True Religion shines in the face of the Believer & impresses itself on others widout words. It's subsequently followed by words that are Uplifting & Beneficial.
Al-Hasan Al-Basree said:
"The believer is like a prisoner in this lowly world, who tries to free himself from its shackles and chains, never feeling secure in it, until the day he meets his Lord."
~Az-Zuhd by Ibn al-Mubaarak
Ibn Taymiyah said: 'A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.'
Thus in our times of trouble, when we go through pain and suffering and in our times of loss, we need to trust Allah Azzawajjal. We need to keep in mind that as long as we fear Him and try our best to obey Him, He will never do us wrong. He will protect us and guide us and do the best for us, no matter what the situation apparently looks like.
Allaah Azzawajjal says in a hadeeth Qudsi:
'I am as my slave thinks of me and I am with him whenever he remembers me.' (Agreed Upon).
Good Replaces Bad
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “No man does a wrong action then performs Wudu and does his Wudu well, then performs two Rakaat and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, but that He will forgive him.” [Ahmad]
Similar is Allah’s promise in the Quran: “Except the one who repents and believes and does good deeds, then Allah will replace the evil deeds of such people by good deeds, and Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” [Surah Al-Furqan, Ayat 70]
A true repentance will not only remove the bad deed from your record, but will actually convert it into a good deed. Once you have realized your mistake, make Wudu properly and then pray two Rakaat seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
Something I read this morning which made you think that anything is possible with passion and dedication.
"Muhammad (saw) was an orphan but it never made him despondent.
Imam Al Burkhari was born blind but his mother never gave up duas.
Usama was the son of a slave but it never held him back. Ibn Baz was blind but he didn't sit and cry.
Ibn Taymiya was jailed but he never gave in.
Al Nawawi also had 24 hours in a day like everyone else but milked it for its worth.
Muadh Ibn Jabal died young but will lead the ulama in the hereafter.
Mandela was jailed for 27 years and came out and led a nation.
Musa (as) had the water in front of him and firoun behind him but never gave up.
Yusuf (as) was in a dark well but later sat on a throne."
Do not give up. Seek Ilm don't make excuses. Look at those before you and do small but frequent deeds and build up.
This is an article from Islam21C I have come across which made me ponder on the numerous examples of guidance to mankind that comes from Kitab Allah (Al Qur'an).
Outwardly speaking, we can at times engage in identical actions to one another yet our inner motives can be dramatically different.
The more one analyses the behaviour of human beings and ponders over their varying activities in life, the more one realises the accuracy of this observation.
So accurate, so real and so stark of an observation it is that in Surat Al-Layl, Allah SWT takes an oath to draw your attention to it, rather three oaths!Ponder .. Allah says:
“By the night when it covers”
“And by the day when it appears”
“And by He who created the male and female”
Three consecutive oaths in the opening of this Surah to draw your attention to something paramount that He’s about to declare, which is?
“Indeed.. your efforts are diverse”[1]
Yes ... Our motives and efforts in life are incredibly different! Reflect at the sight of passengers sat on a bus, train or aeroplane. They’re all sat down, travelling in the same direction as they ride the same vehicle. The streets display something of the same kind as well, as people walk; they look so similar to one another.
Outwardly speaking, they’re identical, engaging in the exact same act. But when intentions and purposes are assessed, the differences become clearer than day and their individual reward or punishment from Allah is thus just as different.
You’ve read the story before but perhaps you haven’t observed it under this lens. The story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph PBUH). Do you remember how the wife of the ‘Azeez locked the doors and seduced him to commit the impermissible? How did Prophet Yusuf PBUH react? Allah says:“And they raced with one another to the door!” [2]
She ran towards him as he ran away from her. At this moment, they are both engaging in the exact same activity, they are bothrunning, they are both trying to get somewhere .. But think for a moment how different the motives are .. One of them is running towards the pleasure of Allah .. whilst the other runs towards the fury of Allah .. One of them is immensely rewarded for his running .. and the other is tremendously sinful for her running ..
Outwardly, they are identical .. but tell me about their motives? Their Intentions? The consequential outcome of their running in the eyes of Allah? Were they the same?
Subhan’Allah ... detrimentally different Apply this to yourself, apply it to your sleeping, for example.
Individual A sleeps because s/he is bored, has nothing better to do, wishes to “kill time”. This person has not recognised who Allah is, has overlooked their purpose in life and belittled their potential to engage in useful work .. and so this person sleeps whilstearning the anger of Allah for wasting his/her precious life!
Individual B sleeps as well. But s/he sleeps for a different motive. This person’s day has been filled with productivity, with the seeking of Islamic knowledge, with the advising of others, with an attempt to learn about their Creator and religion, with an attempt to balance between the rights of their Deen and Dunya. Thus this person’s intention by sleeping is to give their body a chance to recover from a hard day’s work and regenerate energy in preparation for another day of planting good deeds. Thus this person sleeps whilst earning the pleasure of Allah. Yes, you’re right, the activity is the same, they both slept, but the fruits of it were so different.
Another example, apply this to your weeping for we all cry.
Individual A cries, but cries because he wasn’t able to get his hands on a potential girlfriend or as he listens to a musical track and reflects over the missed opportunity .. or for any other impermissible cause. The tears of such a person are wasted, devoid of any reward.
Individual B cries as well, but for a different reason all together! S/he was, for example, alone and remembered the power of Allah, a thought which drew tears from his eyes, or pondered over a verse from the Qur’an, or remembered the agonies of death, or craved a meeting with the messenger PBUH, or pictured the standing in the court of The King on the Last Day .. and started to weep. Such tears were droplets which bring with them the pleasure and forgiveness of Allah. The activity was the same, crying, but the fruits of it, again, can were so different. We all eat, drink, marry, work, study, hit the gym, author, dress up, stress .. but as Allah SWT says:Say, "Each works according to his intention” [3]
Notes: Source: www.islam21c.com
[1] Al-Qur’an, Surah 92, ‘Ayah 4
[2] Al-Qur’an, Surah 12, ‘Ayah 25
[3] Al-Qur’an, Surah 17, ‘Ayah 84
DISCLAIMER: All material found on Islam21c.com is for information purposes only. The views expressed on this site or on any linked sites do not necessarily represent those of MRDF.
Pride is something that has become the norm and backbone of society especially in the developed world. I say this having been fortunate to travel to many places around the globe.
I can say the most humblest of people and most giving are those that have the least. Now, what does that tell you of mankind?
Pride, arrogance and greed are fuel to the fire. We all have elements of this and that's why its ever so important to cleanse one's heart and lower soul (nafs al lawwama).
May Allah guide us and make us noble servants and keep us away from pride, arrogance and greed. Ameen.
This being human is a guest house.Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,some momentary awareness comesas an unexpected visitor.Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably.He may be cleaning you out For some new delight.The dark thought, the shame, the malice,meet them at the door laughing,and invite them in.Be grateful for whoever comes,because each has been sent as a guide from the beyond.
-Rumi-
Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that once a eunuch, who had coloured his hands and feet with henna, was brought to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked who this person was. People told him that he imitates women. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered that he be exiled from Madinah.” [Abu Dawud]Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) cursed the men who adopt the looks of women, and the women who adopt the ways of men; and that he asked us to throw them out of our homes. [Bukhari]It is clear from the above Ahadith that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) utterly disliked men who wear ladies clothes and behave effeminately, as well as women who wear men’s clothes and behave like men.The Islamic Shariah has given separate and specific commands to men and women for governing themselves which are sensible and in harmony with their natures. But today, we choose not to follow the Shariah of Islam. Instead, we follow the models provided to us by non-believers. We blindly adopt their fashion and dresses and, in doing so, consider ourselves modernized and respectable, even if such behavior brings us the curse and displeasure of Allah. May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) give us the wisdom and courage to follow the guidance of His beloved Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Whatever Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and His Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) have given us is entirely for our own benefit.
