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Qur’anic Oath: Tallahi!

Bismillah

Aqsaam (oaths) in the Qur'an are a very fascinating subject that we should study and focus on more. There are a few components needed for a qasm (oath) to occur. One of them is the harf qasm, a letter that shows there is an oath being taken.

There are a few letters in the Qur'an that are used as harf qasm, for example, Allah ta'ala says "wal 'aadiyaati dhabhaa". The harf qasm in this oath is the letter wow (و).

Another harf qasm which does not appear very much in the Qur'an is the letter 'taa' (ت). The unique aspect of this letter is that it is only used for Ismul Jalaalah. You will never see the letter 'taa' being used to swear by other than Allah azza wa jal.

What is the difference between the harf wow and taa?

The harf taa is only used in very unusual circumstances, while harf wow is the standard harf qasm--the one that appears most in the Qur'an, and harf wow is used to swear by things other than Allah ta'ala.

The harf taa is used in a state of strong and overwhelming emotion, such as astonishment, anger, frustration and amazement.

Harf taa appears a total of nine times in the Qur'an: twice used by Allah azza wa jal (to swear by Himself), once in the speech of Ibrahim alayhi salaam, four times used by the brothers of Yusuf alayhi salaam, and twice in the speech of people in the hereafter.

Here are some examples:

When Ibrahim alayhi salaam was so angered and upset by his people worshipping the idols, he said:

تَاللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ

"by Allah! I will definitely plot a plan (to destroy) your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs." (21:57)

When the brothers of Yusuf alayhi salaam were just shocked that their father alayhi salaam would not forget and "get over" the alleged death of their brother--in their amazement they said:

تَاللَّهِ تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ

"By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf until you become weak with old age, or until you die!" (12:85)

The people of hell-fire, in their complete regret and anger with themselves say:

تَاللَّهِ إِن كُنَّا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ  إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

"By Allah! We were truly in a manifest error, when we held you (false gods) as equals with the Rabb of all that exists!" (26:97-98)

The Qur'an tells us of a future event, when a companion of Jannah begins to reminisce about a friend he had in the dunya that did not believe in the resurrection. Then a voice calls out and says:

هَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُطَّلِعُونَ

'Will you look down? ' (37:54)

فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ

"So he looked down and saw him in the midst of the fire," (37:55)

In his gratefulness to Allah, his happiness and relief he says:

تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ

"By Allah! You have nearly ruined me! Had it not been for the Blessing of my Rabb, I would certainly have been among those brought forth (to Hell)." (37:56-57)

SubhanAllah.

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A Concise Du’a for Guidance

Bismillah.

One of the things I decided to blog about is my own personal du'a--it's not lifted straight from the pages of the Qur'an or Sunnah, but it draws from them. My goal was to have a du'a that:

• Is short, so I can recite it in sujood every rakah or every salah
• Is encompassing--covers every aspect (in this case, of the akhirah)
• Is easy to remember, so I can remember it as needed!
• Is easy, not full of hard-to-pronounce or hard-to-remember words.

The du'a is:

اللهمَّ إجعَلنِي مِن المَقَرِّبِينَ وَ مِن المُخلِصِينَ وَ مِن الصِدِّقِينَ وَ مِن المُحسِنِين

Allahumma ij'alnee min al-muqarribeen, wa min al-mukhliseen, wa min al-muhsineen, wa min as-siddiqeen.

What does this du'a mean? It means, "O Allah, make me from among the muaqarribeen, and the mukhliseen, and the muhsineen, and the siddiqeen." Let's break down these four groups to see who they are:

1. Al-Muqarribeen: Linguistically, it means something like "those who are close." Islamically, it means those closest to Allah in the hereafter. There is no reward greater than seeing Allah's Face, and no people will see it more than the muqarribeen. (Search the Qur'an, there are lots of references to them.)
2. Al-Mukhliseen: These are the sincere ones--because your years
   of salah, or sawm, of Qur'an, mean nothing if you are insincere. Also, Shaytan promises that he will misguide every last human--except the mukhliseen.
3. Al-Muhsineen: These are the ones who do ihsaan, excellence, in every aspect. They are praised in many places of the Qur'an. It's a great quality to have.
4. As-Siddiqeen: Of the four levels mentioned in the Qur'an (prophets, siddiqeen, and two others), this is the highest level that we, today, can theoretically reach.

Obviously, you're free to use (or not use) this du'a, or mix it up and make your own; I find it useful because it's concise, it covers a lot of traits, and it's pretty easy to remember.

Wallahu ta'ala 'alim.

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Creative Qiyaam-ul-Layl Alarms

Bismillah.

We all know that we should pray tahajjud, aka qiyaam-ul-layl. It's well established in the deen that this is a very, very rewarding thing to do (but it's not fard, so don't sweat it if you're not doing it). Some motivational factors for this include:

• The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) used to pray Qiyaam-ul-Layl until his legs swelled. When asked why--since Allah has forgiven all his past and future sins, he said: Should I not be a grateful slave? [Agreed Upon]
• Do you have goals you're trying to achieve? Is there something you really, really want? Are you willing to pray Qiyam and cry in front of Allah for it? Because nothing will turbo-charge your success like Qiyam.
• On the day of Judgment, Allah will ask about YOUR salah. If it's not 100% perfect, He will not even LOOK at your other deeds. BUT! If your Fard salaah is not perfect, Allah will patch it up with your nafl and sunnah prayers--including Qiyaam-ul-Layl. [There's a hadith related to this recorded in the collection of At-Tabari]

So what are some creative, unorthodox, unusual timers you use to wake you up? Share it in the comments! Some of the one's I've seen (that are effective) are:

1. Crying Babies: If there's a young child in your family (under two years), chances are they wake up crying in the night. Take advantage of this--get up and pray!
2. Bad Dreams: In one narration, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said that if you have a bad dream, you should wake up and pray. Shaytan will get discouraged from sending you more bad dreams--because it's resulting in you doing MORE good deeds!
3. Drink Water: Drink lots of water--about a liter. You will FOR SURE have to wake up to use the washroom in the night. Make wudoo' while you're at it!

What are some other creative, useful, effective methods you use to wake up for Qiyaam?

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Naseeha From Our Brother Sa’ad Gaya

Below is some naseeha from our brother, Sa'ad Gaya. Sa'ad was one of those 18 individuals thrown in jail as part of the "Toronto 18 terrorist plot." Despite evidence that the entire plot was spurred by a CSIS mole, despite an increasing lack of any credible evidence, several of these 18 brothers are still languishing in a jail cell.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I write these words not as one who has any superiority over you , whether in knowledge or deeds. I do not say these words to you as your parent or your teacher. I speak to you as your brother. Your brother, who was sitting amongst you just yesterday. Ask Mahmood, ask Abdulwahid , ask 'Umer , 'Umair, Rizwaan , Tawseef , Raza , Yasin. Ask all of them and ask those whom I failed to mention: Was I not sitting in the exact same spot that you are sitting in these days ? They will all reply in the affirmative. So I write these words to you not as someone distant, but as someone amongst you... one of you.

Ya Shaab al Islaam! Think about why you are here , ask yourself and ask yourself again. And I mean why are you physically present, why are you breathing, why does your heart beat, why unlike any other creature , can hear these words and intelligently decipher them into clear and concise thoughts? You know the answers to these questions because you've heard them before. You already know that Allah (swt) says " I have not created the Jinn and the Ins except to Worship Me." But have we ever actually arrived at these conclusions ourselves ? Have we utilized these facilities of hearing , seeing and understanding to come to this Absolute truth? The answer is that most of us have not... so when you hear these words tonight, do not let someone else think for you, but pay close attention and use the blessings bestowed upon you by Allah to come to your own conclusion.

To start off Alhamdulillah , you are all Muslim. You are all of those who proclaim the Kalimah of Tawheed. Laa Illaha Il Allah. You were taught it when you were young, and by default you have it memorized by heart. But do you know the weight that these four words carry. These are the same words that each and every Prophet was sent down to spread, the same words that saved Yunus (as) from the whale, the same words that if they are put up against everything in the universe on a scale , the former would outweigh the latter. However this Kalimah cannot just be paid lip-service to; it has rights and responsibilities... So learn these rights of Laa Illah Ill Allah. This is not a joke . It wasn't just idle talk when the Prophet (saw) taught us that this Kalimah is the prerequisite to enter Jannah.

Allah (swt) says in the Quraan:

"Has not the time come for the hearts of the believers to engage in the dikr of Allah ? "

My Brothers and Sisters , Allah is directly asking you a question to ponder over it. The Quraan is collecting dust right in front of you while Allah has said it is Hudallil Mutaqeen "Guidance for those who have Taqwa". Take it as your criterion. Use it as your reference. Study it and benefit from this miracle in times of ease so that it may be your companion in times of hardship. By Allah , and believe my words, when your hearts are shook, and you are experiencing real difficulty. It is only the words of Allah that will bring solace and comfort to your soul.

Take care of those who have rights over you, especially your parents. Honour them and treat them well. Cherish the fact that they are with you and take advantage of their wisdom.

Honour the masjid and be frequent in your visitation to it. Know that there are some who would do anything to just be able to pray 2 rak'ah, in the same spot that a lot of you are praying in right now.

Set goals and prepare for tomorrow. Prepare for the day when you will meet your Lord all alone. Think about this for a second.  Visualize what will happen. All the "halla gulla" of this dunya will be a distant thing. None of it will matter. They only currency in your hand will be your deeds even some of these will be taken away by those whom you abused, backbit or slandered in this dunya.

Take care of your body and health. Eat modestly and stay healthy. Be grateful for all the variety of foods that are available to you. Again, think of those who are right round you, but cannot regularly nourish themselves with a proper meal. Think about the millions who go to sleep hungry. Have you EVER in your life experienced that – having to sleep on an empty stomach because there is nothing to eat? NO, we can always go to the kitchen fridge and find something... anything to fill the stomach even if it doesn't taste great. Do shukr to Allah for this blessing before its taken away from you.

This leads to my final piece of Naseeha. My dear Brothers and Sisters,  Wake up and stop wasting your time. Remember, there is a reason why Allah (swt) created you. Distance yourself from laziness and be of a benefit to others. Stop living in a state of unawareness, for you don't know how things can change in a blink of an eye. You have a role to play in the Ummah... so discover that role, Whatever it is, and work towards it.

"Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning , yet they turn away in heedlessness."

If you're not already, visit Toronto18.com to make a difference in the lives of these young men and their families. May Allah grant them and their families sabr.

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“Things” that Loved the Prophet

Bismillah

عن انس قال النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏لا يؤمن ‏ ‏أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من والده وولده والناس أجمعين ‏

Anas radi Allahu anhu narrated that the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "None of you truly believes (has emaan) until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all of mankind." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Loving the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam is a part of emaan, and Allah ta'ala has made it obligatory for us to love the Messenger alayhi salaam. Why? It is because loving the Prophet shows that you love Allah. It is because Allah sent him sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam that we are Muslims. There should be no one in this world more beloved to us than Allah and His Messenger.

We all claim to love the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam with our tongues, but do our actions show this?

When we love someone, how do we act? We want to be just like them. We think about them a lot. Whenever we remember them, we become happy. Their words comfort us. Their actions teach us. We love to hear about them all the time.

Do you really love the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam? Do you practice his sunnah? Do you read his words? Do you learn from his teachings? Do you read about his life? Do you defend him? Do you spread his message? alayhi Salaatu Rabbuna wa Salaam!

There are so many stories displaying the love of the sahaba for the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam that we can regurgitate them all, because we have memorized them and not internalized them.

Here are some stories of non-human living beings that loved him alayhi salaam based on a lecture by Shaykh AbdulBary Yahya, "things" that loved the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam more than we do!

The Tree Stump

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah radi Allahu anhu: The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then an Ansari woman or man said. "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we make a pulpit for you?" He replied, "If you wish." So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit (for delivering the sermon). The date-palm cried like a child! The Prophet descended (the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened. The Prophet said, "It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of religious knowledge given near to it."
Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhuma narrated: The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to deliver his sermons while standing beside a trunk of a datepalm. When he had the pulpit made, he used it instead. The trunk started crying and the Prophet went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to stop its crying).

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to stand by a stem of a date-palm tree (while delivering a sermon). When the pulpit was placed for him we heard that stem crying like a pregnant she-camel till the Prophet got down from the pulpit and placed his hand over it.

These ahadeeth are classified as mutawaatir, meaning so many sahaba narrated it that it cannot be fabricated. The different narrations show that they all witnessed it in the masjid. This is a miracle of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and the narrations of the sahaba are all authentic, found in Bukhari and Muslim. This tree trunk, which seems like a lifeless being to us, is actually alive and was so affected by the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Allah ta'ala says the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam is a "rahmatan lil 'aalameen", a Mercy for all that exists, and we see this in how he comforted this stump. Imagine the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam soothing and hugging this tree stump!

Mount Uhud

Narrated Anas radi Allahu anhu: Allah's Apostle sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam ascended the (mountain) of Uhud with Abu Bakr and 'Uthman and it shook. Allah's Apostle said, "Be calm, O Uhud!" I think he stroked it with his foot and added, "There is none on you but a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs." (Bukhari)

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam was traveling one time: "and when Uhud was within sight, he said: This is the mountain which loves us and we love it." (Muslim)

This is a mountain, made up of rocks and stones, yet we are made of flesh and have been given hearts that beat...do we love the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam as this mountain? Do we shake like this mountain out of love for him?

A Stone

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “I know a stone in Makkah that used to salute (give salaams) me before I received the revelation, I still know it now." (Muslim)

How often do we salute/send salawaat on the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam? The Prophet knew this stone, and if we send salawaat on him, especially on Fridays, they will be presented to him from us.

A Tree

Narrated by Ya'la ibn Murrah ath-Thaqafi radi Allahu anhu said, "one time we were walking with the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam and he stopped at a place to spend the night. When the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam went to sleep, a tree uprooted itself and came to the Prophet and enveloped him. When the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam woke up, he said: 'this is a tree that when it saw the Prophet, it asked Allah to give salaams to the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and Allah gave it permission.'" (Musnad Ahmad, Tabarani and Bayhaqi: Saheeh)

Do we ask to see the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam in our dreams? Yet a tree is asking to send salaams on the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa salaam.

These are not the only stories mentioned in the sunnah and witnessed by the Companions. Let us strive more to love the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa salaam: learn about his life, read about his companions, act upon his authentic statements and teachings, send salawaat upon him and defend him, alayhi salaatu wa salaam.

May Allah ta'ala shower His peace and blessings upon our Messenger, and fill our hearts with love for Him and his messenger, bless us to see him in our dreams and to grant us his companionship in Jannatul Firdaws, Ameen.

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