It is a duty upon every sane person to be prepared for his departure (from this world), for one does not know when he will be served by his Lord’s commands (to take away his soul) nor does he know how long it is going to be before he will be summoned (for the Day of Judgment).
I have seen so many people enchanted by their youth. They have forgotten that their peers no longer exist, yet they are preoccupied with prolonged hopes (to stay alive).
(1) Recognizing the bounties Allah has bestowed upon His slaves. These bounties [are so many that they] cannot be counted or enumerated.
Allah says:
“If you count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them.”
(Al-Qur’an 14:34)
Hearts naturally have love for those who do good to them. Love for a blessing is from the general aspects of thanking the one who has bestowed a bounty. It is said that thanks is with the heart, tongue and limbs.
If that feeling of, “I’m better than thou,” creeps up on you while comparing yourself to someone else, consider the following:
1. Consider the saying, “Some saints have a past and many sinners have a future.”
Being a ‘saint’ isn’t guaranteed for any one person for a lifetime. But the path to God’s forgiveness is always open and especially tailored just for the one who makes a mistake and regrets it and seeks to change, even if it’s over and over and over.
2. Think about our sins and shortcomings.
1.1 Distinct Muslim Personality
Marriage in the dictionary is explained as the name given to when a man and a woman “formally unite for the purpose of living together”. In Islam, it is an act which is given great importance both from a religious view point and a social viewpoint.
The subject of marriage is vast and contains many topics; these topics include:
01. If one chooses not to marry or is unable to get married.
02. When to get married.
03. Love marriages, arranged marriages and force marriages.
04. How to choose a suitable spouse.
05. How to get married.
06. Leading a happy, married life.
The Messenger, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
“He who says to his brother ‘O disbeliever’, then it returns upon one of them.”
He also said: “And he who accuses a believer of kufr (disbelief) then it is like killing him.”
Al-Imam an-Nawawi said:
“They differ as regards interpretation of this ‘returning’, so it is said, ‘kufr returns upon him if he is making that lawful’, and this is far from the context of the narration, and it is said, ‘it is taken to refer to the Khawarij’, since they declare believers to be kafirun (disbelievers).”
Al-Imam al-Hafidh ibn Hajr says:
The topic of du’a and its relationship with destiny (qadr) is a very important one, and one around which much confusion exists. Many people ask:
“If everything has already been destined to occur, then of what use is du’a, as, if Allah has written what I want, I will get it without making du’a, and if it is not written for me, then I will never get it no matter how much du’a I make?”
In one of his articles, Dr. Bilal Philips (a famous Islamic scholar) narrates a story that involves tragedy, drama, and joy. The story is about an Egyptian teacher whose photograph appeared in a local newspaper. The picture showed his smiling and happy face with his hands stretched out and both thumbs sticking up; his father was kissing him on one cheek and his sister on the other cheek.
Everything has its indications and signs. Indications that knowledge is beneficial are that it leads to fine character, good manners and praiseworthy attributes. In this regard it was said:
“He whose knowledge doesn’t cause him to weep, can be justifiably considered not to have been granted beneficial knowledge”, since Allah described the people of knowledge saying:
The story of Moses (a.s.) and Al-Khidr is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf (verses 60-82) and in Sahih Bukhari, Book 6, Volume 60, Hadith 249. This story teaches us very important lessons. Some of these are:
Human knowledge can never comprehend Allah’s ways or the reasons for various happenings which Allah allows to happen
Human beings are always impatient and seek immediate answers to all the occurrences that defy comprehension
Faith in Allah should make us accept His rulings without any questioning
Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says in the Noble Qur’an:-
“Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He, and the angels, and those having knowledge (Ulul-‘Ilm) (also bear witness to this); (He is always) maintaining His creation in justice. None has the right to be worshipped but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”
(Al-Qur’an 3:18)
This verse shows the superiority of knowledge (‘ilm) and its people; the following points can be inferred from this ayat:
“Indeed all praise belongs to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah, peace and blessings be upon him, the best in character and manners, to whom we are commanded to follow and emulate. And may Allah’s mercy and forgiveness be upon the Prophet’s beloved family and noble companions.To proceed …”
Honouring One’s Parents:
It is natural to feel strongly that people who do evil and injustice should be held accountable immediately. Every person who has suffered injustice, irrespective of financial or social status, almost certainly wants the perpetrator of injustice to be punished. Every normal person would like the robber or the rapist, for example, to be taught a lesson. Although we see numerous cases where Allah’s justice is served immediately in this life, we also know that many escape punishment and seem to go on enjoying their lives. In such cases, one may question why Allah (SWT) allows this to happen.
In a hadith that Ibn Marduwyah recorded, Ataa said, “I, Ibn Umar and Ubayd bin Umayr (RadiyAllahu Anhuma) went to Aishah (RadiyAllahu Anha) and entered her room, and there was a screen between us and her. She said, ‘O Ubayd! What prevents you from visiting us’
He said, `What the poet said, `Visit every once in a while, and you will be loved more.’
Ibn Umar said, `Tell us about the most unusual thing you witnessed from the Messenger of Allah.’
The first words that Adam (AS) ever pronounced are:“Al HamduLillah”
“Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds”
(1:2)
“Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, and be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.”(2:152) “No! But worship Allah and be among the thankful.”
(39:66)
“If you tried to number Allah’s blessings, you could never count them.”
(14:34)
Our thanks do not profit Allah (SWT)in any way, and our refusal to thank Himdoes not harmHim in the least.It is only for our own benefit.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.
Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
From ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radiallahu ‘anhu who said that the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“No one will enter Paradise who has an atom’s weight of pride in his heart.”
A man said: ‘What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?’
He said:
“Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people.”
[Related by Muslim #131]
Trials, tribulations and challenges are part of every person’s life. However, to counter that, Allah has provided us a very powerful tool – and that is the tool of dua or asking Allah for help and his mercy when we need it. And we need it all the time…
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for al-Muttaqun.”
[Al-Qur’an 3:133]
Bringing the Self to Account for its Deeds:
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”
[Al-Qur’an 59:18]
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and surely the victory (at the end) is for those who are pious and there is no enmity except to those who oppress. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except for Allah alone having no partners and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
To proceed:
Hadith:
Ibn Abbas (RadiyAllahu Anhuma) said: One day, I was riding behind the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) when he said:
The other day while watching a network news program, I saw a Muslim woman in Kosova with her six-month-old infant, who was covered in sores and suffered from a malady of illnesses, all because it had not had a bath since its birth.
We believe that after the reckoning and weighing, people will pass over the bridge known as As-Sirat set across the Hell-Fire.
Everything that I have mentioned so far has been in relation to oneself before anybody else.
REMOVING THE HINDRANCES
Due to the fact that there are things that are a hindrance to knowledge and actions, they must be studied in order to be removed; and one should begin by assiduously examining one’s livelihood.
One should not forget one’s goal in this worldly life, and that is to single out Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala in worship and uniqueness and fulfilling that which pleases Him for man was not created for any reason other than to worship Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala said:
“I did not create jinn and men except they should worship Me (Alone).”