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A Tool For Success

ONCE, THE PROPHET (pbuh) passed by a woman weeping beside a grave. He consoled her gently to be God-fearing and patient. (Not turning to look at her admonisher), she said to him: “Leave, for never have you been afflicted with a loss like mine.” (Silently, the Prophet (PBUH) left her be).

(Later, she was informed that her adviser had been none other than God’s Messenger (PBUH). (Mortified), She went to ask for his pardon: “I recognized you not, O Messenger of God.” The Prophet (PBUH), perfected his lesson for her: “Indeed, patience is in the very first stroke of a calamity” (Bukhary).

Three Days Later Is Not Patience
We are tried, from time to time, with varied tests and tragedies?” some as shattering as the loss of a loved one, others as apparently plain as controlling our anger. Yet be it devastating or slight, seldom is it that we exhibit the patience enjoined on us by Allah.. Much like the woman mentioned in the narration above, our tolerance arrives only after our crisis expires and a new mood transpires, when we realize that we are powerless to change Allah’s decree. And how often this comes, as in this report, when someone has reminded us of the full import of what we have done and said.

Patience is not an accident but a virtue that manifests by choice, nourished, as it is, by strong faith in Allah. It resides in our ability to hold our tongues when it is hardest to do so, on the one hand, and to inflict them with the words “to Allah we belong and to Him are we returning” (2:156) the moment calamity strikes.

Ascending to this level of patience is not easy. We are tested and tried, sometime in ways we never expect. The burden is heavy but never insufferable: “God tasks no soul beyond its capacity” (2:286). In His divine wisdom, Allah encumbers those of us who need it, just enough to make us feel our human limitation, only so much as to cause us to recall our need for Him, with the slightest sufficiency to bring forth our conscious decision to submit to and accept His will, whether for the first time, or to help us renew our faith..

Through tests, He instills in us a balance of fear and hope, an understanding of predestination and free will. Others, Allah burdens to increase their reward with Him to elevate them ever nearer to Him, for His love of them. A few suggestions follow on how we can train ourselves in patience.

Four Tips For Improving Your Patience

1. The first step to fixing any problem is to acknowledge that it exists in the first place “Indeed, Allah does not change a people’s condition until they change what is in their souls” (13:11).

2. Look for the silver lining. Remember that all humans are tested. This cannot be avoided. But we should shun the negativity we associate with our ordeals. How can we do this? Look for the means in which each trial can give you strength and make you a better Muslim. Said the Prophet, (PBUH): “Wondrous is the condition of the believer.. For, indeed, all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him, be gives thanks (to Allah) and it is good for him. And if something harmful befalls him, he is patient and it is good for him. And such is only for the believer” (Bukhari).

3. Constantly remember the countless favors and blessing Allah has given you. Moreover, keep in mind that whatever issues you face, there are always others who have it much worse than you. Make duaa for them.

4. Place your trust in Allah and seek His help “Allah is with those who patiently persevere” (8:46). Commenting on this verse, Ibnul Qayyim remarked: “Allah has a special “with-ness”, or ma’iyyah, with those who have patience, meaning that He is present with them, protecting and supporting them.

So remember that the promise of Allah awaits those who hold firmly to being patient. Of them Allah shall say, on the judgment: “Indeed, this Day I have rewarded them for what they have endured patiently. It is they who are the (truly) triumphant!” (23:111).

(Courtesy: Al Jumuah Magazine)

Virtues Of Salat

“Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that once the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) asked his companions, ‘Do you believe that dirt can remain on a person bathing five times a day in a brook running in front of his door?’ ‘No’, replied the companions, ‘No dirt can remain on his body.’ The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) remarked: So, exactly similar is the effect of salaat offered five times a day. With the Grace of Allah, it washes away all the sins’.”
HADITH – 4(b)

“Hadhrat Jaabir (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that he heard the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) saying:

“The likeness of five times daily salaat is as the likeness of a deep brook running in front of the door of a person who bathes therein five times a day.”

Running water is generally free from dirt, and the deeper it runs the cleaner and purer it is. A bath in such water surely removes dirt from the body and makes it clean. Salaat offered with due regard for its essentials likewise cleanses the soul of all sins. There are several Ahaadith of the same meaning, though with slight variations in expression, narrated by different companions of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (Radhiyallaho anho] narrates that he heard the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) saying:

‘Each of the five salaats expiates the sins committed since the salaat preceding it. To explain, let us take the case of a person working in a factory. His job is such that his body gets covered with dust. But there are five streams of running water in between the factory and his house and, on his return from the job, he takes a bath in each stream. The effect of five times daily salaat is quite similar. Any sins of omission and commission between two salaats are forgiven on account of ‘istighfaar and taubah in each salaat.’

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) through such parables, aims at impressing that salaat has the wonderful power of removing the sins. If we fail to avail of Allah’s mercy, surely we ourselves are the losers.

To err is human. We are likely to commit innumerable acts of displeasing Allah and deserve thereby. His wrath and punishment, but look how relenting our dear Allah is! He has most graciously shown us the way to earn His mercy and forgiveness. It is a great pity if we do not avail of this great favour. Our Allah is always eager to show us His mercy on very small grounds. It is said in a Hadith, that if a person goes to bed with the intention of getting up for Ta-hajjud and perchance does not wake up, he receives the full reward for Tahajjud, although he has been enjoying his sleep at the time of Tahajjud. How boundless is the grace of Allah and what a tremendous loss and deprivation if we do not receive blessings from such a Giver.

Mistakes During Ramadan

Too much stress on food and drink
For some people, the entire month of Ramadan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salah, Qur’an and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of ‘fasting’ into the month of ‘feasting’.

Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance. ‘and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance)’ [al-A’raaf :31]

Spending all day cooking
Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh, Tahajjud or read Quran, etc.

Eating too much
Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to ‘make up for the food missed.’ However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.’ (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).

Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless. It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.

Why Is Ramadan The Month Of Qur’an?

MAY you have a happy and blessed Ramadan! It is the month of the Qur’an as well as the month of all good deeds. A Muslim is recommended to read the Qur’an and do good deeds in this blessed month as much as he can. In this context, we recall the Prophetic Hadith addressed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his Companions on the last day of Sha’ban: “O people! A great month has come; a blessed month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month), shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time; and whoever performs an obligatory deed in (this month), shall receive the reward of performing 70 obligatory deeds at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Paradise. It is the month of charity and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Hell-Fire, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.” (Reported by Ibn Khuzaymah)

Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed. Allah says: The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month of Ramadan, he must observe Saum that month . . .” (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

This verse establishes the link between Ramadan and the Qur’an. We know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in the habit of retreating to Mount Hira during Ramadan and it was during one of these periods of contemplation that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him with the first revelation. So Ramadan marks the beginning of the call to Islam and the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Secondly, when Ramadan Fasting became obligatory, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite the Qur’an with Gabriel. Gabriel used to descend from the heavens every night to read everything that had so far been revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Thirdly, when we offer our Taraweeh prayers, it is recommended that over the course of the month recitation of the whole Qur’an be completed. This presents a great opportunity for those who haven’t read the whole Qur’an to hear it.

Lessons And Moralities Of Fasting

RAMADAN is a month of discipline, self-control, patience, and good behavior. In Ramadan, Muslims are expected to gain the fruits of fasting, namely, piety and consciousness of Allah. In this context, Allah, Most High, says in the Glorious Qur’an : “O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (Al-Baqarah 2:183)

Also, He says: “And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude.” (Al-Furqan 25:62)

Life and death and the succession of nights and days have a purpose and that is to test us and to give us an opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude to our Creator and Sustainer. The month of Ramadan comes and goes. We must examine ourselves now and see what we have learned and achieved during this month. The test of success of this month lies in the effects it has left upon us as follows:

Discipline
We learn in this month how to discipline ourselves for the sake of Allah. We follow a strict schedule of eating and drinking. We are constantly aware that even in our such mundane activities as eating and drinking, we must follow divine injunctions. We change our habits in our daily routines because we learn that we are not the servants and slaves to our habits, but always the servants of Allah. Then after Ramadan, we have to keep this spirit of discipline in other modes of our life and must continue with our submission to the commands of Allah.

Renewal of devotional life
Ramadan renews our enthusiasm for worship and devotion to Allah. In this month we are more careful of our daily prayers and have special prayers at night. There is no religion without prayer and Muslims learn in this month how to strengthen and deepen their religious life.

Renewal of contact with the Qur’an
Ramadan and the Qur’an are linked together from the beginning. It was in this month that this divine message was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We are told that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was fasting when he received the first revelation. Fasting prepares the believers’ hearts to learn the Word of Allah. It is the most suitable condition for our spiritual and mental communication with the Qur’an. The Muslim Ummah pays more attention to the Qur’an in this month. This renewed contact with the Qur’an must help us in following its message.

Renewal of identity with the Ummah
Ramadan is not an individual experience only, but it is an experience in community. The whole Muslim Ummah fasts together in one and the same month. We identify with one another in our obedience to Allah. This gives us a new sense of togetherness and association. Ramadan teaches us that the Muslim Ummah is the community of piety and devotion to Allah and its members derive their strength from each other in deeds of piety and virtue. The bonds that are based on piety and virtue are the strongest and these bonds prove good for mankind. The strength of the Muslim community lies in its commitment to the values of goodness, morality and piety. Ramadan leaves an imprint of all these values upon the Muslim Ummah.

A fresh sense of care and sympathy
Fasting in the month of Ramadan helps us to understand the suffering and the pains of the poor and needy. By our voluntary hunger and thirst we realize what it means to be deprived of basic necessities of life. Ramadan is called the month of charity and sympathy. We learn how to be more kind and generous in this month. Many Muslims also pay their Zakah in the month of Ramadan.

Jihad or struggle
Fasting in Ramadan and Jihad both of them were prescribed in the same year, that is, the second year of Hijra in Madina. Fasting prepares for hardships and sacrifices. These are two important things without which Jihad is not possible. Muslims learn in Ramadan how to struggle against the forces of evil in their own selves, in the society around them, and in the world at large.

Taqwa
To summarize all the moral and spiritual gifts of Ramadan, we can say that Ramadan gives us the great gift of Taqwa (piety). Taqwa is the sum total of Islamic life. It is the highest of all virtues in the Islamic scheme of things. It means, God-consciousness, piety, fear and awe of Allah and it signifies submission to Allah and total commitment to all that is good and rejection of all that is evil and bad.