What is meant is that if somebody is lucky enough to get access to such gathering, he should take full advantage of this, as these are the gardens of Paradise on this Earth. The words, “graze to your heart’s content”, signify that, just as an animal grazing in a green pasture or garden does not give up grazing in spite of being driven or beaten by its owner, similarly a Zakir (one who practices zikr) should not get pulled away from the gatherings for Zikr by the worldly anxieties and hindrances. The gatherings for Zikr are likened to the gardens of Paradise, because just as there are no worries in the paradise, similarly gatherings of Zikr are safeguarded against every kind of calamity.

It is stated in one Hadith that the zikr of Almighty Allah cures all diseases of the mind, such as arrogance, jealousy, malice, etc. the author of ‘Fawaid fis Salaat wal Avaid’ has stated that constancy in Zikr is a sure safeguard against all kinds of calamities. According to another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihi wasallam) has said, “I enjoin in a fort against a strong enemy. One who practices Zikr is as it were in the company of Almighty Allah.” Can there be any benefit greater than that of being in the company of the Almighty Lord? Moreover, it leads to satisfaction of the mind; it enlightens the heart and removes its callousness. In addition, there are many other material and spiritual benefits, which are enumerated, up to a hundred, by some Ulama.

A man came to see Hazrat Abu Amama (Radhiallaho anho) and said to him, “I saw in a dream that whenever you went or came out, or sat or stood up, the angels prayed for you.” Abu Amama (Radhiallaho anho) replied, “if you wish you can also earn their prayers.” and recited the Ayat:
“O you who believe! Celebrate the praises of Allah and do this excessively and glorify Him morning and evening. He sends blessings on you, as also his angels that He may bring you out from the depths of darkness into light, and He is full of Mercy to the believers.”
This Ayat was quoted to show that the Mercy of the Almighty Lord and the prayers of the angels can be earned through Zikr. The more we remember Allah, the more He remembers us.

Source: Fadhaail Zikr by Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (Rahimahullah)

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 25 trees.

“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!” Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day,but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he try even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

“I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees.”

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the axe.In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?

There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we need not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life. We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow.

If we don’t take time to sharpen the axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. So start today. Think about the ways by which you could live your life more effectively and add more value to it.

Source: Reader Submission

Upon their return, he called them all together and asked them what they had seen.  The first son reported that the tree was twisted and ugly, and of no possible use.  The second son disagreed, stating that the tree was covered in green buds, and full of promise.  The third son argued that the tree was covered with fragrant blooms, and was beautiful indeed.  The fourth son refuted all other accounts by observing that the tree was full of ripe, delicious fruit.

The only way to kill your fears & gradually overcome them is by getting through them as opposed to saying “I’ll get over it”. List your fears and actively work to conquer them one by one.  A wise teacher of mine once told me that the things which scare you the most are also the things which are holding most of your dreams hostage. Conquer your fears & you inevitably begin achieving more in life,you begin living your life.

Pretending your fears don’t exist does not mean that they disappear,it only means that your fears gets stronger and stronger until they control every facet of your daily life from emotions to sleep patterns.

To truly live the life you have been created for, remember that if you do not control fear it will most definitely control you.

Connect with me : http://twitter.com/JunaidKajee

Abdul Aziz had a pearl of great beauty and value set in a ring. Shortly thereafter, a severe drought occurred in the land, causing distress among the people. Moved by compassion, the king ordered the pearl to be sold and the money that it fetched to be given to the poor.
Someone chided him for doing this, saying, “Never again will such a stone come into your hands.”
Weeping, the king replied, “Ugly is an ornament upon the person of a king when the hearts of his people are distressed by want. Better for me is a stoneless ring than a sorrowing people.”

True happiness is found by he who sets the ease of others above his own. True leaders never desire their own pleasure at the expense of others. The path of becoming an exemplary human-being requires us to sacrifice a little of that which we have & love so that we may acquire the lasting treasures of peace & contentment. Bear in mind that giving today leads to receiving tomorrow,as the principle states “Give away that which you wish to receive”. Undoubtedly, we can all share a little of our time,knowledge & wealth to bring joy to the heart of another.

Connect with me : http://twitter.com/JunaidKajee

Many merits of surah Yaseen are mentioned in ahadith. It is said in one hadith, “Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Glorious Qur’an is surah Yaaseen. Whoever reads surah Yaaseen, Almighty Allah records for him a reward equal to that of reading the whole Qur’an ten times.

Source: Virtues of the Holy Qur’aan Pg. 82

Using our ground-breaking,uniquely designed syllabus you can now learn to speak Arabic from the comfort of your home/office in just 72 Hours. This online course requires no special software (other than a free copy of Skype). Notes & required learning material are forwarded to you via email.

The only requirement to register for this course is the ability to read Arabic i.e. Qur’aan.

Overview

* Live lessons with a highly experienced tutor (Founder of Ar Rihla who has personally taught Arabic to over 2500 individuals)

* Basic,Intermediate & Advanced Levels are all covered in this course

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* You choose how many or how few sessions you would like per week/month

* This course comprising Basic,Intermediate & Advanced levels, is being offered at the greatly-reduced fee of just R 920.00, for a limited time only (That’s less than R 13.00 an hour for live, 1-on-1 personalised online tuition!!!)

Fee payment & registration must be completed today in order to qualify for this offer.

Due to the nature of this unique offering, only a limited number of registrations will be accepted.

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NB: Fee payment & registration must be completed today (22/09/2011) in order to qualify for this offer

There are four Faraaidh(Obligatory Actions) of Wudhu. If any of these are omitted or incompletely carried out, the Wudhu is not valid. Extreme care should be taken that these 4 actions are carried out perfectly each & every single time.

1. Wash the entire face from the hair line to the chin and from one earlobe to the other (Once)
2. Wash both the arms up to and including the elbows (Once)
3. Make masah of quarter the head (Once)
4. Wash both feet up to and including the ankles (Once)

Note that this list does not include the Sunan aspects of Wudhu.A perfect Wudhu is one in which all Faraaidh,Sunan & Mustahabbaat are carried out.

***This article lists the Faraaid according to the Hanafi mazhab.

These questions are listed in order to encourage deep,truthful introspection. Often, it is our outlook on life which defines us; with the result being that a flawed outlook results in a flawed perspective. Answer a few or answer all,there are no correct answers and there are no incorrect ones either. Start living your life…

Q & A

1. What do you really want in life?

2. What are the 5  most important lessons you have learnt in the past 10 years?

3. How much have you personally progressed in the past 10 years?

4. What have you done in the past decade to enhance the life of another person (not family)?

5. What is your current mission in life?

6. At the end of the journey of life, what would your life have stood for?

7. Have you found peace of mind & contentment of the heart?

8. If you die today what will be your greatest regret?

9. If you die today what will remain behind as your greatest achievement?

10. If you live to see tomorrow, what will you do differently to enhance your life & truly start living?

Ml. Junaid Kajee

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We value your feedback. Comment below or email us your thoughts at feedback@rihla.co.za

Who is it that will lend to Allah a goodly loan, so that He may give it increase manifold? (Do not fear poverty) Allah straitens and expands (your provision), and to Him you will return. (al Baqarah: 245)

The act of spending for the cause of Allah has been interpreted as advancing loan to Allah Ta’ala, which means that, just as the return of a loan is obligatory, the recompense and reward for spending in charity is a certainty.

That is why Sadaqah has been termed as loan. Umar Radhiallaho anho has stated that giving a loan to Allah Ta’ala means spending in charity. Ibne Mas’ood Radhiallaho anho has said that, when the above Ayat was revealed, Abu Dahda Ansaari Radhiallaho anho came to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and submitted, “O Rasulullah, does Allah desire a loan from us?” Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam replied, “Certainly so” He then said, “Please give me your hand” (for making a promise). Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam stretched out his hand towards him and Abu Dahdah Radhiallaho anho, taking it in his own hand as a gesture of a vow, said that he was giving his garden to Allah Ta’ala as a loan. That garden had six hundred date-palms and his wife and children were living in it.

Abu Dahdah Radhiallaho anho then  went to the garden, called his wife Umme Dahdah Radiyallaho anha and told her that they had to leave the garden as it had been given away to their ‘Lord’ (Allah Ta’ala). Another Hadith by Abu Hurairah Radhiallaho anho says that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam distributed that garden among some orphans.

Still another Hadith says that when the sacred Ayat was revealed, saying: “Whoever earned a single virtue would receive ten times the reward for it”, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam made a dua, “O Allah! Compensate my ‘Ummah’ even more than that”. As a result this Ayat was revealed. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam again implored Allah for a further increase.Thereupon another verse was revealed. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam again made supplication saying, “O Allah, increase the reward of my Ummah” Thereupon the Ayat was revealed “That whoever is steadfast will receive a full return, which will be boundless.” (az-Zumar: 19)

Another Hadith says that an angel calls out, “Whoever offers a loan today will receive a full compensation tomorrow” Another Hadith says that Allah Ta’ala proclaims, “O man, entrust your treasures to me for safe custody; none of these will catch fire, nor sink, nor be stolen, you will receive these back from Me at the time when your need for them will be the greatest”. (Durrul Manthur)

Source: Fadhaail Sadaqaat – Shaikhul Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya (Rahimahullah)