Monday 23 February 2015

Dont Envy

Dont  envy (i.e, have destructive jealously).

Not just because it is an unworthy sentiment, but also because you have no clue what those you envy may be going through in their own lives!

Perhaps a blessing Allah gave them is actually proving to be a big test. Perhaps something you see as ease is in reality an agent of stress day in and day out, if not now, then maybe a stress for them in the hereafter, on the day of judgement or in the grave.

In order to discourage envy, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Do not look to those above you. Look to those below you, as it will more likely remind you of Allah's favors bestowed on you." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

Maybe what Allah has blessed them with is a means for them to enter Jannah, or enter the Hellfire. Maybe if this blessing was yours, it would instill pride in your heart, or maybe it would increase you in sin, or maybe it would take you away from Allah. This could be the case for the blessing they have,
so say Alhamdulila for what you have... and what you don't!

Ease your heart by the knowledge that what is meant for you will come to you, and what passed you by was never yours in the first place, and what has not been decreed for you will never come to you, even if you got the whole world to help you. So make dua' for yourself and your brothers & sisters in faith. It is in contentment and not in envy that true wealth lies.

"Do not regard with envy the worldly benefits We have given some of them, for with these We seek only to test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting." (20:131)

- Islam permits Ghibtah What Islam permits in contrast to Hasad (destructive jealousy) is Ghibtah (envy that is free from malice), which means neither loving the loss of the blessing nor hating for it to remain with the person, but desiring the same for oneself without the removal of the blessing from others.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Envy is allowed in two cases, in case of a man whom Allah has given the Qur'aan and who recites it throughout night and day; and a man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth who gives it away throughout night and day." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

- Allah through His Absolute Wisdom has given some people more wealth, intelligence, beauty, strength, children, etc. than others. The believing Muslim should be content with what Allah has destined for him. Allah says: "Allah favored some of you over others with wealth and properties… Do they deny the favors of Allah?" [Soorah an-Nahl (16): 71] And: "Do they envy men for what Allah has given them of His Bounty?" [Soorah an-Nisa (4): 54]

The favors of Allah in the world are a test; the more the favors, the more the tests.
- Al-Hasan al-Basri said: "Umar Ibn Khattab wrote this letter to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari,
'Be content with your provision in this world, for the Most Merciful has honored some of His servants over others in terms of provision as a test of both. The one who has been given plenty is being tested to see if he will give thanks to Allah and fulfill the duties which are his by virtue of his wealth" [Ibn Hatim]

May Allah make us content with His blessings and content with His Qadr. Ameen.

There are three different types of heart

Types of hearts:
There are three different types of heart.

1. Healthy Heart:
On the Day of Resurrection, only those who come to Allah with a healthy heart will be saved.

Allah says:
"The day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart.” [26:88-89]

This type is devoted passionately to seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT. It looks forward to obeying the commands of its Creator, looks forward to acts of worship and even looks forward to meeting its Maker. Its always at peace despite the many hardships it may be facing.

2. Dead Heart:
This is the opposite of the healthy heart. It does not know its creator and therefore avoids all commands that have been sent. It clings to its own whims and desires. Too much of the duniya, no worries for the akirah is this hearts main concern. It guides itself and turns to ignorant people as its leaders. To keep associations with this person whose heart is dead is tempting illness for ourselves.

3. Sick Heart:
This is the most common type of heart. Its full of life but at the same time suffers from illness. It waivers a lot between good and evil. It experiences a lot of high eeman as well as low eeman. It may be listening to the Quran but will also indulge in worldly distractions. There is HOPE for this type of heart.

The first heart is alive, submitted to Allah, humble, sensitive and aware;

the second is brittle and dead;

the third wavers between either its safety or its ruin.

May Allah give us the best of hearts in which He is nothing but pleased with, Ameen.

The Danger of taking sin lightly

The Danger of taking sin lightly

You should know, may Allah have mercy on me and on you, that Allah has commanded His slaves to repent sincerely and has made doing so obligatory. He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance…” [al-Tahreem 66:8].

Allah has given us time to repent before the honourable scribes (kiraaman kaatibeen – recording angels) record our deeds. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Small black square“The (scribe) on the left hand raises his pen (i.e., delays writing) for six hours [this may refer to six hours of 60 minutes as measured by astronomers, or it may refer to short periods of time during the day or night – Lisaan al-‘Arab] before he records the sinful deed of a Muslim. If he regrets it and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, the deed is not recorded, otherwise it is recorded as one deed.”
(classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah, 1209).

A further respite is granted after the deed has been recorded, up until the moment before death approaches.

The problem is that many people nowadays do not place their hope and fear in Allah. They disobey Him by committing all manner of sins, day and night. There are those who are being tested by the idea of regarding sins as insignificant, so you may see one of them regarding certain “minor sins” (saghaa’ir) as inconsequential, so he might say, q“What harm can it possibly do if I look at or shake hands with a (non-mahram) woman?” They think nothing of looking at women in magazines and on TV shows. Some of them, when they are told that this is haraam, may even facetiously ask, “So how bad can it be? Is it a major sin ()?”

Compare this attitude with that reflected in the following reports narrated by Imaam al-Bukhaari (may Allah have mercy on him):
- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “You do things which in your eyes are less significant than a hair, but at the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we used to count them as things that could destroy a man.
- Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The believer regards his sin as if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he fears may fall on him, whereas the sinner regards his sin as if a fly lands on his nose and he swipes it away.”

Will these people then understand the seriousness of the matter when they read the following hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?
- “Beware of the minor sins which are often thought of as insignificant, for they are like a group of people who stopped in the bottom of a valley. One of them brought a stick, and another brought a stick, until  had gathered enough to cook their food. These minor sins, if a person is called to account for them, will destroy him.” According to another report, he said: “Beware of minor sins, for they will pile up until they destroy a person.”
(Reported by Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2686-2687).


The scholars said that when minor sins are accompanied by a lack of shame or remorse, and with no fear of Allah, and are taken lightly, then there is the risk that they will be counted as major sins.

Hence it is said that no minor sin is minor if you persist, and no major sin is major if you keep on seeking forgiveness.

So we say to the one who is in this situation: Do not think about whether the sin is major or minor; think about the One Whom you are disobeying.

In sha Allah, these words will benefit those who are sincere, and who are aware of their sins and shortcomings, and do not insist upon doing wrong and adhering to their faults.

These words are for those who believe in the words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Declare (O Muhammad) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful.” [al-Hijr 15:49] and in His words “And that My Torment is indeed the most painful torment.” [al-Hijr 15:50].
It is essential to keep this balanced view in mind.

[[Taken from the book, "I want to repent, but..." by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid.]]


May Allah protect us from all sins, minor and major. May He forgive, pardon and conceal them. Ameen.

The opening dua of Salaah

The opening dua of Salaah

Subhanak-Allahumma wa bi hamdika.
Wa tabarakasmuka.
Wa ta'ala jadduka.
Wa laa ilaha ghayruk.

Translation;
Praise and glory be to Allah.
Blessed be Your Name.
Exalted be Your? Majesty and Glory.
Their is no God but You.
  • There are other opening supplications at the beginning of salah.
  • But shaykh al Islam ibn Taymiyyah and other scholars, when they discussed which of the different duas for the opening of the salah is the best? They chose this dua! 
  • Why? Because it is purely for Allah.
  • The other duas you ask something for yourself. But this one is only for Allah, you are praising and glorifying Him.
So lets try to remember the meaning and say this opening dua with contemplation and concentration inshaAllah.

Dont be deceived by your deeds- Shaykh ibn Baz

Beautiful advice from the Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Baaz

It was said to the shaykh,
"Oh shaykh, so and so has become misguided". The Shaykh replied:

"Perhaps his deviation was due to two things:
1. He didn't ask Allah for Ath-thabaat (firmness).
2. He didn't thank Allah for Al-Istiqaamah (steadfastness)

So when Allah chose for you the path of guidance, it was not because you are special, nor was it because of your obedience. But rather, it was a mercy from Him that enveloped you. He can remove it from you at any time.

Therefore, do not be deceived by your actions nor by your worship. And do not look down upon the one who has deviated from His path. For had it not been due to His mercy, you would have been in his position.

Repeat the recitation of this verse while pondering:
 ولوﻵ أن ثبتناك لقد كدت تركن إليهم شيئا قليلا
"Had We not made you firm (Oh Muhammed صلى الله عيه وسلم) then you would have inclined towards them slightly."

So upon is to not to think that thabaat (firmness) upon Al-Istiqaamah (steadfastness) is due to your own personal achievements. Ponder over His statement (Ta'aalaa) to the best of mankind: "Had We not made you firm (Oh Muhammed صلى الله عيه وسلم)."
So how about you?!

We are greatly mistaken when we disregard and pay no attention to our athkaar (supplications of remembrance). We believe it to be something that is not important and we forget that Allah preserves us with it. And perhaps the decree will change...

Ibn Qayyim says:
"The need of the servant in his supplications by which he seeks refuge [in Allah], is more severe than his need for food, drink and clothes!"

Be consistent in your athkaar (supplications of remembrance), so that you can encompass the meaning:

"Preserve Allah, He will preserve you."

Fortify [yourselves] every morning and evening [with your athkaar (supplications of remembrance)]. For the dunya (life of this world) is horrifying and full of surprises and Allah is the protector of His servants.

Allah smiles...

Abu Razeen reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
"Allah smiles at the despair of His servants as He soon changes it." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, does the Lord laugh?" He said, "Yes." I said, "We will never be deprived of good by a Lord who laughs."
[Sunan Ibn Majah, Introduction, Number 181, Sahih]

Ibn Taymiyyah said, "The sane desert Arab upon his sound natural instinct understands His laughter to demonstrate His grace and blessings; it shows that this characteristic is related to beauty and praise, and that this is a characteristic of perfection."
[Majmu' Al-Fatawa, Al-Aqidah]

Don't leave istighfar- Hasan al Basri

Don't leave istighfar

A man once came to al-Hasan al-Basri and complained to him: “The sky does not shower us with rain.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness (i.e. say أستغفر ألله).”

Then another person came to him and said, “I complain of poverty.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness."

Then another person came to him and complained, “My wife is barren; she cannot bear children.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness."

The people who were present, said to al-Hasan: “Everytime a person came to you complaining, you instructed them to seek Allah’s forgiveness?”

Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “Have you not read the statement of Allah? 'I said "Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; increase you in wealth and children; grant you gardens and bestow on you rivers."'" [Nuh (71):10-12]

There are 2 things in the earth that give a person safety and security from the punishment of Allah. The first has been removed, whilst the second still remains.

1: As for the first, it was the Messenger of Allah (صلي ألله عليه و سلم).

“Allah would not punish them while you were among them.” [al-Anfal (8):33]

2: As for the second, it is istighfar. “Allah would not punish them as long as they sought forgiveness.” [al-Anfal (8):33]

أستغفر ألله... أستغفر ألله... أستغفر ألله...
 

Do not ever leave istighfar inshaAllah!

Accept a gift, even if it is humble

Accept a gift, even if it is humble

Humility is one of the best and noblest of characteristics; it is the attitude of the Prophets and Messengers, and the way of the close friends of Allaah and the righteous. That is being kind to people, lowering the wing of humility to them and trying to meet their needs and wants.

the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 

“If I were invited to a meal of a sheep’s foot I would accept, and if I were given a sheep’s foot as a gift, I would accept.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5178).

This hadeeth is indicative of the good attitude of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his humility, and his desire to make people happy by accepting gifts and responding when a man invited him to his home, even if he knew that what he was inviting him to was something small. This is encouragement to keep in touch with one another, love one another, make friends with one another, and accept invitations great and small, and to accept gifts likewise. End quote.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say:

“O Muslim women, no woman should look down on a gift given by her neighbour, even if it is the meat from a sheep’s foot.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2566) and Muslim (1030).

Ibn Hibbaan said in Rawdat al-‘Uqalaa’ (242):
...the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) rebuked the one who does not accept gifts among Muslims. If a person is offered a gift, he must accept it and not refuse it, then he should reciprocate if he is able to, and express gratitude for it.

Allah is P.E.R.F.E.C.T.

Sometimes you can't tell anyone anything, you can't explain your emotions or how you feel, because you know they won't understand. Except for Allah, you can tell Him anything... He knows your feelings without you having to put them into words... no matter how small or big the situation is, it may be something you feel embarrassed about, or something that hurts you inside, or simply anything you just can't and wont express to anyone else. Except Him...the All Hearer, the All Knower, the Most Merciful, the Most Loving...Every love will hurt you one day except Him.. Do you know why? Because He is P.E.R.F.E.C.T.
Seek comfort in Him.
Seek comfort in His Perfection.
There is no one like Him.
Who needs a councillor to tell their problems to when Allah is the Best One to tell. He is the One we should feel the most comfortable with. He is incomparably better than any friend you can ever have. He is always available for you... Just take that step and pour your worries out to Him. Inshaa' Allaah.

Reflect on these beautiful ayat:

"And (remember) Ayub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: "Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy."" 21:83

And Prophet Yacub,

"He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah..."
12:87