For those of you studying al-lugatul arabiyyah, inshallah here is an easy visual way to learn six basic colours: red, blue, green, yellow, black, and white. (You can set it as your computer desktop, so every time you pop onto your computer, instant practice!)
The top colour is the mascline form, and the bottom colour is the feminine form. (Read more about Arabic word gender here.)
Those of you who haven’t heard of the AlMaghrib institute, you’re missing out–they give some mashallah amazing double-weekend Islamic classes.
Qabeelat Majd (QMajd) is the Toronto branch. Mashallah, through the dedicated efforts of some dozen or so people, they finally published their first newsletter! It’s for the Rules of Engagement class (click to learn more about the class), so it covers the subject of akhlaaq–manners, etiquettes, dealings with Allah, with people, with yourself–and contains such fruitful topics as:
Inshallah read it now and benefit your own eman and akhlaaq tremendously! May Allah reward all their efforts and keep them steadfast on the deen, ameen!
Muhammad ibn Faqih. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Rules of Engagement. University of Toronto, Toronto. September 2006.
Why are we on this earth? This time, this place. People, make the use of the situation based on a cycle. The EAT-WORK-SLEEP cycle, which I believe turns out to be boring. Monday work starts, lasts till friday. Then again the same old weekend, were some claim to enjoy.
Or lets look at life as a whole. A person is born, goes to school, goes to university/ college, gets a job. marries, buys a house and he/ she starts a new person’s cycle (their kids).
The same old story again and again.
So again what are we doing here? When Allah created us he sent us down with something, can you remember?
Ibn Abbas (ضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) related that,
“When Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) created Adam (عليه سلام), He took a covenant from him in a place called Na’man on the day of Arafah. Then He extracted from him all of descendants who would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation, and spread them out in front of Him in order to take a covenant from them also. He spoke to them face to face saying: ‘Am I not your Lord?’ and they all replied, ‘Yes, we testify to it.’ Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He was their creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said, ‘That was in case you (mankind) should say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Surely we were unaware of all this. We had no idea that You, Allah , were our God. No one told us that we were supposed to worship You alone.” Allah went on to explain that it was also in case some people would say: ‘It was our ancestors who made partners (with Allah) and we are only their descendants; will you then destroy us for what those liars did?’ (Collected by Ahmed, Classified sahih, see Silsilah al-Albani’s al-Ahadith as-Sahihah)
Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said this in an explanation of the verses (interpretation of the meaning): And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): “Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes! We testify,” lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: “Verily, we have been unaware of this.” Or lest you should say: “It was only our fathers afortime who took others as partners in worship along with Allah, and we were (merely their) descendants after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Batil (i.e. polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah)?” (Tafsir At-Tabari). (Qur’an 7: 172-173)
The explanation and the ayah’s are clear proof for people, that the reason we are on earth is not for any other than recognizing Allah as our Lord, and worship Him.
Now it can be seen that MUSLIMS are so much into the EAT-WORK-SLEEP cycle. And they go on and on, with the same old reasons, a good house, a good car (which are mostly mortgage based). So lets remember ( and I advive myself first) why we are here, because if we do, and abide by it, then the rewards we will receive will be infinite , unlike the perceived rewards of this world, which are limited and fragile.
Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. The Fundamentals of Tawheed. 2nd ed. Riyadh: IIPH, 2005. 61-62.
Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sa) said:
“A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfils his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfil his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection…” [Bukhari and Muslim].
Subhanallah! — look at the reward for helping out your fellow Muslim, to simply help them and to assist them in their needs, you will get the help and assistance of Allah Almighty.
What else can we ask for?!
But not only will Allah fulfil us in our needs in this world, but by you also helping your Muslim brother or sister out in times of hardships and difficulties — Allah will help us in the most difficult time in our life, being the Day Of Judgement, when we will all be in such a frantic, in need of help, and Allah promises us in this Hadith that He will relieve us our troubles on that day if we simply relieve the troubles of a Muslim in this world.
Allahu Akbar! So what are you waiting for? Get Busy!!
In another Hadith, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sa) said:
“He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and he who finds relief for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother…” [Muslim]
So strive hard to lend a hand to your Muslims in need, no matter how big or small their need may be — help them for the sake of Allah and not for any worldly matter (otherwise your actions will be fruitless). Be there for them in times of calamity and be assured that Allah will remove from you your difficulties, and not only that … Allah will cover up your faults and sins in this world and the Hereafter because you simply covered up the faults and sins of your brother.
So next time if a situation arises for you to help your fellow Muslim out, don’t hesitate whether to do it or not, don’t think or have the attitude ‘What will I get out of it?’ – just rememeber the words of Your Prophet Muhammad (sa), when he said:
“Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother…”
So, never leave your brother standing after asking for your help, if he is in need of your help… help him fesabeelillah…
For it is YOUR DUTY to do so —
and it is a RIGHT he has over you.
Tafseer of the Hadeeth of Six Rights of every Muslim – Bahjatu Quloob il-Abraar wa Qurratu ‘Uyoon il-Akhyaar fee Jaami’ il-Akhbaar
The following is a short and beautiful advice regarding the arrogance or pride. This advice is taken from the transcribed lecture of Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo
“…The second characteristic that everyone has to be cautious of, but especially those people who are studying the `ilm, who have been given by Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa), who have been blessed by Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) to have knowledge and to be making da`wah, these people have to be very careful about a disease that comes to people of this nature many times, unfortunately, and this is the disease of kibr, of arrogance and pride. And sometimes the way this is reflected is where the person refuses and does not want anyone to correct him, or at least he will not accept correction from certain people. He may accept correction or be told that he is wrong by someone who is from his group, someone who is a close friend of his, but anybody else, he will look down upon anyone else, and he will not accept any kind of criticism from anybody else, and this is kibr. This is pride and arrogance, as described in the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam).
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said that no one who has even a mustard grain seed weight of kibr in his heart, no one who has this in his heart will enter Jannah.
Someone asked the Prohpet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam), he said that a man loves to have nice clothing on, put nice shoes., and he understood this is may kibr; the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty,” this is not kibr, but kibr is “to reject the truth and to look down upon the people”, to reject the truth for example when it comes to you from the source you do not like, when it comes to you from someone perhaps who is not as much upon the right path as you think you are, and to look down upon other people and to disgrace them, this is kibr.
You have to realize that, I don’t care if you are the biggest `aalim in the world, you could make a mistake sometimes, that some child could come up to you and say, you know, that was a mistake. Al-Bukhaaree was just 11 or 12 years old the first time he corrected his shaykh.
This is something that we have to be very careful about especially as I said when we are involved in da`wah and in giving knowledge. Because it is really when one gets knowledge that he feels, who are you to talk to me,… don’t talk to me, you have a problem with me,… go talk to the ulamaa’, and have the ulamaa’ come and talk to me. This is a problem, and it is very dangerous unfortunately.”
Action Plan for the Muttaqun:
External Links:
In a very beautiful hadith, our beloved Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said:
“There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade:
- a just ruler;
- a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic;
- a man whose heart is attached to the mosques;
- two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that;
- a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: ‘I fear Allah’;
- a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and
- a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
In this beautiful Hadeeth, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) spoke about small acts of worship which result in such a huge reward: shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His shade. This may not seem like much at first, but then, reflect upon the following Hadeeth narrated by al Miqdaad ibn Aswad:
“On the Day of Resurrection, the sun would draw so close to the people that there would be left a distance of only one mile. The people will be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some up to their ankles, some up to their knees, some up to the waist and some would have the bridle of perspiration and, while saying this, the Messenger of Allah put his hand towards his mouth.” [Saheeh Muslim, vol.4, no. 6852]
So now I ask, do you want to be under the shade of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) or not? If so, the opportunity is present, all you have to do is sieze it. My brothers and sisters, lets devote ourselves to being one amongst those seven, for indeed the fortunate ones will be those who are granted the Shade of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) on the Day when there will be no shade but His. Lets work hard and struggle to at least be one of the seven, lets attain the pleasure and satisfaction of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in this world and in the Hereafter. Ameen!
Question: I tell non-Muslims that Allaah created everything in this universe. They say to me, who created Allaah? How can Allaah have been there since the beginning? How can i answer them?
Answerer: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, Islam QA
Praise be to Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى).
1. This question which the Kuffar have asked you is inherently false and self-contradictory. If we were to say – for the sake of argument – that someone created Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى), then they would ask you, Who created the creator of the creator? Then, who created the creator of the creator of the creator?! And so on, ad infinitum. This is irrational and impossible.
All of creation goes back to the Creator Who created all things. No one created Him; He created everything other than Himself. This is what makes sense and is logical. This creator is Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى), may He be glorified and exalted.
2. With regard to what our religion tells us, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) told us about this question, where it comes from, and how to respond to it.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “People will keep on asking question until someone will say, ‘Allaah created the universe, but who created Allaah?’ Whoever encounters anything like that, let him say, ‘Amantu Billaah (I believe in Allaah).’”
The Messenger of Allaah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “The Shaytaan will come to one of you and say, ‘Who created the heaven? Who created the earth?’ He will say, ‘Allaah’” – then he mentioned something similar (to the previous report), and added, “And His Messengers.” [i.e., amantu Billaah wa Rusulihi = I believe in Allaah and His Messengers]
The Messenger of Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Shaytaan will come to one of you and say, ‘Who created such and such?’ until he says to him, ‘Who created your Lord?’ When it reaches that stage, let him seek refuge with Allaah [say A’oodhu Billaahi min ash-shaytaan ir-rajeem = I seek refuge with Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) from the accursed Shaytaan] and stop thinking about it.”
The Messenger of Allaah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “The Shaytaan will come to a person and say, ‘Who created such and such…’” and he narrated the whole report. (Imaam Muslim, 134).
In these ahaadeeth we see:Where this question comes from – from the Shaytaan;How to deal with it, which is:
It was also reported that one should spit drily three times to one’s left, and recite Qul Huwa Allaahu ahad. (See “Problems and Solutions” in the Shaykh’s Books section of the IslamQA site).
This is in addition to what is stated in the ayaat of the Qur’aan.
The believer believes without a doubt, the kaafir denies and the munaafiq doubts.
We ask Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) to grant us sincere and certain faith with no doubts. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Sajdat al-Shukr is prescribed for anything that makes one happy, whether it is attaining some benefit or warding off some harm.
The evidence (daleel) for this is to be found in the Ahaadeeth and Aathaar (reports). Among the Ahaadeeth is the Hadeeth of Abu Bakrah (رضي الله عنه), who said that when the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) heard any news that made him glad, he would fall down prostrating to Allaah, may He be exalted. (Reported by the five except al-Nisaa’i; al-Tirmidhi said, it is hasan ghareeb). According to the version narrated by Ahmad: he saw the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم), when news reached him that his troops had prevailed over their enemy, he was lying with his head in ‘Aishah’s lap, then he got up and fell in prostration. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/45; al-Haakim, 4/291).
Another hadeeth is that narrated by ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (رضي الله عنه), who said: the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) went out to the place where the sadaqah (charitable donations) was kept, then he faced the Qiblah and fell in prostration, remaining like that for a long time. Then he raised his head and said, “Jibreel came to me with good news, he said, ‘Allaah says to you, “Whoever sends blessings on you, I will send blessings on him, and whoever sends greetings of peace to you, I will send greetings of peace to him,”’ so I prostrated in thankfulness to Allaah.” (Narrated by Ahmad. Al-Mundhiri said: the hadeeth of Sajdat al-Shukr came from the hadeeth of al-Baraa’ with a saheeh isnaad, and from the hadeeth of Ka’b ibn Maalik and others.)
Other cases of companions prostrating in thankfulness include:
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) prostrated when he heard the news that Musaylimah had been killed. (Reported by Sa’eed ibn Mansoor in his Sunan).
‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (رضي الله عنه) prostrated when he found Dhu’l-Thadiyah among the Khawaarij. (Reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad)
Ka’b ibn Maalik prostrated at the time of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) when he was given the glad tidings that Allaah had accepted his repentance. (The story is agreed upon)
And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
In the fast-paced world we live in, we often lose the righteousness needed to attain the closeness to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) that we desire. We go through constant struggles, fighting with ourselves to do what is good and to stay on The Straight Path. At times we prosper and succeed, but much of the time, we lose the fight, but why? Why do we succumb to the temptations of this world? Why do we reject the beauty that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has provided us for the corruption of this dunya? The answer is not easy, as there are many reasons.
The first thing we must understand is that falling down and losing is an absolute natural process that we all go through as human beings. The important thing is to learn from these losses; get up, dust yourself off, and move forward stronger than before.
One critical reason why we become weak in staying on The Straight Path and staying away from that which Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has commanded us to stay away from is our friends. Our friends can be the reason we enter Jannah and they could also be the reason that we are destined to Jahannam. The choice is ours to make. We have been given the choice to choose our friends wisely, and the result of it could be the pleasure of seeing our beloved Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in Jannah or being flung into the scorching hot flames of Jahannam. What do you desire?
In an authentic hadith, Prophet Mohammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.”
Our dear guide and the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) is warning us that we are who our friends are. Now this lesson might take some time for us to realize, but it is true. In the quoted hadith, the word faith speaks of the characteristics, morals, values, and beliefs of the people you befriend. Now, some people might deny that they are influenced by their friends, but it is their own self-denial. As Muslims, we have the duty and right to make sure that the environment is developed adhering to the commands of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), and therefore it is a must that we choose friends that will bring us closer to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and get us one step closer towards Jannah. Think to yourself, am I more aware of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) when I am around my friends? or less aware? am I more obedient to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) when I am around my friends? or less obedient? If I were to die while hanging with my friends would I go to Jannah? Jahannam?
Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, “The example of a good companion and a bad one is the bearer of musk and the worker on the fires. A bearer of musk would give you some, you might buy some from him, or you might enjoy the fragrance of his musk. The worker on the fires, on the other hand, might spoil your clothes with sparks from his bellows, or you get a bad smell from him.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Subhanallah! What a great example given to us by our beloved Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم). This hadith articulates in such a precise manner the difference between the good companion and the bad companion. Ponder about this hadith and look to your own life, and make it a point starting TODAY to be of those who are recipients of the beautiful fragrance of musk rather than sparks of a dangerous fire. Remember, we are only risking our own life when we choose to befriend people who do not follow the ways of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and our beloved Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم). On the Day of Judgment, no one will be at your aid, and it will be you and you alone in front of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), and on that Day no one will be responsible for what you did in this life except for yourself.
Still don’t believe me? Still having doubts? Try the steps below.
Put yourself and your life to account now, before you are held to account by Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Choose your friends carefully and they will lead you to the gates of Jannah, Inshallah ta’ala.
Bismillah Ir-Rahmaan Ir-Raheem
From among the teachings of Allah’s Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) is to keep sins a secret matter. If someone commits a sinful act which is against the Commandments of Allah, or is against the moral character, or is such an act that may cause harm to one’s honor, then he should keep it a secret and seek forgiveness from Allah in the darkness of night.
he Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “My entire nation is safe, except al-Mujahirin (those who boast of their sins). Among the Mujaharah is that a man commits an (evil) act, and wakes up in the morning while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret, he says: “O so-and-so! Last night I did this and that.” He goes to sleep while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret but he wakes up in the morning and uncovers what Allah has kept a secret!” [Saheeh al-Bukhari]
Abdullah Ibn Masoud (رضي الله عنه) related, ‘A man came to the Prophet and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I have mingled with a woman in the far side of al-Medina, and I fulfilled my desire short of actually having sexual intercourse with her. So, here am I, judge me according to what you decide.’ Umar Ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) then said: ‘Allah had kept your secret, why did not you keep your secret?’ [Sharh Muslim] Similarly, if one becomes aware of somebody else’s sin, he should keep it a secret. Allah’s Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “He, who relieves a hardship of this Dunya (world) for a believer, Allah will relieve (from him) a hardship of the Day of Resurrection; he who makes easy an indebted person, Allah will make it easy for him in the Dunya and the Hereafter; he who covers a Muslim (meaning his mistakes and shortcomings), Allah will cover him in the Dunya and the Hereafter …” [Muslim]
Today, there are also many novel channels through which sins are propagated in the society, such as books, magazines, and television programs that mention the crimes of others, illicit acts, and immorality under the name of creating awareness among the people. These programs–which are meant to help the people against the crimes–are in reality, helping the crime to spread faster in the society! Crimes, which were previously unknown to people have become common offenses! It is therefore necessary for the Muslims to avoid all such avenues which may lead to the destruction of our Muslim Ummah.
Action Items for the Muttaqun:
