultimate aims of those events, and we, therefore, regard them as
signs of injustice. Our feelings become aroused and lead us into the
most illogical analyses.
But if we reflect more profoundly, we will see that this onesided
evaluation of events we label injustice comes from making our
interests or those of people to whom we are directly or indirectly
related, our criteHon and yardstick. Whatever secures our interests
isgood,and what ever harms us is bad. In other words, our judgment of
good and bad is based on a short-eyed perception narrow horizons of
thought, and a lack of precise knowledge concernlng the norms of
creation.
Is our existence the only issue involved in every occurrence? Can we
make our own profit and loss into the criterion of good and evil? Our
material world is constantly engaged in producing change. Events that
did not exist today will occur tomorrow, some things will disappear
and others will take their place.
It is obvious that what is useful and beneficial for some people
today will cease to exist tomorrow. But for us who are human beings
and attached to our own existence and the things of the world, the
acquisition of things is good and their loss is bad. But despite man
and his attachments, the changing nature of the world produces
constantly changing phenomena. If the world did not comprehend the
possibility of change, phenomena them selves would not exist, and,
therefore, there could also be no question of good and evil.
In such a hypothetical, unchanging world there would be neither loss
and deficiency nor growth and development, no contrast or
differentiation, no variety or multiplicity, no compounding or
motion. In a world without deficiency or loss, there would also be no
human, moral or social criteria, limits, or laws. Development and
change are the result of the motion and rotation of the planets, if
they ceased to exist, there would be no earth, no moon and no sun, no
day, no month and no year.
A somewhat comprehensive view of the world will permit us to
understand that what is harmful for us today, or may be so in the
future, is benefi cial for others. The world as a whole moves in the
direction dictated by the overall purpose of being and benefit of
being; individuals may suffer harm in this process, and it may even
be that mankind at large does not stand to benefit.
Were we able to plunge deeply enough into the ocean of knowledge and
turn the pages of its book replete with mysteries with the finger of
our under standing, the ultimate purpose and outcome of all events
and phenomena would be revealed to us.
However, our powerof judgment is not sufficiently comprehensive to
deal with the complex web that confronts us: we know neither the
chain of prece ding causes that have produced the phenomena of today,
nor the chain of future effects those phenomena, in turn, will
produce.
If it were possible for us to look down from above on the broad plain
of the world, in such a way that we could see all the positive and
negative aspects of everything, all the mysteries of everything
occurring in the world; if it were possible for us to evaluate the
effects and results of every event in history, past, presentand
future and everything occurring between pre-eternity and
post-eternity, and, if this were possible for us, then we might be
able to say that the harm of a given event out weighed its benefit
and brand it as evil.
But does man have such comprehensive awareness of the horizontal and
vertical chains of causality? Can he situate himself on the moving
axis of the world?
Since we do not dispose of such an ability, since we will never be
able to traverse so infinite a distance, however longbeourstride;
since we will never be able to lift the veil from all these complexi
ties and take their due measure, it is best that we refrain from
one-sided and hasty judgments that are based on our own
short-sightedness.
We should recognize that we must not make our own benefit the sole
criterion for judging this vast universe. The relative observations
we make within the framework of the limited data at our disposal and
the specific conditions to which we are subject can never furnish
criteria for a definibve judgment.
Nature may often be working toward the fulfillment of a particular
goal that is unimaginable to man, given his conventional
circumstances. Why cannot it not be supposed that unpleasant
occurrences are the result of efforts aimed at preparing the ground
for a new phenomenon that will be the instrument of God's will upon
earth? It may be that the conditions and circumstances of the age
necessitate such processes.
If all the changes and upheavals that terrify us did not take place
within a given plan and design and for the sake of a specific aim, if
they were to be extended throughout time without producing any
positive or construc tive result, there would be no trace on earth of
any living creature, including man.
Why should we accuse the world of injustice, of being chaotic and
unstable, simply because of a few exceptional occurrences and
phenomena in nature? Should we start objecting because of a handful
of unpleasantnessess, major and minor, forgetting all the
manifestations of precision and wisdom, all the wonders we see in the
world and its creatures, that testify to the will and intelligence of
an exalted being?
Since man sees so much evidence of careful planning through out the
universe, he must admit that the world is a purposive whole, a
process moving toward perfection. Every phenomenon in it is subject
to its own specific criterion, and if a phenomenon appears
inexplicable or unjustif iable, this is becauseof man's short
sightedness. Man must understand that in his finiteness, he lacks the
capacity to understand the aims of all phenomena and their content;
it is not that creation has any defect.
Our attitude to the bitter and unpleasant occurrences of this world
resemble the judgment made by a desert dweller when he comes to the
city and sees powerful bulldozers destroying old buildings. He
regards this demolition as a foolish act of destruction, but is it
logical on his part to think that the demolition is unplanned and
purposeless? Of course not, because he sees only the process of
demolition, not the calculations and plans of the architects and
others involved.
As a certain scientist said: Our state is like that of children who
watch a circus packing up and preparing to move on. This is necessary
for the circus to go else where and continue with its life of
excitement, but those short-sighted children see in the folding of
the tents and the comings and goings of men and animals nothing but
the dissolution and termination of the circus."
If we look a little more deeply and imaginatively at the misfortunes
and disasters that plague man and interpret them correctly, we will
appreciate that in reality, they are blessings, not disasters.
A blessing being a blessing, and a disastel being a disaster is
dependent upon man's reaction to it; a single event may be
experienced quite differently by two different people.
Misfortune and pain are like an alarm warning man to remedy his
deficien cies and errors; they are like a natural immune system or
regulatory mech anism inherent in man.
If wealth leads to self-indulgence and pleasure-seeking, it is a
misfortune and a disaster, and if poverty and deprivation lead to the
refinement and development of the human soul, they are a blessing.
Thus, wealth cannot be counted as absolute good fortune nor poverty
as absolute misfortune. A similar rule covers whatever natural gifts
man may possess.
Nations who are confronted by various hostile forces and compelled to
struggle for their survival are strengthened thereby. Once we regard
effort and struggle to be a positive and constructive endeavor, we
cannot overlook the role played by hardships in developing man's
inner resources and impelling him to progress.
People who are not obliged to struggle and who live in an environment
free of all contradiction will easily be immersed by material
prosperity in their pleasures and lusts.
How often it happens that someone willingly endures hardship and pain
for the sake of a great goal! Were it not for that hardship and pain,
the goal might not appear so desirable to him!
A smooth path along which one advances blindly and mechanically is
not conducive to development and growth, ant a human effort from
which the element of conscious will has been removed cannot produce a
fundamental change in man.
Struggle and contradiction are like a scourge impelling man forward.
Solid objects are shattered by the pressure of repeated blows, but
men are formed and tempered by the hardships they endure. They throw
themselves into the ocean to learn how to swim, and it is in the
furnace of crisis that genius emerges.
Untrammeled self-indulgence, love of the word, unrestricted pleasure
seeking, heedlessness of higher goals all these are intications of
misguid ance and lack of awareness. In fact, the most wretchet of men
are those who have grown up in the midst of luxury and comfort, who
have never experienced the hardships of life or tasted its bitter
days along with the sweet the sun of their lives rises and sets
within, unnoticed by anyone else.
Following one's inclinations and adhering to one's desires is
incompatible with firmness and elevation of spirit, with purposeful
effort and striving. Pleasure-seeking and corruption, on the one
hand, and strength of will and purposiveness, on the other, represent
two contrary inclinations in man. Since neither can be negated or
affirmed to the exclusion of the other, one must strive constantly to
reduce the desire for pleasure and strengthen the opposing force
within one.
Those who have been raised in luxury, who have never tasted the
bitter and sweet days of the world, who have always enjoyed
prosperity and never endur ed hunger they can never appreciate the
taste of delicious food nor the joy of life as a whole and they are
incapable of truly appreciating beauty. The pleasures of life can be
truly enjoyed only by those who have experienced hardship and failure
in their lives, who have the capacity to absorb diffi culty and to
endure those hardships that lie in wait along every step of man's
path.
Material and spiritual ease become precious to man only after
experiencing the ups and downs of life and the pressure of its
unpleasant incidents.
Once man is preoccupied with his material life, all dimensions of his
existence are enchained, and he loses aspiration and motion.
Inevitably, he will also neglect his etemal life and inward
purification. As long as desire casts its shadow on his being and his
soul is ensnared by darkness, he will be like a speck tossed around
on the waves of matter. He will seek refuge in anything but God. He
therefore needs something to awaken him and induce maturity in his
thoughts, to rernind him of the transitoriness of this ephemeral
world and help him attain the ultirnate aim of all heavenly
teachings, the freedom fo the soul from all the obstacles and
carriers that prevent man from attaining lofty perfection.
The training and refinement of the self is not to be had cheaply; it
requires the renunciation of various pleasures and enjoyrnents, and
the process of cutting loose from them is bitter and difficult.
It is true that such exertions will be for the sake of purifying
man's inner being and allowing his latent capacities to appear.
Nonetheless, patient abstention from sin and pleasure-seeking is
always bitter to man's taste and it is only through obstinate
resistance to lower impulses that he can fulfill his mission of
breaking down the barriers that confront him and thus ascend to the
realm of higher values.
Ref: GOD and His Attributes, Lessons on Islamic Doctrine, Book I
Sayyid Mujtaba Musavi Lari, Translated by Br. Hamid Algar
Islamic Education Center, 7917 Montrose Road, Potomac, MD.
Procrastination and Laziness
How do you determine who is a lazy person? Perhaps the best way is determining if he woke up for Fajr Salaat or not. If a person can manage to overcome the first hurdle in his day, he will be able to overcome all others. Our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "During your sleep, Satan ties three knots at the back of your necks. He whispers the following into them: The night is long so keep on sleeping. If the person wakes and praises Allah, then one of the knots is unfastened. And if he performs ablution, the second knot is unfastened. When he prays, all of the knots are unfastened. After that he will be energetic and happy in the morning. Otherwise he would get up listless and grouchy." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Imam al-Bukhari also records that our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about a man who sleeps until the morning comes, that is, after the time of the dawn prayer. He said: "That is a man whom Satan has urinated into his two ears."
Procrastination and laziness are two of Shaytan's strongest strategies to stop us from performing good deeds. It is necessary for the wise person to take matters into his/her own hand and harness his/her energy in a positive way everyday. The person who breaks the back of Shaytan in the start of the day will not just pass his time day dreaming and in mindless pursuits, he will make sure that every second of his time is spent fruitfully. In winter, Fajr Salaah is much later. So let us break the back of Shaytan and kick-start our day with Salaat!
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Affliction
Affliction is an adornment for the believer and a mark of honour
for the man of intellect, because facing it directly needs stead
fastness and firm-footedness, both of which confirm belief. The
Prophet said, 'We, the company of the prophets, are the people
who have the hardest trials, then after us come the believers,
then the others like them.'
Whoever tastes the food of affliction while under God's protec-
tion enjoys it more than he enjoys God's blessing. He yearns for
it when it is not there, because the lights of blessing lie under
the balance of affliction and trial, and the balance of affliction
and trial lies under the lights of blessing. Many are delivered
from affliction and then destroyed in blessing. God praised none
of His bondsmen, from Adam up to Muhammad, until He had
tested him and seen how he fulfilled the duty of worship while
in affliction. God's marks of honour come, in fact, at the last
stage, but the aSictions themselves come in the beginning.
Whoever leaves the path of affliction is ignoring the lamp of
the believers, the beacon of those near to God, and the guide for
those on the right path. There is no good in a slave who complains
of a single trial preceded by thousands of blessings and followed
by thousands of comforts. Whoever does not show the patience
required in affliction is deprived of thankfulness in the blessings
he reccives. Similarly, whoever does not give the thankfulness
owed for blessings is denied the patience owed in affliction. Who-
ever is denied both of them is an outcast.
Ayyub said in his supplication, 'O God, verily seventy comforts
and ease did not come to me until You sent me seventy afflictions.'
And Wahb ibn Munabbih said, 'Affliction to a believer is like a
bit to a horse and a halter to a camel.' 'Ali said, 'Steadfastness
in relation to belief is like the head to the body. The head of
steadfastness is affliction, but only those who act righteously
understand that.
More...
xenophobic attacks:
"We are appalled and shocked by the recent xenophobic attacks on
foreigners in our country. The loss of life and destruction of property is
deeply regretted. This madness has to stop immediately. Xenophobia is
racism outright, which should not be tolerated by any civilized society. We
commend the leaders who took a bold stance and spoke out strongly
against this scourge. The announcement by government of a national
conference on xenophobia is welcomed. Civic society should play its role by
ensuring that it does not allow manifestations of xenophobia to be tolerated,
just as racism is not tolerated. People need to speak out against it. The
factors that lead to the xenophobic attacks, though unjustifiable as a basis,
need to be understood and addressed. Poverty, unemployment, rising costs,
lack of basic amenities and so on, are leading to impatience and frustrations
among the underprivileged people who are misdirecting their anger towards
the wrong targets. The government, in partnership with the private sector,
need to urgently address these issues before matters spiral out of control.
Civic society needs to play a role here as well, by sharing with the poor, with
compassion and sympathy to the plight of the poor and needy."
- Mufti Zubair Bayat, Director of Darul Ihsan Islamic Centre
Helping the Destitute
Abdullah bin Mubaarak (R.A), the Ustaad of Imaam Bukhari (R.A), used to perform haj one year and go for jihad the other year. He relates: Once when it was my year for haj, I took five hundred dinars and left for Makkah. At Kufa I stopped and went to the camel market with the intention of buying a camel. On the other side I saw a dead duck. A woman was sitting there. She picked up the duck and started cleaning it by plucking its feathers. Seeing this I approached her and asked her: "What are you doing dear woman?"
She replied: "Why do you enquire about such things which do not concern you ?" This set me thinking. However I insisted on an answer. Then she said: "Your persistence has forced me to open my heart. I am a lady from among the Sayyids – the family of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam - I have four young daughters whose father passed away. This is now the fourth day that we have not even tasted a thing and in such dire need are we that the eating of dead animals has become permissible. I am taking this dead duck to feed my daughters."
ANGEL PERFOMING HAJ
Abdullah bin Mubaarak (R.A.) says, her story filled me with sorrow. I told her to stretch fourth her hand and in it I placed the five hundred dinars. She took it and went home. I postponed my intention for haj and returned home. After haj I was so amazed that whenever I met any of the returning hujjaaj and wished them a "haj maqbool" they would wish me the same. Then, when I said anything further, they would remind me about having met me at such and such place. I could not understand this. That night I saw a dream, wherein Rasulullah r said to me: "O son of Mubaarak, there is no need to be astonished. You have assisted a distressed one from among my children, whereupon I begged of Allah to appoint one such angel to perform haj in your form and on your behalf until Qiyaamah and now you have a choice. You may perform haj or you may leave it." (Rushfa)
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Despair?
"I can take no more." "I am totally frustrated." "I have lost hope." "Would there ever be an end to my problems?"
Such statements and cries of despair are heard almost daily. Due to many difficulties such as illness, financial problems, domestic disputes, family conflict, crime, disasters, etc., people sometimes slip into misery, hopelessness and depression. It is in such circumstances that a person often asks in utter desperation: "What must I do?"
Before dealing with what one can do, it is important to bear in mind a fundamental reality of life. Life in this world is never a place of absolute bliss, nor a place of only difficulty. Absolute bliss is only in Jannah. Likewise, no matter how severe one's condition may be, it cannot be compared to a fraction of the torments of Jahannum. In this world there is a combination of pleasure and pain. After all, it is a place of test. Hence, every person will experience some difficulties and hardships in some form or another. In fact this is a promise of Allah Ta'ala in the Qur'an that "We will certainly test you with some fear, hunger and loss in wealth, lives and crops. And give glad tidings to those who are patient" (S2: V: 155). Thus, difficulties will come. Nevertheless one can adopt any permissible means to remove one's problems.
"CRACK OF THE WHIP"
While hardship and difficulties do come as a test, they also come as a punishment for sins. In our sinful state, we should unhesitatingly acknowledge our transgressions and regard what befalls us as a very small "crack of the whip" from Allah Ta'ala as a reminder for us to return to His total obedience. Often we exclaim: "What sin have I committed to deserve this?" Consider that Allah Ta'ala alone is our Creator, Sustainer and Nourisher. He alone has granted us all our limbs and faculties. He alone has showered upon us countless bounties. In the light of the above, the slightest disobedience of our Creator deserves the severest punishment. In actual fact, if we were given what we really deserve, Allah forbid, we would have been completely destroyed. Allah Ta`ala declares: "And if Allah were to take the people to task for their actions (by giving them the full punishment of their actions) no creature would remain on earth (all would be destroyed)." (S:35, V:45)
Therefore, we must acknowledge that we are guilty. Having accepted our guilt, we should now make amends.
MAKE AMENDS
In order to make amends, the first step is taubah (sincere repentance). The taubah must be sincere, not just a taubah of convenience like that of the mushrikeen (idolaters) of Makkah Mukarramah. Allah Ta`ala says regarding them: "And when a wave engulfs them like a canopy (and they fear that their ships will sink and they will drown) they call unto Allah . . . . . and they commit shirk." (S:31, V:32)
Thus our taubah should not be merely "to get to the shore". It must be for all times. Sincere taubah and istighfaar (seeking forgiveness) brings down the mercy of Allah Ta`ala. Hazrat Nooh (A.S.) said to his people: "Seek forgiveness from your Rabb (Lord), then repent unto him. Verily He is the most forgiving. He will shower abundant rains upon you and assist you with wealth and children." (S:71, V:10-13)
The month of Ramadhaan especially is a month to continuously make sincere taubah and to turn earnestly to Allah Ta`ala. Hence, this mubarak month must be dedicated towards sincere taubah. This is the first step towards solving one's problems and difficulties.
ADOPTING SABR
The second aspect is adopting sabr (patience) and engaging in dua. Just as one patiently undertakes hardship for the sake of worldly gain, adopt sabr over any difficult conditions with the full hope of great reward in the Hereafter. Have the firm conviction that Allah Ta'ala is most aware of what is best for us. This conviction will make it easier to adopt sabr and to be pleased with the decree of Allah Ta'ala.
Adopting sabr upon any difficulty earns one limitless rewards. Allah Ta`ala declares regarding His true servants: "Verily the patient ones will be given their limitless rewards" (S:39, V:10). Allah Ta'ala is with the patient ones. Thus never despair. A Mu'min always has complete hope in Allah Ta'ala.
MOST EXCELLENT WORSHIP
Also, engage in earnest dua. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Nothing changes fate except dua." Dua is the weapon of a believer. One should never tire of begging from Allah Ta`ala. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Ask Allah for His favours and mercy for verily Allah loves to be asked. And the most excellent worship is to (patiently) wait for relief (from distress and anxiety) (Tirmizi)."
Nevertheless, one should bear in mind that while the dua will bring the help of Allah Ta`ala, one should not create a barrier of sins which will prevent the mercy from reaching one.
MASHWARAH
The third aspect to firmly adhere to in any problematic situation is mashwarah (consultation). One should never take arbitrary decisions in any situation, especially when there is a problem. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "He who performs istikhara will not fail and he who consults will not regret." One should therefore adopt an experienced Aalim or a muttaqi (Allah-fearing), righteous and able person as a guide. Thereafter, refer to him for advice in all situations. Insha Allah there will be tremendous barakah in the consultation and, Allah willing, one will find a solution to one's problems.
May Allah Ta`ala protect one and all from the difficulties of both worlds. Aameen
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How You deal with Others is how You will be dealt with
A wise man once said to his son, “My son, do not become resentful when you are afflicted with trials, for indeed that is tantamount to having bad thoughts about one's Lord, and also, it gives pleasure to one's enemy. Do not mock others, for indeed by Allah, every time I mocked anyone, I was afflicted in the same way as the person who I mocked. In this world, man is a target of arrows that come to him successively: some pass him by, some fall short, some fall to his right and others to his left, and some strike him. Know that for every deed, you are rewarded, and how you deal with others is how you will be dealt with. And whoever is dutiful to his parents, his children will be dutiful to him. Avoid greed and ambition, for both present poverty in the present. Fear Allah as much as you are able. And if you are able to make today better than yesterday and tommorrow better than today and your secrets better than your outward deeds, then do so. Beware of deeds that you have to apologise for, for one never has to apologize for goodness. When you stand for prayer, perform the prayer of one who is saying farewell, as if you feel that you will ever afterwards pray again (i.e., you will die). Adhere to modesty, and you will be of it's people. Donot inflict harm upon others; rather give them good, and forgive if you are able to. Do not be miserly if you are asked for something and do not be tarry when one seeks help from you. Whoever is stingy, than Allah will make things narrow for him; and whoever gives than Allah will give him a replacement for what he gave.”
In the Sun and Under the Shade
The Deenul Islam is a complete way of life by which Rasulullah [ ] has exhibited and demonstrated the most practical and impeccable life-style. The advice and teachings of the Shariah is indeed unimpeachable, an investment for this world and hereafter.
Muslims are indeed very fortunate to have the Shariah as a guide. The benefits are colossal. We need not know the worldly benefit in order to practise the Shariah. However, because the Shariah advises and guides us, we need to accept and manifest it into our lives without hesitation. Strangely, today we tend to first localize our thinking into logical thinking and/or benefit in the worldly life. Not surprisingly though, when the benefit is for some health- related reason then we become a little more interested. However this should not be the case - as Muslims our attitude must be overwhelming to embrace the Shariah holistically.
Right now, one particular advice and teaching of our beloved Nabi [ ] comes to mind. Abu Huraira [ ] reports that Rasulullah [ ] said, ‘‘When anyone of you sits in the shade of the sun and then the shade moves away; and as a result some parts of the body is under the shade and some in the sun, so let him move away from the spot.” [Sunnan Abu Dawud]
A person should not be standing, sitting or sleeping with a portion of the body exposed to the sun and another portion in the shade. Medical experts are also of the opinion that one part of the body should not be in the sun and another part of it in the shade.
I Want...
A bedouin once came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and said: “I wish to ask something.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) permitted him to put forward his question. He then asked many questions which Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) answered. Some of the questions he asked were:
Q. I want to be wealthy.
A. Be content, you will be wealthy.
Q. I want to become the greatest Aalim.
A. Adopt taqwa (piety), you will become an Aalim.
Q. I want to gain respect.
A. Do not ask anything from the creation, you will gain respect.
Q. I wish to be a good person.
A. Benefit people as much as possible.
Q. I want to be just.
A. What you love for your self, love the same for others.
Q. I want a special position in the court of Allah Ta’ala.
A. Make Zikr excessively.
Q. I want my duas to be accepted.
A. Do not consume haraam.
Q. I want to decrease my sins.
A. Make istigfaar abundantly.
Q. I want to wake up in noor (light on the day of Qiyamah).
A. Do not commit zulm
Q. I want Allah Ta’ala to show mercy to me.
A. Be merciful upon his servants.
Q. I wish that Allah Ta’ala should conceal my faults.
A. Conceal the faults of others.
Q. I want to be saved from disgrace.
A. Refrain from zina
Q. I want to become the beloved of Allah Ta’ala and his Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
A. Whatever is beloved to Allah Ta’ala and his Rasul (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), make the same beloved to you.
Q. O Nabi of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), what will secure forgiveness from sins?
A. Tears, humility and illness.
Q. What will cool the anger of Allah Ta’ala?
A. Giving sadaqah secretly and joining family ties.
Q. What is the worst evil?
A. Bad character and miserliness.
Q. What is the Best good?
A. Good character, humility and patience.
Q. I want to be saved from the anger of Allah Ta’ala.
A. Do not become angry at people.
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Mutual Consultation
Often a person has to make a decision pertaining to some aspect or the other. The more serious the matter, the more difficult it becomes to make the decision. According to the advice of the Qur’an and Hadith, such important decisions should never be made without prior consultation. Allah Ta’ala declares in the Glorious Qur’an regarding the Believers: “And their matters are (decided) in mutual consultation” [Surah Shura:38]. Even Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was commanded by Allah Ta’ala to consult the Sahaba (radhiallahu anhum) in such matters of importance wherein no divine instruction had been given.
BENEFIT OF MASHWARA
It is reported from Ibn Umar (radhiallahu anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The one who intends to embark on any act and after mutual consultation he decides either to proceed with his plans or to refrain from going ahead, he will be guided from Allah Ta’ala towards that which is beneficial” (Baihaqi - Ma’ariful Qur’an vol.2, pg.219). In another narration Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “When your leaders will be the best among you, the wealthy among you will be the most generous and your matters will be decided in mutual consultation, then to be on the surface of the earth will be better than being inside the earth. However, when your rulers will be the worst among you, the wealthy ones will be miserly and your important matters will be in the hands of your women, then to be in the stomach of the earth (the grave) will be better than being on the surface” (Tirmizi).
Thus all matters of importance, even those that are of a purely worldly nature, should be decided after consulting people of piety and knowledge. If the matter pertains to some worldly aspect, a person of piety and experience in that field should be consulted. After having taken the advice of such experienced people one should place one’s trust in Allah Ta’ala and make the decision.
TRUST
The one who is approached for advice should consider his advice carefully. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “The person from whom advice is sought has been entrusted with an amaanah (trust). Therefore he should advise the person seeking advice to do that which he himself would have done” (Tabrani).
JUNIORS
There is tremendous benefit in consulting even one’s subordinates. Firstly, this fosters love between the seniors and juniors. Secondly, by consulting with one’s juniors, the juniors are trained in the matter of decision making. They then begin to learn which aspects should be considered and which aspects are negligible. The juniors will then understand what should be given top priority and what should be considered on a secondary level, whether this pertains to matters of running the affairs of the home, business or personal aspects. Above all, consulting with the juniors is a sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). On some occasions Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) sought the opinion of very young Sahaaba (radhiallahu anhum) in some important matters.
Thus the Qur’anic advice and the sunnah of Mashwara should be adhered to at all times. In this is barakah and guidance from Allah Ta’ala. Hence there will be love and understanding between all concerned.
alhaadi.org.za
Carry me in your arms
When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to say it. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She shouted at me, " you are not a man!"
That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Dew. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, 30% shares of my company and the car. She glanced at it and then tore it to pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said, for I loved Dew so dearly.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me, her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell fast asleep because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did'nt care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month, we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy.
Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she has, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest.. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me, .. she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart.
Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come close and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realized that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until one of us departs this world.
Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The sales girl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote: I ll carry you out every morning until we are old.
The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank balance that matters. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build a relationship.
Author: Unknown
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.net
The part we play in Politics
By Riaz Dhai
It is no secret that the country is currently being ravaged by a moral dilemma. This dilemma of xenophobia has unfortunately erupted into a wave of unnecessary violence and the displacement of over 100 000 “foreigners” in South Africa. As a result of this we commonly read passionate articles and newspaper headlines that sum up the so called feeling of all morally upright South Africans: “ I am ashamed to be a South African today.”
In the midst of all this chaos it is important for us to sit back and reflect on the cause of our current dilemma. The reason for this reflection is not to provide immediate solutions to the problem. The immediate solution is an exceptionally complex and almost impossible task. The best we can do in the short term is expend as much of our available resources to helping our fellow brothers and sisters in need. On a political front, our leaders need to acknowledge (which they only very recently did) that we as South Africans are entirely at fault and that we will do all that is in our power to ensure the safety and well being of those “foreigners” on our soil.
We should reflect on the underlying causes in an effort to provide long term solutions that will not only help the displaced African brothers and sisters, but prevent similar such events affecting other South Africans. It is no secret that there has been a single, underlying thought that has echoed in the minds of most intellectual, academic, professional and somewhat intelligent non – Black South Africans: “Is this going to happen to us?”
There is absolutely nothing wrong with thinking about this. It is a perfectly valid thought for an individual to reflect on in uncertain times such as this. More so because other newly democratic nations in Africa have experienced crises and genocides wherein local residents of a different race were instantaneously expelled from what they thought was their homeland. The important step in this thought process is for us to question what we as the local residents have done to incite such behaviour.
The lesson we learn from the recent xenophobic attacks is a valuable one. There is a strong theory that South Africans are not being hostile to other Africans simply because they are taking their jobs and earning more money. The theory seems to indicate that South Africans are fed up with poverty, poor service delivery, unemployment and crime and are taking it out on those who they perceive are responsible for many of these atrocities.
Kicking out “foreigners” is by no means going to solve these problems. And if these problems continue to remain, how long will it be before the man on the street realises that the majority of members of another race are not suffering as he is? And once he realises this why will he act any differently to how he treated his fellow Africans?
This article is not written to incite racist feelings. It is written to question what we, as privileged non Black South Africans have done to alleviate the plight of our less fortunate brothers and sisters. In fact, we have done quite the opposite. We oppressed them extensively during apartheid. Even if we did not physically beat them or shout out the horrible “K” word, many of us benefited from a fantastic education, high quality public services and solid employment while they were academically stifled and forced to remain a nation of backward individuals.
Granted, we may have been unable to fight the apartheid government in its prime, but what have we done to make up for our previous incapacity in the 14 years after democracy. We still continue to benefit from a high class education because we can afford private schools. We still continue to get the best medical services because we can afford a medical aid. We still have no problems travelling around the country despite the poor transport infrastructure because we can afford nice cars and the incessantly high fuel price. And to top it all, do we even spend a fraction of our time or wealth on the development of those who are still so disparately unfortunate?
If this is the case, are we then not guilty of a similar crime that South Africans seem to accuse “foreigners” of? And if so, are they not justified in taking some action against us? And are we not educated enough to realise that sometimes that action is in the form of violence or expulsion from their country? Although such violence can never be justified, at least it is visible proof of action in their minds.
The only way for us to prevent something similar from happening is to recognise that it is time for us to get off our high horses and roll up our sleeves when it comes to people development. Our country has the potential to become something truly wonderful. Instead of spending our time filing out nails over coffee at the local hotspot and whining over how we might become the next Uganda with Jacob Zuma in the role of Idi Amin, let us help to constructively build this country. Because if we only seem to take and not give back, surely someone is going to get fed up somewhere along the line and explode.
Non-Stop Profit
Imagine a business that generates profits 24 / 7 / 365 (24 hours a day, every day of the year). Such a business wherein there is never any risk of loss, not even a single cent. No business of this world can fit this description. It is only the business of the Hereafter that can generate such profits (rewards).
Non stop rewards are earned from engaging in some act of ibadah continuously. Some forms of Ibadah which earn tremendous rewards in the Hereafter can only be done for a limited time in the day. It is not possible to perform Salaah, recite the Quran, etc., 24 hours of the day. One has human needs which must also be fulfilled during which those acts of worship stop. Yet, some acts are such that the Ibadah is non-stop and the “profit” are continuous.
BEARD
Among the acts of Ibadah is the Waajib act of having a beard to the extent of one fist length. This practice was strongly emphasised by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). In numerous Ahadith the clear command of lengthening the beard has been given. Once the emissaries of Kisra came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). The emissaries had shaven of their beards and lengthened their moustaches. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) disliked looking at them and turned his face away. He asked them: “Who told you to do this (shave your beard)?” “Our lord (Kisra),” they replied. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “But my Rabb has ordered me to lengthen my beard and remove my moustache.”
Nevertheless, the one who does not shave off his beard or trim it to less than a fist length in emulation of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is performing a non-stop Ibadah. While he is walking, driving, eating, sleeping and at all times he is earning non-stop “profit” in the Hereafter.
HIJAAB
Another form of non-stop Ibadah is that of a woman who observes the laws of Hijaab. On the command of Allah Ta’ala she remains within her home and does not emerge without necessity. She keeps away from all non-mahrams. If she emerges from the home out of genuine necessity, she practices on the command of Allah Ta’ala: “And they do not expose their beauty...” (S24; V31). This is achieved by practicing on the various teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith in this regard, the crux of which is:
* She fully conceals herself.
* The garments she wears when leaving the home are neither revealing in any way nor are they attractive.
* She refrains from perfuming herself.
* She does not walk in a manner that attracts attention.
* She lowers her gaze.
Such a woman is also perpetually in Ibadah. She receives non-stop rewards 24 / 7 / 365.
Thus it is extremely easy to earn non-stop rewards. Immediately commence with an act of non-stop Ibadah.
alhaadi.org.za
