10 Ways To Be Firm Upon Islam
1. Seek Allah’s help for guidance and steadfastness. Allah has praised the Du’a of the scholars in the Qur’an:
“Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.”
2. Sit with righteous people and attend circles of remembrance of Allah like Islamic lectures enthusiastically. Visit pious people.
3. Study the lives of righteous people by reading books or listening to tapes about them. Give more emphasis on studying the biographies of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
4. Frequently listen to Khutbahs and lectures that soften the heart and are emotional.
5. Observe the obligatory deeds, like performing the five daily prayers and making up the missed fasts of Ramadan, with care, due to the great good that obligatory deeds carry.
6. Do voluntary deeds, even if they are few, that are easy and loved by the heart. Surely the most beloved deeds to Allah are the consistent ones even if they are few, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us.
7. Start memorizing the Qur’an. Recite it constantly and as much as possible. Recite what you memorized in the voluntary prayers.
8. Remember Allah and seek His forgiveness, i.e. do Dhikr and Istighfar. Surely these are easy deeds but their benefit is immense. They increase the Iman (faith) and strengthen the heart.
9. Stay as far away as possible from ‘the corrupter of the heart’, like bad friends, television, satellite channels, music, obscene magazines, etc.
10. Repent as quickly as possible. With sincere repentance, by the will of Allah, there will be no turning back. Indeed Allah becomes very happy when His servant repents.
– Al-Madina Magazine
Signs Are Everywhere
In the Name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
Ha. Mim. This book is bestowed from on high by God, the Almighty, the Wise. Surely, in the heavens and the earth there are signs for those who believe. And in your own creation, and in the animals God scatters on earth there are signs for people of sure faith. And in the alternation of night and day, and in the means of subsistence God sends down from the skies, reviving with it the earth after it had been lifeless, and in the shifting of the winds there are signs for those who use their reason. (Kneeling Down; Al-Jathiyah: 45: 1-5)
The surah begins by mentioning the revelation of this book, the Qur’an, by God, the Almighty, the Wise after having introduced the two separate Arabic letters Ha, Mim, to point to this book’s source. In speaking about the separate letters introduced at the beginning of a number of surahs, we mentioned in the past that they highlight the fact that the Qur’an is composed of the letters forming the Arab’s own language, yet they cannot produce even a very small portion like it. This, then, constitutes permanent evidence that the Qur’an is bestowed from on high by God, the Almighty who can do whatever He wishes, the Wise who creates everything according to a certain measure and to serve a particular purpose. This is an apt comment that fits the ambience of the surah and its discussion of different types of people.
Before speaking about the unbelievers and their attitude toward the Qur’an, the surah refers to signs pointing to the Creator that are available everywhere in the world around them. Alone, these signs should have been enough to direct them to believe in God. Now, the surah turns their minds to such signs so that they may open their hearts to them and realize that it is God who has bestowed this book from on high and that it is He who has created this great universe: “Surely, in the heavens and the earth there are signs for those who believe.” The signs scattered everywhere in the heavens and the earth are not limited to any area or situation. Wherever we look around us we find signs. Is there anything in this wonderful universe that is not a sign pointing to its great Maker?
Women Companions Of Prophet Umm Al-Dahdah: Islamic Values In Action
Among the most important values Islam implants in the minds of its followers are those that formulate the Islamic perception of our present life. Islam makes clear that this life is a test. If we pass this test, then we are ushered into a life of pure happiness in the hereafter.
Those of us who fail the test sink into perpetual misery. While Islam wants us to work hard in order to build a high standard of life worthy of man, the creature, God has placed in charge of earth, it also aims to give us the right perspective, viewing this life and all that it offers as transitory. Hence, all possessions and life itself can be sacrificed for a higher goal.
Umm Al-Dahdah and her husband and family were among the early Muslims from Madinah. After Islam began to establish itself in Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent his companion, Musab ibn Umair, to teach the new Muslim converts there the Qur’an and how to lead an Islamic life. Among the first people to convert to Islam at the time was Thabit ibn Al-Dahdah, his wife Umm Al-Dahdah and their entire family.
When the Prophet immigrated to Madinah with his companions from Makkah, the process of learning about Islam among the Ansar took a much faster pace. The people there tried to catch up with their brethren from Makkah in understanding Islamic principles and putting them into effect.
Thabit read the Qur’anic verse that says: “Who will offer God a generous loan, which He will repay in multiples and will generously reward him?” (57: 11) He said to the Prophet: “How come God asks us for a loan when He is in no need for anyone?” The Prophet said: “He wants it so that He will admit you to heaven in return.”
Thabit said: “If I give a loan to my Lord, will He guarantee me heaven as well as to my children?” The Prophet said that it was so. Thabit said: “Give me your hand. I have two orchards: one in the highland and one in the lowland. I have no other possession. I am making them both a loan to God.”
The Prophet said: “Make one of them for God and hold on to the other for your family’s living.” Thabit said: “Then be my witness that I am making the better one for God. It is an orchard that contains 600 date trees.” The Prophet said: “Then God will reward you for it with admission into heaven.”
What Thabit did was exceptional by any standard. Yet what was his wife’s attitude? We can imagine any woman’s reaction when her husband tells her that he donated half his property to a noble cause. She would naturally think of the effect of such donation on her children’s lives. Yet Umm Al-Dahdah said to her husband: “You have done a profitable deal.”
She immediately gathered her children who were in that orchard, emptied their pockets of any dates they had gathered, and even took whatever was in their hands. She told them that that orchard no longer belonged to them.
In the Battle of Uhud, when Muslims were in chaos, Thabit was one of the few who remained steadfast. He gathered a group of the Ansar fighters around him and fought hard to repel the unbelievers’ attack. They were heavily outnumbered by enemy forces.
He was one of the Muslim martyrs. When the news of his death was broken to his wife, she did not lament, because she knew that a martyr remains alive in heaven. She was keen to know that the Prophet was safe. When she saw him, she said: “Any tragedy is light, as long as you are safe.”
We see her attitude toward sacrificing life and property. In both cases she was exemplary, demonstrating that Islamic values were deeply rooted in her heart.
Zawal-e-Ummat
Two Women Who Stood Up To Pharaoh
“And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’awn, when she said: ‘My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’awn and his work, and save me from the wrong-doers.’” (Qur’an, 66:11)
Qatadah said while explaining the verse: “Fir’awn (Pharaoh) was the most tyrannical and hardened disbeliever on Earth, and by Allah, his disbelief did not affect his wife when she decided to obey her Lord.”
Abu ‘Uthman An-Nahdi reported that Sulayman said: “Fir’awn’s wife was tortured in the heat of the sun. When her torturers would take a break and walk away, the angels would shade her with their wings, and she would see her home in Paradise.”
Al-Qasim Bin Abi Bazzah said: “Fir’awn’s wife asked who won, and it was said to her: ‘Musa and Harun won.’ So, she would say: ‘I believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun.’ Fir’awn said to those around him: ‘Look for the largest rock you can find. If she sticks to what she said, throw it on her. If she retracts what she said, she will remain my wife.’ When they came to her, she looked towards the sky and saw her home in Paradise. So, she stuck to what she said and her soul was taken, and the rock was thrown on her lifeless body after her soul had been taken.’ “
The scholars say regarding her statement: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise” that she chose her neighbor (Allah) before mentioning where she wanted to live (a home in Paradise).
Abu Al-Aliyah said that Fir’awn’s wife turned to believer because of the wife of Fir’awn’s treasurer. What happened was that this woman was sitting and combing the hair of Fir’awn’s daughter one day, and the comb fell from her hand. So, she said: “May whoever disbelieves in Allah be destroyed!” Fir’awn’s daughter said to her: “You have a lord besides my father?” She replied: “The Lord of me, your father, and everything is Allah.” So, Fir’awn’s daughter hit her and went to tell her father.
Fir’awn sent for her, saying: “You worship a lord besides me?” She said: “Yes. Your Lord, mine, and of everything is Allah, and I worship Him.” So, Fir’awn tortured her by putting her on a stake and stretching out her arms and legs and setting loose snakes on her body. One day, when she was in such a state, he came to her and said: “Will you give up?” She replied: “Your Lord, mine and of everything is Allah.” He said to her: “I will kill your son if you do not do not retract what you said.” She said: “Do whatever you want,” and he killed her son, and she could hear his soul calm her down by saying to her: “Be happy, my mother! You have such and such reward with Allah!”
She remained patient until Fir’awn came to her another day, and she said the same to him as she had before. So, he killed another of her sons, and she could hear his soul calming her down as well.
Fir’awn’s wife heard all this, and this caused her to become a believer. Allah took away the soul of the wife of Fir’awn’s treasurer, and Fir’awn’s wife suddenly realized the reward, status, and honor that this woman had in Paradise.
So, she increased in her faith and certitude until Allah caused Fir’awn to discover her faith, and he said to his followers: “What do you know about Asyah Bint Muzahim?” They replied by praising her, and he said to them: “She worships someone besides me!” They said: “Kill her,” and he placed her on a device that stretched her arms and legs away from her body. So, Asyah called upon her Lord, saying: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise!” Fir’awn happened to walk by when she said this, and she smiled because she saw her home in Paradise, and Fir’awn said to those watching: “Aren’t you amazed at her insanity? She smiles while we are torturing her?!”
So, Allah took her soul away to Paradise, and may Allah be pleased with her.
– Tafsir Ibn Kathir (4/504-505)
Angels
Angel Gabriel brought Allah’s words to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and therefore we call Gabriel the Messenger Angel. There are many other angels and we can read about them in the Quran.
Each of us has two angels who accompany him. These angels take note of everything we do. They write down our good deeds and our bad deeds. We call these angels the Writing Angels. There are other angels, too. For example, there is an angel who helps people when they die. This angel brings death, so we call him the Angel of Death.
We cannot see the angels because they are made of things which our eyes cannot see. But all the same, we know that they are there, because Allah has told us so. Sometimes, we can even feel the presence of these angels.
Angels are created by Allah, just as man and everything else has been created by Him. Angels obey Allah and are His servants. They perform many tasks and keep the world in being by obeying Allah’s commands.
We know that when the sun rises and sets, when the clouds move in the sky, when the raindrops fall, when the plants grow and many other things happen in nature, it is Allah Who has created them and Allah Who sustains them. Nothing can happen without Allah’s will. In the same way, Allah created the angels who obey Him. They carry out His will, and take great care that everything goes according to Allah’s will. They are the obedient servants of Allah.
Allah wanted man to obey Him, to pray to Him and to do good. He wanted man to know about Allah. That is why the Angel Gabriel was sent by Allah. The Angel Gabriel told Muhammad what Allah wanted man to do. This was Gabriel’s task. Through the Angel Gabriel, Allah had spoken to many prophets before Muhammad (pbuh), so that man would remember and not forget what Allah wants him to do. We can read about this in the Quran. Here there are the stories of Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa (Alaih Salwat Ajmaeen) and many other prophets. All of them have said to man:
IN ALLAH ALONE YOU SHOULD BELIEVE
ALLAH ALONE YOU SHOULD WORSHIP
ONLY GOOD DEEDS YOU SHOULD DO
Muslim’s Way Of Dealing With Suffering?
Suffering may be physical, like illnesses, or emotional, like frustrations or losing those whom we love or failing in any aspect of our lives. Hardly anyone escapes one or more of these aspects throughout life. Sometimes we ask ourselves why God destines us to have suffering and what benefits will He gain by watching us in pain.
According to Islamic faith, Allah (God) in His wisdom prescribed suffering for essential purposes. Only the believers know this wisdom and feel its sweetness in their hearts. In Arabic language, the word for suffering is ibtilaa , which constitutes a big philosophy in Islamic thought and is the title of a major chapter in all books of faith in this religion.
For the unjust, suffering is a punishment. This is a fact that has long been proved in scriptures when they tell about the fate of the people of Lot, the Pharaoh and his army, the people of Noah, etc. As for those who believe, even if they are sinners, ibtilaa carries a different message rather than punishment. It could be a test through which Allah may want to elevate His pious servants to higher ranks in the hereafter.
In this context Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials (Al-Bukhari). This trial could be as serious as losing one s sight or having any other weakness or sickness. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi, If I deprive My slave of his two beloved things (his two eyes) and he remains patient, I will let him enter Paradise in compensation for them (Al-Bukhari).
I do believe that this is the reason all Allah s messengers were tried in this life: Think of Jesus (peace be upon him) when he was betrayed and driven to the threat of the cross, before he was uplifted and rescued by God. Think of Muhammad (peace be upon him) who lost five of his six children, including the only male child, during his life as a father. Think of Job and his long suffering with sickness. Think of all the rest: None of them lead a normal, cozy life; Allah made them suffer because He loved them.
The purpose of this ibtilaa could be otherwise. It could be a means to clean away the believer s sins and bring him or her back to his or her earlier purity. In this meaning our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said, No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that (Al-Bukhari). He also said, No Muslim is afflicted with any harm but for that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of tree fall down (Al-Bukhari). It is human nature that when man is in trouble, he comes closer to Allah, running to Him in prayer and supplication, refraining from the stray path that he has led. When one is worn out with one of these tests of life, one starts to rethink and reconsiders one s course of life and may determine to change.
Two reactions are expected from the believers once they are exposed to any suffering, in order to deserve the price of either erasing their sins or elevating their rank in Paradise. The first one is to show patience, and the second is to show gratitude to God for sending them this test. God says in Qur’an what means: Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full without reckoning. (Az-Zumar 39:10)
Don t think that patience and gratitude are easy reactions. In fact, they need a lot of training till they become an inherent behavior. It is useful for the suffering ones to understand that showing intolerance or feeling annoyance or displeasure in relation to what God destines for them, may deprive them of the fruitful reward of ibtilaa . This fact may help them to discipline themselves to these noble reactions and help them overcome the natural human feelings of shock and panic to reach this super-human feeling of acceptance and contentment.
Walid Ki Takreem
The Pleasure Of Learning
THE rise of Muslims to the zenith of civilization in a period of four decades was based on Islam’s emphasis on learning.
This is obvious when one takes a look at the Qur ‘an and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which are filled with references to learning, education, observation, and the use of reason.
The very first verse of the Qur’an revealed to the Prophet of Islam reads: “Read: In the name of your Lord who created man from a clot. Read: And your Lord is the Most Generous Who has taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not.” (Qur’an 96:1-5)
The pursuit of knowledge and the use of reason, based on sense observation are made obligatory on every Muslim, man and woman.
The following traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) supplement the foregoing teachings of the Qur’an in the following way:
“The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female.”
“The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr.”
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
“God has revealed to me, ‘Whoever walks in the pursuit of knowledge I facilitate for him the way to Heaven.'”
The Islamic Empire for more than 1,000 years remained the most advanced and civilized nation in the world. This is because Islam stressed the importance and respect for learning, forbade destruction, developed in Muslims the respect for authority, discipline, and tolerance for other religions. The teachings of the Qur ‘an and Sunnah drove many Muslims to their accomplishments in science and medicine.
Learning is a natural pleasure. This pleasure is inborn and instinctive. The pleasure of learning is one of the essential pleasures of the human race. Without learning, survival itself is threatened.
The process of learning starts right after birth. It is true that babies who can barely talk investigate problems with all the zeal and excitement of explorers, make discoveries with the passion and absorption of dedicated scientists. At the end of each successful investigation, one can see on the tiny face an expression of innocent and pure heartfelt pleasure.
The pleasure of learning is not confined to learning from textbooks, which are too often tedious. But it does include learning from magazines (periodicals), newspapers, TV, radio and travelers. When you stand in a library in front of thousands of books, do not think they are lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. Each has its own voice, which is as inaudible as the radio broadcast waves falling directly on the ears.
There are many people in this world who have played themselves to death, or eaten and drunk themselves to death. Nobody ever died because of thinking or learning.
People who avoid learning, or abandon it, find no joy in life, find that life is drained dry. No learner has ever run short of subjects to explore.
The pleasures of learning lead to happiness. One can live longest and best and most rewardingly by attaining and preserving the pleasure of learning.
Learning is everyone’s birthright. Everyone – young or old, rich or poor, male or female – has access to learning. Exercise your birthright. Remember what you have learned cannot be stolen by others.