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)

BENEFITING FROM OUR TIME

Allaah the Almighty and His Messenger, Prophet Mohammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )very clearly tell us the value of time, why we must not waste it and how we can make use of our time wisely to increase our faith and thus attain success, especially eternal success in the Hereafter.

ARTICLES OF FAITH

A Muslim believes in the following 6 articles of Faith:

1. ONENESS OF GOD

A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has no father or mother, no son or daughter. None is equal to Him. He is God of all humankind, not of a special tribe or race.

WASTE NOT EXCESSIVELY

Have you ever gotten upset when you weren’t able to buy something that you really wanted? Or, have you ever bought something that you could have done without?

The answer to these two questions is yes, an unequivocal yes. It is pat of our human nature. We want and we desire constantly. When we allow this to go unchecked our desire for more becomes insatiable and overtakes the dictates of our souls.

ALLAAH THE ALMIGHTY LOVES DELIBERATION – II

We should be deliberate and not hasty in our speech. What makes us act hastily in any matter, without giving it careful consideration? As long as we are in the process of thinking and have not uttered any words or done an action, we still have the privilege of choice . However, once we have uttered the words or done the action, then we have no choice but to wait for the results.
Do you not see how many people are in prison and if you asked them, they would all say in one voice: “We were hasty.”

ALLAAH THE ALMIGHTY LOVES DELIBERATION – I

Dear brothers and sisters, if you think about the negative results of many of our deeds, you would find that rashness and lack of deliberation are the main reasons behind losing what we want.

Deliberation means not being hasty in seeking anything and acting purposefully to gain it. Consider how Allaah The Almighty disapproves of haste. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.} [Quran 46:6]

KNOWLEDGE IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRUE FEAR.

Fear is the sensation that results from the anticipation of an expected harm; it is also felt when a person loses, or expects to lose something he cherishes. It is the exact opposite of security and can be applied to worldly matters as well as those of the Hereafter. Fear is a state of disturbance of the heart from an evil or harm that may befall a person, or, it can be the sensation it feels when missing out on something that is beloved to it.

Imam Ibn Qudamah may Allaah have mercy upon him said,

THE ‘ART OF DECEPTION: A NEW PHENOMENON

Allaah Almighty Says (what means):“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.”[Quran 49: 6]
Deception is a necessary tool for the success of wickedness. Fortunately, most of us are not so corrupted that we could support naked injustice and brutality, but must be, to one extent or another, fooled into supporting it once it is camouflaged in an illusion of justice and benevolence.

THE BELIEVER DOES NOT CURSE

When the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), guided the one who was seeking salvation to control his tongue, this was an indication of the grave dangers of the tongue, particularly when one gives it free rein. Getting used to abusing and cursing is one of the greatest dangers of the tongue. Many people think too lightly of this and therefore curse their children, transportation, those who contradict their views, and even those with whom they are joking.

THE STAGE OF PATIENCE – II

Just as disobedience is the reason behind all forms of misery and wretchedness, patience with disobedience is the reason behind all forms of success and superiority. It is the patience of those who love Allah The Almighty and know His might and majesty. It is the patience of those young people beset by desires and evil objects that are beautified for them and the call, “Come!

THE STAGE OF PATIENCE – I

Allah The Almighty describes His closest allies and beloved ones with a quality. Do you know what it is?
Allah The Almighty praises those who have this attribute in the best way. Do you know what it is?
Allah The Almighty promises those who have this virtue with the greatest reward. Do you know what it is?
You will immediately recognize this trait when you know that those who have it, unlike others, will be given their reward in full without account.

THE STAGE OF PATIENCE – I

Allah The Almighty describes His closest allies and beloved ones with a quality. Do you know what it is?
Allah The Almighty praises those who have this attribute in the best way. Do you know what it is?
Allah The Almighty promises those who have this virtue with the greatest reward. Do you know what it is?
You will immediately recognize this trait when you know that those who have it, unlike others, will be given their reward in full without account.

The benefits of hoping for the best

Having hope in Allah The Almighty bears fruit to the following:

• It makes one strive more and exert greater effort in performing acts of worship.

• It makes one even more inclined to be constantly obedient to Allah The Almighty.

• It makes one enjoy drawing closer to Allah The Almighty, and makes one experience the thrill of supplicating to Him.

• It makes one express his servitude to and need for his Lord, and makes him realise that he cannot do without the favours and kindness of his Lord, even for a period that is as rapid as the blinking of an eye.

HOW TO ACHIEVE HUMBLENESS

Islam highly commends humbleness and simplicity and reckons that as one of the traits of a true believer. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Al-Kibr (proud and arrogance) is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people.”[Muslim, At-Tirmithi and Abu Daawood]

THE QUR’AN IS THE DELIGHT OF THE HEART

Allah, the Exalted, revealed the Quran, to be a beacon of light that cannot be extinguished. It is a methodology and way of life that is perfect in all respects. In it is strength that cannot be equaled or repelled. It is the foundation of Eemaan (Faith) and the spring of knowledge. Allah willed that the Quran be what quenches the thirst for knowledge. It is the delight of the people of wisdom. The Quran is the greatest cure for all ailments. It is Allah’s Rope that cannot be severed. It is the Wise Reminder and the truly Straight Path.

HUMILITY – THE BEST QUALITY

Allaah The Almighty describes the believers in their namesake chapter, Saying (what means):{Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord * And they who believe in the signs of their Lord *And they who do not associate anything with their Lord * And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord.}[Quran 23:57-60] One may wonder what it is that those believers fear, even though they hasten to do good deeds and seek to outdo others in that respect.

Islam is against demolishing churches

It was reported that some Islamic enthusiasts in Niger damaged churches in the capital town Niamey to record their protest against Charlie Hebdo Magazine. We strongly condemn such un-Islamic actions. Our Prophet (PBUH) has clearly prohibited from resorting to such actions. We may find examples from his life.
The Prophet’s Example

HADRAT HASSAAN BIN THABIT (RA) REPLIES IN POETRY

As reported in Mishkat u’l Masabih (Book 2, Chapter 12, p. 187), the beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam used to ask Hadrat Hassaan bin Thabit Rady Allahu ’Anhu to answer his enemies on his behalf.

Indeed, he had a pulpit erected within the mosque for him to stand upon and recite poetry deprecating the unbelievers and praising the beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam.

Bara’ reported that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said to Hassaan bin Thabit (RadiyAllahu Anhu) at the battle of Quraizah:

MUSLIMS POSITION ON INSULTING CARTOONS

(Originally Posted on: 25/03/2008)

QUESTION:

What is the solution to the Danish cartoon that was done in Europe? How should a Sunni Muslim from the USA think about these heathens!

FATWA:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

DESPAIR AND SUICIDE IN ISLAM

Instances of suicide or self-killing have been known throughout recorded history. It was known and discussed in the ancient Greek and Roman civilisations; it has been noted in the Jewish and Christian faiths and is mentioned in the classical Hindu books. Suicide or hara kiri is part of the ancient Japanese honour code and is noted in Asian cultures. It is not something confined to Western civilisation and is even found in Muslim majority countries even though it is well known that it is something clearly prohibited in Islam. In the Qur’an there are sanctions against suicide.

DILIGENCE IS THE WAY TO SUCCESS

There are norms and laws in the universe that man is not permitted to contradict. Instead, he should abide by them so as to enjoy a good life and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. One such norm is that if one works hard, he will find results; if one exhausts oneself a little bit, he can enjoy a long rest. Indeed reaping noble benefits depends on experiencing difficulties. Pleasure and perfect qualities cannot be gained except with some difficulty. If it were not for difficulties, all people would be leaders.

A Person who Prefers Comfort has Scarce Potential for Success