Story of the Leper, the Bald Man and the Blind Man

Story of the Leper, the Bald Man and the Blind Man

 

The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said::

Allah willed to test three who were a leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man.

So, he sent them an angel who came to the leper and said, "What thing do you like most?" He replied, "Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me." The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin. The angel asked him, "What kind of property do you like best?" He replied, "Camels (or cows)." (The narrator is in doubt, for either the leper or the bald-headed man demanded camels and the other demanded cows.) So he (i.e. the leper) was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said (to him), "May Allah bless you in it."

The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, "What thing do you like most?" He said, "I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the
people feel repulsion for me." The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him), "What kind of property do you like best?" He replied, "Cows." The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said, "May Allah bless you in it."

The angel went to the blind man and asked, 'What thing do you like best?' He said, "(I like) that Allah may restore my eye-sight to me so that I may see the people." The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eye-sight. The angel asked him, "What kind of property do you like best?" He replied, "Sheep." The angel gave him a pregnant sheep.

Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the (three) men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley.

Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper and said, "I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination." The man replied, "I have many obligations (so I cannot give you)." The angel said, "I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren't you a poor man, and then Allah gave you (all this property)?" He replied, "(This is all wrong), I got this property through inheritance from my fore-fathers." The angel said, "If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before."

Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too
answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, "If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before."

The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, "I am a poor man and a traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eye-sight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey." The man said, "No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eye-sight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah's sake." The angel replied, "Keep your property with you. You (i.e., the three men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions."

[Hadith-Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 56 Number 670]

Shaykhy Crushes!

Shaykhy Crushes!

Trials in the Lives of Men of Knowledge

by Ismail Kamdar

Note: This is not meant to be a generalization about Muslim women, if it applies to you then take benefit, if it does not then use it to assist others who it might apply to, but do not take offence as that is not my intention. I debated with myself for many months on whether to write about this topic or not. It is a controversial issue and many people might misunderstand the article. Nonetheless, recent developments in the lives of some Shuyookh that I know personally made me realize the importance of writing about this topic.

When I first began studying Islam and getting involved in Islamic work, one of the major motivators for me was that this field would keep me away from the fitnah of the opposite gender. For every young man and woman, one of the greatest trials we face is dealing with members of the opposite gender without falling into sin. Originally, and it was naive of me, I thought Islamic work would put me in a position in which I would not have to deal with these situations. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

There is a trend among contemporary, practicing Muslims which I find rather disturbing, this trend is what I call a "Shaykhy Crush". I have noticed at many Islamic events, from classes to conferences, practicing Muslim women who follow the Deen in dress and Ibadah, developing crushes and falling in love with the speakers and teachers. This has led to many dangerous scenarios.

The following are a few real life examples I have encountered:

1) At an Islamic course, some sisters were discussing how handsome the Shaykh is. When an elderly sister told them not to talk about him like that as he is married, they responded, "So what? We can still marry him," and continued their discussion.

2) At an Islamic conference, many sisters were not discussing the content of the lectures but how beautiful the Imam sounded with his gorgeous French accent, or how "handsome and sweet" the another Shaykh's smile was. "It melts my heart" were words I heard.

3) Recently, a Shaykh took a second wife, this triggered a discussion online between sisters who admitted they were "going gaga" over him and wished they were his second wife.

4) A sister recently told a Shaykh that she is no longer satisfied with her husband as she is only attracted to students of knowledge now. A married sister told her teacher that she is unsatisfied with her husband and had a dream that she was married to him.

5) A Shaykh deleted his Facebook account because married women on Facebook were claiming to have fallen in love with him.

These are just few of many such incidents that I have encountered in this field. As to what is the cause of this, Allah knows best. Perhaps some of our sisters can shed some light on this for us in the comments section. It could be that studying Islam has been glamorized and students of knowledge are treated like celebrities or it could be that some Shuyookh unintentionally do things that attract women. Many times these feelings may be natural as Muslim women may see an ideal man in a married teacher of knowledge but acting upon this feelings is unwise. Furthermore, social engineering promoted by sites like Facebook makes behavior, like comments, that would never be acceptable face to face, seem normal. We have to remember that there is still a human behind that 'wall', with a family. I do not know the exact causes but this is definitely a growing problem in Western countries.

The problems that arise from this situation are multiple; here are some of the major issues:

1) Corruption of a student of knowledge's intentions. We, students, are human and love women just as much as the next man (I'm going to get in trouble for saying that), so when we are trying to teach Islam and keep ourselves and our thoughts chaste, the female fans don't make it easy for us. I noticed many students of knowledge starting to dress smarter and act differently when they realize they have the attention of the single sisters and there is a major chance that this can affect their intention of teaching for the sake of Allah.

2) Too many single sisters want to marry a Shaykh, and some begin to consider polygamy. The problem here is that the Shaykh might not be interested in such a relationship, and in an extreme case or two, a Shaykh rejecting such a notion has led to jealousy and harassment of the Shaykh and his wife.

3) Married sisters begin to develop crushes on their teachers and start to compare their husbands to the teacher, which leads to dissatisfaction in their marriage and eventually marital conflicts.

4) Sometimes the Shaykh and his wife have a happy marital life until a sister (or two) ask him if he wants a second wife, without considering his current wife's feelings. This can cause problems between the Shaykh and his wife, as well as jealousy and could lead to the breakdown of a once-happy marriage.

5) There is always the potential danger of Zina, even with students of knowledge especially if the attraction is mutual.

These are just some of the negative consequences of this trend. I would like to conclude with some advice for both the sisters and the Shaykhs.

Advice to sisters who are seeking knowledge:

1) Lower your gaze: Remember that he is your teacher, a man of Islamic knowledge and a married man too. So look at him with respect, not desire.

2) Purify your intentions: When attending a lecture, make a sincere intention to learn and benefit from the teacher for the sake of Allah, and do not attend just because Shaykh Yusuf is teaching and you love the sound of his voice. I do not want to discourage any sister from seeking knowledge, just gently reminding them of Shaytan's plot.

3) Walk in her shoes: Think about his wife and her feelings and do not say or do anything that could cause a problem in their marriage.

4) Choose a husband realistically:. Not every woman can marry a Shaykh, so focus on finding a good Muslim man who will care for you and do not compare him to the Shuyookh. Find a good guy and thank Allah for allowing you to marry him and appreciate his efforts to please you.

5) Modesty is key: Remember that talking about how handsome the Shaykh is against haya and not befitting students of knowledge to discuss their teacher in such a manner with each other.

Advice to young Shuyookh in dealing with this Fitnah:

1) Lower Your Gaze: Do not look at the sisters in the audience too much. Focus your gaze on the men in your audience. If there is a sister who attracts you or you know is attracted to you, do not look at her at all (without being rude or disrespectful).

2) Purify Your Intention: Always remember that you are teaching for the sake of Allah and not to attract a female fan club so behave appropriately and modestly.

3) Avoid any unnecessary interaction with women. Do not keep single sisters on your instant messenger contact list, or talk to them for hours on the phone, and if they catch you in the hallway to ask a question, keep it brief, polite and to the point.

4) Think about your wife: Anytime you are attracted to a student of yours, think about your wife and everything she does for you. Think about her sacrifices and this will fill you with guilt for even feeling such attraction to another woman.

5) Dress up better for your wife than others: It should not be such that whenever you go out to teach a class, you are dressed in your best thowb with your best Itr,  while at home you do not bother looking (or smelling good) for your wife. Remember the example of Ibn Abbas and deal with your wife accordingly.

6) Get married: If you are serious about polygamy, do it the right way so that people do not gossip or spread rumors about you and you avoid breaking any sister's heart.

I hope these tips help us all to remain firm on the straight path. Remember the devils spend more time trying to mislead those who are walking  the righteous path and so we need to be careful of these pitfalls of Shaytaan in which he tries to use our good deeds (teaching, studying) to lead us to commit sins.

Anything good I have said is from Allah, and any mistakes are my own and we seek refuge in Allah from giving wrong advice and from all forms of fitnah.

Polls:As a female, have you ever had a "Shaykhy" crush?
Results:

• Nope. (59%, 882 Votes)
• Yes, but kept it to myself. (25%, 368 Votes)
• Yes, shared with my friends. (12%, 172 Votes)
• Yes, tried to approach the Shaykh. (4%, 69 Votes)

Total Voters: 1,491

A staggering 41 % are affected!!!

To view responses to this article visit:

http://muslimmatters.org/2011/06/06/shaykhy-crushes-trials-in-the-life-of-men-of-knowledge/
www.eislam.co.za

Al Israa and Al Meraj

MERAJ

The event of Al-Israa' and Al-Me'raj - Ultimate belief in the unseen

Belief in the Unseen represents a major and essential part of Islam. When we review the key principles of Islam such as belief in Allah, the Hereafter, Paradise and Hell, angels and jinn, past prophets and books, we find that all these issues are ghayb (unseen) and need unshakable conviction in Rasulullah SAW's truthfulness. The Night Journey and Ascension (Al-Israa' wa Al-Me'raj) posed a crucial test for early Muslims to assess their belief in the Unseen. This journey brought to light the unshakeable, firmly rooted faith of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and the weak faith of some other people who rejected Islam totally once they heard the story.

The event of Al-Israa' and Al-Me'raj is recorded in the Quran and Hadith. It is the miraculous Night Journey of Rasulullah SAW which consists of two phases. Phase one covers his trip from Makkah to Jerusalem , known as Al-Israa', and phase two covers his ascent from Jerusalem into the Heavens, known as Al-Me'raj. It is the opinion of some historians that Rasulullah SAW went on this remarkable journey on the night of Rajab 27 (in the seventh month of the Islamic calendar). Some authors refer to the year in which this event is recorded as the Year of Grief. It was the year in which Rasulullah SAW lost his beloved wife Khadijah RA and his dear uncle, Abu Talib, who had nurtured him as a child and protected him when he was proclaimed a prophet of Allah. During this same year, he went to the city of Ta'if to invite the people to Islam, but he was stoned and driven out of the city by the street urchins. Rasulullah SAW is reported to have said that the day in Ta'if was the most difficult day of his life.

Due to these three events, Rasulullah SAW was very sad, but Allah Almighty had a superb plan to relieve His Chosen Messenger from distress, as is embodied in the following Quran verse: [ Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far Distant Place of Worship the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Nearer, the Seer ] (Al-Israa' 17:1). The above verse refers to Al-Israa', the journey from Makkah to Jerusalem .

In a hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari, Abu Dhar RA narrated the event of Al-Me'raj or Ascension, as described by Rasulullah SAW. Abu Dhar RA narrated as follows: Rasulullah SAW was in Makkah and the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) descended through the roof, opened his chest, washed it with Zamzam water, filled it with wisdom and faith, and then closed it. He was then taken by Jibreel to the nearest heaven, where Jibreel was asked by the gatekeeper, "Jibreel is there anyone with you?" He answered that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was with him. Again he asked, "Has he been called?" And Jibreel answered in the affirmative. The gate was then opened and they entered the nearest heaven, where they saw a man sitting with a large number of people on his right and also on his left. When he looked on his right he laughed, and when he looked at his left he wept. Then he said, "Welcome! O pious prophet and pious son." Rasulullah SAW inquired from Jibreel who the man was and Jibreel informed him that he was Adam and the people around him were his offspring. Those on his right were the people of Paradise and on his left, the people of Hell.

They then travelled to the second heaven. Here Jibreel was asked the same questions as before and he gave the same response, and so the gate was opened. Anas RA reported that Abu Dhar RA added that Rasulullah SAW met Adam, Idris (Enoch), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and Ibrahim (Abraham), but Abu Dhar RA did not mention in which heaven they were, except that Rasulullah SAW met Adam in the first and Ibrahim in the sixth. Each of these prophets welcomed Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and Jibreel identified each of them. Ibn Abbas RA and Abu Habba Al-Ansari RA reported that Rasulullah SAW also said that Jibreel ascended with him to a place where he heard the creaking of pens. Allah prescribed fifty Prayers on His followers.

When Rasulullah SAW returned with this order from Allah, he passed by Musa, who inquired, "What has Allah enjoined on your followers?" He replied, "He has enjoined fifty Prayers on them." Musa advised him to go back and appeal for a reduction because his followers would not be able to bear it. So he went back to Allah (a few times) and appealed for a reduction until it was reduced to five per day, and Allah said, "These are five Prayers and they are all equal to fifty in reward, for My Word does not change." Rasulullah SAW returned to Musa AS , who advised him to seek a further reduction, but he said he felt shy to ask again.

After this, he was taken by Jibreel to Sidrat Al-Muntaha or the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, which was shrouded in colours that are indescribable. He was then admitted into Paradise , where he saw that its walls were made of pearls and its earth was made of musk.

As we contemplate the occurrences of this remarkable night, we can say that Allah had a very good reason for Rasulullah SAW to be transported from Makkah to Jerusalem and then to the Seven Heavens. Jerusalem was the Qiblah or the direction towards which Rasulullah SAW turned in Prayer, and up to that time was the seat of learning for all previously revealed scriptures. This unique incident also demonstrates Allah's infinite mercy to the believers. His benevolent gift of Prayer gives the believers the privilege of acquiring countless blessings and also forgiveness for their indiscretions.

PICTURES

MASJID AL AQSA

      

QUBBA TUS SAKHRAH (DOME OF THE ROCK)

      

DONT CONFUSE- MASJID AL AQSA & THE DOME OF THE ROCK(AL SAKHRA)

THE SPOT IN QUBBA AL SAKRA WHERE OUR BELOVED MESSENGER MUHAMMAD(peace be upon him) ASCENDED TO THE SKIES ON THE NIGHT OF MERAJ

         

Barren but Blessed

Barren but Blessed

 

Really a Heart touching Story of a Sister. J Samia Mair  finds motherhood in an unexpected place at the end of her battle to conceive. 

The kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs to Allah.He creates whatever He wills .He gives daughters to whoever He wishes, or He gives sons to whoever He wishes; or He gives them both sons and daughters; And He makes whoever He wishes barren. Truly He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful. (Quran, 42: 46-47) 

 "I don't see the heartbeat.  I don't see the heartbeat!" 

Neither my husband nor the emergency room doctor responded to me. My husband stared straight ahead at the monitor searching the gray and white lines for any signs of life. The doctor pressed the cold wet probe down firmer, moving it haphazardly across my abdomen. My heart sank. I thought we had a chance this time.

This would not be my first miscarriage. I had suffered several already. But this was the first time that we had actually seen a heartbeat. What an amazing sight.  If I had been told that my child was going to have five heads and six arms, it would not have mattered. 

It was my second in vitro fertilization procedure. None of my eggs were fertilized in the first one. We spent over a year trying to increase our chances of pregnancy by testing for ovulation and other less scientific methods — all to no avail. I braced myself for the inevitable disappointment that would interrupt the uncomfortable silence. 

"I'm sorry. The fetus did not make it." 

Although the doctor merely confirmed what I already knew in my heart, hearing it affected me more than I had expected. It's hard to describe now but it was more than emotional trauma. I felt actual physical pain from his words. It was as if I had been hit with a forceful blow. 

I looked to my husband who was already staring at me. I could tell he was holding back his emotions. I felt so defective. I had all these specialized organs that just did not work, that were virtually useless. I could not fulfil one of my main purposes for being. I had completely failed in something I was born to do.

On an intellectual level I knew that I was not defective nor a failure as a woman.  I knew that my worth transcended my ability to procreate. But shame and inadequacy hit me on a level where reason does not tread.

My husband could not have been more supportive. He was always far more worried about my welfare than his own whenever the bad news struck. He made it perfectly clear to me that he did not need a biological child. Yet, I still felt guilty. He was a young man that would not have an heir because of me.

 

I looked at the monitor one more time. At that moment, I knew that I would never be in this position again. Although my work would pay for one more in vitro procedure, I had had enough. No more painful shots in the belly, no more ultrasounds counting egg follicles, no more anxious phone calls to the infertility doctor learning my HCG levels, and no more emergency trips to the hospital. I had learned far more about my reproductive system than I had ever hoped to know.

My husband and I had always wanted to care for an orphan. We decided it was time to move in that direction. We investigated our options, completed mounds and mounds of paperwork, and then waited. We requested twins hoping to keep two children from the same family together. We were told that a referral of twins was very rare and not to expect it. Still, we hoped for twins as we waited and waited.

Allah (Subahanahu wa Taala) knew just how to help me accept that I was barren: desensitization therapy! While I was trying to keep a pregnancy or waiting for the referral, there were nearly twenty babies born to female co-workers or to the wives of male co-workers on my office floor. So many women became pregnant those years that jokes started circulating around the office that if you drink the water on the fifth floor you will get pregnant. The first six or seven invitations to baby showers were very difficult. The expectant parents' joy only reminded me of my sorrow.

 I would remind myself that most of the Mothers of the Believers (Radhi Allahi Anhuma) were barren. I had no reason to complain. By the tenth invitation to a baby shower, though, I was blessedly desensitized. I no longer wondered why I could not have children. I no longer felt pangs of jealousy. I no longer experienced sorrow at others' joy. SubhanAllah, Allah (Subahanahu wa Taala) knows what is best for His creation. 

Although I had accepted that I could not give birth, I still could not bring myself to fix up the baby's room. I thought a room full of baby things would be too painful to pass everyday in case something went wrong. I decided not to buy anything until the referral came. We continued to wait. Then the phone rang. 

"Twin girls!" 

When we heard the news, my husband and I blurted out simultaneously: "I have to quit my job" and "I have to make more money!" We looked at each other and laughed and cried – there is nothing as telling as unedited visceral utterances.

I remember so vividly the moment they handed us the girls—it was the happiest moment of my life.  I couldn't believe that we had been entrusted with such an awesome responsibility, that we had been blessed with so much love.

The other day one of our three-year-olds came into the room where I was praying, sat down and made dhikr, saying "Subhan'Allah" a hundred times. After she finished she asked me: "Is Allah proud of me?" I replied: "I think very proud." She gave me a big hug and ran off to play. Later that day, her sister ran into my room with a big smile on her face. She had put on her pink hijab by herself. Part of it was upside down and the other part hung sideways on her little head. She announced proudly: "I'm a beautiful Muslim girl!"  I smiled back:  "Yes, you are my darling—a beautiful Muslim girl, both inside and out."

I try to thank Allah (Subahanahu wa Taala) each day for the two beautiful blessings that He has entrusted to us. I pray that we raise them to be good Muslims and that they come to Him surrendering and with a sound heart. I never thought I would be able to say this, but I am so grateful now that I was unable to conceive. If I had been able to give birth, these precious wonders would have never entered our lives. I thank Allah (Subahanahu wa Taala) for helping me to be patient and content with His Decree. And I remind myself often that hardships are ultimately not hardships at all with trust in Allah (Subahanahu wa Taala).

  "We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give good news to the steadfast. Those who, when disaster strikes them, say, "We belong to Allah and to Him we will return." Those are the people who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord; they are the ones who are guided. (Quran, 2: 154 -156)

Winter: The Best Season!

Winter: The Best Season!

 

Some ways to enjoy it!!!!

It is said that winter is a time when people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as 'the Winter Blues' or winter depression. However, it is interesting to see how Muslims welcome winter, as it is clear that they see it in a totally different light.

The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in." [Hadith-Majma' az-Zawa'id' (3/203)]

'Umar bin al-Khattab(RA) said: "Winter is the prize of the worshippers."

You can increase your good deeds, take care of your obligations and earn the Pleasure of Allaah all at the same time! Here are some ways to would benefit from winter:

Fasting and praying

Winter is the best season for the believer because Allah makes worship easy for him. This is because in winter, the believer can fast during the day with ease without suffering from hunger and thirst. The days are short and cold, and he therefore doesn't feel the hardship of fasting…

It is reported  The Prophet Muhammad said: "Fasting in the winter is the easy prize."

"And the meaning of it being an easy prize is that it is a prize obtained without any battle or effort or hardship. So, the owner of this prize has been given it as a favor without any effort on his part."

We all know that making up the days of missed fasting is fardh (compulsory) on every adult Muslim man and woman and not doing so is a sin. So if we have missed a fast for a valid reason (travel, sickness etc) we need to "catch-up".

Thus, we should hasten to fast the number of days we missed. And what better opportunity than this? How much easier could it get? The days are short and the weather is cool, so you don't really get thirsty or even feel hungry.

Allaah, in his Infinite Mercy, is providing us with an easy opportunity to seek rewards from Him. So shouldn't we take it up?   Abu Hurayrah RA  said to some people: "Shall I not point you to comfortable proceeds?" They asked, "And what is that O, Abu Hurayrah?" He replied, "Fasting in winter."

As for praying at night in the winter due to its long nights, one can have his share of sleep and then get up to pray afterwards and recite all that he usually recites of the Qur'an while he has had enough sleep. So, he can combine between the sleep that he needs and the usual amount of recitation of the Qur'an that he completes in a day. So, he fulfills the interests of both his religion and the comfort of his body…

And it was narrated that Ibn Mas'ud said: "Welcome to winter! Blessings descend in it, its nights are long to pray in, and its days are short to fast in." This is why Mu'adh(RA) wept on his deathbed and said: "I weep because I will miss the thirst I felt when I fasted, praying at night during the winter, and sitting knee to knee with the scholars during the gatherings of knowledge.""

Caring for the poor

 The Prophet Muhammad said: "Whoever feeds a hungry believer will be fed by Allah on the Day of Judgement from the fruits of Paradise, and whoever quenches his thirst will have his thirst quenched from the Sealed Nectar, and whoever clothes him will be clothed from the green silk of Paradise."

In many parts of the world there is so much difficulty associated with winter. Extreme cold, poor heating, hunger etc. There is so much we can do such as:

·         Organise some blankets for the poor and destitute

·         Start a community soup kitchen

·         Help elderly by offering them a lift in the cold

·         Visiting the elderly and sick in our community

Try and involve our family and community in these activities. Buy some gloves and warm hats and take your kids along to distribute it to the needy. There is so much good we can do if we just put ourselves forward.

Remembering the realities of Hell

It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad said: "Hell complained to its Lord, saying: "Parts of me have consumed the other parts." So, He allowed it two breaths of exhalation: one in winter and one in summer. As for its breath in winter, that is the bitter cold, and its breath in the summer is the extreme heat."

Among the virtues of winter is that it reminds one of the extreme cold of Hell and pushes one to seek refuge from it and to do such noble actions that will ensure one is protected from Jahannam(Hell)

Spend Quality time with your family indoors

As it is cold we can enjoy quality time indoors with our family which we find generally difficult in these times as we are all "busy"! Plan and do such activities that will bond the family and bring us closer to Allaah. Read good Islamic books while cuddling under your cozy blanket, ask the kids to help you in household activities, spend more quality time with your spouse and kids. Be innovative and have fun within the confinements of Sharia.

So, these examples show that winter time is a special time that we should mark not by being down and inactive, but rather by being pro-active in reviving our energy in worship and servitude to Allah.

And actually, if you think about it, the winter is a big blessing from among the innumerable, uncountable blessings of Allaah. He is honoring us by the bounty of His Giving, His gracious Blessing and His great Favor, so that we may be able to pray at night, fast during the day and worship Him.

May Allaah, Most High enable us all to make better use of our winters. Ameen.

Get Lost !!!

Get Lost!!!

 

 "Dad, how long will it take us to get there?" shouted Abdul as he jumped into the backseat of the family Camry.

"Twenty three minutes, insha Allah," replied Tariq proudly holding up his new GPS. He continued fidgeting with a few more settings on the device and then ceremoniously attached it to cradle stuck on the windscreen while waiting for the rest the family to get into the car.

"I'm so excited to see the Islamic fair," said Zakiya, the youngest of the family, "I hear Zain Bhikha is going to be there. In person!"

"Dad, Zaks is not buckling up! And she wants to sit in the middle as usual!"

"Don't lie! I am buckling up. Just wanted to see the new GPS thingy dad bought," Zakiya shouted back.

"Ok, ok. Let's just read our dua for travelling and move on," said Tariq calmly, "We all want to get to the show with lots of time to see everything."

He inched the car out of the driveway and waited for the first set of instructions from the GPS.

"Proceed three hundred meters then turn right," came the swift instructions in a heavy British accented voice.

Tariq promptly complied with the instruction.

""I wish you would listen to me like that!" laughed his wifeTaheera, "You don't even know him and you obey him, but I have to ask a hundred times before something is done."

Tariq shot her a quick smile and they both laughed.

"Mum, I hear they're having a cooking show at 2. We should make it for that!" said Zakiya her eyes lighting up with the prospect of learning some new culinary skills.

"Turn right!" said the familiar British voice.

Tariq promptly turned left. Taheera quickly turned to see if he had made a mistake, but Tariq was calm as he continued on his chosen route.

"Recalculating! Drive 2 kilometres and then turn right" said the GPS.

Tariq continued along the route. A smug smile sealed his lips as he continued playing with his greying beard.

"Turn right!" commanded the GPS and Tariq promptly swung the car to the left.

Again the GPS cried "Recalculating!"

With a calm air he continued ignoring the instructions on the GPS for a while saying nothing until Abdul leaned forward in his seat and complained, "Dad, why aren't you following the instructions?" We have already been driving for thirty minutes."

"We gonna miss the cooking show," chorused Zakiya, "And we not going to have too much time to spend at the show."

Tariq continued silently until the GPS said for the umpteenth time, "Recalculating!" You could almost hear the irritation in the British accent as she said, "When possible please make a U-turn."

Taheera fidgeted with the beads on her kaftan for a while, all the time stealing glances at her husband searching for some clue to this strange behaviour. She pulled hard on a bead and it broke off and rolled to the floor.

"Tari," she said softly, trying very hard to hide her irritation, "If you don't trust the new machine then just ask at the garage(gas station) like we used to do!"

"Good idea," replied Tariq still fidgeting with his beard, "There's one just up ahead."

He sailed the car into the forecourt despite the GPS insisting he make a U-turn. The attendant slowly approached the car, a large dark stain covering the front of his T-shirt. Tariq rolled down the window and asked him for directions.

"Easy sir! Just go up the hill then turn right. Then you see de Shell garage you turn right. Right, neh! Then you drive about five kilos then you see de place in front of you." directed the attendant a broad smile filling his face, "Very easy boss, you can't get lost!"

Tariq continued to drive ignoring the instructions from the attendant and paying little attention to the GPS's call to make a U-turn.

Taheera broke off some more beads and then burst out, "Tari what are you up to? We have been driving for an hour and a half. You ignored the GPS directions all the time. You even ignored the attendant's directions. You keep on just driving and driving. Why?"

"Yep dad, we should have been there an hour ago. Why are we just driving?" echoed Abdul.

Tariq remained silent and played with his beard for a while, and then said, "I just wanted to see if I could get there without following the instructions."

"That's so dumb, Tari!" complained Taheera, "I mean just how are you going to get there if you ignore the GPS and other directions. We wasted our time and the kids are irritated. Zaks has even fallen asleep."

"I just wanted to prove something!"

"What could you prove by acting dumb? What could we learn by deliberately getting lost?"

Tariq fiddled with his topee(hat) before answering, "I just wanted to understand that by ignoring all the guidance and instructions we will never get to our destination."

"That's so obvious!" cried Taheera, "Anyone can tell you that! I mean how can we possibly get to where we going if you deliberately ignore the instructions. In fact, you did just the opposite of what you were told."

Taheera's words brought about an air of silence in the car. All were now attentive as Tariq cleared his throat.

 "Well," began Tariq calmly, "If we ignore all the directions given to us by Allah and instructions by His Final Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) then how will we ever reach our destination, Jannah? Allah gave us clear guidelines of what is permissible and what is prohibited yet we do the opposite. He even sent His beloved Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him)  to show us practically what to do, but we choose to ignore his advice and still hope to reach Jannah?"

He paused waiting for his point to sink home, and then continued, "It can never happen. We will never reach our destination without following the correct directions. Yet it's so simple – turn right, go straight."!!!!

Allah, The Most Wise, has informed us:

"And Verily, it(The Qur'an) is a guide and a mercy to the believers" (Quran-an Naml 27:76-77)

"Verily in the Messenger of Allah you have the best example for him who looks unto Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much." [Quran-Al-Ahzab 33:21]

By Abdur Rahman Umar   Abdurrahman@iafrica.com

Drops on a Rock !!

Drops on a Rock !!

 

 

One of the students of Hadith used to crave and yearn for seeking knowledge. He would sit in the gatherings of scholars and learn from them.

 

When some time passed, he felt it did not benefit him, as he could not gain any knowledge. So he thought to himself, "I am not fit for this knowledge."

 

He gave it up thinking he didn't have the capacity and that he was not qualified for seeking knowledge.

After having left the circles of knowledge, one day, he passed by a rock on which water was falling, drop by drop. The continuous dripping of water (over the years) had affected the rock to the point that it had made a hole in it. The man stood there for a while, contemplating and reflecting, and thought, "This water, in spite of its softness, had an effect on this hard rock. My mind and heart are surely not harder than this rock and neither is knowledge softer than water."

 

(This left a deep impression on him and) he was determined to go back seeking knowledge, which he did and excelled at. He later became one of those referred to because of knowledge.

 

Never give up....

Winter, the best season for the believer

Winter, the best season for the believer

 

Winter, the best season for the believer

The clocks have gone back

Summer time has ended

Beginning of winter

And everyone is in gloom

Illness and depression

Rain and snow

Travel chaos and bitter cold days

Everyone is suffering

One way or another

Amongst this negativity

The believer sees rays of positivity


Winter, the best season for the believer

The nights are long

And extra prayers makes one spiritaully strong

Many quiver

And count the days to spring

When they hear the birds sing

But the believers rejoice

The days are short

And fasting passes with ease

Extra rewards

For the Day when nothing will benefit

Except good deeds

The disbelievers get depressed

And book their holidays

Somewhere warm and compressed

Where the sun is hot

As they swim and sunbathe


Winter, the best season for the believer

As the prayers come in quick succession

One after the other

And the remembrance of Allaah lasts all day

The cold days and nights

Are a blessing

As the Muslim's stay in their dwellings

Prostrating and contemplating

About the blessings of Allaah

And making du'aa for the Ummah

Dua of Rajab and Shabaan

The Dua of Rasullulah(saw) in the month of Rajab

It is mentioned on the authority of Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that when the Holy Prophet (saw) sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words,

'Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha'bana wa ballighna Ramadhan'

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)."

The Horrendous Sin of Zina (Adultery)

The Horrendous Sin of Zina (Adultery) 

 

 

Sexual-intercourse between a man and a woman not married to one another is regarded as a great sin in Islam.

 

There are many verses of the Qur'an and Prophetic statements with regard to this issue and we relate just a few below. Each indicates the seriousness of adultery and makes it crystal clear that there is no room for it being an acceptable behavior in Islam. Allah says in the Qur 'an :"Do not come near to adultery. Verily, it is a faahisha (a great and shameful sin) and an evil way (that leads someone to Hell unless Allah forgives him." (Al-Israa' 17:32)

 

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There is no sin after Shirk (associating partners to Allah) greater in the sight of Allah than a drop of semen which a man places in the womb which is not lawful for him." (Al-Bukhari, Kitabul-Hudood).also said: "The adultery of the legs is walking (with bad intention towards a woman who is not lawful for a man) and the adultery of the hands is touching and patting (such a woman) and the adultery of the eyes is the passionate glance." (Al-Bukhari).

 

 

 

 

 An incident during the life of our dear Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon him]Abu Umamah narrated:

 

 A certain young man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said "O Messenger of Allah permit me to commit adultery." The Companions were annoyed at this arrogant attitude of his and with no attempt at concealment of their feelings in this behalf, berated him, and demonstrated open disgust for his insolent request.

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked the young man to come closer and he did so. Then he asked him to take a seat and he obeyed.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) then started to ask him: "Would you like such (i.e. adultery) for your mother?" He (the man) replied, "No, by Allah. May Allah sacrifice me for you."

 

The Prophet Rasulullah salalahoalaihe wassallam said, "Other people do not like it either for their mothers. Would you then like it for your daughter (i.e. adultery)?" He replied, "No by Allah. May my life be sacrificed for you."

The Prophet Rasulullah salalahoalaihe wassallam , "Others too do not like it for their daughters. Would you like if for your sister.

He replied, "No by Allah. May my life be sacrificed for you."  The Prophet said, "Other people do not like it for their sisters. Would you like it for your paternal aunt?"

He replied, "No by Allah. May my life be sacrificed for you." The Prophet said, "Other people dislike it for their paternal aunts. Would you like it for your maternal aunt?"

He replied, "No by Allah. May my life be sacrificed for you."

The Prophet Rasulullah salalahoalaihe wassallam said, "Others too do not like it for their maternal aunts."

He (the narrator) then said, "He (the Prophet Rasulullah salalahoalaihe wassallam ) then put his hand on the man's chest and said, "Oh Allah forgive his sin, cleanse his heart, and make chaste his private parts."

 

Thereafter the young man never even looked at anything (prohibited by Allah that includes adultery as well)[and nothing was more hateful to him than Adultery] (Hadith-Ahmed).  

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

 

"Whenever a man is alone with a woman the Devil makes a third"

 

"When a slave (of Allah) commits illegal sexual intercourse, he is not a believer at the time of committing it"

 

We pray that Allah Ta'ala protects us all from this horrendous sin…Ameen