Israel Bombs Gaza Again

December 31, 2008 – 8:07 am

Israel is bombing Gaza. Again. In two days, there are 400 dead and 1400 injured. Hospitals overflowing, boycotts, blood, and dead bodies…

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said the Muslim ummah is like one body–if one part hurts, the whole body feels it and responds.

Do you feel the pain?

There are countless websites, emails, etc. that speak about this. We’re not going to reiterate all the points. Read about it here. Those are your brothers and sisters, your mothers and fathers.

So what can we do? Surprisingly, a lot.

Action Items:

  • Make Du’a. Learn about Allah’s Grand Name and use it. Ask Allah, Al-Mujeeb, the one who answers all calls, to alleviate their situation.
  • Donate. Whether you can afford $1000 or $100 or $10, whatever it is, just donate it. Every dollar counts. A good organization to donate through is Islamic Relief Canada; their donation page is here. (Can someone post comments to other reliable organizations inside and outside of Canada?)
  • Tell Your Co-Workers. If you work in a medium-sized or large-size company, email your Human Resources department and ask them if they will match donations. Summarize the cause, and when they reply, forward it to as many people as you feel comfortable with. And just tell people by word of mouth what’s going on!
  • Donate Recurringly. Don’t wait for Israel to bomb again. Decide how much you want to give, and give it–even $10–monthly, or quarterly, or whatever suits your budget. Put reminders in Google Calendar, if you need to–it will email you when you need to donate again (steps to setting up a reminder in the comments).
  • Sign the Avaaz Petition. Politicians and groups do notice these kinds of things–and it just takes a minute to sign. Add yourself to the petition here.
  • Boycott Israel. Israel is not even a legitimate state, to begin with; but I digress. Read this great site here, it summarizes how to identify (and thus, boycott) Israeli products. Economic pressure is one of the most powerful pressures we can apply today.
  • Spread the Word. If you don’t do anything else (except donate), do this. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: The reward of someone who calls to good is the same as the one who does it, without either of them being decreased in it.

We ask Allah to help alleviate the sufferings of the people in Gaza, to grant them (and their families) sabar, to admit into Al-Firdaus Al-’Ala those who have died, and to use this incident to revive the true Islamic spirit in the hearts of the Muslims.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Islam, News | Tagged , , , | Comments (6)

The Terrible Consequences of not Praying Salah

December 25, 2008 – 6:30 am

Bismillah. Today, insha’Allah we’re going to touch on a slightly different angle on the concept of salah. Now, you know that salah is fard–the 5x daily prayers–and that the reward of doing so is great, and the sin of doing so are terrible. Hellfire, punishment on the Day of Judgment, punishment in this life, all these things are but possibilities.

But let’s take a look at a slightly different angle: scholars. What’s the position of the scholars on someone who doesn’t pray?

The position of all four madhaahib–Maliki, Shafi’ee, Hanbali, and Hanafi–with no difference of opinion–is that a person who does not pray, ever, is not a Muslim.

Think about that. Not a Muslim. Not anyone who has a chance of Paradise.

Why? There’s a very explicit hadith on this–the hadith of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم):

The contract between us and them is salaah. Whoever leaves it, he has disbelieved (fa qad kafara). [Source?]

This is a very direct, explicit hadith–salaah is the contract, part of the mithaaq, the original contract, with Allah that all humans took. And this is only one of the explicit ahadith like this.

What’s more, it was inconceivable in the time of the sahaba that someone could be a “Muslim” and not pray. It just doesn’t make sense.

…

Scared yet?

…

No? Well, there’s more. What is the position of the scholars of Islam on someone who doesn’t pray, today, who lives in that now-extinct species of Islamic State? Then what happens?

Again, there’s no difference of opinion on this.

The position of a Muslim in an Islamic state, who doesn’t pray, is to be jailed.

And once they’re in jail, they should be advised. That what they’re doing is haram. That prayer is so, so important. That it is a major sin. That it just takes five minutes, five times a day–less than one sitcom.

And if they don’t repent? Keep advising them for a day. Then, a second day. Then, a third day.

And if they still don’t repent?

Then they are executed.

So think about that, next time you feel like skipping a salah. Honestly, it just takes five minutes. Don’t let your lame excuses side-track you. Just do it.

Action Items:

  • Make Tawbah. Whether you pray regularly or not, if you’ve missed prayers in your past, make wudoo and pray two rakaahs of tawbah for that. And be optimistic–insha’Allah Allah WILL forgive you!
  • Hit the Minimum 5x/day. If you don’t pray your 5x daily prayers, start. Right now. Today. Praying is difficult at first, but over time, it becomes easier. Pick up prayers one at a time, whatever you can do, until you’re at least covering the daliy five consistently.
  • Add Sunnah/Nafl Prayers. If you already have your five covered, alhamdulillah, start adding the sunnahs–starting with the two before Fajr, and with salaat-ul-Witr. Those are the best. Then gradually add more. Add Tahajjud, if you’re already praying all the sunnah prayers. The sunnahs are like a shield that protect your fard prayers; if you always pray them, in the worst case, you might skip one or two–but if you only pray fard, those are the first to go.
  • Reflect on the Reward and the Punishment. If you didn’t know, for every fard action, Allah rewards you. Think about THAT. You’re actually getting some ajr! And reflect on the punishment of not praying, ever–capital. YOU might be praying, but you probably know someone in your family (near or extended), who doesn’t. Advise them gently.
  • Read. Islam QA has a great eBook on 33 ways to increase khushoo’ in salah. When you get khushoo, you actually enjoy salah! So read it, and apply one or two of those techniques daily.
  • Make Du’a. ‘Aishah said: “You will not even get a shoelace without the permission of Allah.” So ask Allah to help you pray regularly and in the best way.

We ask Allah to make us among the musalleen, those who pray regularly and on time and have their prayers accepted. This, if this is the only good thing you do with your life, is a great success that many people the world over have not achieved.

Note: We’re NOT saying that you should go around killing people. Nobody’s going to be executed for not praying–there IS no Islamic state in our time. But if there was, and if a Muslim living there didn’t pray, then the punishment is capital. It’s something to think and reflect over–the seriousness of salaah. It IS the contract between us and Allah.

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Islam, Salaah, Tazkiyyah | Tagged , , | Comments (45)

Become a Sadaqa Millionaire

December 18, 2008 – 2:09 pm

How would you like to give sadaqa? You might say “sure, I’d like to do it–but I have no money!” What if I told you there’s a way to give sadaqa that doesn’t require money? That, in fact, you could even out-class the rich people in their sadaqa! All it takes is a little time and effort!

Would you be interested?

One of the things the companions used to do is compete with each other in good deeds. Even if they were doing more good deeds than the majority of companions, if there were a few people (or even one person) doing more than them, they would strive to beat that person in good deeds. (And among other things, they used to ask frequently: Which is the MOST beloved deed to Allah?)

You bet they’d be interested.

Recorded below is one such hadith, where the poor people complained to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم). Complained that they were poor? No! Complained they didn’t have a BMW, a five-story house? No! Complained that they couldn’t donate as much for the sake of Allah as the rich people! Subhanallah! (That’s one of the qualities that made them so much more better than us.)

And that’s precisely what we’re discussing!

Abu Hurairah narrated that Abu Dharr said to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “The wealthy people have all the rewards; they pray as we pray; they fast as we fast; and they have surplus wealth which they give in charity; but we have no wealth which we may give in charity.” Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Abu Dharr, should I not teach you phrases by which you acquire the rank of those who excel you? No one can acquire your rank except one who acts like you. [...] Say Allahu Akbar thirty-three times; and say Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; and say SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times; and end it by saying, Laa ilaaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyi wa yomeetu wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shayin Qadeer. (There is no god but Allah alone, He has no partner, to Him belongs the Kingdom, to Him praise is due and He has power over everything.) Your sins will be forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.” [Recorded in Abu Dawud, #1499]

That’s it. It’s that easy! Give your excuses a black eye, and start donating. In fact, people in our communities today don’t do this; so you can beat them all, in the sight of Allah–all of them. By applying this hadith consistently.

And after this hadith was narrated, the rich people mentioned in it ALSO heard this hadith. And THEY started doing this too! Subhanallah, that’s stiff competition! So the poor people came back and complained again to the Prophet; and he said: “Haadhaa fadlullahi, yu’tiyhu man yashaa.” (This is the bounty of Allah, He gives to whom He wishes.)

And the Messenger of Allah told us that sadaqa does not decrease wealth. So you can bet you’ll get this back–every bit of it.

So what are you waiting for?

Action Items:

  • Pick a Time to do Dhikr. If you do it consistently, you will be successful, insha’Allah. Pick a time like: walking to your car; before you reach the highway; on the bus; while standing in line for food; after salaah; WHATEVER time works for you–just pick a time, and be consistent in it. Day after day, month after month, you’ll rack up the ajr.
  • Tell three people this hadith. For every subhanallah and alhamdulillah and allahu akbar they say, you get a copy of the reward too!
  • Make Du’a. Ask Allah, Ar-Razzaq, Al-Ghani, to make you rich if it is better for you, and to remove any stinginess from your heart, and to make you amongst the sincere ones.
  • Donate Your Dollars! If you are amongst those blessed with some level of wealth, realize that you can be amongst those with the highest reward if you spend it for the sake of Allah. So spend it! Even if you’re not rich, spend a small portion of what you have.
References

21 Teaching Techniques of the Prophet, by Muhammad Alshareef.

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

What Made the Companions Special

December 12, 2008 – 11:39 am

In a report by Abdullah bin `Amr bin `Aas (radiallahu ‘anhu), he related that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah with her daughter. On the daughter’s wrist were two heavy gold bracelets. The Messenger asked her, “Do you pay Zakaat on this?” She replied, “No.” The Messenger said: “Would it please you that Allah will encircle you with two bracelets of fire?” The reporter commented that she took them off and threw them down in front of the Messenger, and said: “They are for Allah and his Messenger.” [Recorded in Ahmed, Tirmidhi]

Think about this for a second–fiqh of zakah aside. Imagine, if you will, yourself in this place. The Messenger of Allah comes to you, and says, “you need to pay zakah on those two gold bracelets.”

What would you do? Probably hum and haw, then get them weighed, calculate the value, and leave your zakah with the masjid to distribute.

But what did this sahabi (in similar narrations, Asma the daughter of Abu Bakr) do? She gave the ENTIRE bracelets, both of them, as charity! Not just paid zakah–2.5% of of the value–she actually donated the whole thing feasabilillah!

And this is what makes companions so special! (And so much better than us!) We do the bare minimum, enough to just scrape by; but they go for the MAXIMUM reward.

And that’s the lesson of this hadith–and what a valuable lesson it is!

Action Items:

  1. Read about Ihsaan. Learn about it. Ask yourself frequently: “What would it mean to do ihsaan in this thing I’m doing right now?”
  2. Aim for the gold medal. Don’t be satisfied with memorizing only half of Juz Amma. Memorize the entire Qur’an! (Step by step, of course.) Or if you’ve studied one area of fiqh (like the fiqh of salah), learn what the different scholarly opinions are (like study fiqh from a different madhab).
  3. Give a Little Extra. If someone asks you for help–with some project, essay, exam, task, chore around the house (parents?), don’t just do the bit they ask! Throw in a little extra, do a little extra. As Allah says, “Is there any reward for ihsaan other than ihsaan?” [55:60].

We ask Allah to help us learn the lessons from these great companions and to help us implement them in our lives (ameen)!

What examples come to your mind that you can personalize with? Post them in the comments insha’Allah! If other people benefit, you get the ajr too!

By Ilm Seeker | Posted in Islam, Sahaba, Tazkiyyah | Tagged , , , | Comments (5)