SINCERE GRATITUTE AND REGRET!!!

SINCERE GRATITUTE AND REGRET!!! 

 

 

Willingness to accept responsibility for the harm we may have caused or express thankfulness for the benefits we may have received are signs of moral maturity

 

How uncommon has common courtesy become? "Thank you" and "I'm sorry" are amazingly powerful expressions that could convey authentic appreciation or genuine remorse. These are common phrases that are unfortunately becoming increasingly rare.

 

"If you give thanks , I will give you more (of My Blessings).'' (Quran 14:7)

 

The Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said :"He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah". ( Ahmad, Tirmidhi )

 

One of the most devastating realities has been the fact that people for whom you truly care and for whom you do the most are often the ones who turn out to be the most ungrateful. They suffer deliberate amnesia (forgetfulness) and, in the process, even deny their indebtedness. Those for whom you would stake your prized privileges are often the ones who later undermine your integrity for the sake of fame or material gain. Such are they who have no conscience.

Conscience is that internal compass that directs us towards sound moral judgement. It measures our attitudes and conduct in relation to our ethical principles. Conscience manifests its judgements with the reward of peace of mind for those who do what they should, and with the penalty of guilt for those who don't. If we consider ourselves good, and don't have the decency to do what we should, then we are not really as good as we think we are.

People of conscience are people of character and good character (akhlaaq) is in fact ethics in action. People of character have the emotional intelligence to realize their errors and to acknowledge their indebtedness to others and thus possess the moral courage to express genuine regret by saying "I'm sorry," or genuine appreciation by saying "Thank you".

 

Willingness to accept responsibility for the harm we may have caused or express thankfulness for the benefits we may have received are signs of moral maturity. Heartfelt apologies could lead to reconciliation and easing of tension while sincere expressions of gratitude are valued gifts to people who have privileged us. Absence of an appropriate thanks or an owed apology could be damaging.

 

Don't get  it wrong, people do sometimes use "Thank you" and "I'm sorry" but merely as a hollow rule of custom. In one's absence they negate their thankfulness or regret in the company of others. Such "Thank you " and "Sorry" means absolutely nothing. We even teach our little kindergarten kids to say "Thank you" but too often it connotes only formalistic politeness without nurturing true feelings of gratitude. If we say "Thank you" without really feeling thankful or "Sorry" without experiencing real regret then these words merely serve as mindless rituals; just like a wrapped gift box without any gift inside.

It takes strength of ego and tremendous moral fortitude to comply with ethical standards of true accountability.

 

 

The arrogant and the morally bankrupt do not, therefore, express remorse or regret easily. Genuine apology arises out of a conscience that values ethical principles of respect and responsibility. The only kind of apology that truly merits forgiveness is the apology of those who sincerely acknowledge and accept personal accountability for their misconduct and genuinely regret the consequences of their wrongdoings. The Prophet [pbuh]is reported to have said: "Real regret (nadam) is the basis for true repentance."

 

The ethical dimension to gratitude demands genuine thankfulness proportionate to the blessings received, never to deny those blessings nor devalue the worth of those who so bless us.

 

The Messenger of Allah Muhammad [peace be upon him] said:"The Merciful One shows mercy to those who are themselves merciful (to others). So show mercy to whatever is on earth, then He who is in heaven will show mercy to you " ( Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi )

Duas during Journeys

Duas during Journeys     When biding farewell to someone going off on a journey, recite: أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ "(I make) Allah responsible for your deen, your trustworthiness and for the results of your actions". (Tirmidhi) Dua for another person undertaken a journey When some other person undertakes a journey, recite the following dua: زَوَّدَكَ اللَّهُ التَّقْوَى وَغَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ وَيَسَّرَ لَكَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كُنْتَ "May Allah make piety part of your journey, forgive your sins and fulfil the purpose of the journey". (Tirmidhi) Dua at the time of his departure: اللَّهُمَّ إِطْوِ لَهُ الْبُعْدَ وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرَ "O Allah, let his journey be covered quickly and most easily". (Tirmidhi) Dua by the traveller for the person wishing him farewell أَسْتَوْدِعِكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ "I leave your responsibility to Allah (leave you in his hands) in whose protection nothing can be lost (destroyed, damaged) when He protects". (Hisnul Hasin) Dua at the intention to undertake a journey اللَّهُمَّ بَكَ أَصُولُ وَبِكَ أَجُولُ وَبِكَ أَسِيرُ "O Allah, it is with Your help that I attack (the enemy) and with Your help I defend and with Your help I depart". (Hisnul Hasin) Dua when mounting or placing a foot on a stripe When mounting on or placing the foot on the stripe, recite: "Bismillah" and when sitting on the back of the animal or a seat recite Alhamdulillah and then the following Ayah: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ "Allah is pure, He has given control and without His power we would not have any control Without doubt we are to return to him: (Surah Zakhruf) Thereafter Alhamdulillah - three times الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ Allahu-Akbar- three times اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ Thereafter the following dua: سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنوُبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ "O Allah, You are pure, surely I have oppressed myself so forgive me for You are the only One Who forgives sins". After reciting this it is Mustahab to smile. (Mishkat) When beginning the journey recite اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ لَنَا بُعْدَهُ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْحُورِ بَعْدَ الْكُورِ وَدَعْوَةِ الْمَظْلُومِ "O Allah, we seek goodness from You and piety from this journey and (the ability to do) good actions by which You are pleased. O Allah, ease this journey for us and make us transverse the road quickly. O Allah, You are our companion in this journey and deputy (guardian) over our household whom we left behind. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the difficulties of the journey and from seeing bad things and from a bad return at home and household and from the dua of the oppressed". Note: It is Mustahab to perform two rakaats Nafl Salaat before commencing a journey. (Kitabul Askar-Li-Nawawi) When climbing recite: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ When alighting اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ and when passing an area where there is water recite بِسْمِ اللَّهِ and in the event of an accident or the animals feet slipping recite لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (Hisnul Hasin) Dua when travelling in a ship When travelling in a ship recite: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ . وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعاً قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ . "In the name of Allah, it moves and stops. Definitely my Lord is forgiving and merciful and the Kuffar have not recognised Him as they should, whereas on the Day of Qiyamah the whole earth will be in His fist and the skies folded in His right hand. He is Pure and Superior (lofty) from the belief which the Mushrikeen hold (have)". (Hisnul Hasin) Dua when alighting off a vehicle When alighting off a vehicle recite: أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ "I seek refuge in Allah by His complete words from the evils of the creation". By reciting this dua, no harm will befall on the person. (Muslim) When seeing the village/town of the destination recite اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ وَرَبَّ الَأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَقْلَلْنَ وَرَبَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ وَرَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ فَإِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلَهَا وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا "O Allah, You are the Lord of the seven skies and all the things that are under these skies and the seven planets and whatever is over these and of Satan who misled and all those misled by him and for the wind and all that it blows. Thus we seek the good of this town and the good of its members (people) and seek refuge from its evil and the evil of its members and from the evils of whatever is in it". (Hisnul Hasin from Ibn Habban) When entering any city or a populated area recite the following dua three times: اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهَا "O Allah, You grant us good in it (the city/populated area)". (Hisnul Hasin from Tabarani) then recite: اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا جِنَاهَا وَحَبِّبْنَا إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَحَبِّبْ صَالِحِي أَهْلِهَا إِلَيْنَا "O Allah, grant us the fruit of this place and create love in the people for us and create love in our hearts for the righteous people (of this area)". (Hisnul Hasin from Tabarani) When night while on a journey recite يَا أَرْضُ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكِ اللَّهُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّكِ وَشَرِّ مَا خُلِقَ فِيكِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَدُبُّ عَلَيْكِ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ أَسَدٍ وَأُسُودٍ وَمِنَ الْحَيَّةِ وَالْعَقْرَبِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ سَاكِنِي الْبَلَدِ وَمِنْ وَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ "Oh Earth, your Lord, and my Lord is Allah. I seek refuge in Allah from the evil (of your nights) and those evils created in you and that which moves in you and seek refuge in Allah from the lions, snakes, scorpions and from the evils of the dwellers of the city and from the father and children". (Hisnul Hasin from Abu Dawood) At the time of Sehri while on a journey recite سَمْعُ سَامِعٍ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَتِهِ وَحُسْنِ بَلَائِهِ عَلَيْنَا رَبَّنَا صَاحِبْنَا وَأَفْضِلْ عَلَيْنَا عَائِذَاً بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ "The heaven has heared our praise of Allah and also heard our testification that He favours us and keeps us in good condition. Our Lord stay with us and grant us your favours and I make dua to seek refuge from Allah from Jahannam (hell fire)". (Hisnul Hasin from Muslim etc) It is also narrated that this dua be recited three times in a raised voice. (Hisnul Hasin from Mustahab) Note: Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) stated that if a person on journey refrains from worldly affairs in his heart and focuses his attention to Allah and remembers Him, the angels stay with him throughout the journey and if he recites imaginary poetry or does any futile thing then Satan stays with him during his journey. (Hisnul Hasin) Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) told Jabir bin Mutim (R.A.) to recite the following five Suras when on journey: 1- Surah Kaafiroon 2- Surah Nasr 3- Surah Ikhlaas 4- Surah Falaq 5- Surah Naas Every Surah should commence with "Bismillah" and Surah Naas should end with "Bismillah" as well, thus reciting "Bismillah" six times. Jabir (R.A.) states: "When I went out on journey (and although I was wealthy and had more merchandise than my companions), my conditions were worse than them, but from the time I began reciting these surahs, on return my condition was better than all of them, and I had most provisions of the journey". (Hisnul Hasin) Etiquettes on returning from a journey When returning from a journey one should sit on the mode of conveyance and recite: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى On departing, recite all journey duas and be concerned about the etiquettes of a journey and on every ascend recite "Allahu-Akbar" thrice and recite: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٍ آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ سَاجِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ صَدقَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ "There is none worthy of worship besides Allah who has no partner, His is the Kingdom and to him is all praise, for He has created everything. We are those returning, repenting and obedient to Allah, performing Sajda, praising Allah, Allah has made truth (fullfilled) His promise and aided His servant and defeated the enemy armies Alone." (Mishkat) On the return journey when entering one's own city recite آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ "We are returning, repenting and obedient to Allah, praising Him". (Hisnul Hisn) Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.)'s blessed habit was to return from a journey during chast time within the city. He would first go to the Masjid, perform two rakaats Salaats. Thereafter he would stay in the Masjid for a little while and then go home. (Bukhari, Muslim) Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) loved to journey on Thursdays. (Bukhari) On the return from a journey recite أَوْبَاً أَوْبَاً لِرَبِّنَا تَوْبَاً لَا يُغَادِرُ عَلَيْنَا حَوْبَاً "I have come back, I have come back, I seek forgiveness from Allah with such a repentance that leaves me with no sin". (Hisnul Hasin from Abi Yala)

Modesty(Haya) is part of faith!

"Haya is part of Faith"

 

Holiday Season???...Let our Jolly not lead to a Folly!!!

 
What is Haya? This term covers a wide number of concepts. In English, it may be translated as modesty, shyness, self-respect, bashfulness, shame, honour, humility, etc. Islamically Haya is an attribute which pushes the believer to avoid anything distasteful or offensive.

Haya plays a huge role in the lives of Muslims because it is a very important part of our Iman (faith/belief). If we do not have any form of haya within us then it is most likely that our Iman is very weak. For as it states in the following hadith:

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:, "Faith (Belief) consists of more than sixty branches (i.e. parts). And Haya is a part of faith." (Bukhari)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every faith has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty." (Hadith)

The Prophet(pbuh) also said: "Haya does not bring anything except good." (Bukhari)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed haya (modesty) and Iman are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well." (Hadith-Baihaqi)

 

The Prophet(pbuh) also said: "Haya comes from Iman; Iman leads to Paradise. Obscenity comes from antipathy; and antipathy leads to the fire." (Bukhari)

 

Allah say in the Quran:

 

"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty……." (Qur'an Nur, 30-31)

 

"Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware…."(Qur'an 49:13)