who does Allaah love?

2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 195
"Surely Allah loves the doers of good."
2. Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayah 222
"Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves."

3. Surah Aal-i-Imran : Ayah 76
"Indeed, whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against evil)-- then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil)."
3. Surah Aal-i-Imran : Ayah 133-136
"And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extent of which is (as) the heavens and the earth, it is prepared for those who guard (against evil). Those who spend (benevolently) in ease as well as in straitness, and those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men; and Allaah loves the doers of good (to others). And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice to their souls remember Allaah and ask forgiveness for their faults-- and who forgives the faults but Allaah, and (who) do not knowingly persist in what they have done. (As for) these-- their reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them, and excellent is the reward of the laborers."
3. Surah Aal-i-Imran : Ayah 146
"And Allaah loves the patient."
3. Surah Aal-i-Imran : Ayah 148
"And Allaah loves those who do good (to others)."

5. Surah Al-Maidah : Ayah 42
"And if you judge, judge between them with equity; surely Allaah loves those who judge equitably."
5. Surah A l-Maidah : Ayah 54
"O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his Deen, then Allaah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall strive hard in Allaah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer; this is Allaah's Face, He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allaah is Ample-giving, Knowing."
5. Surah Al-Maidah : Ayah 93]
"On those who believe and do good there is no blame for what they eat, when they are careful (of their duty) and believe and do good deeds, then they are careful (of their duty) and believe, then they are careful (of their duty) and do good (to others), and Allah loves those who do good (to others)."


9. Surah At-Tawba : Ayah 7
"Surely Allaah loves those who are careful (of their duty)."
9. Sura h At-Tawba : Ayah 108
"And Allaah loves those who purify themselves."

49. Su rah Al-Hujurat : Ayah
"And act equitably; surely Allaah loves those who act equitably."

60. Surah Al-M umtahana: Ayah 8
"Surely Allaah loves the doers of justice."

61. Surah As-Saff: Ayah 4
"Surely Allaah loves those who strive in His way in ranks as if they were a firm and compact wall."

''Indians are obsequious'' and other racist claptrap

For me, one of the biggest challenges of living 'abroad' has been having one's 'nationality' -- and all the positive and negative stereotypes that go with it -- rubbed in one's face several times a day. Never mind if you can't tie a sari to save your life or don't cook nihari for breakfast every weekend, people just assume that you do all the things desis are supposed to do in bollywood movies and tv serials, but are just too embarrassed to admit it in public.
How irritating is that?!
I've been brought up to be polite and considerate, to be solicitous of others' well-being before one's own, to never, ever be outright rude but to withdraw (from conversations/relationships) if they're heading towards a nasty, messy showdown.
To have regular good manners thought of as a racial characteristic, a vestige from years of being colonised makes me want to go up in smoke, honestly. Is this a sign of the times or what, when people are so used to being treated badly that plain ole good manners seem OTT?
This is just a waseeyah to my kids (in case good manners are extinct and completely out of fashion by the time they grow up): don't lose your adab just because people around you have lost theirs/don't appreciate/recognise good manners when they see some .

As Ustaadh Muhammad Al-Shareef writes: Rasul Allah, sal Allah alayhi wa sallam, said, "A believer mayachieve the status of one who fasts during the day regularly andspends the night regularly in prayer: through his good manners."
[Lessons from this Hadith]Ask yourself, what outstanding characteristic am I lacking inthe most? And then, for the next 10 days, just work on buildingthat blessed characteristic into your outstanding mannersportfolio!''

what if someone opened the door into your life?

Good reminder from Ustaadh Muhammad Al-Shareef:
Allah's Messengerصلىالله عليه وسلم said, "Be honest, for indeed honesty leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to paradise."
[Lessons from this Hadith] Live your life in a way that if someone was to open the door on you at any moment, you would have nothing to hide. This is true success. Think of something that you may be ashamed people will find out about, and take some action right now to stop doing it.

inspirations in your inbox

We don't really have a humungous e-mail list consisting of the entire world and their sister, but this is something really nice that I'd recommend to anyone out there looking for divine inspiration in their e-mail inbox: weekly-emails from Ustaadh Muhammad AlShareef that remind you of the words of Allaah and His Messenger.
A sample:
My number one goal in life is...

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الْآخِرَةِ نَزِدْ لَهُ فِي حَرْثِهِ وَمَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِن نَّصِيبٍ
"To any that desires the soil of the Hereafter, We will increase
in his soil, and to any that desires the soil of this world, We
grant somewhat thereof, but he has no share or lot in the
Hereafter.
Surah Ash-Shura 42:20
[Lessons from this Verse]
When you ask people what their number one goal in life is,
rarely do you hear the person immediately respond by saying:
"Pleasing Allah, Jannat Al-Firdows - the highest level of
Jannah, and being with Rasul Allah, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
in the hereafter."

But ... isn't that the correct answer? Let's make it a reality with how we live our lives!
PS: Invite 10 friends to benefit from these emails by telling themhow you yourself benefitted, and that they too can join by emailing: successinislam@getresponse.com.

information overload, child-friendly khutbahs and verses that stay on

We have this tradition at our place where we get together after Friday khutbah and try to recollect what we've heard (on tv /in an actual masjid) . It's a good way to rakkiz what one has heard. Sometimes the kids remember certain ayahs or ahadeeth or the general topic of the khutbah, but at other times the khutbah really goes over the top of their heads.

One thing they all do remember is anecdotes/ parables / stories and I suspect this is the case with most people who attend Friday khutbahs. I personally feel that Friday khutbahs are not the time for an information overload; short, simple yet stirring khutbahs that address topical issues might make all the difference to the Ummah and the dipping interest levels of its youngsters in all things religious.

Anyway, the khutbah itself was about istighfaar: seeking forgiveness repeatedly, sincerely, for major and minor acts.

The Imaam mentioned the Syed al-Istighfaar (see below) and read these verses (given below) in the 2nd rak'ah.

Although we may have read the supplication and the verses separately many times, yet I could feel a fresh dimension opening on hearing them at the khutbah.

many of us who are ''practising'' tend to get complacent about seeking forgiveness, perhaps grading our efforts as ''miah-miah'' (:P nativespeak for 100/100) when in reality we have miles to go before we make the grade.

many of us who are consciously sinning reach a level of spiritual ennui where we might feel we already have accumulated the proverbial mountain of sins or sins like the foam of the sea...why bother seeking forgiveness?

The answer to both is that although all the Prophet's sins were forgiven, he would still seek forgiveness more than 70 times every day. And he promised us, his Ummah, that Allaah would even forgive sins as numerous as the foam in the sea. And who forgives sins except Allaah: I find this verse really really powerful.
One day later, I'm still thinking about this. subhaanallaah.

'and who forgives sins, except Allaah?'

وَأَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

And obey Allaah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.

وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

And make haste towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise,

As wide as the heavens and the earth,

prepared for Al-Muttaqoon (the people who fear Allaah).

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity,

who repress anger,

and who pardon people;

Indeed, Allaah loves Al-Muhsinoon

(people who strive to excel in their good deeds).

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُواْ اللّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ
وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ اللّهُ
وَلَمْ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَى مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And those who, when they have committed Faahishah

or wronged their souls/selves,

remember Allaah and ask forgiveness for their sins;
And who can forgive sins but Allaah?
And do not continue / persist in what (wrong) they have done, once they know.

أُوْلَئِكَ جَزَاؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ
For them, the reward is Forgiveness from their Lord,

and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath (Paradise),

wherein they shall abide forever.

How excellent is the reward for the 'Aamileen!

(the people who do good).

the ''syed'' (chief) of all supplications

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِي لا إِلهَ إِلّا أَنْتَ
، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ، وَأَنَا عَلى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ
، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِ مَا صَنَعْتُ ، أَبْوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ ، وَأَبُوءُ بَذَنْبِي
، فَاغْفِرْ لِي ، فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَْ َ

Shaddaad bin Aws said: The Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم said, “The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul-Istighfar) is to say: `Allaahumma Anta Rabbi, laa ilaaha illa Ant, khalaqtani wa ana `abduk, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`t, a`oothu bika min sharri ma sana`t, aboo’u laka bi ni`matika `alayya, wa aboo’u bithanbi faghfir lee, fa innahu laa yaghfiru ath-thunoob illaa Ant. (O Allaah! You are my Rabb (Lord).

There is no true god except You.

You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can.

I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done.

I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins.

Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon).’

He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah.” [Al-Bukhari]

taken from Imaam Suhaib Webb's blog

Friday khutbah I attended

For the past two Fridays I've had the chance to go for Friday khutbah, alhamdulillaah.

Usually Friday mornings are an impossible whirl of activity, but some days things work themselves out by the will of Allaah (subhaanallaah, there is no other explanation) and I find myself inside the masjid, surrounded by the scents of rayhaan and oud, the muted sounds of women softly reading the Qur'aan or their athkaar, others praying their tahaiyyatul masjid.

Earlier, I used to find it stressful getting ready on time and getting out of the house at X hour to catch the khutbah so I'd just bundle the kids out with Abu RR, but these days alhamdulillaah, the masjid seems like an istaraahah, a place to catch one's spiritual breath.

As if in congruence to my thoughts, there's a little computer print-out at the entrance of the masjid (in Arabic):

Imaam Ahmad was asked: mataa Raahah ? (When is Raahah i.e. when will there be an end to cares?)
He said: 'Inda awwal qadam adh'ahaa fil Jannah. (When the first foot is placed inside Jannah.''

Abdullaah bin Zubayr on the 8th of Thul-Hijjah

Abdullaah bin Zubayr, went out on the day of Tarwiyah (8th day of the month of Hajj) and made Talbiyyah in the best manner, then he praised and thanked Allaah and extolled Him, then he said:
'' To proceed: You have come from many different directions in groups to Allaah, the All Mighty, the All-Powerful, and Allaah has made it incumbent upon Himself that He honours His group; so whoever came to seek that which is with Allaah, if he asks Allaah, he will not be disappointed, so prove your words true by your actions, for the foundation of speech is action and the intention is the intention and the hearts are hearts, Allaah is Allaah during these days for they are the days during which sins are forgiven. You have come from many different directions, for a purpose other than trade or seeking the life of this world, hoping for what is here.''

Then he performed the Talbiyyah and none could be seen who was not weeping profusely.

(from:Child Companions of the Prophet)

the best days of the year

The Best Days in the World
Based on "Al-A`yaad fil Islaam" [by Muhammad. al-Jibaly]
© QSS
The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah
In what follows, we will highlight some of the Sunnah regarding these days, hoping by this to provide an incentive to make the best out of them and gain Allaah’s reward, in shaa’ Allaah.

The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
"The best days in the world are the Ten days." [Ibn Hibbaan, al-Bazzaar, authenticated in Saheeh Jaami` us-Sagheer #1133]
"There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved by Allaah than these (ten) days." [al-Bukhaaree, at-Tirmidhee and others] The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was then asked: "Not even Jihaad in Allaah’s way?" He replied: "Not even Jihaad in Allaah’s way; except for a person who went out (for Jihaad) with his self and wealth and came back with none (i.e. lost all for Allaah)." [at-Tirmidhee, authenticated in al-Albaanee’s Irwaa’ ul-Ghaleel, #953]

All good deeds can be done during these days and the early generations of Muslims used to exert themselves excessively in worshipping Allaah. In particular, fasting and dhikr (mentioning and remembering Allaah) are to be done in plenty on these days.

Dhikr
Ibn `Abbaas commented on the verse <<…and to mention Allaah’s name [plentifully] on Known days>> [22:28] by saying: <…these known days are the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah].> [Tafseer ibn Katheer]

Fasting
One of the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "Allaah’s Messenger used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of `Ashooraa’, and three days of each month. [Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood #2129]

Fasting on all these days, however, is not a waajib (compulsory), nor is it a constant sunnah that the Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, never dropped. `Aa’ishah said: "I never saw the Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, fast the ten days." [Muslim]

The Day of `Arafah - The Best Day of the Whole Year
The day of `Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of `Arafah.
"Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the [minor] sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And fasting the day of `Aashooraa’ expiates the sins of the past year." [Muslim]
"There is no day on which Allaah `azza wa jall frees people from the Fire as He does no the day of `Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on `Arafah) and then revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?" [Muslim]

The Day of al-`Ad-haa
The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is `Eed ul- Ad-haa or the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj, and commemorates Allaah’s bounty on His Messenger Ibraaheem, when He gave him a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son Ismaa`eel, `alayhimassalaam.

"The day of al-Fitr [i.e. `Eed ul-Fitr], the day of an-Nahr, and the days of Tashreeq are `Eed days for us Muslims. They are days of eating and drinking." [Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, Saheeh ul-Jaami` #8192]

The Three Days Following `Eed ul-`Ad-haa
On these days, the pilgrims complete their rites, Muslims continue with their `Eed celebrations, and are prohibited to fast. "The days of tashreeq are days of eating, drinking and mentioning Allaah." [Muslim]

The Sacrifice
Allaah `azza wa jall mentioned the sacrifice together with the first and foremost worship in Islaam: prayer. This is a clear indication of its great importance. Thus He ordered His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, to slaughter sacrifices by saying: <<…Pray unto your Lord and slaughter [your sacrifice]…" [109:2]

Ruling
The general concensus of the Muslim scholars is that the sacrifice is an important sunnah, and a worship called for in the Law of Allaah. However, they differ as to whether it is nafl (voluntary) or waajib (mandatory) for those who can afford it. Some scholars have explained the different ahaadeeth on the subject by stating that the sacrifice is obligatory on those who can afford it and not obligatory on those who cannot.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who has the capacity, and does not sacrifice, may not approach our musallaa (place of prayer - on the `Eed)." [Ibn Maajah, Ahmad and others, authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, #2533]

Regarding this hadeeth, Imaam ash-Shaukaanee said: "Prohibiting the one who could afford to sacrifice, but did not do so, from approaching the musallaa indicates that he must have left off a waajib, as it becomes useless to offer the salaah without this waajib [obligation]." [Nayl ul-Awtaar]

Avoid Cutting Hair or Nails
The one who plans to sacrifice (normally, the head of household) is prohibited to cut his hair or nails from the first Dhul Hijjah until he offers the sacrifice. "For the one who has a slaughtering to perform (on `Eed then, once the hilaal (crescent) of Dhul Hijjah is observed, let him not cut any of his hair or nails until he sacrifices." And in another narration: "Once the ten days start, for those of you who havethe intention to sacrifice, let them not cut any of their hair or nails (until they sacrifice)." [Muslim] This prohibition is the opinion of the majority of the scholars of the early generations of Muslims.

Allaahu A`lam
Our last call is all praise is to Allaah and may His salaah and salaam be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family.

the best day of the week

The Prophetصلىالله عليه وسلم said: "The best day during which the sun has risen is Friday.'' (Hadeeth reported by Imaam Muslim, Abu Daa'wood, an-Nasai, At-Tirmithi)

Things to do on Friday:
Go for Friday prayer
"O’ you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to Prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is best for you if you but knew." (Soorah Al-Jumu'ah:9)

Do Ghusl and use perfume, go early for Friday prayer: "Every Muslim is obligated to wash on Fridays and wear his best cloth. Also, he should use perfume if he has any." (Hadeeth Sahih Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

Increase supplications since there is a period during Jumu'ah when duaas are answered.

Send salutations upon the Prophet
Like our shaykh says:

صلوا وسلموا على من دلكم على الله فعرفتموه
صلوا وسلموا على من دلكم على المسجد بيت الله فدخلتموه
صلوا وسلموا على من دلكم على الصراط المستقيم فسلكتموه

من صلى عليه صلاة واحدة صلى الله عليه بها عشرا،
ومن صلى عليه عشراصلى الله عليه بهامئة

ومن صلى عليه مئة صلى الله عليه بها ألف
، ومن زاد زاده الله من فضله

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً
"Indeed Allaah and His Angels send salutations upon the Prophet...
O you who believe, send blessings and salutations of peace upon him."

Read Soorah Al-Kahf: "Who ever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, Allaah will give him a light to the next Friday."

...'ala aalihi wa sahbihi ajma'een

Muslims begin any public speech/talk/sermon by sending salawaat and salaam (salutations of peace and blessings) upon the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلمand his family and his companions, and those who follow them in ihsaan (excellence) until the Day of Judgment.

I've always been envious (in a wistful, non-negative kind of way) about the immediate family and companions of the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم and how fortunate they were to have been blessed by his presence among them; how they were the recipients of his affection and friendship and care and kindness...subhaanallaah...what an enormous blessing! From the way they supported and obeyed him صلىالله عليه وسلم , it's clear that they were chosen by Allaah to be his family and companions, just as he,صلىالله عليه وسلم, was chosen to be a Messenger for all of mankind.

I love reading the biographies of that blessed group of people, especially of the members of his family who are not so well known.

I was reading about 'Abdullaah bin Ja'far, in 'Child Companions of the Prophet' -- the first child who was born among the group of Muslims who emigrated to Abyssinia when the persecution of Muslims had become intolerable in Makkah. He was the son of the Prophet's cousin Ja'far bin Abi Taalib and Asma' bint 'Umays, may Allaah be pleased with them.

''It is reported by Abu Daa'wood in his collection of ahadeeth (Prophetic narrations): 'When Ja'far bin Abi Taalib was martyred in battle, the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم visited his family and said: '' O Asma, where are the sons of Ja'far?''

When they were brought before him, he صلىالله عليه وسلم hugged them and smelt them and his eyes welled up with tears and he wept.''

'Abdullaah bin Ja'far himself reported: '' I recall when the Messenger of Allaah صلىالله عليه وسلم

came to my mother and brought her the news of my father's death, and I remember he was stroking my head and that of my brother, and his eyes were pouring with tears until they dripped onto his beard.

Then he صلىالله عليه وسلم prayed: ''O Allaah! Indeed Ja'far has been given the best of rewards, so bless his children with a better recompense than that with which You have blessed any of your slaves.'' (Reported by Ibn Sa'd in At-Tabaqaat).

On the day his father died, the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم kept 'Abdullaah bin Ja'far with him and made him sit on the bottom step of the pulpit which he ascended to inform people of Ja'far's death. He صلىالله عليه وسلم took him and his brother to his house and they ate lunch with him (sifted barley, cooked and seasoned with oil and pepper).

'Abdullaah bin Ja'far also said: Whenever the Messenger of Allaahصلىالله عليه وسلم returned from a journey, the children of his household would greet him. He once returned from a journey and I was brought to him first and he carried me in front of him, and then one of Fatimah's two sons was brought (either Hasan or Husayn) and he seated him behind me and we entered Al-Madeenah, three of us riding on one beast.'' (Reported by Imaam Ahmad and Muslim)

'Abdullaah bin Ja'far also narrated: ''The Messenger of Allaah came when I was bargaining over the sale of a sheep for my brother and he صلىالله عليه وسلم said:''O Allaah! Bless his dealings.'' And I never bought or sold anything, except that it was blesssed for me.''

Once, he accepted some land from 'Abdullaah bin Az-Zubayr which was harsh and salty in lieu of a debt that was owed to him by Az-Zubayr bin Awwaam. He offered two units of prayer in it and supplicated Allaah and the land became prosperous and well-irrigated. (An abbreviated version of a narration in Asad-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 3)

'Abdullaah bin Ja'far was so generous that he was called the Sea of Generosity, just like his father Ja'far bin Abi Taalib was called Abu-l Masaakeen (father of the poor). Once, when he was rebuked for being ''too generous'', he replied; ''Indeed, Allaah has made me accustomed (to receiving bounty from Him), and I have made the people accustomed (to receiving charity from me). I am afraid that if I cut it off, it (Allaah's blessings) will be cut off from me.''

don't be the devil's balloon!

from: a very interesting muhaadharah (lecture) I heard by Sh. Sa'eed bin Misfar Al-Qahtani.

The lecture was about the different ways Shaytaan and his tribe, the shayateen from among the Jinns and Humans try to get unsuspecting people to deviate from the way of Allaah, as-Siraatal-Mustaqeem, the Straight Way...and how to seek protection from them.

The Shaykh enumerated upto 15 ways that Shaytaan & Co. attack the human psyche and soul...and one of the ways he mentioned was by way of a person's hawa.
Hawa consists of a person's inclinations ...their hobbies (called Hiwaayah in Arabic)pursuits/interests.
He said that usually, these hobbies/interests take one away from Allaah and His remembrance unless one tries to align them on purpose with Allaah's commands by means of mujahada (striving within one's soul).

Another very interesting thing he mentioned was that the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم used to seek protection from Shaytaan, from "hamazatihi, wa nafkhihi, wa nafthihi" (from his touch, his breath and his exhalation).

What is the nafkh (blowing) of Shaytaan?
It is the feeling of false pride/haughtiness/arrogance by which he puffs up people into believing that they are better than what they really are.
He said the man-fookh, the thing/person who is puffed up with pride, is for all practical purposes like Shaytaan's balloon.

Actually, the balloon in itself is a small thing, but once it has been blown into, it assumes huge proportions, which in reality is nothing but air...something without any substance.

I really liked the lecture because the Shaykh had an infectious air of sincerity about his words and a wonderful sense of humour...it was obvious that he was enjoying the lecture as much as the people who were listening to him.

when a little = a lot

From the Companion, Anas bin Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him:

"The Messenger of Allaahصلىالله عليه وسلم said: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allaah until the sun rises, then prays two units of prayer, he will receive the reward of Hajj, and `Umrah.

The Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم said: "complete, complete, complete."

[Related by Imaam Abu 'Eesa At-Tirmithi in Saheeh at Tirmithi, Saheeh al-Jaami']

ending Ramadhaan on a clean slate

Imaam Suhaib Webb has two brief, but powerful posts on mutual forgiveness: Mending Fences and Forgiveness Notes.

The latter is a particularly good idea, where people are encouraged to write notes seeking forgiveness from people they might have wronged knowingly/unknowingly.

It's interesting how (relatively) easy it is to turn to Allaah seeking His forgiveness again and again after wronging our souls, but how difficult it is to approach another human being.

Is it because we're hard-wired at some intrinsic level to humble ourselves before the Lord of the Worlds, who in turn, is oft-Forgiving and the Most Merciful?

I think it's an excellent idea to detox our souls of any accumulated negativity against people -- particularly fellow Muslims -- no matter how hard it may seem.

If we can't bring ourselves to actually say/write words seeking/granting forgiveness, the very least we can do is pray:

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

"Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith,

And put not in our hearts any ill-feeling/hatred against those who have believed.

Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful."

17th Ramadhaan: The Day of Furqaan`

`The Battle of Badr~: eternal lessons for those who understand.
..
"There has already been a sign for you in the two armies that met (in combat i.e. The battle of Badr)
One was fighting in the Cause of Allaah, and as for the other (they) were disbelievers.
They saw them with their own eyes twice their number (although they were thrice their number). And Alla`ah supports with His Victory whom He pleases.
Verily, in this is a lesson for those who understand.
`( سورة آل عمران , Aal-`Imraa`n, Chapter #3, Verse #13)(`Arabic)

"And Allaah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force.
So fear Allah much `that you may be grateful.
`( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #123)(Arabic)

And (remember) when Allaah promised you (Muslims) one of the two parties (of the enemy i.e. either the army or the caravan) that it should be yours, you wished that the one not armed (the caravan) should be yours, but Alla`ah willed to justify the truth by His Words and to cut off the roots of the disbelievers
( سورة الأنفال , Al-Anfal, Chapter #8, Verse #7)(Arabic)

And know that whatever of war-booty that you may gain, verily one-fifth (1/5th) of it is assigned to Alla`ah, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives, the orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor) and the wayfarer, if you have believed in Allaah and in that which We sent down to Our slave (Muhammad ) o`n the Day of criterion (between right and wrong), the Day when the two forces met (T`he battle of Badr) - And Alla`ah is Able to do all things.
( سورة الأنفال , Al-Anfal, Chapter #8, Verse #41)(Arabic)

And (remember) when you met (the army of the disbelievers on the Day of the battle of Badr), He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allaah might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His Knowledge), and to Allaah return all matters (for decision).
( سورة الأنفال , Al-Anfal, Chapter #8, Verse #44)(Arabic)

And (remember) when Shaytaan (Satan) made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said:` "No one of mankind can overcome you this Day (of the battle of badr) and verily, I am your neighbour (for each and every help)."
`But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said: "Indeed, I have nothing to do with you. Indeed! I see what you do not see. Indeed! I fear Allaah or Alla`ah is Severe in punishment."
( سورة الأنفال , Al-Anfal, Chapter #8, Verse #48)

if you want to see a real live Qur'aan miracle

tune in to the international Qur'aan award on Dubai tv.

subhaanallaah, it is so moving to see Muslim youngsters from the world over ...from Congo to Nepal to Taiwan to Barbados to Kyrgyzstan...most of whose native language is not Arabic reciting the Qur'aan with flawless tajweed.

subhaanallaah! like the Qur'aan says:

innaa nazzalna ath-thikr
wa innaa lahu la haafithoon.

"indeed, we have revealed Ath-Thikr( The Reminder, Qur'aan)
And indeed we will preserve it."

sadaqa Allaah ul Azeem.

cross post

from: Sisters-in-Faith

MCQs R Us: some questions about Sha'baan
1. Sha'baan شعبان is the ..................... month of the Islaamic year.
a. 7th
b.8th
c.9th

2. Sha'baan is so called because:
a. In this month the Arabs used to disperse (tasha’aba) in search of water, or it was said that they dispersed to carry out raids and forays.
b. Because it sha’aba (تشعبة = ramification, forking, branches out or emerges) i.e., it appears between the months of Rajab and Ramadhaan.
c. Both of the above
d. None of the above.

3. ‘Aa’ishah رضي الله عنهاsaid: “The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلَم used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلَم fasting for an entire month except in Ramadhaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in ..................”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 1833; Muslim, no. 1956).
a. Rajab
b. Shawwaal
c. Sha'baan
d. Thul Hijjah

4. Who said this about Sha'baan? ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadhaan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.’”
(Narrated by an-Nasaa’i, see Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, page 425).

5. ..................................used to make the most of this opportunity to make up any obligatory Ramadaan fasts that she had missed because of menstruation; during other months she was too busy with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلَم to fast.

6. Salamah ibn Suhayl used to say: “The month of Sha’baan is the month of ..............(of the Qur’aan).” Habeeb ibn Abi Thaabit used to say, when Sha’baan came, “This is the month of ............(of the Qur’aan).” When Sha’baan came, ‘Amr ibn Qays al-Malaa’i used to close his store and devote his time to reading the Qur’aan.
a. writers
b. reciters

[Adapted from: Islam Q-A]

welcome to the world!

an outline of what should be done on the day of the child’s birth, and after that: from (where else?): Islam-QA

It is mustahabb to do tahneek for the baby and to pray for him.
It was reported that Abu Moosa said: “I had a baby boy, and I brought him to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He named him Ibraaheem, did Tahneek with some dates and prayed for Allaah to bless him, then he gave him back to me.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5150; Muslim, 2145). Tahneek means putting something sweet, such as dates or honey, in the child’s mouth when he is first born.
It is permissible to name the child on the first day or on the seventh.
It was reported that Anas ibn Maalik said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A boy was born to me this night and I have named him with the name of my father Ibraaheem.” (Narrated by Muslim, 3126).
It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did ‘aqeeqah for al-Hasan and al-Husayn on the seventh day, and gave them their names. (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, 12/127; al-Haakim, 4/264. Classed as saheeh by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 9/589).

‘Aqeeqah and circumcision
It was reported from Salmaan ibn ‘Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For the boy there should be an ‘aqeeqah. Slaughter (an animal) for him and remove the harmful thing [i.e., the foreskin] from him.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1515; al-Nasaa’i, 4214; Abu Dawood, 2839; Ibn Maajah, 3164. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, may Allaah have mercy on him, in al-Irwaa’, 4/396).
It was reported that Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A boy is ransomed by his ‘aqeeqah. Sacrifice should be made for him on the seventh day, he should be given a name and his head should be shaved.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1522; al-Nasaa’i, 4220 and Abu Dawood, 2838. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, may Allaah have mercy on him, in al-Irwaa’ 4/385).

Imaam ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Among the benefits of ‘aqeeqah are:
It is a sacrifice by means of which the child is brought close to Allaah soon after he comes into this world.
It is a ransom for the newborn; his ‘aqeeqah ransoms him so that he can intercede for his parents.
It is a sacrifice by which the newborn is ransomed just as Allaah ransomed Ismaa’eel with the ram. (Tuhfat al-Mawdood, p. 69).
Perhaps another benefit of the ‘aqeeqah is the gathering of relatives and friends for the waleemah (feast).
4.Circumcision is part of the Sunan al-Fitrah (practices related to the pure and natural inclinations of man). It is obligatory in the case of boys because it is connected to matters of purity which are essential conditions of prayer.
It was reported from Abu Hurayrah: “Five things are related to the Fitrah: circumcision, removing the pubic hairs, plucking the armpit hairs, cutting the nails, and trimming the moustache.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5550; Muslim, 257).

Thirdly:
Among the Sunnahs for welcoming the newborn, the scholars mentioned that the Adhaan should be recited into the baby’s right ear so that the first thing he hears in this world will be the words of Tawheed, which will have a great and blessed effect on the child. With regard to reciting the iqaamah in the child’s left ear, there is nothing to prove that this is required. (See al-Silsilat al-Da’eefah, 1/491).
Fourthly:
Shaving the child’s head then anointing the child’s head with saffron is very beneficial. Then it is prescribed to give in charity gold or silver equal in weight to the hair. This does not have to be done by actually weighing the hair; if it is too difficult to do that, it is sufficient to estimate the weight and give paper currency equivalent to the price of that amount of gold or silver. We ask Allaah to protect us and our children from all evil and to keep them safe and sound in this world and in the Hereafter. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

does your child have an electronic babysitter?

excerpts from a study in The Guardian: TVs and computers breeding generation of 'screen kids'

TVs and computers are the "electronic babysitters" for a generation of children who are losing out on family life and becoming more materialistic, a report says today. The study paints a picture of a breed of "screen kids" who are spending more and more time watching TV and surfing the net in their bedrooms, unsupervised by adults.
[...]

materialistic children were more likely than others to argue with their family, have a lower opinion of their parents and suffer from low self-esteem.
NCC chief executive Ed Mayo said: "Today's children are now 'screen kids'. In some streets, every bedroom has a television for children and many have a computer.
"With many children watching or surfing when they wake up, at breakfast, after school, during dinner and in bed before sleep, we need to ask whether the electronic screen has now become the electronic babysitter."
Children in more deprived areas were most likely to watch commercial television and TV shows made for an older audience. Twice as many children in this group said they "believed" adverts as those in more affluent areas. Youngsters in disadvantaged areas also had greater levels of unsupervised access to television and the internet.
The research also shows that children's TV appears to be losing its appeal to youngsters, who say they are not watching programmes targeted at a younger age group. Fewer than half of all the 12- to 13-year-olds questioned listed any children's programmes in their three favourite shows. And children as young as nine picked out soaps, reality and horror shows among their favourites.

Dr Nairn, a researcher on children and marketing and affiliate professor of marketing at EM-Lyon Business School, told the Guardian: "The effect of so much television viewing and computer usage is that things are replacing people and family relationships are suffering. This is a bad cycle."

***

The Third Parent , a khutbah by Muhammad Al-Shareef also deals with the same issue:

"Abdullah ibn 'Umar radi Allahu anhu once passed by some people killing time by playing chess. He was shocked at this and angrily said to them, quoting the verse of the Qur’an:
'What are these IDOLS that you are standing in vigilance over?'
What would he think if he saw the television set and the welcoming hug it receives in most Muslim homes?

When a Muslim nation plays in the World Cup, over three million Muslims from that one country tune in to television to watch the game. Multiply that by the duration of the match, and you have almost five million hours of the ummah’s time wasted on a football game, in one sweeping night. If Karl Marx said in 1844 that "Religion is the opium of people," then what about TV?

[...]

"Let’s ask ourselves, if we allowed our sons or daughters to put up a poster of their hero, the one whom they think is the 'coolest,' would their hero be their father or mother? Would it be the Prophet or his companions? Or would it be a basketball player that he saw on TV? Or an actor (even a cartoon character) that he saw on TV? Or a model that she saw on TV? Or a musician that he/she saw on TV? Who would it be?

Dear brothers and sisters, we are not here on earth to entertain ourselves to death. We are an ummah with a risaalah (message)!

When Rib’ee ibn 'Aamir radi Allahu anhu stood at the hands of the king of Persia, he announced the message as proudly and as clearly as every Muslim should. "Allah sent us to rescue humanity from slavery to slaves - to the slavery of the Lord of all slaves; and to rescue them from the choke of the material life to the expanse of this life and the next, and from the corruption of the cults to the justice of Islam!"

Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala states in the Qur’an:
Verily! Hearing, sight, and the heart, all will be questioned (by Allah) (Al-Israa 17/36).
And RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam informed us that on the Day of Repayment, no one will move until they are asked about three things, one of which will be their youth and how they spent it.
How are we spending our time? Why do we waste it watching TV? What do our eyes see, what do our ears hear on TV and how is our heart affected by this?