azra

Abu Hurairah (RadiyAllahu anhu) reported: Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
*”A Miskin (needy) is not the one who can be turned away with a date-fruit or two, or a morsel or two. The true Miskin is one who, despite his poverty, abstains from begging”.*
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In another narration Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said:

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple up the $20 bill. He asked, “Who still wants it?” Still hands were up in the air.
“Well, what if I do this?” He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty and asked, “Who still wants it?” Still hands went up into the air.

During the time of Noble Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s) there lived a trader who, in all affairs, always placed his trust in Allah (SWT). Trader used to travel from Syria to Madinah for trade and during one of his trips, he was confronted by a bandit who drew his sword and intended to kill him.

“If it is my wealth that you desire, come and take it and leave me alone,” pleaded the trader. “Killing you is a must, for if I let you go free, you will identify me to the authorities,” said the bandit. “In that case give me respite till I have offered a two Rak’at prayer,” requested the trader.

Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) entered the mosque and a person also entered therein and offered prayer, and then came and paid salutation to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.). The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) returned his salutation and said:

“Go back and pray, for you have not offered the prayer.”

He again prayed as he had prayed before, and came to the Apostle of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and saluted him. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) returned the salutation and said:

The sins of the tongue are many and in this era people may completely turn a blind eye to those sins. Here are some sins of the tongue that we should be wary about in our interactions with people.

* Bearing false witness.

* Falsely accusing others.

* Engaging in slander or defamation.

* Backbiting.

* Cursing others and calling one another by offensive nicknames.

* Gossiping and making fun of others.

* Boasting about one’s lineage.

* Uttering obscenities and speaking in an offensive manner.

* Lying in general.

Question: How do we rid ourselves of spiritual diseases like anger, stubbornness and hatred, which only fuel quarrels and distance our hearts?

1. Ibn ‘Abbas (RadiAllahu anhuma) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) died before the advent of the next year.(So we muslims have fasting on 9 and 10 both)

Ibn ‘Abbas (RadiAllahu anhuma) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Ashura’, and this month, meaning Ramadhan.”
[Reported by al-Bukhari, 1867]

The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. The Prophet (sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Ashura’, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.”
[Reported by Muslim, 1976]

Question: How do we balance Deen and Dunya? In dunya we have our work, our wives and children. How do we strike a balance?

Answer: Our Deen does not tell us to shun society and live in caves. On the contrary, our deen tells us that we have to be models in society; we have to be good to our spouses and to our children and we have to build relationships of love. In fact our deen thrives on relationships of sanctified love.

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (RadiAllahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “There was a dispute between the Hell and Jannah.
The Hell said: ‘The haughty and proud are my inmates.’
Jannah said: ‘The modest and the humble are my residents.’ Thereupon, Allah the Exalted and Glorious (addressing Jannah) said: “You are My Mercy, through you I shall show mercy to those whom I wish”.
(And addressing the Hell), He said: “You are (the means) of My punishment by which I shall punish such of My slaves as I wish and each one of you would have its fill”.
[Muslim].

COMMENTARY:

As Muslims, we should be careful in not losing hope in our dua. We should also ensure that we don’t get impatient by setting expectations for getting immediate results.

The Prophet (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
*“You will be answered so long as you are not in a hurry and say, ‘I made dua but I did not receive a response.’”*
[Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 6340; Muslim, 2735]

Instead of being impatient, think positively and have faith and hope that Allah will make a way out for you. Being impatient will do nothing but increase your stress and anxiety.

Here is a Quranic verse that guides us to a tip that we can use immediately to reconcile between those people who have enmity and hatred toward each other. First, a little background. During the prophet’s time, Aws and Khazraj were two warring tribes in Yathrib (now called Medina). Approximately, couple of years before their acceptance of Islam the two clans were hard core enemies and had enormous levels of enmity and hatred for each other.

Abu Hurairah (RadiyAllahu anhu) reported: Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “On every joint of man, there is charity (Sadaqah), on everyday when the sun rises: doing justice between two men is charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal or to load his luggage on it is charity; and a good word is charity, every step which one takes towards (the mosque for) Salat is charity, and removing harmful things from the way is charity”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:

Abu Hurairah (RadiyAllahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallellahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Allah, when explaining the message revealed in the Quran, repeatedly challenges mankind to “think” and “think deeply”. One wonders how this is different from the “regular thinking” that we engage in on a day to day basis. Our thinking processes enable us to reach conclusions, make decisions, and solve problems constantly. However, a detailed study of the Quran reveals that these terms allude to a more rigorous form of thinking, which in today’s terms can be equated to “critical thinking”.

Once upon a time in the Iranian city of Shiraz, there lived the famous poet Sheikh Saadi. Like most other poets and philosophers, Sheikh Saadi was not a rich man. He led a very simple life. A rich merchant of Shiraz invited Sheikh Saadi along with a lot of other big businessmen of the town on the occasion of his daughter’s marriage which was to be a grand affair. Sheikh Saadi accepted the invitation and decided to attend.

The phenomenon of weak faith has become very widespread among Muslims, and many people complain about the hardness of their hearts. So often we hear the words, “I feel hardness in my heart,” “I do not find any joy in worship,” “I feel that my faith has hit rock bottom,” “Reading Qur’aan does not move me,” “I fall into sin so easily.” The effects of this affliction can be seen in many people, and this problem is the cause of every disaster and adversity.

The Islamic Calendar, which is based purely on lunar cycles, was first introduced in 638 CE by the companions of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and the second Khalifah, Umar ibnul Khattab (r.a.) (592-644 CE).

A wise and saintly rich man, sensing his approaching death, called his son to his side and gave him these instructions: “My son, I shall be leaving you very shortly. On the day when I die, and they have washed my body and come to wrap it in the shroud, I want you to put one of my socks on my foot. This is my final request of you.”

1.Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (radhiyAllahu anhu) reported that Rasullullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) has said that whosoever spends anything on his family members for reward, will enjoy the divine credit of charity. [Bukhari / Muslim]

2. It is described by Hazrat Abu Huraira (radhiyAllahu anhu) that Rasullullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) has said that, to spend on one’s wife, has great merit than giving charity to male and female slaves and beggars.
[Muslim]

Quote: From ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood radi-Allaahu ‘anhu who related that Allaah’s Messenger sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said:

“Whoever has an atoms worth of kibr (pride) in his heart will not enter Paradise.” So a man said: What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes? So he replied: “Indeed Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty. Kibr (pride) is to reject the truth, and to despise the people.” [1]

THE FIRST FOUNDATION:
THE DUAL DECLARATION OF FAITH (SHAHADA).

THE SECOND FOUNDATION:
THE PRAYER (SALAT).

THE THIRD FOUNDATION:
THE FAST (SAWM).

THE FOURTH FOUNDATION:
THE WEALTH-TAX (ZAKAT).

THE FIFTH FOUNDATION:
THE HAJJ (HAJJ).

This must include belief with the heart and pronouncing with the tongue.

In detail there are 40 BELIEFS –

10 – THE NECESSITY OF WHICH IS ACCEPTED.
10 – THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF WHICH IS ACCEPTED.
10 – THE EXISTENCE OF WHICH IS ESTABLISHED.
10 – THE COMING OF WHICH IS CERTAIN THE FIRST FOUNDATION.

On the authority of al-Baraa ibn ‘Aazib (RadiAllahu anhu) who said: While we were with the Messenger of Allaah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam), he suddenly looked towards a group (of people) and said:

“”For what reason have they gathered here?””

It was said: In order to dig a grave.

Allah is the Supreme Creator. When He wills or intends something, He simply says “Be” and then it becomes. This is a great reminder for all of those who need something from Allah yet lose hope in His mercy and in His power. All that needs to be done is full submission to Allah and to improve our love and relationship with Allah by following His commandments.

Allah says in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!”– and it is!” (Surah Yasin :82)

Ibn Kathir said in his tafsir:

Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) reported: Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbour malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times).