Tuesday 30 August 2011

Try reading the Full Quran in a language you understand.

Reading the Full Quran,

So you believe Quran is the word of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)
 And you're a strict believer yet you've not bothered to read the translation even for once in your life to know what Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) actually says?
 You only care to go to heaven by gaining "Good deeds"(sawaab)?
You believe Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) himself is talking to you and you're not the least curious to know what he's telling you!?

Try reading the Full Quran in a language you understand. (Does it give you the challenge)?
Have YOU ever done this? And if you haven’t, then try to analyze why.
Perhaps your life is too busy to fit in any reading time, or perhaps it wasn’t something which you felt to be so important.
Maybe you thought it was the ‘convert’ thing to do, and being a born Muslim, you don’t have to read the Quran in your own language?

In order to be a Muslim, i.e., to surrender oneself to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),
It is necessary to believe in the oneness of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), in the sense of His being the only Creator, Preserver, Nourishes, etc.
But this belief - later on called "Tawhid Ar-Rububiya" - is not enough.
Many of the idolaters knew and believed that only the Supreme Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) could do all this,
 But that was not enough to make them Muslims. To Tawhid ar-rububiya one must add Tawhid al' uluhiyyah,
i.e., one acknowledges the fact that is Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) alone who deserves to be worshipped,
 And thus abstains from worshipping any other thing or being.

Having achieved this knowledge of the one true Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),
Man should constantly have faith in Him, and should allow nothing to induce him to deny truth.

When faith enters a person's heart, it causes certain mental states which result in certain actions.
Taken together these mental states and actions are the proof for the true faith.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Faith is that which resides firmly in the heart and which is proved by deeds.
“Foremost among those mental states is the feeling of gratitude towards Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) which could be said to be the essence of 'ibadah' (worship).

The feeling of gratitude is so important that a non-believer is called 'Kafir' which means 'one who denies a truth' and also 'one who is ungrateful.'

A believer loves, and is grateful to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) for the bounties He bestowed upon him,
But being aware of the fact that his good deeds, whether mental or physical, are far from being commensurate with Divine favors,
He is always anxious lest Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) should punish him, here or in the Hereafter.
He, therefore, fears Him, surrenders himself to Him and serves Him with great humility.
One cannot be in such a mental state without being almost all the time mindful of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
Remembering Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is thus the life force of faith, without which it fades and withers away.

The Quran tries to promote this feeling of gratitude by repeating the attributes of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) very frequently.
We find most of these attributes mentioned together in the following verses of the Quran:

    "He is Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD); there is no Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) but He,
He is the Knower of the unseen and the visible; He is the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
He is Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), there is no God but He. He is the King, the All-Holy, the All-Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the All-Preserver, The All-Mighty, the All-Compeller, and the All-Sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belongs the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him;
He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (59:22-24)

    "There is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting.
     Slumber seizes Him not, neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth.
     Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave?
     He knows what lies before them and what is after them, and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills.
     His throne comprises the heavens and earth; the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is the All-High, the All-Glorious." (2:255)

    "People of the Book, go not beyond the bounds in your religion, and say not as to God but the truth.
    The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him.
    So believe in Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) and His Messengers, and say not, 'Three.' Refrain; better is it for you.
   Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is only one Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD). Glory be to Him - (He is) above having a son." (4:171)

Muslims have something that offers the clearest proof of all - The Holy Quran.
There is no other book like it anywhere on earth. It is absolutely perfect in the Arabic language.
It has no mistakes in grammar, meanings or context. The scientific evidences are well known around the entire world, even amongst non-Muslim scholars. Predictions in the Quran have come true; and its teachings are clearly for all people, all places and all times.
No one has been able to produce a book like it, nor ten chapters like it, nor even one chapter like it.
It was memorized by thousands of people during the lifetime of The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), peace be upon him,
And then this memorization was passed down from teacher to student for generation after generation, from mouth to ear and from one nation to another.
Today every single Muslim has memorized some part of the Quran in the original Arabic language that it was revealed in over 1,400 years ago, Even though most of them are not Arabs. There are over (1.7) billion Muslims living on the earth today,
There are over 1 million Muslim who have totally memorized the entire Quran,
Word for word, and can recite the entire Quran, in Arabic just as The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), did 14 centuries ago.

One of the many practices taught by Islam is that its followers should begin their activities in the name of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).
This principle, if consciously and earnestly followed, will necessarily yield three beneficial results.
First, one will be able to restrain oneself from many misdeeds,
since the habit of pronouncing the name of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is bound to make one wonder when about to commit some offence how such an act can be reconciled with the saying of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s holy name.
Second, if a man pronounces the name of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) before starting good and legitimate tasks,
This act will ensue that both his starting point and his mental orientation are sound. Third -
And this is the most important benefit - when a man begins something by pronouncing Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s name,
He will enjoy Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s support and succor; Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) will bless his efforts
And protect him from the machinations and temptation of Satan. For whenever man turns to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),
 Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) turns to him as well.
.
First, one will be able to restrain oneself from many misdeed, since the habit of pronouncing the name of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is bound to make one wonder when about to commit some offence how such an act can be reconciled with the saying of God's holy name. Second, if a man pronounces the name of God before starting good and legitimate tasks, this act will ensue that both his starting point and his mental orientation are sound. Third - and this is the most important benefit - when a man begins something by pronouncing Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s name, he will enjoy God's support and succor; God will bless his efforts and protect him from the machinations and temptation of Satan.
 For whenever man turns to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) turns to him as well.

The Qur’an: It contains laws of what Muslims can or cannot do, principles and guidelines of how to be a good Muslim, An instruction booklet for how to pray and all our religious stories such as Prophet Nuh A.S. or Noah (A.S).’S flood, Musa A.S. or Moses' liberation of the Jews and many others.

The Qur'an is in fact, only 1 of 4 holy books. The others being Injil, Tawrat and Zabur.

The Injil is in fact, the Bible, surprisingly enough,
The Tawrat is the Torah.
The Zabur is the only one not used today.

Muslims only follow the Quran because we believe it is the only book that has not been changed by man.
We believe the Injil was modified over time to create the Bible, the Tawrat and the Zabur modified as well.
The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) through the Angel Gabriel A.S. to The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) .It was memorized by The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) fourteen centuries ago.

The Qur'an is protected by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) from being changed and contains all of the original text from the other 3 books.
This opening chapter of The Quran, the Fatiha, is central in Islamic prayer. It contains the essence of The Quran and is recited during every prayer.
Sad but true, for many Muslims today. InshaAllah, our goal should be to first at least read the Quran in a language which we understand.
Then we must explore the meanings of the Quran and learn to practice it properly.

“For sure it is in the remembrance of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) that the heart finds rest,” (13:28)

Saying Good bye to  the month Ramadan
May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
               P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Qadr

A believer only does what pleases Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),
    
I pray to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and Hope you're all still  doing all sorts of worship and good deeds and benefiting from this month as much as possible and high in Iman. InshaAllah! Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) makes it easy for us Ameen.

First things first by now if you have not asked for forgiveness from people around you do so, my friend ask for forgiveness from people now.

We are in the last 10 days of this month of Ramadan.
The Messenger of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to strive hard in worship during the last TEN DAYS (note this is the Sunna) of Ramadan as he never did at any other time, praying, reading Qur’an and making du’aa’. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the last ten days of Ramadan came, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would stay up at night and would wake his family up, and would abstain from marital relations. Ahmad and Muslim narrated that he used to used to strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadan as he never did at any other time
(Twenty-first night means the night proceeding the twenty-first day of Ramadan). (Islamic day starts at Maghrib).

The importance of forgiveness for a Muslim is emphasized with the following verses from the Qur'an:

"Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better; then will he between whom and yourself was hatred become as it were your friend and intimate!"(Qur'an, As-Saff 61:34)

"Tell those who believe, to forgive those who do not look forward to the Days of God."(Qur'an, Al-Jathiyah 45:14)

"Kind words and the covering of faults (of others) are better than charity followed by injury.
Allah is Free of all wants, and He is Most Forbearing."(Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:263)

Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)?
Then all his previous sins will be forgiven.
Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam).
Source: Al-Bukhari (3/32, no. 226)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Layatul Qadr has been bestowed by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) to my Ummah (People).
It was not given to any people before this.

The word 'Qadr' means decree; 'Qadar' it also means ‘majesty’ or ‘high esteem’.
Thus, Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Qadr means ‘Night of Decree’ or ‘the Night of Majesty.’

Laylat al-Qadr is a very blessed night. It is the best night of the month of Ramadan, rather the whole year.

Rewards in this night are multiplied to equal the worship of one thousand months.
It is the night, which Allah chose to send down the Qur’an to the lowest heaven, from where it was revealed in small parts to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam).

Laylat al-Qadr is the night, when Allah decrees His wise ordainment, matters of life, death, sustenance, disaster, etc.
And the angels descend with these decrees: “Verily! We have sent this (Qur’an) down in the Night of al-Qadr.
And what will make you know what Night of Qadr is? The Night of al-Qadr is better than one thousand months.
In it the angels and the Spirit (Angel Jibraeel Alaihi-salaam) descend, by the Permission of Allah, with all decrees.
Peace it is until the appearance of dawn.” [Surah al-Qadr (97): 1-5]

Laylat al-Qadr is a very blessed night. It is the best night of Ramadan, rather the whole year.
Rewards in this night are multiplied to equal the worship of one thousand months.
It is the night, which Allah chose to send down the Qur’an to the lowest heaven, from where it was revealed in small parts to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam).

And He says: “We have sent this (Qur'an) down on a blessed night. Verily! We always warn (people from sinning).
 In it, every matter of ordainment is decreed by Our Command. Verily! We always send (the messengers for guidance).
It is a Mercy from Your Lord; He is indeed All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” [Surah ad-Dukhaan (44): 3-5]

The sending down of the Qur'an here does not mean that it was revealed all at once to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam).
According to the scholars, the Qur’an was sent down on Laylat al-Qadr from al-Lawh al-Mahfoodh (the Preserved Tablet) to the lowest heaven;
It was then revealed in small segments, as necessary over a period of twenty three years of the Messenger's life.

The same applies to Allah's Decrees; they (the Decrees) are not formulated on this specific night every year.
Rather, Allah with His encompassing knowledge knew everything which will happen and recorded it all in al-Lawh al-Mahfoodh. On Laylat al-Qadr,
Allah issues His decrees pertaining to the following year (life, death, sustenance etc.) to the angels, after having been in al-Lawh al-Mahfoodh.

Laylat al-Qadr is the most blessed night. One who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of rewards.

The other decent efforts for this night are that before its arrival, the prudent wayfarer should arrange for its preliminaries and necessities, e.g. for worshipping in this night a suitable place, dress, and perfume should be arranged in advance for engaging in private humming communications Allah (the Glorious, the Exalted),

If a believing person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase in good deeds, he should strive to encounter this night and spend it in worship and obedience.
If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.

Qiyam: It is recommended to make a long Qiyam (standing) in prayer during the nights on which Laylat al-Qadr could fall.
Qiyam means standing and Qiyam Al-Layl means standing at night. In the Islamic terminology, both words refer to the voluntary night prayer, whose time extends from after Isha prayer until dawn.
Other common names for Qiyam Al-Layl are Salat-ul-Layl (the night prayer), Tahajjud, (from hajada, meaning remained one who awake at night), and Taraweeh (resting).
A widespread misconception is that Tahajjud is a different night prayer than Qiyam or Taraweeh.
It is important to clarify this misunderstanding and to make clear that the voluntary night prayer is known by different names.

This is indicated in a number of Hadiths. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
“Whoever stands (in Qiyam) in Laylat al-Qadr (and it is facilitated to him) out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), will have all his previous sins forgiven.” [Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim] “And it is facilitated to him.
” This addition is recorded in Musnad Ahmad; it means that if he is permitted to be among the sincere worshipers during the blessed night.

It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the night on which Laylat al-Qadr is likely to be.
This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for Allah. Aisha (radiyallaahu anha) reported:
“When the (last) ten days started, the Prophet of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) would tighten his izar, spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family.” [Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim]

It is Mustahabbat to seek it during holy month of Ramadan, especially in the last ten nights of the month.
It was reported in Saheeh Muslim that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (Rad illahu anhu) said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did I’tikaaf during the first ten days of holy month of Ramadan, then he did I’tikaaf during the middle ten days in a Turkish tent [the word qubbah, translated here as “tent”, refers to a tent or any circular structure] in which a mat was placed.
He said: so he took the mat in his hand and put it at the side of the tent, then he raised his head to speak to the people, so they came closer to him.
He said: “I did I’tikaaf during the first ten days, seeking this night, and then I did I’tikaaf during the middle ten days.
Then someone came to me and told me that it is in the last ten days, so whoever among you wants to do I’tikaaf, let him do so.” So the people did I’tikaaf with him.
He said: “I was shown an odd-numbered night, in the morning of which I was prostrating in mud and water”.
Then in the morning of the twenty-first, he got up to pray Subhi and it was raining; the roof of the mosque leaked, and there was mud and water.
He came out when he had finished praying, and there was mud and water on his forehead and nose.
That was the morning of the twenty-first, one of the last ten days. (Saheeh Muslim, 1167).

 Abu Sa’eed (radiyallaahu anhu). “It rained on the night of the twenty-first, and the roof of the mosque leaked over the place where the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was praying.
 I looked at him, when he had finished praying Salat al-Subhi, and his face was wet with mud and water.
” Muslim narrated a hadith from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Unays (radiyallaahu anhu) that was similar to the hadith of Abu Sa’eed (radiyallaahu anhu), except that he said, “it rained on the night of the twenty-third.
 The Messenger of Allah SWT (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
“Seek it in the last ten days of holy month of Ramadan, when there are nine days left, and seven days left, and five days left.” (Al-Bukhari: 4/260).

Laylat al-Qadr is in the last ten days of holy month of Ramadan, as stated in the hadith of Abu Sa’eed quoted above, and as stated in the hadith of ‘Aisha  (radiyallaahu anha) , and in the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar who said that  The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
 “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten days of holy month of Ramadan.” (The hadith of ‘Aisha (radiyallaahu anha) was narrated by al-Bukhari, 4/259; the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar was narrated by Muslim, 2/823. This wording is that of the hadith of ‘Aisha (radiyallaahu anha).

It is more likely to be one of the odd-numbered nights, because of the hadith of ‘Aisha who said that The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
 “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4/259)

We should seek it especially in the odd-numbered nights, i.e., on the twenty-first, the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth.  The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:
 “Seek it in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1912 see also, 1913. Also narrated by Muslim, 1167 see also 1165).

Scholars also differ whether Laylat al-Qadr always falls on a fixed night or moves from year to year between nights.
The safest approach is to follow the Hadiths, which instruct one to seek Laylat ul-Qadir (at least) on odd nights of the last ten days in holy month of Ramadan.
At the same time, special care should be given to the night of the twenty-seven because it is the night on which the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) gathered all his family, and spent it in prayer and worship.

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) and His Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) have mentioned some signs to identify the night of Laylat al-Qadr.
It is interesting to note that by the Wisdom of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), the All-Wise, these signs occur after the night has passed.
Some scholars state that the wisdom behind this is that one would not rely on definite knowledge in order to limit his worship to just one night of the whole year.
This understanding is supported from The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s statement: “…and this may be better for you.”
Abu Dharr (radiyallaahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “On the morning following Laylat al-Qadr, the sun rises without rays, resembling a dish, until it becomes high.” [Saheeh Muslim] Also, a report from Ibn Abbas (radiyallaahu-anhu) informs that it is a moderate night, neither hot nor cold

One of the best du’aa that may be recited on Laylat al-Qadr is that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught to ‘Aisha (radiyallaahu anha).  ‘Aisha (radiyallaahu anha) said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’ He said, ‘Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwon tuhibbu’l al-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are forgiving and you love forgiveness, so forgive me

With regard to specifying which night of holy month of Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr, this needs specific evidence,
But the odd-numbered nights during the last ten nights are more likely than others,
 And the night of the twenty-seventh is the most likely to be Laylat al-Qadr, because that is mentioned in the hadith.

Laylat ul Qadr is the crowning glory of the holy month of Ramadan.
It is associated with the sending down of the Qur'an Majeed, the last Book of Allah on His last Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), for the guidance of mankind. The Qur'an Majeed describes this Night.

"We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!" (597: V1-5).

The Night of Power is the night of spiritual bliss. Our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said concerning holy month of Ramadan:

"Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand Months.
 Whosoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good;
And none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person". .
"Whosoever stands up (in prayer) at the Night of Power out of faith and hopeful of reward, all his past sins will be forgiven."

This is one night Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) has given you Look at the mercy of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), One Night=83 years and 4 months. "Subhanallah"
Take this night my friend and you will never regret it.
Better than a thousand months: A thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months.
Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night.
Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud Salat, Tilaawat of the Qur'an, Dua, Zikr, etc.

The worship and the vigil of the Night of Power are a treat to the soul my friend. The hearts of stone tends to melt into tears of heartfelt gratitude.
The body is in a state of angelic ecstasy the soul strives to reach nearer to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD). In this holy month of Ramadan let us strive to seek the Night of Power and its bliss.
May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) reward us with His bountiful blessings? Amen.

Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer.
Are we among those who have prepared for this night and invitation, the way we ought to be, and must be, in order to attain the eternal blessing and salvation?
Or are we among those negligent and idle ones, who do not achieve anything except loss and eternal doom?
We must better know that the one who acts naively and lazily, and does not strive to take advantage of the magnificent generosities of this night,
 When in the Hereafter, would see that those who were zealous, committed,
And vigilant during these nights what have they achieved, and what magnificence, splendors and glory have been bestowed upon them.
But they would gain nothing except regret - the regret so great and painful that the Hell's blazing fire and its torturous punishments would seem smaller as compared to their regret, and then together with the losers and eternally doomed ones, would cry loudly:

"Ah! Woe upon me! In that I neglected (my duty) towards Allah."- Holy Qur'an (39:56)

But on that Day when the gates of repentance would have been closed,
There would be nothing left for compensation of the damage,
Everyone would have seen the ultimate outcome of his deeds,
And then feeling sorry and being regretful would not produce any gain.
Therefore, we must take a look upon ourselves, and before falling into such regret and grief, Must admonish ourselves for being so lazy, naive, and easy going.
And before that we are called for accounting and are condemned into the state of wretchedness and destitution,
For wasting our precious capital - the capital through which we could have accomplished most precious and greater gains we better put our self to scrutiny.

The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night,
Will deserve blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for eighty three years and four months consecutively.
Since the Night of Power is better than one thousand months no one can actually measure the extent as to how much better it is.

How manifest and replete the special bounties and mercies of Allah Ta’aala are upon this Ummah is quite really beyond imagination.
It will therefore be extremely foolish to allow ourselves to be deprived of these great blessings at the expense of sheer laziness and a few hours of extra sleep.     

 “For sure it is in the remembrance of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) that the heart finds rest,” (13:28)

May the spirit of Ramadan
Illuminate the world and show us the way to peace and harmony.

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
               P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Middle of the month of Ramadan


     A believer only does what pleases Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

I pray to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and Hope you're all still  doing all sorts of worship and good deeds and benefiting from this month as much as possible and high in Iman. InshaAllah! Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) makes it easy for us Ameen.

This month is honored with the special status such as that of a Wali and Abdal, days of mercy, forgiveness, THE NIGHT OF DECREE [LAYLAT AL-QADR]
 (Imam Malik informed us, Ibn Dinar informed us from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said, Look for the Night of Decree [Laylat al-Qadr] in the last seven [nights] of Ramadan).

30.Imam Malik informed us, Hisham ibn Urwah narrated to us from his father that the Messenger of Allah said, Look for the Night of the Decree [Laylat al-Qadr] in the last ten [nights] of Ramadan.
 
We Are Here (In The middle of the month of Ramadan) middle of forgiveness the second period of ten days is for forgiveness
Forgiveness, the second period of ten days

  Don't be a loser my friend Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), is  offering us the chance for seeking the mercy and forgiveness of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and that is, to take advantage of the blessings of this month of Ramadan and ask for  forgiveness of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

The benefits of the month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadan to be throughout the whole year.

Month of Ramadan is a special month for seeking the mercy and forgiveness of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), . The Messenger of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), said about the month of Ramadan:

The first part of it is mercy; the middle of it is forgiveness, and its last part is freedom from the Hellfire

The first ten days of the month of Ramadan are days of mercy;
The second period of ten days is for forgiveness,
And the final period of ten days is for seeking refuge from Hellfire.

The differentiation between rights and wrongs has been clearly indicated.

 We have been given the discretion to judge between virtues and vices and based on that each soul is accountable for their worldly deeds.

Whether it is as insignificant as squatting dead a fly or removing an obstacle from the road while traveling, each act will be brought to justice.

Therefore, a believer must constantly seek pardon for those actions which may displease the Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

A believer only does what pleases Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and the purpose is to seek divine nearness through constant repentance, be it through silent conversations with Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), or by shedding tears of guilt.

Whosoever recites only one 'Ayat (Verse)' in the month of Ramadan he will be awarded as if he had recited the full Holy Quran, in other months?
 Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu alaihi WA salaam Said: Whosoever recites only one 'Ayat (Verse)' in the month of Ramadan he will be awarded as if he had recited the full Holy Quran, in other months?

   “Ramadan", according to some traditions is one of Allah's names. This is why we can not say Ramadan without making it clear that we are talking about the month,
And therefore we should always say the month of Ramadan. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (Radiyallaahu Anhu.) said: Do not say Ramadan, but say the month of Ramadan.
 For you do not know what Ramadan is?

The blessings of the month of Ramadan are not limited to fasting alone, because the performance of all sorts of worship and good deeds during this month is also a source of great Divine favor.

The revelation of the Holy Quran commenced during this very month and it is therefore the duty of every Muslim to read and try to understand the meaning of the Holy Quran and thereby gain an insight into the Divine secrets enshrined therein.

It brings peace and illumination to the mind and imparts purity to the soul.

Holy Ramadan is the month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice and Divine worship.

During the holy month Ramadan, Imam Abu Hanifa (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) would complete one reading of the Holy Quran in the morning, a second in the evening, and would listen to three complete recitals of the Holy Book in Tarawa for a total of sixty-three completions during the month.

Throughout this month a devout Muslim fasts during the day in the true sense of the word,
that is, he had merely denies himself food and water, but as explained by Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam.), exercises strict control over his tongue, eyes, ears, thoughts and deeds and does everything possible to seek the pleasure of the Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),.

Ramadan: The Month of the Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),
Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam and his progeny) said: Sha`ban is my month and the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), The Exalted, and it is the springtime for the poor.

The Prophet’s Practice during Ramadan

The Companions used to say that with the start of the month of Ramadan they would note an increase in three things in the practice of the Messenger of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

· The Messenger of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) would dramatically increase his worship, despite the fact that his normal worship was such that his noble feet would swell from standing in prayer for extensive periods of time.
· He was tremendously generous in giving for the sake of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and during this month, he would open his heart and hands even more in charity.
· He would increase his weeping in front of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), in fear and humility, seeking repentance.

Increasing worship, charity, and supplication are Prophetic examples that all Muslims should strive to follow with sincerity.
Muslims tire their bodies every day in their work, but there should be at least some time during their lifetime when the body gets exhausted in worship.
There should come such a time when the eyes long for sleep, but the worshipper reminds himself that struggling to keep awake at night, most of the night seeking Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s pleasure will earn him the honor of looking upon Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), in Paradise. The eyes that stay awake now will sleep soundly in the grave.

 There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast. These are:
1. When breaking fast
2. When meeting Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) on the Day of Judgment

The Mercy of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) desires not but excuses for forgiveness.
Only after death do restless hearts find peace.
Only he sleeps soundly who remained awake.

Ramadan is the month of staying awake during the night in worship.
Believers should accustom themselves to less rest and sleep and respect this month for the holy month of struggle, sacrifice, and immense blessing that it is.
The Season for Righteousness

The holy month of Ramadan is a season for righteousness for all those who wish to draw nearer to Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and have their sins forgiven.
The fasts of such people who remain restless for Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s sake are not only limited to abstinence from food and drink, but their eyes and tongue and all else also remains in a state of fasting. When Muslims remain thus in a state of fasting from head to toe and raise their hands in supplication at the breaking of the fast (iftar), then Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),  will grant whatever they wish for.

This month is so blessed that the birds in the air, the fish in the seas, and the animals on the earth pray for the forgiveness of all those who fast.
 Moreover, when they break their fast at iftar, the angels say Ameen to their duas.

Those who are fortunate and wise enough to take advantage of the blessings of this month are honored with the special status such as that of a Wali and Abdal.
Muslims should learn valuable lessons from their elders and regard each moment of this month as a precious opportunity to earn righteousness so that they may also earn the special regard of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

Our righteous predecessors would honor a person as a venerable individual and sage by the number of the month of Ramadan he had seen during his lifetime. This was the standard that they used to determine status and honor.

Unfortunately today, standards by which people are judged have deteriorated to worldly wealth and education, but people can never reach the superior way of thinking of the elders of Islam.

People experience no difficulty in staying awake all night for worldly purposes, and it would also be good if for once, the eyes and body are forced to stay awake for the sake of worship and consequently, cry out for rest. When raised in front of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), on the Day of Judgment, we will at least be able to say that there was one month out of the year during which the eyes and body were fatigued and wanted to rest, but were forced to stay awake and working for the sake of worship.

Hadrat Jibril alaihi salaam: Once came to the Messenger of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and cursed to eternal Hellfire anyone who did not repent and have himself forgiven in the month of Ramadan, to which the Messenger of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), said Ameen. An Archangel’s curse would have been more than enough on it’s own as a stiff warning, but the Prophet Sallallaahu alaihi wa salaam’s Ameen and stamp of approval makes this curse all the more potent. There is no doubt that whoever is fortunate enough to live through the month of Ramadan but does not seek repentance, will be sentenced to Hellfire.

There is another hadith: Once the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi WA sallam) was with his companions and about to climb the minbar. When he took the first step Jibraeel (alaihi salaam) came to him and said:
“Whoever enters the month of Ramadan and is not forgiven, and then may Allah distance him.” He asked the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi WA sallam) to say Ameen and he did.
When the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) took the second step Jibraeel (alaihi salaam) said “whoever spends time with his parents until they reach old age, and if his servitude to them does not become a means for his salvation and entry to Paradise, then may Allah distance him.” Again he asked the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi WA sallam) to say Ameen and he did.
When he (Sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam) took the third step up Jibraeel (alaihi salaam) again said “whoever hears your name being mentioned and does not send salawat on you, May Allah distance him.” Again he asked the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi WA sallam) to say Ameen.

My Friend Repent to Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),  with a sincere repentance in all times by leaving sins, regretting those that you have done before and firmly deciding not to return to them in the future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who repent.

Invoke a lot of salawat and salaam upon the Messenger of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),’s blessings and peace be upon him, his Companions and all those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.

    O Allah makes us and all Muslims of those who fast and stand in prayer during the month of Ramadan based on belief and truly seeking Your reward so that we are forgiven our past and future sins.

    O Allah make us of those who fasted the month, attained full reward, witnessed Layatul-Qadr and attained success by permission of the Lord, Blessed and Most High.

    O Allah, verily you are Forgiver, like to forgive, so forgive us.

    O Lord, accept from us, verily you are the All-Hearing, all-Seeing, O Living, O Independent, O Owner of all majesty and honor.

    And may Allah's blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, his family and his Companions.

The holy month of Ramadan is a month of springtime for the believer, where Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),’s blessing and mercy surrounds the believer at every point throughout the day and night.

Hence, surrounded by such awesome mercy, this is truly a golden opportunity for anyone wishing for nearness to Allah and forgiveness from sin. I

The month of holy Ramadan enjoys a special importance in the Islamic calendar. As Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam said: "It is Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),’s Own month." It is the chief of all months and the most glorious one. As we already know, 'Fasting' is one of the important pillars of Islam and it is the very month of Ramadan during which fasting has been made obligatory for all adults and sane Muslims. By fasting during the month of Ramadan, a Muslim besides discharging an obligation imposed upon him by Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) becomes entitled to great reward in the Hereafter. On the other hand, any lapse in the matter amounts to a great sin. Fasting is an article of worship, the knowledge about the performance or otherwise whereof rests only with Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and the person concerned. Hence, it is Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), alone who will reward that person for it, on the Day of Judgment.

“Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power.

Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

The angels and the Spirit [Jibril] descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, will all decrees.

(That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.”

(Qur’an, Surat al-Qadr: 97)

‘The Night of Power is better than a thousand months,’ means that it is better than a thousand months without it.

In general, it is agreed that it is most likely to be in the last ten nights of Ramadan, with the odd nights being more likely. Of the odd nights, the night of the 27th (which is the night before the 27th of Ramadan, for the Islamic day starts with nightfall) is most likely. Imam Shafi said that it is most likely to be the 21st, then the 23rd, then the 27th.

The position of Imam Malik, Imam Shafi and Imam Ahmad, and the majority of the scholars is that Laylat al-Qadr is not a specific night. Rather, it moves around.

Given the tremendousness of this night, it is recommended to seek this night, and to worship Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),  in it, with prayer, supplication (dua), remembrance (dhikr), and other actions. Because obligatory acts are more beloved to Allah than supererogatory ones, the most important thing for men is to pray both Isha and Fajr at the mosque.

The month of Ramadan teaches man the principle of sincere love. It equips man with a creative sense of hope.
It indoctrinates man in patience, self-assurance and self-control. It is an effective lesson in willpower.
Fasting also provides man with a transparent self, a clear mind and a light body. It shows man a new way of wise savings and sound budgeting.
It originates in man the real spirit of social belonging, unity and brotherhood, of equality before Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), as well as before the law.
 The month of Ramadan strengthens Taqwa, which is the faith in Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), so may Allah give you the strength to gain the wealth of blessings from this holy month of Ramadan? Amen.

Learn Islam with ambition, Observe Islam with sincerity, Practice Islam with discipline (Sunnah), Spread Islam with truth and kindness.
      
 “For sure it is in the remembrance of God that the heart finds rest,” (13:28)

May the spirit of Ramadan
Illuminate the world and show us the way to peace and harmony.

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........
Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,
And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
               P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me.

Monday 15 August 2011

The Spirit is by the Command of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD):

         Ruh is the reflection of the Divine presence in man.
Hope you're all doing good and benefitting from this month of Ramadan as much as possible and high in Imaan inshallah   

The spirit is the Ruh, that underlying essence of the human individual which survives death.

The Holy Qur’an says:

“This life of the world is just a pastime and a game. And, indeed, the home of the Hereafter is the real life, if they know.” (29:64)

Ruh or spirit is the core of man’s being, yet it remains hidden. During human life on earth, the spirit and the body are united but then there is a temporary separation during death with the final union to take place in the life thereafter.

According to Muslim scholars, Ruh is the reflection of the Divine presence in man. The Holy Qur’an declares that Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)) has blown His spirit into human body:
 “When I have made him and have breathed into him of My spirit, (I ordered the angles to) bow down, prostrating yourself before him. (15:29 also see 38:72 and 32:8)

The status of being the recipient of Divine spirit elevated man from his humble origin, enabled him to overcome the baser part of his nature, and made him worthy of being the vicegerent of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

Since human body is from the earth while the spirit is from the heaven and Divine, it always longs to be united with whom it was separated from. It is stated in Qur’an “to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)  we belong, to Him is our return.”

Rumi says in his book, Masnavi that the reason why a child cries the first moment after it is born on earth is because it realizes its exile from the higher place. It is unhappy because it seems captive in this worldly body. Explaining the idea of the captivity of the spirit, Rumi narrates a Quranic story. It says that Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) made a statue of Adam and asked the Ruh to enter into the body but it refused saying, ‘Lord, I do not want to be imprisoned in this physical body’. Then God told the angels to sing and dance, and on hearing their song and with the rhythm of the dance the soul went into delight, and in that condition it entered the body. Rumi says that the reason why every soul is longing to attain something is that it is in exile and a captive in this physical body.

Due to the captivity of the spirit and limitation of his physical body, man’s vision remains small and narrow. Man’s innermost being can not be satisfied except for a short time by outside factors. There always comes a time when every one finds that nothing pleases him even if he possesses all what he wants. His lack of freedom causes a continual longing for spiritual achievements. And when man reaches the stage of spiritual attainment and gets closer to its origin, he gets inner satisfaction, he develops the outlook of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) and his manners become the manners of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

The human creature, it was realized, was made up of four constituent parts: the body (jism), the mind (aql), the spirit (Ruh), and the self (nafs).

The first two need little comment. Less familiar (at least to people of a modern education) are the third and fourth categories.  

The spirit is the Ruh, that underlying essence of the human individual which survives death.

Prophet, upon who be blessings and peace, says that “Verily in the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the body is all sound. If it is corrupt, the body is all corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.

 The word spirit is connected with breath and, therefore, with air.
The breath is what keeps us alive and yet air was a mystery in that it was invisible.
Spirit, therefore, stands for something very subtle. It refers to inner experiences - consciousness, conscience and will. It is responsible for revelation, inspiration, intuition and insight as opposed to knowledge which comes through the outer senses. The Spirit is by the Command of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD):-

    "They ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little." 17:85

    "It is naught save mercy from thy Lord." 17:87

We may suppose that it refers to something very fundamental which cannot be explained in terms of anything else.

 It is by or comes by the command of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

It may refer to a fundamental force in the Universe which carries information or Truth, for Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) has created everything with his Word and with Truth.

It is likely that the stage by stage condensation of the Spirit is responsible for all levels of the heavens and earths.

    "Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) it is who created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof. The Commandment cometh down among them slowly, that ye may know that Allah is able to do all things and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge." 65:12

    "But His command when he intendeth a thing is only that he says unto it: Be! And it is “36:82

    "He created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped you and made good your shapes and unto Him is the journeying." 64:3 and 6:73

    "His Word is Truth, and His will be the Sovereignty on the day when the trumpet is blown." 6:74

The Spirit ascends into Heaven and descends into the earth.

    "From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways whereby the angels and the spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years." 70:3-4

    "The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.

 Peace until the rising of the Dawn." 97:3-5

These two verses speak about two different cycles of events - there appears to be a spiritual circulation.

    "Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, the Beneficent; with whom none can argue.

 On the Day when the angels and the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not, saving him whom the Beneficent allows and who speaks right.

That is the True Day. So who so will, should seek recourse unto his Lord?" 78:38

This refers to the Final Day of Judgment. The Universe itself is a cycle and will be wound up (28:88).

Things begin with the Spirit and end with it. The Divine Spirit has been breathed into man and this is what gives him consciousness:-

    "So when I have made him (man) and have breathed into him of My Spirit, do ye (angels) fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him?" 15:29 also 38:72

    "He directed the ordinance from the heavens unto the earth; then it ascends unto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that ye reckon.

 Such is the knower of the invisible and the visible, the Mighty, the Merciful, who made all things good which He created, and He began the creation of man from clay; then

He made his seed from a draught of despised fluid; then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit; and appointed for you hearing, and sight and hearts.

Small thanks give ye! And they say: When we are lost in the earth, how can we then be re-created? Nay but they are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord." 32:7-10

According to the early Islamic psychologists, the Ruh is a non-material reality which pervades the entire human body, but is centered on the heart, the qalb.

It represents that part of man which is not of this world, and which connects him with his Creator, and which, if he is fortunate, enables him to see Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) in the next world.

When we are born, this Ruh is intact and pure. As we are initiated into the distractions of the world, however, it is covered over with the 'rust' (ran) of which the Quran speaks.

This rust is made up of two things: sin and distraction. When, through the process of self-discipline, these are banished, so that the worshipper is preserved from sin and is focusing entirely on the immediate presence and reality of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), the rust is dissolved, and the Ruh once again is free.

The heart is sound; and salvation, and closeness to Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), is achieved. 

This sounds simple enough. However, the early Muslims taught that such precious things come only at an appropriate price.

Cleaning up the Augean stables of the heart is a most excruciating challenge.

 Outward conformity to the rules of religion is simple enough; but it is only the first step.

Much more demanding is the policy known as mujahada: the daily combat against the lower self, the nafs.

The Quran says: 'As for him that fears the standing before his Lord, and forbids his nafs its desires, for him, Heaven shall be his place of resort."

Hence the Sufi commandment: 

    'Slaughter your ego with the knives of mujahada.'

Once the nafs is controlled, then the heart is clear, and the virtues proceed from it easily and naturally. 

If the spirit wins the battle, the heart will be transformed into spirit and, at the same time, transmutes its soul, engulfing her with spiritual light. Then the heart reveals itself; it becomes the lamp (Mishkaat) of Divine Mystery (sirr) in man

  Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam :“When a believer commits a sin, a dark spot appears on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness (of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), his heart becomes spotless again. But if he persists in sin, the dark spot increases. This is the spot that has been mentioned in the Qur’an: “But on their hearts is the stain of (the ill) which they do.” (83:14)

Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam:
“Inside the human body there is a piece of flesh which, if it is healthy, the whole body is healthy and if it becomes unhealthy, the whole body gets unhealthy. That is al-qalb.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Other Hadith mention that if the sinner does not repent, and instead keeps on committing sins, the stain on his heart increases and gets more darkened until it overwhelms the whole heart. Ultimately, the heart of sinner is sealed and he becomes spiritually dead.

For the purpose of simplification, nafs can be thought of as the outer man, Ruh as the inner man, and qalb, the composite faculties of reasoning and decision-making, and a bridge between the two.

Man, being the vicegerent of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) on earth and the theater wherein the Divine qualities are reflected, can reach felicity only by remaining faithful to his nature or by being truly himself. And this in turn implies that he must become integrated. Man is composed of body, mind, nafs and spirit, and each needs to be integrated on its own level. The integration of man means the realization of the One and the transmutation of the many in the light of the One. Integration and unity of man himself as well as of the whole humanity has always been the highest goal of Islam. It is also an essential part of basic Islamic belief of Tawhid.

The same concept has been highlighted by a Sufi poet as:” See but One, say but One, know but one, in this, the roots and branches of faith are summed up.”

The heart can not be healthy i.e. successful, righteous, contented, pleased, assured except by the worship of Allah Subhanahu WA Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)

Ta’aala (GOD), love of Him and repentance to Him as it has an inherent need for its Lord. According to the Holy Qur’an, the heart will remain restless until it rests in Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD):

“For sure it is in the remembrance of God that the heart finds rest,” (13:28)

May the spirit of Ramadan Illuminate the world and show us the way to peace and harmony.

“There is no heart that is not covered by a cloud just like a cloud covers the moon when it is shining, and so it suddenly goes dark, but when it (the cloud) goes away, it shines again [heart].”

The clouds are the sins that may come over ones heart and when the heart is covered it hides the brightness and restricts body from doing good deeds [Effects the actions of body, limbs, tongue]. When the heart becomes hardened then it becomes target for the shaytan, lusts, evil.

Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam :.Saw a woman embracing her child and holding him to her bosom, Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam 
 asked the Sahabas do you think this mother will ever throw her child into the fire. Sahaba said no. Such will be  Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) will be merciful to his servants for their repentance to Him. Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) is more happy to his servant when they ask for repentance then this women is to her child.
Hadith:
“The believers will be brought closer to  Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) on the Day of Judgment until it will be a one on one conversation with  Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).  Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) takes account of sins one after another. Allah shall shield you with kanafa (hide deed with) from other people. Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) tells the person you know you did this and this. The believer will admit to all the sins. Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)swt will say “I hid it from the people and on this day I shall forgive you.”

Repentance to be accepted one must:

 (1) stop committing sin,

(2)Regret and be sincere about repenting,

(3)Do good deeds and never do the sin again.

I loves you all for the sake of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

The pain of my heart will never by removed until I know I have been granted forgiveness, grated contentment byAllah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), and till I know I will be with the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam  in Jannah.

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........

        Feel free to Share the information here with everyone you know,

   And earn Sawab-e-Jariya...May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
              
              P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me.

Saturday 13 August 2011

High self-esteem comes with great responsibility to a Muslim


Inner voice

A Mo-min is more steadfast than a mountain because something can be taken out of a mountain but nothing can be confiscated from a Mo-min.

Not respecting oneself, is the same as committing suicide at a slow rate.
Self-respect can be an extension of your ego or a priceless virtue.
Remember, self-respect comes from an inner belief and not an egoistic feeling of superiority.
Self-respect is a fundamental for a great life. If we lack self-respect we will be insecure and strive to be someone we are not. To develop self-respect means to cultivate the self confidence to deal with whatever life throws at us.
One self-help site suggests that “you treat your self-respect like a pet. It is very easy to care for. Be sure to give it daily attention and it will grow big and strong.” Now, one might ask, “What’s wrong with respecting me? If I can’t express honor and admiration for myself, how can I show proper respect for other individuals?”

Clearly, from a religious perspective, self-esteem is invaluable.

But how do we distinguish between self-worth and arrogance (self-esteem, arrogance and pride).
Self-esteem is a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself, or simply self respect. 
Having a high self-esteem comes with great responsibility as a Muslim trying to live up to Islamic morals and attain high Islamic characteristics and behaviors.

Self-esteem is misunderstood as how one feels about him/herself based on their personal achievements, their beauty, their social status and the like, rather than basing it on how their thoughts and actions towards themselves and others are associated to making them feel good about themselves.

 It is narrated that Abu Dharr Radiyallaahu anhu once asked the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam whether it was arrogant for him to want nice things for himself, such as a well-constructed handle for his cane or a beautiful lace for his sandal.
The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam replied that this was not arrogance, but, rather, arrogance is when we consider our honor to be worthier than other people’s honor, or our blood to be worthier than other people’s blood.
He also cautioned that anyone with even a speck of arrogance in their heart would not enter Paradise without repenting first.
But despite these dire warnings, people often assume they are more entitled to the blessings of May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) – whether due to culture, nationality, language, wealth, social class, ancestry, profession, or educational level. Not only is such a way of thinking a grave sin, but it is also a false basis for self-worth.
Those who value themselves primarily on the basis of external factors – such as wealth – lack true self-worth since true self-worth must come from within.

There is a difference between high self-esteem, arrogance and pride.

Arrogance is a negative trait in which one thinks highly of oneself, compares oneself with others and believes he is better than others.  Arrogance is a false sense of self-worth.  It is when you think you are better than others based on what societies standards, – ‘I am wealthy so I am better than you’ or smarter, taller, prettier, etc.  There is a discrepancy between who they are and who they perceive themselves to be.  A truly grounded or healthy person has no need to be arrogant.

Pride can be both negative and positive; negative pride is the same as arrogance. Positive pride, on the other hand implies a sense of responsibility toward everything that you aim at doing that you try your best in whatever you does.  Taking pride in something is about trying to excel in what you do, to improve yourself, to make whatever you do better, to do your best; and to feel good when you have achieved that goal; in this sense it is similar to the concept of ihsan in Islamic terms.

Self-esteem can be negative (low/unhealthy) or positive (high/healthy); at the positive end of the spectrum it is a sense of feeling at peace with yourself when you have done the right thing in the best possible manner; when you have lived up to your expectations and according to your high values.  There is no discrepancy between who you are and who you believe to be.

However, at the negative/low end of the spectrum it manifests itself in two ways… either as a sense of worthlessness or the flip side of it, as arrogance.

High self-esteem is can be characterized by you being: tolerant, patient, respectful, responsible, honest, seeking to improve whatever you do (ihsan), self-motivated, willing to take risks, loving and lovable, kind, generous, helpful to others, and takes responsibility and control of their lives.

Low self-esteem can be characterized by behaviors that exhibit insecurity, victim mentality, weakness, lack of confidence and self-absorption; since worth is believed to be An external quality that comes to one if one possesses something, e.g. wealth, education, etc.  Low self-esteem is due to a discrepancy between the guiding self-ideal (How I would like to be) and the perceived self (how I am).  And it is to cover up the discrepancy that one acts arrogantly.

Losing worldly things can be particularly challenging for a person with low self-worth since it forces us to face our selves.

While some people are comfortable with their selves, others do whatever they can to avoid them – turning to television, music, intoxicants, or other distractions.

The self can be a source of pain, especially if someone suffers from self-hatred or is experiencing loss or grief.

Nevertheless, sometimes – for instance, during an illness – we are left with nothing but our selves and May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

If that does not happen to us in this world, it will definitely happen to us in the grave.

If we have a difficult relationship with our selves, those moments can be tortuous.

But if we have a peaceful relationship with our selves, these too can be times of calm; one is reminded of the stories of prophets,

Such as Prophet Ayyub (A.S), who lost everything but continued to praise and thank May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

In fact, sometimes being forced to abandon distractions can be a blessing in disguise since we are then forced to improve our relationship with our most constant companion, the self.

Of course, most of us pray we do not go through such times of trial.

How else can we work on improving low self-worth without going through calamity?

It is often helpful to pay attention to our “inner voice”.

Everyone has an inner voice (which, in the Islamic tradition, is referred to as the nafs al-lawwaama or critical self).


Frequently, our inner voice gives us good advice.

 “Get up or you’ll be late! Do your house/garden/ homework! Do your Salat!”

 This advice is helpful because it is based on reality.

 If we don’t get up on time, we will be late.

However, sometimes this voice gets confused and, instead, mimics negative – and, most importantly, untrue – messages we may have heard sometime in our lives.

 Instead of telling us useful things, it tells us how worthless or shameful we are. If we fail an exam, it might say:,

“Of course you failed; you’re too stupid to do anything” (a negative message)

Instead of “Next time you need to study harder and go to a tutor” (a positive message and don't forget to ask May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

Ibn Mas’ud Radiyallaahu anhu relates that the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam said,

“If anyone is in need and asks people to meet it, he will not be permanently relieved of his trouble.

But if he asks May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) for help, he will soon be relieved or he will meet his death if the appointed time is at hand or

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) will give him prosperity some time later.”).

Islam has blessed man with human dignity and self-respect by telling him to ask for anything he needs only from Allah the Exalted.

The hadith under study also encourages man to present all his needs and troubles to May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) alone, for only He is the Reliever of those
Who are in trouble and Provider of all their needs?

The supplication of Prophet Moses A.S. as recorded in the Holy Qur'an (28:24): “O my Lord! Truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that Thou dost send me.” –
-Continues to be a true guide for the believers till the Last Day. The Qur'an also mentions that May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) did give him good support.

One who looks to others for relief, in fact, loses his dignity and self-respect, and as such can get but only some temporary relief.

He will continue to beg all his life from the people who are not so large-hearted as to meet his needs or so generous as to relieve him from the indignity of begging.

So his self-respect will certainly get injured. And when he has no self-respect, why should May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) save him from indignity. But if he turns to May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) at the time of need, he will soon be relieved.

The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) said,

“I swear about three things, no wealth is reduced on account of charity, that if anyone is wronged and he bears it patiently then May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) will add to his self-respect and thirdly that if one becomes used to begging, May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) opens the door of poverty on him.”

 Despite what the voice may say, no one is intrinsically stupid or ugly or unlovable.

Hence, a malfunctioning inner voice needs to be reprogrammed to provide positive and useful messages.

One useful tool for this in the ethical toolbox is muhasabah, or daily self-reflection.

In addition to reflecting on our deeds, we can also reflect on our inner voice – was it giving us positive advice? Or was it dragging us down?

If so, how can we guide it to saying more useful things the next day? Bit by bit, the voice can be retrained.

Positively contribute to your community. This involves helping others whenever and wherever possible and also positively contributing by being kind, compassionate and

-Generous – to you as well. Be selfless and expect nothing in return. Help an elderly person with their grocery bags; hold the door open for a stranger, volunteer for non-

-profit organizations, recognize opportunities to assist and offer your services. Proactively focusing on your own personal self growth is also a positive contribution to

-Society – personal development leads to greater self awareness which ultimately helps you connect and help with other people and when we focus on helping other -people, our personal problems melt away in comparison to the collective needs of our world and it feels good to know we are making a positive difference.

The reality is that loving your neighbor as you begins with you. You must love and value yourself if you are to love others.

You have to respect yourself and acknowledge your own self-worth. You must take care of yourself so that you can love and help your neighbor.

Suppose that you are the only adult caring for a group of young children. You raise all your food and only have a small amount. At mealtime, in an effort to take good care

-of the children, you give them most of the food and you eat very little. Over time you become weaker and weaker, but you keep feeding the children the same amount.

Eventually when you are too weak to work, who will feed the children? No one! Now all will perish because you neglected yourself. What should you do? You should eat –

-The same as or perhaps more than the children to keep your strength up and ensure that you can continue to care for them. Don’t neglect others by neglecting yourself.

Love yourself and then you can love your neighbor. Don’t lose your self-worth. Each day make sure that you take care of yourself so that you will be able to take care of your neighbor.
Does this make you selfish? No. It makes you responsible. 

Islam imposes strict discipline of good behavior and conduct on its followers.

The maintenance of one's dignity and self respect is an important quality in a man.

It is required on every turn and aspect of life; without it a feeling of inferiority exists, no one pays attention to what such a man says nor do they respect a man who does

Not know to respect him. Islam expects a man to present the highest example of good morality and manners. As long as Muslims maintained firm faith and discipline,

They did not lose their sense of self respect.

Self respect is different from vanity. It is the name given to the quality through which a man learns to respect himself so that he does not stoop to anything low. When a

Self respecting man comes across evil, he passes by untouched. The evil ones do not have enough courage to even touch him.

Dignified and good behavior is the essence of one's morality, faith and self respect.

Beggary is strongly condemned in Islam as this is a negation of self respect.

Even asking for help in the daily matters is not allowed, until necessary.

The sense of self-worth which emerges from faith transcends individual value since, rather than coming from the human, it comes from the Divine.

By focusing inward, each and every human being can connect with the inner source of peace, happiness, comfort, care, hope, and light that characterizes our link with Allah.

Despite whatever physical or emotional pain we may be feeling, this “eye of the storm” reminds us that we matter to May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

Even if no one else seems to care about us, He does, and experiencing His love towards us teaches us to value ourselves. Ultimately, faith and dignity are strongly linked – for instance, it is narrated that the believer would suffer everything except indignity – and so true faith can bring the deepest sense of self-worth.

Anyone can work on their inner voice – regardless of their level of faith. However, faith adds an entirely new dimension to our sense of self-worth.

Simply existing should be enough for us to acknowledge our inherent worth.
Despite modern advances in technology, we still cannot control life and death, as any childless couple who wants children knows.

We exist because Allah willed for us to exist, and we have a purpose in life because He does not create aimlessly. As his representative (Khalifa) on earth who has accepted His trust (Amana), we hold an esteemed position.

In fact, self-worth is generally linked to control over one’s desires; as is narrated from Imam Ali Radiyallaahu anhu: “When someone maintains his own respect in his own view, his desires appear light to him

The basic elements of good behavior are included in Islamic teachings: Behave with modesty, politeness, courtesy; don't insult others, don't back-bite, don't hurl abuses, don't be arrogant or proud, don't cheat etc.

Good behavior is highly recommended in the Islam religion Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam: ''Good behavior is a virtue.''

When asked for which qualities will more people be placed in heaven, he answered: ''Fear of God and good behavior’’?

Good behavior is referred to as Akhlaq-e-Hamida in Islam.

- It is narrated from Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam: One who has three characters has attained all the qualities of Faith: when he is happy, his happiness does not attract him toward untruth; in time of anger, his anger does not drive him out of the truth; and when he gets power, he does not exceed his limits.

One tip to boost self esteem: look down. Society wants you to crave more, to look at people who have more of the dunya than you and to chase their life. Instead, we should look at those who have less of the dunya, those who don't have the blessings and abilities that we have. Be grateful for what Allah has given you and use it in His way.

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) has created much in our world that we have to be thankful for and much that soothes our senses, whether it is the beauty of the open sky, the vast the ocean, the light of the harvest moon, the small hands and feet of a newborn baby or the reflection of love or friendship in the eyes of another human being.
All this and more are not created by us but by May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) and they are evidence that He is there and is Magnificent.
The beauty that May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) created is humbling and empowering for us at the same time. It is empowering because it is a reminder to us of his Greatness, as he is our Protector and humbling because it also reminds us of our duty that we must do our best as caliphs on earth to protect his Creation and respect and to help one another

May the spirit of Ramadan
Illuminate the world and show us the way to peace and harmony.

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........

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