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When Death Came Knocking

It was early in the morning at four,
When death knocked upon a bedroom door.

Who is there? The sleeping one cried.
I am Malkul Maut (Angel Of Death), let me inside.

At once, the man began to shiver,
As one sweating in deadly fever,

He shouted to his sleeping wife,
Do not let him take away my life.

Please go away, O Angel of Death!
Leave me alone, I am not ready yet.

My parents and family on me depends,
Give me a chance, O please prepense!

The angel knocked again and again,
Friend! I will take your life without pain,

This your soul Allah requires,
I come not with my own desires.

Bewildered, the man began to cry,
O Angel I am so afraid to die,

I will give you gold and be your slave,
Do not send me to the unlit grave.

Let me in, O Friend! The Angel said,
Open the door; get up from your bed,

If you do not allow me in,
I will walk through it, like a Jinn.

The man held a gun in his hand,
Ready to defy the Angels’ stand.

Firm Faith In Allah

Jabir Bin Abdullah relates: We went along with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) on an expedition towards Najd and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) found us in a valley abounding in thorny trees. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) stayed for rest under a tree and he suspended his sword by one of its branches under which he was taking rest.

The persons scattered in the valley and they also began to take a (rest under the trees, and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “A person came to me while I was asleep and took hold of the sword. I woke up and found him standing upon my head and I had hardly become alert that the sword was in his hand. And he said: “Who can protect you from me?” I said: “Allah.” He again said: “who can protect you from me?” I said: “Allah” He put his sword in the sheath (and you can see) this man is sitting here.” Allah’s Messenger did not in any way touch him. (Sahih Muslim)

This hadith brings into light the staunch faith the Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) had in Allah. The Holy Messenger’s relation with his Creator was so deep and close that no one can read an account of his sacred life without realizing a sense of the Majesty of Allah and of His Infinite Might and Power.

How much trust be reposed in the help and protection of Allah can be seen in the fact that although all the Companions used to keep a close watch no harm might come to the Messenger’s life and a few among them constantly remained with him as sentinels.

Among these are Sa’ad Bin Muadh, Muhammad bin Musalama, Zubair Bin Awwam, and Abbad Bin Bishr. But when the verse of Surah Al-Maidah: ‘And Allah will protect you from all people’ was revealed to the Holy Messenger (peace be upon him), he asked all his sentinels to leave him to the protection of Allah, as He has promised to him, and there is no protecting hand more powerful and mighty than the Hand of Allah. This shows the Holy Messenger’s firm faith in Allah.

From Governor To A Carpenter

ALI Bin Al-Maymoon Al-Abbasi was a governor and son of the Caliph. He lived a life of opulence in a large castle. Anything he wanted in this world was easy for him.

One day, looking down from a balcony in the castle, he saw a man toiling in the fields. On succeeding days, Ali paid more and more attention to the man and witnessed that he always worked straight through the morning, after which, he would take a break, make ablution from a stream, and pray two units of prayer. Only when the evening came would he quit his work and go home to his family. To learn more about him, Ali invited him one day and asked him many questions. He soon learned that the worker had a wife, two sisters, and a mother that were all under his care, and it was for their sake that he toiled so assiduously.

Ali asked, “And do you have any cause to complain?” He answered, “No, All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all that exists.”

So impressed was he by the simple laborer, that Ali quit the castle, resigned from his position, and traveled abroad. He was found dead years later in the vicinity of Kharasan. After leaving the castle, he worked as a carpenter, and he found happiness in his new life, happiness that was foreign to him in his former one.

“While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety” (Qur’an 47:17)

– excerpt from Aaidh Bin Abdullah Al-Qarni’s book “Don’t be sad”

Do You Really Want Paradise?

‘I want to go to Jannah (Paradise)’ should be our goal in life. It should be written in bold letters on our foreheads so that it serves a constant reminder for us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has left with us a very small key to Jannah, which we Muslims today have become oblivious of. Just like you need a key to open your car’s door, or house door, or office door; similarly you need a key to open Jannah to you. What is this key?

The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever goes down a path/road searching for knowledge, Allah will make it easy for him the road to Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim, Vol.3, Hadith no. 99)

Traveling on the path to knowledge refers both to walking or driving along an actual pathway, such as going to conferences or the local mosque whenever there is an Islamic lecture or seminar. Searching also entails, a metaphysical road, such as studying and memorizing the Qur’an and Hadith. Not just memorizing like a parrot, but understanding it and acting upon it.

For those who seek knowledge, Allah will make their learning easier, clearing the way for him, and smoothing his journey to Paradise. This is why some of our pious predecessors used to say, “Is there anyone seeking knowledge so that we can assist him in finding it?”

Brothers and sisters, be LOVERS of Knowledge, be seekers of Knowledge. “Yes, where is my Qur’an, where is my Hadith Bukhari!” Let’s get up every morning with a purpose: to seek Jannah by seeking Knowledge. Knowledge is also the shortest path to Allah. Whoever travels the road of knowledge reaches Allah and Paradise by the shortest route. Knowledge also clears the way out of darkness, ignorance, doubt, and skepticism. This is why Allah called His Book “Light.”

Knowledge is the ROAD to Paradise, and Islam is the vehicle that takes you to this destination of Paradise. Just like you get in a car to go from one destination to another, but how? By finding out the directions to get there, either by seeing a map or asking someone. Similarly, our Qur’an and Hadith are our maps, and our scholars are the people who give the directions from this map to get to our ultimate destination, Paradise.

Ask yourself, “Is Paradise easy?” Have you ever seen how easy it is for some brothers and sisters to memorize the whole Qur’an by heart? Have you ever seen how easy it is for some of us to study the Qur’an and Hadith for hours and hours, while others cannot even open the Qur’an or Hadith even once a year or month? Why?

He Was The Qur’an Walking On Earth

No doubt, the Holy Qur’an is the pillar on which Prophet Muhammad’s character is based.

The Holy Qur’an shaped the characteristics of this Noble Prophet.
When his wife A’isha was asked by one of the Muslims about his morals, she said, “He was a Qur’an walking on the earth.”

Prophet Muhammad said. “Allah has refined me in a way that is best and matchless.”

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an what means “And you (stand) on an exalted standard of character.” (Qur’an, Al-Qalam: 4)  Just like a pearl was this great Prophet, radiating colorful light in every direction. It is most difficult to get at the whole truth of the personality of Prophet Muhammad and only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes. There is Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Prophet; there is Muhammad (peace be upon him), the General; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the leader; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Warrior; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Businessman; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Preacher; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Philosopher; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Statesman; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Orator; Muhammad (peace be upon him); the Reformer; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Refuge of Orphans; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Protector of slaves; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Emancipator of women; Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Judge; Muhammad the Ascetic (peace be upon him).

And in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human activities, he is like a hero. Still, many more sides are to be found in the person of this generous, pious Prophet.

His life was replete with hardships, soaked in seas of sadness. He became an orphan when very young; when the child went with his mother to see the grave of his father, his mother died there. Orphanhood is the extreme state of helplessness and his life on this earth began with it.

Leadership is the height of material power and his life ended with it.  From an orphan boy to a persecuted refugee and then to an overlord, spiritual as well as temporal, of a whole nation and arbiter of its destinies, with all its trials and temptations, with all its vicissitudes and changes, its lights and shades, its up and downs, its terror and glory, he has stood the trial and tribulation of the world and came out unscathed to serve as a model in every facet of life.

His achievements are not limited to one aspect of life, but cover the whole field of human activities. Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, head of the Department of Philosophy, Government College for Women, University of Mysore, India, says, “Circumstances changed, but the Prophet of God did not. In victory or in defeat, in power or in adversity, in affluence or in indigence, he was the same man, disclosed the same character. Like all the ways and laws of God, the Prophets of God are unchangeable.

Never did his acts run counter to what he said, if you try to find examples and incidents that prove his justice and mercy, you will need heavy burdens of volumes but we will just pick a few incidents.

Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits, ye shall know them. (Mathew: 15-17)

Think about what fruits this great generous Prophet gave to the world. Think about his teachings that heavy volumes are loaded with. Think about the number of his great early adherents that, up till now, stun the world with examples of their justice and mercy. They are the graduates of Muhammed’s  (peace be upon him) school  – the school of the Qur’an.

Qur’an Recitation

Qur’an recitation is of two types:

1. Practical recitation
Reading sincerely with belief in it and acting upon the orders of Allah and refraining from what He prohibited.

2. Word recitation
Many narrations emphasize the great reward for those who recite the Qur’an.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best of you is he who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.” (Bukhari)

He (peace be upon him) also said, “The one who excels in reciting the Qur’an will be in the company of the honored angels.” (Sahih Muslim)

And, “The example of the believer who reads the Qur’an is like that of the Utrujah (a citrus fruit) which has a beautiful fragrance and a beautiful taste.

While the example of the believer who does not read the Qur’an is like that of the date fruit: It has sweet taste, but has no fragrance.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “He who recites one letter of the Book of Allah, will be rewarded for it, and the reward will be multiplied in folds.” (Tirmidhi – classed Saheeh by Al-Albani)

There are certain Surahs of the Qur’an that have more rewards for their recitation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Satan does not enter the house wherein Surah Al-Baqarah is recited. (Sahih Muslim)

When one recites Ayaatul-Kursi at night, as the prophet (peace be upon him) informed us, he will be protected by Allah, and Satan will not come near him till he wakes up in the morning. (Bukhari)

Similar protection is also for reciting the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah or the last three Surahs of the Qur’an. (Bukhari)

– By Shiekh Muhammad Bin Saalih Al-Uthaymeen

Duty Towards Kin And Neighbors

After the limited circle of the family, the next social sphere is that of kinship and blood relationships. Islam wants all those who are related through common parents, common brothers, and sisters, or marriage to be affectionate, cooperative, and helpful to each other. In many places in the Quran good treatment of the near relations (Dhawi-al-qurba) is enjoined. In the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) proper treatment of one’s blood relations has been strongly emphasized and counted among the highest virtues. Islam looks with great disfavor to a person who cold-shoulders his relations or treats them indifferently.

But this does not mean that it is an Islamic virtue to favor one’s relations. If such support or bias towards one’s relations results in injustice, it is repugnant to Islam and is condemned as an act of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic times). Similarly, it is utterly against the principles of Islam for a government official or public servant to support his relations at public expense or to favor his kith and his kin in his official decisions: this would actually be a sinful act. Fair treatment of one’s relations, as enjoined by Islam, should be at one’s own expense and within the limits of justice and fair play.

After relations come one’s neighbors. The Qur’an has divided them into three categories:

1. a neighbor who is also a relation
2. a neighbor who is a stranger
3. a casual or temporary neighbor with whom one happens to live or travel for a certain time.

All of them are deserving of sympathy, affection, kindness, and fair treatment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once said that the rights of the neighbor were so strongly emphasized by Angel Gabriel that he thought neighbors might even share one ‘s inheritance. (Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be on him) said: Anyone whose neighbor is not safe from his misdeeds is not a true Believer. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Again, he said: A person who enjoys a meal while his neighbor is starving is not a true Believer. (Ahmad, Baihaqi)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked about the fate of a woman who performed regular prayers and fasted extensively and who was a frequent almsgiver, but whose neighbors complained of her abusive tongue. He said: Such a woman shall be in the Hellfire. He was, then, asked about another woman who did not possess these virtues but did not trouble her neighbors either, whereupon he said: She would be in Paradise. (Ahmad, Baihaqi)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has laid so much emphasis on being considerate to neighbors that he has advised that whenever a Muslim brings home fruit for his children he should either send some to his neighbors as a gift or at least take care not to offend them by throwing the peelings away outside their door. On another occasion, he said: A man is really good if his neighbors regard him as such, and bad if they consider him so. (Ibn Majah)

Islam, therefore, requires all neighbors to be loving and helpful and to share each other’s sorrows and happiness. It enjoins them to establish social relations in which one can depend upon the other and regard his life, honor, and property as safe among his neighbors. A society in which two people, separated only by a wall, remain unacquainted with one another for years, and in which those living in the same area of a town have no interest or trust in one another, can never be called Islamic.

Next to these come the wider relationships covering the whole of society. The broad principles on which Islam wants people to structure their social lives are:

Help you one another in Al-Birr and Al-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness, and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. (Qur’an 5: 2)

You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Maruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief, and all that Islam has forbidden. (Qur’an 3:110)

Do not think evil of each other, nor probe into each other’s affairs, nor incite one against the other. Avoid hatred and jealousy. Do not unnecessarily oppose each other. Always remain the slaves of Allah, and live as brothers to each other. (Muslim)

Do not help a tyrant, knowing him to be such. (Abu Daud)

To support the community when it is in the wrong is like falling into a well while catching the tail of your camel which was about to fall into it. (Abu Daud; Mishkat)
No one among you shall be a true believer unless he likes for others what he likes for himself. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Happiness And Inner Peace

Real happiness and peace can be found in submitting to the commands of the Creator  and the Sustainer of this world.

Allah has said in the Qur’an: “Truly, in remembering Allah do hearts find rest.” (Qur’an 13:28)

On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Qur ‘an will have a life of hardship in this world. Allah has said: “But whoever turns away from the Qur’an he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment.” (Qur’an 20:124)

This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy.

You will also find true happiness in helping others, keeping good relationships with blood relatives, sheltering an orphan, helping someone to pay his debts, supporting the weak, feeding the needy, spending money on charity… etc.

This simply means that happiness is not found in collecting money as a lot of people think.

Real happiness is found in enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.

You have to be always busy thinking about how to make the best use of your time in satisfying Allah and this in fact is the real pleasure of life. You have to realize that your life is short and it is a journey from birth to death during which you have to follow what your conscience tells you.