Ramadan Reflection #4

"So let my enemies say what they will. For my sins are many, and perhaps because of their backbiting and slander, my sins will be lightened and instead fall upon their shoulders." 

- Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimullaah)

Many of us backbite and gossip without thinking. We are so accustomed to it that we assume it to be a minor matter. Backbiting and slander are considered amongst the worst of major sins.

We ask Allaah to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. Ameen.

Ramadan Reflection #2

Reported Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales, and do not count others' faults, do not spy, do not be envious of one another, do not desert (cut your relation) with one another, and do not hate one another. And be brothers (as Allaah had ordered you)." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Let's stop being judgemental of people. We never know what the other person is going through. Who are we to judge anyway. Allaah is the best judge. Why not leave it to Him?

Tackling Low Emaan..

 

 

 

 

 

Abu Huraira (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

 

“Allaah (subhaanahu wa t'Aala) says I am closer to my slave than his supposition of which he keeps of me. And when he/she does dhikr of Allaah, I am with him/her. If he does dhikr in his heart, I do his dhik near MY proximity (closeness) and if he does dhikr in a gathering, I mention him in a gathering Afdhal (better) than it."

 

--Sahih Bukhari

So I've been meaning to just sit down and jot down some ideas on how to increase our emaan in times of low emaan. Of course as human beings, we do experience dips in emaan every now and then. It all depends on how we pick ourselves back up. The main thing is to realize and acknowledge that we are at a low-point. Once we acknowledge this, Insha'Allah we can take steps to recover from it. Some ways in in increasing our emaan may be:

• Increase the recitation of the Qur'aan
• Understand the tafseer behind the words in the Qur'aan
• Attend Islamic lectures or classes (This, I personally find is always a big booster)
• Fast the sunnah fasts of Monday and Thursday
• Fast the 'White days' or the 14th, 15th, and 16th of each Islamic month.
• Be sincere with your deeds (niyaah/intention)
• Must, must, must keep the waajib (obligatory) prayers going.
• Maybe read the seerah of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him)
• Why not read about all the Prophets (peace be upon them all)
• Make du'a. Lot's and lot's and lot's of du'a to increase our emaan and make us better Muslims

On that note, May Allaah continue to increase our knowledge and sincerity in His deen for His sake. And may He continue to strengthen our emaan and guide us on the right path. *Ameen*




 

Major Sins (Al-Kaba'ir) ..

"If you avoid the major (part) of what you have been forbidden (to do), We will cancel out for you your (other) evil deeds and will admit you (to Paradise) with a noble entry."

                                                           -- al-Nisa 4:31

"Avoid the seven noxious things"- and after having said this, the Propeht (Peace be upon him) mentioned: "associating anything with Allaah; magic; killing one whom Allaah has declared inviolate without a just case, consuming the property of an orphan, devouring usury, turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet."

 --Bukhari and Muslim

There is some dispute amongst the scholars in whether it is 7 major sins or 70.

The scholars who say there are 70 major sins, do so on the basis that crimes such as those which call for a prescribed punishment (Hadd; plural, Hudud), such as theft, fornication or adultery (Zina), and murder; those prohibited acts for which a warning of a severe punishment in the hereafter is given in the Qur'aan or the tradition; and also those deeds which are cursed by our Prophet (peace be upon him), are all considered major sins.

The 70 Major Sins Are:

01. Associating anything with Allaah 
02. Murder 
03. Practising magic 
04. Not Praying 
05. Not paying Zakat 
06. Not fasting on a Day of Ramadhan without excuse 
07. Not performing Hajj, while being able to do so 
08. Disrespect to parents 
09. Abandoning relatives 
10. Fornication and Adultery 
11. Homosexuality(sodomy) 
12. Interest(Riba) 
13. Wrongfully consuming the property of an orphan 
14. Lying about Allaah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) 
15. Running away from the battlefield 
16. A leader's deceiving his people and being unjust to them 
17. Pride and arrogance 
18. Bearing false witness 
19. Drinking Khamr (wine) 
20. Gambling 
21. Slandering chaste women 
22. Stealing from the spoils of war 
23. Stealing 
24. Highway Robbery 
25. Taking false oath 
26. Oppression 
27. Illegal gain 
28. Consuming wealth acquired unlawfully 
29. Committing suicide 
30. Frequent lying 
31. Judging unjustly 
32. Giving and Accepting bribes 
33. Woman's imitating man and man's imitating woman 
34. Being cuckold 
35. Marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for the husband 
36. Not protecting oneself from urine 
37. Showing-off 
38. Learning knowledge of the religion for the sake of this world and concealing that knowledge 
39. Bertrayal of trust 
40. Recounting favours 
41. Denying Allaah's Decree 
42. Listening (to) people's private conversations 
43. Carrying tales 
44. Cursing 
45. Breaking contracts 
46. Believing in fortune-tellers and astrologers 
47. A woman's bad conduct towards her husband 
48. Making statues and pictures 
49. Lamenting, wailing, tearing the clothing, and doing other things of this sort when an affliction befalls 
50. Treating others unjustly 
51. Overbearing conduct toward the wife, the servant, the weak, and animals 
52. Offending one's neighbour 
53. Offending and abusing Muslims 
54. Offending people and having an arrogant attitude toward them 
55. Trailing one's garment in pride 
56. Men's wearing silk and gold 
57. A slave's running away from his master 
58. Slaughtering an animal which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah 
59. To knowingly ascribe one's paternity to a father other than one's own 
60. Arguing and disputing violently 
61. Witholding excess water 
62. Giving short weight or measure 
63. Feeling secure from Allaah's Plan 
64. Offending Allaah's righteous friends 
65. Not praying in congregation but praying alone without an excuse 
66. Persistently missing Friday Prayers without any excuse 
67. Unsurping the rights of the heir through bequests 
68. Deceiving and plotting evil 
69. Spying for the enemy of the Muslims 
70. Cursing or insulting any of the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon them all)

The Night of Power..

There is a night in the month of Ramadhan which is better than a thousand months (83 years, 4 months). This night is called Laylatul-Qadr. The Revelation of the Qur'aan started in the month of Ramadhan and specifically on Laylatul-Qadr. The Night of Power is a night of blessings that has been blessed by Allaah.


The Prophet (peace be upon him) described the morning after Laylatul-Qadr so that the Muslim may know which day it is. He (peace be upon him) also advised what is most appropriate to recite during this blessed night.


'Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) reported that she asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), "O Messenger of Allaah! If I knew which night is the night of power (Laylatul-Qadr), what should I say during it?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised her to recite: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhhibul 'afwa fa' fu 'annee."

O Allaah! You are forgiving, and You love forgiveness. So forgive me.

--Reported as Saheeh in Tirmidhi, hadith no.3513. Also recorded in Ahmad and Ibn Majah.

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Ubayy (radhiAllaahu anhu) said, that he (peace be upon him) said:

"On the morning following Laylatul-Qadr, the sun rises not having any rays as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up."

--Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah

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Ibn 'Abbas (radhiAllaahu anhu) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Laylatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold. The sun rises on its morning being feeble and red."

--Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Bazzaar with a Hasan Isnad.

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Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu) said:

"We were discussing Laylatul-Qadr in the presence of Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon him) so he said, 'Which of you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a plate?'."

--Muslim

Religion is Easy..

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Religion is very easy and whoever ovberburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights."

--Sahih Bukhari

Your Lord is Generous and Shy..

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

 "Verily your Lord is Generous and Shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication), He becomes shy to return them empty."

 --Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi

Baby Steps..

Since this is the month of mercy and forgiveness, dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah should be made in abaundance. Not to say we shouldn't in the remaining months, but that we should increase in it especially during Ramadhan for its great and many rewards. Keeping that in mind, here's a nice place to start inshaaAllaah..

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ 

SubhaanAllaahi wa Bihamdihi

(Glory be to Allaah and Praise Him)

Whoever says the above 100 times during the day, his sins are wiped away even if they are like the foam of the sea.

 --Sahih Bukhari

SubhaanAllaah. So heavy on the scales, and yet so easy to implement. It's the small steps we take, and make a habit out of that make the biggest difference in the long run. Let's make the intention to act on those baby steps starting this Ramadhan.. starting today, this second inshaaAllaah.

It's That Time of Year Again.. *Alhamdulillah*

Abu Hurairah(radhiAllaahu anhu) related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) quoted Allaah as saying, "Every act of Adam's descendants is for themselves, except fasting. It is meant for me Alone, and I alone will give the reward for it." --Sahih Muslim  

"You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you – so that perhaps you will be godfearing."

--Qur'aan (2:183)

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu Anhu) related that the Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him) said,"If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he would not be able to make up for it."

--Bukhari

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts during Ramadhn with faith and seeking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadhan with faith and seeking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Laylat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seking his reward from Allaah, will have his past sins forgiven."

--Bukhari & Muslim

May Allaah t'Aala accept our fasting and our prayers in this beautiful month of Ramadhan. May He also shower us with His infinite blessings and mercy.

*Ameen*

Ramadhan Mubarak Everyone!

I Answer to the King..

“With my veil, I put my faith on display — rather than my beauty. My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not by my looks. I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don’t see a body. You view me only for what I am: …a servant of my Creator. You see, as a Muslim woman, I’ve been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don’t answer to the slaves of God on earth. I answer to the King.”

--Yasmin Mogahed

Such a beautiful excerpt from a very well written article subhaanAllaah. You can find the rest of the article here inshaaAllaah.

May Allaah t'Aala grant us all the strength to stay firm on His religion. *Ameen*

Faith is Not by Embellishment..

Faith (îmân) is not by embellishment or wishful thinking, but it is what settles in the heart and is verified through your works. Whoever says good but does not do good will have his words compared to his deeds by Allaah. Whoever says good and does good will have his words raised by his deeds. This is because Allah ‘azza wa jal said:

"To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed raises it." [Sûrah Al-Fâtir: 10] "

Ibn Battah in Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ Vol. 3 p120, and Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî in Iqtidâ’ Al-’Ilm Al-’Amal no.56.

Deeds Without Sincerity..

“Deeds without sincerity are like a traveler who carries in his water-jug dirt. The carrying of it burdens him and it brings no benefit” 

--Ibn al Qayyim (rahimullaah)

'Labbaik wa Sa'daik'

Narrated Abu Huraira (RadhiAllaahu Anhu): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم‎) said, "The first man to be called on the Day of Resurrection will be Adam who will be shown his offspring, and it will be said to them, 'This is your father, Adam.' Adam will say (responding to the call), 'Labbaik wa Sa'daik'. Then Allaah will say (to Adam), 'Take out of your offspring, the people of Hell.' Adam will say, 'O Lord, how many should I take out?' Allaah will say, 'Take out ninety-nine out of every hundred." They (the Prophet's companions) said, "O Allaah's Apostle! If ninety-nine out of every one hundred of us are taken away, what will remain out of us?". He said, "My followers in comparison to the other nations are like a white hair on a black ox."

--Sahih Muslim

Illumination of The Heart ..

 “Worship and obedience illuminate the heart and make it strong and steadfast, until it becomes like a clear mirror, shining with light.When Shaytaan draws close, he is struck by its light like those who try to eavesdrop [in the heavens] are struck by the shooting stars, and Shaytaan flees from this heart with more terror than a wolf fleeing from a lion. “

--Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimullaah)

"Allaah forgives men's sins (minor) on their account.."

 Abu Huraira (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

 The Prophet (may Allaah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "Let anyone tell me; if a stream flows by the house of any person and he bathes in it five times a day, whether any dirt will remain on his body." The companions replied that no dirt would remain in such a case. He said, "So is the case with prescribed prayers. Allaah forgives men's sins (minor) on their account."

--Bukhari, Muslim

"My Companions are a protection for this Ummah.."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his head toward the heavens and said:

"The stars are the protection for the sky - when the stars have gone, that which has been forewarned will come to the sky. I am the protection for my Companions (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) - when I have gone, that which has been forewarned will come to my Companions. My Companions are the protection for this Ummah - when they have gone, that which has been forewarned will come to this Ummah." 

--Saheeh Muslim

The Believers as One..

The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said:

 "The believers, in their love, mutual kindness, and close ties, are like one body; when any part complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever."

--Sahih Muslim

The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said:

"The believers, in their love, mutual kindness, and close ties, are like one body; when any part complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever."

--Sahih Muslim

"The best of your days is Friday.."

It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws (radhiAllaahu 'anh) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

 "The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam (peace be upon him) was created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown and on that day all of creation will swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me." They said, "O Messenger of Allaah, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?" He (peace be upon him) said, "Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets, peace be upon them."

 --Abu Dawood; Classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in his comments on Sunan Abu Dawood, 4/273; and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abu Dawood, 925.

Friday Reminder #9

The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said: “The worst type of thief is the one who steals from his prayer.”

The people asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, how can a person steal from his prayer?”

He said: “By not doing ruku’ and sujood properly.”

--Reported by Imaam Ahmad

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“A man’s prayer is not good enough until his back is straight in ruku’ and sujood.”

--Reported by Abu Dawud, 1/533