Controlling anger, forgiving others
In this characteristic, lies the crux of the problem for human nature. You see, anger and forgiveness go hand in hand. It is very easy to get angry, but it is very difficult to forgive. Just sit back and ask yourselves at this moment, how many friendships we could have saved; how many family disputes we could have avoided; how many severed relationships we could have mended, if we knew what Allah has said to us about it in the Qur’an. Anger and forgiveness are inseparable for in order to control one you must lose the other.
When one gets angry he loses his control over himself and thus is liable to say or do things that he may regret later when he regains control over himself. Even doctors and psychologists, in this 121st century, have proved through scientific research that when human beings get angry, they are in a state of subconscious in which they do not realise what they are doing.
This is why our Prophet described anger as a raging fire (Abu Dawood) and advised the Muslims not to say or do anything till their anger had subsided. A simile can be drawn here since fire destroys everything it engulfs. Similarly anger destroys human beings, since it is burning the individual who is angry as well as the people on whom that individual is letting his anger out on.
This is why in another hadith the Prophet said to the Muslims, “If you have nothing good to say remain quiet.” Meaning use the tongue only for halal good purposes otherwise keep quiet, because if you don’t then you are accumulating sins through the tongue. Certainly, the tongue will stand witness on Day of Judgment against you, because Allah says which means
“And they will say to their skins,” Why do you testify against us?” They will say: Allah has caused us to speak, – as He causes all things to speak...” (Surah Fussilat 41:21)
The tongue is a blessing which Allah has given to all of humanity. For he says in the Qur’an which means:
“And a tongue and a pair of lips.” (Surah Al-Balad 8:9)
This tongue can cause great harm if not used properly and guarding against it is very important. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i e his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i e his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise.” (Bukhari)
One of the key distinctions of a true believer is the ability to control anger as described by Allah in the Qur’an:
“Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah ‘Ali-Imraan 3:134)
If we were to look at this aayah for a moment and see what Allah is saying with the many Ahadith mentioned about restraining our anger we would be able to understand them better. To share just a couple of them, the Prophet said:
“The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari)
In another hadith the Prophet mentions how to repress our anger. Allah’s Messenger said:
“When one of you becomes angry while standing he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down.” (Tirmidhi)
Today, a person is considered powerful if he can show his strength and might through his anger or any other source, and by the same token a person who is mild, cool and easy going is considered to be a weak. This is indeed a sorry state to be in, and is a complete contradiction to our religion. As Muslims we have to understand that we have to see what the Qur’an and Sunnah are saying in regards to each aspect, and not follow the tide of society we are living in. From childhood to old age the social scientist, the psychologist and the psychoanalyst have been feeding us with the notion that we are to let it out i e our anger and not repress it.
Unfortunately some of these misguided people have influenced the Muslim community as well. We find people being less and less tolerant with each other and being more and more violent.
Alhumdulilah Allah has saved us from these wicked theories and given us His Glorious Book. In this Book He says “And Obey Allah and his Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you loose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely Allah loves those who are patient.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:46)
Instead of letting it out, here we are told to be patient by our Lord who is Knower and Hearer of all things.
We are encouraged by our Creator over and over to forgive others, so that He may forgive our mistakes. It is a double reward with Allah for implementing this characteristic, because Allah says in the Qur’an which means:
“...Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Noor 24:22)
The mercy of Allah overcomes his anger as this is recorded in Saheeh Al-Bukhari. In his infinite mercy He has given us so many chances and opportunities to benefit from them. If we could even follow this simple hadith of the Prophet who said:
“He who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter,” not only would we benefit immensely, but our brother would be saved of being humiliated at the same time.
I pray to Allah that he give us the understanding to forgive each other and to refrain from being angry at each other. Ameen.
Not afraid of losing your job
When Mufti Muhammad Shafee' (rahmatullahi alayh) came to Pakistan (from India), he was appointed as a member of the Islamic Education Board by the Government. This Board was one of the sections of the Government. Once the Government decided to take an action, which was contrary to Islamic Laws. Mufti Shafee' was prompt to oppose it and explained that due to it's being against the teachings of Islaam, it should not be adopted. His remarks, however, prompted a debate between the Government officers, many of whom began to criticise the respected Mufti for having said what he did, as he was a member of the Board and part of the Government.
Seeing this, Mufti Shafee' bluntly addressed the gathering and said that he had agreed to become a Member of the Board only for the sake of Islaam, and therefore, it was his duty to object to what was unislamic, regardless of whether his objection was in agreement with the line of the Government or not. He clarified that he was not a Government servant and unlike them was not worried about losing his job. He said, "I have my resignation letter in my pocket and my expenses do not exceed a few rupees, so I am not dependent on salary and allowances like you. I can earn that much money by hard labour too, while you cannot because your suit alone costs two hundred rupees, so, you might fear losing your job."
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Q: Recently there have been many armed robberies and many people have been instantly killed. Kindly explain the Shar’ee ruling pertaining to giving Ghusl and Kafn to such people.
"And yet there are some people, who replace Allah with rivals,loving them as Allah is loved. But the believers love Allah more intensely" (2:165)
Virtues of Knowledge which is Learnt and Taught for the sake of Allah
Based upon the wisdom of Allah and his Prophet Muhammad (SAW),The bond of friendship in Islam means ....
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Sometimes it is possible that people can err when drawing up a will or in distribution of an estate.
1. Inimitable: It dares you to disprove it. How? It says that humans cannot write a book like this even if they pooled all their resources together and got help also from the spirits. The Noble Qur’an said this 1,400 years ago and yet no one has been able to disprove it. Billions of books have been written, but not another one like the Qur’an.
So many people in the west these days decide to form relationships without marriage, perhaps because they fear the seriousness of the commitment, or have observed the marriages of others hit the rocks. Many others take the plunge, but the marriage breaks up alarmingly swiftly.
It is very significant, for you, dear reader of the Quran, to observe the following:
- Do not touch the Quran except when in the state of ritual purity (Wudhoo), and only recite it when you are in that state.
- Brush your teeth with a (Siwaak), remove food particles from between them, and freshen your mouth before reciting.
First: When a Muslim hears the call for prayer, he should rise up to the remembrance of Allah and not let anything take him away from answering that call.
SMILE:
It is the first arrow and the fastest of them all. It is like the salt for food. It is also regarded as a kind of worship and alms-giving as mentioned in Hadith "Smiling at your brother's face is as charity (Sadaqa)".
When a Muslim hears the call for prayer, he should rise up to the remembrance of Allah and not let anything take him away from answering that call. The Lord SWT said: In houses that Allah ordered to be built and His name to be mentioned in them mornings and nights, men who are not diverted by trade or selling from the Remembrance of Allah, pray, give alms, fear a day where hearts and eyesight's are diverted in all directions. (24:36-37)
The Internet is a way for communication that is considered a double-edged weapon. When it provides benefit, it becomes a gift. And when it provides evil, it becomes a disgrace. Muslim should use the good side of this facility to serve his religion and life, rather than its evil side that corrupts his religion and life.
It's very important for internet users to protect their eyes from falling on prohibited sites. The prohibited scene is considered Satan's arrow, his weapon that he uses to spoil the Muslims heart by offering immediate pleasure, followed by long lasting feelings of remorse and regret. Watching scenes that Allah prohibited causes darkness in the heart, gloominess in the chest and heaviness and reluctance to perform actions of worshiping Allah. It deprives the soul of enjoying the sweetness of deep faith. By all means it is a tool that Satan uses to sugar coat sins with, and the moment one falls in this trap, Satan takes complete control of his heart, and play with it like a young boy who plays with a ball. The end is always a fatal loss.
Don't let the internet consume your effort and time for no value. That happens when you navigate between the various sites and online groups for long hours. You waste your precious lifetime hours. That time that you should devote for people like your family, parents, children and relatives, or for your job where you earn the living for you and your dependants.
Visit the Islamic Sites frequently. Visit the useful sites that add to your useful information, and widens up your scales of knowledge. Stay away from the sites that promote corruption to Belief or Morals, those groups that seek the spread of Fitnah or controversy, even if this is over religious issues. Bad controversy is of no avail. Don't interfere in conversations with the enemies of Islam unless you have the necessary knowledge and power that enables you to handle this task. And if not, ask a scholar to handle it instead.
Take caution against the chatting sites. They are traps for males and females to drag them into a prohibited relationship, which often starts by an innocent introduction and end up in mere pain and causes damage to life and faith.
Its either you control or you get controlled by the trap of the internet. If you put it under your control, you take its benefit and shed away its harm. Hence Internet becomes a gift from Allah for your welfare. And if you fall under its control, it blurs your eyes with its glittering charm and temporary pleasures, steals your money, time, life and the duties your have towards your family and beloved ones. You become the prey without being aware of it. Save yourself from this trap before you are lost, and before it is too late.
By Sheikh: Hamed Ibn Abdullah El Aly
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.net
I am a brother in Islam, a middle class citizen, married with a six year old son who has a speech disability.
Currently I am on antiretroviral medication for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. The medical treatment is not a cure but I have to take it for life!
O Ummatul Muslimeen! Do you know how a true Muh'min can acquire ethical virtues by avoiding vices? Disposition [khulq] is a state of the soul that inclines it to action without the need of thought or reflection.
There was a time when 'birthdays' were celebrated only for children in Muslim homes. However, that has now changed. Middle aged and older people are now finding enjoyment in celebrating birthdays. Indeed, some are even turning these birthdays into 'big bash' celebrations.
