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Allah, The Exalted, Commands: No Distinction Between Messengers

[Allah’s Quran – 2:136] Say, [O believers], “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said:
[Bukhari, Book #60, Hadith #128] “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever says that I am better than Jonah bin Matta, Is a liar.”

[Bukhari, Book #41, Hadith #594] “Narrated Abu Huraira: Two persons, a Muslim, and a Jew, quarreled. The Muslim said, “By Him Who gave Muhammad superiority over all the people! The Jew said, “By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the people!” At that, the Muslim raised his hand and slapped the Jew in the face. The Jew went to the Prophet and informed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim. The Prophet sent for the Muslim and asked him about it. The Muslim informed him of the event. The Prophet said, “Do not give me superiority over Moses, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will. be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah). I will not know whether (Moses) has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke.”

[Muslim, Book #030, Hadith#5854] “Abu Fluraira reported that two persons, one from amongst the Jews and the other from amongst the Muslims, fell into dispute and began to abuse one another. The Muslim said: By Him Who chose Muhammad (may peace be upon him) in the worlds. And the Jew said: By Him Who chose Moses in the worlds. Thereupon the Muslim lifted his hand and slapped at the face of the Jew. The Jew went to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and told him about his affair and the affair of the Muslim. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) laid: Don’t make me superior to Moses for mankind will swoon and I would be the ‘first to recover from it and Moses would be at that time seizing the side of the Throne and I do not know (whether) he would swoon and would recover before me or Allah would make an exception for him.”

Allah Strengthens In Guidance Those Who Seek

[Allah’s Quran – 19:76] “God strengthens in guidance those who have sought and found guidance. The righteous, good deeds of lasting merit are best in your Lord’s sight for reward, and best for returns.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said : [Anas bin Malik, Al-Hadis, 1:351] “Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as reported by Anas bin Malik, “He that follows the path of knowledge shall find Allah easing the path to Paradise for him.”

[Muslim, Book #035, Hadith #6518] “Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection, and he who finds relief for one who is hard pressed, Allah would make things easy for him in the Hereafter, and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and the Hereafter. Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother, and he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah would make that path easy, leading to paradise for him and those persons who assemble in the house among the houses of Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and they learn and teach the Qur’an (among themselves) there would descend upon them the tranquillity and mercy would cover them and the angels would surround them and Allah makes a mention of them in the presence of those near Him, and he who is slow-paced in doing good deeds, his (high) descent does not make him go ahead.”

Allah Looks To Your Heart And Deeds (Not Your Faces And Wealth)

[94. Surah Al-Sharh: Ayah 7-8] “So when you are free, nominate. And make your Lord your exclusive object.”

( Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6219) Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: “Don’t nurse a grudge and don’t bid him out for raising the price and don’t nurse aversion or enmity and don’t enter into a transaction when the others have entered into that transaction and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.

A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. The piety is here, (and while saying so) he pointed towards his chest thrice. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother Muslim.
All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith: his blood, his wealth, and his honor.”

(Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6220) This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) with some addition (and it is this): “Verily Allah does not look to your bodies nor your faces but He looks to your hearts,”
And he pointed toward the heart with his fingers.

( Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6221) Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: “Verily Allah does not look to your faces and your wealth but He looks to your heart and your deeds.” |

The Blessings Of Saying Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

There are many blessings and virtues of saying “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim”. The following provides some of them from the Quran and hadith.

Bismillah – The First Verse of the Quran (Mushaf)
“Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim” is the first verse of the first chapter (Surah Al-Fatihah) of the Quran. The fact that the word of Allah, the Quran, starts with this first verse, alone signifies the importance of this verse and further emphasizes the need to start all our tasks in the name of Allah (God).

Amongst the many benefits that Sheikh Modudi states in hisQuranic Tafseer of this verse, here are some of them:

(Saying bismillah) allows one to restrain oneself from any misdeeds, since the habit of pronouncing the name of God is bound to make one wonder when about to commit some offense and how such an act can be reconciled with the saying of God’s holy name.

When a person begins something by pronouncing Allah’s (God’s) name (with sincerity in his heart), he will enjoy Allah’s support and succor; Allah will bless his efforts and protect him from the machinations and temptation of satan. For whenever man turns to Allah (God), Allah turns to him as well.

Starting with Bismillah
(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)

When one says “Bismillaah” before starting anything, it means, “I start this action accompanied by the name of Allah or seeking help through the name of Allah, seeking blessing thereby. Allah is God, the beloved and worshipped, to Whom hearts turn in love, veneration, and obedience (worship). He is al-Rahman (the Most Gracious) Whose attribute is vast mercy; and al-Raheem (the Most Merciful)Who causes that mercy to reach His creation.” (Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)

Hence this name (al-Rahmaan) often appears after the name Allah, as in the Qur’anic verse below:

“Say (O Muhammad): Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious [al-Rahmaan] (Allah)” [Quran, Surah al-Isra’ 17:110]

Ibn Jareer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Allah, may He be exalted and His name sanctified, taught His Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.S.) proper manners by teaching him to mention His most beautiful names before all his actions. He commanded him to mention these attributes before starting to do anything and made what He taught him a way for all people to follow before starting anything, words to be written at the beginning of their letters and books. The apparent meaning of these words indicates exactly what is meant by them, and it does not need to be spelled out.”

First Revelation of the Quran (“Read in the name of your lord”)
We also observe that the first verse revealed to the prophet(S.A.W.S.) was “Iqra’ bismi Rabbika” (Read(or recite) in the name of your Lord – [Surah al-‘Alaq 96:1). The verse commands the prophet (S.A.W.S.) to read “in the name of Allah).

Bismillah in Other Chapters of the Quran
With the exception of Surah At-Tawbah (9), all Surahs (chapters)start with Bismillah. Furthermore, Surah An-Naml in the Quran has another verse(number 30) that mentions Bismillah. The Quran states:

(29) She (Sheba / Saba) said: “O chiefs! Verily! Here is delivered to me a noble letter,
(30) “Verily! It is from (Prophet) Sulaiman (Solomon), and verily! It (reads): In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the MostMerciful;

Quran, Surah An-Naml (27:29-30)

The Story of ‘Bismillah’ and the hairdresser of the pharaoh’s daughter and her children

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “On the night on which I was taken on the Night Journey(Isra’), a beautiful fragrance came to me. I said: O Jibreel, what is this beautiful fragrance? He said: This is the fragrance of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter and her children. I said: What is their story? He said: Whilst she was combing the hair of Pharaoh’s daughter one day, the iron comb fell from her hand and she said, ‘Bismillaah (in the name of Allah).’ The daughter of Pharaoh said: ‘My father?’ She said:‘No. My Lord and the Lord of your father is Allah.’She said: ‘I will tell him about that.’ She said:‘Yes.’ So she told him and he summoned her and said: ‘O So and so, do you have a Lord other than me?’ She said: ‘Yes, my Lord, and your Lord is Allah.’ He ordered that a Baqarah(lit. “cow”) made of copper be heated up, and then he ordered that she and her children be thrown into it. She said: ‘I have a request to make of you.’ He said: ‘What is your request?’ She said: ‘I would like my bones and my children’s bones to be gathered together in one cloth and buried.’ He said: ‘This will be done for you.’ He ordered that her children be thrown into it in front of her, one by one, until they came to the last one who was an infant boy who was still being breastfed. It was as if she wavered because of him, but he said: ‘O mother, go ahead, for the punishment of this world is easier to bear than the punishment of the hereafter.’ So she went ahead.” Ibn ‘Abbaas(may Allah be pleased with him) said: Four infants spoke: ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), the companion of Jurayj, the witness of Yoosuf and the son of the hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter.

Narrated by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (1/309),al-Tabaraani (12280), Ibn Hibbaan (2903), and al-Haakim (2/496).

The Guidance to say Bismillah according to Hadith
We also observe that the prophet (S.A.W.S.) taught us to say bismillah at the start of many tasks such as the following:

BISMILLAH AT THE BEGINNING OF ABLUTION (WUDU)
Bismillah is recommended at the beginning of ablution, for Imam Ahmad and the Sunan compilers recorded that Abu Hurayrah, Sa’id bin Zayd, and Abu Sa’id narrated from the Prophet (There is no valid ablution for he who did not mention Allah’s Name in it.) This Hadith is Hasan (good).

SAYING BISMILLAH BEFORE EATING AND DRINKING
Also, the Bismillah is recommended before eating, for Muslim recorded in his Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said to `Umar bin Abi Salamahwhile he was a child under his care, (Say Bismillah, eat with your right hand and eat from whatever is next to you.)

Some of the scholars stated that Bismillah before eating is obligatory.

The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said: “When one of you eats some food, let him say Bismillah, and if he forgets to do so at the beginning, let him say Bismillah fi awwalihi wa aakhirihi (In the name of Allah at the beginning and end). Narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 1781; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him).

BISMILLAH FOR BELITTLING THE SHAYTAN(SATAN)
Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad, that a person who was riding behind the Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said, “The Prophet’s animal tripped, so I said, `Cursed Shaytan.’ The Prophet said, (Do not say, ‘Cursed Shaytan,’ for if you say these words, Satan becomes arrogant and says, ‘With my strength, I made him fall.’ When you say, ‘Bismillah,’ Satan will become as small as a fly.)

HALAL MEAT
Allah says in the Quran: “Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal)” Quran (Surah Al-Anaam, 6:121)

And the Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said: “If the blood (of the slaughtered animal) flows and the name of Allah is mentioned, then eat.”

PERFORMING RUQYAH
The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said, “There is no ruqyah(treatment from evils) except in the case of the evil eye or fever.”(al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood.) Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) used to do ruqyah for the Prophet (S.A.W.S.) and say, “Bismillahi arqeeka minkulli shayin yudheeka, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin hasid Allaahuyashfeek, bismillahi arqeek (In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that is harming you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye may Allah heal you, in the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you).”

Conclusion
Let’s make it a point to bring “Bismillah” more into our lives and to start all our tasks in the name of Allah by saying “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim”

Courtesy: IqraSense

Dua’s Are Not Answerd Because Our Hearts Are Dead

Ibrahim Bin Adham [Allah be pleased with him] was asked as to why our Dua’s do not get accepted even though ALLAH (Azza wa Jal) has said: “And ask of ME I shall grant you…”

So Ibrahim Bin Adham [Allah be pleased with him] answered: Your ‘Dua’s’ do not get answered because your hearts are dead.

They said, ‘Why are our hearts dead ?’ he answered, because of eight things

  1. You know the rights of ALLAH upon you but you do not fulfill them.
  2. You read the ‘Qur’an’ but you do not act on its commandments.
  3. You claim that you love the Prophet (may peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) but you don’t follow his way.
  4. You say we fear Death, but you don’t prepare for it.
  5. ALLAH (Azza Wa Jall) says, “Indeed Shaytan is your enemy, so take him as your enemy…” but you obey him in committing sins and disobeying ALLAH!
  6. You claim that you fear the hellfire but you have thrown yourselves therein.
  7. You claim that you love Paradise but you don’t make an effort for it.
  8. When you get up from your beds in the morning, you throw your deficiencies behind your backs and involve yourselves with other people’s faults.

Thus, you have angered your Lord, so why would HE answer your prayers?

Son of Adam! You are nothing but a number of days, whenever each day passes then part of you has Gone. Al-Hasan Al-Basree (r)

Note: Ibrahim ibn Adham [Allah be pleased with him] was a third-century scholar, a teacher, and a companion of Sufyan ath-Thawri,[Allah be pleased with him].
Source: [Taken from: Ihya Ulum al-Din; Kitab Sharh `Aja’ib al-Qalb]

What Is Faith? What Is Islam? When Will The Hour Be Established?

What is Faith?
What is Islam?
When will the Hour be established?

[Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 2, Number 47] Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): One day while the Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked:
“What is faith?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, ‘Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection.”
Then he further asked, “What is Islam?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, “To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat), and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan.”
Then he further asked, “What is Ihsan (perfection)?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, “To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you.”
Then he further asked, “When will the Hour be established?” Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) replied, “The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents when a slave (lady) gives birth to her master. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. The Prophet then recited: “Verily, with Allah (Alone), is the knowledge of the Hour–.” (31. 34)
Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion.” Abu ‘Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.

Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.