The Importance Of The Word Bismillah (In The Name Of Allah)
Bismillah, In the Name of God, is the beginning of all good things. So we too shall start with it. This blessed phrase is a sign of Islam, and all creatures constantly recite it in their unique way. If you want to understand what an inexhaustible source of strength and blessing bismillah is, then listen to the following allegory:
For a stranger who travels in the deserts of Arabia, it is necessary to get the protection of a tribal chief. Only then may he escape the mischief of robbers and be sure his needs will be met. Traveling alone would be a waste of time because of the enemies and unmet needs he must face.
Two men once set out on such a desert journey. One was humble, the other arrogant. The humble man took the protection of a tribal chief, but the arrogant one didn’t. The former traveled everywhere in safety. Whenever he met a robber, he would say, “I’m traveling in the name of such and such chief,” and the robber would move on without molesting him. He would be treated with respect in every tent he entered because of that name. By contrast, the arrogant one suffered indescribable disasters throughout his journey. He trembled in constant fear and was obliged to struggle and beg for his every need. He became low and mean.
Man is a traveler in the desert of the world
O, arrogant soul! You are that traveler and this world is the desert. Your weakness and poverty know no bounds. You face countless enemies and privations. So, invoke the name of the Eternal Owner and the Everlasting Ruler of this world. Only then will you be saved from having to beg from others and from constantly living in fear.
The phrase bismillah is so blessed a treasure that, by connecting you to the infinite Power and Mercy of the Omnipotent and Merciful.
One, it transforms your weakness and poverty into the most heeded of intercessors at His Exalted Court. The one who, uttering bismillah, acts in the name of God, is like the one who joins an army and then acts under the state’s name. He fears no one, does all things in the name of the law and the state, and persists against all odds.
Surah As-Saffat Ki Akhri 3 Ayaat Ki Fazeelat
Kindness In Islam
Nasiruddin was the slave of a king, and very fond of hunting. One day he came across a very pretty baby deer and picked it up and rode away. The mother deer saw Nasiruddin take her baby and followed him anxiously. Nasiruddin,
pleased with the baby dear, was thinking about presenting it to his children to play with.
After a time, he chanced to look back and saw the mother deer following him, her expression full of grief. He noticed too that she did not seem to care about her own safety. Moved to pity, Nasiruddin set the baby deer free. The mother deer nuzzled and licked her baby fondly and the two deer leaped happily away into the forest. But many times the mother deer looked back at Nasiruddin as if to express her thanks.
That night Nasiruddin dreamt that the revered Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was addressing him: ” Nasiruddin, your name has been entered in the list of Allah, and you will one day have a kingdom. But remember that when you are king you will also have many responsibilities. Just as you have shown mercy to the deer today, you should be merciful to all Allah’s creatures. You should not forget your people by falling into a life of luxury.” This dream came true and Nasiruddin did become king, Amir Nasiruddin Subaktagin, father of Sultan Muhammad.
The Moral Of The Story …. is that if we wish Allah to be merciful to us, we must be eager to show mercy to all the living creatures of the earth.
When a flower blooms,
its color and scent first touch the garden near it and then spread.
In the same way,
a Muslim’s acts of human kindness should first touch those nearest to him,
his family and his neighbors.
Achay Aur Buray Naam
Companions Of The Prophet Muhammad: Who Were They And Why Are They So Important?
MENTION is often made of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Just who were they and why are they so important?
A Companion is anyone, man or woman, who met the Prophet (PBUH) – whether for a short or long period – and who died while still Muslim. Many of the Companions were relatives, wives, servants, or close friends of the Prophet. The details of the Prophet’s life – including his words, deeds, and reactions to events – have been handed down to us through the Companions. These accounts form the collection of Hadiths from which we derive the Sunnah, which is the second basis of Islamic law after the Qur’an.
The Companions, men, and women are exemplars of faith. The earliest Muslims suffered terrible torments at the hands of the Quraish, the ruling tribe of Makkah. Those who emigrated from Makkah left behind their homes and families, even all their worldly possessions, to follow the call of Islam.
Many of them were fearless. One of them (‘Ali Bin Abi Talib) was willing to take the place of the Prophet (PBUH) in his bed when the Quraish were planning to assassinate Muhammad (PBUH) in his sleep. Another, a woman (Nusaybah Bint Ka’b), protected the Prophet in the Battle of Uhud. Many others fought fearlessly in the battles to defend their faith.
The Companions memorized the verses of the Qur’an as they were revealed, and those who were lettered wrote the verses down. So many of them devoted themselves to memorizing the entire Qur’an that when Zayd Bin Thabit was tasked with compiling one standard copy, he was able to assure there were no errors in writing by comparing his copy to the memorization of the Companions. Allah promised to protect His Qur’an, and it was through the efforts of the great Companions (and their later followers) that He did so.
Reading through the biographies of the Companions, one is struck by their devotion. Several of them were noted for their ascetic way of life. Others were noted for their extreme generosity. Still, others were noted for their piety and fear of Allah’s wrath – even for sins, they had committed before they embraced Islam, although embracing Islam effaced their sins. Because some of the Companions were in such close contact with the Prophet (PBUH) and familiar with his sayings and doings, their opinions on jurisprudence were often sought and remain recorded in books. Many of the Companions, including his wife A’ishah, survived the Prophet by several decades and were able to pass on their knowledge to two or three generations.
Thus we owe a great deal to the Companions of the Prophet, and we honor and respect them all.
Talaq Kay Masail
Muslims Are Followed And Are Not A Follower
It is obligatory upon Muslims to have pride and honor in their religion. They should also limit themselves to what Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have restricted this upright religion to. This is the religion that Allah is pleased to have His servants follow. There can be no addition or subtraction from this religion.
Furthermore, a Muslim should not be so weak that he follows (every Tom, Dick and Harry). Instead, his personality should be defined by the Law of Allah, such that he is followed and is not a follower, such that he becomes an example and not a disciple. This should be the case because the law of Allah, praise be to Allah, is complete and perfect in all aspects. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Qur’an, 5:3)
Shajar Kari: Deeni Aur Mili Fareeza
What Sort Of Married Life
When we try to discern the sort of life the Prophet (peace be upon him) had before the start of his message, we have few reports to hand. Interest in his personal life did not develop until later. Before prophethood, he was an ordinary man living in his community. While he did not take part in idol worship and did not attend festivals organized in the name of any idol, he did not stand out as different from other people. He was well known for his honesty and integrity. In fact, people in his community nicknamed him Al-Ameen, which meant the Trustworthy. People trusted him in every way, realizing that he was a man of his word, and he never tried to cheat in any situation. This earned him immense respect in his community. People continued to deposit their valuables with him for safekeeping, even when they were determinedly opposed to his message.
From the few reports that we have of his life after his marriage, up until he received the Angel Gabriel who told him of his assignment as God’s last messenger to mankind, we realize that he led a very happy life, with a caring and loving wife, Khadijah. She recognized his exceptional qualities and provided him with a comfortable home. Many years later, when he had established the first Muslim community and first Muslim state in Madinah, he mentioned that he had a business partner in Makkah called Al-Saib and he praised his partner for his integrity. This suggests that the Prophet continued to run his wife’s business, as he had no money of his own while she was a wealthy lady who employed people to travel on her business. This was how she met Muhammad and recognized his personal qualities. He must have been successful in this, ensuring a comfortable standard of living. When Makkah went through a rough period and people found it difficult to cope, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to his uncle Al-Abbas: “Your brother, Abu Talib, has a large family and things are hard for everyone. Let us both help him: you take one of his children and I take one to reduce his burden.” This is how Ali came to live with the Prophet in his home, giving him a good upbringing.
Khadijah was a model wife: loving, caring, supporting, and providing everything a man needs. We have good reports about her support when the Prophet was met with open hostility and determined opposition as he called on people to believe in God and abandon idolatry. Yet this was not new in their relationship. A few years before he began to receive his message, the Prophet used to spend time alone in a cave, in contemplation. She made sure that he lacked nothing. When once his absence was a little longer than usual, she sent a few of her servants looking for him.
Her exceptional care stands out when he received the Angel for the first time. This was not an easy encounter. How could it be when there is nothing in human experience to prepare him for it? He was in fear as he looked at the Angel standing above him, with his head high in the sky, and he told him: “You are the Prophet of this community.” It was Khadijah who reassured him, feeling that a man of his upright nature could not be deceived on such a momentous matter. She enlisted the learned support of her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who had studied the Bible and gained exceptional experience in religious matters. The two comforted him and helped him recognize the way that he was to lead as God’s messenger. Khadijah’s support was the best he could have received in his hour of great need.
– By Adil Salahi