Forums - Usama

What is your ambition in life?

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 22:42:23 +0000

As salaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatu.

Pray you are well and in the best of Imaan. Ameen.

Let's get you thinking.. What is your ambition in life???

If that ambition was not to seek the pleasure of Allah then you need to fix your intentions inshaAllah. Allah will reward us in accordance to what is in our hearts (intention). We should do everything to seek the pleasure of Allah.

This life is only for a blink of an eye. It will disappear, where as the Hereafter is our eternal life. Now whether you want eternal bliss or eternal punishment? That is completely up to you. But I know no one would want eternal punishment.

Key point: whenever doing anything, do it for the pleasure of Allah. Your ultimate goal in life should be to Please Allah.

If you feel that it is wrong to link your action to the pleasure of Allah, then what you are doing must be something that is not allowed. For example you wouldn't steal someone's property for the pleasure of Allah would you?

I sincerely ask everyone who has ever benefited from my texts to make du'a for me. Please ask Allah to help me succeed in the things that I wish to do for His Pleasure.

Wsalaam. written by my cousin

Brotherhood (family/friends)

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:34:17 +0000

Related on the authority of Abu Hurairah (R.A),

The Prophet (Salallahu alayhi wa Salam) said:

A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not wrong him nor does he forsake him when he is in need. Whoever is fufilling the needs of his brother, Allah is fulfilling his needs. Whoever removes distress from a believer, Allah removes from him a distress from a distressful aspect on the Day of Resurrection.

Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

Using Allahs Names in your Dua

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:27:03 +0000

My cousin started of texting everyone on her list,

"Inshallah I am going to text one name with its meaning and I want everyone to try and incorporate the name in their dua inshaAllah and even attempt to memorise the name and its meaning Inshallah"!

So i have decided to share this with you all!

"He is Allah (God), the Creator, the Originator, The Fashioner, to Him belong the most beautiful names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, do declare His praises and Glory. And He is the Exalted in Might, The Wise. (Quran 59:24)

"The most beautiful names belong to Allah (God): so call on Him by them;..." (Quran 7:180)

My Journey My Story My Life

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:16:15 +0000

We all have a story to tell.

We all experience new things in life.

We all influence others.

How many of us think who are we that we can influence or have a postive impact on others?

we sin so much ourself and are trying to get our own iman straight let alone start talking about the topic of islam to others!

Many of us today trying to engage young people or anyone in fact onto Islam, dont always want dawah in terms of so called hard core information being passed on to them, meaning reading long articles, listening to long lectures, reading hadith after hadith or people just telling them YOU GOT TO FOLLOW this your on the wrong path!

My journey My story My life inshallah which give my life experience and how i didnt realise just for example simple talking to a person and mentioning oh i got to go pray how much it influenced and made the other person think hang on a second if she can do it then why cant i?

The above is just one example.

I will be discussing many different issues, typical stereotypes and ways of thinking, Inshallah it will show to others that Islam is a beautiful religion that is for eveyone even those who are on the wrong path and for those who for example we see on the street and judge straight away, oh look at her wearing the hijab yet wearing so much make up! An understanding of the person making this comment and also the one wearing the hijab in this example wikl be explained

you know the saying theres a light at the end of the tunnel.

With hardship comes ease and with ease comes hardship (ayah from Quran cant remember precise reference at the moment).

If I dont make sense with anything please let me know and do post your thoughts!

Speak to you soon inshallah

Dress Code in the West

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:15:57 +0000

Dress Code in the West

A number of questions have come regarding what dress we should wear as Muslims in Western countries. Here are some brief and random thoughts on the issue:

1) Regarding the dress issue for brothers: this should not be a point of conflict among ourselves and should certainly not be a cause of splitting.

2) As Muslims, we have guidelines for dress code, but not a ‘uniform’ as such. The general rule is that everything that is worn is allowed, unless specifically prohibited by a text from the Qur’an or Sunnah. Also, some types of clothing are favoured more than others by the Shari’ah.

3) For example, men should not have their garments below their ankles (according to the stronger of the scholarly opinions), they should not wear gold or silk, they should cover their awrah which includes colour of skin and shape, they should not imitate the kuffar, they should not wear garments that have pictures of animals or humans on them, they should not wear garments that are specially for women…

4) Regarding ‘imitation of the kuffar’, what is meant is that if the clothes are specific to the kuffar – i.e. some / all of the kuffar are known for wearing this dress (such as the Jewish skull cap that leaves the front of the head uncovered, or the turbans worn in the same way as Sikhs wear them) then this is haram to wear – whether the person intends to imitate the kuffar or not. However, if the dress is not specific to the kuffar but they just wear it, there is no problem in wearing this garment on the condition that one does not intend to imitate the kuffar by wearing them. So in this latter case (where the garment is not exclusively worn by the kuffar) it would depend on the person’s intention. If two people are wearing the exact same garment, one could be sinning while the other is not, such as a person who wears a baseball cap: if he intends to imitate the kuffar (e.g. the ‘Westerners’) by this then he is sinning; if not, then he isn’t.

5) Wearing ‘English’ clothes in UK is not a problem in general, as we can see from the previous guidelines; in the same way, wearing ‘Arab’ or ‘Indo-Pak’ clothes is not a problem. However, if wearing ‘English’ clothes is a result of an inferiority complex, then this is a problem!

6) It would come down to personal taste as well as the situation that a person finds himself in. Personally, I have found that wearing these ‘Arab’ garments does give the impression to others clearly that one is a Muslim and, often, has led to many discussions with onlookers about why I wear them – this gives a perfect opportunity for da’wah

On the other hand, some brothers feel that if they wear these clothes it would put the kuffar ‘off’ their da’wah; as I said, it really is down to personal taste and where one feels there is the most benefit. Sh Ibn Jibrin said:

“As far as dress is concerned, we think that if you are able to openly wear Islamic clothing, then you should do so, and wear the dress of the Muslims, and you should say, ‘We are Muslims and we have freedom to choose our religion and practise it openly, just as you Christians can wear your regular clothes and openly display the symbols of your religion, like the crosses you wear. We have the same rights as you do. If this system places these obligations on those who work for them, then we say that if you can find another country to move to where you will be able to openly manifest the symbols of your religion, then do so. But if you cannot do that, then manifest as much as you can of the symbols of your faith. The religion cannot be confined to the home and the mosque; the religion has to be adhered to in the market-places, streets, companies and all public places. Undoubtedly the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not compromise in matters of his religion. When he was in Makkah, before the Hijrah, he used to pray openly, whilst they were looking on. After the Muslims became a distinct community, a specific style of dress was ordained for them, and they commanded to forsake anything else that was a symbol of kufr and was distinctive to the kuffar, because this is imitation, and whoever imitates a people is one of them, as it says in the hadith.”

7) It should be noted, in particular, that it is not permissible to wear (especially during salah) tight garments that show the shape of one’s awrah. Unfortunately, this is very common among brothers who wear tight jeans or trousers and when they go down into ruku’ or sajdah, it is not a pleasant sight!! Many scholars have mentioned that, although the prayer may be valid, the person is accumulating sin by wearing such garments.

8) It is mustahabb (recommended) to wear white, as the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wore it and recommended others to wear it.

9) The last point I’d like to make about this issue is that we should avoid getting the “post 911 syndrome”, before which many brothers would wear ‘Islamic’ clothing (and really insist on doing so) and then after 911 they started finding ‘Islamic’ reasons not to wear the same clothes! Unfortunately, this syndrome can be seen in many haram matters such as shaving the beard, listening to music, etc… That’s another discussion in and of itself…

10) Regarding the relationship between the outer and inner, a brother posted the following valuable words from al-Munaawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, in his Fayd al-Qadeer, vol. 6, pg. 135:

“There is a close link and connection between the outer and inner. Al-Mustapha (SAW) was sent with wisdom, which is the Sunnah, and this in turn is the law and way which has been legislated for him. From that which has been legislated for him are statements and actions that clearly differentiate one from the way of those who have anger upon them and the misguided.

He commanded us to oppose them in the outward matters even if there is no harm therein. This is due to a number of reasons, from amongst which is that imitating in outward matters has an affect on those imitating each other which then goes on to affect morals, manners and actions. This is a matter which is physically witnessed; take for example a person who wears the clothes of scholars, he will find in himself some sort of connection to them.

From among these reasons is that opposition in outward matters necessitates demarcation and differentiation and therefore severs one from the causes leading to the anger [of Allah] and misguidance. It also inculcates an inclination and attachment to the people of guidance and pleasure [of Allah].

From among these reasons is that imitating them in outward matters necessitates publicly mixing with them to the point that the distinguishing factors between the guided and those who have anger upon them and the misguided is removed.”

http://www.abuabdissalam.com/?p=13#more-13

Khutbah video: Leaving a legacy‏

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:01:49 +0000

Khutbah video: Leaving a legacy‏

Assalaamu-alaikum,

> Here's the link: http://www.discoverulife.com/nationbuilding

Walaikum-Assalaam

Becoming Companions of the Qur'aan

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:45:12 +0000

A Qur'aanic Generation

In the spacious courtyard of the masjid, they sat together turning its glorious pages. The rays of sunlight gently bounced from the soft pages of the Qur'aan. Humbled by the greatness of its verses and captivated by the beauty of its words, they were often moved to tears but none uttered a word. Tranquillity descended over them as individual, melodious recitations began. This was no ordinary study circle and these were no ordinary students, the sight of them alone made eyes turn and hearts were drawn to them. These were young men who had gathered in the courtyard of the masjid – serious students studying the Glorious Qur'aan. With a powerful goal in mind and a firm focus, nothing could distract them.

Their soft recitations died down and silence took over as the teacher spoke…

"This Qur'aan… This is the Clear Book of Allaah that is not approached by falsehood neither from before it nor from behind it, sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all Praise.It is the never-ending, ever-lasting miracle that is continuous through the course of Time until Allaah inherits the earth and what is upon it.It is the Strong Rope of Allaah, the Straight Path and the Light which guides to the truth and the right way.

In it is news of what was before you, what is to come after you and a source of judgement between you.

Whoever abandons it has indeed been destroyed by Allaah and whoever seeks guidance in other than it has been led astray.

Whoever speaks by it has been truthful, whoever rules by it has been just and whoever calls to it has indeed called to the straight path."

One of the students lowered his head as a tear strolled down his cheek. A young haafidh from the city, he often made his journey setting off early to join the rest of the students – many of whom like him were deeply moved by these sessions and couldn't afford to miss a single class. He was lost in thought, his mind immersed in recalling the greatness of the Qur'aan. As he wept in silence, the rest listened attentively.

"It is our role-model and the leader in our lives…

By it we are guided and to it we surrender.

Its commands and prohibitions we act according to, and at its Hudood (boundaries) we halt with firmness.It is that which ties the heavens to the earth.A covenant between Allaah and His servants.

The most Noble and honoured from the heavenly Scriptures.

What you have before you is the Way of Allaah, the Most Exalted, and the Greatest Revelation sent down to Mankind…".

It's true.

What we have before us is the Book that many lay claim to but only a few realise its value.

"Had We sent down this Qur'aan on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect." [Al-Hashr: 21]

Mountains are often mentioned in the Qur'aan as symbols of great stability, firmness, endurance and integrity. But even with these powerful characteristics, the mountains were unable to bear the Qur'aan… they could not bear the trust.

"Truly, We did offer the trust to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust and ignorant." [Al-Ahzaab: 72]

The mountains knew their capacity and they knew the incredible weight of the Qur'aan. But man… man didn't know.

"Verily, he was unjust and ignorant."

For them to shatter into pieces, break apart and cleft asunder is no easy matter. They have a right to that because of what the Qur'aan contains. It's not a physical weight that humbles the mountains, but it's the Words of Allaah – they are indeed heavy.

"Verily, We shall send down to you a heavy Word." [Al-Muzzammil: 5]

Iman Story

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:34:29 +0000

Praise is to Allah under all circumstances

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no--it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but ONLY one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are--and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life--can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.

Our Iman is not always as sound and strong as we want it to be as it often fluctuates according to life circumstances. There are several causes for weakening Iman such as deficiencies in our prayers or the insinuating whispers from the Shaytan. Regardless of the cause, it is crucial for all of us to keep a check on our Iman and if we feel it is faltering in any way then we should take measures to restore it. It is our responsibility to know which things decrease our Iman and how to avoid them and those that increase our Iman and how to embrace them.

Thus we find ourselves in situations were we need to refresh, renergise and direct our efforts to increase our Imaan InshaAllah. some excellent and usefull steps to try

Wassalaamu'alaykumWarahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh

Allah knows best and we seek his Assistance

Allah says, "And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is a believer; (as for) these, their striving shall surely be accepted." [17:19]

10 Steps to Increasing our Iman (Faith)

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:23:12 +0000

The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts” (Mustadrak al-Haakim).

Our Iman is not always as sound and strong as we want it to be as it often fluctuates according to life circumstances. There are several causes for weakening Iman such as deficiencies in our prayers or the insinuating whispers from the Shaytan. Regardless of the cause, it is crucial for all of us to keep a check on our Iman and if we feel it is faltering in any way then we should take measures to restore it. It is our responsibility to know which things decrease our Iman and how to avoid them and those that increase our Iman and how to embrace them.

What are signs of a weak imaan?

Signs of weak imaan:

• Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.

• Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran.

• Feeling too lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salat

• Neglecting the Sunnah.

• Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and bothered and irritated most of the time.

• Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quran, for example when Allah warns us of punishments and His promise of glad tidings.

• Finding difficulty in remembering Allah and making dhikr.

• Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.

• Desiring status and wealth.

• Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with wealth.

• Ordering others to do good deeds when not practising them ourselves.

• Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.

• Being concerned with whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makroo (not recommended) things.

• Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque.

• Not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.

• Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.

• Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and yelling in funerals.

• Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.

• Becoming engrossed and very involved with dunya, worldly things, i.e. feeling bad only when losing something in terms of material wealth.

• Becoming engrossed and obsessive about ourselves.

10 ways to earn Hasanaat

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:33:19 +0000

Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem.

Assalaamu'alaykum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh

10 ways to earn Hasanaat

1) Give a copy of the Qur'aan to someone, each time they read from it, you gain equal reward of the one that reads Qur'aan, without none being taken from the one that reads from it.

2) Donate a wheelchair to a hospital, each time a sick person uses it, you gain rewards.

3) share constructive reading material, each time one learns something, you gain rewards.

4) Help in Educating a child

5) Teach someone to recite a Duaa, each time they recite it, you gain rewards.

6) Share a Du'aa or Qur'aan CD

7) Participate in building a masjid, whoever prays in it, you will gain reward also.

8) Place a water cooler in a public place

9) Plant a tree. each time any person or animal sits in its shade or eats from it, you gain rewards.

10) share this message with as many people as possible

if one person applies any of the above, you will receive Hasanaat until the day of Judgment. inshaAllaah, lets share this to others and apply these ourselves..we are all in need os some serious rewards!!! lets not rob ourselves of how easy it is to gain it.

ps. Give Salaam to a stranger with a smile...that's 2 Hasanaat in one!

May Allaah bless you in every form inshaAllaah and Remember me in your Dua'as.

Wassalaamu'alaykum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh

For Every Seeker of Knowledge

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:46:06 +0000

Asalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathuhu,

I advise you O seeker of knowledge to have a sincere and pure intention in your search for knowledge. And that you exert yourself in acting upon what it necessitates (from action). For indeed knowledge is a tree and action is its fruit. And one can never be considered knowledgeable so long as he does not act upon what he has knowledge of. It has also been stated:

“Knowledge is a parent and action is its offspring.”

And “Knowledge comes with action, while narrating comes with investigating.”

So do not feel satisfied with actions so long as you are lacking in knowledge. Nor feel satisfied with knowledge so long as you fall short of producing actions. Rather, combine them both, even if your share of the two is small.

And there is nothing worse than a scholar, whose knowledge the people abandon because of the corruption of his ways, nor an ignorant person whose ignorance the people accept because of what they see from his worship.

So a little of this (knowledge) along with a little of that (action) is what is most likely to save you in the end, when Allah bestows His mercy upon His servant and completes his favour upon him. But as for laziness and negligence, love for ease and comfort, preferring the easy life and showing indifference, inclining towards leisure and relaxation, then the results of these characteristics are blameworthy, detestable and disastrous.

Knowledge leads to action, just as action leads to salvation. So if the action falls short of the knowledge, then the knowledge becomes a burden upon the one who possesses that knowledge. And we seek Allah’s refuge from knowledge that turns into a burden, is the cause of humiliation and which becomes a shackle on the neck of the one who possesses it.

Sahl bin Muzahim (rahimahullah) said: “The matter is more tighter upon a scholar than when one clenches his fist tightly, even though the ignorant person is not excused because of his ignorance (i.e. he will be held to account also). However, the scholar will receive a greater punishment if he abandons what he has knowledge of and doesn’t act upon it.”

So did those of our Salaf (predecessors) from the past reach the high levels that they reached except through sincerity in Creed (Beliefs), righteous actions and overwhelming abstinence of the attractive features of this worldly life? And did the wise people reach the greatest level of success (that they did) except by working hard in their efforts and being pleased with their easy accomplishments, while sacrificing the excess amount from their needs by giving it away to the poor and those who asked?

Is not the one who gathers books of knowledge just like the one who gathers gold and silver? Is not the one who has an intense greed for them just like the one who is eager and desirous of gold and silver? Is not the one who is deeply in love with them just like the one who treasures gold and silver?

So just as wealth does not benefit except by it being spent, then likewise, knowledge does not benefit except for one who acts upon it and carries out its obligations.

So let each individual examine himself and take advantage of his time, for indeed the resting place (i.e. this world) is short, the (time for) departure is near, the road is hazardous and deviating from it is common. The danger is great, the one who takes note has wisdom, Allah, the Most High, is watching over, and to Him is the (final) recourse and return.

{“And whosoever does an atom’s weight of good, he shall see it. And whosoever does an atom’s weight of evil, he shall see it.” } [Qur'an 99: 7-8]

From al-Khatib al-Baghdadi’s ‘Iqtida’ al-’Ilm al-’Amal’

Wasalam

Important

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:13:02 +0000

Bismillah

I read this quote on another board, nothing more can express this issue:

To every youngester:

"Oh people who take pleasure in a world that will vanish...falling in love with a fading shadow is sheer stupidity!!!" (Ibnul Qayyim)

Desires & Calamities

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:19:32 +0000

Desires & Calamities <http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=4071>

by Babar Ahmad

A Sahih hadith reported by At-Tirmidhi narrates on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: "When Allah created Paradise, He sent Jibreel to it and said, 'Look at it and the pleasures I have prepared for its inhabitants.' So Jibreel came to Paradise and looked at what Allah had prepared for its inhabitants. He then returned to Allah and said, 'I swear by Your Grandeur that not a single person will hear of it except that he will enter it (i.e he will do anything to enter it).' Then Allah ordered Paradise to be surrounded by adversities, calamities and detestable things and He said to Jibreel, 'Go back and look at it and what I have prepared for its inhabitants.' Jibreel went back to Paradise and found that it had been surrounded by adversities, calamities and detestable things, so he returned to Allah and said, 'I swear by Your Grandeur that I fear that no one will enter it (i.e he will do anything to avoid it).'

Then Allah said to Jibreel, 'Go to Hell and look at it and the punishments that I have prepared for its inhabitants.' Jibreel looked at Hell and found it extremely horrible, so he said to Allah, 'I swear by Your Grandeur that not a single person will hear of it except that he will avoid entering it.' Then Allah ordered Hell to be surrounded by desires and luxuries and said to Jibreel, 'Go back to it.' Jibreel returned to Hell and then said, 'I swear by Your Grandeur that no one will be able to escape from it.'"

An indicator of whether your life is leading you towards Paradise or Hell is to consider the circumstances of your life. If you are worshipping Allah and your life is full of hardships and detestable things, then this is a positive sign. What are the things that a person detests in life? Fear, hunger, poverty, thirst, lack of security, lack of shelter, imprisonment, bereavement, being estranged from loved ones, loneliness, uncertainty, etc., etc., to name but a few. Yet these are also some of the things that Paradise is surrounded by; these are the things that indicate whether or not a believer is on the path to Paradise.

Then consider, what are the things that a person desires or loves in life? Wealth, children, spacious dwelling, safety, security, plentiful food and drink, expensive clothing, being with loved ones, etc., etc., to name but a few. Yet these are also some of the things that Hell is surrounded by; these are the things that indicate to a believer whether or not he is going towards his eternal destruction.

For this reason, many of the wealthy Sahabah used to weep uncontrollably whilst repeating the verse in Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:20): "And the Day, those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire, it will be said, 'You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of extreme humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient.'" Umar bin Al-Khattab, Abdur-Rahman bin Awf and others, may Allah be pleased with them all, would frequently mention this verse, when they even experienced pleasures as small as a wholesome meal.

Following your desires leads to the Hell Fire. That is why many of the Pious Predecessors used to say, "If you want to obey Allah, disobey your nafs (soul, desires, etc)." Likewise, it is reported in a poem from Imam Ash-Shafi (Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak is also said to have mentioned it): "The best thing for your nafs (soul) is to disobey it." Therefore, if you want to obey Allah, consult your heart and do the opposite of what your soul orders you to do. If your soul orders you to sleep instead of praying, get up and pray. If your soul orders you to only spend out of your unwanted possessions, then spend out of the things you love most, for Allah says in Surah Ale-Imran (3:92): "Never shall you attain true piety unless you spend from that which you love." If your soul orders you to pray at home, go and pray in the masjid. If your soul orders you to relax at home instead of visiting your sick, fellow Muslim, get up and go visit your sick, fellow Muslim for you will find Allah with him.

Therefore, consider your life and be your own judge. If Allah is pouring upon you luxury upon luxury, wealth upon wealth, comfort upon comfort, then that is a sign that something is wrong and it is something to worry about. Moreover, if this is happening whilst you are disobedient to Allah or neglectful of His Commands, then it is a sign of your imminent destruction. Luxuries and comforts make a person forget Allah and become heedless in their duties.

On the other hand, if you are trying your best to worship Allah and be mindful of His Commands, and yet your life is fraught with adversities, hardships and detestable things, then rejoice for this is a good indication that you are on the path to Paradise. Adversities and hardships make a believer remember Allah more and turn to Him with sincerity. A well-known saying says: "Hardship is as beneficial to the soul as it is unwelcome in life. And comfort is as harmful to the soul as it is welcome in life."

So O prisoner in the Path of Allah, do not be sad when you are given miserable food, when you are given ragged clothes, when you are estranged from your family and loved ones and when you see others surpass you in wealth and children. Rather, rejoice and be happy as these are all signs that you are on the path towards Paradise, which is surrounded by so many detestable things that even the Angel Jibreel feared no one would be able to enter it because of these adversities.

The 13th Century scholar Al-Izz bin Abdus-Salam said, "The state of tribulation and affliction drives man closer to Almighty Allah, whereas the state of health and blessing drives him away from Allah, as He says in the Quran, 'And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying down on his side, or sitting or standing. But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on his way as if he has never invoked Us for a harm that touched him!...' (Quran 10:12)"

Hasan Al-Basri said, "Do not detest the misfortunes that befall you, for what you detest may be the cause of your salvation and what you like may be the cause of your ruin."

Finally, Ali bin Abi Talib is reported to have said, may Allah be pleased with him, "O son of Adam, do not be happy with richness and do not despair of poverty. Do not feel sad during affliction and do not rejoice over prosperity, for just as gold is tried by fire, the pious are tried by affliction. You will not attain what you want except by giving up what you desire, and you will not attain what you aspire to except by enduring patiently what you hate, and exerting yourself in implementing that which has been made compulsory upon you (by Allah)."

The Westernized Muslim Wedding of Today

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:17:25 +0000

The Westernized Muslim Wedding of Today

By Reeaz H Paruk

The Western Whirlwind of Destruction which has been constantly blowing across this country for decades and undermining the morals of the Youth, of more recent times has found new victims in young men Muslim men and women who appear to be voluntarily stepping into its evil path. And whilst this "Tornado of the West" is leaving in its wake a continuous trail of crushed moral values amongst our young brothers and sisters, the parents are openly and unashamedly displaying an attitude of incredible irresponsibility by aiding and abetting the youngsters in their suicidal ventures.

Clear evidence of this gross misbehaviour can be found, for instance, at Muslim weddings and engagement parties where the type of conduct reminiscent of the western way of life is fully exercised in its most naked form, where Muslim men and women, boys and girls, act and do things that have nothing in common with the actions and doings of true Muslims. Indeed, some of the formalities which are considered indispensable (by modern standards) at these gatherings are in diametric conflict with Islam and reminiscent of the times of jahiliyyah (ignorance).

Notwithstanding the fact that western-styled garments are designed primarily to emphasize the shape of the female body and to attract the attention of members of the opposite sex, these immodest apparels are worn by Muslim women who, in anticipation of the opportunity to show themselves off at impending weddings or engagements, start making preparations on a lavish scale by acquiring the more "modern" versions of these abominably styled clothing. What is even more deplorable is the practice of equipping the bride with several of these immodestly designed suits, and subjecting her to a most humiliating display on an elaborately prepared stage after clothing her in an exquisite western wedding gown and obliterating all her natural beauty with western cosmetics. And to ensure perfection in the scrupulously observed rituals of the west, the bride is provided with a retinue of bridesmaids, flower-girls and page-boy, with their faces similarly disfigured with the same satanic object of attracting the maximum of lustful stares. Crowds of people, including fashionably dressed men, are then allowed to queue up to see the "puppet show" and quench their unholy thirsts whilst trampling under their feet all Islamic standards of modesty.

This slaughter of Islamic morals and principles by no means ends here. Some parents even go further and not only permit but actively encourage couples to meet and speak, dine and dance and roam around together in cars in blatant violation of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). These extremely dangerous divergences from traditional Islamic precepts are becoming more and more common, and their perpetrators more and more shameless. In some Muslim weddings, even dancing forms part of these revolting innovations. In the words of Dr E.S. Sonners, ".....social dancing is fundamently sinful and evil.....It is nothing more or less than damnable, diabolical, animal, physical dissipation". It is not certainly not beyond one's imagination to think of the lustful gazes and corruption of the minds of young, impressionable audiences which such diabolical displays are bound to cause. And as an ironical prelude, some invitation cards printed to advertise these most insidious and sinful programmes are headed: "In the Name of Allah.......". What a mockery of Islamic ethics!

The following are some of the practices that are meticulously carried out during matrimonial affairs despite the fact that they are either expressly forbidden in Shariah, or have no bases in Islam:

1. The engaged couple meet at a public gathering where the boy holds the girl's hand and slips a ring onto her finger whilst the two look romantically at each other. This act is void of modesty and completly foreign to Islamic culture. It is furthermore, a flagrant violation of the Quranic Law of Purdah. It is an evil innovation of the godless west , and those indulging in it should take cognizance of the Prophet's stern warning that "those who imitate others will rise on the Day of Judgement as of them".

2. The prohibition in Islam of the gathering and free mixing of the sexes is nowhere else more flagrantly violated than at engagement and wedding feasts. Members of both sexes, young and old, are accomodated in the same tent or hall without so much as a curtain partition between them and to add insult to injury, women, including immodestly dressed young spinsters, are waited upon by men. What shameless impudence on the part of the organisers, who appear to be blissfully unaware of the tremendous responsibility which they must shoulder for the resultant decline in the moral standard of the Muslims.

3. Another very indecent practice copied from the west is the appearance on the stage together of the married couple after the Nikah. Here, the new husband presents his bride with a wedding ring, kisses her, and then (in a growing number of cases) allows his friends to kiss her too! and that in full view of the hundreds of guests! This is indeed the total and tragic destruction of Islamic modesty and shame.

4. It has become a normal thing at Muslim weddings for the bridegroom to appear before his mother-in-law to be showed with confetti and gifts of rings, ties, hankies, etc. in full view of women guests whose envious eyes and flattering tongues add to the morbidity of the whole act.

5. The parents take great pride in making a public display of the bride's "trousseau", and advertising all the individual items therein, thus wasting valuable time and effort which could otherwise have been more fruitfully spent in teaching the bride how to conduct herself with credit in her new responsiblities. This show (of the "trousseau") is motivated by the spiritually destructive elements of " riya"(ostentation) and "takabbur"(pride).

6. A large number of Nikah are performed in a specially rented hall or tent. The Mosque as a central pivot of all Muslim religious activity is often ignored. It is no exaggeration to say that many people regard a Nikah at the Musjid as "inconvient" simply because they are well aware that some of their ill-conceived western rituals are too shameless to be permitted there. However, according to the Tradition of the Prophet(S.A.W.) marriages performed in the House of Allah, immediately preceded and followed by prayers, will attract the maximum of Allah's Blessings, whereas this is not, and cannot, be the case where alternative venues are chosen with the express purpose of facilitating the performance of things Un-Islamic.

7. Many people are known to be labouring under the misconception that the conduction of marriages on certain specific Islamic dates is contrary to Islamic Law. Such beliefs are not only unfounded, but are also against the grain of common sense. Likewise, the notion that it is incumbent upon the bride to spend her first Ramadaan and Eid after marriage at the parents' home has no basis in Islam.

In recent years, more and more innovatory and satanic western practices have been added by the Muslim commercial elites whose coffers are bursting at the seams as a result of the inflationary trends and economic booms of the past decade. Among these are the European-orientated fashions of printing expensive, pictorially-embossed "thank you" cards, and, more despicably, the insidious practice of a male member of the family escorting the bride arm-in-arm from the comparative seclusion of her home, through the mixed crowd of envious guests, right on to the stage for the ultimate "puppet" show, and all these farcical and morbid, soul-destroying scenes being "shot" for posterity by specially appointed and professionally equipped "video and photography" teams, with a fully fledged and "high ranking" musical band in close attendance! Within the self-same decade, the progressive deterioration of the bride's wedding-day garments from bad to worse in the very latest and obnoxious "see-thru" materials has been causing grave misgivings among the Ulama , many of whom are known to have turned down invitations from close acquaintances for fear of being confronted with scenes too shameless to comprehend. Several more instances can be cited where a great deal of expense and trouble are incurred over acts that are counter-productive of Islamic ethical and moral values. It is a tragic fact that each year hundreds of thousands of Ranks are squandered in the process of upholding and intensifying these senseless, soul-destroying procedures.

"Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord." (xvii-27) "The best of marriage is one over which the least trouble and expense have been incurred" is a most off-flouted maxim of the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.). The Great Master's sound teachings have been thoughlessly and savagely thrown overboard and substituted by the fast-decaying cultural values of the godless west.

Someone was heard to remark at a recent wedding reception:"Here is part of the reason for the drought....and for escalating Muslim divorce rate....(to heights unknown in previous generations)....and for downward plunge of the Muslims.... into the abyss of physical and spritual destruction....in this world and the next......"

May Allah grant Hidaayat, to one and all! Aameen

Source: http://www.domini.org/lam/todayswedding.html

Why Our Prayers and Dua'as are Not Answered

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:13:34 +0000

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathuhu

IBRAHEEM IBN ADHAM - may Allah have mercy on him - a third century scholar, a teacher and a companion of Sufyaan ath-Thawree, was asked about the saying of Allah - the Most High:

"AND YOUR LORD SAYS: 'CALL ON ME I WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYER..." [40:60]

"We supplicate and we are not answered."

So he said to them:

You know Allah, Yet you do not obey Him,

You recite the Qur'aan, Yet do not act according to it,

You know Shaitaan(Devil), Yet you have agreed with him,

You proclaim that you love Muhammad, (P.B.U.H) Yet you abandon his Sunnah,

You proclaim your love for Paradise, Yet you do not act to gain it,

You proclaim your fear the Fire, Yet you do not prevent yourselves from sins,

You say "Indeed death is true", Yet you have not prepared for it,

You point out the faults with others, Yet you do not look at your faults,

You eat of that which Allah has provided for you, Yet you do not thank Him,

You bury your dead, Yet you do not take a lesson from it."

Taken from Khushoo fis-Salaat (p.62) of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee - rahimullah.