Muslims have something that offers the clearest proof of all – The Holy Quran. There is no other book like it anywhere on Earth. It is absolutely perfect in the Arabic language. It has no mistakes in grammar, meaning, or context. The scientific evidences are well known around the entire world, even amongst non-Muslim scholars. Predictions in the Quran have come true; and its teachings are clear for all people, all places, and all times. No one has been able to produce a book like it, nor ten chapters like it, nor even one chapter like it. It was memorized by thousands of people during the lifetime of Muhammad, peace be upon him, and then this memorization was passed down from teacher to student for generation after generation, from mouth to ear and from one nation to another. Today every single Muslim has memorized some part of the Quran in the original Arabic language that it was revealed over 1,400 years ago, even though most of them are not Arabs. There are over nine million (9,000,000) Muslims living on the earth today who have totally memorized the entire Quran, word for word, and can recite the entire Quran, in Arabic just as Muhammad, peace be upon him, did 14 centuries ago.
My Mother, My Best Friend
Whenever people would come from Yemen, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would ask them, “Is Uways Al-Qaranee amongst you?” until, one year, he met Uways.
He said, “Are you Uways Al-Qaranee?” He said, “Yes.”
Umar continued, “From Muraad, then Qaran?” He said, “Yes.”
Umar then asked, “Were you once afflicted with leprosy, and your skin healed except for a dirham’s area?” Uways said, “Yes.”
Umar finally asked, “Do you have a mother (that is alive)?” He said, “Yes.”
Umar then said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, ‘Uways ibn Aamir will come to you with the delegations from Yemen, from Muraad, then from Qaran. He was once afflicted with leprosy and his skin healed except for a dirham’s area. He has a mother, and he treats her kindly. If he was to ever swear by Allah (for something) Allah would fulfill his oath. If you can, request that he ask forgiveness for you.”
Umar then requested Uways, “Ask forgiveness for me.” And Uways Al-Qaranee did. (Sahih Muslim)
Allah said:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” (Qur’an, 17:23-24)
If someone came to you today and offered you a free lunch, no doubt your response would be to smile and speak kindly to them. Why is it then that our parents receive only cold stares, harsh words, and bitter treatment and they are who they are in our lives? For twenty or thirty years they fed us, clothed us, washed us, and showered their mercy on our soft skin. Their love for us never dies even if we do; it is a love that goes even beyond us, to our children and even our children’s children.
Birr Al-Walidayn is a characteristic of the believer. Al-Hasan Al-Basree defined it as saying, “Al-Birr is to obey the parents in everything that they ask so long as it is not to disobey Allah. Uqooq is to disown your parents, denying them all of your goodness.”
By the Ijmaa’ of scholars, being respectful and obedient to one’s parents is Fard (obligatory).
To better understand what is meant by Birr Al-Walidayn (kindness to parents), the scholars set the following conditions for one to follow:
One: He should place the pleasure of his parents above the pleasure of anyone else, including himself and his wife and kids – everyone.
Two: He should obey them in everything they command or forbid, whether it agrees with his desires or not, so long as they do not command the disobedience of Allah.
Three: He should present them with everything he feels they desire, whether they ask for it or not. He should present it with kindness and mercy, understanding that no matter what he does he will always have some shortcomings in fulfilling the true kindness that his parents deserve.
Allah’s love comes when our parents love us. And Allah’s anger comes when our parents are angry with us.
Haywah bin Shurayh, one of the Imam’s of our Ummah, used to give classes in front of his home. During the class, his mother would call him to feed the chickens. He would stand up, leave the Halaqah, and go feed the chickens.
We all want Allah to accept us; we would all like to enter Paradise. Look down dear brothers and sisters, and you will find paradise at the feet of your mother (as mentioned in a Hadeeth in Ahmad and An-Nasaa’ee).
On the other side, making our parents sad or even making them cry is one of the many ways to earn Allah’s anger.
A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to give him his pledge of allegiance. He said, “I have come to pledge allegiance to you for Hijrah and I have left both my parents behind crying.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded him, “Go back, and the same way that you made them cry, make them laugh.” (Ahmad)
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Making one’s parents cry is amongst the Uqooq, a major sin!”
Sheikh Al-Qaasim once said, “Subhan Allah! How can we leave our parents sobbing, and then we claim that we want to go for Jihad so that Allah will be pleased with us? Go back and make them happy with your visit as you made them sad with your departure. If they laugh and are pleased with you, Allah will be pleased.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “May he perish! May he perish! May he perish!”
It was asked, “Who, O Messenger of Allah?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He whose parents attain old age in his life – one or both of them – and he does not enter Paradise (because of his goodness towards them).” (Sahih Muslim)
Loving Each Other For The Sake Of Allah
Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Allah, will ask on the Day of Judgment: Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory? Today, on a day when there is no shade but Mine, I shall shade them with My shade. (Muslim)
Love is among the most exalted of human feelings. When this love revolves around Almighty Allah and forms the basis for our interpersonal relationships, many problems can be weathered and great fruits can be harvested for both the individual and society as a whole. The Quran and Sunnah often speak about the noble status of those whom Allah graces to possess such love. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Among Allah’s servants are people who are neither prophets nor martyrs, but whom the prophets and martyrs will deem fortunate because of their high status with Allah.
The Companions asked, O Messenger of Allah! Inform us of who they are. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told them that they are people who loved each other for Allah’s sake, even without being related to one another or being tied to one another by the exchange of wealth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) went on to describe their great reward on the Day of Resurrection: By Allah, their faces will be luminous and they will be upon light. They will feel no fear when the people will be feeling fear, and they will feel no grief when the people will be grieving. Then he (peace be upon him) read verse 10 from Surah Yunus. (Abu Dawud) This reminds us of another famous hadith that enumerates the seven types of people who will enjoy Allah s shade on a day when there is no shade but His. Among those mentioned are two men who love each other for the sake of Allah, meeting for that reason, and parting with this love (still cherished by both of them) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Love for Allah’s sake transcends the limits of our worldly existence, enduring into the life to come. Allah says: Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al-Muttaqun (the pious). (Az-Zukhruf 43:67)
Sulah Hudaibiya
Sulah Hudaibiya
Paradise: There Is Nothing Like It
The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description. They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter how advanced we may become, what we achieve is nothing in comparison with the joys of the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several reports, there is nothing like Paradise:
“It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses“. [Ibn Maajah, as-Sunan, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah, 2/1448, no. 4332. Ibn Hibbaan narrated it in his saheeh]
The Sahabah asked the Prophet (saw) about the buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description:
“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/29, sahih].
Allah (SWT) indeed spoke the truth when He (SWT) said: “And when you look there [in Paradise] you will see a delight [that cannot be imagined]. and a great dominion” [76:20]
What Allah (SWT) has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond our ability to comprehend: al-Bukhaari reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said that Allah (SWT) said, “I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine”. Recite if you wish, “No person know what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (32:17).
In the version reported by Muslims from Abu Hurayrah, there is the addition, “Never mind what Allah has told you; what He has not told you is EVEN greater”.
Musab Bin Umayr: The First Ambassador Of Islam
MUSAB was born into a wealthy family headed by a mother whose strength of personality and dominating character were well-known in Makkah. Musab was given everything a young person could dream of. He wore the most fashionable clothes and shoes, mixed with the most popular and notable people in his area, and was greatly admired by all. Added to this was his natural personality: he was a good communicator; he had a bright intelligent mind; he was quick and alert and so was allowed to attend the most prestigious meetings with intelligent, elderly, and noble people. Musab had everything a young person of his time could ever dream of. So what could ever make him consider giving it all up?
Musab had grown up without fear of anything or anyone. He was sure of himself, kind, confident, and clever but nevertheless, he was just a human being. The one thing that Musab feared was his own mother. She was a strong and fierce woman and was well-known as such. After considering his situation for some time Musab decided to keep his acceptance of Islam a secret for a while until the best way showed itself. In the meantime, he continued to visit the house of Al-Arqam where he received knowledge about Islam and learned the Qur’an.
Makkah was full of spies and informants and so it wasn’t long before Musab’s comings and goings were noted and reported. His mother wanted to beat him and degrade him to compensate herself for the sorrow and humiliation she felt. But then she thought of something better and perhaps more lasting. She ordered her servants to take her son and bind him tightly; keeping him a prisoner in his own home.
As usual, Musab remained calm but sought the first opportunity to escape. Allah the Almighty opened the way for him and he left with a group of Muslims who were heading for Abyssinia seeking safety there from the persecution of the Makkans. So Musab left his mother, his home, his wealth, and the city of his childhood and headed off to the unknown. His sure and strong faith in Allah made him strong, determined, and peaceful.
Hadith On Pumpkin
Anas b. Malik reported: A tailor invited the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) to a meal that he had prepared. Anas b. Malik said: I went along with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) to that feast. He presented to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) barley bread and soup containing pumpkin, and sliced pieces of meat. Anas said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) going after the pumpkin around the dish, so I have always liked the pumpkin since that day. [Muslim Book #023, Hadith #5067]
Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) liked to eat this type of vegetable. Although it’s not exactly the orange pumpkin we find at our grocery stores today, it is a vegetable from the same family as pumpkins and squash.
The following are facts about orange pumpkins, including tips & recipes for a variety of dishes!
Fast Facts about Pumpkins
The pulp from this low-fat, low-sodium vegetable is an ancient, healthful power food.
One cup of cooked pumpkin has 564 mg of potassium, 2650 IU of vitamin A (providing an amazing 310% RDA), and just 80 calories. A half-cup serving gives you a day’s worth of these protective pigments. Pumpkin also provides fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and phosphorus.
Note: Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness and a significant cause of infant deaths.
Pumpkins are orange because they contain massive amounts of lutein, alpha- and beta-carotene. These nutrients turn into vitamin A in the body.
Adding beta carotene to your diet could reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including prostate, and protect against heart disease. In the past, this staple was used to treat various ailments, including snakebites and…freckles!
Pumpkin seeds contain protective compounds called phytosterols, which may be responsible for shrinking the prostate. They also contain chemicals that may prevent some transformation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). High levels of DHT are associated with an enlarged prostate.
90% of all pumpkins sold in the United States are used for Jack-o’-lanterns.
It is He Who produceth gardens, with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with the produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters. [Qu’ran 6:141]
Gazwa-e-Ahzab
Gazwa-e-Ahzab
Man’s Four Enemies And How To Deal With Them
When Abu Bakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) was once asked about man’s enemies in this life, he answered “Satan, human nature, life, and caprice.” I intend to throw some light on these four enemies hoping to know them well will help us discover how to overcome them.
As for Satan, he was the first one to commit a sin when he refused to prostrate to Adam as Allah ordered him. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And (remember) when We said to the angels: ‘Prostrate yourselves before Adam.’ And they prostrated except Iblis (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers.” (2:34)
Satan also instigated Adam and Eve to eat from the Forbidden Tree and as a result, they were dismissed from Heaven. “But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, “O Adam! Shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never wastes away?” Then they both ate of the tree and so their private parts became manifest to them: and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of the Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray.” (20:120-121)
Then Satan vowed to instigate the progeny of Adam to commit sins in moments of passion, weakness, temptation, and seduction. However on the Day of Judgment, Satan would let his followers down by claiming that they were fully responsible for their mistakes, that is, his role was only tempting and alluring them. “And Satan will say when the matter has been decided: ‘Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you and you responded to me: So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah. Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).” (14:22)
As for the second enemy, namely, human nature, it can be said that since his birth man lives in the midst of a conflict, a conflict between good and evil and it is his human nature to make the choice. Also, it is his deep faith in Allah that makes him able to resist the weakness of human nature and look down upon the transient pleasures of life.
Life is man’s third enemy. Life here simply means all the worldly pleasures that tempt man to move away from the path of Allah. The most tempting pleasure that may make a man commit sins is money. A lot of people think that money talks, money walks, meaning that money can do anything. They simply see the bright side of money but they forget or tend to forget that money is the root of all evil. However, this does not mean that people should not earn money or try to be rich. They simply have to strike a balance between earning money and abiding by values and principles.
Caprice is man’s fourth enemy; it refers to the whims and fancies that lead man to go astray in this life. Man has to remember what Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib said: “Life is short, spend it in obeying Allah and your human nature is greedy, teach it to be contented.” In this respect, Al-Hasan Al-Basri also said: “Your life is just a number of days, once a day passes, part of your life is taken away.”
Hazrath Umar raziallahu anhu
The Messenger of Allah (saw – may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “God has placed truth upon Umar’s tongue and heart.”
‘Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) Life
During his last illness, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had conferred with his people, particularly the more eminent among them. After this meeting, they chose ‘Umar as his successor. ‘Umar was born into a respected Quraysh family thirteen years after the birth of Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Umar’s family was known for its extensive knowledge of genealogy. When he grew up, ‘Umar was proficient in this branch of knowledge as well as in swordsmanship, wrestling, and the art of speaking. He also learned to read and write while still a child, a very rare thing in Mecca at that time. ‘Umar earned his living as a merchant. His trade took him to many foreign lands and he met all kinds of people. This experience gave him an insight into the affairs and
problems of men. ‘Umar’s personality was dynamic, self-assertive, frank, and straightforward. He always spoke whatever was on his mind even if it displeased others.
‘Umar was twenty-seven when the Prophet Muhammad proclaimed his mission. The ideas Muhammad was preaching enraged him as much as they did the other notables of Mecca. He was just as bitter against anyone accepting Islaam as others among the Quraish. When his slave-girl accepted Islaam he beat her until he himself was exhausted and told her, “I have stopped because I am tired, not out of pity for you.” The story of his embracing Islaam is an interesting one. One day, full of anger against the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), he drew his sword and set out to kill him. A friend met him on the way. When ‘Umar told him what he planned to do, his friend informed him that ‘Umar’s own sister, Fatimah, and her husband had also accepted Islaam. ‘Umar went straight to his sister’s house where he found her reading from pages of the Qur’an. He fell upon her and beat her mercilessly. Bruised and bleeding, she told her brother, “Umar you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islaam.” These words produced a strange effect on ‘Umar. What was this faith that made even weak women so strong of heart? He asked his sister to show him what she had been reading; he was at once moved to the core by the words of the Qur’an and immediately grasped their truth. He went straight to the house where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was staying and vowed allegiance to him.