Islam Web 2.0 Blog

The Paved Way to Professional Arabic

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:22:00 -0800

Assalamu Alaykum,

Ustadh Fahad al Tahiri (Profile link) from UAE is teaching Arabic classes online at WizIQ. Arabic Language class has already begun from January 15, 2012. The course starts with the introduction: The Paved Way to Professional Arabic, then Sarf Level One.

Classes will take place on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday after Maghrib Prayer (starting around 6:20 PM). The timing will vary minute by minute based on salah timings. Class length is 1 hour.

All classes are according to UAE timing. To convert to your local time visit timeanddate.com.

If you are new to WizIQ, create a new account. Then on ustadh's profile, click "Follow this member" so that you can get invitations in your email for future live classes. Please use your real names while registering.

Recorded Link for First class:The Paved Way to Professional Arabic 1

May Allah grant us success! Ameen.

Student.

P.S: All classes are free for the sake of Allah.

P.P.S: Question & Answer session is restricted to the last 10 minutes of the class. And you can also visit the blog Sarf4Sisters to keep yourself updated with notes and help from dedicated sisters.

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Keeping the Spark of Love alive in a Relationship

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:44:00 -0800

Shaykh Faraz Ibn Adam | Taken from Darul-Iftaa

As the days come to closer to one’s marriage, excitement, ecstasy and elation pump through the bride and groom. The build up to marriage is an experience of thrill and jubilation. When the marriage is solemnised, one’s happiness and delight is on the verge of brimming and tipping over. When the newlywed couple meet for the first time, words cannot describe the sweetness of the bliss, serenity, pleasure and elation tasted by the two.

If every day of the marriage can mirror the first day of marriage, and every night reflect the first night of marriage, then the marriage will be a euphoric experience on this world.

The gentleness, passion, love, tenderness displayed on the first day and night of the marriage should be portrayed throughout one’s life.

The first couple of months are always a ‘honeymoon’. Once the couple settle down, then reality begins. Many couples fail at this point. The husband gets engrossed in his job. He comes home tired and late, feeling hungry and tired. He demands for the food and feels lazy to do anything. He eats, puts the dirty plates in the sink and lies down on the sofa. He might awaken to perform salāh if he is conscious of salāh. Otherwise, he wakes up later on towards the night, phones a few friends, watches TV and keeps ordering the wife to get him x and y. When it is time to sleep, the husband if he is feeling in a good mood he will have relations with his wife-but only to satisfy his needs. Once he is fulfilled, he stops and drops off to sleep. Whether the wife is satisfied or not does not even cross his mind. This becomes the routine of his life.

The wife on the other hand, she initially tries to please her husband. She slowly loses her enthusiasm as she does not receive enough attention from her husband. She cooks to please her husband. She will put effort into her food. She will try and perfect every detail in the food. The presentation, ingredients and spices are put meticulously so they complement each other. After a while she begins to tire from this as the husband does not comment or he criticises her food. As soon as the husband goes to work, she is on the phone to her associates. She cooks, watches TV, cleans the house and enjoys her day before her husband comes home. Once the husband comes, she becomes a slave again.

This style of marriage where there is no affection shown, no real emotion transmitted from one party to the other is heading towards destruction.

The husband needs to implement the romance the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam displayed. We consider Romeo to be romantic but not the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam. If I was to say the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam was the most romantic individual, I would not be lying. Looking attentively to the biography of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam, you will find that he was extending a great deal of respect to his wives and was displaying high attention, care and love toward them.

He was the best example for the ideal manners toward the wife. He was comforting for his wives, wiping their tears, respecting their emotions, hearing their words, caring for their complaints, alleviating their sadness, going in picnics with them, racing with them, bearing their abandonment, discussing matters with them, keeping their dignity, supporting them in emergencies, declaring his love to them and was very happy with such love.

The husband and wife have to bond with one another psychologically, physically and spiritually. Here are some attractive examples and points we need to adopt to achieve a marriage of romance:

1. Know their feelings

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam was telling Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha : "I know well when you are pleased or angry with me. Aisha replied: How you know that? He said: When you are pleased with me you swear by saying "By the God of Mohammad" but when you are angry you swear by saying "By the God of Ibrahim". She said: You are right, I don’t mention your name.”[i]

The husband and wife should be aware of each other’s feelings. The husband should be able to gauge when his wife is upset or sad, likewise the wife should be able to read her husband’s behaviour. By being conscious of one another’s feelings, it will help in resolving any differences. When your spouse is down or upset, be there to console him/her. Sit with them, speak with them, listen to them. Try and make them smile. If the husband is always conscious of his wife’s feelings, and the wife is always conscious of the husband’s feelings, then this will assist greatly in keeping the ‘flicker’ alight.

2. Console her

Sayyidah Safiyah radiallahu anha was on a journey with the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam. She was late so the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam received her while she was crying. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam wiped her tears with his own hands and tried his utmost to calm her down. [ii]

This is another feature a marriage must have. Each spouse has to be there for the other in the good and bad times. The wife should find comfort and solace in the husband and the husband should find warmth and love in his wife. Be gentle with one another.

3. Laying in the wife's lap

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would recline in the lap of our beloved mother Sayyidah Aisha radaillahu anha even in the state when she would be menstruating. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would recite the Qur῾ān whilst reclining in his wife’s lap.[iii]

How many times have we rested in the lap of our spouse? These gestures may seem trivial but they are the acts which bring the hearts close. The wife can sense and see the love of her husband for her in such actions. Every so often come home and just go and rest in the lap of your wife. She will appreciate this gesture greatly.

4. Combing the spouse’s hair:

Aisha radiallahu anha would comb the hair of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam and wash his hair.

This is how close a couple has to be. Love evolves and grows to such an extent that a spouse yearns to do everything for the other spouse even if it simply combing their hair. To maintain a high intensity of love, do the little things for your spouse also. Little acts have a huge psychological impact on the mind of the spouse. Seldom comb their hair, take their clothes out to wear, bring them a cold drink on a hot day, prepare something for them etc.

5. Drinking and eating from one place:

Aisha radiallahu anha would drink from a cup. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would take this cup and search for the place where the lips of his beloved wife made contact. Upon finding the place where his wife drank from the cup, he would put his lips on the very same place so that his lips have touched the place where her lips touched. He would then drink the contents of the cup at the same time enjoying with his spouse. When there was meat to eat, Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha would take a bite. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would take the meat from her hand and again place his mouth the very same place where his wife ate from. This would add taste of love to his food.[iv]

Do things together with your wife. Do not just eat at the same time and on the same tablecloth, but eat from the same plate. Let alone the same plate, eat together from the same article of food. This will bond the hearts so close to one another. When everything your wife comes into contact with becomes more beloved to you than food itself, imagine the flame of love in your lives?

6. Kissing: -

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would kiss his wife regularly. Even when he salallahu alaihi wasallam would be fasting, he would kiss his wife.[v]

Compliment your spouse often with kisses. When exiting the house, make it habit you leave by coming into contact with your spouse. When returning home, along with saying salām to her, show that you have missed her dearly.

When she is working or busy in her household chores, surprise her with a kiss. You have to show your love. Love is the fuel of marriage; if you desire your marriage to progress, you have to express your love in every way you can.

Physical relations in a marriage are very important. The famous saying is, “actions speak louder than words.” Show your spouse you love her. Sharī῾ah promotes romance and physical relations between the husband and wife. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam categorically stated,

“Conjugal relations with your wife is a sadaqah.”[vi]

7. Lifting the morsel to her mouth

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said : If you spend an amount you will be rewarded for it, -even when you lift the morsel to your wife’s mouth.” [vii]

The husband and wife should make these gentle gestures to exhibit their love and appreciation. Feed your spouse with your own hands now and then. This will rekindle the flame of love in your marriage.

8. Assisting her in the housework:

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would clean and help at home. He would see to his needs himself rather than demanding his wife. He would clean and see to his clothing himself.

Without being asked, if the couple help each other in day to day activities, it will make one appreciate the other. Likewise, one should try his best not to demand his/her spouse to do things too much. Whatever one can do himself, he should do. We need to be considerate of the spouse. The wife works tirelessly all day. So if the husband was to be considerate and realise his wife works hard, this will touch the wife. Likewise, if the wife was to go out of her way to see to the needs of her husband being considerate, it will induce a great spark of love between the two.

9. Telling her stories

Discuss stories and events with your spouse. Engage in light hearted discussions with her-something to laugh and joke over. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam on many occasions would discuss stories, events and have light hearted discussions. The famous story narrated by Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha regarding Umm Zar’ is evident.

This is one angle which is neglected more so than often. It is all ‘business’ between the husband and wife. They do not get into light hearted conversations. Instead, the husband rings his friends and chuckles with them. The wife on the other hand giggles during the day with her friends. This should not be the case. Focus and divert all your amusement and entertainment at your spouse. If you want to laugh, then let it be that you are laughing with your wife.

Make it a point in your busy schedule daily where you sit with your wife and do nothing but have fun with her.

10. Sharing happy occasions with her:

Once when the Ethiopians were practicing target shooting in the masjid complex, the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam stood with his wife watching. Not only did the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam stand with his wife, he put his cloak around her. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam although he had other jobs to do, he stayed there standing with his wife. He only went when his wife wanted to go.[viii]

A husband should be one who shares happy occasions and experiences with his wife. When it is raining, cold or sunny, one should shelter his wife.

You should be willing to sacrifice your errands to spend time with your wife. When the spouse sees sacrifice for her sake, it will create immense love and respect in their heart.

11. Racing with his wife

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would exercise and play with his wife also. The famous incident of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam challenging his wife to race is well known.

When a couple can have such good times together, it only ignites the love even more.

12. Calling her by a beautiful name:

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would call his wife ‘Humairā’’ out of love. Linguistically it means the little reddish one, but the scholars state that in reality it refers to someone who is so fair that due to the sun they get a reddish tan. This was the reason why the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam called her Humairaa’.[ix]

Call your spouse nice sweet names. One has to show his partner love and affection in every little thing. One needs to feed love constantly to his spouse to keep the flame burning.

Once the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam stared into his wife’s eyes. He was gazing at the world within his wife’s eyes. He then said to Sayyidah Aisha radiallahu anha in praise of her beauty,

“How white are your eyes.”[x]

This is what is needed. The husband and wife should be constantly complementing and praising each other. The husband has to show his love and attraction to his wife. The wife needs to show her infatuation for her husband. When there is a reciprocal relationship, the marriage climbs heights.

13. Dress for your spouse

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbās radiallahu anhu said: "As my wife adorns herself for me, I adorn myself for her. I do not want to take all of my rights from her so that she will not take all of her rights from me because Allah, the Exalted, stated the following: "And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them." (Qur῾ān 2 :228.)[xi]

This is another area where many spouses fail. The wife only dresses when it is a special occasion. The husband on the hand stays scruffy and does not take care to be neat and tidy. If the couple want their everyday to be a special occasion like their wedding day, they must dress to impress!

The wife should wear the clothing which pleases her husband. Likewise, the husband should wear what the wife likes. Every time the husband and wife glance at each other, the glance should arouse them and stir up more love for their spouse. This will ignite the love in the heart.

14. Utilising perfume:

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would have a container for perfume. He would use perfume constantly.[xii] One should make an effort to smell good for his wife all the time. Looking good, keeping clean, smelling nice compliments a relationship exceptionally. Make sure you hair is tidy, your clothes are neat and you smell pleasant. This will attract your spouse always and inject affection into the marriage.

15. Do not talk about her private matters:

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam described the one who discloses his wife’s affairs to others as amongst the worst of people.[xiii]

Whatever occurs between yourself and your spouse should remain between you two. How unmanly and shameful is it when a husband discusses his wife to his friends? The secrets and issues of the spouse must not be narrated at all to anyone. Do not talk about your wife to others. Your wife is for you. You are for your wife. Your fidelity and loyalty should always be to your spouse.

16. Loving & respecting their families

Another great factor to contribute to a healthy relationship is to love and cherish the family of your spouse. The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam was once asked whom he loved the most. He replied, “Aisha.” When the questioner rephrased his question and asked from amongst the men, he replied, “Her father.”

The Prophet could have easily said Abu Bakr. His answer displays such intelligence and ingenuity, that in one response he displayed his devotion to his wife and her family. He exhibited his fondness for his in-laws. Imagine how happy his wife Sayyidah Aisha would have become upon hearing this response?

Compliment your in laws in front of your wife. Compliment your wife to her family. Your wife will really appreciate this.

Never underestimate the importance of seemingly little things as putting food in your wife's mouth, opening the car's door for her, etc.

Try to always find some time for both of you to pray together. Strengthening the bond between you and Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala is the best guarantee that your own marital bond would always remain strong. Having peace with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala will always result in having more peace at home.

* For Hadith references, please refer to the source. *

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Your Divine Toolkit - Istikhara

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 07:56:40 -0700

Source: The Reality of Istikhara | Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

In this lecture, Shaykh Faraz discusses istikhara (the prayer of guidance) by defining it, debunking misconceptions regarding it, the best way to perform it, and easy ways to integrate it into our lives in a meaningful manner.

(download)

Jabir bin 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Qur’an. He said, “If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): ‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-’azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’

O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter… (or said: If it is better for my present and later needs). Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter… (or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs). Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it.

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Enjoy Your Life - Shaykh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al 'Arifi

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:39:00 -0700

Build your Character this Ramadan.

Learn The Art of interacting with people as deducted from a study of our beloved Prophet Muhammad’s صلى الله عليه و سلم life.
– A practical guide of more than twenty years of research.

See the full gallery on Posterous

English: Buy from Dar-us-Salam | Buy from Amazon

Urdu: Buy from Dar-us-Salam | Buy from Amazon

This book on self improvement and inter-personal skills based on Islamic Principles is beneficial not only in this World but will insh’Allah bring you eternal Joy in the hereafter.

This is an exquisite collection of incidents from the life of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, stories from our Islamic Heritage, and thought-provoking anecdotes from the life of the author. The aim of the book is to train the reader to enjoy living his life by practicing various self-development and inter-personal skills based on Islamic Principles; whether that is with parents, children, women, students, friends & how to be generous and how to win their hearts. What is so compelling and inspiring about this book is that, in order to highlight the benefit of using social skills, the author draws from the lives of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and his Companions.

This book is both a practical systematic guide to self-improvement and a treasure trove of historical incidents. It increases self-awareness, whilst nurturing the soul and strengthening the spirit.

About the Author

Dr. Muhammad Abd Al-Rahman Al-Arifi is from the famous Banu Khalid Tribe in Saudi Arabia (descendents of the Sahabi Khalid bin Walid) graduated from Saudi universities and learn from scholars such as Shaykh Abdullah bin Qu’ud, abd al-Rahman bin Nasir al Barrak and various other scholars. He is a prominent figure in the field of Islamic Da’wah and has authored more than twenty published works.

An Extract from the Book

There is nothing wrong in expressing your love for others frankly, be the person a father, mother, wife, child, colleague or neighbour. Do not hide your feelings towards them. Proclaim your love to them by saying, “I love you”, “You are very precious to me”, etc. Even if this person happens to be an open sinner, you could say to him, “You are more beloved to me than many others!” And you wouldn’t have lied, since surely they are more beloved to you than millions of diselievers, isn’t that so? Be smart!

I remember once I went to perform ‘Umrah. I was in the middle of performing Tawaaf and Sa‘ee, praying for all the Muslims generally, that they be protected and granted victory and dominion. I also probably said something like, “O Allah, forgive me, my beloved ones and my friends.” After ﬁnishing the rituals of ‘Umrah, I praised Allah for making it easy for me.

I then rented out a room in a hotel to spend a night therein. As I rested my head on the pillow, I wrote a text message on my mobile phone saying, “Just now, I have ﬁnished my ‘Umrah and remembered my beloved ones. And because you are one of them, I did not forget you in my supplications. May Allah protect you and give you all ability” – End of message.

I sent this to all the names stored in my telephone memory, that is, about ﬁve hundred people. I couldn’t even imagine the amazing effect it would have on people’s hearts. Someone replied saying, “By Allah, I cried as I read your message. Thank you for remembering me in your supplication.” Another wrote, “By Allah, dear Abu Abd al-Rahman, I do not know what to say in reply. But, may Allah reward you with good.” Yet another replied, “I ask Allah to accept your prayers. By Allah, we will never forget you.”

In reality, we do need to occasionally remind people that we love them, and that the numerous problems in the world have not made us forget them. This much can be done via something as simple as sending text messages. You can send text messages to your loved ones saying: “I prayed for you between the Adhan and Iqamah…”, or “on the last hour of Friday”. If your intention is pure, then this would not constitute making a display of good deeds or showing off. This would only result in greater love and respect between the Muslims. [Chapter 25 p. 171]

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Current Standings : Qur'an Reading Contest

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:39:14 -0700

For Contest Details and Registration: Click here

Submit your Total Ayats Read

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Ramadan Qur'an Reading Contest 2011/1432

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:49:00 -0700

Ramadan is almost a week away. May Allah make us reach Ramadan and help us accomplish its countless benefits. Last Ramadan, we held the first Qur'an Reading Contest and Alhamdulillah, it was very encouraging and fruitful with over 100 participants being able to complete reading the Qur'an.

The Qur'an is the word of the Ever-living God; it has been sent down to guide man for all times to come. No book can be like it. As you come to the Qur'an, Allah speaks to you. To read the Qur'an is to hear Him, even to converse with Him, and to walk in His ways. It is the Book which should be read with understanding and reflection.

The purpose of this Contest is only to help you achieve your Qur'an reading goals in Ramadan by creating a competitive ambience. However, this should not compromise with your understanding the meanings of the Qur'an. Before you embark on this journey, give a read to Way To The Qur'an by Khurram Murad.

Benefits:

The rewards of reciting the Quran are many. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم has said:

Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter.” [At-Tirmidhi]

In another hadeeth, ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, relates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Then, imagine the volume of rewards for reciting the complete Qur'an in the blessed month of Ramadan. So, even if your reading speed is slow, you must take part in this contest because it will encourage you to be consistent in its recitation everyday, InshaAllah.

How does it work?

Very simple. You read the Qur’an at your home. Keep track of the number of Ayat (verses) you recite daily using the Ayat Calculator. At the end of the day, simply inform us the total number of Ayats of the Qur'an you've read so far. Make your entry from the toolbar's 'Ramadan' menu or from Here.

Who wins? And what’s the prize?

Everybody wins, because everyone is rewarded with blessings from Allah! This is the real prize.

Rules:

We are reciting Qur'an to please Allah alone.
Anyone from anywhere in the world can join.
You can register with anonymous names or your real names.
We will respect your email privacy.
Contest officially begins on the first day of Ramadan.
No lying. If you lie, you've got some serious issues with yourself.
Recitation of Taraweeh prayers doesn’t count.
If you are a Hafidh, then you may read Qur'an in your prayers.
You must recite out loud or enough so that your lips are moving and your ears can hear. No silent reading.
Reading Qur'an in Arabic only counts for the contest.
Reading of Qur'an should not make any delay in performing your obligatory duties.
Begin from Surah al-Fatiha to Surah an-Nas.
Only include the number of ayat you read from the front to the back. (Example: Don't include the ayats if you read Surah Yaseen every day or Surah Kahf every Friday.)
Islam Web 2.0 reserves the right to change the rules whenever necessary.

Click here to see Current Standings

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Earn Millions in Seconds!

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:02:00 -0700

Did you know you could turn a market place into a place of earning reward?

Earn millions Plus a Palace in Paradise!

Don’t lose out on this fabulous deal!

Sayyidunā `Umar رضي الله عنه narrates that Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

Allāh will record for the one who recites the following du`ā when entering the market place a million rewards and remove a million evil deeds and elevate him a million stages.

Another narration has: Allāh will build a home for him in Paradise.

Lā ilāha illallāhu wahdahu lā sharīka lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyī wayumītu wahuwa hayyul Lā yamūtu biyadihil khayru wahuwa `alā kulli shay in qadīr

There is none worthy of worship besides Allāh alone. He has no partner. To Him belongs all kingdom and to Him belongs all praise. He grants life and causes death. He is all living and never dies. In His hand lies all good and He has power over all things.

(Tirmidhi 3428/9)

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A Shield Till Evening

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 07:45:00 -0700

This post is about a beautiful set of du`a’ from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم which he used to say before sunrise. These supplications are highly beneficial and keep you protected from Shaytan throughout the day while reaping huge rewards. The du`a’s are provided with Arabic text, transliteration and meaning. Take a print out of this page and make an endeavor to read it every morning after Fajr so that by Ramadan, you have memorized them completely.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

Remember your Lord in yourself humbly and fearfully, without loudness of voice, morning and evening. And do not be among the heedless (Surah Al 'Araf 7:205)

... and exalt with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting. (Surah Qaf 50:39)

Asbahnaa wa 'asbahal-mulku lillaahi walhamdu lillaahi, laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer (Recorded by Imam Muslim)

We have entered the morning, and with it all sovereignty belongs to Allah. All praises be to Allah. There is no god but Allah, He is the only One and has no partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and to Him is the praise and He is Able to do all things.

Allaahumma bika 'asbahnaa, wa bika 'amsaynaa, wa bika nahyaa, wa bika namootu wa 'ilaykan-nushoor. (Recorded by Imam Bukhari)

O Allah, with Your Power we enter the morning, with You Power we enter the evening, with Your Power we live, with Your Power we die, and to You is the Final Return.

3. Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah's messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said, "Whoever says:

Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer

There is no god except Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to Him, and He is Omnipotent over everything

one hundred times everyday, there shall be a reward for him equal to emancipating ten slaves, and one hundred virtures are recorded to his credit, hundred vices are blotted out from his record. These words will also be a shield for him against Shaytan on that day until the evening. No one will bring anything more excellent than this, except the one who has done more than this (i.e who utters these words more than one hundred times and does more good acts)." (Recorded by Imam Muslim)

4. Reciting the Verse of the Kursi (Throne): "Whoever recites it in the morning, will be protected from the jinn until the evening, and whoever recites it in the evening, will be protected from the jinn until the morning." (Recorded by At-Tabarani, and Al-Haithami said it has an authentic chain of narrators)

Allaahu laa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom, laa ta'khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-'ardh, man thai-lathee yashfa'u 'indahu 'illaa bi'ithnih, ya'lamu maa bayna 'aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay'im-min 'ilmihi 'illaa bimaa shaa'a, wasi'a kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal'ardh, wa laa ya'ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal- 'Aliyyul- 'Adheem.

Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

5. Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه said, "Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم never left saying the following supplication in the evening or the morning":

Allaahumma 'innee 'as'alukal-'afwa wal'aafiyata fid-dunyaa wal'aakhirati, Allaahumma 'innee 'as'alukal-'afwa wal'aafiyata fee deenee wa dunyaaya wa 'ahlee, wa maalee , Allaahum-mastur 'awraatee, wa 'aamin raw'aatee, Allaahum-mahfadhnee min bayni yadayya, wa min khalfee, wa 'an yameenee, wa 'an shimaalee, wa min fawqee, wa 'a'oothu bi'adhamatika 'an 'ughtaala min tahtee.

O Allah, I ask You for well-being in this life and in the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, and my family and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay. O Allah, preserve me from in front of me, from behind me, on my right, on my left, and from above me, and I take refuge with your Greatness lest I be swallowed up from beneath me. (Recorded by Imam Abu Dawud)

6. Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said, "No Muslim says three times in the morning and the evening of every day and night (the following dua), nothing will harm him" (Recorded by Imam At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah):

Bismillaahil-lathee laa yadhurru ma'as-mihi shay'un fil-'ardhi wa laa fis-samaa'i wa Huwas-Samee 'ul- 'Aleem

In the Name of Allah with Whose Name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing.

7. Juwairiya reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم came out (from her apartment) in the morning as she was busy observing her dawn prayer in her place of worship. He came back in the forenoon and she was still sitting there. He said to her: "You have been in the same seat since I left you." She said: "Yes!" Then, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: "I recited four words three times after I left you, and if these (words) are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning, they would outweigh yours; and (these words are):

Subhaanallaahi wa bihamdihi: 'Adada khalqihi, wa ridhaa nafsihi, wa zinata 'arshihi wa midaada kalimaatihi.

Glorified be Allah, and praise is due to Him as much as the number of His creation and as much as the pleasure of His Self and as much as the weight of His Throne and as much as the ink (used in recording) words (for His praise). (Related by Imam Muslim)

8. Three times:

Allaahumma 'aafinee fee badanee, Allaahumma 'aafinee fee sam'ee, Allaahumma 'aafinee fee basaree, laa 'ilaaha 'illaa 'Anta

O Allah, grant me health in my body. O Allah, grant me health in my hearing. O Allah, grant me health in my sight; there is none worthy of worship but You. (Recorded by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud)

9. Three times:

Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika minal-kufri, walfaqri, wa 'a'oothu bika min 'athaabil-qabri, laa 'ilaaha 'illaa 'Anta.

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave . There is none worthy of worship but You. (Recorded by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud)

10. Mu'az ibn Abdullah ibn Khubaib narrated upon the authority of his father: "At a rainy dark night, we went to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم to supplicate Allah for us." He said, "When I met him (the Messenger of Allah), he said, 'What is the matter?'. I said nothing; agian, he said, "Speak", but I said nothing. Finally, he said, "Say!". I astonishingly said, "What should I say?" He said, "Say: Qul huwallahu Ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas) and Al-Mu'awwizatain (Surah Al-Falaq and Al-Nas) in the evening and in the morning thrice will protect you from everything.""(Related by Imam At-Tirmidhi)

Qul Huwallaahu 'Ahad. Allaahus-Samad. Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan 'ahad.

With the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say: He is Allah (the) One. The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none equal to Him.

Qul 'a'oothu birabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghaasiqin 'ithaa waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffaathaati fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri haasidin 'ithaa hasad.

With the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness, and from the evil of those who practice witchcraft when they blow in the knots, and from the evil of the envier when he envies.

Qul 'a'oothu birabbin-naas. Malikin-naas. 'Ilaahin-naas. Min sharril-waswaasil-khannaas. Allathee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin-naas. Minal-jinnati wannaas.

With the Name of Allah , the Most Gracious , the Most Merciful. Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind , the God of mankind , from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, of jinns and men.

11. Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said, "Whoever says:

Subhaanallaahi wa bihamdihi

Glory is to Allah and praise is to Him

one hundred times in a day, his sins will be forgiven even if they were as much as the foam of the sea. (Recorded by Imam Bukhari)

~~~

Coming up next: A Shield Till Morning

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5 Wisdoms

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 06:56:00 -0700

Hafiza Iffath Hasan | Lessons of the Day

1.
If you are right, then there is no need to get angry.
And if you are wrong then you don't have any right to get angry.

2.
Patience with family is love
Patience with others is respect.
Patience with self is confidence.

3.
Never think hard about past, It brings tears.
Don't think more about future, It brings fears.
Live this moment with a smile, It brings cheers...

4.
Every test in our life makes us bitter or better.
Every problem comes to make us or break us.
Choice is ours, whether we become victim or victorious.

5.
Search a beautiful heart, not a beautiful face.
Beautiful things are not always good, but good things are always beautiful.

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Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajab

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:51:00 -0700

Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a prelude to the month of Ramadan, because Ramadan follows it after the intervening month of Sha'ban. Therefore, when the Holy Prophet sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words:

Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha'bana wa ballighna Ramadhan

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan"

Being a prologue to the month of Ramadan, it should be availed of for preparing oneself for Ramadan and one should pray Allah to make him/her reach the blessed month and to benefit from its unique merits.

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Birds Need You This Summer

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:45:00 -0700

Click on the image for full-size view

Summer is here and its going to be equally harsh to the animals around us. Kindly do your tiny bit by keeping a bowl of fresh water outside your balcony or garden.

Anas Ibn Malik quotes the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم as saying: “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a Sadaqah (charitable gift) for him."

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The Sunnah, its Levels, and Love

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:08:00 -0700

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani | Taken from Sunnipath

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.

Allah Most High said to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم,

Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah , then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [Qur'an, 3.31]

This following of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم has levels:

The obligatory, and necessary must be performed. The prohibitively disliked and forbidden must be left. This is the basic expression of our love of Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم, and the least fulfillment of our duty. It is strongly emphasized to perform the confirmed sunnas, and blameworthy to leave them without excuse. This is not left by anyone serious about Allah and the Next Life. The recommended should be performed, and the somewhat disliked should be left. The permitted should be conjoined with good intentions, to be worthy of reward, and one should avoid wastefulness. This is the way of the righteous.

What about the sunnah?

The sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم is divided by the scholars into two categories:

a) sunnas of guidance, which are those things that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم inevitably did that were of matters of religion and of the guidance he came with and we have been commanded to follow him in;

b) sunnas of habit, which are those things that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم inevitably did of his worldly habits, such as the way he dressed, ate, slept, walked, and so on. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 1.70]

The ruling of each differs:

The sunnas of guidance are considered "confirmed sunnas" (sunnah mu'akkada), and take their ruling, which is:

One who leaves it without excuse deserves reproach, not punishment.

Leaving it habitually is sinful, though, because it entails turning away from the guidance of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم, whom we have been commanded to follow.

The sunnas of habit are considered "recommended actions" (mustahabba), and take their ruling, which is:

The one who performs it is rewarded.

Leaving it is neither sinful nor worthy of reproach.

The way of love and slavehood entails doing everything one's Beloved commanded, whether firmly or lightly, and avoiding everything one's Lord interdicted, whether firmly or lightly. The way to operationalize this, however, is best through a gradual and steady manner.

The clear but gradual way

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said,

"Verily, this religion is easy, and no one makes their religion excessively difficult except that it overcomes them. So be moderate, do your best, and be of glad tidings." [Bukhari (39), Muslim (2816)]

This gradual but clear way has been indicated in a Divine statement conveyed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم,

My servant approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him, and My servant keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him. [Reported by Bukhari]

The spiritual dimension is, thus, the substance and essence of the message of Islam. The spiritual life of Islam, and its goal, was outlined in this Divine statement. It is this spiritual life, at its various levels, that attracts people to Islam. Allah tells us in Surah Al Hadid:

057.016 Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

057.017 Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.

057.018 Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.

057.019 And those who have believed in Allah and His messengers - those are [in the ranks of] the supporters of truth and the martyrs, with their Lord. For them is their reward and their light. But those who have disbelieved and denied Our verses - those are the companions of Hellfire.

057.020 Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

057.021 Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

And Allah alone gives success.

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Complete Guide to Salaah

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:19:00 -0800

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم asked his Companions: “Tell me, if one of you had a river at his door and took a bath in it five times a day, would there remain any dirt on your body?” The Companions replied: “No, no dirt would be left on your body.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “This is the example of the five prayers by which Allah washes away the sins.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The following 62-page booklet will InshaAllah guide you through all aspects of Salaah for both men and women.

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The Beloved صلى الله عليه و سلم and the way he dressed

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:42:00 -0800

Taken from The Beloved Messenger

Islam is a holistic system and applies to all aspects of our lives. When we look at our example, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم, we see that he is the epitome of modesty, yet always looked presentable- why? Because he is representing Islam. Unfortunately we sometimes see people in one of two extremes; blatant extravagance or careless scruffiness. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“One will not enter Paradise, if one has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his/her heart.” A man then asked, “And if one loves his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?” The Prophet replied, “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, arrogance is: rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” (Muslim)

Outward appearance can relate to two parts: hygiene and looking presentable.

Islam encourages hygiene, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم used to use the miswak to clean his teeth several times a day. It is reprehensible to be with people when one smells foul, or go to the mosque. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“Whoever eats onions, garlic or leeks should not approach our mosque, because whatever offends the sons of Adam may offend the angels.” (Muslim)

Men are encouraged to perfume themselves, and it is reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم would always perfume himself. Umar radiallahu anhu said that spending money on perfume is not considered extravagance. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم also encouraged a full bath at least once a week; this is in addition to performing wudhu 5 times a day, and performing ghusl to wash oneself from impurity. In hadiths related in Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم taught us to cut our nails to prevent them from being too long (and therefore making it easy for dirt to go under the nails), for men to trim their mustaches and beards, and to remove hair from certain parts of the body. One should also keep his clothes clean. Jabir radiallahu anhu said: “The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم came to visit us, and saw a man who was wearing dirty clothes. He said, ‘Could this person not find anything with which to wash his clothes?’” (Ahmad, An-Nisa’ee)

We should also dress well because we are Muslims, because Allah loves beauty. Looking at an example of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, he used to take good care of his hair. He would comb it and apply scent to it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

‘Whoever has hair, let him look after it properly.”

What would the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم say had he seen the way we dress today, with some people leaving their homes without brushing their hair?

Dressing scruffily is even seen as following the footsteps of shaytan. In Imam Malik’s Muwatta’, it is reported that:

“The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم was in the mosque, when a man with unkempt hair and an untidy beard came in. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم pointed to him, as if indicating to him that he should tidy up his hair and beard. The man went and did so, then returned. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said, "Is this not better than that any one of you should come with unkempt hair, looking like the Shaytan?"

Dressing well is a sign of being grateful to Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“Allah (swt) loves to see the signs of His gifts on His slave.”
(Tirmidhi and Hakim)

There is a mistaken idea that part of zuhd (not being concerned with the dunya) is to look unkempt. Yet zuhd relates to being simple and being content whether one has great wealth or none at all. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم spent his life in a state of financial poverty, and was always concerned with the afterlife more than we could ever be, yet Ali radiallahu anhu said that everyone who met him was in awe of him. Imam Abu Hanifa once saw a man who looked scruffy, and wanted to give him some money so that he could purchase some clothes for himself. The man said that he did not need the money. Imam Abu Hanifa admonished him saying “Then have you not heard the hadith “Allah (swt) loves to see the signs of His gifts on His slave“? You have to change yourself”

What does all of this link to? That we are representatives of Islam. The great scholar al-Shanqiti said, “An Imam /Caller to Islam should set aside some money in order to buy nice clothing.” This is because our outward appearance matters. Why would people want to hear about Islam when the people representing the religion look untidy?

This goes without saying of course, that the clothing we wear should not be haraam i.e. very tight-fitting (for both men and women!), with offensive language and images, etc. While it is not haraam to spend money on nice clothes, we should not be excessive with this. There are guidelines in terms of halal clothing, and we should always bear in mind that we should dress in ways that we would not be ashamed to be standing in front of Allah (swt) in, or in front of His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم . If we are unsure, all we need to do is ask reliable scholars.

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Goodbye Facebook

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:39:00 -0800

Maryam | Taken from I Got It Covered

Analyzing what deters you from Allah is a lifelong and personal struggle.

My high school friends told me about Facebook. Since all of them had an account, I decided to create one myself although I was very nonchalant about my account. I had never displayed my pictures on social sites and told myself that I would not display my pictures on Facebook. But then everybody I knew had their pictures on. So, I started uploading pictures, and before I knew it, I had a million pictures of mine there.

What happened next was that brothers I knew started adding me. I was reluctant in the beginning, but a voice inside me told me to grow up and that it was no big deal. The first comment I got was from a brother I studied with – “Nice picture, Maryam.” What did he mean by that? I asked myself. Was he being chummy? Honestly speaking, I felt so bad when he wrote that comment on my wall, but then a voice inside my heart told me not to overreact and to show some manners so I thanked him.

I don’t know what happened next, but I started following the dunya. The values I stood up for and walked with became obsolete to me. My compromises turned into huge sacrifices. I became so desensitized and immune to the haram that was happening. I forgot that there was a God out there watching me, and I forgot that I was supposed to emulate the best of mankind- RasulAllah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Random people would message me asking me for friend requests; they said I was “pretty” and they wanted to be friends with me. I even got some proposals on Facebook- can you believe it! And there were lists of stalkers who kept sending me stupid messages and songs on YouTube through fake accounts in my inbox.

Later, when I had pulled back a bit from Facebook, I stopped interacting with a lot of brothers there because a verse from the Quran kept spinning in my head:

I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. [51:56]

When I woke up from my stupor, I realized that I had become some other Maryam I never wanted to be. I had so many friends, but I was never happy because none of them reminded me of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. None of them ever told me that displaying my pictures like that or chatting with random people was wrong and against the sunnah. Shaytan loves spreading promiscuity and hates modesty, and somehow I had chosen to follow him instead of following Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

Prophet Muhammed salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said:

Modesty is part of faith and faith is in paradise, but obscenity is part of hardness of heart and hardness of heart is in hell. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

I had faith, and I was a monotheist. But where was my hayaa, and where were my priorities? I had become a slave of my desires. Islam came to guide man, and here I was in the shackles of my own desires, other people, and the media. Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, has said:

“Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilah (god)?” [45:23]

In light of this verse, Imam Al-Ghazali said:

“Those who follow their own passions do not conform to monotheism, because anyone who follows his own passions makes them the object of his worship. The monotheist is he who sees nothing but the One God and only turns his face to Him.”

I removed all my pictures and changed the privacy settings of my account, but I still felt that my soul was filthy. My heart was hard. Even the Quran failed to penetrate my heart and didn’t make me cry anymore. I had everything I wanted, but something inside me was dying. It was my Iman. My Iman was suffocating.

I realized that the only way to purify my nafs was to leave things that distracted me. True, Facebook had its advantages, but for me, it was like alcohol; its detriment was greater than its benefit. So I decided to give it up for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. For months I struggled with my decision. It was hard saying goodbye to everyone, but I told them that I would be available by email if they needed me, and I requested them to remove, crop, or blur my pictures from Facebook because a voice inside me said, Maryam your face is precious and only for your hubby to see. Yes, I struggled, and it was hard: I gave up so many things which I feared would not benefit me in the Hereafter. I am still in the process of purifying my heart and always will be inshaAllah because it’s a lifelong struggle. Sometimes, things we do seem good to us, but they slowly poison our Iman.

Sheikh Reda Bedier said: “Watch the little things; a small leak will sink a great ship.”

You see, sometimes, we have our feet in two separate boats, one which has the flag of our desires on it and the other which says, “I love you, Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala.” It’s sad how we juggle between what’s necessary and what’s not and prefer what our heart desires over what our Khaliq wants us to do. Ustaad Khurram Murad said:

“Your Qalb (heart) cannot be compartmentalized. You cannot dedicate one piece of it to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and another to some other god, like wealth, status, career, spouse and so on. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is One, Indivisible and wants the human being to be undivided in service to Him. So long as our heart lies in a hundred places, so long as our eyes are set in a hundred directions, so long as we have many loyalties, we shall never be able to achieve that condition of ‘holding onto Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala’.”

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has said:

“O you who believe! Enter into Islam whole heartedly without any reservation.” [2: 208]

I want you to know, that if I can do it, then you can too. If you have anything in your heart that perturbs you greatly and it gives you sleepless nights, ask yourself one question: “Am I prepared for my death, my akhirah?” Truth is, nothing in life is guaranteed but death. After deleting my Facebook account and saying goodbye to it for good inshaAllah, I have so much faith in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that He will give me a better platform to do dawah, one that will not distract me inshaAllah.

I pray that each and every one of us succeeds in becoming a believing, steadfast servant for Allah’s sake. May Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, enable us to be amongst those who purify themselves and help us differentiate between right and wrong, Ameen.

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A Message to Every Youth

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:31:00 -0800

By the martyred Imam 'Abdullah 'Azzam

If you are in the prime stage of your life i.e. Youth and really wanna take advantage of this age, then click on fullscreen and start reading.

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Forgive me when I whine

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:56:00 -0800

Bilal Assad

Forgive_me_when_I_whine.mp3 Listen on Posterous

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Bilal was born in Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia. He started his Islamic studies at a very early age and learned Shariah in Lebanon; and continued tertiary education in Bio-Medical Science in Australia. Bilal has been offering his service to the community for many years and has been working with the Islamic Society of Victoria for over ten years.

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The Inevitable

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 19:38:00 -0800

Aalimah Zafirah Mohammed

All praises are for Allah who has given us life, the air to sustain us and has made us from amongst the best of mankind.

Preparation! So much preparation. Everyday we prepare, either for a ceremony or a special occasion or just for our routine household activities in general. But we forget that there is an inevitable day that is coming. A day which we should be preparing for. A day we neglect to prepare for. When is that day and what time is that day is not known. It is different for each and every person, but it will definitely happen. It is a day in which a person will experience agony and pain more severe than all the agonies ever experienced in this world.

It is narrated by Shaddad ibn Aws radhiallaahu anhu that the agony of death is more severe than all the agonies of this world and the hereafter. It is more painful than being sawed in two, being cut into pieces with shears or being boiled in a cauldron. If the dead were to rise from the graves and tell people about the pangs of death, no man would take pleasure in this life, nor could anyone enjoy sound sleep.

So much for the pangs and throes of death, besides this, a dying man must also go though the ordeal of facing the angel of death. So horrible is the appearance of Izraeel (a.s) when he comes to take the souls of the sinners and the non believers, that the strongest of men cannot bear the sight.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم used to seek refuge from the pangs of death saying:

“Oh Allah grant us relief in the throes of death.”

Then who are you and I, my respected Muslims?

Shouldn’t we too seek Allah’s mercy and help from the inevitable and the most certain day?

Yes, my readers, it is the agony of death. What preparation have we made for this? Have we forgotten all about it? Allah Al Hakeem, Al Aleem says in the Holy Quraan:

“Every soul shall taste death” (3:185)

So how can we have any doubts about it? It can overtake us at any moment. Why is it that some of us think that we can hide from death, or climb to the highest tower to escape its approach? Allah, Al Aliyu, (the Most High) says in the glorious Qur'aan:

“Wherever you are, death will find you, even if you are in towers built up high (4:78)

Luqman, the Wise, once advised his son saying, “Death is an occurrence of which the exact time is not known to anyone. Be prepared then, to meet death at any time, lest it should take you unaware or unprepared.”

This advice of Luqman lives on today.

Respected Muslims let us take heed to this advice. Let us not find ourselves in the arms of death in an unprepared state. Let us strive each and every day to prepare ourselves for that inevitable day, the day that is sure to come, our last day on this earth.

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Complete Guide to 'Id al-Adha & Qurbani (Udhiyah)

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:52:00 -0800

by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmani

Takbir at-Tashriq

Beginning from the Fajr of the 9th Dhu ‘l-Hijjah up to the 'Asr prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on each Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after every fard prayer in the following words.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallahu,

Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd.

(Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise)

According to authentic Islamic sources, it is obligatory on each Muslim, to recite this Takbir after every fard salah. For women also, it is commendable though not obligatory. Whether you are performing salah with Jama'ah (collectively) or on your own (individually) makes no difference. You must recite the Takbir. However, male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice, while females should recite it in a low voice.

**On the ‘Id Day**

The following acts are sunnah on the day of ‘Id Al- Adha:

1. To wake up early in the morning.

2. To clean one's teeth with a miswak or brush.

3. To take bath.

4. To put on one's best available clothes.

5. To use perfume.

6. Not to eat before the ‘Id prayer.

7. To recite the Takbir of Tashriq in a loud voice while going to the ‘Id prayer.

**How to Perform ‘Id Prayers (Hanafi School of Law)**

The ‘Id prayer has two raka'ah performed in the normal way, with the only addition of six Takbirs, three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah, and three of them just before ruku' in the second raka'ah. The detailed way of performing the ‘Id prayer is as follows:

The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or iqamah. He will begin the prayer by reciting Takbir of Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar). You should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting the Takbir, you should set your hands on your navel. The Imam will give a little pause during which you should recite Thana' (Subhanakallahumma .:.). After the completion of Thana', the Imam will recite Takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times. At the first two calls of Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in a low voice, should bring your hands down and leave them earthwards. But, after the third Takbir, you should set them on your navel as you do in the normal prayers.

After these three Takbirs, the Imam will recite the Holy Qur'an, which you should listen calmly and quietly. The rest of the raka'ah will be performed in the normal way.

After rising for the second raka'ah, the Imam will begin the recitations from the Holy Qur'an during which you should remain calm and quiet. When the Imam finishes his recitation, he will recite three Takbirs once again, but this time it will be just before bowing down for ruku'. At each Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after saying 'Allahu Akbar', bring them down and leave them earthwards. After these three takbirs have been called and completed, the Imam will say another takbir for bowing down into the ruku' position. At this takbir you need not raise your hands. You just bow down for your ruku' saying, 'Allahu Akbar'. The rest of the salah will be performed in its usual way.

***Khutbah:* The Address of *‘Id al-Adha***

In this salah of ‘Id, Khutbah is a sunnah and is delivered after the salah, unlike the salah of Jumu'ah where it is fard and is delivered before the salah. However, listening to the khutbah of ‘Id salah is wajib or necessary and must be listened to in perfect peace and silence.

It is a sunnah that the Imam begins the first Khutbah by reciting takbir (Allahu Akbar) nine times and the second Khutbah with reciting it seven times.

Note:

The way of ‘Id prayer described above is according to the Hanafi school of Muslim jurists. Some other jurists, like Imam Shafi'i, have some other ways to perform it. They recite Takbir twelve times before beginning the recitations of the Holy Qur'an in both the raka'ah. This way is also permissible. If the Imam, being of the Shafi'i school, follows this way, you can also follow him. Both ways are based on the practice of the Holy Prophet, صلى الله عليه و سلم.

**Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and Rules**

‘Udhiyah’ is an Arabic word meaning "blood sacrifice" and 'Qurbani' is an Urdu and Persian word derived from the Arabic word Qurban. Lexically, it means an act performed to seek Allah's pleasure. Originally, the word Qurban included all acts of charity because the purpose of charity is nothing but to seek Allah's pleasure. But, in precise religious terminology, the word was later confined to the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allah.

The sacrifice of an animal has always been treated as a recognized form of 'ibadah (worship) in all religious orders originating from a divine book. Even in pagan societies, the sacrifice of an animal is recognized as a form of worship, but it is done in the name of some idols and not in the name of Allah, a practice totally rejected by Islam.

In the Shari'ah of our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, the sacrifice of an animal has been recognized as a form of 'ibadah only during three days of Dhu ‘l-Hijjah, namely, the 10th, 1lth and 12th of the month. This is to commemorate the unparalleled sacrifice offered by the Prophet Sayyidna Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, when he, in pursuance to a command of Allah conveyed to him in a dream, prepared himself to slaughter his beloved son, Sayyidna Isma'il, Alayhi Salam, and actually did so but, Allah Almighty, after testing his submission, sent down a sheep and saved his son from the logical fate of slaughter. It is from that time onwards that the sacrifice of an animal became an obligatory duty to be performed by every well to do Muslim.

Qurbani is a demonstration of total submission to Allah and a proof of complete obedience to Allah's will or command. When a Muslim offers a Qurbani, this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus, the Qurbani offered by a Muslim signifies that he is a slave of Allah at his best and that he would not hesitate even for a moment, once he receives an absolute command from his Creator, to surrender before it, to obey it willingly, even if it be at the price of his life and possessions. When a true and perfect Muslim receives a command from Allah, he does not make his obedience dependent upon the command's reasonability' as perceived through his limited understanding. He knows that Allah is All-knowing, All-Wise and that his own reason cannot encompass the knowledge and wisdom underlying the divine command. He, therefore, submits to the divine command, even if he cannot grasp the reason or wisdom behind it.

This is exactly what the Prophet Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did. Apparently, there was no reason why a father should slaughter his innocent son. But, when came the command from Allah, he never asked about the reason for that command, nor did he hesitate to follow it. Even his minor son when asked by his father about the dream he had seen, never questioned the legitimacy of the command, nor did he pine or whine about it, nor did he ask for one good reason why he was being slaughtered. The one and only response he made was:

'Father, do what you have been ordered to do. You shall find me, God willing, among the patient".

The present-day Qurbani is offered in memory of this great model of submission set before us by the great father and the great son. So Qurbani must be offered in our time emulating the same ideal and attitude of submission.

This, then, is the true philosophy of Qurbani. With this in mind, one can easily unveil the fallacy of those who raise objections against Qurbani on the basis of economic calculations and depict it to be a wastage of money, resources and livestock. Unable to see beyond mundane benefits, they cannot understand the spirit Islam wants to plant and nourish among its followers, the spirit of total submission to Allah's will which equips man with most superior qualities so necessary to keep humanity in a state of lasting peace and welfare.

Qurbani is nothing but a powerful symbol of the required human conduct vis-a-vis the divine commands, however "irrational" or "uneconomic" they may seem to be in their appearance. Thus, the distrustful quest for mundane economic benefits behind Qurbani is, in fact, the negation of its real philosophy and the very spirit underlying it.

No doubt, there are in every form of worship ordained by Allah, certain worldly benefits too, but they are not the main purpose of these prescribed duties, nor should they be treated as a pre-condition to submission and obedience. All acts of worship, including Qurbani, must be carried out with a spirit of total submission to Allah, irrespective of their economic, social or political benefits. This is what Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did, and this is what every true Muslim is required to do.

Keeping this in view, given below are some rules governing Qurbani in our Shari'ah according to the Hanafi School.

The Time of Qurbani

Qurbani can only be performed during the three days of ‘Id, namely the 10th, 11th and 12th of Dhu ‘l-Hijjah. It is only in these days that slaughtering of an animal is recognized as an act of worship. No Qurbani can be performed in any other days of the year.

Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three aforesaid days, yet it is preferable to perform it on the first day i.e. the 10th of Dhu ‘l-Hijjah.

No Qurbani is allowed before the ‘Id prayer is over. However, in small villages where the ‘Id prayer is not to be performed, Qurbani can be offered' any time after the break of dawn on the 10th of Dhu ‘l-Hijjah.

Qurbani can also be performed in the two nights following the ‘Id day, but it is more advisable to perform it during daytime.

**Who is Required to Perform Qurbani?**

Every adult Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent in money, personal ornaments, stock-in-trade or any other form of wealth which is surplus to his basic needs, is under an obligation to offer a Qurbani. Each adult member of a family who owns the above mentioned amount must perform his own Qurbani separately. If the husband owns the required quantity, but the wife does not, the Qurbani obligatory on the husband only and vice-versa. If both of them have the prescribed amount of wealth, both should perform Qurbani separately.

If the adult children live with their parents, Qurbani is obligatory on each one of them possessing the prescribed amount. The Qurbani offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his wife, nor can the Qurbani offered by a father discharge his son or daughter from their obligation. Each one of them should care for his own.

However, if a husband or a father, apart from offering his own Qurbani, gives another Qurbani on behalf of his wife or his son, he can do so with their permission.

No Alternate for Qurbani

Some people think that instead of offering a Qurbani they should give its amount to some poor people as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually, there are different forms of worship obligatory on Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform salah instead of fasting in Ramadan, nor is it permissible for him to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent form of worship and this obligation cannot be discharged by spending money in charity.

However, if somebody, out of his ignorance or negligence, could not offer Qurbani on the three prescribed days (10th, 1lth and 12th Dhu ‘l-Hijjah) then, in that case only, he can give the price of a Qurbani as sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days of Qurbani no Sadaqah can discharge the obligation.

The Animals of Qurbani

The following animals can be slaughtered to offer a Qurbani:

1. Goat, either male or female, of at least one year of age.

2. Sheep, either male or female, of at least six months of age.

3. Cow, ox buffalo of at least two years of age.

4. Camel, male or female, of at least five years of age.

One head of goat or sheep is enough only for one person's Qurbani. But as for all other animals like cow, buffalo or camel, one head of each is equal to seven offerings thus allowing seven persons to offer Qurbani jointly in one such animal.

If the seller of animal claims that the animal is of the recognized age and there is no apparent evidence to the contrary; one can trust his statement and the sacrifice of such an animal is lawful.

Rules on Defective Animals

The following defective animals are not acceptable in Qurbani:

1. Blind, one eyed or lame animal.

2. An animal so emaciated that it cannot walk to its slaughtering place.

3. An animal with one-third part of the ear or the nose or the tail missing.

4. An animal that has no teeth at all, or the major number of its teeth are missing.

5. An animal born without ears.

The following animals are acceptable in Qurbani:

1. A castrated he - goat. (Rather, its Qurbani is more preferable).

2. An animal that has no horns, or its horns are broken. However, if the horns of an animal are uprooted totally so as to create a defect in the brain, its Qurbani is not lawful.

3. An animal the missing part of whose ear, nose or tail is less than one third.

4. A sick or injured animal, unless it has some above mentioned defects rendering its Qurbani unlawful.

The Sunnah Method of Qurbani

It is more preferable for a Muslim to slaughter the animal of his Qurbani with his own hands. However, if he is unable to slaughter the animal himself, or does not want to do so for some reason, he can request another person to slaughter it on his behalf. In this case also, it is more preferable that he, at least, be present at the time of slaughter. However, his absence at the time of slaughter does not render the Qurbani invalid, if he has authorized the person who slaughtered the animal on his behalf. It is a Sunnah to lay the animal with its face towards the Qiblah, and to recite the following verse of the Holy Quran:

Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah. ( Surah Al-An'am, 6:79)

But the most essential recitation when slaughtering an animal is: Bismillah, Allahu Akbar. (In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest). If somebody intentionally avoids to recite it when slaughtering an animal, it does not only make his Qurbani unlawful, but also renders the animal haram, and it is not permissible to eat the meat of that animal. However, if a person did not avoid this recitation intentionally, but he forgot to recite it when slaughtering the animal, this mistake is forgiven and both the Qurbani and the slaughter are lawful.

If somebody is unable to recite "Bismillah Allahu Akbar" in the Arabic language, he can recite the name of Allah in his own language by saying, "In the name of Allah".

Distribution of the Meat

If an animal is sacrificed by more than one person, like cow or camel, its meat should be distributed equally among its owners by weighing the meat strictly and not at random or by mere guess. Even if all the partners agree on its distribution without weighing, it is still not permissible according to shari'ah.

However, if the actual weighing is not practicable due to some reason, and all the partners agree to distribute the meat without weighing, distribution by guess can be done with the condition that each share necessarily contains either a leg of the animal or some quantity of its liver.

Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for his personal consumption.

All parts of the sacrificed animal can be used for personal benefit, but none can be sold, nor can be given to the butcher as a part of his wages. If somebody has sold the meat of the Qurbani or its skin, he must give the accrued price as sadaqah to a poor man who can receive Zakah.

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The Greatness of the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:28:00 -0800

Dhul-Hijjah, the month of Hajj has approached. Alhamdulillah, we are fortunate enough to have these blessed days in front of us. The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are full of virtues and great blessings. According to a large group of mufassireen (commentators of the Qur'aan), the ten nights mentioned in Surah Al Fajr are the nights of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Allah says:

By the Dawn; By the ten Nights; (89:1-2)

This oath substantiates the greatness and sacredness of these ten nights in the eyes of Allah. This is an extra ordinary oath; it is very reliable and significant and the wise men can understand that by this oath, Allah too attaches great importance and value to the ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam too, has clearly mentioned the importance and the virtue of these blessed moments. It is reported by Abdullah ibn ‘Abbâs radiallahu anhu that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said,

“There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allâh, or greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Sacrifice.” He was asked: “Not even jihâd for the sake of Allâh?” He said: “Not even jihâd for the sake of Allâh, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." (Bukhaari)

It is a great chance to collect uncountable hasanat. It is a great chance to renew our relation with Allah. Therefore, we should be very vigilant and not waste these precious moments. Here are a few tips to keep us engaged:

1. Perform obligatory Prayers in time - We all know that the best deed in the sight of Allah is Praying at its appointed time. Perform wudu well, make complete ruku & sujood with much fear and devotion.

2. Read the Qur'an daily - Recite the Qur'an daily even if it is only one page. Make sure you understand what you read.

3. Pray Sunnah and Nawafil Prayers - Umm Habiba radiallahu anha reported, “I heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم saying, ‘A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who prays twelve Raka'ah other than the obligatory Salah in a day and night.' " [Muslim] These twelve Raka'ah are called Sunnah Mu'akkadah and refer to the two raka'ah before Fajr, four before Dhuhr and two after it, two after Maghrib and two after Isha' prayers. If you already perform these prayers, try to increase your Nawafil prayers.

4. Salât at-Tawbah: It could be any bad deed, any sin, you hear something bad, you see something bad, you feel your heart constricted because of something you have done and you didn’t mean it, etc, you can erase it immediately with your prayer of repentance. Make a good wudhû’ and offer two sincere rak’ât of repentance. Ask Allâh to forgive you. If it’s from your heart, then know that Allâh will cancel your sin.

5. Make lots of Dhikr and Dua: While walking, reclining, working, driving, just keep doing dhikr with Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, Astagfirullah, La ilaha illallah, Subhanallahi wabi hamdih, La hawla wala quwata illa billah. Send a lot of durood and salâm upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. Make enough supplications too.

6. Istighfar for all Muslims: Know that in these days the Hajj pilgrims ask Allah to forgive all the Muslims. How many Muslims are there today? 1.5 billion? In one minute it is possible to gain 1.5 billion hasanât. Allâhu Akbâr! How generous is Allâh subhâna wa ta’âlâ. No one will give you like Allâh gives. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم is reported to have said that when a person seeks forgiveness for all believers, Allâh will write for him a hasanât for every one of those believers. The following dua could be read:

O our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and all the Muslims on the Day when the Reckoning will be established. (Surah Ibrahim: 41)

7. Fast on the day of Arafah: The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ‘Arafah, since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ‘Arafah, six miles away from Makkah al-Mukarramah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is mustahabb (highly recommended) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah, so he said, “It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.”(Muslim)

The day of 'Arafah is on Monday, 15th November 2010. It sometimes occurs that 9th of Dhu‘l-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) falls on different days in different countries according to the sighting of the moon. In such cases, Muslims of each country should observe 'Day of ‘Arafah according to the lunar dates of their own country.

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Complete Guide to 'Id al-Adha & Qurbani (Udhiyah)

Takbir at-Tashriq

On the ‘Id Day

How to Perform ‘Id Prayers (Hanafi School of Law)

Khutbah: The Address of ‘Id al-Adha

Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and Rules

The Time of Qurbani

Who is Required to Perform Qurbani?

No Alternate for Qurbani

The Animals of Qurbani

Rules on Defective Animals

The Sunnah Method of Qurbani

Distribution of the Meat

The Greatness of the 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah

**On the ‘Id Day**

**How to Perform ‘Id Prayers (Hanafi School of Law)**

***Khutbah:* The Address of *‘Id al-Adha***

**Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and Rules**

**Who is Required to Perform Qurbani?**