Monthly Archives: March 2007

Any Last Words?

March 31, 2007 – 9:08 am

The day the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) died, what was the last thing he did? He used siwak to clean his mouth. Then he raised his hands and said “Allahumma ar-rafeeq al-’ala” (o Allah, the highest friends — the closest companions to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in the Hereafter)–and then he died (صلي الله عليه وسلم).

Commenting on this, his beloved wife ‘Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said: no Prophet lives except he is given a choice between the dunya (this word) and the akhira (the next life), and all of them chose the next life.

What will your last words be?

In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) promised us–and this is the promise of Allah!–that whoever says laa ilaaha illallah (there is no deity except Allah) as his last words and then dies, will enter Paradise.

“Aha,” you might say, “this is it, this is my jackpot–I can live my life in disobedience and then say it and I’m saved!” NO! In fact, you will be on autopilot when that time comes, and so whatever is in your heart will emerge. It will be a mercy from the mercy of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) if He allows you to say it before you die.

Don’t think it’ll be easy, either–when Imam Ahmed was dying, he said “not yet, not yet!” One of his sons was like “oh, that’s not good–a great imam dying, and he’s saying ‘not yet?’” When he asked his father later why he was saying that, he said: When I was dying, Iblees (Shaytaan) came to me and said “o son of Adam, you are free of me!” And I said, “not yet!”

May Allah make us all among those who say laa ilaaha illallah as our last words and reach Paradise (ameen). What is the best way to be that kind of person? Increase your eman. Click here to find out the best way to do that.

Related Posts:

References

Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light of Guidance. University of Toronto, Toronto. March 2006.

Muhammad ibn Faqih. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Rules of Engagement. University of Toronto, Toronto. September 2006.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Islam, Tazkiyyah | Comments (4)

Thumma, Wa, and Fa

March 31, 2007 – 8:00 am

There are three conjunctions you can use in Arabic (among others)–wa (and), thumma (then), and fa (which is difficult to translate, think of it as “and”). They are all used to group multiple items. What are the differences between these three?

Wa indicates grouping, but doesn’t specify order or timing. For example: Ahmed and Ghufran and Yusuf travelled to the masjid. It doesn’t indicate what order they arrived in, or anything about how long the people who came first waited for the people who came after then. It just groups them together.

Thumma indicates order, but doesn’t specify the timing. For example: Ahmed, then Ghufran, then Yusuf travelled to the masjid. While this tells you the order–Ahmed was first, then Ghufran was second, then Yusuf was third–it doesn’t tell you anything about the time between them.

Fa indicates the order (like thumma), but also shows that the second event happened immediately after the first. For example: Ahmed and then immediately Yusuf and then immediately Yusuf travelled to the masjid. shows that Ahmed came first, then Ghufran came next (on the heels of Ahmed), then Yusuf came right behind Ghufran.

And that’s it! InshaAllah if you have any questions/comments/etc. or if you find uses of these in the Qur’an, post them inshaAllah too.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Arabic, Arabic Grammar | Comments (5)

Benefits to Not Fighting Back

March 24, 2007 – 10:47 am

When the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) appeared on the scene in Mecca to proclaim the message of Islam, the Muslims faced ridicule, mockery, opposition, propoganda, and even severe torture up to the point of death–to the point where Muslims would walk through the streets, see their brothers and sisters being severely tortured in front of their eyes.

And Allah revealed the commandment not to fight back. Not in Mecca, not for ten years until they migrated to Medinah.

So you might ask, why? For ten years, they endured unspeakable oppression. Allah knows best about the true purpose and wisdoms of His command, but what are some of the benefits Muslims received from not fighting back?

  • Patience: the Muslims learned patience–hard patience, wrought out over ten years.
  • Obedience: The Muslims learned obedience to their messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in all things, even in hard trials.
  • Sympathy: Those non-Muslims around who witnessed this oppression sympathized with the Muslims, and Islam grew silently. (In fact, when the Muslims were boycotted for three years, it was five non-Muslims who stood up and ended the boycott.)
  • Life: if fights broke out–and a few did–what would have happened? A handful of Muslims, in a non-Muslim land? Who would lose? The Muslims! But they didn’t fight, and this preserved their numbers.

Wallahu ‘alim. Post any other benefits you find in the comments inshaAllah.

References

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. The Shepherd’s Path. University of Ryerson, Toronto. March 2007.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Islam, Seerah | Comments (3)

The Role of the Masjid

March 19, 2007 – 6:20 pm

When the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) arrived in Medina, he built a masjid before doing anything else! The masjids the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) built were more than places to pray! Their functions included:

  1. A place for children: not a place where they cried and ran around but a place where they were accommodated. There are several narrations of how when the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) was praying, the children would come and climb on his back or he (صلي الله عليه وسلم) would hold them while praying salah. The masjid was a cool place to hang out, it was where they learned the basic adaab and akhlaaq and principles of the Muslim society.
  2. Educational Center: The masjid acted as a school where the Sahaba were educated and were encouraged to learn more.
  3. Organization of the community: the masjid is where all the organizational events took place. It was in the masjid where the Sahaba learnt to become organized people – how the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) would walk between the saff of the Muslims before every salah, to straighten and correct their saffs.
  4. Hospital: Many who were wounded or sick were tended in the masjid, such as Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (رضي الله عنه) after the Battle of Khandaq.
  5. Shelter: it was a shelter for the poor and needy (nicknamed As-Saffa). This is where people would bring in dates and hang them on the wall of the masjid, so any hungry person could eat from them.
  6. Social life: The Muslims met each other at the masjid five times a day, they got to know each other and were able to actively participate in each others’ lives. If someone was missing, they understood that there was a problem, so they would ask about it. Likewise, the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) used to sit with the companions after Fajr sometimes and ask them about their dreams.
  7. Think-Tank: The masjid is where shura and brainstorming took place.
  8. Welcome Centre: Chiefs, delegations and visitors were all met and welcomed at the masjid.
  9. Serenity Spa: if someone had anything bothering them, they would go to the masjid. Like the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)–when he was upset with his wives, he went to the masjid. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) would call to Bilal (رضي الله عنه) to make the adhaan and start the prayer.
  10. Bedouin Retreat: Bedouins would come, sit in the majalis, learn the Qur’an, ask their questions, go back home, and teach their people the deen. Whole tribes became Muslim from one or two bedouins!

How far we have fallen from this blessed example of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)! We should all take it upon ourselves to enliven our masjids–only then will we truly experience the true benefits of them the way the companions did.

References

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. The Shepherd’s Path. University of Ryerson, Toronto. March 2007.

By ilm candy | Posted in Islam, Sahaba, Seerah | Comments (1)

Human Nature is Insatiable

March 12, 2007 – 9:00 pm
Human Nature is Insatiable

Human nature is insatiable. No matter how much you get, you will never be happy with it. That is the way we have been created. The key to happiness is not to get it all, but rather, to be content with little.

“O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, from decrepitude, and from the torment of the grave. O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting Friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from the soul that does not feel contented, and the supplication that is not responded to.” [Muslim Book 035, Number 6568]

Psychological studies indicate that those who win the lottery, after they get this money, report an increased amount of happiness–but this happiness is short lived! Soon, even with their extra money, they return to the same level of happiness as before they had this money. But how can this be? Wouldn’t they be happier? You would be surprised that the answer is no.

Even when it comes to the desire for the opposite sex, superstars like Napoleon (who later accepted Islam and shared his story) who had all the money, could have had all the women he wanted, do you think they had happiness without Islam? No. Napoleon said that all the money he had was not even a tiny bit of happiness compared to the happiness he has now that he found Deen ul-Islam. In fact, his life, and many others, lived a life of misery. The more you have, the more you will want.

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle said, “If Adam’s son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him.” [Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 447]

And also, Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet said, “Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches are self-contentment.” [Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 453]

Money is a reflection or a multiplier of what is inside your heart. If what is inside your heart is good, then the money can multiply that good, but if what is in your heart is bad, the money will multiply that evil. The key is not to be attached to it and not to desire it.

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam: I asked the Prophet (for some money) and he gave me some, and then again I asked him and he gave me some, and then again I asked him and he gave me some, and he then said, “This wealth is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and whoever takes it without greed, Allah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied. And the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower (taking) hand.” [Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 448]

And Allah knows best.

By Ibn al-Khattab | Posted in Akhlaaq, Gems, Islam, Tazkiyyah | Comments (3)

Four Empowering Beliefs from ibn Al-Khattab

March 8, 2007 – 7:18 am

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه), the second khalifa, had four beliefs that made it easier for him to bear calamities:

  1. The situation could have been worse.
  2. It didn’t strike him in his religion.
  3. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will reward him with Jannah in return inshallah.
  4. When he remembered the hardship of losing the Prophet(صلي الله عليه وسلم) everything else faded away.

Subhanallah, these are profound beliefs from the second khalifa that we can all benefit from! Reflect on them often inshallah in times of ease and hardship, until they spring to mind automatically.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Islam, Sahaba, Tazkiyyah | Comments (0)

Kaana as Emphasis

March 5, 2007 – 1:29 pm

The word kaana is the past-tense masculine singular third-person (he) form of the verb to-be. So you can translate it as “he was”. (And the khabr takes the same rules as with any other verb.)

So what does it mean when Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) uses kaana to describe Himself? For example, in surah Nisaa, He says:

إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً

Translation: And seek the Forgiveness of Allah; surely, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful [Surah Nisaa, 4:106]

In the Qur’an, when Allah uses kaana, it doesn’t mean He was, and no longer is–rather, it’s used as a form of emphasis. The same way that you are certain about past events (like 9/11–it happened), you are certain when you use kaana. That is why translations carry such words as “verily”, “indeed”, “surely”, and so on.

Wallahu ‘alim.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Arabic, Arabic Grammar, Islam, Tafseer | Comments (3)

Mubtada and Khabr

March 3, 2007 – 7:12 am

In Arabic, default kind of sentence is called a nominal sentence. It looks something like this:

  • Ahmad is rich
  • The masjid is big
  • I am a Muslim

It has two parts–the mubtada (the subject — eg. Ahmad), and the khabr (the predicate–information about the mubtada — eg. rich, big, a Muslim).

What are the rules of grammar as they apply to the mubtada and the khabr? There are three:

  1. Match: The khabr must match the mubtada in number (eg. singular, plural) and in gender.
  2. Definite: The mubtada cannot be indefinite–it must be definite.
  3. Dumma: The mubtada must take dumma (single dumma, too, because it’s definite) — and, when dissecting complex sentences of any type, this is how you locate the mubtada!
By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Arabic, Arabic Grammar | Comments (3)