ya akhie
01-17-2008, 06:00 AM
7 tips for improving your relationship with the Qur'an
Are you one of those people who rarely touches the Qur'an? Or do you read daily, but don't find it is having the impact on you that it should? Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help you connect with the Qur'an.
1. Before you touch it, check your heart. The key to really benefiting from the Qur'an is to check your heart first, before you even touch Allah's book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was described by his wife as a "walking Qur'an": in other words, he didn't just read and recite the Qur'an, he lived it.
2. Do your Wudu (ablution). Doing your Wudu is good physical and mental preparation to remind you you're not reading just another book. You are about to interact with God, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.
3. Read only 5 minutes everyday. Too often, we think we should read Qur'an for at least one whole hour. If you aren't in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, Insha Allah (God willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become ten, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!
4. Make sure you understand what you've read. Five minutes of reading the Qur'an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you're reading. Make sure you have a good translation of the Qur'an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you've read that day.
5. Remember, the Qur'an is more interactive than a CD. In an age of "interactive" CD-Roms and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur'an is not like that. Remember that when you read Qur'an,you are interacting with Allah. He is talking to you, so pay attention.
6. Don't just read, listen too. There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur'an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your walkman or your car's CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur'an reading, not as a replacement for it.
7. Make Dua (supplication). Ask Allah to guide you when you read the Qur'an. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading, understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Dua to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.
http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?sec...n=article&id=87
Why will there be more women in Hell than men?
Question:
Why are there more women in hell than men?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that women will form the majority of the people of Hell. It was narrated from ‘Imraan ibn Husayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I looked into Paradise and I saw that the majority of its people were the poor. And I looked into Hell and I saw that the majority of its people are women.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3241; Muslim, 2737)
With regard to the reason for that, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about it and he explained the reason.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allaah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1052)
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said:
“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out to the Musalla on the day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr. He passed by the women and said, ‘O women! Give charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.’ They asked, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He replied, ‘You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religious commitment than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.’ The women asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what is deficient in our intelligence and religious commitment?’ He said, ‘Is not the testimony of two women equal to the testimony of one man?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Is it not true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her religious commitment.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 304)
It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: “I attended Eid prayers with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He started with the prayer before the khutbah, with no adhaan or iqaamah. Then he stood up, leaning on Bilaal, speaking of fear of Allaah (taqwa) and urging us to obey Him. He preached to the people and reminded them. Then he went over to the women and preached to them and reminded them. Then he said, ‘Give in charity, for you are the majority of the fuel of Hell. A woman with dark cheeks stood up in the midst of the women and said, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Because you complain too much and are ungrateful to your husbands.’ Then they started to give their jewellery in charity, throwing their earrings and rings into Bilaal’s cloak.”
(Narrated by Muslim, 885)
Our believing sisters who learn of this hadeeth should behave like those Sahaabiyaat who, when they learned of this, did good deeds which would be the means, by Allaah’s leave, of keeping them far away from being included in that majority of the inhabitants of Hell.
So our advice to the sisters is to strive to adhere to the rituals and obligatory duties of Islam, especially prayer, and to keep away from that which Allaah has forbidden, especially shirk in its many forms which are widespread among women, such as seeking one's needs from someone other than Allaah, going to practitioners of witchcraft and fortune-tellers, etc.
We ask Allaah to keep us and all our brothers and sisters far away from the Fire and the words and deeds that bring one close to it.
Islam Q&A
When are We to Understand?
by Muhammad Alshareef
Should they make him a king or should they kill him? The mushrikeen of Makkah did not know what to make of this phenomenon sweeping their ranks, dividing – as they claimed – between a man and his son, between a man and his wife. It had to end.
Abu Al-Waleed Utbah ibn al-Mugheerah said, "Let me finish this once and for all." He found RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam sitting near the Ka'bah and approached. He said, "O Muhammad."
RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam turned to Al-Waleed, acknowledged him, and listened attentively. Al-Waleed began, "Why do you persist in this message you are calling to? Is it riches you desire? If so, we shall make you the richest amongst us. Is it women you desire? If so, we shall marry you to the fairest of our women. Do you find illness in your mind? If so, we shall afford you with the best of doctors."
When Al-Waleed had exhausted the offers, RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam asked him politely, "Have you completed what you wanted to say?"
Al-Waleed said, “Yes."
Then, in the sweetest of recitation, RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam began reciting from the beginning of Surah Fussilat:
Haa-Meem / A revelation from [Allah] the Merciful, the Mercy-Giving / A book whose verses have been spelled out – a Qur'an in Arabic for people who know / [Sent as] Good news and warning, but most of them turn away, so they hear not / And they say, "Our hearts are under covering (screened) from that to which you invite us; and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work (on your way), verily we are working [on our way].
Abu Al-Waleed's eyes widened as he listened to the recitation of he whom the Qur'an was revealed to. RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam continued to recite until he came to the verse:
But if they turn away, then say, "I warn you of a destructive, awful torment, such as the destructive awful torment of [the tribes of] Aad and Thamud.”
Al-Waleed leapt forward and covered the mouth of RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam for fear that the saa'iqah (destructive awful torment) would befall them right then and there.
Now come back to the 21st century. You turn on your computer and a signal flashes on your screen: You have 1 message waiting. Is it your friend? Has that online order been shipped? You can't wait to find out. Or is that 'annoying' mailing list that sends out a verse-a-day that many delete without looking twice?
Dear brothers and sisters, there is an unread message waiting for us. It is Al-Qur'an al-Kareem, the Noble Recitation. And its author is our Creator!
Let us randomly ask Muslim communities around the world the following question: Why did Allah reveal the Qur'an? Many a community will respond without hesitation, "The Qur'an was revealed to bless us." But is that the correct response?
The Qur'an is blessed and blessed is he who recites it. However, listen carefully to the following verse, for we shall find out that this blessedness is not the reason the Qur'an was revealed. Allah ta’ala says:
[This is] a blessed book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded (As-Saad 38/29).
Barakah is a characteristic of the Qur'an, not the purpose of revelation. The purpose of revelation is so that "its verses will be contemplated and acted upon!"
The misconception that the place of Qur'an in our lives is one of barakah and barakah alone, has many manifestations. We find many Muslim families bent on the desire to have their children read the Qur'an in Arabic once, yes ONCE, in their lifetime. We find communities that print their Qur'ans in 30 separate parts so that they can recite it when someone dies; this is a well known fact. Or, when they some wealthy person dies, they donate $100,000 of their inheritance (money that belongs to their children) to print a million copies of pocketsize Surah Yaa-Seen (not Surah Maa'idah or any other surah, just Surah Yaa-Seen) so that they can get the 'barakah' of people who read for 'barakah'.
Nay, we've misunderstood the role of the Qur'an in our lives and the message is still waiting to be read. This is our topic for today: When are we to understand Allah's message?
Do you know which language the Qur'an would have been revealed if the majority of speakers were taken into account? No, not English. It would have been a Mandarin Chinese Qur'an! But the Qur'anic language is not open to the whims of humans. Nay, Allah ta'ala chose a pure and blessed Arabic. It is we who must strive to understand it:
A book whereof the verses are explained in detail - a Qur'an in Arabic for people who know (Fussilat 41/3).
The Qur'an is truth in its purest form. Falsehood cannot touch it. Allah ta'ala says:
Falsehood cannot approach it from in front, nor from behind. It is a revelation from One Wise and Praised (Fussilat 41/42).
The Qur'an is the siraat al-mustaqeem, the straight path which we ask for every day in salah:
Guide us to the straight path (Al-Fatihah 1/6).
All we have to do is turn the very next page, and we'll discover the straight path. Allah ta'ala begins speaking about this book wherein there is no doubt, and then characterizes it:
A guide [what we were asking for] for the God-Fearing (Al Baqarah 2/2).
Ali radi Allahu anhu said, "As-siraat al-mustaqeem, the straight path, is the Qur'an!"
The Qur'an is the rope of Allah that we are ordered to hold fast to:
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah, and be not divided (A’le-Imran 3/103).
Ibn Abbas said: "Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, for verily the rope of Allah is the Qur'an" (Ibn Katheer).
The Qur'an is the best speech:
Allah has sent down the best of statements, a book, its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated (Az-Zumar 39/23).
I want you to try and picture ancient Makkah right now. Picture what kind of things you would see. I picture the city getting darker as the sun sets; there are no streetlights. I see a small marketplace; Arabs selling dates, honey, meats, bread. I do not hear the sound of clocks ticking or distant cars; I hear pigeons squawking, donkeys whining, and Arabs chatting. I do not feel the softness of cotton and acrylic that I wear now; my skin is very harsh, deeply tanned. I recline on hard mud floors, and sleep under the moon.
In that condition, a man is claiming that he is the Prophet of Allah. As-saadiq, al-ameen – the truthful one, the trustworthy Muhammad.
Imagine yourself in this state; you've believed in him and you go to hear the guidance of the Qur'an, to hear the recitation from he whom the Qur'an was revealed to. I ask you dear brothers and sisters, how deeply would you listen to the message in such a state? What has happened to us that we do not want to hear Allah's message with such passion.
During Ramadan, we have good brothers who lead the Salat-ul-Taraweeh. They recite the Qur'an and make the du'a and once in a while, tears overtake the words they recite. One of the brothers once came up to me with his eyes misty, and a sheet of paper and pen in his hands. He said, "Muhammad, I want you to translate for me everything the Imam is saying in his dua."
Caught off guard, I shrugged and said, “You want me to translate the whole thing here in the hallway?"
He replied, "Yes, because we're Muslim too. If it makes the Imam cry, it would make us cry too ... if we only knew what it meant!"
As he spoke, tears overtook him. The words locked in my mind, "If only we knew what it meant."
Allah ta'ala says in the Qur'an:
And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as a thing [abandoned]" (Al-Furqan 25/30).
How is the Qur'an abandoned?
1. The Qur'an is abandoned in our lives when we do not believe in it anymore. When we prefer listening and watching 135 channels by satellite, but if the Qur'an were to accidentally play, we would not listen to it or perhaps rush to shut it off (of course after one complete Ayah - can't be disrespectful now can we).
2. The Qur'an is abandoned when a person does not care to learn Allah's message in the Qur’an.
3. The Qur'an is abandoned when we leave its laws and instead turn to the laws of the British and the Italian to dictate justice to us.
This will be the Prophet's charge, what are we doing to create an alibi?
"My heart is hard as a rock. I do not feel any spirituality." This is a statement we hear over and over again in our communities. Dear brothers and sisters, I am going to shock you now with a verse of Qur'an. It's going to tell us the reason why our hearts have become like this:
Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts humble to the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient (Al-Hadeed 57/16).
Notice, that it is an admonishment from Allah that our hearts are not humbling to the Qur'an. Dear brothers and sisters, Allah is telling us that it is OUR FAULT when we do not feel that spirituality. How much time has passed since we last contemplated the Qur'an? 20 years? 50 years? When are we to understand?
Ibn Katheer comments: “In this verse, Allah is forbidding us from imitating those that were charged with carrying Allah's books before us, the Jews and the Christians. The time they spent away from the books went on and on until they changed the books – put it behind their backs, and turned to their priests and monks whom their worshipped instead of Allah. It was then that their hearts rusted away.”
As a poet once said:
Al-Qur'an, the key to happiness' door.
Al-Qur'an, the only rope of salvation.
Don't leave it or abandon it.
Allah will forget you if you forget Him.
PART II
If any of us are planning to watch TV all summer long, let me tell you TV guide's best bet: It's called the OFF button! Our time is too valuable for that. How can we waste our time when we know for a fact that when we get up to pray the 2 rakaat of Jumah, more then 85% of the congregation will not know what the verses mean?
Language is such a blessed thing; indeed the variations of our tongues is one of the signs of Allah ta'ala. Humans took this divine gift and created languages for those that cannot vocalize a single vowel – sign language. We devised a language of dots and dashes – Morse code. Yet, if we look at the most illiterate countries of the world, we will find most of them to be Muslim majority countries; all this in disregard to the fact that the first word revealed to us by Allah was "Read".
"To move the world, we must first move ourselves." ‘Uqbah ibn Aamir radi Allahu anhu recalls, “RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam once came to us while we were sitting on the Suffah and asked, ‘Would any of you like to go to the market of But-haan or Aqeeq (two market places that sold camels near Madinah) and fetch from there two she-camels of the finest breed without committing any sin or severing a tie of kinship?’ We replied, ‘Every one of us would love to do so.’ RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam then said, ‘Going to the masjid and reciting or teaching two aayaat of the Qur'an is more precious than two she-camels; three aayaat are most precious than three she-camels. And that similarly reciting or teaching of four aayaat is better than four she-camels and an equal number of camels” (Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawood).
Here in the United States, Allah ta'ala has blessed our communities with many professionals and educated people. With all our wealth, conveniences, and intelligence, we have no excuse but to excel in our drive to learn Islam and learn it properly.
http://www.khutbah.com/index.php?type=5&am...&language=8
As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim. Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim
Good and Evil Trees
Surah Ibrahim 14: 24-26
24 See you not how Allah sets forth a parable A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky.
25 Giving its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord, and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember.
26 And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth, having no stability.
The Parable of the Word of Islam and the Word of Kufr
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that `Abdullah bin `Abbas commented that Allah's statement,
a parable: a goodly word, refers to testifying to La ilaha illallah, (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) while,
as a goodly tree, refers to the believer, and that
whose root is firmly fixed, indicates that La ilaha illallah, (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) is firm in the believers' heart,
and its branches (reach) to the sky, with which the believer's works are ascended to heaven. Similar is said by Ad-Dahhak, Sa'id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Mujahid and several others. They stated that this parable describes the believer's deeds, good statements and good actions. The believer is just like the beneficial date tree, always having good actions ascending at all times, by day and by night. Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah when he asked,
(Tell me about a tree that resembles the Muslim, the leaves of which do not fall in summer or winter and gives its fruit at all times by the leave of its Lord.)'' Ibn `Umar said, "I thought of the date palm tree, but felt shy to answer when I saw that Abu Bakr and `Umar did not talk. When they did not give an answer, the Messenger of Allah said,
(It is the date palm tree.) When we departed, I said to `Umar, `My father, by Allah! I thought that it was the date tree.' He said, `Why did you not speak then' I said, `I saw you were silent and I felt shy to say anything.' `Umar said, `Had you said it, it would have been more precious to me than such things (i.e., would have been very precious to me).''' `Abdullah bin `Abbas said that,
as a goodly tree, is a tree in Paradise. Allah said next,
Giving its fruit at all times, It is said that it means by day and by night. And they say that describes the believer as a tree that always has fruits during summer and winter, by night and by day. This is the parable of the believer whose good works ascend to heaven by day and by night and at all times,
by the leave of its Lord, thus earning perfection and becoming beneficial, plentiful, pure and blessed,
and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. Allah said next,
And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree describing the disbelief of the disbeliever, for it has no basis or stability. It is similar to the colocynth tree (a very bitter, unscented plant) which is also called, `Ash-Shiryan'. Shu`bah narrated that Mu`awiyah bin Abi Qurrah narrated that Anas bin Malik said that it is the colocynth tree. Allah said,
uprooted meaning, was cutoff from the root,
from the surface of earth, having no stability, therefore, existing without basis or stability, just like Kufr (disbelief), for it does not have a basis or roots. Surely, the works of the disbelievers will never ascend nor will any of them be accepted.
Reference: Tafsir ibn Kathir (abridged) English version.
Wa Alaikum Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Time
AssalamuAlaikum,
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, “Every day the sun rises it calls upon us, “Oh people! I am a new day; I am an observer of your actions. Take advantage of me for I will not return until the Day of Judgment.” “Oh, son of Adam you are nothing but a few breaths. Once one breath goes out, part of you goes with it. In the same way that part of you has gone, soon all of you will go.”
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Every gulp of air that goes out in a cause other than the cause of Allah (SWT) will turn to sorrow and regret on the Day of Judgment.” He also said, “A sign that Allah (SWT) despises you is when you find yourself wasting your time with trivial matters; in this way you miss your chance of going to heaven. And a sign that Allah (SWT) likes you is when you find yourself fulfilling more duties than you have time for.” A saying goes, ‘The devil makes work for idle thumbs.’ If you want to know whether Allah (SWT) is pleased with you, then think: Are you busy or idle?
Al-Muhasiby said, “I wish that time could be acquired with money. If so I would buy time from wasteful and ungrateful people so that I could spend it serving Allah (SWT).”
Ibn Masoud said, “I never regretted anything except a day that passed by without having increased my deeds.”
__________________
" O Believers ! Fear God constantly; and utter what is fair and sound God, then, will rectify your deeds and cover up your sins with forgiveness; and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he indeed shall secure a glorious success.
time lost is lost forever.
the two things we take for granted, health and free time, Subhanallah!!
AssalamuAlaikum,
[Hadith]
Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, radi Allahu 'anhu, reported that the
Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said,
"The example of a good companion and a bad one is the bearer of
musk and the worker on the fires. A bearer of musk would give
you some, you might buy some from him, or you might enjoy the
fragrance of his musk. The worker on the fires, on the other
hand, might spoil your clothes with sparks from his bellows, or
you get a bad smell from him." Bukhari and Muslim
[Lessons from this Hadith]
Who are the top 5 people you hang out with? List them. Now look
at their qualities and you'll notice that you are a product of
the sum of them. Do they have the outstanding qualities that you
seek? If not, then it's time to find some bearers of musk that
you can truly smell great from.
Does anyone have more info on the following verse from the Qur'an?
"We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it; - he was indeed unjust and foolish;" (33:72)
Benefits of Practicing lkhlas With Allah
Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaishah
Kitab Al-Ikhlas
© 1997 The Daar of Islamic Heritage
1. The Muslim ummah will be victorious, for the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, what translated means, "Allah only gives victory to this nation because of its weak ones, because of their du`aa', prayer and ikhlas." [At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib].
2. Acquiring safety from Allah's punishment and wrath in the Hereafter. Allah said about some people who observe ikhlas, what translated means,
"And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to the poor, the orphan, and the captive. (Saying), 'We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily, we fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislikeness to it).' So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadhratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient." [76:8-12].
3. Elevation to a higher grade in the Hereafter. There are many ayat and hadiths about this subject, such as the following ayah that describes the abrar (the pious). Allah said, what translated means,
"So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadhratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining therein on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive bitter cold. And the shade thereof is close upon them, and the bunches of fruit thereof will hang low within their reach. And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and cups of crystal. Crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure thereof according to their wishes. And they will be given to drink there a cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabil (ginger, etc.). A spring there, called Salsabil. And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you vould think them scattered pearls." [76:11-19].
Also, the Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "The first group that enters Paradise will be glittering like the moon when it is full. The following group will glitter like the brightest planet in the sky; they will neither urinate, nor answer the call of nature, nor spit, nor have any nasal secretions; their brushes will be from gold, their sweat is Misk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers, and their wives are from Hur al-`Een (Houris, female fair ones, with wide, lovely eyes). They will all look like each other, just as is the statute of their father Adam, sixty feet in the sky." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
4. Safety from falling into misguidance in this dunya, that is, the life of this world. We have mentioned before example to this subject in the story of Prophet Yusuf.
"Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of our Mukhlasin (chosen, guided persons who observe ikhlas with Allah." [12:24]
5. Acquiring an increase in huda (Right Guidance), as Allah said, what translated means, "Truly! They were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance." [18:13].
6. Residents of the heavens will love those who observe ikhlas. The Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "When Allah loves a slave, He summons Jibreel, saying, 'Allah, the Exalted, loves Fulan (such and such person), so love him,' and Jibreel will love him. Then he calls upon the people of the heaven, 'Allah loves Fulan, so love him', and the people of the heaven will love him. Then acceptance (honor, content, love, etc.) will be sent down (and spread up [meaning between the community of the believers]) on earth for him." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
7. Acceptance and honor for the mukhlisin, those who observe ikhlas, will be sent down and spread up on earth for them, as was mentioned in the previous hadith.
8. Having a good reputation among people, as was mentioned in the previous hadith. Also, the Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "Each slave has a reputation in the heaven. If his reputation in the heaven is good, it will be sent down to earth (transferred as such). However, if his reputation is bad in the heaven, it will be transferred as such to the earth." [Al-Bazzar].
9. Acquiring safety from all types of hardships and disasters in this life, as was mentioned in the story of the three persons who were trapped in the cave.
10. Achieving tranquillity in the heart and feeling joy, content and elation, for Allah said, what translated means, "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." [13:28].
11. Faith will be endeared to the Mukhlisin, while wickedness will be made hateful to them. Allah said, what translated means, "And know that, among you there is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you (follow your opinions and desires) in much of the matter, you would surely be in trouble, but Allah has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience (to Allah and His Messenger) hateful to you. These! They are the rightly guided ones." [49:7].
We have mentioned before how Prophet Yusuf was made to hate fornication, disbelief and wickedness, and how iman was made beautiful to him, that he preferred staying in jail rather than falling into fornication and sin.
12. Allah willing, ikhlas will guide one to choose the rightly-guided company, those who observe ikhlas. The best example for this subject is that the companions of the Messenger of Allah were friends with each other as they were friends with the Messenger, and who can find a better company than the Prophet and his companions.
13. Enduring all types of hardships in this life with patience. The Messenger of Allah and his companions were excellent in this behavior, for they endured and were patient in the face of all types of hardships, and the proof to this better behavior is detailed in abundance in their seerah (life stories).
14. Acquiring the good end, as is evident from the story of the man who had killed ninety nine persons, but then sought to repent from his crimes. This person's ikhlas in seeking forgiveness from Allah guided him until he died while his heart was coming back to Allah, the Exalted.
15. Du`aa' will be accepted, as is evident from the story of the young boy, the wizard and the priest. Also, an example to this is the story of the three men who were trapped in the cave. This, indeed, is a vast subject with numerous examples testifying to the fact that ikhlas is an essential ingredient that ensures the acceptance of du`aa'.
16. Being rewarded in the grave, and receiving the glad tidings of the joy and happiness that the mukhlisin will enjoy in the grave and in the Hereafter. We have narrated the hadith by Al-Baraa' ibn `Azib which describes how one's good deeds will come in the shape of a handsome man, wearing nice clothes and whose scent is pleasing, saying, "I am your good deeds."
Are you one of those people who rarely touches the Qur'an? Or do you read daily, but don't find it is having the impact on you that it should? Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help you connect with the Qur'an.
1. Before you touch it, check your heart. The key to really benefiting from the Qur'an is to check your heart first, before you even touch Allah's book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was described by his wife as a "walking Qur'an": in other words, he didn't just read and recite the Qur'an, he lived it.
2. Do your Wudu (ablution). Doing your Wudu is good physical and mental preparation to remind you you're not reading just another book. You are about to interact with God, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.
3. Read only 5 minutes everyday. Too often, we think we should read Qur'an for at least one whole hour. If you aren't in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, Insha Allah (God willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become ten, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!
4. Make sure you understand what you've read. Five minutes of reading the Qur'an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you're reading. Make sure you have a good translation of the Qur'an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you've read that day.
5. Remember, the Qur'an is more interactive than a CD. In an age of "interactive" CD-Roms and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur'an is not like that. Remember that when you read Qur'an,you are interacting with Allah. He is talking to you, so pay attention.
6. Don't just read, listen too. There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur'an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your walkman or your car's CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur'an reading, not as a replacement for it.
7. Make Dua (supplication). Ask Allah to guide you when you read the Qur'an. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading, understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Dua to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.
http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?sec...n=article&id=87
Why will there be more women in Hell than men?
Question:
Why are there more women in hell than men?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that women will form the majority of the people of Hell. It was narrated from ‘Imraan ibn Husayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I looked into Paradise and I saw that the majority of its people were the poor. And I looked into Hell and I saw that the majority of its people are women.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3241; Muslim, 2737)
With regard to the reason for that, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about it and he explained the reason.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allaah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1052)
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said:
“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out to the Musalla on the day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr. He passed by the women and said, ‘O women! Give charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.’ They asked, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He replied, ‘You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religious commitment than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.’ The women asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what is deficient in our intelligence and religious commitment?’ He said, ‘Is not the testimony of two women equal to the testimony of one man?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Is it not true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her religious commitment.’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 304)
It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: “I attended Eid prayers with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He started with the prayer before the khutbah, with no adhaan or iqaamah. Then he stood up, leaning on Bilaal, speaking of fear of Allaah (taqwa) and urging us to obey Him. He preached to the people and reminded them. Then he went over to the women and preached to them and reminded them. Then he said, ‘Give in charity, for you are the majority of the fuel of Hell. A woman with dark cheeks stood up in the midst of the women and said, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Because you complain too much and are ungrateful to your husbands.’ Then they started to give their jewellery in charity, throwing their earrings and rings into Bilaal’s cloak.”
(Narrated by Muslim, 885)
Our believing sisters who learn of this hadeeth should behave like those Sahaabiyaat who, when they learned of this, did good deeds which would be the means, by Allaah’s leave, of keeping them far away from being included in that majority of the inhabitants of Hell.
So our advice to the sisters is to strive to adhere to the rituals and obligatory duties of Islam, especially prayer, and to keep away from that which Allaah has forbidden, especially shirk in its many forms which are widespread among women, such as seeking one's needs from someone other than Allaah, going to practitioners of witchcraft and fortune-tellers, etc.
We ask Allaah to keep us and all our brothers and sisters far away from the Fire and the words and deeds that bring one close to it.
Islam Q&A
When are We to Understand?
by Muhammad Alshareef
Should they make him a king or should they kill him? The mushrikeen of Makkah did not know what to make of this phenomenon sweeping their ranks, dividing – as they claimed – between a man and his son, between a man and his wife. It had to end.
Abu Al-Waleed Utbah ibn al-Mugheerah said, "Let me finish this once and for all." He found RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam sitting near the Ka'bah and approached. He said, "O Muhammad."
RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam turned to Al-Waleed, acknowledged him, and listened attentively. Al-Waleed began, "Why do you persist in this message you are calling to? Is it riches you desire? If so, we shall make you the richest amongst us. Is it women you desire? If so, we shall marry you to the fairest of our women. Do you find illness in your mind? If so, we shall afford you with the best of doctors."
When Al-Waleed had exhausted the offers, RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam asked him politely, "Have you completed what you wanted to say?"
Al-Waleed said, “Yes."
Then, in the sweetest of recitation, RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam began reciting from the beginning of Surah Fussilat:
Haa-Meem / A revelation from [Allah] the Merciful, the Mercy-Giving / A book whose verses have been spelled out – a Qur'an in Arabic for people who know / [Sent as] Good news and warning, but most of them turn away, so they hear not / And they say, "Our hearts are under covering (screened) from that to which you invite us; and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work (on your way), verily we are working [on our way].
Abu Al-Waleed's eyes widened as he listened to the recitation of he whom the Qur'an was revealed to. RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam continued to recite until he came to the verse:
But if they turn away, then say, "I warn you of a destructive, awful torment, such as the destructive awful torment of [the tribes of] Aad and Thamud.”
Al-Waleed leapt forward and covered the mouth of RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam for fear that the saa'iqah (destructive awful torment) would befall them right then and there.
Now come back to the 21st century. You turn on your computer and a signal flashes on your screen: You have 1 message waiting. Is it your friend? Has that online order been shipped? You can't wait to find out. Or is that 'annoying' mailing list that sends out a verse-a-day that many delete without looking twice?
Dear brothers and sisters, there is an unread message waiting for us. It is Al-Qur'an al-Kareem, the Noble Recitation. And its author is our Creator!
Let us randomly ask Muslim communities around the world the following question: Why did Allah reveal the Qur'an? Many a community will respond without hesitation, "The Qur'an was revealed to bless us." But is that the correct response?
The Qur'an is blessed and blessed is he who recites it. However, listen carefully to the following verse, for we shall find out that this blessedness is not the reason the Qur'an was revealed. Allah ta’ala says:
[This is] a blessed book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded (As-Saad 38/29).
Barakah is a characteristic of the Qur'an, not the purpose of revelation. The purpose of revelation is so that "its verses will be contemplated and acted upon!"
The misconception that the place of Qur'an in our lives is one of barakah and barakah alone, has many manifestations. We find many Muslim families bent on the desire to have their children read the Qur'an in Arabic once, yes ONCE, in their lifetime. We find communities that print their Qur'ans in 30 separate parts so that they can recite it when someone dies; this is a well known fact. Or, when they some wealthy person dies, they donate $100,000 of their inheritance (money that belongs to their children) to print a million copies of pocketsize Surah Yaa-Seen (not Surah Maa'idah or any other surah, just Surah Yaa-Seen) so that they can get the 'barakah' of people who read for 'barakah'.
Nay, we've misunderstood the role of the Qur'an in our lives and the message is still waiting to be read. This is our topic for today: When are we to understand Allah's message?
Do you know which language the Qur'an would have been revealed if the majority of speakers were taken into account? No, not English. It would have been a Mandarin Chinese Qur'an! But the Qur'anic language is not open to the whims of humans. Nay, Allah ta'ala chose a pure and blessed Arabic. It is we who must strive to understand it:
A book whereof the verses are explained in detail - a Qur'an in Arabic for people who know (Fussilat 41/3).
The Qur'an is truth in its purest form. Falsehood cannot touch it. Allah ta'ala says:
Falsehood cannot approach it from in front, nor from behind. It is a revelation from One Wise and Praised (Fussilat 41/42).
The Qur'an is the siraat al-mustaqeem, the straight path which we ask for every day in salah:
Guide us to the straight path (Al-Fatihah 1/6).
All we have to do is turn the very next page, and we'll discover the straight path. Allah ta'ala begins speaking about this book wherein there is no doubt, and then characterizes it:
A guide [what we were asking for] for the God-Fearing (Al Baqarah 2/2).
Ali radi Allahu anhu said, "As-siraat al-mustaqeem, the straight path, is the Qur'an!"
The Qur'an is the rope of Allah that we are ordered to hold fast to:
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah, and be not divided (A’le-Imran 3/103).
Ibn Abbas said: "Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, for verily the rope of Allah is the Qur'an" (Ibn Katheer).
The Qur'an is the best speech:
Allah has sent down the best of statements, a book, its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated (Az-Zumar 39/23).
I want you to try and picture ancient Makkah right now. Picture what kind of things you would see. I picture the city getting darker as the sun sets; there are no streetlights. I see a small marketplace; Arabs selling dates, honey, meats, bread. I do not hear the sound of clocks ticking or distant cars; I hear pigeons squawking, donkeys whining, and Arabs chatting. I do not feel the softness of cotton and acrylic that I wear now; my skin is very harsh, deeply tanned. I recline on hard mud floors, and sleep under the moon.
In that condition, a man is claiming that he is the Prophet of Allah. As-saadiq, al-ameen – the truthful one, the trustworthy Muhammad.
Imagine yourself in this state; you've believed in him and you go to hear the guidance of the Qur'an, to hear the recitation from he whom the Qur'an was revealed to. I ask you dear brothers and sisters, how deeply would you listen to the message in such a state? What has happened to us that we do not want to hear Allah's message with such passion.
During Ramadan, we have good brothers who lead the Salat-ul-Taraweeh. They recite the Qur'an and make the du'a and once in a while, tears overtake the words they recite. One of the brothers once came up to me with his eyes misty, and a sheet of paper and pen in his hands. He said, "Muhammad, I want you to translate for me everything the Imam is saying in his dua."
Caught off guard, I shrugged and said, “You want me to translate the whole thing here in the hallway?"
He replied, "Yes, because we're Muslim too. If it makes the Imam cry, it would make us cry too ... if we only knew what it meant!"
As he spoke, tears overtook him. The words locked in my mind, "If only we knew what it meant."
Allah ta'ala says in the Qur'an:
And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as a thing [abandoned]" (Al-Furqan 25/30).
How is the Qur'an abandoned?
1. The Qur'an is abandoned in our lives when we do not believe in it anymore. When we prefer listening and watching 135 channels by satellite, but if the Qur'an were to accidentally play, we would not listen to it or perhaps rush to shut it off (of course after one complete Ayah - can't be disrespectful now can we).
2. The Qur'an is abandoned when a person does not care to learn Allah's message in the Qur’an.
3. The Qur'an is abandoned when we leave its laws and instead turn to the laws of the British and the Italian to dictate justice to us.
This will be the Prophet's charge, what are we doing to create an alibi?
"My heart is hard as a rock. I do not feel any spirituality." This is a statement we hear over and over again in our communities. Dear brothers and sisters, I am going to shock you now with a verse of Qur'an. It's going to tell us the reason why our hearts have become like this:
Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts humble to the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient (Al-Hadeed 57/16).
Notice, that it is an admonishment from Allah that our hearts are not humbling to the Qur'an. Dear brothers and sisters, Allah is telling us that it is OUR FAULT when we do not feel that spirituality. How much time has passed since we last contemplated the Qur'an? 20 years? 50 years? When are we to understand?
Ibn Katheer comments: “In this verse, Allah is forbidding us from imitating those that were charged with carrying Allah's books before us, the Jews and the Christians. The time they spent away from the books went on and on until they changed the books – put it behind their backs, and turned to their priests and monks whom their worshipped instead of Allah. It was then that their hearts rusted away.”
As a poet once said:
Al-Qur'an, the key to happiness' door.
Al-Qur'an, the only rope of salvation.
Don't leave it or abandon it.
Allah will forget you if you forget Him.
PART II
If any of us are planning to watch TV all summer long, let me tell you TV guide's best bet: It's called the OFF button! Our time is too valuable for that. How can we waste our time when we know for a fact that when we get up to pray the 2 rakaat of Jumah, more then 85% of the congregation will not know what the verses mean?
Language is such a blessed thing; indeed the variations of our tongues is one of the signs of Allah ta'ala. Humans took this divine gift and created languages for those that cannot vocalize a single vowel – sign language. We devised a language of dots and dashes – Morse code. Yet, if we look at the most illiterate countries of the world, we will find most of them to be Muslim majority countries; all this in disregard to the fact that the first word revealed to us by Allah was "Read".
"To move the world, we must first move ourselves." ‘Uqbah ibn Aamir radi Allahu anhu recalls, “RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam once came to us while we were sitting on the Suffah and asked, ‘Would any of you like to go to the market of But-haan or Aqeeq (two market places that sold camels near Madinah) and fetch from there two she-camels of the finest breed without committing any sin or severing a tie of kinship?’ We replied, ‘Every one of us would love to do so.’ RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam then said, ‘Going to the masjid and reciting or teaching two aayaat of the Qur'an is more precious than two she-camels; three aayaat are most precious than three she-camels. And that similarly reciting or teaching of four aayaat is better than four she-camels and an equal number of camels” (Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawood).
Here in the United States, Allah ta'ala has blessed our communities with many professionals and educated people. With all our wealth, conveniences, and intelligence, we have no excuse but to excel in our drive to learn Islam and learn it properly.
http://www.khutbah.com/index.php?type=5&am...&language=8
As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim. Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim
Good and Evil Trees
Surah Ibrahim 14: 24-26
24 See you not how Allah sets forth a parable A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky.
25 Giving its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord, and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember.
26 And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth, having no stability.
The Parable of the Word of Islam and the Word of Kufr
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that `Abdullah bin `Abbas commented that Allah's statement,
a parable: a goodly word, refers to testifying to La ilaha illallah, (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) while,
as a goodly tree, refers to the believer, and that
whose root is firmly fixed, indicates that La ilaha illallah, (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) is firm in the believers' heart,
and its branches (reach) to the sky, with which the believer's works are ascended to heaven. Similar is said by Ad-Dahhak, Sa'id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Mujahid and several others. They stated that this parable describes the believer's deeds, good statements and good actions. The believer is just like the beneficial date tree, always having good actions ascending at all times, by day and by night. Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah when he asked,
(Tell me about a tree that resembles the Muslim, the leaves of which do not fall in summer or winter and gives its fruit at all times by the leave of its Lord.)'' Ibn `Umar said, "I thought of the date palm tree, but felt shy to answer when I saw that Abu Bakr and `Umar did not talk. When they did not give an answer, the Messenger of Allah said,
(It is the date palm tree.) When we departed, I said to `Umar, `My father, by Allah! I thought that it was the date tree.' He said, `Why did you not speak then' I said, `I saw you were silent and I felt shy to say anything.' `Umar said, `Had you said it, it would have been more precious to me than such things (i.e., would have been very precious to me).''' `Abdullah bin `Abbas said that,
as a goodly tree, is a tree in Paradise. Allah said next,
Giving its fruit at all times, It is said that it means by day and by night. And they say that describes the believer as a tree that always has fruits during summer and winter, by night and by day. This is the parable of the believer whose good works ascend to heaven by day and by night and at all times,
by the leave of its Lord, thus earning perfection and becoming beneficial, plentiful, pure and blessed,
and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. Allah said next,
And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree describing the disbelief of the disbeliever, for it has no basis or stability. It is similar to the colocynth tree (a very bitter, unscented plant) which is also called, `Ash-Shiryan'. Shu`bah narrated that Mu`awiyah bin Abi Qurrah narrated that Anas bin Malik said that it is the colocynth tree. Allah said,
uprooted meaning, was cutoff from the root,
from the surface of earth, having no stability, therefore, existing without basis or stability, just like Kufr (disbelief), for it does not have a basis or roots. Surely, the works of the disbelievers will never ascend nor will any of them be accepted.
Reference: Tafsir ibn Kathir (abridged) English version.
Wa Alaikum Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Time
AssalamuAlaikum,
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, “Every day the sun rises it calls upon us, “Oh people! I am a new day; I am an observer of your actions. Take advantage of me for I will not return until the Day of Judgment.” “Oh, son of Adam you are nothing but a few breaths. Once one breath goes out, part of you goes with it. In the same way that part of you has gone, soon all of you will go.”
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Every gulp of air that goes out in a cause other than the cause of Allah (SWT) will turn to sorrow and regret on the Day of Judgment.” He also said, “A sign that Allah (SWT) despises you is when you find yourself wasting your time with trivial matters; in this way you miss your chance of going to heaven. And a sign that Allah (SWT) likes you is when you find yourself fulfilling more duties than you have time for.” A saying goes, ‘The devil makes work for idle thumbs.’ If you want to know whether Allah (SWT) is pleased with you, then think: Are you busy or idle?
Al-Muhasiby said, “I wish that time could be acquired with money. If so I would buy time from wasteful and ungrateful people so that I could spend it serving Allah (SWT).”
Ibn Masoud said, “I never regretted anything except a day that passed by without having increased my deeds.”
__________________
" O Believers ! Fear God constantly; and utter what is fair and sound God, then, will rectify your deeds and cover up your sins with forgiveness; and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he indeed shall secure a glorious success.
time lost is lost forever.
the two things we take for granted, health and free time, Subhanallah!!
AssalamuAlaikum,
[Hadith]
Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, radi Allahu 'anhu, reported that the
Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said,
"The example of a good companion and a bad one is the bearer of
musk and the worker on the fires. A bearer of musk would give
you some, you might buy some from him, or you might enjoy the
fragrance of his musk. The worker on the fires, on the other
hand, might spoil your clothes with sparks from his bellows, or
you get a bad smell from him." Bukhari and Muslim
[Lessons from this Hadith]
Who are the top 5 people you hang out with? List them. Now look
at their qualities and you'll notice that you are a product of
the sum of them. Do they have the outstanding qualities that you
seek? If not, then it's time to find some bearers of musk that
you can truly smell great from.
Does anyone have more info on the following verse from the Qur'an?
"We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it; - he was indeed unjust and foolish;" (33:72)
Benefits of Practicing lkhlas With Allah
Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaishah
Kitab Al-Ikhlas
© 1997 The Daar of Islamic Heritage
1. The Muslim ummah will be victorious, for the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, what translated means, "Allah only gives victory to this nation because of its weak ones, because of their du`aa', prayer and ikhlas." [At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib].
2. Acquiring safety from Allah's punishment and wrath in the Hereafter. Allah said about some people who observe ikhlas, what translated means,
"And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to the poor, the orphan, and the captive. (Saying), 'We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily, we fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislikeness to it).' So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadhratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient." [76:8-12].
3. Elevation to a higher grade in the Hereafter. There are many ayat and hadiths about this subject, such as the following ayah that describes the abrar (the pious). Allah said, what translated means,
"So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadhratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining therein on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive bitter cold. And the shade thereof is close upon them, and the bunches of fruit thereof will hang low within their reach. And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and cups of crystal. Crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure thereof according to their wishes. And they will be given to drink there a cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabil (ginger, etc.). A spring there, called Salsabil. And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you vould think them scattered pearls." [76:11-19].
Also, the Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "The first group that enters Paradise will be glittering like the moon when it is full. The following group will glitter like the brightest planet in the sky; they will neither urinate, nor answer the call of nature, nor spit, nor have any nasal secretions; their brushes will be from gold, their sweat is Misk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers, and their wives are from Hur al-`Een (Houris, female fair ones, with wide, lovely eyes). They will all look like each other, just as is the statute of their father Adam, sixty feet in the sky." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
4. Safety from falling into misguidance in this dunya, that is, the life of this world. We have mentioned before example to this subject in the story of Prophet Yusuf.
"Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of our Mukhlasin (chosen, guided persons who observe ikhlas with Allah." [12:24]
5. Acquiring an increase in huda (Right Guidance), as Allah said, what translated means, "Truly! They were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance." [18:13].
6. Residents of the heavens will love those who observe ikhlas. The Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "When Allah loves a slave, He summons Jibreel, saying, 'Allah, the Exalted, loves Fulan (such and such person), so love him,' and Jibreel will love him. Then he calls upon the people of the heaven, 'Allah loves Fulan, so love him', and the people of the heaven will love him. Then acceptance (honor, content, love, etc.) will be sent down (and spread up [meaning between the community of the believers]) on earth for him." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
7. Acceptance and honor for the mukhlisin, those who observe ikhlas, will be sent down and spread up on earth for them, as was mentioned in the previous hadith.
8. Having a good reputation among people, as was mentioned in the previous hadith. Also, the Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "Each slave has a reputation in the heaven. If his reputation in the heaven is good, it will be sent down to earth (transferred as such). However, if his reputation is bad in the heaven, it will be transferred as such to the earth." [Al-Bazzar].
9. Acquiring safety from all types of hardships and disasters in this life, as was mentioned in the story of the three persons who were trapped in the cave.
10. Achieving tranquillity in the heart and feeling joy, content and elation, for Allah said, what translated means, "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." [13:28].
11. Faith will be endeared to the Mukhlisin, while wickedness will be made hateful to them. Allah said, what translated means, "And know that, among you there is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you (follow your opinions and desires) in much of the matter, you would surely be in trouble, but Allah has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience (to Allah and His Messenger) hateful to you. These! They are the rightly guided ones." [49:7].
We have mentioned before how Prophet Yusuf was made to hate fornication, disbelief and wickedness, and how iman was made beautiful to him, that he preferred staying in jail rather than falling into fornication and sin.
12. Allah willing, ikhlas will guide one to choose the rightly-guided company, those who observe ikhlas. The best example for this subject is that the companions of the Messenger of Allah were friends with each other as they were friends with the Messenger, and who can find a better company than the Prophet and his companions.
13. Enduring all types of hardships in this life with patience. The Messenger of Allah and his companions were excellent in this behavior, for they endured and were patient in the face of all types of hardships, and the proof to this better behavior is detailed in abundance in their seerah (life stories).
14. Acquiring the good end, as is evident from the story of the man who had killed ninety nine persons, but then sought to repent from his crimes. This person's ikhlas in seeking forgiveness from Allah guided him until he died while his heart was coming back to Allah, the Exalted.
15. Du`aa' will be accepted, as is evident from the story of the young boy, the wizard and the priest. Also, an example to this is the story of the three men who were trapped in the cave. This, indeed, is a vast subject with numerous examples testifying to the fact that ikhlas is an essential ingredient that ensures the acceptance of du`aa'.
16. Being rewarded in the grave, and receiving the glad tidings of the joy and happiness that the mukhlisin will enjoy in the grave and in the Hereafter. We have narrated the hadith by Al-Baraa' ibn `Azib which describes how one's good deeds will come in the shape of a handsome man, wearing nice clothes and whose scent is pleasing, saying, "I am your good deeds."