Assalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! :)
May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah swt be upon you!
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.
Juz: 25
Surah: Al Jathiyah
Verse: 23
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…
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!
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:
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.
