THINKING BEGINS IN THE HEART

Two years back when I gave a brief presentation on this topic, it stirred quite a controversy among the listeners, who’d perhaps thought of the heart as no more than a mushy, bawling-over-love organ.

But after two years of studying Quran, Hadith, and Arabic, I stand my ground even more firmly: feeling generates thought. I don’t have much scientific support for this but the hadith and the verses from Quran speak for themselves. I do hope that someday, someone will make an extensive scientific research on this topic.

Let’s strike at the heart of it, shall we?

1. FROM THE QURAN

10 THINGS YOU ARE MISSING IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE QURAN

The Quran is a guide to humanity. Since none of us want to be misguided, it is paramount not only to read or recite the Quran, but to understand and implement it in our lives as well.

Following are the top 10 things you are missing every day in your life if you don’t understand the Quran:

1. THE PURPOSE OF REVELATION

TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PRAYING SALAAH

Bismillah. Today, insha’Allah we’re going to touch on a slightly different angle on the concept of salah. Now, you know that salah is fard–the 5x daily prayers–and that the reward of doing so is great, and the sin of not doing so are terrible. Hellfire, punishment on the Day of Judgment, punishment in this life, all these things are but possibilities.

But let’s take a look at a slightly different angle: scholars. What’s the position of the scholars on someone who doesn’t pray?

Love & Respect for Parents In Light of Quran & Hadith

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Love & Respect for Parents

Parents are the most respectful and important in child life and those who are obedient and dutiful to their parents Allah (SWT) blessed them on the earth and on the heaven as well.

What a Child can do for Parents?

Pray for them

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.”

The virtue of patience

Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah has made patience like a horse that never gets tired, an army that can never be defeated and a strong fortress that can never be breached. Patience and victory are twin brothers, for victory comes with patience, relief comes with distress and ease comes with hardship. Patience is of more help to the one who has it than men, as it helps without any need for equipment or numbers and its relationship to victory is like that of the head to the body.

In the Qur’aan, Allaah has guaranteed those who are patient that He will give them reward without measure.

How Prophet Muhammad Resolved Disputes

There can be several underlying causes or reasons. It usually happens when one person unintentionally wrongs or mistreats another.

For example, when someone takes his/her anger and stress at uncontrollable circumstances in their lives out on an unsuspecting scapegoat, hurting the latter in the process.

Balance And Harmony In Every Aspect Of Life

Although from a Muslim perspective it is the western media that is to be held responsible for the biased portrayal of Muslims, however, it is partly because of the lack of knowledge of Muslims about Islam that leads to the extremist portrayal of Muslims. Therefore, it is the distance of Muslims from the moderate aspect and preaching of Islam that causes them to be strict, rigid and extremist.

TAFSIR OF SURAH AL-KAUTHAR [108] (Ibn Kathir)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

1. Verily, We have given you Al-Kauthar,

2. So turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice,

3. For he who makes you angry, he will be cut off.

* * *

CALM YOURSELF!!!

“I can’t seem to enjoy my holidays. I have this awful feeling of depression that I think will never leave me. What can I do?” We hear this question from a lot of people today. What would you suggest to such a person? Because of daily stress and difficult circumstances we face today, depression and sadness become a part of life for some people, especially the youth.

Sabar and Shukar (patience and gratitude)

In the midst of difficulties, a person with the sweetness of Imaan, exercises Sabr and is neither found to be disturbed nor perplexed. He does not complain of his Master, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala rather he adopts patience and views this patience as the gateway to the closeness, Ma’rifat and Muhabbat of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. When blessed with abundance in bounties from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, like wealth, prosperity, etc. he makes Shukr and regards this gratitude as the gateway to the proximity, Ma’rifat and Muhabbat of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.

MANHOOD – II

Qualified righteous men are the backbone of missions, the spirit for progress and the focal point of reformation. There can be countless factories of weapons and ammunition, but if there are no men to use the weapons being produced, there will be no ability to fight. The finest educational curricula can exist, but it takes real men to implement and teach them; one can create many committees to carry out a project, yet these will accomplish nothing if there are no devoted men on these committees.

MANHOOD – I

Manhood is a quality that is pursued by people of high ambitions and serious thinking men. It is a basic quality that is needed by every man, for when men lose the qualities of manhood, they cease to be real men. Manhood is deeply implanted in a person through strong belief, nurtured by sound upbringing and developed by good example. A real man is one who has good and virtuous deeds to his credit, and possesses good manners and conduct.

THE IDEAL MUSLIM IN THE COMMUNITY

The Muslim community is based on sincerity, purity of human feelings and fulfillment of rights and needs to every member.

The Muslim has a mission in life. Within the community he calls the people to Islam with good preaching and the best character. He teaches from what he learns and deals with those whom he comes in contact with based on Islamic values and morals. All this is done seeking the pleasure of Allaah, the Exalted, while striving to attain the reward of His Paradise.

ISLAMIC ETIQUETTE RELATED TO GATHERINGS – II

Verily, every get-together must include mentioning and thinking of Allaah; do you hear a verse from the Quran, a Prophetic Hadeeth, a religious advice, discussion revolving around an Islamic ruling or an Islamic reminder in today’s gatherings except for those upon whom Allaah has mercy?

ISLAMIC ETIQUETTE RELATED TO GATHERINGS – I

We must pay attention to our gatherings and meetings, because they have a major effect on us. If one were to take a quick look at Muslim gatherings today, he would find that it is nothing but a means of people occupying themselves with life, each according to his interest or field of work; this is aside from indulging in some prohibitions and major sins, in some cases.

QUALITIES OF A MUSLIM – II

Islam instils honour and dignity in the hearts of Muslims, and it is only Islam that can grant such honour and dignity; therefore, those who resort to the disbelievers for support and assistance are in reality humiliating themselves. These Muslims may feel honour under the protection of these disbelievers, but in reality they are humiliated and have become slaves to them; they follow their commands precisely and cannot do other than what they are commanded to by them.

QUALITIES OF A MUSLIM – I

A Muslim differs from all other types of people on earth; they worship and prostrate to other than Allaah; some of them worship the sun, the moon, stars, cows, and idols, such as those who worship Buddha. Conversely, a Muslim worships only Allaah and believes that He is All-Capable; He is the All-Powerful; the Almighty; the Omnipotent; the Holy; the All-Dominant; the Sustainer; the Creator; the Causer of Death and the Granter of life. All these things reflect on the life of the believer and make him different to all other types of people on earth.

THE EXCELLENCE OF GENEROSITY

Generosity is a virtuous trait that every Muslim should strive to attain. As for the believer who closely adheres to the teachings of Islam, kindness and giving from what he has become part of his good character.

Generosity is the opposite of stinginess, as stinginess is a disease of the heart. The Muslim should avoid this bad quality, for it is a source of corruption. The Muslim’s faith and righteous deeds purify his heart, so his hands should be outstretched, giving to those who are in need.

AT – TAWAKKUL: RELIANCE ON ALLAH – II

Tawakkul of the bee:

First, let us look at the fascinating life of the bee. Allaah Says (what means):”And your Lord inspired to the bee: ‘Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and [in] that which they construct. Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you].” There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.” [Quran 16:68-69]

AT – TAWAKKUL: RELIANCE ON ALLAH – I

Allaah the Most High has created us of the best stature and granted us many abilities so that we may look after our needs and those of our relatives and fellow Muslims. He Almighty has invited us to explore the earth and use it for our subsistence. Allaah Sayas what means: “It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection.” [Quran 67:15]

OBSCENITY – THE ROOT OF EVIL AND SINS

There is no doubt that a virtuous person does not find it easy to utter obscenities lest he or she expose him/herself to the Wrath of Allaah The Almighty and disgrace in the eyes of people. Although vulgarity is certainly dispraised and forbidden, foul words indeed abound.

Motives behind this behavior

A BELIEVER IN TIMES OF CRISIS

In determining the way in which a Muslim should deal with a time of crisis, it is important to analyze exactly what, essentially, a crisis is in the context of Islamic understanding; particularly as this relates to the Qadar (predestination) of Allaah.

THOSE WHO DO GOOD MEET GOODNESS

Another secret that Allah reveals in the Quran is that those who do good will be rewarded with good both in the world and in the hereafter. Of this Allah says the following:

“Say: ‘My servants who believe! Have fear of your Lord. For those who do good in the life of this world there is good and Allah’s earth is spacious. The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without any reckoning.”
(Az-Zumar 39: 10)