as salam alykom

Umm Habiba posted this excellent article under another thread but withing the post. I thought it needs to be underlined for all to read Insh aAllah

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A Delayed Response

Sayd al-Khaatir by Ibn al-Jawzee

Translated by Zaynah ar-Rawahee

While talking to himself Ibn Al-Jawzi was blaming his soul in a gentle way. He said: I found myself in trouble, and so I made Du'aa consistently, all the while requesting relief and comfort. The response to my Du'aa seemed to be delayed, and so my soul became disturbed and worried.

However, I rebuked it saying, "Woe unto you; look attentively at yourself, are you the one possessed or are you the possessor? Are you the one that is controlled or are you the controller? Are you not aware that this world is the abode of tests for you? If you desire that your goals be fulfilled and become impatient when they are not, then, where is your test? Is it not the ultimate test when you get the opposite of whatever you desired?

"So, (dear restless soul) try to understand the meaning of the word 'Abd, and whatever is dear to you will become worthless, and whatever is difficult will become easy." After it deliberated over what I said, it became a little appeased.

I informed it that I had a second argument for it, and so I said, "Allah (azza wajal) is a necessary requirement in order for any of your aims to be fulfilled; yet you do not exhort yourself to work for His (azza wajal) pleasure. This is ignorance, as the matter should have been opposite to what yohu desire, primarily because you are the one possessed. (You should note) that the mindful 'Abd should make sure that he fulfills the rights due to the Master, and that it is not necessary that He (azza wajal) gives to Al-'Abd whatever he desires or loves."

It made it quieter yet I then mentioned that I had a third argument for it, and so I said, "You are under the impression that the response to your Du'aa has been slow; yet you were responsible for this because you closed the door of response (to your Du'aa) because of your constant sinning. If, however, you open the door [by developing Taqwa for Allah (azza wajal)], then the response (to your Du'aa) would arrive quicker, because having Taqwa for Allah (azza wajal) is the cause of all comfort." Allah (azza wajal) said:

"...And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him (Taqwa), He will make a way for him, to get out (from every difficulty), and will provide for him from sources that he never could imagine…" [At-Talaaq:2-3]

Therefore, understand that if you do not develop this Taqwa for Him (subhana wa ta'ala), the result will be different from what you expect. Woe is me from the drunkenness of mindlessness which became stronger than any other drunkenness in confronting the soul's aims to prevent them ftom reaching its hopes. It (the soul) knew that this was the truth, and so it became more tranquil still.

I said to it, "I have a forth argument for you, and it is that you seek a particular answer (to your Du'aa); yet you are not aware of the consequences that would result (if you were granted what you desire) because what you seek might be to your detriment. In this state you are like a feverish child asking for candy.

"(0 soul) be conscious that your Master is more aware about your well-being than you are." As

He (azza wajal) said:

"... And maybe you will dislike something that is good for You…" [Al- Baqarah:2161

When this became clear to the soul, it became more tranquil still. I then said to it, "I have a fifth argument for you, and it is that your demands would lessen your rewards and would reduce your status (with Allah). However, if you would request that which is good for your eternal abode

(Al-Aakhirah), it would be better for you.

(O soul) it is crucial that you understand what I have explained."

It said, "I meandered in the garden of your explanation,

and as such I wandered when I understood."

Assalamo ALikom all.

i just wanna share these beautiful sayings of our prophet Muhammad PBUH.

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God's Mercy

The messenger of GOD, blessing and peace of Allah be upon him said:" When God decided upon to create, He also pledge Himself to be merciful to all His creation, by writing in His Book which is with Him above His Throne, "My mercy shall prevail over My anger"'

The Messenger of God , pbup, said "If believers knew the severity of God's punishment ,no one would hope to enter His Paradis, and if disbelievers knew the vastness of his mercy, no one would despair of entering His Paradise".

Once we were with the Prophet, bpuh, when a man came forward, who held in his hand something wrapped up in a blanket. He said: "O Messenger of God I was passing by a thicket of trees when I heard some young birds chirping. I seized them and put them in my blanket. Then their mother uncovered them a little to let her see. She alighted on them and I wrapped them all up in my blanket . Here they all are."

The Prophet, bpuh, immediately ordered them to be put down. I put them down, but their mother would not leave them. The Prophet , bpuh, thereupon said: "Do you wonder at the compassion of this bird for her young? By Him who has sent me with the Truth, God is more merciful to His servants than this mother of young birds is to her young. Then he ordered: "Take them back and put them where you got them. And their mother as well." So he took them back.

Let there be No God But God

The Prophet, bpuh, said: "The right of God upon His servants is that they worship and serve Him alone, and make none a God beside Him; and the right of servants upon God is that He does not punish those who do not make anything a God beside Him."

Once we were with the Prophet, bpuh, on one of his expeditions, when we came upon certain people. He asked them who they were. They said that they were Muslims. Among them was a woman who had a child with her. She was kindling a fire, and when the flames rose, she moved her child away.

She went to the Prophet, bpuh, and asked. "Are you God's Messenger?" He said,"Yes I am ." She then said,"You for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, tell me if God is not the most merciful of all who are merciful?" He said, "Yes He is. She then asked , "Is God not more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child?" He said "Yes He is" She then said "But a mother does not throw her child into fire"

On hearing this, the Prophet, bpuh, bowed his head and wept. The he raised it, looked at her and said "God would not punish any of His servants except the one who is bent upon denying and rebelling against Him and refuses to say "there is no God but God"

Upon Dependence Upon God

The Prophet, bpuh, said : God says, "My servants, I have forbidden Myself doing any wrong and have also forbidden you, so do no wrong unto one another".

My servants all of you are astray except those whom I guide; so ask Me for guidance and I shall guide you. My servants, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed; so ask Me for food and I shall feed you. My servants, all of you are naked except those whom I clothe; so ask Me for clothing and I shall clothe you. My servants,you sin by night and by day, yet I forgive all sins; so ask Me for forgiveness and I shall forgive you."

"My servants, you can do nothing that could harm Me, neither can you do anything that would benefit Me.

"My servants, even if the first and that last of you all the human beings and the jinn, become as righteous as the one with the most righteous heart among you, that would add nothing to My kingdom. My servants, if (all of you) become as wicked as the one with the most wicked heart among you, that would diminish nothing from My kingdom.

"My servants were (all of you) to stand in one place and ask Me whatever you wished, and were I to give everyone what he asked for, that would not diminish what I have any more than a needle would when put into a sea.

"My servants, it is only your deeds which I put into your account, and they pay you in full for them; so let him who finds good thank and praise God, and let him who finds other than good blame no one but himself."

The Prophet: God's Mercy and Guidance

The Prophet, bpuh, said: "I have been told a parable about myself: A lord built a house, laid a feast in it, and sent an emissary to invite everybody to the feast. Anyone who accepted his invitation , he entered the house, ate of the feast, and earned the lord's pleasure; but the one who did not accept his invitation, he did not enter the house , got no share of the feast, and incurred the lord's anger."

He then explained thus: The Lord is God ,the emissary who issues the invitation to the feast is Muhammad, the house is Islam, and the feast is the Paradise."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "I am like a man who kindled a fire, when it lit up the place, the moths and the creeping insects began to fall into it. He tried to prevent them, but they go the better of him and rushed into it. You and I are like that. I am seizing your girdles to pull you away from the Hell-fire: "Come away from the Fire!. Come away from the Fire." But you are getting the better of me and rushing into it."

God's Unbounded Forgiveness

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: God says

Son of Adam, so long as you keep calling upon Me and hoping for good from Me, I shall forgive you whatever you have done, and I care little. Son of Adam, were your sins to rise as high as the sky, and were you then to ask Me for forgiveness, I would forgive you., Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as large as would fill the earth, and meet Me having ascribed no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness as great as your sins."

The prophet , bpuh , said: "All children of Adam are sinners, but best among sinners are those who constantly repent."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "One is not counted as a persistent sinner if he seeks forgiveness every time he sins, even if he returns to the same sin seventy times a day."

The Messenger of God , bpuh said: "By Him who has my soul in His hands, were you not to sin, God would have removed you,and brought another people who would sin,then ask for God's forgiveness , and God would forgive them."

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: "When a believer sins, a black spot appears on his heart. But if he repents and seeks Allah's forgiveness, his heart becomes cleansed and polished. However if he continues to commit more and more sins (without seeking forgiveness),the spot continues to spread and ultimately covers all of his heart. This is the rust which God mentions (in the Quran): "What deeds they earn rust upon their hearts."

God's Generous Reckoning

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God records the good deeds and the bad deeds thus: If anyone intends to do a good deed but does not actually do it, God writes it down with Him as a full good deed. If he intends it, and does it too, God writes it down with Him as ten to seven hundred times that good deed, or many times over. If anyone intends to do a bad deed but does not actually do it, God writes it down with Him as full good deed. When he intends a bad deed and does it as well, only then God writes it down as one bad deed."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God has for my sake, pardoned my people for all acts they do mistakenly , forgetfully, or under duress."

Seeking Godliness

Heart: The Source of All

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "Listen carefully, there is a lump of flesh in the body. If it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy; but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well, it is the Heart."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "If someone wants to know the position he enjoys in the eyes of God , he has only to look at what place he gives to God (in his heart and life)."

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: "A Muslim is a Muslim's brother; he does not wrong him, nor desert him, nor looks down upon him. Remember, piety lies here! (And he pointed his finger to his heart three times.) To belittle one's Muslim brother (in thoughts or treatment) is enough of evil for a person to do."

Living in God's Presence

Once the Prophet, bpuh was asked: "Tell us what is excellence (ihsan)?"

He said: "Excellence is that you worship and serve God (in all your life) as though you are seeing Him; for He always sees you , even if you do not see Him."

Someone asked:"How one can purify and develop himself, O Messenger of God , bpuh?

He replied: "He should always remember that God is with him wherever He is."

The Prophet, bpuh said: "Remain conscious of God and fear Him wherever you are, and follow a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards people.

One day I was riding behind the Prophet, bpuh, when he said to me: "Young man, shall I teach you some words (of advice): Be mindful of God's (commands) and God will protect you. Remember God ad you will find Him in front of you. (Know God in prosperity and He will know you in adversity.) If you have to ask, ask of God; if you have to seek help, seek help from God. Remember that if all the people were to join hands to bring you some benefit, they cannot bring you any benefit except that which God had already decreed for you. And if they all were to join hands to harm you, they would harm you only with that which God had already decreed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have been dried."

Remembering and Nearing God

The Prophet, bpuh said: God says, "I treat My servants as he hopes that I would treat him.

I am with him whenever he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My "Heart", and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better than that gathering.

"And if he draws near to Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length; and if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "One who remembers God and one who does not are like the living and the dead."

Seeking God's Love

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: "Anyone who possesses three qualities finds thereby the sweetness of faith: that he loves God and His Messenger, bpuh, more than anything else; that when he loves a human being he loves him for God's sake alone; and that he abhors returning to unbelief from which God has rescured him , as he abhors being thrown into fire.

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God has said: " I love nothing more than that My servant should draw near to Me by performing duties I have enjoined upon him. Then when My servant desires to be near to Me so much that he does voluntary good deeds as well, I love him so much so that I become his "ears" with which he hears, his "eyes: with which he sees, his "hands' with which he works, and his "feet" with which he walks. Were he to ask of Me something, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely give him refuge."

The Prophet, bpuh said: "Anyone who wants to be true in his for God and His Messenger, or desires that God and His Messenger should love him, he should always speak the truth,fulfil all trusts entrusted to him and be a good neighbour."

A man came to the Prophet, bpuh, and asked "O Messenger of God, tell me of some deeds which I may do, so that Allah will love me as well as people will love me."

He said: "Do not covet this world and Allah will love you; do not covet what people possess, and people will love you."

Finding God by Serving Mankind

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: God will say "Son of Adam , I fell ill but you did not visit Me." He will say, "O Lord and how could I have visited You! You are the Lord of the Worlds!. He will say, "Did you not know that My so-and so-servant had fallen ill and you did not visit him? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?"

Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me. He will say "O Lord how could I have fed You! You are the Lord of the worlds !" He will say , My so-and so-servant asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that with Me ?"

Son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink but you did not give Me. He will say "O Lord how could I have given you to drink! You are the Lord of the worlds !" He will say , My so-and so-servant asked you to give him to drink and you did not give him? Had you given him to drink you would surely have found that with Me ?"

Outward Religiosity and Ostentation

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Many a one fast, but gain nothing from their fasting except hunger and thirst; and many a one pray all night, but gain nothing from their night prayers except sleeplessness"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: " If one does not abstain from falsehood, and acting in accordance with it, God is in no need of his abstaining from food and drink"

A man came to the prophet, bpuh, and asked: One fights for booty, one for the sake of reputation, and one to show off his bravery: which of them is fighting in God's cause?

The prophet, bpuh said: "Only the one who fights so that God's guidance may prevail, fights in God's cause"

The messenger of God, bpuh said: "Whoever prays to shoe off, he is [a sort of] idolater, for he makes a god beside God; whoever fasts to show off, he also makes a god beside God; and whoever gives charity to show off, he too makes a god beside God"

Hypocrisy

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said:" Three characteristics are the signs of hypocrisy, even if her hates, performs the Prayer and claims that he is a Muslim: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he trusted, he betrays his trust"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said:" A man will be brought to the Fire on the Day of Judgment, and he will be thrown into it. His gusts will spill out in it, and he will go round and round like a donkey at a mill. The people in the Hell-fire will gather round him and say," Oh, you! What is the matter with you ? Did you not use to tell us to do good and forbid us to do evil??" He will say, "Yes, I used to tell you to good, but did not do it myself; and I used to forbid you from evil, but I did it myself"

Golden Rules for Obedience

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God has laid down certain duties, so do not neglect them; He has set certain boundaries, so do not overstep them; He has prohibited certain things, so do not violate them; about the rest of things He has kept silent- out of compassion for you, not because He has forgotten [or made a mistake] – so leave them alone and refrain from questioning about them"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said" What I have forbidden to you, avoid; what I have enjoined upon you, do so much as you can. It was only excessive questioning and then following paths different from what their prophets told them that destroyed those who were before you"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said "That Muslim is guilty of the most serious offence who enquires about something which is not forbidden for men, but is declared forbidden because of his questioning"

I asked the Messenger of God, bpuh, "What is virtue and what is sin? He said "Virtue is to have good morals, sin is what pricks your heart and you dislike that people come to know about it"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, asked me:" Have you come to ask about virtue? I said Yes "He said Seek a verdict from your Heart. The virtue is that about which your soul and heart feel satisfied. Sin is that which troubles the soul and about which the heart is uneasy and confused, even though people may again and again give their legal opinions in its favour"

The prophet, bpuh, said to Abdullah ibn Amr: have I heard right that you fast everyday and stand in prayer all night? Abdullah replied 'Yes, O Messenger of God' The prophet, bpuh, said "Do not do that. Fast, as well as eat and drink. Stand in prayer as well as sleep. For your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you"

When the prophet, bpuh, came to Madinah, people used to cross-fertilize the date-palm trees in a particular manner. He asked them, "Why are you doing it? 'they replied, 'This has for ling been out practice.' He said " Maybe it would be better of yu do not it." So they gave it up, but the crop was reduced. They mentioned this to him, whereupon he said" I am only human being. If I tell you anything about Islam, obey it. But when I instruct you about anything based upon my opinion about worldly business, then I am only a human being and you know your worldly business better"

Mercy and the Way of Giving

Mercy to God's Family

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said "All creatures are God's family; and God loves them most who treat His family well and kindly"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said "Only those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those who are on earth, He who is in heaven will show mercy to you"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Forgiveness was granted to a prostitute! She came upon a dog at the mouth of a well, who was panting and was about to die of thirst. She took of her leather sock, tied it with her headscarf, and drew some water from the well for the dog, It was for this act of kindness that she was forgiven her sins"

When asked ' Are we rewarded even for good we do to animals? " he replied " Reward is given for good done to any living creature"

The Garden of Charity

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Every Muslim must give charity" some people asked ' What if he has no money?' He replied " He should work with his own hands, and meet his needs as well as give charity to others" The asked ' What if could not, or did not do that? He replied " Then he should assist a needy person in distress"

They asked " what if he could not do that as well?' He replied " He should then teach good things" They asked 'And, if he could not even that?' He replied "Then, he should refrain from harming anyone. That, too would be charity on his part"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Giving charity is incumbent upon every bone of every human being every day that the sin rises: To judge fairly between two people is charity. To help someone mount his animal is charity. To help someone load his pack is charity. To say a good word is charity. To move any harmful thing from the road is charity"

This too is charity

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: " Every time you say " glory be to God", it is charity; likewise every "God is great" is charity; every "all praise be to God", is charity; every "there is no god but God" is charity; every act enjoining good is charity; every act forbidding evil is charity; and sexual intercourse with one's wife is also an act of charity"

Surprised, they asked if a reward would be given even for satisfying one's desire. He said, "Tell me, if he were to satisfy it in an unlawful manner, would it not be a sin? So, if he were to satisfy it lawfully, he would have reward"

salam

wel_mel

God's Mercy

The messenger of GOD, blessing and peace of Allah be upon him said:" When God decided upon to create, He also pledge Himself to be merciful to all His creation, by writing in His Book which is with Him above His Throne, "My mercy shall prevail over My anger"'

The Messenger of God , pbup, said "If believers knew the severity of God's punishment ,no one would hope to enter His Paradis, and if disbelievers knew the vastness of his mercy, no one would despair of entering His Paradise".

Once we were with the Prophet, bpuh, when a man came forward, who held in his hand something wrapped up in a blanket. He said: "O Messenger of God I was passing by a thicket of trees when I heard some young birds chirping. I seized them and put them in my blanket. Then their mother uncovered them a little to let her see. She alighted on them and I wrapped them all up in my blanket . Here they all are."

The Prophet, bpuh, immediately ordered them to be put down. I put them down, but their mother would not leave them. The Prophet , bpuh, thereupon said: "Do you wonder at the compassion of this bird for her young? By Him who has sent me with the Truth, God is more merciful to His servants than this mother of young birds is to her young. Then he ordered: "Take them back and put them where you got them. And their mother as well." So he took them back.

Let there be No God But God

The Prophet, bpuh, said: "The right of God upon His servants is that they worship and serve Him alone, and make none a God beside Him; and the right of servants upon God is that He does not punish those who do not make anything a God beside Him."

Once we were with the Prophet, bpuh, on one of his expeditions, when we came upon certain people. He asked them who they were. They said that they were Muslims. Among them was a woman who had a child with her. She was kindling a fire, and when the flames rose, she moved her child away.

She went to the Prophet, bpuh, and asked. "Are you God's Messenger?" He said,"Yes I am ." She then said,"You for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, tell me if God is not the most merciful of all who are merciful?" He said, "Yes He is. She then asked , "Is God not more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child?" He said "Yes He is" She then said "But a mother does not throw her child into fire"

On hearing this, the Prophet, bpuh, bowed his head and wept. The he raised it, looked at her and said "God would not punish any of His servants except the one who is bent upon denying and rebelling against Him and refuses to say "there is no God but God"

Upon Dependence Upon God

The Prophet, bpuh, said : God says, "My servants, I have forbidden Myself doing any wrong and have also forbidden you, so do no wrong unto one another".

My servants all of you are astray except those whom I guide; so ask Me for guidance and I shall guide you. My servants, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed; so ask Me for food and I shall feed you. My servants, all of you are naked except those whom I clothe; so ask Me for clothing and I shall clothe you. My servants,you sin by night and by day, yet I forgive all sins; so ask Me for forgiveness and I shall forgive you."

"My servants, you can do nothing that could harm Me, neither can you do anything that would benefit Me.

"My servants, even if the first and that last of you all the human beings and the jinn, become as righteous as the one with the most righteous heart among you, that would add nothing to My kingdom. My servants, if (all of you) become as wicked as the one with the most wicked heart among you, that would diminish nothing from My kingdom.

"My servants were (all of you) to stand in one place and ask Me whatever you wished, and were I to give everyone what he asked for, that would not diminish what I have any more than a needle would when put into a sea.

"My servants, it is only your deeds which I put into your account, and they pay you in full for them; so let him who finds good thank and praise God, and let him who finds other than good blame no one but himself."

The Prophet: God's Mercy and Guidance

The Prophet, bpuh, said: "I have been told a parable about myself: A lord built a house, laid a feast in it, and sent an emissary to invite everybody to the feast. Anyone who accepted his invitation , he entered the house, ate of the feast, and earned the lord's pleasure; but the one who did not accept his invitation, he did not enter the house , got no share of the feast, and incurred the lord's anger."

He then explained thus: The Lord is God ,the emissary who issues the invitation to the feast is Muhammad, the house is Islam, and the feast is the Paradise."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "I am like a man who kindled a fire, when it lit up the place, the moths and the creeping insects began to fall into it. He tried to prevent them, but they go the better of him and rushed into it. You and I are like that. I am seizing your girdles to pull you away from the Hell-fire: "Come away from the Fire!. Come away from the Fire." But you are getting the better of me and rushing into it."

God's Unbounded Forgiveness

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: God says

Son of Adam, so long as you keep calling upon Me and hoping for good from Me, I shall forgive you whatever you have done, and I care little. Son of Adam, were your sins to rise as high as the sky, and were you then to ask Me for forgiveness, I would forgive you., Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as large as would fill the earth, and meet Me having ascribed no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness as great as your sins."

The prophet , bpuh , said: "All children of Adam are sinners, but best among sinners are those who constantly repent."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "One is not counted as a persistent sinner if he seeks forgiveness every time he sins, even if he returns to the same sin seventy times a day."

The Messenger of God , bpuh said: "By Him who has my soul in His hands, were you not to sin, God would have removed you,and brought another people who would sin,then ask for God's forgiveness , and God would forgive them."

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: "When a believer sins, a black spot appears on his heart. But if he repents and seeks Allah's forgiveness, his heart becomes cleansed and polished. However if he continues to commit more and more sins (without seeking forgiveness),the spot continues to spread and ultimately covers all of his heart. This is the rust which God mentions (in the Quran): "What deeds they earn rust upon their hearts."

God's Generous Reckoning

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God records the good deeds and the bad deeds thus: If anyone intends to do a good deed but does not actually do it, God writes it down with Him as a full good deed. If he intends it, and does it too, God writes it down with Him as ten to seven hundred times that good deed, or many times over. If anyone intends to do a bad deed but does not actually do it, God writes it down with Him as full good deed. When he intends a bad deed and does it as well, only then God writes it down as one bad deed."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God has for my sake, pardoned my people for all acts they do mistakenly , forgetfully, or under duress."

Seeking Godliness

Heart: The Source of All

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "Listen carefully, there is a lump of flesh in the body. If it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy; but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well, it is the Heart."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "If someone wants to know the position he enjoys in the eyes of God , he has only to look at what place he gives to God (in his heart and life)."

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: "A Muslim is a Muslim's brother; he does not wrong him, nor desert him, nor looks down upon him. Remember, piety lies here! (And he pointed his finger to his heart three times.) To belittle one's Muslim brother (in thoughts or treatment) is enough of evil for a person to do."

Living in God's Presence

Once the Prophet, bpuh was asked: "Tell us what is excellence (ihsan)?"

He said: "Excellence is that you worship and serve God (in all your life) as though you are seeing Him; for He always sees you , even if you do not see Him."

Someone asked:"How one can purify and develop himself, O Messenger of God , bpuh?

He replied: "He should always remember that God is with him wherever He is."

The Prophet, bpuh said: "Remain conscious of God and fear Him wherever you are, and follow a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards people.

One day I was riding behind the Prophet, bpuh, when he said to me: "Young man, shall I teach you some words (of advice): Be mindful of God's (commands) and God will protect you. Remember God ad you will find Him in front of you. (Know God in prosperity and He will know you in adversity.) If you have to ask, ask of God; if you have to seek help, seek help from God. Remember that if all the people were to join hands to bring you some benefit, they cannot bring you any benefit except that which God had already decreed for you. And if they all were to join hands to harm you, they would harm you only with that which God had already decreed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have been dried."

Remembering and Nearing God

The Prophet, bpuh said: God says, "I treat My servants as he hopes that I would treat him.

I am with him whenever he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My "Heart", and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better than that gathering.

"And if he draws near to Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length; and if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running."

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "One who remembers God and one who does not are like the living and the dead."

Seeking God's Love

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: "Anyone who possesses three qualities finds thereby the sweetness of faith: that he loves God and His Messenger, bpuh, more than anything else; that when he loves a human being he loves him for God's sake alone; and that he abhors returning to unbelief from which God has rescured him , as he abhors being thrown into fire.

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God has said: " I love nothing more than that My servant should draw near to Me by performing duties I have enjoined upon him. Then when My servant desires to be near to Me so much that he does voluntary good deeds as well, I love him so much so that I become his "ears" with which he hears, his "eyes: with which he sees, his "hands' with which he works, and his "feet" with which he walks. Were he to ask of Me something, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely give him refuge."

The Prophet, bpuh said: "Anyone who wants to be true in his for God and His Messenger, or desires that God and His Messenger should love him, he should always speak the truth,fulfil all trusts entrusted to him and be a good neighbour."

A man came to the Prophet, bpuh, and asked "O Messenger of God, tell me of some deeds which I may do, so that Allah will love me as well as people will love me."

He said: "Do not covet this world and Allah will love you; do not covet what people possess, and people will love you."

Finding God by Serving Mankind

The Messenger of God, bpuh said: God will say "Son of Adam , I fell ill but you did not visit Me." He will say, "O Lord and how could I have visited You! You are the Lord of the Worlds!. He will say, "Did you not know that My so-and so-servant had fallen ill and you did not visit him? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?"

Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me. He will say "O Lord how could I have fed You! You are the Lord of the worlds !" He will say , My so-and so-servant asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that with Me ?"

Son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink but you did not give Me. He will say "O Lord how could I have given you to drink! You are the Lord of the worlds !" He will say , My so-and so-servant asked you to give him to drink and you did not give him? Had you given him to drink you would surely have found that with Me ?"

Outward Religiosity and Ostentation

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Many a one fast, but gain nothing from their fasting except hunger and thirst; and many a one pray all night, but gain nothing from their night prayers except sleeplessness"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: " If one does not abstain from falsehood, and acting in accordance with it, God is in no need of his abstaining from food and drink"

A man came to the prophet, bpuh, and asked: One fights for booty, one for the sake of reputation, and one to show off his bravery: which of them is fighting in God's cause?

The prophet, bpuh said: "Only the one who fights so that God's guidance may prevail, fights in God's cause"

The messenger of God, bpuh said: "Whoever prays to shoe off, he is [a sort of] idolater, for he makes a god beside God; whoever fasts to show off, he also makes a god beside God; and whoever gives charity to show off, he too makes a god beside God"

Hypocrisy

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said:" Three characteristics are the signs of hypocrisy, even if her hates, performs the Prayer and claims that he is a Muslim: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he trusted, he betrays his trust"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said:" A man will be brought to the Fire on the Day of Judgment, and he will be thrown into it. His gusts will spill out in it, and he will go round and round like a donkey at a mill. The people in the Hell-fire will gather round him and say," Oh, you! What is the matter with you ? Did you not use to tell us to do good and forbid us to do evil??" He will say, "Yes, I used to tell you to good, but did not do it myself; and I used to forbid you from evil, but I did it myself"

Golden Rules for Obedience

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: "God has laid down certain duties, so do not neglect them; He has set certain boundaries, so do not overstep them; He has prohibited certain things, so do not violate them; about the rest of things He has kept silent- out of compassion for you, not because He has forgotten [or made a mistake] – so leave them alone and refrain from questioning about them"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said" What I have forbidden to you, avoid; what I have enjoined upon you, do so much as you can. It was only excessive questioning and then following paths different from what their prophets told them that destroyed those who were before you"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said "That Muslim is guilty of the most serious offence who enquires about something which is not forbidden for men, but is declared forbidden because of his questioning"

I asked the Messenger of God, bpuh, "What is virtue and what is sin? He said "Virtue is to have good morals, sin is what pricks your heart and you dislike that people come to know about it"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, asked me:" Have you come to ask about virtue? I said Yes "He said Seek a verdict from your Heart. The virtue is that about which your soul and heart feel satisfied. Sin is that which troubles the soul and about which the heart is uneasy and confused, even though people may again and again give their legal opinions in its favour"

The prophet, bpuh, said to Abdullah ibn Amr: have I heard right that you fast everyday and stand in prayer all night? Abdullah replied 'Yes, O Messenger of God' The prophet, bpuh, said "Do not do that. Fast, as well as eat and drink. Stand in prayer as well as sleep. For your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you"

When the prophet, bpuh, came to Madinah, people used to cross-fertilize the date-palm trees in a particular manner. He asked them, "Why are you doing it? 'they replied, 'This has for ling been out practice.' He said " Maybe it would be better of yu do not it." So they gave it up, but the crop was reduced. They mentioned this to him, whereupon he said" I am only human being. If I tell you anything about Islam, obey it. But when I instruct you about anything based upon my opinion about worldly business, then I am only a human being and you know your worldly business better"

Mercy and the Way of Giving

Mercy to God's Family

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said "All creatures are God's family; and God loves them most who treat His family well and kindly"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said "Only those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those who are on earth, He who is in heaven will show mercy to you"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Forgiveness was granted to a prostitute! She came upon a dog at the mouth of a well, who was panting and was about to die of thirst. She took of her leather sock, tied it with her headscarf, and drew some water from the well for the dog, It was for this act of kindness that she was forgiven her sins"

When asked ' Are we rewarded even for good we do to animals? " he replied " Reward is given for good done to any living creature"

The Garden of Charity

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Every Muslim must give charity" some people asked ' What if he has no money?' He replied " He should work with his own hands, and meet his needs as well as give charity to others" The asked ' What if could not, or did not do that? He replied " Then he should assist a needy person in distress"

They asked " what if he could not do that as well?' He replied " He should then teach good things" They asked 'And, if he could not even that?' He replied "Then, he should refrain from harming anyone. That, too would be charity on his part"

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said " Giving charity is incumbent upon every bone of every human being every day that the sin rises: To judge fairly between two people is charity. To help someone mount his animal is charity. To help someone load his pack is charity. To say a good word is charity. To move any harmful thing from the road is charity"

This too is charity

The Messenger of God, bpuh, said: " Every time you say " glory be to God", it is charity; likewise every "God is great" is charity; every "all praise be to God", is charity; every "there is no god but God" is charity; every act enjoining good is charity; every act forbidding evil is charity; and sexual intercourse with one's wife is also an act of charity"

Surprised, they asked if a reward would be given even for satisfying one's desire. He said, "Tell me, if he were to satisfy it in an unlawful manner, would it not be a sin? So, if he were to satisfy it lawfully, he would have reward"

Assalamo ALikom all.

we forgot to welcome our NEW brother who came to Islam last Dec 17, 2003... Guess who ????????????? the "King of Pop," MICHAEL JACKSON , maybe it is old news but i got feeling that i must share this news with all of you.

Allahu Akbar .. Allahu Akbar.. Allahu Akbar

in whatever way he may found Islam. please welcome our new brother MICHAEL JACKSON to Islam and make Du'aa for him.

Salam

wel_mel

<b>Developing Love for Allaah</b>

By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Taken from al-Istiqaamah magazine

Ibnul Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

“People have discussed about mahabbah (love of Allaah); its causes and what brings it about, its signs and its fruits and its rulings.

The most comprehensive saying about this is what Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee (rahimahullaah) relates about al-Junayd (d.279H).

Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee (d.322H) said:

‘A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah during the Pilgrimage month. The shaykhs who were present spoke about this matter and al-Junayd was the youngest of them. They said to him: O ‘Iraaqee, what do you have to say? So he bowed his head and tears were flowing from his eyes and he said:

“A servant should overcome his soul;

And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord;

Establishing the Rights of his Lord;

Focusing upon Him with his heart;

The late of fear setting a blaze upon his heart;

Whilst drinking from the vessel of true love;

And certain realities become unveiled to him;

So when he talks, it is due to Allaah;

When he speaks, it is from Allaah;

When he moves, it is by the command of Allaah;

And when he is serene, then it is from Allaah;

He belongs to Allaah, is for Allaah, and is with Allaah.”

So the shaykhs began to weep and said: How can that be increased upon? May Allaah reward you with good, O crown of the knowledgeable ones!’”[1]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) further said:

“The reasons which cause the mahabbah (love of Allaah) to develop are ten:

<b>Firstly:</b> Reciting the Qur’aan, reflecting upon it and understanding its meanings.

<b>Secondly:</b> Drawing closer to Allaah through the performance of optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory deeds.

<b>Thirdly:</b> Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah - in all circumstances - with the tongue, the heart and the limbs. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah intensifies.

<b>Fourthly:</b> Giving precedence to what Allaah loves - when being overcome with desires - over what one personally loves and desires.

<b>Fifthly:</b> Causing the heart to contemplate over the Names and Attributes of Allaah. Being a witness to what they necessitate and causing the heart to be enlightened in the garden of this realisation.

<b>Sixthly:</b> Witnessing the blessing and the favours of Allaah; the apparent and the hidden.

<b>Seventhly:</b> Subduing the heart and humbling it before Allaah, causing it to be in awe of Him.

<b>Eighthly:</b> Being in seclusion during the time in which Allaah descends to the lowest Heaven; reciting the Qur’aan, and finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and sincerely repenting to Him.

<b>Ninthly:</b> Sitting in the gatherings of the sincere and true lovers of Allaah; reaping the benefits of their teachings, and not speaking except when you know there is benefit in doing so and that such speech will increase you in good and benefit others as well.

<b>Tenthly:</b> Keeping clear from all those matters which will cause the heart to distance itself from Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic.

So these are ten matters which cause the lover to reach the station of true love for Allaah, so that he may then reach Allaah - his Beloved.”[2]

Notes:

[1] Madaarijus-Saalikeen (3/9)

[2] Madaarijus-Saalikeen (3/17-18)

I have a question ne1 and everyone can answer it. Mainly for the Muslim youth on the board to answer.

Can ne1 name ne Muslim youth in the history of Islam. Tell me their name, explain who they were and the significance of wot they have done for Islam?

Mosque

I love this picture so much

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, Assalamu Alaikum. FOSIS is pleased to present an Action Alert.

FOSIS CALLS ALL STUDENTS TO ATTEND HIJAB PICKET ON SAT 17th JAN 2004.

FOSIS HAS PUT ITS FULL SUPPORT BEHIND ACTIONS TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY IN DEFENCE OF THE HIJAB:

The actions are part of the International Day of Protest against France’s move to ban “overt religious symbols” in schools and public workplaces as initiated by the Muslim Association of Britain & Muslim Women’s Society, and backed by great many organisations, Muslim and non-Muslim inside and outside the UK. The picket will take place in front of the French Embassy in London from 11am and in Edinburgh from 12pm.

We must all be alarmed at the gross violation of human rights and liberties being proposed, and act to stop it from happening in France and from spreading beyond its borders.

The French Government must recognise that it will make a huge mistake by forbidding Muslim students and employees from dressing in line with religious requirements. As Muslims have repeatedly emphasised, the Hijab is not a symbol, but rather a function of modesty in line with Islamic obligations.

The only way to make a change now is to stand up in solidarity with our French sisters and others in France and worldwide who face similar trials. We must defend freedom of religious expression. And as well as this short-term action, we must work to build understanding of our way of life among people of this society.

................................................................................................................................................

WE URGE YOU TO JOIN THE ACTIONS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO ATTEND.

................................................................................................................................................

Saturday 17th January 2004:

London

11am-2pm

French Embassy,

58 Knightsbridge,

London, SW1

(Nearest tube station Knightsbridge, Piccadilly line)

Edinburgh

12pm-2pm

French Consulate General,

11 Randolph Crescent,

Edinburgh, EH3 7TT

F.O.S.I.S.

The Federation of Students Islamic Societies In the UK & Eire.

For more information contact us:

Tel: (0)20 8452 4493

Fax: (0)20 8208 4161

E-mail: info@fosis.org.uk

WWW: http://www.fosis.org.uk/