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Deeds Which Will Benefit The Deceased After His Death

1. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “If a company of Muslims numbering one hundred pray over a dead person, all of them interceding for him, their intercession [i.e. prayers for forgiveness and mercy] for him will be accepted!”[1]
“If a company of the people prays over a dead person, they will intercede for him”[2]

2. The deceased feels the comforting presence of his brothers in Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) after the burial, for a period of time equal to the time taken to sacrifice a camel and distribute its meat. ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When you bury me, stay around my grave for the time it would take to sacrifice a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may be comforted by your presence until I see how I will answer the messengers of my Lord.” [Reported by Muslim]

3. Praying for strength and forgiveness for him immediately after his burial. From Uthman Ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “Whenever the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had finished burying anyone, he would stand by the grave and say: ‘Ask for forgiveness and strength for your brother, for even now he is being questioned.’”[3]

4. Continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), which he set up in his lifetime; beneficial knowledge; and a pious son who will pray for him. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies, his deeds stop, except for three: continuous charity, knowledge which benefits others, or a pious son who will pray for him” [Reported by Muslim]

5. Charity given by the son of the deceased on his/her behalf. From A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): a man said to the Prophet (Peace be upon him): “My mother died suddenly without making any will. I think she would
have given charity (Sadaqah) if she had been able to speak. Would she have a reward if I gave charity on her behalf?” He said: “Yes”. [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim]

6. All believers and Muslims should pray for him and ask forgiveness for him. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: “And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who came before us into the Faith …” [Surah al-Hashr, 59:10]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays for forgiveness for the believing men and believing women,
Allah will give him one reward for each believing man and believing women (he prayed for).”[4].

7. Defending the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in this world. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies his good deeds come to an end, except for his
defending the borders of Islam for the sake of Allah (fi sabilil-lah). This deed will grow (i.e. in reward) until the Day of Judgment, and he will be protected from the Fitnah of the graves”.[5]

[1] Muslim.
[2] AI-Nisa’i: classed as Hasan by al-Albani, Sahih al­ Jami’, No. 5663.
[3] Abu Da’ud; classed as Sahih by al-Albani, op. cit, No. 956.
[4] AI- Tabarani, al kabir, classed as Hasan by al- AIbani, op. cit., No. 5902.
[5] Abu Da’ud, al-Tirmidhi. Described by the latter as a Sahih Hasan Hadjth.

How To Remove Sins

Overview:
An admonishment that every son of Aadam should heed. How many of us are overcome by our smaller sins that we do not give importance to? Indeed, there is a way to rectify the problem, listen to the lecture and benefit yourself O sinful son or daughter of Aadam!

TRANSCRIPTION:
Khutbatul Haajah ….
“Say, O My Servant, those who have been excessive, those who have been extreme o­n their own soul, do not despair of the mercy of Allah subhana wa ta’ala for surely Allah forgives all sins. And surely Allah, He is Al-Ghaffoor and Ar-Raheem. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Merciful. He is extremely forgiving and extremely merciful.”

In this above Ayah, respected brothers and sisters in Islam, Allah among other things explains to us that He forgives our sins. He forgives all sins, whether they are Major or Minor. No matter what color the sin may be, no matter what size the sin may be, how old or new it is, Allah subhana is Al-Ghaffoor Ar-Raheem. And if the Muslim, the Abd (the Slave of Allah subhana wa ta’ala) fulfills the conditions, Allah will forgive. This type of forgiveness is a unique forgiveness. Allah subhana wa ta’ala is unique as He says: “Qul Huw-Allaahu Ahad” – Say, He Alaah is unique.

For His forgiveness is not like any type of forgiveness and His Mercy is not like any type of Mercy.

“Wa laisa kamislihi shaiun wa huwas Sameeul Baseer” – There is nothing like Him and He is As-Sameeh and Al-Baseer – He is the Hearer and He is the Seer.

We would like to talk about the methodology or the road that we can use the way and the method that we can utilize in gaining the atonement and forgiveness of our sins. How we can gain the atonement, the expiation, the effacing, the erasing of our sins. What is the methodology of erasing these sins? What can we do to remove these sins? Because all of us are sinners as Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said in an authentic Hadith: “All of the children of Aadam are sinners and the best of sinners are those who repent.”

So we need to learn brothers and sisters in Islam how we can efface, how we can remove, how we can make atonement for az-zunoob; How we can get rid of these sins. When we talk about the erasing and the atonement of sins according to the ahlul Ilm, according to the people of knowledge, there are two types (two ways to remove the sins):

One as Allah subhana wa ta’ala mentions: “Follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out. It will erase it. This is the first type of removing (the erasing) of sins.”

The second is the exchange of o­ne thing for another. As Allah subhana wa ta’ala says: “For them, those individuals who do these sins, Allah will exchange for their bad deeds, good deeds. He will replace their bad deeds with good deeds and Allah subhana wa ta’ala is Ghaffoorur Raheema. He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

There are many ways brothers and sisters and we can have many Khutba’as o­n this subject. But we would just like to cite just a few of these ways that we can atone for and erase our sins. The first and foremost and Allah subhana ‘alam, Allah the Majestic, the Most High above all creation knows best to accept Islam. Alhamdulillah, which we have all done. If a Kaafir from among the Kuffaar (no matter how good they may seem or how righteous they may seem in the eyes of the people), if they want to have their sins erased, (their tawbah is different from our tawbah) their tawbah is to accept Islam. And there is no tawbah for them except this.

Allah subhana wa ta’ala says: “Surely the Deen with Allah is not Christianity, it is not Judaism, it is not Hinduism, it is Islam.”

And again Allah subhana wa ta’ala says: “Whoever seeks a Deen other than Islam, it will never ever be accepted from him. And in the Last Day, they will be the losers.”

So those individuals who are among the Kuffar of this life, for their actions to be accepted and for them to be forgiven, they have to accept Islam. And Allah subhana wa ta’ala says: “Say to the Kuffar if they seize (stop) what they did in the past, they will be forgiven.”

What does that mean? It means that if they leave off their kufr, if they stop disbelieving, then Allah will forgive them.

So, the person who wants to have the forgiveness of Allah, who is still among the groups of the Ahlul Kitaab and the Mushrikoon, has to accept Islam. And Allah subhana wa ta’ala will remove their sins and He will forgive them.

Those individuals whom Allah subhana wa ta’ala had raised among the Sahaba to accept Islam when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was alive, there is a clear, clear record of this.

O Womenfolk! Give Charity And Ask Much Forgiveness

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 142]

It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah Bin. Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness, for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady amongst them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam), that our folk are in bulk in Hell? Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this, the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and religion? He (the Holy Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer prayer and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion.

Wise Quotes: Guidance from Quran

1) And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative [Al-An’aam 6:152]

2) “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Tawbah 9:119)

3) “And eat up not one another’s property unjustly.” (Al-Baqarah 2:188)

4) O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. [Qur’an Surah An-Nisaa 4/29]

5) Come not near the wealth of the orphan except with that which is, better (to improve it). [Surah Al-Israa 17/34]

6) And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]. [Al-Baqarah 2:45]

7) And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakat. [Al-Baqarah 2:83]

8) And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken it [Al-Nahl 16:91]

9) Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people to
judge with justice. [Al-Nisa’ 4:58]

10) And whoever fears Allah – He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty) [Al-Talaaq 65:2]

11) And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. [Al-Talaaq 65:3]

12) He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah. [Al-Nisa’ 4:80]

13) Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. [Aal ‘Imraan 3:92]

14) Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost. [Aal ‘Imraan 3:171]

15) Indeed, Allah does not like every self-deluded and boastful (person). [Luqmaan 31:18]

16) And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice. [Luqmaan 31:19]

17) And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.[Al-Baqara 2:186]

18) Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share [i.e.reward] therefrom; and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a portion [i.e., burden] there from. And ever is Allah, over all things, a Keeper. [An-Nisa 4:85]

19) And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e.Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good; [Aal-Imran 3:133-134]

20) Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life. [An-Nahl 16:97]

21) (And then you slay not your) children because of poverty. We provide for you and for them. [Al-An’aam 6:151]

22) And repulse not those who )ask. [Ad-Dhuha 93:10]

23) And do good. Truly, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Al-Baqarah 2:195)

24)“Indeed, Allah orders and good conduct.” (An-Nahl 16:90)

25)“O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations.”(Al-Maaidah 5:1)

26) “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.” (Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

Most Surely Man Is Despairing, Ungrateful And Exulting, Boasting

[11. Surah Hud: Ayah 9] And if We make man taste mercy from Us, then take it off from him, most surely he is despairing, ungrateful.

[11. Surah Hud: Ayah 10] And if We make him taste a favor after distress has afflicted him, he will certainly say: The evils are gone away from me. Most surely he is exulting, boasting.

[11. Surah Hud: Ayah 11] Except those who are patient and do good, they shall have forgiveness and a great reward.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 19] Surely man is created of a hasty temperament.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 20] Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 21] And niggardly when good befalls him.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 22] Except those who pray.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 23] Those who are constant at their prayer.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 24] And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 25] For him who begs and for him who is denied (good).

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

Extract The Honey, But Do Not Break The Hive

Everything that has gentleness within it is beautified, and whatever lacks it is spoiled. When you meet someone, giving them a bright smile and a kind word, you are displaying the characteristic of a truly successful person, a characteristic that even a bee exhibits. When a bee lands on a flower (doing so for a practical purpose) it does not destroy it, because Allah rewards gentleness with that which He does give for harshness. There are certain people whose personalities are like magnets, attracting everyone who is nearby, simply because they are loved for their gentle talk, their good manners, and their noble deeds.

Winning the friendship of others is an art mastered by those who are noble and pious; a circle of people constantly surrounds them. Their mere presence in a gathering is a blessing, and when they are absent they are missed and asked about.

These blessed people have a code of conduct entitled: “Repel (the evil) with one which is better( ie. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity(will become) as though he was a close friend.” [Qur’an 41:34]

They suck out malice from others with sincerity, forgiveness, and gentleness. They forget the evil that was enacted upon them and preserve the memory of kindness received. Biting, harsh words may be aimed at them, but such words pass by their ears without entering and continue on their path without ever returning. They are in a state of calmness. People in general, and Muslims in particular, are safe from suffering any harm at their hands.

The Prophet Muhammad(blessings and peace be upon him) said: ” The Muslim is the person whose tongue and hand do not harm others. And the Believer is he, whom others trust, about their blood and wealth.”

He further said: “Verily Allah ordered me to keep relations with those that cut me off, to forgive the one who does injustice with me, and to give to those who withhold from me. ”

The noble Qur’an put it: ” Those who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers.” [Qur’an 3:134]

Give to such people glad tidings of a reward close at hand in terms of peace and tranquility. Also, give glad tidings to them a reward in the Hereafter, of gardens and rivers, wherein they will be in close proximity to their forgiving Creator.”

Hadiths On Remembrance Of Allah

Which status would be higher than having your humble person appreciated and mentioned by Allah Almighty to a gathering of high-esteemed Angels?

That is only one of the many valuable advantages you gain through frequent remembrance of Allah ( dhikr Allah ). The special position of this easy act of worship is frequently emphasized by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who “used to remember Allah all the time” (Abu Dawud)

Reviewing rewards promised for those who remember Allah should fill us with pity for all the hours we waste without seizing these amazingly easy opportunities. The following collection reveals the significance of this beautiful type of worship and the great reward you can reap through it.

Best Deed
1. Abu Ad-Darda’ (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: “Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions, the purest in the sight of your Lord, which raises your rank to the highest, which is better for you than spending gold and silver, better than meeting your enemy so that you strike at their necks and they strike at yours?’ They replied: ‘Yes, indeed,’ and he said: ‘It is the remembrance of Allah.” (At-Tirmidhi)

A Special Status
2. Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: “Allah says, “I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me:
if he thinks of Me, I think of him;
if he mentions Me in the company, I mention him in an even better company.
if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length;
if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw closer by a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Follow the Shari’ah Zone
3. Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: “The similitude of someone who remembers his Lord and someone who does not is like that of the living and the dead. ” (Al-Bukhari)

4. Abdullah ibn Busr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that One of the Prophet’s Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah. I am overwhelmed by the so many injunctions of Islam. So tell me something to which I may hold fast.” The Prophet replied, ” Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah. ” (At Tirmidhi)

Abundant Forgiveness
5. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He who says, ‘ Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdih ‘ (Glory and praise be to Allah) one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the sea. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

6. Zaid ibn Harithah narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whosoever says: ‘ Astaghfirullaha al-`Azeem al-ladhi la ilaha illa howa Al-Hayy al-Qayyum wa atubu illayh (I ask forgiveness of Allah, the Magnificent, than Whom there is no deity, the Living, the Sustainer of existence, and I turn to Him in repentance,)
his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allah, which is a grave sin in Islam). (Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani)

Huge Reward
7. Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet said: ” Whoever prays Fajr Prayer in the congregation, and then sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then (after a while) prays two rak’has , he will gain a reward equal to that of making perfect Hajj and `Umrah. [The Prophet repeated the word “perfect” thrice.] (At-Tirmidhi)

8. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: He who repeats after every prayer:
Subhan Allah ( Glory be to Allah ) thirty-three times,
Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times,
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times;
and completes the hundred with:
La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai’in qadir
(There is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent) will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea. (Muslim)

9. Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He who utters ten times: La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, wa Huwa ala kulli sha’in qadir
(There is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), he will have a reward equal to that for freeing four slaves from the progeny of Prophet Isma`il. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

10. Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: ” There are two statements that are light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subahana Allahi wa bihamdih
Subhana Allahi Al-`Azeem (Glory and praise be to Allah, Glorified is Allah, the Most Great.) ” (Al-Bukhari)

By Muhammad Fathi

The Last Prophet (PBUH)

You have already heard about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Adam (Alaih Assalaam) was the first prophet and Muhammad (PBUH) was the last prophet. Allah had given Muhammad (PBUH) a book, which is called the Quran. All the stories about the prophets which you have now read can be found in the Quran. In the Quran is also written what you should do and what you are not allowed to do.

Muhammad (PBUH) was the last prophet because Allah gave him the Quran and all that we must know about Allah can be found in the Quran. Everybody can look in the Quran to discover what he should do. Therefore, there is no need for another prophet after Muhammad (PBUH).

Muhammad (PBUH), like the other prophets, told the people: You should worship only Allah. Allah has created you, He has made plants and animals so that you can eat them. He made the earth, sky, water, air, and the day and the night for you. So be grateful to Him and do good.

Now you know the stories of many prophets. But remember that there are more prophets in addition to these, for Allah has sent His prophets to all peoples. You must also have noticed that all the prophets had been saying the same thing: Mankind should worship only Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)has taught us how we should worship Allah. You can also learn it: it is not difficult.

There are, however, other things that we should do. We must believe in Allah, we must pray, fast, share our money with the poor and needy, and go on a pilgrimage to Makkah once in our lifetime, if we can afford it.

Resurrection and the Day of Judgment
As you know, Allah always sent prophets to mankind. These prophets told man what is good and what is bad. The prophets have also told many other things. They said: When we die, we will be buried, but Allah is Almighty. He will wake us all from death. This will happen on the Day of Resurrection. On this day, all of us will be gathered to Allah. Those of us who have done good will remain with Allah forever. But those who have done evil, and have not repented, or asked Allah’s forgiveness, will not be allowed to remain with Allah. Such is the Day of Judgment. To strive to do good means to listen to the words of the prophets and thus obey Allah. In this way, one can always remain with Allah after death. But to turn to evil means not to listen to the word of the prophets and to disobey Allah. Therefore those who do evil may not remain with Allah after they are dead.

So you may ask, why doesn’t everybody want to do good? The reason is that some people think they don’t have to listen to the prophets. But they are wrong to think: The prophets have told people what they should do. We should do good as long as we live. Doing good brings more happiness in life than anything else. We shall have friends for as long as we live, and after we die.

However, the people who do evil will have evil people with them. They will have many enemies. They will have enemies all their life and when they die, too.

The prophets and the people who worship Allah are our friends. The people who do evil and who turn away from Allah are not our friends.

Our Beliefs
We believe in Allah, the one and only almighty God, Lord and Creator. Him we trust and Him alone we fear.
We believe in the angels created by Allah. We know them even though they are not visible to us. They are the obedient servants of Allah and they carry out all His orders.

We believe that the words that Allah revealed to the prophets were written down in books. The last book, which was given to Muhammad (PBUH) is the Qur’an. The Quran is the only book from Allah that is complete and preserved in its original form.

We believe that Allah has sent His prophets to all mankind with the message to worship only Allah and to do good.
We believe in the Day of Resurrection when Allah will wake us from our deaths. We will be rewarded for the good that we have done and those of us who did not believe in Allah and did evil will be punished.

We believe that Allah has taught us to understand what good and evil are so that we can decide for the good and against the evil.

The Prophet’s Inexhaustible Patience

The source of the Prophet’s courageous determination in the face of all the traumatic experiences he suffered was his strong faith in God. One of the marvelous qualities of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was his infinite patience.

God was with Muhammad, as He is always with those who patiently persevere: {God is indeed with those who patiently persevere.} (2:153)

The Quranic word used for patience is sabr, and there is no English equivalent for it.

We can convey the idea of sabr only by phrases such as endurance against afflictions, patience with delay, perseverance against hardships, steadfastness in the face of setbacks, courage against hostilities, self-restraint against provocations, will power against temptations, and equanimity or calmness of mind as regards fortunes and misfortunes.

Persecution against the Prophet
In all the meanings indicated by the above expressions, the Prophet was a perfect model to his followers.

Indeed his life presents the shining example of a man of extraordinary endurance: His father died before his birth; his mother died when he was only six years old, and his grandfather who took up his guardianship also died soon. Then it was his uncle Abu Talib who protected him.

And when God appointed him His last Prophet, he faced the most brutal persecution and hostility from his own people. But these harsh experiences of life did not make him a cynic; on the contrary, they perfected his faith in God, making him all the more strongly committed to his God-given mission.

The records of the Prophet’s life by his contemporaries bear testimony that during the 13 years of his life in Makkah as the messenger of God, he faced all forms of abuse, boycott, expulsion, and threats of physical violence. And yet the Prophet did not budge an inch away from his mission. And all the while, he was gentle, considerate, and sympathetic even to his enemies.

During the early days of his preaching, the people of Makkah had approached him through his uncle Abu Talib and made very tempting offers to him, such as the leadership of the City of Makkah, the most beautiful girl in marriage, and wealth of immense proportions.

The Prophet spurned all these offers and said: “I swear by the name of God, O Uncle, that if they place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand in return for giving up this matter (calling people to Islam), I will never desist until either God makes it triumph or I perish defending it.”

This steadfastness and constancy against temptations were unusual in an Arab of those days.

Grieve Not, God is with Us
And imagine the day when the Prophet had to leave his home, his city, and his people and emigrate to another place! The Hijrah, as the emigration of the Prophet from Makkah to Madinah, is known, was a great sacrifice and a painful decision for the Prophet at the time when he undertook it. But his personal comforts, likes, and dislikes had no value in the face of the immense task before him.

One remembers the time when he and his Companion Abu Bakr were almost overcome by their pursuers in the Cave of Thawr. When Abu Bakr in dismay told the Prophet that they were only two persons against the enemy, he told him with unflinching faith in the Almighty not to grieve, as God was with them. God in the Quran admonishes the Muslims:

{If you will not aid him [Prophet Muhammad], God certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely God is with us. So God sent down His tranquility upon him, strengthened him with hosts that you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of God, that is the highest; and God is Mighty, Wise..} (9:40)

In the matter of complete reliance on God and faithful submission to Him, the Prophet was an unparalleled model to all Muslims. For he taught his followers:

“When you ask for anything, ask it from God, and if you seek help, seek the help of God. Know that if the people were to unite to do you some benefit, they could benefit you only with what God had recorded for you and that if they were to unite to do you some injury, they could injure you only with what God had recorded for you. The pens are withdrawn and the pages are dry.” (At-Tirmidhi, 1515)

The source of the Prophet’s courageous determination in the face of all the traumatic experiences he suffered was his strong faith in God and his dependence on Him. The Prophet’s conviction that God was with him when he was struggling with adverse circumstances, is evident from this teaching:

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his, and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer; for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God); thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.” (Muslim, 2999)

Do Patience and Gentleness Go Hand in Hand?
The Prophet was always considerate and understanding, even towards those who were ignorant and arrogant towards him. Indeed his gentleness and patience with them earned their love and respect, as God says in the Quran:

{Thus it is due to mercy from God that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough and hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.} (3:159)

An incident at the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah demonstrates how lenient and kind the Prophet was to ignorant people. Abu Hurairah reports: “A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him. The Prophet said, ‘Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult’ (Al-Bukhari,6025)

Once a man approached the Prophet seeking advice, and the Prophet said: “Do not get angry.” The man asked for advice several times and the Prophet replied every time, “Do not get angry” (Al-Bukhari, 48)

The questioner was probably one disposed to a quick temper, and so the Prophet was stressing the need to control his anger. The Prophet also said: “He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good” (Muslim, 638)

The Prophet of Islam announced forgiveness and amnesty to all his former enemies
We may remember the day of Makkah Victory: The Prophet reentered the city after 10 long years of living in Madinah, and practically there was no opposition as he was accompanied by an overwhelming number of Muslims. The whole of Makkah lay at his feet as he marched in. His enemies stood in surrender awaiting his verdict, and he could very well have cried “havoc” or “let slip the dogs of war” as the triumphant commanders of those days used to do.

Instead, in a historic break from the old tradition, the Prophet of Islam announced forgiveness and amnesty to all his former enemies. He told them simply: “You may go. You are a free people.” (Authenticated by al-Albani)

Such kindness and generosity could not have been in vain, as the whole of the community of Makkah thereafter embraced Islam, a feat that could never have been achieved by the use of force. And certainly, this superb act of forgiveness was in keeping with the Quranic injunction: {Let there be no compulsion in religion.} (2:256)

Unfaltering loyalty to the cause of God is the virtue of prophets. Prophet Muhammad was a brilliant example of a man committed to his divinely appointed mission. So it is no wonder that he stood firm against all opposition and finally succeeded in winning over the hearts and minds of millions.

Living in a fast-moving, high-tech environment of “instant nirvana” and “preemptive redemption,” most people of this postmodern world are programmed to brush aside a religion that insists on a slow-paced, meditative, prayerful form of worship five times a day (salah), as well as on a rigorous form of fasting during the daytime for a whole month (sawm).

Also, zakah and Hajj are indicative of the importance of practicing sabr in our daily life. And it is no exaggeration to say that our beloved Prophet has amply demonstrated through his own life that Islam (submission) is sabr itself; sabr with the fortunes and misfortunes our Creator has apportioned to us in this world.

For those who practice sabr in Islam, there is always the unfailing promise and prospect of a never-ending world of felicity.
By Shahul Hameed

Losing Hope In Finding A Spouse

We learn from the guidance of the Beloved of Allah to seek the strongest and most effective means available while placing one’s trust in Allah.

Sayyiduna Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) say, “If you relied on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for birds. They go out hungry in the early morning, and return full in the evening.” [Tirmidhi] . The scholars note that birds do not merely place their trust in Allah: they go out early and take all means to fulfill their goals.

In every community, there are people who set up marriages, who know suitable would-be spouses, and who should be sought out if one wants to marry. If it does not work through one’s family, try going through other elders in the community (such as one’s friends’ parents, community leaders, imams of mosques, marriage services, etc.)

Perform the Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja): make wudu and perform 2 rakats after which you make heartfelt supplication, asking for a suitable spouse.

Be certain that Allah will answer your duas, in the best of ways:
“Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Who provides for you from the sky and the earth, or Who owns hearing and sight; and Who brings forth the living from the dead and bringeth forth the dead from the living; and Who directs the course? They will say, Allah. Then say: Will you not then keep your duty (unto Him) ?” [Qur’an, 10.31]

Allah reminds us:
“And in the heaven is your providence and that which you are promised;

And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, it is the truth, even as (it is true) that you speak.” [51.22-23]

So keep taking the best of means, with complete trust in Allah and certainty that if you do that which He has asked of you, He will most certainly give you all that is best for you, in this life and the next.

Allah tells us:
“The devil promises you destitution and enjoins on you lewdness. But Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself with bounty. Allah is All-Embracing, All-knowing.” [Qur’an, 2.268]

And:
“And the believers, men, and women are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Allah promises to the believers, men and women, Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide – blessed dwellings in Gardens of Eden. And – greater (far)! – acceptance from Allah. That is the supreme triumph.” [Qur’an, 9.71]

And be patient. The Beloved of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) reminded us that:
“No tiredness, illness, difficulty, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts a Muslim, even to a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping away his errors through it.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with them)]

And Allah alone gives success.