Our social:

TAG: Mercy

Some Common Mistakes In Ramadhan

Taking Ramadhan as a ritual
For many of us Ramadan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual ( Stereotyped behavior) than a form of Ibadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie (living dead) just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil. We forget to make Dua, forget to beseech Allah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that’s about all ?

Too much stress on food and drink
For some people, the entire month of Ramadan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salah, Quran and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD so much so that they turn the month of ‘fasting’ into the month of ‘feasting’.

Spending all day cooking
Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Quran. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that stove and turn on your Iman!

The Rights Of Children On Parents

And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the Muttaqun (the pious).” (25:74)

Children are one of the joys of life that we ask Allah to grant us: “Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world.” (18:46)

Children are the delight of our hearts in their childhood, our companions and comfort in our old age, and the only source of du`aa’ in our graves; all in all, they are the means by which we earn the fruits of this life and the reward of the hereafter.

Muslims have responsibilities towards their children, and they stand accountable for these responsibilities so that they can truly enjoy and appreciate the blessings of having children and get rewarded by the Most Merciful Lord.

The adult of today was the child of yesterday, and the child of today is the adult of tomorrow. In order for children to fulfill their responsibilities towards their parents, they must first get their rights from them.

Muslim parents should teach their children all about Islam and show them how to worship Allah, with no compulsion or force.

They should also guide them to the stairways to Paradise, and protect them from falling into Hellfire.

It is the responsibility of parents to provide their children with the environment and tools to learn all about Islam.

Parenting: Islam’s Positive Approach

One of the greatest challenges a Muslim will ever face is being a parent. This is one challenge, however, many of us are least prepared for. Allah tells us in the Qur’an that our children are our trial and as such we should take the task of parenting seriously, and start learning from each other. In my experience in dealing with my own family and counseling other Muslim families, a model has developed based on what I call “The Positive Approach”.

Compassion (Rahmah)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “He is not of us who does not have compassion for his fellow beings.” It is interesting to note that when it comes to Hadith like this or Qur’anic quotes dealing with human behavior, we never stop to think that our children and family members are also our fellow human beings and that these golden rules must also be applied to them. Compassion is only one component of the concept of mercy (rahmah) — the others being kindness, respect, and of course love. Remember the displeasure of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when Al-Aqra Ibn Habis told him how he had never kissed any of his 10 children. Upon hearing that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told him, “You have no mercy and tenderness at all. Those who do not show mercy to others will not have God’s mercy shown to them.”

Consultation (Shoura)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) has related that Allah says: “Oh My servant. I look on high-handedness as something not permissible for Myself, and I have forbidden it for you. So do not oppress each other”. When we consult with each other in the domestic realm, both husband and wife must show respect for each other. This is one of the best ways to bond and to learn and listen to each other and to resolve conflicts. However, the consultation will only be fruitful if it is sincere and not merely a formality. Imposition of one’s ideas with scant regard to the welfare of the whole family unit defeats the purpose of the most important Qur’anic principle.

Cooperation
The concept of cooperation in Islam is most beautifully illustrated in Surah Al-Asr : “… counsel each other to the truth (haq), and counsel each other to patience and fortitude (sabr)”. When a family unit cooperates in this manner, they truly capture the spirit of Islam — the welfare of each member of the family becomes the concern of the other.

Commitment
It is extremely important that our families commit themselves as a unit to Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him ): “Obey Allah and His Prophet and those in authority over you” (Surah An-Nisa). This collective commitment gives us an identity and maps out our purpose — namely that we all belong to Allah and are accountable and responsible to Him.

Protection Of Non-Muslims: Places Of Worship

ISLAM establishes a relationship with the people of different faith on the basis of tolerance, justice, benevolence, and mercy. The basis of this relationship is Allah’s saying in the Qur’an: “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zalimun (wrongdoers – those who disobey Allah).” (Al-Mumtahanah: 8- 9)

According to the Qur’an, Muslims are required to deal with all people kindly and justly as long as they do not oppose or oppress Muslims or place obstacles in the way of spreading Islam.

Of non-Muslims, Islam gives special consideration for the People of the Book, that is, Jews and Christians, whether they reside in a Muslim society or not.

Being a divine religion revealed to guide all mankind, Islam tackles all aspects of man’s life, regardless of whether he believes in it or not. That is why we see it granting many rights and privileges to non-Muslim citizens of the Islamic state. Muslims are ordered to show full consideration to this injunction and give due respect to non-Muslims’ places of worship, which are part and parcel of their property enjoying full protection in Islam.

Prophet Muhammad : Exemplary Care For Little Children

The treatment of the Prophet (peace be upon him) of little children set an example.
He was very caring. In a society which allowed daughters to be buried alive by their parents, for fear of poverty, and which saw nothing wrong with abducting young children to sell them as slaves, the Prophet’s kind treatment of young girls and boys seemed to come from a different world altogether.

It is well documented that the Prophet carried Umamah, his granddaughter, when he was leading the congregational prayer. When he prostrated himself, putting his forehead on the floor, as we are required to do in prayer, he would put her next to him on the floor. Then when he stood up for the next rak’ah, he lifted her and carried her. His action represented a great departure from how his Arabian society used to treat young children. A visitor to Madinah saw him kissing his grandson. He was amazed at his action.

He said: “Do you kiss a child? I have 10 children, and I never kissed one of them.”

The Prophet said to him: “How can I help it if God has removed mercy from your heart?”

His answer pinpoints a very subtle aspect of human nature. It did not refer to the natural love a father feels toward his own children. It directs the man’s attention to the quality of mercy, which expresses itself first and foremost in the treatment of children.

The Prophet was the head of a small state that was besieged by enemies, some of whom were very close to Madinah. The Jewish tribes were only a few kilometers away, and they collaborated with a number of hypocrites who lived in Madinah, pretended to be Muslim but were keen to undermine Islam in every possible way.

The Quraysh, the most powerful Arabian tribe, which had forced him and his companions to emigrate from Makkah, were attempting to crush the new Muslim state in Madinah. Yet despite all the pressures this placed on him, in addition to the heavy task of delivering God’s message and molding the new Muslim community according to Islamic principles, the Prophet found time to play with his grandchildren and ensure that they were happy. He would go to Fatimah, his youngest daughter, and take one or both her sons to play with.

One day the Prophet was leading the congregational prayer in the mosque in Madinah when he prostrated himself for a very long while. His companions praying with him felt that the sujud, or prostration, was unduly long. As they could not lift their heads to find out, they worried that something wrong might have happened to the Prophet.

However, the Prophet then lifted his head and said Allah-u- Akbar, to indicate the next movement. When the prayer was over they asked him why the prostration was too long. They said that they were worried lest something might have happened to him. He said: “There was nothing wrong. It was only that my son was on my back and I did not wish to disturb him.”

Let us look carefully at this and think how the Prophet did not wish to disturb a young child who sat on his back. The child must have been no more than three or four years old and the Prophet would allow him to detain the whole congregation in a particular position until the child decided to come down. That tells us much.

Prophet Muhammad: A Mercy To The Worlds

The Prophet’s Masjid in the city of Madinah Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was unlettered but a wise and well-respected man, a member of the ruling Quraysh tribe, who was born in Makkah in the year 570 C.E. at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. He was orphaned at an early age and then raised by his uncle Abu Talib. As Muhammad (peace be upon him) grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. His reputation and personal qualities also led to his marriage at the age of 25 to Khadijah, a widow whom he had assisted in business. From then on, he became an important and trusted citizen of Makkah. Historians describe him as calm and meditative.

Muhammad (peace be upon him) never felt content to be part of his society whose values were devoid of true religious significance. He never worshiped idols and never drank alcohol, although drinking was widespread in Arabian society at that time. It became his habit to retreat from time to time to meditate in the cave of Hira’ near the summit of Jabal An-Nur, the “Mountain of Light”, near Makkah (now within Makkah city).

At the age of 40, while engaged in one such meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first revelation from Allah through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril). This revelation, which continued for 23 years, is known as the Qur’an.

His first convert was his wife Khadijah, whose support and companionship provided necessary reassurance and strength. He also won the support of some of his relatives and friends. The basic themes of the early message were the majesty of the One, Unique God; the futility of idol worship; the threat of judgment in the new life after being raised for grave; and the necessity of faith, compassion and morality in human affairs.

All these themes represented an attack on the crass materialism and idolatry prevalent in Makkah at the time. So when he began to proclaim the message to others, the Makkans rejected him. He and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution. Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers drew comfort from the knowledge revealed to him about other Prophets, such as Abraham, Joseph, and Moses (peace be upon them all), each of whom had also been persecuted and tested.

Paradise (Jaanah) According to Quran and Ahadith

Hadith – Sahih Bukhari 4:51, Narrated Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “A place in Paradise as small as the bow or lash of one of you is better than all the world and whatever is in it”

The Noble Qur’an – Al-Mu’minun 23:8-11
Those who are faithfully true to their trusts and to their covenants; And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) prayers (at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.

Hadith – Sahih Bukhari 4:569, Narrated Abu Huraira
Then Allah [swt] will say (to him): ‘I have forbidden Paradise for the disbelievers.’

Hadith – Sahih Bukhari 6:373, Narrated Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “Paradise and the Fire (Hell) argued, and the Fire (Hell) said, ‘I have been given the privilege of receiving the arrogant and the tyrants.’ Paradise said, ‘What is the matter with me? Why do only the weak and the humble among the people enter me?’ On that, Allah said to Paradise, ‘You are My Mercy which I bestow on whoever I wish of my servants.’ Then Allah said to the (Hell) Fire, ‘You are my (means of) punishment by which I punish whoever I wish of my slaves. And each of you will have its fill.’ As for the Fire (Hell), it will not be filled till Allah puts His Foot over it whereupon it will say, ‘Qati! Qati!’ At that time it will be filled, and its different parts will come closer to each other; and Allah will not wrong any of His created beings. As regards Paradise, Allah will create a new creation to fill it with.”

Descriptions of Paradise
Hadith – Sahih Bukhari 4:474, Narrated Anas bin Malik , see also Bukhari 6:403, Quran 56:30

The Prophet said, “There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) if a rider travels in its shade for one hundred years, he would not be able to cross it.”

Hadith – Mishkat, Narrator AbuHurayrah , transmitted by Tirmidhi and Darimi
Allah’s Messenger said, “The inhabitants of Paradise are hairless, beardless and have black eyes, their youth does not pass away and their garments do not wear out.”

Hadith – Sahih Bukhari 4:479, Narrated Sahl bin Sad
The Prophet said, “Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called Ar-Raiyan through which none will enter but those who observe fasting.” The Prophet also said, “If a person spends two different kinds of something (for Allah’s cause), he will be called from the gates of Paradise.”

Paradise Is Not The Equivalent Of Deeds

Paradise is something of immense value; a person cannot earn it by virtue of his deeds alone – Muslim reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said,

“No one of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone.” They asked, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Not even me, unless Allah covers me with His Grace and Mercy” [Saheeh Muslim, 4/2170, no. 2816]

The fact that some texts indicate that Paradise is the equivalent reward for deeds could be problematic, for example:

“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as reward for they used to do.” [32:17].

However, there is no conflict between these aayaat and the meaning of the hadith. The aayaat indicates that good deeds will be a reason, not the price, for admission to Paradise. The hadith says that good deeds are not the price.

Two groups were misled in this matter: The Jabaariyyah, who took the hadith to mean that the reward is not connected to deeds, because man has nothing to do with deeds [i.e. everything is foreordained]; and the Qaadariyyah who took the hadith to mean that Paradise was the equivalent of good deeds, and man has the right to enter by virtue of his good deeds.

The commentator on at-Tahhaawiyyah said, “As for the idea that recompense results directly from one’s deeds, the Jabaariyyah and the Qaadariyyah are misled, and Allah has guided Ahl as-Sunnah. The ba’ of negation [nafyi] is not like the ba’ used for affirmation. The negation in the hadith “No one will enter Paradise by virtue of his deeds” [bi’ amaalihi] is the ba’ of substitution or exchange, as if good deeds were not the price of a man’s admission to Paradise. This is like the [false] Mu’tazili claim that good deeds will give a person the right to enter Paradise, whereas the truth is that admission to Paradise is by the Grace and Mercy of Allah. The bi’ in the ayah “a reward for what they used to do [jazaa’an bi maa kanoo ya’maloon]” [32:17] is known in Arabic grammar as the bi’ of causation, i.e. because of their deeds. But Allah is the Creator of Cause and Effect, so everything is referred back to His Grace and Mercy” [Sharh at-Tahhaawiyyah, 495]

Benefits Of Duaa

Numan bin Basheer narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Duaa is ibadat.” Then He read this ayat. (Tirmizi, Abu Dawod, and Ibn-e-Majah)

Abu Hurairah narrates from Rasool-Allah, “In the court of Allah, there is no greater thing than duaa” (Ibn-e-Majah)

Abdullah bin Umar narrates from Rasool-Allah,” Among whatever has been descended and whatever has not been descended Duaa is beneficial of all. Oh people of Allah! Assume Duaa a must for yourselves. (Tirmizi)
Abdullah bin Umar from Rasool-Allah, “For whoever the door of dua opened, for him the doors of mercy are opened. Whatever dua is asked from Allah the best dua is for well-being and safety among them.” (Tirmizi)
Abu Hurairah narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Allah is extremely displeased with the person who doesn’t do daa to Allah“. (Tirmizi)

Salman narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Your Rab is modest and kind. A person raise his hands in HIS court and HE leaves them empty, Allah shies from it.” (Tirmizi and Abu Dawood)

Jabir narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Whoever does dua to Allah, Allah fulfills his seeking or in exchange averts misfortune until the dua is not related to sin or breaking some relation.” (Tirmizi)

Abu Hurairah narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Do dua to Allah with this confidence that HE will accept it and know this well that Allah doesn’t accept the dua done with a negligent and careless heart. (Tirmizi)

Salman Farsi narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Duaa turns away destiny and good deeds lengthen age. (Tirmizi)
Umar narrates that, “Whenever Rasool-Allah raised his hands for dua He did not put down them down until HE took both hands over his face.” (Tirmizi)

Aisha (Radi Allahu Anha) narrates that, “Rasool-Allah liked duas that were inclusive and he left the rest.” (Abu Dawood)

Abdullah bin Umar narrates from Rasool-Allah, “Duaa for a person not present is accepted quickly by Allah.” (Tirmizi and Abu Dawood)

Islam: Universal Call For Mercy Towards All Human Beings

Islam is a universal call for mercy toward all human beings. It urges Muslims to rush to the help of their fellow afflicted humans, especially in times of distress.

It goes without saying that helping Muslims who are in need of our help is one of the most virtuous deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever meets the need of his brother, Allah will meet his need.” And he (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever relieves a believer of some of the distress of this world, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever eases an insolvent’s loan, Allah will make things easier for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim’s faults, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help a person so long as he helps his brother.”

Here, we’d like to start with the words of the prominent Muslim scholar, the late Saudi scholar in which he states the following:

When there is an earthquake or some other sign such as an eclipse, strong winds, or floods, we should hasten to repent to Allah and pray to Him for safety, and to remember Him much, and seek His forgiveness, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reported to have said when there was an eclipse: “If you see anything like that, hasten to remember Him, call on Him, and seek His forgiveness.”

It is also mustahab (recommended) to show compassion to the poor and needy, and to give charity to them because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Show mercy so that you will be shown mercy.” The Prophet also said: “Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Have mercy on those who are on earth, and the One Who is in Heaven will show mercy to you.”

Almighty Allah also says:  “. . . Verily Allah will help those who help His (cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Almighty. Those (Muslim rulers)who, if We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin Iqamat-as-Salat [i.e. to perform five compulsory congregational Salat (prayers), to pay Zakat and they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf and forbid Al-Munkar. And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).” (15: 40-41)

Allah is the One Whom we ask to remedy the affairs of all Muslims to bless them with a proper understanding of Islam and help them to adhere steadfastly to it and repent to Allah of all their sins.

Moreover, Sheikh Abdul-Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef, a prominent Muslim scholar and da’i sheds light on this issue and states:

Such earthquakes are surely among the natural disasters that affect large numbers of people. It is surely permissible for rich Muslims to pay a part of their zakah to help alleviate the pains and sufferings of those afflicted by earthquakes. If the relevant governments in the quake-stricken areas open an account to receive donations for helping the victims and their families, then it is permissible for Muslims to pay a sum of their zakah to such accounts. Likewise, if there is any other trustworthy Islamic charitable organization that takes the responsibility of delivering such funds to the victims and their families, then there is nothing wrong in paying part of the zakah to them for this purpose.

It is noteworthy that Muslims in such afflicted areas are permitted to receive assistance and financial aid through organizations that help distribute aid to the victims while abiding by the humanitarian relief accords and agreements governing such issues. If any place in the world is afflicted by natural disasters like earthquakes or floods, all countries should rush to help their people according to international agreements.