Let us revive deserted worships

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


As salam alykom brothers and sisters


Here I m again trying to fill in to this thread, there is an Ayah that is hardly applied, I mean that people when put in a situation that requires to apply and observe it, they usually take other aspects in consideration, such as feeling unable to in fear of embarrassing others.


This Ayah is:


<b>"And if you find no one therein, still, enter not until permission has been given. And if you are asked to go back, go back, for it is purer for you, and Allah is All-Knower of what you do" (Quran 24:28)</b>



How many of you if suggested to visit someone and this person is not ready and thus apologizes, takes it easy rather than acting in an upset manner which usually leads to the person having to make much apologies and explaining him/herself?


The Ayah is very clear if you are asked to go back go back. If I call someone asking for a permission to visit, and the person is simply not even ready to see a stranger. You don’t have necessarily to be a stranger in the sense of a stranger, you may be a good friend. But the person in not ready for a visit for any kind of reason. This does not mean that your not a good friend, or a close person, or that he/she must explain to you in an indication to how dear you are to him/her.


Some people measure their value to others when they express readiness to see them under any circumstance. In some cases, they even spell this out loud saying O I don’t answer calls, or accept visits except from you. Whereas, the Ayahs is so simple, clear and direct. It even does not include an obligation for the person to give excuses. But just say go back and the person must respond immediately.


I observed that very few of us today do apply this ayahs which constitutes an essential part of our Islamic mannerism. Islam didn’t leave out any part of our lives without regulating it. Part of it, is visits among people. If the person is paying the visit in the name of Allah and only for Allah's Sake, then he/she will be sure that the reward is already gained as long as the intention is for Allah. Even a wise person, will be able to see that Allah Rewards for the intention only and may even Forgive the person for taking the burden as long as the intention is for Allah. Thus, in such cases when the person apologizes for accepting the visit, one must say Alhamdulelah that he/she is rewarded without even taking any burden or effort. That Allah Saved him/her traffic problems, transportation, time which may be dedicated to other affairs. Yet the reward is attained Alhamdulelah. Dealing with Allah is very easy, it is only us who complicate our lives. Sobhan Allah


Alhamdulelah

[Muslimah]

Praise be to Allah and prayer and peace be upon His Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah


While looking around my community, I observed many relations that are quickly eroding. Of them, a very important and essential relation that Allah Stressed through hadeeth of the Messenger on the necessity to maintain it under any conditions. It is the right of a neighbor.


Narrated under the authority of Abdullah Ibn Amr arrived to his house and found that his household members slaughtered a lamb. He asked them, did you send a piece as a present to our Jewish neighbor? I heard the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam say: Jebreel kept to advice me to adopt a kind attitude with the neighbor till I thought that he was going to make the neighbor eligible for inheritance” (Reported by Termdhi)
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Narrated under the authority of Aaesha may Allah Be Pleased with her that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: Jebreel kept to advice me to adopt a kind attitude with the neighbor till I thought that he was going to make the neighbor eligible for inheritance” (Reported by Bukhari)



‏Narrated under the authority of Abu Shuraih that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: Wallahi (in the Name of Allah) one will not be a believer, Wallahi (in the Name of Allah) one will not be a believer, Wallahi (in the Name of Allah) one will not be a believer, they asked and who O Messenger of Allah. He replied one whose neighbour shall not be secure against his evil” (reported by Bukhari)
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Narrated under the authority of Abi Horaira that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam used to say O Muslim women, a female neighbor should not despise her female neighbour even if she gave her as present the bottom end of a lamb’s foot” (reported by Bukhari)



‏ Through the previously mentioned hadeeth, we can easily detect the importance to maintain a kind relation with our neighbor. Special emphasis is laid on many aspects of such relation. Look at the first hadeeth by Abdullah who because of the Messenger’s hadeeth of how Jebreel kept making sure that we treat our neighbours nicely thought the Jebreel was going to include neighbors with those next of kin who are eligible for inheritance, due to this Abudllah wanted to make sure that his household members sent a present to their Jewish neighbor.


How many of us nowadays do observe these hadeeth? How many of us nowadays sit even once a week next to the phone and make phone calls to the neighbors just following this sunnah? How many of us tries to help neighbors in cases of illness, or other? How many of us tries his/her best not to be source of evil to the neighbor? Brothers and sisters evil here does not necessarily mean physical harm, but raising the TV volume is enough, not taking the neighbor in consideration while cleaning is enough, not taking the neighbor in consideration while making any house maintained that involves noise in enough.


Brothers and sisters, let us all start observing this Sunnah, initiate it and you will find a remarkable feedback. At least be the initiator in the name of Allah, you will receive the reward for it and for each one who remembers and follows Insh aAllah. Let us revive this Sunnah through which a neighbor was really closer than some of the relatives. Through this, the kind of relationships of our Ummah will be restored Insh a Allah.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Praise be to Allah Who Put Mercy and Compassion between the married spouses, The All Knowing and Creator of all, prayer and peace be upon His Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah, his household and companions, and all Prophets and Messengers.


Allah Who Say: <b>”And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect
.” </b> (Quran 30:21)


This is a promise from Allah to the married couple, but are we following the prescribed criteria in selecting the spouse? O yes of course marriage is a worship certainly, and the associated procedures is what we are missing or more so deserting.


The Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam told us in this regard:


<b>“Narrated under the authority of Abi Horaira that the Messenger of Allah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: if a man of whom you accept his manners, ethics, morals and religious commitment proposed to you for marriage, accept his marriage proposal. If you don’t follow this, fitnah will prevail on earth coupled with extended corruption” (reported by Sunan Ibn Majeh)[/
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"Narrated under the authority of Abi Horaira may Allah Be Pleased with him that the Prophet salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: <b>There are four traits which encourages a man to marry a woman, her wealth, social status, beauty and religious commitment. Win the one with a strong religious commitment, may you be satisfied” </b>reported by Muslim)



‏With a quick look you can realize that a common factor in the criteria of both men and women is the religious commitment or devotion.


Come let us examine the youth at our present time, and certainly I m not making a blanket, or generalizing. Not all youth, but quite a large number of young girls still go for the nice car, good looks, money to enable the man get the big rock (diamond ring), luxurious apartment….etc all the worldly affairs. While quite a large number of men become strongly attracted to the pretty woman who is displaying herself (whom he regrets later when he finds that last thing she thinks about is how to maintain a Muslim family), or other worldly factors.


On the other side, when a girl is fully convinced that she is determined to apply this precious advice of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, she is confronted with all sorts of resistance from her family members and surrounding society. She might be even accused of giving up important matters that she will regret later on. A young man may also face the same situation with the family in case the woman whom he desires is mainly of a religious devotion level.


The surrounding society plays in this matter a pivotal role that if we look around we really see how we are actually deserting such an important worship.

[Muslimah]

Enjoining good and forbidding evil:



Praise be to Allah and peace and prayer be upon our beloved Messenger, teacher and leader Mohamed, all Prophets and Messengers:


I was thinking how important is this worship, let us review how is it well stressed in Quran:


3:104



وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ


Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all righteousness, enjoining good and forbidding evil. And it is they who are the successful.


3:110


كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ


You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for humankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah. And had the People of the Scripture believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are rebellious.


The first Ayah is a direct command to assign a group of us Muslims who carry out this noble mission of inviting to enjoing good and forbidding evil. This group are described as the successful. The second noble Ayah actually made it conditional for us Muslims to be fit the adjective of being the best of people ever raised up is to do what? To call for good and forbid evil. This act means actually, in an effort to use the blessing of being native Arabic speaker, to call others, advice others, encourage others, to promote the good deeds, obedience, following of Quran and Sunnah on one hand. On the other hand, strive to prevent others from committing sins, expressing rejection to sins, showing others how this or that sin is unacceptable to Allah.


Unless we follow those noble commands, we shall not be fit the description of being the best among people.


In order to realize why our Duas are not granted – in many cases – I guess we all can safely say that we are suffering this trauma.


Let us check how the Messenger prayer and peace be upon him explained this in a hadeeth:


Narrated under the authority of Hudhayfa that the Messenger prayer and peace be upon him said: In the name of the One Whom my soul is in His Hand you shall enjoin good and forbid evil, if you don’t a nation shall be sent over you, then you invoke upon Allah but your supplication shall not be accepted (reported by Musand Ahmed)



This is serious brothers and sisters, the minute the Muslim Ummah shall cease to practice this worship, to cease being the best Ummah, Allah Shall send over us a nation, some nation probably to oppress, or whatever, but the more serious is that we invoke upon Allah, but our supplication shall not be accepted. Does this ring a bell? Does this bring about any reminder that we might be passing this stage?


Actually, these days many people would tell you why would I tell this or so and so this is wrong or right? They are grown up, they know. Yes but why wouldn’t we apply the Ayah and be among the successful?


However, there is a thin line between applying the Ayah in the name of Allah and doing so to show off. The Niyah (intention) is the criterion in this brothers and sisters. Let us revive this worship.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Praise be to Allah and prayer and peace be upon His final and all other Messengers and Prophets.


Insh a Allah I will get back to the enojining good and forbidding evil, however, reciting the following Ayah, I felt a deep interaction with it that I couldnt wait till the morning. I just poured down the contents of my heart. So please forgive me if I sounded repetitive in some areas. But the Ayah is really very deep.


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<b>Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity</b>


And <b>march forth in the way
</b> (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.* Those who spend [in Allah's Cause - deeds of charity, alms, etc.] in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers.


3:133-134


When do you usually spend charity in the name of Allah? Most of the time, people do so when they are in the proper frame of mind, when they are not stressed or facing tribulations or even just problems. I m not making a blanket comment, but I think the majority are like this. Seldom when you go to bring a case needing financial support to someone and it happens that this someone is stressed with work, or having domestic problems or even personal problems. The answer would be sorry but I cannt even focus right now, let us talk about it some other time.


However, if we do examine Ayah, it is a blessing if we realise this, and actually while being in the middle of a given problem, right in the middle, we immediately search for a way to give out money. And certainly the reasons to give out are multiple, like if we look for someone who encountered a crisis, is indebted, someone who cannt ask publicly for money and we know he/she does need, the list can go on. Note how Allah may He be Glorified – setting the order of deeds which is not made haphazardly of course but to stress the importance of one after the other – preceded repressing anger with spending in prosperity. With all due respect to the translators may Allah reward them much, the word here is Saraa. Saraa in Arabic is not restricted on prosperity, but it rather extends to cover the sense of times of happiness, stability, when everything is alright around you. No turbulences. While Daraa implies when one is inflicted with any type of trials and tribulations that includes, financial, health, stress, crisis; i.e loss of money, damage, loss of loved ones, marital problems, children problems…etc.


Again with all due respect, the underlined part is not march forth, the word is Sareo, this word clearly means hasten, accelerate towards, run for. See how much Allah is creating the desire to attain this rank? Which is after the forgiveness of Allah, is a Jannah as spacious or to be precise the width of which equals the space of heavens and earth together. The most important point is how Allah Introduces it, Allah Says prepared for, is waiting for, arranged for. But who are those to be destined for it? The categories as broughforth in the Ayah and according to order which is essential is first those who spend in the name of Allah for charity whenever they see a need for it regardless with their own personal status. This is the criterion. If u look at it, Allah ordered this even before suppressing anger, Knowing of course how much money is loved and dear to the human being. One who is suffering would tell you just leave me alone, it is enough what I m going through I m not mentally ready to hear more tragedies. Just give me a break. Right!!!


This is the test, the real test is to ponder how this money is originally not yours, but rather a bounty from Allah. To reflect on the Ayah and seek this rank of Jannah that is as wide as heavens and earth combined together. Sobhan Allah.


This worship is I think really deserted. We just need to focus on how to set ourselves in this mold that leaves behind whatever we face of trouble and seek the hidden mega blessing promised through the Ayah and spend in the name of Allah.


It really needs training to try hard and apply the Ayah, you might not be successful the first time, but try again and again in order at the end to feel that money is not but a tool rather than an aim, a tool rather than a source of joy, a tool rather than a source of self esteem.


Taking a more indepth look at the Ayah, you can derive that Allah Is Giving us the remedy, the solution of whatever kind of Daraa (problems, tribulations, tests, trials..) mankind may encounter in this short trip. Allah Is Providing us with the solution. It is up to us to remember and use it. Try it, it does work believe me. It is just that we have to stop trying to solve our issues using our own means and ways and switch to those prescribed by the All Knowing, The Creator. Which one you think shall work??????!!!


Even out of just applying the Ayah, you will certainly get an inner satisfaction that is incomparable.


May Allah Protect us all from all kinds of temptation ameen.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Because I realised that this issue is really important and that the words Allah Used need further explanation, but shall not fit under this topic, Insh a Allah you can follow more on the meanings of the Ayahs in the previous post on this thread:


http://islamsms.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=...=40entry33225


Post # 51.

[Muslimah]

<b>Diffusing peace</b>


عن عبدالله بن سلام أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : « أيها الناس أفشوا السلام، وأطعموا الطعام، وصلوا بالليل والناس نيام، تدخلوا الجنة بسلام » [رواه الترمذي].


Narrated under the authority of Abdullah Bin Sallam that the Prophet blessing and peace be upon him said: "O you people diffuse and spread peace, offer food, perform Salat in the night when people are asllep, you shall enter Jannah in peace" (reported by Termidhi)


How many worships or let us say Sunnah are deserted in this hadeeth, I wonder!


In this post, I m targetting diffusing peace. Sobhan Allah, sometimes people would be astonished if you offer salam while passing by. Well I m speaking about the vast majority in countries like where I live, I m not sure about Western countries. Actually, non Muslims in the US always say hello or wave when they pass by you.


If you are walking in places like where I live, you hardly find someone who offers salam. Of course I m not generalising, but the majority dont. Leave alone that the majority use Alo (or hello) in french when answering the phone.


Let us start offering salam while walking in streets to those whom we know or dont know. The objective of this hadeeth is to exessively use this word, til it becomes part of our culture. Probably when you use it a lot with people, when you are confronted with harsh behaviour, or other difficult situations you will think twice, since you already offered salam, to handle hte tough situation harshly, you will think of more peaceful and better handling. No wonder the end result is amazing, entering Jannah peacefully, I think here it means immediately.

[Muslimah]

Narrated under the authority of Abdullah Bin A`mr Bin Al a`as may Allah Be Pleased with both of them that he said: "One who performs four voluntary Rak`a after E`sha, shall receive equal reward to performing them on Laylatul Qadr"


[size="5"]Narrated under the authority of A`esha may Allah be Pleased with her saying: "Performing four Raka`a after Esha, is equivalent to similar four Raka'a on Layltul Qadr"


Narrated under the authority of Abdullah Bin Mas`oud may Allah be pleased with him saying: "One who performs four Raka`a after E`sha in continuity without breaking after each two with a tasleem (saying salam alykon to each side), shall received equivalent of performing them on Laylatul Qadr" (All three are reported by Bukhari and Muslim).
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[Muslimah]

حدثنا عبد الله بن منير سمع أبا النضر حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله بن دينار عن أبي حازم عن سهل بن سعد الساعدي رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلی الله عليه وسلم قال رباط يوم في سبيل الله خير من الدنيا وما عليها وموضع سوط أحدکم من الجنة خير من الدنيا وما عليها والروحة يروحها العبد في سبيل الله أو الغدوة خير من الدنيا وما عليها

صحیح بخاری: حدیث متواتر حدیث مرفوع

Narrated Sahl bin Sad As-Sa'di :

Allah's Apostle said, "To guard Muslims from infidels in Allah's Cause for one day is better than the world and whatever is on its surface, and a place in Paradise as small as that occupied by the whip of one of you is better than the world and whatever is on its surface; and a morning's or an evening's journey which a slave (person) travels in Allah's Cause is better than the world and whatever is on its surface." (Reported by Bukhari)

حدثنا أبو بکر بن أبي شيبة وعبد الله بن سعيد قالا حدثنا أبو خالد الأحمر عن ابن عجلان عن أبي حازم عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلی الله عليه وسلم غدوة أو روحة في سبيل الله خير من الدنيا وما فيها

سنن ابن ماجه

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah P.B.U.H said: "Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or . the evening, is more virtuous than the world and what is in it." (Sahih)