We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. [Al-Hujurat: 14].
Need to reach a higher level of faith than Islam. This level is more theoretical than the first level of Islam. In the first level, Islam, a person is saved by worshipping Allah ( God) through actions.
Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof.
Need to reach a higher level of faith than Islam, which is Iman.
For those who are more ambitious to be closer to Allah (God), and to gain a higher level of his rewards, they need to reach a higher level of faith than Islam, which is Iman.
Iman, more faith is needed. A deeper degree of acknowledgement is required. This includes a belief in Allah (God) and what He said. He informed us in His Book, the Holy Qur'an, that He has angels, He sent previous Books to humanity, delivered through previous messengers.
Thus, a person reaching Iman (a Mu_min) believes that not only Allah (God) exists but He is capable of doing anything He wants. A Mu_min believes in everything God told in the Holy Qur'an. He/she believes that there are other intelligent creations of God than human beings, particularly angels. Among these are Jibril (Gabriel, the medium between God and His human messengers), Mikhail (Michael, the angel of sustenance), Azrail (angel of death), Israfil (angel of the Trumpet), Radhwan (custodian of Paradise), Malik (custodian of the Hellfire), Raqeeb and 'Ateed (the angels who keep records for our good deeds and bad deeds), and Nakir, and Nakir (the angels who question a human being briefly after death). A Mu_min is a person who believes that these angels exist and we are affected by them.
There are three levels of faith a person can attain. The first level is Islam. Prophet Muhammad, (sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam). Explained it as observing the five major obligations (the adhering to which creates an Islamic structure, as these obligations constitute the pillars of Islam's structure). Every child is born knowing that his or her Lord is Only One, Allah, regardless of what faith his or her parents may practice. But just because a child is born with this fitra, or natural belief, does not necessarily mean that the child will grow up to be what truly makes a person Muslim, which is ones iman. A Muslim must have belief and iman in the following:
1) One must belief in Allah as One Allah (God) without any partners and without denying His Names and Attributes and without directing any form of worship to any other than Allah.
2) One must believe in all of Allah’s noble angels without doubt and without associating any non-Islamic belief regarding them, such as them being females or human-like.
3) To be considered a believer, one must have faith in all of Allah’s chosen messengers and prophets, named and unnamed without attributing to them any falsehoods or flaws.
4) One must have faith in the Divine Scriptures, but taking only the Quran as the one true guidance, preserved by Allah for all of eternity and for all of mankind.
5) One of the most important beliefs, which illustrate the purpose of life, is the belief in the Hereafter without denying any of the events told in the Quran or by the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).
6) Finally, one must believe in Divine Preordainment, more commonly known as fate or destiny. One must believe that Allah has knowledge of the future and that everything has been preordained with its due measure.
When a person accepts the above beliefs with his heart and affirms it with his tongue, he is considered as one who has iman. Iman requires acknowledgement of these beliefs through action. The Quran constantly connects ones iman with ones deeds in the phrase, Inna ladhina amanu wa amilusalihaat, which translates to those who believe and do good deeds. It is the actions a person chooses to do that both increase the iman and act as evidence of ones iman or decreases it and proves the weakness of the iman.
There are three main causes for the decrease in ones iman. A persons iman is sure to take a fall when he loses certainty in the above six beliefs. These beliefs when properly settled into the heart play an important role in a believer’s life. When a person says, performs, or believes something, which is Islamic’ ally known as kufr (disbelief), their iman will be affected in a very negative way. And the final reasons for the down fall of iman is performing any type of shirk. These three things all lead to sin, which is what prevents the iman from increasing.
It is a duty of every Muslim to keep his or her iman in check. This means one must constantly guard his or her iman and observe whether it has increased or decreased and for what causes. If it has decreased, one must work to increase it before it falls low enough to destroy the heart. There are many ways to increases ones iman and it involves increasing in righteous deeds and refraining from sins, as well as staying away from sinful activities and people who encourage such activities.
The Holy Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam) said, Iman wears out in ones heart just as the clothes (one wears) wears out. Therefore, ask Allah to renew iman in your hearts. Unfortunately, iman will not increase by only making dua and asking Allah to increase it, but it also takes effort from the believer. Allah states:
Lo! Allah does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change that which is in their hearts. (Surat ar-Rad 13:11)
In His commands, Allah Almighty says,
The Bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. [Al-Hujurat: 14].
Based on this, scholars consider Iman as the inward deeds, while Islam is the outward actions. This is because Iman principally is the belief instilled in one's heart and Islam is to submit one's senses to it.
Therefore, the true Muslim is not reluctant in submitting himself in humiliation to Allah obeying His commands, hastening to fulfill the obligations of Islam, abandoning its prohibitions and believing that what Allah commanded us to do is in our best interest and what He prohibited entails evil.
Iman includes verbal deeds, actions and strong belief: the heart and tongue admit with faith while the heart and senses work for it. Verbal deeds include remembering Allah [Dhikr], reading Qur'an, supplicating Allah, enjoining what is good and urging others to do it, forbidding what is evil and warning others against it, teaching and guiding those who go astray to the right path, sending or answering back greetings and the like
A Mu_min believes that this life is a test, in which all our deeds and activities are recorded by angels. We will be held accountable for the entire test when we meet our Creator in the Day of Judgment. So, the belief in the Last Day is an acknowledgement of accountability and reckoning. It is an incentive for people to do well in this life in order to be rewarded in Paradise, and a warning against doing bad in order to avoid punishment in the Hellfire.
Finally, a Mu_min believes in Al-Qada wal Qadar, or divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof. This is a belief in the ability of Allah, praise to him, to predict our behavior.
And remember this blessed is he who speaks a kindness;
Thrice blessed is he who repeats it.
…….True servants of the Most Merciful Allah….
The true servants of the Most Merciful are those who behave gently and with humility on earth, and whenever the foolish quarrel with them, they reply with [words of] peace.’
(Al-Furqan 25: 63)
May Allah 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 swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .Ameen
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Sunday, 6 February 2011
The most generous is he who fulfills that which Allah (SWT) has deemed obligatory upon him.
Has somebody gone out of his or her way to do something special for you? Did you like it?
How about doing it for others.
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:” Unquestionably, in the body there is a lump of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt, and behold, it is the heart.” [Bukhari and Muslim] Countless scholars of Islam have dedicated books upon books to reformation and purification of the heart because it is the key to success or destruction. Just as doctors today tell us that having a healthy heart is the key to having a healthy body, the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) conveys to us that having a good heart is the key to righteousness. Anas (radiyallaahu anhu) narrated that asking for a firm and obedient heart was one of the constant Supplications of the Prophet (alayhi wa salaam); and one narration from Umm Salamah (radiyallaahu anha) states that this was the Du’aa he made the most. This du’aa is:” Allahumma ya Muqallib al Quloob thabbit qalbi ‘alaa Deenik,” “O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your Religion.”
Allah (SWT), the Wise, has said in the Noble Qur'an: "Then as for him who gives away and guards (against evil), and accepts the best, we will facilitate for him the easy end." Surat ul Layl (92:5-7)
The Noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Nothing shall ensure the welfare (and interests) of your religion except generosity and good disposition."
The Noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam) said: "The most generous is he who fulfills that which Allah (SWT) has deemed obligatory upon him."
Jabber ibn Abdullah Ansari narrated the Noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam) never disappointed anyone who asked for his help.
Whenever the Noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) received anything, he did not sit in peace until it was finished. Umm al-Muminin Umm Salamah, reported that one day the Noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam) came home looking disturbed. She asked him what the matter was. The Noble Prophet Muhammad (saw) replied that the seven dinars he had received the day before had remained on the bed until evening and had not been distributed. He did not rest until they were given away.
There are many, many ways to be generous, reaping the personal benefits of generosity while helping others. Among these are:
Brothers and sisters give generously–.
Helping someone in need may take just a few minutes but will pay big dividends.
Small or elderly shoppers often have difficulty reaching items on upper shelves or carrying large items.
Offer a hand to help. Those shopping with small children have similar difficulties and will appreciate a helping hand.
Skills that come easily to you may be very difficult for someone you know.
Dealing with shopping/filling forms may be routine for you, but overwhelming to others.
Generously Show Appreciation – Taking positive action to appreciate those who have made a positive impact on your life has been shown to be a very effective way to increase one's happiness. Write a letter of appreciation and personally deliver it.
Random Acts of Kindness – Set a personal goal of doing one act of kindness each day, whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Setting this intention will keep your subconscious on the lookout for opportunities.
Generosity with Love – Love is an inexhaustible resource available to everyone. Expressing love for other people, even strangers, can be as simple as freely offering smiles and accepting others as worthwhile human beings regardless of differences in appearance, beliefs, and behaviors.
Kindness: with words.
The words you say mean nothing, it is the way you say them means everything.
"The six most important words: I admit I made a mistake.
The five most important words: You did a good job.
The four most important words: What is YOUR opinion?
The three most important words: If you please.
The two most important words: Thank You.
The one most important word: We. The least important word: I.”
Greater happiness is easily and quickly available by simple and inexpensive acts of being generous and kind. Devoting a week of personal growth to generosity and kindness will provide a week of greater happiness while also being helpful to others.
........learn this du’aa.......
"Oh Allah, you are my Lord, there is no God besides You. You created me, and I am your slave, and I am trying to keep to the covenant and my
Promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in you from the evil I have done. I acknowledge before you all your favour upon me, and I acknowledge all of my sins. So forgive me, for there is none who can forgive sins besides you." Amen.
This is a du’aa of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi WA sallam), known as the best du’aa for seeking forgiveness.
Whoever says it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of
Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.
Sahih Al-Bukhari.
And remember this blessed is he who speaks a kindness;
Thrice blessed is he who repeats it.
…….True servants of the Most Merciful Allah….
The true servants of the Most Merciful are those who behave gently and with humility on earth, and whenever the foolish quarrel with them, they reply with [words of] peace.’
(Al-Furqan 25: 63)
May Allah 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 swt 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...
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Why some people say Ameen loudly or silently?
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
Why some people say Ameen loudly or silently?
Does it matter?
What is the hadith?
Meaning of Ameen:
It can be many things
Verily", "Truly", "So be it", and "Let it be”.” I agree," or "Well said."
Since there's no mention of the use of the term "Ameen" in the Quran, it shouldn't be used. It's true that the Quran does not say anything about it. But at the same time, the simple ideology of 'Ameen' is not against the values of the Quran. On the contrary, it's much in accordance with it.
It is not part of the Qur’an by general agreement, but it is a Sunnah to conclude the Surah with it per his statement (upon him blessings and peace): “Jib reel taught me to say Ameen once I finished reciting the Fatiha”
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ascended the minbar and said: “Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.” It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you ascended the member and said, ‘Ameen, Ameen, and Ameen.” He said: “Jib reel (peace be upon him) came to me and said: ‘If Ramadan comes and a person is not forgiven, he will enter Hell and Allah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen. He said: ‘O Muhammad, if both or one of a person’s parents are alive and he does not honour them and he dies, he will enter Hell and Allah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen. He said: ‘If you are mentioned in a person’s presence and he does not send blessings upon you and he dies, he will enter Hell and Allah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen.”
Ameen should be said whenever one reads Surah Fatiha and also when one hears another person read it.
Imam Bukhari (RA) has narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said
“When a person says Ameen the angels also say Ameen and if his Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels his previous sins will be forgiven”
(Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith No.781)
In the narration of Muslim it is stated
“When the recite Ameen then say Ameen….”
The first Hadith shows that Ameen should be said when reciting Surah Fatiha whether in Salah or not and the second one shows that Ameen should be said when hearing the Surah whether in Salah or not.
The meaning of Ameen is “O Allah accept!” so whenever Surah Fatiha is recited or heard Ameen should be said, also during duas Ameen should be said with conviction.
“Jib reel taught me to say Ameen at the end of Fatiha and he said it is like the seal for a letter”
The word said after prayers having the meaning “so be it”, “accept our prayers”, “it is extremely true”. It is especially said after the Fatiha in prayers. It is one of the words accepted as verbal-noun verbs in Arabic. The word is considered to be in Hebrew. Because, Jews and Christians who use that word as “amen” express that word originates from the Syriac word “Amin”. Although that word is recited in prayers, it is known that it does not take place in Qur’an. The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi WA salaam) has especially commended to say “amen” after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha. As follows: “You say “Ameen” after the prayer- leader finishes the Fatiha and says Ameen. If a person’s saying “Ameen” at that time coincides with the angels’ saying “Ameen”, his previous sins are forgiven.” (Muslim),
Saying “Ameen” after the recitation of Al-Fatiha
Should the congregation say “Amen” silently or loudly after the prayer-leader recites the Al-Fatiha?
Angel's saying, 'Ameen'
The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, 'The Dua of a person for his Muslim brother in his absence will be answered. At his head there is an angel, and every time he prays for him for something good, the angel who has been appointed to be with him, says, 'Ameen, may you have likewise.'
In light of this Hadith, two kinds of people achieve the merit of the Angel's saying, 'Ameen' First are those absent Muslims for whom the supplication is performed because the Angel says, 'Ameen' for such a supplication, which means, 'O Allah, accept this Dua for the absent Muslim.' The second category of people contains those people who supplicate for the absent Muslims because the Angel says, 'and for you too' after, 'Ameen,' meaning may Allah grant you the same.
The excellence of supplicating for the absent Muslims is mentioned in this Hadith. This merit will be achieved even if one were to supplicate for a group of Muslims. Also, if one supplicates for the whole Muslim Ummah, he will have achieved the same advantage, as is known from the apparent meaning of the Hadith.
What are the practices of the Messenger of Allah in that issue?
…. We were ordered to say “Ameen”…...
The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi WA salaam) especially ordered to say “amen” after the recitation of Al-Fatiha in the prayer.
As follows: “You say “amen” after the prayer- leader finishes the Fatiha and says amen. When the imam says Amen, the one who’s Amen coincides with the Amen of angels; his previous wrong actions are forgiven. (Muslim)...
According to those hadiths, saying “amen” after the Fatiha in prayers is a Sunnah (acts and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi WA salaam). it is Sunnah for the prayer-leader and the congregation to say “amen” silently; and according to Imam Shafi’ and Ahmad b. Hanbal, it is a Sunnah to say it loudly with the prayer-leader.
True servants of the Most Merciful Allah
The true servants of the Most Merciful are those who behave gently and with humility on earth, and whenever the foolish quarrel with them, they reply with [words of] peace.’
(Al-Furqan 25: 63)
May Allah 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 swt 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...
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Every child is created in the state of fitrah
“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise,
I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine,
but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafi
What is fitrah?
“Every child is created in the state of fitrah, it is the parents, culture, and society that make him a Christian, a Jew, or a fire-worshipper.”
only a God-centred religion is real and in harmony with man's nature. But this truth does not occur to him until the hour of crisis and peril
is upon him. A man may have any religion, or any material props he chooses, but, in moments of real crisis, it is to God that he calls out for help.
Such an experience, which we all go through at one time or another in our lives, is a clear indication that the God-centred religion is the
only true one. As such, it should pervade man's entire existence. Any religion other than this will fail him in his hour of need,
in the Hereafter, just as ordinary, everyday means of support so often do in moments of crisis in this world.
Man makes his own destiny: awaiting him the final judgement to be rewarded or punished.
In Islam’s view, God created two distinct species: namely, humankind and the jinn. The former was created from clay and the latter from fire.
The descent of Adam and Eve due to their eating from the forbidden tree as a consequence of Satan’s deception- a story already occurring
in the Judeo-Christian tradition- is related in the Qur’an. However, the Christian doctrine of original sin is not affirmed, as God accepted the
repentance of Adam and Eve and made mankind His vicegerents on earth. To quote from the Qur`an:
“When your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am setting on earth a vice-regent,’ they said, ‘Will you place therein one who will act corruptly in it and shed
blood, while we extol Your praise and sanctify You?” (2:30)
Thus, the angels protested to God against man’s creation, but lost in a competition of knowledge against Adam, who was taught the names of
all things. The Qur`an declares man to be the finest of all creatures and he willingly bore the trust which the heavens and the earth refused to bear.
All of creation was subjected to man, who by virtue of the rational faculty with which he was endowed, was enjoined to, and entrusted with,
the development of civilization. In such endeavor he may be, either righteous or corrupt, a monotheist or an unbeliever.
As the Qur`an affirms, there is no compulsion in faith and religion; in other words, faith belongs to the domain of individual freedom and choice.
Moreover, life and existence were not created in vain, but were brought into being so that God is obeyed and worshipped.
Thus, Islam is profoundly teleological while affirming theodicy in creation.
It must be noted that Islam views human nature as fallible and faltering- that man is oppressive and prone to ignorance- despite his lofty station
in the universe. By contrast to angels who are instinctively obedient to God, man is inclined to error. Pride is the cardinal sin of man- a sin which
detracts man from submission to a unique God, and which makes him ascribe partners to Him. In Islam, the most heinous of transgressions is
shirk or polytheism.
Knowledge, it must be mentioned, is essential for man shouldering the responsibility of vice-regency on earth.
To reiterate a point earlier made, the Qur`an emphasizes knowledge of the physical universe as a means to fulfilling the purpose of God in
creation, namely, worshipping and obeying the Creator. The following two quotations from the Qur`an are illustrative:
“Have they not seen that We lead the water to the parched land, so that We bring forth crops from which their cattle and themselves can eat?
Do they not perceive?” (32:27)
“It is He who has spread out the earth, and He placed in it mountains and rivers, and of every fruit He has made parts therein.
He covers the night with the day. Surely in that are signs for a people who ponder. And in the earth are tracts neighboring one another,
and gardens of grapes, and plantations, and palm-trees of one root and of different roots, watered by the same water.
And We distinguish in produce some of them above others. Surely in that are signs for a people who comprehend”. (13:3,4)
man comes into the world with a pure and wholesome nature. Whereas sin and corruption in human being are merely accidental
and violation of his original nature. The role of prophets and the scriptures is just to help human nature to flow in its true channel and to
guide human nature to its ultimate goal of eternal felicity. This Qur’anic theory of human nature also implies the fact that if man consciously
decides to submit himself to the will of Allah, he experiences no conflict in his personality. (10:62) while, on the other hand, if he misuses
his freedom of choice by denying God and not submitting to His will, would be in a state of inner conflict and his personality gets disintegrated.
Man has been given the freedom of choice to do good or evil. This freewill gives him independence of intention, choice and action in various situations of moral conflict. Man is the only creature in this universe who has been given choice and discretion which accompany him through his life span. (The Qur’an, 15:36)
Man has also been granted potentialities to acquire knowledge of how everything else in the universe functions as well as the knowledge required for his felicity. (al-Qur’an, 2:33). This knowledge along with the faculty of reason and intellect, are man’s primary guide that distinguishes him from other animals and help him recognize the path of his ultimate felicity.
According to the Qur'an, Allah "created man from a clot of blood" at the same time he created the jinn from fire. {1} Humans are the greatest of all creatures, created with free will for the purpose of obeying and serving God.
The Qur'an includes a version of the biblical story of the fall of Adam (Qur'an 7), but it does not conclude from it the doctrine of original sin as some Christian theologians have. In the Quranic version of the story, Adam and Eve begged Allah(God's) forgiveness (7:23) and he punished them with a mortal life on earth but added, "from it [earth] you will be taken out at last" (7:25). Since Allah forgave the sins of the first pair, Muslims believe, all are born in Al-Fitra, a natural state of submission to Allah. {2} True repentance from sin returns a person to this original sinless state.
According to Muslim theology, mankind's chief failing is pride and rebellion. In their pride, humans attempt to partner themselves with God and thereby damage the unity of God. Thus pride is Islam's cardinal sin. The cardinal virtue, then, is submission, or islam.
Thus Man is naturally equiped with the impulse of the mind distinguishing between right and wrong and good and evil. It is for man to decide to choose between the two.
.................May Allah 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 swt 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...
I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine,
but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafi
What is fitrah?
“Every child is created in the state of fitrah, it is the parents, culture, and society that make him a Christian, a Jew, or a fire-worshipper.”
only a God-centred religion is real and in harmony with man's nature. But this truth does not occur to him until the hour of crisis and peril
is upon him. A man may have any religion, or any material props he chooses, but, in moments of real crisis, it is to God that he calls out for help.
Such an experience, which we all go through at one time or another in our lives, is a clear indication that the God-centred religion is the
only true one. As such, it should pervade man's entire existence. Any religion other than this will fail him in his hour of need,
in the Hereafter, just as ordinary, everyday means of support so often do in moments of crisis in this world.
Man makes his own destiny: awaiting him the final judgement to be rewarded or punished.
In Islam’s view, God created two distinct species: namely, humankind and the jinn. The former was created from clay and the latter from fire.
The descent of Adam and Eve due to their eating from the forbidden tree as a consequence of Satan’s deception- a story already occurring
in the Judeo-Christian tradition- is related in the Qur’an. However, the Christian doctrine of original sin is not affirmed, as God accepted the
repentance of Adam and Eve and made mankind His vicegerents on earth. To quote from the Qur`an:
“When your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am setting on earth a vice-regent,’ they said, ‘Will you place therein one who will act corruptly in it and shed
blood, while we extol Your praise and sanctify You?” (2:30)
Thus, the angels protested to God against man’s creation, but lost in a competition of knowledge against Adam, who was taught the names of
all things. The Qur`an declares man to be the finest of all creatures and he willingly bore the trust which the heavens and the earth refused to bear.
All of creation was subjected to man, who by virtue of the rational faculty with which he was endowed, was enjoined to, and entrusted with,
the development of civilization. In such endeavor he may be, either righteous or corrupt, a monotheist or an unbeliever.
As the Qur`an affirms, there is no compulsion in faith and religion; in other words, faith belongs to the domain of individual freedom and choice.
Moreover, life and existence were not created in vain, but were brought into being so that God is obeyed and worshipped.
Thus, Islam is profoundly teleological while affirming theodicy in creation.
It must be noted that Islam views human nature as fallible and faltering- that man is oppressive and prone to ignorance- despite his lofty station
in the universe. By contrast to angels who are instinctively obedient to God, man is inclined to error. Pride is the cardinal sin of man- a sin which
detracts man from submission to a unique God, and which makes him ascribe partners to Him. In Islam, the most heinous of transgressions is
shirk or polytheism.
Knowledge, it must be mentioned, is essential for man shouldering the responsibility of vice-regency on earth.
To reiterate a point earlier made, the Qur`an emphasizes knowledge of the physical universe as a means to fulfilling the purpose of God in
creation, namely, worshipping and obeying the Creator. The following two quotations from the Qur`an are illustrative:
“Have they not seen that We lead the water to the parched land, so that We bring forth crops from which their cattle and themselves can eat?
Do they not perceive?” (32:27)
“It is He who has spread out the earth, and He placed in it mountains and rivers, and of every fruit He has made parts therein.
He covers the night with the day. Surely in that are signs for a people who ponder. And in the earth are tracts neighboring one another,
and gardens of grapes, and plantations, and palm-trees of one root and of different roots, watered by the same water.
And We distinguish in produce some of them above others. Surely in that are signs for a people who comprehend”. (13:3,4)
man comes into the world with a pure and wholesome nature. Whereas sin and corruption in human being are merely accidental
and violation of his original nature. The role of prophets and the scriptures is just to help human nature to flow in its true channel and to
guide human nature to its ultimate goal of eternal felicity. This Qur’anic theory of human nature also implies the fact that if man consciously
decides to submit himself to the will of Allah, he experiences no conflict in his personality. (10:62) while, on the other hand, if he misuses
his freedom of choice by denying God and not submitting to His will, would be in a state of inner conflict and his personality gets disintegrated.
Man has been given the freedom of choice to do good or evil. This freewill gives him independence of intention, choice and action in various situations of moral conflict. Man is the only creature in this universe who has been given choice and discretion which accompany him through his life span. (The Qur’an, 15:36)
Man has also been granted potentialities to acquire knowledge of how everything else in the universe functions as well as the knowledge required for his felicity. (al-Qur’an, 2:33). This knowledge along with the faculty of reason and intellect, are man’s primary guide that distinguishes him from other animals and help him recognize the path of his ultimate felicity.
According to the Qur'an, Allah "created man from a clot of blood" at the same time he created the jinn from fire. {1} Humans are the greatest of all creatures, created with free will for the purpose of obeying and serving God.
The Qur'an includes a version of the biblical story of the fall of Adam (Qur'an 7), but it does not conclude from it the doctrine of original sin as some Christian theologians have. In the Quranic version of the story, Adam and Eve begged Allah(God's) forgiveness (7:23) and he punished them with a mortal life on earth but added, "from it [earth] you will be taken out at last" (7:25). Since Allah forgave the sins of the first pair, Muslims believe, all are born in Al-Fitra, a natural state of submission to Allah. {2} True repentance from sin returns a person to this original sinless state.
According to Muslim theology, mankind's chief failing is pride and rebellion. In their pride, humans attempt to partner themselves with God and thereby damage the unity of God. Thus pride is Islam's cardinal sin. The cardinal virtue, then, is submission, or islam.
Thus Man is naturally equiped with the impulse of the mind distinguishing between right and wrong and good and evil. It is for man to decide to choose between the two.
.................May Allah 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 swt 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, 25 January 2011
Every one of you is a guardian
Why I’m Blogging about children rights in Islam.
Let’s get some education on children’s right and what we can do to help them
"Your riches and your children may be but a trial: whereas Allah, with Him is the highest Reward." (64:15)
"Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38
Abdullah ibn Umar t reported that he heard the Prophet Muhammad saying: "Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband’s house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. A man is a guardian of his father’s property and is responsible for it so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care)." (Bukhari 3/592)
Community Treats its Children
“Respect for human rights begins with the way that a community treats its children,”
Child abuse weakens a child’s ability to study, and makes them nervous as they lose their sense of security. Many abused children go on to commit crimes and end up in prison.
“If a child loses the feeling of security, he or she will not be able to face the difficulties of life. Those children may become criminals in the future and harm both the community and themselves.”
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) in this context, said: “When a believer dies, his work ceases to be except in three areas: a perpetual Sadaqah (charity), some useful knowledge he leaves and a righteous son praying for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
However, some parents have paid no heed to their children’s rights and shirked away their obligations to them. Consequently the latter have got lost and begun to grope in darkness. Their parents have been too busy in worldly affairs promoting their financial situation and hoarding wealth to enquire about the company in which their children are involved or to guide them to good and make them shun evil, although they are more eligible for parental care, love and attention. Duties of father are not confined to catering for his child’s physical well-being, nutritious needs and clothing only; he is rather demanded to care about the spiritual side of his child’s character, feeding his heart with knowledge and faith and enveloping his soul with a clad of piety and the fear of Allah.
“The family is the most important unit for forming the community by bringing up the next generation. “So if there are problems in the home, children will be affected and the whole community will suffer.”
Islam concerned itself with human rights a long time ago. “Islam asks parents to provide the child with a suitable environment. Islam does not omit any single point related to children’s rights.”
“Human beings like to have children, because they think that childbirth is the immortality of life. To love new life is instinctive for every human being. Giving birth to children is the symbol of loving immortality.”
Islam teaches us that if a person brings a child up well, Allah swt (God) will forgive that person their sins when that person dies; and the child’s prayers will help the dead person’s soul. International concern about human rights in general and children’s rights in particular, has prompted researchers and professionals to look into the roots of human rights. Human rights might be a new buzz phrase, but Islam set out principles for human rights long ago,
The convention for children’s rights is based on four essential concepts; protection from harm, personal development, proper care, and freedom of opinion in society. “We must pay more attention to the best interests of the child. All these principles were mentioned in Qur’an, which cares about the rights of the child even before he or she is born,”
Children’s rights cannot be separated from human rights. “Children are the future. Taking care of the coming generation by protecting their dignity and providing them their needs is the most important thing for bringing up citizens best equipped to serve the country.”
Islam concerns itself with children and determines their rights. “A child has the right to take his father’s name as a sign that he is legitimate. In this way, his father recognizes him before the community.” when the child is in the womb, the mother may not hurt him by taking medicine that would harm him or to abort him. Pregnant women are exempted from certain practices, such as fasting so as not to harm the fetus.
"Islam cares about childhood. It pays particular attention to children's rights and to the proper manner to raise them, so that they will be equipped to face the difficulties of life,"
"(Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren)." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 394.
Malik bin Huwairth t narrated: "I came to the Prophet Muhammad with some men from my tribe and stayed with him for twenty nights. He was kind and merciful to us. When he realized our longing for our families, he said to us: "Go back and stay with your families and teach them the religion. And offer the prayer and one of you should pronounce the Adhan for the prayer when its time is due. And the oldest one amongst you should lead the prayer." (Bukhari 1/601)
Authentic Hadith clearly show how the Prophet commands us Muslims to be responsible to our respective families. The best way to perform our duty to our children is to teach them Islam. Allah tells us that our children, just like our wealth and possessions, are but a trial from Him. Allah the Most High says:
"Your riches and your children may be but a trial: whereas Allah, with Him is the highest Reward." (64:15)
Since our children are but a trial and that the highest reward is with Allah the Almighty, it is then our responsibility to guide our children to Islam. It is only through Islam that they can become righteous and be of service to Allah I. We pass Allah’s trial once our children worship and please our Creator. The best thing that we can give to our children is knowledge of Islam. It is the best education and the best means to fight ignorance and drive away evil.
May Allah guide us to the right path, the path of those on whom Allah has bestowed His grace - AMEEN.
Durood (Blessings) and Salaam (Peace) on Muhammad, his Family, and his Companions.
May Allah 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 swt make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for u and me .AmeeP.S.: "Have fun praying don’t forget to make dua for me...
Friday, 21 January 2011
Surah Al Kahf has many virtues.- Quran
Surat Al-Kahf (The Cave) -
Meaning of the name The Cave
Statistics
Classification Meccan
Sura number 18
Number of verses 110
Juz' number 15 to 16
Hizb number 30 to 31
Number of Sajdahs none
Previous Sura Al-Isra
Next Sura Maryam
Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) asked us to recite Surat Al-Kahf every Friday?
Let’s find out today, InshaAllah...
Surah Al Kahf was revealed to Mohammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) after the Jews, told the mushriks to ask the Prophets three things:
Many prophetic hadiths connect Surat al-Kahf with the End Times. Some of them are as follows:
He who among you will survive to see him (the Dajjal) should recite over him the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf. (Sahih Muslim)
Related by Abu Umaamah al-Bahili: Whoever enters his (the Dajjal) Hell, let him seek refuge with Allah and recite the opening verse of Surat al-Kahf, and it will become cool and peaceful for him, as the fire became cool and peaceful for Abraham. (Ibn Kathir)
One reason why the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommended reading Surat al-Kahf is that it contains very important signs pointing to the End Times. Surat al-Kahf contains the signs required for the believers' defense and fight against the Dajjal and the irreligious movements bringing so much evil to humanity, which he wants to spread around the world, as well as many lessons from which the Muslims can learn. Our Prophet's (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommendation to memorize and read this Sura
1. Who were the Sleepers of the cave and what was their story?
2. Who was Dhul Qarnain?
3. What he (Muhammad Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam)) knows about the Ruh?
The prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) told them that he would tell them in the morning, hoping that he would get revelation from Gabriel, however he did not. After fifteen days the mushriks returned, thinking they triumphed over the Prophet. He (Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) began to feel sad but the next day Gabriel revealed to him (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam), Surah Al Kahf, which contained the answers of their (the mushriks) question.
The Surah can be divided into about seven sections and contains four main stories. They are as follows:
..........The Sleepers of the Cave.........
This is about a number of youths who because of their belief in Allah (sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) were driven out of their homes, and ended up in a cave. Here Allah (swt) made them sleep for a number of years (309 lunar years which is 300 solar years).They then awoke, when asked how long they had slept for they estimated a day or half a day. One of the youths went to the town to get some food. He disguised himself thinking that the people would recognize him and harm him. But when he got there he found himself amongst a different people. The people of the town were amazed at his strange clothes and old coins. They went to the cave and saw the youth. After leaving it is reported that the youth went back to sleep and Allah (swt) caused them to die. Allah (swt) knows best.
The Christian version of this story is known as ‘The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus’, however the Qur’an mentions not the number of those who were in the cave, rather Allah (swt) says:
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. [18:22]
If the number of those in the cave had any importance or significance, surely Allah would have told us, we are told not to waste our time discussing such matters. The importance of the story is not how many men were in the cave, but the message that it carries.
The location of the cave is also not mentioned, except that Allah (swt) says:
Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave… [18:17]
Some scholars have said that the location of the cave is ‘Arajeeb’ in Jordan, according to the description given in the above verse. But again, the location of the cave is not mentioned in the Qur’an and therefore bears no significance.
* The Owners of the Two Gardens
This is a story about two men, one of whom had been given two gardens by Allah. He began to boast, forgetting to thank Allah (swt) for the bounties bestowed upon him. The second man warned him and told him to be thankful to Allah (swt) but he refused and so Allah (swt) destroyed his garden.
This story gives an example of the tests of wealth. Its shows that wealth is a temporary thing in this life, and just as Allah (swt) can give, He can also take it away at any moment He likes. The man had thought himself superior in terms of wealth; however this it is not the level of wealth that Allah (swt) will judge us by, but by our level of Taqwa and Iman.
* Al Khidr
The full story of Al Khidr is mentioned in the following hadith:
Ubayy Ibn Ka`b told us that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) said: Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who the most learned man amongst the people was. He said: “I.” Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him: “Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Moses said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” Allah said: “Take a fish and put it in a large basket and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish.”
Moses took a fish and put it in a basket and proceeded along with his (servant) boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down). Moses slept, and the fish, moving out of the basket, fell into the sea. It took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the flow of water over the fish and it became like an arch (the Prophet pointed out this arch with his hands). They traveled the rest of the night, and the next day Moses said to his boy (servant): “Give us our food, for indeed, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours.” Moses did not feel tired till he crossed that place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy (servant) said to him: “Do you know that when we were sitting near that rock, I forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to tell (you) about it, and it took its course into the sea in an amazing way?” So there was a path for the fish and that astonished them. Moses said: ‘That was what we were seeking after.”
So both of them (Musa and the boy) retraced their footsteps till they reached the rock. There they saw a man lying covered with a garment. Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: “How do people greet each other in your land?” Moses said: “I am Moses.”
The man asked: “Moses of Bani Israel?” Moses said: “Yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you.” He said: “O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know.” Moses asked: “May I follow you?” He said: “But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be patient about things which you will not be able to understand?” Moses said: “You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient and I will not disobey you in aught.”
So both of them (Musa and AL-Khidr) went out walking along the sea-shore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al-Khidr said to Moses: “O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah’s knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak.” Then suddenly Al-Khidr took an adze and pulled up a plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adze. Moses said to him: “What have you done? They took us on board charging us nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat so as to drown its passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing.” Al-Khidr replied: “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?” Moses replied: “Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and do not be hard upon me for my fault.” So the first excuse of Moses was that he had forgotten.
When they had left the sea, they passed by a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy’s head and plucked it with his hand like this. (Sufyan, the sub-narrator gestured with his fingertips as if he were plucking some fruit.) Moses said to him: “Have you killed an innocent person who has not killed any person? You have really done a horrible thing.” Al-Khidr said: “Did I not tell you that you could not remain patient with me?” Moses said: “If I ask you about anything after this, don’t accompany me. You have received an excuse from me.”
Then both of them went on till they came to some people of a village, and they asked its inhabitants for food but they refused to entertain them as guests. Then they saw therein a wall which was just going to collapse and Al Khidr repaired it just by touching it with his hands. Moses said: “These are the people, whom we have called on, but they neither gave us food, nor entertained us as guests, yet you have repaired their wall. If you had wished, you could have taken wages for it.”
Al-Khidr said: “This is the parting between you and me, and I shall tell you the explanation of those things on which you could not remain patient.” [Sahih Bukhari]
The explanations of these events are in the Qur’an:
“As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king after them who seized every ship by force.
“And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief. So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.
“And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of those (things) over which you could not hold patience. [18:79-82]
Some scholars believe that the story is set around the Sinai peninsular, where Musa and the Israelites are said to have stayed.
According to hadith literature the slave boy, is called Yusha` bin Nun who became the leader of the Israelites after Musa (as)
Al Khidr is the name given to the man in the story. This is reported in Sahih Al Bukhari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that he (the man) was named Al Khidr (which means green), because he sat on a patch of withered vegetation and it turned green. It is debated whether he is a prophet or angel. According to ibn Kathir, those who say he was a Prophet of Allah (swt) base it upon the following ayah:
So they found one of our servants, on whom we had bestowed Mercy from ourselves and whom we had taught knowledge from our own Presence. [18:65]
* Dhul Qarnain
Dhul Qarnain was a righteous king, who traveled, west and east. The Qur’an describes three of his journeys, the last being the most significant. He traveled to a place between two mountains where he met a tribe of people. They asked him to erect a wall between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj who caused mischief in the land. Dhul Qarnain agreed to do so.
Dhul Qarnain translates to the ‘Two Horned King’. The Qur’an gives no information about who he was; however popular opinion identifies him as Alexander the Great. Others opinion is that he was an ancient Persian king, while some say he was a Himyarite king. This is refuted by many Muslims scholars who say he was a king, who lived at the time of Ibrahim (as)
The Qur’an relates to us of 3 journeys that he takes, one to a western land:
“…Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water…” [18:86]
Here he found a nation of people, Allah (swt) gave him the choice to punish them or treat them kindly. Dhul Qarnain chose to punish those who persisted in kufr and treat the believers well
His second journey is to an eastern land:
“…Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom we had provided no covering protection against the sun.”[18:90]
Where he found a people, who Allah had not provided with shade, i.e. they had no buildings or trees to keep them shade.
And lastly he travels to a land between two mountains:
“…Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains… [18:93]
Here, he met a people who asked him to build a barrier between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj.
Ya’juj and Ma’juj are from the progeny of Adam, i.e. they are human beings. Folklore has spread, claiming they are not human, or different from humans in some way. For example they are describes to have two large ears, one is used as a bed and the other as a duvet to cover themselves with. However this is false, as it is reported in a Sahih hadith that they are the descendants of Yafith the son of Nuh (as).
Ya’juj and Ma’juj compromise nine tenths of mankind. This is according to the following hadith:
“Allah divided mankind into ten parts. Nine tenths constitute Ya’juj and Ma’juj while the remaining one tenth constitutes the rest of mankind.”
The whereabouts of the wall constructed by Dhul Qarnain is unknown. There have been many speculations. Some say it is the great wall of China, some say it is in Russia, however, Allah knows best where the wall is and when the Hour (the day of judgment) draws near, by Allah’s will the wall will be destroyed and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj will be set loose to cause havoc on the earth, destroying everything that they come across.
Virtues of Surah Al Kahf
Surah Al Kahf has many virtues. It is a Sunnah to recite this Surah every Friday. As well as this, it is reported in hadith, that whoever memorizes the beginning of this Surah will be protected from the Dajjal;
Whoever memorizes ten Ayat from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal. [Muslim,]
May Allah allow us all to commit it to memory? It is such a beautiful Surah!
And the first ten verses - we should each memorize them inshaa Allah!
The entire Surah is quite easy to memorize especially if you have the translation with you - do it word for word and there is a lot of repetition.
The first ten verses though are a must:
May Allah 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 swt 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...
Meaning of the name The Cave
Statistics
Classification Meccan
Sura number 18
Number of verses 110
Juz' number 15 to 16
Hizb number 30 to 31
Number of Sajdahs none
Previous Sura Al-Isra
Next Sura Maryam
Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) asked us to recite Surat Al-Kahf every Friday?
Let’s find out today, InshaAllah...
Surah Al Kahf was revealed to Mohammad (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) after the Jews, told the mushriks to ask the Prophets three things:
Many prophetic hadiths connect Surat al-Kahf with the End Times. Some of them are as follows:
He who among you will survive to see him (the Dajjal) should recite over him the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf. (Sahih Muslim)
Related by Abu Umaamah al-Bahili: Whoever enters his (the Dajjal) Hell, let him seek refuge with Allah and recite the opening verse of Surat al-Kahf, and it will become cool and peaceful for him, as the fire became cool and peaceful for Abraham. (Ibn Kathir)
One reason why the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommended reading Surat al-Kahf is that it contains very important signs pointing to the End Times. Surat al-Kahf contains the signs required for the believers' defense and fight against the Dajjal and the irreligious movements bringing so much evil to humanity, which he wants to spread around the world, as well as many lessons from which the Muslims can learn. Our Prophet's (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) recommendation to memorize and read this Sura
1. Who were the Sleepers of the cave and what was their story?
2. Who was Dhul Qarnain?
3. What he (Muhammad Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam)) knows about the Ruh?
The prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) told them that he would tell them in the morning, hoping that he would get revelation from Gabriel, however he did not. After fifteen days the mushriks returned, thinking they triumphed over the Prophet. He (Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) began to feel sad but the next day Gabriel revealed to him (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam), Surah Al Kahf, which contained the answers of their (the mushriks) question.
The Surah can be divided into about seven sections and contains four main stories. They are as follows:
..........The Sleepers of the Cave.........
This is about a number of youths who because of their belief in Allah (sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) were driven out of their homes, and ended up in a cave. Here Allah (swt) made them sleep for a number of years (309 lunar years which is 300 solar years).They then awoke, when asked how long they had slept for they estimated a day or half a day. One of the youths went to the town to get some food. He disguised himself thinking that the people would recognize him and harm him. But when he got there he found himself amongst a different people. The people of the town were amazed at his strange clothes and old coins. They went to the cave and saw the youth. After leaving it is reported that the youth went back to sleep and Allah (swt) caused them to die. Allah (swt) knows best.
The Christian version of this story is known as ‘The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus’, however the Qur’an mentions not the number of those who were in the cave, rather Allah (swt) says:
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. [18:22]
If the number of those in the cave had any importance or significance, surely Allah would have told us, we are told not to waste our time discussing such matters. The importance of the story is not how many men were in the cave, but the message that it carries.
The location of the cave is also not mentioned, except that Allah (swt) says:
Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave… [18:17]
Some scholars have said that the location of the cave is ‘Arajeeb’ in Jordan, according to the description given in the above verse. But again, the location of the cave is not mentioned in the Qur’an and therefore bears no significance.
* The Owners of the Two Gardens
This is a story about two men, one of whom had been given two gardens by Allah. He began to boast, forgetting to thank Allah (swt) for the bounties bestowed upon him. The second man warned him and told him to be thankful to Allah (swt) but he refused and so Allah (swt) destroyed his garden.
This story gives an example of the tests of wealth. Its shows that wealth is a temporary thing in this life, and just as Allah (swt) can give, He can also take it away at any moment He likes. The man had thought himself superior in terms of wealth; however this it is not the level of wealth that Allah (swt) will judge us by, but by our level of Taqwa and Iman.
* Al Khidr
The full story of Al Khidr is mentioned in the following hadith:
Ubayy Ibn Ka`b told us that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) said: Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who the most learned man amongst the people was. He said: “I.” Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him: “Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Moses said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” Allah said: “Take a fish and put it in a large basket and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish.”
Moses took a fish and put it in a basket and proceeded along with his (servant) boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down). Moses slept, and the fish, moving out of the basket, fell into the sea. It took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the flow of water over the fish and it became like an arch (the Prophet pointed out this arch with his hands). They traveled the rest of the night, and the next day Moses said to his boy (servant): “Give us our food, for indeed, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours.” Moses did not feel tired till he crossed that place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy (servant) said to him: “Do you know that when we were sitting near that rock, I forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to tell (you) about it, and it took its course into the sea in an amazing way?” So there was a path for the fish and that astonished them. Moses said: ‘That was what we were seeking after.”
So both of them (Musa and the boy) retraced their footsteps till they reached the rock. There they saw a man lying covered with a garment. Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: “How do people greet each other in your land?” Moses said: “I am Moses.”
The man asked: “Moses of Bani Israel?” Moses said: “Yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you.” He said: “O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know.” Moses asked: “May I follow you?” He said: “But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be patient about things which you will not be able to understand?” Moses said: “You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient and I will not disobey you in aught.”
So both of them (Musa and AL-Khidr) went out walking along the sea-shore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al-Khidr said to Moses: “O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah’s knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak.” Then suddenly Al-Khidr took an adze and pulled up a plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adze. Moses said to him: “What have you done? They took us on board charging us nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat so as to drown its passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing.” Al-Khidr replied: “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?” Moses replied: “Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and do not be hard upon me for my fault.” So the first excuse of Moses was that he had forgotten.
When they had left the sea, they passed by a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy’s head and plucked it with his hand like this. (Sufyan, the sub-narrator gestured with his fingertips as if he were plucking some fruit.) Moses said to him: “Have you killed an innocent person who has not killed any person? You have really done a horrible thing.” Al-Khidr said: “Did I not tell you that you could not remain patient with me?” Moses said: “If I ask you about anything after this, don’t accompany me. You have received an excuse from me.”
Then both of them went on till they came to some people of a village, and they asked its inhabitants for food but they refused to entertain them as guests. Then they saw therein a wall which was just going to collapse and Al Khidr repaired it just by touching it with his hands. Moses said: “These are the people, whom we have called on, but they neither gave us food, nor entertained us as guests, yet you have repaired their wall. If you had wished, you could have taken wages for it.”
Al-Khidr said: “This is the parting between you and me, and I shall tell you the explanation of those things on which you could not remain patient.” [Sahih Bukhari]
The explanations of these events are in the Qur’an:
“As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king after them who seized every ship by force.
“And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief. So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.
“And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of those (things) over which you could not hold patience. [18:79-82]
Some scholars believe that the story is set around the Sinai peninsular, where Musa and the Israelites are said to have stayed.
According to hadith literature the slave boy, is called Yusha` bin Nun who became the leader of the Israelites after Musa (as)
Al Khidr is the name given to the man in the story. This is reported in Sahih Al Bukhari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that he (the man) was named Al Khidr (which means green), because he sat on a patch of withered vegetation and it turned green. It is debated whether he is a prophet or angel. According to ibn Kathir, those who say he was a Prophet of Allah (swt) base it upon the following ayah:
So they found one of our servants, on whom we had bestowed Mercy from ourselves and whom we had taught knowledge from our own Presence. [18:65]
* Dhul Qarnain
Dhul Qarnain was a righteous king, who traveled, west and east. The Qur’an describes three of his journeys, the last being the most significant. He traveled to a place between two mountains where he met a tribe of people. They asked him to erect a wall between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj who caused mischief in the land. Dhul Qarnain agreed to do so.
Dhul Qarnain translates to the ‘Two Horned King’. The Qur’an gives no information about who he was; however popular opinion identifies him as Alexander the Great. Others opinion is that he was an ancient Persian king, while some say he was a Himyarite king. This is refuted by many Muslims scholars who say he was a king, who lived at the time of Ibrahim (as)
The Qur’an relates to us of 3 journeys that he takes, one to a western land:
“…Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water…” [18:86]
Here he found a nation of people, Allah (swt) gave him the choice to punish them or treat them kindly. Dhul Qarnain chose to punish those who persisted in kufr and treat the believers well
His second journey is to an eastern land:
“…Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom we had provided no covering protection against the sun.”[18:90]
Where he found a people, who Allah had not provided with shade, i.e. they had no buildings or trees to keep them shade.
And lastly he travels to a land between two mountains:
“…Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains… [18:93]
Here, he met a people who asked him to build a barrier between them and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj.
Ya’juj and Ma’juj are from the progeny of Adam, i.e. they are human beings. Folklore has spread, claiming they are not human, or different from humans in some way. For example they are describes to have two large ears, one is used as a bed and the other as a duvet to cover themselves with. However this is false, as it is reported in a Sahih hadith that they are the descendants of Yafith the son of Nuh (as).
Ya’juj and Ma’juj compromise nine tenths of mankind. This is according to the following hadith:
“Allah divided mankind into ten parts. Nine tenths constitute Ya’juj and Ma’juj while the remaining one tenth constitutes the rest of mankind.”
The whereabouts of the wall constructed by Dhul Qarnain is unknown. There have been many speculations. Some say it is the great wall of China, some say it is in Russia, however, Allah knows best where the wall is and when the Hour (the day of judgment) draws near, by Allah’s will the wall will be destroyed and the tribes of Ya’juj and Ma’juj will be set loose to cause havoc on the earth, destroying everything that they come across.
Virtues of Surah Al Kahf
Surah Al Kahf has many virtues. It is a Sunnah to recite this Surah every Friday. As well as this, it is reported in hadith, that whoever memorizes the beginning of this Surah will be protected from the Dajjal;
Whoever memorizes ten Ayat from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal. [Muslim,]
May Allah allow us all to commit it to memory? It is such a beautiful Surah!
And the first ten verses - we should each memorize them inshaa Allah!
The entire Surah is quite easy to memorize especially if you have the translation with you - do it word for word and there is a lot of repetition.
The first ten verses though are a must:
May Allah 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 swt 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, 18 January 2011
Tell them and show them you love them,(MOM, and DAD),
What is the Best Gift we can give to our Parents? (MOM and DAD),
Don't forget, YOU are because of them. Before you claim your Inheritance, try and check the list of your duties towards them.
Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these two jewels (our mother and father) - by exhibiting goodness towards them while they are alive, and by means of charity and goodly remembrance after their death.
Becoming the person and even better than that, what they have expected of you when you were born.
Be a loving and caring son/daughter... when we were young they knew what we need..... Now it’s their time to enjoy life... and we should know what they need and when..!!!
Our physical presence with them' i.e. spend time with them!
Tell them and show them you love them - we don’t have them forever and do ask all the questions now that it is too late to ask when they are gone.
Unconditional! Love care, respect and consideration. Try to adjust to your parents/elders as far as possible, rather than make them adjust to you or your life style.
.
It is never late. Try to change yourself first.
Make their old age and retirement very special, happy and peaceful.
We all accept the fact that we love our parents, but at the same time we are so busy in our day to day life that we hardy bother to spend some time with them.
Parents never demand anything from us, they only give, give and give... Now it’s our chance to make them happy.
We should sit side by them and share our thoughts and feelings, we should listen to them what they want to say. We should try to understand their silence; we should try to read their eyes. We should ask them to give suggestions for our problems, instead of saying that..."you'll not understand" or "you can't do anything".....
Let us all try to make them happy, let us set an example for our coming Generations........
.........................................................................................................................................................
Beautiful letter written by a father to his son! This applies to daughters too. Use this in your teachings to your children.
Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster cum Child Psychologist. The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, children or parents.
I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons
1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable; nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.
2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.
3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.
Remember the following as you go through life
1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.
2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/whom you love most.
3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.
4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.
5. a lot of successful people did not receive a good education that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!
6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, either would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.
7. You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.
8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!
9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.
At different stages of our lives we can gift them differently by being more than what they expected of us and at every step acknowledging their worth because ultimately our existence in this world is owed to them. Beginning with! obeying them. Keeping them happy, doing well at school, helping in need, sharing ... doing well in life and letting them know that its because of u and your blessings that i m here today ... I love u n i care for u. Lending hand at old age ---------biggest gift for parents.
May Allah 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 swt 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...
Don't forget, YOU are because of them. Before you claim your Inheritance, try and check the list of your duties towards them.
Humanity and ethics demand that we safeguard these two jewels (our mother and father) - by exhibiting goodness towards them while they are alive, and by means of charity and goodly remembrance after their death.
Becoming the person and even better than that, what they have expected of you when you were born.
Be a loving and caring son/daughter... when we were young they knew what we need..... Now it’s their time to enjoy life... and we should know what they need and when..!!!
Our physical presence with them' i.e. spend time with them!
Tell them and show them you love them - we don’t have them forever and do ask all the questions now that it is too late to ask when they are gone.
Unconditional! Love care, respect and consideration. Try to adjust to your parents/elders as far as possible, rather than make them adjust to you or your life style.
.
It is never late. Try to change yourself first.
Make their old age and retirement very special, happy and peaceful.
We all accept the fact that we love our parents, but at the same time we are so busy in our day to day life that we hardy bother to spend some time with them.
Parents never demand anything from us, they only give, give and give... Now it’s our chance to make them happy.
We should sit side by them and share our thoughts and feelings, we should listen to them what they want to say. We should try to understand their silence; we should try to read their eyes. We should ask them to give suggestions for our problems, instead of saying that..."you'll not understand" or "you can't do anything".....
Let us all try to make them happy, let us set an example for our coming Generations........
.........................................................................................................................................................
Beautiful letter written by a father to his son! This applies to daughters too. Use this in your teachings to your children.
Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster cum Child Psychologist. The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, children or parents.
I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons
1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable; nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.
2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.
3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.
Remember the following as you go through life
1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.
2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/whom you love most.
3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.
4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.
5. a lot of successful people did not receive a good education that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!
6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, either would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.
7. You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.
8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!
9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.
At different stages of our lives we can gift them differently by being more than what they expected of us and at every step acknowledging their worth because ultimately our existence in this world is owed to them. Beginning with! obeying them. Keeping them happy, doing well at school, helping in need, sharing ... doing well in life and letting them know that its because of u and your blessings that i m here today ... I love u n i care for u. Lending hand at old age ---------biggest gift for parents.
May Allah 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 swt 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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)