City University Islamic Society

‘Eid Gathering 2008

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:48:02 +0000

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Building Bridges - Wednesday 8th October

admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:20:39 +0000

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‘Eid Mubarak from City ISoc

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:38:16 +0000

Taqabbal Allaahu Minna Wa Minkum

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Life after Ramadaan

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:34:31 +0000

by Imâm al-Madîna al-Munawarrah ‘Abdul Muhsin Ibn Muhammad al-Qâsim

All praise is due to Allaah. We thank Him, we seek for His help and forgiveness. We also seek His refuge against the evils of our souls and that of our deeds. Whoever Allaah guides, nobody can mislead him, and whoever He misleads will never have no guide. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May He bestow Peace and blessing upon this noble Prophet, his family and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared for, the fear of Allaah is the best treasure for you.

Dear Muslims! Months, days and years are made to determine lifespan and to afford people the oppurtunity to perform good deeds. Further, death do patrol day and night to take the souls of those whose time is due and you shall be addressed on the Day of Ressurection on account of your deeds. It is then that your Lord will say:

“These are only your deeds that has been recorded for you and for which I am going to reward you. So, whoever gets a good reward should be thankful to Allaah and whoever gets otherwise should only blame himself.”

Dear brothers! Your month of Ramadan has now gone with your deeds. Let those who have committed wrong among you quickly repent and mend their ways before Door of Repentance is closed and let those who have done good continue on the same for, the best of all acts of obedience are the the ones followed up with its like. Be concerned more over the acceptance of your deeds than over the deeds itself for, Allaah does not accept deeds except from the pious ones. Also, beware of following up good deeds with bad ones because, if we say that good deeds eradicate bad ones, it is also not impossible that bad deeds destroy good ones.

Brothers in faith! You were - during the just concluded month of righteous - fasting in the day, praying in the night and doing different kinds of sacrificial acts in oder to get reward and to be saved from the Fire. With the depature of this month, a stage of our live has passed. Such is how we pass days of this life in stages on our way to the everlasting abode. Indeed, continuation of good deeds at all time is character of righteous people for, acts of obedience do not have a specific time; it is rather Allaah’s unconditional right upon His servants as long as they are alive. Though, month of Ramadaan is an opportunity for the faithfuls to race with one another towards good deeds and an opportunity to direct one’s soul towards meritorious acts and keep it from vices; yet, it is quite incumbent on Muslims to remain on the path of righteousness even after Ramadaan. Worshipping Allaah should not be restricted to Ramadaan alone for, there is no end to Muslim’s worship except when he dies. What evil people those who worship only time and do not know Allaah except in Ramadaan!

Dear Muslims! Certainly, the acceptance and rejection of deeds in this month have signs. Among the signs of acceptance of good deed is when it is followed up by good deeds and it is among the signs of rejection to follow up one’s good deeds with evil ones. Therefore, follow up the good deeds with its like, it will be a sign of acceptance of that good deed and follow up your evil deeds with good ones, that will indicate that those evil deeds have been overlooked. Allaah says:

“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” (Hood 11:114)

The Prophet saws also said:

“Fear Allaah wherever you are, follow up the evil deed with good one it will remove it and relate with people with good conduct.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhee)

Let those who are determined to go back to sins after Ramadaan know that Allaah is always pleased with those who obey Him regardless of the month the obedience takes place and is angry with those who disobey Him irrespective of the month the disobedience takes place. The essence of posperity lies in long life and good deeds and a person’s continuation of good deeds without restricting it to a certain period, particular month or special place is a sign of one’s righteousness and acceptance of his good deeds.

Fellow Muslims! Though Ramadaan season is now gone, yet, fasting is still recommended in other months. The Messenger of Allaah saws has recommended fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. He said:

“Deeds are presented to Allaah on Mondays and Thursdays and I would like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”

It is also reported that he admonished Aboo Hurayrah ra thus:

“Fasting for three days in every month is (equal to) fasting forever.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).

He also said:

Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadaan and then follows it with six days fasting in Shawwaal has done as if he has fast for live.” (Reported by Muslim)

Though, night prayer during Ramadaan might have gone; yet, the night prayers throughout the year is also recommended. It has been authentically reported from the Prophet saws that

“Allaah use to descend to the nearest heaven to this world when it is the last third of the night and say: ‘Who is going to call Me that I may answer him? Who is going to ask from Me that I may give to him? Who is going to seek for my Forgiveness that I may forgive him?”

Therefore, the most pleasing to Allaah of all acts are the ones that are continuously done.

Fellow Muslims! While there are a set of youths who during the noble month of Ramadan were busy passing their time in lustful things, sins and acts of obedience, there are others who were busy doing deeds of righteousness such as I‘tikaaf in the Houses of Allaah severing all ties with fellow creatures and meditating with the Creator. They gave obedience of their Lord preference over their own desires. You would see them bowing, prostrating and reciting the Glorious Qur’aan. Such youths are the hope and pride of this Ummah.

Dear Muslims! Fear Alllaah for fear of Allaah is the head of all matters. Obey Allaah and keep away from His restrictions, you will achieve His pleasure and be saved from His torment. Do not go back to sins and disobedience so as not to be entitled to His punishment.

Dear brothers, thank your Lord for making you complete the fasting of this month. Enjoy your Eid by remaining consistent on the those good deeds and keep away from undesirable things that are capable of removing Allaah’s favors from you. One of our righteous predecessors said:

“Each day in which no act of disobedience to Allaah is committed is Eid and each day a believer spent in acts of obedience to his Lord is Eid”

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Video: Towards an Outstanding Ramadhan

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:44 +0000

by Shaykh Muhammad AlShareef

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Easy Peasy But Only A Few Do It.

Umm Abdillah — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:56:00 +0000

`Abdullah bin `Amr reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

There are two acts that no Muslim worshiper does consistently but that he will enter Jannah. And though they are easy , only few people perform them:

After each of the five prayers, say tasbih (SubhanAllah) ten times, tahmid (alhamdulillah) ten times and takbir(allahu akbar) ten times. This makes one hundred and fifty (daily extollments) by tongue, and one thousand five hundred (good deeds) in the scale.
Upon going to bed, say takbir thirty four times, tahmid thirty three times, and tasbih thirty three times. This makes one hundred extollments by tongue and and one thousand good deeds in the scale.

So who among you would commit two thousand five hundred sins in one day( to counter that)?

The Prophet then added:

Satan comes to a person while he is ready to sleep, and makes him fall asleep before he finishes saying them; and he comes to him after the prayer and reminds him of something he needs to do instead of saying them.

Recorded by Abu Dawud, at Tirmithi and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ut Targhib wat-Tarhib)

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No Greater Need For The Soul

Umm Abdillah — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:30:58 +0000

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:

“There does not exist a need of the souls that is greater than their need for the knowledge of their Maker and Originator, and

for possessing love of Him,
mentioning Him,
being delighted at Him, and
for seeking a means and position with Him.

However, there is no route to this except by way of knowledge of His characteristics and names. Thus, the more knowledgeable the servant is of these names and attributes, the more knowledgeable he will be of Allah, the more will be his pursuit of His Pleasure, and the nearer he will be to Him. Likewise, the more averse he is to the names and attributes, the greater ignorance he will have of Allah, the more will be his dislike for Him and the further away he will be from Him. Allah gives the servant a status with Him that is in accordance with the status that the servant gives to Allah with himself…“

‘al-Kafiyah ash-Shafiyah’ p. 3-4

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Most Beautiful Man Ever…

Umm Abdillah — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:55:23 +0000

Regarding the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

He was the most forbearing of people, the most courageous of people, the most just of people, the most chaste of people. His hand never touched the hand of any woman unless he owned her as a slave or was married to her or was closely related to her by blood (mahram).

He was the most generous of people, who never kept a dinar or a dirham with him overnight. If he had anything left over and he could not find someone to give it to before night came, he would not go home until he had donated it to someone who needed it. He did not take anything from that which Allah had bestowed upon him except one year’s supply of the simplest provisions, dates and barley, giving all of that for the sake of Allah.

He was never asked for anything but he gave it, then he would go back to his annual supplies and donate from them to those who needed it more, then he might run out before the year ended. He used to repair his own sandals and mend his own clothes, and he would help his family in the home and cut meat for them. He was the most modest of people and would not look anyone straight in the eye.

He would respond to the invitations of slave and free alike, and accept a gift even if it was a cup of milk, and he would reward a person for it. He did not eat food that had been given in charity, and he would respond to slave women and the poor when they asked him for something. He got angry for the sake of his Lord but he did not get angry for his own sake.

He would adhere to the truth even if that resulted in harm for himself or his companions. He found one of the best of his companions slain in an area where Jews lived, but he did not treat them harshly or do more than that which is prescribed by sharee’ah. Rather he paid a diyah for him of one hundred camels even though some of his companions were in desperate need of just one camel. He would tie a rock to his stomach to ward off hunger pangs, and he did not refuse halal food or and he would not eat reclining or at a table. He never ate his fill of bread for three days in a row until he met Allah, may He be exalted, as he would prefer to give away what he had rather than eat his fill, not because of poverty or miserliness.

He would accept invitations to meals, visit the sick, and attend funerals. He walked alone among his enemies without a guard. He was the most humble and quiet of people without being arrogant, the most eloquent without being long-winded, the most cheerful of countenance. He did not worry about worldly matters. He wore whatever he found, and let his slave or others ride behind him on his mount. He rode whatever was available, sometimes a horse, sometimes a camel, sometimes a mule and sometimes a donkey. Sometimes he walked barefoot, with no cloak, turban or cap, visiting the sick in the furthest parts of Madinah. He loved perfume and hated foul smells.

He would sit with the poor and offer food to and eat with the needy, honouring the virtuous and softening the hearts of people of status by treating them kindly. He upheld ties of kinship without favouring his relatives over those who were better than them, and he did not treat anyone harshly. He accepted the excuses of those who apologized to him; he would joke but he only spoke the truth, and he would smile without laughing out loud. If he saw permissible play he did not denounce it, and he raced with his wife. When voices were raised against him, he bore that with patience. He had slaves, male and female, but he did not eat or dress any better than they did. He did not waste time without striving for the sake of Allah or doing that which was essential to better himself. He did not look down on any poor person because of his poverty or chronic sickness, and he did not fear any king because of his power. He called both of them to Allah on equal terms.

Al-Bakhtari said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not revile any of the believers but he prayed that it might become an expiation and a mercy for them. He said: “I have been sent as a blessing, not a curse.” If he was asked to pray against anyone, whether Muslim or kafir, he would refrain from praying against him and pray for him instead. His hand never struck anyone. If he was given the choice between two things he would choose the easier option, unless it involved sin or the severing of family ties. Allah described him in the Torah before He sent him, and said: Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, My chosen slave; he is not harsh or rough, and does not make noise in the marketplace. He did not repay evil in kind; rather he would pardon and forgive. Part of his attitude was that he would be the first to greet whomever he met, and if someone came to him with a need, he would be patient until the person was the first one to leave. If someone took him by the hand, he would not let go until the other person let go first. In a gathering he could not be distinguished from his companions. Allah, may He be exalted, said (interpretation of the meaning): “And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh?hearted, they would have broken away from about you” [Al ‘Imran 3:159]. Allah bestowed upon him the best attitude and conduct, and the best way of dealing with people and situations, even though he was illiterate and could neither read nor write. He grew up poor in an ignorant desert land, tending sheep, an orphan with neither father nor mother. But Allah taught him all good characteristics and good ways, and taught him the stories of earlier and later generations, and that which brings success and salvation in the Hereafter and happiness in this world, and showed him the way to focus on one’s duties and keep away from inessentials. May Allah help us to obey his commands and follow his example. Ameen O Lord of the Worlds.

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (rahimahullah) in Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Deen (2/430-442)

Adapted from Islamqa.

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Inspiration: You don’t know Pain

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:21:54 +0000

From the Qur’an
{It may be that you detest something which is good for you; and it may be you love something even though it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.}
~ Surat AlBaqarah 2/216

Lessons from this verse: Pain doesn’t feel good when it happens, but Allah knows that it may be the best thing for us at that moment. And sometimes we may be praying so hard for stuff, and Allah knows how bad it is for us. Allah knows and we do not. Trust in Allah.

http://www.Powerworkshops.org in the “Free Stuff” section

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Video: Perished Nations - Episode 4 - Firown

admin — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:32 +0000

Hear the story of the Nation of Firown by Muhammad Alshareef.