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True Love

Dear brothers and sisters…I pray that you are all in the highest state of faith and health, and Insha Allah, your minds and hearts are full of love for Allah subhana wa ta.alaa, His messenger, peace be upon him, and your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. Alhamdulillah, as Muslims, we learn that Allah azza wa jal, in His infinite mercy and love for us, asks us to reciprocate that love to Him through obedience and to spread it among ourselves. In this way, we can strengthen the bonds within our communities and with our Creator. Part of this love entails having mercy and compassion for our brothers and sisters and loving them regardless of their shortcomings and faults. For, we all know that NO ONE is perfect. Allah subhana wa ta.alaa says in suurat al Hujurat, ayat 11-12,

“O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used by one) after he has believed: and those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.”

“O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it…but fear Allah: for Allah is oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”

and in suurat an-Nur, ayat 24, Allah azza wa jal says, “…let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

The perfect example of this can be seen in the kind and merciful behavior of Abu ad-Darda’, May Allah be pleased with him, one of the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him:

Once, Abu ad-Darda was going about on his way when he came upon a group of people who had gathered around a man whom they were beating and cursing. He asked them what the problem was, and they told him that the man had done something very sinful. Abu ad-Darda’ said to them,

“If he had fallen into a well, would you not have pulled him out?”
“Of course we would have,” they said.
“Do not curse or beat him then. Instead, explain to him and enlighten him, and praise Allah subhana wa ta.alaa for saving you from falling into the same sin,” he said.
“Do you not hate him?” they asked Abu ad-Darda’.
“I only hate what he has done and if he repents of it, he is my brother.”

When the man whom they were beating heard this, he began to weep and said that he repented and would not return to his sin.

Subhana Allah, his mercy and kindness set an example for all of us…how many times do we see someone doing something non-Islamic, and the first thing we think or say is something negative and critical about that person, instead of thinking positively, “Oh, my poor brother/sister in Islam, I must help him/her to improve…maybe he/she didn’t know that what they did was wrong, maybe I can advise him/her and Insha Allah, and help to bring both of us closer to Allah subhana wa ta.alaa.”

Like Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, once said, “You see the believers as regards to their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 8 : No. 40

The love and mercy shown by the Prophet, peace be upon him and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is unmatched to today… and that is why WE must strive to achieve that level of love in our hearts…for Allah subhana wa ta.alaa, for the Prophet, peace be upon him, and for each other…this true love will then manifest itself in ourselves and our communities, and perpetuate the true meaning of Islam

I ask Allah subhana wa ta.alaa to forgive me for any of my shortcomings…all praises are due to Him only, and anything good that has come of this is from Allah azza wa jal and anything bad is from my own shortcomings, and Shaitan… Please forgive me if I have offended anyone, as that was not my intention… I pray that Allah subhana wa ta.alaa will accept this humble work for his sake…and Insha Allah, I hope that all of us will continue to strive for the sake of Allah subhana wa ta.alaa. May we all meet in the highest level of paradise… Ameen.

May Allah azza wa jal continue to guide and protect us on our journey to the highest level of paradise.

Sister Khadija Lin

Have A Clean Heart

Purification of the souls is one of the ends for which the prophets were sent. The true believer is the one who does not harbor any grudge against anyone, nor does he look for others’ faults. A clean heart is an indication of perfect belief and of being a good Muslim. However, whoever does otherwise is not fit for Heaven to be his abode, as his heart is full of impurities.

Bravery, courage, generosity, love, kindness, compassion, Allah-consciousness, altruism, nearness to Allah and enjoying having intimate discourse with Allah, belief, certitude, and all kinds of good cannot exist except in a pure heart. They cannot exist in a heart polluted with malice, envy, selfishness, and ill will toward others. The pious people are always keen to watch their hearts and purify them. The pure hearts and virtuous souls are the ones that are filled with Allah-consciousness, being fearful of Allah, and having strong belief, so they overflow with good and kindness. People with such hearts are characterized by upright conduct and their inner self is pure. Such people love to do good to others as they themselves are living in peace.

As to the person with an evil heart and bad manners, people suffer because of their evil. Also, such people have suffering souls. A good Muslim does not bear any grudge or hatred against his brethren. The closest persons to the Prophet (peace be upon him) were those with excellent manners, morals, and pure and sincere hearts. Such hearts and souls take the persons to the highest levels in Paradise, and they wouldn’t have reached these levels even with the voluntary (nawafil) prayers.

The Virtue Of Nurturing Girls

Allah willing will be about a righteous good deed, and whoever performs it perfectly, according to its required conditions, will attain three things:
First: he will be veiled from Hell and never enter it.
Second: on the Day of the Greatest Terror, (i.e. the Day of Judgment), he will be gathered in the company of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention).
Third: Paradise will be guaranteed for him, where he will be in the company of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention).

What an excellent and great reward this is! This great reward, O believers, requires that certain conditions be fulfilled perfectly.

What is this deed, and what are its conditions?
I say, seeking the help of Allah The Exalted, that it is to take care of girls, be in charge of them, and look after their affairs and interests. That is the position of our religion with the woman whom it honors, maintains, and guards; it encourages men to enter Paradise and receive great rewards should they take care of her and guard her.
How great the favors of Allah The Almighty are on the daughters of Eve, and how sad that some people show ingratitude and deny them!

The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said in an authentic Hadith on the authority of the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah may Allah be pleased with her: “Whichever (people) are tried by any of them (girls), and he treats them kindly, they will screen him from the fire (of Hell).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

He further said: “Whoever has three girls and is patient with them and clothes them from what he has, they will veil him from the fire (of Hell).”

That is the first reward that you, O slave of Allah, would receive for that work, which is to be screened and veiled from the fire of Hell, and whoever is drawn away from the fire and admitted to Paradise has indeed attained his desire.

May Allah make us all among those who attain that reward!
Concerning the second reward, which is to be gathered in the company of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) it was narrated on the authority of Anas may Allah be pleased with him that he said, “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: ‘Whoever looks after two girls until they attain the age of maturity, would come on the Day of Judgment with me and him being (as close to each other) as these (and he joined his fingers).’” [Muslim]

As for the third reward, then consider the following texts:
It was narrated on the authority of Jabir may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: “‘Whoever has three daughters whom he gives refuge to, provides for and shows mercy to, Paradise is certainly guaranteed for him.” A man asked, “And (for) two, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “And also (for the one who has) two (daughters).” [Ahmad] [Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: “No one has three or two daughters or sisters, and he fears Allah regarding them and is kind to them, except that he will enter Paradise.”

It was narrated on the authority of Anas may Allah be pleased with him that he said, “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: ‘Whoever has two daughters or sisters to whom he is kind as long as they are with him, he and I will be in Paradise (as close to each other) as these (and then he put two of his fingers together).’”

What a great reward this is! And, what an excellent position this is!
However, such great rewards have heavy qualifications and various objectives that must be realized by great striving and patience.

What are these conditions and restrictions?
All the conditions are included in his (the Prophet’s sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention)) saying: “And he is kind to them.”

To be kind to girls in such a way as to befit the Sharee‘ah is the all-inclusive condition and the greatest qualification. The narrations previously mentioned came to explicate and clarify in detail this general reference. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: “… Whom he gives refuge to, provides for, and shows mercy to.”

Al-Haafith may Allah have mercy upon him said, “All these terms are included under the term “Ihsaan” (to be kind).”
What is the meaning of giving refuge to them? What is intended by providing for them? And, how should we show mercy to them?

Giving refuge has three facets:
First: Giving her refuge with a good, righteous mother, to be an example for her to follow. The first stage of giving refuge to girls is to keep them with a righteous, pious, chaste mother to maintain and guard them. Have you not heard the advice of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention): “Then, succeed (by choosing) the religious woman, lest you would lose (good)”?

Second: Giving her refuge in her boudoir, inside her house, which is to teach her to abide in her house and not to come out unless there is a necessity, an urgent need, or an act of worship. In other words: “To attend the goodness and supplications of Muslims.”

That is the significance of the statement of Allah The Almighty (which means): {And abide in your houses.} [Quran 33:33]

Allah The Almighty commands women to abide in their houses, for it is more suitable to screen them and guard their lives.

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: “The noblest charity is that a Muslim acquires some knowledge (of the Deen) then imparts it to a brother Muslim.”(Ibn Majah)

O Mankind, Worship Your Lord

[ALLAH’S Quran – 2:21] “O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
[Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0023] “I direct you to affirm belief in Allah alone, and then asked them: Do you know what belief in Allah really implies? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best. The Prophet said: It implies testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, fast of Ramadan, that you pay one-fifth of the booty (fallen to your lot) and I forbid you to use gourd, wine jar, or a receptacle for wine. Shu’ba sometimes narrated the word naqir (wooden pot) and sometimes narrated it as muqayyar. The Holy Prophet also said: Keep it in your mind and inform those who have been left behind.”

Deeds Which Will Benefit The Deceased After His Death

1. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “If a company of Muslims numbering one hundred pray over a dead person, all of them interceding for him, their intercession [i.e. prayers for forgiveness and mercy] for him will be accepted!”[1]
“If a company of the people prays over a dead person, they will intercede for him”[2]

2. The deceased feels the comforting presence of his brothers in Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) after the burial, for a period of time equal to the time taken to sacrifice a camel and distribute its meat. ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When you bury me, stay around my grave for the time it would take to sacrifice a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may be comforted by your presence until I see how I will answer the messengers of my Lord.” [Reported by Muslim]

3. Praying for strength and forgiveness for him immediately after his burial. From Uthman Ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “Whenever the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had finished burying anyone, he would stand by the grave and say: ‘Ask for forgiveness and strength for your brother, for even now he is being questioned.’”[3]

4. Continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), which he set up in his lifetime; beneficial knowledge; and a pious son who will pray for him. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies, his deeds stop, except for three: continuous charity, knowledge which benefits others, or a pious son who will pray for him” [Reported by Muslim]

5. Charity given by the son of the deceased on his/her behalf. From A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): a man said to the Prophet (Peace be upon him): “My mother died suddenly without making any will. I think she would
have given charity (Sadaqah) if she had been able to speak. Would she have a reward if I gave charity on her behalf?” He said: “Yes”. [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim]

6. All believers and Muslims should pray for him and ask forgiveness for him. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: “And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who came before us into the Faith …” [Surah al-Hashr, 59:10]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays for forgiveness for the believing men and believing women,
Allah will give him one reward for each believing man and believing women (he prayed for).”[4].

7. Defending the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in this world. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies his good deeds come to an end, except for his
defending the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah (fi sabilil-lah). This deed will grow (i.e. in reward) until the Day of Judgment, and he will be protected from the Fitnah of the graves”.[5]

[1] Muslim.
[2] AI-Nisa’i: classed as Hasan by al-Albani, Sahih al­ Jami’, No. 5663.
[3] Abu Da’ud; classed as Sahih by al-Albani, op. cit, No. 956.
[4] AI- Tabarani, al kabir, classed as Hasan by al- AIbani, op. cit., No. 5902.
[5] Abu Da’ud, al-Tirmidhi. Described by the latter as a Sahih Hasan Hadjth.