The intelligent are those who protect themselves against the evil

I Seek refuge in Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), from the Shaitan.

      In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

   

"...The life of this world is nothing but an illusion."

[Al-Hadeed - 57:20]

This is a story was once told to me and I thought of sharing this here.

          “A man saw in his dream, that a lion was chasing him.

The man ran to a tree, climbed on to it and sat on a branch.

He looked down and saw that the lion was still there waiting for him.

The man then looked to his side where the branch he was sitting on was attached to the tree and saw that two rats were circling around and eating the branch.

One rat was black and the other one was white.

The branch would fall on the ground very soon.

The man then looked below again with fear and discovered that a big black snake had come and settled directly under him.

The snake opened its mouth right under the man so that he will fall into it.

The man then looked up to see if there was anything that he could hold on to.

He saw another branch with a honeycomb.

Drops of honey were falling from it.

The man wanted to taste the honey. He drank one drop.

The honey was very sweet in taste.

So, he wanted to taste another drop, then another and then another.

As a result, he got lost into the sweetness of the honey.

Meanwhile, he forgot about the two rats eating his branch away, the lion on the ground and the snake that is sitting right under him.

After a while, he woke up from his sleep.

To get the meaning behind this dream, the man went to a pious scholar of Islam.

The scholar said "The lion you saw is your DEATH.

 It always chases you and goes where ever you go.

The two rats, one black and one white, are the NIGHT and DAY.

Black one is the NIGHT and the White one is the DAY.

They circle around, coming one after another, to eat your time as they take you closer to death.

 The big black snake with a dark mouth is your GRAVE.

 It's there, just waiting for you to fall into it.

"...The life of this world is nothing but an illusion."

[Al-Hadeed - 57:20]

"With firm words, Allah makes the believers steadfast in the life of this world

And in the hereafter; and Allah lets the wrongdoers go astray.

Allah does what He pleases."

[Ibrahim - 14:27]

"You are running for the world to earn things from the world but you are not going to.

 If you are not making Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) happy with you then the world is not going to give you the best of it.

It's going to give you only the headaches of it

And the burdens of it because the world has also been ordered by the Creator Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) that,

"Those who run after you, run away from them.

Man wastes his lifetime running after something which has no effect on anything except that he ruins his hereafter.

 A believer is he who believes that nothing can happen without the Will of Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

Therefore, his objective becomes to gain Allah's pleasure and not to run after this Dunya (World).

No material possession can benefit or harm anyone if it is not desired by Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

The principles say: Fire does not burn if Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)'s Will is there.

Cure comes from Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), not from the doctor or the medicines. Nor does anyone die without His Will.

Therefore, a Believer's trust should be on nothing and nothing but Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) alone, consequently Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says:

"..Allah is all sufficient for the person who puts his trust in Him..." [At-Talaaq - 65:3].

The honeycomb is this WORLD and the sweet honey is the LUXURIES of this world.

We like to taste a drop of the luxuries of this world and it's very sweet.

Then we taste another drop and then another.

 Meanwhile, we get lost into this world and forget about our TIME, our DEATH and our GRAVES."

It is in Hadith - Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri R.A. the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said,

 "When the funeral is ready (for its burial) and the people lift it on their shoulders,

Then if the deceased is a righteous person he says, 'Take me ahead,'

And if he is not a righteous one, then he says, 'Woe to it (me)!

Where are you taking it (me)?

‘And his voice is audible to everything except human beings;

And if they heard it they would fall down unconscious." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 462).

"Race to forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden whose breadth is

Like the breadth of the Heaven and the Earth" (57:21)

The intelligent are those who protect themselves against the evil of

This punishment before it is too late. They know with certainty that

Sooner or later this day will come and maybe without any warning.

When it does, they will leave behind everything and move to another world.   Only there will they feel regret, but regret then will not

Do them any good.  In that place, only good actions will be of any use. 

They alone will be useful currency on that Critical day.

The Grave is an embrace from which neither believer or unbeliever can escape.

Our souls stay in the Barzakh and visit the grave regularly for rewards or punishments. 

Afterwards, our journey continues and the believer is relieved of its pressure while the unbelievers remain in punishment.

       

We have made all that is on earth an ornament thereof that we may test them: which of them is best in conduct. Verily, We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound. (18:7-8)

Naught is the light of the world save a pastime, a sport. (6:32)

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) wake us up from the sleep and save us before it's TOO LATE?

Oh how difficult to be in this world and work, But not for the world but for the pleasure of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

May we keep our hearts for Him?

          If I said anything correct, then it is from Allah (subhanahu WA Ta’aala),

      And if I erred, then that is from me and Shaitan.

May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make us from the Companions of His Book and unite us with His righteous slaves in the highest gardens of Paradise. Amen.

May Allah Subhana wata`aalaa grant us what is best in this world and the next!

Action speaks louder then words my friend’s practice Islam the way of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) did.

 May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him?

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

         P.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...

PERFORM ISTIKHARA (-Such a powerful tool.)

“Humility is to leave your home and not to meet ANYONE except that you believe him to be better than you.” ~Imam Hassan Al-Basri

“The Three Abandoned Prayers”. In it, the author discusses three prayers that have been largely underused by many Muslims, but which hold great power.
They were Salat-ut-Tawbah (The Salah of Repentance), Salat-ul-Istikhara (The Salah of Seeking A God-Guided Outcome in Times of Decision),
Salat-ul-Tasbih (The Salah of Glorification of God).
No doubt, many of us have been heedless of these powerful tools for growing in our closeness to Allah, but one in particular which is important to re-think is Istikhara.

....The Abandoned Prayer....
....Salat-ul-Istikhara.......

The procedure for this Salah is best described by the hadith:

On the authority of Jabber Ibn ‘Abdullah he said: The Prophet (S) would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a chapter from the
 Quran. He (S) would say ‘if any of you intends to undertake a mater then let him pray two supererogatory units (two rak’ah naafilah) of prayer and after which he should supplicate:

‘O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and by Your power I seek strength and I ask You from Your immense favor, for verily You are able while I am not and verily
You know while I do not and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know this affair -and here he mentions his need- to be good for me in relation to my religion,
 my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it, and if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my life, and end, then remove it
from me and remove me from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with such.’

Such a powerful tool we have been given, to admit our complete lack of knowledge, power, ability, and sight, and the absolute dominance of Allah (swt) in all these abilities.
Such a great and mighty prayer, comprehensive in its outlook, its span of time, and its effect on our lives. Balanced within this world and the Hereafter. Something which
 only Divine Guidance could have brought us.

Many of us use this prayer, rightfully, to seek Allah’s assistance in making decisions concerning school, getting a job, getting married, going to Hajj, or maybe even
choosing a house. Unfortunately though, we have relegated one of the most powerful duas available, to only the most important decisions.

What we don’t realize however is that this prayer need not only be for the most important, crucial decisions in our lives. Why do those who are in Islamic Work, not use
 this prayer when making decisions in the organization? Why not use it when making difficult choices at work? For a specific project choice or topic choice for a paper in
 school? Why do we not use it every time we say: “Ya Allah…I wish you would just me what is best for me!” or “Ya Allah! I wish you would just show me what to do!”

So many decisions to make. So many decisions at workplaces. But in these decisions, we don’t remember that much of our worry can be removed by leaving the decision
to Allah (swt).

What made the Companions the unique Quranic generation was that their entire thought process revolved around the Quran and around supplication to Allah swt .They  relegated to Allah and His Messenger, every decision in their lives, after putting forth an intelligent and sincere effort at solving their problems.
As the Prophet said:  “Ad-Dua mukh-ul-’ibaadah”.
"Supplication is the essence of worship".

Anytime a Muslim is making a decision, he or she should seek Allah's guidance and wisdom. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive
as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.

If you are ambivalent or unsure about a decision you have to make, there is a specific prayer for guidance (Salat-l-Istikhara) that you can do to ask for Allah's help in making your decision.

 Should you marry this certain person? Should you attend this graduate school? Should you take this job offer or that one? Allah knows what is best for you, and if you are not sure  about a choice that you have, seek His guidance.

According to Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 263:

Narrated Jabber bin 'Abdullah (R.A).: The Prophet (Sallal Laho Alaihi Wasallam) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara, in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Quran.
 He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any action he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer):

"Istikhara" means to seek goodness from Allah (Exalted is He), meaning when one intends to do an important task they do istikhara before the task.

The one who does the istikhara is asking Allah Almighty, the Knower of Unseen (Exalted is He) to guide him or her to know whether the task is better for him or not.

Salat al-Istikhara is a powerful tool that Allah has given us to ask His guidance in all matters. We should not hesitate to pray Istikhara before making any choice in our lives, big or small.

It's important to do this prayer with sincerity, knowing in our hearts that only Allah can give us the guidance we seek, and resolved to follow the guidance He gives us, even if it clashes with our own desires.

We should also say the duas with firm conviction, not begging or pleading, but asking Allah clearly for guidance.

And we should not be impatient after our dua. We do not put Allah on a timetable. We say our prayers and trust that Allah has heard us and will answer us in the way that is best.

The Prophet (SAW) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters
as he taught us the Suras of the Quran. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any work he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say
(after the prayer):
 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as'alaka min fadlika al-'azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu,
 Wa anta 'allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta'lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa'ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma
 barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri (or fi'ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu
kana Thumma ardini bihi.

(O Allah! I ask guidance from your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for your great blessings. You are capable and I am not.
You know and I do not and you know the unseen. O Allah! If you know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter... (Or said: If it is better  for my present and later needs). Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my
 religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter... (Or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs). Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain  for me whatever is good for me, and make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.

WAY TO PERFORM ISTIKHARA:
First pray Two Cycles (raka') of ritual Prayer (nafil) such that in the first raka' after Surah Fatiha (Allhamd"¦) recite Surah al-Kafirun (Chapter 109)
and in the second raka' after Fatiha (Allhamd"¦)
 recite Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112). After finishing prayer recite  (supplication/dua'): Dua .

How many times?
It depends. Sometimes it takes only once to get the answer and sometimes it takes longer. It is better to do istakhara seven (7) times. If you have received an answer,
you may stop doing istikhara. You do not have to continue to do istikhara for 7 days. It is better that right after reciting the supplication, given above, sleep with ablution
(people who cannot keep the ablution for longer times due to health problems do not have to worry about ablution before falling asleep) facing the direction of the Qiblah
(facing the Qiblah is not required but it is a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Peace Be Upon Him). It is better to recite salutations (durood/ salawat) on the Prophet of Allah.
 Grace and Peace is upon him before and after the above Dua (supplication).

When one is not clear about the result of the istikhara, the fuqaha mention that it is recommend to repeat it, up to seven times if necessary (usually done on separate occasions). 

It is not necessary that you get a dream or even a "feeling." Rather, the istikhara is a prayer that Allah guide you towards that which is best (khayr) for you. If you do the prayer of  guidance (istikhara) with the proper manners, the most important of which is to truly consign the matter to Allah and suspend your own inclinations, then Allah will make events unfold  in the direction that is the best for your worldly and next-worldly affairs.

In general, when it is not possible to perform the istikhara prayer itself (such as when one is out on the road, or in one's menstrual period), it is recommended to simply
 read the dua itself.

The istikhara prayer may be made for a specific matter or be made for a general seeking of all that is best. Some scholars including Ibn `Arafah before him saw this kind of
istikhara prayer as being superior. Others, including Sheikh Ibn al-Arabi, recommended performing a general istikhara prayer for all that is good every day, ideally at the
 time of the Duha prayer (after sunrise).

Imam al-Nawawi mentioned that before the istikhara prayer, one should seek advice (istikhara) from those whose knowledge, wisdom, and concern one is confident.
 Ibn Hajar al-Haytami and others mentioned that one of the benefits of this is to further distance oneself from the desires of one's own egotistic inclinations.

It is recommended to open the dua of istikhara [below], with praise of Allah and sending blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace), and to close it in this
manner, too.

Like other duas, it is recommended that one face the Qiblah.

It is disliked to 'hasten' in seeking the answer to one's istikhara, like other duas, because the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said,
"Your prayers are answered, unless you hasten, saying, 'I prayed, but no answer came.'"

One should be pleased with what Allah chooses for one, and not seek to follow one's whims after the answer to one's supplication becomes clear.

.....Sufyan b. ‘Uyainah– Allah has mercy on him – said:
"The first step in knowledge is to listen, then to be quiet and attentive, then to preserve it, then to put it into practice and then to spread it " .

Have fun praying and getting ready for the Day of Judgment coz that day will NOT be fun :) P.S.: don’t forget to make dua for me. !!