Honey For The Heart by Taha Chaudhary Part 7

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Utter Thoughtfully • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah, without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word

(carelessly) which displeases Allah, without thinking of its gravity, and because of that he will be thrown into the Fire of Hell.” [Sahih al-Bukhari] 2991

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Perhaps one such good word is “Fain Allah” in the context of the following story…

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was once going out of Madeena with his servants. It became time to eat so the servants took the food out and everyone sat down to eat. A shepherd grazing some goats passed by and greeted them with Salaam. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) invited him to eat with them but he said, “I’m fasting.”

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Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wondered aloud, “In this intense heat of summer with fiery hot winds blowing, you are fasting in the wilderness?” The

shepherd replied: “I am preparing the days of my past (Ayyaam-il-Khaaliya).” The shepherd was referring to the Ayat in Surah Al-Haaqqa in which Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says about the people in Jannah: “(It will be said to them) Eat and drink with relish, in exchange for those deeds which you did in days gone by (Ayyaam-ilKhaaliya, i.e. life in the world).” [Surah Al-Haaqqa: Ayat 24] 2992

• This Ayat means that on the Day of Resurrection it will be said to the believers: “In the world you left your desires for Allah, and you bore the difficulties of hunger and thirst, so now eat, drink and enjoy to your heart’s content and no one will stop you.” The shepherd meant that he was trying to make the days of his life in the world valuable

to his Hereafter.

• To test him, Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “We want to buy a goat. Tell us the price and take the money. We will sacrifice the goat and also give you some of the meat to open your fast with.” The shepherd replied, “These goats do not belong to me, I am a slave. They

belong to my master.” Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) insisted, “How will your master find out? Tell him that a wolf ate it!”

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• The shepherd pointed to the sky and said: “Fain Allah (Then where is Allah?)” What he meant was, “Where will Allah go while I am doing this. Allah is always watching! So how can I deceive anyone?” Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) with mixed feelings of joy and amazement would keep repeating, “A shepherd says, ‘Where

is Allah! Where is Allah!’”

• Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) returned to Madeena and went to the master of this slave. He bought from him the slave and the goats, freed the slave, and gave the goats to him as a gift. This was the condition of the shepherds of that time, that even in the middle of

the jungle they worried about Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) watching them.

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Salam to Angels • Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When Allah created Aadam and breathed the spirit into him he sneezed and said, ‘Alhamdu-lillah (Praise be to Allah).’ So he praised Allah by His leave and his Lord said to him, ‘Allah have mercy on you, O Aadam. Go to those angels – the company of them who are seated

– and say As-salamu alaykum (Peace be upon you).’ So he did and the angels replied, ‘Wa alaykas salamu wa rahmatullah (and peace be on

you and the mercy of Allah).’ He then returned to his Lord, and He said, ‘This is your salutation and the greeting of your offspring among them.’” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

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• When Aadam (alaihis salam) sneezed and thanked Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for it, Allah said to him, ‘O Aadam! May Allah have mercy on you.’ He did not say, ‘I will be merciful to you.’ He used the former words in order to teach Aadam (alaihis salam) the words of response that a person should say when a sneezer shows gratitude to Allah and

praises Him. Once Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) shows mercy to anyone then he is assured of safety, honor and favor.

• This hadith teaches us to greet Muslims with ‘Assalamu alaykum,’ to return the Salam, to say ‘Alhamdu-lillah’ when we sneeze, and to say ‘Yarhamak Allah’ if a sneezer says ‘Alhamdu-

lillah.’

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Understanding of the Deen • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When Allah desires good for someone, He gives him

understanding of the Deen.” [Sahih alBukhari]

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• Understanding of the Deen (religion) means understanding of the Quran and hadith, religious injunctions, and knowledge of the lawful and the unlawful. True understanding necessarily generates action that reflects the understanding.

For example, most people have not personally experienced the devastation caused by a nuclear

weapon, but do you have any doubt that they will do all that is in their power not to have one dropped on them?

• Knowledge (understanding of the Deen) is the shortest path to Allah. Whoever travels the road of knowledge reaches Allah and the Garden by the shortest route. Knowledge also clears the way out

of darkness, ignorance, doubt and skepticism. It is why Allah called His Book, “Light.”

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There are two kinds of knowledge: knowledge of the tongue and knowledge of the heart. The second kind is the beneficial kind which raises people in rank; it is the knowledge which is absorbed by the heart and puts it

right. The knowledge that is on the tongue is taken lightly by people: neither those who possess it, nor anyone else, act upon it, and it is of no use on the Day of Judgment.

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Thus, when understanding of the Deen exists, it will result in righteous action and bring one on to the path leading to Paradise. This will ensure everlasting happiness for that person, without a single blemish to mar it.

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The blessing of understanding Islam, such that one's belief and behavior reflect it, is a sign of Allah's special favor to that person. One has to make oneself worthy of the honor.

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Understanding of the Deen is Allah’s gift to the heart of that person whom He loves.

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Seven Years of Peace • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu

alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Dajjal will appear in my Ummah and will remain for forty. Then Allah will send Eesa ibn Maryam, who will resemble Urwah ibn Masud. He will chase the Dajjal and kill him. Then the people will live for seven years during which

there will be no enmity between any two persons.” [Sahih Muslim] 3003

• The period of Dajjal’s stay on earth is forty days; but the duration of the first three days is one year, one month, and one week, respectively. The remaining 37 days are each as long as our regular days are. After

the earth is rid of the Dajjal there will be a period of such exemplary peace that there won’t be any enmity between any two people on earth. This period will last for seven years.

• Some ahadith narrate events briefly, highlighting the main points only; while other ahadith fill in the details. This hadith, for example, simply states the

period of Dajjal’s stay and then a period of extraordinary peace, without detailing the trials that Dajjal will put the people through or the events to take place during Eesa (alaihis salam’s) second stay on earth, during which these seven peaceful years will happen. All the ahadith put together give the total, detailed picture.

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Valleys Full of Gold • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a second one;

and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third; for nothing fills the belly of Adam's son except dust. And Allah forgives he who repents to Him.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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Until our remains are mixed with dust (i.e. we die) we continue to compete with each other to amass the pleasures of life. Our condition is that when one desire gets satisfied, we immediately have another lined up

for fulfillment. We remain occupied in eating, drinking and trying to have a good time, greedy to acquire more of everything.

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Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) cautions us saying: “You are obsessed by greed for more and more until you go down to your graves. Nay, in time you will come to understand! And once again: Nay, in time you will come to understand! Nay, if you could but understand (it) with an understanding (born) of certainty, you would indeed, most surely, behold the blazing fire (of Hell)! In the end you will indeed, most surely, behold it with certainty of sight. And on that Day you will most surely be called to account for what you indulged in!”

[The Quran: Surah Takathur] 3009

• The pleasures and comforts of this world are nothing more than a test for those who are granted them. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) wishes to judge how desirous a person is of Jannah, by seeing what price they are willing to pay for it: Do they spend their money, time and resources in Allah’s causes or on their own enjoyment?

• He (subhana wa ta’ala) advises those of us whom He has tested by the withholding of wealth: “Never stretch your eyes towards the things We have given to some groups of them to enjoy, so that We put them to test thereby, it being merely the glamour of worldly life. And the bounty of your Lord is much better and more lasting.”

[Surah Taha: Ayat 131]

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Shoe-lace or Salt, Ask Allah • The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Man should call upon Allah alone to provide for all his needs,

so much so that even if a shoe-lace is broken, he should pray to Allah to provide a shoe-lace, and if he needs salt, he should beseech Allah to send it to him.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

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• Prayer is the essence of worship and worship should be rendered to Allah alone. Do not call upon anyone except Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to fulfill your needs.

• Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is rich while man is poor and He (subhana wa ta’ala) is bountiful and generous while man is stingy. Allah (subhana wa

ta’ala) likes us to ask Him for things, for He loves to give us from the treasures with Him; while people dislike being asked, because they hate to part with what is with them. So ask Allah for any and everything and refrain from asking human beings. This will endear you to Him and keep you honorable in the eyes of men.

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Visualize the Day of Resurrection • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever wants to visualize the Day of

Resurrection, let him recite, ‘When the sun is wound round, loses its light and is overthrown’ (Surah Takweer), ‘When the heaven is cleft asunder’ (Surah Infitaar), and ‘When the

heaven is split asunder’ (Surah Inshiqaaq).” [Jami at-Tirmidhi] 3016

• These three Surahs deal specifically with the Day of Resurrection. They describe how the sky will be split and cleft asunder, how the sun will be wound round, how the stars and planets will fall and be scattered, and other terrors that will happen on that Day. People will come forth from their graves to either prisons (in Hell) or palaces (in Paradise),

after their records have been examined and they have been taken by their right or left hands or seized from behind.

• “Say (O Muhammad): ‘Truly, those of old, and those of later times, all will surely be gathered together for an appointed meeting of a known Day.’” [Quran: Surah Waqiah, Ayaat 49-50]

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The Right Attitude • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu

alayhi wa sallam) went to visit a sick Bedouin. Whenever the Prophet went to a patient, he used to say to him, "Don't worry, if Allah will, it will be expiation (for your sins)." The Bedouin said, "You say expiation? No, it is but a fever that is boiling or harassing an old man and will lead him to his grave without his will."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Then, yes, it is so." [Sahih al-Bukhari] 3018

• This hadith conveys to us the importance of having a positive attitude. Since the man denied the comforting news regarding his illness, conveyed by the Prophet (peace be upon him), he wasn't deserving that the good news should apply to him. • Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has given us glad

tidings that no suffering of ours is in vain.

Whether it be physical pain, financial difficulty or emotional stress, each functions to purify us of the sins that we habitually accumulate. Following the Prophet's example, we should also encourage patients to bear their pain and suffering with hope of reward from Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), in

compensation for their patience through the trial that they are undergoing.

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Souls in Existence • Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased

with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When Allah created Aadam He

wiped his back and every soul of his offspring He was to create up to the Day of Resurrection fell from his back. He put on the forehead of every one of them a flash of light, then presented them to Aadam who asked, ‘My Lord, who are they?’ Allah said, ‘They are your offspring.’

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Souls in Existence…

He saw one of them and was charmed by

the flash on his forehead, hence he asked, ‘My Lord, who is this?’ Allah told him that he was a man from his children of the final group of people who would be called Dawood. Aadam asked, ‘My Lord! What

age have you assigned to him?’ Allah said, ‘Sixty years.’ Aadam requested, ‘My Lord! Increase his age and give him forty

years of my life.’

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Souls in Existence…

When Aadam’s period of life came to an

end, the angel of death came to him. He protested, ‘Are there not forty years of my life remaining?’ The angel reminded him, ‘Did you not give them to your son Dawood?’ Aadam denied it (with the

result that) all his children denied. And Aadam forgot (with the result that) all his children developed (the malady of)

forgetfulness. And Aadam slipped and his children faltered.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi] 3025

• There are several lessons to be learnt from this hadith: 1. The first thing that this hadith confirms is that man was created as we see him now. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) created Aadam (alaihis salam) in a perfect form directly. From the very first day, he was intelligent, able to speak, and feel and

understand, and to distinguish between right and wrong. It is not as some people believe that man was an ape and gradually evolved into his present form.

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2. We also learn from this hadith that characteristics are inherited by mankind whether they are temperamental, physical or mental. Aadam (alaihis salam) denied having made a gift of his age to anyone, not out of disobedience but forgetfulness.

His progeny inherited this weakness and forgetfulness became a peculiarity of the children of Aadam.

• The most important thing that humans forget is the covenant they made with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) at the time of their creation. Allah’s books and prophets are thus there to remind them. In everyday matters Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has made it necessary that every important affair, especially financial, should be recorded to forestall every denier and every forgetfulness. The Shariah has prescribed recording dealings and having witnesses to ward off disputes and unpleasantness.

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3. This hadith also confirms our eeman in divine ordainment or fate (qada wa qadar). Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has determined which individuals will come into existence and created their souls. Nothing can prevent them from coming into this world at the time appointed for them. Nor can anyone bring into this world any

individual without Allah’s Will. Furthermore, the age of all living things is also pre-determined and there will be no increase or decrease in it.

4. This hadith expresses the grandeur of Prophet Dawood (alaihis salam) and confirms the strength of his faith and intelligence which is reflected in the brightness on his forehead.

5. This hadith also informs us that it is alright to reckon the years of one’s life because Aadam (alaihis salam) had kept a record of his age.

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The Dipping • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The biggest sins are: To join others in worship with

Allah; to be undutiful to one’s parents; to kill somebody unlawfully; and to take an Al-Ghamus oath.” [Sahih alBukhari]

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• Look at the things which have been put together as the biggest sins: shirk, neglecting parents, murder, and lying through oaths. An al-Ghamus oath is the false oath taken intentionally with which one intends to mislead people. Such an oath cannot be expiated, and the one who takes it will be dipped into Hell-Fire. Hence comes the term

“Al-Ghamus,” meaning, “the dipping.”

• Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: “And make not your oaths a means of deception amongst yourselves, lest a foot may slip after being firmly planted.” [The Quran 16:94]

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Whose Praise • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever acts to be heard and seen, God will cause

his falsity to be heard and seen.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim]

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If B works for C but then comes to you demanding payment, wouldn't you say, "Go and ask C for your wages, it is not me that you worked for!" When you do good deeds, you either do it for Allah (subhana wa ta'ala), or for other than Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). This "other than Allah" could be people's appreciation, fame, money, power, or anything else.

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In order for any action of yours to be worthy of reward in the Hereafter, it must have been done sincerely for Allah (subhana wa ta'ala), and for Allah alone. The reward/hasanaat for the deed will be decreased in

proportion to the extent that other motives enter into the intention behind the good deed. Furthermore, Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) tells us in this hadith, that He will make known to the people the real reason that you are doing good deeds.

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• Abu Umar explained ikhlas (sincerely doing something only for Allah) in this way: “It is present when one wishes to be praised for something only by God.” • According to Dhul-Nun, one of the ulema explained the possession of Ikhlas in this manner: “Whenever a man does something sincerely for

God, he feels a longing to be in a cave where he will not be recognized.” This is because if only Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) knows what you did for Him, your reward will not be diminished by others' praise and your taking pride in what you have done. Always ask Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) to purify your intentions and not let your sins and

shortcomings take away from your good deeds.

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The Wooden Bowl A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

“We must do something about father,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family

glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

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The Wooden Bowl The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless.

Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his day, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer

when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

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The Wooden Bowl Moral: Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child’s future. Let’s be wise builders and role models because children are our future.

Remember, you reap what you sow. Regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. Always Respect, Care for and Love them.

Life is about people connecting with people and making a positive difference. Take care of yourself and those you love, today and everyday!

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Tafseer of the Quran • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever speaks of the Book of Allah from his own opinion is in error.” [Sunan Abu Dawood]

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• 1)

The correct method for explaining the Quran is: To explain the Quran from the Quran itself. Sometimes a topic is mentioned briefly in one place, but in more detail in another place. All references to it from the

Quran should be put together to understand the topic in the best way possible.

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To explain the Quran from the Sunnah. Allah designated a Messenger so that he could show us by his example and by his explanations exactly what Allah (subhana wa ta’ala)’s commands mean and how to bring them into practice.

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To explain by the understanding that the Sahabah had of these commands. The Quran was revealed in their presence, they heard Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) explain it, and they saw with their own eyes how it was put

into practice. They devoted their whole lives to understanding and preserving the Quran and Sunnah.

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It is possible that someone explain something from the Quran without referring to the Quran or Sunnah and still be correct in their explanation. Nevertheless, they will be sinful, which is a state of being in error. This is because they had no right to explain the Quran based merely on their opinions. A chemist who pretends to be a surgeon and attempts a surgery will be taken to court even if the patient comes out alive from the surgery.

This is because he did not have the right to cut anyone up.

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To say, “This is what the Quran means…” is to say

“This is what Allah means…!” Would we like to have people put words in our mouths? Would we like people who know nothing about our opinions to speak authoritatively about what we like or dislike? Then how can we have the guts to do this with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala)?

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What Percent Muslim are You? • Narrated Abdullah bin Amr that the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever has the following four

(characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of

hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up. 1.

Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. 2.

Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 3.

Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous. 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and

insulting manner." [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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• Whoever has all four of these characteristics is a pure hypocrite. Whoever has one of these characteristics has one characteristic of hypocrisy, until he gives it up. These traits define how a hypocrite deals with other humans, with the Prophet (peace be upon) and with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

• The most significant covenant that each of us is bound by is the oath we took on Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) when He asked, “alasta bi rabbikum?

(Am I not your Lord?)” All our souls at that time gave witness that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) was our Creator and Lord. We unconditionally bore witness that He was the One worthy of worship

and obedience.

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• When we come into our earthly existence this covenant (ahd-e-alast) is in our sub-conscience and it gives us the ability to recognize the uncorrupted religion that is from Allah. If we now start obeying international, national, or domestic, rules and orders that violate Allah’s orders what should we be called? We vowed to take only Allah

as the lawgiver, and to fear no one more than Allah. Considering who we obey, what then should we call ourselves, Muslim or hypocrite?

• Consider these four characteristics and rate yourself. Are you 0% hypocrite, 100% Muslim or are you (Allah Forbid!) 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% hypocrite?

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What did You Say of Muhammad?

• The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When a servant is laid in his grave and his friends have turned from him and he hears the footfalls of their sandals, two angels come to him, sit him upright,

and ask him, ‘What were you wont to say of this man Muhammad (pbuh)?’ The believer will answer, ‘I testify that he is the

slave of Allah and His Messenger,’ and it will be said, ‘Look at your place in the Fire, Allah has changed it for a place in the

Garden (Jannah),’ and the man will behold both of them.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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• Once a person’s grave is closed over him, immediately two angels Munkar and Nakeer come to question the man about his beliefs; 1) who he worshipped, 2) who he took as the Messenger of Allah and 3) what his religion was.

• The person who lived his life in subservience to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), hopeful of Allah’s Mercy but fearing Allah’s punishment, will be able to answer the angels correctly and testify that he

took only Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) as his Creator, Sustainer and Law Giver.

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He who took Muhammad (peace be upon him) as his guide for life, who looked towards his example when conducting business, in matters of marriage, in waking and sleeping, eating and drinking, in affairs of state and

estate, in short for every issue of life, only he will be able to correctly answer the angels and say that he took Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be Allah’s chosen Messenger.

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He who looked towards the Kuffar in conducting the affairs of his life; how to entertain himself, what to strive to achieve, what to celebrate, what to wear, what to allow and what to disallow, will not be able to lie to the angels. Thus, while a Kafir will answer, “Alas, I don’t know”, a Munafiq (hypocrite) will say, “I used to say what the people would say.” The Munafiq lacked conviction in the beliefs of the Muslims and did not take Muhammad (pbuh) as his teacher and role model for life, so he will not be able to say, “I testify that Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allah.”

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• He who lived his life on Islam, bound by its restrictions, not trespassing the boundaries set by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), will be able to correctly answer that Islam was his religion. The angels Munkar and Nakeer are very scary to look at, but the Momin will not be scared by them. He will calmly answer them. Jannat – gardens of eternal

bliss are the reward for him who answers these three questions correctly.

• Such a person will be shown the place that he escaped in Jahannum and what his home in Jannah looks like. Seeing the reward and blessings that await his arrival will make the Momin very happy. He is indeed a fortunate man.

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Tahajjud for Attractiveness • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The best prayer, after the obligatory prayers, is

the night prayer (Tahajjud).” [Sahih Muslim]

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• Al-Hasan was once asked: “How is it that those who stay up at night have the most attractive faces?” He replied, “Because they are on intimate terms with the Merciful, and He robes them in some of His light.” [The Purification of the Soul] • Draw near to Allah, get clothed in His light and become among the most attractive people on

earth, by waking up before Fajr and praying Tahajjud!

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Worship Provides For World • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah says, ‘O son of Adam, devote yourself to My

worship, and I will fill your heart with contentment and take care of your poverty; but if you do not do that, then I will fill your heart with worldly concerns and will not take care of your

poverty.’” [Sunan ibn Majah]

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• Each person is born helpless and penniless. It is Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) Who arranges for him/her to be fed, clothed, and taken care of. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) puts the love of that child in the hearts of its parents. If those feelings are missing from the hearts of its parents, the newborn is incapable of doing anything about it.

• In the same way that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) took care of us when we were born, He Alone is responsible for all the good that comes to us throughout life. He (subhana wa ta’ala) only channels it through sources that have human form.

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• This hadith reminds us that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) Alone suffices for everybody. We should not be negligent in what He has commanded us to do and He will not be negligent towards us. Worship is total surrender and complete obedience to all commands. If we fail to worship Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) as is His right to be worshipped, then

we should not be surprised if He leaves us to fend for ourselves and afflicts us with consuming worldly concerns.

• So, to be free of worldly wants, we must focus on the obligations Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has charged us with.

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This Day Never to Return • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu

alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever says, ‘Exalted is Allah and His are the Blessings’, will have a palm tree planted for him in the Garden.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

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• Consider how many palm trees a time waster misses the opportunity of planting.

• A righteous man used to say to his guests who stayed too long, “Don’t you want to leave? The angel of the sun never tires of pulling it.”

• Mujahid said: “Not a day passes which does not say, ‘O son of Adam, I have come to you today and I will never come again, so be careful of what you do during my stay.’ When the day has passed, it is folded up and sealed, never to be reopened by anyone until Allah reopens it on the Day of Judgement.

• The night and the day are like two treasure-chests, so be careful of what you do in them.

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Un-muddle Your Heart • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When any one of you sleeps, Shaytaan ties three knots at the back of your head. On each knot he repeats and

exhales the following words, ‘The night is long, so stay asleep.’ If you wake up and remember Allah, one knot is undone; and if

you do Wudhu, the second knot is undone; and if you pray, the third knot is undone, and you get up in the morning full of energy

and with a clear heart. Otherwise, you get up feeling lazy, and with a muddled heart.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

3069

• To wake up with a clear mind and heart, feeling revitalized, fresh and alert, pray Tahajjud at night!

Try it, experience it, and you will know that nothing can replace it!

3070

Without Extravagance or Conceit • The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Eat, drink, wear clothes and give alms without extravagance and without conceit.” [Sahih alBukhari]

• Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Eat what you wish and wear what you wish, if you can avoid two things, extravagance and conceit.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari] 3071

• Extravagance consists of two things: 1) Buying what you don’t need.

2) Spending more than necessary on the things you need.

• Conceit means to feel that one is better than others because of something that one has.

• These two sins, i.e. extravagance and conceit, must be avoided at all times but three times in particular: 1)

When we feed ourselves,

2)

In how we dress,

3)

When giving Sadaqah.

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• If we have enough to give Sadaqah, this too is a special favour of Allah’s on us. We should always be grateful to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for His blessings and use these blessings wisely, with humility and with gratitude to Him (subhana wa ta’ala).

• As we clean our houses yet they get dirty again

and so we are always cleaning them: So also our hearts and intentions get dirty and we need to keep cleaning them and ask Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to help us with the process.

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3075

3076

Your Wishes Take Nothing Away From the Ocean • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah, Most High said, ‘O My slaves!

If the first of you and the last of you, the living among you and the dead among you, the fresh among you and the dry among you were to gather together upon one plateau, and each person among them were to ask for his utmost desire, and I were to give each what he asked for, that would not diminish

from My sovereignty, except as if one of you were to pass by an ocean and dip a needle into it then remove it. That is because I am the Most Liberal without need, the Most Generous, doing as I will. I give by My speech and I punish by My speech, whenever I will something I only say, “Be” and it shall be.’” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

3077

• This hadith informs us about the wealth that is with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Everything belongs to Him, and Him alone. It is so much that if He were to grant every wish of every person who has ever lived or will live on earth, all at the same time, all of that combined would take nothing away from the wealth that is with Him.

• Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) gives us the example here of dipping a needle into an ocean. When you take it out can you say that the ocean has been diminished by the dipping of the needle into it?

No. Similarly, what is with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is immensely more than we can imagine and is not diminished by what He bestows on His

slaves.

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• Therefore, we should not hesitate to ask of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

• We should also know that nobody besides Him has the power to grant anybody anything. People only become the channels. The Bestower is always only Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). His speech is enough to bring about all events.

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Must Not Freely Mix With • Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Keep yourselves away from non-mahram

women.” One companion asked: “O Messenger of Allah, tell me, can the husband's brother mix freely with his sister-in-law.” Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam)

replied, “He is like death for a woman.” [Sahih al-Bukhari] 3080

• Allah in His Infinite Wisdom has prohibited the free mixing of the sexes to preserve the sanctity of the family and the peace of family life. This hadith tells us clearly that the husband's brother or brother's wife definitely count as nonmahrams and that the rules of segregation between non-mahrams apply between them more

than ever.

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3082

3083

3084

You Will See Allah •

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Do you have any doubt that you see the moon on the night when it is full and

there are no clouds in front of it?” The Sahabah said: “No, O Messenger of Allah.” He (pbuh) said: “Then you will see Him on the Day of Resurrection in the same way. Allah will gather the people and will say, ‘Whoever used to worship

anything, let him follow it.’ So all those who used to worship the sun, or the moon, or false gods, will follow (their gods).

Then this Ummah will be left, with its hypocrites among them. Then Allah will come to them in a Form other than that which they know, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord.’

They will say, ‘We seek refuge with Allah from you. This is where we will stay until our Lord comes to us. When our Lord comes to us, we will know Him.’ Then Allah will come to them in the form which they know, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘You are our Lord,’ and they will follow Him, and the bridge will be set up over Hell.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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• On the Day of Resurrection people will follow whatever they used to worship besides Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and will be flung into Hell along with their false gods.

• Eesa (alaihis salam), his pious mother Maryam, Uzair (alaihis salam) and other such monotheistic, noble people will of course not be held responsible

for the willful misguidance that people indulged in, in worshipping them. No soul carries the burden of another. Instead of these pious people, the Qareen (devil-companion) of these people, or angels in the form of these people will appear, whom their worshippers will follow. The made-up gods who will be thrown into Hell along with

their worshippers will be those who allowed themselves and desired themselves to be worshipped.

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•

This willingness to be made gods of can be witnessed in the leaders of several sects and cults as they have their followers prostrate to them and pictures of them.

Prostration is a very visible form of worship. In addition to this, the leaders of sects make laws for their followers, trying to usurp Allah’s right to legislate (Tawheed Hakimiyyah).

•

When only the monotheistic worshippers of Allah are left, along with the hypocrites who pretended to be so, they will follow Allah. They will be given light but then the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. They

will cry out for light but they will not be given any light. They will all go towards the Siraat which will be set up over Hell. The hypocrites will lag behind and be separated from the believers. The hypocrites will be unable to successfully cross the Bridge and will fall into Hell.

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Two and Two • Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Do you know the thing which most commonly brings

people into Paradise? It is fear of Allah and good character. Do you know what most commonly brings people into Hell? It is the two hollow things: the mouth and the private parts." [Jami

at-Tirmidhi]

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• This hadith is a strong warning to us to guard against the most common causes of eternal punishment.

• One is misuse of the tongue; lying, back biting, tale bearing, slander, indulging in lewd or obscene talk and speaking against Allah, His Prophets, Islam, and Muslims.

• The other most common cause of punishment in Hellfire is misuse of the private parts; i.e. adultery, fornication, sodomy, homosexuality, etc.

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Your Heart On A Tray • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body of the

children of Adam such that, if it is sound, then the whole body is sound and if it is corrupted then the whole body will be corrupted. Know that it is the heart.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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•

The Prophets were sent to the world to purify men’s hearts. They worked hardest on cleaning the hearts of men from wrong concepts about Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and from misplaced love, trust, hope and fear.

Allah has commanded us to love Him and His Messenger, to love the righteous people, to love that which Allah loves and to hate all which Allah hates.

They taught us to place our love, trust, hope and fear in

Allah, and only Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

•

When a person’s heart becomes pure the person becomes pure, when a person’s heart changes, the person changes, his life changes, the purpose of his life changes, his perspective changes, his criteria for loving and hating change, the aims and goals of hard work and trade change, households change, society changes, times change, history changes, personalities and manners of dealing with people change, days change, nights change, the producers of satisfaction change.

3094

• The condition of the heart should be such that if you were to empty its contents onto an uncovered tray and take it around the market there should not be a single thing in it which by exposing in this way you are embarrassed, or any one can point a finger to.

• When your concept of Allah changes and becomes purified of erroneous beliefs, negativity in life and about other people will also vanish. Correct your concepts about Allah

(subhana wa ta’ala) to clean your heart of old grudges, jealousy, envy, malice, haughtiness, arrogance, deception… They are like dead

lizards and cockroaches rotting away that we store in our hearts. Make sure none of them end up on the tray.

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3097

Thirst for Learning Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased

with him) says: "After the passing away of the Prophet (peace be upon him), I said to an Ansari friend of mine: 'The Prophet is not now with us. But a large number of Sahabah are still among us. Let us go to them and get knowledge of the Islamic practices.' He said: ' Who is going to approach you for learning a regulation in the presence of these eminent Sahabah?’ I was not discouraged. I kept up my quest for knowledge and approached every person who was supposed to have heard something from the Prophet.

I managed to gather substantial information from the

Ansar. If on my visit to someone of the Sahabah, I found him asleep, I spread my shawl at the gate and sat waiting.

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Sometimes my face and body would get covered with dust, but I kept sitting till they woke, and I was able to contact them. Some of them said: 'Abdullah you are the cousin of the Prophet; you

could have sent for us.

Why did you take the trouble of coming to our places?' I said to them: 'I must come to you, for I am a student and you are my teachers.' Some people for whom I had waited said: 'Since when have you been waiting for us?' I informed them that I had been sitting there for a pretty long time.

They said: 'What a pity! You could have awakened us from our sleep.' I said: 'I did not like to disturb you for my own sake.' I thus carried on my pursuits, till there came a time when people began to flock to me for learning.

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My Ansari friend realized this at that time and remarked: 'This boy has surely proved himself

more sensible than us.'"

Source: From the book "Stories of the Sahabah" by Shaikh Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhlawi.

Moral: Besides our quest for knowledge to earn a livelihood in this world, we must as well gain sufficient knowledge of Islam. No matter what age group we belong to at this moment, we should at least have that much Islamic knowledge with which we can turn our 24 hours life into worship.

Those with knowledge and practice will be exalted in this world and in the hereafter.

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3101

Zaqqoom, The Food of Jahannum • The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “If one drop from AzZaqqoom were to land on this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would be destroyed. So

how must it be for the one who must eat it?” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

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•

In this hadith the Prophet (pbuh) portrayed for us the terrifying nature of Zaqqoom. Zaqqoom and Daree are the foods of the people of Jahannum. However, these foods will be of no benefit whatsoever to the people who eat them, and they will not enjoy them in the least. This is one of the forms of punishment that they will suffer. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: “Verily, the tree of Zaqqoom will be the food of the sinful, like molten brass, it will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water.” [Quran 44:43-46]

•

Another description of the tree of Zaqqoom is in the following Ayaat of the Quran: “Is that (Jannah) the better

entertainment or the tree of Zaqqoom? For We have truly made it a trial for the wrongdoers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire. The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils; truly, they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that they will be given to drink a mixture made of boiling water. Then, shall their return be to the blazing Fire of Hell.” [Quran 37:62-68] 3103

• The Prophet (peace be upon him) had complete conviction in the Hereafter and Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) had filled his heart with love for us, so he tried his utmost to save us from Jahannum. The descriptions of Zaqqoom show us why he (peace be upon him) undertook every hardship so that people may change their course and not betray

their oath to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

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Who Wants To Be Poor But Make Others Rich

• The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Three things follow the bier of a dead man. Two of them come back and one is left with him. The members of his family and

his wealth come back and his deeds alone are left with him.” [Sahih Muslim]

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• Once the Prophet (pbuh) asked if there were anybody who would like to make his inheritors wealthy and remain poor himself. This is not something anybody would desire. Then the Prophet (pbuh) explained that by accumulating wealth (and not spending it to gain Allah’s pleasure) we are simply leaving it behind for the

people who will inherit it when we die, because our wealth does not follow us into our graves.

While it is commendable to not leave our inheritors in want, yet nobody desires to be left needy while enriching others either. Therefore, since the only thing that can enrich us after our deaths are our good deeds, we must try to earn as

much of them as possible by putting to good use the wealth that Allah has given us.

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Zakah, Fasting, Prayer, all Go to Others • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do you know who is the one who is bankrupt?” The Sahabah said: “The bankrupt is the one who has no money and no possessions.” He (pbuh) said: “Among my Ummah, the one who is bankrupt is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer and fasting and Zakah (to

his credit), but he will come having insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one and shed the blood of that one, and beaten that one.

So they will all be given some of his Hasanaat, and when his Hasanaat run out, before judgment is passed, some of their sins will be taken and cast onto him. Then he will be cast into the Fire.” [Sahih Muslim]

3110

• This hadith should really shake us up!

• It warns us that even Muslims who pray, fast and disburse Zakat, can go to Jahannum.

• Control yourself and be careful about others’ rights. In fact, forget about your own rights, you will surely get them on the Day of Judgment if not sooner, and start worrying about your responsibilities towards others.

• May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) save us from bankruptcy on the Day of Judgment!

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What Allah Looks At • The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He

looks at your hearts and accomplishments.� [Sahih Muslim]

3112

•

Appearance and wealth are the criteria by which Shaytaan misguides people to judge one another. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has altogether another set of criteria. Since Allah is the Bestower of looks and He is

the one who determines the rizq/wealth of a person, these mean nothing to Him. What the person has done to endear himself to his or her Lord is what they will be judged on. What Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) appreciates

about them is their application to improving their beliefs, their hearts, their characters and their deeds.

•

Some people master the religious sciences but neglect to examine their outward habits and practices, not keeping their external self from sin or making it faithful in obedience. They are deluded by their learning and feel sure that they rate high with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Whereas, the whole point of knowing about religious practice is to apply it. Without works, it is useless. Allah Most High says, "He who purifies it (the soul) has succeeded" [Al-Quran 91:9], not "He who

knows how to purify it has succeeded."

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• Some people master religious learning and its outward performance, but do not examine their hearts to eliminate the blameworthy traits therein such as pride, envy, ostentation, and seeking exaltation or fame. They have made their exterior seemly while neglecting their interior, forgetting this hadith of the Prophet (pbuh). Such people

apply themselves to works but do not apply themselves to hearts, though the heart is the real foundation, since no one is saved "except he who comes to Allah with a pure heart." [Al-Quran 26:89]

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Zulm will be Zulumaat • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Beware of oppression (zulm), for oppression will

be darkness (zulumaat) on the Day of Resurrection.” [Sahih Muslim]

3118

•

On the Day of Judgement the Munaafiqeen (hypocrites) and Kafireen (non-Muslims) will be begging the believers (true Muslims) for light. But they will not be given any light. They will be stranded in pitch black darkness while the believers will have light running in front of them with which they will quickly cross the Bridge over Hell and enter Paradise.

•

“On the Day when you will see the believing men and the

believing women, their light proceeding in front of them and to their right hands, (it will be said to them,) ‘Good news for you today! Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever!’ That is the great achievement. The

Day when the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believe, ‘Wait for us, so that we may have a share from your light.’ It will be said (to them), ‘Go back to your rear, and search for light.’ Then a wall will be placed between them, which will have a gate. In its inner side, there will be divine mercy, while towards its outer side, there will be divine punishment.” [Quran: Surah Hadeed, Ayaat 12-13] 3119

Wish for Everybody in Prayer • “A bedouin entered the masjid of the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam), offered his prayers and then said: ‘O Allah! Grant Your favor to me

and to Muhammad (peace be upon him), and to none else besides us.’ On

hearing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed: ‘You have narrowed the vast limits of Allah’s blessings.’” [Sahih al-Bukhari] 3120

• Avoid prejudice and selfishness in prayer. Ask for others what you would like others to ask for you.

• Do not fall into the error of considering the vast blessings with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) as limited. Don’t pray for the granting of His bounty to you alone since He has much more than that to give. To ask only for yourself is akin to refusing

the river and begging only for a drop.

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Zikr Weighed • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Two words which are light on the tongue but will weigh heavily in the Balance, and they are beloved to the Most Merciful:

‘Subhaan Allahi wa bi hamdihi, Subhaan Allah-il-Azeem’ (Allah is glorious and pure of all defects and all praise belongs to Him alone, Allah is glorious and pure of all defects and He

is the Almighty).” [Sahih al-Bukhari] 3125

• Deeds will be weighed in the Scales on the Day of Judgement. They will take on physical shapes and will be placed in the Balance. The remembrance of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in whatever form it took place (words, feelings of the heart, thoughts about Him, deeds in His obedience, or restraining oneself from His disobedience) all will take physical shapes and be weighed.

3126

• Say “Subhaan Allah” with conviction to feel its magic on your heart and in your life. “Subhaan Allah” means that Allah is free of any and all defects and wonderful beyond all imagination. If you believe it then words questioning Allah’s Will should never escape from your lips. For example, what does the phrase “untimely death” imply? It

implies that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) didn’t choose the right and best time in which to lift the person from this world! Behind this phrase is doubt in Allah’s wisdom and disbelief in His love for His creation being more than the love that human beings have for each other.

• Scrutinize the words that you utter and analyze

the beliefs behind the words. Be sure not to say anything that negates your “Subhaan Allah”.

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Who’s Generous • Aisha (radi Allahu anha), the wife of the

Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) narrated: “A lady, along with her two daughters, came to me asking me (for some

alms), but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and she divided it between her two daughters, and then she got

up and went away. Then the Prophet (pbuh) came in and I informed him about this story.

He said, “Whoever is in charge of these

daughters and treats them generously, then they will act as a shield for him from the Fire.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari] 3128

•

There are several lessons to be learnt from this hadith: 1. Look at the house of the Prophet (pbuh). The person who has the best and highest place in Jannah, has a house in this world which has nothing that can be

given away except a single date! When the most beloved to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) died, there was not enough money to buy oil for a lamp. Aisha (radi Allahu anha) mortgaged his battle shield to buy oil.

There was nothing of value in the house save the shield and nine swords that hung on the wall of his house.

•

Our houses are chock full of possessions. Cupboards full of clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. Expensive curtains, carpets and sofa sets. Decorative frames on the walls. Kitchens with multiple dinner sets, stuffed

pantries and fridges. If we are asked to give in the name of Allah, how much do we give? If we are asked to defend someone in the name of Allah can we defend them?

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2. Since Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) loves His creation intensely, He loves those who treat them kindly; especially those who are weak and unable to fend for themselves. Thus, he promises mountains of reward to

those who take care of His loved ones.

3. Since Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has saved women from having to fend for themselves, making it obligatory on their male relatives to provide for them, He promises those who are generous in discharging this responsibility with safety from the worst Fire.

4. We see that a person’s generosity and sacrifice is judged by what they give compared to what they have.

We see the generosity of Aisha (radi Allahu anha) in this hadith who gave all she had. This would be equivalent to a billionaire giving all of his wealth in the path of Allah. We have the example of billionaire Sahabah such as Abdur Rahman bin Auf (radi Allahu anhu) donating in this manner.

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• We also see the generosity of the mother in this hadith. All she was given was a date. But she didn’t eat it herself. She could have thought that since she was an adult her metabolic needs were greater, so she deserved the date more than her daughters. But, instead, she divided it in half and gave each of her daughters one half.

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Zikr is to Us Like Water is to Fish

• The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The difference between the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the difference between the living and

the dead.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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• Ibn Taimiyya wrote: “Remembrance of Allah is to the heart what water is to fish. What happens to a fish when it is taken out of water?”

• Makhul said: “Remembrance of Allah is (a sign of) health, while remembrance of people is like a disease.”

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Who is Better?

• “A man was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) for his worship and his

striving in it, and another man was mentioned for his cautious piety. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Nothing is equal to cautious piety.’”

[Jami at-Tirmidhi]

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Who is better?

• On one hand is a man who works hard on his supererogatory acts of worship, performing Sunnah, Nafl, and Tahajjud prayers, reciting the Quran, doing much Dhikr, but not staying clear of Haraam or doubtful matters. On the other hand is a man who performs the Fard acts of worship and

not much of the supererogatory but is careful not to approach the limits set by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), and stays clear of Haraam, Makruh and doubtful matters.

• This hadith tells us that the person who is careful in refraining from things displeasing to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is far better than the one who exerts himself in acts of worship but also indulges in matters of questionable lawfulness.

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You Might Try Exchanging Yourself with Your Children

• The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Kaafir will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to him, ‘Do you think that if you had an

Earthful of gold you would ransom yourself with it?’ He will say, ‘Yes.’ It will be said to him, ‘I used to ask you for less than that.’” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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•

What Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) asks us to do to save ourselves from Jahannum and claim our palaces in Jannah, is much less than giving an earthful of gold.

•

Today we cannot imagine sacrificing our children to

save ourselves. On the Day of Judgement though things will be so bad for the sinner that he will wish that he could send the most beloved of people to him to the Fire, in order to save himself: “The Mujrim (criminal, sinner, disbeliever) will desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. And his wife and his brother, and his kindred who sheltered him, and all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. By no means! Verily, it will be the fire of Hell.”

[Quran: Surah Maarij, Ayat 11-15] •

Brothers and Sisters! Let’s prepare for that Day when our relations and wealth will mean nothing to us. Let’s prepare by not letting these things come between us and Allah’s commands today.

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They would Draw Lots for It • “Allah’s Messenger (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to invoke the mercy of Allah three times upon those

who formed the first line, and only once upon those who were in the second line.” [Sunan an-Nasai]

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• Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) said: “People do not know the high degree of reward and blessings reserved for the people who form the first line of prayer. If they knew it, they would start drawing lots for the privilege of joining the first line.”

[Bukhari] • People sit all night outside the embassies of

countries they want to immigrate to, so that they can be first in line for the visa when the embassy opens in the morning. Isn’t Jannah the land every Muslim should want to migrate to? Why don’t we have the same concern to join the first line of prayer for it?

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Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Father • Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him)

reported that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and asked: “Who among people is the most deserving of my

fine treatment?” He (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: “Your mother.” He then asked, “Who next?” The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: “Your mother.” He asked again: “Who next?” He (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said again, “Your mother.” He again asked, “Then who?” He (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Your father.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

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•

Once a man came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said that his mother was very ill-tempered. The Prophet (pbuh) did not exempt the man from giving good companionship to his mother and treating her well. In fact, he (pbuh) got angry at the man and asked whether his mother had also been bad-tempered

when she had been carrying him, when she was suffering labour pains to give birth to him and when she had been nursing him.

In other words, because of the troubles she had borne for his sake, treating her kindly was now incumbent on him, regardless

of whether he enjoyed serving her or not.

•

We must remember that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is As-Sami (the All-Hearing). We say “Sami Allahu li man hamida” at least seventeen times a day, if we pray only the Fardh salat. This is to remind us that Allah hears everything. Nothing escapes him. We treat our parents well in obedience to Allah’s commands and He is aware of every word we speak to them, every single thing we do for them and every sacrifice we make for them -- even when the parents are not aware of it. Thus, to earn His pleasure and

the Jannat that He (subhana wa ta’ala) has prepared for His dutiful servants, we will worry about our duties and responsibilities towards others and not our rights. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is sufficient to take care of our rights.

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The Pious "Drunkard" and "Fornicator" Sultan Murad IV, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

from 1623-1640, would often anonymously go into the midst of the people and see their state. One evening, he felt an uneasiness in himself and the urge to go out. He called for his head of security and out they went. They came to a busy vicinity, and found a man lying on the ground. The Sultan prodded him, but he was dead and the people were going about their own business.

Nobody seemed to care about the dead man lying on the ground.

The Sultan called upon the people. They didn't recognize him and asked him what he wanted. He said, "Why is this man lying dead on the ground and why does no one seem to care? Where is his family?"

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They replied, "He is so and so, the drunkard and fornicator!"

The Sultan said, "Is he not from the Ummah of Muhammad (saw)? Now help me carry him to his house."

The people carried the dead man with the Sultan to his house and once they reached, they all left. The Sultan and his assistant remained. When the man's wife saw his dead body, she began weeping. She said to his dead body, "May Allah have mercy on you! O friend of Allah! I bear witness that you are from the

pious ones."

The Sultan was bewildered. He said, "How is he from the pious ones when the people say such and such about him? So much so that no one even cared he was dead!"

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She replied, "I was expecting that. My husband would go to the tavern every night and buy as much wine as he could. He would then bring it home and pour it all down the drain. He would then say, 'I saved the Muslims a little today.' He would then go to a prostitute, give her some money and tell her to close her door till the morning. He would then return home for a second time and say, 'Today, I saved a young woman and the youth of the believers from vice.'"

The people would see him buying wine and they

would see him going to the prostitutes and they would consequently talk about him. One day I said to him, "When you die, there will be no one to bathe you, there will be no one to pray over you and there will be no one to bury you!"

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He laughed and replied, "Don't fear, the Sultan of the believers, along with the pious ones shall pray over my body."

The Sultan began to cry. He said, "By Allah! He has said the truth, for I am Sultan Murad. Tomorrow we shall bathe him, pray over him and bury him."

And it so happened that the Sultan, the scholars, the pious

people and the masses prayed over him. We judge people by what we see and what we hear from others. Only if we were to see what was concealed in their hearts, a secret between them and their Lord. If Allah knows, why does it

matter who knows and who doesn't know?!

"O you who believe, abstain from many of the suspicions.

Some suspicions are sins. And do not be curious (to find out faults of others), and do not backbite one another. Does one

of you like that he eats the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is MostRelenting, Very-Merciful." (49:12) 3156

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We Deal with Hearts • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Should I tell you about those whom the Hellfire is

forbidden to touch? It is forbidden to touch every approachable, easygoing, soft-spoken and gentle person.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

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• What was the Prophet (peace be upon him) like?

When anybody would enter his gathering, he would move a little to make space for them, even if there was already space, so that the newcomer would feel welcome. It showed the newcomer that he (peace be upon him) valued him and they would love him.

• When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would shake someone’s hand he wouldn’t withdraw his hand until the other person withdrew his hand first.

• If a person were to speak to him, he would completely turn towards him, meaning that he would turn his face and body towards him, in order to listen with full attention.

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• If you are listening but have your face turned away, you are silently telling the other person that they are not important enough for you to give them your undivided attention even for a few moments. This was not the way of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). That is why Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) said about him (pbuh): “And you are surely

on an excellent standard of character.” [Quran: Surah al-Qalam, Ayat 4] • When we deal with people, we deal with hearts not bodies. When you show people your concern and care for them, you capture their hearts and become dear to them.

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Vain Despite Apparently Good (I) • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The first of the people on whom judgment will be passed on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who was martyred.

He will be brought forth and reminded of the blessing that he was given, and he will acknowledge it. (Allah) will say, ‘What did you do with it?’ He will say, ‘I fought for Your sake until I was martyred.’ (Allah) will say, ‘You are lying. You fought so that it might be said, he is brave, and it was said.’ Then the command will be given, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.” [Sahih Muslim] 3161

• Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) warns us in the Quran of the fate of those who fight for the medals of this world; but while we recite do we give thought to what we are reading, or do we stop to examine the intentions behind our efforts?

• “Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full (the wages of)

their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.” [Quran: Surah Hood, Ayaat 15-16]

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Vain Despite Apparently Good (II) • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Then there will be a man who acquired knowledge and taught it and recited the Quran. He will be brought forth and reminded of the blessing that he was given, and he will acknowledge it. (Allah) will say, ‘What did you do with it?’ He will say, ‘I acquired knowledge and taught it, and recited the Quran for Your sake.’ (Allah) will say, ‘You are lying. You acquired knowledge so that it might be said, he is a knowledgeable man, and it was said.’ Then the command will be given, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.” [Sahih Muslim]

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• Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) warns us in the Quran of the fate of those who acquire religious knowledge in order to show it off; but while we recite do we give thought to what we are reading, and do we stop to examine ourselves?

• “Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full (the wages of)

their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.” [Quran: Surah Hood, Ayaat 15-16]

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Vain Despite Apparently Good (III) • The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Then there will be a man to whom Allah gave in abundance all kinds of wealth. He will be brought forth and reminded of the blessing that he was given, and he will acknowledge it.

(Allah) will say, ‘What did you do with it?’ He will say, ‘I did not leave any way in which You love charity to be given, but I spent for Your sake in that way.’ (Allah) will say, ‘You are lying. You did that so that it might be said, he is generous, and it was said.’ Then the command will be given,

and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.” [Sahih Muslim] 3168

• Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) warns us in the Quran of the fate of those who spend in order to be acknowledged by men; but while we recite the Quran do we give thought to what we are reading, and do we stop to scrutinize our own motives?

• “Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.” [Quran: Surah Hood, Ayaat 15-16]

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3174 We humbly request you to make dua for the Muslim Ummah.