Alhamdulillah!! Eid mubarak!

Alhamdulilahi

Articles of Faith ~in islam

A Muslim believes in the following 6 articles of Faith

1. Belief in Allah, the Only God Worthy of Worship

A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has no father or mother, no son or daughter. None is equal to Him. He is God of all mankind, not of a special tribe or race.

God is High and Supreme but He is very near to the pious thoughtful believers; He answers their prayers and helps them. He loves the people who love Him and forgives their sins. He gives them peace, happiness, knowledge and success. God is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous, and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent, the Forgiving and the Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector, the Judge and the Peace. God’s attributes are mentioned in the Quran.

God creates in man the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. If we try to count His favors upon us, we cannot, because they are countless. In return for all the great favors and mercy, God does not need anything from us, because He is Needless and Independent. God asks us to know Him, to love Him and to enforce His law for our benefit and our own good.

2. Belief in Messengers and Prophets of God

A Muslim believes in all the Messengers and Prophets of God without any discrimination. All messengers were mortals, human beings, endowed with Divine revelations and appointed by God to teach mankind. The Holy Quran mentions the names of 25 messengers and prophets and states that there are others. These include Adam, the first Prophet, and include Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, the last of the Prophets (peace be upon them all). The key message brought by all Prophets was the same; to believe in One God and not to associate partners with Him, to stay away from sins and to lead a life devoted to earning God’s pleasure.

3. Revelations and the Quran

A Muslim believes in all scriptures and revelations of God, as they were complete and in their original versions. Muslims believe in the original scriptures that were given to previous messengers; for example David received the Zabur (Psalms), Moses the Torah and Jesus the Injeel (Gospel). However, the previous scriptures do not exist today in the original form in which they were revealed.

The Quran is the last testament in the series of divine revelations from God, and Muslims recite and turn to for guidance in all aspects of their life. It comprises the unaltered and direct words of God, revealed through the Angel Gabriel, to the final Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh) some 1400 years ago. The Quran is unique because it is the only revealed book that exists today in the precise form and content in which it was originally revealed. The Quran is unrivalled in its recording and preservation. The astonishing fact about this scripture is that it has remained completely unchanged over the past fourteen centuries, a fact that is attested to by both non-Muslim and Muslim scholars alike. There are no versions of the Quran and every copy in the world remains identical, word for word in its original language Arabic. Muslims to this day continue to emphasize the importance of memorizing the Quran word by word, as a whole or in part, recognizing that it is the Speech of God and not a book written by Muhammad (pbuh) himself.

4. The Angels

Angels are a creation of God. They are purely spiritual and splendid beings that require no food or drink or sleep. They have no physical desires or material needs. Like other creations of God, Angels spend their time worshiping God. In contrast to human beings, Angels do not have free Will – they can only obey God and do not have the ability to disobey Him. Each Angel is charged with a certain duty. Angels cannot be seen by the naked eyes.

5. The Day of Judgments

A Muslim believes in the Day of the Judgement. This world as we know it will come to an end, and the dead will rise to stand for their final and fair trial. On that day, all men and women from Adam to the last person will be resurrected from the state of death. Everything we do, say, make, intend and think are accounted for and kept in accurate records. They are brought up on the Day of Judgement.

One who believes in life after death is not expected to disobey God. They will be ever-conscious that God is watching all their actions and the angels are recording them.

People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to Paradise. People with bad records will be fairly punished and cast into Hell. The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to Allah only, but they are described by Allah in man’s familiar terms in the Quran.

If some good deeds are seen not to get full appreciation and credit in this life, they will receive full compensation and be widely acknowledged on the Day of Judgement. If some people who commit sins, neglect God and indulge in immoral activities seem superficially successful and prosperous in this life, absolute justice will be done to them on the Day of Judgement. The time of the Day of Judgement is known by God alone.

6. Predestination

A Muslim believes in the ultimate Knowledge and Power of God to plan and execute His plans. Allah is Wise, Just, and Loving, and whatever He does must have a good motive, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully. The believer should have strong faith in God, recognizing that their own knowledge is limited and their thinking is based on individual consideration. In contrast, the Knowledge of God is limitless and He plans on a universal basis. Man should think, plan and make sound choices and then put their trust in God. If things happen as they want they should praise God. If things do not happen as they want they should still praise God, recognizing that He knows best what is good for the affairs of mankind.

SOURCE: http://www.whyislam.org

Useful Links ~esp in Ramadan

Salam Alaykum waramotullahi  wabarakatu…

We realize that looking around the internet can get very overwhelming, so we have selected some sites you can visit to improve your deen. TTL is not in anyway affiliated to these sites below(aside ours )  but, we like what they do and the wealthiness of their content.

Enjoy browsing and remember to find out more on any information you find online before use. May Allah in his guidance shield us from information that is capable of marring our spirituality. Amin.

General info-

• http://timelesslight.wordpress.com
• http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/
• http://abdurrahman.org/
• http://www.muslimah2muslimah.com
• http://blog.iloveallaah.com/
• http://quran.al-islam.com
• http://www.tanzeem.org/resources/hadithonline/index.htm
• http://www.turntoislam.com/
• http://www.missionislam.com
• http://mwcsg.org
• http://www.whyislam.org/

Videos & Audio

• http://www.muslimvideo.com/
• www.Halaltube.com
• www.Livinghalal.com or  on youtube -http://www.youtube.com/user/livinghalal#p/u
• For quran recitations- http://www.halaltunes.com/
• 
  

Islamic Channels(FREE to watch online):

• www.peacetv.tv
• www.islambox.tv

Groups and pages on facebook:

• The Timeless light — http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Timeless-LIGHT/253887762367?ref=search
• http://www.facebook.com/iloveallaah
• Welcome Islam- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=293674793066
• Muslimah — A Real Pearl ! — http://www.facebook.com/MuslimahARealPearl
• Hadith of the Day — http://www.facebook.com/HadithoftheDay
• Manners in Islam– http://www.facebook.com/MannersInIslam
• HAPPY MUSLIM FAMILY – http://www.facebook.com/pages/HAPPY-MUSLIM-FAMILY/103956339643635
• Productive Muslim – http://www.facebook.com/productivemuslim
• http://www.facebook.com/DailyReminders

Learn Arabic:

• http://www.islamopas.com/arabic/eindex.html
• http://www.searchtruth.com/arabic/lessons/unit1_writing.php

Music

NASHEED ,Spoken words etc (Caution: Please do not make a habit of listening Nasheed all the time. It should not take up your time and affects your duties and mustahabb actions, such as affecting reading of Qur’aan and calling others to Allaah.)

Muslimhiphop- http://www.muslimhiphop.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixN0qhN39k0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7VezcjXNec

http://blog.iloveallaah.com/2010/06/downloadnasheed

Software and downloads

• http://www.searchtruth.com
• Download.com-  http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.html?query=islam&tag=srch&searchtype=downloads&filterName=platform%3DWindows%2CWebware&filter=platform%3DWindows%2CWebware
• Free Hadith –Download Qur’an, Hadith, Arabic Grammar, Hadith issue documents & more

• Free Hadith software with search facility – www.islamasoft.co.uk/downloads.html

• Quran downloads —

1. http://www.quranflash.com/en/download/index.html
2. Free Quran softwares, downloads and links for learning Quran
3. The Holy Qur’an – القرآن الكريم

Dressing:

Q. LATYFAH

NOTE :

WE INTEND TO UPDATE THIS LIST AS WE GET NEW ONES

* YOU CAN SEND IN YOUR LINKS OR ANY INTERESTING LINK BY COMMENTING ON THIS POST. (PLEASE NOTE IT AS TO BE ISLAMIC AND REGULARLY UPDATED- WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO BLOCK UNRELATED OR NOT SO USEFUL CONTENT BY OUR STANDARDS.)

“Salam” ~The Islamic Greeting and its Etiquette

Assalamu Alaylkum Wa Rahmatulah Wa Barakatuh

– how much do you know about the salam ?!

Islam has professed the use of the Islamic greeting when encountering another Muslim or leaving the company of another Muslim because it unifies the hearts and strengthens bonds between Muslims.

Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, “I swear by the one whose hand my soul is in that you will not enter paradise until you believe. And you won’t be believed until you love one another. May I tell you something, that if you practice it you will love another, spread the (salam) Islamic greeting among you.” This makes it clear to us, that spreading salam among Muslims is the first step towards paradise. This is because spreading salam leads to increasing the love between our hearts. And the increase of love between our hearts will increase the Iman, (faith).

An authentic hadith reported by Imams At-Termithi and Ibn Majah that the prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Oh you people, spread salam among you, serve the food, behave kindly with your blood relations, and offer prayer at night when others are asleep, and you will enter paradise safely.” And Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that a man asked the prophet (S.A.W.), “what in Islam is the best?” He (S.A.W.) answered, “To feed people and to say salam to everyone whether you know them or not.”

What is the history of the Islamic greeting, when did it start, and who was the one who chose it?

Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, “When Allah created Adam he told him to go and say Assalamu Alikum to a group of Angels and listen to their reply. It is your greeting and the greeting of your descendants. Adam went and said: Assalamu Alikum they said Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatulah.”

The complete form for the Islamic greeting is Assalamu Alilkum Wa Rahmatulah Wa Barakatuh meaning peace, mercy, and blessings be upon from Allah (S.W.T.). This is because Imams Abu-Dawood and At-Termithi reported in a good hadith that a man came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said, “Assalamu Alikum.” The prophet responded and the man sat down. The prophet said, “Ten rewards.” Another man came and said, “Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatullh.” The prophet responded and the man sat down. The prophet said, “twenty rewards.”

Then another man came and said: Assalamu Alakum Wa Rahmatulah Wa Barakatuh. The prophet responded and the man sat down. The prophet said, “thirty rewards.”

The Scholars have agreed that starting with salam is highly recommended. And responding is obligatory because Allah (S.W.T.) said in surat An-Nesa’, (verse 86), what can be translated as, “When a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or at least of equal courtesy.”

It is enough for one to say the Islamic greeting to a group and it is enough for one of the group to return it. This is the meaning of the two ahadith that were reported by Imams Abu Dawood and Malik.
From the Etiquette of Salam:

1. The one who comes greets the Muslims that are present.
2. The one who is riding greets the one who is walking.
3. The one who is walking greets the one who is sitting.
4. The smaller group greets the bigger group.
5. The young greet the elder.

Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said, “A rider should greet a pedestrian, a pedestrian should greet one who is sitting, and a small party should greet a large party, a younger should greet an elder one.”

Salams are recommended when leaving as well as when you meet. Imams Abu-Dawoud, and At-Tirmith reported in a good hadith that the prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.) said, “When one of you joins a gathering he should greet those present; and when he leave them he should greet them because the first salutation is not better than the last one.”

What does Islam say about saying salams to the people of the book?

The majority of scholars reported that starting with Assalamu Alikum is not permitted. They refer to the hadith of the prophet that was reported by Imam Muslim in which the prophet (S.A.W.) said, “Don’t start with the (salam) Islamic greeting when encountering Jews or Christians.”

Some scholars see no problem in starting with the Islamic greeting. Some of the Shafies agree with this. This is the opinion of Ibn-Abbas one of the companions of the prophet. He said that this hadith was special for the Jewish of Quraizah, not for all of the people of the book.

What if the people of the book start with the salams with the Muslims. Some of the scholars, like Ahnaf say that it is allowed to return salam and others say it’s obligatory.

Ibn Abbass said, “Whoever says Assalamu Alakum to you, you have to return his greeting even if he was a Majos (fire-worshipper). He was referring to a verse from surat An-Nesa’ (verse 86), what can be translated as, “When a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or at least of equal courtesy.”

The scholar had agreed upon starting the greeting with the non-Muslims is allowed with any word but Assalamu Alikum, like good morning, how are you? etc..

When meeting another Muslim shaking hands is highly recommended, along with a great smile, because it increases the love and respect among Muslims.

It was reported by Imam Bukhari that Qatadah asked Anass (R.A.) if shaking hands was practiced by the companion at the time of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). He said, “Yes.”

Shaking hands with another Muslim will result in forgiveness from Allah (S.W.T.).Imams Abu Dawood and At-Termithi reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, “If Muslims meet and shake hands with each other, they will be forgiven before they leave.”

Imam At-Termithi reported a good hadith that a man said: “O messenger of Allah if one of us meets his brother or friend, should he bend down to him? The prophet said, “ No.” He asked should he hug him and kiss him? The prophet answered, “No.” He asked should he take his hand and shake it. The prophet answered, “Yes.”

Imam At-Termithi reported that Anass (R.A.) said, “When the prophet use to meet a man, he shook hands with him and the prophet (S.A.W.) would not pull away his hand until the man would pull his hand away first.”

**(Friday speech delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at the Islamic Center of Raleigh, NC on February 22, 1988.)

SOURCE: ” IAR” via islamic1.org

Gheebah (Backbiting)

..he said she said they said we said...

Allah T’ala says in the Holy Quran:
O you who have believed, avoid much suspicion, for some suspicions are sins. Do not spy, nor should any one backbite the other. Is there any among you who would like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?’ Nay, you yourselves abhor it. Fear Allah, for Allah is Acceptor of repentance and All-Merciful. (49:12)

Gheebat (back-biting) has been defined thus: “It is saying on the back of a person something which would hurt him if he came to know of it. ” This definition has been reported from the Holy Prophet himself.

According to a tradition which Muslim, Abu Da’ud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and others have related on the authority of Hadrat Abu Hurairah, the Holy Prophet defined Gheebat as follows:
“It is talking of your brother in a way irksome to him.” It was asked: “What, if the defect being talked of is present in my brother ?” The Holy Prophet replied: “If it is present in him, it would be Gheebat; if it is not there, it would be slandering him.”
In another tradition which Imam Malik has related in Mu’watta, on the authority of Hadrat Muttalib bin `Abdullah, “A person asked the Holy Prophet: What is Gheebat? The Holy Prophet replied: It is talking of your brother in a way irksome to him. He asked: Even if it is true, O Messenger of Allah? He replied: If what you said was false, it would then be a calumny.”
These traditions make it plain that uttering a false accusation against a person in his absence is calumny and describing a real defect in him Gheebat; whether this is done in express words or by reference and allusion, in every case it is forbidden. Likewise, whether this is done in the lifetime of a person, or after his death, it is forbidden in both cases.

According to Abu Da’ud, when Ma`iz bin Malik Aslami had been stoned to death for committing adultery, the Holy Prophet on his way back heard a man saying to his companion: “Look at this man: Allah had concealed his secret, but he did not leave himself alone till he was killed like a dog!” A little further on the way there was the dead body of a donkey lying rotting. The Holy Prophet stopped, called the two men and said: “Come down and eat this dead donkey.” They submitted: “Who will eat it, O Messenger of Allah?” The Holy Prophet said: “A little before this you were attacking the honor of your brother: that was much worse than eating this dead donkey.”
The only exceptions to this prohibition are the cases in which there may be a genuine need of speaking in of a person on his back, or after his death, and this may not be fulfilled without resort to backbiting, and if it was not resorted to, a greater evil might result than backbiting itself. The Holy Prophet has described this exception as a principle, thus: “The worst excess is to attack the honour of a Muslim unjustly.” (Abu Da’ud).
In this saying the condition of “unjustly” points out that doing so “with justice” is permissible. Then, in the practice of the Holy Prophet himself we find some precedents which show what is implied by “justice” and in what conditions and cases backbiting may be lawful to the extent as necessary.
Once a desert Arab came and offered his Prayer under the leadership of the Holy Prophet, and as soon as the Prayer was concluded, walked away saying: “O God, have mercy on me and on Muhammad, and make no one else a partner in this mercy beside the two of us.” The Holy Prophet said to the Companions: `What do you say: who is more ignorant: this person or his camel? Didn’t you hear what he said?” (Abu Da`ud). The Holy Prophet had to say this in his absence, for he had left soon after the Prayer was over. Since he had uttered a wrong thing in the presence of the Holy Prophet, his remaining quiet at it could cause the misunderstanding that saying such a thing might in some degree be lawful; therefore, it was necessary that he should contradict it.
Two of the Companions, Hadrat Mu`awiyah and Hadrat Abu Jahm, sent the proposal of marriage to a lady, Fatimah bint Qais. She came to the Holy Prophet and asked for his advice. He said: “Mu`awiyah is a poor man and Abu Jahm beats his wives much.” (Bukhari, Muslim). In this case, as there was the question of the lady’s future and she had consulted the Holy Prophet for his advice, he deemed it necessary to inform her of the two men’s weaknesses.
One day when the Holy Prophet was present in the apartment of Hadrat ‘A’ishah, a man came and sought permission to see him. The Holy Prophet remarked that he was a very bad man of his tribe. Then he went out and talked to him politely. When he came back into the house, Hadrat `A’ishah asked: “You have talked to him politely, whereas when you went out you said something different about him. ” The Holy Prophet said, “On the day of Resurrection the worst abode in the sight of Allah will be of the person whom the people start avoiding because of his abusive language.” (Bukhari, Muslim). A study of this incident will show that the Holy Prophet in spite of having a bad opinion about the person talked to him politely because that was the demand of his morals; but he had the apprehension lest the people of his house should consider the person to be his friend when they would see him treating him kindly, and then the person might use this impression to his own advantage later. Therefore, the Holy Prophet warned Hadrat `A’ishah telling her that he was a bad man of his tribe.
Once Hind bint ‘Utbah, wife of Hadrat Abu Sufyan, came to the Holy Prophet and said: “Abu Sufyan is a miserly person: he does not provide enough for me and my children’s needs. ” (Bukhari, Muslim). Although this complaint from the wife in the absence of the husband was backbiting, the Holy Prophet pemitted it, for the oppressed has a right that he or she may take the complaint of injustice to a person who has the power to get it removed.

From these precedents of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, the jurists and traditionists have deduced this principle: ‘Gheebat (backbiting) is permissible only in case it is needed for a real and genuine (genuine from the Shari’ah point of view) necessity and the necessity may not be satisfied without having resort to it”. Then on the basis of the same principle the scholars have declared that Gheebat is permissible in the following cases:
(1) Complaining by an oppressed person against the oppressor before every such person who he thinks can do something to save him from the injustice.
(2) To make mention of the evils of a person (or persons) with the intention of reform before those who can do expected to help remove the evils.
(3) To state the facts of a case before a legal expert for the purpose of seeking a religious or legal ruling regarding an unlawful act committed by a person.
(4) To warn the people of the mischiefs of a person (or persons) so that they may ward off the evil, e g. it is not only permissible but obligatory to mention the weaknesses of the reporters, witnesses and writers, for without it, it is not possible to safeguard the Shariah against the propagation of false reports, the courts against injustices and the common people or the students against errors and misunderstandings. Or, for instance, if a person wants to have the relationship of marriage with somebody, or wishes to rent a house in the neighborhood of somebody, or wants to give something into the custody of somebody, and consults another person, it is obligatory for him to apprise him of all aspects so that he is not deceived because of ignorance.
(5) To raise voice against and criticise the evils of the people who may be spreading sin and immorality and error, or corrupting the people’s faith and persecuting them.
(6) To use nicknames for the people who may have become well known by those names, but this should be done for the purpose of their recognition and not with a view to condemn them. (For details, see Fat-h al-Bari, vol. X, p. 362; Sharah Muslim by An-Nawawi; Riyad us-Salihin; al-Jassas, Ahkam al-Qur an; Ruh al-Maani commentary on verse wa a yaghtab ba ‘dukum ba ‘dan).

Apart from these exceptions it is absolutely forbidden to speak ill of a person behind his back. If what is spoken is true, it is Gheebat; if it is false, it is calumny; and if it is meant to make two persons quarrel, it is slander. The Shari’ah has declared all these as forbidden. In the Islamic society it is incumbent on every Muslim to refute a false charge made against a person in his presence and not to listen to it quietly, and to tell those who are speaking ill of somebody, without a genuine religious need, to fear God and desist from the sin. The Holy Prophet has said: If a person does not support and help a Muslim when he is being disgraced and his honour being attacked, Allah also does not support and help him when he stands in need of His help; and if a person helps and supports a Muslim when his honour is being attacked and he is being disgraced, Allah Almighty also helps him when he wants that AIlah should help him. (Abu Da’ud).
As for the backbiter, as soon as he realizes that he is committing this sin, or has committed it, his first duty is to offer repentance before Allah and restrain himself from this forbidden act. His second duty is that he should compensate for it as far as possible. If he has backbitten a dead person, he should ask Allah’s forgiveness for the person as often as he can. If he has backbitten a living person, and what he said was also false, he should refute it before the people before whom he had made the calumny. And if what he said was true, he should never speak ill of him in future, and should ask pardon of the person whom he had backbitten. A section of the scholars has expressed the opinion that pardon should be asked only in case the other person has come to know of it; otherwise one should only offer repentance, for if the person concerned is unaware and the backbiter in order to ask pardon goes and tells him that he had backbitten him, he would certainly feel hurt.

In the verse, Allah by likening backbiting to eating a dead brother’s flesh has given the idea of its being an abomination. Eating the dead flesh is by itself abhorrent; and when the flesh is not of an animal, but of a man, and that too of one’s own dead brother, abomination would be added to abomination. Then, by presenting the simile in the interrogative tone it has been made all the more impressive, so that every person may ask his own conscience and decide whether he would like to eat the flesh of his dead brother. If he would not, and he abhors it by nature, how he would like that he should attack the honour of his brother-in-faith in his absence, when he cannot defend himself and when he is wholly unaware that he is being disgraced. This shows that the basic reason of forbidding backbiting is not that the person being backbitten is being hurt but speaking ill of a person in his absence is by itself unlawful and forbidden whether he is aware of it, or not, and whether he feels hurt by it or not. Obviously, eating the flesh of a dead man is not forbidden because it hurts the dead man; the dead person is wholly unaware that somebody is eating of his body, but because this act by itself is an abomination. Likewise, if the person who is backbitten also does not come to know of it through any means, he will remain unaware throughout his life that somebody had attacked his honour at a particular time before some particular people and on that account he had stood disgraced in the eyes of those people. Because of this unawareness he will not feel at all hurt by this backbiting, but his honour would in any case be sullied. Therefore, this act in its nature is not any different from eating the flesh of a dead brother.
(Tafheemul Quran)

SOURCE:islam101.net

22 Dua from The Holy Quran

<Salam my peeps…Duas are good pills for the soul… one with no overdose.. so read, memories and use this list from the Al Quran>

” And when My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I respond to the dua (prayer) of every suppliant when they calleth on Me ” [ Quran 2:186 ]

1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286)

4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286)

5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)

6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after selves, and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost! (7:23)

13. Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing. (7:47)

14. Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are the best of all to lay open the truth. (7:89)

15. Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered themselves unto You. (7:126)

16. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the evildoing folk, and save as by Your mercy from people who deny the truth (10:85-86)

17. Our Lord! You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts] as well as all that we bring into the open, for nothing whatever, be it on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from Allah (14:38)

18. Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way. (18:10) & (59:10)

19. Our Lord! In You we have placed our trust, and to You do we turn in repentance, for unto You is the end of all journeys. (60:4)

20. Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. (66:8)

21. Surah Al-An’am 6.162: Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily. You have power over all things. (66:8)

22. Surah Al-An’am 6.162: Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

SOURCE: english.islamway.com

The Seven Ways to Fight Laziness

< Are you lazy… or trying to get out of your lazy habit? or you know someone on the lazy cruise? Here are solution by Sheikh Ahmed Najmi as posted on blog.iloveallah.com>

The Questioner says: “I’m weak in my reading the books of benefit and when I begin to read some of the books of `Ilm (knowledge) I feel weakness and boredom; so what is your advice for me, and what is the correct path in reading the books which contain beneficial knowledge; benefit us (those seeking reward)?”

Firstly: It is a must for the one who seeks knowledge to purify his intention for Allah the Lord of the worlds, and make his seeking the `Ilm (knowledge) being only for the purpose and goal of obtaining the pleasure of Allah; and in order to know the truth, to act by it, and to know falsehood so as to refrain from it.

Secondly: To act by that, which he has learned from knowledge within in himself, and to try and teach what he has learned from knowledge to others.

Thirdly: To safeguard what he has learned by memorizing it, and reviewing the `Ilm (knowledge) so it does not escape him.

Fourthly: To be steadfast in learning what he does not know, so to add knowledge on top of knowledge.

Fifthly: To ask Allah constantly to bestow & grant him with beneficial knowledge and provisions that are vast, and actions that are accepted; and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say if he prayed the Fajr prayer after he would make Taslim (Salam to the right then the left) this Du’a: “O Allah, I ask you for knowledge which is beneficial and sustenance which is good, and deeds which are acceptable.” (To be said after making salaam for the Fajr prayer)

Sixthly: If he was to feel tired and weak when he is in front of knowledge and ready to study, then he should ask Allah to make for him will power and a desire to gain knowledge and dedicate himself to it.

Seventhly: Its obligatory on the student of knowledge to refrain from disobedience, for indeed disobedience kills the heart and weakens the understanding and its narrated about Imam Shafi’i he said: “I complained to my teacher Wa’ki about my weak memory so he directed me to leave of sin and then he said, `know!!!! That knowledge is light; and the light of Allah He does not give it to a disobedient person.”

And I say the proof for that is found in the Book of Allah when He Glorified be He Says, “O you who believe! If you obey and Fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan a criterion, and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.” [Noble Quran 8:29] “O you who believe Fear Allah, and believe too in His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), he will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and he will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight), and he will forgive you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. So what is important is that the student of knowledge needs consistent striving, striving against himself and against ones passions and lower desires and its greed, and to tire himself out in acquiring knowledge, and to hope that Allah will enable him to achieve that, and the success (Tawfiq) is from Allah.” [Noble Quran 57:28]

SOURCE: blog.iloveallaah.com

Yea, you think you know?! Dont let it get to your head now!!! —

{Found this on youtube and after watching it am like “oh yeah! i must share this”… Especially now when we have info flying around in the name of ramadan. Remember no matter what you; are told, heard or found out.. you need to find out more . Never let it get into you head that you know enough….Allah know best!}

Cure for arrogance

< In short as a muslim you -Do not turn your nose up at people , nor walk about the place arrogantly, for God does not love arrogant or boastful people [31:18]
{Definition: Arrogance (N.)Overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors. }–

arrogance and islam - just dont mix 🙂

If you notice or have slight traits of been arrogant, here are tips for you or someone you know. Remember even those habits formed unconsciously can be replaced with determination. Make Allah guide us to the right Path..amen PEACE!! >

In the name of Allah
In continuation of the earlier topic “Hues of Arrogance” here are Islamic remedies for this disease of the heart with the steps one can take to develop humility towards Allah and His creation to stem the disease of arrogance and to increase humility:

Know Allah

What has knowing Allah got to do with arrogance? Everything. The one who truly recognizes his Creator, and learns about His exalted names and attributes, embraces reality. He knows with conviction how great his Lord is, and how absolutely insignificant his own self is.

He knows that Allah created him, fashioned him, brought him into this world, gave him sustenance and bestowed upon him strength after the frailty of infancy and childhood. Allah has revealed about Himself in the Qur’an and once someone truly knows Allah, he cannot harbor arrogance in his heart for long.

Allah’s signs

The most powerful people who ever lived – with extraordinary physical or mental strength – all become weak with the passage of time. Great scholars or professors can one day suffer from amnesia or Alzheimer’s. Even the man who played the fictional “Superman” – the idol of many young boys – suffered a crippling fall, withered and died before their very eyes.

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Allah looks neither at your figures, nor at your outward appearance, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” (Sahih Muslim)

This should remind us that each and every little blessing we have – from our looks, to our wealth, to our abilities and talents – is solely from Allah. Our achievements are not the product of our own selves, they are a result of whatever talent Allah blessed us with combined with the effort He guided us to undertake. Not only that, He can take them away whenever He wants, even in a split second.

A beauty queen can lose her perfect body and beauty to a disease (just a passing reference to the recent death of a 20-year-old Brazilian model, who died within two months of contracting a mysterious disease).

A strong wrestler might suffer an accident that could render him invalid. Taking lessons from these will Insha Allah bring humility in us.

“Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah. None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.” (Qur’an, 7:99)

Wear ordinary clothes

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever gives up wearing elegant and expensive garments out of humbleness, when he can do so, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection and before all the creations, He will give him the choice to wear whichever garment of ‘Iman‘ he would like to wear.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Everything is temporary

Remember: whatever you have – or whoever you are – will cease to exist one day. The life of this world is fleeting; everything in it, whether it is a source of happiness or misery, will be gone one day.

Only memories and stories will remain, remembered as ‘history’. So if you have something that makes you swell with pride, just remind yourself that it will be dead and gone one day. Just like you.

“Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will abide forever.” (Qur’an, 55:27)

Admit your mistakes

It might take a huge effort at first, but try to develop humility by hearing the other person out, even if you are right or better in opinion. Develop the ability to look at things from their point of view, which will make you a gentler and more empathetic person; more approachable and likeable.

Also, if you are among the older generation (say, above 50) and for the most part of your life, you have been telling the younger lot what to do and how to do it, accede to the fact that now they are adults; maybe acknowledging your own shortcomings before them, and occasionally acquiescing to their wishes won’t really belittle you before them. On the contrary, it might just make you more honorable.

Be quick to apologize

It takes a lot of strength to not just admit your mistake, but to go one step ahead and apologize to those you’ve wronged, whether it happened intentionally or not. Asking another person to forgive you is a sign of humility, one that very few strong individuals can muster up the guts to acquire.

Befriend poor people

A humble person always compares himself to those lower than him in worldly status. For this reason, he is constantly concerned about their well-being and prosperity. Think: “If we can not afford a rented apartment, what about those who are homeless?”

You will find humble people sharing their meals with the poor, giving away clothes to them, paying their medical bills, or often asking about their well-being.

In short, instead of always spending time with the elite at lavish soirees featuring arrays of expensive food, couture and decor, eat at times vegetables on bran whilst sitting on the floor with servants.

Greet people first

“So-and-so’s daughter is such a Miss high-and-mighty! What does she think of herself? Whenever she sees me, she averts her eyes. She doesn’t greet me, even though I am old enough to be her mother.”

Maybe you can teach her what she’s missing by practicing what you preach? What’s stopping you from greeting her with a warm, motherly smile?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Do not disdain any good deed, even your meeting with your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face.” (Sahih Muslim)

Remember your origin

“Was he not a Nutfah (mixed male and female discharge of semen) poured forth? Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion.” (Qur’an, 75:37-38)

The IslamQA team bluntly describes this: “Another remedy (for arrogance) is to remember that he and urine came out of the same place; that he began as a despised drop of sperm and he will end up as a rotten corpse, and that in between he is a vessel for feces. So what does he have to feel so proud and arrogant about?!”

Take account

Every day, when you retire for the night, mentally recount how many wrong things you did during the day. After that, proceed to sincerely ask Allah for forgiveness. This daily activity will ensure that you stay focused on your own errors and weaknesses, paving the way for consistent humility and a gentler attitude towards the mistakes of others.

Humility: Path to Paradise

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Shall I not inform you about those who are entitled to Paradise? It is every person who is modest and humble (before Allah), a person who is accounted weak and is looked down upon, but if he swears (hoping for Allah’s Bounty), Allah will certainly give him what he desires. Now shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud man.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah says: “Whosoever desires honor, power and glory then to Allah belong all honor, power and glory (and one can get honor, power and glory only by worshipping Allah Alone).” (Qur’an, 35:10)

SOURCE: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=146001175411241

Making-up the missed days and expiation …

feeling guilty...

{FEELING GUILTY? Well Allah has made this beautiful religion of ours easy for us. So breathe some air of relief.. as you read this solution!! }

Question: Concerning the one who had days to make up from the previous Ramadhaan and had not done so when the following Ramadhaan arrived, is he a sinner and does he have to make an expiation or not?

Response:
Anyone who has days to make up from the (previous) Ramadhaan then he has to make them up before (the arrival of) the next Ramadhaan. It is permissible for him to delay his fast until Sha’baan (the 8th month, just before Ramadhaan). However, if the following Ramadhaan arrives and he still has not made up the (missed) days without (a valid) reason, then he has committed a sin. So now he has to make up those days along with feeding a poor person for every day (he has to make up) as this is what the group of companions of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) had ruled with. The amount of food required would be half a saa’a for every day from that which is the norm in the country and is to be given to a number of people or, even, just one person. As for he who had a valid excuse for delaying in making up the fasts, because of illness or travel then he has to make up the days missed only and he does not have to feed any poor people, for the general statement of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala):

{and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days} [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 185].

And Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) is the Provider of Success.
SOURCE:http://abdurrahman.org