TML, Muharram 1431 | January 8 - February 4th, 2010 DAWA >> continued from pg 22 alaihi wa sallam, more beloved to you than anybody else? Do you give precedence to the love of Allaah over wealth, business, whims and desires? Test yourself when you hear the call to prayer, if you notice a desire to delay answering it in order to pursue your interests in trade (for example) then know that Satan has succeeded in gradually leading you astray and that your love for Allaah is deficient. In this way it is upon you to consolidate yourself, giving precedence to the orders of Allaah over any other worldly matter. How is your abhorrence of entering into disbelief? Do you abhor it as you would abhor being thrown into the Hell Fire? Do you live this abhorrence and this feeling in you, so that your sincerity to Allaah is cultivated and that you may
KINDNESS >> continued from pg 22 something to spare. [Al-Bukhaari] His love for the poor was so deep that he used to pray: “O Allaah, keep me poor in my life and at my death and raise me at resurrection among those who are poor.” [An-Nasaa’ee]
Towards Animals
ISLAM | 23
hasten to purify your soul? Contemplate the Hadeeth of Umm Salamah who said: ‘”Most of the invocations of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, used to be: “O Changer of the Hearts make my heart firm upon your religion.” [Ahmed and At-Tirmithi] Reflect upon how Ibraaheem (Abraham) feared associating partners with Allaah, so he used to supplicate (what means): “And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” [Quran 14:35] This is what Abu Ad-Dardaa’ used to fear hence his saying: ‘Verily what I fear from my Lord on the Day of Resurrection is that He calls me in front of all creation and says to me “O ‘Uwaymir (i.e., Abu Ad-Dardaa’ himself),” so I say, “Here I am My Lord at Your service,” so He says, “What did you act upon from the knowledge that you acquired?” Don’t forget the supplication of Yousuf (Joseph) (which means): “Cause me to
The Prophet not only preached to the people to show kindness to each other but also to all living souls. He forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. [Muslim] If he saw any animal over-loaded or ill-fed he would pull up the owner and say: “Fear Allaah in your treatment of animals.” [Abu Daawood]
“The example of the scholar who teaches the people good things but forgets himself is that of a lantern, it gives light to the people but burns itself out.” [At-Tabaraani] die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.” [Quran 12:101] You should aid yourself through fear: living with the fear of eternal abode in the Hell Fire. Don’t rest and sit around while the sweetness of Faith is missing or is weakened. How many people set out on journeys for the purpose of treating their illnesses and how many of them spend out of their wealth to treat these illnesses? Do not the souls and the hearts have more priority in being treated, as their matter is one of total eternity? Bring to mind the Hadeeth, “Every slave will be resurrected upon that which he died.” [Muslim], then expect death at any moment.
It is better for you if you were to meet death whilst trying to improve your own condition than to die whilst striving to improve others’, being held accountable at the same time for leaving off obligatory actions just like the lantern that burns itself out and gives light to others, as in the Hadeeth: “The example of the scholar who teaches the people good things but forgets himself is that of a lantern, it gives light to the people but burns itself out.” [At-Tabaraani] Source: Islamweb.net 21/06/2009
A companion came to him with the young ones of a bird in his sheet and said that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed by the Prophet to replace her offspring in the same bush. [Abu Daawood]
As his army marched towards Makkah to conquer it, they passed a female dog with puppies. The Prophet not only gave orders that they should not be disturbed, but posted a man to see that this was done.
During a journey, somebody picked up some birds eggs. The bird’s painful note and fluttering attracted the attention of the Prophet who asked the man to replace the eggs. [Al-Bukhaari]
He stated: “Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal.” Source: islamweb.net 26/08/2009
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