Ramadan Reminders; Day 30

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Baraktuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 30:

Alhamdullilah for having witnessed yet another Ramadan in our lives. Ramadan did come to an end but that shouldn’t bring about a pause in our Ibadah. 

During Eid and the post-Eid parties, we tend to forget half of the knowledge we’ve gained during Ramadan and let our efforts run down the drain. 

Let not the end of Ramadan be a beginning for our sins. 

Have a blessed post-Ramadan year! 

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 30

Surah: An Nazi’at

Verse: 35

يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنسَانُ مَا سَعَىٰ

“The Day when man will remember that for which he strove”

Allah swt says that on the Day of Judgement, we will remember those things for which we strove for.

For instance, in this Dunya, the only thing we put effort and struggle into was to earn money or build a house or look pretty for a wedding, that is what will be going on in our minds when we will be standing before our Lord.

But if we strive for the sake of Allah, curb our desires and temptations and struggle in the way of Allah, that is what we will remember about our lives on the Judgement Day.

On the Day of Judgement, when a person will look at his Book of Deeds, he will wonder, what did he really accomplish over all those years he lived. He will remember all that he strove for in Dunya.

We need to constantly ponder over what have we achieved every day; if it is only for this Dunya or if it’s going to benefit us in the Hereafter as well…

Sunnah Challenge 30:

Alhamdullilah I had a great time putting up all the different Sunnah Challenges! 

Now the biggest challenge lies with every single one of us. 

The Prophet (saws) said, “Convey from me, even if it is one verse.”

[Sahih Bukhari]

Let us encourage those around to follow the ways and path of our Prophet (saws). For every good deed we preach, we earn rewards for every time it is practiced…

Assalam Alaykum.

*A huge shoutout and Dua request for my beautiful friend, Sumayya Sirajuddin for working on the content of the Sunnah Challenge.* 

Ramadan Reminders; Day 29

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 29:

Most Muslims these days have an urge to judge someone as soon they look at their attire or hear their accent. What’s really upsetting here is that we even judge a person on the manners of their prayers or the kind of Hijab they wear! We judge a person’s Iman! 

Here’s my question for you. If Allah swt has concealed a person’s heart over layers of blood, flesh, skin and also their personal feelings, who are we to judge their state of heart…? 

Who gave us the right to judge a slave of Allah, a belonging of Allah and also hurt them by passing comments or even stealing glances…?! That heart could be dearer to Allah than ours! How dare we even think negative of His slave?!

Allah swt is The Judge, The Wise and The Just. He says in Surah Qalam, v.7;

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

“Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.”

Judgement especially of a person’s character and Iman lies with Allah alone. We have no right to raise questions upon a person’s character or their level of Iman even if that person is younger to us!

Rasulullah (saws) himself was never judgemental! He even forgave those people responsible for his uncle, Hamza’s (ra) death! Bilal’s (ra) status did not stop the Prophet (saws) from making him the first Muezzin of Islam! The Prophet (saws) made a Dua of Hidayah for Umar (ra) despite his vile and harsh treatment towards the Muslims! 

Guess whose path do we follow when we judge a person based on their external appearances?

What reason did Iblis give for not prostrating to our father, Adam (as)?

Wasn’t that reason based on external appearance? That he was made of fire and Adam (as) of clay. For his judgement based purely on the outward make of Adam (as), Allah swt declared him cursed for eternity!

How many times are WE guilty of judging someone or making fun of them or passing comments and making them conscious and hurt?

And we also know that if we follow the shaytan in the smallest aspect, we’re destined to the Fire, just like him. 

Let us become humble, appreciative, kind and merciful towards the slaves of Allah, our Muslim brothers and sisters and strengthen each other thereby strengthening the Ummah of Rasulullah (saws).

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 29

Surah: Al Mulk

Verse: 23

قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ

Say, “It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful.”

Do we take a moment every day to contemplate over the blessings we might have never asked for…? Do we ask Allah swt to allow our heart to pump blood? Do we make Dua for our hands and feet to work well? Do we thank Allah for bestowing the gift of sight upon us?

Have we ever thought about our lives without these blessings…? Without an efficiently working heart, sight, hearing or probably being handicapped? 

There are countless people out there who do deal with such problems and for Allah swt to be blessing us with these unasked for and priceless gifts is something we need to be grateful for!

This does mean that we keep repeating “Alhamdullilah” a couple of times during the day and forget about it at night. 

What would you do if you buy your favourite dress or you’re gifted with a beautiful accessory? Would you wrap it up and keep it unused or use it to your hearts content? And even if you do save it for a later time, don’t you think it would be ruined by rust or dust? 

The same goes with the gifts Allah swt has blessed us with. If we have sight but we don’t use it to reflect on the beautiful creations of Allah, if we can hear, but we don’t use it to hear the words of Allah, if we can speak but we don’t recite Adhkaars and if we have intellect but we don’t comprehend the knowledge of the Quran, have we truly acknowledged the blessings of Allah swt…?

Just like the materialistic things, when we don’t use our senses for the purpose it has been made for, it starts getting rusted. And it reaches a point where none of the senses will get reminded of Allah swt. The sense continues to work but it will be dead in terms of remembering Allah swt.

And for those who do not remember Allah, Allah swt Himself appoints a shaytan as their companion! As Allah swt says in Surah Al Zukhruf, v.36;

وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ

“And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.”

May Allah swt prevent our hearts from going astray, guide us to remember Him, increase our blessings and allow us to struggle for His cause! Ameen.

Sunnah Challenge 29:

Follow the Sunnah of Eid!

Our process of Sunnah revival does not end at Ramadan. We continue it all the way to Eid as well!

As Eid is approaching us closely, don't forget to follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah(saws) during the auspicious day of Eid!

1. Take a bath before prayer [Malik]

2. Eat an odd number of dates before you leave your home. [Sahih Bukhari]

3. Dress your absolute best (but with modesty). [Ibn Khuzaymah]

4. Proclaim Takbir while traveling to the masjid. [Al Zuhri]

The Takbir for Eid goes as follows:

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illAllah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, walillahi al-hamd"

5. Congratulate on another by saying, "May Allah accept from us and you." [Ibn Hajar]

6. Return home by a different path from which you went to the masjid, so that the two paths will testify in your favour on the day of Judgement. [Sahih Bukhari]

May Allah accept all our deeds, prayers and duaas and bless us and our families with happiness and peace in this world and the Aakhirah! Ameen.

Assalam Alaykum!

Ramadan Reminders; Day 28

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 28:

When we leave Ramadan as a better Muslim, we promise ourselves that we’d be keeping up with our Ibadah routine throughout the year. 

But as months go by, we indulge ourselves deeply into the hustle and bustle of this Dunya so much so that we don’t even remember the promise we made to ourselves. 

And when it is time for Ramadan 2019 to begin, we start from the same point as Ramadan 2018. 

Well Allah swt does not bless us with Ramadan every year to repeat the same old story. Every Ramadan is supposed to make ourselves more worthy of Jannah than the previous year. And if we’re stuck on the same boat, what is the point of chaining up the devils...? The storm of shaytan is held away from us so that we could glide a little more closer to Jannah! But if the rest of the year pulls us back to the start line, what have we done...? 

Ramadan does change us for the better because we spend most of our time at least thinking about the Quran! 

And by the way, our responsibility as a Muslim is not just reciting the Quran in an express mode or in the most beautiful voice! 

The fundamental Haqq of the Quran is it’s comprehension, appreciation, validation and implementation! 

The more we ignore the Haqq or rights of the Quran, the more stronger is shaytans control over our hearts! And it only gets stronger by the minute until eventually we sell our souls and integrity to the enemy of Allah! 

If we want Allah swt to bless us with a peace of mind, a calmness in the heart and to accept our Duas, we need to accept His invitation for the Quran! He has made this Book for you! For each and every one of us! 

As a student of the Quran, I could find myself in a number of places in the Quran! And when I did, I was awestruck! This did not happen as soon as I completed Juz 1. It takes time and effort. Only if our intentions are pure and our efforts don’t die, Allah swt will open up His treasure and this gift will literally get you down on your knees! And Subhan Allah, I’ve never experienced anything more beautiful! 

Pick up the Quran. Listen to audios that speak about its glory. Understand the translation. If that does not give you goose bumps, listen to the summary (like the Fahm al Quran) of the Quran at least! Don’t stop with half a Juz and complain that you couldn’t find anything relatable. You will not find the treasure unless you dive deep into its glory. And when you do find yourself, there won’t be any looking back, In sha Allah!

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 28

Surah: As Saff

Verse: 3

كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ 

“Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.”

Has it ever occurred that you decided to do something but you did not? For instance, you promised your friend you’d give her earrings that match her dress but forgot…? Or perhaps your mom asks you do to the dishes and you agree as well but eventually it slips out of your mind…? Or you promise to give a chocolate to a kid if he recites the “twinkle twinkle” rhyme for you while you don’t really have a chocolate…? Or maybe after listening to an Islamic lecture you said yourself that you’d be implementing the advice in your life but later on you happen to forget about it…?

Pretty much countless number of times right…?

Once the Prophet (saws) was in the house of Abdullah bin Amar (when he was a child). His mother called out to him and said, “Come here and I will give you something.”

So the Prophet (saws) asked her, “What did you intend to give him?”

She replied, “I intended to give him some dates”.

To which the Prophet (saws) said, “If you were not going to give him anything, a lie would be recorded against you”.

[Sunan Abi Dawood, 4993]

Subhan Allah we struggle so much to stay away the major sins, while it is these minor sins that end up making a huge pile of sins! 

We need to keep in mind that we should be abiding by our words and intentions. Because failing in these aspects of not fulfilling a promise or lying for the sake of fun is completely unacceptable and disliked by Allah swt.

So many times we indulge in activities that are sinless in our view but it holds a great deal of importance in the sight of Allah swt. And we wonder why Allah swt does not accept our Duas and tests us in matters of our needs! 

Subhan Allah! Little do we realise that the hardships we face, even if it is a broken slipper, He cleanses our sins because He only wants to protect us from the Hell Fire! 

The times of grief and trials are in reality an expiation of our sins! But due to our tiny wisdom, we spend that period whining instead of thanking Allah for purifying our sins in this world and not holding them against us in the Aakhirah! 

Sunnah Challenge 28:

How many times do we binge on food in a day? 

What if I told you that for every time you’re done eating, all of your past sins will be forgiven without any effort...?

The Prophet (saws) said, “He who has taken food and says at the end,

ألْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أطْعَمْنِي وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيرِ حَولٍ مِنِّي وَلا قُوَّةٍ

All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power -

All his past sins will be forgiven.”

[At Tirmidhi]

Subhan Allah just one single Dua after every meal or snack and imagine the number of sins that get wiped off through it!

Assalam Alaykum!

Ramadan Reminders; Day 27

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 27:

It is an undeniable fact that during Ramadan, it is easier to stay away from things which are disliked by Allah swt. Be it songs or movies or making faces at your mother or being a lazy chicken. 

Subhan Allah our inner strength increases to such an extent that even though our phones have music of different genres, we still refrain from listening to it! 

But just as we begin to savour the sweetness in obeying the commands of Allah and spending each day and each night in His remembrance, the month of Ramadan comes to an end...

And before we even realise, we’re back listening to filth again... or let’s say back to being a lazy chicken. 

What we need to realise is that the struggle we go through during Ramadan, is the struggle we need to go through for our lives! Allah swt deserves to be worshipped and glorified for every single day of the entire year and not just during 30 days of a year! 

Allah swt Himself says in the Quran that He does not expect us to worship Him through the nights and the days! All He is asking us to is to be sincere and loyal to Him, be consistent in offering the obligatory prayers and commit deeds that are loved by Him. And HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST! 

Your armour and weapon against the shaytan is your Dua and the Quran! If you stick to them, there is no force in the entire world that can take you away from Allah’s Love, Mercy and Protection! 

Verse of The Day:

Juz: 27

Surah: Al Qamar

Verse: 17

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

“And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?”

The Mushrikeen of Makkah were fierce enemies of the Prophet (saws) and the religion he preached. They would abuse and also taunt him and demand miracles from him only to prove that he is the Messenger of Allah.  

Their ignorance knew no limits so much so that they couldn’t accept the fact that the Quran revealed to the Prophet (saws) was a miracle too! The Quraysh would be dumbstruck when they heard the Quran. Their leaders would listen to the Prophet (saws) reciting the Quran stealthy, in the middle of the night! Being masters of the Arabic language themselves, they had never come across the likes of the Quran before! But their arrogance and pride kept them off from accepting Islam. 

The only reason Allah swt did not bring about any “physical” miracle through the Prophet (saws) was because even if the Mushrikeen were shown a miracle, they would still remain stubborn and vile.

And when Allah swt did allow the splitting of the moon for the Prophet (saws), the Mushrikeen termed it as magic. 

What we do need to understand here is that yes, our Prophet (saws) was given the miracle of the moon splitting but a greater miracle that he was bestowed with is the Quran itself! 

We limit a miracle to the eye, but the Quran is a miracle for the eyes, ears, the mind and the soul. A miracle for the sight may die after a group of people have witnessed it, like the splitting of the sea for the people of Musa (as). But the Quran is such that its power and might is not just for a limited number of people, but for the entire world until the end of time! 

The Quran is not just a theory or a science or linguistic chapter that is only memorised and not pondered over. It is an anchor that pulls you up when you’re drowning in agony, fear, sadness or the troubles of this Dunya. It is a magnet that constantly pulls your heart towards the Love of Allah, His mercy and away from the temporary, materialistic fascinations of this world. 

The fact that Allah swt asks the question about 4 times in just one Surah really shows how ignorant and careless we can be towards His Book. And it also indicates the magnitude of people who just recite the Book for mere religious obligations and only a handful of those who treat this Book like their saviour and guide through this world. These people also spend a great deal of time and effort in understanding, implementing and spreading the knowledge they gain from the Quran.

May Allah swt make us among the people of the Quran and give us the opportunity to learn and follow His Book and His commands, Ameen!

Sunnah Challenge:

Imagine you are having a pleasant walk in the park, and you are greeted with a small pebble which almost makes you trip, what do you do? 

Some of you would groan at the pebble and walk away in another direction, some would kick it out of your path, and some would go to the length of picking it up and placing it somewhere where it wouldnt harm anybody. 

How long would it take, if you knew that removing that pebble would be an act of sadaqah that could save you from the hell fire? 

According to the narration in Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “While a man was walking, he saw a thorny branch on the road, so he removed it and Allah appreciated his action and forgave him”.

It is also mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim that “And removing a harmful thing from the path is a charitable act.”

Our surroundings are often filled with trash and other stuffs which often cause harm to others. 

We must take the responsibility to not be the cause of harm for others and at the same time keep our surroundings clean from them! 

It is hard to take responsibility for nature, or someone else's actions, but if you think about the magnitude of reward that you get for such an act, it is definitely worth the effort!

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 26

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 26:

How did you feel when you scored high grades in your school? Or how about the time when you received a certificate or trophy? Or when you got your new iPhone? Didn’t you want to scream on top of your lungs and declare to the world about your achievements and possessions?

Similarly when we start with a good deed, like learning about the Quran or teach about our Deen or spend in charity, we want to be acknowledged. And we become hungry for praises. We just want someone to say, “Oh Ma sha Allah, you’re doing the Tafsir!” or “Subhan Allah you’re teaching about Islam!”

Well if this is what we want to hear, then in reality our deeds are not for the sake of Allah but for the sake of the praises we want to hear from people! 

The Prophet (saws) said;

“Verily, what I fear most for you is the lesser idolatry.” And he elaborated, “It is showing off. Allah the Exalted will say to them (who show off), on the Day of Resurrection when the people are being rewarded for their deeds: Go to those whom you wished to show off in the world and look for your reward with them.” 

[Musnad Ahmad, 23119]

Riya or showing off or committing an act of Ibadah which is not for the sake of Allah is a form of Minor Shirk!

Imagine a camera recording all our actions. Wouldn’t we feel conscious?

In the process of showing off or “broadcasting our deeds”, we forget the fact that Allah swt is ever watchful of all the things we do and He also knows about the condition of our hearts! There is not one atom that is hidden from Him!

And if we’re conscious of this fact of Allah swt watching over us and personally monitoring our actions, we wouldn’t even spare a minute thinking about others! 

The more importance we give to this world and it’s possessions, the more we get trapped in its web of deceit. And guess who’s going to make that trap super comfortable for us? Our intimate enemy of course! 

The Prophet (saws) said, “He who lets the people hear of his good deeds intentionally, to win their praise, Allah will let people know his real intention (on the Day of Resurrection), and he who does good things in public to show off and win the praise of the people, Allah will disclose his real intention (and humiliate him).” 

[Sahih Bukhari]

Well why even put ourselves into trouble when we can save ourselves from humiliation on the Day of Judgement? 

So let’s constantly renew our intentions and seek help from Allah if we’ve been a victim of Riya! May Allah swt provide ease and comfort! Ameen.

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 26

Surah: Al Fath

Verse: 1

إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا 

“Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest”

The first time I looked into this ayah, I was taken aback and I was so amazed at how wise and beautiful are Allah’s plans and how weak we humans are in terms of wisdom and patience!

This ayah indicates towards the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah which apparently looked like a defeat for the Muslims. The Treaty was signed between the Muslims and Mushriks of Makkah. 

Back story (in Madinah) – the Prophet (saws) saw a dream where he along with the Muslims were performing Umrah. So they travelled to Makkah in Ihram, choose a completely new route because the usual route had the Mushriks waiting to stop the Prophet (saws) and they eventually reached Hudaibiyyah (the outskirts of Makkah).

In spite of several people trying to convince the Mushriks, they never budged. Finally, they decided on a Treaty. According to which the Muslims were to perform Umrah only next year, there would no battles between them for 10 years and if any person from Makkah migrated to Madinah, he had to be returned back on the other hand if anybody from Madinah went back to Makkah, the Mushriks need not return him! 

So the Treaty was completely against the Muslims and when Allah swt revealed the above ayah, Umar (ra) said, “Is this Fath (victory)?” It was clearly a failure for the Muslims!

But later on, it was through this Treaty of Hudaibiyyah that the Muslims were able to conquer Makkah! (Long story short, the allies of the Mushriks happened to break the Treaty which led to the victory of the Muslims). 

Had it not been for what it seemed to be like a temporary failure, the Muslims wouldn’t have gained control over Makkah and it is through this conquest that about 600 idols in Makkah were destroyed by the Muslims and the Kabah was purified after so many years! 

So you see, sometimes in life, we feel restricted. We feel as though we’ve failed a test and that all the doors of success are closed for us. We regret over our decisions and start over-thinking. What we don’t realise is that if we truly believe in Allah and follow His commands then nothing that happens to us can be a failure!

Yes, there may be a temporary set-back but this is vital to reach for the pinnacle of success, in this world and the Aakhirah! Allah swt will never take anything from us except to make way for something bigger, better and long lasting!

So right now, if you’re at a phase where you cannot understand the whereabouts of your life and you begin to feel lost and a failure, remember, the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah. And just like how Allah swt led it to the Conquest of Makkah, He will lead your set-back to a victory you could have never imagined!

Sunnah Challenge 26:

Gratitude is a characteristic that needs to be embedded in every person, in every walk of life.

It is only the feeling of gratitude that helps us overcome every ounce of negativity and setback in our lives.

Gratitude helps us overlook the faults and get a better picture of the life that we are living in, and the life yet to come! 

We should be grateful to Allah swt, Who has blessed us beyond what we ask for, Who removes every obstacle from our path, Who guides us from the darkness to the light. Isn't it our Lord for Whom we should be grateful for? 

Our Prophet (saws) used to perform the Sajdah as Shukr (Prostration of Thankfulness) whenever he was blessed with something good from Allah swt. 

Among the Ahadith is the Hadith of Abu Bakrah (ra), who said that when the Prophet (saws) heard any news that made him glad, he would fall down prostrating to Allah, may He be exalted.

[Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]

Because indeed, every good thing we are led to, and every bad thing that we are averted from, is due to Allah swt! 

We can perform Sajdah as Shukr as soon as we hear a good news, or when we are prevented from harm. Sajdah as Shukr does not require us to be in a state of Wudhu or purity, and can be performed at any point of time, by glorifying our Lord, The Most High.. Just as we perform our Sajdah in our prayers! 

A very simple act of sunnah, which weighs heavy on the scales, which brings our hearts peace, and certainly puts us into a better state, is something we should not miss out on In sha Allah!

Assalam Alaykum!

Ramadan Reminders; Day 25

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 25:

Subhan Allah we hardly have 4-5 days of Ramadan left! Which means Alhamdullilah we’ve received a good whole month training in perfecting our Salah and Dhikr, right...?

Well if we haven’t worked on our Salah in the beginning then these last few days are sure giving us groundwork for our prayers to keep up with them for the rest of the year, In sha Allah!

Unquestionably, during Ramadan, it is easy to pray on time, recite Adhkaars at the end of each prayer and be in constant touch with the Quran.

But what happens after Ramadan is we get back to the same ugly monotonous routine of just Dunya and maybe a hint of Aakhirah. Which is actually very sad.

A sign of Allah swt accepting our deeds and efforts in Ramadan is that we keep up with those acts even after Ramadan! Otherwise we fall into the category of “Ramadan Muslims”.

Why should we constantly work on improving our Salah and seek Allah’s forgiveness at all times? What is going to motivate us?

Repentance is a gift that hasn’t been given to a million people or more. To repent is not just repeating “Astaghfirullah”. 

“Astaghfirullah” is an emotion. It is supposed to clear our hearts of all the filth and create space for hope and desire to please Allah swt. It should instill within us humility and the thought that we belong to Allah alone!

When repentance is true from the heart, it brings along treasures with it from Allah - He relieves the mind of His slave, lifts up his burden, opens his mind and heart to His Deen and all his needs are taken care of! Subhan Allah!

Repentance and Salah go hand in hand. We can never truly repent unless we offer Salah. And we can never experience the calmness of Salah unless we humbly submit ourselves to our Creator in gratitude and repentance.

Every Salah has a list of benefits for this world and the Hereafter. It provides comfort and care to every aspect of our lives - the mind, body and soul.

We can make our outer appearances as splendid as possible or spend hundreds of thousands for a vacation aiming to achieve a piece of mind or dump all sorts of nutritional supplements into our bodies for a healthier and longer life.

But quite amazingly, Salah is the one solution to all our needs and problems and it doesn’t even cost a penny! Yet it is the last thing on our minds! Subhan Allah.

Just as we cannot anticipate a promotion at work in just a month of hard work, we shouldn’t be hasty in seeking the benefits of Salah and Istaghfar. We can’t expect the benefits without the right intentions and observing repentance and Salah for hardly 10 days. It needs to become a routine.

The rewards are in the Hands of Allah and He is not going to withhold it from you! He doesn’t have the need to! What we need to focus on are the things that are in our hands - sincere efforts and consistency. 

Remember Allah’s promise. He does not allow the rewards of a Believer to go waste.

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 25
Surah: Al Jathiyah
Verse: 23

أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

“Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allah? Then will you not be reminded?”

From an average Muslim’s point of view, the ayah will seem a bit un-relatable because Allah swt speaks about those who take their desires as their gods and as a punishment, Allah seals their ability to sense or feel guidance.

But when I studied this ayah in detail, I figured that this is the most dangerous thing that could ever happen to a Muslim, more particularly a Muslim who gains knowledge.

Let’s break this ayah down in 2 parts:

1. Allah swt speaks about those who have taken their desires and temptations as their gods – these people submit themselves to their desires just as they are commanded to submit to Allah swt. Meaning the obedience and humility that only Allah deserves, it is being given to the desire of an individual by himself!

When we choose to watch our favourite TV show over making some Dhikr or spending a hefty amount on a designer dress instead of giving some amount in charity or binging on junk even though we know that it’s going to make us lazy and lethargic – these are examples of giving in to our desires, submitting ourselves to it, in other words making our desire our Ilah (God).

2. For such people, no amount of knowledge or guidance is going to help. Because no matter how much they learn or preach, they will never appreciate the gift of guidance and continue to obey the commands of their hearts and not The One who owns their hearts.

Meaning, we cannot assume ourselves to be worthy of Jannah if we gain knowledge. When we learn about Allah and His Deen, we’re expected to implement it in our lives and that implementation is what is going to benefit us! 

In other words attending an Islamic lecture or a class is not going to add an extra point in our Book of Deeds unless we implement what we learn during those classes. Knowledge is not going to save us from the Hell fire but what we do with that knowledge decides our fate. 

In Surah Baqarah, Allah swt mentions that He has set a seal upon the hearts and hearing of Disbelievers and a veil over the eyes for their stubbornness and rigid attitude towards the Deen of Allah.

But it just doesn’t stop there.

Allah swt will also put a similar seal upon all the sensory structures in our body if we follow our desires and temptations that go against the Commands of Allah. At this point, even a knowledgeable is not spared from the punishment of Allah if he follows his nafs.

Subhan Allah how Just is Our Lord and how much we take His Commands and Promises for granted! This is something we need to constantly ponder over…

Sunnah Challenge 25:

We most often greet people by telling a salam and shaking hands. Spreading the salaam is a part of faith.

But did you know that shaking hands also is a part of the Sunnah?

Shaking hands have been a means of greeting since times unknown, and it was a common custom amongst the Sahaba (ra), But Islam holds a great virtue for a simple gesture as this!

The Prophet (saws) said: “There are no two Muslims who meet and shake hands with one another, but they will be forgiven before they part.”

[Abu Dawood, 5212]

How beautiful is the reward for a such a little deed? 

To make the most out of your greetings the next time you meet someone, remember to tell the salam, shake hands, while having the intention to seek for Allah's forgiveness at the same time!

And also a point to mention here, no shaking hands with non-mahrams!

May Allah accept our deeds big and small, forgive us for all our sins intentional and unintentional and make us amongst those who are guided on His path!

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 24

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 24:

Alhamdullilah being an active member of the techy world, we spend most of our time on the Internet either Facebooking or Instagraming or YouTubing or Twittering or simply Googling. 

Since it is the month of Ramadan, the home pages of our social networking sites each day, have at least 10 Ramadan or Islamic related posts. Subhan Allah sometimes these posts serve as a great reminder as though the post was tailor-made for us! And when that happens, we end up sharing that post or comment on it. 

That’s a great way to spread knowledge and Alhamdullilah it’s a form of Dawah too! 

But the greatest responsibility on us is to share the knowledge we gain with our family members. 

Allah swt says in Surah Taha, v.132;

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

“And enjoin prayer upon your family (and people) and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the (best) outcome is for (those of) righteousness.”

So according to this verse, when we come across an Islamic post or learn something new, we should be sharing it with our family AND ALSO implementing that advice or lesson in our lives as well! 

There’s no point in preaching and not practising it ourselves. That’s a kind of hypocrisy. And it is also something that Allah swt dislikes [Surah Baqarah, v.44].

The Prophet (saws) said, “Allah, the angels, the inhabitants of heaven and earth, even the ant in its hole and even the fish in the sea, send blessings upon the one who teaches the people good.”

[Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2609; classes as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘, 1838.]

Subhan Allah such is the honour that Allah swt blesses on the person who shares beneficial knowledge with others! 

Imagine if at least one person gets closer to Allah swt through you or by you sharing the knowledge you’ve gained, you eased someone of their grief, how huge would your stock of rewards be on the Day of Judgement...? 

So when we come across any Islamic post or watched an amazing Islamic video or heard a mind boggling fact about Islam, take this as an opportunity to call your family and friends closer to Deen! 

By the Mercy and Blessings of Allah swt, you never know which heart would be attaching itself to its Creator through your post, Bi Idhnillah! 

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 25

Surah: Az Zumar

Verse: 58

أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى الْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Or [lest] it say when it sees the punishment, “If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good.”

Regrets are something we experience regularly! Few unimportant ones – like missing out on a clothing sale or not safeguarding your shoes or not being careful with your new dress! And some major regrets – like not being able to get into your desired university because of low grades or not giving your best during this Ramadan and so on…

We all know how depressing a regret can feel like and that is why we vow to never repeat our mistakes again. Sometimes we’re successful but most times we fail. Even then we try not to give up and work on improving what we lack, correct?

But you see, if we experience regret on the Day of Judgement, there is no scope for improvement. No matter how much we beg Allah, we’re not getting another chance. And even at that point if we try our best in pleasing Allah and ask Him to forgive us, it’s not going to work out.

You may wonder that if Allah is the Most Merciful and His love for us is way beyond our parents love for us, then why will He not listen and accept our repentance then?

Well if you haven’t worked hard on your exams and you fail, then is begging your favourite teacher or the most lenient teacher in your school going to help? Will she go against the rules to get you cleared? No!

That’s just one aspect of this worldly life. But the Hereafter is going to be a summary of our entire lives here. Our Akhirah is the result of how much effort we put into this Dunya! And the examiner here is Allah swt! He is The Most Just and He is going to give us the abode we truly deserve – either the Paradise or the Hell fire. 

Imagine your mom puts a condition that if you clean up your room, she’s going to prepare for your favourite chicken or else you got to have Karela (aka bitter gourd). You fail in the work assigned to you and while the entire family enjoys the chicken, you’re stuck with a Karela! How’s that going to feel?

On the Judgement Day, when a person will be taken to the Hell fire, he will be shown his place that was reserved for him if he had worked for Jannah in this Dunya! There will be no reasoning or come backs. And even if that person rubs his nose on to the ground, he’s still going to be put in to the pit of blazing fire! Now how does that sound?

Of course we do make mistakes. We’re forgetful, lazy and weak. Allah swt knows that! That is why He promised shaytan that no matter how many times we seek Allah’s forgiveness for our sins in this Dunya, He will accept it. It is all about sincere Tawbah and not returning back to the sins we committed. 

Allah swt says in Surah Zumar, v.53;

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

There are countless ways through which we can get our sins forgiven. Repentance, reciting Adhkaar, making Dua, being kind to the people around us, obeying our Parents, giving Sadaqah and so much more!

Subhan Allah we have all the necessary tools. We have the guidance – the Quran. And we also have the life lessons of our Prophet (saws). It is up to us if we use these tools to reserve our place in Jannah or we miss out on our spot in Jannah. 

Sunnah Challenge 24:

You must have heard from a Sunnah that a Dua made during the times of rain is not rejected. [Abu Dawud]

But did you know that standing under the rain is Sunnah too??

Many of us love the rain. The peace and tranquil that comes along with it. The sound of the raindrops splashing down... 

And what comes after it, it is indeed a blessing from Allah swt! He sends down the rains from the sky as His blessing and mercy!

Anas bin Malik (ra) narrated: It rained upon us as we were with the Messenger of Allah.

The Messenger of Allah removed his cloth (from a part of his body) till the rain fell on it.

We said: “Messenger of Allaah, why did you do this?”

He said: “It is because it has just come from the Exalted Lord.”

[Sahih Muslim, 898]

Many places in the world are not fortunate enough to have frequent rainfall. If you happen to be in a place where rainfall is commonplace, don't be frustrated on finding raindrops on your face! Hang in there a little, and rejoice thinking about the mercy and bounties from Allah swt, and make as much Dua to Him as you can! 

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 23

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 23:

Peace, remembrance of Allah, contentment, worship are all interrelated to each other and you would have already come across such articles or lectures. We’ve probably heard it so many times that it’s significance in the sight of Allah has sadly been forgotten... 

Allah swt says in Surah Yunus (v.62-63), that the awliya of Allah are those who believe and have Taqwa (God conscious or God fearing) and they will not have any fear nor will they grieve! 

And “Awliya” is the Arabic word for allies or (here) friends. 

Subhan Allah we will be honoured with a status so high for observing just 2 elements - Believing in the Oneness of Allah and having Taqwa in our hearts! 

As for the second part (i.e.) Taqwa, it generally gives an idea of a person who’s too Islamic and their entire life revolves around Deen. It seems almost impossible for us to achieve Taqwa because either we believe we lack in knowledge or we just don’t have the “time” to develop Taqwa. 

As much important knowledge is, that’s not the only thing required for building up the level of God consciousness in our hearts. Yes, knowledge brings about self-accountability and the fear of Allah but that happens only when we exercise the knowledge we gain.

As for time, you don’t really NEED to devote a specific time for reciting the praises of Allah swt because Allah is The One who owns time! 

So to me, apart from the fixed times for the remembrance of Allah (Salah and morning-evening Adhkaar), we should be reciting the Dhikr throughout the day. 

You see, it is a human quality to be conscious about something when we think about it too often or give it priority. Applying the same psychological theory, we become God conscious only when Allah is our Priority and it is Him who we think about almost always! 

This Dunya is such that no matter how knowledgeable one is, it has the power to pull him into its fake charm. There’s a strong magnetic pull between us and the temptations of this world. And it is an undeniable fact that sometimes, our hearts do get captivated by the glitters of Dunya. 

In order to clean this stain from our hearts, we need the Dhikr of Allah. 

Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “For everything there is a polish, and the polish for the hearts is the Dhikr of Allah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allah than the Dhikr of Allah”

[Related by Ahmad (4/352), from Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal (ra). It was authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (5644)]

When we keep reciting the Dhikr in the kitchen or tidying up the room, or even while walking to the car, we start developing God consciousness or Taqwa. 

And when that happens, you’ll begin to acknowledge Allah’s blessings like you’ve never done before and you’ll begin to seek ONLY Allah’s help when you feel uneasy. And even if you face a problem, you will be chilled out! Your trust in Allah swt will touch new heights, In sha Allah! 

In the beginning, we may have to force ourselves to recite the Dhikr but just within a few days, you’ll begin to notice that your tongue automatically switches to Dhikr instead of talks with no benefit. 

Yes, there is peace in the remembrance of Allah but there are also countless blessings and benefits with it. Because remembering Allah even in times of ease is a sign of our true love and trust in Him. 

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 23

Surah: Ya Sin

Verse: 51

وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَإِذَا هُم مِّنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَنسِلُونَ

“And the Horn will be blown; and at once from the graves to their Lord they will hasten.”

How many times have we thought about the Horn? In our everyday lives, we come across or hear so many different kinds of horns, but did we ever give a thought about the sound or the structure of the Horn that Allah swt has made? That will cause the death of every single person in this world and also bring them to life and out of their graves…?

Where is the Horn right now? Who is going to blow it and when??

The Prophet (saws) said;

“Since the time that the angel, who is to blow the trumpet was given his task, he has been ready with his eyes set upon the Throne afraid that his eye might be deviated when the order comes.” 

[Al Silsilaah Al Saheehah, 1078]

Subhan Allah right now, at this very moment, the Angel Israfil is ready to complete his task. All he needs is just one command from Allah swt. 

If this is not enough to wake us up from our dreamy land, create a stir in our hearts and make us want to prepare for the Day of Resurrection, here is what our Prophet (saws) said;

“How can I be at ease when the angel of the trumpet has placed his mouth upon the trumpet, bent his forehead and is awaiting the command of his Lord.”

[Al Silsilah Al Saheehah, 1079]

When the Prophet (saws) himself was not content with the amount of worship he did, what about us…? 

What makes us feel so relaxed about the Hereafter? Do we struggle or fight for the cause or Deen of Allah? Do we devote our nights worshipping and thanking Allah swt? Or do we believe we have the most perfect akhlaq (character)?

Imagine you have a ride waiting for you to go to school or university or your work place. The driver has his foot on the break. Are you going to walk slowly? You’d hurry and if not run then at least walk fast, right? Because you know that as soon as the driver takes his foot off the break, you’ve lost your ride!

When the worldly concerns can make us fast-paced then why do we work slower than a snail when it comes to the matters of the Hereafter? 

While it is the Hereafter that is eternal and not this Dunya.

May Allah swt increase us in knowledge and wisdom, help us in preparing our matters for the Hereafter and make the Day of Resurrection, Accountability and Judgement easy for us! Ameen. 

Sunnah Challenge 23:

So you were in the middle of your prayer, and suddenly your mind wanders off somewhere, and you forget which rakah you were on?! That is the work of Shaytan!

Shaytan works his hardest to distract us and keep our attention away from prayer, and then what happens? Allah does not accept the prayer of the one who is heedless and distracted.

Uthman b. Abu al-'As reported that he came to Allah's Messenger (saws) and said:

Allah's Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur'an and he confounds me.

Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: “That is (the doing of a) Satan (devil) who is known as Khinzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allah from it and spit three times to your left”. 

I did that and Allah dispelled that from me. 

[Sahih Muslim]

When you feel lost or distracted, seek refuge with Allah! 

It is very important, especially in these last ten days of Ramadan to pray with all our heart and soul, so that Allah accepts our prayers, forgives us and make us those of Paradise.

May Allah protect us from the whispering of the Shaytan and make us amongst those who are guided on the straight path! Ameen.

Assalam Alaykum.

Ramadan Reminders; Day 22

Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)

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

Daily Reminder 22:

Let’s take an example of an individual who prays the obligatory and voluntary prayers, fasts in the month of Ramadan, offers Zakah and Sadaqah, recites the Quran in abundance, is kind to his parents and relatives and preaches good. 

But on the Day of Judgement, all his efforts are termed INVALID and he is thrown into the Fire. Why?

There are two dangerous practices when committed by a Muslim, all his good deeds become invalid - no matter how great of a deed they are. 

They are: Shirk & Bid’ah.

Shirk can be Major or Minor. A detailed answer can be found in the link below:

https://islamqa.info/en/34817

However, major or minor, Shirk is Disbelief and we must carefully look into our lives and the customs around us to keep away from the biggest sin there is.

Quite contrary to the common belief, Shirk is not just limited to worshipping idols. The most well known acts of Kufr are:

1. Wearing an amulet (or taweez) or tying threads for protection,

2. Visiting a soothsayer or a fortune teller,

3. Swearing oaths to any other besides Allah swt (For e.g.: saying “I swear on you I didn’t lie”), 

4. Seeking help from the dead (visiting Darghas), 

5. Idolising movie stars 

6. Skipping prayers for the sake of TV shows and movies 

Bid’ah is basically anything that has not been commanded by Prophet Muhammad (saws) and exists today as a result of cultural or social stigmas. 

The Prophet (saws) has said: “Every innovation is going astray and every going astray will be in the Fire.”

[Sahih Muslim & An Nasa’i]

The most common acts of Bid’ah are:

1. Celebrating the Prophet’s Birthday and Shab e Barat,

2. Mourning for the deceased on 3rd, 10th and 40th day,

3. Saying out loud the intention for Salah,

4. Greeting people with Salam after Salah

5. Marriage customs that are not mentioned in the Hadith and Sunnah 

A short daily reminder does no justice to the seriousness of a grave yet common issue. 

But through this reminder, I hope to get some minds open up to the dangers of a few acts that they may be committing because of unawareness or lack of the right knowledge. 

As your sister in Deen, I pray with all my heart that Allah swt protects you and your family from the whispers of the shaytan and from deeds that lead to the disobedience of Allah. 

May Allah swt forgive all our sins, major and minor, apparent and hidden, intentional and unintentional and bless us with the right knowledge, wisdom and ultimately Jannah! Ameen.

Verse of the Day:

Juz: 22

Surah: Fatir

Verse: 5

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ

“O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.”

Imagine your best friend to be sticking around you for an entire day. No matter what work you intend do, they keep giving you countless suggestions. If you want to have chicken, they pester you until you decide to have an egg. When you’ve picked a blue shirt for yourself, they somehow manage to convince you in wearing neon green. Or you’ve decided to eat healthy and your friend lures you into eating 5 cookies. 

Will this make you annoyed or are you happy with someone else dictating your choice and ruling over your desires?

This is exactly what shaytan does to a human being. This is his full time job – to rule over you and make you a slave of his commands!

Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Safiyyah bint Huyayy (ra) that the Prophet (saws) said: “The shaytan flows through man like blood.”

Which means he knows us in and out. He is aware of our innermost secret desires and weaknesses. And he knows what nerve in our body when pressed, incites evil desires! 

For instance, a woman generally has a desire to adorn and beautify herself and that is how Allah swt created her. But this nasty creature is going to leave no stone unturned until he turns that desire into an evil one. Either by making her spend thousands for enhancing her body features or display her beauty to the non-Mahram or waste a whole lot of time in adorning herself.

Or perhaps a man did lower his gaze after the first, mistaken look. He has no intention to look back. But guess who wants you to look at her? Your intimate enemy. Somehow he’ll twitch your eye and make your sight fall on her. And the trap only gets more fatal from then on.

This is exactly why Allah swt calls the shaytan, a deceiver because that’s the only thing he’s a pro at! He will make the Aakhirah seem far-fetched and lure us into the temporary glitters of this Dunya.

And he’s going to twist our thoughts and hearts in such a way that the commands of Allah swt will seem like a burden and eventually he’ll work his way to weaken our relationship with our Creator. This is will reach a point where ultimately the promise of Allah swt of an everlasting blissful eternal life will seem fake, untrue and we begin to question ourselves if there is any positive outcome of controlling our desires. At this point, our hearts would have given up on committing good deeds and even if we try committing one, our hearts would ache! This is what happens when we give into the whisperings of shaytan and devote our lives to his orders.

In order for us to take precaution, Allah swt speaks of the nature, tricks and treacherous goal of the shaytan in many verse of the Quran. Allah also speaks about the consequences of those who desired His pleasure and those who chose the temporary over the permanent life. This is why the Quran is a life guard! Because it teaches us to save ourselves from this tempting and bewitching world and to prepare ourselves for an eternal life. 

And this is a fact that even shaytan knows and that’s exactly why he’s going to put in all his power in keeping us away from learning, understanding and implementing the Book of Allah.

Now we know where the battle lies. ;)

Sunnah Challenge 22:

In a group of three? Remember this Sunnah from our Prophet (saws).

Narrated ‘Abdullah (ra):

The Prophet (saws) said, "When you are three persons sitting together, then no two of you should hold secret counsel excluding the third person until you are with some other people too, for that would grieve him.”

[Al-Bukhari]

How many times we are with a group of three friends and only have two of us speaking, excluding the other one? To think about it, is it not something we do quite frequently? 

Islam is not complete by just praying, fasting or even charity! To treat others in a kind way, to not hurt someone, are the basic aspects of a good character Islam gives great importance to! 

Do you want to be treated the way you treat others? If your answer is no, there is much room for change! Would you like being ignored when two people are having a conversation? Just a simple act of treating others the way we want to be treated opens the doors of Paradise for us! [Sahih Muslim]

Assalam Alaykum.