10 Useless Matters
1. Knowledge that is not acted on.
2. The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others.
3. Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter.
4. The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him.
5. A body that does not obey and serve Allah.
6. Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure.
7. Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good.
8. A mind that thinks about useless matters.
9. Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life.
10. Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His Hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However, the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a (worldly) problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
– Al-Fawa’id
Muhammad’s (pbuh) Simple Life Proves His Prophethood
If we compare the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) before and after his mission as a Prophet, we will conclude that it is unreasonable to think that Muhammad was a false prophet who claimed Prophethood to attain material gains, greatness, glory, or power. Before his mission as a Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) had no financial worries.
As a successful and reputed merchant, he earned a satisfactory and comfortable income. After his mission as a Prophet and because of it, he became worse-off materially. To clarify this, let us look at the following sayings on his life:
Muhammad’s wife `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) once said to her nephew, `Urwah ibn az-Zubayr, “O my nephew, we would sight three new moons in two months without lighting a fire (to cook a meal) in the Prophet’s houses.” Her nephew asked, “O aunt, what sustained you?” She said, “The two black things, dates and water, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) had some neighbors of the Ansar who had milch camels and they used to send the Prophet some of the milk.” Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) , a Companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not eat at a table till he died, and he did not eat a thin nicely baked wheat bread till he died.”
Prophet Muhammad’s wife `A’ishah said , “The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) mattress on which he slept was made of leather stuffed with the fiber of the date-palm tree.”
`Amr ibn Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), one of Prophet’s Companions, said that when the Prophet died, he left neither money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land that he left to charity.
Prophet Muhammad lived this hard life till he died although the Muslim treasury was at his disposal, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula was Muslim before he died, and the Muslims became victorious after 18 years of his Mission. Is it possible that Muhammad might have claimed Prophet hood in order to attain status, greatness, and power?
Islam Not A Religion Of Equality, But Of Justice
There are some people who speak of equality instead of justice, and this is a mistake. We should not say equality, because equality implies no differentiation between the two.
Because of this unjust call for equality, they ask, “What is the difference between male and female?” So they have made men similar to women. The communists said, “What difference is there between the ruler and the subject? No one has any authority over anyone else.” Not even the father over his son?! So they said the father has no authority over his son and so on.
Instead, if we say justice, which means giving each one what he or she is entitled, this misunderstanding no longer applies, and the word used is correct. Allah does not say in the Qur’an that He enjoins equality. He said (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, Allah enjoins Al‘Adl (i.e. justice)” (Qur’an, 16:90)
“And that when you judge between men, you judge with justice.” (Qur’an, 4:58)
Those who say that Islam is the religion of equality are lying against Islam. Rather Islam is the religion of justice, which means treating equally those who are equal and differentiating between those who are different.
No one who knows the religion of Islam would say that it is the religion of equality. Rather what shows you that this principle is false is the fact that most of what is mentioned in the Qur’an denies equality, as in the following verses:
“Say: Are those who know equal to those who know not?” (Qur’an, 39:9)
“Say: Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or darkness equal to light?” (Qur’an, 13:16)
“Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah, with those among you who did so later.” (Qur’an, 57:10)
“Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives.” (Qur’an, 4:95)
Not one single letter in the Qur’an enjoins equality, rather it enjoins justice.
You will also find that the word justice is acceptable to people, for I feel that if I am better than this man in terms of knowledge, or wealth, or piety, or in doing good, I would not like for him to be equal to me.
Everyone knows that it is unacceptable if we say that the male is equal to the female.
– By Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen
– Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitah, 1/180-181
Dunya Aur Akhrat
Unity Of Matter And Spirit
A feature of Islam is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit. It stands not for denial of life but for the fulfillment of life. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not ask man to avoid material things.
It holds that spiritual elevation is to be achieved by living piously in the rough and tumble of life, not by renouncing the world. The Qur’an advises us to pray as follows: “…Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the hereafter that which is good …” (Qur’an, 2:201)
But in making use of life’s luxuries, Islam advises man to be moderate and keep away from extravagance. Allah says: “…and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not (those who waste by extravagance).” (Qur’an, 7:31)
On this aspect of moderation, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Observe fasting and break it (at the proper time) and stand in prayer and devotion (in the night) and have sleep, for your body has its right over you, and your eyes have rights over you, and your wife has a claim upon you.”
Thus, Islam does not admit any separation between material and moral, mundane and spiritual life, and enjoins man to devote all of his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy moral foundations.
It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material resources for the good of man in the service of just ends and not by living a life of asceticism or by running away from the challenges of life. Islam seeks to establish equilibrium between the two aspects of life – the material and the spiritual.
It says that everything in the world is for man, but man was created to serve a higher purpose: the establishment of a moral and just order that will fulfill the will of Allah. Its teachings cater for the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of man. Islam enjoins man to purify his soul and to reform his daily life – both individual and collective – and to establish the supremacy of right over might and of virtue over vice. Thus Islam stands for the middle path and the goal of producing a moral man in the service of a just society.
Generosity Of Uthman (May Allah Be Pleased With Him)
During the caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) there was a severe famine. The people of Madina were suffering due to a shortage of food.
A caravan of 1000 camels loaded with a large stock of food grains belonging to Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived from Shaam (Syria). Several merchants offered to buy all of it.
He asked them what profit they would pay. “Five percent,” they said. He answered that he could get a higher profit than that. They began to argue with him, saying that they did not know of any merchant who would offer him more than their quote.
He said to them, “I know of one who repays a profit of more than seven hundred to a dirham.” He then recited the verse of the Noble Qur’an in which Allah mentioned this profit. “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.” (Qur’an, 2:261)
“O traders! Bear witness with me that I donate all this to the poor people of Madinah!” Uthman said.
Dear readers, whatever we give for the sake of Allah is really ours and whatever we keep with us will one day be someone else’s. Let us follow the footsteps of our Prophet and the pious Sahabah, with whom Allah was pleased, by helping the needy ones.
Qualities of Muttaqun who will inherit Paradise
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Rabb, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth prepared for Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (Qur’an, 3:133)
ALLAH in this beautiful verse of Surah Al-Imran is urging us to march forth towards His Mercy and Paradise, the final abode prepared specially for “Al-Muttaqeen”. Allah clearly mentions that the distinguished people for whom he created Paradise are the “Muttaqun.”
We all, of course, want this privileged status on the Day Of Judgment In Sha Allah. But who are they? How can we be like them? Allah did not leave us wondering about their characteristics, but specified them in the very next verse:
“Those who spend (in Allah’s cause – charity) in prosperity and adversity, who repress anger and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (those who do good).” (Qur’an, 3:134)
“They spend (in Allah’s cause) in times of prosperity and adversity.”
Allah has mentioned in several places the virtue of charity. Allah said:
“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills and Allah is All-Sufficient for his creatures needs, All-Knower.” (Qur’an, 2:261)
It is Allah’s promise that spending for His sake will be requited by Allah and that this investment will never be in loss In Sha Allah.
“They repress their anger.”
Allah knows his slaves. He did not make it difficult for us by ordering us not to get angry. Instead, He said that when we get angry we should repress it or swallow it.
Next time when something doesn’t go as planned or someone cuts your lane while driving, don’t burst. These affairs are too trivial for us to be smitten by anger. Let’s try our best to control our anger. We never know, this quality of ours might be the reason for us to be amongst the Muttaqeen who will enter Jannah!
•“Who pardon men.”
Forgiving is yet another admirable quality of the Muttaqeen. Forgiving is not just accepting apologies, but forgiving them from the heart and making Du’a for them that Allah also forgives them.
“...let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 24:22)
“...and those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 59:10).
The verses of the Qur’an are crystal clear, we just need to strive our utmost to inculcate those qualities in us to achieve the best in this world and in the Hereafter.
ka’bah: The First House Of Worship
The Ka’bah is the first and the most ancient house of worship ever built for all mankind and it was dedicated solely to the worship of Allah. So by facing toward the Ka’bah in our prayers, we are stressing the unity of mankind under the Lordship of the One and Only God. Moreover, by facing toward the Ka’bah, we are stressing the concept of Allah the Almighty being the center of our lives.
Allah says in the Qur’an: “Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah) full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-‘Alamin (mankind and jinn).” (3:96)
Thus, by ordering us to face toward the Ka’bah, we are taken back to our Adamic roots. One of the most essential messages of Islam is to break the barriers such as race, language ethnicity, etc. that separate human beings from one another by stressing their common origin in Adam and Eve. We need not emphasize the fact that racism has been and continues to be the scourge of humanity. Thus, through its entire teachings, Islam cuts at the roots of this menace. It is no wonder then that all of the Islamic rituals of worship stress equality and egalitarianism rather than division and distinction based on caste, clan, or status. One of the last messages delivered by the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his farewell pilgrimage was, “O people, (through Islam) Allah has abolished from your hearts your boasting about your ancestors. Remember all of you descended from Adam and Adam was created from the dust of the ground.”
Islam teaches us to worship One and Only God. Unlike all other religions, which tend to revere their founders excessively often to the point of worshiping them, Allah asks Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to declare: “I am only a human being like you.”
Therefore, nothing is farther from the truth than stating that Muslims undertake the pilgrimage (Haj) to revere the Black Stone or the Ka’bah. While it is true that while going around the Ka’bah, some pilgrims may touch the Black Stone, doing so is not an integral rite of Hajj. It is, therefore, totally absurd and incorrect to say that Muslims go to Makkah to worship the Stone.
Touching the Stone is a mere symbolic act; it is merely intended to symbolize the beginning of the ritual of circumambulation around the Sacred House.
In this context, it is worth remembering what Caliph Umar said while touching the Black Stone: “I know for a certain fact that you are simply a stone; you have no power to benefit or harm anyone; if I hadn’t seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) touching you I wouldn’t have even bothered to touch you.”
We do not attach any importance to this Stone other than the fact that it was placed there by Prophet Ibrahim by the order of Allah. So we are merely renewing our memory of the great Prophet, whose faith and sacrifice is celebrated in the rituals of Hajj.
If anyone thinks otherwise, he is distorting Islam. The source for Islam is the Qur’an and the Sunnah and those who are well versed in these sources.
It is also not true to think that Muslims always turn to the East; rather they always turn toward the Ka’bah while performing their prayers, and its precise direction may be different, depending on where we are located in the world.
Maa Ki Dua
Maa Ki Dua
Indeed, I Love You
Ayesha reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, I love you more than I love myself, and I love you more than I love my family, and I love you more than I love my children.
When I am at home and I think of you, I am unable to contain myself until I can come to you and look at you. When I think about my death and your death, I know that when you enter Paradise, you will be raised to where the Prophets are. But, if I enter Paradise, I am afraid: will I be able to see you?”
So, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not answer him at all until Jibreel revealed to him: “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace – of the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” (Qur’an, 4:69)
– Silsilat Al-Ahadith As-Sahihah, no. 2933