1. Jihad is the struggle to remove all those things from one's life that incur Allah's displeasure, and to replace them with those things that will gain His acceptance.
2. Jihad is the struggle against one's inner self and it's bestial inclinations. It is this struggle, in fact, which the Prophet of Islam (Allah's blessings and peace upon him) dubbed "the greater jihad."
3. Jihad is the struggles against the villains in our hearts which include: arrogance, avarice, pettiness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, self-delusions, and vain passions.
4. Jihad is the struggle to replace the villains in our hearts with goodly traits, such as mercy, honor, humbleness, generosity, gentleness, dignity, love, and other qualities that are aptly described as "heavenly."
5. Jihad is the struggle to fulfill the rights and responsibilities of one's family as well as those who are close, such as neighbors and relatives, to make sure that one does not harm them either with his hand or tongue.
6. Jihad is the struggle to forgive the wrongs of others, to overlook their misgivings, and hide their faults.
7. Jihad is the struggle to help the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless by sacrificing our wealth.
8. Jihad is to show love and gentleness to our young ones, and respect and dignity to our elders.
9. Jihad is to protect the honor and property of every single member of society, whether man or woman.
10. Jihad is the struggle to speak out against injustice, to help the victims of oppressions, to ensure that everyone is given just measure, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.
11. Jihad is to submit our will to Our Creator, thereby achieving peace and unity with the rest of the cosmos in celebrating His Majesty and Glory.
12. Jihad is ultimately that struggle in which we are willing to give our lives in the name of Allah so that these ideals will endure and bring peace and justice to countless others, thus truly bringing the harmony of the heavens down the earth.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 334
1. Once a person said to a dervish, "All I ask for is a small dwelling in Paradise."
The dervish replied, "If you displayed the same contentment with what you already have in this world, you would have found ultimate bliss."
2. Do not strut proudly on account of your good deeds. Do not let pride waylay you. When you deem yourself holier than others, know that you have fallen into grave error because in your pride you believed yourself equal to God.
3. In separation from God you have become arrogant; pay heed before His scourge strikes you down. Do not exult because of your good fortune. Over and again God admonishes you with the examples of the transgressors before you. If you really want to enjoy the limitless bounty of Allah, surrender yourselves before His will and endure all afflictions with fortitude.
4. O my people prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it.
5. Whenever hearts abound in knowledge, they draw nearer to their Lord (Almighty and Glorious), whenever a heart contains love of this world, it is screened from Allah.
6. Obedient service to Allah (Almighty and Glorious) is performed by the heart, not the outer mold.
7. Devotion to one's religious duty (taqwa) is the foundation of all that is good, it is a source of worldly benefit, a source of wisdom and all kinds of knowledge, of purity of heart and many secrets.
8. The heart is enlivened only when it receives the seed of the affirmation of oneness from a living heart. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
The dervish replied, "If you displayed the same contentment with what you already have in this world, you would have found ultimate bliss."
2. Do not strut proudly on account of your good deeds. Do not let pride waylay you. When you deem yourself holier than others, know that you have fallen into grave error because in your pride you believed yourself equal to God.
3. In separation from God you have become arrogant; pay heed before His scourge strikes you down. Do not exult because of your good fortune. Over and again God admonishes you with the examples of the transgressors before you. If you really want to enjoy the limitless bounty of Allah, surrender yourselves before His will and endure all afflictions with fortitude.
4. O my people prove the sincerity of your respect for the Qur'an by putting its teachings into practice, not by arguing about it.
5. Whenever hearts abound in knowledge, they draw nearer to their Lord (Almighty and Glorious), whenever a heart contains love of this world, it is screened from Allah.
6. Obedient service to Allah (Almighty and Glorious) is performed by the heart, not the outer mold.
7. Devotion to one's religious duty (taqwa) is the foundation of all that is good, it is a source of worldly benefit, a source of wisdom and all kinds of knowledge, of purity of heart and many secrets.
8. The heart is enlivened only when it receives the seed of the affirmation of oneness from a living heart. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Interview With Believuh Group
Dear All,
Assalamu alaikum wa rahamtullahi wa barakatuhu,
may our beloved Almighty Allah continue to shower us with the special Ramadan blessings -- by accepting our ibadahs and answering all our duas, ameen.
Please follow this link to read an interview I conducted recently with Believuh Group about myself and my background. Insha-Allah, I hope you'll find it beneficial and worthwhile.
Assalamu alaikum wa rahamtullahi wa barakatuhu,
may our beloved Almighty Allah continue to shower us with the special Ramadan blessings -- by accepting our ibadahs and answering all our duas, ameen.
Please follow this link to read an interview I conducted recently with Believuh Group about myself and my background. Insha-Allah, I hope you'll find it beneficial and worthwhile.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Ramadan Resolutions.....
Whoever wants to know what Allah has prepared for him, should look to what he has prepared for Allah.
What a beautiful, simple formula to calculate our future with! We can match our life against the Qur'an and the Sunnah to know who we are, and to look at what we have set aside for Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala), and to know what Allah the Almighty and Majestic has prepared for us.
It is imperative that we take our soul to account and treat its deficiencies. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, weigh your deeds before they are weighed."
Hasan al Basri (rahimahu Allah) said "A believer will always be critical of himself in his food, his drink and his speech. A sinner will not criticize himself." He also said "A believer is a guardian over himself: he takes account of himself for Allah. Those who take account of themselves in this world will be audited lightly in the Hereafter. Those who take this issue lightly will find their auditing very difficult."
When a Muslim takes account of his actions, he is able to realize the right of Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) over him. Ibn al-Qayyim said, "A benefit of understanding Allah's right over the servant is that it breeds condemnation of oneself and delivers one from showing off and vanity. It also opens the door of humbleness in front of Allah and closes the doors of conceit. It allows one to realize that salvation is only through Allah's grace and mercy."
It is Allah's right that He should be obeyed and not disobeyed; that He should be remembered and not forgotten; and that He should be shown gratitude and not shown ingratitude. Whoever thinks over these things will know with certainty that he cannot fulfill these conditions and, thus, has to resort to Allah's mercy. Such a person will be convinced that he cannot rely on his actions, lest he be destroyed.
We think about our rights over Allah and not about His rights over us. This is how we are detached from Allah and deprived of the desire to meet Him. This is the epitome of our ignorance of our Lord and of ourselves.
If we can make our Ramadan resolution this year to follow all the above mentioned advice -- this will be the best possible Ramadan so far, inshaAllah.
Three things of life once gone never come back -- time, words, and opportunity. Let us also make the resolution to not waste them.
With Allah's help nothing is difficult, without His help nothing is easy!
What a beautiful, simple formula to calculate our future with! We can match our life against the Qur'an and the Sunnah to know who we are, and to look at what we have set aside for Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala), and to know what Allah the Almighty and Majestic has prepared for us.
It is imperative that we take our soul to account and treat its deficiencies. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, weigh your deeds before they are weighed."
Hasan al Basri (rahimahu Allah) said "A believer will always be critical of himself in his food, his drink and his speech. A sinner will not criticize himself." He also said "A believer is a guardian over himself: he takes account of himself for Allah. Those who take account of themselves in this world will be audited lightly in the Hereafter. Those who take this issue lightly will find their auditing very difficult."
When a Muslim takes account of his actions, he is able to realize the right of Allah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) over him. Ibn al-Qayyim said, "A benefit of understanding Allah's right over the servant is that it breeds condemnation of oneself and delivers one from showing off and vanity. It also opens the door of humbleness in front of Allah and closes the doors of conceit. It allows one to realize that salvation is only through Allah's grace and mercy."
It is Allah's right that He should be obeyed and not disobeyed; that He should be remembered and not forgotten; and that He should be shown gratitude and not shown ingratitude. Whoever thinks over these things will know with certainty that he cannot fulfill these conditions and, thus, has to resort to Allah's mercy. Such a person will be convinced that he cannot rely on his actions, lest he be destroyed.
We think about our rights over Allah and not about His rights over us. This is how we are detached from Allah and deprived of the desire to meet Him. This is the epitome of our ignorance of our Lord and of ourselves.
If we can make our Ramadan resolution this year to follow all the above mentioned advice -- this will be the best possible Ramadan so far, inshaAllah.
Three things of life once gone never come back -- time, words, and opportunity. Let us also make the resolution to not waste them.
With Allah's help nothing is difficult, without His help nothing is easy!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lesson of the day 1334
Ayahs of the day:
And if you are killed for the sake of God, or die, surely forgiveness from God and mercy are better than what others amass. And if you die, or are killed, it is to God that you are gathered. [3: 157,158]
Hadith of the day:
Charity does not decrease wealth. No one forgives, but Allah increases him in honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah but Allah raises him in status. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
What anxiety is there for the one who is detached from the world; and what need for excuses is there for the one who remains silent? [Mansur Ammar]
Guidance of the day:
The amount of knowledge that is obligatory upon all Muslims is not much. The seeker of knowledge does not have to endure hardship, because it is so easy, and because God Exalted is He -- will help and render things even easier for him should his intention be upright. An immense reward will be his.
The Prophet -- may God's blessings and peace be upon him -- said, "He who takes a path leading to acquiring knowledge, God will ease his path to the Garden, and also -- the angels lay down their wings for the seeker of knowledge." There is no excuse for an ignorant person to neglect acquiring knowledge nor an excuse for a scholar to neglect what he knows. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Defeat is not the worst of failure -- not to have tried is the true failure. Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong. Those who are prepared to die for any cause are seldom defeated. Defeat is nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.
And if you are killed for the sake of God, or die, surely forgiveness from God and mercy are better than what others amass. And if you die, or are killed, it is to God that you are gathered. [3: 157,158]
Hadith of the day:
Charity does not decrease wealth. No one forgives, but Allah increases him in honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah but Allah raises him in status. [Muslim]
Wise quote of the day:
What anxiety is there for the one who is detached from the world; and what need for excuses is there for the one who remains silent? [Mansur Ammar]
Guidance of the day:
The amount of knowledge that is obligatory upon all Muslims is not much. The seeker of knowledge does not have to endure hardship, because it is so easy, and because God Exalted is He -- will help and render things even easier for him should his intention be upright. An immense reward will be his.
The Prophet -- may God's blessings and peace be upon him -- said, "He who takes a path leading to acquiring knowledge, God will ease his path to the Garden, and also -- the angels lay down their wings for the seeker of knowledge." There is no excuse for an ignorant person to neglect acquiring knowledge nor an excuse for a scholar to neglect what he knows. [Counsels of Religion by Imam al-Haddad]
Food for thought:
Defeat is not the worst of failure -- not to have tried is the true failure. Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong. Those who are prepared to die for any cause are seldom defeated. Defeat is nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.
Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Ramadan Mubarak!!!
A Ramadan Checklist
1. Ask Allah to enable you to reach Ramadan and to get the most out of it as the Salaf used to do.
2. Intend to fast every day with Iman and pure intention seeking the reward from Allah alone.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven". (Bukhari)
3. Read the whole Qur'an at least once as the Prophet peace be upon him did.
4. Have Suhoor as the Prophet peace be upon him said, "Have Suhoor because it is blessed".
5. Make Du'a during the fast because the Prophet peace be upon him said that three people's supplication is not rejected one of them is the fasting person.
Ask for the good of this life and the next for yourself, your family and Muslims in general.
6. Make Dua before opening the fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said, "The fasting person has a supplication that is answered when he opens his fast".
7. Give Sadaqah and be good to people. The Prophet peace be upon him was the most generous of people and he was most generous in Ramadan.
8. Avoid anything that diminishes the fast such as, lying, backbiting, cheating, getting angry. The Prophet peace be upon him said "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Bukhari]
9. Do not eat too much after Iftar.
10. Ask for forgiveness since this is the month Allah frees people from the fire.
11. Pray At-Tarawih with Khushoo. If you pray in the Masjid complete the Salah with the Imam. If you pray at home prolong the Salah as long as you can.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven".
12. Feed the poor, provide them with their Iftar.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever gives Iftar to someone fasting he will have the same reward without decreasing the reward of the person fasting".
13. Try harder the last ten nights especially the odd nights. The Prophet would strive in Ramadan more than he would in any other month and more so in the last ten days.
14. Say this Dua in the nights that Laitul-Qadr is likely to fall on: Allhumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul-afwa fa'fu anni (O Allah you are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me).
15. Ask Allah to accept all your good actions during this month.
1. Ask Allah to enable you to reach Ramadan and to get the most out of it as the Salaf used to do.
2. Intend to fast every day with Iman and pure intention seeking the reward from Allah alone.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven". (Bukhari)
3. Read the whole Qur'an at least once as the Prophet peace be upon him did.
4. Have Suhoor as the Prophet peace be upon him said, "Have Suhoor because it is blessed".
5. Make Du'a during the fast because the Prophet peace be upon him said that three people's supplication is not rejected one of them is the fasting person.
Ask for the good of this life and the next for yourself, your family and Muslims in general.
6. Make Dua before opening the fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said, "The fasting person has a supplication that is answered when he opens his fast".
7. Give Sadaqah and be good to people. The Prophet peace be upon him was the most generous of people and he was most generous in Ramadan.
8. Avoid anything that diminishes the fast such as, lying, backbiting, cheating, getting angry. The Prophet peace be upon him said "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Bukhari]
9. Do not eat too much after Iftar.
10. Ask for forgiveness since this is the month Allah frees people from the fire.
11. Pray At-Tarawih with Khushoo. If you pray in the Masjid complete the Salah with the Imam. If you pray at home prolong the Salah as long as you can.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven".
12. Feed the poor, provide them with their Iftar.
The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever gives Iftar to someone fasting he will have the same reward without decreasing the reward of the person fasting".
13. Try harder the last ten nights especially the odd nights. The Prophet would strive in Ramadan more than he would in any other month and more so in the last ten days.
14. Say this Dua in the nights that Laitul-Qadr is likely to fall on: Allhumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul-afwa fa'fu anni (O Allah you are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me).
15. Ask Allah to accept all your good actions during this month.
Friday, July 05, 2013
Pearls of Wisdom 333
1. Do not deem yourself prudent, for as long as you are attached to the world, you have neither prudence nor sense. Turn to God and seek forgiveness if you wish to prevail.
2.Listen to your heart and not your ego. Your ego prompts you to boast of vain assertions to obtain the glory of this world. Turn away from vanity and seek Him in the recesses of your heart and soul. Show patience in adversity and be content in His will that you may attain proximity to God.
3. Observe how the life of this world deceives those around you. It lures into traps of vanity, wealth, and fame, and exalts them above others. This splendor blinds them, and they are lost forever in illusion. But then in one instant, life deals the blow of death, and all is gone, and with the Beguiler it stands laughing at their sad end. So overcome your egos that you may be saved from the snares that devoured kings and paupers alike.
4. Liberate yourself from the fetters of the ego and surrender yourself before God. Let the Lord be your shepherd, allow Him to attend to all your cares, and do not allow temptations to entice you. Aspirations of this world are the cause of all concern. Aspire to God and obtain freedom.
5. Forgive us, our Lord. Overlook our transgressions and remit from us our evil deeds. Condemn us not for our corruption; save us from public scorn. O Merciful, You Yourself decreed, "I alone and no other accept repentance of My servants and remit from them their evil deeds." So absolve us of our sins, O Benevolent Lord.
6. Sovereigns and slaves, oppressors and mediators, hypocrites and truthful, this world is passing, but the hereafter infinite. Strive therefore for the Lord alone. Attain to piety and purify your hearts. Save yourselves; do not be held back from divine mercy.
7.The path of adoration may render the body weak and fill the heart with sorrow, but all sorrow departs the instant He touches the heart, awakening it to an abounding freedom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
2.Listen to your heart and not your ego. Your ego prompts you to boast of vain assertions to obtain the glory of this world. Turn away from vanity and seek Him in the recesses of your heart and soul. Show patience in adversity and be content in His will that you may attain proximity to God.
3. Observe how the life of this world deceives those around you. It lures into traps of vanity, wealth, and fame, and exalts them above others. This splendor blinds them, and they are lost forever in illusion. But then in one instant, life deals the blow of death, and all is gone, and with the Beguiler it stands laughing at their sad end. So overcome your egos that you may be saved from the snares that devoured kings and paupers alike.
4. Liberate yourself from the fetters of the ego and surrender yourself before God. Let the Lord be your shepherd, allow Him to attend to all your cares, and do not allow temptations to entice you. Aspirations of this world are the cause of all concern. Aspire to God and obtain freedom.
5. Forgive us, our Lord. Overlook our transgressions and remit from us our evil deeds. Condemn us not for our corruption; save us from public scorn. O Merciful, You Yourself decreed, "I alone and no other accept repentance of My servants and remit from them their evil deeds." So absolve us of our sins, O Benevolent Lord.
6. Sovereigns and slaves, oppressors and mediators, hypocrites and truthful, this world is passing, but the hereafter infinite. Strive therefore for the Lord alone. Attain to piety and purify your hearts. Save yourselves; do not be held back from divine mercy.
7.The path of adoration may render the body weak and fill the heart with sorrow, but all sorrow departs the instant He touches the heart, awakening it to an abounding freedom. [Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani]
Monday, July 01, 2013
Three lasting good deeds.....
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (contineous charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).” [Sahih Muslim]
“His deeds come to an end” means that he/she is not able to perform any deeds any more and therefore does not receive reward for actions anymore. But there are three categories of actions for which he/she can receive reward even after death.
First -- Sadaqah Jariyah: This is any good deed done from which people continue to benefit despite the demise of the person who originated it. For example, the establishment of a madrassa or masjid from which people are rightly guided will be sadaqah jariya for the person who established it. Having a well dug or a shade or fruit tree planted will also accrue good deeds for a person, as long as the well or tree benefits people.
Second, “knowledge which is beneficial” means knowledge imparted verbally or by any other means through which people become better Muslims. As long as people benefit from this knowledge, the teacher will receive reward for it.
A third source of reward is having virtuous descendants. Dedicating oneself to bringing up good Muslim children and then making dua for them to be among the righteous is the best source of sadaqa jariya, so that after a person's death they continue to pray for him or her. The prayer of righteous children in favor of parents is very useful.
Needless to say all such deeds have to be done with ikhlas (sincerity) in seeking the pleasure of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Only when they are done to earn Allah’s pleasure will they be rewarded by Him. If they are done for fame, monetary gain, or any other worldly benefit, then the outcome one achieves in this world is all that they will get for it.
“His deeds come to an end” means that he/she is not able to perform any deeds any more and therefore does not receive reward for actions anymore. But there are three categories of actions for which he/she can receive reward even after death.
First -- Sadaqah Jariyah: This is any good deed done from which people continue to benefit despite the demise of the person who originated it. For example, the establishment of a madrassa or masjid from which people are rightly guided will be sadaqah jariya for the person who established it. Having a well dug or a shade or fruit tree planted will also accrue good deeds for a person, as long as the well or tree benefits people.
Second, “knowledge which is beneficial” means knowledge imparted verbally or by any other means through which people become better Muslims. As long as people benefit from this knowledge, the teacher will receive reward for it.
A third source of reward is having virtuous descendants. Dedicating oneself to bringing up good Muslim children and then making dua for them to be among the righteous is the best source of sadaqa jariya, so that after a person's death they continue to pray for him or her. The prayer of righteous children in favor of parents is very useful.
Needless to say all such deeds have to be done with ikhlas (sincerity) in seeking the pleasure of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Only when they are done to earn Allah’s pleasure will they be rewarded by Him. If they are done for fame, monetary gain, or any other worldly benefit, then the outcome one achieves in this world is all that they will get for it.
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