By Nazia Janar

Recently I’d been feeling very hard-hearted and unemotional; I couldn’t feel anything for anyone close or far, no matter what they were going through. I couldn’t cry. I would ask Allah (swt) to soften my heart but even this asking was emotion-free. I hated this feeling. But one afternoon everything changed, and my dua was answered.

On a bright, sunny afternoon I sat in a fast food restaurant with a colleague. Our food had just been served. As we began eating I looked through the window and saw an elderly woman with a walking frame being helped into the restaurant by a couple who were coming to eat at the restaurant also.

The old lady slowly strolled over to the food counter. A waiter spoke to her briefly, but it seemed he was struggling to understand her. He called another waiter who spoke to her for a few minutes and then left. My attention returned to my food.

Shortly afterwards I noticed the old lady walking, slowly, towards the door, empty-handed. As she made her way to the door she looked at the food on our table. I watched her walk out the door all alone and disappear out of sight.

A few minutes later the thought entered my mind that this lady had walked into the shop wanting something but had left empty-handed. What if she’d been hungry but the waiters hadn’t understood her? What if she hadn’t had the money? The image of her eyes on our food as she walked out made my eyes swell with tears.

Why hadn’t I realised sooner? My hunger died and I couldn’t even look at the food. I could have asked her, could have brought her to our table and shared our food with her, I thought as tears began rolling down my cheeks.

I had indeed missed out on a good deed, and I had missed a chance to bring a smile to a lonely elderly person’s face. When we reached the office I went to the prayer room and cried like I hadn’t cried in many days. I asked for Allah’s (swt) forgiveness and asked Allah (swt) to give me a chance to meet this lady again and serve her for His Sake. I made du’a that Allah (swt) would grant me the ability to perform good deeds for His sake, to recognise a good deed awaiting me and to hasten to perform it. Indeed those who hasten to do good deeds are on the path to success.

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported: The  Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions.” Then (giving a warning) he said, “Are you waiting for poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion, or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or a disease which will disable you, or senility which will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death which will take you all of a sudden, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected, or the Hour; and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Some benefits of doing good deeds:

• Doing good softens the heart.

• It decreases/removes selfishness– our hearts begin to feel more for others, and we think about them before we think of ourselves.
• It makes you love for your brother what you would love for yourself.

Believing men and believing women are the protecting friends of each other: they enjoin right and they forbid wrong. [Qur`an, 9:71]

• Allah (swt) loves the one who does good deeds.
• Good deeds erase our bad deeds.
• Good deeds improve your way of life. Allah (swt) says in the Quran:

Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). [Quran,16:97]

Compete in doing good deeds and don’t leave them too late; the regret is painful and it’s a moment you can’t get back.

Sister Nazia Janar is an Online Marketing Professional also volunteer Head of Publications at I am Alima, an organisation aimed at empowering Muslim women to reach their ultimate potential.

Allah’s name Al-‘Atheem— The Magnificent, The Supreme Glory, the Greatest — occurs several times in the Quran. His might and grandeur are contained within Himself, all His actions are perfect, and only He deserves to be exalted by creation. Al-‘Atheem refers to the greatness of Allah in that He is the Owner of all power, might, and strength. Everything besides Allah is small and insignificant!

Enormous, Superior, and Above Imperfection

‘Atheem comes from the root ayn-Thaa-meem, which points to the following main meanings: to be great, large, vast, huge, and enormous and also to be great in rank, imposing, powerful, superior and honoured. It also refers to being above any imperfection.

Al ‘Atheem  is a superlative derived from the noun `izam, which encompasses greatness, magnanimity, and honour.
This root-name appears 128 times in the Quran in five derived forms. Examples of these forms are yu’azzim (honour), azeemun (great), and ‘izaaman (bones).

Allah’s name, the Absolute, ‘Atheem, is the One whose greatness can’t be grasped by sight; it’s beyond all limits. No human intellect can ever absorb it. Al-‘Atheem Himself has said, He is the most High, the Greatest. [Quran, 2:255].

The ‘Atheem of Creation and Al-‘Atheem

In Arabic the word ‘atheem refers to greatness, e.g. a punishment ‘atheem is a great punishment, or a man ‘atheem is a great man. However, the magnificence of Allah Al-‘Atheem is beyond our imagination, even though we see part of His actions in the world we live in. Each attribute or action of any created being, even though they seem ‘great’ is insignificant looking at Al-‘Atheem. For example the knowledge of the most learned scholar cannot even be compared to the Perfect Knowledge of Al-‘Atheem, not in the slightest!

Your Prayer With Al-‘Atheem

‘Athm means bone, it refers to strength. Al-‘Atheem is The Greatest and the Strongest. Al-‘Atheem chose us to contemplate His Greatness and Strength each time we bow down and say ‘Subhaana Rabbiyal ‘Atheem’ in our prayer. In His Ultimate Wisdom He chose this Name of all His Names to be repeated minimum three times in each prayer. We say it while we are bowing down, submitting to His Greatness and Strength. When we bow in rukoo’ we should focus all of our body and mind on how inferior we are in comparison with Al-‘Atheem. Bowing is admitting, testifying the grandeur and the might of Allah!

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Ask Al-‘Atheem for help in all situations
He is the Greatest and Owner of all Strength, each hardship, challenge or problem we face is insignificant compared to what He was able to create. Al-‘Atheem created the beautiful sky and the strong and huge mountains, don’t you think He will be able to solve all your problems? So ask Al-‘Atheem to help you in all situations and call on Him whenever you feel you need strength to carry on in life.

2.Fill up your Scales of Deeds  by remembering Al-‘Atheem
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  said, “There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Atheem [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection)'.'' [Al-Bukharee and Muslim].  Make it a habit to say this any spare moment, while working, cooking, waiting, travelling etc!

3. Fear no one but Al-‘Atheem
Even the strongest man in this world is absolutely nothing compared to the Greatness and Strength of Al-‘Atheem, so fear no one and nothing except Him!

4. Make it a habit to recite Ayat al Kursi
Allah concludes ayat al kursi, of which its virtues are emphasized in the ahadeeth, with His Name Al-‘Atheem and it is called the greatest (‘atham) ayah of the Quran and in it the Most Great (‘atham) Name of Allah is mentioned .  Make it a habit to recite it after each fard prayer and before sleeping. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ubayy bin Ka`b said that the Prophet asked him about the greatest Ayah in the Book of Allah, and `Ubayy answered, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” When the Prophet repeated his question several times, `Ubayy said, “Ayat Al-Kursi.” The Prophet commented,(Congratulations for having knowledge, O Abu Al-Mundhir! By He in Whose Hand is my soul! This Ayah has a tongue and two lips with which she praises the King (Allah) next to the leg of the Throne.

5. Increase your dhikr in rukoo’
To feel your rukoo’ increase your adhkaar (rememberance) in it, a dhikr from the sunnah including This Name is: وَالْعَظَـمَةوَالكِبْـرِياء، والمَلَـكوت الْجَبَـروت، ذي سُبْـحانَ
Subhaana thil-jabaroot, walmalakoot, walkibriyaa-i, wal’athamah, meaning: How perfect He is, The Possessor of total power, sovereignty, magnificence and grandeur.’ (Abu Daawood 1/230, An-Nasaa’ee, and Ahmad with a chain that is hasan).

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

O Allah Al-‘Atheem, we know You are the Magnificent and Your Strength and Greatness is beyond our comprehension. Make us glorify you and turn to You in hardship and ease, aid us to fear no one and nothing but You, guide us to be of the those who are always in a state of awarenss of Your Might and Grandeur and make our scales heavy by remembering You and living by Your Beautiful Names, ameen!

The Understand Quran Academy Team
PS: Did you already sign up for our newsletter? Sign up now and receive the free welcome gift to the series The Names of Allah!

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The most beautiful and the most elevated love we can experience is the love for the One our hearts were created to love, the One that creation was brought into existence to adore. This love is the love for Allah. It is your highest aspiration.

You know this, but do you feel it? Do you still feel there’s something missing deep inside you? Do you feel true in your love for Allah? If not, what exactly is it that pulls you away from loving Him?

It’s time to for you to learn three secrets about loving Allah, to find out how your love for Him can increase your productivity, and to boost yourself with some practical tips on to make your heart love Allah.

In this week’s central ayah, Allah al-Wadood, the Most Loving, tells us: They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah. [Quran, 2:165]

How strong is your love for Allah?

Secret #1:  Worship is not burdensome.

One day a sister asked a shaykh: How come men never have a “rest” from praying, while women do? The shaykh said: “Worship is not so burdensome and difficult that the Muslim needs to have a rest from it. Rather it is an act of love and veneration of Allah, may He be exalted.”

SubhanAllah— the perfection of the Beloved, the One we love, is enough to make our heads spin! One of the salaf said: “Loving Him motivates me in such a way that is even stronger than His commands.”
Here’s the secret:  love for Him, true love connected to the perfection of His Being, is the best and strongest motive for acts of worship. Worship isn’t burdensome when you do it out of love!

Secret #2: You can worship Him from your heart.

If we find that we don’t love Allah from our hearts, it’s because we don’t know Him. Can you imagine what He has prepared in Jannah? Can you imagine being able to see Him and be with Him?

Now back to earth. Why are you here? Stop and think; Allah gives the answer in His Book: illaa li ya’budun, meaning: that they may worship Me.

But how can you worship Him if you don’t know Him? This is called ma’rifah. How often do we say: I want to study Islam, but I don’t know where to start? Here’s the answer.
The scholars before us said: ‘awwalu waajibun ‘alaa al ‘abdihi ma’rifatu’llaahi bi al tawheedi, meaning: “the first duty upon a person is to know Allah via His Oneness.”

So here’s the secret: the first step toward loving Allah from your heart is to learn about Him!

Secret #3: There’s a formula for complete happiness.

Normally we love things because of the way those things make us feel, right? Now Who is the One Who gave us everything we have, the One Who gave us people to love? Allah says: And whatever you have of favor – it is from Alla . Then when adversity touches you, to Him you cry for help. [Quran, 16:53].

Ibn Taymiyyah said: The more the servant loves his Master, the less he will love other objects and they will decrease in number. The less the servant loves his Master, the more he will love other objects and they will increase in number. [Majmoo-ul-Fataawaa, 1/94]

Here’s the secret: your heart will only find complete happiness in loving Allah and seeking to do what pleases Him!

Let’s face the fact, which slave is more productive— a slave working for one master with full focus or the slave trying to work for many masters at the same time?

Two Ways To Make Your Heart Love Allah (Ramadan Prep)

Now you’ve learned three secrets on how important loving Allah is for yourself; this will boost your will to pray and do good deeds, because you’ll do it out of love. It’s the best and first knowledge you should seek, and it’s the only way for your own heart in its quest for satisfaction. Now, how can you make your heart love Him?

Here are two of the 10 ways Ibn al Qayyim described in Madarij-us-Saalikeen  to develop your love for your Lord. And guess what? They’re also two excellent ways for you to prepare for Ramadan.

1.  Recitation Of The Quran With Reflection
Understand the Quran’s meanings and what’s intended by it. This also enables you to know Allah using His own words!

Tip: go here and choose 50% of the Quran.
I advise everyone who hasn’t done so yet to finish this course before Ramadan so you can benefit from it in your taraweeh prayers and fill your heart with love for The Greatest. If you finished 50%, push yourself to do the 70% course— it will change your life forever, in shaa Allah!

2. The Heart’s Comprehension Of His Names And Attributes
Witnessing them and having knowledge of them, to immerse yourself in the garden of knowledge. Whoever knows Allah by His Names and Attributes and Actions will, no doubt, love Him!

Tip: go to the Names of Allah series here.
Be ready to be mesmerized by the beautiful knowledge and unique action points on how you can actually live by these names. You won’t find these practical tips collected like this anywhere else!

Homework: Make Dua for the Ultimate Love!

The Prophet salallaahu ‘alauhi wa sallam narrated this dua in a hasan (good) hadeeth in Tirmidhi and Ahmad:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُنِي إِلَى حُبِّكَ

Allāhumma Innī As’aluka Ḥubbaka Wa Ḥubba Man Yuḥibbuka Wa Ḥubba cAmalin Yuqarribunī Ilā Ḥubbika. (O Allah, I ask You for Your Love, and the love of whoever loves You, and the love of deeds that will bring me closer to Your Love.)

Our homework is to learn and use this dua to ask for Allah’s love in all its forms!

Praying you will benefit,

Khawlah bint Yahya ~ United Kingdom

THE AYAH JOURNAL, Qur’an & Productivity is a global project with the exciting goal of inspiring every Muslim worldwide to open the Qur’an every day, pick one ayah, and apply it to one’s own life by making acting on the ayah your mission for the day. Let’s bring back the message of the Qur’an to our daily lives! Check www.ayahjournal.com and follow us on www.facebook.com/ayahjournal for vibrant Qur’an & Productivity tips.

by Shireen Husain

What exactly is eemaan?  How does one describe the “sweetness of eemaan?” More importantly, how can one taste the sweetness of eemaan? According to a number of scholars, eemaan consists of two things:  speech and action.

The Eemaan of Speech

The eemaan of speech consists of the speech of the heart and of the tongue, both of which must be in complete harmony with each other.  In other words, whatever we feel in our hearts must be confirmed by our words. There must be no contradiction between the two.

The heart’s firm belief in La Illaha Ilallaha— which entails the knowledge of Allah (swt),  His message, His prophets, His angels, the Day of Reckoning and Qadar— should  be expressed and  reinforced by our tongue through remembrance of Allah(swt), dhikr, recitation of His Book, seeking His forgiveness, spreading His  Message, enjoining good, and forbidding evil.

The Eemaan of Action

The eemaan of action  also involves the heart and tongue but is manifested through the action of the limbs.  When our heart and tongue are in coordination and the sincerity of our heart’s belief is on our tongues it’s only natural that our limbs will do all that is required by our beliefs—  fasting, purification, salah, hajj, etc., and avoid what is forbidden—  zina, usury, backbiting, lying, etc.

Our speech, our actions, our heart, our limbs, and our tongues must all speak the same language.

This then is what eemaan requires.  As for tasting the “sweetness of eemaan,”  anyone able to achieve and maintain the above formula for coordination between heart, tongue, and limbs has an excellent chance of tasting the sweetness of eemaan; his heart is already fertile and recognizes the truth,  thus his tongue convincingly conveys whatever is in his heart.  And because his heart is convinced, he finds no difficulty in carrying out the actions of the limbs.

Eemaan Can Both Grow and Diminish

We as human beings are not perfect and therefore it isn’t possible to always remain at the peak of eemaan.  Our levels of eemaan will undoubtedly fluctuate, increasing and decreasing.   An act of disobedience can ruin the whole day while a good deed does indeed lift our spirits and makes us feel closer to Allah (swt).

We must keep a constant check on ourselves, for Shaitaan is always looking for an opportunity to make us fall into his trap. We must develop a relationship with the Quran by reading it with understanding and pondering its meaning.

Take small steps towards Allah (swt) and make dua for His guidance constantly.   The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when his verses (this Quran) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the verses) increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (alone). [Quran, 8:2]

What Brings You the Sweetness of Eemaan

Now that we’ve briefly described the meaning of eemaan– and I do mean briefly because the subject could fill volumes—  let’s try to define the “sweetness of eemaan.”

The main ingredient for tasting this sweetness is sacrifice. Our beautiful deen is full of and is in fact based on this one word— sacrifice—  be it the sacrifice of the Prophet (saw) himself on his visit to Taif, or the persecution faced by Bilal (ra) or of the Sahabi who was thrown into boiling oil and cried because he had only one life to sacrifice in the way of Allah.

Choosing Allah (swt)’s Commands Over the Desires of Our Nafs

When confronted with a situation where on the one hand Shaitaan is trying desperately to persuade us to submit to our nafs and we’re on the verge of giving in to our worldly desires and whims and on the other hand with Allah (swt)’s taufeeq, we pull ourselves back and set aside our desires purely for Allah (swt)’s sake. When we put Allah (swt)  and His commandments first that’s when we can  feel and taste the sweetness of eemaan.

As an example, I would like to relate a true story that happened recently.

A young couple with three children discovered that their elder daughter aged seven, had a hole in her heart.  Two surgeries were performed in Karachi but the doctors said  she would require a third surgery and recommended she be taken to Delhi India.  The doctors in Pakistan had told them that their daughter had excellent chances of total recovery, and this was confirmed by the doctors in Delhi.

The day of the operation arrived and the parents were at the hospital at the break of dawn.  A few hours after the operation began, the hospital staff urged the parents to arrange for blood for their daughter. The parents were distraught—  they were in a foreign country and didn’t know anyone—  who would be willing to give blood to total strangers?

The mother, who’d been attending Quran classes before she went to India, started to pray:  “Oh Allah, you know that we’re in a foreign land and we have no one here. Oh Allah, you are our only  Provider— please help us.”

In direct answer to her prayers, several people appeared out of nowhere, willing to donate the blood.  The young mother was overwhelmed by Allah (swt)’s mercy and no doubt would have experienced a sudden surge in her eemaan.  However, in spite of the child having been give the blood transfusions on a timely basis, a few hours later, the doctors came to inform the parents that their daughter had died during surgery.

Needless to say, the parents were devastated. They could hardly believe it.  In addition to this unexpected and terrible loss was the fact that they didn’t know a soul  in Delhi.  What were they to do? At that time, too, the mother turned to Allah for help and guidance.

Again  Allah (swt) responded and sent a miracle in the form of a family related to distant relatives.  They insisted on taking care of the needs of the young couple

The mother wanted to bathe her daughter herself, but had absolutely no idea of what to do.  She phoned her Quran teacher in Karachi who gave her detailed instructions. However, the most important issue was where to bury the young girl.  Again, she asked her Quran teacher: “What does shariah say?”

She was told that according to hadith it was preferable that the burial should not be delayed. (It is related by At-Tabarani on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar who says: “I heard Allah’s messenger (peace be upon him) say: When anyone of you dies, do not keep his body. Be speedy when taking him to his grave.”) This meant burying their daughter in Delhi.

This was not an easy decision to make for parents who just hours ago had lost their precious daughter, but the belief in their hearts came to their lips, and their limbs followed in action.  They decided to bury her in Delhi.

After the burial the young couple left Delhi with heavy hearts, and only those who’ve lost children would be able to comprehend their grief.  But deep down in their hearts, there was a sense of satisfaction, a sweetness mixed in their grief because they knew they’d been guided to do what their hearts believed was pleasing to Allah.

So now readers, you must have got a very clear concept of how to achieve the sweetness of eemaan—  it’s all in that one question:  What does Shariah say?  May Allah (swt) grant all of us the ability and taufeeq to taste the sweetness of eemaan.  Aameen.

Shireen Husain is a grandmother and a student of Quran and hadith.  She lives in Karachi with her husband.

By Ibraheem Lunat

As my brother completed his tahfeedh (hifz, or memorization of the entire Quran) last week, I was inspired once more to write about what it truly means to hold this position, both in the eyes of the people and of the Lord.

Not a Minor Role

Make no mistake; being a hafidh (one who has memorized the entire Quran) is no small thing. They are, after all, the ones who hold the words of Allah (swt) in their bosoms and who’ve been chosen to carry out the promise that the Quran will always be preserved.

To hold the Quran in one’s mind is one of the greatest honours in this world and the hereafter. The hafidh is to be respected, and his position must be recognized by people because it’s recognized by Allah (swt).

Climb the Ranks of Jannah!

There’s a hadith that states that the hafidh will be called forth on the Day of Judgment and that Allah (swt) will tell him to read from the Holy Book and climb the ranks of Jannah as long as he recites. Then he’ll take ten people with him into Paradise. Ten people! We must struggle and toil and work to merely save ourselves from Hell, yet the hafidh has the ability to save ten people and grant them reprieve.

How sad it is, then, that the huffadh are often degraded and looked down upon in many countries. Parents send their children to institutions not because of the honour and nobility of the memorization of the Quran, but to escape the harshness of poverty. What a far cry from the time when huffadh held posts and pedestals and were treasured as they ought to be.

Conduct Worthy of a Vessel of the Quran

There is, of course, a flip side. To be respected by people and loved by Allah, the hafidh must first respect themselves. They must realize that they’re not normal people and so must not act as such.

The same mouth that freely recites the words of God may not then spew vulgarity and lewdness. The hand which flips page after page must not harm a fellow human being. The mind that holds this treasure can’t host ill thoughts. The road of a hafidh is a perilous one, for the danger of ruin is just as high as the potential for greatness.

To move forward— to become a hafidh in the truest sense of the word— one must not confine the Quran to his brain as he would math or science but rather allow it to emanate through his heart, his soul, his very being. It must govern his life and actions.

He must reflect the Quran and the Quran must reflect him. Then and only then does the full realization and gravity of the undertaking strike, and there are few things more powerful. The teacher of Imam Shafi’i (RH) told him once, when he was having trouble memorizing, to abstain from sin.

To put the glorious message of the Quran into practice, the mind and the heart are necessary.

Allah’s Name Al-Haleem— The Most Forbearing, The Calm Abiding, The Most Kind and Gentle— occurs eleven times in the Quran. His anger doesn’t overwhelm Him and He isn’t provoked by our ignorance and disobedience.

Al-Haleem keeps on bestowing blessings, both visible and hidden, even though we disobey Him and make many mistakes. Al-Haleem is so gentle to us that even though He can punish us instantly when we disobey Him, He grants us respite in a mild and serene manner, giving us the chance to turn back to Him!

Most Forbearing, Calm Abiding, Most Kind and Serene

Haleem comes from the root Haa-laam-meem, which points to the following main meanings: to be forbearing, mild, lenient, and clement, not hasty, calm and serene, managing one’s temper, and showing moderation. It also refers to being forgiving and gentle.

This name appears 21 times in the Quran in two derived forms. Examples of these forms are ahlaamin (dreams), al-huluma (puberty), ahlaamuhum (their minds), and haleemin (forbearing).

Allah’s name Al-Haleem refers to His perfect forbearance and kindness towards us. He observes disobedience to Him, yet anger doesn’t incite Him, nor does wrath seize Him, nor do haste and recklessness move Him to rush to take vengeance even though He’s utterly capable of doing that!

Why does Al-Haleem delay punishment?

Al-Haleem Himself says: And if Allah were to punish people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon the earth any creature. But He gives them respite for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allah has ever been, of His servants, Seeing. [Quran, 35:45]

Al-Haleem can delay a punishment to give you time to return to Him, seek His forgiveness, and change your ways, because He is Forbearing.  He can even cancel your punishment altogether, because He is forgiving and pardoning. Isn’t Al-Haleem acting out His Love for us in an amazing way?

The hilm of people versus the hilm of Allah

Imagine that you got caught doing something bad, but the person who caught you let’s it slide and doesn’t punish you or embarrass you. How would you feel? Probably a mix of embarrassment, relief, and gratitude. Wouldn’t  you tell them you’re not going to do it again and be grateful for their forbearance?

Now, what about Allah? Every single day we do things we shouldn’t, and in most instances He let’s it go. Because He is Al-Haleem, His hilm is far above the forbearance a human being can ever show!

A beautiful similitude: parents and children

The parental system in a family helps us know something about Allah! Look at the similitude of a father or mother; they don’t have any rancor or hatred towards their children. In fact, they’re ready to sacrifice everything for their happiness.

In this context Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: Some prisoners were brought to the Messenger of Allah, and there was a woman among the prisoners who was searching (for her child). When she found her child she embraced him and put him to her breast. The Messenger of Allah said to us, ‘Do you think that this woman would throw her child in the fire?’ We said, ‘No, by Allah, not if she is able not to.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this woman is to her child.’ [Al-Bukhaari, Muslim]

Who imbedded the great mercy and tenderness in a loving mother’s heart ? Allah Al-Haleem!

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Be forbearing to others: contemplate and practice.
The Prophet said that forbearance is the best characteristic. When you let it slide once or twice but explode the third times because you have so much rancor inside you, this is the challenge. A lot of relationships and futures get destroyed because of how people act in rage.

Hilm is when you’re in a position to show your anger and get it out, but still hold it back. How can you be forbearing? One way is to contemplate the name Al-Haleem and be inspired by it. Another way is to simulate forbearance for the sake of Al-Haleem, even though you’re burning inside like a volcano.

Tell yourself: I’m suppressing my anger because I love Him and seek His Love, because I want to be close to Him and because I would like to obey His Messenger!

Remember; no matter your temper, everyone can practice developing forbearance.

2. Don’t take advantage of the hilm of Allah.
Al-Haleem says to the people who inherited a garden but didn’t let the poor benefit from it: Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew. [Quran, 68:33]. This punishment was a wake-up call for them and a mercy, because they realized the error of their ways. If Allah had allowed them to do as they wanted, their punishment in the Hereafter would be unforeseen!  So know that Al-Haleem did set rules out for you and never take advantage of His forbearance.

 3. Show a good example to a sinful person
Whenever you meet a sinning person, never be arrogant to him and try to advise him gently and by showing a good example. Think to yourself: such a sinful person may, one day, turn to Al-Haleem with sincere repentance and become better and dearer to Allah than I am.

Being forbearing would be letting go once, twice and even three times depending on the situation. Only put a person in check for the sake of Allah, so that they are made aware of the consequences of their actions and return to Allah.

3. Be grateful for the Hilm of Allah.
Just like we would be grateful to anyone who overlooks our faults and mistakes, recognize the extreme and intense forbearance of Al-Haleem towards you, and return to Him after you sinned. And as a way of being thankful to al-Haleem for His forbearance, remember to train yourself to be forbearing.

4. Make dua for hilm.
Make dua to Al-Haleem, asking Him for His forbearance and to aid you to be forbearing to others. Ask Al-Haleem for His forbearance for your loved ones. And ask Him to forgive you, because only He can protect you from His anger, an anger that is justified!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

O Allah Al-Haleem, we know You are the Most Forbearing and You delay and cancel Your Punishment with great Wisdom. Protect us from taking advantage of Your Hilm by persisting in bad deeds, aid us to return to You after we sin, adorn us with gratitude for Your Forbearance and patience in hardships, make us of those who are forbearing and kind to others, never be arrogant and help us to develop hilm in times of anger, ameen!

The Understand Quran Academy Team
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WHICH BEAUTIFUL NAME OF ALLAH (swt) IS THIS? Do a word search here and find out! http://understandquran.com/resources/free-online-quran-word-by-word.html#home.

The answer will be posted here tomorrrow, in shaa Allah!

A learning disability can make studying the Quran harder; alhamdulillah, the greater the striving, the greater the reward! In shaa Allah and with His help you can turn your challenge into an opportunity:

1. Arrange a study space where you will do most of your studying. You can study in other places, but this will be your “base camp.”
2. Keep it neat and tidy, and keep your references materials handy (quran, lesson materials, dictionaries, etc.). Make it easy for yourself to find things quickly. Get rid of as many distractions as possible.
3. This applies to your virtual desktop, too! Avoid being distracted by the internet by shutting hiding everything but your Understand Quran study materials while you’re studying.
4. KNOW YOURSELF! Know your learning style and strive to find every way possible to work with it to maximise learning benefits.
5. Stay positive! A number of famous actors have dyslexia, many doctors suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome, there are many very accomplished professionals with autism, and Attention Deficit Disorder can be turned into an advantage. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t succeed!
6. Be very patient with yourself. When you become frustrated with what you think is a lack of progress, remind yourself that you know more today than you did last week, last month, and last year. Say alhamdulillah, and keep going.
7. Make dua. All is possible for Allah (swt), and His compassion often works miracles.

May Allah (swt) richly bless your efforts to learn and spread the message of the Quran.

Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied. [from Al-Quran, 3:79]

Do you remember that in one of the first weekly Jumuah specials we got to know the sabiqoon? They’re the ones first and foremost in doing good deeds. You could call them the top-rank believers— the first and the fastest in the race to Paradise. Let’s take your daily-life situations to the next level and use them to remind yourself of some crucial lessons and of your goal to be of the sabiqoon!

It was a warm day, an ideal day to go to the park. When I looked around me I saw women in summer dresses, laughing loudly, lovers sitting on benches in the shade of blossoming trees, and the sun shining through the clouds.
Have you ever noticed how at some times in your life you seem to “loosen up” and leave aside the remembrance Allah (swt), the Most Merciful, the One who gave you all?

The question is this: how can you benefit from summer and race towards Paradise?

It is as Allah azza wa jal promises us in this week’s central ayah: Indeed, for the righteous is attainment— Gardens and grapevines. [Quran, 78:31-32]

5 Reflection Points to Help You Benefit From a Day in the Park

1. Summer dresses versus the fear of kufr: As you look around you outside and see the people who forget about Allah, one of the most helpful things you should follow in this life full of fitan (trials and temptations) and disasters is to ask Allah earnestly to help you remain steadfast in your religion.

It isn’t guaranteed you’ll die as a Muslim; imagine dying as a non-Muslim and being in the fire forever with no chance of ever coming out and tasting the beauty of Jannah.

Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas said that he heard Allah’s Messenger saying, All the hearts of the offspring of Aadam are between two fingers of Ar-Rehman’s Fingers, as one heart. He turns it (in any direction) as He wills. Then Allaah’s Messenger said, “O Allaah! The Turner of the hearts, turn our heart towards Your obedience.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Action point: Your faith, your emaan, is the most precious possession you have. Thank Allah every day that you’re a Muslim! Imam Ahmad reported that the Prophet used to say this dua frequently (so memorize it and use it!) :  Yaa muqallibal quluub, thabbit qalbee ‘alaa deenik – “O Turner of the hearts, keep me steadfast in your religion.”

2. Sunshine versus the fear of death: Think about how the sun changes, one moment its rays light and warm and the next moment disappearing behind a cloud and changing the whole atmosphere. How will you feel when the time comes for you to be buried and you’re lifted onto people’s shoulders? Do you ever think about this day?

On the authority of Abu sa’eed al khudri the Prophet said: When the deceased one is ready for burial and the people lift it on their shoulders then if the deceased is a righteous person he will say: ‘Take me ahead!’  and if he is not a righteous one then he will say ‘woe to me! Where are you taking me?’ And his voice will be audible to everything except human beings; and if they heard it they would fall down unconscious. [Saheeh Bukhaaree, Ahmad]

The body is made of the material of this lower world and so you’ll have to leave it here, in this world where you need to eat, sleep, bleed, and cry. The soul is of the higher world and has only one need: to be with Allah.

Action point: Read and memorize this ayah, in which Allah calls back the righteous soul with the eye-watering words:  O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord – well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter thou, then, among My devotees! Yea, enter thou My Heaven! [Quran 89:27-30 ]

3. Loosening up versus the fear of minor sins: As the weather is nice and people are happy and busy enjoying themselves, remind yourself that a true believer is one who fears to commit minor sins as much as she fears to commit major sins!

The Prophet advised Mu’adh: Fear Allah wherever you are and follow up a mistake with kindness for it will erase it and deal with people with good manners. [Sunan al-Tirmidhee]

Action point: When you commit a bad deed, follow it up with as many good deeds as you can, give sadaqah, take a meal to someone, help someone out, pray an extra salah, listen to an extra lecture; don’t let Shaytan trick you and remain stuck in the vicious circle of guilt. Get up and do good deeds straight after!

4. The trees of this world versus the trees of Paradise: Have you ever looked at the trees here and wondered how the trees would look in Jannah? The trees of Paradise bear fruit constantly, unlike the trees of this world, which bear fruit only at certain times or seasons and offer shade:  The description of the Paradise which the Muttaqoon have been promised! -Underneath it rivers flow, its provision is eternal and so is its shade” [Quran, 13:35]

Ibn Katheer said in this tafseer that a single fruit will have 70 kinds of taste and colour that resemble one another! And have you heard of Tooba? This is a huge tree that produces the fabric for the clothing of the people of Paradise.

The Messenger of Allah said, Tooba is a tree in Paradise, as big as a hundred year’s journey; the clothes of the people of Paradise comes from its calyces [the outer parts of its flowers]. [Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah] Can you imagine the size?
And he said: Then I was taken up until I reached Sidrat al-Muntaha and I saw its Nabq [fruits] which looked like the clay jugs of Hajar, its leaves were like the ears of elephants, and one of these leaves could cover the whole of this ummah. It was veiled in colours indescribable. Then I entered Paradise, and its lights were pearls and its soil was musk. [Saheeh Bukhaaree and Muslim]

He also said: There is no tree in Paradise that does not have a trunk made of gold. [Ibn Hibbaan, at-Tirmidhee]

Action point:  Every spare moment, when you’re on the bus, doing work in the house, attending children, or sitting in the office, say subhaanAllah, al-Hamdulillah and Allahu akbar and build your real estate in Jannah!

Ibraaheem  ‘alayhissalam asked our Prophet Muhammad (saw) on the night of the Israa’ to convey his greetings to this ummah and to tell them the way in which they could increase their share of the trees of Paradise. The Messenger of Allah said:  I met Ibraaheem . . .and he said, ‘O Muhammad, tell your ummah that Paradise is a land whose soil is good and its water is sweet. It is an empty plain, which will be planted with SubhaanAllah, al-Hamdulillaah, and Allahu Akbar. [At-Tirmidhee]

5. A picnic in the sun with your loved ones versus those alone in the dark: While enjoying a day in the park, have you ever thought about those who haven’t felt the sunshine for years? There are our brothers and sisters who are imprisoned and are alone sitting between four closed walls and they have no one to talk to, separated from their families and children and at times abused and tortured or killed.

When it comes to giving sadaqah we always think about the needy and the orphans but where are the prisoners on your list? As Allah says: And feed with food the needy wretch, the orphan and the prisoner, for love of Him. [Quran, 76:8]

Did you know that supporting prisoners is called one of the greatest ways to get closer to your Lord? Ibn Taymiyyah said [Al-Fatawa, 28/635]: Freeing the prisoners is one of the greatest compulsory deeds and spending ransom money and other means towards that, is one of the greatest ways to come close to Allah.

Action point: I urge myself and all of you to write at least one letter to a prisoner before Ramadhaan and see what it does to your emaan and theirs!

Tip: go to www.muslimprisoners.com to send a letter (super-simple by email!). To learn about the prisoners sign up for the newsletter of www.cageprisoners.com. Don’t forget to make dua each day for your imprisoned brothers, sisters, and even children to grant them sabr, speed up their release, and ease their pain.

May Allah ‘azza wa jal aid us to complete these five action points for His sake only and attain His beautiful pleasure and may He reunite us in the highest paradise, ameen.

Praying you will benefit,

Khawlah bint Yahya ~ United Kingdom