Ramadan Reminders; Day 15

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 15:

Mid-Ramadan Blues is something we all have an experience with! We begin this blessed month with an extremely high level of enthusiasm and excitement but by the time we reach towards the end, our mind and body begins to give up. 

We have the urge of making each day better than the previous one but our energy levels seems to find a new low every other day! When this happens to me, I tend to feel extremely guilty and I ask myself, “Is this all I can worship Allah swt?” 

This remorse over my incapability of staying consistent and energised until the end of Ramadan, brings my spirit down so much so that I feel I should probably give up, skip a few Taraweehs and give my body some rest.

But then I realise that Allah swt never intended difficulty for us. And it is quite amazing that Allah swt says “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” in the same verse He mentions about Ramadan! Subhan Allah!

So if we’re over-exerting ourselves and making ourselves worn out, then we probably didn’t get the spirit of Ramadan right…

The whole purpose of Ramadan is to taste the sweetness in the worship and obedience to Allah, to realise the beauty and uniqueness of this Deen, to understand who our Creator is, to strengthen our bond with our Creator and of course to shed off our sins and begin a new Bi idhnillah!

And this cannot be achieved if we follow the acts of worship only through our bodies and not through our minds and hearts! 

Contemplate your hunger during the day. Think about how Rasulullah (saws) would have broken his fast – with samosas? Or with just dates or water? We can’t tolerate hunger for 14 hours and our Prophet had to tie stones to his stomach to control his hunger! And yet the examples of his kindness and generosity lives until today! Subhan Allah!

Think about what you intend for in Sujood and Ruku’? Is it just a body movement or is it something that requires our attention too? 

Just think about all those people missing out in gaining such massive rewards during this month. Shouldn’t we consider ourselves blessed that Allah swt chose us to worship Him? He hasn’t given this opportunity to all! 

Not everybody performs Sujood! And if we’re able to put our heads to the ground say, “Glory be to Allah, The Most High”, then Allah intends Jannah for us. Question is, are we ready to prove ourselves worthy of it?

Let not our fatigue and laziness consume our minds and take over our bodies! We belong to Allah and every part in us is a gift of Allah swt. Our soul was created to worship its Creator! So revel in the obedience of The Master! Appreciate the blessings and seek forgiveness for being ungrateful for those blessings! 

Another 15 days for the devils to be released and for us to strengthen our Imaan, build Taqwa and earn as many rewards as possible In sha Allah! 

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 15

Surah: Al Isra

Verse: 14

اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا

[It will be said], “Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as accountant.”

Imagine this sight. It is time for your deeds to be judged. You will be brought forth before Allah on the Judgement Day. Your hands and feet are trembling and your heart is sinking. All of your deeds in Dunya are flashing before your eyes. And your mind is trying to find excuses for the sins you’ve committed. 

But as you’re about to justify yourself, your Record of Deeds are handed over to you. It contains every word you uttered and every deed you committed in Dunya. Your mouth is going to be sealed before you give any justification. And then Allah will allow your hands and feet to speak for your deeds. 

Anas Bin Malik (ra) reported: We were in the company of Allah’s Messenger (saws) when He smiled and he said: “Do you know why I laughed?” We said Allah and His Messenger know the best. He said “It was because (there came to my mind the) talk which the servant will have with his Lord (on the Day of Judgment).” 

He would say: “O my Lord! Have you not guaranteed me protection against injustice?”

Allah will say, “Yes.” 

So the servant will say, “Do not deem valid any witness against me but my own self.”

So Allah will say, “Well, enough would be the witness of yourself against you and that of the two angels who had been appointed to record your deeds." Then the seal would be set upon his mouth and it would be said to his hands and feet to speak and they would speak of his deeds. Then the mouth would be made free to talk, he would say (to the hands and feet): Be away, let there be curse of Allah upon you. It was for your safety that I contended.”

[Sahih Muslim, 3612]

How horrifying is that! But that Day is not far away my brothers and sister!

These days we’re surrounded by indecency and fitnah. Look at how the world now is indicating towards the signs of the Judgement Day! Now think of all the sins and errors we’ve been committing for the past 10 years, or 15 or 30 years. 

Ask yourselves, “Am I really prepared for meeting my Lord? Is my Book of Deeds going to be worth reading? Or will my record shame me on that Day? What deeds have I committed that is going to reward me even after my death?”

We need to constantly reflect on our words and actions and evaluate for ourselves if this word of mine and this action is really worth for my Book?

This sounds like an almost impossible task right? Monitoring our every second? But it’s as easy as a walk in the park!

Engage your tongue in the Dhikr of Allah or speak that which will cause comfort and love in the hearts of people you speak to. 

This does not mean you don’t have fun or all your conversations become extremely serious. 

In the middle of your jokes, say words of praise like “Alhamdullilah”, “Subhan Allah”, “La ilaha illa Allah”, “Allahu Akbar”. The rewards of these days will bring benefit in this world, in your grave and on the Day of Judgement.

Try to figure out things that will become an ongoing charity for you. Teach someone the words of Allah, encourage your friends and family to understand the Book of Allah, open up a blog, write a book, anything at all! 

Just so that your Record will not close on your death but will still continue with your Sadaqah, In sha Allah!

Sunnah Challenge 15:

A market is one of the most disliked places by Allah (swt), as it is a place with temptations for each and every one…

It is important that we memorize and recite the following dua while entering a market.

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

"None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is living and does not die. In His hand is all good and He Omnipotent over all things."

Our Prophet (saws) also mentioned in the hadith that for the person who recites this Dua, Allah will wipe a million bad deeds from his record and grant him a million good deeds, and will elevate him a million degree (of virtue)- (and will build him a house in paradise in another narration). 

[At Tirmidhi]

Let us remind ourselves of this Dua. Everytime we go to a market, be it a shopping mall or a supermarket, and also remind ourselves to be cautious in how we spend, and spend for the right cause, seeking protection from Allah.

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 14

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 14:

As the end of Ramadan is approaching, Subhan Allah it is so beautiful to see ladies of all ages and colour, greeting each other with Salam, standing shoulder to shoulder, offering their prayers, crying and making Dua to Allah swt! 

As much as I love attending the Masjid, I cannot help but mention about those who cause a teeny tiny bit of hindrance in enjoying the peace and calmness of a divine and sacred setting. 

And no, I’m not talking about toddlers and young kids. But I’m speaking about the grown-up, matured, responsible individuals!

Let’s get down to a few points that I feel I NEED TO address!

#1. I’m totally against the norms that Masjids are supposed to be places where you can’t smile and greet one another. But I also live by the Hadith of Rasulullah (saws): “Indeed the Houses of Allah were built for the remembrance of Allah, prayer and recitation of the Quran.” [Sahih Muslim]

Please don’t make the Masjid a place of social gathering or a discussion of hot topics which are actually unimportant. Personally, this gets a little annoying and is a huge distraction and disturbance for those who come there purely for the worship and Dhikr of Allah!

#2. As soon as you enter the Masjid, perform Tahiyyatul Masjid before anything else as said by the Prophet (saws): “If one of you enters the Masjid, he should pray 2 units of prayer before sitting”. [Sahih Bukhari & Muslim]

#3. Yes, it’s prohibited for the women to use strong fragrances when they’re out of their homes but that IN NO WAY gives a person an excuse to not smell decent! I apologise for coming out as rude, but this makes it difficult for a person to concentrate in their prayers. 

Allah says in Surah A’raf, v.31; 

“O Children of Adam! Take your adornment while attending the Masjid (prayer)”.

You could apply a mild fragrance that does not attract attention or carry a small bottle of perfume with you.

#4. It is our responsibility to keep the house of Allah clean! I often notice ladies leaving their trash (used tissues and bottles) behind and I’m amazed if they would do the same in their houses! The Prophet (saws) ordered that the Masjid should be cleaned and perfumed. [Musnad of Imam Ahmed]

Next time you find any trash, take the responsibility of picking it up and disposing it with the right intention! You’d be earning a lot of rewards In sha Allah!

#5. Turning your mobile phone into silent mode, not crossing through people and making yourself a place in the first row even though there is no spot for you and not staring at others are matters of basic etiquettes ya all! 

All of these things causes disturbances that affects the spirit and tranquility of prayer and the ones who offer their prayers.

#6. The Most Important Point – Let’s not judge anybody for the way they dress or wear hijab or their way of reciting or holding the Quran. Everybody is a beginner at some point. In fact, treat them with humility and kindness, advise them privately, make sincere Dua for them and never mock or taunt them. Let’s not be the reason for driving these people out of the Masjids and away from the Deen of Allah.

And if there’s anybody advising you and you don’t even find it right, don’t argue or stare at them as though you’d want to pull their eyeballs out! Smile and let go! If there’s an opportunity to speak to them privately, tell them what’s right along with authentic references In sha Allah!

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 14

Surah: Al Hijr

Verse: 39

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

[Iblees] said, “My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all.”

Ever wondered the reason behind our distractions from the obedience to Allah swt? Why do we fall into sins? Why is our heart inclined towards the pleasures of this life? Sure, there is desires inside each one of us. But who runs this desire…?

When Iblees disobeyed one command of Allah in all his pride and arrogance, Allah swt abandoned him and cursed him for the rest of his life. 

Now imagine how cruel and vicious Iblees is that he blamed Allah for him straying away, asked Allah for a favour to live until the Judgement Day and also vowed to lead His most precious creations away from the worship of Allah! Look at his guts! 

He is also challenging the Lord of all mankind and the worlds that he has the power of taking over our hearts and inciting evil desires within us. And how is he going to do all of this? By making every single thing in this Dunya, attractive, pleasing to our hearts and minds and provoking us towards them!

For instance, at the time of Fajr, shaytan makes the sleep so attractive and the sight of our beds and blankets so comfortable that our desire to sleep surpasses our desire to stand in worship of our Lord! 

Or the shaytan creates within us the want and the desire of eating junk and all those things that make us sluggish and tired that ends in lack of concentration in Salah or missing of a prayer or two!

Tell me, if a person comes to your mom and challenges her that her child (i.e.) you are the most incapable and discourteous child there ever is, are you not going to react? Is it not going to sting your heart and you feel like throwing this person off the cliff? Aren’t you going to put in your sweat and blood in proving this person wrong? 

That’s exactly what the shaytan did. He thinks you’re weak and incapable of dealing with your own nafs. That is why he challenged Allah against you. 

And if Allah is so Merciful and so Loving and Caring towards His slaves, why did He even give shaytan what he wanted? That’s called TRUST. 

Allah swt trusts His creations that they will never give in to shaytan and his evil whisperings. He trusts us so much so that he even gave us free will to choose our path! Because He knows that we belong to Him and we will return back to Him!

Is there any relationship greater than this? Any love or trust greater than this?

In fact, Allah swt gave us all the tools to stay away from the shaytan! The Quran! The gift of repentance! He sent down Prophet Muhammad (saws) to our ummah so that we can learn how exactly does a person has to live his life if he wants to boo the shaytan, put him down and raise our status in front of Allah, in this Dunya and the Aakhirah!

Subhan Allah!

May Allah swt strengthen our soul, heart and mind to deal with the shaytan and help us establish pure love and obedience to Allah in our lives! Ameen.

Sunnah Challenge 14:

How many of us knew that we have to say Bismilllah when we trip or fall?

Abu Al-Malih narrated that a man said: “I was riding behind the Prophet (saws) and his mount stumbled. I said: “May the Shaytan perish! The Prophet (saws) said: “Do not say” May the Shaytan perish,” because when you say that he swells up so much that he becomes like a house and says, “By my power.” Rather say: Bismillah (In the name of Allah), “for if you say that the Shaytan shrinks until he becomes like a fly.”

[Abu Dawud]

We learn that whatever happens to us, be it a blessing or a calamity comes from Allah (swt). Even if it is a small hurdle that comes in our way, is never because of Shaytan, but the will of Allah. 

Shaytan has no power to control anything that happens in the way of Allah!

That is the reason why we need to take Allah's name, to establish His remembrance at all times. And when we remember Him, during the calamity, Shaytan reduces so much as a fly! Allah is indeed the greatest and the most powerful, and even a leaf would move without His will. 

May Allah bestow upon all of us His remembrance at all times, good and bad, highs and lows, and help us overcome the whisperings of the Shaytan! Ameen.

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 13

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 13:

When it comes to Dua, there are many posts about its importance, the different times of acceptance of Duas, the best Dua, why we shouldn’t be giving up on Dua and so on…

But what I’m going to ask you is a bit different. Has it ever happened that you sincerely made a Dua to Allah swt and it wasn’t accepted…? Did it not hurt you at least a little bit that in spite of constantly and sincerely asking for just one thing, it still wasn’t accepted by Allah…? Didn’t you think, “Sure nothing is impossible for Allah swt, then why didn’t He make my wish possible…?”

What if I tell you that by not accepting your Dua, Allah swt is making your accountability easy on the Day of Judgement… He swt is paving your road to Jannah…? And by not fulfilling your wish, Allah is stocking up on those things that will prevent you from entering the Fire…?

On the Day of Judgement, there will be a person who will see many mountains full of rewards. This person will be surprised and confident that it doesn’t belong him because he feels he didn’t even live that long enough to commit those many abundant good deeds! 

Quite a long time will pass by and he will notice that no one has come to claim their rewards… He’ll turn to Allah swt and ask Him, “O Allah! These mountain full of rewards! Who are they for?”

Allah swt will reply, “This is for you, My servant!”

This person will be astonished and amazed and in doubt too as to what made him accumulate these many rewards!

Allah swt will tell him, “My servant! When you were in the Dunya, you used to make Dua to me. I never accepted your Dua. But what I did in return is I gave you reward. I kept on giving you rewards for the Dua you used to make. And today those duas are a mountain full of rewards!”

And this person will say, “O Allah! In that case, why did You accept any of my Duas!”

[Ahmed]

Subhan Allah!

If only we truly understood why Allah swt is The Most Merciful and why He keeps repeating in the Quran that the reward of the believers will not be lost!

When you ask Allah swt for something, ask Him with full conviction and faith. Keep asking Him consistently and constantly in your prayers and also outside of your prayers. But if you don’t see a response, don’t be in haste. Leave it in the Hands of Allah! Because Allah swt has knowledge over things which we are clueless about! Yes, His Wise Decisions are not always what you wanted but it is always in YOUR FAVOUR!

Imagine, on the Judgement Day, you’ll find your mountains of rewards and realise that it is because of these unaccepted Duas, you will be welcomed in Jannah! After all, isn’t that our ultimate goal?

Ask Allah swt for the smallest needs and desires, even if it was new Converse shoes you saw at the mall! Or your desire to eat at a specific restaurant or to get you that watch your friend was wearing the other day! Absolutely everything! 

Because if Allah accepts your Dua, He is increasing your Imaan and wants you to do Shukr! But if He hasn’t accepted your Dua, you’re assured that He swt is working on something even better! 

Verse of the Day 

Juz: 13

Surah: Ibrahim

Verse: 7

وَإِذْ تَاَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”

Every ayah in the Quran is a miracle sent down by Allah swt and it holds many treasures, some of which may be unknown to us. A Believer will always try to find a lesson for himself in each ayah of the Quran.

But this verse from Surah Ibrahim is one of the most explicit and beneficial verse for all of mankind. Sadly, these days the non-Muslims exercise gratitude much more than the Muslim community. There are several books on gratitude – the how’s and why’s and when’s, most of which are written by non-Muslim authors.

Brothers & Sisters! This is a command given by Allah swt, much before the non-Muslims even discovered the word ‘gratitude’! We should be acting upon Shukr for each and every second of our life! 

The fact that Allah swt keeps giving us another day to live, to repent and gives permission to our heart for every beat is something we have taken for granted! And this is the same reason why the non-Muslims are so deeply thankful for.

Guess what the American author, Melody Bettie feels about gratitude. She said, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend!” Isn’t this beautiful?!

Imagine, as Muslims how grateful should we be to Allah swt for He has blessed us with those things we never even asked Him for!

Did you know that the above command of Allah in Surah Ibrahim, v.7 was what Musa (as) told his people after they crossed the sea?

These are the same people who suffered at the hands of the tyrant, Firaun! Their sons were killed by him! He was an oppressor! After being under trials for such a long period, Musa (as) is asking his people to be grateful instead of being patient! Why?

Because we cannot be patient if we’re not grateful! Subhan Allah!

Imagine, a car meets with an accident but the entire family is safe. What is the man or the woman going to say? “Thank God nothing happened to us!” And because they’re grateful that God didn’t cause harm to their family, they’re able to be patient during this trial. 

Now generally, giving thanks or Shukr is understood by performing this act when we’re blessed with something right…?

What about Yusuf (as)? Do you think he would go on to become the Treasurer or something like a Finance Minister of a country if he wasn’t taken up as slave or if he wasn’t thrown into that well by his brothers?

What does this teach us? Gratitude is not to be done only when we’re blessed with something but also when we’re afflicted with a trial!

Because you never know which trial or hardship is going to turn out to be the best blessing in your life! Or through which difficulty you were saved from a much bigger problem!

And the beauty of this ayah is that Allah swt didn’t limit gratitude to anything. Meaning no matter what you’re thankful for and how much you’re grateful to Allah, Allah swt will increase that for you! 

In other words, repeating ‘Alhamdullilah’ a 100 times does not necessarily mean you’re grateful. But if you truly feel thankful to Allah in your heart, then one Alhamdullilah is going to suffice your feeling of gratitude! Subhan Allah! 

Indeed, Alhamdullilah for the greatest gift Allah has bestowed upon me, the understanding of the Quran, without which I would be lost like a wanderer in the desert!

What are you grateful to Allah swt for? ;)

Sunnah Challenge 13:

Do you want to know of a deed that will multiply its reward TEN times? 

The Prophet (saws) said:

“When you hear the Mu’adhin calling for the prayer, repeat his words then ask Allah’s blessings upon me, because the one who asks Allah’s blessings upon me once will be rewarded ten blessings by Allah.” 

[Sahih Muslim, The Book of Prayer, Hadith 384]

We can ask for Allah's blessings upon the Prophet (saws) by reciting the salawat:

اللهم صلِّ علَى محمد، و علَى آلِ محمد، كما صليت علَى إبراهيم و علَى آلِ إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد

اللهم بارك علَى محمد، و علَى آلِ محمد، كما بَارَكْت علَى إبراهيم و علَى آلِ إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد

Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hameedun Majeed. 

Allahumma Barik ala Muhammadin wa ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedun Majeed.

“O Allah, bestow your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious”. 

[Al-Bukhari]

Next time you hear the Adhaan, don't just recite one Dua that follows it, but remember to include the salawat for our Rasulullah (saws)!

May Allah swt reward us for our good deeds, protect us from straying into the wrong path, and make us among the righteous! Ameen. 

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 12

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 12:

How many of you truly feel content and satisfied with your life? How many of you can claim that your heart is at peace and there is absolutely no distress and frustrations in your life? And how many times has your prayer been able to calm you down (like literally melt your anger and makes you feel blissful)?

Let’s start reasoning our answers with some statistics.

On an average we perform about 34 Sujood (excluding the Sunnah and Witr prayers) in a day. Take a moment and ask yourself. “I bow down in prostration, let my head touch the ground so many times in a day but has this act ever touched my heart once…? Did at least one sujood bring a single tear in my eye…? Am I really prostrating to Allah with my heart and soul or is just my body prostrating to Allah…?”

We’ve heard many times that when you’re upset fall into Sujood, we’re closest to Allah in Sujood and a Dua made during Sujood is always accepted by Allah swt.

But take a step back. Are you making Sujood for yourself or for your Creator and The Creator of every single atom in this world? Because if we truly made Sujood for The One who created us, we wouldn’t spend even a fraction of a second in doubt or complains! 

Sujood is a part of the gift that Rasulullah (saws) himself went up to the Heavens to receive it directly from Allah! Sujood is an act of Shukr, it is humbling yourself in front of your Lord and it is a form of telling your Creator, “My Lord, You are The Greatest, I am weak, I am your slave, You alone are in control of my life and that is why I’m resting the highest part of my body on to the ground for You!”

If we would sincerely reflect on these feelings, we wouldn’t lift our heads from prostration immediately after reciting “Subhana Rabbi al A’la”. 

One single Sujood would wipe off every ounce of agony and fear from our minds. We would prostrate to Allah not only in times of dejection or sorrow, confusion or doubts but also when we’re happy or ecstatic! 

With every Sujood, we would feel elated because Allah swt raises us by one degree in Jannah and forgives a sin of ours! [Ahmed] 

This Dunya is imperfect and is literally an accumulation of all the things that can feed on your soul and suck out peace from your life. This is why Allah swt blessed us with Sujood.

The Prophet (saws) was suffering from distress from being harmed by the enemies of Islam. So Allah swt gave our Prophet (saws) a remedy by revealing the following verses from Surah Hijr;

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ

فَسَبّـِحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبّـِكَ وَكُن مّـِنَ السَّاجِدِينَ

“And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say.”

“So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him]”

For every negative emotion we experience, the cure is in Sujood! It is a position where you exchange your worries for blessings! It heals your soul of all the damage it has suffered. It elevates your spirit and fills it up with hope and positivity. 

It is the act that brings about peace and comfort! And yet it the act we have taken for granted.

May Allah swt give us the ability to truly appreciate His gifts and blessings upon us, allow us to be among those who are grateful to Him and who find peace only in His remembrance! Ameen.

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 12

Surah: Yusuf

Verse: 42

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مّنْهُمَا اذكُرْنِي عِندَ رَبّكَ فَاَنسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ 

“And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, “Mention me before your master.” But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and Joseph remained in prison several years.”

I’m sure all of you have come across the beautiful story of Yusuf (as) which Allah swt Himself testified as the best story ever!

Subhan Allah his story is one where we can extract a number of life lessons. Every incident in his life and every hardship he went through seems like an amazing puzzle whose outcome was truly a divine success!

The ayah I picked for the day is actually a continuation of an incident where two of the prison mates of Yusuf (as) approach him for the interpretation of their dreams. 

According to their dreams, one man among them was to be crucified while the other was going to be set free. And as a favour, Yusuf (as) asked the other man to mention to the king upon his release that he’s been in the prison even though he is innocent. But shaytan caused that man to forget about this request of Yusuf (as).

What I want you to focus here is the patience, faith and forgiving nature of Prophet Yusuf (as).

First and foremost, he is serving his most precious time – the youth in the prison in spite of being innocent! And yet, he never complained of his situation ever! Instead he devoted his talent and time in the way of Allah swt and spread His Deen! Subhan Allah!

Many a time we may feel restricted and that nobody gives importance to our strengths or even our existence! Yes, we don’t complain but how is our attitude at such times? Cranky? Moody? Do we even praise and thank Allah in such circumstances? No! We deal with these situations as if they’re a burden upon us! 

But look at the life of Yusuf (as). Allah swt knew best that in this period of seclusion in the prison, He azza wa jal was preparing His Prophet for the greater role he was to play very soon! Allah swt kept Yusuf (as) away from all the harm and distractions so that he focuses on building his relationship with Allah and also invite people around him to the Deen of Allah! Imagine doing Dawah in the prison! 

And Yusuf (as) wasn’t even guilty, yet he had faith and trust in the decree of Allah and instead of spending the period in wait, he devoted his time, his mind, his soul and his talent in the way of Allah! And how was he rewarded? He was made the Treasurer of Egypt! Such a powerful position!

Secondly, when we provide our help to our friends or family, we do it with the intention of both praise and acknowledgement or with an expectation of receiving good from them. And when we don’t receive any of it, we say, “I’m never going to help them again! They don’t deserve it! Could have at least said ‘thanks’” and we enter a whole new negative zone!

How do you think Yusuf (as) would have felt when there was no news from the king about his release? Don’t you think he would have felt betrayed? Because of this, he had to spend several years in the prison!

Yusuf (as) knew that it is Allah alone who rewards and He alone sends the relief! He continued his dawah and ibadah with sincerity, humility, positivity and patience! There is so much we could learn from this man, Subhan Allah!

I understand sometimes the situation gets out of our tolerance level, we feel as though everything is against us and we start losing hope. We’re unable to concentrate in Salah or while reciting the Quran. We lose the ability to think well and good for ourselves let alone for others. 

But it is at such times that we need to keep our cool. It is in these situations that our Imaan is being tested. And Allah, The Most Wise intended this period for us because He is preparing us for a much bigger and better position in this life and the Hereafter! 

Trust Him and continue with the best of deeds, be positive and encourage others around you, spread good and mercy! And watch how The Best Planner beautifies your life and rewards you with that which you never expected in your possession, In sha Allah!

Sunnah Challenge 12:

Children are one of the biggest blessings from Allah in this world, the coolness of our eyes, and the future leaders of our Ummah.

Protecting our children from evil is a huge responsibility as this Dunya is full of trials and tribulations, with Shaytan trying to stray every person and every path.

The Prophet (saws) used to say the following to seek the protection of Allah for Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein:

Evils are of all kinds and it is necessary to protect our children, be it our own children, siblings or any other children from all sorts of harm.

1. Always remember to recite Surah Baqarah as Shaytan RUNS away from a home where this Surah is recited! [Sahih Muslim]

2. Make it a habit to repeat Surah Falaq and Naas before going to bed along with Ayatul Kursi, with the kids! [Sahih Bukhari] 

3. Remember to keep them indoors during the time Shaytan lurks out, the early hours of Maghrib![Sahih Muslim]

May Allah swt protect our children from all kinds of harm and make them as ones who turn to Allah in times of despair! Ameen.

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 11

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 11:

If I could title this reminder, I would name it as “Sunnah precedes Science yet again!”

Portion control or limited eating leads to a healthier lifestyle – this is what Science has discovered recently (probably a couple of decades ago). But this is exactly what Prophet Muhammad (saws) recommended and encouraged 1400 years ago! Isn’t that amazing?!

Our Prophet (saws) said: “No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for the son of Adam are a few morsels to keep his back straight. But if he cannot bear that, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.”

[Ahmed, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasai’, Ibn Majah]

Yuhanna Bin Masawiyah (770 CE) was a famous Assyrian physician who lived through the period of four caliphs in Baghdad. He said, “If people only applied these words practically, they would avoid all diseases and maladies (sickness) and the clinics and pharmacies would remain idle.”

Nafi’ Bin Al-Harith Bin Khalada Al-Thaqafi (670 CE) who lived during the time of the Prophet (saws), said, “That which has destroyed mankind is the introduction of food on top of food before it has been digested.”

That’s not it! Guess what shaytan himself spoke about your stomach?

When Allah swt created Adam (as), Iblis started going around Adam (as) in hate and jealousy, scanning him from head to toe, trying to find an error or a weak point in him. Suddenly, he spotted something hollow in him, it was the stomach! And Iblis said, “I can lead him astray because he has got a stomach and he has no control over it.”

If you think about it, when we over-indulge in eating or munch on junk, is there a desire to do any work at all? Let alone perform Sujood and Ruku’ and standing in Qiyam! We’d just hold our stomach and go to sleep… Isn’t that what happens? 

Sinning and wasting time are both from shaytan because it takes us away from Allah swt. So when we fill our stomachs, we’re actually inviting shaytan over to have fun with our nafs!

This is why Ramadan is here! To control this desire which is also one of our weaknesses! And if we don’t exercise control over our eating habits now, do you think we ever will…? For the rest of the year we may diet to lose weight, but if you incorporate healthy and Sunnah eating habits now, you’d also be gaining rewards, In sha Allah!

Also, filling your stomach to the brim does not mean you’ll stay energetic and active throughout Taraweeh. The Sahabas and our Prophet (saws) literally survived on dates, water, khubs (flat bread) and olive oil. And yet they stood longer in prayers than us!

Keep your Iftaar light, cut down on carbs and fried food, chew well and In sha Allah you’d experience a whole lot of difference if you suffer from sluggishness or even burps!

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 11

Surah: Yunus

Verse: 45

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كأَن لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إلاَّ سَاعَةً مِنَ النَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِلِقَآءِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ

“And on the Day when He will gather them, [it will be] as if they had not remained [in the world] but an hour of the day, [and] they will know each other. Those will have lost who denied the meeting with Allah and were not guided.”

This ayah was revealed in the context of those who denied their meeting with Allah and Allah swt calls these people lost and misguided.

But what I want to focus here is on one of the facts about the Judgement Day.

On the Day of Judgement, our entire life on this earth will only seem like an hour or a small part of a day. Because Allah says in Surah An-Naziyat, verse 46;

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَاهَا

“It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.”

This Dunya is going to seem so insignificant on The Final Day and yet it is this Dunya and the matters of this world that gets on the priority list for most of us!

If I ask you to summarise your entire day in one sentence, you’d probably pick the activity that took most of your time in that day, right…?

On that Day, when we will be standing before The Rabb ul A’lameen, Our Master, Creator and Ruler of the ENTIRE Universe and He begins to question us, how will we summarise our entire life in this Dunya which will only seem like an hour…? 

What is our answer going to be…? Cooking? Having fun? Studying for this Dunya? Or struggling with a 9-5 job?

I don’t mean to say that these things are unworthy. They are what is going to help us survive in this world. The above activities are important but what is more important is how much time we spend for the sake of Allah. How we turn each of the above activities into an act of worship. And how much we prepare ourselves for the Aakhirah!

Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: “The life of this world compared to the Hereafter is as if one of you were to put his finger in the ocean and take it out again then compare the water that remains on his finger to the water that remains in the ocean.”

[Sahih Muslim]

Remember, this Dunya is only temporary. It ends with our death. And what begins next is the life that will remain forever, for eternity.

The matters of this Dunya shouldn’t own us but in fact we should be in charge of them. 

This is what I’ve learnt from the saying of Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra): “Detachment is not that you should own nothing. But that nothing should own you.”

Subhan Allah!

If only we would live this life by the terms and teachings of Rasulullah (saws) and his noble companions, we wouldn’t be the ummah that is at end of receiving backlash!

May Allah swt detach our hearts from this world and all that it contains, make our hearts steadfast in Deen and allow us to be among those who are successful in this world and the Hereafter! Ameen.

Sunnah Challenge 11:

How many of you knew that it was the Sunnah of our Prophet(saws) to change the positions for prayer after completing the Fardh prayer?

Abu Dawood (854) and Ibn Maajah (1417) narrated from Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Prophet (saws) said:

“Is any one of you incapable, when he prays, of stepping forwards or backwards, or to his right or left?” – meaning in order to offer a naafil prayer, after an obligatory prayer.

Another Hadith which we see is a report narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh (1463) from Mu‘aawiyah (ra) who said:

When you have prayed Jumu‘ah, do not follow it immediately with another prayer until you speak or leave (the mosque), because the Messenger of Allah (saws) instructed us to do that, not to follow one prayer immediately with another until we spoke or left (the mosque).

Our Prophet(saws) instructed us to separate our prayers with such a gap for the purpose of differentiating between the Fardh and Sunnah prayers.

The scholars in Islam have also mentioned that increasing the number of places of prostrations, so that they would testify for us on the Day of Judgement!

Let us make it a habit from now on, to space our prayers by switching from one place to another, or at the least try to break the gap by speaking or reciting some Dhikr In shaa Allah!

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 10

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 10:

It seems as though only a few days ago I was preparing myself for the coming of Ramadan! Time flies by faster than light these days! :P

In a blink of an eye we have completed the first leg of Ramadan, Alhamdullilah. 

For some of us, these 10 days would have been an initiating phase (i.e.) getting adjusted to changes in the sleep schedules, constantly pondering over the Book of Allah, engaging in Dhikr and of course my favourite, the late night Taraweeh prayers. 

For those of us (including me :P) who still feel they haven’t given their 100%, now is the time to buck up! Leave behind the fatigue and laziness. Let’s ensure that each and every minute of ours is being dedicated to the worship of Allah. Even if we’re in the kitchen or doing the laundry or cleaning up the house or even working on our home works and assignments, let’s incorporate Dhikr and the recitation or the Tafseer of the Quran. 

Let not guilt overtake our hearts and minds at the end of Ramadan because we couldn’t give it our all!

But for those of you who are content with the amount of your Duas and prayers, keep going In sha Allah! Also remember that there is always room for more. 

May Allah swt grant His Barakah in our time and help us devote ourselves in His praise and worship! Ameen.

Just a short reminder that while we’re making abundant Duas for ourselves and crying over our sins in prayers, please include our oppressed Muslim brothers and sisters in your Duas. This very moment when you’re sitting in the comfort of your house and with the luxury of safety and care, there are kids who’re being abducted and forced into slavery, women are being disrespected and the men, the protectors and care-takers of a family are being killed mercilessly. Why? Because they’re Muslims! 

If we can’t reach out to them personally, we can always send them our Duas! A Dua made for a fellow Muslim in their absence is always accepted, Bi idhnillah.

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 10

Surah: Al Anfal

Verse: 53

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا نِعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۙ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“That is because Allah would not change a favour which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”

Ever occurred when you had a blessing and it all faded away one day…? Think about it. Anything that you thought was taken away from your life and you immediately turned to Allah and questioned Him, “Why?”…? 

It could be a loss in some business or you were scoring high percentage in school or university but in one particular exam your grades have dropped down or you’ve worked hard on a presentation and you’re a pro in giving one but this time, it didn’t go as planned…?

Do you want to know why…?

Allah swt does not take away a favour or blessing from a person until he does something himself which becomes a cause of being deprived of those blessings.

This what today’s ayah is all about.

At the first strike of a calamity or a problem or you realise that a blessing has been taken away by Allah, either we turn to people expressing our distress and seeking their comfort or we turn to Allah in frustration. 

Don’t be like Iblis who blamed Allah for his dismissal from Paradise!

Instead ponder over your thoughts and your deeds. Maybe you would have been ungrateful for those blessings or perhaps committed a sin or a deed that Allah dislikes. Through this loss, Allah swt wants to redirect your attention towards Him and seek Him. 

So whenever we see that a blessing has been taken away from us that all of a sudden something that we enjoy is gone, we need to analyse ourselves. Did I do something that Allah dislikes? What went wrong? 

We need to ask Allah of forgiveness, express our gratitude for what we still have and ponder over our actions.

Mu’adh (ra) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (saws) took hold of my hand and said, “O Mu’adh! By Allah I love you, so I advise you to never forget to recite after every prayer: 

 اللهم أعني على ذكرك، وشكرك، وحسن عبادتك

Allahumma a'inni ala dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni 'ibadatika 

(O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner).”

[Abu Dawud]

Let’s increase our saying of this Dua, In sha Allah!

Sunnah Challenge 10:

Controlling our anger. 

We read so much of it everywhere. But it more often easier said than done. Someone provokes us, and the next moment they are the target of all our destructive words and actions!

Let us look at a hadith from our Prophet (saw).

Abu Huraira reported:

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) as saying: One is not strong because of one's wrestling skillfully. They said: Allah's Messenger, then who is strong? He said: He who controls his anger when he is in a fit of rage.

[Sahih Muslim]

Why is a person who controls their anger given such a high status in Islam? Because it really IS a tough position to achieve!

When a person is angry, the least that they do is lash out hurtful words at the other person, and it may extend upto cursing or physically harming the other for some people! It is indeed difficult to control anger when a person is provoked for a reaction.

Allah tells us in the Holy Quran, in Surah Al Imran (133-134), when talking of the people of Paradise;

".. Those who repress anger.." 

He also reminds us again in Surah Ashura (36-37), of the character of the people in Paradise as; 

".. When they are angry, they forgive."

Subhan Allah! Controlling our anger makes us one among the ones in Jannah!

But how do we control this emotion, which often get the better of us, mostly leading to regret?

1. Respond to your anger by repressing the tongue and be silent:

Ibn Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) said; 'Teach and make it easy. Teach and make it easy.' three times. He went on, 'When you are angry, be silent' twice."

[Al Adab Al Mufrad]

2. Recite the Ta'awwuz:

Mu'adh bin Jabal narrated that one of the two men cursed the other next to the Prophet (saws), until anger could be recognized in the face of one of them. So the Prophet (saws) said: “Verily, I know a statement, that if he were to say it, his anger would leave: ‘I seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, the rejected (Audhu billahi min Ash shaitan ar rajim.).’”

[Jami At-Tirmidhi]

3. Changing positions such as sitting down or lying as these positions will reduce or chances of harming a person physically. And it also reduces the blood pressure:

Narrated Abu Dharr:

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said to us: "When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down".

[Sunan Abi Dawud]

May Allah help us all in following the Sunnah of Rasulullah (saws) and make us one among the people of Jannah! Ameen.

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 9

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!

Daily Reminder 9:

Personally, Taraweeh or the night prayers are one of things that I look forward to in the month of Ramadan. Although it is not obligatory, I see to that I never miss these prayers. Because as much tiring as it sounds, I feel energised by the end of Taraweeh prayers and in spite of the pains I go through, I really enjoy myself going through the words of Allah. And ending my day having worshipped Him and glorified Him through the only channels between me and The Lord of the Worlds (Salah & Quran), is the greatest peace I could ever ask for!

I know for the working folks or the students out there, it’s tough to fast the entire day let alone devote your nights too for the long prayers… It is very easy to give up on Taraweeh because they’re not compulsory. But the rewards you’d be stacking up for yourself through these prayers is unimaginable! 

At times, you’d literally have to drag yourselves to the washroom for performing wudhu and leave for Taraweeh, but the moment you step your foot inside the Masjid, you’d really begin to feel blessed and the amount of time you spend in the Masjid, a house of Allah is NEVER wasted!

Imagine, you could be in the comfort of your home, performing all the obligatory deeds and taking good rest for the next day. Always remember, Allah swt does not need us, He is The One who created us and we are the ones in need of Him. But if Allah swt has provided a way for you to stand in worship of Him for the night, seize the opportunity! This worship is not going to benefit Him, it is for you to be benefited! 

Prophet Muhammad (saws) said, “He who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven”.

[Sahih Muslim]

We’re humans – weak and forgetful! If there are 10 sins that you might commit in your knowledge, there might be a double of those that is out of your knowledge. And I’m not talking about the major sins, but sins that usually goes unnoticed like – hurting someone unintentionally, making faces when you’re irritated, having ill thoughts for someone, not reciting the adhkaars and duas and so on. ALL of these sins that has been on your back for 15 years or 20 years or 30 years or 50 years is going to be ERASED! Subhan Allah! What a glorious opportunity! And when you’re pure from all these sins, don’t you think you become more deserving of Allah’s mercy and blessings…? 

Yes, Taraweeh does have many health benefits too but that shouldn’t be the reason for attending these prayers. The benefits will come along once you start pleasing Allah alone. What you should intend is that your sins are forgiven and Allah elevates your status in this world and the Hereafter because actions are judged by intentions! 

Verse of the day:

Juz: 9

Surah: Al A’raf

Verse: 170

وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّا لانُضِيعُ اَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ

“But those who hold fast to the Book and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.”

Holding on to the Book of Allah and Salah is something that we sincerely follow in the month of Ramadan but usually let it sly during the rest of the year. While this command of Allah is for our ENTIRE life!

We recite the Quran as though it is like any other household chore and prayer has become a monotonous routine in our lives. Our innate ability to understand the Quran and enjoy the Salah is somewhere lost amidst the worldly tasks we follow.

But Subhan Allah for the gift of Ramadan! Perhaps Allah, The Most Wise and Merciful, knew that we would take upon these obligations as a burden on our backs. And He, being our Creator knew that we need a break from the worldly concerns and devote our entire time in His worship and experience the peace and blessings that comes through our obedience to Him! 

If I begin to list down the benefits and virtues of the Quran and Salah, I wouldn’t stop for a few hours and Allah knows best the rewards of holding on to the Words of Allah! But it these 2 channels (the Quran & Salah) through which we can connect with our Creator. These are the 2 most important means of fixing your life in this world and the Hereafter. 

With regard to the Quran, we know that it is for the righteous people and guides us to the straight path. But why is it for the righteous people? How does it guide us? What is the consequence of each of our actions? 

Guess what? Allah swt supports these answers with examples too in the form of the most amazing and interesting stories! Unless we open up the Quran and ponder over its meanings, we will never truly appreciate the reason why this Book is called a mercy for mankind!

And for every time you pick the Quran, recite a letter, ponder over its translation, learn the Tafseer, intend to implement this knowledge in your life and finally walk on the path of Knowledge, there are abundant rewards for you that only Allah knows! 

These could be the rewards that could turn away a hurdle in your life or grant you the acceptance on your dua or better, earn your place in Jannah, In sha Allah!

May Allah swt give us the ability and opportunity to connect with His Words, His Book and walk on the path of that leads us to the ultimate blissful destination, Jannah! Ameen.

Sunnah Challenge 9:

Do you remember the last time you spoke ill about someone? 

Or do you remember the last time when you spoke of something bad the person has done?

It may be not so long ago!

Let us remind ourselves to keep track of our words, especially when talking about others from the words of Rasulullah (saws).

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (saws) as saying:

"The servant (whose fault) Allah conceals in this world, Allah would also conceal (his faults) on the Day of Resurrection."

Isn't it so easy for us to expose someone's faults? Doesn't even take a while doing it!

Would we now still continue talking about a person's faults, after knowing the beautiful reward of Allah for the person who conceals the sins of others?

Every word of our Prophet has always led to the best. Following this Sunnah is not only a way to gain Allah's pleasure, but it also makes our lives in this Dunya so much easier.

The next time we think of speaking about someone's negative side, let us also spare a thought for what they might be going through!

Maybe the sin that they committed was unintentional! 

Maybe they were forced into it! 

Maybe they are good people but are having their tough time!

What gives us the right to judge? 

How would we feel if our sins are exposed... On Yawm al Qiyamah…?

Assalam Alaykum.